None. 

"Maybe I should," I say. "Uh, is the sealant going to need to dry before we use the bowl or anything?"

Prota seems partly convinced by Nell's counterargument. 

"Maybe I should," you say. "Uh, is the sealant going to need to dry before we use the bowl or anything?"

Step 128

Prota may not have caught the clues about Nell's abilities. This is okay; it is supposed to be subtle. There is no reason Prota should have access to more knowledge about alchemicals, not yet at least. (Later clues can be dropped to suggest reevaluating this scene. In the extreme case, Prota will likely notice after gaining a magic-sense from the Blue.) Nell does not believe the sealant needs time to dry, since when she's "used" it in the past, her magic worked quickly. She believes, and to an extent can sense, that the bowl is good as new. Also, the crack was only on the outside of the bowl, and did not reach all the way to the inside layer. 

Believing the matter closed, Nell will proceed to serve the soup. 

Glint does not know enough about alchemicals to notice the discrepancy, and has nothing to add. 

What do they use for furniture during dinner? Nell has the woodworking skill to make simple folding chairs, and both means and incentive to accomodate Glint's handicap, so probably small, portable chairs and tables. 

"Oh no, it's fine now," Nell assures you. "Good as new. The crack didn't reach all the way through the side, either, so it'd hold the stew fine either way." The stew is bubbling merrily; Nell ladles some into each of the three bowls. "Enjoy!" 

Nell has set out small chairs that fold ingeniously for storage, one low to the ground to accommodate Glint. He sits contentedly and blows on his stew to cool it. 

None. 

I eat my stew and feel the location of the erstwhile crack.

Prota tests whether they can detect any sign of the crack. They may or may not be convinced that it was real. It is unclear whether this test is intended to be discreet or not, but presumably Prota has no reason to advertise it, and Nell and Glint have no particular reason to notice. 

While you eat, you run a hand along the location of the erstwhile crack. 

Step 129

Prota should not find any indication of damage, now, since Nell's magic fixed the bowl. It is worth reinforcing that Prota saw the crack, earlier, and that it looked real at the time, albeit small. 

From earlier plans: Nell and Glint are happy to chat over dinner. Nell prompts Glint for stories, which she enjoys. She avoids the topic of magic and the Blue, though not strongly or noticeably at this point. (The Player does not seem strongly interested in building Prota's character, but sprinkling opportunities to do so throughout the plot is a generally good idea.) Nell can ask an open-ended question about Prota's clan and life. (It is also possible to ask for specific details to establish skills, background, friendships, etc., but open-ended seems ideal for now. It is in character for Nell to ask about Prota's experience today, and how it compares with Prota's clan life; Nell does so.) 

The glaze feels smooth and unbroken. You're fairly certain you did see the crack, earlier; it looked quite real at the time, though small. Either way, it's gone now. 

Nell and Glint chat amiably between bites. Nell elicits adventure-tales from Glint, which he's always happy to boast about, and she asks how you've enjoyed your first day with the Pratch, and how it compares to life in your clan. 

None. 

I tell Nell about my day, and also ask if the sealant is magical.

Prota talks about the last few hours. Depending on how fast they summarize, it could occupy most of dinner. Prota also asks if the sealant is magical. 

Prota seems content to elide over the specifics of this conversation. Prota is not mentioning life in their clan; this might be deliberate. Perhaps Prota doesn't want to talk about themself much. 

You talk about your day with the Pratch over dinner. When an opening presents itself, you ask if the sealant Nell uses is magical. 

Step 130

Does Nell press Prota about their clan? Probably not. She is interested in learning more about Glint's niece, but happy to talk about other things instead, and Prota's first day among the Pratch makes good conversation.

Nell reacts to Prota's story. She's quite familiar with the market and enjoys hearing a newcomer's impressions. She knows Matiar, and would have heard rumors that the trader deals in black market goods sometimes. This is not a big deal in Clan Pratchett, but Nell slightly disapproves. She's disturbed by the story that Glint was doing a job for Matiar, and further worried that something happened to the client and Glint got blamed. Nell feels protective of Glint and takes Matiar's response personally. She briefly argues about it with Glint. (But the prompt should continue on, to address the rest of Prota's actions.) 

Nell is reasonably fond of Brenelo, though she might find his exuberance a little wearing. Would she know enough to warn Prota that Brenelo can be cunning and manipulative? Possibly not; she would not have interacted with him much, personally, and has little interest in politics. 

What does Nell say about the sealant? It is in fact nonmagical, nonfunctional even, but Nell believes it works. She probably hasn't really thought about it, but tentatively guesses it's not magic. She thinks it might be somewhat similar to what the Bluward alchemists do, but her recipe doesn't call for magical plants or anything similar. Why did she use it on both pottery and wood? Maybe she's noticed by trial and error that it works on wood, metal, and cloth, so she's concluded it's all-purpose. If that's the case, why hasn't she sold it? Maybe she tried that, once, and nobody else seemed to get it to work right. She's confused by this, since it seems easy enough to her, but she also thinks repairing wagons is really easy and plenty of people want to hire her for that. Nell hasn't yet put the pieces together on this one. 

Nell listens to you with good cheer, asking questions from time to time. She seems most interested in your thoughts and impressions after a day with her clan, and smiles when you describe the market. 

When you reach the encounter with Matiar, Nell scowls and Glint looks uncomfortable. "I knew that woman was up to no good," the cartwright sniffs. 

"It's not her fault the client - " Glint protests. 

"If she wasn't dealing under the table - "

"This was legitimate business!" 

"You don't stab people over legitimate business - " 

It goes on in this vein for a little while, before Nell and Glint remember you're there; they both quiet down and sheepishly prompt you to continue your tale. 

Nell listens while you recount your discussion with Brenelo. "I don't know him all that well," she admits, "he's a little bit - almost too exuberant, sometimes? - but you're speaking at the Council, that must be exciting! I've never had much to do with them, myself." 

When you ask about the sealant, Nell replies with a shrug, "I'm not sure, actually. Never gave it much thought. I don't think it's magic. The recipe doesn't call for magic plants or anything. It might just be a really good glue? It's sort of like alchemical sealants from Bluward... I got the idea from them, anyway. Some of the alchemical stuff merges with whatever you stick 'em on, but mine's better. You can just wipe the excess off, and it works on most things. Wood, metal, cloth..." 

None.

"- there is no way a nonmagical sealant should work on cloth. That isn't how cloth works. Are you sure you're not, uh -" I wiggle my fingers.

Prota points out that it is implausible for sealant to work on cloth, and suggests that Nell might be magic. 

"- there is no way a nonmagical sealant should work on cloth," you reply. "That isn't how cloth works. Are you sure you're not, uh -" you wiggle your fingers to indicate magic.

Step 131

(Prota seems more interested in solving the puzzle of Nell's magic than talking about Pratch politics. This suggests that introducing similar puzzles in the future would be rewarding for the Player. That might be wrong, though, since Nell's fixing skill is currently the weirdest thing from a Player perspective, which could explain Prota's interest instead.) 

Nell is confused. She points out that alchemical sealants do, in fact, work on cloth. In actual fact, alchemy is a kind of magic, though it covers several different types of magic under the umbrella of "making magic stuff". Alchemy includes transmutation; sealants that repair cloth work by transmuting themselves into cloth and bonding with the existing material. Nell and Glint have only the barest understanding of this. Alchemical theory is not common knowledge. Prota is also unlikely to know it, though they might intuit some of it from observing alchemical items. Glint is at least familiar with woundweal, severstaunch, and other medical alchemy, and might point out the similarities. 

Nell is conflicted about the idea that she might have magic. She once wanted magic badly enough to travel to the Blue. She was deeply disappointed when she apparently didn't get any, and now distrusts any argument to the contrary. She's spent most of her life believing she did not have magic, and it would be weird and embarrassing to have taken so long to notice it. She puts up some resistance to the idea, while at the same time hoping it might be true. 

Does the alchemical that works on cloth have a local name, following familiar pattern? Stitchmend, threadmend, seamdarn? Instant-patch? Liquid seam? Waterproof coatings might also be made alchemically. Patchseam and liquithread seem like memorable names for such items. 

Some alchemical sealants work by transmuting into, and bonding to, the patched substance. [Alchemical sealants that work by transmutation are divided into living and nonliving types, at least, and possibly more. There are specialized variants, cheaper than the most flexible version, for flesh, wood, metal, and cloth.]

(It is appropriate here to continue to challenge the Player's certainty, while not outright denying the chance to work out the puzzle. It should be possible to figure out, but not too easy. If Nell and/or Glint immediately caved and realized the secret, it would cheapen the Player's experience and make Nell look foolish for not noticing, instead of just having a unique and sensitive blind spot about her magic.) 

Nell blinks. "Some alchemicals are made for cloth..." she says slowly, clutching her three-fingered hand to her chest. "Patchseam, liquithread. It's not that strange..." You've heard of both; they are rare and fairly expensive, sometimes sold by merchants traveling gree from Bluward or, more rarely, far bluse from the wealthy moving cities. 

"I think severstaunch works the same way," Glint adds, frowning. "When you put it on, it sort of - becomes flesh. It's pretty seamless if they make it right." Based on some of your uncle's stories, he may be speaking from practical experience. 

[Traveling merchants sometimes sell valuable alchemicals like liquithread or patchseam.]