In the morning, Orlon heals Gilstrock, and Darian goes to work on the rest of your wounds. Soon you are all as good as new.
Valdar says, once you are back in the dragon chamber, "That passage south leads to the water area, I'll bet. We don't want to go that way...or do we?"
He walks over to the edge of the void again, and peers out into the nothingness.
"There's that big opening on the northeast side above where we originally came in, and I see another large opening on the east side, below us," he says.
"I say we go down..." Jerry says as he looks around.
BrightAxe doesn't have a complete opinion, but votes for the large opening on the east side.
Occa says, "East side, I think is the best way to go. Let's go explore first."
"Before we proceed, could we get our stoneskins replaced? Or would that impose too long of a delay?" asks Darian.
Occa says, "Oh, Right."
Only Cannon Fodder and Valdar still have stoneskins.
So, Occa casts stoneskin on:
Orlon
Pharian
Aargh!
Jesse
BattleAxe
Gonzo
Jerrod
Gilstrok
Darian
Occa
He then flies off and descends down there to take a peek with his wizard eye when he is within range. After a bit, Occa returns to say that it is all clear.
You repeat the sequence that you used yesterday, and soon you are all down at the eastern opening.
The opening is 40' wide and 20' high. All around it is carved into the stone, runes of dwarvish power, symbols of axes, hammers, forges, gems and swords, intertwined with images of noble dwarves and tree-like vines, joining it all together.
The runes read -
"TO THE HALLS OF GALAHAD"
You land in the passage.
This 40' wide passage runs approximately 70' east into the wall of the shaft. At the end in the centre portion are an enormous set of double doors, each being 10' wide. They are made of iron and are streaked with rust. To either side of the doors is an empty pedestal.
The passage itself is littered with rocks and rubble. As you pick your way forward you realise that the debris is actually the remains of another set of doors, of stone, and now destroyed. Going by the carvings on the pieces, you surmise that they were of dwarven construction.
Closer to the iron doors, you note that the rubble is all that remains of two statues of larger-than-life-sized dwarven warriors, which once stood upon the pedestals.
You stand before the iron doors.
"Guess someone didn't like dwarven decorations... Gotta wonder what's on the other side of these doors. Gonzo, is any of this familiar?" asks Darian.
Gonzo hops up on one of the pedestals to see how he fits there...
"Hmpf... me dinks dey may not carve me statue and put it der anytime soon. Me too short." he says to no one in particular.
Occa says, "Okay everyone...prepare for battle!"
He turns invisible. Then he flies upward and back out into the shaft. He then says, "I am going to cast knock on the door to open it!"
Darian draws his frostbrand ands nods to Occa. "I'm ready."
Jesse grips her magic wand and gets ready to cast a lightning bolt followed by magic missiles.
Occa casts, and the doors spring open. Beyond is a large chamber...so large that you cannot see the far side of it. You can guess that it is octagonal shaped, though. The wall that these doors are set in runs 10' north and south, respectively, then angled walls run 30' northeast and southeast respectively; then both walls run east for 30' and out of your sight. In the middle of the south wall is a 10' wide passage running south.
This enormous chamber seems to have been carefully carved out of the living rock. While the stone has been cut and dressed it still retains a raw, unfinished quality that looks to have been quite intentional. The walls are slightly rough, and veins of igneous intrusions can be seen running across here and there in slight relief. The floor, though, is smooth and highly polished.
The air smells of chlorine...for sitting in the middle - at the limit of your lights range, is an enormous green dragon, his enormous emerald eyes aglitter with malice as he regards you...and inhales...
"Everyone, hold your breath!" Darian fires a magic missile at its snout and then jumps to the side of the iron doors and climbs the pedestal of one of the statues.
Jesse casts dimension door and teleports behind the dragon.
Dodging behind the tunnel opening, Occa opens up on the draco with magic missiles.
"Oh I don't like this.."Jerry mutters as he aims his staff at the dragon.
The dragon breathes as you simultaneously unleash magic missiles.
Jerrold is seared by the burning chlorine gas for 72 hit points of damage.
Arrrgh!, Pharian, Valdar, Orlon, Gilstrock, Darian and Gonzo takes 36 hit points.
Cannon Fodder is reduced to a greasy spot on the floor.
Brightaxe takes 72 hit points and is killed.
Through the clouds of green vapours, Darian's missiles blast into the monster...followed by Occa's.
The almost arch mage fires again, as Jesse and Jerrold release their lightning bolts. It dodges the worst of the druid's bolt but Jesse's blows its head clean off.
You stand there for a moment coughing in the foul vapours. Cannon Fodder and Brightaxze are dead.
Then, from the south passage, you hear the sounds of more nasties approaching...
Orlon quickly casts a vertical Blade Barrier at the entrance to the passage from where the sound of nasties is coming from.
Darian heals himself back to full health.
"Great. When it rains, it pours." he says, "Coming Gilstrock?"
Darian hefts his longsword and proceeds to move to a spot to see what nasties are coming up the passage without letting them see him.
Jesse holds her ground and prepares to blast the approaching nasties with another lightning bolt.
Quite enraged, Jerrold takes his staff in both hands and charges to the entrance of the south exit with a large "AAAHHHHHHHH!" to skid to a stop as Orlon's blade barrier springs into being just inside the passage.
Pharian says, "Orlon, Darian, quick, before the next combat! Who needs healing?"
"Don't worry about me Pharian," Orlon remarks. "Besides, there won't be much time."
"I've healed myself and I can expend some energy to heal others. Whoever needs it, come here immediately and I'll heal you."
"If you can wait, I'll just take care of Gilstrock."
Darian heals Gilstrock while peering around the corner.
Description time: The chamber you are now in is octagonal (from the west double doors: wall to your right runs south for 10', southeast for 30', east for 30' (passage running south out of centre), northeast for 30', north for 40', northwest for 30', west for 30', southwest for 30' and south for 10'). This enormous chamber seems to have been carefully carved out of the living rock. While the stone has been cut and dressed it still retains a raw, unfinished quality that looks to have been quite intentional. The walls are slightly rough, and veins of igneous intrusions can be seen running across here and there in slight relief. The floor, though, is smooth and highly polished.
In the centre of the chamber sits the green dragon - minus his head - atop a large pile of treasure. Jesse stands behind it.
Occa shakes his head..."No sense casting a fireball down there with everyone charging forward."
He turns invisible and flies to the hall entrance to see who is coming.
Looking down the passage, you see that it runs south for 60', turning east after 50'.
Standing on the other side of the blade barrier, wondering what to do next, are five monsters. Obviously devils or demons, they are bright green in colour, winged, with nasty horns and teeth.
"Oh-oh," they say, when they notice Darian and Gilstrock regarding them.
"That's right. Oh-oh..."
"Mages, let them have it. Gilstrock and I will pick up whatever pieces are left..."
Jesse starts a lightning bolt.
Her forked bolt blows the heads off of two of the devils.
"Double oh-oh!" say the three survivors, as they turn and flee back to the south.
"Uh oh is right, heh, heh" Jerry says as he levels his staff and fires another lightning bolt.
Occa starts to cast a fireball behind the demon/devils...but realises that he'd probably toast his compatriots as well, and decides against it.
Pharian uses the wand of fire to put up a wall of fire.
They run right through it, unharmed.
Jerrold's forked bolt strikes two of them, but one is not affected. The other is slightly hurt.
The devils disappear around the corner to the east.
Orlon's blade barrier remains up.
"Yeeeesssssss." Jesse says as she sees the damage that her spell has caused.
Occa says, "Get back!" He casts a fireball as far down the corridors after the devils as he can.
The fireball explodes at the corner and you all hit the deck as the flames blast back up at you.
When the smoke clears there is no sign of the remaining devils.
"These bastards look tough," Gilstrock comments gratuitously. "Yo, Orlon, could you take down the barrier so that we can go after these guys?"
Orlon obliges.
Jerry rushes forward.
"Jerry, take it easy. We'll get them, but let's not go running into a trap."
You advance down the south passage to the corner and look east.
The passage runs east for 80' and on.
You move ahead cautiously.
The passage continues for a further 30', before opening up into a chamber.
Down there stand the three remaining devils, apparently unaffected by Occa's fireball.
One by one, they expose themselves at you as they laugh and point. Being devils, they are exceptionally well endowed.
"Ohhh..." says Valdar in an admiring tone. "What do you think, Jesse?"
Jesse scoffs at the display. "It is not the lenght that matters, but how well you use it." she says as she laughs at the devils, "'sides, that is only an elven small."
Orlon casts dispel evil, then moves to attack the devils.
Occa casts a lightning bolt.
The bolt strikes two of them, injuring them badly.
"Make war!" Gilstrock calls loudly. Seeing the lack of effect that the fireball seemed to have on the devils, he's anxious to see how Thawbreaker does. He charges at one of the devils with his frost band drawn and hacks at the well endowment.
Darian follows one step behind Gilstrock and swings at another devil with his frostbrand.
Pharian agrees: war. He casts a lightning bolt at the devils.
Two of them are blown apart.
"Bite me, devils!" Jerry barks in a most uncharacteristic tone. He levels his staff at the devils and fires a lightning bolt, then rushes to follow up with a two fist jab with the staff at the closest standing devil.
The druid blows the last devil to pieces.
Gilstrock, Darian, Jerrold and Orlon, with Gonzo and Arrrgh! right behind them, rush into the chamber and skid to a stop before the splattered remains of the devils. Their disappointment at once again being beaten to the punch by the spell casters, though, is short-lived, as two derghodaemons jump them from either side with a look of murder in their beady eyes.
In the instant before they engage you, you see that the chamber measures 30' X 50' (10' north, 10' south, 50' east; passages running north and south out of the north and south walls, west corners, respectively; double doors in east wall, northern two-thirds). There is a door in this chamber, in the west wall north section.
The passage to the north runs on into darkness. The passage to the south runs for 60' and ends at an opened door. Before the door stands a man in the robes of a magic user, watching with an interested expression on his face.
Valdar stops and stares at the magic user in surprise.
Gilstrock turns to the derghodaemon to the south and begins to lay into it with Thawbreaker. One swing connects, the other does not. It is unable to touch him.
"Ah, my spell will be of use after all," Orlon laughs as he instantly engages one of the derghodaemons. The high priest touches the daemon on Darian...but his spell does not affect it...yet.
Jesse does her best machine gun impersonation on the demons who just joined in the dance. Her magic missile actually hurts a daemon...slightly.
Arrrgh! attacks the daemon on Gilstrock, connecting with both heads of his rod and badly injuring the monster.
Gonzo steps out of the shadows and plunges his frost brand into the flank of the other daemon.
Occa opens up on the mage with magic missiles. They do not harm him. He switches to a cone of cold. It does not harm him either.
The arch-mage laughs at Occa.
Pharian casts a cone of cold at the mage.
Again, no effect.
"Well," says the magic user. "It seems that you are not ready to deal with me, yet! Forget about me for the moment, and save yourselves from my servants! They will be more than enough for you to handle!"
His words seem to ring true, though, as the door in the west wall of the chamber opens and another derghodaemon steps out...while simultaneously a previously unnoticed secret door 20' back up the west passage in the north wall also opens, and five angry fire giants wearing 'Snurre Lives!' t-shirts come pouring out.
Your escape route is blocked.
Is this curtains for our heroes and heroines?
Darian swings at one of the derghodaemons...
"Mages, make sure he doesn't interfere, please!"
The daemon's attacks do not damage the elf. Darian lands a solid hit on the derghodaemon, cause it to blink at him in a stupid fashion.
Occa, Valdar, Pharian and Jesse rush forward.
" Mage - are you friend or foe?" Jerry asks as he grips his staff, ready in case of attack.
"Definitely a foe, I'd say," he replies with a smile. He too grips a staff. "Too bad for you. What is your name, fool?"
"Jerrold, Druid of Silvanus and the death of you." Jerry says as he swings his staff with thunder and lightning activated.
"I think not," says the arch-mage, and in the time it takes Jerrold to activate his staff, he speaks a word of power.
Jerrold detonates with a crack, blowing into pieces and dying instantly.
Occa says, "Holy bat dung!" as Jerrold blows into pieces.
The arch mage vanishes.
He then cone of cold's the fire giants. His first cone catches two of them, leaving their faces frosted and their tempers even hotter than they were before. One swings his blunt instrument at the almost-arch-mage, knocking him flying but doing no other harm.
Orlon battles on. Reaching out to touch a daemon, he misses.
Gilstrock lays into the daemon with his sword, figuring it is more efficient to do that than to look about and decide which new foe to attack. Dodging the claws and teeth of the monster, he stabs it twice and it expires.
Jesse drinks a potion of fire resistance and then machine guns the fire giants as quickly as she can! She slightly injures a giant which is moving to attack Darian.
Pharian casts a lightning bolt at the giants. The two giants that Occa hurt are no more.
Darian continues to attack the derghodaemon in front of him.
"Gilstrock, seems like we'd better finish off these creatures, quickly..."
The elf misses both times with his frost brand.
Arrrgh! jumps on the next daemon and nails it good with his rod. It in turn is unable to penetrate his stony hide.
"KARUMBA!" Gonzo continues his attack on ready targets until they are all dead or he himself succumbs.
In this case the ready target is the daemon attacking Darian. He buries his sword into it again, and the creature staggers...then again and it falls.
Scrambling to his feet again, Occa releases his second cone at two more giants. Both of them take it squarely in the kisser, leaving them badly weakened.
Valdar unloads a magic missile spell into a giant, and another drops.
The surviving giants attack Darian and Arrrgh!, missing both of them.
A noise from the north passageway attracts your attention. Glancing up there, you see four slaadi, standing some 60' away. They are bright green in colour.
"Oh... boy... I knew this was a trap..."
Darian swings at the fire giant attacking him. He lands a solid hit into the monster. The giant misses him...barely.
The slaadi move towards you.
Occa lightning bolts the approaching slaadi...trying to get two with one bolt (that is unsplit). He gets both of them, killing one and badly injuring another.
Seeing what has happened, the three survivors beat a hasty retreat back up the passage and out of sight.
Again following Occa's lead, Pharian uses his wand of fire to put up a wall of fire between the Slaadi and the party.
Orlon turns his attention to the slaadi, casting Flame Strike directly above where he thinks they would be.
From down the passage you hear a scream, as the flames roar down from the heavens.
Jesse continues to pump magic missiles into the giants or any other target that is available.
Valdar turns and faces the north passage. Suddenly a wall of stone appears just inside the entrance, sealing it off.
"Hopefully that will hold them for a bit," he says.
Gilstrock leaps to the aid of Arrrgh!, and attacks the last daemon, wounding it slightly. The monster turns on him and claws for 10 hit points. Gilstrock sticks his sword in it again. This gets the monster mad, and it tears into him for a further 32 hit points of damage.
Arrrgh! turns on the fire giant attacking him. It bounces his club off of the dwarf's stony hide again, as Arrrgh! wraps his rod around him and kills the monster.
"KARUMBA" says Gonzo... attacking another target still moving.
Gonzo moves to help out Darian, and carves a large piece out of the giant.
Jesse launches another magic missile.
Gilstrock lands but a glancing blow against the daemon next as it continues to reduce him to bloody ribbons. The fighter takes a further 19 hit points.
Arrrgh! now comes to Gilstrock's aid, and the daemon is mushed to a pulp.
The giant on Darian finally connects...and it's a beaut, for 23 hit points. The elf replies in kind, though, and the giant finally drops.
All of the monsters currently present are dead.
For the moment it is quiet.
"Do we have the firepower to deal with those slaadi?" asks Valdar, "Or should we slink out of here while we can, and get Brightaxe and Jerrold revived?"
"Whew!" says Gonzo, verifying the demise of as many creatures as he can, giving any that appear to not be quite dead enough another slice or two to satisfy his appraisals.
"Dem critters iz gettin organized or me paps ol' digs iz more inhabited by dem uninvited types den me first dinks. Diz might not be as easy goins as da first part wuz. I dink we should disappears afore more o' dem dings comes and wacks us outta dis werld."
Gonzo then takes a guard position picking the most likely entry portal for other enemies as his skills allow.
"Whew, what a rumble!" Gilstrock says, sounding somehow exhilarated and battered at the same time. "I could use some serious healing."
"I think we'd better slink out of here. No telling when the mage might come back and or when something else might show up. I'm almost out of healing and Gilstrock needs whatever I've got left."
Darian moves over to Gilstrock and heals him as much as he can.
"Whew!" Gilstrock says, starting to feel a little better as some of his strength returns to him. "Thank you, Darian!"
He looks at some of the gore spattered about, trying to decide what is from what.
"Pisser about Jerry," he says. "Hope Stiff can do something for him. Should we try to find pieces of him to bring back? Is everybody else OK?"
"I can't find his tongue," says Pharian. He puts his hands on his hips and looks at the party like an old school-marm. "Now who hid it? Fess up!"
He shrugs and picks up a piece of Jerry-flesh with a look of distaste.
"Don't look too hard!" advises Valdar.
Occa says, "Yep, let's get out of here. However, let's get the dragon treasure first since we left that."
Occa also says, "Do a quick search of those giants and daemons and devils. They may have some treasure as well."
You check out this chamber first.
A crossroads of sorts, this chamber is filled with bones. A narrow pathway wends its way through them to the large pair of bronze double doors at the eastern end. The bones are apparently here to serve as some sort of deterrent to adventurers: you see dwarf bones (lots of these), human bones, elf bones, gnome bones, and even a few halfling bones. To aid in the identification of the originating species, each bone has a tag attached to it with the name of the creature handwritten on it.
Otherwise, this place is boring. Searching reveals no treasure.
You look through the doorway in the west wall, where the last daemon came from. It is a room (30' X 40': 20' north, 40' west, open door in middle of west wall). In here is a large pile of bones, a table, a bag of tags, some quills and some ink. There is no loot, you discover.
You look through the west door. Beyond is a 10' square room. It is bare, but for five sacks. Looking in them, you see that they are filled with gold: 10,000gp, in fact (in total).
After Darian heals Gilstrock, he salutes Occa and starts searching the bodies.
Searching the bodies of the fallen, you find no treasure.
Occa grabs a few pieces of Jerrold. "Someone get some other pieces of him."
He heads back to the dragons room, gathers cannon Fodder's gear and then starts getting the dragon treasure.
In the dragon hall you find 4500cp, 15,000gp, 40 gems which Gonzo apparaises at 200gp ea.
Once collected, you all teleport to base camp.
Arriving back in camp, the battered but victorious victors are surprised to find Salaam the cleric there, talking to Robert and Op Code.
Orlon shrugs, and resurrects Brightaxe and Jerrold. Soon they are both running around as if nothing had happened.
Valdar flies up into the tree where Stiff sits, preening himself.
"Didn't you say once that Rockchin's friend Razamataz was dead?" he asks. "Well, I've got news for you..."
Valdar tells Stiff the story.
The weather today, by the way, is sunny and mild...the temperature being about 64F when you materialise.
"Well met, all..." Salaam says, "tis been a long time. What mis-adventures have I missed? And where is my love, dear Jesse? How I have missed her so," he says looking around for the bard.
Pharian rolls his eyes. "Horny as ever, I see," he says to Salaam. "Didn't you get any while you were gone? I hope so, because your chances are still pretty slim around here."
"You just haven't looked around, you old geek," says Luann.
Jesse, looking tired and haggarded around the edges, but smiling in a sheepish, knowing smile, laughs at Pharian's comment and walks over to Jerrold. "Good to have you back, I look forward to sharing more songs with you." she says before going to check on Darian.
Darian motions for her to sit beside him and holds her hand.
Jesse does so... and smiles.
"Dare my eyes deceive me?" Salaam asks outloud. "Hath you found another, Jesse?" he asks with a hurt tone in his voice. "Heh, its ok, I must admit, I was not faithful while I was away either. I fell for a woman, her name is Jen, a beautiful emerald skinned woman. Strong as a god and as witty as the Muses. Ah, how I long to see her again. Anyway, I wish the two of you well." Salaam says to Darian and Jesse in a friendly voice. "I do hope we can be friends, Jesse?" he asks.
Jesse smiles and says, "OF course Salaam. We will always have Paris."
"Thank you, Salaam."
"Thanks, Jesse, but who's this Salaam dude?" Jerrold asks with a quizzical look.
"I see, Heathen, that you haven't either.. grumpy as always. eh, Pharian?" Salaam says in a serious voice and then smiles as he slaps the mage on the back. "Good to see you too, old man!"
"Who, and who?" asks Pharian. "Should I care who they are?"
"Perhaps," says the mighty elf-lord, flying back down to earth. "Razamataz used to be a member of this party. We all adventured together years ago against the giants: me, Jo-Owrn, Gimlet Son of Groin, Stiff, Rockchin, Chicken, Glot, Farrell and many others. But, Rockchin was such a jerk that Stiff finally put forth his power and kicked him out of the party. Raz and a bunch of his other friends went with him.
"Nothing was heard of them until a few years ago, when funny things started happening. Neemar's soul was stolen, and he started uttering strange words and doing funny things. Then, Orlon was fool enough to get himself killed, and Stiff was summoned to Asgard to have a hob-nob with the gods. Before he could bring Orlon back to life he had to agree to do a little errand for some god or other. He agreed to, and they all ended up in the Nine Hells, heading for some sort of confrontation with Set. Have I got this right, Stiff?"
Stiff, still up in his tree, nods.
"Set was making inroads in the Empire of Saltar and needed a setback. Anyway, to make a long story short, it turned out not to be Set, but rather one of his disciples, none other than Rockchin, who was stirring up trouble. Stiff and friends battled it out with Rockchin, Raz and Godfrey Badbody, and won, though I think Stiff was killed...along with Raz...so we thought. Stiff was brought back by Set himself, who took the credit for bringing them all to the Hells instead of the gods that they thought had done it...it gets sort of confusing.
"The gist of it is, Razamataz is supposed to be dead, and yet I saw him today in the Halls of Gallahad."
Gilstrock shakes his head at Valdar's recounting, deciding halfway through that he didn't need to figure out what was going on because somebody else probably would. At the end, however, he asks, "So is this Razamataz guy the one who blew up Jerry?"
"Yes," says Valdar. "He must be an arch-mage."
"I guess so," Occa frowns. "Stiff, any suggestions on how to defeat this guy? Surely an Arch-magi...I expect it was powerword kill that he used on Jerry. Can you tell us how powerful he was? What magic he might have as protections? We couldn't seem to harm him at all with our spells."
"We battled him a year and a half ago," Stiff answers from the tree. "I think it was a fighter who took him out in melee - "
"Yes!" Gilstrock says, crocking his arm and holding his hand in a victory fist.
Darian chuckles. "Well, it is rather difficult to cast a spell with a sword sticking in your chest..."
"Heck, I always thought it was rather difficult to cast a spell anyway," Gilstrock says.
" - He was an arch-mage then, if he could be believed. As for protective magics, I don't know. We last adventured together about 25 years ago."
Occa smiles, "Salaami! It is great to see you back again! How are you? How was your trip? Where did Horkus take you? Looks like we are going to be battling a minion of Set named Razamataz."
"Occa, you rascal, I am well. Good to see you too ! Horus spirited me away for a mission who consequences could have rocked the cosmos, but luckily, we set it right in the nick of time. In thanks, he sent me back here to finish off what I had started and seriously, I wanted to come back."
His face darkens as he hears news of Set and his minions. "I am unfamiliar with the man, but battled his god and his minions quite recently. Actually, Orlon, Thor sends his regards and says keep up the good work ! I guess I arrived at a most fortuitous time, my friends, so when do we go?" He asks, aching for adventure.
"I'm ready to gain a level," Pharian says to Occa. "You'll train me for free, right? And while you're at it, will you help me go get that ring of invisibility of mine back from your fence Guido? That was a useful item."
Darian looks over at the two mages. "I'm also ready to train as a magic-user. And I believe this will open new spells to me."
Occa says to Pharian, "Okay, I guess I will train you. Valdar, can you train Darian? Then we can visit Guido...he said he would look for some magic items for us as well. Plus I need to check in on my homestead." he frowns again and says, "We are running out of time if we are going to finish cleaning out the halls of Galahad by the end of the year."
"I can train Darian," says Valdar. "I think it's very important to get everyone trained up as much as they can be, even if it leads to a delay...if we are going to be facing arch-magi, slaadi and who knows what else."
"Thank you, Lord Valdar."
"Agreed. Let's train up."
"Who wants to go meet Guido when I go later this evening?"
"Me," Gilstrock says. "I don't have much better to do but work out and eat."
Pharian, evidently getting a little hard of hearing in his dotage, turns to Gilstrock and says, "Why don't you come along?"
Gilstrock nods. "Yep, wouldn't miss it."
"If you are going to town, I could use an item or two - a ring of wizardry for low level spells would be greatly valued as well as any mage wand or staff. Anything available in the chest or shall I look in town?" Salaam asks.
Gilstrock looks at Salaam for a few seconds, then says, "Sure, we'll drop by the dime store while we're there."
"Right," says Pharian. "I need a staff of the magi... and some eggs."
"You need the staff to stir the eggs, right?"
Jesse scratches her head, "I thought the staff cooked them... and us as well." she says.
"No," says Pharian, looking over at Jesse. "I figured if I had some eggs, I would remember to break those instead of the staff."
Jesse sticks her tongue out at the mage. "It was an experience." she says.
"I see you still retain your barbarian wit, Gil !" Salaam answers cooly.
"Well," Gilstrock says by way of explanation, "where I come from it's kinda hard to just drop by the store in town and pick up a ring of wizardry and a few staffs and wands and such. Your shopping list sounded a little... optimistic to me." He shrugs. "Maybe things are different here."
"I agree, Gil, but with the companions we share company with, many items are in abundance and if they don't actually possess something, they usually know someone who does or can get. For example, Guido might be able to find me something, if the community chest is lacking." Salaam explains.
"I've met Guido," says Pharian. "Don't get your hopes up."
Jerrold speaks up, "Ouch, I have never been killed before !" he says in a slightly upset voice. " I think I'll stay at base camp and learn more about the nature of this world, if you need me, contact Stiff and I'll come to battle, in the meanwhile..."
He transforms into a small falcon and flies around, exploring the area.
Valdar comes wandering back over to the rest of you, after talking to Darian in private for a few moments.
"Hey, everyone! Wanna go on a teleport-tour and get your abilities magically raised?"
Jesse speaks, "Well, I was hoping the Orlon could restore the effects that the vampire had on me after he attacked and bit me. But otherwise I think that it could be interesting." the bard smiles "could be quite a rush."
Orlon says that he will restore Jesse tomorrow...after he has rested and prayed.
Gilstrock looks over at Valdar suspicously. "Huh?" he says. "Is this for real? Which abilities? What's the risk? What's the catch?"
"What are you talking about Valdar?"
"Elf lord, please explain yourself!" Salaam requests.
"Well, over the years we've learned of a number of magical pools and such that have the power to raise ones abilities and even bestow experience upon you," says Valdar. "I just remembered them. I'm sure there are risks...they may be guarded...or the sudden shock to your system may kill you, but gosh darn, it's usually worth it."
"Can you drink from the pools multiple times or is it a one dose deal?"
"It's a one shot deal, as far as I know."
"So you won't be able to raise any of your abilities then. And the next time I have to train as a fighter, I'll need a wish from Stiff or Ray Jay. Well, at least I can put it off for another day."
"Whatever."
"I would be quite interested. Alas, Valdar, I once stumbled across a magical pool on my home world and it was possessed by a mighty demon, only with the help of the clergy of the Earthmother were we able to purify the pool. So, basically beware, but I am still curious." Salaam remarks.
Gilstrock regards Valdar silently for a few moments. "I dunno," he says. "I mean, all this teleporting gives me the willies as it is. I used to avoid it like the plague, but hanging around with you guys has almost gotten me used to it"
"See, a foe in battle which can kill you, that's something normal, something you can understand. It's all part of the business. Hardly bothers me ever. But going and mucking about with magic and having it perhaps up and kill you without you being able to say howdy or swing a sword at it... well, that's the kind of thing that gives me that churning feeling down at the pit of my stomach," Gilstrock says. "That and maggots on your steaks."
Looking around, he looks back at Valdar and says, "I'll go and watch anyway, but you go first."
Darian looks at Gilstrock with a slightly puzzled look. "It's strange, Gilstrock. You use magical weapons, magical armor and other magical items and yet magic spells make you uneasy. Where do you think the magical items came from? They're all related..."
Gilstrock shrugs. "No, it's not very logical, I guess. It's kinda like teleport not bothering me they way it used to. A magical weapon I kinda feel like I understand, at least, the quiet ones like Thawbreaker. Ones like Saddam, forget it. But, you know, a magical sword works pretty much like a regular sword, only better. And my boots... well, I'm used to those too."
"I think it's the self-modification that really bothers me, though," Gilstrock says. "My sword, my armor, my boots: they're tools. I put them on, I use them, I take them off, I'm me. Drinking out of some pool to make you smarter or whatever... now that sounds scary to me. What if I came out somebody else? You know, possessed by some demon or something? I might not even know it!"
"With possession, you'd probably know it. But, the rest of us would likely not. Think of how Pharian acted. Magical pools aren't something to be sampled lightly, but Valdar knows of these because others have used them before. That makes me feel better..."
Occa pulls a huge straw from a pouch at his side. "Let's GO!!!!"
"What the hell," says Pharian. "I'll go for it. Maybe it would raise my charisma."
"Not a chance in the hell will that happen, old man!" Salaam says with a smile.
"Why?" Gilstrock asks innocently. "You think there's no room left for improvement?"
"Only by direct intervention of the gods would that ugly puss Pharian calls a face be made better looking." Salaam says with a smile.
Pharian does not deign to give that remark the dignity of a reply.
Stiff feather falls out of his tree.
"I'll take them," he says, "I made a point of memorising the places where these things are."
Valdar nods.
"Thanks, Stiff! Which ones are you going to go to?"
Stiff thinks for a moment.
"Su El...Megadungeon...Megadungeon II...The Black Keep? That's all I can think of, off the top of my head," he says. "That should be enough!"
He turns to Salaam.
"You still got that portable hole of yours?"
"But of course, my good man." Salaam answers as he hands it over.
"Oh, great," Gilstrock says. "We get limited air, violation of personal space as we're all stacked together in some pit, and teleportation all at the same time! We scare me sometimes."
Stiff unfolds it and motions to the party.
"Hop in!"
Occa jumps high into the air with his (err...cannon fodder's) basket ball shoes and after reaching a vertical height of almost 7 inches goes into the portable hole.
"Yet another grand adventure," Salaam says as he enters the hole.
Darian helps Jesse to her feet and motions for her to proceed him into the hole.
"Wait a minute here," says Pharian, watching everying leap into the portable hole like so many lemmings. "What's the huge hurry? I think we ought to gain our levels first. Then we'll do better against whatever's guarding this pool. Plus, what if there is a vampire, or a wraith, or something like that? It would sure suck to be right back where I started. Plus, maybe if Stiff told us what was guarding the pool, we could memorize some useful spells. Plus, Occa and Gilstrock and I were going to go get my ring back from Guido. Hello? Just because someone yells 'hop in?'"
Jesse scratches her head, "You mean that if Orlon does not help me recover the lost essence that the vampire took from me, and I drink from one of these fountains, then I would lose that essence forever?" the bard scratches her head, "Would you accept me to help you Pharian?" the bard asks, "If so, I will go with you first." She turns to Darian, "I understand that you need this, you go now. I will go with Pharian, if he will have me, and then we will join you as soon as possible."
Darian gives her a peck on the cheek as says, "As you wish."
The bard smiles, "Be right back." and when she returns, she is dressed as a male. "I am ready."
Gilstrock, who was preparing to make a full-on swan dive into the portable hole, armor and all, checks himself when he hears this. "Uhh, guys, maybe he's right. Valdar, will these pools hold for a few weeks?"
"Sure they will," the mighty elf-lord replies.
"Well, Valdar was going to do this for me, orginally, and then decided we could all benefit from a visit to the pools. Apparently, I can't train any further as a fighter because my strength is limiting me. If we find a pool that can increase my strength, then I can train." says Darian.
Pharian scratches his nose. "Nobody told me that. Or maybe I wasn't listening. That makes some sense, then. And there isn't much sense in splitting up - in the old tales that is what the teenagers say right before they get spiked with ice picks. Pisses me off about my ring, but that was my own idiotic fault anyway, and it has waited some, so it can wait some more."
"No, I don't think Valdar mentioned it and this is the first time I said anything about it."
"But don't you still think we should try to learn a little bit about where we are going before we all hop into Salaam's travel bag? Stiff, what do you know about these pools? Valdar? Any suggestions on spells we should memorize?"
"I figured that since Valdar and Stiff knew about them from different adventurers, that they'd know if anything was guarding them. Besides, Stiff is transporting us. He can handle just about anything."
"The only other option is to make a wish. And I'd need Stiff or Ray Jay for that."
"My sense is, that would be a poor alternative," agrees Pharian.
"That was Valdar's opinion as well."
"Stop being such a crank and just get in, we'll get your ring later!" Salaam says, trying to quiet the whining mage.
Pharian glares at Salaam. "I am a crank," he says. "But no one has ever accused me of being a reckless fool."
"Er," Gilstrock says, "he said more than that last bit. You know, about training, and how it would suck to get zapped by a vampire and lose all of the ground you'd made on the level you were about to gain and all that. Kinda made sense."
He looks over at Valdar. "Howsabout somebody goes and checks 'em out, to see if they're clear? Pharian has good reasons to want to do the pool trip after training, but it sounds like Darian needs to go before training. Or, maybe we could go in two groups at two different times?"
Occa says, "I will go check it out!" as he sticks his head above the rim of the hole. "Have no fear! Uh, if it is only a few of us, maybe we don't need this hole, aye Stiff?"
"Weren't you gonna take us to Guido?" Gilstrock asks.
"I'll join you guys as well!" Salaam says. "Places to go, things to see!!" he says with a smile.
"Well, since I need the pools to advance, I will go as well. But, I've a question. Since when did any of us worry about the consequences of our actions? We've been charging willy-nilly into everything we've done. Why the concern now?" wonders Darian, and quite rightly so...
Pharian snorts in amusement. "Just an impulse," he says.
Darian chuckles. "I like your sense of humor..."
"Maybe it has to do with dying too many times," Gilstrock says. "More likely, it's because we have two different things we want to charge willy-nilly into at the same time, so suddenly we have to think to decide which."
"Shut up! All of you!" says Stiff. "Give me a minute!"
He takes out his crystal ball and stares into it for a moment.
"Su El is all clear, as far as I can see," he finally says. "And besides, if there is a monster there waiting, it'll be ME who gets into trouble! The rest of you just have to sit in the hole and suffocate. But I'm prepared."
He pats his holstered hand blaster.
"Now get in the hole, all of you! If you don't want to drink from the pool then I won't force you. You can go back later and drink."
You all get in. Stiff seals it up.
A moment passes.
The hole opens.
You step out, for Stiff has stuck the hole to the side of a wall with some used bubblegum.
You are standing in a small (10' square) room. There is a door in one wall. Much of the room is taken up by a fountain. The water that squirts out of it is green, sparkling, and looks alive. The air in here is invigourating...just breathing it heals those of you who are injured by 1 hit point.
"This is the Su El dungeon," says Stiff. "It's located about two weeks journey north of Strabath...which in turn is about a week northeast of Sandas. It's where I first began adventuring...oh...31 years ago. Drinking from the pool makes you stronger, faster and tougher. Try it yourselves..."
Stiff sits down, takes out his crystal ball again, and stares into it.
Darian moves over to the pool, and with a small hesitation, cups his hands and collects some water. He then brings his hand up to his mouth and drinks.
After finishing the mouth full, Darian stands up straight and smiles.
"Well, something's changed. I feel stronger, a little more agile and a bit healthier."
Jesse watches Darian's reaction and then she too drinks from the pool.
Gilstrock, still skeptical, watches to see what happens to Darian and Jesse.
Occa goes up and takes a drink from the fountain. "Su el, huh? Neat!"
"Alright..." Salaam says as he kneels by the fountain, dips his hands in and sips from the clear water.
"Quite invigorating!" Salaam says. "Stiff, are all pools the same or do they grant different powers and abilities?" he asks curiously.
"They do different things," the arch-mage answers. "Some of them aren't pools at all."
Still a little worried, Gilstrock says, "Well, heck, I guess I'll give it a try."
He slowly advances on the pool, his hand instinctively straying to the hilt of Thawbreaker. As he approaches it, he takes the helmet off of the top of his head, kneels down, and does a faceplant into the pool.
He takes a long draught and sits up.
"If I'm gonna do it, may as well not mess around," Gilstrock says, wiping his hand across the stubble around his mouth. With some trepidation, he waits to see how he feels.
"Wow!" Gilstrock says a moment later, standing up as he wipes his mouth. "That felt good!"
He stretches his arms and takes a deep breath. "Definitely a good hearty draught. Hope it lasts! Mostly loosened the old bones, which can never hurt. Fortifying, too!"
Gilstrock holds his bent forearm up in the direction of Darian, preparing for a victory monster bash.
Darian grins. "Told you that Stiff and Valdar wouldn't steer us wrong."
Gilstrock looks over at Pharian. "I recommend it highly," he says.
"As do I."
Pharian looks at Gilstrock and shrugs. He scoops a handful of the water out of the pool and slurps it up.
Occa asks Stiff, "Do you know of a pool that will raise intelligence? Seems I am not smart enough to comprehend the higher levels of magic."
"We'll get there shortly," Stiff answers, glancing up from his crystal ball.
"Thank goodness...now that the dm has seen that I am not too bright, I have lost spells!"
Stiff is searching his memory to see if he can remember which pool does what.
Suddenly there is a pop, and Angst the ranger appears in your midst.
"Are you friend or foe?" Salaam asks with hammer in hand.
"Welcome back, Angst. Going to stay a little longer this time?" asks Darian. "Oh, and drink from the pool there. You'll thank us later."
"Yeah, it's good," adds Pharian. "It tastes like root beer."
When everyone who wants to take a drink has done so, Stiff stands up.
"Back in the hole," he says, motioning.
You all climb back into the portable hole. Stiff seals you in again.
A moment later, it opens again, and you climb up and out to find yourselves in another room.
This one measures 20' X 30', and there is a door in one of the long walls in the middle. The entire opposite wall is a checkerboard pattern of red and green glowing squares (each 3' square).
Stiff looks at the glowing panels.
"Too bad all my notes are at home," he mutters. "The red and the green panels each have a different effect...and once you touch one the other will not function for you. One of them magically increases your experience...damn...don't remember which colour did that, though. The other colour does something good as well...but I can't remember what..."
He looks at you.
"One way to find out, I guess!
"Oh, this is the Megadungeon. We're about a half a day's ride west of Sandas...not far from Castle Yuri."
There are seven corpses lying about on the floor in here, you note. They look like they were once ghouls or ghasts.
"Hmm," Gilstrock grunts. "Well, you were right about the last one being something good. If this one is too, then I guess we may as well. I'll go first -- but whoever goes second, make sure to touch the color I don't!"
Gilstrock strides forward, hand instinctively straying to the hilt of Thawbreaker, towards the wall. He reaches out, and after a moment's hesitation (trying to decide which color to use), lays his palm flat against one of the green glowing squares.
"Well, Gilstrock, what did it do?"
Darian stands near the red globe waiting for a response.
Suddenly Gilstrock changes...he becomes more handsome...more charismatic...more of a leader of men...more like...Al.
"Good God, Gilstrock," says Pharian immediately. "Put it back!"
Jesse waits to see what happens to the others before she chooses.
"Well," says Stiff. "I guess it's the red panels that bump you up."
Gilstrock takes a bold step forward, bends his arms and flexes his biceps, puffs out his chest, and breaks out into a few verses of "Gaston" from "Beauty and the Beast."
Jesse laughs ... and keeps laughing at the singing, if it can be called that, that Gilstrock is attempting.
Occa will go over and presses a red panel.
Salaam debates and decides experience would be a great help with these companions, so he places his palm against a red panel once Occa is done.
Salaam yelps in a most uncharacteristic fashion and staggers back.
"Ouch !" he yelps.. "Careful, I feel charged but the stone shocked me! I better be careful next time around." Salaam says with a faint smile as he rubs his hand.
"Maybe you should try the green? Or maybe they have to be touched in alternating order?"
Darian looks at Jesse, "You like me the way I am, right?"
Jesse smiles and kisses Darian's cheek. "I like you fine the way you are."
Darian blushes and places his hand on the red panel.
"Stiff, any known harm in touching both?? I certainly don't want to become a guinea pig," Salaam responds.
"Go ahead," Staff replies. "But nothing will happen."
"Nice knowing you if I get fried." Salaam says as he places his other palm on the other tile.
Darian grins and with a wink to Jesse says, "I wonder how fried Salaami tastes?"
Jesse blushes and then laughs.
Nothing happens.
"Strange, the red worked for me. In fact, I'm ready to learn some 4th order spells... That way, I can cast stoneskin on myself now... Well, if I can learn it, that is. Do you know why he got shocked then?"
"Well, it's a shock to your system, isn't it? All this gaining experience and abilities magically. Looks like he almost couldn't handle it..."
"Hmmm... So, maybe his health is poor and that's why he couldn't take it?"
"Well, here goes nothing." says the bard. She touches a red panel.
Angst also touches a red panel.
He staggers back from the wall.
"Wow what a rush. That was almost as good as...sorry ladies."
Pharian reaches out and touches a red panel. "So this is the useful color."
Occa asks Stiff, "Could you tell me how much you would charge for 9 wishes?"
Stiff would rather not do nine wishes unless he was HUGELY COMPENSATED.
"To explain this the best I can - it would mean I would want everything you own, all magic, all spell books, all goods, and everything you can possibly own will be mine plus perhaps a year's devoted service to me. It is more than you realize. If I granted the nine wishes it might result in my extreme aging and possibly being destroyed.
"I might grant one wish but it would be better if you tried to find wishes in rings and scrolls, etc."
Occa says, "Oh, okay, thanks anyway. Let's go to a pool that might affect intelligence in a positive manner, of course."
Pharian looks at Occa. "So how does it feel to be an archmage?" he asks.
"Useless right now..I am not smart enough to know 9th level spells."
"Yeah, Occa, you're useless. Get outta here," Gilstrock says. He looks at Occa with a stern look on his face before he breaks and cracks a smile.
Occa giggles.
"So, waiddaminnit, if you go and get your intelligence pumped up on one of these pool thingies, you're gonna be an arch-mage?" Gilstrock asks. "Kinda like Stiff here? Are you guys gonna duke it out?"
"Yep, I will be an Arch-Mage. Kinda neat, huh? What to wish for first? Hmm, the possibilities boggle the mind."
"By the way," Pharian continues. "Does this whole setup make anyone else nervous? These are quite some cherries we have been picking? Who's watching the garden? I have this nasty feeling that as soon as we are done, somebody is going to appear and say that in exchange for sampling his magical pools, we owe him some gigantic favor."
Pharian rambles on, intent on killing the cheerful mood. "I had a friend once who had some saying that would be fitting right now, but I just can't quite remember what it was. Something about the prettiest apples having the worms... or maybe it was the one about watching where you sit or you will get fire ants up your robe. Well, anyway, the point is the same."
Occa says, "Okay, well, it is time to go. Dragons are waiting...let's go to the next pool."
Darian smiles. "Just hope they're not waiting at the next destination."
Occa says, "Okay, let's move on to the next place!" He smiles. "I need to be a bit smarter!!!!!" He pauses and says, "Oh, okay, a lot smarter!"
At about this point you all sort of notice that the ones who touched the red panels do not seem to be quite as handsome, pretty or attractive...or quite so persuasive as previously.
Stiff pulls out his crystal ball again and stares into it. After a moment he declares that the coast is clear. You repeat the portable hole routine, and when you next emerge from it you find yourselves in a small, 10' X 20' room. There is a door on one of the long walls, and a lever opposite it.
Beside the lever is a sign.
The sign reads -
'Pull lever to go up one level.'
Stiff looks about. The room is otherwise bare.
"Megadungeon II," he says. "I don't remember where it is."
Darian frowns about his loss of charisma. "Oh well, I guess there's always a price to pay."
"I wonder if this will make me uglier as well. Here goes nothing."
Darian pulls the lever.
Gilstrock asks: "Yo, Stiff, any problems with this lever we outta know about?"
Stiff shrugs.
"Can't think of any."
Occa waits till Darian is done and, if the affects seem positive, will pull the lever.
Salaam waits to see if there any ill effects from pulling the lever. If not, he will pull it.
Ditto for Pharian.
Gilstrock is pretty much gonna wait for everybody else who plans on pulling this lever, at which point he will pull it if it still seems like a good idea.
Darian looks at the others and grins. "I've been trained as a fighter. So, I'd suggest the rest of you pull the lever."
Angst also steps forward and pulls the lever.
"Easy come , Easy go Lets see what this will show."
After that, there is a mob of lever pullers.
"Woah, me too!" Gilstrock exclaims. "Feels great!" He now wishes that Rob were at home so he could find out if he's eligible to learn a new weapon.... Fortunately, however, Gilstrock and Rob live in disjoint spacetime continua, or Gilstrock would almost certainly use his greatly superior physical attributes to force Rob to go home.
"It is a whole hell of a lot easier than adventuring," agrees Pharian.
Darian laughs. "True... But, that's only when there's an arch-mage transporting you to the right places. Imagine having to slog to each one of them?"
"Yeah slogging to each place would be a little bit of a bind" says Angst.
"That's what we had to do," comments Stiff, glancing up from his crystal ball. "A lot of blood was shed in discovering these places. And more might be shed yet. It looks as if a party of adventurers has taken up residence by the next pool I wanted to go to. We'll probably have to kill them."
"Er..." Gilstrock starts, reluctantly. "I mean, the pool's pretty big, isn't it? There won't be a problem with everybody drinking out of it, will there? I mean, it's not as if it's gonna get used up or anything."
"That's the point I was trying to make. But, why will we have to kill these adventurers? Are they evil?"
"Things that live in dungeons usually are," Stiff answers hopefully.
"Well let's have some spell cast in preparation before we land up on top of them." says Angst. "Stiff are you sure these guys that we are going to invade deserve to die or are you just preparing us for the worst?"
"Any way to tell that through the crystal ball?" asks Pharian. "Are they wearing helmets with spiked horns? Do they have skulls emblazoned on their breastplates? What about tattoos? Can you see any tattoos?"
"Wooooah!" says Stiff. "One woman is covered in tattoos! And there's someone there wearing a spiked helmet! And a half-orc! I see a half-orc! And there's an elf there who looks like he's had his nose broken a few times...must be an assassin!
Darian looks at Stiff through new eyes. "I would've though that someone with your power would be a lot less judgemental having seen all the sights you've seen."
"Don't try to lecture me, buster, or you'll be dust," says Stiff mildly.
"As you wish."
"Yep," concludes the arch-mage. "All the signs seem to indicate that they're evil."
Darian rolls his eyes.
"Now just wait a minute," says Pharian, rubbing his own crooked nose. "Broken noses aren't one of the Standard Signs of evil characters."
Occa says, "Let's go! I am ready to kill 'em. If they are where we want to be, they gotta be evil! Let's go slice and dice!"
He casts a few prepartory spells.
Occa will cast:
mirror image
invisibility
fly
esp
Pharian decides that is a good idea. He casts strength on Gilstrock.
"Occa, how do you come by that logic? You'll kill no one because they happen to be where you want to go... What if they simply made camp around the pool to investigate it?"
Occa smiles and says, "First I was joking, but I am going to prepare in case. Second, don't presume to tell me who I will and will not kill. As for logic, take that and keep it to yourself. I don't want to hear it."
Darian mutters something about arch-mages...
Stiff nods approvingly.
"You'll make a great arch-mage!" he says.
"Chaos rules!" says Orlon, as he takes a cold pizza out of his pack and buries Darian's face in it.
Darian cleans his face off. "Great... Now even the priests are losing sense."
After Occa's definition of evil ("in our way"), Darian's objection, and Stiff's declaration, Gilstrock says, "Ya know, this is all well and good, but perhaps somebody should just go and check? We're working on scant information. I mean, look at us. Here we are, in front of this lever thing. Somebody else comes in, we're here, they want to pull the lever, so they blow us away. But, I don't think we'd have any objections to them pulling the lever, since we're just about to leave anyway. All they'd have to do is ask nicely, and they wouldn't have to bother blowing us away. Wouldn't it be better to find out how this other party is going to react to us before we plan how we're going to dust them?"
Pharian says, "But that would spoil the element of surprise."
Darian nods. "Well spoken, my friend. I will go, if Stiff can send me. Watch through the crystal ball and I will motion you to come should things be safe. If I am wrong, you will see me attacked and know to come to my rescue."
"I agree with Gil. Occa, as much as our chaotic ways may be similar. Waltzing into a room and slaying people, because they are in our way, is not really the way to go about things. Preparation is smart and we go speak to the inhabitants. If we discover they are evil, we kill them. If they are good, we can share. Yes, Occa, you must learn to share!" Salaam says in a paternal tone.
"Watch that tone there, Salami!" He giggles.
"Damn. I don't believe it," says Stiff, looking up from his crystal ball and rubbing his eyes. He squints into it again. "I know that guy."
Darian tries to look into the crystal ball. All he sees is a test pattern.
"Which guy?"
"Which guy? Who is it?" Gilstrock asks.
"That stupid elf, there," Stiff says, pointing at his crystal ball. "He used to be a member of this party...until the worlds got sundered. I wonder what happened?"
"Never met him."
"Of course not, you dolt. That was over twenty years ago."
"So, what's this world sundering business?" Gilstrock asks.
"That happened when we killed Lolth," replies Stiff. "I of course played a crucial role in that."
"And what about this guy you know... was he a good guy? Or a butthead we should take out?"
"Hard to say. Perhaps we should let them live until we decide to kill them."
"Is this for real, or you just trying to just shut Darian and me up?"
Darian looks at Gilstrock. "Excuse me? What's he trying to do to the two of us?"
"Shut us up... so we'll quietly go wipe the other group out without worrying about whether or not we need to," Gilstrock says.
"I hope not... He told me not to lecture him, so I guess I won't try to change his mind. Hope the guys on the other side of the crystal ball have an arch-mage to protect them if they are not evil..."
"Whatever it is, it's working, ain't it?"
Darian chuckles. "Nope, we're still talking..."
Stiff refuses to reply...knowing that that is the best way to shut Darian up.
Stiff stands up.
"I want some monster fodder...errr...a fighter or two...to stay outside the hole with me when we transport in there."
Occa says, "Gilstrok and I will stay out."
Darian begs to differ.
"No... Gilstrock and I will stay out... Stiff can handle the magic, he just needs blades to keep him safe long enough to cast the magic."
Occa says, "I don't think so. I believe we three will be more effective than you three."
"As you wish, arch-mage." Darian steps into the portable hole clearly not happy.
Seeing everybody else step into the hole, Gilstrock looks back and forth at Stiff and Occa. "You mean I gotta keep everybody from hitting both of you so you can cast spells, all by myself?"
Occa says, "Don't worry...I can take care of myself in melee...with magic missile I don't need to worry about having my spells messed up."
"You're all so brave," says Pharian. "Let me know when everybody's dead, and I'll come out of the portable hole."
"Do you want just us dead, or the other side too?" Gilstrock asks innocently.
Occa says, "Let's just teleport in. We won't attack...I will be invisible. If they attack, we slaughter them. Okay? Let's go."
Stiff nods, turns all and sundry invisible, followed by himself.
When everyone is finished yanking on the lever, you climb back into the hole...
Once you arrive there, Stiff recognises Vardui, and Stiff, Occa and Gilstrock all recognise Zanax the paladin, who adventured with you back in June. They in turn recognise Occa from the last time he was in these parts.
In the end, you decide not to blow them into oblivion, afterall.
A grand time is had by all. Zanax gets everyone's backs up, Furgh runs off and hides and Kadlian tries to get your party to accompany them on their adventure. Finally you turn your attentions to the pool.
The room, by the way, measures 20' square. There is no visible exit. The pool is 10' in diameter, and is located in the centre. The liquid in it is coloured red.
"It increases your brain power," explains Stiff. "Take a drink."
Stiff says "hm-hm, yes I can make that wish under these conditions:
1. I am supplied with the exact wording of the wish 2. I would caution that there would be serious after effects for Occa, most likely time wish. ( In my vast experience the simpler the wish the better).
Remember that the diety that grants this wish may interpret your wish far different than you expect because this is for your own gain. I will be charging 50,000gp or the equivalent."
Occa frowns and says, "I do not have 50,000 gps and only a couple of my items survied the blast that killed us all. Oh well. Thanks anyway. By the way, how much would you charge for letting me copy spells from your spell book? I would be willing to give you free access to any I have now and in the future if you would be willing to do the same."
Occa then says, "It is time to go."
To Stiff he says, "Any more pools? Or do we go home now?"
"Stiff, what about Zanax and his friends? Could you teleport them around to the various places we've been? Looks like they could use the help." says Darian.
Before Stiff can answer, he abruptly vanishes.
"Stiff? Anyone know where he went?"
"Probably just his way of saying 'no' to your question," Gilstrock suggests. "Let's get outta here. Occa, can you teleport us home?"
As suddenly as he vanished, Stiff reappears.
He looks a bit shaken up, and there is a slight odour of sulphur and brimstone about him.
"In," he says, motioning to the portable hole, in a tone that will tolerate no arguments.
You bid hurried adieus to the other party, who are probably wondering what is going on, and climb into the hole.
When Stiff opens it again, you are back in base camp. It is mid-evening, and you have not had dinner yet.
"Stiff what happened to you?" Darian asks with concern in his voice.
Occa says, "Indeed. What happened?"
He then says, "I am going to Sandas on some business. I will be back in a few days. At that point we will go see Guido. Then I will begin training Valdar."
"Me?" says Valdar. "Why?"
"What's in Sandas?" Gilstrock asks.
"My house. I guess I could take everyone with me and we could enjoy the good life there. Warm waters, baths, servants to feed us. I don't really care as long as I am not bothered."
"Feed?" Gilstrock says. "I'll go! Stand bodyguard for you if you like."
"I'd like to go Occa. I find myself in need of additional spell books now that I have to relearn all my spells. Plus, it'll give me some study time to learn new spells." says Darian. "Valdar, would you come with us? Then I could train with you at Occa's estate... Much more pleasant than here."
"You think so?" Valdar says dubiously, looking around at the trees, forest and mountains surrounding you, not to mention the olympic-sized swimming pool that the dwarves have excavated. "A dirty stinky city, full of dirty stinky humans? You Oerth elves are strange!"
"Well, Occa's estate seemed to be a world apart from Sandas. You are right about Sandas being quite smelly."
He shrugs. "If you'd rather do the training here, that's fine as well. Occa can buy the books for me, I suppose."
Occa says, "Okay, I will take whoever wants to go."
"Well I need to buy a spell book now so i had better come with you" says Angst.
Occa says, "By the way here is the treasure list so far to be divided by Orlon, Jerry, Pharian, Darian, Jesse, BrightAxe, Gonzo, Gilstrok and myself (Am I leaving anyone out?):"
"How about Arrrgh??" says Arrrgh.
"ring
broach
dagger
suit of elfin chain mail (human sized)
suit of field plate armour
broadsword
longsword
two scrolls
a letter which reads -
"My dearest Ekretch,
"Thank you so much for taking the time to perform this little scouting mission for me. Rest assured that I and my Master will reward you and your lords for your efforts. Earth is an interesting place, and ripe for the picking. Our minor setback of some 25 years ago will not be repeated.
"I hope that this is the beginning of a mutually rewarding relationship.
"Sincerely yours,
"Eclavdra".
60,000ep (30,000)
30 miscellaneous articles of jewelry that you value at 800gp each
(24,000)
4750cp (47.5)
5000ep (2500)
550pp (2750)
7500gp
26 gems that you value at 100gp (2600)
4500cp (45)
15,000gp,
40 gems - 200gp ea. (8000)
10,000 gps
120 gems that you value at 100gp each (12,000 gps)
38 miscellaneous articles of jewelry worth 8000gp each (304,000)
Total money: 418,442.5 (46,493 each with 5.5 left over for the community
chest)
Occa then says, "Can you guys identify this stuff over the next couple of days so that I can get some work done? Need another Cannon Fodder."
Orlon is interested in the following things that have an * before them.
* ring
>broach
>dagger
>suit of elfin chain mail (human sized)
>suit of field plate armour
>broadsword
>longsword
* two scrolls (if useable)
>
He also casts a Commune spell, asking "are any of the above items cursed?"
Orlon also tells the party that they can send questions his way if they want.
"NO. AGAIN!"
"Well, it sounds like Valdar wants to stay here to do my training, so I'll identify the stuff once I relearn my spells."
"Occa, can you purchase another 1-3 spell book and two 4-6 spell books? Here's 29,400 gps for the three books."
"No...let's go to Sandas," says Valdar.
Darian chuckles, "As you wish, Lord Valdar."
He looks at Jesse. "Will you come with us?"
"What would everyone like for dinner?" Salaam asks, a tad tired, from the events of the day. "Stiff, you alright, man?" he asks. "I appreciate all that you have done for us," he says as he smiles at the mage.
"Occa, I am able to cast mage spells up to the third order. Do you have any unusual spells that I might be able to learn?" he asks and then asks Stiff the same thing. "These are the spells I currently have in my books....
Mage: 1st. Barrier* - Burning Hands -Magic Missile x2* - Shocking Grasp - Protection from evil - Unseen Servant - Write -Read magic*
-2nd. Continual Light -Forget Invisibility - Mirror Image* - Rope Trick - Web*
- 3rd. Feign Death - Fireball* - Fly - Hold Person Invis (10ft) - Phantasmal Force - Lightning Bolt - Dispel Magic -
I am wiling to trade for any spells that you do not possess that I do."
He awaits a response from the two mages.
"It's a beautiful day in the neighbourhood," Orlon sings as he jumps around in celebration. Orlon has reached the next plateau in his checkered career.
Stiff, recovering a bit from whatever trauma he suffered, says that he will exchange spell books with Occa and he will help Zanax and his friends to visit the pools.
Occa has spells that people are free to copy. A small gesture of appreciation would be nice, but isn't required.
"Thanks, Occa. Feel free to look at my books, if you'd like. They're a compilation of everything I've learned from you, Pharian and Valdar."
"As far as a small gesture of appreciation, what were you thinking? Gold, a service or something else?"
"Oh, a thank you. Of course, if you like you can clean out the gutters on my house. Of course, gold, services and magic items will always be accepted."
Darian grins. "Well, you always get a thank you. But, if you need your gutters cleaned, I can order one of your house staff to do that for you."
Salaam asks Stiff if they can speak together in private. They walk away to the far side of the basketball court that the dwarves have made, returning to the group a few moments later.