Utterly Mad

Haralus proceeded back through the tunnels to reach the base camp. The tents had been constructed and more permanent buildings were being readied. The smiths were already mending armor and preparing new weapons, the healers were aiding the wounded, and there were groups from each army reporting back to drop off wounded that needed more serious care and picking up supplies to take back.

A large group of mages from Dwarven college and Imperial mages were having what sounded like a lively discussion with the two groups jovially trading insults frequently. The warriors left to protect the camp from the differing armies were all going about their business with what appeared to be an odd sense of comradary.

As Haralus entered the camp a Dwarven soldier approached and walked alongside Haralus as he spoke "Welcome back your Highness. There are reports from the other armies waiting for you. I apologize we aren't further along with building the camp properly but a group of the damnable beasts came from a side tunnel and attacked us. We're getting things moving along however and the camp should be fully prepared by tomorrow, at most the next day.

The dwarf departed to carry out Haralus' orders as he entered the tent. There was an ornate table with an equally ornate chair and on the table were a number of documents and a small chest off to the side.

Picking up the first document Haralus read the first round of reports.

Harrowfeld

We made progress with a few casualties, the beasts don't seem too concerned with these tunnels so far.

The Elven Houses

We made some progress and have made camp for the night with minimal casualties. Several dwarven artifacts have been returned to the camp.

Imperial Monarchy

We have made good progress through the tunnels and have made camp for the night. We found magical artifacts that have been returned to the main camp and marked the locations they were found in.


A note on the table mentioned that an Imperial mage working with the court mages to discover the purpose of the cylinder requested to speak with the King, believing he may have found its purpose.

Haralus was nearing the building when he saw what appeared to be a desk fly through a window and crash into a pile of crates.  This was followed by shouting as he entered the building and saw a Lacerta mage from the Imperial Monarchy covered in soot as he was narrating how he was mixing a potion to the two Dwarven mages staring at him like he was a madman. "...you see if you add this ingredient before this point what you just witnessed with the desk will happen except it won't be a piece of wood ingesting it, it'll be some poor sap who didn't know he was taking potions from an incompetent mage who can't mix potions worth a damn."

Turning he spotted Haralus and dropped the glass flask he had been using to mix a potion onto the desk and walked over. "Your Highness it is an absolute pleasure! I assume you're here for the cylinder you wanted us to look into. It's...well it's interesting and I've seen some interesting stuff during my service."

Picking the cylinder up off of another table he pulled out a magic stone from his belt pouch and held the two close together and Haralus could practically see the energy moving between the two. "Now, I tried activate it personally but that just ended up with me lighting on fire and being shot out of the window. Now I did manage to determine a few things, chief among them that this was meant specifically for you."

As he got closer the cylinder began to glow and then an image appeared in the air in front of Haralus. It was tinted slightly gray but Haralus recognized a helmet which was quickly removed to reveal Harkon. A voice was heard in the background "Okay Harkon, the secondary enchantment is active, be quick we can't stay here long."

Harkon reached a scarred hand up to rub his eyes before saying "Brother if this finds you know that it is a gift from me. I found it in these mists and it has saved me some number of times. These mists...they've taken everyone who first came with me. But I've tried to find some way, something to at least send you a message."

Another voice in the background "I can feel something out there. Something that ain't gonna stop for tea and a chat, hurry it up Dwarf!"

Harkon looked over his shoulder for a second before returning his gaze back forward "The things we've found in these mists, some are huge pieces of complicated machinery made of metal, some look to be ancient beyond imagination. I've met man, dwarf, elf, people from every race I've known and some from those I haven't heard of. I wish I could find my way back to tell the scholars, to show the warriors the new techniques I've learned and the new weapons I have. I hope this weapon will aid you though, and may it find you in good health. Until we meet again brother whether it be in life or in the Great Halls."

The sound of Fire Throwers snapped in the background before the image dissolved. The Lacerta mage looked at Haralus for a moment before saying "I'm sorry, I know what it is to lose a brother. But I've seen this type of weapon before and you, well you have some innate talent in the magical world. This type of weapon responds to the owners wishes, though it is just a message capsule and a weapon. When you need it the weapon will appear, and should you ever desire to see the message again it will display it."

The mage stepped back, bowing his head and waiting to see what Haralus would do next.

((so basically this is a magic Axe weapon, just to make that clear from the get go. It's got some rather special properties to it however.))

The Lacerta seemed to think for a moment before speaking somewhat slowly compared to his seemingly frantic speed from before "I'm afraid that just because I understand that it can do something, and how to get it to do it, does not mean I can reproduce the effect. The recording enchantment itself though is something simple enough that the chance of it interfering with it's intended purpose is extraordinarily slim. It's a..." He stopped himself for a second and then continued "The recording enchantment is a simple process to those versed in the magic realm. The weapon enchantment is more complicated, something that even the most experienced mages of the Imperial Monarchy have yet to understand. As with most magic items from the Mists there is an odd energy to it that seems to elude us no matter how long we've spent studying it. As a Lacerta, whose people are particularly sensitive to magic, the energy around that rod are...not confusing or disturbing, but unsettling and elusive."

((The headsup is appreciated, as I do need to reread some of this to brush up on what I'll need to know. And just to make sure it's clear, the chance of reproducing this is pretty well nill, and even just to attempt to learn how would require the mages to have near constant access to the weapon and do things which might destroy the enchantments.))

The mage shrugged as he answered "The magic energy that powers it currently can be reproduced but it is a process that requires years of experience and training. It is similar to what the fire-throwers use so it is possible that it may be able to channel that magic, and yes the stone inside it works as a sort of storage for energy that takes energy from outside sources to continue powering the device, it's merely a question of what types of energy it will use."

he stopped and seemed to think on the last question for a second before continuing "It is possible that it may be able to utilize other energy types but I am unaware of what the enchantment may do in that case. That's the wonderful thing about magic, you never really know what's going to happen until you do it."


((as a note Haralus's second received a message for Haralus while he was in the caves, and since he's more your character then one I'd take much control over figured I'd let you know.))