CH. 3: Mages, Mages Everywhere

[djhyland]

At Kynaston's declaration of poverty, Darga puts down his pack and begins to rifle through it. After a few moments, he holds up a handful of coins, all glinting with the gray color of steel. "I dunno if this'll be enough fer th'elf, but I kin help with th'cost a gettin' him ta look at th'chest."

[mgbevan]

"Likewise I can offer this too" Gregeddin's hand clatters to the pouch on his belt, knocking the hilts of the swords back and forth to produce his own steet pieces. "Gotta spend it to make it, unless the Jeweller Kendra knows is willing to waive the fee."

[HorizonsDream]

"Yes," Kendra says in answer to Kynstan's almost question. "He might even do it for free," she admits with a shrug. "So we should all pick up some of this stuff that we don't believe to be magical, and take it over there."

[Haahque]

"When you travel as much as I do, and tell as many stories, you pick up some little knowledge of valuable objects. Most of this stuff we picked up off of kobolds and goblins, I doubt anyofit will be magical, except for the stuff we picked up off the mage. I'm willing to bet a bag of steel that Sekla's staff is magical and none of the rest of it is. As for the rest of it, I'd have to take a closer look to see if any of it's worth anything."

Haahqae takes a bit to look over the loot to try and see if any of it is worth much.

(From what I read of the phb, appraising is rolled by the DM in secret, Haahqae has an appraising skill of 14 to appraise the loot.)

[BishGada]

Tulbas nods at his uncle statement. "Yes," he says thoughtfully his brows a little bit raised, "we do need to co-operate with others, yet I'll be careful."
After a moment of silence Tulbas asks his uncle with and afterthought, "Have you met Gnomes before? He is so active all the time..."
When Tulbas learns the contents of Daxia's spellbook he muses, "She must be more advanced than me, a conjurer probably by the spell selection, yet she has only started her journey on the arcane path. I can try and learn some of her spells."

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(OOC: Tulbas tries to copy (1-95 on 1d100) some of the first level spells: Armor (88) success, Read Magic (78) success, Grease (47) success, Mount (88) success.)

[JadedDM]

Trench Residence, 12 River Way
"Thank you," Kynaston says, accepting the coins from Darga and Gregeddin. "That should help a little."

I'm willing to bet a bag of steel that Sekla's staff is magical and none of the rest of it is. As for the rest of it, I'd have to take a closer look to see if any of it's worth anything."

Kynaston picks up the staff and looks it over. "Are you sure? Any idea what it does then?"

Haahqae looks over each item in the chest, one by one, and attempts to appraise them. He estimates the silver, bejeweled tiara is worth 100 steel pieces, the crystal wine glass is worth 500 steel pieces, the jewel-encrusted snuff box is worth 700 steel pieces, the small statuette of a kingfisher is worth 300 steel pieces, the beautiful jade carving of a dragon is worth 1,000 steel pieces, and the platinum ring is worth 300 steel pieces. He cannot decipher the value of the golden broach or the painting of a regal king, however.

Erogundali Mageware Shop, 253 Herbalist Street

"Have you met Gnomes before? He is so active all the time..."

"I have met that particular gnome once before, a few days ago," Raetmal says. "He came in here to research in my library. Prior to that, I only ever knew one other gnome. He had a tinker shop down the street. He claimed he had devised a way to bring water straight to people's homes through a series of pipes, and went down into the sewer to try and map it out. He was never heard from again. That was about 10 years ago; I imagine he drowned in filth or was eaten by rodents of unusual size. I probably shouldn't judge a race based on only two encounters, but from what I've seen, they are fairly energetic, passionate, and prone to leaping without looking first."

Raetmal reopens his shop and disappears into the back for awhile, while Tulbas goes through Daxia's book. He was correct that it seemed she preferred conjuring and summoning spells over all others. Raetmal had taught him about the eight schools of sorcery and how some wizards specialized in certain ones. Tulbas, on the other hand, found he had a great talent for all the schools. He easily copies several spells into his own book without any problem at all.

When Raetmal returns, Tulbas tells him of the book. "It's possible she hasn't even taken her Test yet. I suppose that makes sense. The Tower of Wayreth would be an ideal place for her to hide--the Ergothians could not touch her there. I had wondered why she decided to hide here in the city instead. That must be it. She isn't a member yet."

Raetmal approaches him. "In any case, join me for some tea. I have something to discuss with you."

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(OOC: I'm not sure how many coins Darga and Gregeddin give Kynaston; all of them?

Also, wow, I forgot how smart Tulbas is. With an INT of 19, he's immune to all 1st level illusions, has a 95% chance to learn new spells and can memorize an infinite number of them. @_@)

[Haahque]

Haahqae fills in the group on his estimates with such phrases as "Ah and yes, I saw a platinum ring very similar to this one sold the other week for something like 300 steel. This jade dragon is of pretty high quality, if you look at it just like this you can see the fine craftsmanship. I'd estimate it's worth no less then nine hundr... no one thousand steel pieces."

Then responding to Kynaston, Haahqae comments "I don't know what it does, but all those runes up and down the shaft of the staff make me fairly certain it must be magical, and besides it was carried by the goblin mage, and survived the fire unharmed. That's pretty good for any non magical stick I've seen."

[HorizonsDream]

"So, is the idea that we sell out of this stuff, and then split the steel we get for it?" Kendra asks.

[BishGada]

Tulbas raises from the table at the study, as he walks to the kitchen to prepare some tea he answers his uncle, "The Test..." his eyes glitters. "Well, that could be one solution for Daxia situation if we succeed in rescuing her. But even then, if she hides forever in the Tower of Wayreth there is no point in her being the true heir. Yet again, taking the test and becoming a member is the dream of almost all mages..." his voice trails off.
At the kitchen, Tulbas prepares the tea, returns to the table with the teapot and two glasses, pour a cup for his uncle, then himself, sits and waits patiently for his uncle to speak.

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(OOC: I think the fact that in real life I'm not a genius, contributed for you forgetting Tulbas's super high intelligence )

[mgbevan]

To Kendra Gregeddin replies, "Well yes, that is what I had thought. Unless you particularly want to just divvy up items and take a chance on them." He picks up the painting and continues "I mean, to someone out there, kingy could be worth all the steel under the sun. Being the last one before the Cataclysm and all, you can make out his insignia on the shield here. But unless you find such an enthusiast, its just an oil painting, and not even a pretty one at that." He resigns placing the painting down.

"Haahqae's logic seems pretty good about the magic staff, do we still need to take the things to be identified?"

OOC: I hadn't thought about which coins. I guess a handful would be half the pouch so, 3stp 4 sp

[JadedDM]

Trench Residence, 12 River Way
"Okay, good job," Kynaston says. "We can take this to Kendra's friend and sell what we can, then use some of that money to find out what this staff does. If it's something none of us can use, maybe we can trade it for something decent. Then we'll split what's left over between everyone," he adds, nodding to Kendra and Gregeddin. "Sound good? Kendra should come with me, but the rest of you don't have to, unless you want to."

Erogundali Mageware Shop, 253 Herbalist Street
Raetmal sits a moment to wait for the tea to cool, then takes a sip. "As you know," he begins, "your parents were born into House Mystic, as was I. And of course, you, too. Had it not been for the war, you likely would even now be preparing for your Test and the council would be debating on a good political match for a wife for you." He shakes his head. "Instead you live in the attic of a traitor in a human city that hates magic almost as much as they hate elves. Fate has a strange sense of humor. Still, I've done the best I can. I'm by no means the best shalafi, certainly not one House Mystic would approve of, to be sure."

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Gregeddin gives Kynaston 3 steel and 4 silver pieces to help sell and identify the treasure.

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra picks up the appraised items that she can carry, and makes her way for the exit. "Let's get this over with," she says.

[Haahque]

"Not that I care that much about the treasure myself, but I don't see a reason we should split up now, just before we divide the loot. Why don't we all go along? Besides, I'd like to know what that staff does too." Haahqae replies, and strolls over to the doorway to follow them.

[mgbevan]

"yeah I'll come with "

[BishGada]

Tulbas looks at his uncle waiting to see if he has more to say, when he is sure there is no continue to the sentence he puts a sure hand on his uncle's shoulder and says, "You have been a great shalafi to me, but most important you have been the best family anyone could ask for, supporting me in time of need when I could only endanger you. About being shalafi, you tought me everything I know, and I mean not only the magic itself, but also how to think, how to decide when to use it or not, you thought me how to approach problems and our conversations always challenged me to think deeply. I'm nothing but greatful for you being there for me, and I still have a lot I can learn from you. None of us can change history. What became us was a chain of events none of us is responsible to. It's true that I look on our past with an ache in my heart, but not for the lose of rich or standard, but the lose of my parents and Maelana. Even so, I look upon the future only considering how to make the best of the current situation. And maybe Fate with his humor will have me and Maelana meet again." A shadow crosses over Tulbas's face as the memories of his parent's murder comes vivid back to his mind.
"I mean to help Daxia at the current moment. Then I'll think what to do next and I'm sure I'll consult you 'cause you will shed light on paths I wouldn't consider. It is true taking the Test is enticing to me but I'm not rushing to it. I love you uncle, you are the most important in the world for me."