You spend the night resting and recovering.
The next morning, thanks to the efforts of Darian and Orlon, you are all healthy again.
Occa says, in the morning, "Well, do you guys feel like you could train or not?" to Darian and Lore.
Darian replies to Occa.
"Yup. I definately need to do some training. I needed some after the last time we stayed in your mansion. I can use even more now. Does anyone object to taking some time off?"
Occa then says to everyone, "We also have about 30 items that need to be identified....about 40 or 50 if we include potions and scrolls in the count. Do you guys want to take a break and do that? People can train and rest as well."
Orlon agrees "Yes, let's take a break back at basecamp to identify this stuff and let people train. I'm ready to go whenever the party is."
After Darian mentions the need for training Occa says, "In that case, my vote is for heading back to base camp and training."
Occa says to the group, "Okay, let's go."
Once everyone is in the portable hole (and the treasure is there too!), Occa teleports no error back to the base camp.
It is an overcast and windy morning outside of the dungeon. The temperature is about 35F, and it is raining heavily. There is still 4.5' of snow on the ground, though.
"Thanks and by the way, good job so far.. you have potential !" Al says with a smile to Darian, after being healed.
Darian surprised by the compliment, gives him a small smile. "Thank you. I think the same of you." Then he gives him a silly grin.
With a straight face, Al says, "Well, maybe not !" He turns to find a room to rest and pray and as he walks away, he shows a small smile...
"I'll take the compliment, nonetheless, Al."
Meanwhile, Orlon and Occa are still trying to figure out Darian.
Orlon rubs his head, "Hey, cut it out. I'm too busy drawing out these hallways to notice everything. Shoot me if I'm not more in tuned with things."
Occa walks into a wall and realizing his horrible sense of direction says, "Opps, sorry, I forget these things myself."
Orlon replies to Darian, "Well tell Occa that. He doesn't care too much about your helping out the party. Maybe he's afraid that you'll replace him in the magic department."
Occa says, "Hey!" He reaches around his back and pulls a dagger out. "I think you are still mad about that slap, aren't you? As for Darian...no, I am very happy about him helping the party. I just wish he wouldn't be so 'yes, sir' and tip toeing about it. Very unmanlike if you ask me."
"Of course it's unmanly!" says Valdar, taking a creme pie out and burying in Occa's face. "He's an elf, you dummy!"
"Besides, it is my drill sargeant training that wants to build him a back bone."
Orlon snaps to attention and yells out "SIR, YES SIR." He then produces a lemon and tosses it at Occa. "If you're going to be a sour puss about things, then you might as well have this."
Occa catches the lemon and says, "Oh thanks! My favorite!"
Pharian laughs. "When Darian dies, maybe you should dissect his backbone, too." He gives out another nasal laugh. "You must have been a peculiar drill sargent, Occa. I can just hear you barking out your orders... 'Don't do what I say!' and 'Don't call me sir!'"
Occa smiles, "Well, they didn't keep me in that role too long...I wasn't very good at it. So I was able to get into an infiltration unit. Much more fun."
Orlon laughs "Besides this party, Occa, what were you able to infiltrate?"
Occa says, "Uh well, I didn't say I was any good. I had a tendency to use fireballs for recon, so I never found many living enemy soldiers. Oh well."
"What do you want Occa?" Oh Well asks.
Occa shrugs and says, "Who knows?"
Who Knows snaps at Occa "What are you dragging me into your philosophical discussions for. I have better things to do." He then goes back to eating some cold, leftover pizza.
Jesse looks at Occa. "Wait.. I didn't think you were into that... at least not from what I hear from Tracy." the bard says, smiling.
Occa snorts and says, "Do I look like an elf or a bard? Come on!"
Al snickers... a most uncharacteristic thing to do, as he is done healing and praying to Horus...
"While I am a proponent for sex as much as the next guy, regardless of my "Paladinhood", but must it be the only topic of conversation ??" he asks as he look around the group for a "wise" answer..
"Using all of my infinite wisdom," Orlon tells Al, "what else is there for a bunch of guys adventuring to talk about?"
Occa says, "You won't find any wise answers here, Al, only wise cracks."
He turns to Jesse and says, "Don't even think of taking off with that one." He smiles and says to Al, "Our main preoccupation here is food, sex and violence....get with the program, paladin. Just remember, Tracey is mine...or, I guess I am hers. Whatever, you touch her, I will turn you into a newt."
Snickering, Orlon asks Occa "Doesn't Cannon Fodder have a say in the matter?"
Cannon Fodder says, "Oooooh NO I don't!"
Occa says, "What? Why would he have a say?"
Cannon Fodder says, "Obviously he thinks that since I am your simulacrum I could help with that kind of thing." He winks to Orlon.
Occa says, "Oh..." He gives Cannon Fodder a suspicious look.
Jesse looks innocently at Occa, "Who? Me? I'd never." she says and starts giggling.... "Occa, how do you turn someone into a newt? Could you teach me .... please?" she asks.
"Sure, Jesse, as soon as you can cast 4th order spells, I would be delighted in teaching you who to turn Al, err...I mean someone into a newt."
"Hey Occa, what if Tracey touches Jesse? Will you turn Tracey into a newt?" Orlon asks.
Occa says, "Well then we would have to talk about the Menage..." He smiles.
Cannon Fodder says, "What about a foursome?!?"
Occa frowns and says, "With who?"
Cannon Fodder says, "Well, including me you dolt!"
Occa says, "Well, that would be kinda strange..."
Cannon Fodder says, "You are a selfish #@$#!@!!!"
"Violence I like, and don't be threatening anyone, I might just take you up on your challenge.." Al says with a grim grin.... and then a wide smile... " A Newt, interesting... did you ever play pin the tail on the donkey ?? My version is skewer the mage on the sword, wanna play ?"
Jesse takes out a piece of paper and a quill. "Step right up everyone, the betting window is open. Al the Paladin versus Occa the insane, a duel to the newt." she says... "Safe money is on Occa."
"Are you giving odds on Al?" Orlon inquires.
"Is this another one of those pissing contests you mentioned?" asks Darian.
Orlon laughs, "He is rather full of himself at times, isn't he?"
Jesse smiles, "Actually, yes I think it is." the bard replies. "I bet that Occa can piss farther too."
Occa says, "I have a great deal of practice, thank you." He winks at Jesse.
"More than Al?" asks Darian.
Occa frowns and says, "That does seem unlikely since he uses that technique more often."
Occa smiles and says, "You are a funny guy, Al. We could have a little war game if you wish. First blood or to the death? We do have plenty of clerics here if we need them."
Occa giggles.
Orlon steps forward, "I"m ready with the first-aid kit."
"Thank you, Occa," Al bows slightly, never losing sight of Occa."No pissing contest dear," He looks at Jesse with a sour look. "I unfortunately take slights against my honor too quickly and too personal... I have no desire to fight you but if you insist on such foolishness, I will take you down." he replies matter of factly...
Occa laughs and says, "Okay, you are one of those that have to have the last word. That is fine with me...I jested about Tracey. You took it seriously, so you started this foolishness. Anyway, it doesn't matter...I won't fight you because I have grown bored with this conversation. I go to study." He walks up to the tent pausing only to say to Orlon, "Could you learn some divination spells so that we can see if any of this stuff is cursed?"
"I'll get on it," Orlon tells Occa.
Jesse looks at Al, "Are you talking to me? Are you trying to threaten me? I can't belive it. Well Mr. Honorable Paladin who doens't understand the word no... Blow it out your ear. I have yet to insult your honor, it's not worth the effort and would be too easy a target. However, if you thing it will prove you are a better man than me, come and take your best shot." the bard replies.
"Otherwise, shut up about your honor and stop insulting people here. We are a merry band, 'cepting you, and methings you have deficits in other areas so you attempt to make them up with bully words and actions."
Jesse stares at Al, her face menacing, lips curled back, teeth bared.
Darian shakes his head. "Al, you really should be more careful with your words. You seem to stumble into these situations all too often."
"Actually I was talking to the mage, but as I had told you, you are beautiful where you are angry." Al says with a smile. "Enough of this now, I say, I don't want to argue with any of you, to some extend you have accepted me and as I had said before, I am by nature a loner, but even I can change, so I am willing if any of you are !" he replies to Jesse's venomous, but beautiful attack...
Jesse throws up her hands in disgust. She walks over to Darian. The bard thows her arms around him and plant a big wet kiss on his cheek. She gives him a 'come hither' look, her hips swinging quite delightfully as she walks away.
Darian blushes at the kiss and looks quite confused about the whole manner. But, he is able to figure out Jesse's look and he follows her.
Amused, Al watches the two leave and says, "Darian, I expect a hearty thanks after the two of you are done playing !" he finishes with a wide smile.
After a bit they return...and Darian tries again to explain himself.
"Hmmm... So you object to my deferential treatment of those that are more experienced than I? It seems wise to me to query your elders before trying something new. And, remember, if I annoy any of you, I don't have any real way of defending myself. Lore and I are beginners to this way of life. Lore doesn't get noticed much because he's quiet. I can't seem to get through the day without tossing in at least one suggestion... So, I'm treading lightly while trying to figure out how to fit in with the rest of the party."
Cannon Fodder giggles.
Occa gives him a dirty look and then says, "Oh sure, get logical on me, why don't you?" Occa throws up his hands and says, "Occa doesn't like logic!" Then he smiles and says, "Anyway, I suppose what you say is true."
"Glad you agree... sir." Darian smiles.
"And the last time I asserted myself, I almost ended up fighting Al over a giant. And you're complaining about my backbone? He would've removed it from me if we hadn't dropped the whole thing..."
Occa says, "Well, don't worry, if Al had a attacked you then I would have disintegrated him."
Cannon Fodder says, "I had my rope ready too because the disintegrate wouldn't have worked on a paladin."
Occa says, "Well, maybe not, but about a half dozen magic missles would have!"
Cannon Fodder says, "Maybe not, you have no idea what kind of protections he has."
Occa sighs and says, "I just can't win today."
Darian chuckles. "It's funny, but I can't seem to figure out which one's the real Occa. I mean, you'd think the real Occa would be smarter than the simulacrum, but sometimes it doesn't seem that way..."
Occa says, "They are as intelligent as a normal...just more irritating!"
Cannon Fodder says, "Actually Occa, we gain more intelligence."
Occa says, "Right."
Darian shakes his head, chuckles, and mutters something about fric and frac.
Jesse smiles and laughs lightly, "Oh Darian I can tell who's the real Occa. Its the one that likes my singing."
Orlon tells Jesse "That's only because he's being polite."
"Really? And which one is that?"
"Occa only seems interested in dissecting my brain after I die. Other than that, I guess I'm not terribly important to him. It may be as you say, Orlon. He may be afraid that I'll replace him in the magic department..."
Occa laughs and says, "I hope you do. That would be great." He pauses and says, "I am sorry I give you such a hard time, Darian. It's just that you are such a....follower. Other than that, I think you are a great guy with lots of potential. You just need to develop a problem with all authority figures in order to earn my respect. That is one reason I want you guys to train so much...so that you feel like you are a real member of this group."
Cannon Fodder says, "Shut up, Occa, you are very annoying."
Occa shrugs and says, "Well, you are irritating."
Cannon Fodder says, "Well, at least I know when to hold my tongue."
Occa says, "Well, if you don't hold it now, you aren't going to have to worry about it."
Cannon Fodder remains silent, but starts making obscene gestures behind Occa's back.
Determinedly ignoring Al, Jesse, and company, Pharian pores through the maps of the dungeon. "Orlon," he says, "have you noticed any pattern to where we have encountered dragons?"
Gonzo tries to look over Pharian's shoulder... finding he can't do that, he peers under his arm, pinching and holding his nose as he does so...
"Wal' waddaya see? Is der any pattern?????????"
"It looks pretty random to me." Orlon replies.
Orlon does the divination thing...and discovers that the treasure that you have hauled out is as it appears...you will incur no wrath from the gods or other powerful creatures in using these items...
"If you want to get on with training, Darian," says Valdar, "I can do you in both of your classes...the training, that is."
Jesse speaks, "Orlon, could you help me and remove this cursed long sword from me? I thought that Salaam did it,but clearly he was unable to." turning to Occa, "and I can cast 4th order spells, you taught me a few. I think actually, you tried to teach me the turning paladins into newt spell, but I kept screwing it up and turned a few newts into paladins. I can cast the dimension door and stoneskin spell, though. Are there any other 4th order spells that might be useful, something like a high powered lightning bolt?"
"I will gladly cast it." Orlon tells Jesse. He mumbles "Oh mighty Thor. Let thou Jesse be rid of this cursed sword once and forever."
"How can I be sure it worked, Orlon, is there a test. Not to doubt your abilities, but this sword seems to like me a whole lot." Jesse asks dubiously after Orlon casts the spell.
Hearing an opportunity to make amends, Al walks over, "Jesse, if you would like I could spar with you and if the sword defends then we know if didn't work !"
Jesse looks to Orlon, "Is that the case, I thought it would only show up when I was battling a real foe."
"Shall we have one whipped up for you then?" Orlon asks jokingly.
"Well, I could always hit on you again," Al says with a wide smile...
Jesse bursts out laughing, through her laughs she blurts out... "Al... You.... You're .... incorrigible... just incorrigible."
"Thanks, love," he says with a bow, then with lightning fast reflexes, Claw is out and his shield is in hand as he closes in on Jesse. His smile has been replaced by a grim look and a dull gleam in his eye.
Jesse continues to laugh. When Al gets close enough, she moves into action. With a swift motion, she draws her short sword and moves the blade towards the most obvious target: Al's groin.
"She loves me," Al declares as he attempts to block the clumsy maneuver with his shield. He swings high.. purposely missing, but trying to force her to retreat or at least protect herself....
As Jesse passes to the left of Al, she swings the sword and attempts to land the flat of her blade onto the paladin's backside.
Al attempts to block with his shield and crouch low, kicking at her legs, trying to knock her down....
Occa says, "Well, if you can't learn polymorph other then I would recommend polymorph self...good for running away and entertaining large crowds. Wizard eye is also good for recon. There are a few others I have, but none as good. Confusion isn't bad."
The bard then turns and announces to the group, "I would also like to take a few weeks and train, practice my scales and the like. Hopefully this will not bother anyone, and may serve as a deterent to enemies, who might wonder what sort of creature we have here." she says in a humorous tone.
Occa says, "No, this is the perfect time for you to train...I can identify and Darian and Lore can also train. We can go back stronger than we were before."
Valdar teleports back to Greyhall with Darian...to train him in the finer points of combat and magic use.
Jesse begins her studies.
Occa begins the preparations for a mass identification session...