Wide eyed and giggling, Dariath ran through the fair, excitedly. Everywhere the young elf maid looked there was something new and interesting to see. Thus far, she’d seen a manticore trainer defying death to make his charges perform tricks, a choir of mermaids singing gayly in a giant glass tank of water and a team of kobold acrobats hurling each other across a tent with oversize ballista. What could be next?
As she came around a large tent where an illusionist was conjuring a crowd of miniature knights to do battle with a cat-sized dragon, Dariath saw the house. It was, in contrast to the brightly colored tents on either side, a rather imposing structure of white washed brick. It was three stories, save for a high tower projecting further up from one corner. The walls, doors and windows had the confused angles that told of a structure conjured by magic rather than constructed by mundane masonry. At the front, above the doors was a sign which proclaimed in blazing letters of a fanciful script: “Hardaks House of Curiosities.”
Intrigued, Dariath approached, trying the knob at the door. It opened easily to her touch. Inside, the front hall was crammed with shelves, cases and free standing displays of curios of every sort and origin. Just looking at the first glass case, the elf saw a golden mirror whose silvery surface rippled like a pool of water, a goblet fashioned from the skull of an orc, filled with some inky black ichor and a heavy leather-bound tome, wrapped in chains, whose pages seemed to shiver and rustle.
“Hello my dear!” A voice from behind called out suddenly. Dariath, engrossed in a gorgeous tapestry woven (according to the small paper sign beside it) from Drider silk, jumped with a startled yelp. Turning, she saw a large man dressed in voluminous robes of midnight blue, decorated with stars and moons. His skin was a reddish-brown. His scalp was bald, but he wore a long, curled beard of black hair. It, and the slightly pointed ears and his eyes which flashed with light, made Dariath suspect he had some jinn blood in him.
“I am Hardak, the proprietor and collector of this house of curiosities.” The man said with a slight bow.
“You collected all this?” Dariath said, looking around the packed room. Through a couple open, arched doorways, partly obscured by beaded curtains, she could see more rooms, packed just as full.
“I was something of an adventurer in my youth.” He said, still beaming. “And on my journeys through strange and distant lands I came across many a curiosity such as these. Please, allow me to show you some of my favorite pieces…”
Dariath followed her host through the room, deeper into the house. They stopped here and there to examine different curiosities Hardak pointed out, from the skull of a hydra to a set of manacles and chains from a dark-elf slave put to a giant turtle shell engraved with a chart of tropical seas and islands, each with a story to go with it.
“And this is an interesting piece…” Hardak said, grabbing a silken cover with one hand. He whisked it back to reveal a golden statue fashioned in the shape of a rearing cobra’s head. Its eyes were a pair of glistening gemstones which flashed in the light of the room. “The cursed cobra statue of King Nebandakar IV! But beware! Any who gaze directly into the serpent’s gaze will fall under its spell of hypnotism…”
“Wha-” Dariath started to say, then her gaze met that of the golden snake. The gems flashed again. The elf maid stiffened, her eyes becoming heavy lidded.
“And over here, we have…” Hardak continued for a couple paces more before he noticed his guest wasn’t following him. He turned and saw her bent over, eyes scant inches from the cobra. “Ah hellfire…not again! Come here!” He said the last two words in an insistent tone. Numbly, the hypnotized elf maid turned and shuffled towards him.
“I…obey…” She intoned in a dreamy voice.
“Don’t worry, it should wear off in a day or two…” Hardak said. “Long as you don’t look at that cobra statue again, anyway.” He thought for a second. “Can’t let you go wandering off in this state, anyone could take advantage…You’d better stay here then.”
“I…obey…” Dariath repeated monotone.
Hardak thought for a moment. A grin crossed his face. “Course, while you’re here, might as well make yourself useful…” He raised a hand and cast a spell. A conjured feather duster appeared in his hand. He held it out to the hypnotized elf. Numbly, she took it in hand and, without needing further prompting, turned and began cleaning the nearest cabinet.
“And when you’re finished with that…” He added. “There’s some dirty dishes in the kitchen that could use some scrubbing…”