Darian, meanwhile, has memorised teleport. However, when he casts it with the intention of taking Orlon back to Earth, nothing happens.
Robert, the helpful NPC, comments, "I always thought Occa used teleport without error to get us down here. I don't think teleport will take you across the planes."
Darian rolls his eyes. "You couldn't have mentioned that yesterday, Robert? I don't know teleport without error. Looks like we need to get Occa back or we're stuck here. When we do get Occa back, we assign someone to guard him, okay?"
Robert shrugs.
"You're a mage and you didn't know that?"
Darian shakes his head. "Nope. My teacher never taught me about that. I know, I'm a pretty sorry mage. I have to admit, I like the fighting with a sword, better."
"No problem with that," replies the warrior with a grin. "I just noticed a few things from hanging out with Stiff for a few years."
"As Thor is my witness, I will be his guardian!" Al says in an eerie, almost possessed voice. "Let us search for our missing companion."
"When we leave Paradise, I can attempt to Commune with Thor to divine Occa's location. What do you think, brother?" he asks Orlon.
"You can try to commune down here, but it may not be as successful as it usually is for us back home," Orlon answers.
"I thought higher level spells for you folks were out of reach down here, Al."
"I prayed for it before we came down here, so from what I understand I can cast it but can not regain it until we go topside. I think this would qualify as an emergency!" Al replies to Darian.
"Yes, Al, I believe it is an emergency. So, if you've got it, go for it. I only hope you are successful."
"Fine," he remarks.
You leave Niko's paradise.
Al prepares himself and casts the Commune spell.
He asks, "Is Occa near ?"
Al gets no answer.
"As I suspected. Our location is preventing us from speaking to the gods," Orlon ponders.
"Not good," Al says gravely, "we will have to seek him out the old fashioned way.. on foot."
"Look, if we are going to go out there and fight our way to Occa, without Occa, we need to be prepared. I can obtain most of my healing spells in a matter of hours. I suggest we all max out our healing potential because we are going to be hard pressed fighting our way to Occa without the use of our best mage and best warrior. Finally, I would like to be invisible before we set out. I can be an excellent scout in bat or bird form when invisible."
"Forget the invisibility, Equinox, almost all creatures down here can see through illusions and invisibility. As to the healing spells, good idea and stay close to me, fear is no enemy of mine and perhaps I can impart that on those near to me," Al says matter of factly, no hubris in his voice. "No birds down here either, perhaps a bat, can you take on any demonic forms?" he asks, unfamiliar with the powers of a druid.
"Al's right about the invisibility, Equinox. Unfortunately..."
"I cannot take the form of any unnatural creature. A demon is certainly an unnatural creature." replies Equinox.
"We can't relearn high level spells down here. That's why I suggested that I cast 'word of recall', which I already had memorized when we came down here, to get back to Sandas. I can take 450 pounds, which means two people, with me. Who wants to come back?" Orlon asks for volunteers.
"If I can get to the mages' guild, I might be able to purchase a teleport with no error scroll. And we might be able to elicit help from Ray Jay in recovering Occa or least determining his location."
"Anyone else want to come along?" Orlon asks.
"Brother, I will stay to defend. May Thor guide your hand and return soon!" Al says as he hugs Orlon and wishes him well.
Darian slaps his head. "Duh! Of course, we should take Gil. Why didn't I think of that? Darian will help shoulder the burden and he makes sure that he grabs Gil's head."
So, Darian clutches the limp, headless corpse of Gilstrock tightly. Orlon touches him, speaks a word of power, and the two of them are gone.
"Duh... looks like we're not in Kanastas still... What are weez gonna do while dey is gone?"
Gonzo checks his weapons and looks around.
"Weez could go hunting?" he offers with an ugly grin.
"Sounds a little risky, without Gil or Occa," says Equinox, "but I'm game."
"Let's!" Al says, "they won't be back for another day or so."
Al looks to Gonzo with a conspiratory smile.
"Anyone up for a bug hunt?" he asks with a wide smile.
Regardless, he unsheathes Claw and points for Gonzo to lead the way.
Niko nods, as he shifts his Cloak of the Manta Ray around "I guess we go hunting!"
"Why don't we first hunt for any treasure that those she-devils may have hidden around here?" suggests Emm.
Niko pulls out Dwarf's Envy and searches for treasure, secret doors and sliding walls.
Gonzo joins in the search for treasure.
"When we finds something dat we canst handle, wez should duck inta Niko's paradize place until da ding goes away," Gonzo offers as a plan of action.
You check around on the ledge bordering the pool but no one finds any signs of treasure or other goodies.
You look again through the doorway.
Through the door there is a passage, running to the left and the right. To the right it only runs for 30', then ends. The last 10' of floor in that direction seems to glow a dull red. To the left it runs for 40', turning north after 30'. There are two alcoves, one to the left and one to the right, in the same wall as the door.
Niko, concentrating for sliding doors with Dwarf's Envy, feels the blade tingle when he points it to the left.
Gonzo and Emm, meanwhile, move to the right, and examine the glowing portion of floor. Gonzo cannot make anything of it, but Emm notices a trigger mechanism of some sort. Apparently when you step on the glowing slab, something happens. Unfortunately, they cannot tell what.
Niko has moved down the passage to the west (left), all the time feeling the tingling in his sword getting stronger.
He takes a quick look around the corner to the north.
"Oy!" says a voice from that direction.
He sees that to the north, the passage descends a shallow flight of stairs for 10', then continues on for a further 20', before opening up into a chamber to the north and east.
At the entrance to the chamber stand five troglodytes.
"Orgle norgle glubglubglub!!!" shouts one of the trogs in its own foul tongue, and the monsters charge at the elf.
"Don't step on this glowing slab," Emm states. Then, hearing the ruckus from the west, he prepares his bow and arrows.
Niko blasts the trogs with a forked lightning bolt down the passageway.
Once Niko's bolt scatters their ranks, Al lifts Claw and bellows, "For Thor!" as he charges the stinky buggers and slices the first one closest to him.
The charging trogs are on Niko long before he completes his spell. One of them grazes the elf with his spear for 2 hit points, which is enough to ruin Niko's spell, while a second slashes him for 5 hit points. Niko swings back with his scimitar, and kills one of the monsters.
Al jumps into the fray, accompanied by Robert. One swing with the cavalier's blade takes down a second trog. Another jabs at him with a spear but misses.
Robert takes a swing with his bastard sword and connects, almost killing his foe. The trog thrusts his spear at him, but it is turned by Robert's full plate.
Three trogs remain.
The remaining trog on Niko misses with his spear. Niko polishes him off with his scimitar.
In similar fashion, Al makes short work of another trog.
Finally, Robert splits open his trog, and that is that.
With the skirmish over, you continue your exploration of this area, while Robert and Al watch the passage which leads to the chamber.
Niko, using Dwarf's Envy, pinpoints the section of sliding wall as being the section of west wall at the corner of the passage. However, upon close inspection of that section, no mechanism there to make it slide is immediately apparent.
Gonzo walks over to Niko, kicking a dead body as he passes and takes a look at the section of wall. Grumbling to himself, "D-rats missed me some Karumba fun.. mumble grumble mumble..."
"I can probably tunnel around it with Stone Shape if we cannot find a way to open the door," says Equinox.
"Does someone want to go back and step on the glowing slab now?" Niko asks. "Or perhaps break or burrow through this rock?"
"Why don't we toss a trog body on the slab?" Emm suggests.
"That's a good idea," says Robert over his shoulder.
Niko drags a dead trog over to the glowing slab in hopes of triggering the section of wall to open.
Emm backs out of this particular passageway, just in case a fireball comes flying down the corridor.
Niko drops the corpse of the trog onto the slab.
Suddenly there is the grinding groan of stone sliding over stone, and the sliding wall that Niko had previously found slides open, revealing a 5' wide, 5' deep secret room.
You all rush over and look inside.
You see a nice pile of treasure in the room.
Taking it, you gleefully count out 33cp, 5000pp and 18 gems (100gp ea.).
That matter taken care of, you move down the stairs to the north, and go and take a look into the chamber that the troglodytes were guarding.
The chamber measures 30' X 50' (30' north, 40' east; 10' deep alcove in middle of east wall).
This chamber is filled in large part by two pools of slimy green water, each measuring 10' X 40' long. A 10' wide walkway leading back to an alcove in the east wall separates the pools. About 20' up in the north and south walls are two 20' wide by 10' deep alcoves.
In the alcove sits a crudely carved stone altar. Trussed up like a turkey atop the altar lies Occa. He looks none too pleased about the situation. He is definitely alive, though, and looks very healthy. Scattered about on the floor around the altar is a pile of treasure.
Of more immediate concern, though, are the ten troglodytes about to start hurling spears at you. Five of them are in the north alcove while the rest are in the south alcove.
"Niko, Equinox, and Emm, you get Occa, Gonzo, Robert, and I will attack!" Al commands.
Al tries to activate his wraithform...however, nothing happens.
"What do you think is in that water?" muses Equinox, "Do you want me to check it out?"
"One thing at a time, Occa is priority number one and then the trogs. After that, we can play in the water," Al says.
Niko promptly turns invisible and Dimension Doors to Occa. He promptly cuts Occa free with his cutlass.
"Fair enough," replies Equinox, and, seeing things well in hand with the Troglodytes, decides to act as a look- out to make sure that no nasties sneak up on the party from the hall behind the party during the battle and freeing of Occa.
Gonzo charges out across the walkway intending on getting to a position to protect Occa. "Come on youse fish bait... fights like youse means it...."
He will be looking to grab spears as they are hurled at him or near him to return fire with.
Occa gets up. "Thanks, whoever that is!"
He casts a monster summoning III spell and directs his help to kill the trogs!
The trogs are situated in alcoves in the north and south walls, 20' above you. You cannot even get close to the walls thanks to the pools of slime.
They start throwing spears at you. They seem to have an infinite supply of spears.
Al takes a spear in the kisser for 4 hit points, Equinox likewise for 7 hit points, Niko takes one in the buttocks for 5, Gonzo for 5, Emm has his hair parted for 2, Occa has his spell ruined and suffers 5 hit points and Equinox suffers a further 3 hit points from a second spear.
Robert takes out a potion and drinks it.
The trogs think this is all good fun.
Gonzo yanks out the spear that is protruding from his anatomy and throws it back at the trogs, striking one.
"Two can play at the game," Al says as he sheathes Claw and pulls out his wand of magic missiles. He then starts firing at the trogs.
His missile strikes a monster, who howls in protest.
Occa gathers up the treasure and says, "Let's get out of here!"
"Damn, I must have used it up for the day.. who cares?" Al says, of his wraith form.
"Occa, a fireball would do wonders," Al suggests as he spits out blood from a lucky spear toss. "Niko, you too!"
Occa shrugs and gathers the items.
He finds a pile of his own equipment. Also, he comes up with a folded hanky, 900ep, 4 gems (50gp ea.), a scroll, a potion, a sheathed longsword and a small gold box.
Engraved on the lid of the latter are the words -
'SOME STUPID CLERIC OF THOTH'
"There he is!"
"Ah, wasn't Salaam a cleric of Thoth?" Al asks, not sure.
Occa tucks the stuff away. "Take care of those things guys!"
He casts Monster summoning VI this time...all the while hiding behind Al.
Niko pulls out his wand of fire and creates a wall of fire on the trogs.
To his surprise a wall of fire does not form. Instead a jet of superheated steam shoots out of the tip of the wand, engulfing the trogs in one of the alcoves. You hears screams of agony from within the steam cloud...then silence.
Robert, meanwhile, flies up into the air and lets loose with his heavy crossbow at the remaining trogs, wounding one.
Gonzo pulls the spear out of Niko's backside, eliciting a yelp of either pain or pleasure (it's heard to tell) from the elf, and throws it at another trog, striking it.
The five remaining trogs throw more spears.
Robert is struck for 5 hit points, Emm - lurking back at the entrance - is nailed for 3 hit points, Gonzo snags a spear in his beard for 4 hit points; Al is missed, as is Equinox.
Gonzo throws another spear but bounces it off of a wall.
Suddenly a pair of erinyes devils come flying into the chamber over Emm's head. They land before Occa.
"We are at your command, Master," they say.
Niko points his wand at the remaining trogs and releases another jet of steam.
There are more screams, and then silence.
The clouds slowly clear, revealing nothing but cooked troglodytes.
Al let out a sigh of relief as he was about to tackle the erinyes before realising that they are under Occa's control.
"Good shot, Niko," Al says in reply to his steam attack. "Occa, what happened to you?"
"What shall we do with those?" Equinox asks, eyeing the devils cautiously. "I still think we ought to check out this pool of water, too."
Niko blows the residual steam coming from the wand and puts it away.
"I'll check out the water," he says, as he dives in and changes into a sting ray.
"I think that that was rather rash," says Equinox, "Niko has no idea what, if anything, is waiting down there. I will follow him for protection if he needs it."
"Occa, perhaps you should send one of those monsters to protect Niko and Equinox," Emm suggests. "Also, I could use a little healing, if anyone is able."
Niko surfaces with a scream, covered in green slime, which - he realises too late - fills the pools.
"Arrgghhh!" Niko screams as tries to extricate himself from the green slime.
Occa says, "Oh, that is bad. Anyone have a cure disease the can cast on him?"
Niko scrambles out of the water, still covered in ths slime. Already it is eating away at his exposed flesh: his face and his hands. His field plate is also corroding.
Occa says, "Oh, that is going to leave a mark! Any priests or paladins here? Cure disease is the only thing that will save him."
"Sorry, no cure disease in my roster of prayers to Thor." Al shrugs helplessly. "I'll heal you when I am done, I am sorry, friend."
Occa sighs and says, "I might be able to do something."
He starts to cast limited wish, then stops as Al moves forward.
He takes out a flametongue sword and activates its flaming ability. He gently apply its burning flames to the green slimed areas of his body.
Niko, now blinded and with only slimy stumps where his hands were, still manages a gurgling scream as the cleansing fire engulfs him. Still, the flames do the trick, quickly killing the green slime, both on him and on his equipment.
You strip him down and Al continues to toast the elf, killing any green slime that may have seeped through to his flesh.
But the damage has been done.
Niko no longer has any hands...only charred stumps. Worse still, his face has been largely eaten away, revealing the white bone of his skull underneath, along with dessicated, burnt tissue. His eyes are gone, as is his nose. Only a large hole remains where his mouth was. His tongue has been reduced to a flapping piece of raw flesh.
You wonder how he continues to live.
"Well. This seems like it is time to retreat," Emm suggests. "Our friends are back at Occa's house, healing Gilstrock's head. Perhaps we should join them now that we have Occa and Salaam. At least I think we have Salaam." He looks at Occa expectantly.
"Occa, can you use the limited wish as a heal spell, wish that he was as he was ten minutes ago," Al suggests, not liking to see his friend in pain.
Occa says, "Yes, I have used it to heal before, however, I am not sure if it will regenerate his flesh back. Maybe if we try to regenerate him back partially and not heal him."
He casts the limited wish spell. "I wish that his flesh would regenerate back to what it was before he dove into the green slime."
Niko's flesh regrows quickly. However, his muscles, tendons, bones, eyes and such do not...so he still looks quite awful.
Occa chuckles. "Oops, I always forget to be specific...damn evil gods!"
Occa says, "That is all I can do for now. Sorry buddy."
"On that note," says Robert, flying over, "Can we go home, now? We came to this infernal place looking for Salaam. Is he in that box? Let's take a look."
Occa pulls out the box and hands it to Robert.
The warrior holds it carefully, and opens it a crack.
Most of you recall from your first visit here - after leaving the LeBaron - that you came across a McDeath's restaurant...and in there you saw hundreds of lost souls. They looked much like regular people...except for the pearlescent glow about them. Looking into the box, though, you do not see a soul in the shape of Salaam; instead you see a soul in the shape of...a glowing penis.
Robert closes the box and hands it back to Occa.
"Yep...that's Salaam, all right," he says with certainty. "So the job is done. We have Salaam and we have Occa back. Let's blow this popsickle stand. Occa, do you have a teleport spell or scroll handy? Or do we have to wait for Darian and Orlon to come back?"
He pauses.
"What happened to you, anyway, Occa? The last we saw of you the devils had knocked you out. I know you regenerate, but where did they take you? Did they do anything to you? Did you learn anything?"
"Occa, teleport us all out and then I can probably do some healing for Niko," Al says as he sees that while not all is well, it seems their objective for the moment is accomplished.
Occa, however, seems to be very distracted at the moment.
In the end, you head back out to the entrance to this area, to await the return of Orlon and Darian.
"Hey Occa, what's up?" Al asks the mage.
Occa says, "What do you think? Torture...pain. That kind of thing. When they got bored with me, they tossed me down here to be sacrificed. Good thing you guys came by!"
"What is taking them so long?" he asks no one in particular, pacing in frustration.
"Good question!" Occa says, "I am out of teleport spells."
He looks over the scroll found and says, "This looks to be a teleport to a particular location. I am not sure where. Do you guys want to try that?"
"Let's do it!" says Robert, looking anxiously about, then glancing at what is left of Niko.
"How will we get back?" asks Equinox, "No one has anymore teleport spells."
"Details, details," says Robert.
"We do," breathes one of the devils.
"I will be able to relearn on the other side! Let's go."
"You hope," Emm mumbles.
"Okay!" Occa gets everyone to hold hands and he reads the scroll.
However, when he reads the scroll you are not teleported. Instead a gate opens right before you. You see a wintry landscape. A frozen river winds its way off into the distance...which is abbreviated by the fact that a heavy fog envelopes everything.
However, the chill, damp air that flows through the gate sure smells like Earth.
You step through the gate.
"Occa, there's an invisible man standing in front of you," says one of the devils, her nipples reacting thanks to the cold breeze.
A voice from the invisible man says, "Consorting with devils now, Occa?"
A hiss arises from his scabbard as he draws his frostbrand.
Al immediately brandishes his previously drawn scimitar and waits for Occa to interact with the invisible man.
"Who is there?"
When Occa hears the blade being drawn he says to the devils, "Kill it! It must be one of my old enemies!"
He also takes cover behind Al.
"Reveal yourself!"
"What do you see?" Al asks the female devil before slicing into midair.
Emm is now openly skeptical.
"This cannot be Occa. It must be a doppleganger," he declares.
He draws Bubba. Ready to defend, but not attacking.
Occa looks over at Emm, "What are you talking about?"
"How is it that this invisible man knows you, but you do not know him? Or at least his voice?" Emm asks. "How do we know the devils that took you away did not replace you with a doppleganger?"
Occa says, "Good point, although I have never met a doppleganger who could cast ninth order spells. Have you?"
Occa chuckles.
"Even so, I guess I am being a bit overreactive. I hate getting killed, regenerating and then set up to be sacrificed."
He adds, "Devils go away."
He dispels his monster summoning spell.
"Do we have to?" one says, "I was hoping to perform oral sex on that big handsome hunk, there,"
She motions to Al.
Al turns his head, starts to open his mouth, and then closes it.
"C'mon, Ethyl," says the other. "We'll go somewhere where we're appreciated...and it's warmer."
The devils take flight, and wing back through the still open gate.
"It's him alright, not even a devil is this much of a wuss," Al says with a smile as he taps Occa in the ribs with his elbow.
Occa says, "Hey, not nice. How would you feel if you had almost no spells left?"
He chuckles.
"I guess," Al says with a smile.
"Who is there? Reveal yourself. Don't worry, we aren't consorting with devils...they just happened to come when I tried to summon some help."
Equinox draws MC Hammer and stands in guard of Occa.
Zanax becomes visible. "Interesting help, Occa...speaking of which, I'd appreciate a bit if you have the means. I need to get to Hork in a hurry. Could I get a teleport?"
Occa says, "Sure, if you like. I need to study for a bit first. Guys, should we stay here or go back through the gate and wait for the others? Not sure if they will be able to find us otherwise."
"Let's stay here," Emm suggests. "I think it will take them a few days to heal Gilstrock. Besides I think its safer here."
"Instead of heading back to Hell, why don't you study up for a while, get Zanax to Hork or wherever he wants to go via teleport and wish all members of the party together wherever you wants us to be - which I dearly hope is on this planet and not in Hell," suggests Equinox. "I, for one, am VERY glad to be back in the real world. I can just feel the natural animals and trees all around us. It feels just wonderful after being in Hell."
"Good idea. We can set-up a camp here for a bit. Then when the others rejoin us, we can head back. In the meantime, after I study, I will take Zanax to Hork."
There are trees growing along the one visible bank of the river.
"That would be great, Occa! Although, does anyone have a way to prevent someone from scrying or tracking me magically? If so, might I borrow it for a short time?"
Emm is caught short by this question. He stares at Zanax.
"What a great idea," he murmurs to no one in particular. "Umm, what might such a device look like?"
Occa says, "I have mindblank."
He casts mindblank on Zanax.
"That should take care of anyone tracking you or scrying you for a day."
"What if they're tracking an object I'm carrying?"
"It shouldn't make any difference. It will be protected."
"Also, Occa...what ever happened to those bracers I loaned you?"
Occa says, "I am afraid they were lost. I am sorry."
You can see he isn't wearing them.
"Well, considering you're saving me several weeks of travel by myself and the mind blank spell, it's worth it. Tell me, have you heard anything more about the war in the south?"
"No, we have been in Hell."
"By the way, what happened to that poor fellow?" Zanax asks, refering to Niko, "He looks horrendous."
"Green slime."
"Who are you?" Al asks, unfamiliar with this man. "Glad Occa knows you, so that means I won't have to kill you. I am Alhamet, or you can call me Al." he says as he sheathes Claw and extends a hand in friendship.
Zanax sheathes his sword.
"We have met before, Al. I believe you were going to kill me then, too," says Zanax with a smile and a glint in his eye, as he shakes Al's hand.
"I believe you told me you were a cleric or paladin in the service of Horus. You also had this noisy sword..."
"Hey, speaking of noisy swords, are you still sleeping Bubba? Ya missed some good looking she-devils," Emm laughs.
"Hey, I'm back and ready for action!" says Bubba. "I'm hungry, too! Where can we get a cheeseburger around here?"
"Ah so true, pardon my lack of memory, Zanax, a lot has transpired since then. I was slain by a mind flayer and despite my wished back existence, I still have many gaps in my memory. Under the tutelage of Orlon, I am now a cavalier of Thor. Horus is no longer a part of my life, actually all that remains of him in my life is this sword. I keep it to show the growth I have attained in this new world. Enough about me, what brings you here?" he asks Zanax as he returns the handshake.
"I was on my way to Hork when your gate opened. I was hoping to get a lift from Occa there. It would save me several weeks of travel and I have urgent business there."
Equinox converts to wolf form and lopes over to the trees to make sure there are no unpleasant surprises hidden there.
He finds none.
You all head over to the tree-lined bank of the river. It does not take you long to find a sheltered hollow.
Occa says, "Let's camp here."
You set up a rough and ready camp. After the heat and pollution of the lower planes, even a brisk winter day feels pleasant. You eventually light a small fire as the afternoon turns into evening and the temperature drops below freezing.
Once the party is set up, Equinox prays for his spells, and Occa studies his books.
Seven hours pass before Equinox finishes resting and praying. Occa is still studying. You have posted watches, but no one has bothered you. As the temperature dropped the fog disapated, revealing the full width of the Grande River to the north. Perhaps a mile or so downstream you see a great bridge linking the two sides of the river.
Robert tells you that you are actually only a few miles outside of Sandas, and that is the Old Dwarvish Road over there.
"I can ask 9 questions about this natural surrounding with some specific detail," says Equinox to the party, "I intend to ask whether 1. there are any creatures with hostile intent to the natural surrounding, and 2. whether there are any creatures with hostile intent to the party. If there is anything else anyone would like to know, please let me know."
Equinox asks his questions. The whispering wind answers 'no' to both.
Equinox also casts Call Woodland Beings two times.
Fourteen minutes elapse.
Then, you hear a rustling in the bushes, and a treant steps into the light cast by the fire.
"You summoned me?" he rumbles to the druid. "For what did you awaken me out of my long winter's nap?"
Occa finishes off his studies.
Grasping Zanax's hand, he speaks a word of power and they both are gone.