The Shining Scroll

As the two of them (Serena and Lucretia) make their way towards the barracks, Lucretia scans the shops they pass, looking for shops that might be a good place to sell his more unusual bits of junk and perhaps pick up anything interesting. One shop in particular grabs his attention, and he persuades Serena to stop whilst he has a browse. The shop is called The Shining Scroll, and proclaims to buy and sell spells, potions, spell components and other magical items. Lucretia rubs his hands together, excited and strides in. Behind the counter is a diminutive, bustling woman who names herself Xara Tantlor. The shop is small, though the shelves are packed with all sorts of unusual items, many of which Lucretia has difficulty in identifying. It has a strange musty smell shot through with a sharp, almost metallic smell. "How can I help you?" she asks, peering up at Lucretia with sharp eyes.

Lucretia shows her the various items he is interested in selling. She dismisses the fish heads, the barbarian necklaces, the hobgoblin banner and the medallion with the broken horn on it. But she does show some interest in some of the spell components. Spreading the various components on the counter, she peers through them. "Do you know what any of these things are?" she asks.

<Lucretia aka Joe wrote>:
> "Of course I know some of the items...for instance
> this is the blood of the shape shifting Doppelganger
> and this is a Charrdaly stone." "I'm looking to sell
> or perhaps trade the whole lot, save the Charrdaly
> stone." <He picks the stone up, looking it over.>

Xara Tantlor looks up at the mention of the doppleganger blood, her expression somewhat surprised by Lucretia's knowledge. She continues to poke through the different packets etc. She picks up the uncut gem, looking at it appraisingly. After looking at it through a eyeglass, she nods. "Chardaly" she agrees. "Worth a lot more if you get it cut first..." she murmurs.

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "Yes I know....<He fiddles with the torn bush
> branches he cut from the bushes as they think
> about his offer.> "And these are from the scrambling
> blood sucking bushes of the Trollmores...I am not
> sure of their use if indeed there are any...but some
> still have the roots so they may take root."

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "I also have a business proposal Miss Tantlor."

Xara looks up at Lucretia, intrigued. From somewhere above and behind Lucretia hears a slight stirring, and he glances behind him. Curled around a ceiling mounted perch that Lucretia was convinced was empty before, hangs a blue-green dragon. A very small dragon it has to be said, but a dragon never-the-less. It's scales shimmer slightly with a silver sheen, and for a moment, it's delicate, almost butterfly like wings spread, and Lucretia marvels at it's beauty. It grins at him, showing an impressive amount of teeth for such a small dragon. <<WHAT SORT OF PROPOSAL?>> echoes in Lucretia's mind - somehow by-passing his ears.

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "Have your ever heard of a Dwarf named Gorlain
> Graybeard?" <The name Lucretia dropped is the
> name of the dwarf in the stories he had heard...
> the Dwarf supposedly had made a fortune collecting
> rare spell components through out the north.>

"No, never heard of him" replies Xara.

<Serena aka Archon wrote>:
> Serena spies the little beast as well. Her eyes
> grow wide at first, then her hand strays to her
> sword-hilt. Suddenly, she regrets leaving all her
> armour and weaponry back at the Inn.

It's head darts around to look at Serena for a moment, it's tongue flicks out. <TRY IT> it says in an almost amused tone, though a moment later, Serena realises that no sound had occurred, and the voice had just appeared in her head.

<Lucretia aka Joe wrote>:
> "I'm currently looking for someone who may have
> an interest in rare components...<He waves his
> are at the items on the shelves> and your store
> struck me as a place that would be interested."

"I guess there are some things which are a little more difficult to get than most - and certainly I am always looking for new suppliers..." Xara smiles. "If you wish to risk yourself..." she glances at Serena, "pardon, yourselves, then I would be happy to take what you get off your hands... though generally you will get a better price from me if you can get me what I am specifically looking for, rather than unidentified components at random..." she waves her hand over the assortment of odds and ends that Lucretia has put on the counter.

The dragonet curls around it's perch, rippling it's wings for a moment, but keeps silent.

Xara looks at Serena and Lucretia appraisingly for a moment. "You realise that powerful spells often require quite rare or *difficult to get* components. I will give you a list - some of them I doubt you will be able to get - others may kill you in the attempt if you are careless, but if you are wise, and have the right help with you, then you should be able to succeed with some..."

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "As for these components before you...you
> can have them if you could get my Chardaly
> stone cut and enchanted with something useful."

Xara's face quirks into a smile. "No, you get it cut first - I'm no gem smith - then I'll enchant it with something...useful..." She grins. "Come back when you have had the gem cut, and I'll give you the list when I enchant the gem... perhaps with a spell to make you move faster?

The Next Day (when Lucretia returns in the afternoon alone)

> Having quickly marked several things off his list
> and in particular having worked up a good sweat
> with the group of adventures, the day seemed to
> be going perfect...after a stop at the inn and a
> quick wash up, Lucretia seems to walk on clouds...
> yes he was coming into his own (OOC: Trying to
> role play the fact that he has gone up a level)
> and it seemed nothing could rain on his parade...
> at least not today. Coming out of the Inn he
> spots some one selling flowers and spends a copper
> on a bunch....yes, he was getting to be a powerful
> warrior...it seemed his dreams were coming true at
> last....and another adventure loomed right around
> the corner. Yes today was a turning out just great!
>
> Since Boldung couldn't tell him what the dragon would
> like he stops in a shop and picks up two nicely crafted
> hand mirrors.

OOC: This will cost Lucretia 5gp for a couple of glass hand held mirrors. (I have marked this & the flowers off the money above already)

> One he wraps up and places in his pouch, (might be
> nice to have along) and the other he has wrapped up
> in gift paper. He virtually skips out the door
> and makes his way to the Shining Scroll...."Hello,
> he calls out." <keeping the flowers behind his back
> he moves towards the counter, and presents them to
> Xara.> "To a fair lady and new business associate."

Xara seems surprised by the presentation of some flowers. "Er.. thanks" she replies.

> <He will also slip the stones on the table and lets
> her comment on them...

"Ah good, you have had it cut into two stones!" she says. "That is good."

> he then turns and addresses Villynk, using his thoughts.

At first, the dragonet is not visible, but a moment later, he appears, this time perched on a tall shelf behind Xara.

> ""I got this for you ...I suspect you have seen your
> reflection before but it's just a token, or symbol
> of my friendship...the beauty of your wings is
> astounding and unmatched by anything I've seen
> before and I wish for you to be able to see them
> yourself, whenever you like.""

<THANK YOU FOR YOUR KIND THOUGHTS> responds the dragonet. The offered mirror wafts out of Lucretia's hand and up to the dragonet, who grasps it in a taloned claw.

> OOC: If the dragon is reading his mind...Lucretia
> is being straight forward and honest...he honestly
> likes the dragon and thinks it is a thing of beauty
> ...especially compared to Mansoon's beast. He is
> honestly going to do his best to get the supplies
> that Xara needs and he appreciates all that Xara
> and perhaps Villynk are doing for him. Though of
> course, he is doing a bit of obvious ass kissing
> here and playing on the perception that all dragons
> are vain...he is doing it honestly. He finds the
> dragon totally fascinating and beautiful....
> ""You should come with me."" He thinks to the
> dragon, ""No...I shouldn't have asked that.",

The sense of a smile from the dragonet appears in his mind.

> he turns to Xara and pulls the Silver Moon Electrum
> Piece from his pocket.> "I am also trying to get a
> permanent light spell thrown on this coin...you know
> so I can use it instead of carrying around a bunch
> of torches...it would also be a good visual alarm
> for my pouch." "Is there anyway you could help me out."
> <He looks at her with pleading eyes.>

Xara laughs. "That is certainly a spell I could cast... for a cost of course..."

> "I know I have been asking a lot without giving much
> in return, but I'm sure I will be able to make it up
> to you." "Perhaps we can look at it as a loan."
> <He smiles at her> "As for the gems...the speed spell
> sounds quite useful...or perhaps some form of defense,
> like invisibility." "I being a warrior am not all that
> knowledgeable in what is out there..."

Xara laughs again, smiling. "Any spell cast into the gem is a one shot spell..." she says. "If you are looking for something to use 'in an emergancy', then yes, invisibility could be a useful way to get out of a tricky situation..."

> I think perhaps I will leave the other one open, in
> the event someone attempts to throw a spell at me...
> seems this might be able to absorb it."

"I see you know a bit about how the stones work..." Xara comments. "Of course, it is lucky that you have two stones, since you will need the second one to touch to the first to release the spell.

> <Lucretia looks at the stones...> "I still have some
> questions on their use...as a defense, if I had one
> placed on a chain around my neck...it could
> theoretically and within certain parameters absorb a
> spell, thrown at me...right?"

Xara nods, "though it wouldn't guarantee to absorb the spell - just a chance".

> <Boy he thinks to himself, if this was true it would
> have been useful if I had this when Old Gaard threw
> that spell on me...naaa, it was for the best I suppose,
> I was being an ass....man I have grown since then I
> suppose. I think I will add finding the Old Man's
> killer to the list of my priorities, I learned quite
> a bit from that one little encounter.>
> "The other question I had was touching any gem to the
> Chardaly should release the spell trapped inside
> right?" "Or must it be another Chardaly stone?"

"It must be another Chardaly stone" confirms Xara.

> <When Xara, gives him the list, He will look it over,
> ask questions and make notes, before placing it into
> his book.>

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "Of course...one can't make a living giving hand
> outs...so what would you want in return for the
> continual light spell?"

"I'd cast that *permanent* spell...," she emphasises the word permanent, and then hesitates. "...for about 40 gold". (OOC: I had a look in the DMG, and they actually quote 1000gp in there, but that does seem a tad excessive!!)

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "Now this speed you were talking about, sounded useful
> as well and could be used offensively as well as
> defensively...well, I think I will stick with the
> invisibility for now, if that is OK." "To tell you
> the truth, when I was younger I often had a dream
> that I was invisible...can you imagine that, a big
> guy like me?"

Xara only raises her eyebrow in response.

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> "Now are there any limitations to this spell?" "I
> also need to know how long it will last and how can
> I make it go away so I can be seen again?"

Xara smiles. "The invisibility will last for a maximum of 24 hours. Though if you were to attack someone, then the spell's magic would be lost. If you want to dispell it yourself prior to that, then you can just will it gone."

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> If he can afford the Continual Light Spell on the
> coin he will get Xara to do that.

Xara takes his money and casts the spell. The coin suddenly lights up like a bright lantern.

<Lucretia aka Joe continued>:
> IC: <Reaching into his pocket he grabs out his
> mirror.> "I got me one as well...<He grins again,
> then holds the mirror up to his other hand and
> holds and opens his palm.>
>
> <Lucretia was thinking it might work like a
> bull's-eye lantern...if it does great if it doesn't.>

The light shines more strongly on the reflected side, but because it is a flat mirror rather than a concave mirror like in a bullseye lantern, the increased range is negligible. Lucretia finally puts it in his pouch, where the faint gleam of light leaks from the draw strings like sunlight through the chinks in a heavy curtain.

Xara then goes on to cast the invisibility spell into one of the stones. "Remember, all you need to do is touch the two stones to each other to release the spell and become invisible. All you carry will also become invisible as well - but if you pick something up, it will appear to float - unless you hold it under your cloak or the like."