Nothing seems to happen when Jasper casts his spell, and after an hour or so his skin turns back to its normal color, and the colorful wings disappear from his back.

Jasper, you don't sense any diamonds nearby.

"Oh, what a pity!" comments Khessa about Jasper "I won't miss the blue skin, but the wings were both cute and useful! I wonder if there is a way to fix some Wild Magic effects so that they don't go away..."

Katarina was slightly startled earlier when Khessa snuck up on her, but she laughs along with her new friend.

After the bath, Katarina listens to the others for a while as she dries herself off and gets herself dressed.

"When you find a way to control the wild magic, make sure to let Katarina know," the tabaxi says with a laugh as she does her best to wring a bit more water out of her mane before redoing the braid. "Though if control it we could, would it really be wild magic?"

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

Katarina was slightly startled earlier when Khessa snuck up on her, but she laughs along with her new friend.

After the bath, Katarina listens to the others for a while as she dries herself off and gets herself dressed.

"When you find a way to control the wild magic, make sure to let Katarina know," the tabaxi says with a laugh as she does her best to wring a bit more water out of her mane before redoing the braid. "Though if control it we could, would it really be wild magic?"

"Who knows?" Khessa, who while waiting to dry was noting the details on the volatility of Wild Magic's effects in her spellbook, brings the quill to her mouth for a moment "A wild horse is born wild, but it can be tamed - and neither the horse, nor, necessarily, its temperament, disappears: if it was a fiery horse, it can continue to be so... even having learned to respect the rider who takes care of it. Why it should be impossible, to stabilize a Wild Magic effect that spontaneously manifested itself - wildly, precisely - so that it remains active indefinitely?"

"Anyway" the blonde arcane warrior sighs, resuming her writing "I'm just jotting down the idea so I can keep it in mind and think about it... this one like a thousand others. I still don't have the faintest idea how to do it. Maybe, if, after we've eliminated the threat of Cryovain once and for all, I will have time, I could try some experiment near Gnomengarde... Something that helps to better understand what exactly happens, which causes Wild Magic to manifest itself. For example: we have seen what happens if someone casts a spell. But what if someone arrives with a spell already active? Is the magic already active enough to trigger Wild Magic? Or is it triggered only by the act of activating a new spell? Understanding this, one could speculate about what contributes to triggering Wild Magic and what hinders it. And who knows? If we find something that hinders it… that de-wilds it a little… maybe that same thing could stabilize an effect of Wild Magic right?”

"Well..." the tall adventurer closes the question (and the grimoire) "those are all only hypotheses, at the moment. If I get the chance, I'll investigate further. For now, we have a dragon to stop. And I'm really happy with the step we've taken in this direction! Yours help" she looks with proud blue eyes at both Katarina and Aura "it was very precious, girls! Your arrival was providential. Harbin will be delighted to know you joined us!"

Floating in the water, Jasper hears Khessa’s concerns about casting a spell. “I know but I did something that now I have to see through.” Jasper looks towards Khessa with his glowing white and blue swirling eyes. “I have to find means to pay Fibblestib and Dabbledob for their service. I asked them to make us something with magical qualities to help us fight the dragon. And gave them something to hold. An earnest payment if you will.” Jasper’s eyes go back to normal. Sighing briefly. “Maybe next time. I’ll find something worth some gold. Maybe a diamond or a ruby.” Jasper thinks he should look for more potion ingredients for healing. That I know I can sell. “Will we be ready to head back to Phandalin soon?”

Once finished to dry and to take notes, Khessa gets fully dressed again and is ready to return to Phandalin.

On the way back to Phandalin, Jasper takes time foraging for plants and herbs for healing potions.

Nature Check: 18

Jasper finds double the amount of plants and herbs he would normally find during foraging, enough to craft a Potion of Healing.

Jasper stores his findings in his herb kit and catches up with his companions. “What do you think Harbin will think of our news of the gnomes?” Asking of the group. Quickens his pace to walk near Khessa. “These items they gave us may prove useful, don’t you think? If not in the fight to come. Maybe to sell or trade.” Thinking...”Maybe sell to the Townmaster himself?”

"Well, Jasper," Khessa, happy that the other has come next to her, instinctively start to slow her usual farstride and takes his hand as they walk, reassured by the contact with that elf who has begun to mean so much to her... "I confess that, considering how much expectation Harbin had, I was counting on something more decisive. Something like... A sword of fire... Or a cloak able to protect against the icy breath of Cryovain... But all in all, I'm satisfied with the hat! And not only because it's terribly cool! Did I already explain to you what its power is?" like every time she has the chance to talk about magic, her blue eyes light up with enthusiasm "It lets you try to improvise a cantrip you don't know! Only once, unfortunately; afterwards, before trying again, you have to rest. And it's not easy either, mind... At the moment, even if most of the time I should succeed, there will still be many times I won't. I'll need practice to improve. But even so... it's an ace in the hole! There are so many cantrips , with so many different uses... it's nice to know that if we were in a situation where a specific cantrip was very useful, I could try to improvise it! It's an effect not to be underestimated".

"Plus," reflects the blonde arcane warrior "the gnomes have also agreed trying to work on our ideas... The net-shooting ballista and the fire-shooting machine... With those, we might be re4ally able to to ambush Cryovain and get rid of him once and for all! What can I say, Jasper? If I were Harbim, I'd be satisfied. Afraid," she jokes of the townmaster's cowardice, "but satisfied".

“Yes. He should be satisfied. And Phandalin safer for it.” Massaging Khessa’s hand in his. “Would you like to help me with something tonight after we are settled with Harbin? I would like to make a healing potion but it will take most of the night. Will you keep me company?

"I'm not afraid spending most of the night with you..." Khessa smiles, while she can't help but think of other similar initiatives that had had an excellent result, in their recent past "It will be a pleasure!"

Returning to Phandalin, Jasper heads over to Harbin Wester’s residence and knocks on the front door. “Townmaster Wester! This is Jasper Mooncrest. We’ve returned from Gnomenguard with news. And new companions that have proven quite capable against dangers. Jasper waits a moment for introductions.  Katarina and Aura have joined us and we are stronger for it. Jasper nodding to them. ”Khessa, please explain our plans for the dragon.”

The curtains in the house twitch, and you swear you can see a brown eye peering out at you. Then a muffled voice comes from the other side of the door, "Good, good. Did the gnomes provide a weapon that will help defeat the dragon?" You hear a desperate note of hope in his voice. 

"Sure!" announces Khessa, beaming, bringing her hands to her new hat "Why don't you open up for a moment, Harbin, so you can greet the new forces that have joined us and we explain to you how the gnomes agreed to help us? Things are turning for the better..."

In a lower voice, the blonde arcane warrior turns to Katarina and Aura for a moment, explaining: "Forgive our esteemed townmaster Harbin Wester, he sometimes is a little shy..."

Already knowing that Harbin, as usual, will never dare to open the door, the tall adventuress explains: "Not only did the gnomes provide us with immediate magical support, such as these useful magical objects that could be better admired by stepping out here with us... They have also agreed to try to put their engineering prowess to the service of the cause. They will build some machines with which we can probably ambush Cryovain - or at least fight him on more equal terms. A net-chain machine to ensnare him - preventing him from flying. And a fire machine to hit him and roast him for good. We just have to hold on until the gnomes are ready! Of course, in the meantime, we will continue to hinder Cryovain with our means. For example," she proposes "we have had reports of orcs intending to join forces with the dragon... We could try to strike them and show thus them the error of their ways".

Surprisingly, the door cracks open an inch and the voice from inside says, "Get inside, quickly! I want to see the magic items."

As soon as the party enters Harbin's house, he slams the door shut and locks it again. You note that the door has several recently installed deadbolts. Harbin is an older man with grey hair styled with a neat part, and he wears colorful clothing that is obviously well-tailored and more expensive than what most of the villagers wear. His eyes are agleam with excitement as he turns to regard you.

"Well? Show me what the gnomes gave you."

Khessa is almost paralyzed with surprise: never before has the fearful Harbin Wester ever agreed to open his trusty door! So she hurries in (and lets the others in) before the townmaster can change his mind .

"First, this!" Khessa proudly displays her new wizardly hat "Besides being an extremely cool piece of clothing (does it fit me, Harbin?) - this hat enhances the wearer's magical powers, allowing them to attempt to cast spells that normally they would be unavailable to them! It will be an invaluable help, believe me; I know a thing or two about magic..."

'Actually, up until a week ago I didn't even know how to cast a spell…' the blonde arcane warrior realizes - but she doesn't deem it necessary to let Harbin know even that detail.

"And then, this!" the tall adventuress wraps her right arm around Echo's shoulders, while with her left hand she points to the new wand her friend is carrying "It's a magic wand capable of unleashing a lot of diversions - which, as I'm sure you know, are fundamental in battle".

"With the immediate help of these magical objects" concludes Khessa "and of the brave new forces that have come to our aid" she gestures at Katarina and Aura "and of the machines that the gnomes will soon provide (and that I described to you earlier), Cryovain will be forced to capitulate We just have to weaken it a little more, to give the gnomes time to complete their inventions," she enthusiastically brings the fist of her right hand into the palm of her left "then we can strike the deciding blow!"

”Yes we made a pretty tall order of the gnomes but I’m sure they will come through with time. In the meantime, is there anything else you would have us do? Dusk is upon us and we could prepare for tomorrow.”

"Katarina could definitely use a cat-nap," the feline says when Jasper mentions getting some rest for the following day. "Hopefully the gnomes are as crafty building the dragon net machine that elf Jasper asked for as they were building the arrow machine that Katarina and her friends encountered..."

Katarina, could I hold on to that clockwork device for the night? I’m curious what it does.”