The streets of Talazen were nothing like the streets back home. My home I mean, rather than the small village where Lo’Kryn grew up. Well, they were different to his home too, but wildly different to my own. There were some buildings that were multi-story and compact but nothing like the skyscrapers, steel, concrete, and glass monstrocities I was more familiar with. The streets, chaotic in their own right, were filled with people, creatures, and wooden carts rather than speeding, honking cars and smog.
The bridge across the river is a large arch and boats sail beneath it through the pale blue waters. I stood against the wooden railing, looking down as a large boat passed below. The crew’s shouts echoed as they navigated through the bend in the channel, heading south for open water.
With the sun growing hot and higher in the sky I sighed and pushed away from the edge of the bridge. We were using a lot of daylight in the city when we needed to make time to head back to the sewer. Still, I moved at a measured pace along the street. I let myself grow more and more familiar with the area.
I passed a building that let off an acrid smell and was emblazoned with a sign that glowed with some kind of strange phosphorescent liquid swirling through glass lettering. It declared the place the ‘Elementalium’ and seemed to be some kind of alchemist storefront. I wondered if we might have been able to get potions here but glancing through the window revealed strange aperatus, stones and crystals, and objects like everglowing lanterns and the like. It was certainly interesting but since I had zero funding for anything I might want from there I turned down the street to the south west in hopes of soon finding the magic shop Cambrin and Ceylas had recommended.
I followed Cambrin’s directions and navigated the streets until I could see the coast through the buildings on my left. Eventually, the street opened out to a large, garish blue building rising multiple stories into the blue skies. The windows were obscured by strange swirling blue and white whirls of magical essence. Above the wooden door a vibrant purple and gold sign declared the place, ‘Miadas Touch the unrivaled epicenter of Magic and Mayhem in all of Essaedris’.
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As I approached the heavy wooden door it swung open by itself. I hesitated, but eventually stepped into the building. It easily double the size of what it appeared from outside. Staircases swirled, rising from the corners of the room that led to platforms in the stories above. The ceiling extended up the center of the room to a large glass dome that revealed the blue sky. It seemed almost taller than the three-story building it had appeared to be from outside.
I’d been into some of the biggest malls in the world and they had nothing on this. It was a cross between NYC Macy’s at Christmas and an East Village Thrift Shop after New Years. Shelves, tables, and cabinets filled the room covered in all manner of books and scrolls, armor, weapons, clothing, and objects. I stood, mouth agape, as I took it all in.
A clowder of cats of an array of colors and breeds roamed or rested among the shelves and objects in the room. On a high shelf, ne cat innocently licked its paw while eyeing a large glass bowl just inches away.
“That looks precarious,” I said, not addressing anyone in particular since besides the cats there only seemed to be one other person present in the store. Still, he looked up from the sheet of thick parchment he’d been reading and pushed his spectacles up his nose.
“Hello,” he said, his voice seemed softly spoken but it projected to reach me even across the distance of the room as if he’d been standing before me. “Is there anything I can help you with?”
The man stood behind a counter strewn with papers, a pot of ink, several quills, an a handful of large tomes. He appeared to have been studying something but I couldn’t make out what it might be about. He appeared to be about middle age for a human, with a mess of reddish-brown hair. He was unshaven, his beard and mustache slightly greying. The man wore a brown leather mantle over a white tunic and blue vest with copper buttons. We were relatively equal in height although the brown braccae, white stockings, and dark leather-bound boots he wore made him look an inch or two taller as I approached. He watched me with blue eyes behind thin spectacles and seemed to assess me carefully.
“Actually,” I said, suddenly feeling like a bug under a microscope, “I was wondering if you purchase magical items?”
He lifted his chin, clearly curious. “That depends on the item.”
I tugged the strap on my haversack and let it drop between my feet as I tugged open the main compartment. He gave a kind smile as he patiently waited while I reached inside and drew out the leather-bound instrument. He cleared a place on the counter so I could set it down and I untied the cords, displaying the cittern.
“That’s a fine instrument,” he said, adjusting his spectacles as he reached for the neck of the stringed instrument. “May I?” he asked, gesturing to ask permission to touch the item. I nodded and he lifted it, hefting the weight, admiring the balance, examining the sturdiness of the strings and the quality of the pegs and scrolling. “Do you know anything of this?”
I swallowed but nodded. “My friend identified it. He said it was a magical cittern but that only a bard could use it safely.”
The man nodded. “Indeed. And it’s a good thing you didn’t learn that the hard way.” Even so, he strummed the strings, tuning it slightly. He didn’t seem to have particular skill in the instrument but there was a strong force of will within him that seemed able to withstand the consequences of playing it without first attuning to it. After a moment he nodded, appearing satisfied, and laid the cittern back on the counter between us. “What were you hoping to receive in trade?”
“Well, I’ve most need of coin at the moment. My friend said this was considered a wonderous item that should be worth a fair bit.” But already my gaze had begun to wander around the shop. “Although, I added, it’s likely you have something I’d want to buy.”
“What is it exactly you do? You’re wearing the colors of the Palladium Rise but you don’t exactly look like a scholar.”
“I’m a monk there,” I said, “but they’ve recently asked that my companions and I go out into the world to help people with my skills.”
“Ah, I see,” he said. One corner of his mouth lifted in a smile and his gaze wandered as if reflecting on his own memories. “There was a time when I made my way in doing what I could to aid others.”
“Oh?” I asked, curious.
“I doubt you’ve the time of day to hear the adventures of my mighty companions and one lowly wizard.” He came out from behind the counter and began looking about the room as if seeking particular items.
“Maybe I’ve heard of your expliots in my reading?” I suggested.
He dipped his head. “Perhaps.”
“What name do you go by?”
He smiled fully this time. “These days my full name and title be Archmage Caleb Brenaldric of the Everflame. But I doubt very much my exploits would be in the archives of this world.”
That spiked my interest but I wasn’t sure how to ask about the idea of one being known in worlds other than this one. “Are there other worlds?”
I squirmed again as he fixed me with other look. “Perhaps we’ll have occasion to discuss that in more detail as we come to know each other better. For today, start by sharing your own name and perhaps I’ll share with you items that might suit your adventures and bank balance.”
I flushed, realising we hadn’t even agreed on a value for the cittern so my bank balance was a pittance of two silver. “My name I can give you, as to the coin, it depends on our trade.”
“The name first then, since it can be traded for no coin at all.”
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“I’m Lo’Kryn. At least that’s what I’m called here.” He lifted an eyebrow, pulling a few items off a shelf. He dropped them into a pouch I hadn’t even seen him holding. Continuing around the room he added a few other items, including a pair of boots, a black cloak, and a strange metal object that fit neatly in his hand. It took him less than two minutes before he returned to the counter.
“So, Lo’Kryn as you be known here, your cittern, while a lovely instrument of fine craftmanship, is not particularly unique. And given that it’s abilities are tied to the skill of a bard it’s not a particularly sought after item either which as you can imagine effects the value. Indeed, it might sit on my shelves for many, many moons before a bard of enough means might venture upon it.”
I swallowed, nodding my understanding but feeling the pit grow in my stomach. I’d been hoping for a decent trade but this wizard seemed to be savvy when it came to the value of his merchandise. “But it’s worth something, right Archmage?”
He visibly shuddered. “Please, don’t call me by my title if you can help it. You may call me Caleb, or Bren if you prefer.”
I nodded, understanding. “Caleb, then?”
“Indeed. Now, as to your question, I’ll offer you coin to accompany but first wanted to show you a few of my wares that might interest and be within the means of the cittern’s trade value.” He waved a hand and several more of the items that had cluttered the space between us slide aside to make room.
“Okay.” I leaned forward as he began to draw items out of the sack and array them across the counter.
Caleb began lifting out items one at a time. The first was a golden necklace with a clear quartz crystal amulet that seemed to hold a sloshing ruby liquid. “First, this is a Periapt of Health, it protects the wearer against the infliction of disease.” He placed the amulet to one side on the counter. “Next, this Amulet of the Drunkard offers a boon of healing when you drink a pint of your preferred alcoholic beverage.” The simple chain necklace with a carved wooden leaf-like amulet smelled of old ale.
“Every pint offers healing?” I asked, fingering the amulet. It was slightly sticky as if it had soaked in drink.
“Alas, not quite that potent. It offers benefits only once per day but given it gives the equivelent of a potion of greater healing it’s a remarkably powerful item and significantly low cost by comparison.”
I raised an eyebrow. “How low, exactly?”
“Barely more than the cost of a single potion of the kind. Three-hundred and seventy-five gold.”
I swallowed, since that was more than I’d seen in this world, but he’d said he was showing me things the trade would allow me to afford. “Interesting,” I said, placing the amulet beside the periapt and gesturing for him to continue.
“I have a luckstone here that can aid you when testing your abilities.” The stone was a polished agate carved in the form of a cat’s head. He placed that stone down and drew out a shimmering blue orb about the size of his palm. “And this driftglobe is imbued with the powers of both a simple light spell and once per day can blast the more powerful daylight spell.” He spoke a word beneath his breath and the orb rose from his hand to float about five feet off the ground. “It can also move with you in this way so that you might keep your hands free.”
I nodded. Although I looked human my celestial origins allowed me a few advantages with regard to light sources but it’s possible such a thing might be useful at some point. Caleb was watching me closely and I imagine he must have sensed that the object hadn’t sparked my interest as much as some of those he’d presented earlier.
“Ah, I see, discerning eyes, perhaps you’ve little need of light. What of water?” He drew a decanter from the bag. It was carved of some kind of broad horn, like that of a rhinocerous, and capped with a copper-woven cork. “This can produce three quantities of water depending on the word invoked when uncorking the decanter. It could easily keep you hydrated even in the hottest of deserts and should you need can produce a powerful geyser.”
“That’s interesting,” I admitted, fingering the filigree of copper that decorated the ivory horn.
“I’ve just a couple more things to consider.” He drew a silver tankard that had a face carved into one side. “This allows you to drink as you will while maintaining your wits. And these,” he said, drawing a collection of bronze earrings each entwining a small sardonyx gemstone in copper wire, “earrings of message allow the wearer to communicate across a distance of up to one-hundred and twenty feet.”
“Oh, that’s interesting,” I said, touching a finger to one of the gemstones. “Does the recipient also have to wear the like to respond.”
Caleb shook his head. “They need not, although sometimes it can benefit a party for all to be equally equipped for ease communication. It’s also possible to have these tethered to each other so that so long as all wearers remain in range communication from one can reach all.”
I raised an eyebrow at that. We’d never had that kind of item in any of our games so I wondered what kind of homebrew rule that might be. It made the items more valuable. Not as good as something that would allow for sending, which covered any distance within the same plane of existance, but still useful for communicating with party members at range.
“The most inexpensive of the items I offer is this medal of muscle which is a single-use item that imbues one with aid to strength for a single hour after initiation. A useful tool, and something we produce by plenty should you wish to aquire more than one.”
I bite my lip, looking across the items on display. “Well, the question comes down to what value you’re thinking the cittern allows and the individual costs of these items in comparison.”
“Just one moment, there is a last aspect I’d like to show you before we begin discussing value and cost.” He drew five long vial-like objects from the pouch. Each held a sharp, pointed needlehead covered by a silver cap. “These, are powerful items that imblue one with exceptional gifts. Four of these are known as spellwrought tattoo’s. They each cast a tattoo upon even non-magic users that is capable of casting a pre-programmed spell. The price varies based on the complexity of the spell but it can prove useful in a pinch.”
“I could cast magic?”
He sighed. “At this price it allows a single use of a single spell, but yes, even you would be capable of casting as a magic-user would.”
“And that fifth one?” I asked, eyeing the other syringe which shimmered with a liquid ink that held a different saturation of rainbow coloring to the others.
“This one is a remarkable item called the Illuminator’s Tattoo. It allows the bearer to call on an infinite supply of ink to scribe messages and should one choose, once per day that user can invoke the tattoo’s ability to hide the text from all bar the single creature named for a period of twenty-four hours.”
Caleb had shown me a great many interesting items and I got the impression they were of decreasing value to some degree. Without discussing the worth of the cittern, however, I had no idea if I’d be able to afford multiple items or if I’d need to make a single choice.
Perhaps sensing my uncertainty Caleb placed the syringe at the end of the line of items and picked up the cittern. “Now, this is a fine instrument, and so long as at least half I offer for it is spent in trade I’d be willing to aquire it from you for the value of five-hundred gold coin.”
I nodded, feeling that might be a fair trade but not really being sure. Normally we’d roll persuasion checks to try and lowball traders but I wanted to take a little more time to consider the options here. The possibility of trade meant I had more than just the value in coin to consider.
“And how much are each of these items worth?”
He told me their prices and I winced at a couple. The wooden amulet, for example, was more than half the value on its own and the periapt would leave me with very little change and no chance to purchase additional items. I definitely would not be able to buy all of the things he’d shown me. I considered the array of goods carefully, doing quick math in my head.
The healing of the drunkard amulet wasn’t to be neglected. Especially if we made a habit of bringing alcohol with us when we travelled. I also liked the idea of both the earrings and the decanter but I couldn’t trade for either of those in addition to the amulet.
Seeing the dilemma on my face Caleb voiced a further thought, “I can see it’s a difficult choice. Know, that should you come upon more coin you can always return. I’ve shown you only what this simple trade might entertain for you but should you come upon a greater wealth there are other items to be had. I also take requests so even should any of these items sell in the meantime with some time I may be able to replicate most. They are relatively common after all.”
I nodded. “I suppose what would most benefit right now is that amulet,” I said pointing to the chain. “As you said, at near the price of a single potion of greater healing it offers a significant benefit.”
“Indeed,” Caleb agreed, lifting the amulet into his hands. “Mind you, it takes a little longer to drink a pint of ale then it does to down four ounces of potion. Still, it offers a significant boon of healing that makes this exceptionally valuable for the adventerous sought.” I nodded my agreement. “That would leave you the value of one-hundred and twenty-five.”
“Is there any chance we can negotiate a little further? Later today I need to venture back into the sewer’s beneath the city to face a giant alligator I understand has been causing some problems so any aid you can offer would be truly appreciated. I took a breath, closed my eyes, and cringed a little as I felt the dice land heavy (Persuasion: 3+2=5).
Caleb chuckled. “I’m sorry friend, as noble as your quest is I’m already offering a fair trade. I’ll make very little in mark up as it is and the cittern’s likely to gather dust on my shelf for months. Having said that, you could combine your amulet with the tankard leaving you sixty-five gold in your pocket and a handy way to drink your pint of healing without risking inebriation. The added value improves my opinion of you which could go to further deals should you survive the alligator.” There was a sparkle of humour of his eyes that softened the dire odds he’d seemed to imply.
I frowned, considering. “The tankard and the medal leaving just fifteen in gold, your good opinion, and the hope that I’ll make more coin in the completion of the task.”
“There’s the spirit,” Caleb said, he swept the other items back into his magical bag, set them aside, and wrapped the leather around the cittern. He counted out fifteen gold pieces and set them alongside the three items. “Have we a deal?”
I smiled. The coin wasn’t a lot but since I’d had about that in my pocket before stepping into the sewer yesterday I was still ahead if I considered it alongside the value of the items I’d aquired.
Who knows, maybe two of the three could even be the difference between life and death as we faced the very angry alligator.