The Toymaker’s Medley - 21/12/2022 - Archie’s Extracts
Dec 23, 2022 23:49:31 GMT
Velania Kalugina and Pishti like this
Post by Andy D on Dec 23, 2022 23:49:31 GMT
On Winter Chic
I answered an adventuring notice to test out some games designed for children (but also accompanying adults) which would be made available to the children of Thia’s Refuge.
The other adventurers joining me were the lovely Lolli (Jennifur) , my fellow wizard friend and harengon, accompanied by her grandmother Boosya, a cleric of the Peace domain. I was wearing the lovely hat and winter coat that Lolli made for me, when Boosya presented me with a lovely burberry tartan scarf. The combination of my new items was very stylish, they had both done such exceptional work. I was delighted. I could also see now where young Lolli gets her talent for textiles.
We were additionally joined by Pipper, Kavel’s lizardfolk artificer friend and an adventurer new to me; Voss, a human with a skillset much like Kavel.
Booysa was the first to spot a brass sphere coming towards us. The brass sphere was a magical, mechanical assistant for our patron Mr. Gitz, Gibs. Gibs rang a tiny bell to get our attention and announced that we should follow him, as he sped away. This was my first encounter with what Gitz describes as his ‘magi-tech’.
Our two youngest team members raced each other to keep up with Gibs, whilst the team’s most senior members brought up the rear. . Booysa had a zimmer frame to assist her, conjured into existence by her granddaughter. I conjured Tenser’s Disc to further alleviate Boosya’s discomfort and allow her to sit, whilst the disc followed me.
It should be observed that whilst Boosya’s mobility has degenerated in her senior years, her eyesight, however, seems positively augmented - no one else spotted Gibs from so far away.
On Animals and Their Ability to Read Vibes
When we arrived at Gitz’ home, there was a cart out front with a big mound of snow at the front of it where the cart could be attached to pack animals. Upon closer inspection we saw fur in the mound of snow. Closer still, we recognised the fur had bovine features for a face. The large animal was napping and looked quite comfortable under the snow, wrapped up in its insulating fur. Voss voiced how the fur would make great winter coats. The animal, one presumed was not well versed in common, but did appear to understand Voss’s suggestion and broke wind in Voss’s direction.
On Magi-tech
Our artificer, Pipper was in heaven. Gitz workshop was itself a wonder of artificer magic. The walls of his workshop opened up and cleared away the workshop and replaced the work tables with a coffee table, and the tools and materials with sofas and chairs.
Gitz, who was a goblin, had three games in particular he needed ‘faulted-out’, so to speak. He was offering 150gp for said work. Boosya, with years of wisdom to her, brought the remuneration amount offered up to 200gp.
To what degree magi-tech is magic and/or technology is unknown to me. Pipper herself can adorn herself with some fantastic adamantine armour, much like Mendal. However, unlike Mendal, Pipper can adorn the armour in an instance and carries the armour on her person in a much smaller form. It’s likely that Pipper’s magi-tech armour is very similar to Gitz’ workshop/lounge magi-tech, just on a portable scale. I wonder if applied in the following manner, one could carry a field hospital with oneself when on adventure?.
Gitz’s workshop revealed three doors for us, each opening up to one of his game rooms that he wanted tested, and each leading to a space, which from the look of the building outside, couldn’t possibly be contained in the building’s proportions. I wondered how much of this magi-tech overlaps with dimension altering space spells like Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion? I shall endeavour to discover.
On Artificer Enhanced Games
Game 1 - Rhythm Ringing
Gitz suggested that the first game to be tested would require good dexterity. Boosya casted the Enhance Ability spell on our three younger members, choosing the Cat’s Grace option of the spell. Not to be left out, I used my magic to have both her and I benefit too from Cat’s Grace.
Gibs joined us in the room with twenty four bells laid out in a semi circle around a little goblin boy marionette. Also before us were instructions on parchment, with a brass indicator that moved on the parchment of musical notes indicating when it was the right time for one of us to ring our bells with the hammers provided - a rhythm game it seemed, and It was quite good fun. I could see why anyone might enjoy it, children certainly with the hitting of noise making instruments.
We were all quite good at keeping the rhythm (with the occasional, minor hiccup). But, of course, we were there to fault out the system, which Voss accomplished by smashing one of the bells with his hammer. It would seem not all the bells were well made. Gitz was taking notes and between the three songs we were playing, he had his mechanical sphere servants replace the broken bell. At first, it did not seem likely that I would be able to repeat what Voss had accomplished with his might, but then upon inspection on one of my own bells I noticed a weak spot to exploit, which resulted in another broken bell. Gitz, again, was glad to have discovered the fault in this testing stage.
At the end of the third song, it was apparent that Voss was the best in tune, and for that he was rewarded with a candy cane - and some prestidigitation confetti from Pipper.
Game 2 - Sled Run
When we entered the second door, it at first appeared like we were outside. However, upon inspection, it was clear we were in another expansive room where the walls and ceiling were painted very well to have the appearance of a mountain range panoramic view and skyline. Before us was a snow course and some single person sleds. Gitz informed us the incline was steep, but swallow enough that children couldn’t acquire too much speed whilst tackling the course. In addition, the snow banks and course were made of very soft, powdery snow, so if any participant were to experience an accident, they could only land on soft snow.
As well as test the course, we were encouraged to try for the fastest time. Pipper did rather well, as did I. Although, could it be said I cheated? I did summon an Undead skeleton to join me in my sled and increase my sled’s weight and the ability to navigate corners better. Gitz allowed it.
All that said, Voss, was the fastest. Part of the reason why though was the inadvertent shortcut he took through the banks of snow rather than following the serpentine course exactly. Another victory for Voss - it seems he’s very good at games.
Game 3 - Snowman Fight
One thing that could be said about all of Gitz’s games, is that the children will be spoiled! This toy/games master has used his considerable magical and engineering talents to create wonders for the children.
Through the last door, we entered another vast room made to look like the outside. This time, we were in a miniature port town with tiny plush dolls that were animated and greeted us, and were having the time of their lives at a winter fair. Voss greeted the plush dolls back in what I would hope is an unconventional manner. To the plush doll mayor’s question, “are you here to enjoy the winter solstice with us?” Voss responded, “fuck off and die.” I delicately interjected, “he means yes.”
Soon after, a huge snowman at the centre of the town grew in proportions to a rather large humanoid snowman and roared. I’m not sure what age group this game was targeted towards. I wonder if some younger children might find the snowman scary (and then consequently all snowmen). But, I assume other children would be very excited to be able to take on a pretend big bad, evil guy.
Voss managed to slash in half one of the snowman’s legs, but then the snowman created a mass of snow to bury him neck deep, and then reattached his own limb. Young Pipper zipped away to gain some distance and produced a cannon from her ‘magi-tech’ armour and shot the snowman with lightning bolts causing powdery and vapory holes to appear on the snowman. Lolli attempted to reduce the snowman in size, and he almost complied, but managed to resist. Boosya, having noted Voss’s on-going disapproval at being involved in non-regular adventuring assignments, and his sudden delight at finally getting to fight something; took pity and enhanced him magically, casting the Holy Weapon spell on his polearm - all the better for Voss to enjoy himself.
Inspired by Pipper’s use of lightning, I re-weaved the lightning components of the Dragon’s Breath spell into a Scorching Ray spell to produce three Lightning Rays, which I shot out at the snowman, two of three connecting much like Pipper’s bolts did. With great delight, I also managed to telekinetically shove the huge snowman back five feet (a feat of ‘strength’ I don’t believe even Kavel could achieve without magically enlarging).
Voss, unrestrained by the snow mound (the snowman’s attacks, of course, were never meant to do us any real harm) finished off our ‘foe’ with his now holy polearm slashing the snowman apart - earning himself his third candy cane for his performance in the game.
On Compensation
As promised, 200gp each was paid, and in addition we were allowed to pick a toy of our own, and invited to stay for hot chocolate, tea and a chat.
I picked a toy glider - not only is it fun to launch with a throw, as long as I keep it within a sixty foot range, I can throw it again, and back towards me with my telekinesis.
