Tuesday Magic Item – Gift of Life

Gollaon coughed up blood and sat up, his eyes wide and starting.  “Wha . . .” he coughed again.  “What happened?”

“You took a spear to the chest, hit your heart and lung,” replied Voddick.

“Sounds bad,” croaked out Gollaon.

“You have no idea, you were stone dead, my friend,” replied a grave Voddick.

“Then how?”

“That your lover of yours, the one you charmed last week was more taken with you then I thought.  They pushed themself to the bring of death to bring you back.  We have them wrapped up in warm blankets, they should recover, given a few days of peace.”

“Did we win that at least?”  Gollaon tried to look around.

“I think so,” nodded Voddick, “for the sake of both of you.”

Gift of Life

These tokens come in a variety of shapes and sizes, always made of silver or more valuable metal sometime decorated with designs in enamel or inlaid in other precious metals, the design call to healing, life and rebirth, a phoenix being especially popular.

Tuesday Magic Item – Highwayman’s Ice Bow

Gollaon leaned back in his chair and sipped at his mulled wine.  “It seems that the war has given way to general lawlessness, bandits everywhere.  Do you think it is worth our while to hunt some of them down?”

Voddick leaned over his mulled ale.  “Perhaps.  I do not much care for thieves even the polite ones like some highwaymen.”

“One of the local bands is making quite a name for themselves, they have a magical frost casting bow.”

“I had heard about that band, they seem more or less reasonable sorts,” nodded Voddick.  “Or at least they understand a goose only plucked can be plucked again later.”

Gollaon laughed.  “That I can respect.”

Highwayman’s Ice Bow

These bows are made of wood harvested at the height of winter, they are always decorated often to the point of near garishness with inlaid silver, crystals and blue and white enamels and paints.  The bow is cold to the touch and the string will gather ice crystals is left still for too long.

Tuesday Magic Item – Mother Sugarfoot’s Kitchen Accoutrement

Voddick leaned back in the chair sipping a nice cup of tea.  “Hand me another of those lovely almond pastries, will you please?”

Gollaon slide the plate over.  “It would be entirely too easy to just while away the rest of our time in a place like this.”

Voddick took a pastry and dunked it in his tea.  “Enjoy the moment, my friend.  Our lives will spin out of control soon enough.”

“Truth,” nodded Gollaon idly stirring his tea.

Mother Sugarfoot’s Kitchen Accoutrement

This is not one magic item, but rather a whole kitchen full of items with small enchantment: pots that will not scald their contents (or burn those that pick them up), self-grinding pestles, measures that do not spill, self-stirring spoons, automatic flour sifters, and so on and so on.  Universally they are functional, self-cleaning and self repairing.

Tuesday Magic Item – Windrose Compass

Voddick stopped to mop his brow.  “From heroic last stands to being lost in the desert, our lives are never dull.”

“Our guide will find the way, my friend, do not worry,” said Gollaon adjusting the brim of his wide hat.

“Indeed not,” said the guide producing an elegant compass, “we shall soon be on our way again.”

Voddick just nodded.

“Lead the way,” said Gollaon.

Just then a cooling breeze washed over them.  “That is the sign for us to move on,” said the guide, waving the group forward.

Windrose Compass

These compasses are beautifully made and decorated with a mix of cartographic and magical symbols, they are also surprisingly tough able to survive considerable abuse.

Tuesday Magic Item – Last Battle Medallion

Voddick and Golloan stood alongside the old folk, veterans of wars that had ended years, decades ago, clad in their armor, some finely polished, other patchwork.  They did not let their age bow them as they stood waiting for what they knew would be their final battle.

“A finer company could not be asked for,” said Voddick.

“Truth, my friend,” replied Golloan.  “Together we will half the invaders long enough for the next army to be raised.  These fine people will not give up.”

“No, we will not,” said the old woman next to them, the paint on her shield faded but her spear was newly polished.  “They will see our mettle and be broken by it.”

Last Battle Medallion

These medallions are usual made in small numbers for the veterans of a particular group that served together, often with something related to the service they performed together with a personal token on the back.

Tuesday Magic Item – Swiftsure Horseshoes

Voddick aimed fired and recocked his crossbow.  “Keep it up lads and lassies, we only need to hold out a little longer.”

Gollaon loosed his last arrow and scooped up some loose stones to toss.  “The Swiftsure Riders will be here, we just need to keep these fools focused on us until they do.”

Quietly Voddick asked, “Do you think they will make it in time?  We are close to being overrun.”

“We had best hope so,” Gollaon answered equally quietly.

Then a cheer went up from the defenders as the pennants of the Swiftsure Cavalry appeared over the ridge.

Swiftsure Horseshoes

These horseshoes are made of polished metal and inlaid with a small amount of gold or silver, the inside is marked with runes and sigils.  Their magic keeps them bright and they often strike sparks when ridden across cobbles.

Tuesday Magic Item – Black Cat Talisman

Gollaon fingered his new talisman, “Suits me, do you not think so?”

“A cat is a fitting symbol for you, my friend,” nodded Voddick.

“For I am swift-footed and agile,” said Gollaon with a quick dance.

“For you are vain and prideful,” retorted Voddick with a grin.

Gollaon shrugged and grinned back.  “That as well”

Black Cat Talisman

These talisman are usually discrete in appearance , the cat motif working in among other designs, with allusions to luck woven in as well.  Carved jet and onyx are popular choices for material for these items.