Poor Kevin. Due to the nature of his fate, or perhaps destiny and prophecy had decided to be particularly interesting, a new bow showed up one evening as everyone slept. It only worked for Kevin, each time he pulled back, an arrow forming. The arrow type depended what was on his mind and in his heart, from healing ones that, when striking an ally, healed their illnesses and wounds, to deadly ones. He shot in anger into the trees after someone insulted his mother, and ended up causing a particularly large tree to explode.
@internutter/challenge-03065-h142-according-to-what-plan -- Anon Guest
The bow only looked like a regular shortbow. If it had been purchased, gifted, or otherwise turned up normally, there wouldn't have been a problem. The fact that it was in Kevin's sleeping hand, first thing in the morning, was a problem that Wraithvine would prefer to approach from a vast distance.
Ma Oxbrydl had similar reservations. "It's probably safe in his hands? But I don't like this gifts from a dream horseshit."
"In that, we are similarly paranoid," said Wraithvine, skirting hir cautious way around the sleeping hero. Ze noted that Ma Oxbrydl had scooped up Scut the Goblin thief and was holding her on her hip like a sickly child. Cautious, Wraithvine said a magic word that would instantly rouse Kevin. "Breakfast."
"I'mup, I'mup, don'throwoutm'porridge," said Kevin automatically, rising from his bedroll before he actually achieved an impersonation of consciousness. "...wh'r'd this bow come fr'm?"
"We were hoping you'd answer that," said Wraithvine in chorus with Ma Oxbrydl. And again, "This sort of stuff is dangerous at best."
Kevin squinted at it, turning it about to see if there was anything special about it. It looked like your average, ordinary, everyday shortbow. Hardly worth the money one might pay for it in a shop. Definitely little resale value.
He tested the draw, and a phantasmal arrow appeared, nocked and ready to fire. He was so shocked that he loosed it at the ground, where it turned into a continental breakfast for four, including baby muffins and tankards of light cider[1].
"Create food and water," said Wraithvine... "But upgraded more than a little, it seems." Ze closed one eye and waved hir fingers. "Almost, but not quite a Heroes' Feast..."
Kevin offered his Ma a platter. "Had m' mind on breakfast," he said. "It's more'n right fair you take a breather from cookin', ma."
She grudgingly accepted, putting Scut down so she could accept it. Scut instantly scooped up a platter and scurried out of immediate reach to almost inhale the fare.
Wraithvine was still detecting magic. "That's a very special bow. I wonder what else it does."
"The lady in my dream said it would do whatever I had in mind, and it would strike true."
Scut came up for air and muttered, "Okay, that's hecking overpowered..."
"Agreed," said Wraithvine. "However, given his skills with regular magics, I'll take a tool of fortune any day."
[1] Ma Oxbrydl wouldn't let him drink anything stronger.
[Image (c) Can Stock Photo / Nsit0108]
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