The Secret Library, Trammel, Chesapeake (PaxLair Times) – April 25, 2013 – by Ashlynn – As some may be aware, we have a library under construction (in the loosest sense of the word) and many books have already been moved to it’s location. In many boxes and in a disorganized fashion.
Having a fascination with strange boxes and their unknown contents I decided to rummage through them and turned up several strange documents. Samples of some of them are printed below.
Alchemical Properties of the Spring of Courage – Research notes by Ally Saffron
…most notably, since it’s transformation I have discovered that the water of the spring now exhibits some interesting alchemical properties. When prepared in the right manner it produces what I can only call a potion of courage – a concoction that gives even the most craven peasant not just the will, but the strength to face the toughest of tests.
Proper preparation requires 8 parts spring water mixed with 1 part each of ground black pearl, mandrake root, and powdered wyrm heart. Once throughly mixed, the tonic is heated for several hours in an alembic. The resulting opalescent liquid is then fit for consumption.
In at least half of cases the tonic has worked as desired, but there seems to be a failure rate I am yet unable to explain. The last subject given the potion – a laborer from Minoc – stood terrified and immobile as the headless one he faced tore him to pieces. I have since been reprimanded and told to be careful with any further tests…
The Lost Treasure of Sartarius of Magincia – From Issue 46 of the Magincian Chronicle
…once famed arcanist of the Council of Mages, Sartarius was always said to keep a great treasure somewhere, locked away by an enchanted key. The perpetually cold golden key shaped not unlike an ankh is said to have opened a crystal door that would otherwise kill an intruder with the same frost magics for what Sartarius was famed for.
Others claim the key opened a crystal box hidden away somewhere on the Isle of the Avatar, while others still suggest a tomb is what the key opens – the tomb where Sartarius was interred and waits to return as a lich.
However the point is moot for the key was lost years ago when as Arlinn, son of Sartarius, was ambushed on the road to Britain. None survived the attack on the caravan and everything of value was taken. The only other rumour speaks of an “eternally cold key” once exhibited at the mages guild in Jhelom but since then, there has been no sign…
A picture of the key was found accompanying the article:
On Gambling and Enchantments – A Paper by Gille of Moonglow
…but they say there is a market for everything and gambling instruments are no exception. As any prodigious player of dice games will know, experience will enable one to identify a loaded dice right away. The strange weight on one face and the odd way it rolls when cast are clear indicators, suitable only for fooling a novice.
Given the coin often at stake some gamblers no doubt will do all they can to gain an edge while hiding the form such an edge takes. Enchanted dice were thus an obvious result – having the same weight as regular dice while not rolling in an obviously strange manner. Some of the most well crafted die can even be commanded to roll a different number now and then to dissuade any suspicion…