July 23rd is cool, overcast and windy.
Occa comes out of his tent first thing and immediately trips over his shoelaces...which someone has kindly tied together.
Stiff stands up and looks serious...as serious as one can look with an arrow sticking through your pointy hat, that is.
"I wish...mumble...mumble...mumble..." he says.
Suddenly Darian is standing there, quite alive. Those of you who were drained by undead are restored to your level of experience that you had immediately before encountering the wraiths.
But, there is no sign of Al.
Occa smiles and says, "Thanks Stiff!"
He frowns and says, "Too bad Al isn't here...he was an awesome warrior."
He sighs and says, "Such is life and death."
Darian carefully probes his head with his fingers. When he is satisfied, he stands up and looks around the camp angrily. "Where is Al? He's not hiding is he? The idiot!!! He turned his back on a mind flayer to dispell the effect on Gonzo! How stupid can he be!? He could have finished off the mind flayer he was fighting and saved me the trouble of dying!"
He looks around for Jesse. "Jesse, where is he hiding?"
Jesse looks at Darian, a tear in her eye, "He is gone from us. Like Salaam before him, and others too. There was not enough power in the magic to save him. He serves Horus now." the bard replies softly.
"Too bad. Guess I don't get to punch him in the jaw... Well, I hope there's plenty of women where he is. Probably deserves a little fun."
"But knowing Al, he won't get much," says Pharian.
Pharian shrugs, and scratches idly in the dirt next to where Darian reappeared. "Al lived a fool, he died a fool. Now he's probably off cavorting with his god, Horny, or Horus, or whatever. Just like a paladin to leave as soon as things start to get bad."
"I presume you folks managed to finish off those slimy, octopus-faced bastards? Hope you gave it to them good. Gonzo and Brightaxe do the deed since magic didn't seem to affect them?"
Cannon Fodder says, "No, one ran away and Pharian backstabbed the other and killed it with Gilstrocks sword."
"No, it was Darian's sword," says Pharian. "He didn't need it, seeing how he was dead."
"Quite true. Glad you were able to put it to good use."
He says to Pharian, "It isn't Horny, his god was Horkus."
Darian regards Pharian with a raised eyebrow. "Really? Pharian, the mind flayer slayer! That's pretty impressive. They certainly were tough. And you say that Al didn't come back... Hmm... Wimp... Too afraid to face us after screwing up like that. We might be better off without that arrogant paladin."
"Now come on, Al wasn't that bad," interjects BrightAxe. "I may have had opinions with his morals and; definately his sword, but he was a person to stand next to in battle." BrightAxe finishes before casting a cure light wounds or two upon himself (whatever it takes) to heal up.
"He was good in battle only when he stopped acting so invincible and concentrated on matters at hand. He caused his own death and mine by doing something rather stupid. If he had just taken care of that mind flayer than neither of us would've died."
Pharian looks up from where he has been staring at the dirt. "You've come back to life with a bad attitude," he says. "Did the mind flayers screw with your mind when they exploded your head? I rather like it, though, come to think of it-- you were such a sop before."
"I suppose it's always possible. No one has been able to explain the possibilities or ramifications of having these abilities."
"You would have died anyway, of course," continues Pharian. "So you shouldn't be blaming your psionic inadequacy on Al, even though it's true he was an intolerable idiot." He turns and walks away, shaking his head.
Darian throws up his hands. "Fine... It's obvious I can't explain this adequately to any of you. I know what I know, but I doubt there's anyway you'll believe me..."
Darian stalks off...but he soon stalks back.
Cannon Fodder says, "Uh, you didn't help out much there Darian. Nice of you to just stand around and blow up like that. Helluva lot of good it did us. By the way, you will probably never have a chance against mind flayers...don't try to fight them with psi powers."
Darian shakes his head. "You don't understand... I didn't fight them. I tried to keep their attacks from affecting you... I warned you at the beginning of the battle that I couldn't stand toe to toe with them... I just tried to hold them off so you folks could handle them without getting hit by their psionic attacks. Unfortunately, I'm not strong enough to hold them off completely... Plus, they knew I was psionic. I had no choice but to attempt combat in that manner. If I didn't, they would've killed me that much quicker. If only Al had killed that one in front of him, I could've held on."
Cannon Fodder prances away out of any possible danger. He sticks his tongue out at Pharian and mutters, "thief" under his breath and then prances away even faster.
Cannon Fodder runs and gets Saddam. "What to do with this little guy!" He giggles and runs around in his new shoes.
"MMMMMPH!!" says Saddam from within his sheath.
"Now, is everyone else okay? I seem to have my psionic abilities still and I can heal anyone who needs it."
Cannon Fodder watches Pharian and Darian stalk off. "We should have a party fight! Yah!" He bounces around the camp stopping long enough to pinch Tracey on the butt.
"Not while Occa's around!" she hisses.
He then says, "On to more pleasant things...here is what is in the treasure pile. Can anyone check for curses?"
Cannon Fodder says, "I can check for curses!"
He will do the taste test for all the potions that Op Code showed us a long while ago.
*************************************
potion of levitation scroll: MU2 spell: Leomund's trap. longsword: when he grasps it he is zapped for 7 hit points of damage. it isevil elfin chain mail +3 (elf) Darian got this saddam - Al got this full plate armour +1 (gnome/halfling) longsword, doesn't glow, sharpness? travelling spell book
he will look at this
Read magic, sleep, magic missile, mirror image, invisibility.
a potion
He briefly looks very pretty.
a scroll
Unreadable to him.
he will look at this
six potions
He feels like he could jumps through hoops of fire...for each one. a folded handkerchief - opens to other dimensions a sheathed longsword a fancy shield. a potion
He burps fire.
a scroll
he will look at this
protection from magic.
a ring
he will try it on
Nothing obvious happens.
a suit of scale mail (dwarf-sized) a suit of chain mail (elf-sized) potion
He feels healed.
pair of shoes (nike, green, white...air)
Occa frowns and says, "He wants to die."
To everyone else he says, "Okay. What are we going to do about training? BrightAxe, I am near to needing training, could you wait till I am ready and then we can all take a break? That way we don't have to wait twice?"
"I have no problem waiting to be trained, especially if it means that a fighter is available to help me train for my fighting level," intones BrightAxe. "I am ready to go where we will."
Occa says, "I relearned my spells last night."
He casts stoneskin on everyone present.
He will then start identifying all the items (all but the potions and scrolls). "Hey! Help out here fellow mages and thief/mages!"
Pharian glares at Occa and stalks off to his tent.
"I need to relearn my spells. Orlon, thanks for bringing me back. I appreciate it." says Darian.
Occa identifies...
longsword, doesn't glow, sharpness? - This sword is exceptionally sharp.
a folded handkerchief - opens to other dimensions - It is a portal.
a sheathed longsword - He learns nothing of this.
a fancy shield. - provides equivilent to...nothing.
a ring - protects your mind.
a suit of scale mail (dwarf-sized) - provides protection equivilent to scale and shield
a suit of chain mail (elf-sized) - provides protection equivilent to full plate and shield.
pair of shoes (nike, green, white...air) - wearing these, he feels as if he could be the best basketball player in the multiverse.
"Might I claim this? Maybe it will help with my psionics." says Darian of the ring.
Occa says, "You are on the list for it."
Occa writes it down. "Make your claims and we will divide." He pauses and says, "Everyone gets 6,355 gps. There is 5.5 gold pieces left over. As a reminder, everyone can put a claim in on anything else and we roll for who gets it. Darian, I would recommend you go for the +5 chain mail and the sword of sharpness. Unless, Pharian wants the sword of sharpness." He giggles.
Claimed ======================== a ring protectes your mind - darian elfin chain mail +3 (elf) -darian scroll: MU2 spell: Leomund's trap - cannon fodder a folded handkerchief - opens to other dimensions - a portal - occa potion of fire resistance - occa (for 1) potion of fire breathing - cannon fodder basketball shoes - cannon fodder
========================
NO Claims Yet =======================
potion of levitation longsword: when he grasps it he is zapped for 7 hit points of damage. it isevil full plate armour +1 (gnome/halfling) travelling spell book Read magic, sleep, magic missile, mirror image, invisibility a potion - human influence five potions - fire resistance a scroll - unreadable to mages a scroll protection from magic potion of healing/extra-healing longsword, doesn't glow, sharpness a fancy shield -1 a suit of scale mail (dwarf-sized) +1 a suit of chain mail (elf-sized) +5 pair of shoes (nike, green, white) - best basketball player in the world
a sheathed longsword - nothing noted
MONEY
buried treasure (from map): 3000gp 1800cp, 300ep, 900gp and 6 small gems worth 50gp each. Underneath the monster, you now discover, was some loot: 400pp and 10 various rings and dangly things worth 6000gp apiece. It consists of 3750sp,
63,555.5 gps
Jesse speaks, "I would like this chain mail, if it fits me." she says as she holds it up for inspection.
It would.
"As well as the potion of levitation human influence and one of the fire resistance potions."
"I might also Occa, like to learn some more third and fourth order spells from you, if I may."
While you are pondering the loot, a man wanders into the camp. He is blond, 6' tall, and...horny? Oh, wait. That was Al.
Jesse looks at the newcomer. "Hullo stranger. Join us by our fire and share your story with us, as we share ours with you."
"Well met, young lady, I appreciate the offer." the newcomer says as he moves closer. "To start, can you tell me where I am ? I was in the hills near Mithral Hall when a fog like mist settled on the land. As I continued I felt strange, tingly in fact, and then moments later, felt a change. Minutes later, I stumbled across your camp. I can tell that I am no longer on faerun, the sun is different and I feel the hum of the land has changed."
"Sounds like another visitor from another world. I'm Darian Trist, fighter and mage. And I, too, am from another world evidentally called Oerth from a city called Greyhawk."
"Never heard of it..."
"Neither have I heard of Mithral Hall or Faerun. Just wanted to let you know that for this group, it's not required that you be from the area."
"It is nice to meet you." He holds out his hand and clasps the others forearm.
"Likewise," he says as he returns the armshake.
"A warrior and a cleric? Mighty combination."
Garbed in a white cotton t shirt and black jean shorts, carrying a long oaken staff, you all can see a gold ring on each hand and dull silver bracers on his wrists. A thin metal headband pokes out from his neatly bound blonde hair. Blue eyes shining bright. A brown leather belt with a large silver buckle with the holy symbol of Silvanus etched on it shines in the light of day. A wand case is strapped to his left leg and a weather beaten knapsack is seen on his back.
"Well met all, my name is Jerrold Oakstaff, umm, where exactly am I ?" he asks.
Pharian looks up at the newcomer. "You are with an inept band of accursed adventurers. Joining us means certain death, probably more than once. Plus, you have to deal with numerous clones of this mage," he gestures to Occa, "and they rattle the nerves quickly. My advice to you is, leave us now and never look back."
"Heh, I take it you are talking from experience, well, friend, no one was as incompetent as my old friend Myrtle. A halfling "borrower" he fashioned himself as.. he got me into more trouble than you can believe. I appreciate the advice, but as I need a way to get home, or at least to find why I was brought here, I think I will stay with your "inept band of accursed adventurers." Jerrold responds to the helpful advice.
"You will never get home," says Pharian darkly. "But there are worse worlds."
Cannon Fodder smirks.
Occa laughs.
"I was not jesting," says Pharian softly.
Occa laughs more. "I know, I know...that is what is so funny."
BrightAxe takes all this in and sighs, "Especially the realms where we travel, if that is a torc you wear, you are suited to the woods."
"Yes, I am, I am a servant of Silvanus as well as a warrior of some repute."
He grins and adds, "but if you are as foolish and I, and the thought of accomplishing deeds before your days are through exceeds the thoughts of life, then Welcome." BrightAxe offers his hand.
The newcomer shakes the dwarf's hand. "Thank you, I have a feeling this should be an interesting adventure !" he says with a smile. "Umm, did someone say that we are to slay some dragons ?"
"Yes... A maze of caverns not too far from here houses all different kinds of them... Plus lots of other creatures. There seems to be no end to their numbers."
"Hey! How come you didn't give me that advice when I joined?" asks Darian.
"You fit in!" says Occa.
"Gee, thanks. I'm not sure if that's an insult or a compliment."
Orlon tells Jerrold "If you have any sense of decency and morality, leave it behind. But you are quite welcome to our entourage."
"Thank you for the welcome... and as I can see by the bickering, it sounds like an interesting group here - childish, I like it, much better than the stuffy Druid council I attended last month. Now those guys were boring... I mean to get upset at exploding cherry bombs.. a bunch of old whiners !" he says with a smile.
"Playing by the rules is something we don't do around here." Orlon smiles back.
"Oh, druid. Sorry, about my confusion."
"No problem, but your assessment is correct. Most tend to groves and to be solitary, but my experiences have always led me to wander.. so wander I do, to help bring things back into Balance. Maybe that's why I am, who knows ??" he remarks.
"I have to say that I've never met a druid before. All the rumors I've heard about them said that they tend to live in a particular area and not wander around too much. Guess that's not always true. Then again, it doesn't sound like you had much choice being brought here and all without your consent."
"True again.. so I will aid in the "clearing" of creatures from the mountain. What is the history of this place ?? Its looks quite ancient, this entire area in fact. I feel old emanations from the ground, from the trees, even the air." he says with a faraway look in his eyes.
Occa says, "You are on Earth. WE are slaying dragons. You are welcome to join us, although a fighter would have been more helpful. More fire power can't hurt."
"Well I am as comfortable with a sword as I am with my staff !" he says in response to Occa's comment.
"Great! That is good news. Welcome to the group!" says Occa.
"Shouldn't'a said that, Jerry," Gilstrock says. "Now Occa's gonna want to make a simulnawhatsit of you. I'm Gilstrock, by the way, an errant warrior from the Silent Runelands who seems to be a little lost." Gilstrock clasps Jerrod's arm and shakes it fimrly.
"How's it hangin', Gilstrock ?" he asks with a warm smile to Jesse. "I appreciate the welcome," I say as I respond to the handshake. "And not to worry, I won't let Occa make a copy of me, in my opinion, its just not right !"
"Well, if Gilstrock would just let me do him, I wouldn't need to do you!"
"Well that's Gilstrock's choice to make... and you have heard mine. So, when are we going into this mountain ?" he asks.
"In the morning. Get a good nights rest. Oh, I don't suppose you have a portable hole, do you?"
"No, sorry, just my handy knapsack... sorry !"
"What about training BrightAxe and so forth?" Gilstrock asks.
BrightAxe isn't ready to train yet. He is approaching the cleric training point though.
Occa says, "I am close to training as well. So, we are going to wait a bit so that we don't lose two months, but only 1."
"Well, I too, am close to being ready to train as a mage. So maybe it is wise to wait a little."
"Thank you and may I as why you would make duplicates of yourself ?? Doesn't seem to be natural for having more than one person running around at a time !" Jerry asks.
"Right, it isn't. That is why."
"Aaah, a mage infected by chaos, sounds like I am in for a good time." Jerrold says with a chuckle.
He goes back to note taking.
"Nice duds dude." says a young female.
"Thank you," Jerrold says with a slight bow.
"Why does everyone always use the trite phrase 'Well met'..." she asks to the newcomer. "I mean, isn't it a bit overused these days?"
"Well, how's it hangin' isn't appropriate for one such as yourself !" he says with a wide smile on his face. "And please call me Jerry."
Cannon Fodder bounds over to the blond man and says, "I am a paladin! See I have a holy sword and green shoes!" He points to the sword on his back. "Who the hell are you? Gotta Stogie I can borrow."
"The name is Jerrold and why are you acting like a fool ?" he asks with a tight grip on his staff.
"Why aren't you?" He looks at him and says, "I see the staff isn't the only thing you have a tight grip on."
He giggles.
He runs over to Jesse and slaps her on the rump. "See! I am acting like a paladin too!"
Jesse knees Cannon Fodder in the .. um... nuts...
Cannon Fodder prances out of danger. "It is dangerous being a paladin!"
"No.. it is dangerous being an idiot." replies the bard.
"Cannon Fodder, Al never got away with those kind of liberties, he just made lots of passes at her. If you continue this behavior, we'll have you melted down for laundry water. Understand?" says Darian.
"Thtttppppt!" Cannon Fodder replies.
"Interesting retort. Would you like me to remove your tongue for you? Life would be a lot quieter for the rest of us."
Cannon Fodder ignores Darian's remark.
"Thank you Darian. And to think that I defended your attitudes to Al before. Well.." says Jesse reaching out and slapping the clone.
"Of course, Jesse. Tracy might like that kind of treatment, but I know you don't."
Occa looks up from his writing and says, "I suggest you not speak for Tracy."
He goes back to make notes on who wants what...
"I'm only saying what I've seen..."
Occa looks up and says, "Do tell, Darian."
"The plot thickens..." says Jesse.
Darian shrugs. "Just that I've seen him pinch Tracy on the bottom more than once and she doesn't seem to mind while I know that Jesse wasn't happy with Cannon Fodder's behavior. He's making incorrect assumptions about what's proper."
Occa says, "You have a strong sense of what is proper. Cease and desist Cannon Fodder." He smiles and says, "They have to obey me."
"Yes, I do. I suppose my parents had the opportunity to teach me at least that much before I left."
Cannon Fodder says, "Aw, come on! Why won't you let me be free?"
Cannon looks over at Darian and says, "Stool pigeon! Squeeler! Weasel! Rat! Fink! Tattle Tale! Momma's boy!" He stomps off to determine how to harrass others in another way.
"I told you to leave Jesse alone. If you'd behaved, I wouldn't have mentioned it."
"Darian's got a girlfriend...Darian's got a girlfriend!" says Tracey in a taunting voice, as she giggles.
"I do? Well, believe what you wish, but Jesse and I haven't settled on anything other than being friends. And I would stick up for any woman being treated badly."
Jesse blushes at all the commentary and moves away from the group, taking her flute with her. Soon you hear a strange melody from where the bard sits... the music is happy, then sad... then happy again... confusing, and complex, melodies float through the camp.
Occa laughs and says, "Yeah! Darian's got a...." He pauses and says, "Darian's got a ..." He finally says, "Darian doesn't have a girlfriend!"
He frowns and then shrugs.
"That is just the kind of behavior that is not tolerated by polite society and what makes me so frustrated with you." Jesse says. "Try to become a team player more and you will get the attention you deserve without resorting to childish antics."
"Yes...and you're so VERY polite, aren't you, Jesse?" says Tracey.
Cannon Fodder says, "Bah, humbug. I work for the team, but I don't have to follow your stupid ethical opinions. Or the finks either!"
"If you do, we would like you better and perhaps be more symphatetic to your causes." the bard says.
"Oh, sure, I could conform...that would be the easy way, wouldn't it?!? I don't think so...I listen to another drum beat, sister!"
Occa raises an eyebrow.
Cannon Fodder adds, "Unless HE forces me to do so."
Cannon Fodder says, "Well, I can see that me and Horkus aren't appreciated."
He wanders off to play with his sword.
Pharian says he wants:
>travelling spell book > Read magic, sleep, magic missile, mirror image, invisibility >a potion - fire resistance >a scroll protection from magic
He also makes it known in no uncertain terms that he will not be at all happy if a juvenile clone that runs away at the first sign of danger gets the scroll of protection from magic.
Cannon Fodder says, "Hey! I have no recourse. I can't do anything. I have no fire power!"
BrightAxe will carry the healing potion, unless someone else would want to.
Here is the list so far:
He pauses and says, "Everyone gets 6,355 gps. There is 5.5 gold pieces
Claimed ======================== a ring protectes your mind - darian elfin chain mail +3 (elf) -darian scroll: MU2 spell: Leomund's trap - cannon fodder a folded handkerchief - opens to other dimensions - a portal - occa potion of fire resistance - occa (for 1) potion of fire resistance - jesse (for 1) potion of fire breathing - cannon fodder basketball shoes - cannon fodder potion of levitation - jesse a potion - human influence - jesse a suit of chain mail (elf-sized) +5 - jesse a scroll protection from magic - Cannon Fodder, Pharian
========================
NO Claims Yet =======================
potion of healing/extra-healing longsword: when he grasps it he is zapped for 7 hit points of damage. it isevil full plate armour +1 (gnome/halfling) travelling spell book Read magic, sleep, magic missile, mirror image, invisibility four potions - fire resistance a scroll - unreadable to mages longsword, doesn't glow, sharpness a fancy shield -1 a suit of scale mail (dwarf-sized) +1
a sheathed longsword - nothing noted
Pharian says, "Hey, I also said I wanted the travelling spell book and a potion of fire resistance."
"Opps, sorry about that!"
"I would like to have a claim in the following items," Orlon remarks:
potion of levitation one of the five potions - fire resistance a scroll - unreadable to mages a scroll protection from magic
"Since I am getting this new armor, I will remove my claim on the potion of levitation." Jesse says.
"You sure?" Gilstrock says. "It's a very potent potion! Look, watch what happens when I just get close to it...."
Gilstrock walks up next to the potion of levitation. When he's within three steps of it, his feet leave the ground. He starts floating upwards. "Aaaaah! Help! Somebody get me down!" He cries.
He then floats back downards. "Just kidding," he says. "Cool potion, though. Cool boots, too." Gilstrok taps the side of his left boot with the butt of his spear.
Jesse starts to laugh.. "Very funny Gilstrok.." she manages to get out...
>Locate object X2 > Orlon would like the scroll.
Occa says, "Okay, here is the division of treasure."
************************************************
(I haven't heard from Gonzo, so the list may be amended. If so, then we can contest those items then)
The only objects of contention (so far) are these:
a scroll protection from magic - pharian, orlon (so it is between pharian and orlon. Steve?)
longsword, doesn't glow, sharpness - gilstrock, darian (they are going to work this out, sounds like)
********************************
Occa says, "Cannon Fodder doesn't need that scroll, so he is out."
Cannon Fodder says, "Awww, come on you grump!"
Occa then says, "Let's rest overnight and then head back in. Okay?" The next morning, Occa will teleport everyone back to the room we fled from when in the dungeon.