"Let's all go then," says Pharian. "I have a teleport spell, and can take one other brave soul with me. Be forewarned, though-- we are going to aim high. Who else can cast teleport? Can we account for everybody?"
"Perhaps you should take Cat or Arrgghh! (however you spell his name)." says Darian.
"I have a teleport," replies Valdar. "If Salaam will consent to let us use his portable hole, we can take everyone."
"Umm...." Gilstrock says. "This is one of those things where you don't know if you're going up embedded in the rock, or if you're going to have to fall 60 feet?"
"Ten feet, actually," replies the elf-lord.
"I think I'd feel better walking."
"Suit yourself. Anyone else feel like walking?"
"Well, ten feet isn't so bad," Gilstrock says dubiously. "But is there still a chance we'll end up embedded in solid rock?"
"No. That's why I always teleport 10' high."
"Scares the willies out of me."
"Get Cat to hold your willy for you, then, if it will help," says Valdar with a snicker.
In the end, Salaam hands over his portable hole, and everyone but Pharian climbs in. The mage closes it up, casts teleport, and opens it up again.
You climb out at base camp. A cold blast of winter air hits you.
Stiff, Orlon and the others are sitting around the campfire, looking pensively into the flames.
Gilstrock holds his arms out, his light blue cloak flapping behind him in the breeze. "Ahhhh, I love it!" he says.
He wraps himself back up in his cloak and makes his way over to camp. "Orlon, Stiff, how's it hangin'? Some weirdo teleported in looking for you two. Did you see him?"
Robert replies with a nod.
"They can tell you what transpired," he says, motioning to the arch-mage and the high priest.
"So, what transpired?" asks Pharian.
Stiff replies to the question about Mr. Wizzleworth's visit to them "Mr. Wizzleworth is a true wizard and we have an important mission ahead of us when we have finished here".
Darian scratches his head. "A true wizard? Isn't that what you are?"
"The name 'wizard' has now become a term used to describe a magic user, yes, Darian," says Valdar. "But in old elven it means 'shepherd of life'."
"Shepherd of life? Like some sort of priest?"
"Correct," replies Valdar.
"Hmmm... Interesting... What god does he serve? I don't think I noticed any recognizeable symbol, but then I'm not from this world."
"I'm not sure who or what they serve, now," replies Valdar. "Back in the olden days they represented three entities which together were known as the Rhior. But for some reason the three split apart into Good, Neutral and Evil entities, and battled...and when that happened the Wizards split as well. The War of the Stones was the result...and that was inconclusive. Since the War, they have turned inwards and have had little to do with anyone.
"In all my days, I have only encountered Wizards maybe once or twice. Stiff, here, seems to a magnet for them, though," he adds. "And I know Ray Jay has occasional dealings with them, too."
"Ray Jay? Is that the other arch-mage you've mentioned before, Valdar?"
Valdar nods.
"Will you take me to see Ray Jay someday?"
"I'm sure she'll want to see all of you one of these days," Valdar replies. "She keeps close tabs on this group."
"Why? Because of the wizard thing? Or are a lot of you friends with her?"
"We're friends, I guess," he says. "She also has this knack for pointing people in the right direction when they are seeking adventures..."
"Hmmm... Well, I guess being an arch-mage gives you certain insights to trouble spots. It's a wonder Stiff doesn't do the same kind of thing instead of wandering around with this group."
Occa says, "Well, how else are you going to fund your research? Money runs out fast when you are a mage...myself, I am already broke again!"
Darian grins and looks at Valdar. "Does this Ray Jay adventure as well? Or does she do something else to gain income?"
"She...has several ongoing affairs... She also supplements her income by selling wishes..."
"Hmmm... I guess it's good that Stiff doesn't do that. Otherwise we'd all be copperless."
Orlon tells Gilstrock and the others "Some character named Wizzleworth popped in to basecamp to tell Stiff and I some information. He said that the task that we are on is bigger than Valdar knows," looking over at the elf-lord. "A great upheaval is taking place in a land to the south, and it involves a common foe...one who has taken an interest in Stiff in the past." He referred to the Black Wizard Imrimil. You'll have to ask Stiff about him."
Valdar looks interested and concerned at this...
"Imrimil is the ruler of the former province of Saltar known as Nolthen," he says. "That is thousands of miles to the east of here...what could be be doing getting involved in matters so far removed from his home?"
Looking at Valdar, Orlon continues. "Unbeknownst to you, as Wizzleworth put it, this adventure that we are on will put us on a collision course with this enemy. He has enlisted the aid of various monsters and creatures of the lower planes to do his dirty work."
"He also mentioned that this is the first time in centuries that the enemy has taken any action of this sort, west of the Mississippi River. The White Order are watching his actions with concern, and because the party has done them a favour in the past, they saw fit to warn us."
Before we head back into the dungeon, Gilstrock will take care of a couple of things. First, he'll get Orlon or one of the clerics to fully heal him. Second, he'll return the Ring of Regeneration to Pharian. "Here, my friend. I keep forgetting to return this to you. Thank you for its use."
"Ah, good," says Pharian. "I was starting to worry that you might be cursed."
"No," Gilstrock says, "my only curse is magic-using companions who feel the need to zap me with lightning bolts and fireballs."
Orlon will cast 'heal' on Gilstrock.
Darian looks around at his companions. "Um... How long are we staying this time? If we stay for a while, I would like to train both as a fighter and as a mage. I think I could learn some more powerful spells and become a more useful fighter."
"As long as you're here, you might as well be useful," says Pharian. "I can train you as a mage."
Darian grins. "I was hoping you'd say that. But, we'll have to see if the rest of the party is willing to let us take the time."
Lore indicates that he would like to return to the dugeon...at least its warmer in there.
Jesse, who has been quiet and playing her lute a lot, will approach Salaam. "Salaam, can you help me rid myself of this cursed sword?"
Valdar says to Darian, "And I can train you, too, as a fighter...among other things..." He turns to Cat, "Do you still have that maids uniform..?"
Darian nods. "Sounds fine. But what's this about a maid's uniform?"
"Just joking," Valdar replies. "You're not my type."
"Um... That's good, I guess."
Valdar winks at Gilstrock.
Giltsrock looks at Valdar, then looks away. He shakes his head, and shivers -- not from the cold.
Darian points at Gilstrock. "So, he is?"
Valdar says nothing...he only smiles.
Valdar glances at Stiff, then says, "Ray Jay will want to hear this morsel of news. Catch ya later!"
He casts teleport and vanishes.
Occa says, "Well, there he goes off again." He shakes his head and says, "Looks like we are going to have 2 weeks to kill if these guys are going to train. I will return before that time is up."
Occa teleports back to the Mages guild.
"Who's Ray Jay?" wonders Darian.
"He's a big-time arch mage," replies Robert. "You'll meet him - errrr - her one of these days."
"Oh... She's the one that Valdar mentioned! I very much wish to meet her."
Time passes...