DDW: Identifications and other Arcana

[Jim Roberts]

[Feb 5 PM -- The Godcarvers]

> Val chuckled, and added, “You or Mithi. I happen to know there are
> some pretty sharp limits on what you can get up to, but cuddling with
> your girlfriend should be just fine.” Both wizards dutifully thanked
> their assembled company, and spent the next several hours simply
> relaxing in each other’s company.

It was closer to midnight than dusk when Finfin was done with his Arcane
preparations for this “extra” spell cycle. As promised, he had prepared
a number of spells useful for the detection and identification of magic
items. However, taking advantage of this extra time, he also prepared an
extensive repertoire of defensive magics that he could hand out now,
fully expecting their benefits to last well through the next day. His
usual Mass Mage Armor was supplied to quite a few of the camp’s ladies –
and perhaps one or two gentlemen who’d asked, as well as a handful of
other Abjurational castings that would last for a considerable while.

Mithi, Lomi, and Tramma all three of them received his Greater Mage
Armor spells, as well as one saved for himself. Mithi also was treated
to a flying Phantom Steed of her own that would last all the way through
the next day, and a fair ways into the following, as well as a few other
long duration spells he cast upon himself.

Several people stopped by to stare as he dug into his chainmail
protected haversack and drew out a sheathed falchion. Pulling it free
from its sheath, he carefully laid it out on a groundsheet.

“That’s quite a chopper,” Josie observed.

“A little something we picked up the other day in Kirgond,” Mithi
explained happily, as everyone watched as Finfin applied a light dusting
of powdered lime and carbon to the blade.

“I understand there may be ants,” the elf explained, finishing his
preparations. “It is, perhaps, just as well we did not encounter them
today, as this would not have been ready. Now, it will be.”

“Seems kinda big for just ants,” Josie observed with a smirk.

Tramma, however, replied, “Sweets, we’ve been warned these may be BIG ants.”

Meanwhile, Finfin was chanting, tracing out a series of glowing red and
yellow lines over the blade. There was a small flash, and a lingering
glowing tracery of red and yellow hovered over the blade before fading.
The Arcanists present could recognize the working as an Extended Greater
Magic Weapon casting. Looking up at his audience, he explained, “It
might be useful, now more than ever.”

He then dug into his bag and pulled out an equally hefty blade. This one
was longer, though not quite as stout. Unsheathing it revealed a
greatsword, its crossguard wrapped with a simple but elegant silver
wire. Sword aficionados could recognize that this blade, unlike the
falchion and the arming sword invariably at his side, had been crafted
in the elven style, and not dwarven.

“Now THAT’s something I’ve not seen before,” Josie mused, and both she
and Tramma peered closer as he set it down beside the falchion.

“Something I picked up in Pelemlaud, and used extensively in an
extraplanar Realm, but not often thereafter,” the elf replied, treating
the greatsword’s blade to a similar helping of carbon and powdered lime.

“Ooo!” Tramma exclaimed. “I’ve heard legends about that place! I’d love
to hear more.”

Finfin nodded absently, finishing the dusting. “I shall share what I
can,” he promised, and then began chanting all over again, repeating
another invocation of an Extended Greater Magic Weapon. His Lizard
Tongue arming sword was then given a similar treatment.

“You’re really planning for trouble,” Josie observed.

“I am,” Finfin agreed.

His personal preparations complete, the blades were all resheathed, the
longer pair returning into his bag, and the arming sword at his side. He
then joined with whatever other wizards had agreed to also prepare an
“extra” session of Arcane spells with their own long term protections,
if any, as well as spells useful for the identification of magic items.

In time, all were duly Identified. The accoutrements for heavy armor, as
well as the grip enhancements for a sword, would all need the services
of an armor or weaponsmith to install. Both of which were available back
at Baldy Delving, for a fee, but none were available now. There were,
among the Away Team, some who suggested giving away the Peppermill and
the chef’s hat, possibly to Vowsister Helmi, or possibly to some other
cook in order to curry favour.

The divinations, however, on these cooking items only served to confirm
what Tramma had already had figured out. The bard had cheerfully used
them to prepare dinner for the Abbot’s Expedition, as well as a late
night dinner for the studious mages. At the suggestion to give away
these items, she proudly brought out a perfectly tended dessert. “And
now for something you should REALLY like,” she proudly announced, “I
call this my chocolate clue souffle!”

Several wry looks were exchanged, particularly among Tramma’s friends.
Hopefully the bard’s little clue had been understood. Not that several
of them were not thinking how much fun it was going to be watching her
campaign if the others DIDN’T take the hint. Tramma was not one to
argue, she was FAR too skilled at gentle persuasion to bother, and far
too fiendishly clever when she felt it necessary to escalate to biting
satire or scathing ridicule. Not that any of them expected it to come to
that, because their musical friend quickly presented what all of them
felt was the most telling point of all in her favor.

“Just think,” Tramma mused dreamily as everyone enjoyed the souffle.
“With these to loan out, even the worst cooks in camp will never have
anyone dreading their turn to cook again.”

“That,” Vowsister Orah intoned heavily, “will be a godsend.”

“Oh, I always try to drop by and help out,” the silver haired chanteuse
smiled. “This will be even better, almost like being in two places at
once. Like the famous chef said, ‘what do I always say? Anyone can cook!”

“Anyone, perhaps,” Finfin agreed, “but you better than many. Why don’t
you take charge of these?” He gave the rest of the Away Team a hard
look, hoping the clue had registered.

“But of course, “ Tramma chuckled fondly.

“Skipper?” Reva asked her CO, once the Cruel Carving Knife had been
identified. “You might wish to consider carrying that; it would make for
a fine offhand, or even primary blade.”

Orah nodded. “We can get it properly blessed on our return back to Symbala.”

“That sounds like a way forward, Number One,” Laquendi replied evenly.
“Of course, if the other silver haired lady would like it back, she will
have it immediately.”

Once the identification was complete, the discussion turned to the topic
of who would be coming along for the next day’s expedition. If there was
to be a cast change, particularly one managed AFTER meeting with the
Foreman and arranged through the use of additional Teleports, this
needed to be planned out NOW.

But nobody seemed to have any strong opinions about shaking up the cast
list that had managed so well on their first day. True, there was idle
speculation about how good it would be if they could fetch Sir Erik the
Red to be on their side, but that posed a number of severe
complications. Stern, too, would be a hugely powerful asset, but the
hulking weretiger flatly refused to go ANYWHERE near a sewer.

“Tigers are like that,” Josie warned. “We DO have exceptional senses of
smell.”

And neither Tramma nor Lomi had changed their minds about coming along
for the second day, so the cast list was all set. With nothing else to
be decided, all opted to call it a night. It was already past midnight,
and so their morning was not going to be especially early. But they
would manage.