You take a quick look around and realize this must be the place you overheard the scoundrels talking about at The Obscene Ogre. You followed the directions to the best of your memory. The tight dark alleys are a maze and you thought you were lost until you came to the door with its little nondescript sign over head. The shop was small and buried in the middle of the wall and its sign simply read “The Old Magic Shop”. Hearing a scream echo down the alleyway you look about and muster your courage. Just as you are about to knock the door opens. Inside the doorway you can just make out a figure in the dim light. The figure steps forward and you see it is a bearded old bald man. Across the old mans forehead can be seen a tattoo of a blue star, he stares at you with wise and penetrating eyes. Before you can say anything you hear a hollow voice say “Enter if ye dare”. The old man turns and walks back into the shadows. As you follow and cross the threshold, the door closes behind you with a silent "click".
The old man turns and says in an accusing manner “Seeking magic do ye. Aye I have magic aplenty but can ye afford it and are ye made of the stuff that can handle it? Don’t answer right away take a deep look inside and don’t be ashamed at what ye see. Like all things of worth… it comes with a price and sometimes that price be a heavy one.” The old man nods as if recognizing his own truth. Then there is a long silence as he paces back and forth in the dim light with his hands clasped behind his back. Suddenly he looks up with a gleam in his eye and the room gets brighter, “Ye still be here? Well I guess ye know yer own mettle and worth better then myself. All right, ye may stay and look, but do not touch! These artifacts have come to me from across the realms…. And then some”.
The old man throws his arm out extravagantly towards the back of the room. You now see that the room is quite larger than you at once thought and it is hard to believe that such a room could fit in what appeared to be a small shop. You then notice the room is filled. You see all types of armor and large assortments of weapons hang from the walls. Before you are glass cabinets filled with strange and mundane items and in the corners lay chest and boxes. The old man gives a knowing cackle and says, “Aye, not all is as it seems. It has taken me a lifetime to gather this collection; I have either made them myself or received these artifacts by wealth, charm or deceit. Some have been given, as gifts others in trade, some where sought after by great adventurers, like yourself and some stolen by wily thieves. I have sought after many for years and years and many am I still searching for, but don’t ye be fooled …. in the end they all come to The Old Magic Shop.” Another harsh cackle follows and then he says” Since ye still be brave and standing here, … they call me Zinngar the Blue …. and this is my collection”.
The old man points to a cabinet made of glass; inside it is filled with bone and clay objects. He points out one in particular, a ring that seems to be made from bone. In a hollow voice the old man says, “There you see Jumumuba's ring, it was brought to me by one of my many agents. The agent goes by the name of Marz, a scoundrel if I ever saw one and he charges a pretty copper I tell you, but he does bring me such nice trinkets”. The old man lets out a satisfied sigh and then continues -
Jumumuba's Ring: Ring of Animal Friendship
“Discovered in the Jungles of Chult, this bone ring was constructed by a Numbaia witch doctor named Jumumuba. His abilities with animals were renowned throughout Chult. Many strangers from faraway lands would seek him out for this spell or that. His greatest fame came from taming a Roc, a huge bird that feasted on the elephants of the plains and could lift them off to its nest for feeding its young. Many of the other witch doctors were jealous of his fame and charm skill with the beasts of the land that they slew the Roc to send a warning to Jumumuba. He understood and, to pay respect to the spirit of the great beast, took the hollow bone of its wing and fashioned a ring. Using a powerful paste, known to civilized mages as Sovereign Glue, he created a bond on the bone and sprinkled it with dust made from captured gold and silver teeth and jewelry of those who killed the Roc. He obtained them by sending all of the creatures he had befriended to slay those who had murdered the huge bird. As is told in legend, the army of animals was larger than any able to be summoned by all the tribes and kingdoms of Chult combined! It is also rumored that a great flesh-eating beast, known as a dinosaur to out- landers, was part of this horde. He then summoned forth the spirit of each witch doctor and called for their atonement. They granted it by placing the last of their magic energies into the ring, bestowing the enchantment of animal friendship, giving honor to the slain Roc. The ring was then cast into the air by Jumumuba and an Eblis, an intelligent relative of the stork family and able to cast spells, caught the ring. It flew all across Chult giving the Roc´s spirit its last feeling of flight.
The old man clears his throat “I have had it in the past on several occasions and it has disappeared on just as many . .. I know not how or why…..”
The old mans eyes squint as he looks at you and a slight cold grin comes to his face. “Or, maybe this would be of interest to you” he says pointing at a flute made of bone inside the glass cabinet. “It is called The Soul Of Esrina” another one of my many agents brought this to me by the name of David Neff. I do not know if this is his real name nor do I care. Just as long as he keeps bringing me items and I will keep filling his pockets”. The old man clears his throat. “This flute, like all the items here”, as he sweeps his arm in forward motion indicating the rest of the dark room, “It has a story… worse then many, but better than some. It's story goes like this…..”
Soul Of Esrina
HISTORY: Born of the union of a Gold Elf and a human, Esrina grew up within the confines of Myth Drannor. Scorned by those of elven blood, and ignored by those of human blood, Esrina grew up a lonely child, as humans were few in Myth Drannor, and most elves thought she was an abomination of all that was right and just about Elves. Despised and ridiculed, she was not yet ten, when her life was ended. As the Shirinishee took up the sword of ruler-ship, and the Elves attempted to blast her and all the low, bigoted, backstabbing, hypocritical, humans form the face of Myth Drannor (only succeeded in dooming the Elven Race of the Mainland of Faerun), small mobs of Gold Elves took to slaughtering all non-elves in sight. Some even to killing all non-pure elves (i.e. all non-Gold Elves), in the frenzy to protect Myth Drannor from any evil, non-elven influence. Esrina was one of their victims. Not yet 8 years old, her life was ended by a young Gold-Elf, Slyth'thio'tilis (now NG e(g)-m F12/M16), as he slit her throat for being an enemy to the elven way of life. She was buried in a non-descript grave far from the city by a Priestess of Hanili Celani (CG e(m)-f C17/M(div)12), who had seen the future and knew the only evil powerful enough to destroy Myth Drannor already had begun to rule it. She blessed the unmarked grave and wished that someday all Elves of Faerun would realize their own folly. Many centuries later, long after the fall of Myth Drannor, and after the Elven Retreat had begun, an exiled half-orc form the Elf-eater orc tribe, came to camp upon the secluded glade that marked Esrina's final resting place. The half-orc, named Fang Elf-killer, sought refuge from his kin for daring to disagree with their way of life. Fang, he preferred the name Wilthian, believed the true way to power was to peacefully align the tribe with Humans, Dwarves, and other demi-human society. He believed mercantilism, not slaughter, was the true way for all orcs to live better. For his sacrilege, the high shaman (Dwarfrender orc-m P(Gruumsh)-9) of his tribe set a blood price on his head, and he fled towards the demon-infested forest surrounding Myth Drannor, the one place the orcs feared to go. Tired, and without food, Wilthian began to dig at the base of a great oak, looking for any sort of edible root or fungus. Instead he found a small skeleton. Being an orc, Wilthian had no knowledge of burial customs, or the rest of the dead (his tribe always fed dead to worgs, or burned heroes in great pyres). He unearthed part of the skeleton, and took the corpses thighbone, with which to make a flute. (His love of music was another reason the high shaman had called him weak). What has become of him since, is unknown, but the tavern tales of disfigured bard capable of bringing elves to tears and madness have begun to spread throughout the North.
APPEARENCE: Soul of Esrina appears as a simple, yet finely carved bone flute. It has no adornments along its surface, but the name Wilthian is carved onto the bottom of the Flute. Under a detect magic spell it radiates an aura of Necromancy. POWERS: This flute gives its player the Musical Instrument (Flute) non-weapon proficiency, or a +2 if the player already has the proficiency. All Dirges, Funeral Music, and other somber tunes are automatically played to perfection, no roll is required. Any Elf who hears this instrument played must make a Saving Throw vs. Spell, modified as follows: Gold: -2, Green: +1, All other elven races: +0, Believer in non-elven superiority: -3, actively works to dispel elven superiority belief: +10. Priests of Hanili are unaffected. Those failing a saving throw will relive Esrina's last night of life, (treat as an exceptionally realistic illusion), the exact effects will vary depending on the character. Any who fail their save by more than 5 will experience the effects as a nightmare for 1d6 nights afterward. During this time spellcaster's will not be able to get sufficient rest to regain spells. Finally, one can use Speak with Dead on the Flute to communicate with Esrina. She can be considered to have the Non-weapon proficiency Ancient History- Myth Drannor. Any attempts at this should be role-played out, Esrina still acts like an 8 year old girl, but her fear has been replaced by an assurance that she shall now serves as an aide to prevent any other child, half-elf or not, from being victimized the way that she was.
OTHER RUMORS: Some say that this flute is actually an artifact, and was made by Hanili, with the influence of Selune, as a way to determine when the Elves could once more stand proudly upon the main lands of Faerun. If the DM judges this to be true, the following powers/limitations should be added to the flute.
CURSE/HINDERANCES: The bearer of this flute may take no action that he/she knows would end in harm coming to any non-evil half-elf, or any child, regardless of race. (Note: not killing an orc, just because he might have a kid back in the cave doesn't count. Of course, if he falls to his knees and begins begging for his life, and uses young ones as a reason, well, let your DM decide).
MEANS OF DESTRUCTION: There is only one way that this flute may be destroyed. When all elves upon the Face of Toril believe that humans, elves, half-elves and others should be judged upon their individual merits, not eons old racial beliefs, then Esrina's Destiny shall be fulfilled. When Selune (the moon) fully rises above the Dalelands after the child's quest is complete, Hanili shall manifest and begin to play the ancient flute within the ruins of Myth Drannor. All elves born in Realmspace, regardless of current location, shall her the somber song being played. This song shall be the combined misery of all wronged by the elves, as well as those elves wronged throughout history. The song shall move all who hear it to tears, but none shall touch the earth. Instead they shall be mystically transported above the City of Songs, where a rain of tears shall fall. As these tears near the ruined city, they shall harden, crystallize, and fall upon broken streets, fallen statues, and ruined homes. As each tear makes contact with the ruins, it will meld with what is left, until each structure is complete. Those tears that touch the evil within that city, shall banish it back to the nether regions from which it came. When Myth Drannor once more stands complete, Hanili shall stop her playing, and crumble Soul of Esrina to dust. Esrina's soul shall be freed to Arvanndor, and her dust shall erase the corruption from the Mythal, and reform it to perfection. Of course, this is just rumor, great effort would be required to determine what, if any, truth exists.
