After identifying a few of the smaller items, Mort learns a bit more about the slate. Once it identifies an item, the writing remains visible on the slate for about 5 minutes after the item is removed, or until another magical item is placed on it. In this way, he can set large items on it until they glow, and then remove the item to see what it is.

He has no trouble identifying everything except the crystal skull. It glows blue as if it is magical, but no writing appears on the slate.

3 Eggs (black egg explodes for 5d6 acid damage; red egg explodes for 5d6 fire damage; and olive drab green explodes for 5d6 force damage)

Amulet of Protect from scrying

Armbands of Enlargement (you can grow up to twice as large as normal)

Avanti’s Floating Chest (it floats and follows beyond its owner)

Backpack is a Handy Haversack

Bag of Holding

Belt of Toughness (the wearer gains 20 temporary HP)

Book of Spells

Bottle of Air (transparent blue glass bottle always has air in it)

Bottle of Sovereign Glue

Jar of Universal Solvent

Bowl of Scrying with a bottle of scrying oil

Brass Horn of Glorian (small bugle produces a thick cloud of fog that is an obscuring mist.
The fog covers a 10-foot square next to the horn blower each round that the user continues to blow the horn; it can travel 10 feet each round in a straight line from the emanation point unless blocked by something substantial such as a wall. The device makes a deep, foghorn-like noise, with the note dropping abruptly to a lower register at the end of each blast. The fog dissipates after 3 minutes. A moderate wind (11+ mph) disperses the fog in 4 rounds; a strong wind (21+ mph) disperses the fog in 1 round. At higher levels, the horn blower can also produce other types of fogs, such as stinking cloud, incendiary cloud and cloudkill.)

Brooch of Shielding (absorbs 101 points of damage from Magic Missile spells before it is used up and crumbles to dust)

Broom of Flying (black ‘Bat Out of Hell’ model; fly at 480’ per turn, but cannot carry anyone else)

Brython Mandolin (while someone is playing this instrument, allies gain a +1 bonus to die rolls)

Burglar’s Bracers (these bracers conceal burglar’s tools that give you a +2 bonus to open locks)

Candle of Warding (when lit, it burns for up to 24 hours, and keeps away any creatures with less than 5 HD)

Carpet of Flying (small carpet only holds 2 people)

Cat Gloves of Dexterity +4

Chime of Opening (casts the equivalent of a Knock spell)

Cloak of Elvinkind

Crystal Ball (lets you scry to different location)

Crystal Skull red

Dagger +1 of Extinguishing

Dagger +2 of Defending

Endless Quiver (never runs out of normal arrows)

Gauntlets of Ogre Power

Gem of True-Seeing

Goblet of Fire-Breathing (taking a drink from this goblet allows you to breathe fire (3d6 fire damage in 20-foot cone) for one round, regardless of the liquid put into the goblet)

Goggles of Night Vision

Hammer +2 of Undead Smashing

Headband of Intuition (this copper and silver headband gives you intuitive insights; once per encounter,  you can assess your opponent to give you a +3 bonus to one ability of yours—AC, attack bonus, saving throw, or a skill check)

Heavyload Belt (wide leather belt lets you carry triple your normal weight)
Helm of Reading (anyone wearing this helmet can read any writing in any language)

Horseshoes (4) of Speed

Jar of Salve of Slipperiness

Kaelyn’s Spicy Spoon (any food stirred with this spoon will take on a spicy flavoring)

Little Brown Jug of Endless Ale

Long Bow +1 of Distance

Long Sword +2 of Flaming

Mage Scroll

Magic Lantern of Detection (four-sided lantern with 4 lenses; when that shutter is raised, the light from that side will illuminate the area; the lenses can detect invisible, alignment, traps, or magic)

Mask of Disguise (when worn, it can change your face to look like any other person’s face, or even some other type of mask)

Medallion of Zagan Zeer (emits a beam of 'light' visible only to the wearer that can reveal invisible things, hidden things, and lies; it is also able to emit a beam of light that anyone can see)

Necklace of Elemental Beads (20 beads; when you pluck a bead, you state what kind of elemental power you wish the bead to be—fire, cold, electrical, sonic, wind, water, force, light or darkness; it will then have that effect when thrown; explodes on impact for 3d6 points of damage of that elemental type)

Raelyn’s Sweet Spoon (makes any food you stir with it taste sweet)

Ring of Protection +2

Ring of Spell Storing (holds two 2nd level spells; currently has Knock and Web in it)

Robe of Blending (blend into your surroundings)
Rod of Healing (rod made of white ash inlaid with silver runes; can heal 1d8+3 hp per person per day)

Rope of Climbing

Scarab of Protection (black jade beetle-like brooch absorbs energy-draining attacks, death effects, and negative energy effects, but can only absorb 12 such attacks before it turns to powder and is destroyed)

Scroll of Useful Items (has 20 items drawn on it; touching an item causes it to turn real; items: sack of gold, 2 potions of healing, ladder, 10-foot pole, campfire, coil of rope, banquet table with chairs and banquet, canoe, dagger, fur coat, lantern, longbow with quiver of arrows, keg of ale, bottle of wine, small pile of gems, a pit, a horse with cart, a pair of dogs, a tent, a lit torch.

Silver arrow +1 of Refilling (when placed in a quiver, it will fill up the quiver with 10 +1 arrows and 10 silver arrows)

Slate of Identification

Statuette: Black Jade Raven

Statuette: Onyx Dog

Stone Hand (petrified Dwarf hand; can cast Pass Wall, Transmute Rock to Mud, Wall of Stone and Transmute Stone to Flesh; each only once)

Thinking Cap (this gem-studded copper cap with silver runes lets you rethink your recent action and attempt it again; reroll dice)

Tome of Monster ID (you can look up a monster by description to find out its abilities and weaknesses)

Tunic of Fashion (can change to any outfit of clothing you want it to)

Vest of Storing (simple worn nondescript dark brown leather vest is studded with 24 secret pockets sewn into it. Pockets are only visible and accessible by the wearer; each pocket can hold twice as much as a normal pocket and yet does not appear to have anything in it)

Wand of Cold (looks like an icicle; holds 100 charges; emits Cone of Cold spell; number of charges used depends on how many dice you load the Cone of Cold with, up to a maximum of 6d6 points of cold damage)

Wand of Trap Detection (two twisted together twigs of witch-hazel and willow, this wand will point at all traps within 20', one at a time, at a cost of one charge per trap found)

Now there's an interesting combination.  The Endless Quiver with the Silver Arrow of +1 of refilling.

I wonder if the Longbow +1 of Distance makes every target at short range?

Tom muses and then looks over at Mort.

I guess the Banded Armor is just normal Banded Armor then?

"I think he was just waiting to identify all the other items before trying the armors," Gierdon suggests. "Right, Mort?"

"Also, I think he was waiting to see if you were going to put the armor on and stand on the slate, or just lay the armor across it."

"There are four suits of armor. Those other statues were just statues. Nothin' magical about them. I hope. I'd be scared if there was!"

"Say, do you think that chest will follow you up the stairs?"

"And I was right about the jug! You can never have too much ale!"

As everyone examines the items, Anneth takes a deck of cards out of her belongings and whispers a quick inquiry as if to herself, shuffling all of the cards and then slowly drawing one.  "Are you special, or just pretty...?" she asks the weapon.


The result does not seem to please the Dabbler-in-Arts too much, and after doing some serious mental gymnastics, she replaces the card.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:54, Mon 27 Nov 2017.

A single card doesn't carry much... definition. The Queen of Diamonds generally indicates an encounter with a woman that's prone to gossip (inverted) or partying. In the current situation, it defaults to the core meaning... earth and the wealth that comes from the earth.

Should Anneth wish to sell any of these items, she'll get a better deal from a woman.

The only danger associated with the single card is if the woman you deal with gossips a bit too much.

Hmmm, guess I will have to try the armor on to see what it is.

OOC: I'm really thinking that the Arrow and Quiver and Long Bow make a wonderful collection for me too.

In reply to Gierdon Warbeard (msg # 531):

"Seems like we can identify most anything that is placed on it"

"Never thought about it following me upstairs, figured I might have to carry it"

Mort will open the chest and have a look inside.

OOC: How big is it on the inside?  Might could use it to haul some of the stuff we decide not to use back with the group.

The chest is empty, and the inside looks like it matches the outside. However, if you have to carry it, it always weighs the same as if it was empty.


The four suits of armor were:

scale maille +3 of Cure Wounds (can cast Cure Wounds on others 3 times per day)

chain maille +2 of Electricity (3 time per day, can give off an electrical shock, either when you hit someone or when they hit you)

banded maille +1 of Invisibility (3 times per day, can turn invisible for 5 minutes)

leather armor +3 of Stealth (it gives you a +25% bonus to Hide in Shadows and Move Silently)

any of them minotor size?   LOL

What happens when I place the +1 Silver Arrow of Refilling in the Endless Quiver?

While none of the armors are minotaur-sized, Mort isn't so large that the magical armors won't resize themselves to fit him if he tries to put them on.


When the Arrow of Refilling is placed in the Endless Quiver, nothing obvious happens. The quiver already has the 'refilling' enchantment on it, so placing the magical arrow in it doesn't 'refill it twice'. However, it does make the arrows in the Endless Quiver +1 now, but not silver.
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:57, Sat 09 Dec 2017.

Unless anyone has any objections I would like to use the +1 Long Bow of Distance with the Endless Quiver and +1 Silver Arrow of Refilling.

I keep the Banded Mail armor on.

"That's okay by me, Tom," Gierdon responds to Tom's claims.

"Unless I grow longer arms, I can't use a long bow no how, no way! And that includes the arrows that would fit it."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:57, Mon 11 Dec 2017.

You get no argument from Mort

The longsword +1 flames on command would be nice, and maybe the dagger of extinguishing for a matching set! If someone else wants that dagger, though, it's no biggie.

Either the scale or chain armor would be nice, but I think the scale with cure wounds ability would be more in character for a paladin!

"There are clearly things here that would be useful," Fando comments, "but there also some odd items. That scale maille, Elwood, is an odd trade-off. The curing part fits you, naturally, but the armor itself seems a bit on the droll side."

"Anyway, are we planning on taking everything? I mean, the chest will hold most of it, including the remaining two armors. I'm fine, either way. I can't even begin to guess what might be useful for our quest."

"Speaking of which, we should return the shoes to the monastery, and get back to our quest. We could leave anything we don't think we'll use with the monks... like the lute."

"And remember, we have a lot of people waiting back on the ship. They could probably use some of this stuff."

That may be Fando, but each person does have there likes and dislikes.  Myself, I know that shields are useful, but I would rather use two handed weapons than a one handed weapon and a shield.

OOC: Who did we leave with the ship?

"I like Fando's idea, use what we can and take the rest to figure it out later, if the chest has room then let's use it"

OOC: There are some characters that haven't posted in a year or two because I guess they got left on the ship. I wonder if their players are even interested in this game anymore! We've been exploring this dungeon for over two years real time.

Elwood helps load up all the magic items the chest will hold, plus the handy haversack and any mundane bags and packs the party has if that's not enough room. "Let's get back to the ship. I've had enough of this tomb."

OOC (again): Yeah, the usual image of paladins is knights in shining full plate. Elwood's more of a non-traditional paladin. Plus, the three metal armors all give the same AC so why not take the lightest one with a useful and appropriate additional power?

Yes, lets get back to the ship. Tom says as helps Elwood.

Mort will help gather up whatever items remain.  "Time to go"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:36, Mon 08 Jan 2018.

"Agreed.  We can much better sort out who gets what when we get back to the ship."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:52, Tue 26 Dec 2017.

As it turns out, the floating chest will float with the lid open; that doesn't seem to be a condition for it to float. So, a number of the large items can stick up out of it, and even be piled on top of it, or tied to it.

Going up all the stairs is a bit tricky, but can be done without too much effort.

It seems like ages, though, before you step back out into the light of day.

Being in the mountains, Gierdon has no problem retracing your steps back to the monastery.

As before, you need to write a note and place it in the small box. Then the large passenger box is lowered and you are once again drawn up to the monastery atop the pinnacle of rock.

You are shown to rooms to freshen up before you are granted an audience with the Green Lama again.

Anneth assists the others in relating what has been seen to any who will listen, only informing the inhabitants of the monastery of the dragon's hoard she helped to lift if the others do so first.  Always a follower, only a leader if it benefits her.  Such is Anneth's way.

After a bit of time to freshen up, you are given an audience with the Green Lama again. He's read your notes, and comments on the strangeness of the crypt. He suspects it was a family crypt from a hundred years ago, perhaps more, when there were more clans active in the area.

Being an order of ascetics, they are not concerned with the loot and treasure you found. He recognizes the foibles of a material existence, but does not hold that against you. Not everyone can become an ascetic, he realizes.

"As to this other matter... You've heard the expression 'once in a blue moon'? I believe what you seek is there."

"Matera the Blue Moon is, apparently, a Hollow Moon. I have read tales of this place, but as authentic as they may have sounded, I could not give them the credence that they deserved."

"In pursuing this thread of knowledge for you, I delved into tomes dusty from ages of obscurity and neglect. Know that this knowledge is not something written down in a mere book, or scratched upon a solitary scroll. It is spread across two dozen sources, oblique references, obscure innuendos, riddles wrapped in enigmas..."

"At first, it seemed as if someone had intentionally hidden these secrets in many places, but the further I delved, the less sure of that I became. Instead, it appears to be secrets only partially discerned by several different people. It is like the parable of the six blind men encountering an elephant for the first time."

"Each of these scribes saw only a small piece of the great secret and could not even surmise that they saw only a piece of the whole. In that manner, they could not compare notes because they did not know they were talking about the same thing."

"I was only able to see that there was a whole picture without being able to see what the picture is."

"The Radiance is somehow linked to the Hollow Moon, to something within. What that is was not known to those who wrote the notes. One says it is a fortress, one says it is a mountain, and yet another claims it is a crystal of immense proportions."

"It may well be that it is all of those things and more."

"Every so often, there is a fluctuation in this source, and that causes a resonance with the Radiance. Normally, this does not matter except to cause a slight flicker. When the magic went away, it was because something affect this resonance. It was like a light that was suddenly extinguished."

"Somehow... perhaps by someone or something... the light was reborn. But it wasn't the pure light of the Radiance any more."

"This change was caused by someone mis-wielding the Seventh Magic that you seek. I cannot say this for certain, but that is what the indications are."

"If you truly seek to solve this mystery, you will find the source of the Seventh Magic within the Hollow Moon."