Continued from Session 27: Words Unseen.
Tor'in, Ren, and Amos made their way through the Warrens to the Dire Star tavern, on the trail of Artellus Prusun. Following Braelyn's directions, they were able to find the tavern. Like many buildings in the Warrens, it was ramshackle made from different material sources. There was one murky window that allowed a little bit of a view inside, although the figures were fairly indistinct. There were at least four people inside, and one of them was wearing the brighter robes that Artellus has been seen in.
Rather than go inside, the group came up with the idea of luring Artellus outside. They paid an urchin to deliver a message supposedly from Sana asking to meet Artellus alone. Ren recalled an out of the way spot not too far away by a sausage merchant they could meet at with some privacy. Ren and Amos went ahead to set up an ambush, and Tor'in hid and waited for Artellus to leave the tavern. Artellus left with two other human men, one of which had a mask covering the lower half of his face. They split, Artellus going with the masked man while the third walked over to a side street and moved parallel to the others. Tor'in did likewise, tailing him. Tor'in crept closer and knocked the man unconscious with the back of his hatchet. Riffling through the man's pockets, Tor'in took a few coins, a knife, and a Solari medallion. He then continued to follow Artellus and his companion.
At the meeting point, Ren realized that there was a nearby tower used by the White Daggers that he had forgotten about. He and Amos did their best to find a spot not visible from the tower, and decided to hide inside a hide-bound shelter near a cart track. Artellus approaches while the masked man waits behind about fifty feet. Once Artellus is closed enough, Ren and Amos reach out and pull him in. Tor'in interrupts the masked man from interfering. The masked man pulls down the mask to reveal burn scars over the lower half of his face. He opens his mouth, and a green stream of acid pours out. Tor'in throws his arm up over his face, protecting himself but damaging his armor somewhat. Spots of acid sizzle on the ground around him.
Inside the shelter with Artellus, Amos, and Ren, they agree that they don't want conflict or a fight, just to talk. Artellus calls out "Rickard!" to the masked man and has him stand down. While Ren looms menacingly, Amos states that Artellus is to leave Sana and Kith alone. Artellus agrees, but argues that he merely wants to keep them safe. He fears that the Empire will, at some point in the near future, come for the Solari, just like they did with elves, orcs, and others that were different and showed unnatural gifts. "Nothing would bring the Empire together like a new enemy," he said. Although Amos internally agreed, he still strongly resisted punching Artellus. Artellus and the masked man left.
Tor'in, Amos, and Ren met up with Zarin and Meriel at the Giving Hands. Zarian and Meriel had stopped by the Gilded Stage to put together props, hoping to later swap out Hakur's magical glasses and notes with the imitations. Tor'in gave Meriel the Solari medallion. Zarin's charcoal etching of Meriel's amulet from Mordenkai was recognized as belonging to a soldier in the Imperial Army, a member of the 6th battalion of the Eagle's Grasp.
Before leaving, Tor'in whispered to Amos to meet him at the edge of the Warrens later that night. Tor'in still had a duel to prepare for...
Continued in Session 29: Duel at Dark.