Expendable

Urban Magic

I rather liked the Unseen Library in the Discworld series where magic books are chained to the shelves - not to keep them from being stolen, but to prevent them from escaping.

Another series, wizards were being pursued by another, so to hide themselves, they whittled their staves into wands to better conceal them. One of them used theirs as the central pole in their parasol and worked as a governess.

Perhaps some of the artifacts are newer, strange technological devices that when you open them up are just full of rocks - or a magic circle that's doing something....

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

There was a knock at the door. Rizx opened it, staring up at a bewildered human.
"Uh, delivery for the Wizard Strihagan?" he asked.
"I am 'is servant," Rizx said, bowing her head. "'ow may I be of service?"
"I have two crates of brandy... Where do you want it?"
"Yes, my master spoke of this. He owes you 24 silver groats?"
"Twenty-five," the man corrected, grinning.
"Oh, I am sorry ta 'ear that," Rizx sighs. "Gave me only twenty-four groats, 'e did. I will 'ave ta refuse delivery."
"Eh? You can't..."
"If 'e owes you twenty-five and I've only got twenty-four," Rizx says, shaking her tiny head, "I cannae pay you. Good day, sir."

As she started to close the door, the man put his hand out to stop it. "Twenty-four groats, I'll take it."
"Sir, I cannae expect you ta take a loss...."
"No loss!" he said, gritting his teeth as he carried the first crate in.

After the man had taken the twenty-four groats they'd contracted for and left, Rizx allowed a small smile to creep on her face. It was uncomfortable and vanished quickly.

"Right," she said, pushing back her sleeves and began her hex. The crates began to shiver, then shrunk until the were the size of dice. Scooping them up, she put them inside her carpet bag where dozens of other tiny crates waited within.

She picked up her cup of lukewarm Glee and stared at it.

"I donnae know what you've got me into, Mr. Wolf, but I'm signed up fer it. Why does that 'alf-elf with all da children keep wavin' at me, do you think?" she sighs, taking a sip.

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

I never listed Rizx equipment, although I've mentioned her amulet, the ring to command her gauntlets, a small pack and her carpet bag.
I can elaborate more, if needed.

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

@Expendable
I can see Rizx suggesting they eat the pack mule everyone's emotionally invested in.

@z3r0

Only if it dies. She's not a monster, just practical.

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

With a mule, Rizx will need a string of onions. Can't eat the undead, they put up too much of a fight.

Harbor City High School [[ FULL ]]

sounds like fun, I'll noodle for character concepts. Although "tributes" makes me think of the Hunger Games. High school is bad enough.

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

The goblin witch blinked, rocked back by the Arn Wolven's announcement, his declared intention to go after a lich.

"Does he do this a lot?" she asks at large. More importantly, she wondered, how often did he follow through on such announcements?

The reception seemed mixed, not surprisingly. Taking on a lich, with scores of undead at their command...? Especially with just a handful of people and not say, an army?

<Rizx!>

She stared, eyes wide, but nobody seemed to notice the unseen voice.

"What?" she whispered back.

<Get a room, we need to talk...>
"Talk? Talk about what, Mr. Wolf?" she demanded in a strangled whisper. "Don't tell me..."
<People are beginning to stare.>

Her green cheeks burned with a darker green as she glanced around the room, then bustled over to the bar.
"Hey," she called out to whoever was behind it, "How do I get a room? And a half-pint?"

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas as to how we can sort the posting order out fairly? Apart from sticking to I post first to set up the next plot point or exchange etc then we do it based on what characters are interacting together?

@DrBatche81

My general rule of thumb is that at least two posts have to be submitted before I post again, and if I'm going to do a back-and-forth, that's a collaboration post.

Hardknocks & Moonrocks

Bioplas is a great material, to be sure. Lives off the wearer's body heat and sweat, discarded skin cells and anything the body produces. Petty practical and self-cleaning.

Wellspring Tavern: The Lich War

The driver up front called out something to the horses, and the carriage began to slow. Rizx's ear flexed, but she stayed in her seated position, a small spot she'd made between the bags and chests. Maybe someone was trying to rob the coach?

Instinctively, she reached for the leather thong around her neck, revealing the obsidian amulet, and the small brass ring looped into the cord.

"Let's 'ope 'e's not found us, eh Mister Wolf?" the goblin whispers, but the amulet made no sound.

After a moment, the coach came to a stop, and she could hear the driver muttering to the person still inside, then felt as the coach swayed as they got off.

Moments later, the leather awning that covered the rear boot was unstrapped and flung to one side, leaving her blinking in the light of a lantern. The driver coughed, then spat to his left - a wad of trail dust and mucus.

"We're here," the driver managed, "Ya need help?"
"Oh, all that I can get," Rizx wheezes, holding out her small hand that was instantly devoured by the driver's huge human hand as he pulled her out.

It had been a long, uncomfortable ride for her in the back, but she didn't want to sit with the others - if anything, she had the more comfortable seat, and didn't have to endure the other passengers' stench.

"So 'ow long is this stop?" she asked, glancing around as she tried to stretch her sore muscles.
"Mornin'," the driver said, lowering her to the ground. "Need my ale, dinner, and beauty sleep."

Rizx glanced sharply at the driver's face, clearing waiting for the usual response, and nodded. "Ale, dinner and beauty sleep it is. Let's hope I don't get chucked out to the stables, you snore too much."

The driver walked in first, then she followed with her rescued carpet bag and a pack of her few possessions.

"Is there a room available?" she asked, glancing about for whoever was in charge. Nobody argued with the wizard, but she didn't have him anymore. Was civility a lost cause?