+Arlene Medder asks "I found a set of carved wooden train cars in a thrift shop. Some of them have a magic dweomer. Are these safe to give my nephew?"
Arlene, you have (an incomplete set of) Rail Nodes.
A full set has at least 5 pieces (1 engine, 3 middle cars, 1 caboose), but may be constructed with as many as 3 extra pieces (3 more middle cars).
When properly utilized, the Engine and the Caboose are activated and placed at different locations. The owner of the set then may designate recipients of the middle cars. The recipients, while having their middle car on them, may instantly transport from the location of the engine to the location of the caboose and vice versa.
Suffice to say, without the whole set, it's wise to only give your nephew the non-magical portion of the train.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Retix Egg
+Tina Rowand asks "As a child, I begged my mother into purchasing an obsidian egg for me from a curio shop. It's about the size of a fist, heavy for its size, and glows a deep and shimmering gold when held at certain angles to the light. It's been a nick-knack on various bookshelves for most of the past two decades, but lately the gold highlights seem to be growing and I find myself picking it up to play with it or even just hold it. This morning, I woke up to find it in my hand, even though I put it on its stand before going to bed. What's going on?"
Tina, you only need to be a little worried, since it seems you have one of the rare Retix Eggs. Each is different, so we can't say which one you have, but the egg is getting ready to hatch.
The upside: it has bonded to you, so whatever creature (which will have obsidian skin like the egg) does come out won't maul you to death.
The possible downside: it may be bigger than your room (or still fit in your hand), so you might want to sleep outside in a tent for the next week.
Treat the creature right and give it some good books to eat so that it can learn. The types of books it feeds on will determine how it thinks, just to make you aware.
Tina, you only need to be a little worried, since it seems you have one of the rare Retix Eggs. Each is different, so we can't say which one you have, but the egg is getting ready to hatch.
The upside: it has bonded to you, so whatever creature (which will have obsidian skin like the egg) does come out won't maul you to death.
The possible downside: it may be bigger than your room (or still fit in your hand), so you might want to sleep outside in a tent for the next week.
Treat the creature right and give it some good books to eat so that it can learn. The types of books it feeds on will determine how it thinks, just to make you aware.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Metal Death T-Shirt
+Mike Goodman asks "I just bought this old Iron Maiden t-shirt at a thrift store. Why is it, when in the proximity of loud bass drumming, the collar constricts around my throat until I lose consciousness? It has happened 3 times now."
It sounds, Mike, like you've accidentally bought a Metal Death T-Shirt.
Give it to someone you really hate, particularly if they're fond of playing heavy bass music at bad hours.
It sounds, Mike, like you've accidentally bought a Metal Death T-Shirt.
Give it to someone you really hate, particularly if they're fond of playing heavy bass music at bad hours.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Knitter's Delight
+Arlene Medder asks "I bought a ball of yarn at the thrift shop, thinking I'd make a scarf. The scarf is now 6' long and the ball of yarn is the same size. WTF?"
You've stumbled on a Knitter's Delight, Arlene.
The only real downside to these is the lack of color variation. Just cut the yarn whenever you're done with a project, you'll always have more unless you destroy it all (such as in a fire).
Q. Is it possible to dye the yarn once it's cut from the ball?
A. You can try, there's no guarantee it will hold. The older balls are very stubborn and proud of their coloring.
You've stumbled on a Knitter's Delight, Arlene.
The only real downside to these is the lack of color variation. Just cut the yarn whenever you're done with a project, you'll always have more unless you destroy it all (such as in a fire).
Q. Is it possible to dye the yarn once it's cut from the ball?
A. You can try, there's no guarantee it will hold. The older balls are very stubborn and proud of their coloring.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Canoe of Battles
+Arlene Medder sent us this question: We stumbled across a small canoe, holds perhaps 2 people and gear, yesterday. It appears to be a simple, though well-made affair of bark, sinew and wood. But it has a magic aura. Is someone playing games or is this something truly valuable?
What you have found is both wonderful and ominous. The canoe is a harbinger of death but is also an assurance of a place in the hall of heroes. A member of your company will die soon, (how is your mage by the way?) if their body is placed in the canoe it will take them to an island where they will spend eternity among the greatest heroes. When the battle of Veid-Riel finally comes upon us all these heroes will be our salvation.
Some say if the living travel with the dead they too can join the great heroes on the island. Of course none of those who have tried have ever come back...
What you have found is both wonderful and ominous. The canoe is a harbinger of death but is also an assurance of a place in the hall of heroes. A member of your company will die soon, (how is your mage by the way?) if their body is placed in the canoe it will take them to an island where they will spend eternity among the greatest heroes. When the battle of Veid-Riel finally comes upon us all these heroes will be our salvation.
Some say if the living travel with the dead they too can join the great heroes on the island. Of course none of those who have tried have ever come back...
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Poisoned Tooth
+Jeremy Kostiew asks
"I found a, uh, tusk. That's the best way I can describe it. It's made from some kind of enamel, or ivory (I think!), but there's no root like a tooth might have. It's sharp on both ends, but the curve of each point looks like it came from different animal. Longhorn and buffalo, maybe? Not a clue. It's smooth enough that it's hard to hold, and I can't get any of the dogs to go near it.
The strangest bit? It was wrapped in the roots of an old, dead stump I unearthed during landscaping. A month later, grass still won't grow in that spot. Can you help me out?"
Jeremy, you've got a Poison Tooth on your hands. It doesn't create an actual poison, despite the name, but anything pierced by it will be infected with a magical decay. They were often used against large animals.
"I found a, uh, tusk. That's the best way I can describe it. It's made from some kind of enamel, or ivory (I think!), but there's no root like a tooth might have. It's sharp on both ends, but the curve of each point looks like it came from different animal. Longhorn and buffalo, maybe? Not a clue. It's smooth enough that it's hard to hold, and I can't get any of the dogs to go near it.
The strangest bit? It was wrapped in the roots of an old, dead stump I unearthed during landscaping. A month later, grass still won't grow in that spot. Can you help me out?"
Jeremy, you've got a Poison Tooth on your hands. It doesn't create an actual poison, despite the name, but anything pierced by it will be infected with a magical decay. They were often used against large animals.
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