Sapphire:Sessions:20190309

As Ahn-Lee and his squad are clearing out the palace, he catches glimpses of a lithe, hooded female figure clad in black leather, her features veiled, leading slaves to safety. He tries a couple of times to get her attention; she glances his way once but doesn't pause or respond.

Portis begins describing an old keep located in the exact center of the country. He claims that the beings from the black ships are helping rebuild it. Shortly after the dragon was freed, counsellor Dora Book, two Protectors, three mages named Cole Wingless, Nobert, and Haka, and an elite squad had left the city, headed toward the keep. (Cole gained the sobriquet 'Wingless' due to the rumor that one of his parents was of the Winged Folk, though he has no wings.) Chalker writes a quick note to Rory: Is there a gate near the exact center of Malprin?

Lugar sees a man he figures must be from the Thieves Guild in Colvin. He catches up with him and announces, "Hello, I'm a thief, too." "Oh, you're the new guy. The King's been assassinated." "Is that so? Then there's gold to be had. Let's go see!" Nearing the palace, Lugar appreciates the sight of flames and the scent of burnt flesh. Abruptly he trips on a cobblestone and stumbles into his buddy, pushing the latter into a stack of crates. "Ouch!" his buddy yelps.

Hearing the sudden outcry, Intrinsius starts toward Lugar. 'Buddy' takes to his heels. Ducking behind the crates, Lugar's first impulse is to kill the approaching man (although Intrinsius is much taller and more muscular), but a voice inside his head tells him, "That man is in a group that can make me wealthy!" So he steps into view and says, "Hello, I'm harmless." "Where's your friend?" "I didn't see anyone." However, Intrinsius can plainly see 'buddy' running away. Lugar adds, "I'm an honest thief!" "Well, then, come and sit by the fire."

Shawna sends her falcon Berenel to convey instructions to the merfolk leader, Blue, to move in on the black ship.

Alastor flips through the documents he's collected, taking notes, looking for information regarding Portis's assertions. He finds that two counsellors regularly boarded the black ship.

Chalker: "How did you get invaded -- I mean, ate -- by demons?" Portis: "The 'demons' look like halflings, but their proportions are wrong. Their limbs are long and bony. Their skin turns from white to black. It's unclear where their home country is."

Shawna recalls elven wardens' tales from hundreds of years ago of "corrupted halflings" living in an overgrown valley filled with fantastic creatures, and other stories of "sick halflings" in the eastern empire.

Chalker checks Lugar's Aura - Greedy, not religious but observant, loyal to those he considers friends. Lugar had "brushed against something demonic/evil" about a week ago. Physically he is 5'8", wiry, with large eyes and slightly protruding ears. Lugar grins and says, "I'm Lugar the Thief!" Lugar's knife slides out of its sheath and points at Lugar's head as Chalker demands, "When were you in touch with demons?" "I don't know... For the past week or more I've seen dark halflings about, particularly at the Iron Tavern, spending money, casing the area... had a military vibe." The knife returns to its sheath.

Shawna asks Chalker and Alastor, "If they've been in the city that long, how did we miss them?" Alastor remembers the waitstaff at the Iron Tavern all getting sick at once. Shawna recalls nonspecific things that she didn't really notice at the time.

Alastor queries Portis about the keep. "It's an old stronghold that was rediscovered three or four months ago. Two entire exploring parties were lost before the Protectors opened the place up." Alastor: "The dark ships first appeared a couple of years ago and remained in the harbor for a week." Portis: "There were meetings... they were turned away at that time... Eventually we made deals with them." Lugar: "What did you get in return?" Portis: "I let them borrow my consciousness." Intrinsius: "You sold your body?" Portis: "I rented it."

Alastor: "The slimy ring, what's its purpose?" Portis: "It connects me to the realm of the dark. By projecting through the ring, I can call on them for help."

Chalker writes to Ahn-Lee: I found a new thief -- cannon fodder. Come out soon. Ahn-Lee: BRT Ahn-Lee writes to Branamin: Fun's over, come on out. Tell Chun. Ahn-Lee tells Kimtri, "Take as much as you can carry -- or more."

Ahn-Lee arrives and Lugar's eyes pop as Chalker takes out Tiny Wagon, enlarging it to one-horse size to accomodate Ahn-Lee's loot.

Rory writes: There is a gate five miles from the center of the country. Chalker: Have Trace waiting.

Chalker motions for Lugar to accompany the group. Lugar asks, "How do I know you won't cut my throat?" Chalker: "I need you, why would I hurt you? Besides, I could kill you now."

Branamin puts Lugar, Intrinsius, and Chun to sleep. They're loaded onto Medium-Sized Wagon and Chalker's horse hitched to it. Ahn-Lee and Chalker are alert for anyone following them. The streets are almost deserted; most of the people they see are patrols from the expeditionary force. Ahn-Lee spots a guy three blocks away, recognizing him as Lugar's buddy. Ahn-Lee slips into the shadows and 'buddy' walks right past him. Ahn-Lee needles him and drags him into an alley, removing three pouches containing a total of 15sp 4cp, a cheap set of lockpicks (which he discards), two knives and a dagger (which he tosses a few alleys away).

They near the building with the gate. Chalker unhitches the horse and shoos it away. Branamin levitates the unconscious men down to the gate chamber.

Shawna assigns two runners, a scribe, and three researchers to assist Alastor. Alastor leads them into the palace where he selects an elaborate interrogation cell in which to get set up.

Shawna returns on horseback to the harbor.