Well's Wagon of Wordly Wonders
A remarkably positive and lively man, Arcturus Well spent most of his life traveling the world, experiencing its dangers and wonders, its cuisine and sights, gathering connections, doodads and inventions wherever he would go. The greatest explorer of his time and "everyone's uncle", Well would be surrounded by people in most corners of the world where there is a road to walk on and even in some where there is not, bringing stories and exotic items to everyone around him.
Well's Wagon of Worldly Wonders is a large carriage of exotic, supposedly elven design, made of the rare aromatic Eki wood from the Tiplands. The strange shape and intricate carving make his claims believable to most, despite the wild story he tells about it being personally crafted for him by the elven prince Unsaril after Well saved his sister from captivity in a warlike goblin tribe that kidnapped her and intended to eat her. Whatever the truth, the design of the wagon is unlike anything that most people on the continent have ever seen and is immediately recognizable even to people who have never seen it before.
The main part of the Wagon serves as Well's collection of exotics. Here, in a relatively small, but very well organized space, can be found nearly everything imaginable as well as not imaginable - beautiful tribal statuettes carved from pure jade; Othinese silks; wooden toys so intricate they could leave any artist or siege engineer clueless; alchemical concoctions and magical scrolls of all kinds; dream catchers from the lands of the Lorene; amulets of wild colors and motifs from far-away lands; exotic furniture with dozens of compartments both visible and hidden hiding even more doodads and items; exotic plants bearing seven different types of fruit, stored in a glass ball magically enchanted to always keep the right temperature inside; books on history, magic, nature, alchemy and other subjects; incense sticks from the monks of the Taenun monastery; spices and dried herbs that very few have ever tasted in the settled societies of the continent; Taliveran honey; a pebble that changes its color and shape constantly, from the Nelean isles and many other fascinating and exotic goods.
The back part of the main room is comprised by the two winged doors that allow entry inside, with magically sealed locks so that no uninvited guests can enter the wagon. The outside of the wagon is adorned by lanterns, various charms of all materials and colors from various cultures and some sacks hanging mostly in the front at the sides of the perch, undoubtedly used to store food, drink and other items that need to be handy on the road. The carriage has seven windows, one in front behind the driver's back, two on each side and two on each of the wings of the back doors.
There is a ladder on the left side of the carriage that allows for climbing up onto the roof, where there is a number of nets holding a plethora of items, usually more practical in nature than those in the wagon, like repair equipment, food and drink reserves and clothing. The nets holding the cargo are enchanted to not only withstand extreme conditions, but to protect the items from the elements as well, covering them in an invisible magical membrane flowing between the net's ropes.
The roof also holds a durable sleeping canopy and enough space for Well to lie down if he wished to do so, or otherwise take the canopy off the wagon and sleep elsewhere.
The carriage is drawn by two large ibora.
Comments