Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer Creatures
Frozen Sick
D&D Beyond Basic Rules
Basic Rules (2014)
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Monstrous Compendium Vol. 1: Spelljammer CreaturesFrozen SickD&D Beyond Basic RulesBasic Rules (2014)Sign in to view your library & saved favorites.
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The elderly gnome harrumphs and waves his skeletons away, " Very well. Take a seat and we shall negotiate. "
He led them both over to a small mahogany table surrounded by richly upholstered chairs and indicating two o them took a seat himself.
" So? What do you want? What do you have? And why should I do business?", he raised a bushy grey eyebrow at Zeltheris.
Zeltheris moved in and takes one of the indicated seats, "Thank you for your hospitality. I'm in the market for a wand and you were the most highly recommended individual for such a purchase. As for what I have to offer and why you should do business, I offer coin, and would be happy to include a reference or two to you and your wands in the upcoming ballad, I'd even be happy to keep an eye out for any necromantic texts or knowledge we come across and offer to you first."
"Hmmm.....yes...I have two that I could part with.....and coin is always useful."
" I'd rather you didn't include me in any musical numbers....those who need to know me already do."
" But....I have been hearing rumours of great discoveries made....are none of them suitable to my interests?"
The elderly gnome fixed Banzo with a look and then grinned.
He waved his hand and two wands appeared on the table before them.
One is formed of sturdy engraved bone and the other a polished ashwood.
He spends the next few minutes explaining the properties of each item....
" Make me an offer."
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/633128-adaligoghs-force-wand
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/69035-bone-wand-of-healing
Zeltheris frowns as he listens to the descriptions, pushing the bone one back to its owner after its description, "Well, that one is of no real use to me, though others may find it valuable. As for this ashwood one, its acceptable, I suppose, but its limited usage rather limits its value to me. I suppose I could give you fifty gold for it. As for our discoveries, I'm afraid I know little of your research and haven't found much related to necromancy that I'm aware of."
" Ah! I see how it is turtle-man.....you bring your friends here to insult me!"
"' A wand such as this is worth far more than that. Why its thrice enchanted for Shekkas sake!"
" Get your pauper filth out of my home turtle-man!"
Zltheris rises and gives a polite bow, “Cost to make is not the same as value to the user. I offered you what it would be worth to me and meant no insult. If this is all you have, I will take my leave.”
"My apologies Dr. Scroungly, truly no offense was intended. As an act of good will I will purchase the bone wand. We will not take up any more of your time, and if I find anything on my travels that will be of interest to a necromancer I shall present them to you for 1st chance of purchase."
Banzo will agree to a reasonable price for the bone wand, and afterward ushers Zeltheris out before any more insults are traded from either side.
(ooc: how much for the bone wand?)
( As he does feel some gratitude to Banzo ( though he'd never admit it) for containing the Ooze, and is kind of wanting to keep a fellow wizard on side....he may have use for you....he will let it go for 1500. It was a first project and he has literally no use for healing things.)
After counting out the coins and collecting the bone wand Banzo follows Zeltheris outside and down the street a ways before asking, "Some kind of bargaining ploy? The only magical thing you'll likely get for 50 gold is a healing potion. Besides you got to think ahead to future dealings, it's always a good idea to keep people on the good side until you have absolutely no further use for them."
(After a response from Zeltheris) "Let's check with Girior and the Wizard Tower, they may have something that interests you."
(ooc: subtracted the 1500 for the bone wand)
Zeltheris shakes his head, "Not a bargaining ploy, and if that's the type of goods he has to offer, I've no intent of returning here. A wand you can use twice a day? Who would make such a thing, especially for such simple, though higher cast level, spells."
"Yes, let's go check the Wizard Tower, they might have a better idea of what it is like for you adventures out facing down evil."
"I don't expect their prices will be more to your liking."
Banzo looks sideways at Zeltheris.
"Let's hope your negotiating skills are better with them that they were with the necromancer."
Zeltheris shrugs, "The price wasn't the issue, the value of the product was the problem. I can negotiate for what I want, but I see no reason to negotiate for something I have no use for."
"Don't get me wrong, I'm no fan of that necromancer. I'm sure he has many skeletons in his closet, both figuratively and literally."
Banzo let's a scowl cross his face momentarily before shaking away the gloomy cloud trying to settle over his head.
"One day the 'Heroes of Chalice' may have to investigate him further and possibly deal with whatever dark rituals he performs. But for now I try to keep up an amiable front when dealing with him."
Banzo and Zeltheris headed to the tower.....
Before them was a large stone tower, the base of which seemed to be a store of some kind though there was no signage.
A bored looking gnome guard leaned on the wall outside the entrance.....
" Labs inside. Quarters upstairs."
Having been waved in by the guard the group looks around, the room is fulI of tables and benches laden with bizarre pieces of equipment and scientific apparatus. Around the top of the circular wall have been painted pictures of strange mythological creatures, and the slightly domed ceiling is a , deep blue, inset with sparkling gems to form a map of the heavens. Reading a thick book at a desk is a skeleton, wearing a blue robe embroidered with stars and moons.
The book. It appears to be a treatise on various funguses. On the far side of the room a circular staircase ascends to the next floor.
The stairs led up up to a large open area dominated by a large dining table piled with empty wine bottles, a large hookah pipe and an assortment of vials of powder spilled across it. Items of clothing are thrown across the floor and other surfaces.
As you enter there is a heady herbal smell in the air and a loud chime sounds, after a few moments the door nearest opens and a rather dishevelled looking Girior enters holding a robe awkwardly around her, through the doorway behind her can be seen a small number of older bearded men and women in various states of unconcious undress.
Image: https://photos.app.goo.gl/8HzLU4YLMtur2mQa6
" Good Afternoon, To My Favourite Projects."
" How may we of the Tower serve you today?"
( The itenerent dwarven priest has been given the message and has departed for Stonebridge.)
"Well,...uhm... hi there Girior. We didn't mean to interrupt your... uhm... ahh... extracurricular activities but my friend and associate here, Zeltheris, would like to spend thousands and thousands of gold for useful magical items."
Banzo uses a finger to loosen his collar and get more air with each breath.
"Introduce yourself Zeltheris." Banzo nudges Zeltheris with his elbow. "Don't be rude to the lady wizard."
Zeltheris is a little busy practicing for his big peformance to assist but Herman never the less manages to strike up a friendship, and somewhat more, with a strapping Half-Giant woman who works the door at The Fat Frog. He is able to stable his horse just off the Market Square for a few coppers.
Zeltheris moves forward with his most charming smile and takes her hand, bowing low to brush his lips against it, "It is an honor, and pleasure, to meet such a powerful and lovely practitioner of magic. My name is Zeltheris, humble bard and chronicler of the great deeds of the Heroes of Chalice. My associate is correct in that I wish to purchase magical items, though he may have exaggerated the size of my purse. Might I inquire as to the availability of magical items, both for purchase or commission?"
Ewynn gathers the collective efforts of Garet, Zeltheris and Herman in translation and seeks out the dwarven priest of Kerellim that Zeltheris mentioned the evening before, Kapre Chalosite.
When she finds him, she explains "Greetings, and may the stone be steady under your feet. I am Enwynn of the Forest, and Zeltheris, the young gentleman bard you met yesterday, suggested to me that you might be able to help me. I seek a courier to take a message to Stonebridge and an opinion of the message sent beforehand, as I do not wish to offend King Gillibran with an error in phrasing."
She smiles as she adds "I am willing to pay for your time in both giving an expert opinion on the precise wording in Dwarven and for swift and secure delivery to his hand. If he wishes to send any reply back with you, I will again compensate you for your time and travel."
Once he has made his opinion of the translation known, and his willingness to undertake the job, she pays him twenty-five gold coins from a rapidly diminishing but not yet exhausted supply.
Once out of earshot she quietly apologizes to Corwyn for not entrusting him with the mission as she explains "As you have chosen to stay with me rather than take your reward and return to the forest for now, I think you deserve a holiday too." then shrugs as she adds "And he seems to be a good second choice to send word to Stonebridge to me."
Madame Girior smiles and waves her hand transforming her robe into a fitted maroon velvet and silk dress.
" If you are after potions or scrolls they can be had, but we have only a limited number of other items....that we are willing to part with."
She thought to herself for a moment and then three items shimmered into existence on the kitchen benchtop.
" I hope they are of use to you...some of my colleagues have rather eclectic tastes in what they choose to study and construct."
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/4794-wand-of-magic-missiles
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/500852-peephole-ring
https://www.dndbeyond.com/magic-items/30074-ring-of-the-grammarian