Sapphire:Sessions:20170311
Chalker, grasping Baron Pollisk's sword by the hilt, feels a static charge but doesn't see electricity or sparks. He sheathes the sword in its scabbard and straps it to his back. To the ten mercs whose brains had been tampered with, Chalker says, "You're hired. Come with me." (To Branamin, who's in the guise of a mercenary, he says, "I already hired you. Come on.") He explains to the guild admin, "Some evil magic has been performed. I'm taking them to one of the temples." The admin asks Shawna, "Should I report this?" Shawna replies, "I wouldn't."
Chalker instructs Ahn-Lee to hire a carriage and take the baron to Chalker's house in Old Town.
Chalker marches the mercs to a local clinic/shrine of Zeph. He introduces himself to the priestess, takes her by the arm, and explains, "Their brains have been altered and they need to be healed. It is old magic. Last time I talked to Our Lady, she was kind but firm about me talking to her." Priestess: "I understand, I believe, what you are referring to." Chalker: "She knows. My Lady understands. Charge all expenses to the Mercenary Guild."
Chalker, Shawna, and Branamin hire a carriage to take them to Old Town. (Branamin impresses the driver by "jumping"/levitating to the top of the coach.) Jeeves shows them to an interior room where Ahn-Lee has tied Baron Pollisk to a chair. Chalker has Jeeves wake Sybonne. He "hooks" the Baron's sword and shuts it in another room. Ahn-Lee leaves to take care of other business. Branamin pours wine for himself and Shawna.
Chalker puts his bracer around the Baron's neck and looks inside his head. Many brain cells are larger and their interactions "more firm [sic]" and more efficient. Areas that Chalker has come to associate with psionics are activated. There is no dark mithril, and there are no structures to account for his control over others. His aura is very strong; he has several psi abilities including telekinesis, very low Magery, and a stronger version of certain aspects Chalker had previously seen in Terry Coleson and Barry. The Baron has an intense bond to some item; Chalker figures it's the sword.
Chalker asks Sybonne to find the courier the Baron had said earlier he was sending to his patron. Chalker detects a powerful force flowing through the sword and into Sybonne; she stiffens, then jerks backward and tumbles to the floor. Branamin immediately tends to her; she has a great deal of bruising to her body, and her closed eyes are flicking back and forth.
Chalker checks auras; Sybonne's is normal for her, while the Baron's bond with the sword has gotten even stronger. Chalker identifies a 'signature' and an open psychic link to what he thinks of as a "master mind-master" in a part of town mostly occupied by well-to-do merchants and lesser nobility. Shawna traces the link to the mansion of Baron Dewith.
Branamin conjures a swarm of flies to locate a Wizard's Eye or other spy device, but finds none.
Chalker revives Sybonne, who says she had been "in the loop of a nightmare" until Branamin brought her out of it. She saw a courier from the Messengers Guild approaching a certain mansion, then "something grabbed my mind and I was tortured for information." Chalker: "Get a long sharp knife and if the baron stirs, stab him." Shawna intervenes, saying Sybonne needs to rest and recover, so Chalker brings in his guard captain and gives him similar orders; "Pay attention and don't hesitate."