CH. 3: Mages, Mages Everywhere

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra raises her eyebrows upon hearing the fee, but she doesn't say anything on the matter. Instead, she focuses on her thoughts.

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin coughs in surprise

He considers a sarcastic line: We might have to kidnap an elven princess and ransom her to raise that kind of money
However, remembering Haahqae has been in Reatmal's magic shop before, he opts for a more conservative approach asking aloud, "Is that a good price for magical identification?"

[JadedDM]

"Yeah, that is...more than I thought it would be," Kynaston admits.

Raetmal nods. "Magic is rare, and therefore expensive; especially in a city like this one. Furthermore, the spell in question I will need to cast to identify the item will exhaust me for a number of hours, which will cost me additional time that I could have spent with other duties."

Kynaston turns to the others. "Well, it's your money as well as mine," he says. "So what do the rest of you think?"

[mgbevan]

"Hmm, well I guess it comes down to how much knowing the kind of magic will add to the value of the staff."

From all the sense that these words made to Gregeddin, he was still clueless in the field of magical wares and their value.

[JadedDM]

"He has a good point," Kynaston agrees. "If it turns out the staff's magic is of no use to us, we just wasted more money than most people ever see."

"Not necessary," interjects Raetmal. "If, indeed, the staff's magic is of no use to you, I would be willing to trade it for an item or items of equal value."

[HorizonsDream]

"Go ahead and spend the money for it," Kendra says. "That is why we are here."

[djhyland]

Darga shrugs. "I dunno if it'll be any kinda help, but we may as well find out what th'thing does."

[mgbevan]

Gregeddin shrugs and nods to Trench

[JadedDM]

Kynaston turns back to Raetmal. "Alright, do it." He starts counting out the money.

Raetmal walks to his counter and sets the staff upon it. He then takes out a scroll from his robe and reads it, then moves his hand over the staff, up and down. "That should purge it of any impurities that might interfere with the identification," he explains.

He then steps into the back for a moment. When he returns, he brings with him a goblet of what appears to be wine, a beautiful pearl, an owl feather, and a pestle and mortar with some golden powder in it. He places the pearl and the powder into the wine, then stirs it up with the feather, before drinking the entire concoction in one shot.

He then picks up the staff and begins to chant in the spidery language of magic. After a few moments of this, the staff glows briefly. Raetmal suddenly slumps his shoulders and is forced to use the staff to keep himself from falling over.

Kynaston steps forward, reaching a hand out. "Hey, are you--"

Raetmal cuts him off with a gesture, shaking his head. After a moment to catch his breath, he stands up fully again. "It is...a very draining spell," he explains. "But it was successful. This is a Ja'Rid or in the simpler Common tongue, if it is often known as a Staff-Spear. First, it has been enchanted to be lighter, stronger and more balanced than an ordinary staff. Not once, not twice, but three times." He looks the staff over. "Ironwood, if I'm not mistaken; likely from the nearby village of Solace."

He holds the staff aloft, so that it is pointing in the air. "When the proper command word is spoken, it changes shape. 'Gore.'" When he says the word, the bottom of the staff suddenly sharpens into a sharp spear blade. "A different command causes another change. 'Grow.'" The staff-spear suddenly elongates to a full twelve feet long, causing Kynaston to step back a bit to avoid it. "Finally, it can return to normal with a third command word. 'Gnarl.'" And as he says it, the item resumes its ordinary staff form.

"If you can find no value to it, I would be willing to trade for it," the Silvanesti offers.

================

(OOC: For clarification, the item is a Staff-Spear +3.)

The party spends 1,000 STP.

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, that isn't useful to me," Kendra admits. "What about the rest of you?" she asks.

[mgbevan]

"Wow that's incredible! A shame that I too am quite incapable with this kind of weaponry."

[Haahque]

"Looks mighty useful, but I must admit that I'm not one to use such an amazing weapon." Haahqae chimes in. "But I do recall seeing a couple other things in here that I wouldn't mind taking instead."

[HorizonsDream]

"Well, I'm sure you probably do see some stuff that would be of use to you, but shouldn't we trade it in for stuff that will be of use to all of us?" Kendra asks.

[Haahque]

"Oh right yes. I guess that some of you might also want some fun toys. Like look at this hat! It would look great on me, and it could look good on you too."

[JadedDM]

After deciding what to do, Kynaston then opens up the chest full of steel. "Right, I'm not carrying this thing any further, let's go ahead and split this up now." He hands out 580 steel pieces and 200 copper pieces to each of them.

"I suggest we meet back here at the mareware shop in the morning and proceed with our plan," Kynaston says.

============

Kynaston and Haahqae are now moderately encumbered (move reduced by 1/2, -1 to hit).
Kendra and Darga are now lightly encumbered (move reduced by 1/4).

(OOC: Everyone can do their own thing now. If you want to have your character retire for the evening, you can write up a description of what they do before going to bed. For instance, 'Kynaston returns home, cleans it up, sharpens his axe, polishes his armor, and then has dinner before bed.'

If you want to roleplay out any scenes, let me know. Otherwise, we'll move forward to the next morning.)