You proceed directly to Agitha's place. She did want to see you as soon as possible.
So you find yourself at her door, knocking. It isn't Jasper who answers, but a maid. She leads you to the room where Agitha spends most of her time studying her bugs. Neither Jasper nor Agitha is there at present. So you wait.
Shortly, you hear the creak of wheels on wood, and sure enough, Agitha is being pushed by Jasper into the room.
"Ah! Link! I was worried when I got your letter. I hadn't hoped you would be here so soon." Agitha smiles as she sees you.
"Countess wanted to hire me. Something about an invasion after the tournament?" You say.
"Ah yes. The unpleasantness about the Runefang and the elector-ship. Both Elise and her cousin are of the proper lineage to become Elector. But Elise was the one who actually recovered the badge of office. That her cousin will move against her is no surprise. He mistakes his ambition for righteousness."
Agitha seems to have firm opinions on this matter.
"But that is not why I have asked you to come here. You know that I am writing a book on spiders. I had planned to wait to ask you this until after you had proven your mettle on Gigantic Spiders, but you have impressed me with your performance against the Masque."
Agitha exhales, and takes a steadying breath. Jasper puts a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I know the location of an Arachnorok Spider. It is the same creature that crippled me. I was trying to kill it so as to secure it's corpse as a specimen. If you can slay it for me, I shall gift upon you my Dragon's Claw."
"WHAT?" Jasper shouts, stunned. "My lady, that sword has been in your family since the beginning, since Fredrick was first raised to the Nobility. Without it the fortunes of your house would be finished. With it you would be one of most eligible brides in the Empire!"
Agitha scoffs, "Yes, because so many noble sons are going to jump at the chance to marry a barren cripple."
"You could be healed." Jasper almost begs, a note of pleading in his voice.
"The Arch-Lector was unable to heal me."
"The Jade Wizards could..."
"TAINT ME WITH MAGIC!" Agitha explodes, interrupting Jasper.
Um.
There is silence for a moment. Before Agitha tersely speaks again. "Show him the Dragon's Claw." She commands.
Jasper nods jerkily, before turning to you. "If you will follow me to the nearest fireplace, Sir Link." Then he twirls, taking his cane up with him, and walks away.
Jasper is silent for most of the trip. However, once you reach the fire place, Jasper pauses. He looks around, and satisfied no one is listening, he turns to you.
"I'm sorry you had to hear that Sir Link. My family has served My Lady's since the beginning, when her ancestor was first knighted. I cannot off you anything more than my eternal thanks, but I believe that if you were to reject the Dragon's Claw and ask her to seek healing from the Jade Wizards, she actually would do so. I know it is unlikely, but please, I beg you to consider it."
Then he draws the canesword. Judging by the fiery runes that spring up once he does, this is obviously the Dragon's Claw. He points it at the fireplace.
"Zharr!" He speaks. And a massive gout of flame erupts from the sword, only barely safely contained by the fireplace. The fires on the sword dim, but do not go out.
Then he sheaths it back in the cane, and turns to you, "It takes about a day for that to recharge, and be ready to throw flame again." He explains, before turning and leading you back to Agitha.
Once you are standing in front of her, she smiles sadly up at you from her wheelchair.
"Well. Would you be willing to secure the Arachnorok for me?"
[] Yes
[] No
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The wielder of the Dragon's Claw may, at the beginning of any close combat phase in which they are engaged in close combat, choose between two modes for the Dragon's Claw. One mode is a mundane hand weapon. The other mode is a magical Weapon with the Master Rune of Alric the Mad and two Runes of Fire.
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One hour moratorium to promote discussion