Sapphire:Sessions:20180113

Oddly, the crowd at the Copper Anchor is giving no heed to the unfolding drama, save for possibly two individuals. Ahn-Lee observes that the bartender, a fighter type, is paying close attention to us. And there's a woman seated in the common room with two well-to-do men; from her demeanor and clothing Ahn-Lee guesses she is a high-class escort or courtesan. However, there are also at least four knives on her person.

Bob, who has just stepped into the room, has a magic wand tucked into his belt as well as a sword and knives.

Lindsey Gretz again offers to Ander to release Donna, Ander's girlfriend, when Ander hands over his two bloodstones. LG, his black eyes flashing with silver glints: "They are rightfully mine. They belong to the Gretz family, an ancient clan with a history extending back through all of history. My clan created the seven bloodstones, then they were lost in the turmoil of the catechism [sic]. With the bloodstones, we will reclaim the kingdom that belongs to us!"

Noticing that Bob is barely containing his laughter during LG's speech, Ahn-Lee comments, "Bob thinks it's really funny." Bob immediately straightens up and assumes a neutral expression. Chalker: "Maybe he's related to Jax."

Chalker to LG: "Are you related to Charesoon?" Gretz scowls and snarls, "Why - do - you - say that?" With each of the first three syllables, a bloodstone pops into visibility and hovers in the air. Chalker unobtrusively 'hooks' Magekiller as he says, "I apologize."

With a sudden movement Gretz sends the bloodstones streaking toward Ahn-Lee, Chalker, and Shawna. Shawna raises her right hand and the stones change trajectory, moving into an orbit 5" in front of her open palm. The courtesan (C) quickly jabs her two companions in the neck with needles, and they immediately collapse. BT reaches for something behind the counter. Ahn-Lee notices the tavern doors are glowing.

Ahn-Lee leaps into the air, lands so that he is facing both BT and C, draws and throws two knives; C dodges but BT is struck in the chest; Ahn-Lee then spins around to face Bob. LG screeches at Shawna in mangled Elven [he meant to call her a vile name, but it came out tomato sauce] and mentally pulls on one of the bloodstones, but despite exerting much power it moves only slightly toward him. Bob suddenly wields a knife in each hand; dropping into a combat stance he smiles at Ahn-Lee and boasts, "I'm better." C scrambles toward Ahn-Lee, knocking over a chair in her hurry. Chalker draws Dink-Dink and slashes at LG's wrist, but LG pulls his hand away. Ander steps toward LG. G1 and G2 (the two guards standing on either side of Ander) draw shortswords and charge at Chalker, who exclaims "I said I was sorry!" as he avoids their slashes. Shawna exerts her will and one of the bloodstones shatters into shards which scatter everywhere (though they strike neither her allies nor any noncombatants); Bob dodges but this forces him out of his combat stance; G1 also dodges but G2 does not; LG, gaping at Shawna, is hit by several shards.

As he draws two knives Ahn-Lee closes with Bob, then surprises him with a kick that Bob fails to dodge. LG tries to take control of the remaining two bloodstones but Shawna's will holds fast. Chalker ("giving myself time to think") kicks a table, the edge of catches LG across the chest; something crushes and a bloody haze appears around LG. Ahn-Lee parries Bob's attacks, then dodges away from C's attempted backstab, placing himself so he can see both Bob and C. Chalker parries G1, and G2 misses. BT vaults clumsily over the bar. Shawna concentrates on the second bloodstone.

Chalker announces to Gretz, "We're going to put a re- in front of your name!" As if on cue, the blood haze dissipates, revealing two men - Lindsey Gretz with an open wound in his side with broken ribs protruding, and his twin Re-Gretz, looking pissed, wearing clothing that appears to be made of iridescent fish scales and wielding a white sword (which Chalker realizes contains no metal at all). Bob smiles at Ahn-Lee again and again assumes a combat stance (and Ahn-Lee recognizes the technique). Moving so that Bob is between him and C, Ahn-Lee tells Bob "Hold these" and stabs at Bob with both knives; Bob barely parries one, but Ahn-Lee drives the other right through Bob's clothing (which protects like hard leather) and leaves it in his chest. Chalker runs around the table (part of which has disintegrated where it had struck LG) and swings at RG; the white sword's parry chimes like glass. Indicating the white sword, Chalker asks, "From Zales?" After some acrobatic maneuvers C swings wildly at Ahn-Lee, who dodges nimbly. Bob has been forced out of his combat stance and Ahn-Lee can tell he's even more upset by that than by the knife sticking out of his chest. G1 and G2 attack Shawna; G1's wild swing misses completely, and G2 throws his sword into a ceiling beam. Although BT is not a particularly large or heavy man, his footsteps shake the floor as he charges toward Ahn-Lee.

LG, with a mixture of rage, amazement, and obsession, keeps trying to regain control of a bloodstone. RG looks even more pissed when Chalker parries his swing. Then Chalker, after touching the figurine, grabs at RG to try to pin his arms, but RG counters with a brawling move. Ahn-Lee parries and dodges Bob's attacks. C slashes at Ahn-Lee but misses. Cracks appear in the second bloodstone as Shawna exerts her will. She is so focused that she ignores G1's attack, which doesn't get through her armor. G2 pulls out a knife. BT is approaching. Ander steps up beside LG, reaches into the open wound and clenches his fist. [Ew.] In rapid succession Ahn-Lee smacks his open hand hard across Bob's face ["He'll still have that handprint on his cheek in his next incarnation!"], drops his dagger, pulls out a needle, and jabs Bob with bear poison. "Who is she?" Ahn-Lee shouts as Bob falls on the floor.

LG slaps at Ander, who ignores him. Chalker feints at LG but suddenly headbutts RG, breaking the latter's nose. The second bloodstone fractures into pieces and falls. Ahn-Lee tries to cloak C, who ducks and counterattacks with her knife, then swears as Ahn-Lee dances away. BT swings wildly and Ahn-Lee dodges. Putting all his effort into it, G1 swings at Shawna, who simply steps aside; the blow strikes G2 instead, who collapses from shock. Ander, his expression calm and focused, pulls his fist out of LG's side, ripping away three ribs. [Ewww.]

The remaining bloodstone moves half the distance toward RG. Ahn-Lee hears the rustle of wings. Shawna growls one word, "Justice," and the bloodstone cracks. C turns and flees toward the back entrance; Ahn-Lee calls after her, "See you later!" Chalker steps up and with the flat of his blade strikes the immobilized bloodstone. He feels as though he struck a column of solid metal instead of a fragile-looking stone. The fractures in the bloodstone multiply, but Dink-Dink's blade snaps in two. BT swings at Ahn-Lee who leaps over the club. G1 turns and runs. Ahn-Lee stabs BT in the vitals.

Chalker calls out "Flame on!" and swings at RG's neck; RG dodges, but his concentration is broken. "Nooo!" cries RG in a tortured voice; a beam like red lightning crackles from the bloodstone, healing RG's injuries. Ahn-Lee stabs BT in the vitals again, then says "Check this out" and throws his other knife, sinking it deep into RG's chest. BT raises his club, takes one step toward Ahn-Lee, and collapses. Shawna calmly says "Yes" and her silver lightning bolt strikes the bloodstone, causing more fractures; the red lightning cuts off.

Failing to re-establish his bloodstone link, RG steps back and waves his sword around in a fast figure-eight. A guinea hawk flies through the roof toward the fallen Bob. Chalker releases Magekiller, then hooks Ahn-Lee's knife and pulls it deeper into RG's chest. Shawna quietly says "In my Lady's name" and the third bloodstone breaks. RG screams and goes berserk. Ahn-Lee hurls two knives at the guinea hawk, one of which hits.

RG rushes Chalker, swinging; Chalker does a retreating dodge. The guinea hawk hovers above Bob. Shawna hurls lightning at the guinea hawk; it explodes and Bob's body vanishes. Chalker pulls the knife upward through RG's body. Ahn-Lee throws two knives at RG but they bounce off RG's armor.

Ahn-Lee runs up and shoulder-slams RG, who staggers a couple of steps and then swings at Chalker and misses. Chalker swings his flaming sword, which strikes RG in the neck and sets his armor on fire. Shawna adds a lightning bolt.

RG swings wildly at Chalker. Ahn-Lee jabs a poison needle into RG's open wound, and RG finally falls.

Ander stares numbly at his bloody hands. Ahn-Lee collects stray weapons. Chalker retrieves the broken-off part of Dink-Dink's blade, vowing to take the sword to Ironsinger to be forged anew. As the doors stop glowing and the Aversion spell fades, the other patrons become aware of the carnage and rapidly exit the tavern.

Chalker searches LG and comes up with a set of keys and a money pouch heavy with gold and silver coins. He turns his attention to RG and observes that RG is being reabsorbed into LG. With Dink-Dink's shard Chalker cuts into the fish scale armor and finds a fishbone; when he removes it, the re-absorption stops.

While Ahn-Lee is searching C's two companions, a man comes up and asks him, "What just happened?" "There was an ambush. We saved you." The busybody begins babbling, "Oh, some rogue mages were going to rob us?" and other nonsense. Ahn-Lee, mildly amused, replies "You pay good attention." Chalker calls out "The Kelloggs saved you!" adding to Ahn-Lee, "Thanks for the assist!"

Shawna silently asks Santash, "Where is 'Bob'?" "He is coming back to the world, but he will not interfere with you in any way. This is guaranteed. He has a pact with Dar."

Chalker decapitates LG and stows the head in a sack. He says to the busybody, "Y'all run get the city guard; the Kelloggs are out."