Step 144

Glint is not an expert in greefolk artifacts, magic or otherwise. He doesn't recognize the rod, and says so. He thinks it might be a bit of scrap metal. Sometimes those are useful to builders or blacksmiths, who can use them in items or melt them down. He will not automatically think it might be magic. Most greefolk junk isn't, and Glint has no way of telling unless the object has obviously magical properties. He also can't tell by sight alone how light it is. 

"Fair enough," nods your uncle. He squints at the rod. "Huh. Looks like a bit of greefolk scrap, maybe from one o' their cities. Could be useful to Nell, maybe? Or a blacksmith, they say greefolk iron's unusually good quality." 

None. 

"It feels hollow, but I don't know why it would be - or how for that matter."

Prota refers to the rod's seeming lack of weight. "How" in this context implies "how would something be made that looks like this and is also hollow." 

You elaborate, "It feels hollow, but I don't know why it would be - or how for that matter."

Step 145

When you can scout via shapeshifting, it pays to know a bit about valuable objects. Glint has done some scavenging before. He is more familiar with weapons and tools than with blacksmithing as a trade; he can recognize decent scrap metal but can't easily tell similar materials apart or identify rare types of non-weapon craftsmanship. His first thought is that it might be some kind of fancy blowgun, but noticing the solid ends makes this less likely. He also knows travelers sometimes carry longer tools into magic-tainted environments, to poke strange shapes before approaching them. He checks for bite marks on the bent part, but doesn't see any. Glint does not carry a long pole for poking things because he prefers to travel light, he has shapeshifting as a good defense, and he feels he has enough experience to recognize most threats. Glint may also think of tent poles, but those are longer and thicker. 

(Glint mentions "bite marks" without elaborating on why those might be present. Sometimes worldbuilding is best left an exercise to the reader's imagination.) 

"Might be some kind of fancy metal blowgun?" your uncle speculates, frowning. He peers at each end. "Looks solid, though. Some travelers carry long spears or rods, because in magic-tainted regions, poking things with a stick before you sit or make camp on them is a good idea. This could be one of those, they're sometimes hollow to save on weight? I don't see any bite marks, but this one looks a good bit shorter than it should be. Not a tent pole either, too stout."

None. 

"Yeah, I don't know what it is, but that makes it interesting. Maybe one of the Pratch will recognize it."

Prota is intrigued by the object. Prota suggests, but has not yet committed to, asking someone in Clan Pratchett if they can identify it. 

You say, "Yeah, I don't know what it is, but that makes it interesting. Maybe one of the Pratch will recognize it."

Step 146

Glint has nothing more to say at the moment. Prota's words imply they are ready to return to camp. Does Prota want to return to Nell, or ask around at the market first? Glint can ask. 

Would any of the Pratch be familiar with the object? Unlikely; it is a niche item with no visual indication of its function. Detection magic is rare, and unlikely to be found among the Pratch, even merchants. Nell will speculate but also won't be able to tell the rod's function at a glance. 

Your uncle nods. "Maybe. Do you want to get back to Nell's, or ask at the market first?" 

None. 

"Let's start with Nell. Maybe it's broken and she can fix it," I snort.

Prota chooses to go to Nell first. Their suggestion that Nell can fix it is a reference to the earlier drama about her newly-discovered magic, and slightly tongue-in-cheek. 

"Let's start with Nell. Maybe it's broken and she can fix it," you snort.

Step 147

Glint and Prota take their forage and the rod to Nell. She's been working and thinking for most of the day. She's had time to cool off and isn't likely to hold a grudge, but still feels somewhat off-balance from her discovery. She might have been worried when she discovered Glint and Prota left early. Would Glint have left a note? It would be the smart and thoughtful thing to do, but Glint is a habitual loner and not terribly good at that sort of thing. He did not think of it. 

Prota and Glint make their way around the perimeter of the Clan Pratchett encampment to Nell's small cluster of in-progress work. Nell, who works to take her mind off things, has made some progress on one of the projects, likely the custom tank-treaded wagon. (Introducing small changes to a scene after time passes is a way to keep the world dynamic and interesting.) Nell has installed the spinning rod for testing purposes. She's been working for most of the day and has somewhat lost track of time. 

"Aye, maybe." Your uncle frowns thoughtfully. 

You and Glint make your way around the perimeter of the Pratch encampment until you reach Nell's cluster of in-progress projects. It looks mostly as you left it, though the spinning cylinder is missing from its wooden mount. Nell is once again working beneath the leather-covered boxy conveyance. Several oddly-shaped wheels turn in tandem under her intent gaze, linked together by a wide strip of tough leather. 

Glint clears his throat, and Nell looks up from her work, blinking. "You're back early - " she squints towards the setting sun, " - oh, right, never mind." 

None. 

"We went foraging. I found something weird, does this look like anything to you? It feels hollow." I wave the rod.

Prota asks Nell for help identifying the rod. 

You explain, "We went foraging. I found something weird, does this look like anything to you? It feels hollow." You wave the rod.

Step 148

Nell is unfamiliar with the movable rod's function. She can't tell that it is magical. She can tell that it is good quality metal, albeit somewhat rusted and bent. She's not a blacksmith, but she uses small metal parts in some of her designs, so she knows a few things about metal quality and probably knows a local blacksmith or two. (It could be interesting to use those blacksmiths for further worldbuilding, if Prota chooses to ask them next. Clan Pratchett's economy is relatively medieval, meaning trades like blacksmithing are often passed down through families or apprenticeship.) [Nell knows two decent blacksmiths, one of which was at one time an apprentice to the other. They are now partly competing, with different specialties but some overlap, and there's some bad blood between them.] (Expanding further can wait until Prota decides whether to ask about them.) 

Nell says the rod looks like greefolk make but she doesn't know its purpose. She observes it is bent but not broken, that the hollowness suggests a pipe but the ends aren't open. She's stumped, and suggests asking a blacksmith. She also apologizes for snapping at Prota earlier. She may not introspect deeply enough to understand exactly why she reacted the way she did, but she had time to think it through and does feel bad for getting angry.

Nell has experimented a little bit with her magic throughout the day, now that she knows it exists. Is it possible her magic might give a small hint about the rod? Possibly, her magic could tell her that its flaws do not impede its magical function - it still does the thing it is supposed to do. That would imply her magic can distinguish between crippling and cosmetic flaws. She's only been aware of her magic for less than a day, but she also spent years inadvertently using it to get a feel for various objects, and she can tell when an object such as a cart axle is subtly yet dangerously damaged in a way that impedes its function. (It could be a useful hint, but also it's a bit of a stretch that Nell would think of it on her own. As a compromise, Nell won't try to "look" at it with magical senses unless Prota prompts her.) (On second thought, this is subtly wrong. Nell never thought of her extra senses as magic before today. She's accustomed to using them, treating them as mere intuition, and trusting them accordingly. It actually might seem contrived for Nell to fail to notice. She would have to be unconsciously distancing herself from her usual senses - which, given the recent shock she experienced, is not completely out of character.) Maybe she hasn't been doing so all day - she gets absorbed in her work and it feels natural - but it is unusually salient in her mind right now because Prota is present, and so she's repressing a bit, unconsciously not-paying-attention to her magical senses, because it's embarrassing to have relied on them without knowing it. None of Nell's commentary will involve her magical senses, yet.