These Damned Orbs

Iguella covered her spearhead with a leather hood and gently placed her weapon into the back of the cart; she never left her spear unsheathed when she rode.

As she turned to gather her satin armour, she noticed Dolstan placing a black glass orb into his pack.

"Dolstan. Why are you bringing the orb of misery with you?" Iguella asked.

"Oh, the miseryorb?" Dolstan replied absent-mindedly. "Oh yeah, that's just for when I get bored. I hate these long wagon journeys so if I get bored I'll just go on my miseryorb."

Iguella looked at Dolstan like he'd just transformed into a small toad that was asking her if she was interested in changing potion provider.

She raised a single purple eyebrow at Dolstan and inquired, "When you get bored, you look into the orb of misery? The orb that shows you visions of horror and despair from across the realm? The orb that we only use in the direst of circumstances to send out calls for aid because continued exposure can send the strongest soul mad?"

"Yeah... Well, you know, it's something to do." replied Dolstan as he swiped with languid fingers across the orb’s surface.

Minutes passed while Iguella stared at Dolstan as he stared at the orb.

Iguella banished her bewilderment and queried him, "But if you’re bored, why not read a book or play a game of jiglak or try to learn the lute or something?"

Dolstan turned his head towards Iguella while keeping his eyes locked on the morbid scenes floating through the orb and replied, "Oof, yeah I dunno. I suppose I could but... Errr. I’m always a bit tired after a day of adventuring and just wanna switch off. You know, just have a bit of miseryorb and chill."

Iguella fixed Dolstan with the same look she gave the merchant in Arsewater Bay when he had tried to sell her a cactus-skin thong.

"Right, Dolstan, that's quite enough orb time for today. I think it's bewitching you," Iguella declared.

Dolstan rolled his eyes, while still keeping them fixed upon the orb, which was quite the impressive feat.

"Urgh… It’s not bewitching me. It just helps me to take my mind off things. I can turn it off whenever I want," grumbled Dolstan.

"Then turn it off," demanded Iguella.

"Five more minutes," mumbled Dolstan.

"Dolstan!" exclaimed Iguella.

"Fine! I’ll turn it off!" Dolstan cried as he slammed the orb down onto the back of the cart.

Iguella folded her arms and snorted, "You’ve got to be careful with these things, Dolstan. You know, the wizards who make these try to make them as addictive as possible because they want to turn you into a mindless zombie. That’s why you should only use the orb of misery when absolutely necessary."

Dolstan spoke through gritted teeth, "Yes. Thank you, Iguella. Now, can we just get on our way?"

"Err... yes, we can", said Iguella. "But before we do, I just need ten minutes to check my messages on the scrying mirror.”