Treasures (not so) Mundane

by Chris Mills (Cmillsy@aol.com)

Ironoak Locks

The burglar grinned with satisfaction as he removed the silver chain that hung around the neck of the now unconscious merchant lying upon the floor. Hanging from the chain was a single key.

"Just where the girl said it would be", he thought to himself. Although he had to pay good coin for this information from the mans mistress, it had been worth every noble.

Moving quickly now, and with the easy, conservative movements of a professional thief, it took him no time at all to find the small strongbox poorly hidden in the bottom of an expensive wardrobe.

After assuring himself that the box was no further protected, the thief inserted the key into the small padlock that secured it.

As he removed the lock, the glimpse of a small symbol engraved upon its back gave him pause. Peering closely at the symbol, the thief took a sharp intake of breath and his eyes widened in surprise.

"Regardless of the riches found in the box, this lock alone was worth the risk", he thought. "Its a good thing I had the key, or I may never have been able to open it."

Scooping the contents of the box into a small leather sack, the thief quietly exited the merchants residence. But not before he slipped the lock and key into a separate pocket. Making him the proud new owner of an Ironoak lock.

Clan Ironoak is a small, secretive dwurven clan whose members reside in the dwurven city of Dumadan. Where some clans count among its numbers master weaponsmiths, stonemasons, or mighty warriors, the members of clan Ironoak are locksmiths. Perhaps the most skilled locksmiths found across the Flanaess.

Where most clans craft in one medium, whether that be iron or stone, clan Ironoak is unique in that they practice their craft in three. Metal, stone, and wood.

Because of this, Ironoak locks take on many forms. From the locks securing the vault doors of the city of Dumadan, to a small steel padlock used to secure ones strongbox.

It is the latter form that is seen by the majority of folks outside the walls of Dumadan. Although clan members will take on unique jobs outside the city on a case by case basis, the majority of the clans locks are commissioned through their agents in the small trading town of Pontyrel.

Despite their rather plain appearance, the locks themselves are of exquisite craftsmanship. All of the locks are made of exceptional quality steel. However upon request, the locks will also be either "Blueshine"*, or "Everbright"* treated to resist acid or corrosion. Regardless of the additional treatment done, all steel Ironoak locks save vs. Crushing Blow at -2.

All Ironoak locks also impose a minimum of -15% penalty to anyone attempting to open the lock by any means other that the key. e.g. A thieves open locks attempt. Additional penalties should be imposed depending upon any special requests made by the one commissioning the lock.

If one were to commission an Ironoak lock from their agents in Pontyrel, one could expect to pay a minimum of 150 Greyhawk gold orbs. This price is for a standard padlock. Special projects, and or special treatments of the metal will of course result in a considerably higher price.

If one were to purchase one from a reputable merchant outside of Pontyrel, the asking price will be considerably higher.

In addition, all Ironoak locks can be identified by a small craftsman mark stamped somewhere on the lock. The mark is a variation of the clans heraldic symbol, and consists of an anvil centered upon an oakleaf.

* The Blueshine treatment is used for all metals to resist acid ( +1 to save ) and rust, and gives the metal a beautiful gleaming deep blue appearance.

The Everbright treatment gives the metal an enduring, bright shine, and absolutely prevents any tarnishing, discoloration, rusting ( even by a rust monster ), or corrosion of the metal.

Bronzedorf Chests

The regal noblewoman exited the small shop followed by her manservant. The latter carrying a small package under one arm.

The shop they had exited was located at the far east end of Carpenters Way, in the free city of Dyvers. A small sign depicting a chest hangs above the door. Advertising to all, the type of woodwork that is done there.

Inside the shop, a young hobniz finishes his counting of the rather large stack of gold and platinum coins in front of him. Placing the coins in a plain strongbox, he passes through a door at the rear of the room, and enters the large workshop beyond.

An elderly hobniz is hard at work in the shop, putting the final touches upon an exquisitely crafted chest. The chest is not only cunningly crafted and carved from Roanwood, but all of the nails, corner pieces, and hardware appear to be crafted from platinum.

Looking up at the entrance of his nephew, the elder craftsman listens intently to the tale related to him by the noblewoman customer. As the tale reaches its end, a look of concern comes to the face of the elder hobniz.

"To think that such a thing could happen in the city itself*....I always knew that Greyhawk was a dangerous place to live, which is why my grandfather set up shop here, in Dyvers."

"Still, I hope nothing has happened to Master Tensor. He has always been one of my best customers."

With those final words, the craftsman reaches into a drawer in the table upon which he works. He removes a much smaller chest, which when examined closely, is seen to match the larger chest in every detail.

* The events that are hinted at here, is the attack made by Rary on the day of the Great Signing. This conversation takes place approximately two weeks later.

The Bronzedorf family have been carpenters and woodcarvers for the better part of six generations. The beautiful chests these craftsmen are famous for are such in demand, that they can be found as far away as a ship captains cabin in the Lendor Isles, as well as in the harem of the Sultan of Zeif.

All chests made by the Bronzedorf family are custom ordered. There is no shelf stock to be found in the shop. All of the chests are crafted principally of either Roanwood or Cherry. However, upon special request, these hobniz craftsman will perform their artistry with Bronzewood. It is their skill at working the difficult Bronzewood that has given the family its name.

Not only are these chests known for their elaborate carvings and masterful construction, they are also desired for the small secret drawers and compartments that are to be found in all Bronzewood creations. It is in one of these drawers or compartments that each craftsman marks his work. The Bronzewood mark being a small bronzewood leaf carved into the chest.

The smallest, and most plainly decorated Bronzedorf chest will cost upwards of 200 Greyhawk gold orbs. And the price increases dramatically depending upon the size, material, and decoration

Despite the Bronzedorf families considerable fame among the rich and well to do. They are perhaps even more famed within the small circles traveled by powerful wizards. For if a mage wishes to obtain the material components necessary to cast that spell known as "Leomund's Secret Chest", it is the Bronzedorf family you should see.

For the past three generations, the most elder member of the Bronzedorf family has crafted these elaborate pairs of chests. Only after the eldest member died or retired, will the next in line take up this task.

The Bronzedorf's have crafted these chests for some of the most powerful mages to walk the Flanaess, and count those such as Tensor, Drawmij, and Jallarzi Sallavarian among their friends and customers.

This is not to say that a pair of chests is kept in stock. Again, each of these chests is custom made to the requirements of the customer. However given the rarity in which these chests are ordered, a pair of these may be crafted only once every couple of years.

In fact if the stories are true, it was Haspin "Happy" Bronzedorf who originally crafted a pair of these chests for Leomund himself.

All of these special chests are crafted out of Roanwood, with all the nails, corner pieces, and hardware being crafted from platinum.

These trappings are the only item that the Bronzewood family does not craft themselves. The Bronzewood family does however have a long running agreement with a family of gnome craftsman who reside in Verbobonc.

No price is given for these chests, as the are virtually priceless to the wizard who owns them. However the original crafting of these chests is likely to cost the wizard upwards of 7,000 Greyhawk orbs.

Pagsneger's Books

Wiping a cloth across the finished tome, the short elderly human took a step back from the table to survey his work.

Layed out upon the table are eight tomes. Four of a large size, and four that are roughly a quarter the size of the larger tomes.

The tomes themselves are divided into pairs, each made up of a large and small tome. Each pair is distinct from the others by the color of the material used to cover the books. Thus there are four separate pairs, one each of blue, black, red, and white.

Sighing in satisfaction, Abner Pagsneger, master book binder, is very pleased with what he sees. "And finished with two days to spare." He thinks to himself. "Hopefully, old Eneever Zig will be here on time to pick these up and make final payment."

If Abner Pagsneger of Nelix town, master book binder, had one claim to fame. It was that he could craft books out of the most obscure materials. The more exotic, or difficult the material was to work, the better he liked it.

So it is of no surprise, that when the mage Eneever Zig wished to have a group new spellbooks crafted from the finest materials, to include the hides of four different dragons, it was Pagsneger who he sought out.

Abner's finest creations consist of four pairs of spellbooks. Each pair consisting of one large spellbook, and one smaller, traveling type, spellbook. Each pair of books is also crafted from the hide of a particular dragon. One pair each of red, blue, black, and white.

With the exception of the hides used to cover the books, all are identical. All are edged with electrum. And the interior pages are all made from the finest paper.

The large books measure 1' x 2', and are two inches thick. The smaller books measure 6" x 1' and are one inch thick. The larger books total 100 pages, while the smaller 50.

The materials used in the crafting alone, make each tome worth in excess of 400 gold orbs for the smaller tomes, while the large would fetch closer to 800.

However, the true value of these tomes comes from the hides in which each book is bound. For Abner's craftmanship was so skilled, that the hides used for the books retain some of the resistance that was innate to the dragon from which it was taken.

Thus, the books bound in red dragon hide receive a +3 save versus fire of all types. The same holds true for the blue books versus lightning, the black books versus acid, and the white books versus cold.

None of these books have any spells written upon their pages. For Eneever Zig never returned to pick up his newly crafted tomes. And what happened to them after the passing of Abner Pagsneger remains a mystery.

Conclusion

While none of the items described are magical in any way, shape, or form. All are of sufficient quality to receive enchantment.

The locks crafted by Clan Ironoak could be used in the construction of such items as "Skie's Locks and Bolts" ( Tome of Magic ).

The chests crafted by the Bronzedorf family are, in some cases, specifically crafted to be used in the casting of "Leomund's Secret Chest".

And while Abner's books are for the most part nothing more than exceptionally crafted tomes. The smaller volumes could be used in the creation of such magical tomes as "Boccob's Blessed Book".