On the evening of September 10th, Occa finally shows himself.
He looks older: his hair is greyer and thinning with a bald spot atop his head, he's growing an inner tube around his waist, he has a myopic squint, and he smells musty.
With him is another simulacrum. While this one looks just like the others, there is something about him that reminds you of...Al. Perhaps it is the superior air about him. More likely, it is the way he leers at Jesse and the way he pinches the behinds of the serving maids.
The heat wave broke two days ago. The temperatures have been in the high 70s since, and this afternoon it rained.
You still have 11 days before Darian, Orlon and Oh Well complete their training. Those people are not present. Neither are Gonzo or Valdar.
Occa says, "I need to get some exercise and some rogaine."
He sighs loudly. "Well, I have studied much over the last few days and have finally mastered magic of the highest sort...I am truely an Arch Magi."
"Err," Gilstrock says hesitantly. "I guess this means we have to regard you with awe, right? Are you gonna start talking like Stiff and saying that you're worried for all of us because we aren't powerful enough to face the huge giant task that is ahead of us, whatever the hell that is? Stiff creeps me out nowadays."
Occa pauses and says, "In addition, this Cannon Fodder #5 is, perhaps, the finest I have ever made."
Gilstrock snorts. "Not really that much of a recommendation."
Cannon Fodder says, "No perhaps about it."
He lights a stogie and says, "And I can prove it!"
He looks over at Jesse and says, "Jesse?"
Occa says, "There have been some rather unfortunate side-effects, but nothing a good dragon breath won't cure."
"All of you mages creep me out," Gilstrock says. "You go and squander years of your life on your castings and whatever it is you do."
After another draught he says, "Okay, so, anyone up for Guido? I am going to go see him later today, I think."
Energized by the thought of action, Gilstrock says, "Yeah! Let's go see Guido. See if we can get Pharian's ring back. See if we can fence off some of the other stuff we've got that nobody wants."
Cannon Fodder says, "Yeah! Let's go."
Occa says, "Okay. Anyone else in with Gilstrok and us?"
Angst will go with the others to get out of the house.
"I need to go and find some companions at some point."
Jesse chimes in , "I'll go."
Occa says, "Okay that is a majority."
Occa marches, with the crew down to the Inn that is the Thieves Guild.
It is about 10pm when you get there.
The place is crowded with all sorts of low life scum: thieves, muggers, prostitutes, addicts, paladins, sailors, pimps, paint salesmen, assassins and the like. You feel right at home. The common room has a dirt floor...mud in places, and the whole establishment reeks of stale cheap beer, vomit, excrement and other, less wholesome odours.
He goes up to the front desk and says, "I need to see Guido."
The bartender, a big ugly brute wearing a smiley face button pinned to the flesh of his hairy chest, says,
"Who?"
Occa says, "Guido. The master of this place. Tell him that Occa Larsor is here."
"Da master? Of dis dump?" the man laughs. "I know who you mean, but he ain't no master!"
He leans over and whispers to a thug sitting at the bar nearby.
The man gets up and staggers away, making for the stairs to the second floor.
After awhile he comes back.
"Ahhhh...Guido can't meet ya here tanite, mac," he whines to Occa. "He'll let ya know when an' where he can sees ya."
"If he cannot meet tonight, then tell him I need a time and place now. I cannot wait around, I don't like to grow bored."
"Ahhhhh...I don't know when, mac. I didn't see 'im, ya know? I'm sure he'll get back ta ya toot sweet, though. He don't like leavin' arch-magies waitin', right? Bad fer yer health, ya know?"
Jesse speaks up. "Master Occa, can I blast him for you? Please! Pretty please? I know how you hate to wait... come on... please." the bard asks, looking at the messenger.
"Shaddap, toots," says the thug.
Occa giggles and says, "We don't want to make a mess of this place unless we have to, Jesse. Patience...at least for a little while."
"But Occa... it's that time of the month... and I am very irritable right now, with an itchy spell finger... Come on.. just one blast?" the bard continues to beg.
Occa smiles and says, "Why don't you come with us, so that we can talk some more? I am sure you can use another drink."
The drunken thug grins and sits down at his place.
"I'm stayin' right here, mac," is his answer.
Occa says, "Very well. I will be expecting an answer in the morning."
Occa says outside the inn, "We will return tomorrow if we haven't heard by noon."
Occa heads home for the evening.
Upon arriving home, Angst notices that he seems to have lost a potion.