Big and Small and In Between

Yesterday I found one more bit of loot from the smuggler's den which I hadn't encountered before: the Klatchian steel tower shield:

This extremely weighty shield has been made from the finest Klatchian steel. Strong, durable, and weighty, it would be capable of protecting someone from even the most determined of attacks - at least if you were able to carry it. An ornate representation of a phoenix in flight has been inlaid upon the central boss of the shield in gold.

It is, indeed, rather hefty, at around 14.33 pounds. While my first thought was to immediately fence it, I think went and took a look about Quow's suggestions for floaters. Right now I am pretty comfortable with the ornate bone shield, as I am slightly above the 483 bonuses it demands. The Katchian steel piece is apparently good from 538 upwards (and the ultimate goal, a giant turtle shell, from 646 upwards). This, and the new hedgie spell that can make shields heavier, are making me think of a road map: when I go back to spending in magic.spells.defensive, as soon as I reach 500 bonuses I can cast Luquayle's Longevity-Enhancing Ballast once, or even twice, on the current shield. And when I reach 538, switch to this one. And then do the same thing, expanding weights as I get better bonuses. It's going to be a slow climb. I will need unimaginable amounts of xp to push defense up. Perhaps I should be considering sailing, so if any of you smugglers are reading this, let me know if you are willing to recruit me.

Anyway, moving from the very big to the very small, and as part of my attempts to reduce my burden, I have decided to give up on my deluded sapphire-hilted knife. The Hedgies in Skund have developed a really small, light and nifty kauri penknife that does all the requirements of body-part gathering and little-demon summoning, and sheathes along with my Fang inside my recently acquired filigreed sword belt. Knifey looks like this:

This is a sturdy, practical folding knife, suitable for all the little everyday things a hedge wizard might need to cut, like string or branches or eyeballs. It has a Wharncliffe blade designed to fold away into the polished kauri handle, and bears a steaming teacup as a maker's mark. The blade is closed.

And finally, something in between! I have Grimoire carry for me my filigreed rowan case, which I don't use for much, actually, expect for the hope of scraping some magical tm from listing the spells within it. It looks like this:

This is a small case made from rowan which has been completely enveloped in octiron filigree. The design is fanciful and intricate and the octiron has been polished to high reflective shine. In the centre of the cases lid is a small plaque which mirrors your gaze perfectly. At the bottom are four small claw-like feet which the case uses to keep hold of the surface. Any surface, really. Between the legs, in the centre of the bottom of the case is another small plaque which might give some information. 

It is in perfect condition. 

There is no ink in the well. It contains no paper. 

It radiates pure octarine brilliance. 

It has the hazy octarine sparkle of a magical talisman.

Smuggler loot (3)

A blue silk kimono 

The kimono is made from light blue, dull silk. It is adorned with the embroidered scenery of Hung Hung's cherry trees in full bloom. The soft pink stitches stroke the silk tenderly.

A darkened stile

This maliciously-pointed implement has been forged from the finest Klatchian steel. Unlike other blades, however, this one has been twisted during its forging in such a way that it resembles the tight spiral of an animal's horn. It looks eminently suitable for slipping between the ribs of any terminally inobservant victims who happen to be in the vicinity.

A braided gold ring

This ring has been finely crafted from gold wire. Woven skilfully together, the individual strands have combined to form something far more attractive-looking than its constituent component. Completely even and uniform, it would grace the hand of its bearer.

Lavender amethyst earrings

A pair of cabochon-cut lavender amethysts, like tiny petals, nestle into simple silver clasp settings, with posts and scrolls to hold them securely in the wearer's earlobes.

An amber and silver ring

This ring has been shaped from silver in such a way that its entire circumference appears to flow in an infinitely undulating wave. The skilled workmanship is accented by an amber teardrop, set in yet more silver. A number of tiny bubbles can be seen, interspersed throughout the amber.

A silver-hilted stile

Hardly a weapon designed for stealthy movement and concealment, the handle of this slender knife has been cast from silver into a stylised representation of a desert cat, the skilful craftsmanship conveying not what the animal looks like, but what it truly is.  Its blade is of the most delicately-honed fine Klatchian steel.

A ruby serpent ring

This ring has been crafted from gold to resemble a coiled serpent. Shards of ruby pick out the eyes, which stare out like malevolent suns from its golden head.

Smuggler loot (2)

Some more trinkets from Ephebe!

An amber silk robe

This gossamer silk robe glows in a warm, amber hue. It has been embroidered with a delicate filigree pattern in silken thread the rich reddish-brown colour of cinnamon and is bound about the edges with russet-coloured silk from which hangs small, round citrines. The gems alternate with small gold coins. The sleeves are belled slightly at the wrists to capture a cooling breeze, and the robe hangs loose to the wearer's ankles, the gauzy material fluttering about with the slightest motion.

Dark sapphire earrings*

A pair of tiny faceted stones, showing elusive glimmers of blue in their night-dark hearts, nestle into simple red gold clasp settings, with posts and scrolls to hold them securely in the wearer's earlobes.

A gold and carnelian necklace

This exquisite piece of jewellery is formed by threading beads onto a fine chain. The golden beads are teardrop-shaped but otherwise un-ornamented, and contrast stunningly with the almost luminously-polished larger pearls of carnelian that are interspersed along the whole necklace.

*These shouldn't come as a complete surprise to the readers of my grimoire, as I've already shown them among my wearables some days ago.

Smuggler loot

In a previous entry, we saw two of the valuable items one can find when looting at the smuggler's hideout, in Ephebe: a pearl diadem and a snake necklace. Sometimes, the loot isn't jewels, but rather, items of clothing or weapons. I have decided to keep track of everything so that I can regale your eyes with a view of these marvelous items. Here go six more to add to the previous two:

A ruby star necklace

This necklace is formed by braiding fine gold wire into an elegant yet hefty plait. Gently twisted, it would encircle the neck of the wearer comfortably. It is finished off with a star-shaped ruby, which nestles in a golden setting, flanked by the braided gold chain.

A twisting myrtle necklet

This somewhat rigid piece of decorative neckwear appears to be designed to make its wearer look as though they have been festooned with myrtle. Fashioned from gold, the body is formed from woven strands of gold, textured to have the appearance of bark. Small sapphire berries nestle amongst delicately-shaped golden leaves, which extend along the full length of the necklace.

A silver and iolite bracelet 

A single link of silver chain connects each of the pale violet gemstones, in their simple channel settings. The strand drapes around a slim wrist like glittering stepping stones across a gentle stream.

A gossamer silk cloak

This silk cloak is so thin, it gives little protection from the sun or rain. The gossamer material shimmers as it moves, floating lightly around the wearer like a full body halo. Here and there, the threads sparkle lightly.

A Gebra steel dory

This is a perfectly-balanced and elegantly proportioned Ephebian dory. Its head has been expertly forged from the finest Gebra steel. The deceptive simplicity of this weapon conceals the fact that it is at one and the same time both elegantly simple and lethally effective. The shaft has been shaped from a piece of ash and has a bronze shoe at its foot.

A darkened makhaira

Approximately the length of a grown man's arm, this slender sword has been forged from darkened Klatchian steel. Soft and supple dark grey leather has been wrapped around the handle to provide a sure grip. The razor-sharp blade would probably prove invaluable for a quick stab in the dark

A New Type of Treasure!

I've been visiting a certain dark maze of tunnels and corridors in Ephebe for quite some time now, sometimes with deadly consequences. While in those tunnels I've had more fights with smugglers than i can remember, and encounters with a smuggler captain that end up with taking an iron key from his dead, cold fingers and opening a chest with sundry bits of treasure and some money. But in my visits, I had also noticed that hidden somewhere amidst this maze of passageways there sometimes appeared a special room, hacked into the rock, with yet another treasure chest that I always found ransacked. Today I was determined to see if I could find it. I upped my visual sense to high mode and put myself to looking through every nook and cranny, and something indeed happened! I found the place... and a bunch of smugglers that tried to kill me for my daring:

[dingy tunnel]

Some tunnels are made by merry dwarves, singing as they work. Some tunnels are made by a peaceful underground river, patiently wearing away the rock over millennia. This tunnel looks as though somebody just glared at the rock until it decided it was better off elsewhere. Shadows linger in every corner and sharp rocks squat on the floor, ready to trip the unwary adventurer.

There are no obvious exits.

search walls

You start to search around.

You examine the ground carefully and notice some rocks that look like they have been moved recently. Shifting them aside, you reveal a hole in the ground.

A demented smuggler, a devious smuggler, two dastardly smugglers and a smelly smuggler run out of the shadows.

You notice the demented smuggler falling over his feet while trying to sneak round you and decide to teach him a lesson.

The demented smuggler looks confused.

You notice the devious smuggler falling over his feet while trying to sneak round you and decide to teach him a lesson.

The devious smuggler looks quite confused.

You notice one of the dastardly smugglers falling over his feet while trying to sneak round you and decide to teach him a lesson.

The dastardly smuggler looks confused.

You suddenly hear a noise behind you and turn around to find one of the dastardly smugglers preparing to backstab you. You take the opportunity to launch a pre-emptive attack.

You notice the smelly smuggler falling over his feet while trying to sneak round you and decide to teach him a lesson.

Hp: 2926 (2926) Gp: 277 (442) Xp: 442285

The dastardly smuggler shoves you.

You scratch the dastardly smuggler's head with your sea serpent fang.

The demented smuggler, the devious smuggler, two dastardly smugglers and the smelly smuggler move aggressively towards you!

Your concentration wanes and you stop watching your surroundings as intently.

What followed was a brutal, bloody but mercifully brief battle, which ended with all the smugglers dead, and with the ground flowing with blood. I was finally able to climb down and discover what was awaiting beneath!

d
[hidey hole]
@
A small hollow has been hacked into the rock here, barely big enough to stand up in. It is bare and devoid of decoration save some scratchings on the floor. The only access is through a narrow hole in the ceiling. A couple of handholds have been cut into the wall underneath.
There is one obvious exit: up.
A large wooden chest is on the floor.
l chest
This large chest is made from driftwood, worn and weathered by the tides and the wind. It is secured by a large cast-iron padlock. The chest looks heavy and is almost big enough to fit a human in it.
It is in excellent condition.
It is closed.
open chest
You open the large wooden chest.
l chest
This large chest is made from driftwood, worn and weathered by the tides and the wind. It is secured by a large cast-iron padlock. The chest looks heavy and is almost big enough to fit a human in it.
It is in excellent condition.
The large wooden chest is almost empty except for a golden serpent necklace and a gold and pearl diadem.
It is open.
get all from chest
You get a golden serpent necklace and a gold and pearl diadem from a large wooden chest.
u

Coming up, I still had to confront further bunches of smugglers until I finally managed to reach a safe spot, and take the opportunity to inspect my loot. This is what I had rescued from the well-hidden chest:

l diadem

This golden diadem fits snugly round the head and makes the wearer look terribly wealthy and important. Held together by golden chains the diadem is comprised of two solid gold side pieces and a gold mounted pearl front piece. At the back of the diadem a clasp holds the chains together allowing the wearer to adjust it to the size of their head. As well as the large pearl at the front of the piece, smaller pearls are inset all the way around.

It is in excellent condition.

l serpent necklace

This golden necklace is segmented, almost seeming to slither and writhe across the neck of the wearer. Scales are intricately picked out over the whole of the surface, allowing it to exactly mirror the sinuous contours of a real serpent. Its eyes have been fashioned out of emerald, contrasting with the otherwise understated decoration of the rest of the piece.

It is in excellent condition.

Quite an exciting set of events! I was quite lucky to get through it unscathed! I do need to become somewhat more perceptive, though...