Sapphire:Sessions:20180728
Chalker had been called by his brother Frederick to the Dolyenan Embassy to discuss trade between Dolyena and Sapphire.
Ahn-Lee learns that Cinnamon Brandy LeHigh had escaped from the imperial prison. It is likely she took the item Ahn-Lee had been planning to steal, a suit made of spider silk. He heads over to a potion shop to see about buying a Magic Resistance potion from Azzhik.
Alastor's day began normally. He had been out early gathering herbs. He enters the potion shop, gives the herbs to the lizardman behind the counter, and takes delivery of some elixirs.
Ahn-Lee, as is his wont, sizes up the newcomer: human male, mid-20s, scruffy brown hair, blue eyes, whisker stubble. A crystal hanging from a cord around his neck is marked with a symbol of Delsa, as is the fine knife sheathed at his waist. Ahn-Lee strikes up a conversation, learning that the other fellow is named Alastor Wyncent and he is apprenticed to an apothecary named Jules.
A couple of rough-looking men (SO, OG) enter the shop. It soon becomes quite obvious to Ahn-Lee that they are casing the joint and are waiting for Ahn-Lee and Alastor to leave. As though by agreement, Ahn-Lee and Alastor step back, blocking the door. The shorter thug, SO, backs away from Azzhik's snarl and bumps into Alastor, who grabs SO, puts his knife to his throat, and says, "Do you want to die today?" SO: "No... Let me go and you'll never see me again." Alastor: "What's it worth to you?" In response, SO pulls a knife and OG draws a shortsword. Ahn-Lee fast-draws a knife and stabs OG in the throat. Alastor stabs SO, and SO screams as Alastor twists the knife.
Alastor: "Drop your weapons and your money." The thugs comply, SO whimpering, "We just got to Sapphire." Alastor: "Now get out. There's a healer down the street. Ahn-Lee collects 6cp; Alastor gets 5cp and a sword. Ahn-Lee offers to buy Alastor a drink at the Boar's Head; Alastor says he'll be there in an hour. Alastor pawns the sword for 1gp 5sp.
Ahn-Lee and Alastor while away several hours chatting and drinking at the Boar's Head. Around 4pm Chalker writes to Ahn-Lee, "Emmy wants a body. I might have to kill someone." Alastor thinks it odd when Ahn-Lee takes out a book, chuckles at something he reads, then writes something.
Deciding to take Ahn-Lee into his confidence, Alastor asks if he knows anything about a conspiracy against the Apothecary Guild. Ahn-Lee vaguely recalls someone taking out a contract on a certain apothecary a year ago. Alastor says there has been "degradation of ingredients" and that some guild members have been "bumped off." "We are preparing for the worst."
Chalker again asks Rory if there's any way he can acquire the ship confiscated by the Empire. Rory thinks it unlikely, but he will inquire in a couple of days. Well into the evening, Chalker finally returns to Envoy Manor, speaks with Jeeves, gets cleaned up, and relaxes. Jeeves informs him that "Miss Shawna" had been by.
When Bajeeter comes on shift, he tells Ahn-Lee that there has been talk of Shawna out catching rats. Also, Khalid was looking for Ahn-Lee a few days ago.
Ahn-Lee notices, at a table in the corner, Jax seated with three other people. Ahn-Lee gets up and walks over. Jax claims he wasn't expecting Ahn-Lee and motions him to a seat. "My mother is irritable and doing unwise things. Father asked me to help.... You're a catalyst, a member of a catalyst group. You can help leverage my mother to a better place."
Alastor approaches; Jax dismisses his acolyte and Alastor seats himself. Ahn-Lee tells him, "This is Jax. He's kind of an asshole." Jax: "I get it honestly; my mother's a bitch." To Alastor, Jax says, "If you follow your suspicions, you will benefit the empire." Ahn-Lee to Jax: "Only keep yourself hidden if it's not to my detriment." Jax pays for their dinner and drinks. After Jax departs, Ahn-Lee advises Alastor, "I wouldn't recommend you talk to him again."
Shawna arrives at Envoy Manor and introduces Chalker to Neville Dalton. Chalker is quite impressed by the variety of skills Neville can claim.
Alastor lip-reads various conversations. In particular, a woman named Pamra wants her husband killed. His name is Caleb Bond, he is "the third son of a minor noble," and he is a wealthy merchant.
Ahn-Lee opens his Journey Book and reads a message from Shawna to come join the gathering at Envoy Manor. Ahn-Lee writes back, "I'm bringing a friend."
The group enjoys food and drink while they catch up on each other's day. (Chalker, of course, checks Neville's and Alastor's Auras.) There is discussion of the Apothecary Conspiracy (Chalker is openly skeptical and says Alastor is probably delusional), Pandemonium Guild (increasingly active in Sapphire), Mother of Night (Shawna describes how she first met Neville and killed a priest of Charesoon), and CBL's incredible escape from prison.
The party breaks up. Alastor heads home. Neville goes looking for a nightcap. "What are you famous for? Give me two." Ahn-Lee notes that both of them are being followed away from the manor.
Ahn-Lee sneaks up on one of the spies, who is looking for a messenger, and startles him. The spy was following that person "because he left the envoy's house... Tate Patel hired me to observe the manor and to follow anyone 'new'.... I'm to send information by runner to a bartender at the Cheap Book." Ahn-Lee recognizes the name Tate Patel, a member of the Thieves Guild who is supposedly dead.
Ahn-Lee lets the spy hire a runner, then follows the runner to the Cheap Book, takes a seat at the bar, and orders a drink. He asks the bartender, "Who does the message go to?" "None of your business." "Can you be bribed?" asks Ahn-Lee, laying down a silver piece. "A man contacts me. Name is Dan. Average height, ugly. Talks with a Saracene accent."
Around 2am Alastor takes his potion and goes to bed.
Around 4am, Ahn-Lee follows the last link in the chain to The Hawks Tavern & Inn in the southern part of the city. (The man is alert but Ahn-Lee avoids detection.) It's a very nice building, two stories high. He notices there's someone on the roof watching the inner courtyard. A light comes on in a room on the second floor facing the inner courtyard. Ahn-Lee climbs up to the roof, uses a sleep needle on the watcher, then climbs down to the second-floor window.