Amatu and Wraithvine have a long talk about the enchanted bell and the fact it so badly affects wizards like hir, in addition to the fact it is one of the most powerful artifacts Wraithvine's seen in their very, very long lifetime. -- Anon Guest
Out of Amatu's hands, it was harmless. Nobody else could make it sound like he did. It was also resistant to any kind of identification, which made it merely annoying.
"I mislike it," announced Wraithvine, having exhausted all of hir magic in trying to divine its nature. "A middle finger thrown up at the rules of the universe. It should be nothing more than a trinket, but... it clearly is not."
Amatu very carefully put it back into its special pouch. "You're mad it won't tell you what it is, aren't you?"
"Yes," sulked the Wizard. Ze may be immortal and normally comporting hirself with a cartload of gravitas, but not tonight. "Wait. Does it talk to you?"
"No. That was a metaphor. Sorry."
"Good. I have had enough of chatty magical artefacts. Why do so many artificers, sorcerers and such insist on making things talk?"
"Maybe they don't like people taking what they've made for themselves? They want to make sure whoever gets it suffers?"
Wraithvine spent a moment staring at nothing in pure shock and awe. "That... actually sounds like a reasonable conclusion. I have to ask the next artificer I meet. And then politely remind them that they are mortals and to have some mercy on whomever inherits their things."
"Well," said Amatu, "I suppose the good news is that nobody else can use the bell."
"Such good news as it is," allowed Wraithvine. "I need to invent something that will help me stay upright when you sound that thing. Either to mute it or to mute me during the process. I can't hide behind Pondermoore all the time."
Once more, Wraithvine began drawing runes in the dirt. Eldritch and Arcane mathematics, mixed in with Fey runes of power. This was merely stage one of working things out. Ze would be at it for the rest of the night.
Amatu made certain the bell was safe and tucked himself into the bedroll. Wraithvine may be able to meditate hir exhaustion away in the space of a few hours, but he needed his long rest.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / paulrommer]
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