Sapphire:Sessions:20170909
Ahn-Lee heads for a rendezvous with a 'snitch' who is to give him a lead on Jorel. There is a lot of activity around the docks. The informant indicates that Jorel is hiding aboard a particular trading schooner. Ahn-Lee pays him a silver.
Ahn-Lee boards the schooner. There is no one on deck and no signs of activity, but a terrible stink emanates from belowdecks. Ahn-Lee quickly locates its source: a cabin with a portable alchemy lab set up. The man working there is too busy to notice when Ahn-Lee pushes the door open. Sizing up the man's mustache, eyepatch, and long dark hair, Ahn-Lee figures this must be Jorel. Ahn-Lee pokes Jorel with a sleep needle and watches him collapse. Jorel's purse contains but 3cp. Ahn-Lee ties up Jorel, then writes in his journey book.
Chalker had invited Shawna and Azzhik to dinner at the Boar's Head. "We seem to be pushed toward Gateway. I want to go to Malprin." He relates the story from his time as a courier. A fellow courier had delivered a message to a Malprin merchant, who was so upset at the message that he stabbed the messenger in the chest. Though badly wounded, the courier lived. Chalker, in reprisal, went to Malprin and cut off the merchant's right arm. Chalker believes that Malprin subsequently sicced the PDG on him.
Chalker's journey book buzzes, and Chalker notifies Azzhik that Ahn-Lee had captured Jorel. Azzhik immediately goes to the dock to meet Ahn-Lee. "Where is he?" Azzhik growls, then angrily trudges behind Ahn-Lee. As they approach the schooner, there is a nicely-dressed woman dithering at the end of the boat's flimsy plank. Abruptly she scurries up the plank (almost falling off) and hurries below.
Ahn-Lee leads Azzhik to the lab, where the woman, kneeling, is frantically trying to awaken and untie Jorel. Ahn-Lee: "I don't think you belong here." Woman: "I hired him! He's working for me!" Azzhik, who has recognized the smell: "He is making influence... control." Noticing the lizardman for the first time, the woman screams. To quiet her, Ahn-Lee puts his hand over her mouth; she tries to bite him. Woman: "They eat people!" Ahn-Lee: "Then don't agitate him."
As Azzhik collects about 1gp worth of alchemical ingredients ("He owes me"), the woman stammers out an explanation. Her mistress, the daughter of a well-known merchant, is making deals that will get her trading house in trouble, and won't listen to her. Ahn-Lee: "Wouldn't it have been easier to leave her?" She has no answer, merely repeating her story.
Azzhik notices Jorel on the floor, picks him up and shakes him, then gives him an antidote to the sleep drug. "Where is it? Since when do you make potion?" When Jorel claims he is an alchemist, Azzhik laughs at the notion, then makes Jorel drink some of the smelly potion the latter had been making. The potion makes Jorel sick. Jorel: "I'm trying to make money so I can pay people back." Azzhik gives Jorel one more week to repay him, then tells the woman he will finish making the potion and she should come to his shop in the morning.
Chalker explains to Shawna that the gate to Malprin emerges beneath someone's house. Saying "I have to make an apology," he leaves for Temple Row.
Ahn-Lee follows the woman until she gets to a better part of town. He returns to the Boar's Head and tells Shawna about Jorel and the woman. Shawna asks Ahn-Lee about his family. Reservedly, he tells her his father died young and he never knew his mother. They also discuss the ethics of the Assassins Guild.
In the temple of Yasseph, an elven priestess (who had been part of the dark mithril trial) approaches Chalker. Chalker: "I have come to apologize to the lady. It upset me that Chaos, Crazy, and Pain were closer to me than Light. All the First Chosen have an effect on me. Roo messes with my brain; Asseraah is mad because we're closer than we like. In your presence I feel calm, and I'm seldom calm. You smiled upon me by sending one of your favorites, so I apologize for thinking you had turned against me or abandoned me." The priestess, in the goddess' voice, intones "Apology accepted" and walks away.
Chalker writes in the journey book to Ahn-Lee: "Ever heard of Malprin? Wanna go?" Ahn-Lee: "I charge by the arm." Chalker: "Bring knives -- lots of knives."
Next morning, Azzhik delivers the control potion to the shop. The woman arrives, still quite nervous; Ahn-Lee is close behind her. Azzhik: "Do not use it wrong. It is very strong. When it works, you pay me. It will make you rich."
Ahn-Lee: "Excuse me, miss? You should be more cautious. There were some unsavory characters following you last night. There are many parts where the city guards are... not relevant." The woman warms quickly to the charming rogue. She tells him her name is Brigid Lamood, and she works for Clementina Barons. Ahn-Lee has heard the name.
The group prepares to go to Malprin. Branamin casts Illusion Shell on Azzhik so that he appears to be a nondescript human. Ahn-Lee adopts the pseudonym Robert E. O. Speedwagon. Chalker becomes a middle-class merchant, Rice Kellogg, and Shawna his partner, Coco. Trace has dug tunnels from the Malprin gate that open into the wine cellar and an adjacent alley.
They arrive in Colvin (pop. 20,000), the capital of Malprin, around noon (the date is Frost Time 3). In a caravan area in the northwest part of the city, Ahn-Lee spots three thieves but no assassins. Shawna indicates a man on horseback whose clothing and other trappings indicate he is from Vendoza, a slave-holding country on the west coast of the Peninsular Kingdoms; he is a so-called "Protector," a maintainer of order. Chalker checks the man's aura: psi ability, resistant to psi and magic, greedy, strong will, discipline, orderly thoughts, observant to the First Chosen.
Azzhik approaches the wagon of a potions vendor and strikes up a conversation. Among the potions for sale are invisibility, growth, shrinking, and eagle form. Inside a lockbox Chalker sees 8 labeled glass vials.
There are slaves working in the area from many parts of the world, including the eastern Calventine Empire. Almost all are human, though a few might be part elf, and there are also a couple of halflings.
Moving on into the city, Chalker observes that it's a little shabbier than when he was here last, five years ago.
They choose a place called Spruce Goose for lunch. Slaves stand along the walls, awaiting orders. Most slaves seem resigned to their lot, but some appear to be drugged into docility. Azzhik, setting up his portable lab: "Maybe I can buy a slave to experiment on." Ahn-Lee: "I wouldn't say that out loud." Chalker notes two more intelligent-seeming slaves, asks Azzhik if he has a counter to the drug, and asks Ahn-Lee for a needle. Chalker swishes the needle in the potion, then jabs several slaves in succession. One slave shows signs of becoming aware; Chalker catches his eye and holds a finger to his lips. The slave elbows the fellow next to him.
Shawna senses a strange aura, that this is a place of consensus, a hub of sensitivity and detection, associated with a dragon spirit. To her knowledge, there have been no dragons for at least 3000 years. Dragons were always extremely rare, created by the First Chosen in the early days. They were spirits of air, a force for order. Only two dragons were known to exist after the Golden Age, one in the mountains east of the elf lands, the other near Derakor. It is unknown what happened to him.
The tavern owner comes over to the table, complaining about the fire Azzhik has lit. Chalker gives the man 2sp. His name is Gree Millay, and the tavern has been run by his family for 100 years. Chalker asks about the slaves. They are all for sale; some (including the two 'aware' ones) are owned by Skellini & Moller, the others by Patella, Rocco, and Kemper. Millay boasts that Protectors often visit his place. The head chef is his younger sister, Emelyn. His family owns slaves, but none of them work in the tavern. As Millay turns to leave the table, Azzhik causes a small explosion.
Shawna silently prays to Yasseph for guidance -- how to free the dragon spirit. The response is "You are taking the first steps to bring Malprin back into alignment."
The group goes to Skellini's Exchange. Shawna casts Purify on a jewelcrafter, immediately bringing him out of his drugged docility. He had been sold to Skellini by his former master. Shawna whispers, "Don't lose hope; the wind is changing."
Chalker buys five slaves, including the jewelcrafter, for 10gp and is given charms for controlling them. The group returns to Spruce Goose and Chalker asks Millay where he might rent a house for a week. Millay is flustered by this simple request, but his sister Emelyn says that the family owns a house that is currently vacant. Chalker pays 1gp for a week's rent and meals.
At the house, Chalker questions the slaves. Olaniel, the jewelcrafter, says he is from the Isles and was taken during a voyage to Zondell; his father had been killed in the struggle. He is kept drugged because "I never give up." Chalker checks his aura: Impressive will, artistic talent, intuitive, magery 0, no psi, good man, spirituality of Cor, and some trait Chalker can't identify. The city seems run-down at least partly because Malprin has lost many ships and trading partners.
Told that there is a ship in the harbor, Crimson Hollow, flying the PDG flag, the group drives the wagon toward the docks to reconnoiter. Shawna asks Azzhik about making explosives and sleep gas. A man with a sword is talking with another; his head jerks up and he stares at Ahn-Lee and Azzhik. Ahn-Lee gives him a nod. The man rides up, gives the name Gallifred, and addresses Ahn-Lee. "You and your employers are going to be important to me. I wonder if we have met before?" He wants to treat "Robert" to a meal at the Spruce Goose in a few days. He is a "protector of culture and social order." He flicks a copper at Ahn-Lee, perhaps to test his reflexes; Chalker slows the coin and Ahn-Lee grabs it and hands it back to Gallifred. Gallifred beckons over his friend and introduces him as Andrew, a mage. Gallifred repeats that he will dine with Robert in two days, perhaps sooner.
Shawna identifies thirteen "anchor points" for the dragon spirit.
Temple Row in Colvin is not elaborate. There are temples for each of the First Chosen, all equal in size.
As night falls, the group drives their wagon out of town. After dark everyone hides in the wagon except Ahn-Lee and Azzhik, who drive the wagon into the caravan yard. Two thieves quickly close in. Ahn-Lee grabs one and says, "Give me all your money." The thief goes for his knife and Ahn-Lee disembowels him; "You made a big mistake." Chalker cracks the other thief's ribs.
Returning to the gate, Shawna opens a portal to Dolyena. Chalker says "We have five new citizens." He tells the slaves they are free and they should talk to Seman. Azzhik ceremoniously burns the slaves' ownership papers. Chalker speaks to Prince Melcor.
The group returns to Sapphire, where it is midnight. In the morning, Chalker will have the twelve pearls (given in appreciation by the citizens of Taybor Cove) appraised. Shawna asks for a particularly pretty pearl as her share.