February 24, 1370

The next morning you set out again, after Occa has had another look for a source of spell books (no luck) and Orlon and Tracy have visited the local church of Thor. It is a cold, raw morning. You have the wind in your faces, and it is driving a heavy rain with it. After pausing to read the signpost in the middle of town -

The Elven Coast Road: N: To Castle Tempesta, The Guardian Gates, and Frisco.

S: To Morgrond, Where Evil Lurks, and Tyford.

- you leave Omlet.

Omlet is surrounded by farmlands, but by late morning you are back in the wilderness. The road has climbed again as it hugs the coastline, and you hear the waves crashing against the cliffs and hundreds of feet below.

The rain tapers off that night and a heavy fog moves in.

Occa says, "Oh by the way, the sage in "Where Evil Lurks" told me that these cards are a deck of many things! Just as I suspected. Anyone wanna draw some cards?"

He shuffles the cards with a grin.

Jesse laughs, "I've heard of these decks, some good but mostly evil comes out of them. I'll pass."

"Ohhhhh" Dani says with a glint in her eye. "Ohhhh....I have always wanted to try something like that...but the risks...but the gains...."

Dani is clearly entranced with the idea and is thinking about it hard.

"Should I or shouldn't I?" She whispers to herself, rubbing her hands together..."Anything can happen..."

"ARGH!" Dani jumps up and goes to Occa. "I have to try it...I want to try it...Can I take two cards?"

Orlon says, "I have had some close calls with this type of deck. You go ahead and try it yourself if you like."

Dani takes her first card.

Nothing appears to happen.

She takes a second card.

Again, nothing appears to happen.

Occa will draw two cards as well.

He takes the first card...

Occa smiles and says, "I have drawn a card that will allow me four wishes!"

He giggles and says, "But I must use them immediately...any suggestions since the next card may end up killing me?" He giggles again and looks to the party members.

Op Code suggests "If there are no other ideas, maybe you can use one wish on each character. After you use a wish, there are three more wishes for four of us. Maybe we can draw straws or something, the three longest straws (three highest rolls on a d20) receive a wish. Just an idea".

"Well, aren't you lucky! How about wishing a girdle of many pouchs for me then?" Dani laughs.

Occa says, "That is a very short sighted wish now isn't it? I was thinking of other things that might benefit the party...for example, perhaps a wish that would bring the next person to die back to life or something. Items come and go...ya know? Surely, you can do better than that."

Dani chortles. "Ah! And that wish would not be a benefit to you heh? You are very likely the next person to die - so it is a bit self serving." she grins.

"And besides I wasn't serious. If I were serious I would wish for my daa..." Dani stops, blushing deeply. Without saying another word, she turns and walks away.

"Your what?" He chuckles and says, "Seriously, I am not being that self serving...what is good for everyone is good for me...and everyone for that matter."

No one else tries to help him out, so he makes his wishes.

"I wish that I would always have extraordinary luck in all things I do."

Nothing appears to happen.

"I wish that I were more intelligent."

Nothing obvious happens.

"I wish that I had the ability to heal very, very rapidly."

Nothing appears to happen.

"I wish that I could see in darkness as well as a drow elf.

Occa turns into a drow elf.

Op Code comments "I guess that's what you get if you don't word your wishes more carefully"

Dani chortles with laughter. "Ah! Occa - that new skin color suits you so well - did you also get the dispostion of a drow???"

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhh! Oh by Datura what is this maddness! Oh my goddess how foolish of me!" He looks down at himself and says, "A drow...me, a drow...how strange. Hmm, I have a nasty craving for elven flesh." He chuckles and says, "Nah, just kidding."

He turns around in a circle feeling himself from head to foot. "Ugh! How stupid of me."

"How astute you are, perhaps you have gained wisdom as well!" Dani laughs.

Occa rolls his dark red eyes and says, "Can't you do better than that?"

Dani sticks her tongue out at Occa.

He stands silenty for a moment and then says to Dani, "Well, as for disposition...I am not certain...perhaps you will find out one cold, dark night." He smiles at Dani...

With a grin, Dani moves back a little and begins making spellcasting motions...

Occa says, "I guess you haven't heard about our natural resistance to magics of most kinds?" He pauses.

Dani pauses before replying, finishing her spell. She looks around and frowns. "Hmmm....well, I must be a bit rusty. You were saying?"

"Oh, don't give me that kind of dragon refuse! Did you just cast detect magic or know alignment? Are you check us out?"

"Why don't you tell me?" Dani grins, unconcerned.

Occa says, "Well, my guess...for a young one such as yourself would be detect magic...greed and all. You know that story. However, I am a drow now so it would make sense to do a know alignment to see if I have turned to the ways of all drow." He pushes his long white hair back and says, "That would be pretty smart...so that lowers the probability of it being that...of course, you aren't all that you seem so I have to factor that in. Plus, maybe you think I will slit your throat one night and sacrifice you up to Lolth or whoever is their current god or goddes." He pauses and then says, "Well, I would say that it feather fall."

Dani looks crestfallen. "Oh damn, you guessed it! I didn't have any other spell left. You beast! That is not fair!" she pouts, trying hard to keep a straight face.

Occa says, "I thought as you...you dastardly mages and your evil fallings of the feathers!"

"Ummm...Occa? Are you okay? You sure are talking strangely..."

Occa's frowns, his eyebrows going up in consternation, "What do you mean? Why does everyone ask me that?" He mumbles some more to himself, shaking his head.

"Besides, that wasn't what I was talking about...this new body has, oh...how to say this? Some extra special endowements that I think you would really like....especially on a cold dark night." Occa smiles and winks lewdly at Dani.

Dani raises a brow, but looks interested. "Indeed? And what might that be?"

Occa says, "Well, you are fairly naive if you must ask."

"Huh? What do you mean. I know little of Drow...do they have an extra navel, or perhaps you have become soft and furry all over?"

Occa says, "Sorry, club rules, I can't say...secret handshake and all of that. However, I might be persauded in the interest of science...."

"An interest of science? Well, by all means, disrobe. I'm sure we would all be very interested. It is very good of you to be so generous - education is very important... " She steps forward to help him remove his clothing.

"No, no...in the interest of science...not an interest of science. Gee. And I said, I might be persauded...I have no intention to reveal the secrets of my brothers for no reason! Do you know how much a sage would love to examine a drow?" He pauses and pushes his long white hair back again and says, "Hmm, I wonder if there are any attractive female mages..."

Dani grins. "I'm not *that* stupid!" She laughs, but it is tinged with a bit of concern.

Occa looks surprised and says, "What? To think there are any attractive female mages...err, I meant sages."

Suddenly Occa stands totally upright and says, "Hmm, Occa isn't a great time for the next Drow war lord is it? OH well."

Dani frowns, "What? I didn't quite get that..."

"Just muttering to myself...no need to worry abou that." Occa continues muttering as he starts digging through his pouches...he pulls forth a small book, quill and ink and starts scribbling furiously in it.

Dani gives Occa a quizical look and soon turns away with a puzzled frown.

Then he will draw the second card....

Nothing appears to happen.

"Hummmph...all these cards and wishes and nothing happens...I thought things would get much more exciting - but I can say that now since I have already had my turn!" She finishes with a chuckle.

Occa says, "Yeah...someone turning into another race completely sure isn't very exciting. You're part elvish aren't you? Yeah, I knew it..."

He goes over to the community chest and digs out a longsword and a shortsword (both normal)....he swings them around a bit and finally they clash together. The longsword goes flying and he drops the shortsword on his foot. "Oooowwww! I guess I haven't become a dualist...a figher and mage both. Oh well."

Jesse chimes in at all the discussion.

"Where I come from, drow are considered bad, and many are killed on sight, even if they might be good. I don't know the situation here, but your new transformation seems to be a curse, not a blessing.

"It just goes to show you that you should be careful what you wish for, you might get exactly that."

Jesse chuckles to himself, and begins to play his flute.

Occa says, "Thanks for the advice Jesse...here is another cliche for ya, since you seem so fond of them 'hindsight is perfect vision'." He smiles.

Jesse laughs. "I've heard that one."

"Didn't you know that bards have the knack for stating the obvious and we just love witticisms."

Occa says, "I am sure you have..." He laughs along with Jesse.

Occa takes the cards and shuffles them again, "Anyone else 'ere their magic be lost? Better hurry."

He offers the cards to any who would take them...otherwise he will put them back in the chest (or they disappear or whatever).

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