Dagg and Mara return to the dwarf smith’s roadside forge. The dwarf smith works over the wrapped sword, guiding controlled flames from his hands across the exposed metal as sparks settle around his black armor.
Thren Anvile
The balance is sound, and the thumb-plate is taking shape. The channel will carry your strange smoke cleanly, once I finish tempering the steel.
Mara places the sealed royal review, copied land entry, and family papers on the forge table. She keeps the originals together while the wax seals catch the firelight.
Mara Vell
These records establish my family’s line and the sword’s rightful passage. The crown has preserved them, and King Gandien has opened the land review.
The dwarf smith wipes soot from his fingers and compares Mara’s papers with the crown’s custody order. His eyes move between the seals, dates, and the wrapped blade.
Thren Anvile
The sword belongs to your family by this record, Mara. But once restored, it may serve as evidence in the land dispute too. We must preserve every mark.
He lays the custody order beside the blade and lowers the flames to a red glow. The forge settles into a steady rhythm as the dwarf smith looks to Dagg, waiting for direction about the next examination.
“Is my sword done yet? I am eager to get it back. {Dagg says staring at the marksmanship put into his weapon} Also King Gandien himself has ordered that Mara be given her land, so that should be wrapped up soon.”
SUCCESS (Superb Reasoning, rolled -2)
Dagg Nabbitt
Is my sword done yet? I am eager to get it back. The marksmanship in this weapon is something to behold. King Gandien himself ordered Mara be given her land, so that should be wrapped up soon.
Dagg studies every line of the custody order and land review, checking dates, seals, and qualifications before securing the papers beneath his coat. His eagerness urges him toward the sword, but his careful reading catches the exact legal wording.
Thren Anvile
The sword is done. I have tempered the edge, balanced the grip, and finished the thumb-plate. Your purple smoke will pass through the channel cleanly.
Thren unwraps the blade. Its polished steel bears precise new work, and a thin curl of purple smoke answers when Dagg tests the thumb-plate. The weapon rests securely in his hand again.
Thren Anvile
But the king opened Mara’s review; he did not yet grant the land. Your reading is sound, Dagg, though confirming that distinction has cost us another hour at the records.
Dagg takes the sword and reseals the land papers, preserving the distinction instead of letting relaxed impatience blur it. The blade is his again, while Mara’s title still awaits judgment.
“Oh can the sword ignite with flames like we discussed as well??? and can it shoot spells from it? casting a rain cloud over my crops could come in handy! {Dagg tests out his new sword and loves how it feels.}”
SUCCESS (Legendary Strength, rolled -2)
Dagg Nabbitt
Can the sword ignite with flames as we discussed, and can it cast spells? A rain cloud over my crops would come in handy.
Dagg rereads the custody order and land review before touching the blade, checking every qualification as carefully as every seal. His relaxed impatience makes him pause over the paperwork, but his habit of securing documents leaves each sheet aligned beneath his coat.
Thren watches from beside the anvil as Dagg grips the sword and presses the thumb-plate. The channel accepts the familiar purple smoke, then draws it into a steady violet flame along the edge.
Thren Anvile
It answers you cleanly. Hold the pressure through the grip, and the smoke will carry the working beyond the steel.
Dagg steadies his stance and guides the sword upward. Purple sparks stream from the point, gathering into a small cloud above the forge yard; a gentle rain falls beneath it, darkening the dust without disturbing the papers.
The effort leaves Dagg’s sword hand cramped and his shoulder sharply strained. He lowers the blade, flexes his fingers, and keeps the flame alive long enough to confirm both workings are under his control.
Thren Anvile
Flame and spell-channel both hold. Do not force a larger cloud until your strength learns the sword’s balance, but the rain will serve your fields.
“I ask Thren to testify about the sword”
SUCCESS (Superb Reasoning, rolled -2)
Dagg Nabbitt
Thren, will you give formal testimony about the sword’s history, its custody, and why the records establish Mara’s family ownership?
Dagg opens his journal and frames the questions carefully, but his relaxed hesitation costs several quiet minutes before he begins. Mara keeps the sealed papers together beside the forge.
Thren Anvile
I will testify. I received the sealed blade under recorded custody, examined its marks, and restored it without altering the lineage evidence.
Dagg follows with exact witness questions: what Thren saw, what the custody order required, and which conclusions belong to the records rather than the smith’s assumption.
Thren Anvile
The blade came to me sealed and was held under crown scrutiny. Its markings agree with the family papers, and Mara’s line is the supported claimant. I did not witness the ancient transfer myself, so that part rests on the parish register and testimony.
Thren signs the statement, dates it, and places his seal beside the sword’s custody record. The testimony is complete, though the party must spend the remaining afternoon checking the older parish references he could not personally verify.
Thren Anvile
This is my account, witnessed and sealed. It supports Mara’s claim without pretending that a smith can replace the parish record.
“We will send a letter to the King to set a time to review the land judgement. For now we will return to Nabbuitt Farms and take care of the animals together.”
SUCCESS (Superb Agility, rolled +1)