orbs - Orbs - ORBS!

Elvis

Officially, the Orb of Muse. (Try as we might, we could not stop ourselves from calling it Elvis). The orb has the ability to grant musicality and instrument skill to those in its immediate area. It has the ablity to bring a performer up to the abilities of a 'master' bard. This is not additive to the performers existing skill, this just grants them an effective skill/ ability level if their skill/ ability level is lower than the minimum master rank. For a novice this is quite a jump; for a journeyman, a small one, for a true master, there is no improvement at all.

This orb was kept in the 'bard's corner', so any minstral or so called bard could entertain Corvus without damaging his musical sensabilities. After the Voop, this item has waundered about as a 'secret item', passed from Bard to Bard, over the last few centuries.

The orb fancies itself as 'The Master of Musical Trends'. This is a boast it has yet to actually make good on, 'philistines... they would not know good music if it bit them.'

Sometimes other orbs try and talk with it, mining it for useful information, 'Why yes, we did play at Lords Malcom's dinner. We did a rousing set of ... what? No, I don't think that lord was there... was he tall? Could he dance? Oh, I think he was there. He stumbled through one set and sat down, ' to little success.

Sphere of Sharpness

There are dozens of these items. He incorporated them into a set of kitchen knives. It makes said knives 'always razor sharp', rust proof, and nearly indestructable. There is only one left in a kitchen knife. (It is in the kitchen of the King whos country has The Crystal Sphere). The rest of the Spheres have been pulled out and reset into the pommels of various swords.

Thus there are many magic swords with silly smart ass personalities and a penchant for cooking and cusine floating throughout the world.

Orbs of Swishing

There are three of these orbs, but only one has a known location. These orbs are fairly basic things, the allow for the sweeping away of dirt, dust, and sand. The orbs could magically move it to swish out of a room or into a dust bin. The staff called it a dust parade. Sometimes the orbs would have fun with it, having the dust 'bounce'/ march around the room before they deposited in the bin, all if the staff hummed a parade song.

Now this seems like a really minor item, but as they have grown in power over the centuries, someone has put one to extreme uses. (NPC coming)

Improved Sphere of Sharpness

With all those sharp knives you will sooner or later cut yourself! And poor Corvus did, too, not only once. Thus he sat himself one day, and pondered for only a while, what to do, and how to improve the basic design. The Improved Orb of Sharpness is similar, if a bit more powerful in its function to the other orbs. It is beautifully sharp to dead matter, but hopelessly blunt to anything living. It became Corvus' favourite knife and tool.

And a few centuries later... it became The Sacred Blade, a potent tool against undead. Strangely, it wasn't remade into a sword, but is kept by the church as a holy relic, occassionaly entrusted to a worthy carrier. Note that while it can slay most material undead (and is even dangerous to immaterial undead) it is still a knife, a short weapon with which you have to get to your enemy _very_ close... which is not very safe with undead. It cuts undead flesh - or bones - like butter.

And personality-wise? This Orb was the Master's personal tool and turned into a holy weapon, that are legends told of, and noble quests spun around. To say it is a snob is quite an understatement.

Orb Born

Some are born, some die. Some are born a bit different, with talents most don't have.

Unique Option: someone can hear parts of the Orbs' communication. Sentences, or just a few words now and then. It could get a little more, when (s)he gets closer to some Orb, but not much. Sometimes the words make no sense without context, but sometimes they can become heavily relevant, to the world's happenings or to the person itself, if it is important enough. Could become a seer of sorts, or keep this a secret (s)he is too afraid to make known. Gives more depth to a character.

One stolen from someone else - maranci.net:

The Orb of Communion:

A massive (1.5 meter diameter) globe of polished black stone, set atop a square 2m across, 1m high pillar of grey granite. The top of the pillar is hollowed out, so that only the top half of the Orb shows. Any entity within 30m of the Orb is in full Mindlink with every other entity: which means they have access to all of their spells, skills, magic points, and knowledge. The Orb is extremely heavy, but it could theoretically be moved. However, it is likely to be found in some heavily guarded magical area.

The Orb of Television

Yes, it was inevitable: a TV orb, that slowly enslaves people through displaying nice and coulourful pictures.

Being a slave to the TV orb currently, I can appreciate the power contained in it. Originally a simple relaxing aid, in using its power of omnivision, it will display beautiful natural scenes, landscapes, creatures and plants, festivals of exotic faraway people, and so on, and so on. And thus it thrills all people that look into it.

The catch is, all this fascinating views, in order to spare magical power, are of little consequence in the grander scheme of things. So for instance you might get to see little skirmishes, but never the important parts of a war. There is plenty of useful knowledge to gain about the world, pity the viewer so rarely bothers to leave the orb.

A particularly strong-willed character (or under magical protection) could push it towards showing something particular - but the clause about importance of things seen stands.

And the Orb itself? It just wants to be seen...

The Orb of Quiet Bliss

Over his 800 some odd years, Strolen had many people who thought they were his apprentices. He did actually managed to teach them some magical skills, but mostly he was just there to distract them. Though they did managed to pick up some tips and techniques under his random ramblings. In fact, many of the Great Mages of that bygone era were "tutored" by Corvus.

One of the first generations of apprentices (and a journeyman who hung around) was a Neila. Neila was by all accounts ... ummm... opinionated. She was highly organized and driven to be organized. In many ways she was the Anti-Corvus. She organized the household, supply lines, and everyone's sock drawers. Her main motivational technique was a sharp tongue which she used to lash anyone that was not doing what she thought she should be doing.

Corvus was a mild mannered soul. He was not prone to being annoyed. But even he had a limit. Neila occasionally bothered even him. In a fit of directed madness, he solved the issue.

This tiny unassuming orb is worn around the neck or kept in a pocket. It makes people around the wearer (and the wearer as well) calmer and more sensative to the feelings and needs of others. For a while Corvus kept it with him, as a Talisman against Neila's nagging. Then in a moment of alturism, he gave Neila the talisman. Thus the inhabitants of the entire tower (and grounds) were relaxed and happier. While Neila kept organizing the world (and continued to do so as the First Chair of the Magic Council), she was much nicer about it.

The Orb was passed from to her first apprentice at her death. That chain of gifting continued until the untimely death of one wizard. Thus the Orb was free into the world. Using coincidence, he move from place to place until it found people who needed relief from those of the nagging persuasion. While many orbs have greater goals, this one contributes to domestic bliss across the world.

Orb of Glass Creation

This is not yet an official orb

The craftsmen around the Tower became master glass blowers and ceramic experts. Corvus was always asking for this or that. Sometimes he just wanted them. Other times he enchanted them. Other times he forgot that he asked for it. They could not keep up with his demands (rational, irration, or forgotten) To compound this issue, his craftsmen could not get the materials they needed to make what he wanted in a timely fashion.

Given some assistance from some of the apprentices and journeymen for the planning of materials and timing of things, Corvus was given a gift by his craftsmen. He was given a perfectly spherical glass of incredible purity via alchemical components. With a deft touch of manipulation, the crew managed to nudge Corvus into making a specific orb.

This orb can creates glass and clear crystals. In an odd twist, it requires someone to be familiar with glass and crystal to utilize the item, rather than anyone. In an afternoon, an apprentice could create dozens of glass "blanks" that could be shaped, molded, or even cast. In the hands of an expert, exquisite perfectly spherical orbs can be created, or giant etched windows, or pieces that look to be beautifully blown glass.

This orb allowed the craftsmen to keep up with the glass needs of Corvus and his apprentices.

The Voop sent this orb to Southern Allerden. Somehow it has fallen into the hands of the Glassmen's Guild in Talinth. (Vague rumors say it arrived in the factory in a batch of sand). Talinth was already known for the beautiful pale green glass produced there. The most stunning use of Talinth glass is the Cathedral of Lights, with its twenty eight hundred and thirty seven windows. These windows are all of odd curved shapes tucked away in the many angular towers, buttresses, and nooks. The rest of Talinth is filled with mirrors, windows, glass accents (many interior walls have round glass insets), orb lanterns, and blown glass trinkets. Shops will even have clear glass windows to show off their goods spilling soft light on the night time streets. The Orb is now the property of the Glassmen's Guild Master and is used occasionally by him or one of the factory masters for either production of special projects or just to produce a mass of glass in quicker time for special projects.

This orb is only vaguely sentient even after all these centuries. This is a common occurance of the "elemental" orbs (those that specifically make/ control a material) - as they are the most base of the Orbs. It likes to be used and feel needed, so it is content to continue to work here.