"A gift you say?" Nelfania squawked in the direction of her minion "I do not take kindly to jokes she said" her attempt at sounding threatening being somewhat undermined by the shrill tone of her voice. "This bauble was left in undercity inn with your most high name on it" continued the minion bowing, fawning and scraping all in the hopes of avoiding punishment for any offense either unintended or unimagined
"Very well" Nelfania said sitting back with a sigh, the exertion of her outburst proving too tiring for her porcine form. "Bring me another course and hand that thing over, I assume it's been checked for its traps yes?" She said with a sneer almost looking for an excuse to use her whip
"Yes Mistress!" came the prompt and frightened reply "The warlocks looked over it thoroughly before we brought it to your attention" he continued relieved at being able to redirect his mistress's attention towards someone else.
One of the warlocks present in the room shoot the still scraping minion an accusing look before interjecting "Yes Mistress while there is some slight magical effect placed on it, it doesn't seem to be hostile"
"Doesn't seem to be?" came Nelfania's withering response. Warlocks were as a general rule of thumb harder to acquire and more useful to have so they escaped the treatment that some of the baser minions suffered but at the same time, ultimately everyone was disposable.
"It isn't Mistress" came the response "I've been assured by some of the most senior enchanters that are fortunate enough to serve you, and I too detect no dangerous.
"hmph" Nelfania said. None of the senior enchanters being present in her chambers it seemed the shifting of blame had ended with them.
"Very well then..let us see what this bauble does" she mused idly picking up the spherical crystal, several inches in diameter it was composed of a translucent material through which she could discern the foggy outlines of her chambers as she looked through it. It was at that point that the Crystal began to gleam as if lit up from deep within by a fiery glow.
Nelfania yelped and dropped it but before she could do anything a voice emerged from the object.
"Hello? Helllloo? testing testing one, two three, is this thing on? Anyone home"
All around froze with shock before someone finally whispered "Is that the upstart with a Reaper?