Sapphire:Sessions:20150425

It's just after midnight on Change Time 28. Yasser, heading back to his shanty near the docks, says "See you at the Boar's Head in the morning." Chalker: "I'll buy you breakfast."

After a good night's sleep, Ahn-Lee goes to the central marketplace to find Jax, who owes him money. "Good job," Jax says, handing over some gold. Ahn-Lee: "You didn't tell me the target was 'enhanced.'" Jax: "I put you in a position to make a lot of gold." "I didn't know you were into altruism." "Absence makes the heart fonder -- but tell Chalker that doesn't apply."

Jax asserts that the point was to show Ahn-Lee that his skills can be used in a different way. "You killed a killer... This shows that you have options, that you can change the direction of your life."

Ahn-Lee presses Jax for more gold because he had been injured in the fight. Jax requests to read Ahn-Lee's mind to learn the details of what took place at the Green Lantern; after some hesitation, Ahn-Lee consents. A few moments later, Jax murmurs, "Someone amplified his natural abilities -- but it wasn't one of the Chosen. That's supposed to be under the radar... Something's going on. When you find out, let me know... Things involving the Chosen are intricate -- I need to keep a low profile." Ahn-Lee: "You need my help, then?" Jax: "No." Ahn-Lee will follow up on the question of who augmented Hunter. Jax adds, "This will bring you gold and fame."

Jax buys breakfast from one of the food vendors for both of them. Ahn-Lee falls into step as Jax walks away from the marketplace and turns up Temple Row, walking in the exact center of the road. Ahn-Lee: "How do you do that?" Jax: "I'm a Chosen, I choose not to be seen.... Your choices may be more important than mine.... I'm going to my disciple's abode -- he's keeping company with a priestess of Phor.... What do you want to hear from me?" Ahn-Lee: "What makes me so important?" Jax: "You've been considering a change -- your thoughts have come to the attention of many. I put you in a path to become an agent of change. You're not religious, but your subconscious thoughts and prayers have come to my attention." Ahn-Lee: "If a First Chosen shows up and starts talking, should I be surprised?" Jax: "Ask Chalker."

Ahn-Lee stops. Jax waves and keeps walking, suddenly fading away. Ahn-Lee says to himself, "That was weird. I'll go talk to Chalker."

Shawna, Chalker, and Yasser chat over breakfast. Jimmy had mentioned a eight-year-old avatar; since Jimmy is an information broker, Shawna guesses the avatar is Mensep, and Chalker concurs.

Chalker asks Yasser about the distinctive ring he wears. "Found it in the Troubled Lands, in a cave that looks like a mouth with sharp teeth. Couldn't point to it on a map, but I'd know it if I saw it. It's quite a ways inland, among some valleys, ravines, and cliffs. We were brawling through a cave full of orcs and goblins. One of the orcs I killed had the ring on him. It was in a dark blue bag with white stitching -- the only thing in that bag. Right away I put the ring on, five years or so ago, and it hasn't left my hand since. The bag? This half-elf that was in the group, name of Renault, kept it." Shawna knows of Renault, who is a fighter/mage who favors the area around the Sapphire Sea. His human mother, who had lived near Sapphire, died about thirty years ago.

Ahn-Lee arrives and briefly describes his early-morning encounter with Jax. Chalker explains that Jax is the son of Phor and the Mother of Night. "He tries to make us believe he keeps the balance between them, working behind the scenes."

Shawna leaves and heads for the elven section of the city. Chalker takes Yasser and Ahn-Lee to Old Town to see the gate. As they cross into Old Town, the high-level thieves immediately pick up on Chalker, who is visibly armed. The stalker known as Molly is talking to a street vendor; Chalker waves and she responds with a nod.

In front of the building, Allie is talking earnestly with several people. She informs Chalker that he will have ownership of the building by tonight; Rory had been by earlier and given her money to hire workers to start cleaning out and fixing up the place. Chalker says, "I have plans for this place." Allie starts to speak to Yasser, who cuts her off with "I may be a dwarf, but I'm not a builder." As the three head into the building, Allie calls out "May Roo be with you!"

Chalker steps over a sleeping wino and leads the way inside, raising his special lantern to illuminate the old building's dim interior. In a large underground room stands the gate, its slots filled with green goo. Yasser recalls finding a similar gate in a cavern. Renault had suggested they haul the gate out; they'd sold it in the riverport city of Lariken to a merchant named Abernathy and made a whole lot of money.

Yasser: "What's the use of a gate, anyway?" Chalker: "To travel quickly. You need keys to use the gates." Ahn-Lee and Yasser think gates are more trouble than they're worth.

Chalker asks Yasser how this gate could have gotten into this underground room. Yasser: "Looks to me like it was taken apart, brought down here piecemeal, and reassembled."

Chalker briefly describes how he, Shawna, Rory, and Trace had found this gate, which was being set up to summon demons. Yasser: "I will fight any man, but not a demon." Chalker: "Don't be a sissy."

They explore several more rooms; there are some items that could be sold (Yasser estimates a few hundred gold pieces' worth), but nothing particularly interesting. The underground passages, which extend at least three or four city blocks, have probably been abandoned for a few hundred years.

Near lunchtime they return to the Boar's Head. Chalker: "The bard's killing isn't for a few days. We can meet up that day and discuss how profitable it is to save him. Ahn-Lee, between now and then, go into the Green Lantern while the bards are playing and establish a baseline. I'll fund your expedition."

Chalker gives Yasser a gold piece for his appraisal inside the building. "How generous," says Yasser sarcastically, pointing out that Chalker had given him a fee of only "one-third of one percent" of the value of the goods.

Shawna learns the results of the dark elf interrogations. The two had come from an enclave located west of the Saracene coast. Their enclave had been hidden for over a thousand years. They had been sent the elders of the Niti clan to seek like-minded elves; they have the ability to know a dark elf when they see one. There is another dark elf sanctuary 300 miles north of Ordin. Asseraah is behind their philosophy, but their auras are closer to Aaoo.

Change Time 30: Ahn-Lee attends an Assassin's Guild meeting.

Feast Time 1: Trace teaches Shawna the spell he created that pulls gems through a gate. He gives her a copy of the runes from the wand he'd found; there are five sets of runes, including a full set of the language that drives his runic spells as well as a demonic set.

Trace gives Chalker what looks like a toy wagon, and teaches him the control words to turn it into a full-size wagon (three different sizes: one-horse, two-horse, four-horse) and back again (cargo will shrink along with it, but it won't hold living things when shrunk).

Trace explains that he's decided to stay in Sapphire, at least for a time. Chalker: "Look in your journey book occasionally -- in case I need help." "That reminds me..." says Trace, who hands Chalker three more journey books; "These showed up on my bed." Chalker: "I could tell you'd found a home here. You and Rory have found what you're looking for." Chalker offers some advice: "Contract with the royal mages -- they really need help -- but don't get into Sapphire politics until you know more about it."

Ahn-Lee had spoken at his Guild meeting about this 'Hunter' and learned that a thief had tried his luck and Hunter had broken his arm. Hunter is armed with a longsword, two knives, and two fighting sticks, but he broke the thief's arm with his bare hands. The Assassins Guild will look into it. Chalker: "You have made a real impression on Jax."

Chalker hands out journey books to Ahn-Lee, Yasser, and Shawna.

Ahn-Lee hires a courtesan and scouts out the Green Lantern. Among other things, he finds a spy hole on the second floor, and a latched door with a silk rope that allows quick descent to the first floor.

Feast Time 2, the date set for the bards' murder. Yasser arrives early at the Green Lantern, just as the bards are finishing their first set. There are over a hundred people in the tavern already. At table 19 Yasser recognizes a dwarf who is seated with a halfling.

A few minutes later, Ahn-Lee enters and goes directly to the bar.

Five minutes after that, Chalker, clad in his ambassadorial regalia, makes his entrance. After noticing four merchants (two couples) at table 17, Chalker seats himself with two scholars from the university. One is struck speechless at suddenly having such an eminent guest; the other manages to say, "It's an honor to meet you." "Have you tried the Special?" Chalker asks calmly, beckoning to Susan, the waitress (a gorgeous young woman with chocolate-brown skin).

Covered with a dark blue hooded cloak, Shawna pauses in the entrance for a moment, regally surveying the crowd. She is pleased to note that the elf she had 'hired' a few days ago is sitting at a table with two humans and a goblin. She glides to the side table where Skylar and Alvin are refreshing themselves and softly warns them, "Someone's out to kill you tonight -- it smacks of a ritual." She accompanies them to the tiny stage where she removes her cloak to reveal her close-fitting gold gown, flowing golden hair, and lapis-blue eyes.

The bards begin to play and Shawna to sing. A loud argument breaks out at a center table and one of the bouncers moves in that direction from his station at one end of the long bar. A merchant stands up, wobbles, and falls face-first into his dinner, knocking the food to the floor.

The man seated at barstool G3 strikes another man in the back of the head, pulls out a fighting stick, kicks another man in the jaw, and leaps atop a table. Continuing to sing, Shawna steps to the front of the stage, spreading her arms; Skylar and Alvin step back, still playing. Chalker hooks Hunter's sword, though just barely, and notes that the stick contains no metal. Chalker rises to his feet.

Yasser breaks into a run. Shawna concentrates and a glow appears around her. Ahn-Lee fast-draws his long knives and tries to slit the throat of the man seated at barstool G4, but the man dodges backward and Ahn-Lee slashes his arm instead, eliciting a scream. Chalker swings the hooked sword, slashing Hunter's clothing but drawing no blood. The attack seems to startle Hunter somewhat, but he points the fighting stick at the stage and fires a Sunbolt, which reflects off of Shawna's raised hand into the rafters. The elf runs around the edge of his table, trying to flank Hunter. Hunter steps down onto a bench. Various guards around the room start drawing their weapons.

One of the bouncers aims a crossbow at Hunter. Chalker pulls the sword away from Hunter, who grabs and just gets hold of it; Chalker's grasp slips but he regains control (feeling that he mentally outfought Hunter). G4 scrambles to get away. Ahn-Lee rushes at Hunter, thrusting with both knives; it's like hitting a stone wall, but his momentum knocks Hunter forward and he lands on the floor on his feet. Yasser keeps running, knocking a scholar aside; a guard tried to intercept the dwarf but Yasser was moving too quickly.

Hunter runs past the flanking elf, plucking the sword from the elf's hand and leaping atop a table. Yasser alters his path and gets within two yards of Hunter. Chalker slams himself into Hunter, who fails to avoid him. Ahn-Lee lets go of one of his knives and pulls out his small crossbow.

Hunter fast-draws a knife in his left hand (keeping the wand in his right) and slashes Chalker's clothes. Yasser leaps from bench to table, tackling Hunter around the legs; they both fall to the floor, smashing a few chairs. Hunter drops his wand but retains the knife. Ahn-Lee drops his other knife and pulls out a crossbow bolt. Chalker chops down with all his might at Hunter's neck but his sword doesn't even make a scratch.

Ahn-Lee drops the bolt into his cocked crossbow, glances around, and jumps down from the table. A big bouncer calls out to the crowd, "If you're not fighting, stay put!" Chalker quickly sheathes his sword, then grabs Hunter by the throat and squeezes. Hunter drops his knife, grabs Chalker's arms and pulls his hands away from his throat, and somehow hurls Chalker away from him; Chalker does a flip and lands on his feet facing Hunter. Yasser moves up Hunter's body into a submission hold, grabbing him under the chin and pulling backward.

Ahn-Lee, crossbow in one hand, picks up one of his knives and approaches the melee. Chalker kicks Hunter in the forehead, then Yasser jerks Hunter's head back, eliciting a grunt of pain. Hunter's eyes close and his body goes limp.

Not to be fooled, Chalker draws his sword and slams the flat into Hunter's forehead, raising a large bruise. Hunter's eyes fly open and he utters a curse word in a language unlike any Chalker has ever heard. Ahn-Lee runs up and points his crossbow at Hunter's face, winking at Yasser. Yasser pulls back on Hunter's head.

Hunter struggles ineffectually in Yasser's grip. Ahn-Lee fires his crossbow straight into Hunter's left eye. The bolt is poisoned, and twenty seconds later Hunter is dead.

Chalker floats Hunter's sword over the crowd and lays it at Shawna's feet; it is of excellent craftsmanship. The 'fighting sticks' that were actually magic wands dissolve into goo. Hunter's apparent invulnerability is gone.

Yasser and Chalker carry Hunter's body into a storeroom and search it thoroughly, finding 20g worth of coins (which they divide four ways) and identification and travel papers for Philip Hunter. He wears no rings or amulets, and his body bears no tattoos. Behind his right ear and at the base of his skull Chalker can see small bits of goo.

There is also a leather folder containing a commission to kill Alvin, kidnap Skylar, and kill someone named Carl Carver. The commission would pay 1000 gold. It must be carried out on the second day of Feast Time. The document is signed "The Tower Mage."

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