Occa staggers out of his tent, his beard is pretty long...and says, "Hi everyone...I finally got this wand done!" He stops, looking at the glares from all his companions..."Uh, I know I said I would only be a few minutes and it has been several months, but....look, I can detect large ore deposits! Surely, you can appreciate tha...aaarrgH!"
Some people ask about acquiring more spells.
"No taking...copying....I suppose Valdar or I could pop over to someplace to get some more spell books for people to copy into. If and when Valdar gets back that is. I could go to Sanctum to get some spell books at the guild."
"Oh, no sir... Occa, I meant that I wouldn't not borrow them until you were finished with them. I didn't mean to imply that I would take them and keep them. I've got one spell book. I suppose others would come in handy as this one fills up."
Occa says, "Ahhh, great...after you have finished with that, I would like to take you and Lore on a little trip so that I can show you how to use some wands that I have. Might as well make you guys a bit more effective."
"Tomorrow then? I don't know how long it will take me to learn the spells, but I'd like to do it all in one sitting."
Occa says, "Whenever you are done...doesn't matter to me."
Valdar pops in occasionally.
Occa says, "In that case, I would give him some of your gold and have him pick a few up for you. Actually, I need one or two as well."
He says to Valdar, "Could you pick me up 2 Standard spell Books next time you go home? What do they cost there?"
Darian hands Valdar handfuls of gold coin. "Take whatever you need, Valdar, but two more spell books would probably be good for me as well."
"1000gp each...plus a variable cost depending on the level of spells that go into them," replies the mighty elf-lord.
"Same where I come from...good. Here is 3000 gps in gems." He hands over a few rubies. "I would be glad to go with you, if you like...I hate to impose on you, but you know your way around here better than I do."
Valdar touches Occa, speaks a word or two, and they disappear.
The two of you appear in a narrow, winding city street, filled with people. The smell of sewage, unwashed bodies and rotting garbage tells you that you are in a large city. The air is clear, the temperature cool.
"This is Sandas," says Valdar. "A city of Men, and part of the Kingdom of Nlad. I know the place well. Stiff and Orlon maintain residences in the area."
He motions to a large, imposing building to your left.
"That is the Guild of Magic Users," he continues. "You should be able to purchase spell books there...though they will probably want you to join, first. If you run into any problems, I will be across the street."
With that, he leaves you...and you watch him enter a small tower across from the Guild and close the door behind him.
A battered sign over the door of the tower reads -
"Ray Jay. Master of the Arcane Arts. Fortunes Told, Pots Mended."
Occa saunters over to the Mages guild and enters. He walks up to the reception desk and says, "Hail! I am Occa Larsor of the Free City State of Urith, member of the Free States of Delith. I have recently come to this area and would like to purchase some spell books. May I do so here?"
The fat lady behind the desk looks up at you and eyes you through her thick, horn-rimmed glasses.
"Membership card, puleasse..?"
Occa smiles and says, "Sorry, I don't have a membership here. How do I join? What are the benefits of joining?"
"You join by paying me 500gp for a one year membership," she replies. "That gives you access to the guild, labs, libraries and bar; a discount on training and reciprocal benefits at other guilds in other cities."
Occa says, "Weeeelllll sign me up!" He takes out 500 gps and hands it over to her (I guess he will use sheet of smallness to unsmall it.
She takes your money, issues you with a membership card, secret decoder ring and shows you the secret handshake and two-step.
Once that is done he says, "Where can I buy a spell book?"
She points you in the right direction.
Occa heads to the place that buys spell books and spell components for that matter.
He does the secret two step down the hall...
Occa gets the components he needs...
He will then head to the library and try to find a librarian to speak with...
"Yes..?" asks a rather mousy-looking female.
Occa says, "Are you in charge of acquisitions? I have roughly 5300 books on various subjects I wouldn't mind selling or trading."
"Yes...we are always looking to add new books to our collection," she replies. "Do you have them?"
"I can get them....I just wanted to ask first before teleporting back and getting them all. Do you happen to have any items of holding that I might use to bring them in?"
"I'm sorry..."
"That is okay..I can shrink them with a sheet I have...it will just take some more time is all."
"Also, who do I speak to about trading spells?"
"The library maintains a large collection of spell books for the use of its members. You may copy out any that you find that are of interest to you."
"Really? That is great!" He will look through the books. He will also ask, "What about spell research? Can we do spell research here? Not that I am going to have the time."
"Of course."
"By the way, I am Occa Larsor, new to this guild and very pleased to meet you." He bows with a flourish.
She nods.
He says to the librarian, "Do you know where I might find fledgling mages who might be interested in an apprenticeship and adventure? I need someone who has the initial training, but needs a mentor."
"I may..." she says, regarding your fat coin purse with interest...
Occa smiles and says, "You are a woman after my own heart. Ever think of hitting the open road? Doing a bit of exploring? Seeing the world and the creatures that inhabit it? And then killing them? Not to mention all the gold and magic you find." He shows her his quiver of wands. And then he gives her 25 gps. "So where might these magelings be?"
She pockets your money.
"I will pass the word," she replies.
Some time later she comes back to you.
"I am sorry, but the person I had in mind is not interested in such employment. If you like I could keep my eyes open, though, for we get a lot of people passing through here..."
Occa says, "Thank you, that would be great...I will stop in now and again."
He bows and leaves.
When he returns to the camp...
Occa says, "I have been to the Sandas mage guild and sold the books we took from the vampire mansion. I was able to get 5 gps for each one and that totals 26,400 gps."
Op Code mentions in a loud voice while staring at Occa, "I'm putting my share in the community chest. This should help offset any costs incurred by members in their training."
Who Knows speaks up. "What about my share. If memory serves me, I was there also. As a matter of fact, Phil and Oh Well were there also."
Occa says, "Opps, sorry about that...I forgot...probably because you were dead for most of it. Sorry. Let's see...That means an additional three...yikes."
Who Knows patiently waits.
Occa pays up.
Who Knows tells Occa in a stern voice "Thank you very much."
Oh Well says "Thanks."
Phil tells Occa "Don't worry about Who Knows. He's very tempermental, but he's harmless. As for not including us in the count. Don't worry about it. Anyone could have made that mistake. It's so easy to do with all the people coming and going from the group."
"Occa, could you please add that to the money I gave you for those spell book thingies." says Jesse.
Occa says, "Is it a tip?" He laughs and says, "I don't think that will be needed, but I don't turn down free money."
Tracy glares at Jesse.
Jesse glares back at Tracy, and then confused moves off.
"That little flirt!" says Tracy, her eyes boring into Jesse's back as she leaves.
Cat smiles at Tracy and replies, "I'm sure she is not .. she just doesn't know much about how to handle herself."
"Apparently not!" snaps Tracy. "That's why she's trying to get my Occa to handle her instead!"
"I will instruct her in the finer arts of being a woman .. then you can complain."
"*You're* going to teach her that..?"
Tracy walks away laughing.
Cat glides over to Jesse, putting an arm around her and whispers into her ear. She then guides Jesse away from the main group and sits Jesse down for a talk ...
Jesse bursts into tears at Tracy's remark. "No... no... I want Occa to show me how to cast some spells... nothing more." She then turns and runs to the woods.
Occa blushes and then laughs a little chuckle and hurries after Tracy. "Aah, come on...Jesse and me? You have to be kidding me? I like strong women like yourself. Here let me show you...."
He drags her off to his tent.