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Enchanted Trinkets Complete--a hardcover book containing over 500 magic items for your D&D games!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Whizbang Dustyboots" data-source="post: 3630493" data-attributes="member: 11760">Dawn is just breaking on Godsday when the adventurers begin to congregate outside Maidensbridge Chapel.The acolyte sent by the bishop is there, looking miserable in a chain shirt he clearly begged Therurt for, despite it being made for a much broader man than him. His red woolen sweater sticks out of the gap at the shirt's neck and he holds a footman's mace like it might turn and bite him without warning.But the weather is better today, although the fast-moving clouds overhead might still bring rain.The hamlet is quiet, the only sound other than the adventurers being a skinny yellow dog inspecting every corner of every building and marking it as his own.Hazel absent-mindedly spins her quarterstaff as she approaches the chapel. She nods affably to the acolyte and takes a seat on the steps to wait for the others."Good morning, friends. I trust you are well rested," Emmerson greets the pair as he opens the chapel doors for the day. He's been up for more than an hour, praying for guidance and preparing his equipment for the expedition. "I picked up some of the items we need, but I will require assistance taking the rest of the holy water and the items Bufer purchased."He looks up at the overcast sky."I hoped today would not be so cloudy."Emus arrives at the chapel, greatclub on his shoulder, pack on his back, and Skeeter trailing along behind. Skeeter seems to notice a change in his master's demeanor, however. Instead of his usual casual swagger, Emus walks a confident soldier's step. He knows that battle is not too far in his future. Reflecting his master's mood, the dog seems similarly grim."Morning, folks," Bufer says from the doorway of the chapel, peeking out behind Emmerson. "Happy Godsday, if it ain't out of keeping with the situation."Unusually, the little gnome cleric is dressed not in his usual brown sackcloth robe, but in the freshly laundered and pressed vestments of his order. The white robes and gold embroidery practically gleam next to his dark skin. His normally unkempt hair has been neatly combed and slicked back away from his face, and even his holy symbol looks as though a fresh coat of gold lacquer has been applied to it. Bufer reddens at the looks of surprise he gets from his friends, and scratches his nose self-consciously."Yeah, I know, I know," he mutters. "These ain't proper adventuring clothes, but I ain't got no armor or anything anyway, and today just seemed to demand more, somehow. Anyway, just so's y'all don't think I've gone too fancy on you, I still got my crapkickers on underneath."With that he raises the hem of his robe to reveal his father's battered and dusty old leather boots."So listen," he says, "Once Tucker and Vonmora get here, if it ain't too much trouble, I-I'd appreciate it if y'all would let me lead you in a prayer. I know ain't none of us share a common faith, except for Beanpole, Tucker and the librarian there, but that's kind of the point of today, ain't it?"Before anyone can answer, Bufer sets down his pack and the folded-up altar case, and squats down next to Hazel on the chapel's steps."You and me ought to talk before we leave, lass," he says quietly. "I don't want to head out there today with you not looking at me the way you've been not looking at me since last night."Hazel scowls at him in silence. But Bufer's composure doesn't change, and no more words are forthcoming from the typically chatty gnome. Hazel sighs. She casts a sidelong glance at the others, grateful for Emmerson, who's struck up a conversation with the acolyte about Godsday celebrations across the barony."We're friends, Bufer. But next time you try heading off somewhere dangerous without telling me, I'm going to stuff you in a sack and hang you from a branch." Her fingers pluck a few worn threads from her cloak, letting them drift in the breeze. "I have a Da already, and I don't need a second one. You think something's beyond my skills, you tell me. You and Em don't get to just decide for me."Vonmora had intended to enter quietly, but she ended up tripping over a wagon rut with her knee breaking the fall. She grimaces and then straightened up, adjusting her ample chest beneath the chainmail, mentally taking note of how many had arrived.Upon noticing Bufer and his fancy threads, she lets out an appreciative whistle and enjoys his obvious embarrassment."Good morning, everyone," Tucker says, a moment behind the dwarf. "Are we all ready to go face horrible death?"There's a slight squeak from one side of the group, and the acolyte nearly drops his borrowed weapon."Ah, good to see you again, brother," Tucker grins as Emmerson helps the scared young man up. "I half expected you to skedaddle overnight. Obviously you've got the steel of Lothian in you, er ..."Tucker pauses, thinking back to the conversation the night before. The acolyte fidgets with the bit of crimson sweater that is poking out of his armor and irritating his neck."What's your name, anyway? Just because you're the newest random member on this little adventure, it doesn't mean it would be right for us to spend the day calling you 'Red Shirt.'""Why would --" he stops, looking down at his sweater, realization spreading across his face. "My name is Oktav Grosskopf. Thank you for asking.""Wow, when they were handing out names, were you holding the door, Redshirt?" Bufer asks. "We'll get underway in just a minute, folks, but before we head out if y'all wouldn't mind standing in a circle and joining hands ..."Emmerson grabs Hazel's other hand and joins his with Oktav's. As he bows down to pray, he is intrigued by the enormous disparity between them: Hazel's hand is strong as an oak tree and Oktav's shakes like a leaf on a tree.As the others close the circle by joining hands -- Emus and Vonmora eye each other warily before Tucker interposes himself between them -- Bufer closes his eyes and begins."O almighty gods," he intones, "We pray to you on this, the most holy of holy days, to seek your blessing, for it is only through your divine grace that we shall succeed in our holy mission this day. Almighty gods, hear our prayer."Almighty gods, hear our prayer," Emmerson repeats, with the others joining in halfway through."Lothian, Lightbringer, we pray you guide us and shepherd us. Keep us on the true path, and correct us should we stray. Lend us your light when the path is darkest, that we might find our way. Help us bring peace to those of your servants who have earned their rest, and restore order whence reason has fled. Lothian, hear our prayer.""Lothian, hear our prayer," the others mutter in response, the priest and the acolyte the loudest."Garl Glittergold, Watchful Protector, we pray you keep watch over us this day. Protect us from evil, from those who would trespass against our cause or visit harm upon us. Grant us sanctuary when evil doth surround us, and lend us your guile that we might have cunning enough to survive the trials to come. Garl Glittergold, hear our prayer.""Garl Glittergold, hear our prayer," comes the response."Yurrabbos, Runecarver, we pray you lend us your will when the spirit is weak, to bolster our conviction, and to resist doubt and temptation. Aid us in fulfilling our oath to cleanse this land, and steel us for the sacrifices we may be called upon to make to rid it of evil. Yurrabbos, hear our prayer.""Yurrabbos, hear our prayer," the others reply, Vonmora's voice drowning out those of the others."Hanseath, Bearded One, we pray you grant us freedom from restraint and inhibition in the battles ahead. Gift us with the strength, the courage and the will to overwhelm our enemies, though they number many and we be few. Hanseath, hear our prayer.""Hanseath, hear our prayer," the others repeat, and this time it is Emus' booming voice that dominates the response."Estanna, Hearthtender, we pray you give us the wisdom to put aside petty mortal differences for the sake of the greater good. Lend us your divine grace that we might return to our homes and our families once our appointed deeds are done. Estanna, hear our prayer.""Estanna, hear our prayer," returns every voice but one. Stunned into silence, Hazel looks at Bufer with surprise, for Estanna is not often called upon -- and, in fact, is frequently forgotten -- in situations such as this, and she knows that he's included the goddess strictly for her."Bahamut," Bufer continues, "the Platinum Dragon, dragon saint, we pray you assist us in our struggle against the evil that has tainted this land, and to aid us in shepherding those helpless souls who have succumbed to it to their final and deserved rest. Bahamut, hear our prayer.""Bahamut, hear our prayer," the others answer, and here Tucker and Emmerson share a smile, for although they worship Lothian, both men have long been tutored in the ways of the Platinum Dragon, through their close association with Constable Bridger."O almighty gods," Bufer resumes, "We beseech you, set aside your quarrels and your strife on this holiest of days, and join together to assist and protect these what pray before you, this company of your most devoted agents in this land. For our quest is just, our motives are true, and no matter how the envoys of your adversaries may test us, we shall not rest until it is done. No, not even if forced to march into the infernal fires of the Hell itself, we few -- we happy few -- vow that we shall not waver in this, your divine cause, so long as even one of us draws breath. So pledge we, your most humble servants and defenders of faith.""Almighty gods, hear our prayer," the others respond, without being prompted.Bufer keeps his head bowed and remains silent for a moment, listening to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, before looking up with a wry grin."I think that just about covers it, folks."</blockquote>

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