April 2, 1372

On the morning of April 2nd, Occa takes you all downstairs and introduces you to the MAIN party's community chest.

Kailar asks to borrow the magical shortsword and magical leather.

He takes the sword but notes that the armour is sized for a human.

Hlarn looks over the other group's loot and shakes his head sadly.

"Nothing much I see of use to me. But it seems you have a number of unidentified miscellaneous magic that might be useful. Shall we identify that as well?"

Turning to Occa and the others, he continues, "Tell us about the landing zone in hell. Will we be appearing immediately in a combat situation, or will we have a bit of time before we meet any significant force? If combat is immenent, then some of our followers will be very useful just prior to our departure, as we can all be enchanted with various protections to help us against fear, fire and other evils."

Kadlian looks through the pile. "There are a lot of useful items here."

Kadlian pulls out leather armour, protects as well as chain mail; short sword, allows the user to attack very quickly, improves one's chance of hitting a target; and longsword , improves one's chances of hitting a target, protects the wielder.

He takes the armour, but there is no such shortsword in the list, and no such longsword, either.

"When we are finished with this trek, I would like to purchase some of these items. I need to furnish my followers with some magical swords."

"Yes, there are a lot of things I would be willing to buy also for my followers when we get back," says Sian, looking over everything.

"I think I will take 4 of those grenades and can anyone tell me what this sinclair shortsword does?" asks Sian.

Niko explains to Sian how the grenades and sinclair short sword work.

The ranger takes the grenades.

"Just be careful about the blade. It can cut virtually anything...anything. Oh, and the blade can be shortened to dagger length, too."

Niko shows Sian how to adjust the blade length.

Niko looks over the PBEM party's collection.

"Where did this stuff come from?"

"This was from the crypt where we recovered the Sceptre."

Orlon is interested in the staff. He will point it at a tree and say "Knotty".

It turns into an iron shod quarterstaff.

"Perhaps we can trade this for something that your group has?" Rage says.

Orlon will check out the scroll.

It contains cure disease and cure blindness spells.

"I would like these if there are no objections," Orlon remarks.

Rage smiles, "I'm sure we can make some arrangements to get some items from your community chest in exchange."

"Let's see if we can work something out," Orlon nods.

"Hlarn, do you want that scroll?" the mage says.

Concerning...

- scroll: protection from devils

"Possibly very useful."

- wand: freezes things

Rage attempts to identify the command word. "Car, Malvis, this is one wand that one of you might need down in hell."

There is no command word.

- scroll: disintegrate

"This will be useful, I will hold onto it for now," the mage says

- ring: imbues the wearer with the ability to cast spells.

Rage attempts to identify more about this ring.

This is the ring that you got from the vampiric cleric of Hecate.

- wand: cooks things

Rage attempts to identify the command word, "Again, something that Gar and Malvis might use."

No command word.

- broom: a mode of transport

Rage laughs. "It looks like we should give this to Kailar. Didn't he lose his broom?"

Rage would like to take a 4 of the grenades

"Again, where is Zanax's stuff? We need to let others use it for now, so we can have the most power we can."

"As I have said before, gone. Rhyshara has it."

Rage frowns and then speaks. "Back last month, when we met with Jesse and company, Gar listed the items that Ryshara had and Jesse gave it back to us. the list was:

Plate Mail (protects better than full plate + shield)
Large Shield +? (protects)
Long Sword, Frost Brand +3/+6 (detect good/evil and precious metals)
Dagger +?
Ring of Water Walking (Ring of Water Elemental Command - need to slay
water elemental by himself to activate)
Ring of Shooting Stars (Fairie Fire and Sparks - other abilites not known)
Ring of Invisibility - originally Damius'
Boots of Elvenkind"

"Where is it?"

"I do not know. But that frost brand would be very useful."

Jesse replies, "They were given to you, Kadlian."

Kadlian scratches his head. "They were? Then, I must have brought them with me to Strabath which means I left them back in my room, along with all my other non-essential supplies."

"Yes," replies Emm. "I had stripped Gar and Ryshara after they were captured during the house fire. After Ryshara escaped, Jesse asked for all the stuff. She gave Gar back his possessions and gave you Ryshara's. Then you set out for Strabath."

"Occa, I do not suppose...?"

"I guess," he says.

Kadlian nods. "Whenever you are ready. And, thank you."

"This sword, is that one of the famed dancing swords? If so, it might be useful to have to get extra attacks," the mage says, "Now this sinclair short sword, can be used as a dagger? If so, I would like to take one of those, if you can show me how to adjust that."

"Occa, how can one find a command word for a wand? My spells did not find the words and they would be useful in hell."

"You could try a sage, I suppose. Or legend lore or contact other planes."

Malvis is mainly interested in the wands, especially the wand that cooks things and the wand that freezes things. He also wants to take about 5 grenades.

Emm selects the magic bracers, the bag and the rope. In the bag he places a mundane chain, the silk pillow, and a padlock.

When he looks inside, he sees a number of small, fuzzy objects.

After a few minutes he checks to see if he can retrieve these items from the bag.

He takes the items he put in back out of the bag.

He tries several command words like climb, straight, coil, bind and lasso on the rope to see what happens.

As soon as he commands the rope it suddenly wraps itself around his neck, as well as the necks of Sian and Gilstrock, who are standing nearby. Sian manages to pull himself free, but Emm and Gilstrock are helpless and are being strangled (each take 4 hit points of damage).

Gilstrock looks alarmed and slowly turns blue.

"Ack, aggh, ack," Emm declares.

Gilstrock says, "*choke* *sputter* *gasp* *choke*"

They take another 11 hit points of damage.

Niko tries to help out by cutting the rope with his flaming cutlass.

He misses the rope but torches Emm and Gilstrock for 3 hit points.

Kadlian and Darian both jump up and try to help Emm and Gil free themselves from the rope.

The rope refuses to budge.

Occa magic missiles the rope where it isn't wrapped around someone in the hopes of destroying it. The rope is damaged, but Emm and Gilstrock also take 16 hit points apiece.

Gar grabs the sinclair shortsword from Sian and uses it on the rope.

"I think I would rather let you swing that up near your own throat," says Sian with a grin as he hands over the sword.

Gar smiles and continues trying to cut the rope.

"I think that I will take that with me down to hell."

"Of course!"

Being unskilled with such a weapon, Gar has trouble manipulating it.

Hlarn flips forward his arm and a sheathed dagger pops out. He begins cutting through the rope, using all of his girdle enhanced strength. "Rage, dispel magic!"

Rage throws up her hands. "Sorry, not memorized today."

The rope resists Hlarn's sawing attempts.

Gilstrock and Emm take another 6 hit points of constriction damage. The latter is nearly unconscious.

Niko again is unable to make an impression on the rope, but scorches the victims for 6 hit points. Emm goes unconscious and catches fire.

Occa casts another magic missile and blows both the rope and Emm to bits. Gilstrock takes 18 hit points of damage.

He then turns and answers the dwarf's question.

"I have no idea!" says Occa to Hlarn.

Niko finally answers Hlarn's question.

"Last time, the area was fairly safe that we teleported to. However, that was not in the fortress, but outside many miles away."

"We didn't encounter any hostility until we were inside the fortress. We also had a guide help show us the way."

Gar says, "Yes, when I went there, we were in combat immediately. I expect that is the only place I can teleport us in."

Hlarn turns to the MAIN group. "Can you folks remind us of what skills you possess? In preparation for this adventure, a Heroes' Feast would be a good idea, as it would make us immune to the fear effects of the devils, as well as protect us against poison and offer other benefits. Are any of you powerful enough high priests to invoke this magic?"

Orlon, the High Priest, steps forward, "I so happen to carry that spell around from time to time. Very handy indeed. As well as all clerical spells."

"I could cast a couple of Stoneskin and Invisibility spells. Plus, I usually bring a holy water bomb or two..."

Kadlian takes longsword (90), improves one's chances of hitting a target, loves disco music.

"I presume this is a sword of dancing?"

"And does anyone know how a sword can never miss?" he asks, holding up a broadsword.

"I am also wondering if this broadsword that most people cannot take advantage of its full powers is a holy avenger. I have heard that only paladins can use all the powers imbued in one."

Occa says, "Oops, can someone raise Emm?"

"Damn," Gilstrock says. "That was ugly. Any way we can test those magic items a little safer? Pisser about Emm. Occa, can't you wish him back or something?"

Occa says, "I can, I suppose. Isn't he the one who tested it out? I think the description makes it VERY clear that it is cursed." He shakes his head. "Oh well."

He pauses and says, "We should probably ditch all the cursed items or use them for traps in our home."

"Or give 'em to people we don't like," Gilstrock suggests.

Occa chuckles. "True, true."

Looking idly about, Gilstrock muses, "I took rather a fair amount of damage too, if anybody's looking for something to heal..."

Darian, who was just about to heal Emm, shifts to Gil. "Damn, not in time."

Salaam looks at the carnage around him.

"Please lift Emm's body and put it on a table, I can resurrect him," Salaam says as he leaves the room. He returns a few minutes later in his priestly robes with hieroglyphics and other designs stitched in gold on the white robe. "I can bring him back now or would Gar or Occa prefer a wish, as this spell is physically taxing on me and I will need some rest for quite a few days afterwards?" he asks the mages.

Occa says, "Probably should wish him back." He pauses. "I will do it on my return from Strabath. We may have more fatalities between now and then at our current rate!"

"Fine with me," he says as he nods to the archmage, "Please don't forget the troll blood," he reminds the mage. In the interim, he will purchase about 10 gallons of holy water for scroll preparations and for the trip to Hell. He also purchases small glass vials for holy water grenades.

"I won't," says Occa.

Orlon motions to Occa, "Save your wish in case a bunch of people need to be brought back to life at once. Salaam, go ahead with Emm. I will save my resurrection spell for a later time."

"So be it," Salaam says as he looks over Emm's body.

He places a candle at each of the four directional positions and draws an ankh on Emm's head with his finger after dipping it in holy water. He prays over the body and intones, "Oh great Master, please allow this man's soul be returned to his body healthy and whole," as he casts Resurrection on Emm.

The body flies back together and shudders.

Emm returns to the land of the living to find that he has been daubed with strange glyphs and is surrounded by buring candles. Salaam stands over him. The rope lies in little scorched pieces on the floor.

"So you say this thing will just about cut anything huh?" asks Sian, playing with the Sinclair shortsword.

"Yup...you don't want to be messin' with that weapon if ya don't know whatcha doin'."

Meanwhile, Kadlian is back to looking at the longsword he just took out of the community chest.

Darian shrugs. "Your guess is as good as mine."

Regarding the probable avenger, he says, "We're in short supply of paladin's right now. When we get Zanax back, maybe he can tell us."

"There's that Drinor guy who went off with Equinox, too," says Robert, "He's a paladin, too."

"Do not forget me, either, infidel!" cries a voice from a nearby umbrella stand.

"Listen, if you're in short supply of a good longsword, I can loan you my frost brand or my defender. Your choice. I also have a pretty special broadsword, although beyond it being very
rare, I don't know much about it."

Suddenly Occa grabs Kadlian and they disappear.

"At this rate, we'll never get out of here," Orlon frowns.

Kailar quickly pulls out his crystal ball and scries for Kadlian.

He sees them at the Angry Goose in Strabath talking to the innkeeper.

Looking up from working with the shortsword, Sian says, "Orlon, they are just going to Strabath to get some equipment that Kad forgot and some troll blood for Salaam. Just settle down and give them a couple of hours."

Jesse shrugs, "Well, when they get back, we sit down to plan. Gar, can you diagram out what you remember where we have to go to find Vrith and this soul stealer."

Emm puts his hands to his throat and rubs tenderly. "Uh, what happened?"

He slowly tries to get up. "What are these little pictures all over me? Where did they come from?"

"The rope choked the life from you and through the mercifulness of my lord, Thoth, you have been restored to the land of the living, friend," Salaam explains. "Take it slow as you will be weak for a few days."

"Will these pictures go away, or are they forever?" Emm inquires.

"They will wash off easily enough," Salaam replies.

Emm then begins slowly, but carefully, checking his possessions. The last thing he will check is the bag into which he put the silk pillow, the chain and a padlock. He remembers seeing something fuzzy in the bag, just before the rope attacked. He will try to retrieve the mundane items, before carefully removing one of the fuzzy blobs; he will use all the caution he normally would take with any unknown treasure chest.

It is a little fuzz ball, sort of like what he might find under someone's bed.

"Emm," Jesse asks, "Did you have any strange dreams while you were away?"

"I wasn't away. I was dead," Emm replies. "And no. No dreams at all."

"What, no visions of Valhalla? If not, then you are not a believer," Orlon remarks.

"Sometimes the dead have dreams, Emm," Jesse replies, "Metaphysically speaking, you were away, since your soul or essence had begun to leave this plane of existence for another. I know that during these times people can experience strange dreams that are sometime prophetic. That is why I asked."

Hlarn nods. "Actually they are not so much dreams, but visions of the afterlife and the eternal. However between here and the hereafter lies a strange forgetfulness. It is rare for one to remember what they have seen while they were dead, but sometimes it does happen. On my home world the gods make use of this to send messages to their followers, but I've seen that they do not do so as much here."

Meanwhile, Cannon Fodder answers Kadlian's earlier question about the voice from the umbrella stand.

"It is a holy avenger, you dolts."

"Holy, schmoly...it sounds like a talking can opener to me," comments Niko.

"Yep!" says Cannon Fodder.

"I will open you up like a tin of sardines, wretch!"

"Wretch, eh?"

Niko pulls out his Rod of Cancellation "How about I come over there and turn you into slag? Then we might be able to make something useful out of you!"

"I am already something useful, heathen scum! That is more than you can say!"

Niko starts walking over toward the sword. "I wonder if you'll talk this much after I have you re-made into a spitoon!"

"Convert while you can to Goodness and Law, infidel!"

"Hah! Why don't you make me! Chaos is much more fun than law and order!"

"I cannot make you! You must do it yourself!"

"No, thanks. I have better things to do with my time. How about you convert to Chaos?"

"Never! May you contract a social disease, you wretch!"

After several hours, Occa and Kadlian reappear in your midst.

"Can we go, now?" asks Robert in a whiny voice. "We've been planning and scheming now for almost two months. The original Occa's probably been sent sane by devils, Zanax has probably converted to evil, and this Vrith guy probably got rid of the Sceptre weeks ago. Let's just go someplace and kill things."

"Occa, where you able to get troll's blood ?" Salaam asks the archmage.

"Yes, I did. I purchased 2 gallons of it. However, it is time to go."

"Alright," he says as he readies himself.

Gar teleports everyone to the lower planes.

You appear not in Vrith's reception chamber as the arch mage had hoped, however, but in a chamber where most of the MAIN party members have been already...though on separate occasions. You are standing in the southwest (directions arbitrary) corner of the chamber. Behind you runs a passage to the south.

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.

The passage to the south leads outside, you recall, to the pool through which you entered this area and beside which you battled fire giants and the devils who originally captured the original Occa. In the alcove to the east lay the person whom you thought was Occa (it was actually Gargaragoth), along with Salaam's soul. Later on, Darian, Orlon and Gilstrock discovered that the floor of the alcove also served as an elevator to a level above.

A number of troglodyte corpses are scattered about on the floor, as well as in the passage behind you.

The air in here is rank and foul, stinking heavily of smoke, sulphur and brimstone. Your eyes are wont to water.

"I guess this makes sense," Emm says, "cause I feel like hell."

"Me and my big mouth," mutters Robert, as he has gone to hell in his bathrobe. The rest of you are clad in casual attire as well.

Fortunately, the DM is feeling kindly, and so Gar also teleported your equipment as well. However, Niko did not have time to make his holy water bombs.

After ten minutes or so you are all dressed as proper adventurers should be, and are ready to take on whatever this plane has to offer.

Niko shudders. "Don't fall in there...it's green slime..."

Niko, a bit perturbed at not having enough time to make his bombs, checks to see if he has all his equipment and if his Stoneskin is still up.

He does and it is.

Kadlian checks his sheaths and makes sure that the dancing sword, defender and his shortsword are all easily drawn.

Kadlian glares at Gar for a moment before addressing Occa. "How do you suggest we work a marching order? We usually put a scout out in front, followed by two rows of fighters, with the mages and clerics behind and then another row of fighters."

Gar sticks his tongue out at Kadlian.

Kadlian ignores him.

Occa says, "We usually follow that same sort of marching order except I use a wizard eye for scout, not a person."

"What is a wizard eye?"

"A spell that allows a mage to see a few hundred feet away. It can be sent in any direction."

"Interesting. Rage, do you know this spell?"

"It is not pretty, but we keep the mages and clerics safe, usually. And while we let the clerics and mages use their judgement in what spells they cast, I try to call out orders to everyone as we engage in combat.

"I gather, from watching your group interact, that you do something a lot less formal. So, how do you suggest we work our two groups together?"

Occa says, "We don't really have a method to the combat. We just attack. People here are senior enough to do the right thing. Let's try that and if we find we are falling all over each other, we can try something else."

"Okay. Do you keep a few fighters around the mages, just in case something teleports into your midst?"

"Gar, do you know where we are? And where we have to go from here?"

"Nope, sure don't. We will just have to wander around till we find him."

"Then, he will have plenty of time to prepare for us."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"You do not believe he knows that we are here?"

Malvis, beginning to have second thoughts about accompanying this august group to hell, is feeling most inadequate at the moment.

"Ahem," he says, trying to get someone's attention, "Did someone remember to bring the wands of frost and steam? I was just wondering, since it was mentioned that I might be the lucky wielder of one or the other of those wands."

Malvis is looking around for Rage, his mentor and protector, he hopes.

Rage gathers Malvis and Carburator together, and while Occa casts wizard eye, she casts invisibility on each of them. "Remember to stay close to me, and don't cast spells until we need you to." She makes sure each as one of the two wands that the PBEM group found. "We don't know if these even need command words, so we'll have to hope we do not need them."

Carburator nods excitedly. "This may be fun...at the minimum it will be interesting!"

"Where is the ring of shooting stars?" the mage asks. "Give it to one of the back-liners, so that they can use it."

"I have no idea, Rage. Did you see it in the pile when everyone looked for their equipment?"

Rage turns invisible with her ring and waits.

Niko looks at the youngsters and sighs. He then turns invisible using his ring and draws his cutlass and sinclair dagger. He uses Dwarf's Envy (cutlass) to check for treasure, traps, sliding doors and shifting walls as they move out.

Sian gives Niko a look before he turns invisible. Then, he draws his frostbrand and sinclair shortsword and moves over where Rage and the younger mages are.

"I will take the back rank with the mages," says Sian.

Kadlian nods. "Sounds good, Sian. Perhaps I should join you since we do not appear to have a lot of non-spellcasters."

"Mages should stay in the middle. Otherwise, no one will be able to aid them if they become helpless...that was how Occa was taken...teleported out by one of the demons..."

Occa casts wizard eye and sends it out around the area.

First, he sends back up the way that the party originally entered this area: down the passage to the south. After a few moments he lets you know that the entrance area and pool are deserted. Returning the eye to the chamber where you stand, he sends it into the slime pits, but there is nothing of interest in either. He does note, though, that the walkway separating the two apparent pits is really a bridge spanning one large pit.

Checking the alcoves to the north and south, he finds more dead troglodytes and a lot of spears. He also spots shafts running up into the ceilings above each alcove. Each shaft ascends about 40', then dead-ends.

Finally, he sends the eye up the shaft over the eastern alcove. This is the elevator that Darian, Gilstrock and Orlon ascended previously. The elevator shaft ends against the eastern wall of a chamber right above you, perhaps 30' up (30' X 60', oriented east - west, opening in south wall west corner). It was here that they battled wraiths, and took some hits. Three 10' square sections of floor are carved with the images of arcanadaemons. Occa also sees four small holes at about waist level; one located in the centre of each wall.

He sends the eye down the length of the chamber and through the opening to the southwest. This opens into a stone staircase heading up, and immediately turning east and continuing to ascend. It climbs perhaps another 20' (vertical) and runs 40' (horizontal) in all. At the top is a passage running south for 40' in all, whereupon it ends at a closed door. As usual, there is no space to slide the eye under, and so he ends the spell.

Occa reports his findings to the rest of you.

At this point you become aware that two more creatures have joined you in the slime chamber, as you hear a canine growl from the northwest corner.

The low growl that you heard seems to be coming from deep within the chest of the very large, green haired dog, stiff legged and bristled. The elven maid clinging to his back, dwarfed by his size, stares at, all of you, her large eyes reflecting the light and a not inconsiderable amount of fear.

Your eyes divide their time between the girl and the dog, of the two he seems the more dangerous, but you do note that she is clearly elven, her ears and delicate features reveal her heritage, but you have never seen an elf like this one. She does not share the otherworld beauty of most her kind. Her looks are wilder, sharing some characteristics of her canine friend. Her elven features are too pronounced, teeth sharp and feral, ears long and finely tipped, eyes large and overwhelming in her sharp face. She is childishly slim and delicate. Her curly golden hair hangs in ringlets down to the middle of her back, her eyes are the blue of the summer sky and her skin is peaches and cream.

She slides off the canine mount, her black clad form draped with a plaid, knee length, kilt of dark red and forest green squares of varying sizes bounded by a stripe of black. The arm of an amber colored violin reveals itself over her shoulder. You would guess that she stands about a foot taller than the dog who stands three feet tall at the shoulder and over 250 pounds. She remains close to her companion, her hand resting on the harness that secures the packs to his back along with two swords that are wedged into the harness. She stutters off a few words in what you assume is the Elvish tongue then takes a calming breath and tries again.

"Why have you brought me here?"

Niko turns visible and lowers his weapons. Smiling, he replies in Elvish, "What makes you think we are responsible for bringing you here?"

Niko, a high elf, regards the newcomer and still keeps his distance. "Well, I don't know what to tell you, but I don't think we had anything with your appearance here."

Turning to the others, he continues "Before we welcome this lass into open arms, can someone make sure we're not dealing with some devil here?"

Turning back to the female elf, he says, "No offense, but in Hell, things are not always what they seem..."

Your words do NOT seem to have a comforting effect on the girl. She halts her movement towards you and you hear a faint whisper, "Hell...". More whispers follow, you can't hear what she says but she seems to be repeating one word over and over again and her eyes are tightly clenched in concentration.

"Be at ease. My name is Kadlian Lun'Folard, a Ranger of Aldacan. And, as long as you do not
seek to hurt us, we shall not harm you." He holds his hands out in a gesture of peace and tries to calm the canine. "What is your friend's name?"

The dog's growling subsides after the girl rubs his neck and whispers a few words in his ears. He doesn't wag his tail but he is obviously yearning to sniff the older elf. "His name is Ki. He won't bite you...ummm...but don't touch me, he's nervous."

Kadlian bends down a bit and extends his right hand further to allow Ki to sniff it. "It is okay, Ki, I will not hurt you."

"Do not worry, I would not touch you without your permission. That would not be right."

"I'm sure they will summon me back soon. Can I stay with you until then?", she asks before stepping closer to Kadlian and beginning to speak rapidly but quietly to him in Elvish. Her hands move expressively as she explains where she is from and gathers information about where she is and about this place, Aldacan. It becomes apparent fairly quickly that she doesn't recognize any of the places that Kadlian mentions. She mentions places like Greyhawk, Nyr Dyv, Wooly Bay, Relmor bay, Pomarj, Ulek and Onnwal.

The dog, after taking in Kadlian's scent, begins to move towards the other elves in the group. If they are agreeable he will also nuzzle their hands and take in their scent. Some may recognize him as a Cooshie or elven hound. Non-elves will not be growled at or bit but are simply ignored.

Malvis is grateful that the hound is simply ignoring him. Elves have their own ways, he knows, and doesn't want to intrude on their socializing. Malvis also doesn't want to get bit by the huge dog.

Salaam, in the background, intones to Thoth, "Great Master, allow me to see what is real and to pierce the disguise and veil that others try to trick me with," as he casts True Seeing.

"He never learns," says Robert, a warrior type, with a grin.

Darian, realizing what Salaam is doing, punches Salaam in the arm. "We're in Hell, Salaam! You want to go crazy?!!!"

"I guess my time away has affected my judgement!" Salaam says with a shake of his head as he ends the spell before finishing. "I will reflect on that when we get back to Earth."

Hlarn makes a note of that, "No true seeing spells in hell."

He turns to the others. "Do you think we will be safe here for an hour while we partake of a Heroe's Feast?" Looking at the newcomer, he shrugs. "The food might take her edginess away, and will fortify the rest of us."

"I could use some fortification. My name is Emm."

"Great idea, what rank spell is that? Unfortunately, I was unable to prepare it before we were unceremoniously brought here!" Salaam replies.

"Its a sixth order magic I believe."

Niko shakes his head. "I'm not eating anything conjured while while we're down here. Who knows what might happen..."

"Well, we are off to invade an evil demon's castle, where he is holding two of our friends hostage. If you want to help, or get back home, come with us. The more the merrier. My name, is Jesse," the woman says, her voice melodic and clearly trained.

Jesse chuckles. "He's already crazy... not as bad as Occa, however."

"Thanks, Jesse, I am glad for vote of confidence!" Salaam grins, "Yes, I guess I am getting a little crazier every day !"

He turns to the newcomer.

"Well met, my name is Salaam Ben Shel Thothemon, high priest of Thoth, and as Jesse says, a crazy man!" he says, his Southern demeanor much more relaxed since his last trip in Hell. He seems uncomfortable in his plate armor, and a well made metal mace hangs at his hip and a silver shield is held in his left hand.

Maigry finishes her discussion with Kadlian, seeming now much more at ease, and turns towards Jesse and Salaam sinking down into a graceful curtsy, "Thank you, Miss. As there is only one exit, I must either stay here or follow your route, and I would rather travel it with you than not and as much as I can I will assist you. I am Maigry, daughter of William and Mary, granddaughter of Lady Collette Montrose. I am the second navigator and trader on the Cove of Tears, a singer of songs and collector of tales."

"Trader, eh? Me, too. What kind of goods does yer ship usually carry?"

"My clan raises wool bearing goats. Most of our goods are woolen finished cloth and raw wool. We also have a few craftsmen who produce jewelry, clothing, carved stone and my grandmother produces curatives and other herbal mixes. We take the trade goods we receive locally, up and down the river near Greyhawk, and trade them along the coast of the Nyr Dyv, the coast of the Wooly Bay, the coast of the Relmor bay and as far South as Pomarj, Ulek and Onnwal.

"Of course, little one. However, where we are going is likely to be dangerous. Do you have means to protect yourself other than Ki?"

"I have some small magics and I'm fairly talented with my blades," she replies. But then fidgeting nervously she confesses, "I've never fought underground before. I've fought off the orcs with my brothers and with the Coup de Grace and killed my share of goblins, lions and wolves....but the idea of being in Hell with demons and devils is a bit intimidating."

Jesse chuckles. "It's not an everyday occurrence, that's for sure."

"You have no argument from me. We are from two separate adventuring groups. I am the leader of one of them and we have been brought along to take care of the lesser creatures, fire giants and things like that. The arch-mage Occa leads the other group and they are equipped to handle demons and devils."

"Greyhawk sounds familiar, but only because I have heard others speak of it. It is not on the same world as the one we are from."

Niko shakes his head. "I've never heard of any of those areas."

Looking to the others, he continues "Anyone else?"

"She's from the world, Oerth, my birthplace. I'm from Celene, originally."

A wood elf approaches, tentatively, not sure what Maigry's reaction will be. "I'm Darian, husband of Jesse."

"That's a funny way to say it dear," the woman replies. "But a pleasant one."

Darian smiles fondly at her. "If you want, I can go around introducing myself to everyone that way."

Maigry stares at the streak of silver running through Darian's hair. Her eyes are twinkling with curiosity and she begins to speak when Kadlian interrupts her.

"So, you are a Bard, then?" asks Kadlian.

His question draws her away from her contemplation of Darian. She blushes and replies, "I hate to call myself a Bard until after someone hears me sing. But I am one of the wandering minstrels."

As she is speaking she glances across the room to see what Ki is up to.

"Again, we can assess that later, and I look forward to that as well. Besides, labels are so, so, passe," the woman says, "If you can sing, and tell tales, and perhaps play an instrument or two, then you'll do fine."

"Jesse is a bard, Maigry," answer Darian.

Moving over and letting Ki sniff him, Sian says, "It is a good thing Logan didn't come with us."

Darian lets Ki smell him and he'll give Ki a few pats on the head.

You see a gnome in a sequined leisure suit do his best to avoid being near the dog. You see an orange tail sticking out of his backpack...and you hear a feline hiss.

Maigry's laughter rings like tiny bells, as foreign to this land as the sun, as she watches the gnome sidestep the huge hound. Maigry moves towards the gnome, flitting gracefully between the party members till she stands in front of Kailar. "Ki doesn't mind cats. It's only dogs that he dislikes. Can I see him?"

Kailar bows deeply and beams a smile at the young elf.

"My Lady, you have mistaken who I was protecting."

"Just be careful with Sir, Maigry. He plays cards with the Gods and wins. He is not to be trifled with."

Kailar nods in agreement.

"To be fair to the gods though, Sir does cheat."

Maigry pauses, deep in her curtsy, and smiles widely up at him, her sharp white teeth gleaming in the light, "I suppose that means he's not interested in a nice, fat, juicy rat if I manage to skewer one."

Deciding it would be prudent not to tease too long the master of a cat who plays cards with gods, Maigry turns her full attention back to Darian. She again begins to question him about the demon mark, but is interrupted by a non-corporal voice.

"Let's go. I want to fireball something."

"Ain't much down here worth fireballing. Most of the creatures here are immune to fire, except some trogs or crocs. We've fought mostly fire giants and devils here...both of which are immune to fire."

Maigry shrugs at Darian with a tiny grin, "I've a few magic items. This dagger," she says indicating the blade at her waist, "a ring and some bracers. I know they are magic but I do not know their powers. I thought I did, but...", she looks up at the powers that be and shrugs, praying they have some useful ability that will keep her from becoming toast.

Maigry pulls her long blade from its harness on the dog and removes a long, black, cowled cloak from a pouch. She drops both on the ground in front of her and pulls something out of her pouch and holds it in her left hand. She then begins a low, soft singing. The words are indistinct, blurring into tones. She spins her right hand in the air, catching the power of the music, sustaining it even after she stops her song. She ends the song as it began on a pure note, but the note does not end but hangs in the air, contained by her magic. She stops her movement and the note slowly fades away as she touches the hound which proceeds to fade out of sight.

She puts on the cloak, pulling the cowl up over her golden hair, and takes the long blade in one hand and the dagger from her hip in the other.

"Ki is now invisible, I presume?" asks Kadlian.

The disembodied female voice calls out, "Keep the kid back here. Kad, should I turn her invisible as well, to protect her?"

"That would be wise, but it is up to her. Maigry, the voice is from one of our mages named Rage. She can make you invisible, if you would like. I would also suggest that you stay towards the middle of the group to stay as safe as we can keep you."

Maigry looks in the general direction of the voice and responds, "Yes, please. Of course one question....where is the middle of an invisible group?"

Kadlian laughs. "Only some of us are invisible. I will not be, so just stay in front of me."

"Kad, I can keep an eye on the lass. I am sure her dog won't let much harm come to her...but down here... That way you can keep your attention on other things," says Sian with a grin

Kadlian smiles. "As you wish, Sian."

"Are weez finished wid da pet-show? One 'ell o' a place ta be makin' introductions", grumpily says the ugly dwarf with yellow well worn leather armor, a dumpy hat and a large sack slung over his shoulder. He wears a girdle and has several daggers tucked in behind it. He keeps a wary eye out on all the entries for the chamber and moves lightly from place to place avoiding the main concentration of party activity. "Time ta karumba dinks Gonzo... whose wid me? Where be we goin?" he says finally.

"Can you teach me how to fight?" Salaam asks Robert.

"Sure. Once we get home we can find a bar and get into a brawl."

"Sounds good to me!" Salaam replies.

At this juncture, a tall, strongly built blond man draped with a truly obscene quantity of weapons steps forward. He's wearing a light blue cloak over his armor, has one sword across his back and another at his belt, has a spear in his hand, and seems to have a throwing ax and a flail as well. One might think him just the sort of person you wouldn't want to meet in a bar, if it weren't for the somewhat goofy and rather friendly look on his blond-stubble-enshrouded face.

"Yo," the tall warrior says to the newcomer. "I'm Gilstrock, and I'm a bud of the husband of Jesse."

"Hello, Gilstrock," she says nodding her head, preoccupied with preparing to move out, "are you a member of the demon group or the minor inconveniences group?" She says this jokingly but her voice sounds apprehensive.

"Well," Gilstrock says, "I ain't no demon, or leastwise I wasn't time I checked -- I mean, I guess people get possessed all the time, and I guess if I was a demon, I wouldn't tell you, eh? And it kind hurts my ego to think of myself as a minor inconvenience, since I'd sorta like to think I'm major, but I guess that maybe I should just admit.... What did you ask? I'm part of the same group as Darian and Jesse and Occa and those guys like that.

"What's the plan and most importantly who's the guy, with the bulls eye on his chest, who is point man?" she asks as she wanders towards the voice she knows as Rage.

"Sorry, no paladins in this party...at least not at the moment," replies Robert.

"That might be me," Gilstrock admits.

Jesse speaks up. "OK, Gar, you know which way we need to go? It sounds like Kadlian and Sian will stay in the rear to help protect the less experienced and the mages. Gonzo, do you and Gilstrock want to take lead, so that you can karumba anything in the way? After that, perhaps the dwarf Hlarn and Niko. Darien, dear, stay near Occa and keep your shield up."

"Sure thing," Gilstrock says, and just as soon as he figures out which way the group is going to go, he will go to the front in that direction, drawing Thawbreaker (unless we're near bodies of water in which case he'll switch off for Hangnail).

"Of course, darling. But, Gar said he didn't know which way to go. Based on what the wizard's eye saw, I suggest we go back to where some of us ran into the wraiths."

"I was asking again, since there was more information and this might have jogged his memory," Jesse replies

"Gar, do you have the two teleport without error scrolls? Is so, can you give one to Rage and one to Darian, that way we have four ways to get out if we need to."

"Good idea.

"Who have I missed?"

"Salaam, Orlon, Maigry, yourself, Kailar, Malvis, Carburator and Gar, I believe."

"Well Malvis and Carburator have some instructions from Rage. Probably best to have Salaam and Orlon in the back a bit as well, along with Gar and Occa," the bard says. "I thought Kad had already advised Maigry. What does Kailar wish to do? Put him in the back with me, to listen and make sure we are not surprised from the rear?"

Darian shrugs. "I guess. What do I know about these things? We don't usually worry about it. You probably should ask Kadlian."

"Kailar works best when we let him figure it out for himself. Since Orlon and Salaam are both high order priests, I would put one up towards the front and leave the other just in front of Sian and myself. Just in case we run into anything that is undead. Not to mention that priests are usually pretty fair fighters."

So, the marching order is thus: Gonzo and Gilstrock in the lead, Hlarn and Niko in the second rank, Ki and Maigry in the second rank from the end, Kadlian and Sian bringing up the rear, and everyone else piled up somewhere in the middle.

You set off, and step onto the elevator. It takes you up to the level above.

Stepping off, Gonzo and Hlarm immediately note that parts of the floor are trapped; ie. something unpleasant will happen if the slabs carved in the likenesses of arcanadaemons are stepped on...possibly involving those suspicious holes in the four walls. So, you avoid them, and make your way to the exit.

Going up the stairs, you head down the passage and to the door at the end. After making sure that it is not trapped, Gonzo opens it.

You find yourselves looking out onto a 10' wide ledge which runs to the left and to the right for 30' in either direction. After 20' they go around corners back to the north. To the south, though, is a yawning cavity, and you can look down into the open area where the MAIN party originally entered this area.

It is clear that you are out of doors...but not on any plane that you are familiar with. The east, west and south walls rise perhaps 30' above you, are of rough stone, and seem to radiate heat. The wall behind you is of dressed slabs of the same stone, and of the same height.

Some 50' below you see the pool that you originally swam through to get to this area, as well as the dry ledge where you fought the fire giants. The door into which you inserted the strange eyeball is still open.

Before you, a 10' wide bridge of stone spans the distance between the north and south walls. The bridge ends at a dark opening in the south wall. Above you is an inky black sky, dotted with what appear to be stars. A brightly glowing orb hangs up there, casting a garish light and throwing parts of the area before you into shadow.

The air here is smoky and hard to breathe. You fight the urge to cough.

"Heh heh heh," you hear two rumbling voices say, as a pair of daemons step into view from around the east and west corners. About 8' tall with round bodies, they have five arms and three legs. Their heads are insect-like. Those of you have travelled to the lower planes previously know them to be derghodaemons.

A third derghodaemon steps out of the dark opening to the south, followed by a man. He wears a black robe and carries a longsword.

"Plan 768," he commands in a level voice, as if he were giving out a homework assignment to a class of students.

"Plan this!" Hlarn says, as he hurls his dwarvish hammer toward the man, using all his girdle enhanced strength.

Hlarn moves so that he's not easily grouped with the rest of the party and has freedom to throw. He'll concentrate on the human and let the others handle the demons. He'll stick with his dwarvish thrower for now so as to keep some distance between him and the enemy.

Given the existence of the pool beneath you, Gilstrock uses Hangnail rather than Thawbreaker.

"Plan One!" he cries, as he charges forward to attack the daemons.

Gonzo steps into shadows... or at least hopes he's in shadows and pulls his frostbrand from his haversack.  When appropriate, (ie, after the fireworks) or earlier if necessary, he'll step in to attack.

Emm immediately moves out of the way of those moving forward, and heads to the rear of the pack. He assumes a defensive position, primarily guarding against a sudden appearance of bad guys in the rear ranks. He is armed with sword and shield.

Niko whips a pair of Sepia's Snake Sigil daggers at the man wearing a black robe.

Salaam picks up a stone and tosses it towards the man and the 3rd derghodaemon. Once it lands, a few feet from the duo, Salaam focuses on the stone and intones, "Mighty Thoth, let the rock I have just thrown emanate a zone of silence so that your servant may defeat his foes!" as he casts a Silence 15' r. spell centered on the stone by the two.

Maigry hears the voices coming though the door and glances back at Kadlian and Sian to see their reactions. She will follow their lead as to what to do. She is also studying the walls for any indention and the floor for anything she might be able to squeeze her body into or behind for protection. She whispers a few comforting words to Ki and rests the arm holding the long blade over his shoulder for a quick hug.

Kailar turns invisible.

Drawing both swords, "Maigry stay with Rage as much as possible," says Sian.

"Well, so much for giants," grumbles Sian as he moves away from the group. "No point in giving them lots of targets."

"Do not worry, Sian, I will stay."

Kadlian's defender and flame tongue are drawn and he continues to scan other entries into the room.

An invisible Rage holds her fire to see if there are other critters coming.

Malvis decides that since Rage is keeping her self in ready, he will do likewise, and remain invisible while awaiting developments.

Jesse draws her short sword and takes up a defensive position, watching to see what the fighters do, and prepared to defend those near her if anything teleports into range.

Darian draws his sword, but continues to stand next to Occa to await his reaction.

"Robert, go have some fun!"

Gar casts a monster summoning V spell.

Occa casts lightning bolt at the man followed by magic missile.

"They are using strategy...there are probably others hidden, invisible or in reserve. Be careful."

He will follow it up with a fly spell.

Orlon casts Dispel Evil, and then moves to attack the closest daemon to the south.

Suddenly, as you move to attack, lurk or cast spells, you are struck by a powerful mental blow...and you realise that you are caught in the crossfire of another, unseen battle.

Emm is enraged, and lunges to attack Salaam.

Kailar draws his shortsword, and attacks the place where he knows Malvis stands. At the same time, you hear a growl from his knapsack.

Gilstrock screams in terror, and jumps over the edge of the ledge, and into the pool below.

Gar turns and runs screaming back down the stairs.

In reply to Darian's statement, Robert turns and attacks him.

Maigry sits down and commences to suck her thumb (feeblemind).

The daemons all suddenly disappear, and then reappear, in your midst.

Malvis finds himself under attack by a daemon, as do Rage and Occa.

Malvis has the gnawing feeling that perhaps all is not going well for the party, since he is being attacked by a party member, an eldritch cat, and a daemon.

"My," he thinks, "They must all think I'm quite powerful, since I am attacked by so many. I'll die knowing I really fooled them!"

He suddenly has an inspiration, and casts 'Rope Trick' as quickly as possible, in an attempt to reach some place of safety before he is chopped into small pieces.

Niko changes his mind and throws his daggers at the daemon attacking Occa and then draw his cutlass and sinclair to melee with the daemon attacking Occa.

Darian turns invisible and dodges Robert.

"Sian, assist Malvis. I will help Rage. Hlarn, keep attacking the mage. Niko, help Occa," shouts Kadlian. "Sir, see if you can snap Kailar and the others out of this, please."

"If I knew where she was exactly that would help," shouts Sian over the noise.

He moves to where he should be and using the frostbrand and blindfighting try and keep Kailar off of him.

"Rage, if you could tell me where she is that would be helpful!" shouts Sian, moving in that direction.

"Worry about the demon, Sian. And Malvis is a 'he'."

Kadlian attacks the demon attacking Rage using all the bonus points of the defender on the attack side.

"Ohh sorry thought you said Maigry," says Sian as he changes and using both swords attacks the demon on Malvis. "Malvis if I get to close to you tell me so I don't trip over you."

"Don't worry," Malvis says, "I'll be the invisible one climbing up this rope".

As he starts to cast the daemon claws into him for 12 hit points, ruining his spell and tearing his clothes to ribbons.

Canceling his silence spell, the cleric attempts to avoid Emm and pushes him back.

If he gets the chance, he will cast Dispel Magic on Emm.

Emm sees the cleric begin to wave his hands. He strikes to disrupt whatever nasty spell Salaam has in store. He will then press the attack on Salaam.

"You descendant of hyenas!" Emm curses.

"Foolish barbarian! I don't want to hurt you! The damned daemons have possessed your feeble mind!" Salaam retorts as he kicks Emm away from him, trying to cast Dispel Magic.

Emm easily dodges Salaam and closes in for the kill.

Occa tries to finish his lightning bolt, but the second daemon knocks him for 10 hit points, spoiling that spell.

He tries to cast magic missile at the daemon on him up to 5 times.

Gonzo attacks the first target that gives him an opportunity (that isn't a party member). He engages his adversary with a loud "KARUMBA!!!!" He is using his frostband.

<<slurp>> <<slurp>> <<slurp>> says Maigry.

Ki feels his mistress' arm sliding from his back and lowers his head to muzzle her face. Whimpering in fear the elven girl pulls herself up onto his back and buries her head in the fur of his neck.

Orlon tries to complete his actions. If not, then he will switch tactics and cast 'holy word'.

Rage Dimension Doors away from the demons and reappears just to the left of the bridge. However, as she winks away the daemon manages to claw her for 11 hit points.

She then turns her staff towards the man and anyone near him, and uses the paralyzation beam from her staff on them.

Jesse attacks whatever demon is closest to her with her short sword.

From behind you - in the direction that Gar fled - you hear what sound like a series of explosions.

Niko's first enspelled dagger thunks into the thick hide of the daemon, but its magic does not affect it.

Malvis is shredded for a further 12 hit points as he tries to escape from the monster.

Occa's first magic missile spell does not affect the daemon attacking him. He is hit for another 10 hit points.

The daemon that attacked Rage in the last segment laughs and turns on Carburator. The young mage drops in a bloody heap.

Hlarn's hammer, which seems to have been sailing through the air for an eternity, finally strikes the man, then sails back to the dwarf.

Emm stabs at Salaam and pricks him for 8 hit points, ruining his spell.

Kailar stabs Malvis in the back for 12 hit points, and the mage drops dead.

Kadlian strikes at the daemon which just cut down Carburator with his non-flaming flame tongue, and misses. The daemon tramples the fallen mage, just to make sure that he is dead, then winks away.

Jesse strikes at the monster on Occa, and slices into is hide.

Occa has his second magic missile spell ruined as he is struck for another 10 hit points.

Suddenly the features of the man, who has had an intense look of concentration on his face up until this point, go blank. His eyes glaze and he raises his arms, stretching them out before him.

"Cats are cool," he suddenly says.

The battle with the derghodaemons continues, as the one which winked out reappears beside the man, looks askance at him, then winks over to where Rage is aiming her staff.

The mage engulfs him with a paralysis ray, but he laughs it off, slashing her for 28 hit points.

Robert swings at Darian, but misses.

Niko's second dagger misses the daemon but strikes Occa for 4 hit points, and he is suddenly engulfed in a shimmering force field of amber, rendering him frozen.

Sian attacks the daemon which just attacked Malvis and slices a significant chunk out of the monster. Kailar moves to attack Sian. Kadlian also chops into the daemon.

Orlon completes his spell and moves to attack.

Gonzo steps out of the shadows and backstabs the daemon on Rage. It screams as he stabs it again, leaving it all but dead.

The screams of the now dead, the dying and the annoyed resound off the walls, echoing and reverberating, drowning the weeping of the elven maid and causing the elven hound to cringe. He waits a moment for his mistress to command him, but receiving none he dodges and avoids the combatants, careful not to dislodge his charge who continues to cling desperately to his fur.

Gonzo makes sure the derghodaemon is dead before turning on another target and charging it as quickly as his short dwarf legs will get him there.

"KAAAAAAAARUMBA!" he yells.

Gonzo finishes off the daemon that had been trying to attack Rage, and then runs off to help Occa.

Darian dimension doors away to reappear right behind the daemon attacking Occa. He swings his frostbrand at the daemon.

Robert's blade slices air. He turns on the next nearest person...Kailar.

Darian's blade slices into the daemon. It turns on him, grabs him, and tears into him for 53 hit points of damage.

When he is done, he tosses Darian's bleeding and unconscious body away like some bloody rag.

Jesse continues to attack the same monster, and it turns on her as she fans.

Kadlian chops again at the daemon. He lands two quick hits, before being slashed twice for 22 hit points.

Niko curses and engages the daemon with his cutlass and sinclair dagger.

The elf misses with both his cutlass and his Sinclair blade.

"Little barbarian bastard," Salaam swears as he unsheathes his mace and attempts to knock some sense into the angered Emm.

"Hee hee," giggles Emm as he prepares to strike his hated foe again.

Salaam crunches Emm for 5 hit points. Emm misses with his shortsword.

"Cats are cool," repeats the man in a flat voice.

Sian keeps trying to take down the daemon that he engaged. "Sir, fix Kailar if you can. I don't want to have to hurt him," says Sian as Kailar turns on him also.

"Great, just what I need is a back stabbing illusionist attacking me," grumbles Sian as he lets his senses flow to try and keep track of Kailar.

The gnome stabs Sian for 10 hit points.

"Let's take care of your ugliness though first," states Sian to the daemon.

"Pppppppth!" says the daemon.

The ranger lands two solid hits with his weapons, and the daemon is looking very ill.

Hlarn rushes over to help Sian and Kadlian, and chops the offending daemon in half.

Orlon also steps into battle. Touching the last daemon, though, it is not affected by his dispel evil.

The daemon turns on Jesse, slashing her for 22 hit points. She attacks again but misses.

Gonzo is next, though, and carves a large chunk out of the monster.

Orlon touches the daemon again but it is again unharmed.

Niko connects with his cutlass, and the monster howls and hisses. Then, he slashes it with his Sinclair blade, amputates an arm, and kills the monster.

The enemies are defeated, and Robert, Kailar and Emm return to their senses.

Carburator and Malvis are dead.

Darian lies bleeding and unconscious on the floor.

Occa still stands immobilised.

The invisible Maigry still clings to the cooshee.

Neither Gilstrock or Gar are to be seen.

"Cats are cool," repeats the man.

"Ah, shit," Orlon spits. "This spell never works well against these guys."

Looking around, he rushes to tend to the unconscious and wounded. He has 1 Heal, 2 CCW, 2 CSW, 3 CLW, and 1 'Imbue with spell ability (cure light wounds)' which he will give to Niko to use.

"By Poseidon, that felt good!" Niko exclaims.

Niko releases Occa from Sepia's Snake Sigil.

"Who are we missing?" Niko says, looking for the others.

"Jesse, see to your husband and stop the bleeding. Hlarn, see if you can help him. I understand he has healing power with his psionics. If we can get him conscious and well enough, maybe he can take care of some of the wounded.

"Robert, Niko, Salaam and Emm, go together and find Gilstrock and Gar."

"Maigry, are you okay now?"

"Gonzo, can you take care of the mage up there? Get him tied up and gag him."

"Me be already on dat one..." says Gonzo, pulling some rope out of his bag and heading over to the "cat" man. He keeps his frost-brand ready for any sign of anything amiss with the current demeanor of the mage and then trusses him up quickly when it is apparent that he is as docile as he appears. Gonzo makes sure to use all his best knots and techniques and is especially careful to gag the fellow. He then tosses the package over his shoulder and brings him over to the rest of the group for dispensation.

"Cats are cool," he says again before the dwarf gags him.

"Kailar, talk to Sir and find out how he got that man to talk about how cool cats are.

"The rest of you, guard the entrances in case we have any additional visitors."

Kadlian goes over to Malvis and Carburator and gathers their possessions. "We need to regroup, get people healed and gather our wits. Three demons and a mage and we fall to pieces."

Robert looks at Kadlian and laughs.

"I'll bet you used to be a sergeant major in the army, weren't you?"

Kadlian smiles at Robert. "No. Just a Ranger of Aldacan. Probably, the same thing."

"Oh, and you may want to ask someone else to go looking for Gilstrock, since I don't swim too well in plate armour," Robert adds. "Niko, do you still have that cloak of yours?"

Niko nods, "Yup. You want to borrow it?"

"No," the warrior says firmly.

Kadlian looks into the water. "Oh. I thought he ran the same way as Gar. How about you and Salaam go after Gar then."

Robert nods and heads for the exit.

"What happened?" asks Emm. "And what do we do about this cat lover?" he inquires, pointing at the bound man.

"Okay, not to state the obvious, but that really sucked," grumbles Sian as he cleans off his swords.

"Guess the giants are somewhere else," states Sian.

"Kailar, find out if Sir can get any info out of his buddy. I don't really want to be jumped again," says Sian.

The high priest rushes to Darian's side. He kneels by the bleeding man and lays his hands on his chest. "By the power of Thoth, heal this man!" he intones as he casts a Heal spell on Darian.

Jesse rushes to Darian and holds him tight while Salaam heals him.

Darian is healed for all but 2 hit points.

Once done, Salaam stands and asks who else needing immediate attention. "My spells are limited down here so whomever is in dire need of healing, I will heal!"

"Thank you, Salaam. Save your spells for now, please."

Darian jumps up. "Jesse are you okay?"

Jesse smiles. "Yes Darian dear. I'm fine," the bard says, kissing her husband. "You gave us a quite a start."

"Stupid Demon. If I wasn't so worried about the psionic mage, there wouldn't have been a problem. But, I wouldn't have died. Remember, I wear that ring of regeneration."

"Kailar, where is your cat?"

"He is right here. Why?"

"Because your cat is psionic and pretty powerful at that. If he hadn't assisted me during the psionic battle, I don't think we would've made it."

"I'd like to talk to him through you and learn what other powers he possesses. Or see if he can teach me more about psionics."

"Well, just be careful and patient."

Darian nods. "However, I can't communicate via telepathy, so I'm going to need you to translate for me.

"For starters, I'd like to know what he did to our enemy.  Between Sir and myself, we managed to destroy his defenses, but then Sir took over the man's brain, somehow."

"I think he has called it domination. I have to warn you, he doesn't like lots of questions."

"Okay, last question, then.

"Would he consider taking me on as a student?"

"Yer jes gotta dink 'cats be cool'... den ya kin look like dis one..." says Gonzo giving his package a bit of a kick.

Once done healing Darian, Salaam heads off to where he heard Gar run to.

"Niko, Robert, Emm, let us go," Salaam says. Salaam chooses not to say anything to Emm about the trading of blows as he realizes that he was not in control of himself.

Sian tries to locate Magiry and Ki. "Here boy...I need to check on your mistress."

"Kad, she has to have serious healing, I have a feeling. Maybe Darian knows what happened to her. It looks kind of like a psionic attack that must have happened," says Sian.

"I concur that it was some form of a psionic attack, just based on the results. But, are you sure that she will still be affected? The others recovered."

"Just kind of a guess being as she hasn't said anything. And as her dog hasn't started howling I am assuming she is still alive. Or so I am hoping. I guess when I get bit I will know I am close," says Sian with a grin as he sheathes his shortsword.

"Kailar has not said anything, either. Check on her, but give her a few moments to recover on her own."

"That is true, but I can see him and I can't see her," states Sian as he starts to try to find the invisible girl and her dog.

"If you need it, I have some dusts of appearance you can use to find her," Orlon tells Sian.

"I think I got it covered now...I would rather she stay invisible until we figure out what we are going to do next," says Sian to Orlon.

The sudden silence shocks Maigry's sobbing into soft hiccups as she tries to get back her breath, "<<sniff>><sniff>, bad monsters all gone?"

"Maigry, are you all right?" asks Sian as he moves towards the voice he heard.

"At least she is alive," says Sian with a frown as he glances at the corpses of the other two new members.

"Maigry? Can you and Ki come back and sit near Sian? He wants to check to make sure you are okay."

"Bad monsters scare me. I'm not hurt. I'm hungry...Ki's hungry too. Are we leaving now? Is that man dead?", Maigry whispers her voice and speech patterns like that of a child. She slides off Ki's back and goes over to hold Sian's hand. "Somthins wrong...I can't think straight...why can't I think?"

"Maigry, do not worry. We have several healers here and we will fix you. Please, be patient and stay with Sian."

"Do not worry. Nothing will happen to you," says Sian once he feels her grab hold of his hand.

Occa sends his wizard eye down looking for Gilstrock and then on to look for those that ran away.

Niko shrugs. "OK...Occa, let me know when you find Gil and I'll go retrieve him."

He nods as he keeps looking.

"Occa, once we recover our lost friends, we need to figure out how to get everyone healed back up. Do we want to head back to your mansion or try to find a safe place here?"

"We don't have to return to the mansion...I've got a pocket paradise with me. We'll be safe in there."

Orlon remarks, "Will this place of yours be habitable and safe for a week, because we'll have to rest up that long. Anyways, unless I'm mistaken, us clerics won't be able to obtain healing spells in this paradise place."

Niko shrugs. "I think we should be ok for a week...and I'm not familiar with clerics or their ability to regain spells...technically, we will be in a different dimension, so if that affects your ability..."

Kadlian looks puzzled. "Will we need a week to recover from this battle? Other than the two dead, shouldn't everyone else be okay after a little healing? Or are things worse than I have realized?"

Occa says, "Let's see what has happened with Gar and Gilstrock."

He continues searching.

Rage calls out, "Any healing left? I got hit pretty hard."

Darian gets up and walks over to Rage. "Sure, I can give you a little. Let's wait to decide where we're going to go to everyone up to full strength before I expend all my healing energies."

Darian lays a hand on Rage and heals her half of what she's injured.

"Well, I have a question for either Sir or Darian...what happened to our newest member? She is like a child now and it doesn't seem to be a temporary thing," asks Sian of the psioniscist.

Darian looks around. "Eh? Whom are you talking about? Maigry? Where is she?"

"Yes Maigry...I am holding her hand right now. She is having a hard time talking and thinking. I only assume it was something psionic because I didn't see anything else happen to her," says Sian, "Not that I could, being as she is still invisible, but...."

Occa says, "She has been either confused or feebleminded...I can't remember which. I think a heal should fix her up. May take a wish, though."

He shrugs.

Darian nods. "We were all hit by a few psionic blasts. So, it's possible she wasn't confused like others. Unfortunately, there are a variety of ailments that can occur from such an attack. Insanity is only one of them. One of the clerics can probably heal her, although I don't know what spell is required to do so."

He sighs. "Unfortunately, I'm not a powerful enough psionic to protect everyone from those kind of attacks. I'm only able to defend myself. Occa, maybe that's something we can work on in the future..."

Maigry's interest in the conversation fades, as does her recent terror from the battle, and she begins to fidget at the end of Sian's hand. She begins to quietly sing a childish ditty as she reaches down for a couple of straight bone pieces and begins to juggle them, one handed since Sian tightens his hold on her hand when she tries to squirm loose. The bones whirl in a vertical circle, seemingly of their own volition since the author of the motion is still invisible.

Orlon moves over to the feebleminded girl and begins to incant a heal spell over her. After a minute she feels her mind mending, as he channels the power of Thor to cure her.

The high priest then casts a cure critical wounds into Occa, healing him.

Jesse is next for a cure critical wounds, and she fully cured as well.

Turning to Rage, Orlon unloads two cure serious wounds spells into her, healing her.

Robert and Salaam wait to hear what Occa has to say before departing.

Suddenly Gilstrock surfaces from the pool below, then levitates back up to join you.

Occa sends his eye looking for Gar. He does not have to look far, for he locates the arch-mage's body back in the chamber with the elevator, a spike embedded in the back of his head.

Meanwhile, the rest of you have been searching this area, and the bodies.

On the man you find a glowing longsword.

In the alcoves where two of the derghodaemons were hiding you find 1200pp, 9 gems (100gp ea.), 15,000gp and an additional 1425pp.

Dripping wet, Gilstrock says, "Whew! Damn good thing I was using Hangnail and not Thawbreaker, or I'd be all dead now and probably none of you would have noticed!"

Darian grins. "You finally remembered! We knew you were missing, but we were a bit busy with the demons and the psionicist. Don't worry, we'd have thawed you out later."

Occa casts unseen servant to retrieve the body of Gar. The corpse is carried back to where you stand.

"Well, that answered that question," Salaam says. "Occa, does Gar have your regeneration ability? If so," he says, as he leans over and pulls out the bloody spike, "He should be good as new in a few hours, if memory serves."

When Salaam grabs the spike he feels a terrible numbing pain race up his arm. He falls, writhes on the floor and vomits a few times. However, the poison does not kill this one, and he eventually sits up and grins.

"I hate poison," is all he says after a few minutes and slowly gets up.

"Nasty contact poison," remarks Kadlian. "Any way to get the spike out of his head? Or is it better to leave him this way?"

"Hmmm...what are we going to do with Gar? Are we planning to rest first, too?"

"Thoth has granted me the ability to speak to the dead. Perhaps I should question the dead man to get out bearings down here. It seems this was a trap of some kind and I feel they knew we were coming," Salaam says, under the impression that Gar is playing both sides of the fence.

Hlarn nods. "Good idea, but we probably shouldn't do it here. The gods can lie to you through that spell, and I can only think it would be easier here. I can help you with the questioning if you wish."

"Then you wonder why they did not throw more at us. Granted, the fight was difficult and we suffered losses, but it could have been far worse."

"Speaking with the dead would be useful, but I thought the psionicist was merely dominated, not dead. Perhaps Kailar could persuade Sir, to find the answers for us. What do you say, Kailar?"

"Occa, do you want to recuperate back at your mansion or here in Niko's pocket paradise, whatever that is?"

Occa has the unseen servant remove the spike from Gar.

The spike is removed. Gar remains dead.

"Don't know. I don't know if we will be able to regain spells in the paradise...or if it work. We can try, though."

He shrugs.

"Is there any downside to teleporting us all back to your mansion?"

"Well, now what? Do we really need him?"

"If we really believe we can trust him, then yes. An extra arch-mage is always a nice thing to have around."

"If we cannot trust him, then the fact that he is gone is a good thing as it saves us the trouble of attempting to deal with him."

"I do not know the man well enough to say, but I have not had any reason to distrust him."

Hlarn smiles. "While he's dead, why don't we ask his spirit some questions as well?"

"Then we definitely need to go back to the mansion."

"Sure," Emm comments. "We have a sterling record of keeping enemies from causing trouble once we have them back at the mansion."

Hlarn pulls out a thick leather bag he carries with him and dumps out a couple of old skulls. Finding a smaller one, he picks it up. "Alas, poor Tibia. She is a grave woman now."

Tossing that skull back inside, he places the bag over the man's head to catch it, and then steadies his axe over the neck of the man and prepares to sever the head from the body.

Hlarn looks over at the others as he positions his axe, "Domination isn't the same as mind reading. But I think he's safer as a dead man. Once Sir releases him he'll be able to attack again. Anything we do to stop his powers other than slaying him would also make him worthless as an information source."

"Sir and I destroyed his psionic defenses. It will take time for him to recover from that, if he's ever able. I don't know if we did permanent damage or not."

"However, even if he is still dangerous, you'll want to talk to Sir, first. Killing the man while Sir is still dominating him might cause Sir to be hurt."

There is a movement from inside Kailar's pack, and then an enormously fat orange-striped tom cat jumps out, landing with a 12 pound thud on the floor beside the gnome. He stretches, yawns, and then sits down, regarding the dwarf inscrutably. His tail twitches occasionally.

Hlarn turns to Sir. "Sir, shall I slay him? Meow if you don't wish it or would be harmed if he died now."

The cat yawns, and looks at Kailar with an expression that the gnome knows well. It concerns his appetite.

Maigry, who is beginning to feel less like her head is stuffed with cotton, squats on her haunches behind and to the side of the dwarf and puts her hands on the floor, lowering her head to the level of the cat to better observe him.

"Are we really hurt that badly?" Emm inquires. "Why don't we at least look around a bit more. If we get in trouble, we can use the emergency Paradise deal to collect ourselves."

Your silent thoughts are interrupted by a reptillian hiss from the dark opening across the bridge, accompanied by the sound of scales scraping on stone.

Looking over, you see the head of an enormous black dragon filling the opening.

He starts to draw his breath...

"Ki! Come!", shouts the elven girl as she turns her squat into a diving roll through the open door. She crouches behind the stone walls and whistles loudly for her companion.

Gonzo grabs his package (the bound and gagged fellow) and dives for the safest looking place around.

Salaam looks for a large boulder to hide behind, since he has no missile weapons with which to use.

"Ohhh... This is not going to be good," says Sian as he tries to dive out of the room.

The cat disappears.

Emm sprints towards the dragon, and will attempt to time his roll under the dragon's head, so as to be missed by the breath. If successful, he will try to drive his sword into the underside of the dragon's head.

Darian dimension doors to fifteen feet in front of the dragon, with his psionics set to energy control.

Kadlian fires his last two magical arrows at the dragon's eyes before diving behind the closest form of protection.

Emm sprints and rolls as Darian appears right behind him, and an arrow goes whizzing past his ear to embed itself in the dragon's snout.

The dragon releases.

A jet of steaming acid fires above the thief's head, as the dragon tries to hose the party down.

Nine of you are caught.

Darian, whose psionics are not much use against an acid trip, takes 56 hit points of damage and drops.

Salaam, Sian, Hlarn, Kadlian, Niko, Kailar, Occa and Robert take 28 hit points of damage.

Emm drives his blade upwards, and nicks the underside of the dragon's chin. However, its steely scales prevent the thief from doing any real damage.

The dragon rumbles, pulls its head back, and locks Emm with its black gaze, and prepares to immolate him with acid.

Niko tries to activate his anti-grav belt with the intention of dimension door-ing right above the dragon's head and attacking with cutlass and sinclair dagger.

However, when he turns the belt on, nothing happens.

"Crap!" Niko exclaims.

Niko dimension doors to the side of the dragon's head, draws his Wand of Fire and points it at the dragon while saying "hoser."

Occa, somewhat pissed, opens fires on the dragon with magic missiles.

His first spell attracts the dragon's attention away from Emm.

Orlon tries to cast Flame Strike, centered over the dragon and avoiding Emm, before it breathes on Emm.

Niko appears beside the dragon.

Seeing the dragon fixing on Emm, Sian charges in, drawing the sinclair shortsword and attacking at the first opportunity that presents itself.

Salaam grits his teeth as the burning from the acid scorches his armor and skin. He pulls off what armor is dripping acid.

"Die, foul unnatural beast," Gilstrock finally cries, as he charges forward brandishing Thawbreaker, thrusting the sword into the dragon.

Emm is desperately seeking to avoid an acid trip. He tries the old fake out. As the dragon prepares to breathe, Emm take one step away from the dragon. Then just before the dragon releases, Emm dives and rolls back towards the dragon, trying to use its body as a shield. This is going to take some exquisite timing, every ounce of Emm's dexterity, and a whole lotta luck.

Occa's second missile spell inflicts further damage into the dragon.

Distracted away from the rather ineffectual little man rolling around in front of him, the dragon exhales another stream of acid, aiming at Occa. The charging warriors are struck, namely Sian and Gilstrock. Occa, Kailar and Salaam are also caught again.

Gilstrock takes 28 hit points of damage, as do Sian, Occa, Kailar and Salaam.

Sian, Occa and Kailar drop...the latter two obviously dead; their bodies rapidly dissolving into puddles of stinking, steaming goo.

Gilstrock continues his charge.

Robert shakes off his lethargy and charges in as well.

Emm, perhaps surprised at still being alive, thrusts his blade again at the black dragon. The blade is completely turned by its scaly hide.

Niko releases his wand.

A jet of superheated steam shoots out of the wand, engulfing the head of the dragon, and rebounding back to also engulf Niko, Emm and Gilstrock.

The dragon utters a deafening screech, even though its hide protects it from the worst of the attack.

Niko is scalded for 16 hit points, Emm for 8 and Gilstrock for 8.

Gilstrock is finally in a position to attack the dragon, and its hide is no match for Thawbreaker. A single swing severs its jugular, and the dragon is slain.

Malvis, Occa, Kailar, Gar and Carburator are dead; while Darian and Sian lie unconscious and injured.

When the screaming stops Maigry pokes her head around the door. Her reticence ends when she spots Sian lying injured. She runs to the elf, gracefully avoiding the puddles of ooze that were once her marching companions, and uses the end of her cloak to wipe his face and exposed skin free of the acid. She uses another piece of her cloak or his to protect her hands while she removes any armor that is ruined and clean any spots of acid of armor that still guards his flesh.

"Leave it to an insane mage to take a group unprepared into Hell!" Salaam laments as he lies on the stone floor in pain. With difficulty, he grasps his holy symbol and intones, "Great Thoth, please heal your foolish cleric!" as he casts Cure Serious Wounds on himself.

He is back up to 33 hit points.

"Hlarn, Orlon, Salaam, see what you can do to stabilize Sian and Darian. We need Darian to get us all back to Occa's mansion."

Orlon dispenses the rest of his cure spells into Darian and Sian.

The high priest cures Darian back up to 24 hit points, and Sian up to 16 hit points.

The two elves groan and sit up.

Sian is back up to 16 hit points and Darian is at 24, but due to the severity of their injuries they will be out of action for 5 days and 4 days, respectively.

"Orlon, is there any danger of losing the souls of our dead if we teleport their bodies back with us?"

"That is a question that I know not the answer to," Orlon comments.

"And if we raise them here? Any chance their soul doesn't make it back and we get something else in their body?"

"Those that are just hurt, guard the entrances until we can get out of here."

Kadlian gathers the rest of the equipment from his dead comrades, making sure that nothing is lost.

As Niko cuts off the head of the dragon with his Sinclair dagger (now extended to long sword size), he comments, "Well, I think this would be a good time to head for Paradise. Are we missing people still?"

"We don't know that the clerics will be able to regain their high level spells. I think the wisest course is to get everyone back to Occa's mansion. Providing that we can, of course."

"We know that we can't regain our high level spells while down here," Orlon tells Kadlian.

"I know, but I was commenting on Niko's Paradise thingy. We do not know if while we are in there you will be able to regain your high level spells."

Orlon shakes his head. "I wouldn't count on it."

"Well, I believe the only one capable of getting us back to Occa's mansion was Occa...unless Occa has the ability to regenerate from acid wounds or someone here is an archmage..."

"I have a Raise Dead spell that I can use on Occa," Orlon comments. "If it is agreeable, then I will will cast it on the arch-mage."

"Just as long as you are sure we will not get a demon or something equally disagreeable instead of Occa."

Orlon nods, "I can't predict what the outcome will be. Maybe it would be safer to get everyone back to Earth before I cast the spell."

"Then that is what we do."

"We will have to trust the gods on that one," Orlon replies.

"How about Gar?" asks Robert. "His corpse is a little more intact."

"What are you suggesting, Robert?"

"Well, he's an arch-mage, isn't he?"

"Oh, I see. But, he is a dead one. And I do not know if trying to raise someone from the dead in Hell is a good idea or not."

"As for Gar, I could raise dead," Salaam replies as he limps along still in pain from the dragon's acid breath but doing considerably better.

"Try a neutralise poison, first," suggests Robert.

"No kidding!" Salaam says icily. "I am quite aware that he is poisoned and will neutralize it once we get the body to another location, then raise him."

Robert shakes his head.

"Never mind."

"Salaam, I think Robert is suggesting that if you neutralize the poison that maybe Gar will come back alive via regeneration."

"If you are willing, it might not hurt to try it."

"Not a problem," Salaam says, "mmm, Robert, that was not a line of thought that I was pursuing," he apologizes in his own fashion. He kneels by Gar's dead body and places his holy symbol on the mage's head. "By Thoth, neutralize the poison in this man's body," he intones as he casts Neutralize poison.

The spell takes effect. Before your eyes, you see Gar's body begin to slowly heal and regenerate.

"As long as we can be sure we will get Gar back and not something else. We have enough headaches right now."

"Gar gave scrolls of teleportation to Darian and Orlon, I believe."

"In all this excitement, I forgot all about it," Orlon replies as he searches to see if he still has the scroll.

Rage speaks. "I have one of the scrolls of teleport that was prepared. If we are ready to go, I can help."

Emm looks around at the carnage, amazed at his good, or rather fantastic, luck. "Hold on a second," he says. "Don't teleport or go anywhere just yet."

He works his way past the dragon to peek into the room from which it came.

Emm departs.

"Great," Rage says. "Real smart."

A few minutes after Emm's departure, you hear a bellow from the direction that he took...a roar that could only come from another dragon.

"Oh damn!"

"Get the wounded to safety."

"Uh oh," Gilsrock says. "Now we're probably gonna have to raise Emm, too."

Brandishing Thawbreaker, the acid and steam burned and somewhat-worse-for-the-wear tall blond warrior is ready to rush into the room to rescue Emm, but pauses briefly. "Anbody else coming? Or should we just let him get eaten?"

"We wait for him to get back to us and then Rage gets us out of here. If she cannot, get everyone, hopefully she will get the wounded out."

"But," Gilstrock says to Kadlian, "He might be in trouble in there! There's a dragon! He might not get back."

Kadlian nods. "I know, but you saw what the last dragon did to this group. And we have a lot of dead and nearly dead people. If we wait around for another dragon, the tally will grow. I want to give Emm a chance to get back here, but going after him? That would be suicide at this point. We need to retreat and regroup."

Not being accustomed to taking Kadlian's orders, Gilstrock looks around at some of the companions from the MAIN group. "Anybody?"

Gilstrock finally turns and calls after Emm. "Emm! Come back! Are you all right?"

He gets no answer.

"Aw, hell, er, heaven with it, I'm going to go help him," and Gilstrock rushes in, Thawbreaker drawn, to attempt to attack the dragon and rescue Emm.

"I'm with you!" says Robert, and charges in as well.

"Robert, please wait!"

"Gilstrock, please do not be foolish. I do not wish to leave Emm behind, but to go after him in our state would be folly. Not to mention that you leave the wounded open for an attack from one of the other entrances to this place."

"Do not go," Salaam commands Gil. "The little miscreant deserves what he gets if he can not follow simple orders and stay in the group. If you go, you will be killed and we can always wish him back if we must!"

"Thank you, Salaam."

"Shut up," calls Robert over his shoulder. "It was your stupidity that got us into this mess in the first place!"

"Don't die, because if you do, I will NOT bring you back!" Salaam retorts.

"Oh Well, he won't be the first kamikaze in history," Orlon suggests. "Ah. Let the fool go. Let's get out of here with our hides intact. He deserves whatever fate greets him."

Maigry gasps and glances up for a moment from her labor of dragging her friend to safety, her eyes wide with shock from the statement.

"We give him a chance to get back here before we go."

"Rage, be ready to read that spell. Either Emm gets here first or the dragon. Whichever, we teleport out of here before anyone else gets hurt."

Kadlian searches Darian for the teleportation scroll. Once he finds, he takes it. "Just in case, those of us on the outside of the ring do not make it, we have a backup plan."

"Rage, if only some of us go back with you, get the dead raised as soon as possible and then send them back here to get the rest of us."

Kadlian picks up Darian and heads back to the doorway and a safer spot.

Jesse runs to Darian and takes her husband from Kadlian. "You defend,I'll take him."

Kadlian nods. "He will be okay. He has that ring of regeneration, right? He just needs a few moments to recover and then he can use his healing power. Or, one of our clerics could heal him enough to wake him up. But, they all seem to have gone deaf."

"Sorry, I didn't see that you were hit with a blast of acid as well!" Salaam retorts angrily. "I need to be able to function to heal everyone else!" he replies coldly as he walks slowly over to Darian and casts CSW on him.

Darian is cured for a further 11 hit points.

Kadlian slaps the cleric on the back. "Good man. A number of us got hit, some worse than others. But, we're down quite a few mages and we could use them. Do, your best and get those that are badly wounded back to fighting status."

Salaam casts 2 Cure Light Wounds and his last Cure Serious Wounds on whomever needs it.

All of the spells go into Niko, who is healed to 37 hit points.

Rage calls, "Kad, shall I go help with the dragon?"

"No, teleport us out. Wait for Emm to come through that door and then get us out of here. Get the wounded close to Rage, with the able around the outside. If she cannot take everyone, at least she can get out the dead and wounded."

Muttering graphic, native, expletives, not completely under her breath, Maigry grabs an acid free part of Sian's body and begins to pull him back towards the exit.

Niko mutters "Stupid kid..."

He rushes over to see what kind of dragon it is.

Gonzo disappears into the shadows and heads towards the sound hoping for a 'karumba' of an attack.

Gilstrock, Robert, Niko and Gonzo go climbing over the dead dragon to rescue Emm.

Maigry arranges Sian (and herself) as best she can behind some protective cover then calls to the group, "Sian is injured, please come help him."

"Our clerics have already helped Sian and Darian."

"Oh!" replies Maigry petulantly impatient as teens often are.

Suddenly you hear a cry from Emm...somewhere up the passage beyond the dead dragon.

"Let's get outta here now!" he yells.

A moment later you hear the shriek of the dragon...then silence.

Maigry whistles for Ki and pulls him to protective cover beside herself and Sian. She then scans the area for possible escape routes or more defensible positions. Due to the experiences of Gar she is observing the area for obvious traps or concealed doors, but she does this without unduly exposing herself to the coming dragon or straying too far from her charge.

"Rage, hold a moment, please. It seems that enough of the others have left us that it would be unwise to teleport out without them."

Kadlian looks at Darian and Sian. "You two take it easy, okay?"

"The rest of you stay here and guard the wounded. I am going to check out our friends and make sure they are okay."

"If I do not return in fifteen minutes, get everyone out of here. I have the other teleport scroll and I will rescue whom I can if we take too long."

Kadlian carefully and quietly climbs over the dead dragon, looking for his fellow companions.

As Kadlian begins his trek, you hear a familiar cry from beyond the dead dragon:

"KARUMBA!"

"That sounds like a good sign."

Groaning in pain, Sian says, "If you think so. Hurry back Kad I don't particularly want anything coming on us."

He tries to cast a cure light wounds on himself but he is too weak. He tries to sit up.

Turning to Magiry, the ranger says, "Thank you for your help. I am usally not dumb enough to run into a dragon's breath."

Looking around at all the corpses, he asks, "Who survived?"

Kadlian departs.

Fifteen minutes pass, and Kadlian has not returned.

"Rage, please teleport us back to Earth and after a day's rest and prayer, we can return and hope to find our companions preferably alive," Salaam says as he looks over at Gar to see what condition he is in.

"And just who the hell are you to tell me what to do?" the mage says. "We wait another few minutes before we leave."

"I am Salaam BenShel Thothemon, High Priest of Thoth and I am listening to Kadlian's words, 'if we do not return, teleport up and return as soon as possible,'. Do not be difficult. As you agreed to come here, then you agreed to follow Kadlian's word as he is one of the leaders of this failed expedition. So, we can wait and possibly get killed or we can teleport home, regroup and return in strength. Your choice," he replies in an even tone, not betraying a hint of anger at the bizarre looking mage.

Rage rolls her eyes. "And I am Rage. Hear me roar. Kadlian does not always know what is best for him."

"That may be true, Rage, but we can't help him if we are still injured. He has the other scroll with him, so he can get free also," says Sian.

"Where is Kailar? Maybe we can use the crystal ball down here. That would at least tell us if they are alive," states Sian.

The body of Kailar lies in a slimy puddle on the floor. The cat sits nearby.

"Let's just get the heck out of here while we can. This is insanity waiting around here," Orlon retorts.

"Do you know anyway to restore our strength, Salaam?" asks Sian. "Myself and Darian are in no shape to return in a days time...we are going to need a little more time."

"Once I am back in touch with Thoth, I will maximize my spells so that I can raise and cure all of you to full strength," Salaam replies.

"I will do the same," Orlon chips in.

Rage nods, "As you say, Sian. Gather everyone close to me."

The cleric approaches Rage and awaits the teleportation out of Hell.

Maigry helps Sian to his feet and guides his hands to rest on the hounds back. She urges the ranger and hound to gather closer to Rage and keeps a wary eye on the tunnel entrance.

Once everyone is together, along with all the pieces and parts. Rage will teleport everyone back to Occa's Mansion using the scroll of teleport without error.

Just as Rage is about to read the scroll, you hear a noise and see Kadlian squeezing himself past the dead dragon.

A moment later, Robert returns as well.

"Any changes since I have left?"

"Everyone who went after the dragon is pretty much okay. They found a large treasure hoard, but we have no way to get it back with us. Does anyone have a portable hole?"

Robert is searching through Occa's stuff.

"No longer. If there are chests, can not the mages shrink them down?" Salaam asks.

Kadlian shakes his head. "No, just piles and piles of coin and other things."

"How big do you estimate this pile to be? Can you not teleport it back also?" Orlon inquires. "I have 'Word of Recall' which I can carry 450 extra pounds with me."

"Big. They counted...11,000cp, 68,000sp, 30,000gp, 2600pp, 64 large diamonds (1000gp ea.) and finally 20 miscellaneous articles of jewelry (1800gp ea.)."

"Yeah that is big...if I could stand I would be more than glad to carry the diamonds and jewelry," says Sian with a smirk. "As it is now I probably will have to be carried."

Robert removes a small handkerchief from Occa, and heads back to the treasure room with it.

"Robert, please have the others come back when you have stowed all the treasure. We need to get our wounded and dead to safety so that we can get everyone back to full health."

"Will do!"

Robert departs.

Perhaps twenty minutes after he left, Robert returns. With him are Niko, Gilstrock, Gonzo and Emm. The latter is somewhat burned, but the others look as well as they were when you last saw them.

"Ho boy," says Robert, glancing at Gilstrock and shaking his head with a smile.

Niko looks around for Occa's clone and anyone else who died.

"Oh, don't bother about trying to raise Gargy...he's a goner..."

Kadlian frowns. "What makes you say that? Salaam just neutralized the poison in Gar."

Niko shrugs. "Oh, I guess we could try, but some daemon lord just mentioned that he's holding Gargy's soul. On the good note, the soul of Occa's clone should be back in his body if we want to raise him. We should definitely check him out to make sure he's Occa's clone, though."

"When we get back."

"I suggest once we raise Occa's clone, we should leave...staying here would be bad. Once we get back, we can discuss the rest of the details..."

"We are leaving now. Everyone, get close to Rage and keep the dead and wounded the closet to her. If we all do not go, Orlon and I both carry additional scrolls to take those that are left behind."

Kadlian has Orlon stand on the opposite side of the crowd from him, both of them at the outside.

"Okay, Rage, please teleport us back to Occa's mansion."

"No! We need to raise the dead here first."

"Why?"

His hand moving to his mace, Salaam asks, "Why is that ?"

"The souls of those who die here are trapped. They cannot be raised on the Prime...or so I've been told."

"I was told the same thing," Emm replies. "And no, we have not been replaced by evil body snatchers. If you want the whole story, we will gladly tell it. But it's kind of long."

"You are incorrect, if we attempt any type of raising here, any local petitioner will invade the body and will probably be demonic in nature!" Salaam counters.

Niko shrugs. "OK...if you say so..."

"How did you come by this information, Niko?"

"As I said earlier, the daemon lord told us. Oh, and he told us where to find Occa's soul and where the sceptre is."

"What demon lord?" Salaam asks Niko, "What exactly happened over there?"

"Let's see, Gonzo killed the dragon after it scorched Emm...then while Gil, Gonzo, Emm and I were waiting for Kadlian and Robert to return, this door opened up and this daemon lord appeared. Robert then joined us as the daemon lord said that he had Gargy's soul, that Occa's clone's soul was wandering around here somewhere, that Raz had the sceptre and that Occa's soul was being tortured by this Modron. Oh, he also told us to raise the dead here and that he had put Occa's clone's soul back in his body."

Niko looks to Robert, Gil, Gonzo and Emm. "Did I leave anything out?"

"Or maybe it's not such a long story after all," Emm declares.

"Actually, I was there when you accidently opened the door," corrects Robert. "And he said that he would put Occa's soul into a body...but I don't think he specified whose."

"Well, don't that take the cake...maybe that's why Gargy's regenerating..."

"Time will tell."

Gonzo says, "YUP. That's abouts it. He also coulda just 'karumbad' us as speak ta us. He want's ol' Ratass's head and is willing ta pay us fer it."

"What is a modron doing in Hell and why would he be torturing Occa's soul?" Salaam asks, "Something is very wrong here."

Robert grins.

"We're talking about the two Occas, here: the one who was originally taken by those devils and whose body Gar inhabits...or did until a little while ago; and the clone of Occa who was killed a short time ago. Occa's original soul is being held prisoner by a Modron on the plane of Nirvana. The soul of the Occa clone was floating loose around here, but Vrith is going to put it into a body, because Emm asked him politely."

"You know of this Modron, Salaam?"

"This one, no, but Modrons are lawful creatures of the Clockwork planes. This one is either a rogue or somehow captured from its home. I have no idea why it would have anything to do with Occa's soul!" Salaam replies.

Emm pipes in. "They may be lawful, but they aren't necessarily good. The archdaemon said that the modron likes to take chaotic souls and surround them with good, to drive them crazy. Or something like that, right Niko?"

"With Law," says Robert.

"It is something we can check out later. For now, we must decide what to do about those in front of us."

"Modron's don't like chaotics and this one has a thing against powerful chaotics. The daemon lord gave me some info about this modron...he recommended bartering with the modron instead of fighting him for Occa's soul."

"Perhaps we can do the same.. was the modron in the other room? Did you get his name?" Salaam asks. "Orlon, are you able to commune with your god and ask him whether it is wise to raise Occa's clone at this moment in time?" Salaam asks.

Kadlian looks at Orlon and Salaam. "Now what? Do we trust the daemon lord's words or are your both certain that raising them here would be a bad thing to do?"

"Have you ever met a daemon that you can trust?" Orlon peers at Kadlian. "I lean towards teleporting out of here."

"Lore states that the Lord of the Realm controls what comes in and out of his layer when discussing those of the dead. So, if the Lord keeps his word, which is possible, as those in Hell are amongst the lawful types opposed to the chaos of the Abyss, then Occa should be back. But the Lord sticks to the words of the agreement, not the spirit of it, so who knows what is truly in Occa's body. Now that Gar is regenerating, is he not alive?" he asks, looking at Gar.

"If he does not have a soul, I would doubt it. But, then, I do not know much about these matters and I certainly do not know any of the rules when they pertain to Hell."

"Whenever we get back to Occa's mansion, I would suggest that the clerics in our groups spend some time studying what is known in these areas. We were obviously not well prepared in lots of areas."

"Not helpful right now," Salaam retorts.

"I know.

"But, I need your advice. Do we raise our dead here like this daemon lord said or do we bring them back to Occa's mansion and raise them there? Only you, Orlon and Hlarn can really answer this question."

"I would suggest against it, but if Orlon can confer with his lord, perhaps a divine answer could replace mine!" Salaam says.

"Thank you, Salaam."

Kadlian looks to Orlon. "What is your opinion?"

"Why would he tell you this? This was not the demon lord we came down here to fight, was it?"

"Actually, I think he is...he sold Occa's soul and is holding the paladin's soul in exchange for Raz's head."

Darian groans. "I was going to mount it on the wall of Occa's mansion."

"Who did he sell Occa's soul to? And who is this Raz person that Darian evidently does not like?"

"Was Niko left alone for any period of time during the battle?" Salaam asks Kadlian.

"Which battle?"

"Did you not just go and fight against the other dragon?" the cleric asks. "I was too busy healing the wounded to see who went and who did not. You sound odd!"

Niko shrugs. "I don't think anything happened to me, but those daemon lords can be a tricky bunch..."

Kadlian looks at the others who have just come back. "Gonzo, Gilstrock, Robert and Emm, are you all okay? What did you see in the other room?"

A young, but strong, voice chimes in, "Umm, while you brave fellows are discussing the matter should we all be standing in this nice, tight, please hit me with a fireball, formation?"

Kadlian sighs. "Probably not."

He moves away from the group, taking Orlon, Salaam and Hlarn with him.

"Gilstrock and Robert, can you please guard the entrance with the dragon?"

"Gonzo, can you and Niko please guard the other entrance?"

"Don't sweat," says Robert, still grinning. "If Vrith was going to attack us, I think he would have done it before. In fact, he was the one who offered the truce."

"Besides, lawful is lawful, even if evil, isn't it?" asks Emm.

Niko looks suspiciously at Robert. "How do you know his name? And aren't you chummy to be on a first name basis with him...and isn't it awfully suspicious that he would offer us a truce if he could blow us away with a word..."

"What do you mean, Niko? That gnome who lived in the car back in Hell told us his name! As did Gargy! Who else would he be? Arcanadaemons aren't that common, even here! As for offering the truce, he told us why. He wants to use us to get Razamataz because he cannot."

"Yeah, but how did you know he was an Arcanadaemon? For that matter, are we sure that he wasn't some imposter?"

"Well he looked exactly like the picture we saw in the library book," Emm comments. "What was the title of that book? 'Even More Monsters for your Kids to Dream About? Something like that."

Gonzo pipes in... "Hmmmmmm... me wonda's how Virth knows wez was afta dat scepter an da soul of Occa? We didna tell him dat and he offa us payment fer killin' Ratzass an' tol' us where da stuff was we wanted ta get back....very curious me dinks."

"I've battled them before," Robert replies. "This isn't my first trip to the lower planes, you know. I saw my first one almost ten years ago. That was in Melnar's tomb. Orlon was there, too. As for him being an imposter, how would you find out?"

"Well, if we attacked him and he really did kill us all with a wave of his hand, then he'd be the arcanadaemon!"

Robert bows, and gestures back up the tunnel past the dragons.

"Be my guest!"

"Other than that, use his True Name...although, I doubt anyone has it besides Gargy and Raz..."

Niko looks around, somewhat paranoid.

Robert glances at Niko, then looks at Kadlian.

"You can tell he's gone over to your party, can't you?" he says with a laugh.

Kadlian gives Robert a small smile. "We are rubbing off on him, already. Be careful, we might do the same to you."

Robert starts to look worried.

Kadlian's grin grows wider. "See? It is already happening."

"We are not doing ourselves any good talking about it down here."

Orlon casts commune.

He gets no answers, being unable to open a channel to Gladsheim from this plane.

"There's your answer," Orlon motions. "Let's get back to Occa's place, now!"

"You lost me, Orlon. You were unable to contact your god. What answer is that?"

Orlon answers, "The whole purpose of me trying to contact my lord was to find out if it would be better to raise Occa's clone here, or take the body back to Occa's place and raise him there. Since I can't contact my lord down here, that settles the issue. We need to go back to Occa's place, now."

Kadlian shakes his head. "There must be something about clerical magic that I do not understand. How does your inability to talk to your god settle the issue? Does you mean that because of that, you could not raise the dead here anyway?"

Orlon replies, "The debate was whether it would be safer to raise the dead here, or to do that at Occa's place. I was asked to contact my god as to what would be better to do. I could not contact my god, so the question can't be answered that way. Instead of talking about it ad nauseum, in our weakened state and waiting for who knows what to kill more of us off, either let us clerics raise the dead right away, or let's go back to Occa's and raise them, now. I am tired of waiting."

Kadlian nods. "I understand now. You leapt to a conclusion and I could not follow your reasoning. I have asked that you raise Kailar here. Could you or Salaam please do it?"

"No," Salaam says, "I will not jeopardize the group. I have one raise dead spell and no cure spells left. If something else inhabits Kailar, I have no means to defend us!" he replies. "Pile up the dead and let us return to Earth. Warfare is your specialty, death and life is ours."

Kadlian sighs. "I thought you asked me to make a decision as to whether we wanted to raise the dead here or at Occa's mansion. If something other than Kailar's spirit inhabits his body, I will kill it."

"I am inclined to believe what Niko, Robert and the others who encountered Vrith are saying. In our weakened state, Vrith could have easily destroyed us."

Orlon tells Kadlian, "You hit the nail on the head. In our weakened state. We need to get back to Occa's place and regain our strength."

"I do not disagree with that. It is just a question of whether we need to raise the dead here before we return to Occa's mansion or wait until we get there. Will the souls of our friends stay here if we teleport out with their bodies?"

"Orlon, you and Salaam have told me what you believe to be the rules, but both of you do not seem to be absolutely certain. If we are wrong, do we lose our friends for good? We must have that answer before we can make the decision of when to leave."

"I have never raised a dead person in the dark planes before, but from my lord's teachings, the ruler of the plane has control over\ the souls entering and leaving, hence if a mortal is raised in an infernal domain, their soul is replaced by a demonic or twisted version of their true self due to exposure to the negative forces of the place. If this Vrith says its alright, it might be, but what angle does he have to allow this? No lord does so without payment of some sort. What did any of you agree to?" Salaam asks the ones who spoke with Vrith.

"I totally agree with you. We don't want to have to deal with some demonic entity," Orlon tells Salaam.

"Please understand that I only do this to make sure we do not make a mistake that we will regret."

Orlon tells Kadlian, "I do not mean to get you pissed off, but I am as absolutely certain as I am going to get on this issue. Nothing in life is 100% sure. You are just going to have to accept it. I'm sorry to say this, but the lesser of two evils is to try and raise the bodies in Occa's place, and the bodies stay lifeless, then to raise them here and have them possessed. Take a chance once in your life. That is what life is about."

"Spoken like a true chaotic!" exclaims Robert. He then pulls a creme pie out of his pack and shoves it into Kadlian's face.

Kadlian asks, "How many more pies do you have in there, Robert?", as he licks creme pie from his face.

"I think that was my last one."

Kadlian nods. "It is not easy to anger me and you are nowhere close to doing so. I just wish to make the correct choice for our friends. And since we have conflicting information, I am trying to get to the bottom of it."

"Since Kailar's cat seems to not be worried about us raising Kailar here, I say we try it. Sir would likely warn us, if there was danger."

"But where is the body that has Occa's clone?" Emm asks. "Do we really want to go back before we find it? Oh, by the way, can anyone heal these burn wounds?"

"Sorry, I am all tapped out of cure spells," Orlon answers.

Kadlian bends down to talk to Sir. "Sir? Do you have any objections to us trying to bring Kailar back to life while we are still here in Hell?"

The cat regards the elf, then sits down and proceeds to lick his backside.

Kadlian nods.

The debate seems to favour returning to the Prime, so you gather the wounded, scrape up what is left of the dead, and climb into the portable hole which Robert produces. All but Rage, that is. She closes it up again, and for several claustrophobic minutes you wait in stuffy darkness. Then the hole is opened again, and you climb out, to find yourselves in the front yard of Occa's mansion.

Maigry finds herself looking at a large, rambling mansion of at least three storeys, set in well manicured grounds. It is a spring evening, and mild.

The others do not pause to take in the air, though. They hurry into the house, where they are greeted by many servants.

They head to the formal dining room, where Orlon likes to raise dead people.

As they are settling in to watch the show, Gargy coughs, opens his eyes and sits up.

Gargy sits up and says, "How odd. How is everyone doing?"

"We got beat up pretty good," replies Robert. "Carburator, Malvis and Kailar are dead. Oh, and who are you?"

"I am Occa." He looks at himself. "But apparently, I have come back in Gargy's body."

"Well," says Robert.

"Oh, I will wish them back later," he adds.

Niko looks puzzled. "You're Occa? Or are you Occa's clone?"

"Oh, I guess I am Occa's clone."

"I need to pray to Thoth," Salaam says with a nod. He heads for his room and prays for all cure spells to fill the slots.

"I need to do some heavy duty praying," Orlon tells the others and retreats into his private room.

"I need to study too." Occa gathers all the gear that was his, Occa's and Gargaragoth's and starts studying the spellbooks.

"Would someone find me and Darian a bed please?" grumbles Sian from a corner. "I don't think I have the strength to get there myself."

Jesse helps to lead Darian to their room.

Rage looks around, frowning. "And I thought I was the only one with multiple personalities here. Who is this Gargy fellow and what is his relation to Occa, our insane and lovable mage?"

Robert says, "When everyone is alive or whatever, I will update everyone as to what has been going on."

Gilstrock rubs his eyes and says, "Gee, I feel like I've been switched off for a MONTH, but not much time has elapsed. The last time I was really paying attention, though we were in hell, and this looks more like Occa's mansion, and I know THAT isn't hell, because there's no way you could eat like that in hell!"

Several servants come in and hustle the sickies off to bed.

"A hot mustard chest poultice'll put you to rights!" says one of them, the cook.

"This is too confusing for me," Emm says."I am going to take a little rest, but after I take a nice, long bath."

He heads upstairs to get a robe and some fresh clothes.

Maigry and Mutt quietly slip from the room and the house.

Niko heads into town for a hard drinking, hard loving session.

A few minutes after Niko leaves, the remainder of you in various locales around the house hear a woman scream. It sounds like Jesse, from upstairs.

Hlarn, Robert, Kadlian, Gilstrock, Gonzo and Emm rush upstairs to see what is the matter. Maigry and Rage appear close behind, leaving a trail of biscuit crumbs.

Those of you who rush upstairs are joined by Orlon and Salaam.

They find Jesse standing out in the hall, next to Occa.

Where the door to Occa's suite would normally be seen is instead a pall of blackness.

"Occa, what's happening?" Salaam asks, sighing as it seems there is never a dull moment in this house.

Jesse is gazing into the darkness. "Occa said there is something or someone in there. Anyone have a light spell handy?"

Occa, replies that there is an invisible person in his room, either an elf or an adolescent human.

"Not sure who it is, but could use some help as I have no spells!"

Gonzo slides to the side and into shadows that aren't part of the blackness, ready for action if required.

Rage taps her staff, creating a light spell, and moves towards the darkness.

"Great Thoth, please grant your servant sight beyond sight!" Salaam intones as he casts a True Seeing spell. He looks into the room to see what is going on.

The room appears empty.

Occa says, "Whoever it is, is going out the window. Gonzo, circle around to the outside of the house."

Occa charges through the room toward the window.

Kadlian takes off.

Jesse follows Occa, and calls to Gilstrock to help.

Rage's staff cancels the darkness, and you enter the now empty room. There seems to be a dusting of white powder on the floor, and one of Occa's chests is open. The window in the west wall is open, and a cool breeze ruffles the curtains.

Emm sighs, draws Bubba, then enters the room. "Whaddya see, buddy?"

"No babes in here!" the sword replies.

Searching, you soon conclude that the intruder has indeed departed.

Looking through the window, you see the grounds of the mansion below. Down there stands Kadlian.

Having held back in the shadows earlier, Maigry eases around the corner. She rubs her finger through the dust, smells it and if not too dangerous smelling she puts a bit to her tongue.

The priest looks across the grounds to see if there are any intruders.

He sees none.

Kadlian carefully searches below the window for any signs or tracks.

Using his glowing sword for light, the ranger immediately notices impressions where someone landed on the ground after after apparently jumping from the window. There is a bit of white powder on the lawn around where the person landed.

Next, he sees a set of tracks leading away from the house, and making for the gate leading to the street.

"Salaam, Rage, Gilstrock, Hlarn, Gonzo and Maigry please come with me. The rest of you had better try and secure the mansion and figure out what has been taken. Someone is looking for something. If we cannot find the someone, maybe we can still determine who it is by figuring out what they were looking for."

"Is that okay with you, Occa?"

"Let's go, my vision will return back to normal fairly soon!" Salaam replies as he leaves the mansion, examining the foot prints with his true sight.

Salaam jumps out of the second storey window and lands with a thump on the ground, taking 8 hit points of damage in the process.

Following the ranger, Salaam uses his sight to track down the person who left the foot prints.

Occa says, "Can anyone see her? She must be within sight still."

He looks in the chest to see what is missing.

"Nothing in there," Maigry calls out from where she is examining the flour on the floor.

Occa discovers that all of his dirty underwear in the chest is intact.

"Whoever it is has got a lead on foot, but lets see if something from the air can't catch him"

Hlarn begins casting a protection from evil spell, quickly scribing a circle about his person.

Lighting a small candle, he intones the words to summon an aerial servant.

You hear an approaching whirlwind.

Snuffing the candle out as the creature forms, he points toward the tracks and speaks to the elemental. "As fast as you can, find the person who made these tracks and bring them back to us. Your bond is released once they are brought to me or after one day's duration, whichever comes sooner."

The aerial servant, now in the room and tearing up Occa's decor with its hurricane force wind, turns and blasts its way out through the window.

It flies past Kadlian and Salaam, and is gone.

After only a few minutes the aerial servant returns. Kadlian and Salaam drop to the ground as it flies by. The elemental blasts back through the window and into Occa's room, sending shingles and clapboards flying, and stops before Hlarn the high priest.

It drops something invisible on the floor at the dwarf's feet, and then it is gone again through the window, leaving the room full of smashed furniture, shredded wallpaper, and festooning those present with Occa's underwear.

Gonzo moves quickly to grab and secure whoever it is.

Emm scoops up a bunch of fine debris and throws it at the whatever that Gonzo is attempting to hold onto, trying to outline it with dust, dirt, and and other bits of stuff that will stick and cling (perhaps like Occa's underwear).

Hlarn turns to one of those who cast true seeing. "Who or what is it?"

His hammer is drawn.

Salaam and Kadlian arrive after a minute or two, to find Gonzo sitting on someone who is vaguely outlined by a number of articles of Occa's dirty underwear.

"It is evil, but its true form eludes me. It could be human or elf, male or female," he explains, trying to see if the person under Gonzo is recognized by him.

The person is not.

"Would a dispel magic get rid of whatever is hiding this being?  Or will it affect other things in here like our magical items?"

"In this proximity, it would dispel everything in the vicinity," Salaam replies.

"Well, that is a shame... Can you think of any other way to get rid of whatever is obscuring this being? I am wondering if this is Ryshara. It would be nice to know for sure, however."

"We can bound whomever it is and then from a safe distance, dispel the magic. Better yet," Salaam says, "strip it of any items and make sure it can not cast spells and then in time, it should become visible."

"Gonzo, shall we?"

Kadlian begins searching the being for items.

"Me gots a good grip on whoever dis is... youse kin do da searchin' an' me be a holdin'... perhaps some rope would be in orda ta hep me out," replies Gonzo.

"It would make sense. I happen to have some rope on me, in fact."

Kadlian pulls out a small coil of rope from his backpack and starts tying up the prisoner. Once the prisoner is secure, he searches the being.

"Be careful," Emm sayss. "If it is Ryshara, she managed to escape from the temple jail, so just holding her with rope may not be enough. I think Gonzo should maintain a tight grip."

"Good point. Anyone have any additional suggestions for precautions?"

There are none, so Kadlian strips the person. Copping the occasional and of course involuntary feel, he soon realises that this is a female.

Orlon tosses a dust of appearance on the invisible being, after the clothing is removed.

The person revealed is a young elvish female, her hair cut in a masculine style.

Salaam approaches the creature.

"Who are you and what do you want?" he asks. "In case you want to be cute, I have no qualms slaying you and speaking to your spirit."

Tied up now, her body goes limp and she begins to whimper and sob.

next day...

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