Chapter 13: Session 03

After resting most of a week in the Bulls' base at Westroad, the party handles a few loose ends including collecting a bounty in Larka City for the heads of Demon Ogres, getting Mitu some clothes, conversing with Gorvalyk the Windwalker about Air Emala, and replenishing basic supplies.

Along with Orin Lamir, the party ports to Ordona on the Sea, the site of Orin's home. The party hopes to secure passage on ship bound north to Hrulgaard, and during their stay in Ordona, will be camped at Orin's house.

While some folk relax and recouperate, Rin decides to get involved with a pair of seedy looking gentlemen who appear to be trying to find a fence for some stolen gems, including a sapphire the size of a small plum. Rin meets them, sees the merchandise, and decides to change the plans slightly. Using money secured from the other party members to buy several cut amethysts, Rin offers them the flat cost of the amethysts for everything they have. Readying to fight, he seems to bluff them into compliance, and wanders outside, into two other accomplices. The newcomers launch a volley of bowfire and force Rin to retreat. He takes a circuitous route and thinks he loses them.

During this time, Slip learns that the Red Sun Trading Company, an organization with which he once held close ties, is in town seeking guards for a large freight haul. These traders are not too well disposed toward the young elementalist, who left under dubious circumstances when he fled Mehbt.

Also, Mitu gets quite inebriated for the first time in his life thanks to Orin... who just could not resist the challenge.

That night, everyone beds down quietly, except for Rin. He stays awake and is startled to notice that two men are skulking around the fenceline of Orin's property, looking for someone. Rin sneaks about and sets to ambush them... Slip, being quite a light sleeper, hears the footfalls and hushed chatter of these folk, and awakens. He notes Rin moving behind one of the pair, and slips his blade to the man's throat, holding him immobile under threat of death. Meanwhile, Slip lets loose a bolt of water that catches the other man quite by surprise and leaves him in a crumpled heap, unconscious.

Rin and Slip question the hostage, who informs them that he and his cohort were hired to make a good show of harrying Rin, without actually doing him any serious harm. It was all a ruse to make Rin believe a fine glass forgery was a real Sapphire, that its value was so immense that people whould kill him to reclaim it. In truth, it was nearly worthless, as were half the amethysts. Though Rin's doublecross saved him some money, he still is the worse off for the scam. The two men explain that they are hirelings of the Red Sun Trading Company, paid by the pair of grifters to make a good show while the real culprits escape from town.

Lugh joins the inquiry, having awakened to the sounds of conversation -- and Mitu remains snoring, asleep in a puddle of his own drool. The man does indeed appear to be a hireling of the Red Sun, and as Rin is about to let the man escape with his life, Slip decides to put the man out. He looses another water bolt, fearful that when the guard speaks to his superiors, he'll make mention of an Usho water elementalist in town. Slip is unwilling to draw their attention, and an alternate plan is readied.

The pair are brought to Larka City, and a favor is asked of Commander Kethryn. The pair are to be detained in Larka City for several days, then set free. Kethryn laughs, and quickly concocts a story about a potential health hazard which requires medical examinations and a period of quarantine.

However, Soreiss and Rin (an Mitu initially, though he opted to turn back early on) decide to pursue these grifters using a spell of seeking upon the faux sapphire. They learn quickly that the grifters are travelling by river turtle. They catch up at a small hamlet about 20 miles upriver, and confront the grifters in a dive tavern. Fortunately (or unfortunately), direct conflict is avoided as one of the pair seems quite aware of Soreiss's legend as the flame of Whitefalls. The grifters are convinced to give back the money stolen... and Rin takes a bit extra for good measure.

Later that morning, with everyone back in Ordona, the party asks around about ships bound for Hrulgaard. While many are indeed headed that way, Lugh decides to speak with a the captain of a smaller ship. Captain Ahze is a half-Nohn Luma from Sashmir, a no nonsense kind of fellow who makes it clear that on his ship his word is to be obeyed. However, he offers them a price quote that seems reasonable to Lugh, and the party secures passage on the ship.

The following morning, Captain Ahze and his various passengers leave Ordona, and head out to the open sea, a bit further out than the coastal traderoutes...