Although the several magic items Italo brought out were all of Rare quality, their individual values differed greatly.
However, Anser was not dazzled. He did not care about price or rank—he only focused on which item would help him the most.
After selecting for quite a while, he took two magic items that required no Attunement: [Protector's Bracer] and [Rod of security].
...
[Magic Item: Protector's Bracer]
Category: Wondrous Item
Rarity: Rare
This is a bracelet crafted from a rare magical alloy, silver patterns shimmering across its purple metal surface.
You can use a magic command to fasten this metal bracelet onto your own wrist or ankle, or onto that of another willing creature. Removing it likewise requires a magic command.
Protective Barrier: The bracelet emits a protective magical barrier with 120 Hit Points.
When the creature wearing the bracelet takes damage, it can use its reaction to activate the bracelet, causing the barrier to take the damage in its stead. If the wearer loses consciousness, it triggers automatically.
Once the barrier's Hit Points drop to 0, the wearer suffers any excess damage.
The barrier's Hit Points cannot recover automatically. They can only be restored by barrier-type spells, with the amount restored equal to twice the spell's level.
...
This thing was extremely practical—Anser happened to lack a standard defensive piece of equipment.
The Royal Butterfly Cloak teleports him away after he is injured; Shield is somewhat weak and cannot be upcast, and against powerful enemies it was already insufficient.
The properties of the Protector's Bracer are very similar to the Abjuration Wizard's "Arcane Ward," but when a Wizard casts an abjuration spell, the magical barrier automatically regains Hit Points, and the Wizard can also expend spell slots or Magic Power to restore the barrier's Hit Points. Its flexibility and strength far exceed this bracelet.
Anser did not know a single barrier-type spell, but he had Death Ward, which should probably count.
Even if it could not be recharged, this was still a must-take. The price of life-saving equipment had always remained high.
The other magic item was even more interesting.
...
[Magic Item: Rod of security]
Category: Scepter
Rarity: Rare
Spatial Paradise: The Rod of security is connected to an extraplanar paradise concealed by powerful divination magic. The holder can transport themselves or other willing creatures into it.
The first use requires binding to one's personal soul or magical aura; it dissipates upon death or after prolonged separation.
The paradise's natural environment is excellent and always provides sufficient food and water for visitors to enjoy.
Each visitor bears a unique paradise mark. The holder of the rod can activate the mark at any time to send the visitor to the rod's location.
Maximum number of paradise marks: 200.
...
'Isn't this basically the legendary otherworldly farm?' Anser took a liking to it at first glance.
The Spatial Paradise could easily serve as an organization's base and a secret treasury; it was also highly useful for conducting business, living in, and sheltering friends.
If they truly encountered danger, they could also go inside to hide for a while. The drawback was that you would emerge from the same place you entered, making it easy to be caught.
Seeing that he had chosen the Rod of security, Italo reminded him with some regret, "Anser, that magical paradise has been ruined for many years…"
The original magical paradise could prevent living beings from aging and automatically restore a visitor's physical state, continuously providing delicious food and water without interruption. But now it could no longer do so, and its value had been greatly reduced.
"I expected that. As long as the space itself is intact, that's enough." Anser did not change his mind.
If the magical paradise were intact, this item could not possibly have fallen into circulation.
Italo guessed what Anser intended to use it for and simply stopped trying to persuade him. He handed Anser a book-shaped pendant. "Anser, Candlekeep's gates are always open to you."
"If I get the chance, I'll go." Anser hurriedly accepted it and put it away with solemn care.
The value of this item was no less than that of magical equipment. With this token, he could enter Candlekeep at any time, and formally joining would likely not be difficult either.
Italo put away the massive tome and the copying pen, then rose to take his leave. "Many thanks to Sir Tim and Mr. Anser. I gained quite a lot today—I need to return and sort through it properly."
"Alright. I'll see you out." Tim had wanted to keep him for dinner, but seeing this, he could not very well insist.
Anser left with them as well—he had no mood for eating at the moment.
Tim was also a professional and understood his feelings well, so he could only smile as he saw them both off.
When Anser returned to the detached villa, the items at the entrance had already been moved away.
In the living room, Bratt was teaching Giant Tail Faerûnian Common, but Giant Tail's talent for languages was rather average, so he learned slowly; it would be a long road.
As soon as Anser stepped inside, he put the Protector's Bracer on his left wrist. The purple bracelet automatically tightened slightly, fitting just right.
He took out the Rod of security and poured his own Magic Power into it.
The three-foot-long black rod trembled, and the milky-white gemstone set in its head suddenly lit up.
At the same time, a vague mental projection surfaced in Anser's mind and gradually became clear.
It was an island, roughly circular in shape. It was surrounded by seawater, and beyond that lay a vast stretch of mist, making it impossible to see how far it extended.
The island was lush and verdant, thick with trees. A small river ran through it, and at the center stood a towering black wizard's tower, like an angular twelve-sided metal pillar, its color dark and muted.
'This is… the Spatial Paradise?' A trace of understanding arose in Anser's mind.
It looked truly good; earlier, he had worried that the interior might be a desert—in that case, the cost of transforming it would have been far too high.
"Come on. Follow me out for a moment." He beckoned to the others and stepped outside first, mounting Nornoth.
"Where to?" Bratt and the other two grabbed their weapons and followed him out.
"The future organization base!" Anser smiled mysteriously. "Don't resist—I'm granting you permission."
He guided his Magic Power into the rod. One glowing magical mark after another flew out, successively branding themselves onto the others.
Bratt pulled open his collar and looked—on his chest appeared a six-pointed star pattern the size of a fist, with a black tower-shaped structure at its center.
"Get ready." As soon as Anser finished speaking, he immediately activated the Rod of security.
Before anyone could react, the magical marks suddenly lit up, and at the same time a pulling force acted upon their bodies.
"Don't resist," Anser hurriedly reminded them.
Everyone relaxed their minds. The light and shadows before their eyes shifted; they could see nothing. Then their bodies lost weight, dizziness struck, and it felt as though they had been thrown into a tornado—extremely uncomfortable.
No one knew how long it lasted—perhaps a few seconds, perhaps several minutes. When their senses returned, they staggered a few steps. After steadying themselves, they took deep breaths.
Anser did as well, but he knew the teleportation process had not been long enough to cause oxygen deprivation; it was merely an illusion.
"The air is fairly fresh." He twitched his nose and looked around.
The four people and one horse had appeared beneath the wizard's tower at the center of the island. Under their feet was a large stone plaza, dilapidated and in ruins, strewn everywhere with withered wood and broken stones…
And countless skulls and shattered bones.
Anser was stunned. The projected image had not been clear enough—only after entering did he realize the situation was far less pleasant than he had imagined.
"Is this an ancient battlefield?" Bratt drew his weapon with a sharp sound, his expression wary.
"This is an extraplanar space concealed by divination magic. I was planning to use it as a base…"
Before he could finish speaking, a tremendous roar rang out—deep and resonant, shaking the heart and making it hard to breathe.
Thud. Thud. Thud—
They turned their heads and saw a massive "ancient tree" striding toward them. Its overall shape was a twisted humanoid form, with thick legs and a withered crown. On its trunk, cracked like armor scales, grew an abstract old man's face.
"A treant!"
The treant waved its arm, and a huge boulder tore through the air toward them, its terrifying whistling sound sending chills down their spines.
"Move!"
The group scattered in all directions.
Boom—
The boulder smashed into the stone pavement, blasting open a crater. Fragments of stone flew everywhere with shrill screeches—its power was astonishing.
Anser finally understood how the surrounding craters had formed. So the paradise space even had a demolition crew.
'Wait—that's not right. Treants are of a good alignment. Why is it attacking people on sight? Did I pick up a hot potato? Why didn't Italo tell me?' His mind filled with questions.
The die spun rapidly, and soon the treant's information popped up:
[Cursed Treant, Huge Plant, Challenge Rating 9]
"Don't fight—let's go, go, go—"
Anser raised the Rod of security and activated the magical marks. In a flash of light and shadow, the group was teleported out one after another.
The treant froze for a moment, then hurled a few more stones as if venting its anger. Afterward, it ran back to the entrance of the wizard's tower and crouched on the ground, like a withered ancient tree.
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