Pantone Tree

+Arlene Medder asks:
In our explorations, we have come across a tree with most unusual fruit. They appear the same shape and size, allowing for different levels of ripeness, but they are in assorted colors. No two fruit are the exact same color; even ones of the same color have a different intensity or hue. Please advise.

The wizard ate one and hasn't woken up since.

Anxiously awaiting an answer,
"It was burning when we got here" Adventurers

Your wizard should be fine barring any allergic reactions to the fruit of the Pantone tree. While these fruits are edible they do have a few side-effects, the first being extreme drowsiness. The second is all bodily fluids will be dyed the color of the fruit for the next 3 to 4 days.

We would advise gathering the ripe fruits they fetch a good price from most ink and dye manufacturers.

Mel-chie Chrysalis

+Ken Austin asks We found a massive tooth the size of a man's fist - a molar with roots intact. The enamel is a flawless white, covered with intricate scrimshaw designs that give us an uneasy feeling if stared at for too long (they appear to begin to writhe and pulse). Detect magic revealed nothing, but the paladin ran away screaming when he attempted to detect evil. Oh, and one more thing: we can't convince the rogue to put it down so the rest of us can look at it.

While it may look like a molar with the roots intact what you have found is a Mel-chie chrysalis. The Mel-chie are a race of beings who travel among the plains, in there adult form the appear as golden winged moths the size of ships with bodies made up of squirming tentacles. They feed on large scale despair, hatred and fear.

You must get the chrysalis away from your thief. During the Mel-chie's second larval stage it takes up residence in a host and forces them to cause strife, war and other disasters so as to create a food source for its self. What you see as the root of the molar is actually a tendril of the Parsifal second larval stage. The scrimshaw that makes you feel uneasy is mesmerizing your thief to hold on to it while the parasite takes hold.

I pray this information reaches you in time.

Vehicle of the Road

+Mike Goodman asks My friend died and left me a 1984 Ford F-150 truck. The radio works, but it is only picks up some kind of Greek talk-station. What's up with that?

What you have received is one of the vehicles used to travel the road between worlds. While I could lecture you on the dangers and edicate of travling the worlds I believe you would be better served by reading Last Exit to Babylon by Rodger Zalazney as this book is the best documentation of the road available in this world.

You might want to peruse through your friend's belongings as well--any traveler of The Road is likely to have more than one unusual and/or valuable object.

Stone of Contrition

+Henrik Jernstedt asks: I have found a black ball, the size of a cabbage. Attached to it is a chain that seems to have ended in some sort of a manacle. The whole thing gives of a quite sinister feeling when your close to it.

What you have found is a stone of contrition. When the manacle is placed on the wrist or ankle of a sentient being it begins to drain away their desire to do evil. however from the sinister feeling you are getting from the one you have found I would say it is full.

This makes it rather dangerous, the accumulated evil thoughts are looking for a place to go. The next person who puts it on will have all thee urges pumped in to there head and will most likely not be able to control themselves.

Gloves of Winter

+Andrew Sanderson asked about this item:

If you've found a set that is magical, you're in luck, Andrew!

The gloves provide protection against the cold as low as -40 degrees.

The socks (which count as boots if you need to keep track of item slots) allow you to move through cold conditions (such as snow, ice, or sleet) unhindered.

When both pairs are worn as a complete set, they also make you impervious to magical cold and you cannot be harmed by any cold weather other than absolute zero.

Forbidden Pool

+Larry Moore asks Water from this pool does what?

We apologize for the delay in getting back to you but this one took quite a bit of research as there are literally hundreds of magical pools in the world.

However we've finally narrowed it down to two possibilities. The first is that it might be the pool that Achilles was dipped in as a baby. Just like with Achilles any person who takes a swim in it will be blessed with invulnerability in battle, as long as they swim naked.

Be careful though, as it's not all good news. The curse of the pool is that no matter how carefully you pay attention you'll miss some part of your body and you will eventually receive a wound there that will kill you.

The other possibility is that it might be the pool of Erudices which grants the power to resurrect any body placed within it's waters. However the person placed within can not have reached their final resting place in the afterlife or their soul can not be called back. Since each person takes a different route and faces different objects in their path to the underworld there's no way of knowing how much time you have, though it's almost always at least 24 hours. Also the resurrection only lasts one year and one day from the date that the person was brought back to life, at which point they will die wherever they are or whatever they're doing.

Golem Waker

+Mark Hassman asks: "I'm flustered again. Never go a garage sale and buy the unusual. I did. Now I need help. Again. The item in question is just over 18 inches long. I thought it was a normal punch but the heft is wrong. The punch like object is about a 1/2" at the head and narrows to a sharp tip. The weight is odd. I figured it was a practical joke like a metal punch made of titanium. Titanium doesn't rust. This thing is corroded. The corrosion is a light bluish metallic and scrapes off with almost no effort. I have it all over my hands now. Am I doomed?"

Well, Mark, you have happened to stumble upon a very useful and not particularly harmful artifact: This is a very rare punch known as Golem Waker. Long ago, mages had used these punches to waken objects into an animate and somewhat intelligent form. A single proper hit against any inanimate object will cause it to awaken. This object will listen to any and every command and attempt to fulfill those commands if it can. A single application lasts for various lengths, depending on the size of the awakened object. Smaller ones could be awake for months at a time, bigger ones could go for as short as a few hours.

There isn't any limit to how many times it may be used in a given frame of time, nor how many objects may be awakened at the same time. However, its current state is what happens after extended use.
Luckily for you, this item can be restored. Allowing it to rest fully in mana crystal water (that is simply water with charged mana crystals in it) will kickstart its regenerative functions. Within a month it should be restored from the state you have described.

I recommend that you allow it to repair for now and use it sparingly in the future. While it is a very helpful tool, having too many animate objects around you, can turn out to be a very chaotic lifestyle - particularly when you can't turn anything you've awakened back into inanimate form by decision. Only time will drain the energy and return the object to its docile state.

Fruit of Knowledge

+Ryan Gagne asks "I was cleaning out my late uncle's study and accidentally knocked over a glass apple. To my surprise, it didn't shatter. In fact, it is rather stout. I didn't see it because it's very clear. That is, until it was in my hand. It then became milky translucent. What does this thing do?"

Ryan, it sounds like your uncle is in possession of one of the Fruits of Knowledge. These empower their owners with nearly unlimited knowledge of a single subject when used in a manner similar to a crystal ball.

Soulcaster

I have this box of rings and jewelry that I got from an estate sale. One of the rings is rather unique. It's a woman's bracelet/ring combo. It's made of three rings, connected by fine silver chain to each other and also to a bracelet. The rings go over the ring finger, the middle finger, and the index finger. Jewels in order appear to be jade, onyx, and diamond.

What you have there is a Soulcaster. When the wearer touches the jade stone, then the onyx and diamond, she will be able to view any ghosts or other spirits who are around. She will also be able to communicate with them if she so desires. When she touches the onyx, followed by the diamond and the jade stone, she will be able to help those souls leave the world and move on to their final resting spot. When she touches all three at once she will be able to disassociate herself from her body and travel the world as if she were a ghost.

However, should she travel for too long she runs the risk of becoming a permanently lost soul. Since she didn't actually die she will never be able to find peace.

Loki's Codex

+Dominic Toghill asks: "hi there oh mighty searchers of lore. another question for you; Ive got a old floppy disc 5.25", okay so what, well here the odd thing it gives off light in the dark and always seems to be in shadow no matter how brightly lit the room is. It also want read on any old computer i try it on. so +What's This Thing Do? what is it?"

Dominic, you've got yourself a rather nice collection of data known as Loki's Codex. This item has had many appearances over the centuries, and always gives off strange light and darkness effects that you've described.

If you can find a computer that runs off a mana-battery, you'll be able to peruse the spell lists contained within. Loki's Codex hosts a wide variety of illusion spells, as well as many relating to light and darkness. There is a trick to using Loki's Codex to learn magic, though. Every spell file will look completely different when being viewed with either the left eye, the right eye or both eyes. Whichever view shows Loki's true symbol on each spell will be the one you want to read.

Learning a spell off of a false spell file is extremely unwise. Casting any spell learned from a false file is always disastrous, and frequently fatal to the caster. So, keep your eye out for that symbol and learn with care!

Death's Favor

+Mark Hassman asks: "My uncle left me something odd. Looks like a candle complete with a wick. The wick won't take a flame. By its heft and appearance, I believe it is alabaster not wax. What's this thing do?"

Mark, I believe you should dispose of this artifact posthaste. This thing is most commonly called Death's Favor, though it had many names over history, and beyond there being only a few remaining, you should not keep it or attempt to use it.

The candle has but one function, and nothing good ever comes of it: when lit, usually by ritual involving a sacrifice of human life, it begins to cause death around it, specifically to guard the life and well-being of the one who lit it, henceforth the owner. The specifics of the ritual are lost to time, or at least lost to us. Despite the fact, after a while that you keep it, you will begin remembering details regarding the ritual and its performance, including a sacrifice the candle will urge you towards.

Once lit, it will remain stationary, being too heavy for the owner and instantly killing anyone else who touches it. Obviously, due to being alabaster, it will also never actually burn out.

At first, the influence will begin with a few feet away from it, killing harmful rodents and insects. Soon after, it will spread to the room and the house, infecting things larger and larger with a disease that would kill them but will not be identified. After weeks, the entire property or building may be affected - and while not actively killing others that are not connected with the owner, it will take from their life force.

An additional effect is aimed at human beings who enter its effective range with intent of harm while being infected, they will also become delusional and see terrible illusions to cause them to turn around and flee.

After a while in its presence, the owner will begin having the same effect emanate from himself, as well as develop exceptional health. Preexisting conditions, even ones otherwise incurable, will begin to disappear. The final steps are regenerative qualities, recovering from serious injuries easily and within a very short time and extended longevity.

The only proven way to make the flame go out and end the effect is the death of the owner, which becomes hard to achieve due to the final effects. Several documents also show that there may be alternative methods to doing so, like making another ritual sacrifice or applying something provided by a god that gives life. Additionally, there are assumptions that any magic that heals or resurrects, when cast upon the candle, will cause its power to diminish.

If you do indeed not keep it, either bring it to an occult master, who will either seal it away or destroy it as a whole, or hide it somewhere safe.

Dinosaur Beads & Grendel's Mother

+Arlene Medder asks "So what does this pouch of beads do?"

Arlene, those beads (20 in total) are actually tiny, magical dinosaur eggs.
Used individually, you can create a Compsognathus (up to 20 of them) for 10 minutes.
If you crush 10 together, you can create a Velociraptor for 5 minutes or a Gallimimus for 60 minutes.
If you smush all 20 together at once, you can create one T-Rex, Triceratops, or Brachiosaurus for 1 minute.

You get to control your dinosaurs for the short amount of time, but they are single-use items and very pricey on the black market.

+John Johnson asks "What does this obsidian figurine do? It's short, squat, ugly, and female."

You have one of the rare obsidian carvings of Grendel's Mother. In your posession, it makes you impervious to natural poisons or diseases (but not supernatural ones). As long as it is on your person it is proof against natural poisons or diseases. It does not need to be activated as it's "always on".

Shattershield

+Dan Suptic asks "So what does this brittle looking, crystalline tower shield do?"

Dan, you have in your possession a Shattershield.

It acts in all respects as a standard shield would, other than it is not made of metal. It has a medium magical aura.

Shattershields are Pyrrhic in nature, and when the command word is spoken the next weapon that strikes them is destroyed, along with the shield.

This destruction is automatic if the weapon is nonmagical or is magic of equal or lesser power than the shield, but more powerful weapons are granted resistance against the destruction. Even if the weapon remains intact, the Shattershield is broken.

Compass Points (One of Four)

+John Johnson asks "I picked this item up in the estate sale of a famous astronomer who was rumored to have occult knowledge. It's a compass made of brass and steel that when twisted a certain way forms a small dagger. Rather unusual already, I know. It gets curiouser, because the compass doesn't point north like it should, however it does keep a firm direction as if it's pointing somewhere."

John, you may or may not wish to keep the item but know that it carries a dark past.

You have in your possession one of the rare Compass Points. There are four in total (Iron, Brass, Silver and Gold) and you are suggested to not try and find the others. The direction it points (since it is not acting as a standard compass at the moment) is the location of whatever object the previous owner killed someone to obtain.

Once you find whatever object, it will return to acting as a normal compass. Any time it is used to slay a target, it can be instructed to find an inanimate object that was owned by the victim and it will remain in that fixed state until you find it.

Rod of the Road

+Matthew Kerwin asks " I happened upon this off-white metallic stick protruding from the ground. It's about 2' long and roughly 1" in diameter, but a bit knobbly and uneven. Can you tell me what it is or does?"

Matthew, you seem to have stumbled upon a Rod of the Road.

While not terribly common, they aren't thought to be worth much.
Whenever you are unsure of which way to travel along an established walkway, path, or road you may hold up the rod and it will gently tug you in the direction it decides you need to go.

A Rod of the Road is never wrong, but that does not guarantee the way it wants you to go is safe. The user, of course, is under no such compulsion to actually follow the rod's advice.

Vinewaker

+Richard Lorenz asks: "It is a hammer, heavier than it looks. It has acid etchings of leaves and vines all over the metal head, while the shaft is made of still living wood that occasionally sprouts leaves. The head is about 6"x6"x10" and the haft is 18"."

What you have there, Richard, is a Vinewaker.

The head of the hammer is heavier since it constantly resonates with the ground so it can be able to provide it's combat benefit at all times. Simple soothing, by words or actions, like stroking the head, would lighten it. Similarly, requesting its reactivation is equally simple.

The hammer has two functions:

The first is its combat function - using a mental command while swinging the hammer would produce an exceptional knock back effect, able to take down creatures considerably large. After they are knocked down, vines will sprout to envelope them and keep them restrained. The vines will be very strong, but remain plants - susceptible to fire and degradable organic matter. Sufficient strength could break the restraints. This effect is daily, recharging at sunrise, and cannot accumulate charges between days.
A minor helpful effect, that the hammer will give the current owner a gentle mental hum whenever the sun rises, allowing a type of effective way to count days despite being in a place where the perception of days cannot be made.

The second function is considerably more potent and useful - leaves picked from the shaft are very special. The leaves can have a single clear command that vines could accomplish within 100 ft., and when then placed on the ground, shall grow faintly sentient vines that will accomplish the mission. Examples of use include bridging over a chasm, creating a climbing vine onto a wall, retrieving an object or restraining someone or something.
There is no limit on how many leaves can be kept or used, but they grow sporadically and without documented tendencies. Some documentations suggest that providing the hammer with usual contact with the ground, water and sunlight spurn the growth of leaves.

On its origins - it is assumed Elven, perhaps even made from the wood of an old Dryad's tree.

Gravity Orb

+Nadav Ben Dov asks "I've found this metallic orb around the size of a fist, which is considerably heavier than it appears. What does it do?"

Nadav, you're the proud new owner of a Gravity Orb!

This wonderful item allows you to change the mass of a single object at a time, making it lighter or heavier than normal. This can provide rudimentary levitation/flight if you have some form of propulsion, or increase an object's mass so much it cannot move.

Living objects may suffer ill effects of increased mass if they cannot resist the orb's magic.

Bone Wand

+Pablo Greccho asks "I found a femur, the bottom part missing and the cavity sealed with wax. A crude, but functional, scroll container! Snooping inside I found, in fact, a scroll. The femur itself is magical, but the scroll contains only unreadable scribblings."

Here's hoping you're not squeamish around the dead, Pablo, because you've just found a Bone Wand.

The unreadable scribblings are likely incantation notes from the previous user, who may or may not have gone mad, so check if it's a language someone else knows.

The bone itself allows one to create and control animated skeletons. Those not prone to magic may find it only works at about 25% capability, but anyone able to tap into arcane or divine magics can animate skeletons at their full potential once a day.

Spirit Phone

+Dominic Toghill asks "Hi, I've recently come into the possession of a rather interesting artifact. It was given to me by a lawyer working for my grandfathers estate. Outwardly it looks like an iPhone but the rear glass is scribed with pentacles and runes. There is no charger socket and I cannot turn it on. Please can you help me +What's This Thing Do?"

At first glance what you have would appear to be a simple spirit phone, albeit a rather new version, this device would give your grandfather a way to communicate with you from beyond the grave. 

However the the addition of the runes on the back of the phone mean it is something much more rare. What you have is a Mímisbrunnr phone which can connect the user to the well of knowledge at the foot of the world tree. The phone runs on sacrifice, smearing blood in to the runes will activate for a short while and allow the user to ask 3 questions of the well. 

However be careful of how frequently you us the phone as each sacrifice needs to be greater then the last.

A Mnemonic Hourglass and a Pacifist's Revenge

Pacifists Revenge

+Andrew Sanderson asks "I have a scabbard and a sword hilt - the sword itself has no blade, and from the look of it, I'm not sure it ever did. The hilt is wrapped in the hide of (it seems) an animal, and the scabbard is smooth and black. What exactly do I have?"

What you have, Andrew, is a Pacifist's Revenge.
When you wield the hilt as one would a standard weapon, it provides a defensive mechanism that echoes melee damage dealt to you back to the one that dealt it to you. The initial attacker may attempt to mentally resist some or all of the damage, depending on if you have the weak or strong version of the item (respectively).

Wearing the scabbard is required, as you must return the hilt to the scabbard for a minimum of 10 minutes per successful echo after each combat.

Mnemonic Hourglass

+John Johnson asks "I have a small hourglass. It's 6 inches tall, with a base that's three inches wide. It's brass with some intricate designs engraved. What's it do?"

Though you have received information about similar products, we have consulted our ancient tomes and divined that the one you possess is actually a Mnemonic Hourglass.

It records everything within a 30-foot radius and allows the owner to review any prior time that it was with the owner. Without the use of additional spells, the owner is limited to their normal senses when looking back in time.

While time seems to pass normally when viewing, you remain in a trancelike state for 1 minute for every hour viewed (minimum 1 minute).