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[King Zultan]

I don't think its a good idea to tell some guy we don't know that we stabbed some famous dude in the gut and killed him.

[Naturegirl1999]

"Wellll... Okay, maybe I did a little more than score a hit. You know, I don't think he'll be needing this any more..."

+1

[ZBridges]

"Wellll... Okay, maybe I did a little more than score a hit. You know, I don't think he'll be needing this any more..."

+1

+1.  We can always claim self-defense if necessary.  I think this guy was a serial killer or something, so he was more infamous than famous.  I doubt anyone will shed a tear for him.

[King Zultan]

"Wellll... Okay, maybe I did a little more than score a hit. You know, I don't think he'll be needing this any more..."

+1

+1.  We can always claim self-defense if necessary.  I think this guy was a serial killer or something, so he was more infamous than famous.  I doubt anyone will shed a tear for him.

+1

[Devastator]

Although reluctant to believe you at first, you just manage to convince the shopkeeper that Shun Ziji is dead by your hand.  It takes a good amount of convincing, and before the end of it the shopkeeper has to lock up and pours out a cup of wine.  After pausing a moment, he pours another one out for you.  You drink, and it's a local product, unremarkable but tasty enough in itself.

"You see, my sister saw Shun Ziji once.  He was an assassin, aye, and one of reknown, but this was a few years ago.  She was an associate, working for well, lets call her an evil woman.  She was a moneylender and insurer, worked for boats, businesses and such.  And sometimes she, well, she would play games with riders, changing the terms of the deal after the deal was made.  Often after the original owner was no longer there to speak up."

He then takes another sip.

"It lasted basically a month.  Something happened, and those people who she sent out, the ones who were a little less forward, a little more shady than my sister, well, they disappeared.  Then the owner would get angry, and fearful, until she more or less lived inside her office, shouting orders, and almost refusing to come out and make appearances.  And at the end, well, Shun Ziji walked in, opened her door, and killed her.  Then he left.  When the magistrates came to examine things, well, they found more than enough to make the whole matter clear, and since nobody actually knew anything about Shun Ziji, nothing came down upon them."

"So.. yes, I've heard of Shun Ziji, the assassin.  I don't know anything about him, but since then I've been following rumors, and although I know he's not always one of the righteous, I know he once did me and my sister a great service, even if that wasn't his intention."

"And now.. well, I'm talking to his killer, and looking at his Black Blade.  I'm sure you had to do what you had to do.  I can examine that weapon for you.. and I can't say I'm not interested, even excited to do so, but I don't think I should do so for free.  Give me one silver, and I'll examine it properly for you."

[ZBridges]

Deal.

[King Zultan]

Deal.

+1

[Devastator]

You agree and give him a silver.  He then, after a moment of reverence, brings out an odd wooden board marked with a deeply engraved runic symbol of some kind, surrounded by seven pegholes.

He puts the black blade down in the middle, gets out a stick of wax, and greases up the runic symbol.  He then takes out a candle, puts it in the top peghole and lights it.

He then takes out a small box with a set of wooden pegs, along with a small slate, followed by a very thin cylindrical rod with a string attached to the end.  There is a small eyelet on the end of the string, too.  Last is a set of small weights.  Each one of the pegs has a rounded top and looks like it can be opened.  He then takes them, one at a time, and puts them in the pegholes.  The metal rod stands up in a smaller slot near the bottom of the mystic circle.

When the fourth peg is inserted, the string on the rod floats up, away from the table.  He then pulls on it a bit, takes out a small weight, and eventually finds out how much weight it takes so that the string is no longer levitated.  This is written down on the slate.  None of the other pegs cause any other response.

After that, he blows out the candle, and brings out a second runic board.  This one only has three pegholes, and instead of a metal rod it has a hollow with a strand of metal wire stretched across it.  You then see him repeat the process of waxing the board, lighting the candle, and this time he puts different pegs in the pegboard.  The first and the second holes are both responded with a single 'Thok' from the metal string, as it vibrates.  These are written down, and you see him go back to the first place and start voicing words, which you immediately recognize as a poem that uses all the common vocal character sounds.. it's a common one taught to children learning to speak.  There is no further response to that, which is met with a bit of an odd look, and he finds a scroll somewhere with obscure writing on it that you don't recognize.  He then goes through it, making attempts at a few dozen sounds that aren't normally found in your language, but these also elicit no response.

This continues on for a few minutes of repeating the previous checks, before he reads out his conclusion:

"The Black Blade is indeed magical.  It has a moderate amount of spiritual power on it, but it's harder to find out what kind of power it is, or how to use it.  It seems to be activated vocally, but I can't figure out the words that it wants to hear, and mentally, but I'm not even equipped to figure out what you are supposed to think to make it work.  It might be some combination of both, but it should at least have some effect when the right, or similar, sounds are spoken."

I'm sorry I couldn't do more, but this is beyond me.  A spiritual arcanist might be able to help you, or a spirit-reader skilled in communication, or a priest skilled in divination might help."

I'm afraid I don't know any in particular.  People wanting magic weapons usually want things like fire or lightning or strikes that lend more power or protect the user.  It's quite unusual to see spiritual energy used in weapons, at least without some other kind of more useful energy mixed in with it."

[ZBridges]

"Thank you for your assistance.  Should I unravel this mystery, I will let you know what the nature of the enchantment is, if you would like."

"What would you expect would be the cheapest kind of specialist to consult?"

"While I'm here, what would you offer me for the blade you previously sold me?"

Not the best return for our silver, but that's alright.  Of those options, I would favor a priest familiar with divination, as that contact would also be useful in helping track down the evil.

Edit: added in two questions.

[King Zultan]

"Thank you for your assistance.  Should I unravel this mystery, I will let you know what the nature of the enchantment is, if you would like."

"What would you expect would be the cheapest kind of specialist to consult?"

"While I'm here, what would you offer me for the blade you previously sold me?"

Not the best return for our silver, but that's alright.  Of those options, I would favor a priest familiar with divination, as that contact would also be useful in helping track down the evil.

Edit: added in two questions.

+1

I updated the quote.

[Naturegirl1999]

"Thank you for your assistance.  Should I unravel this mystery, I will let you know what the nature of the enchantment is, if you would like."

"What would you expect would be the cheapest kind of specialist to consult?"

"While I'm here, what would you offer me for the blade you previously sold me?"

Not the best return for our silver, but that's alright.  Of those options, I would favor a priest familiar with divination, as that contact would also be useful in helping track down the evil.

Edit: added in two questions.

+1

[Devastator]

"Spiritual arcanists are always expensive, but they're the people who actually create and make items like this, so they'd be the ones to know about it or figure it out.  Spirit readers are cheaper, but they vary a lot in price, and there is a wide range of skill.  Some of them are charlatans as well.  Priestly divinations will take a pretty reasonable donation, but it might not be able to find out exactly what you want to know.. you might only end up finding out who made it, or how to activate it, and not the details."

"Cheapest is probably a cheap spirit reader."

"I'll buy that blade back for five silver."
After that adventure with the weapon, you still have two items to get appraised.  The gemstone, and the signet ring.  You eventually decide on a mid-range jeweller who has a fairly wide variety of product from expensive pieces of gold and opal to brass and copper work.  It's a small cut amethyst, of not-too bad quality, but not particularly special.  You're offered four silver for it, should you want to sell it.

As for the signet ring, the appraisal comes back that it's alloyed silver. A signet ring it isn't a particularly special or valuable item in itself, as it's personalized to the desired owner.  You're offered one silver if you sell it, as it's also obviously stolen goods.
You have one action remaining this week.

Spoiler: Status (click to show/hide)

Week 7
Currently wounded lightly in the right leg.

Assets and Abilities:
Prestige = 2
33 silver.
Small gemstone.
Concealable fighting dagger
Shun Ziji's dark blade.
Assassin's signet ring.
Adventurer's diary (partially studied)
->Information on southern jungle nations
->Secret locations in southern jungle.
->Information on spiritual beings, spiritual being society, spiritual being outlook.
->Information on animal life of the southern jungle
->Information on magical beings of the southern jungle
->Instruction on spirit-related magical rituals.  Versatile dust triggering rune.  Thought communication? rune?  One ritual remains.
->Instruction on an unknown magical field.
->Instruction on wilderness survival methods
->Instruction on what seems to be the language of the southern jungle nations.
->Instruction on an unknown language.
Miscellaneous magical diagrams, captured from one of your dreams.  Uncertain accuracy.

Skills:
Charming, +1
Combat, +0/+1.  Unarmed combat training.  Also applies while armed.
Magic:
Versatile Dust triggering rune.

Allies:
Huan Zhang, diplomat, 2 prestige, 0 favors.
Li Song, martial arts student, 0 prestige, 0 favors.
Upscale Weapon Shop.

[ZBridges]

I suppose if we want the best results, we should consult a spiritual arcanist.

Don't sell the blade.  Sell the amethyst.  Don't sell the ring for now, as it might give us some insight into the assassin or our previous employer.  Train at the dojo to finish the week.

[King Zultan]

I suppose if we want the best results, we should consult a spiritual arcanist.

Don't sell the blade.  Sell the amethyst.  Don't sell the ring for now, as it might give us some insight into the assassin or our previous employer.  Train at the dojo to finish the week.

+1

[Naturegirl1999]

I suppose if we want the best results, we should consult a spiritual arcanist.

Don't sell the blade.  Sell the amethyst.  Don't sell the ring for now, as it might give us some insight into the assassin or our previous employer.  Train at the dojo to finish the week.

+1

+1