You are all healed by the 12th day of the month of Harvester.
"Zanax, before we head back, can we find Occa and go rummage through his community chest? I would rather be better equipped this time."
Lornard says, "I don't want to delay us if nobody else has reason to, but I am in a position where I could train to improve my skills."
"You should train," says Robert, "Training is very important for someone just starting out as an adventurer."
"I, too, would like to train."
"By all means," Stump tells Lornard. "For an adventurer, after survival, training is most important."
Robert tells Lornard that during his semi-drunken wanderings through Castle Greyhawk he has stumbled across a place called the Combat Training Facility, run by a warrior lord, a ranger lord and a barbarian, where training is apparently available. It is located on the lower level of the Citadel Union.
Tragon knows that while Zanax can train him in some of the finer aspects of combat, he will still need to seek out a cleric of St. Cuthbert for the spiritual stuff.
Robert advises the young paladin that he has also seen a place called Temple Greyhawk, where clerics of every conceivable Oerthian deity seem to hang out. This causes Kelene's ears to prick up as well, since she could use some training as well.
At this point, Occa and Rage walk in, muttering something about lawyers or demons or whatever.
Amberle comments, "Nice place to visit, but I'm still far from training."
"Zanax, do we start training our now or should we go visit this community chest first?"
"That sounds good," Lornard says to Robert. "The next question is affording this; I fear I do not have much in the way of material goods. Do we have any treasure from our recent adventuring which we could divide? I hope that\ my share is enough to pay for my training."
"Hey Occa, Rage!" says Badd. "The Sinclair thing is really cool. I saved everyone with it."
He beams with pride. "I'm hero material, it's official."
Occa says, "That is wonderful! They are nice blades."
"Occa and Rage! How are you doing? Are you headed back to the mansion any time soon? My companions need to be better equipped if we are to clear out these towers."
Rage smiles at Zanax, "Have not killed anyone in a few weeks now, but having lots of fun learning and destroying lots and lots of rock. How the new recruits?"
Zanax sighs. "Fragile. They tend to go down easily, being rather new to this. I fear they need to train and gain better armor and weaponry if we are to clear out this tower before winter sets in...perhaps a few Stoneskins before you leave would help them?"
Occa says, "I could make a trip, I suppose. We might also consider the pools and such to quickly raise the power level in the group. Of course, doing so now would give you some gain, but not as much as later when training takes much longer."
"Your offer is very generous, Occa. I think the power level pools should wait, but perhaps taking them to some of the pools that improve your physical or mental abilities would be good. That and equipping them with some better weapons and armor."
Amberle asks, "Pools? What pools do you refer?"
"We are aware of several magical pools that are very helpful. One example is one that improves your skills. Another is one that increases your strength. However, they only work once for a person, which is why pools that improve your skills should be saved till later. Also, some pools also have drawbacks to being used."
"Can we go to the anti-wishing flame?" asks Badd eagerly. "Can we? Can we?"
Zanax rolls his eyes. "Don't you dare agree, Occa!"
Occa says, "It's all about free will! Yeah baby!"
"That's the spirit!" yelps Badd. "Let's go!"
Zanax sighs with disgust. "I knew you were going to say that...curse you chaotics!"
Zanax chuckles. "Well, if you're going to chaperone him, just make sure he\ doesn't un-make the world...remember what happened to the last guy who tried that...what's his name? He just obliterated himself."
"Zanax, what are the drawbacks? While increasing my strength would be useful, I would not, for example, trade it for intelligence."
"Depends on the pool. Occa, do you know the pools off hand?"
Occa rolls his eyes. "Haven't I already gone over these with you a few times?"
He sighs.
"The one at Su El makes you stronger, faster and tougher. Another pool makes you smarter. The one in Bella dungeon is random. It can make you smarter, make you more powerful, make your items more valuable and so on. The Guardian Ford dungeon, of course, houses the anti-wish flame. Then there is the checkboard pattern. One pattern raises you a level and makes you uglier. The other makes you more handsome. In Megadungeon II is a lever that will make you go up one level. Stiff also told us about a pool in the Tomb of Melar, but he didn't take us there because he couldn't remember what it did."
Badd gets out a mirror and looks at his reflection. "Could I be any more handsome?"
"Can I go with you?" Lo asks Occa.
"Drandar, can you create a list of what they need and collect it from the Community Chest? I need to stay here and train Tragon."
"Damnit Zanax, I'm a dwarf, not a secretary," says the dwarf. "Have them give me what they want from the checkbox form, in triplicate, and then we'll see what can be done. For a fee."
"Oh, please...a fee? You look like you could use the exercise anyway! That overhand swing of yours is getting awfully slow."
"I thought you were once a treasurer? Is this really such a demotion?"
"Accountant, thank you very much, a member of the illustrious firm of Dewy, Cheetem and Howe," says the dwarf. "And that is much, much more than a mere secretary."
Tragon blinks. "You were an accountant?"
"An honorable profession, and who better to deal with tax collectors than a warrior accountant. Conan, the Barbarian, was one of the best accountants there was, never paid taxes either," says the dwarf. "You should look into it for a future when you no longer adventure."
"Oh... An accountant. That makes more sense."
"Was that not Cohen the Barbarian?" Lo inquires. "Short fellow, balding with wooden teeth?"
"Cohen, never heard of him. He must be a washed-up barbarian wannabe. Cavorting with mages and the like too, I'd bet," says Drandar. "Conan was a real accountant. Amazing tactics too. The IRS once came to see him, and well, that was the last time they showed up. He's my hero."
"Yes, some wizard named Rincewind who owned a sentient chest, kind of," he shrugs his shoulders. "He was very well known in Anhk-Mopork."
Lornard says, "I would like to go along on this trip, but I also need to train. Does anybody know what treasure we've acquired, and might I be able to take my share of it? I will need that to pay for my training."
"You don't need to pay for your training...that's part of the benefits of being in this group. You concentrate on your studies and Drandar will make sure you're well equipped."
"Ok, everyone drop their codpieces, let's see how well equipped you all are," Drandar says, taking out a pen and a ruler.
"Everyone should remember to submit to Drandar their prefered weapon and their secondary weapon, just in case. Oh...in triplicate!"
Drandar begins to march, "This is my weapon, this is my gun. One is for shooting, the other for fun."
Zanax smirks at Drandar.
Badd wrinkles his nose. "Arma Schwarma. Don't want none o' that.
"But," he says, his eyes twinkling "I could use a magical weapon, in case I ever want to hit anything. Dagger or short sword. And stuff which makes me sneakier, or better disguised. Oh, yeah, and a ring of many wishes if there's one spare."
Tragon nods. "Sir Drandar, I'd like a magical longsword, a magical shield and magical plate armor, please."
"Sir Drandar, I'd like a magical longsword, a magical shield and magical plate armor, please."
"Sir Drandar, I'd like a magical longsword, a magical shield and magical plate armor, please."
"Thank you."
Tragon grins.
"First the name is Drandar, not sir. I work for a living. Second write it down," the dwarf says.
Tragon goes over to the desk and finds some parchment and a quill and starts writing out his request for a magical longsword, a magical shield and magical plate armor. He then hands the parchment to Drandar.