“A robe. A very, very old robe with forty-nine 7pt gems strewn about its surface, with one control gem leaving a total of fifty.” He said with a meaningful look and a raise of his eyebrows.
“The only robe like that which I had ever heard of was-” and my eyes grew large.
He beamed. “By the look on your face, I believe we have a deal.”
“You have the lost Imperial Robe of Judgment?” I asked.
“Hypothetically.” He corrected me.
The Imperial Robe of Judgment was worn by the first emperor and was lost thousands of years ago. It was said to have both protective and healing properties, as well as a wide range of specialized abilities based on the gemstones themselves. There were many more powerful artifacts, but a robe with fifty magical gems had never before been created or duplicated.
Bella, does he have the robe?
He does, and he is eager to trade you for it. She replied.
Why? I asked.
It is hard to tell. He has a strong mind. He has concerns about some internal strife, and there is something about the robe, but I do not detect deception from him.
“Okay.” I agreed. “Give me the gems and I will make the ring for you. You can drop the robe off to me later today. I assume you do not have it on you?”
“Indeed, I do not. You would give me the ring first?” He asked.
“I trust you. And in good faith, I want to ask a favor of you as well. One that is not dependent upon our deal.” I added as his eyes began to narrow.
He nodded. “And I also have an offer for you as my third purpose.”
“Let’s tackle these one at a time,” I said with my hand held out for the bag.
He handed them over. I examined the gems. They were flawless versions of the five core elemental gems. I had never held gems of this power before.
“You want five elementals brought forward?” I asked.
“Yes. Will you need to instruct me on their use?”
“No. You will understand how they work when you put on the ring. It does not make you an expert on elementals, or give you insight into strategies and clever uses for them, but you will understand how to use and command them without instruction.”
“Then please proceed.” He stated.
And I did. I called up the elementals and sensed their power. These were full elementals, not any of the four lesser varieties below them. I wondered if I was doing the right thing.
When I got to the ruby, I asked, “I can pull up a blood elemental for you, but there is also a very powerful Blood Armor spell effect available.”
“How does that work?” He asked.
I recalled my many discussions about this with Adriana. I shared, “Blood magic is the rarest of the five elemental forms. Much about blood elemental magic was destroyed with the fall of the Elemental School of Magic on the Escarpment at the rise of necromancy. There are relationships between the two guilds, which is unfortunate, because blood magic is life magic. Necromancy corrupts life magic and reveals its dark opposite.”
“And the armor?” He asked.
“In casting its effect, which is semi-permanent, the target will receive an invisible and difficult to detect magical armor equivalent to four points for every point of health used in its casting.”
“So if I used 25pts of health, I would have a 100-point magical and invisible armor?”
“Yes,” I said.
“How dangerous is it to use the effect?” He asked.
“It is not without danger, but using the effect through a gem would actually be safer than casting it yourself as a mage.”
The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.
Is it a permanent loss of health?” He asked.
“Oh no, you can gain it back over time or take a potion and get it back immediately.”
He thought about it for a moment and then pulled out two 30pt Major Healing potions. “I’d like to use 60 points of health to give me a 240-point protective armor. How do we do this?”
I examined the gem and discovered that it would use the holder’s health when the effect was triggered. Which was a good thing, because I could not cast at that level.
I pulled forward the ability.
“You have more than 60 health?” I asked him.
“Yes.”
“The Armor will stay with you until dispelled or depleted in combat. You can use the ability of each gem once per day.”
I handed him the ring.
He looked at it and then smiled deeply. “I understand how to work these. They are quite powerful.”
“Yes.” I agreed.
He steadied himself and used the ability.
The shock dropped him to the floor, and his hand shook. I reached out and took one of the potions, removed its lid, and carefully handed it to him. He drank deeply, and the magic helped to steady him. He sat up and took the second one himself, deftly unscrewing the lid while he held the vial in his same hand.
After a few moments, he was fully healed once more.
“I thank you, Patron.” He stated formally. “You may have saved my life and some hope for our future.”
I grinned. “Think highly of yourself, do you?” I asked.
He laughed. “Those who might replace me have far different views of the methods our guild should entertain, and the coming threat of the goblins will give them far more ears than before once it is commonly known.
A hostile thieves' guild would only hinder our efforts. “I see that you wish to remove your former apprentice from such things.”
He nodded. “Yes, she was starting to be used as leverage against me. Having her safe and away is far better than the alternative.”
“We are nearly out of time. What is your offer, and then I will ask my favor.” I said.
“My offer is simply this. Should you wish to learn from our guild, I will teach you privately and for free.”
“What?” I asked with a surprised smile.
“Do not dismiss this lightly. As a grandmaster, I can teach nearly any skill at our disposal, including locks, sneaking, listening, and many more. Being able to move so others do not see or hear you, and hearing what others wish you did not, are survival skills that, given your heightened role, could be useful to you.”
I thought about that. Being able to avoid danger or react rapidly to it could be the difference between life and death. “I will seriously consider your offer.”
“That was all I asked. I shall bring the robe to you near closing tonight. Now, what is your favor?”
I stood up. “Please accompany me into the next room.”
I walked to the door, knowing he would follow.
Biff looked at me and said, “You done?”
“Not yet. Is anyone in the map room?” I asked.
“Red just left a few minutes ago, mumbling something about pipes and stairs. It is empty.”
Please keep others out while I speak with the Gray Master in there.”
He watched as we walked past and down the main chamber to the third of the three showing rooms. The Gray Master had replaced his hood, and it masked his features from view.
“Your shoppe is quite remarkable.” He said as we entered. His voice was altered subtly, which must have been a magical effect of his robes.
I closed the door behind us, and he dropped the hood again.
When he saw the setup, he laughed. “That is brilliant. We have a map of this, and more, of course, but a 3D model of the city and Undercity is brilliant. You took these from the university, of course. What do you wish to ask me?” He walked around the periphery of the large-scale model, admiring its features.
“I am sure that the undead still lurk around the lower levels.”
He nodded in confirmation. “In very large numbers in places. We hold them back, but have also had to give up ground. It is not popular among my members.”
“And no doubt contributes to talk of unrest and new management.”
“Indeed so.” He agreed.
“I had originally hoped to ask you to take care of this, but I see you have been doing some of that already. Then, how about this? What if we sponsored a game?”
“A what?” He asked, confused, looking up at me once more.
“A game or perhaps a hunt would be a better title. It would be sponsored by Special Services. For every confirmed head of an undead, a five gold piece reward would be given.”
“How would you ensure no trickery was attempted?” He asked.
“We will partner with the cathedral. A cleric will easily know the difference between the head of a long-buried innocent versus the head of a corrupted creature.”
He nodded in agreement. “But you should offer ten gold per head instead of five. It will bring out a wider range of talent, and the quick wealth will distract some of my more ardent opponents. We will have to create some boundaries; we can’t have adventurers tromping all over our secrets. But we could also offer maps and guides, all at a price, of course.”
I laughed. “Of course. And if it will help, you can say that this was your idea. You came here for contractual purposes and then somehow smoothly talked me into solving your undead problem, and that I would also pay for the services.”
He looked into my eyes. “Despite my better judgment, I begin to like you, Patron.”
I laughed and said, “I was thinking the very same thing about you.”
He does like you. Bella said. He is waiting for the next shoe to drop, where you ask him for something he cannot do, but he likes you, and he has hope for his apprentice with you.
“Well, master, if that is all, we both have work to do,” I said.
He stared at me for a moment, as if expecting me to make another request, and then bowed and departed. I got the door for him and bowed him out.
I escorted the hooded master through the exit and onto our front sidewalk, where everyday citizens walked by, unaware of the coming storm. The master exchanged no further words with me or anyone else as he strode down the street toward the cathedral.
The AL whispered into my ear. Enchanter Gwydion earns an ally in the Gray Master for progress toward resolution of the Lost Imperial Robes quest. Additions and notes have been added to your Book of Quests that remain unread.
As the Gray Master walked away, Biff commented, “He is a dangerous man. He has a reputation for both honor and vengeance when betrayed. I hope you know what you are doing, Gwyd.”
“Me too,” I said.
Suddenly, a loud chime sounded that seemed to ring across the entirety of the Shallowlands. It nearly dropped me to my knees and made it hard for me to breathe. My chest grew tight and I felt faint.
Whatever it was, it shook the world with its vibration.
