What the... (Blue Opal)

[DoF Archive]

Date: 8/14/1998 9:43 AM Central Daylight Time
From: RDI Deuce

"Hey, boss! Take a look at this!"

The old mage grumped, frustrated with the results of his tests, but even moreso with the lack of respect he felt those under his command owed him. By Gods, he was Khorien, High Mage of the Lost Woods, and damn any who would not recognize him as such! Alas, reality proved to be a nasty eye-opener. Had he done what he wished with those who slighted him in even the smallest way, not only would he be testing these Opals alone, but several families and
a couple of crime organizations would more than likely want his head. He may be strong, but one can only do so much.

"What is it now..." Slow, cranky strides churned out of his knobby legs as he walked towards the young assistant, ruefully named Pap, who seemed unusually excited.. even for him. Of course, it couldn't possibly be anything of importance; nothing the young man ever yipped and jumped about ever was. But to humor his employers, poor old Khorien was forced to work with this bug-eyed maniac. It was beginning to look as though even the high pay wasn't
worth it, despite what he would be able to buy with all that money.

For a month now, the wizard, Pap, and several others from RhyDin and the surrounding areas had borrowed the Opals, one at a time, returning them when necessary, in order to find a way to make sure no more could be vaporized by something as relatively common as phaser fire. If such a work of science could make dust of this powerful artifact, imagine the vast ways one with knowledge of magic could make the gems cease to exist!

For a month now, the wizard, Pap, and several others had found their efforts to be utterly and completely fruitless. Starting with weaker forms of destruction- arrows, hammers, and the like- the group was unable to make even the tiniest scratch in any of the Opals. Pleased, they moved on to minor magics.. small blasts of fire and lightning, shots of acid, magical weapons.. and yet none managed to harm the prize jewels in even the slightest way,
shape or form.

Logic stated that if a phaser could obliterate one, surely a magical sword could at least make a scratch. But nay, it was not so, leaving Khorien with a dilemma... how to test anything which was even more powerful than a phaser? Logic again stated that to do so would certainly destroy the Opal, cost him his pay, and be all-around foolish. Yet logic did not seem to be holding. What to do now?

Puzzling over the problem still, Khorien stood before the assistant, frustrated, angry eyes boring through him. Nervously, the young man stood and spoke.

"Sir... watch this."

Without waiting for a response, Pap quickly threw one of the Opals into the air, yanked a phaser identical to Shanni's from his pouch, and fired.

Before he could do anything, the wizard saw his entire payday flash before his eyes. Angered nearly beyond control, it was all the old man could do to not annhilate the shaking youth before he saw something gleaming in the corner of his eye.

The Opal.

On the floor, blasted a good ten feet away by the phaser, the prize lay with nary a mark on it. Sheer curiosity replaced the anger, moving him to examine the Opal more closely. It couldn't be.. yet, it was... how was this possible? Khorien puzzled over the possibilities, of which there shouldn't have been any, yet one highly overlooked one existed. There was no way.. everyone saw it happen.. but when the impossible is removed, whatever remains,
no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

"Pap, continue your work... we may have a problem."