Helix: Tower of Mazzah

[Spearmint]

The Tower of Mazzah

The four (not three, I checked archives) canopic jars contain exceptional dessicated body parts; lungs, spleens, strings of intestinal tracts, withered husks of hearts and gray, powdered brain matter.

From a previous conversation:

I would say the initial consultation would cost 200gp for labour and materials, but that does not guarantee you anything, only confirming the materials possible efficacy or not. Then the alchemist needs to attend. Commissioned for a month may cost you a ballpark figure of 2,400gp but at the end you might get 10 potions to sell and profit 1,000gp."


But any history or relics you bring back will be like a bit of extra meat or gravy. Amphora? It was very common for mummified remains to be disemboweled and have their bits and bobs dried for posterity's sake. Though what Posterity was going to do with them only heaven knows. But some, through the drying processes or enzymic agents applied to them are able to be compounded into materials suitable as ingredients in lotions and potions.

There are few laboratories around with the skilled hands necessary and the investment in conversion costs to produce enough worthwhile results. Take a typical potion, healing ones are all the vogue with adventurers. If the pharmacy had one off the shelf it will cost several hundred coins to buy. It probably took an alchemist two days to distill and half the gold price in catalytic compounds. Better to take the hundreds of gold and hire an army instead. Still in a labyrinth on your knees at deaths door, a snake oil cure-all might be worth its weight in gold.

But I digress. Until the internals are inspected and metered out, it is just speculation as to their viability.

The basics are each of the four surviving Canopic jars (one smashed in the first Flagstone Golem ambush) contain precious compounds. Mazzah can conduct a single Identify to conclude their efficaciousness in being suitable potion compound material. Usually they produce healing virtues, curative potions, anti-venoms and nullifying diseases. Using the above conversation as a guide, each jar will take an alchemist sage a month of dedicated work to experiment with in the hope that the end result is circa 10 potions (give or take according to a successful skill check). You can then equip or sell these as you prefer. Multiplied by four, one for each jar (which incidentally have an intrinsic value of +50gp each)

The question then is funding the research. You have a good link to Marcia, herbalist attached to the Silvanus Temple in Ironguard who supplied the anti-venom potion. So she might give preferential prices (negotiated by Deucalion?). Or you can try to get Lord Krothos or Vicar Othar to invest some capital cash in exchange for a share of any potions. Or via Gerdal (and her aide Sister Flora( try to research compounds yourselves to cut costs balanced against a longer time frame and more difficult skill checks.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven talks the deal over with the master of the house, telling him he will likely have Deucalion come by to gather the jars and contents to bring to Marcia in Ironguard.

He hopes that by the time some of his sales are finalized in the citadel, he will have enough of his own coin to fund the projects.

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven also shows the senior wizard the silver torc that BTL wore, explaining its function.

"Have you ever seen anything like this? Do you think it would be possible to craft its golden partner ourselves, here in your lab?"

[Spearmint]

Mazzah can try to Identify the torc and any specific traits, how many spell levels or what kind of spells it reflects. That might give him a more accurate understanding.

Mazzah the less than Magnificent vs 42% [1d100]=60

It is not quite his field. A 'Ring of Spell Turning' might retail with a value exceeding 15k gold pieces. But that specifically turns spells upon the caster rather than the silver torc wearing whipping boy. Mazzah might speculate that the torc has limited warding, perhaps only reflecting lower levels of spells or only certain types of spells.

A Brooch of Shielding tends to be just Magic Missile specific. As to crafting a complimentary Gold torc, it might be possible but expensive (usual time/money/skill check). Not within Mazzah's current set up, possibly at the Forge?

[OGRE MAGE]

Maybe it would be easier to find the other cultist again instead?

[Spearmint]

yes

[OGRE MAGE]

Sven takes the necessary time to learn from the master, adding the ability to Fly to his spell book repertoire.

Before even taking the "plunge" himself, he casts the spell on his new friend Gargyx, allowing the mutilated creature to take to the air again, since losing his wings at the hands of the violent cultists.

(and if he flies away, I am casting Fireball next)

[Spearmint]

Sven

Gargyx is happy. He has no physical wings but taking temporary flight will only improve his loyalty and reactions.

His flight is not without concern from Helix residents, seeing a Gargoyle take roost upon the gables of the tower only adds to suspicion and fear of Mazzah (and his increasing assembly of apprentices).

You can get a bird's-eye view of the village but on your grounding get summoned to the Old Manse where Ollis at least reprimands you, (more out of fear of intrusion or spying upon Duchy / Old Manse affairs) and asks that such arcane conjurings are kept strictly 'on the Moor'.

To pacify the Duchy administrator, Mazzah offers to make him a silver torc as a gift. "All in good time."

So your few days respite ends with concentrated study and equipping a new spell.

[OGRE MAGE]

To pacify the Duchy administrator, Mazzah offers to make him a silver torc as a gift. "All in good time."

Nice!