CLOSED: The Artificer's Forge

[Marullus]

Thanrir shrugs apologetically. "All dwarves are said to be fashioned from earth and stone by the hand of Moradin, our creator. The secrets of Moradin, however, remain his own and perhaps to the graybearded clerics of his wisdom. We have nonesuch here."

[Zhym]

"Okay," Lug sighs heavily, which is a heavy sigh indeed from a man of his size. "Carrying someone else's stuff is heavy. It weighs more than it weighs, you know? I did it before for my friend Orrin when he lost his shield. Hey! That shield sure would be handy against the dragon now, wouldn't it? Anyway, I found Orrin when I thought he was dead. Maybe Rhybek will eventually come back?"

"The priests of Baudh take tributes of stuff sometimes, but I guess a follower of Moradin wouldn't want his stuff on display in a temple of Baudh, huh? Hey, why is there a temple of Gwanwyn here but no temple of Moradin?"

Would the Rules of Dwarven Acquisition or whatever they're called allow Lug to offer the axe and amulet in exchange for dwarven-made armor? Or would that be seen as offering something that isn't really his?

[Marullus]

"There are many mysteries in this northern land; I hope that the ability to restore your friend is one of them," offers Thanrir with a sympathetic smile. "Moradin is our Lord of Forges; he is worshipped here in the private homes our my kin, and would likely have a larger communal place of worship in a proper dwarfhome. This simple town, quarrying for our neighbors as we discover the history of our kin, isn't fitting for such a temple. Casper White is a dwarf-friend, dedicating himself to the honoring of our ancestors... thus his chapel to Gwanwen is permitted as a curiousity. Perhaps he'd be willing to hold and honor these things, pending a Baerdrum arrival."

Can't trade them for dwarf-armor. You could donate them to the dwarven chapel to honor Rhybek, however, and get XP for them (if you don't want to carry and use them).

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay and Clarabelle, along with their animal escorts, walk from Gaul to Idmi d'dum. The more time the pair spends together, the easier the conversation flows between them, and on this walk their discussions bounce between her parent's tavern (being constructed near Beith's Watch), the spear she is having crafted by the dwarfs, what it means to be a follower of Beith, and what it is like (and how to) talk to birds. They spend the night sleeping among the bushes and low trees on the roadside, part way to Idmi d'dum. Clay offers Clarabelle lessons on meditating. Basically, you sit still and focus on breathing and trying not to think.

They arrive at the Artificer's Forge on 12 August, and locate Thanrir, whom Clay greets the old dwarf as a friend. He introduces Clarabelle, allowing her to decide if she will discuss the circumstances of how the pair met, instead just complimenting her for her kindness in being a human face for him, and for carrying things. Being a badger is pretty neat, but there are times I really miss pockets and thumbs. But that isn't why I'm here, of course. I have a few things to discuss with you. Clay lays out the dragon fang and 20 molars, explaining Calrabelle would like a spear and 20 arrows for her long bow made. Stories abound that you and your kin can craft things while allowing the natural energies of the dragon teeth to be preserved. If that's true, what would you charge, and how long will it take? Afterwards, when they are alone, Clay presents the orb.

This is the Orb of Endless Suffering. We found it at the same time as the Horn of Jarkul and all those other heirlooms from your clan - where Beith's Watch is now. I've heard that Caspar the White has a book that will tell us more, including how it was used against your people, but what I do know is that it's a piece of the negative material plane, somehow trapped inside this glass ball. I paid Pierpont, the mage, to study it and he confirmed a few things: it spoils the land and the soul if left in one place for too long; it raises the dead spontaneously; and it can magnify necromantic spells. He told me the best way to deal with it is a Wish spell, but no one in the northlands has such power that I know of. Short of that, he mentioned burying it or tossing it in a volcano, but the land at Beith's Watch was fouled from it's presence, and he wasn't sure what destroying it would do. Clay pauses with a heavy sigh. I'm open to any suggestions you might have. I want to prevent the Red Robed Mages of Monoc from getting it. And I certainly don't want it near any cemeteries.

If he mentions getting Caspar, Clay is open to that and will present all the pertinent information to him.

[Marullus]

"Well, if you just need it modified, I can handle the arrows for 100 gold and the spear for 60," he offers. Clarabelle agrees and pays from her recent earnings. "Come back in a week."

When you explain the Orb, the Artificer spits in the dirt and crosses himself against the evil eye. "Sorcery and black magic! Never trust a will worker." He doesn't have any suggestions for Created items and is Keen to have the accursed object out of his workshop.

He does, however, accommodate calling Caspar White to talk about his ancestors. "The dwarves wrote of a secret location called the Spiral Vault, where they intended to deposit it with other goods too dangerous to be found.
I can try to determine where to search for it from their records but it will take time. Do you wish to pursue it?" If so, he also agrees a week should be sufficient.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Clay agrees to return in a week for the information and weaponry.

[Rusty Tincanne]

Is this waiting for the game clock to advance before Clay gets his answer? It's fine if that's the case since it gives me time to think about this. And maybe the other expedition will be back before he leaves.

[Marullus]

Kind of. I've just been busy. (Please do bump it if I take too long.) When I do answer this, the game clock will advance. Whenever a group returns, they'll 'take a break' and begin roleplaying at the current timestamp (at which time you can discuss these answers).

[Marullus]

19 August 2021
When Clay returns, the masterwork spear and arrows are ready; quality dwarven craftsmanship for only 160gp.

[Zhym]

Olaf Olaffssonsson travels to the forge.

"I got two jobs for ye," he says. "One to be making, one to be unmaking. The making be for new Armor of Olaf. Me grandad Olaf's armor, it be good, but the bands be harder to improve than plates. So I'd like ye to be making new plate mail for me. An' I'd like to be helping, if it be okay with ye. A dwarf should have a hand in the armor he be wearin', aye?"

He then throws a dwarven longbow on the ground. "This be for the unmaking. It be a bow made to kill dwarves."

I don't expect a discount on the armor from having Olaf help make it, but if there's any way he could have a chance of improving the armor by applying his blacksmithing skill, that'd be neat (there's precedent in Keehnelf's game, FWIW, when Ulf helped make his own armor).

[Marullus]

Thanrir is impressed by your honorable acts. He agrees to fashion you armor, and accept your aid as an apprentice. "Unmaking an elvish weapon of wood is tricky business, but we shall see it done," he replies.

First, bringing the bow to be destroyed solidifies your personal reputation. You may request a favor of the dwarves. It also puts you in good standing to swear fealty as a Knight here as well; ramifications on that on the other thread.

By helping personally, I'll let you imbue your Item XP from the last expedition into this armor instead. (NPCs are better at their trade than dabbling PCs; they don't need checks where you do. In this case, studying under the Master Artificer insulates you from failure, too. No check needed.)

[Zhym]

Excellent. Thanks!

[Zhym]

Olaf pays 50 pp and 400 gp for the new armor.

Deducted.

Is his new armor available immediately, or do I need to wait for a certain in-game date?

In which thread should we handle Olaf swearing fealty here as a Knight?

[Marullus]

You have a month downtime, so "immediately available" is flexible. It is ready by the current game date, easily.

I need to discuss more about the Knight thing. I will post when I get a chance.

[Marullus]

A solid round building of mortared stone and one story high, its chimneys now are cold and quiet. The Artificers of the Blackhelm clan moved on to the Halls of the King, shuttering all the doors and windows of this building and leaving it quietly behind.

This location transitioned in September 2021.