Sapphire:Sessions:20170225
Mid-morning, Short Days 5. Branamin is in his lab, studying the Xanthypian language as his carefully separated powerstones recharge.
Ahn-Lee checks his drops. Kimtri, the merchant's daughter, invites him to take her to dinner tomorrow night at a fancy restaurant near the palace.
Shawna rides away from the city to a forested area where she can relax and work with her new companion falcon.
Chalker and Shawna have agreed between themselves to keep an eye on Branamin and the other entities that share his brain.
Several "Copper Kids" bearing bags of coins totaling 108gp visit Chalker.
Later in the day, Branamin changes his appearance to what he imagines a Xanthypian would have looked like, then goes around town buttonholing couples who are wearing the "love token" rings he has been creating and selling. "Such a beautiful ring! It must have cost you a fortune! Five hundred gold at least!"
Shawna searches the university library for references to the final war between the Venettians and the Xanthypians. Of course there are almost none. She borrows one slim, dusty volume that tells of a Golden Age when artifacts allowed people to fly. It also contains the ominous phrase, "... destroyed themselves and crumbled the world with magic and...." She pays a late-evening visit to her friend Lady Thire, who is hard at work on the "dark elf situation." Lady Thire's son, Lar'is (nicknamed Lars) had rescued from the cult a young elf who is now in foster care. Shawna suggests that the dark elf cults may be influenced by ancient knowledge of the Xanthypians.
Short Days 6 is a temple day. Chalker rises at 10am and goes to the temple of Phor. He notices that one of the four holy flames is unlit. After giving observance, he begins circling the altar. Almost immediately, a male and a female priest step forward and motion for him to stop, but he continues past them. "My lord, I have returned from a mystery place from a long time ago, which your presence had influenced heavily. You sent your son to that place. I assume you were on the side that did not prosper in that great war...."
The priestess' face registers shock, then settles into calm. She turns up her left palm and upon it appears 10" high white-hot flame; with her right forefinger she points to the floor. Chalker takes her elbow to have her walk with him, but she doesn't budge. Speaking with an oddly resonating voice she says, "You have a question?" "Did you pick a side?" "Don't you mean, which side picked me?" "Yes, that is my question." "That is not to be spoken of. But you are correct. Their end was in fire and lightning, earthquakes and crashing waves. It was destroyed, and the world rebuilt. You should take instruction from their example." "I'm not sure -- What you said didn't mean what you said. Thank you for protecting me from your wife." The flame vanishes from the priestess' hand as she collapses in a faint. The priest intones, "You walk a thin line." "There is no line. Do you think she will try to eat me?" The priest smirks, "Ask her only active son."
Despite Chalker's attempts to get him to speak further, the priest turns his back on him and escorts the priestess away. Looking around, Chalker notices that the sanctuary, which was quite crowded when he first entered, has been cleared of worshippers. Raising his voice, Chalker promises, "I'll be back. I have more questions."