He says "That is a bony staff. Here. What do you think of this?"

And he produces a black iron dagger. It's a woodcarving knife. Very similar to the one Pops uses. It's a Chaos weapon. Inscribed on one side are the words "Heat" and "Light" and on the other are "Healing" and "Remove Impurities."

"Trade ya straight out for this here knife. Don't remember where I got that."

He doesn't seem to know anything about magic with the knife.

The staff for a knife with which to carve them. Won't have to use the Katana anymore.

(Doing Therapy)

Two Posts

I'm planning to leave for a road trip tomorrow (February 3) and I will not have internet access. In other words, I probably won't be posting until the beginning of March. At least, that's the plan. Will resume when I return.

(Doing Therapy)

I take the trade.

Afterwards, I cautiously examine the thing.  I suspect I'm neutral on Order vs. Chaos, but this magic could twist the world, and people in unexpected ways.  I don't want to toy with it, but carefully experiment.

And just to be on the safe side, I pray for protection before I lay the knife next to a cup of milk.  I am wondering if it will curdle the milk.

The guy takes the staff and begins to spin it around in his hands. Rapidly spinning it faster and faster. Then he makes a sort of throwing gesture with it. A solid wall of wind erupts from the staff and flies off in the direction he threw it. It knocks over several displays that other merchants have set up.

With wide eyes, the guy looks at you and just says "Yeah. Bony staff indeed."

And walks away quickly before you can respond or change your mind about the trade.



OOC) Personally, I'd say you're pretty Orderly.

IC) The knife fits perfectly in your left hand. Not so perfectly in your right. It just doesn't feel proper in your right hand. But you do feel a power radiating from it.



When you pray, you feel like God is telling you that the knife is a gift. It's for your protection.

It does not curdle the milk. On the contrary, you leave the knife and the milk at your hotel and go to work. When you return, the milk is still just as cold and fresh as it was when you left it. Tastes fine.

OOC) Remove impurities is written on the blade.

Thoughtfully, I go looking for a knife rig.

I'm assuming you mean a sheath? If not, please clarify.

In the area of Pop's wood shoppe, there is a shoppe which sells leather. The proprietor was outside when dude threw the Order tornado. Mr. Leather asks if you would make him a staff just like that. In return, he'll do his finest leather work. Make you whatever you want. Within reason, of course.

(Doing Therapy)
This message was last edited by the player at 06:30, Mon 27 Feb 2017.

A sheath and a combined belt with straps to tie the end of the knife to the thigh as well.  Also, a set of strings to tie the knife in the sheathe if needed, as part of the belt.  This is a one piece item.

"So, ok. Can you make it of bullhide, and put my name in block letters on it, and a bunch of repeated trees...to look cool?"

"Oh, and if there is any shiny metal bits, I want them covered so that the sun doesn't reflect off them if I'm hunting."

He shows you some blanks he's made. They're modifiable, already 80% made. One of them suits your requirements.

OOC) Here's the question. How is he going to express to you the concept of when it will be ready?

IC) "You'll have that (When? Just as soon as? What does he say here?) I have my staff."

They have no concept of time.

(Doing Therapy)

Yeah. Good point.

"You say you'll bring it to me as soon as it gets finished, eh?  Sounds reasonable.  And I like this one..." I point to the one closest to what I want.  "Looks good, man.  I'll see you in a...." Few days I was going to say, but...instead I just lamely wave at  him, nod and walk off.

I sit back and try to absorb the lack of time.  Its a bit mindspinning.  Time is so engraved in us.  I wonder if they have a word for 'day', probably but it only means 'time of light' not any sort of steady period.

After shaking off my weird feelings, I go back, and start back working at staff making.

So you find a suitable tree branch, and with one left-handed whack from the Chaos knife, you slice it off.

The wood is multi-colored. It's as Chaotic as the world you're in. And you sit down and shave it. And you look through the blade and see Chaos. And you shave the Chaos off. And the blade absorbs a white aura as you do do. And you look for Chaos, and you shave it.

When you're finished, you've got a midnight black staff. Hard, solid, with a light black aura flowing from it. It's an Order staff.

I go and buy some hard wax, and polish it into the wood, several dozen times.  Then I see if I can find some iron caps for the ends.

Along the way, I try and see if the staff is balanced, although I will be greatly surprised if it is not. An Ordermaster staff, a blackstaff, would have to be balanced, I think.

The thrill of Order, of a thing done right and well, is seductive.  I'm going to regret giving up this staff, but, oh well.

Pops has the polishing wax and the iron caps to use. Whilst you're looking for them in his shoppe, you absently hand the staff to him to hold. Pops is a good foot shorter than you are, and the staff shrinks in length to the perfect length for his size. When he hands it back to you, the staff expands back out to the perfect length for you.

Pops looks at it quizzically and says "Ain't never seen one do that....."

Yeah, the staff is balanced. You actually stand a coin on edge and balance the staff on top of that.

Mr. Leather is pleased. As promised, he's got your leather knife sheath ready. The staff shrinks in length to the perfect size for him.

OOC) I still haven't read that book you gave me yet. Give me some time. I gotta be in the mood to sit down and read a book.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:22, Sun 19 Mar 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 62):

My eyes get wide as I see it change size.

"Me neither."  When I hand it over to Mr. Leather, I caution him that there might be unforeseen effects of the blackstaff.  He might find himself being compulsively honest.

Then I thank him for his leather work, get geared up, and check out my looks.  Yeah, I'm going to need some new clothes, some boots, and a blackstaff.  I set to work on the statt right now.

Difficult intuition check 5

So you cut down another branch from a tree. And you shave it. You shave off the Chaos. You see the Chaos being absorbed into the knife blade. But there's something else happening. Something only you would notice. The sun, which was moving randomly in any direction seems to be stabilizing somewhat. It's not as erratic as it was when you first arrived. It's more Orderly.

But you finish your blackstaff. A quick spin and a throwing gesture launches a wall of wind.

I stop what I'm doing, and then with regret, break the staff.  Messing with a planetary system's sun sounds like waaaaaaaay over my pay grade.  I mean, I'm arrogant, but I'd be toying with  things that make nuclear bombs seem safe.

You try to break it, but a still small voice from somewhere you cannot identify tells you "Bring Order to Chaos."

Someone wants you to continue this.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 66):

Instinctively, I drop the staff, and take a step back.

I'm willing to change a world because of injustice or evil, but to change a society, worse, a world, without understanding, and one that seems functional and agreeable to me....I'm not enthused.

I pray a bit, seeking direction.

Then I ask the voice 'Who is Jesus?'.  And I listen closely, guarded and wary.

You pray, and the world fades around you. It fades to gray. A perfect shade of gray. As if pure white and pure black were mixed perfectly. And standing before you are four chess pieces, all about your height. The black and white king and queen.

You can't tell which one is speaking, or if all of them are speaking, or if they're speaking at all. But you hear the same still small voice.

"We are the gods of Order and Chaos. Do you wish to become our servant?"

"No, thank  you, Mighty Ones." I give a short bow.  Inside, I'm sweating it, but for I try to maintain a pleasantly, respectful demeanor rather than running around screaming like a headless chicken.

That still small voice continues:

"Consider our offer carefully before refusing. Refusal of our offer will deactivate all of your magical weapons. They will become ordinary wood and metal. Acceptance of our offer will change nothing of your relationship with the Jesus god. You will still be free to serve him. We only wish to increase your power and abilities. We simply require a servant in this world."

It seems sincere. They're offering you the chance to become an Order mage.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:57, Wed 29 Mar 2017.

I'm skeptical of the first point, although it could be true.  As to the second point, I'm not at all sure its a good idea.

Not trusting my voice, I shake my head 'no', and grip my hands tight waiting for them to do something awful to me.

"Very well. Surrender your hammer to The Traveler."

Then the world fades from gray to normal. You're standing there at your place in Pop's shoppe. The blackstaff that you had is now multicolored wood, like the wood from which it was carved. All of your black iron weapons have been transmuted to normal iron.

You see Mr. Leather come out of his shoppe. He starts yelling at you. "What's the deal with this staff?" And his blackstaff is now also multicolored.

However, a few minutes later, the traveler, the kid whom you sold your first blackstaff to, shows up. His blackstaff is still black and radiating energy.

He says "Dude, I'm weirded out maan. I just had this trippy dippy dream. Four chess pieces told me I'm supposed to trade you this staff you made for a hammer that you have. I don't normally listen to dreams, but this was too real."

He of course means your formerly black iron blacksmithing hammer. Trade for his blackstaff.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:40, Sat 01 Apr 2017.

In reply to JohnA1nut (msg # 72):

"I'm sorry, I will try to make it up to you.  Perhaps I can work for you a few hours a day for a while, for free?" I say to the leatherworker.

"Yeah. Look, I'll do the trade, but we need to talk first.  Let me buy you some food, and we can talk."  I  hope to take him to a restaurant.

Mr. Leather looks confused. "Hours? What are hours?" But then he says "Just pay me for it!!"



The Traveler says "Sure dude. That sounds real bony. I could eat."

OOC) It's probably not the right time to narrate this part, but I just want to say it whilst it's in my head.

IC) When you do the trade, the blackstaff stays magical. You've got a magical blackstaff. However, when you hand him the hammer, the hammer starts to transmute back to black iron. The kid's body starts shaking. Vibrating. His eyes go completely black. After a few seconds, his eyes return to normal, he stops shaking, and he says "I know how to blacksmith. I, I, I know how to blacksmith. Maan, this is bony. I know how to blacksmith."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:22, Sat 01 Apr 2017.

"Um, ok." If I have the money, I'll pay what he asks.  If not, I'll use most of my available money to pay him, and tell him I hope to get the rest soon.  If he yells at me, I let him, and wait until he runs out. Then I repeat my plan and leave.

Off to the cafe' with Traveller.  Once there I buy him and me some basic meals.

At the table, I take a drink, pray for help, and speak.

"Your dream was real...for certain values of real, I think.  Order and Chaos exist, and can and do grant power.  But they can be bloody-handed, and massively destructive.  You may find yourself changing, being unable to lie for example.  You may end up changing the world drastically, which I don't see that it needs, and then the world with rebound later...so if you make things more Orderly you might have a volcano later.

Worse, if you are Orderly, you will attract Chaos.  And the opposite.

Chaos does tend to be on the shorter side for life expectancy.

Think of Order as Form or Structure.  Chaos is Energy.  Total Order is death from unmoving pure form.  Total Chaos is an explosion, also death.

I refused this power you've been given.  You might want to as well."