Gringotts Responds

[Mike]

No: HPFGUIDX 179347

>From the Desk of Ragnok,
Chairgoblin, Gringotts
______________________________________________________________

Dear Catlady,

This is Bagrod, undergoblin to Ragnok of Gringotts. Ragnok said I 
could use his stationary to answer your letter. He's a great goblin, 
Ragnok is. OK, to your question.

*****
Catlady: Why haven't goblins tried to re-invent the wand? They're 
clever with metal and magic; does anyone remember if they're clever 
with wood as well? ^1
*****

First off, thank you for that praise on our talents in metallurgy. I 
would also point out that we have excellent gemologists, too. We 
goblins do take pride in those craftsmanships.

Unfortunately, our skills do not extend to working with once live 
materials, the category that wands made from tree wood, fall under. 
You may also have noticed that we have little expertise in potions, 
since the vast majority of potion ingredients are former living 
material. We just don't have a knack in those fields.

Back in the fifteenth century, Ugrid the great goblin scientist, was 
tasked with trying to reverse engineer a captured wand. (Things were 
going bad for our revolution attempt). He was not only hurt badly in 
a backfiring mishap, it was determined that goblin magic as practised 
down through the ages was incompatible with wand usage. It would have 
required a new way of channeling magic than the way we currently 
employ.

But, without the right to carry wands, and without the knowledge you 
wizards have in making wands, it was pointless to re-learn how to 
channel magic. At the same time, we know using wands is a much more 
powerful way of employing magic. Therefore, we won't stop our efforts 
to change the laws you wizards have imposed on us goblins.

By the way, Catlady, that isn't a condition like the Doglady of St. 
Mungos, I hope. We have heard of those kind of things happening to 
your race when misusing potions or magic. That is why we stay away 
from potion-making.

I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,
Bagrod
Chairgoblin (someday)
________________________________________________________________

Mike, who appreciates Bagrod's more reasoned way of responding ;)

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^1 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/HPforGrownups/message/179339