I don't think we should interrupt the dwarf. We can talk to him when he is done making the sword. I think we investigate the room while we're waiting to talk to him.
Not if we don't take anything. If we interrupt him while he is working, we might ruin the sword he is working on.
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"Hail to thee, smith!", you cry out between the clangs of the hammer into the anvil. The dwarf ignores your attempts at conversation while he works, continuing the shaping of his blade. Soon, though, the metal has cooled, and he thrusts it back into the fire to heat and soften it again.
"Now, what's that ye say, lad?", he grunts, crossing his arms across his leather smock.
"I said, 'hail to thee, smith!'", you repeat, causing the dwarf to raise an eyebrow and glance around the room.
"Ye must mean that fer me," he eventually says with a snort. "T'ain't no one else here 'cept Felafel there-" - he gestures towards an oversized hedgehog sniffing the ground - " - and he don't talk much. Anyway, I can't imagine why a bloke would come interrupting a man at his work. It's not as if-"
"Sir!", you exclaim, trying to get a word in edgewise against the dwarf's verbal barrage. "Perhaps you can assist me, I'm on a quest to-"
"A quest? Well, why didn't you say so? I believe in helpin' people when they have something important to do. 'Many hands make light work,' an' all that. Sure, I'd be glad to help. Now, let's see - maybe we can work out a little deal and help each other, that sort of thing."
Your eyes alight upon a key dangling from the dwarf's belt. You quickly look away, but he smirks, having caught your glance. "Would ye like my key? I'll trade ye for it. I collect magical weapons, got quite a collection. Use 'em for all sorts of things."
"I don't have any magic weapons," you reply, patting your sword. "This one's completely mundane, I'm afraid."
"No magic weapons? And ye came into the mound with that pig-sticker?", the dwarf scoffs. "Ye're either brave or stupid, but no matter, I can get ye a good blade." He walks over to the fireplace wall, where various weapons are mounted, and takes down a finely crafted blade. "Now this one's right special, a sword of nightmare control. Can't rightly say what that means, but I've been assured that the person who has it will know what it's for when the time comes. I'll trade it to ye for a potion or a magic gem. Felafel there loves gems. What do ye say?"
"I, um, don't have either of those either," you say with a shrug.
"Ah, shame," he says, returning the blade to the stand. "I should be getting back to work. If ye find yerself back here again, I'll be happy to trade ye. For now though, take a look around, see if there's anything ye'd like to have, and be on yer way. I've no time to gab any longer." He retrieves the blade from the forge and continues his work. Since you've been given permission, you begin to examine the rest of the room.
Do you investigate:
A: The dwarf's key?
B: The hedgehog?
C: A hollow tree that contains a stairway leading up?
D: The anvil?
E: A hole with log steps?
F: The weapons on the forge wall?
G: The dwarf's hammer?
H: A pouch hanging from a nearby branch?
I: The forge's bellows?
J: A path leading off into the woods with horseshoe prints on it?
Arrgh. Why did we drink that potion? We could have gotten a magic sword!
Oh, all right. Let's look at the pouch.
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You reach up and pull down the pouch, undoing the drawstring. Inside you find some hardtack, beef jerky, and an apple. "That'd be my lunch," the dwarf says without looking up from his work. "If'n I don't hang it up there, Felafel gets into it." Returning the pouch to where you found it, you consider your next move.
Do you investigate:
A: The dwarf's key?
B: The hedgehog?
C: A hollow tree that contains a stairway leading up?
D: The anvil?
E: A hole with log steps?
F: The weapons on the forge wall?
G: The dwarf's hammer?
H: A pouch hanging from a nearby branch?
I: The forge's bellows?
J: A path leading off into the woods with horseshoe prints on it?
Hmm. Okay. They are, indeed, adorable. I hope this one doesn't eat us.
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You bend down in front of the hedgehog. They're not normally affectionate creatures, so you just rub his nose a bit.
"Ah, that's nice," it says, closing its eyes in contentment. "Now you can do something else for me."
You withdraw your hand in surprise, unused to animals with the capability of speech! "What?", you exclaim, more out of confusion than in answer to Felafel's request.
"Give me a magical gem. Certainly you have one by now."
"Erm, no, no I don't, sorry."
"Hogwash!", the hedgehog replies with a harumph. "Give me one, and I'll help you out!"
"How?", you ask. "What can you do for me?"
"Give me a gem and you'll see!"
"Doesn't matter, Felafel. Like I said, I don't have one."
"How rude!", he grunts in frustration. Quicker than you can react, he nips you, and draws blood. You shut your eyes in pain, and when you reopen them, you are somewhere else...
...fountains, mushrooms, waterfalls, bottles! What a strange assortment of items,[i] you think. [i]It's like this is an al fresco store!
Then, you notice the shopkeep, seated amongst her goods - a lovely winged sprite, looking very eager to speak with you. She certainly doesn't look dangerous, so you have no inclination to attack, but maybe you should ignore her - you've had mixed luck with these fey, after all.
Do you:
A: Ignore the sprite?
B: Talk with the sprite?
Ha ha. I want to talk to this one. :) I know, I know... but really. Maybe *this* one will be nice. ... I might be naive, but hey, she looks lovely. And eager to speak with me. How can I pass that up?
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"Quite a lovely place you have here," you say to the sprite amicably.
"Thanks!", she replies, a broad smile across her face. "I work hard to keep this up. People come from all over to purchase the water from my fountain." You can't help but note she stressed the word 'my' in that sentence.
"Is it magical water?", you ask.
"Well, naturally," she says with a nod. "I wouldn't bother with any kind. It keeps bad magics away. All you have to do is drink some, and noe of those wicked wizards or witches can harm you with their magic. Here, try some! You won't regret it!" She lifts a cup toward you.
"Uh, I'd better not, thanks. I understand that drinking anything here might be, um, bad for me."
"Not my water!", she exclaims, looking as though your wounds have cut her to the quick. "My water is perfectly safe. I bet you heard that from some of my competitors, spreading rumors about my water!" She stamps her foot in anger, and you bite your tongue to stifle a snicker.
You carefully weigh your options. Things have been dicey with the fey previously, and you know the games they enjoy playing with mortals, but at the same time, a potion of magic resistance sounds useful.
Do you:
A: Drink some magic water?
B: Politely refuse?
No good options here. Drink and die, or offend and die, probably.
I choose politely refuse. Although it is probably a super bad idea. But, you know, equally as bad as falling for yet another fey trick. If it was... invisibility or something... maybe it would be worth the risk, but magic resistance? Probably would just run out at the same time we needed it.
Now, if we could get it in potion form to trade it, or if we could ask her what it costs or something, that would be different.
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Cautious of the sprite's wares, but uneager to offend her, you try a different tactic. "You're quite kind, and I'm sure your water is just fine, but I think I'd better just take some with me in a bottle. Perhaps I can share it with someone who might benefit from it more than I. And then, when they ask where I got it, I can tell them it was here, from your fountain."
Her eyes light up from excitement, though greed is surely there too. "You'd do that for me?"
"Of course," you reply with a smile. "Of course, I'll need to describe this place, and I just got here..."
"Oh! Explore at your leisure!", she replies quickly. "Have a look around to your heart's content!" She leans her head back as if in rest, but you can see she's watching you through slitted eyes.
Do you investigate:
A: The fountain?
B: The bottles?
C: A big mushroom behind the fountain?
D: The waterfall?
E: A strange orange fungus near the fountain?
ha ha. okay. I just hope you don't try to taste it.
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Beyond the fountain is a blue mushroom of enormous proportion, even given the unusually large size of the other mushrooms nearby. A number of smaller mushrooms grow at its feet. You start to bend over to take a closer look at the gills inside the mushroom's open cap...
...and you accidentally place a hand on the mushroom's cap. It suddenly stirs to life and attacks! Thinking quickly, you raise the staff you found at the dragon's lair, and turn invisible, confusing the menacing mushroom long enough to get away from it.
Do you:
A: The fountain?
B: The bottles?
C: A big mushroom behind the fountain?
D: The waterfall?
E: A strange orange fungus near the fountain?
I say strange orange fungus. Sounds scary and exciting.
Whoo-hoo!
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The orange fungus is strangely shaped, and gives off an odor of cinnamon and toast. You give it a careful prodding with your sword, but it sounds solid and hard. As delicious as it smells, you're not about to eat it, so you decide to find something else to investigate.
Do you investigate:
Do you:
A: The fountain?
B: The bottles?
C: A big mushroom behind the fountain?
D: The waterfall?
E: A strange orange fungus near the fountain?
the waterfall
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As you near the waterfall, the rush of the water begins to sound like words to you. You listen closely, and yes, you begin to make out words!
Join me, it seems to say. Come to me, and I will send you where you wish to go. You step tinto the torrent, bracing yourself against the rush of falling water. Think of where you've been before that you yearn to see again, and I will take you there.
Do you wish to return to:
A: The faerie king's court?
B: The dragon's treasure mound?
C: The draconic nursery?
D: The fire giant's prison?
E: The dwarf's forge?
Not really home, but maybe we could get a light there, at least. I'm in. But I am going to kick that moron faerie's butt that sent us down to become dragon snacks.
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You concentrate on the king's court, and before long you can hear the sounds of merriment and the smells of roasted meats. Opening your eyes, you discover that the waterfall has indeed returned you to where your quest began not long ago. The elf and dwarf you originally met are still here, though they've occupied themselves with new diversions - the dwarf's head rests on the table, snoring away as he has a leg of roast peacock in one hand, while the elf is attempting to polish a small blade as a tiny winged creature tickles his ears. The king is where you left him, nodding off on the dragon throne.
"Well, don't just stand there, mortal!", comes the king's voice, causing you to jump. "Come and bring me my lamp!"
"I am very sorry, sire," you say with a bow. "But I don't yet have the lamp from the queen. I've only just found my way back here using some magic waterfall." It's only after you say these words aloud do you realize how ridiculous they sound.
The king, however, takes this answer in stride. "Well, do ye at least know where ye've been?"
"I believe so, Your Majesty," you reply.
"Then show me what ye've found!", he commands, watching as you turn out your pockets. "Ah, ye've a magic ring. Well, that's close, but not close enough. Ye'll have to get a potion, too, if the queen is ever going to let you enter her portion of the mound. You might want to take a brief look aound here first, while I take care of some business, and then I'll aid ye."
Do you investigate:
A: the floating bottle on the left?
B: the glowing lantern on the right?
C: the lute on the right?
D: the winged faerie at the back right?
E: the window on the wall to the left of the throne?
F: the iron-bound door on the right-hand side of the chamber?
G: the faeries at the tables?
H: the candles on either table?
I: a small coffer on the table?
J: a floating skull at the left-hand table?
K: a sword on the left-hand table?
L: a huge tree at the far left?
Well, we have to look at A and B, and we already talked to all the faeries... so NO FAERIES until we do everything else we want to do. We can beat the one by the window up later if we want.
I say B first.
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"How clever!", you say to yourself softly as you study the small lantern. Ornately wrought, it floats a good foot off the table on the right hand side of the king's court. As you reach out toward the lantern, a faerie seated at a nearby table speaks up. "All lamps belong to the king, mortal."
Do you:
A: Heed the faerie's warning?
B: Ignore the faerie's warning?[/b]
We're on a mission for the king, so I don't think that he is going to mind... he even said he would help us. So I say ignore the guy. He's probably just another freak faerie looking to get us killed.
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As soon as you touch the glowing lantern, you realize your mistake. A yellow fog issues from it, and surrounds you. When it clears...
...well, that's strange. You're exactly where you started. You get the impression this could have been a lot worse.
"All roads lead back to my court," the faerie king chuckles, noting your bewilderment. "Now, let's get you off to find a potion!" He waves a hand, and another whirlwind of fog surrounds you. Once it clears you find yourself elsewhere yet again...
...but it's somewhere you recognize. The burbling fountain, the mushrooms...you've been returned to the sprite's chamber. The sprite regards your return with bemusement, the smirk upon her face seeming to ask, Well? What now?
Do you investigate:
A: The fountain?
B: The bottles?
C: A big mushroom behind the fountain?
D: The waterfall of transportation?
E: A strange orange fungus near the fountain?
Well, yeah, but might as well look at the fountain and the bottles since we're here. Not going to take them or anything. Just look.
I say the fountain.
Yeah, with those choices, I agree.
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Once more you reenter the waterfall, and picture the king's court. Not long after, you've returned yet again. Even though you've only been gone a short time, the king has apparently dozed off again. You approach, but as you do, you note one of his eyes is open, and watches you approach him.
"Back again, are ye?", he says, straightening himself upon the throne. "Ye're more useless than a third wing on a nixie, lad. Have ye gotten anything since I sent ye off to get that potion?[/b]"
"As it happens, Your Majesty, no, I..."
"Alright, then, back to where ye can find a potion. Take another brief look around, it'll take me half a moment to summon the magics again."
"No, sire, wait, I'd like to...", you begin, but with no avail. He's already halfway through the words, and soon you'll be back at the sprite's room again. What do you do?
Do you investigate:
Do you investigate:
A: the floating bottle on the left?
B: the glowing lantern on the right?
C: the lute on the right?
D: the winged faerie at the back right?
E: the window on the wall to the left of the throne?
F: the iron-bound door on the right-hand side of the chamber?
G: the faeries at the tables?
H: the candles on either table?
I: a small coffer on the table?
J: a floating skull at the left-hand table?
K: a sword on the left-hand table?
L: a huge tree at the far left?
agree.
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The faeries eating nearby pay no attention to you as you head over to investigate the floating bottle. You look all around it to make sure there are no mundane explanations to the way it defies gravity, finally accepting its magical nature. Grabbing hold of it, you study it carefully, delighting once you realize it contains a healing potion.
"Now, a potion ye must find!", the faerie king intones, still in mid-spell.
"No, wait, sire, I have a potion!", you cry.
"Aye, a potion!", he replies without hearing your protest, finishing the spell, and sending you from his court...
...back into the chamber with the sprite and her fountain.
Do you investigate:
A: The fountain?
B: The bottles?
C: A big mushroom behind the fountain?
D: The waterfall of transportation?
E: A strange orange fungus near the fountain?
The bottles
What? This girl said she would give us some of her water to take with us, and we could have had it to give to the king in the first place if we had stayed and looked around first.