"You've already been more than generous with your time, Father, so I really shouldn't keep you much longer.  I couldn't possibly abuse your graciousness any further, especially not with how ignorant so many of my questions have been."  While Mallory certainly felt she could quite happily sit in theological discussion for the rest of the day, there were other plans already on the docket.  She had learned most of what she'd hoped to ascertain in any case; there were elements that still eluded her, but she could dwell on them with her own consideration moving forward.

As Mathur spoke of his connections and explained a bit on the Codicil, Mallory withdrew her Emerald Pen to jot a quick note in her log book.  "Demetrios of Sossal... Macreadus... very well.  Should I chance upon them, I'll be sure to keep you in mind, Father." she assured with a congenial nod of her head.  "Likely while in the midst of advising my own family and associates to relocate their business out of Icewind Dale, as that surely seems the wisest course of action..."

While the young noble gathered herself in preparation to depart, she did spare another moment in thought all the same.  "Father, you said that Auril has returned to the Prime Material.  While the gods may tread where they please... well, historically speaking, when one manifests fully on this Plane it's often indication that something terrible has happened in their Divine Realms, and that further tragedy will soon follow." While global events like the Time of Troubles and the Sunderings were before her own days, she would be a poor scholar indeed to not know of their broad events and continued impact on the world in the modern day.  "Are you certain Auril walks Icewind Dale?  It's not simply one of her Petitioners, or perhaps even an Avatar?  Have you ever... seen her?"
This message was last edited by the player at 23:06, Fri 09 Feb.

"No," Father Mathur said without hesitation, "but I know it. There she flies the night, the aurora dancing at her tail. It can be none but her. None else is capable of such powerful magic! When you go there, you will see." He smiled the most sincere smile he could, but his features were worn and rugged. "Where she is between sightings is uncertain. To our knowledge, nothing is wrong in Winter's Hall, nor in Pandesmos where it soars."

He walked a pace and peered upward to the tallest pillar, as in a gesture of piety, or perhaps expecting Auril to look back. "Auril has retreated to Icewind Dale because it is where she historically had allies. She has broken her alliance with her sister Umberlee. It happens from time to time, that the four Gods of Fury feud, and we mortals watch. Following the falling out, strange movings with Talos were observed, when Lords of the Tempest joined in heralding the onset of winter in Fireshear two years ago. Malar is suspected to also be in league with our Brittle Lady, for the same Chillbringer, Demetrios, who had visited Andora spoke of Taers, who exclusively revere Auril or Loviatar, bearing aspects of Malar. Though the wilderness in Icewind Dale is colder than ever, it is fiercely spirited. One is wise to heed it."

There was a contrarian part of Mallory that wanted to correct Mathur about the limits of magic.  Controlling the weather to such an extent was certainly a rare power, but it was indeed within the grasp of mortal mages, even if there were few since the days of Netheril who could manage such a feat.  But it was hardly a point even worth making when the expression of his faith was the more important matter.  It wasn't as if Mallory doubted Auril really was behind the winter freeze... at least, not anymore.  Before the encounter at The Spire, some niggling doubt had been in her mind that it had all been the machinations of some circle of druids or even perhaps a hag coven.  But even the cynic in her couldn't contradict the soul-shaking encounter that left no doubt in her mind that the Frostmaiden herself - in whatever odd form she may have incarnated in - had been within spitting distance while on the hunt for Mallory and her companions.

Talk of the mixed alliances and divine bickering, however, brought a look of consternation across the young noble's features.  Her own gaze lifted to follow Mathur's to the highest pillar, where it gleamed like ice in the daylight.  Malar's involvement was apparent from what she'd encountered in the forests outside Ten-Towns, though it was the first she'd heard of a falling-out amid the Gods of Fury.  Their ensuing cooperation perhaps spoke of mending bridges, but... "If the gods quarrel, and Auril's status with the other three Furies is in flux... Could her presence in Icewind Dale be biding her time for tempers to cool or...?"  Despite her musings, Mallory stopped herself from completing the thought aloud.

But if Umberlee's alliance was lost while Talos and Malar were pushing their own level of influence over the winter then, could it even be possible, that they were forcing Auril from her frozen throne?  Was the goddess' presence in the Prime Material Plane one of exile?  The seemingly everlasting winter nothing more than her lashing out as an expression of her anger, rather than any sort of orchestrated plan with greater goals?
This message was last edited by the player at 23:17, Sat 10 Feb.

". . . to muster an effort?" Father Mathur added. "We cannot ascribe the gods our own, mortal intentions. Icewind Dale is the act we are privy to, but the play is much grander. It shall climax, but I do not foresee it happening soon." He took a moment to appreciate the clear blue sky and the chilly breeze. "Auril was drawn here byour devotion, both right and wrong. She exerts her will, waits, and strengthens all at once. However," he continued, a doubtful expression pulling on his coarse features, "there seems to be something I'm missing . . . something she has yet to tell me . . ."

Turning to Mallory, he smiled an appreciative smile. "Or, more likely, it is just skeptic in me surfacing unduly." Leaning against his crutches he extended a hand toward Mallory, inviting hers into it. In addition to finding it awkward due to a missing middle and ring finger, she would find it cold to the touch. "Thank you, milady. Few undertake the efforts you have today. I hope my answers, as inadequate as they may be, will aid you on your journey to Ten-Towns."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:24, Sun 11 Feb.

Though it was odd to feel the cold through both her gloves and enchantment, Mallory tolerated it all the same as she clasped Mathur's hand with sincerity.  "Thank you as well, Father.  You've given me much to consider and I'm certain your insights will be of great value in the coming days.  If you'll pardon another bit of my prose: I've felt rather lost in a blizzard in this regard, but your guidance has helped me see a path forward.  With luck, I'll be able to walk it."

There was a part of Mallory that wanted to reveal more to Mathur.  She felt somewhat bad over concealing the depth of her encounters from him, as well as depriving him an illusory glimpse of the Frostmaiden from her own experiences.  To see a manifestation of his goddess would surely mean much to him.  But, even as she'd come in friendly pursuit of answers and information, she remained wary.  A kind of uncertainty lingered within her when it came to revealing too much or expressing her actual feelings within the subject to a leading priest in his own temple.

"There's still much to attend to before we set out, so I'll bid you good day and good luck, Father." she offered a polite word of parting along with a prim curtsy, then gestured to her companions of her readiness to go.

Idrianthe had her own, more cynical perspective on both the Frostmaiden and the conversation, which she let Mallory know as soon as they had left the Winter Palace behind – this was a lot of fancy rationalization. In her experience, Auril did more to tear people down than it did to strengthen them. What use was reverence? If the net result was negative, then her evil surely wasn't worth enduring. But she let the matter rest. Despite being misguided, Father Mathur had seemed like an honest person.

---

That takes us to the shopping segment. We'll montage the markets first, then we'll do a scene at Colmarr's.
Mundane items (easy to come by):

• Herbs
• Foodstuffs (preserved or candied fruits, pickled or fermented vegetables, nuts, dried grains)
• Brass censer
• Books?

Mundane items (harder to come by):

• Electrum
• A lockable lead or iron container about the size of a music box
• Timepiece

Magical items:

• Bag of Holding

Roll me an Investigation. I'd give you the option to roll a Persuasion instead, but I doubt you'd choose it.

Once back out into the city streets and well away from the possibility of dropped eaves, Mallory was frankly in complete agreement with Idri's summation of the whole matter at hand.  "I quite agree with you, Idri.  But this was a fact-finding endeavor and I certainly wouldn't have been able to get candid replies from Father Mathur had I challenged his views."  It rather annoyed her how often the skill of 'shutting up and smiling' was both effective and frequented in the noble courts, but it had been worth cultivating given its many applications.

"One would never expect members of any faith to cast their worship in a poor light.  Even followers of Cyric and Asmodeus rationalize their own actions to make themselves justified, after all.  It's the nature of mortals to try and make sense of our situations or to attribute greater meaning to the chaos of our lives.  Indeed, there is a cause behind every event, but that doesn't inherently mean either serves a good purpose." she shook her head in dismay at the very idea.  "Father Mathur seems a good man: it's a shame he would twist himself into knots to excuse Auril's cruelty.  He reminds me of a battered spouse who refuses to leave, and speaks in defense of their abuser, no matter how many wounds are suffered.  Because admitting to the suffering is somehow worse in their mind than recognizing it.

The hypotheticals I posed to him, after all, were not intended to uncover contradictions - there are many apparent on the face of things already - but to confirm a constant.  All scenarios had the same ultimate outcome: Auril's nature is to make others suffer and die for no reason other than whatever she personally gains from it.  In this way, she is no different to me than the Undead or Illithids, and the woe she visits upon others must be confronted in the same measure." Through mystical means, Mallory had witnessed Auril herself when the goddess was not in the midst of her faithful: the Frostmaiden's first and only line of action was to kill without hesitation or reason.  That, and when her followers were willing to commit abhorrent sins or excuse such atrocities, allowed for no doubt to remain.  The young noble could see the shades of grey in the likes of Naerth, but Auril starkly cast things in pitch black and snow white.  "In every scenario I posed to Father Mathur, I was the one who acted against Auril's will.  I brought blankets to the chilled, undermined her followers who would force others to suffer, and interfered with an attempted blood sacrifice.  When both revering or opposing Auril results equally in nothing but her callous scorn and ice, then I am all the more convinced to do all the good I can before I freeze."

---

Mallory's Persuasion is actually pretty good, but her Investigation is still higher all the same.  I rolled with Advantage just in case I could reasonably employ Idri's Help with the search, but the potential Advantage roll was lower than my flat roll, so it doesn't make a difference.

Also, with Electrum: while ingots or slugs would be ideal, Mallory wouldn't be adverse to going to a money trader for Electrum Coins if necessary.

Investigation - Mallory Bonheur rolled 14 using 1d20+7

Idrianthe was relieved Mallory was in agreement with her. "While I mostly pity him, Father Mathur is in a sense quite a dangerous man. There are clear evils in the world, but the ones who obfuscate, intentionally or otherwise, perpetuate." As she walked alongside Mallory to the town square, she beheld her right arm, missing from the elbow as it was. She had it wrapped in her shirt, forgoing both her prosthetic and conjured hand on this rare occasion where she was a civilian. "A shame he has come to such conclusions."

On the matter of electrum, the guard escorting them was the obvious person to inquire. He had introduced himself as Tamthan earlier that day, and though he kept mostly quiet behind the two ladies, he had seemed friendly enough. "Electrum? I'd reckon ye'd 'ave to pay a visit to the Red Dragon," he had told her. Then he recognized neither of them were familiar with Luskan and added, ". . . Trading Post. Don't worry, 's long as I'm with ye it'll be no issue."

But first was the market and its numerous stalls. While not quite as sprawling as the one in Neverwinter, nevermind Waterdeep's, it was still considerable and in bloom on this particular day, the recent moorings injecting both wares and customers. A duo of minstrels drew crowd and coin as they jumped and performed the I Flounder an' Den I Lobster, fairly competently at that. "I flounder an' den I lobster..." one sang twice as she plucked on her lyre, and the other responded, "but wit' all my sole, I know she'll be a-swimmin' home to me!" The old whimsical pirate shanty was, unsurprisingly, quite a hit in Luskan, and the innuendo it contained was subtle enough the parents didn't care the children heard.

There were numerous vendors selling the herbs and food Mallory sought, so she had her pick. Among much else, she could find honeyed blackberries, confit carrots with garlic and thyme, assorted nuts and cashew butter, and, of course, hardtacks, a staple of any seaside town.

The censer she could purchase from a chandler in Delver's Square. The one the owner had in brass was well crafted and expensive, excessively so due to the lack of competition he faced in Luskan.

While the atmosphere in the market was friendly and cheerful, the North Bank was another matter. Every entrance and gate was closely guarded, and the only merchants doing business were those on official errands. Had you not a permit or seal of representation, you had no business in neither the Mirabar District nor the Red Dragon. All dealings were officiated, recorded, stamped, and archived. Or, rather, that was the thoroughly enforced facade. Tamthan had gotten Idrianthe and Mallory across Harbor Cross and Blood Island, but he was not able to get them into the lodge itself. While Idrianthe was hesitant to – she disliked lying, even if it was harmless – her pin signifying membership to the Arcane Brotherhood would be enough should she present it, and none would question the status of her membership. Alternatively, Mallory would be able to leverage her Bonheur name and connections to Neverwinter, although the process of confirming her association was much lengthier. No doubts she would receive comments prodding at her family business' footing as well.

Inside the big, circular office she was expedited by a Half-Elf with a knack for their job. They had both Electrum slugs and bars available for her to purchase in any quantity within reason. They took a five percentage fee for the service offered and had her sign a certificate as proof of purchase, but made no inquiries into what Mallory intended for her exchange.

They also had a strongbox close to what Mallory requested, although the clerk had to confer with his superiors as to whether or not it was available for purchase. When they confirmed it was, she was presented with a small iron strongbox, originally meant for valuable gems, that was just slightly larger than the dimensions she had specified. It was decorated with the characteristic metal strips and stud rivets, and had no less than three padlocks, each with its unique key. Furthermore, they were able to supply her with loose lead in the form of bearing balls or shavings should she wish it filled.

---

Food: Since this is bought piecemeal I say we just settle on a bulk sum, then you can add whatever flavor (heh) you'd like  - 5 gp.

Brass Censer - 10 gp

Electrum - however much she wants to buy x0.05

Strongbox + lead filling - 20 gp
This message was last edited by the GM at 08:32, Wed 14 Feb.

While the broader experience at the Winter Palace had been rather heavy with its implications for the near future, a trip around a busy marketplace was just the thing to liven one's spirits.  Mallory had greatly missed such a busy atmosphere and savored the varied dins of hawkers, barter, and workmen's shouts just as much as she enjoyed the playful tune being sung for the passing audience.  She made sure to steer clear of the crowd around the performers though; Astre had not yet returned to watch her back and such clusters of distraction were a surefire way to get one's pockets pilfered.  As they traveled, Mallory remained close just at Tamthan's shoulder for the good an attentive guard would yield in dissuading any cutpurses from trying to pass within reach amid the busy streets.

As both Idri and Tamthan accompanied Mallory at her request, she was certain to be as gracious to them as she could when it came to taking up their time.  Had it just been herself alone she could have spent hours perusing the markets and haggling for goods, but she didn't want to tax their patience.  Especially when she ended up fluttering her eyelashes and gently coercing Idri to use the badge of the Arcane Brotherhood in order to grease wheels where necessary.  The Bonheur name was well-reputed enough to throw a bit of weight around, certainly, but Mallory didn't want to leave so obvious a trail or have others prodding into her family's state of affairs.  The last thing she needed was more sharks in the already bloodied waters.  Identifying as a guest of the Arcane Brotherhood suited her needs far better in the moment, especially when it came to requesting some of the larger purchases - namely things like packages of foodstuffs or a stout iron strongbox - be delivered to the Host Tower before sundown rather than trying to lug them around the marketplace herself.  At the very least, Mallory was quick to purchase some fresh Chultan mangoes right off the dockside for the three of them to snack on, as both gratitude and apology... and, admittedly, an indulgence on her own behalf.  She didn't know when she was going to get the chance to enjoy any fruit - let alone tropical fare - next and was keen to toss coppers for such treats while she had the chance.

The other purchases were of less concern when it came to Mallory's consideration.  She was in a "beggars can't be choosers" situation and thus had no room to complain, as she was unlikely to get a better or more timely deal without dedicating a few more hours of searching.  The strongbox in particular was outside of what she actually wanted, but commissioning a blacksmith for a tailored container was simply not an option for her time frame.  Perhaps Idri or another handy hammer could do something with the strongbox to retrofit it later but, for the moment, it was good enough to serve its purpose.  A simple palm-sized plate of processed Electrum pressed with a serial number and merchant brand was likewise entirely serviceable.  The brass censer, meanwhile, was not given any complaint at all.  Mallory needed quality craftsmanship when it came to materials used in her magical enchanting, so a handful of gold pieces for a finely wrought piece of brass work was well within her level of comfort.  Though she did still try to get the most out of her coin - given the obvious mark-up on the censer, she did her best to talk the merchant into throwing in another small item to sweeten the deal.  She pointed out a some simple elements - a bolt of plain, thick copper rings and a spool of copper wire used for binding rather than decorative accents; minor aspects of his trade acquired in bulk rather than any particularly outstanding items.

---

No haggling on any of the purchases, though Mallory will attempt to finesse some blank rings and copper wire into the cost of the Brass Censer.
Persuasion - 17

Total GP spent on all mundane purchases: 36 GP, 5 CP (Assuming my math is correct and 5 CP would be the markup for 1 GP worth of Electrum)

Also, if it was possible to swap the 400 GP diamond Vellynne paid out for 4 100 GP diamonds from the Red Dragon, that would be something Mallory would go for.  If they don't do gem trades or have a significant processing fee, she'll abstain and hope she can do a swap at Colmarr's instead.

With access to any given forge, as Idrianthe's time in Caer-Konig could attest, Mallory's request regarding the metal container was rendered trivial. She wasn't sure what she could do here in Luskan, however, as said access would likely hinge on purchasing a time slot, and at that point it may be cheaper to just commission the local smith directly. Although, she was curious as to how the strongbox was unfit for storing the pearl and asked Mallory to elaborate.

The minting and processing of Electrum was a more specific service than simple gem exchange, which the Red Dragon was able to offer at common market prices¹. When all was said and done, the trading company thanked Mallory for her patronage and hoped the Brotherhood would continue doing business with them at their convenience.

A couple of hours passed with Highsun bidding farewell as the visit to Colmarr's remained. Harai's acquaintance's shop was located on the serene Half-Moon street, home to two of the city's High Captains, although it was closer to Rat Alley than it was their lavish Court. Overlooked by the tall wall, this part of town was one of the least trodden, so it came as no surprise then that Mallory and Idrianthe with their guard in tow was his only customers at the time of their visit.

The shop itself, despite being located in an unfrequented part of town, was far from unassuming at first glance. Clear and pragmatic letters were printed on the display window reading 'Colmarr's Fantabulous Contraption and Magical Errata', along with a few items put there either on exhibit or because it was spatially convenient. One was a gramophone, overelaborate in design, another was a wound wooden Gnoll bashing together a pair of cymbals, and one still appeared to be a mechanical calculator composed of no less than five cylinders. Most bizarre, however, was the robotic spider skittering across the window, pulling a strand of silk as it went. Further in, the store seemed to hold many similar curiosities, and the Gnome owner himself was visibly sat on a high stool by a workbench wielding a soldering iron and a spool of wire.

When the door was opened, a jingle of bells played a happy tune, although one rang in blatant disharmony. That earned a cringe from the Gnome who reared his head and pulled a heavy pair of goggles away from his face. "Urgh . . . I thought I had that fixed," he murmured, his full and generous mustache bobbing impressively. Then he promptly turned his back to his customers, put his goggles back on, and continued soldering.

---

¹ Mallory can exchange the diamonds at a fee of 1%. So 4 gp.

Unless otherwise instructed, the guard will remain on watch outside the store.

The frankly audacious shop was one that had Mallory practically bouncing on the balls of her feet at the very sight of it.  Her outright delight was clear to all and she barely seemed able to contain herself as she took in the varied contraptions even just on the approach.  She was the proverbial kid in a candy store even in spite of the off-key twang of the entry chime - if anything, she found it all the more charming for its discordance.

"Good afternoon, sir.  Don't mind us - we'll browse on our own for a bit." Given that the Gnome - Colmarr, presumably - had already settled back into his work without care made the call merely a token gesture of consideration.  She'd already assumed they'd be ignored in the first place and was perfectly fine with it.  All the better to have the chance to explore a bit and not be pressured.

---

Mallory will Ritual Cast "Detect Magic" to help her scope around the shop and spot interesting items amid the purely mechanical works.

Regarding the strongbox: It may just be a case of crossed wires or differing interpretations, particularly since we've yet to sit down and actually discuss the matter in any detail.
Mallory wants something specifically for holding the Pearl of Hadar which, though unspecified in exact dimensions, I assume is something that comfortably fits in one's palm.  So Mallory wanted a suitably small and relatively light-weight container, lined with an interior sheet of lead, and a single lock that she could eventually cast "Arcane Lock" onto.  From the sound of the strongbox's description, it's much larger and heavier than she would prefer for the intended purpose.  We still have the Silver Chest taken from The Spire that we could use to hold the Pearl of Hadar if all we needed was a metal box.

"Grhmmsshb-darned-wildebeast-thing, you," the Gnome mumbled under his breath as he reheated his soldering iron on the candle beside him. The object he was busy with seemed very much a work in progress, indescribable as it was with springs, cogs, and rods galore. "I shall be with you in a moment!" he proceeded to shout, with the jury out on whether or not he had paid attention to Mallory's introductory statement. A marble rolled onto the floor.

The interior bore similarities to Culver's shop, although it was not entirely so chaotic on the sheer virtue of being more spacious. And fortunate was that, for had it not been, one would have had to be nimble as a cat to avoid being skewered by every sharp edge and jutting piece of metal.

A large item stood in one corner just by Colmarr's desk, bits of machinery peeking out from underneath the cloth that covered it. Aside from that, a magnificent grandfather clock was one of the first items to greet Mallory, pendulum swinging wide as it ticktocked with gusto. Even more impressive would it have been had the hands been accurate. Another was a mounted spyglass in brass, and yet another, on the wall, was what appeared to be a bird box sans hole. When Mallory cast her spell, nothing magical advertised itself loudly. Instead, many small items and trinkets pinged on her radar, scattered on shelves and drawers all across the shop; smallish potions next to a crossbow clearly designed to fire them instead of arrows; a set of spectacles with a golden frame and blue lenses; a small amulet whose magic beat faintly; a plain wooden box hinting at treasures within.

Behind a short door with a heavy iron lock Mallory could spy more powerful magical effects. She could also spy the iron key hanging from a ring on Colmarr's tool belt. "Casting magic in my shop, hmm? I shall permit it so long as it is harmless," he commented, inspecting a metallic sphere he held in his gloved fingers.

---

List of items immediately apparent to Mallory:

• Grandfather Clock (Mundane): 1,000 gp
• Various Timepieces (Mundane): 150 gp each
• Spyglass (Mundane): 400 gp
• Bird Box (Mundane): 200 gp
• Potion Firing Light Crossbow (Mundane): 40 gp
• Tinker's Tools: 50 gp
• Potions (Magical):
  
  • Potion of Healing x5: 50 gp
  • Potion of Greater Healing x1: 150 gp
  • Potion of Flying: 500 gp
  • Potion of Poison: 100 gp
  • Potion of Speed: 400 gp
• Eyes of Charming (Magical): 2,500 gp
• Clockwork Amulet (Magical): 500 gp
• Mechanical Spider (Mundane) with an Orb of Thread (Magical): Not for Sale
• Bag of Tricks, Rust (Magical): 2,000 gp
• A Wooden Box (Mundane) containing several Portable Holes (Magical):
  
  • 8″ x2: 750 gp each
  • 1′ x2: 1,000 gp each
  • 4′: 3,000 gp
  • 6′: 8,000 gp
• Gramophone (Magical): 3,000 gp

This message was last edited by the GM at 13:54, Wed 21 Feb.

"I do apologize if that was a bit gauche of me, sir, though it's just a simple spell to check for dweomers.  Saves us both the trouble of my pestering you about the details of every fascinating article." Mallory begged for pardon as she swept low to snatch up the marble that had gone skittering across her path to offer it back to the distracted Gnome.  It was a good thing Astre wasn't back from his errand yet - he'd have gone absolutely berserk in such a shop.  "I was recommended this shop by a professional acquaintance, but I had no idea what to expect.  Goodness knows I could be underfoot all day with such delightful craftsmanship you've set out here.  Is every piece a personal creation?"

The young noble's words may have been flattery but they were far from hollow.  A genuine gleam of excitement made her dark eyes sparkle like no other, both out of her love for such curios and her own skills as an enchanter.  The carefully set arcane inlays that shimmered nearly invisibly across her boots were likely amateurish compared to a Gnome engineer's far more practiced works, but they at least spoke of a legitimate knack and appreciation of the work that went into such crafts.

Idrianthe was similarly enamored with the fascinating shop and all its little gizmos. The smith in her took note of the . . . adequate metalwork, but she did fancy herself a tinkerer, too, and that part of her recognized ambition when confronted with it. She took a small box from a shelf to inspect, finding it unlocked when she tried to open it, and out sprang a device of paper and copper resembling a dragonfly, fluttering along for a good few seconds before it miracoulosuly circled back and deposited itself into the box.

"Indeed!" Colmarr said as he put the sphere down, puffing his chest at the complement. Then he cranked a lever and his stool promptly spun, him with it, until his feet touched the floor. "What Gnome would I otherwise be? Have you perhaps come for my potions? Has the Brotherhood at last come to its senses?" As he raised his goggles he revealed a hopeful expression, his gray mustache twitching enthusiastically.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:00, Mon 19 Feb.

"While we are both associates of the Brotherhood, I'm afraid we're not representing any sort of professional outreach.  This is purely a personal visit." Mallory tried to let the Gnome down gently on that matter.  She recognized aspirations when she saw them and didn't want to dash his mood, but it certainly wouldn't do for her to spin up his hopes.  "Still, when I mentioned a desire for items of magical interest, your shop was the first to recommended by name by Master Harai, so you must be doing something right."

Mallory primly cleared her throat and moved along with a brisk effort to keep things going, rather than risk the Gnome going back to his tinkering too quickly.  "I'm an enchanter of some middling talent and have quite a few commercial projects in the works.  Plus we're also set to travel north, where useful supplies are going to be quite hard to come by.  So I was hoping to stock up before we set out." she explained and gestured about to the surrounding array of trinkets.  "While your works on display are wonderfully charming - and quite a few certainly pique my interest for possible purchase - I believe any stores of supplies and reagents you may be able to spare are more to what I was aiming for.  Particularly anything you may have that could be used in the summoning of Familiar spirits, or extradimensional storage."

A thought did take the young noble as she considered the sort of oddities she'd collected during her misadventures in Icewind Dale prior.  "Though... are potions a particular subject of yours?  I happen to have some potions and materials of rather unusual origin in my own collection that might be of interest to you."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:30, Mon 19 Feb.

"Hrmph," the Gnome tutted, rolling his feet as he puffed his chest. "Yes, I would be happy to inspect whatever you've brought along, for I know my way around potions. A veritable whiz, some might describe me as. It is the reason this very shop exists!" He began pacing in circles, swirling a finger theatrically in the air. "A skilled mage I am too, but alas, few appreciate my talents. Don't misunderstand, it is not that I am fueled by gratitude, far from it! While the Brotherhood may have their reasons for not allowing a Gnome into their folds, should they have extended me an invitation, why, I would refuse! My work serves the masses!"

He hurried over to a nearby drawer, opening it to reveal numerous schematics and parchments, along with bundled charcoal. After scooping some up, he grabbed a small wooden box from a shelf he could just reach before darting back to Mallory with surprising spryness for such an old Gnome. "Here, I have some materials which can be used to conjure familiars. I may have some herbs and incense laying around if you would permit me a minute to search, and I also have these." He opened the box and pulled out a circular sheet of pitch black fabric, then whacked the lid shut and folded the cloth on top. For a demonstration, he dropped the marble Mallory had handed him, only for it to disappear straight down the material as if it had been a fully functional hole. Then he reached in and pulled the marble back out, chuckling. "Quite handy, wouldn't you say? More than a fun trick, although that it is too!"

---

The dimension of the smaller Portable Hole is approximately 8″ and costs 750 gp. He also has some in 1′ (1,000 gp), 4′ (3,000 gp), and the standard 6′ (8,000 gp).

I have updated the inventory in #msg 35 of this thread with prices for every item.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:50, Wed 21 Feb.

"A kindred spirit!" Mallory chimed at Colmarr's insistence over the application of his works and wares.  "I quite agree, sir, and I've been in my own efforts to set up distribution of minor enchanted goods throughout the communities of Ten-Towns.  I've already made personal inroads with the Speakers of Bryn Shander, Targos, and Caer-Konig with the goal of mass-producing small items of my own design to help protect against inclement weather and rough conditions so commonplace there."  That wasn't entirely true, of course... Mallory had indeed been building various rapports with the Speakers, but only Trovus had shown any direct interest in her project.  Duvessa and Naerth were yet to be appealed one way or another, but she was quite certain they'd be eager to invest... especially if it meant one might gain an upper hand on the other, given their animosity.  Still, one couldn't be entrepreneurial without talking up one's own works and aspirations to entice investors.  "The trouble, of course, is finding skilled hands capable of handling the work.  I can only do so much on my own."

The Gnome's eager demonstration of some of his wares was met with a patient smile on Mallory's behalf, at least to begin with.  She wasn't a commoner gawking at simple trinkets as mystical marvels, after all, and her own earlier sweep had clued her in to what the box contained.  But it was the varied sizes of the Portable Holes that really caught her attention and drew her focus nearer with genuine fascination.  "My goodness, I've never seen anyone manufacture these to smaller scales.  Idri, darling, come see!  Phase spider silk is an utter nightmare to work with... you must truly have a remarkable knack to be able to weave it this densely!"  Mallory mused as she brushed her fingertip along the edge of the hole and gathered it up over a palm to more closely examine its craftsmanship.  Was it small Gnomish hands that made the difference, or perhaps he'd engineered a tool capable of such fine manipulation of ethereal threads?

"Does this compressed structure have any impact on the usual Astral sundering issue?  Back when I was at academy, a work group I participated in actually managed to develop a method of Prime Material-folding rather than extradimensional extrusion to avoid that very problem.  Not that it really went anywhere... turns out this Plane doesn't like to be folded and is very stubborn about correcting such creases.  On the plus side, I was able to write a lovely thesis document on Planar elasticity..."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Wed 21 Feb.

The Gnome twirled his mustache and rocked most contentedly. "From first hand experience I shall attest the extradimensional subset paradox is yet to be resolved! It was precisely how my first workshop disappeared! And believe you me, working the silk was the easy part of making these," he said as he knocked on the box, having folded the hole back up. "Purchasing it was the true trick. High and low I searched, until I found some in stock with a Dwarf from Mirabar. That was nearly two hundred years ago. I left the spinning to a device similar to the spider you see crawling about — don't mind him, by the way," he nodded to the spider Mallory and Idrianthe had first seen on the display window, "he is simply casting an abjuration to deter thievery. Although," he added as he sniffed the air, "it appears he is running low on sulfur . . ."

Indulging the train of thought, Colmarr approached his workbench and rummaged through his drawers for the ingredient. "I should have realized when the tune was off! Now where . . . aha!" He pulled out and unfolded a sheet of the foul smelling yellow substance just as the mechanical spider found its way to him. He unscrewed the orb and opened a compartment, then, with a pair of pliers, carefully loaded some into it before quickly stowing the sulfur away. The spider was released and resuming spinning the nearly transparent, intermittently knotted thread. "That'll get him right as rain! Should you in the meantime get the inclination to steal something, I implore you don't, lest I . . . err, call the guards."
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:03, Wed 21 Feb.

"I'm sure you made some Ethereal Filcher quite happy that day." Mallory tittered with a sympathetic shrug.  Just as much as she'd savored speaking at length with the likes of Harai and even Father Mathur, getting to talk shop with a fellow practitioner was a balm to the young noble's soul.  Goodness, how she'd missed such things in her long months of travel!  Back home in Neverwinter, such endeavors were a nigh-daily normality - that it had become a rare indulgence for her by the present day only served to steel her resolve to get things back to how they once were.

Colmarr's remarks about not wanting to be robbed earned him a gentle laugh and shake of Mallory's head in reply.  She hoisted her satchel up onto the countertop to begin sorting through her own belongings, rather than chance to try and shuffle his in.  "Sir, I wouldn't dream of it; I'm certainly no petty burglar.  Besides, as a guest of the Brotherhood, my behavior reflects upon them and I would never dare besmirch their reputation with such audacity."  In all genuine honesty, however, she couldn't help but think that theft would be a lot easier to manage given the cost of some of Colmarr's works.  Mallory knew full well the expense of such productions, let alone the required markup that came with bespoke items of Gnomish quality, so she couldn't fault the man for his fees.  But it did severely cut down her options all the same.

"That said, I'm afraid my on-hand funds fall short of letting me purchase as many of your items as I would like all at once.  Would you be interested at all in entertaining a bit of bartering?" she broached the subject with as much care as one could, knowing full well it was the sort of idea that would put most merchants instantly on the defensive.  "As I mentioned before, I have both potions and a number of extremely unusual reagents, trinkets, and tomes - some of which that I can guarantee neither of us will encounter again in our lives.  I'm not willing to part with all of them, mind you, but much can be gained simply from the chance to examine them."

"Bartering is how I prefer to do it! What purpose does coin serve other than purchasing goods? Better to cut out the middle-man, I say!" Colmarr proclaimed. He cleaned a portion of his workbench for Mallory to utilize. "Please!"

"Ah, wonderful - you truly are a man after my own heart." Mallory set her Lantern Rod in place just behind her with a click to lock it in space, to comfortably take a bench seat of her own making while she sorted out the various items she'd come across.  Some of the larger items were still back at the Host Tower, as she was quick to inform, but she had helpful illusory magics to demonstrate their actual appearance when necessary.

"So, I've recently come from all sorts of business throughout Ten-Towns and I've acquired quite a few oddities as a result.  Some of which I've already put to use in my own works." she gestured demonstrably to the Ice Troll hair lining that adorned the tops of her tall boots; a testament to her faith not only in her own handiwork, but the quality of the materials used.  Among the items presented were smaller separated vials of Ice Troll blood and bundles of drawn tendons that were taken from larger portions still kept with the rest of her cart's worth of goods.  "I collected these Ice Troll materials myself and they're quite fresh - only a few days old at this point.  I've much more blood, fur, hide, and bone samples; while I'd like to keep enough to construct at least one more set of these boots of mine, the rest is up for sale.  I've also got an intact Ice Troll heart in preservation; its chilling effects are fully active, though I've made sure to contain it so as to stunt regeneration."

From a slim wrap of unrolled spare leather, Mallory presented a calcified black crystal.  "This is the necrotic bezoar drawn from a particularly nasty Wight, defeated by a squire of the Order of the Radiant Heart I'm allied with.  Rather potent as well, given its size and age.  The Wight it was drawn from was quite the piece of work..."

"Here, I've samples taken from a pack of Werewolverines local to the woodlands surrounding Ten-Towns.  However, these are a particular case as the origin of their lycanthropy is attributed directly to Malar, not by secondary exposure and transmission of the curse.  So there's no generational degradation or dilution in these samples." the fangs, portions of carefully bound fur, and robes still marred with Werewolverine blood and traces were set out as well in careful arrangement.  Mallory was particularly careful not to get her fingers too near to the sharp tips of those fangs either, just in case.  "And speaking of lycanthropes, I also happened to acquire these while encountering an ill-fated Werebear outside Bryn Shander." A carved rune stone with the Ise rune engraved on its side, a pouch of still-frozen (though potentially thawing, by that point) cloudberries, and a gleaming, dark shard of Chardalyn.  Technically, none of those were really hers to give, but she genuinely doubted she'd see their true owners ever again...

"Let's just begin with this smaller fare first, before we move on to the more unusual items, shall we?  I don't wish to overwhelm your workspace."

---

To summarize this first batch from Mallory's frankly bursting inventory of items:

- Pouch of Frozen Cloudberries (from Werebear)
- Rune Stone - Ise/Frost Rune (Magical? from Werebear)
- Shard of Chardalyn (Magical)
- Ice Troll Fur/Hide/Blood
- Ice Troll Heart
- Wight Necrotic Bezoar
- Tattered Werewolverine Robes x3
- Werewolverine Fangs x2
- Tuft of Werewolverine Fur
This message was last edited by the player at 00:44, Fri 23 Feb.

"Hmmmmm," the Gnome droned on, rubbing his chin as he leaned in close to inspect each item as they were presented in turn. Out of all of them, the shard of Chardalyn piqued his interest the most. "This is a curious material indeed, but certainly not something I wish in my shop. I have heard tales of Svirfneblin driven mad from it, although I know not at what concentration. A shame, since it's property to store magic is frankly unprecedented."

Nor was Colmarr particularly smitten by the Wight residue for similar reasons. His work was often daring, true, but not in this way. The Ice Troll items were therefore also disregarded, as were the Lycanthropic items harvested from Malarites.

That only left the Rune Stone from the initial batch. Well, that and the Cloudberries, but those appeared mundane to his trained Gnome eye. Spoiled from thawing, too. The Rune did seem rather valuable to him though. "Do you know its magical properties, perchance? I cannot say runes are my forte."

---

Mallory's retroactive Identify on the Ise Rune:

Ise Rune (requires attunment):

Frigid Touch. As an Action, you can touch a body of water and freeze the water in a 10-foot-radius sphere around the spot you touched. Once you use this property, you can't use it again until you finish a Short or Long Rest.

Winter's Howl. As an Action, you can cast Sleet Storm (Spell Save DC 17). You regain this ability after you finish a Short or Long Rest.

This message was last edited by the GM at 21:41, Sun 25 Feb.

A lack of interest in the more... hostile... components didn't surprise Mallory all too much.  One naturally had to milk a snake of its venom to create a cure, but there wasn't often a need for things like lycanthropic counters outside of groups that specialized in their use.  Still, she didn't know what sort of eccentricities Colmarr might be interested in, so it was best to lay everything out and see if something caught his attention.  "I've been handling this portion without ill-effects for a fair while now, so I doubt a shard of this size is of any danger.  I would imagine one would need a rather vast localized outcropping for there to be any negative impact.  The real trouble is finding a way to process it into a more useful state. beyond mere magical containment." Mallory noted on the shard of Chardalyn as it, like the other samples, were shuffled back into tidy storage within her satchel as they were turned down.

The rune stone, meanwhile, was brought to the fore upon request.  "The rune is 'Ise', or 'Frost' in the Jotun vernacular.  I'm not particularly versed in Runic Magic myself either, though my friend here is far more adept." she gestured once more to Idri before she continued.  "Once a person synchronizes their energy with the rune, it grants rather potent ice-related magical influence.  Once or twice a  day, potentially, you can use its power to freeze a volume of around thirty-thousand gallons of water instantly.  Unlike common spell methods of freezing water, this ice would melt at its natural rate rather than at the end of the magic's immediate influence.  Further, it can conjure a localized blizzard and all that entails, lasting for about a minute depending on one's conditions." Mallory held a palm aloft as small arcane illusions whirled into the air to demonstrate visual examples of the stone's magical effects - a massive sphere of water erupting to the surface of a body of water, or a tall cylindrical area of space filled with a dense winter storm while the area around it was untouched.  "Its industrial applications can be quite remarkable... but not especially useful in a place like Icewind Dale in the depths of winter, for obvious reasons."

---

Had to use an online calculator to pull up the formula for how much water could be contained within the volume of a sphere that size.  That's a lot.  o_o
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Sun 25 Feb.

"Fascinating," Colmarr droned as he pulled an arm-mounted loupe close to inspect the carving in detail. "And undoubtedly useful! The simple convenience of creating large amounts of ice is not to be understated, most certainly."

---

I'll value the selling price at 1,000 gp, par for the course considering it's a rare item. Roll Persuasion if you want to trade it for something that is worth more than this. Let's set the DC to 10 + 2 per 100 gold over.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:55, Mon 26 Feb.

I'll go ahead and save the actual number values for the end of the whole process, just so we're not getting things muddled up midway through.

---

"Indeed; were my own projects not currently centered around Icewind Dale, I'd be loathe to part with such a device since there's so many other potential uses for it.  But such is life and business.  I'm fairly confident I could recreate the enchantment, if pressed, so it's not a total loss it to change hands now.  Though this particular piece being the creation of a genuine runesmith does give it a level of authenticity superior to any facsimiles I might cobble."

"Oh, and speaking of genuine articles, that brings me to the next array of items.  I've acquired these while delving in the ruins of a Netherese enclave tower - they are all confirmed pieces of original works predating the Fall of Nethril.  The ruin I explored was some manner of research and production facility, helmed by at least one lead arcanist and an assistant from what I've been able to discern." Mallory left out the finer details of The Spire, as she didn't want to risk divulging any information that Vellynne would rather keep under wraps.  She laid a series of very ancient tomes across the countertop.  "Please do be careful in handling these.  In case you're not versed in the language, allow me to elaborate..."

Mallory had acquired a handful of tomes from the Netherese library, though she personally felt Colmarr might find the most interest in "Magical Wonders XII", given its focus on magical artifacts and contraptions.  She was quite happy to translate and summarize any tidbits he had questions on and, once he was finished examining the books one way or another, moved on to the next elements she'd acquired.  While the Netherese skulls - normal or Nothic - were intended as reserved for Vellynne's use, Mallory had retained the Thri-kreen skull and limbs, marred with aberrant fractals as they were.  She also produced the Potion of Force Resistance and two different vials of black sludge that shone with a strange, golden inner hue.

"Among the facility were various elements of research as well.  There was some kind of aberrant spread throughout the ruins associated with Hadar, though these markings are merely a side-effect and have not shown any adverse properties... aside from being ghastly to look at.  I'm frankly curious to see what sort of effect they might have in the processing of Thri-kreen chitin to utilize in psionic-based works, if any." the Thri-kreen bits were more of a curiosity and Mallory drew focus to the potion and vials of sludge.  "This potion here is truly vintage, both in brewing composition and glass work.  It was part of a four-piece set which has unfortunately been separated since, though totally sealed and untouched since its creation.  It confers the ability to endure kinetic trauma on the drinker for a period of time, though its effect is frankly less valuable in my eyes than its historical worth." she explained, then gestured to the vial of sludge.  "This here is a sampling of a Black Ooze that was uniquely developed at the facility.  Its exact properties still remain unexplored, though it had a distinctly different appearance than the usual variety of such creatures.  Further, the Black Oozes appear to be born from a form of acidic run-off from a greater Netherese artifact that utilized Super Heavy Magic construction in its operation--" she indicated one of the sludge-filled vials, tagged with a colored string around its neck, which had been drawn from the artifact site "--rather than being a naturally-manifesting creature."

---

So that's:
- various tomes Mallory found (Chapter 4: The Lost Spire of Netheril - Msg #98)
- Potion of Force Resistance
- Thri-Kreen Body Parts, and
- Vials of Black Ooze Remains collected from both the Giant Black Ooze the Party killed, and from the acidic pool at the Spire's peak.

Mallory's not necessarily willing to part with all of the Tomes, but she is willing to make copies of the ones she'd rather keep if Colmarr is interested in the contents rather than the books themselves.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Mon 26 Feb.