The EARTH story - January 3, 1373


Tully says, "Does anyone have a way to bring Aldarin back?"

Jon looks in Tully's direction. "Perhaps is Aldarin a henchman? I have acquired a wish but am not of the level to cast it and was warned against casting it due to the chance it would go wrong. You may remember Violiet my henchman. I was trying to restore her as well."

"Well, maybe someone else could use it better than you. They could bring back both Aldarin and Violet," Tully says.

"Who has a wish scroll?" asks Equinox, "I thought Beth had only two teleport without error scrolls."

"Jon just said he had a wish..." says Tully.

"Oh, right," says Equinox, "Then give it to Beth to cast, Jon. She can read the scroll and wish the return of Violet and Aldarin to the living."

Jon walks over to Beth. "Beth, are you able to cast a wish spell safely?"

Beth shakes her head.

Ayazin frowns thoughtfully as he munches on an apple. "As I recall, Jon summoned a djinni - the Djinni of Funk, wasn't it? And he prepared to make a wish that he hoped would bring Violet back from the dead. But there was something odd about the way he phrased it, instead of just wishing that she were alive again, he said something about turning back time so that Violet wouldn't have been killed in the first place. At that point, several of us stepped in and prevented him from completing the wish.

"The problem was not that we didn't want Violet back, but that even a wish can't turn back time. If you had completed the wish, Jon, something extremely bad could have happened to you, and possibly to the rest of us. I think it wasn't so much your level of power, just that you were phrasing the wish in a dangerous way. I remember when we wished Alhamet back to life with a scroll, and it was pretty straightforward. I don't know if one wish would bring back more than one person, but since it's the Djinni of Funk that would do it, perhaps you could ask him first."

Equinox frowns and smiles a bit. "From what I can recall of the Djinni of Funk, I am not sure that it is likely to be of much use, now matter how we phrase our request. On the other hand, I look forward to being wrong. Jon, do your thing."

Tully says, "She is less likely to fail at it than you if she is a greater mage. That is all. Is it a scroll Jon or a ring of Djinni summoning?"

Tully looks over at the treasure and says, "I will do some identifying on the treasure."

Unless someone objects, he does the set of taste tests on the potions.

He feels like Superman.

"Super-heroism potions," he says with a smile.

He examines the ring mail to see if it is notable at all.

It looks awfully nice.

He says very seriously, "This is very nice ring mail."

He also examines the key a bit.

The key matches the other two that you have found.

"This matches the others we have found."

He won't, of course, speak any words he sees on anything...if he discovers any.

He finds none.

Equinox returns the wand 'the walls have ears' to Brennon and the fire wand to Beth.

"You two should split Aldarin's items between yourselves until we bring him back to life," Equinox says.

Jon walks directly up to Equinox with an angry look and clenched fists.

"Now what's your problem, Equinox? Don't you class me as a mage to share or utilise Aldarin's equipment until he is brought back? I am getting sick of these constant innuendoes. If this last battle taught you anything it would be to share all the items, especially wands that can do damage!"

"I don't trust you, Jon," Equinox replies with a shrug, "I think that you have stolen from the party in the past and then happily accepted your share of the remaining treasure and magic.  You have not allayed my concerns and until you do, I don't know why I should trust you."

Jon, with a gleam in his eye and almost perhaps a smile on his face, says, "Fair
enough. Obviously killing dragons and the other words haven't been enough. I had forgotten killing you while charmed. Some things don't stay in my memory for very long. The treasure was worth a lot more than I thought when you count the jewelry."

"Sharone - can you ask Tyr if we have time to go to Sandas to get Aldarin back?"

Sharone turns to Aron, "I'd be very surprised if Tyr would answer me...we have very little in common."

"If we still have the scrolls to teleport back to Sandas, let's use them and the fortune we just acquired to raise our dead companions, and purchase more teleport scrolls.  If there's any gold left over, have whoever goes back purchase healing magic that we can distribute among the party."

Jon seems relieved at Aron's comments.

"I think that would be best as neither Beth or I can cast the wish spell safely and it's not something you would want to get wrong. Also while I'm not entirely sure it's not the access to the wish spell but the actual casting of it that seems to cost the money. I have access to the spell which may make it cheaper but I wouldn't hold up our hopes. So, is it agreed we return to Sandas via the scroll and use the money to bring back the two dead companions Aldarin and Violet. Perhaps after such a battle some will need to train. I certainly will. Someone smarter than me will have to prepare the words though. I seem to be VERY bad at that sort of thing."

"Aldarin is the only dead companion, Aron," Equinox says to the monk. "I think your suggestion on the division of the gold is a good idea and so long as no one else objects, let's do it. If we are going to return to Sandas to wish Aldarin back to life, why don't we just have Beth go and the rest of us stay here and identify all this new magic and Al's new sword? I would like to avoid as many delays as possible."

Jon says with a scowl, "What about Violet, Equinox? Do you turn your back on other members of the party??"

"Beth is going back, not me. Talk to her."

Beth comments that in the parties that she has adventured with in the past, the party is not responsible for the expense of raising henchmen. That is the responsibility of their master.

"I agree, we will stay put until you return." Al seconds Equinox's suggestion.

"Beth, would you have time to train me back in Sandas?

"Perhaps if we ask Sharone to provide at cost some healing potions she would be willing if we made a donation and thought kindly of her...she gave me two."

Still slightly confused at all that has happened since his unfortunate demise and return. Brennon says, "I don't have to train right now, so I will stay and help in identifying the items. I just need to take the time to learn a few identify spells."

He takes back the wand that was borrowed from him with a thanks and gratitude for the party in being able to bring him back from the other side.

Jon suggests, "Perhaps you would like to learn or copy some spells while the rest of us are away?"

"I am sure I'll have plenty of time while I wait. Why?"

Devlin says, "I require training."

Jon says, "Me too. Perhaps we should distribute the treasure as well. I could purchase some things in Sandas."

Equinox addresses everyone: "So, assuming Beth is willing to take people back to the Prime Material, who is going and how much time will you need?"

"Two weeks," replies the warrior.

Jon asks, "Beth, would you be willing or able to train me in spells such as teleport etcetera while in Sandas?"

Beth nods.

"Is anyone going to need as much as 30 days in Sandas?" Equinox asks the party. "I have something to do that will take about 30 days. I do not want to delay our quest so I won't do it unless we are already going to spend at least that much in downtime."

Jon says, "Thanks, Beth. How much time will we need??"

She tells you two weeks.

Jon, with a bit of satisfaction, says, "Guess you have to wait, Equinox."

Equinox shrugs. "Oh well."

"We'll wait, but we don't have to just sit around.  Equinox, can you use your druidic powers to shape stone here?"

"I can give it a try," Equinox replies. "What would you like me to do?"

"I would like to take one of those potions," announces Devlin, "As a warrior I think it would be of benefit to me."

Beth also announces that she is taking a sabbatical from adventuring in order to try to gain tenure at the Sandas Magic User's Guild. She points out that she is a Sorceress, as will be Jon once his training is complete; and as is Aldarin...once he is wished back to life.

It looks like Beth, Jon and Devlin will be returning to Sandas.

"May I check out the ring mail?" Op Code asks Tully. "Maybe I can figure out what it does, thus saving you time on identifying it."

"All told, not including the magic, there is over 220,00 gold pieces here. I hope that is enough for a wish," Equinox says to Beth. "Why don't you take the lot and purchase a wish from Ray Jay - or Occa if they have succeeded in rescuing him by now - and either use the rest to purchase healing magic for the party or bring it back for division as you see fit. Later on we can discuss with Aldarin how he will pay us all back."

She nods and looks to the rest of you for approval.

Jon's looks towards Beth.

"Beth, good luck with the mage thing in Sandas. It would be very helpful if you would leave one of your wands as a loan with the group until we have something similar; in particular the wand of fire. I sort of think it was group treasure anyway as we haven't really divided treasure.

"Sharone makes healing potions. We should buy them from her!

"I have access to the the wish spell in a book, so let us agree to use all the money to get the two back and then recompense the group later rather than my original recommendation. I think that should be taken as standard orders for the future as well."

Op Code votes for using the treasure for bringing Aldarin and Violet back.

Mikodin agrees.

"We split it evenly and each person does with it what they wish. I want a part of mine to go to a temple of Thor and I will contribute some to the resurrection of Aldarin and Violet," Al offers. "As well as a full identification of my new sword."

He smiles.

"I would be willing to put my share to the resurrection of our comrades." Brennon says. "It's the least that I could do."

Aron says, "This shouldn't be an issue.  Let's split the treasure and those who want to use their share for the party's benefit will give it Beth, Jon and Devlin to use in Sandas - which I will do.  Also, if you need more, the church of Tyr is holding some gold for me - they know of our quest and should allow you to use it."

Equinox says, "Look, we have a party disagreement here. I suggested that we use this treasure to bring Aldarin back, and Violet too if it was possible, but I do not have much use for gold and so I did not care too much. Others have more need for the gold and I don't want to speak for anyone. Since Jon and Al suggested the treasure be divided, let's do that.  Anyone who wants to lend Alderin or Jon money to wish Aldarin or Violet back may do so."

Equinox looks around at the party. "What does everyone think?"

"Here's my potion to help them. I am sure that I will have returned any money that is left over from my portion," Op Code adds.

Mikodin shrugs,and says, "That is fair enough.  Aldarin and Jon, just see me after the distribution, and I will gladly give you my share."

"As I said before," Brennon says, " I will gladly donate my share to help."

To Tully Aron asks, "Are they going to use your portable hole when going to Sandas?"

Tully says, "No, I am going to use it...I too will be going to Sandas for some training."

He smiles. "However, whoever needs it can use it."

Beth says, "Well, if that's everybody, those who want to teleport back to Sandas should gather together.  All ready?"

You split the treasure evenly, those people who are donating their shares hand them over, and Beth, Jon, Devlin and Tully teleport back to the Prime Material Plane.


Next day

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