Ranma watched in silence as three of his imps carried out his would be assassins. He just guessed he'd have to put them in the torture chamber and have them converted like the Mentor said.
"Master?" Melfina asked gently.
Ranma looked to the side, glancing at his slave. The girl had slipped back into her dress, but in the excitement hadn't put it on as straight as before, which left part of her right breast showing.
"Er, Mel," Ranma motioned. "Your breast is hanging out."
The girl looked down and gave her dress a sharp tug straightening it out. She then smiled at her master, blushing slightly, and averting her eyes from his shyly. With a small smile on her face, she presented a small vial of semi-luminescent blue fluid.
"What is it?" he asked.
"It’s a health potion for your back." she stated. "I found this in the one of the assassin's belongings."
Ranma blinked. "You went through their stuff?"
She nodded. "We thought you might wish to examine the spoils of battle. It was Milly's idea."
Ranma blinked and glanced over to the big girl who was standing over a pile of loot.
"Good idea, Milly!" he exclaimed.
The large girl smiled, and he looked back to Melfina who still was presenting him with the potion. Looking at the liquid for a moment, Ranma took it from her. Glancing at the vial, he shrugged, and popped off the cork. It smelled strange, but if she said it would help his back… he drank it down.
It tasted nasty. Really nasty. Kind of like Pocari Sweat, actually, but at the same time it was strangely refreshing. Both cool but at the same time gave a warming feeling. The effect was almost immediate too, he felt the pain and stiffness in his back just melt away almost as if it had never been there.
"Thanks for brining me the potion," he laughed, causing the girl to blush even more brightly and turn away, "I feel great!"
"So, what other loot do we got?" Ranma asked.
The dragon, hearing the magical "L" word, stepped over to the girls and the loot pile. Wise enough to get out of the way, Milly and Rei made themselves scares while he look at the weapons and minor items that were laid out on a clear spot on the floor
"Mostly lesser enchanted weapons," Devistus stated calmly as he picked up the Rogue's 'katana' as if it were a tooth pick. "For example, this weapon is enchanted so that it never dulls." That said, he absently dropped it back with the other weapons.
"How 'bout the others?" Ranma asked.
"The orc's cleaver seems to have been augmented with magical fire, and if the vial in his possession and the discoloration on the tips of the bolt seems to indicate anything, I'd say the crossbow was envenomed."
"Poison?" Ranma asked.
"Yes," the dragon replied as he daintily picked up the vial of milky white fluid. "Seems to be Spider's Venom."
Ranma scowled. There were few things he liked less than poison. It was one thing to jump someone, that just showed that the person wasn't looking, but poison? That was just cheating. "So what does 'Spider's Venom' do to ya?"
"It’s a potent paralytic toxin that renders ones foe immobile and causes great pain," the Mentor interrupted, "It's a favorite of dark elves as it leaves their victims at their nonexistent mercies." He paused and added, "It is also a sign that at least the Elf was either very sloppy or was unaware of what he was facing. As magical beings, Keepers are immune to most mundane toxins."
Devistus scowled at the interrupting wraith and added, "Or he just had the poison applied before hand as dried Spider's Venom can keep its potency for several weeks."
"Yes, there is also that…" the mentor admitted with a huff.
The elder dragon smirked slightly before turning his attention back to the loot.
"There's also some minor magical items of little importance, most of which seem to have been taken off dead heroes. Looks like Rings of Protection and it seems that one of them had an Amulet of Teleportation. Besides that, I'd say a thousand in gold and gems and a number of various potions."
"What does the magic jewelry do?" Ranma wondered.
"The amulet allows for a short range teleport to a location within sight. They're more useful on the surface where line of sight is much greater, but also good for a short get away if you're so inclined. The rings simply function as advertised, making the wearer more resistant to damage"
"So," Ranma asked, "Should I keep any of it?"
"No, Keeper," the Mentor stated, "The weapons are below you, and it would be unbecoming of one of your stature to wear such mundane equipment that had been looted off a surface hero." Floating towards the door, "I think Devistus will be able to watch after you for the moment. I will look into hiring a mistress as well as acquiring some magical aids for your person, and books for your library"
Ranma nodded. "Okay, I guess."
He nodded. "Excellent. Then I will take leave of you, and if I requite hands, I will summon an imp."
That said, the mentor drifted through the door.
After a moment's pause, Ranma looked to the dragon. "What now?"
The dragon laughed deeply and used a claw to gently push Ranma towards the door., "Now we find you a decent set of armor and some weapons."
Ranma scowled slightly. While he didn't mind weapons, as long as he was not dependent on them, he really didn't see the need for armor. All it could do was slow him down. "I don't see why I need any armor."
"Now don't be recalcitrant," the dragon chided. "I am sure we will find something to your liking."
"Master, please," Melfina protested, "If Rei hadn't cast that protection spell, you might have been killed."
"That is correct, master," Rei stated, "Ensuring your well being is one of our duties"
"Right," Milly said as he opened the door so everyone could pass through, "We're not always going to have a health potion to heal you with, master."
"Now hold on a second," Ranma argued, "And you don't gotta call me master you know,"
"But we like calling you master, Master," Melfina stated.
The old dragon laughed as they left his lair. "It seems you've been outvoted, young one. Now, I know just the place to go. Its off the main tunnels, and the owner is a miserly old troll, but the quality is absolutely outstanding..."
"Alright, alright," Ranma sighed. "You win..."
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(Posted Mon, 15 Jan 2007 19:42)
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