On September 25th, Pharian finally finishes training, and you are all readyto begin your latest sojourn.Stiff scries with his crystal ball.
"The room is deserted," he announces, and you all climb into Salaam's portable hole.When you climb out you are standing in a room (30' X 40': door in middle of one short wall, doors at either end of the other short wall). A fire burnsin the middle of the room. The flames are green. There is no apparent fuelfor this fire.
"Hmmmm..." says Stiff as he squints at his map. "I thought it was a pool.Anyway. I think that goof Kull mapped this out. It says here, 'reversewish'. Don't remember how to activate it, though."
"Reverse wish? As in you ask for the opposite of what you want? How strange."
"Stiff, would you care to explain a little more, this particular one doesnot bode well with me." Salaam says as he watches the rest of the group react first.
"That's all I remember," says Stiff. "It's been a long time since I washere, last."
"What does a reverse wish mean exactly?" Salaam asks, quite interested.
Darian looks at the flames for a little while and then at Stiff. "What are the parameters of a wish? I've not really learned much about them, so I don't know what is acceptable to ask for. I do know that I wish to be stronger. Valdar tells me that's the only way I'm going to continue to learn as a fighter. So, if I state that I want to be weaker while activating this flame thing, it'll make me stronger? Or is that beyond the capabilities of a wish?"
"That should work," says Stiff.
"Okay, but do you have any ideas on how to specify how much stronger? I mean, I don't want to waste this iwsh by being able to lift an additional flea. Strong as a hill giant would be nice."
"Don't be too greedy," advises the arch-mage...or rather one of them."Or else you might get nothing."
"I see. As strong as Gilstrock then? I think it's a problem of parameters. If you don't specify something, might you get such a small incremental increase that you just waste the wish?"
"That might happen, too," says Stiff unhelpfully.
Occa says, "Just wish to be as strong as you can be or as strong as the wish can make you. As your strength reaches a certain level, it can only raise it in small increments after that."
Darian smiles. "Guess I'm worried about only being able to carry an additional flea or something rather than being as strong as Gilstrock. Wording of wishes is certainly tricky..."
"Darian, you wanna know my secret?" Gilstrock says. "I'm pretty darn strong naturally, yes, but I've met folks stronger than me. But, if you act strong, and look strong, and carry on like you're strong, people are gonna think you're really strong. That may not help you lift things, butit helps people treat you with the proper respect."
Darian chuckles.
"Well, Valdar explained to me that I can't train as a fighter until I'm stronger. That's what's limiting me. So, if I can increase my natural strength even through this means then I can train to become a more skillful fighter."
"Well," Gilstrock says, ever suspicious of these things, "be carefulwishing to be as strong as me. Knowing how these magic things work, it'll weaken me down to your current strength so that you'll be as strong asme."
Darian chuckles.
"Agreed. I don't want that to happen."
Gilstrock shakes his head. "All of this makes my head spin. It makes mewant to wish for something that would annoy the rest of you, like beingdone with these pools."
"So anybody have any ideas what I ought to wish for? Hey, maybe I couldbe Emperor of the World! Now that would be fun."
Gilstrock rubs his hands together in anticipation.
Jesse walks up to the flame and examines it... she puts her hand next to it to see if it is hot or not. It is not. She thrusts her hand into the flames.Nothing obvious happens.With her hand in the flame, Jesse will say the following. "I wish that I was less experienced that I am now."
Nothing happens.
"Stiff do you remember how to activate the... Do we have to stick our arms,legs or any other part of our body into the flame.?"
"Why don't you lower your trowsers and stick your butt in it?" Op Code chuckles.
Angst approaches the flame and leaps through it so that all his body is touched by the flame.As he passes through the fire the flaming words -"MAKE A WISH, YOU DUMMY!"- appear in the air before him. However, as soon as he emerges on the other side, the words vanish. Angst suffered no damage.
"If Angst's experience is how it works, you need to engulf your entire body in the flames, dear."
"Clearly we need to jump through the flames. So I'll be the canary." says the bard. She jumps through the flame and says as she does, "I wish that I was less experienced than I am now."
The words reappear, but Jesse is through the flames before she finishes voicing her wish, so nothing happens.
To Peter and Joan, Angst says, "If this works you can try this as well."
"Okay!" yells Peter.
"Do what..?" asks Joan.
You get the impression that she is not too bright.
Determined to try this, Jesse steps into the flames and states her wish again. "I wish to be less experienced that I am now."
She steps out of the fire, and then back into it.
Nothing happens.
Salaam immerses himself in the flames and says, "I wish I do not possessthe permanently ability of true sight." he says, hoping, it will grant him permanent True Sight.
He steps back out and looks around."Stiff, did you know that there is a secret door in this room?? Any idea where it goes??" Salaam asks.
"Yup. It's on Kull's map. There's another room beyond it and stairs up tothe next level."
"Everyone," Salaam says, "please make your wishes carefully. I have justwishedfor permanent true seeing, now I see everything all the time.. not always an advantage!" he says after wondering how foolish he could be.
"Can you see through women's clothing?" Op Code asks with interest.
"No, Op Code, not only is that dishonorable, it would require x - ray vision." Salaam says, trying to stifle a smile.
Occa says, "Indeed. Tell us more, that sounds like a great advantage."
"It is the same as the clerical spell True sight as well as the mage version, except I can see aura emanations of people to determine their dispositions, evil, good, chaotic, etc." Salaam says as he gets into lecture mode. "I can see invisible, out of phase, and ethereal creatures and beings. Magical auras and emanations are clearly visible as well as their relative strengths. Any other questions?" he says as the short lecture comes to an end.
"You just can't turn it off, right? What happens when you close your eyes? Can you still 'see' all these things?"
"Correct I can't turn it off, but that is a good idea." Salaam responds ashe closes his eyes.
Jesse looks at Darian, "Yes, you heard my wish. The magic interpreted exactly and has helped be a little. A very little. I should have been more precise with my language."
"That's why I'm trying to figure out how to specify how strong I wish to become."
To Stiff, "Does this flame allow people to make multiple wishes, or is it a one-shot deal? Or do you not know?" asks the bard. "I am sorry, I misspoke. However, I have answered my own question, I think. The question, was does this flame grant multiple wishes?"
Occa says to Darian, "Have you thought about wishing for not being limited in levels and yet remaining a half-elf?"
Darian looks surprised. "Is that possible? To stop being limited? Or is that too greedy?"
"Probably too greedy."
Occa shrugs, "But it might work."
Darian looks to Stiff for his opinion.
Stiff nods.Darian smiles. "Guess I don't show it, but I'm a wood elf. Both my parents were wood elf."
"I have a wish that might work," grumbles BrightAxe. He immerses himself inthe flames and wishes, "I wish my weapons could not affect all creatures."
Nothing obvious happens.
"Sir Dwarf, may I examine your weapons?" Salaam asks.
BrightAxe hands his Axes to Salaam.They radiate a slight amount of magic.
"It seems that your axes emanate a small residual of magic. If I may, I theorize that the magic of the wish will be in effect when you are actually combating a creature against which it could damage. On the other hand, the way you worded the wish, you may be able to HIT any creature, but notnecessarily damage it." Salaam surmises, thinking of all possible alternatives.
Occa says, "It could be that he can just hit any creature but has not made his weapons so that he can hit better or do more damage."
"Stand aside while you make up your mind," Op Code tells Gilstrock as hewalks past and steps into the flame.
"I wish to be weaker," he calls out.
Op Code feels stronger.
"I'm Popeye the sailor man," Op Code sings as he flexes his biceps.
"Well here goes nothing."
Darian walks into the flames and says, "I wish to be much weaker."
He feels stronger.
"So," Gilstrock says, "Darian! How'd it work?"
Darian flexes his muscles.
"What do you think?"
"Do you feel like eating some spinach?" Op Code asks Darian.
Darian grins. "Actually, I feel like I've eaten some spinach."
Gonzo waits his turn and then says, "I, Gonzo Gallahad, Dwarf o' da ancient halls o' Gallahad, citizen o' da Dwardarf, stand here 'fore da gods and utter me wish."
Then, stepping into the green flame, wishes..."In all da lands, both near and far, me wishes ta be free o' any great attractions o' leadership."
Then stepping out.... "Der, dat aughta keep me outta trouble fer sure."
"You mean get you into trouble... this was a reverse wish you know,"smiles BrightAxe.
Screwing up his brows in thought, Gonzo suddenly collapses to the floor..."OH NOOOOOO! Wut have I done now!???? The gods be merciful... or me goat izcooked... me dinks..."
"Oops," Gilstrock says, as he strides over in the direction of Gonzo."Don't worry about it. Now you just have to be Emperor of the World."
"Empor-roar? NNnna--- naaa nooooo".... Gonzo sinks into a puddle of remorse, totally distraught over what he believes is NOT what he intended to happen tohim but is what appears to be happening to him but in all actuallity, thatwhich he has created in his own imagination torturing him into a whining ball of whimpering dwarf. After a short time, he seems to stop shaking, and stands. "O.K. Me readyfer da worst. Let's go 'n kill something... make me feel better then."
Occa says, "Okay, let me try it out."
Occa walks into the flames and says, "I wish I do not possess the permanent ability to regenerate as bestowed by wearing a ring of regeneration."
Nothing appears to happen.
"Hey," Gilstrock says admiringly, "that's a good one."
He looks over at Pharian. "Any suggestions? What should I not-wish for? I kinda like theEmperor of the World idea. Or, wait! Maybe I should wish to be the latest one to join the rapidly swelling ranks of arch-mages who are about here!"
Pharian decides to wait and see what befalls Occa before making his own greedy anti-wish.
"Occa, I suggest you cut yourself and see if it works." Salaam says, "Would you like some help?" he asks with a smile.
Occa pulls out a dagger and pricks his finger.
"Here's hoping."
The wound rapidly closes.
He cuts another finger just to be sure.
It heals too.
Occa finally smiles and says, "How lucky!"
He seems delighted.
"Oooh, Occa, good deal!" Gilstrock exclaims. "You scored! Wow, this fire thing looks like it can do pretty well for you."
He looks back at the fire, pensively, still undecided as to what he ought to try to ask for.
Occa says, "How about wishing for the permanent affects of a scroll of protection from dragon's breath? Or something like that?"
"Hmm, sounds good, given what we're up against," Gilstrock says. "But the thing is, there's all these different dragons with all kinds of different strains of halitosis. If I'm holding Thawbreaker, I can stand up pretty well against the fire kind. Maybe I should try to become immune to poison? Or would that be asking too much?"
Occa says, "A scroll of protection from dragon's breath will protect you against all dragon's breath. Not just one kind. Becoming immune to poison would be great, but only if assassins are after you. The dragon's breath immunity would make you the most famous dragon slayer in history."
"Hmm, well then," Gilstrock says, "dragonslaying seems to be what we've been hired to do, so I may as well try that! Thanks Occa."
Gilstrock takes off his backpack (with his shield hanging on it) and lays his spear down next to it. He then strides forward (tall fighters alwaysstride, they never walk) into the green flams. Standing there, he says,"I, Gilstrock, human fighter of Amrica, formerly of the Silent Runelands, wish that I did NOT permanently have resistance to dragon's breath equivalent to the effects of a Scroll of Resist Dragon Breath as describedto me by Occa Lasor the Chaotic and Generally Wacky Mage."
Nothing seems to happen.
Salaam does not note any changes in Gilstrock, either.
Darian grins, "Anyone got a dragon handy to test Gilstrock's wish?"
Occa says, "I could shape change later, Gilstrok and breathe on you. That would be one way to test it."
"Hmm," Gilstrock says, stepping out of the flames. "Well, we'll have to wait and see if that did anything."
Looking over at Stiff, he asks, "Do we get multiple tries? Or will that wreck the first one?"
"Ask Jesse and Darian."
"I still feel stronger than I did, so I don't think it wrecks anything."
Angst steps into the flame and says, "I wish I was unable fly at walking pace upon silent request."
He steps out and tries to concentrate on flying around the room.Angst floats slowly off the floor...then flips over and crashes into Jesse, sending them both sprawling.
Jesse picks herself up, dusts herself off and looks at the flying fool. "I think you need some more lessons." she says to him.
Darian assists Jesse in getting back to her feet.
"Sorry Jesse It looks as though you are correct, when we get back I will certainly practice this new skill. It promise's to be a good one especially if can learn to do arial combat." says Angst. "Joan, Peter please also step into the flame and make your requests."
Joan then walks into the flame."I wish I was a lot less experienced than I am now"
She steps back out.
"Well that sucks!" she exclaims, having suffered the same fate as Jesse.
Peter walks into the flame, and booms, "I wish that I was not able to regenerate as a ring of regeneration!"
Occa says to Stiff, "You never did reply to Jesse...can this reverse wish thing be used more than once?"
"Don't know. Try it."
Darian steps back into the flame.
"I wish my psionics were 25 percent less powerful."
Nothing happens.
"Guess that's an answer. Of course, it may just mean I was too greedy. I'll try a 10 percent increase to be sure."
He steps back into the flame.
"I wish my psionics were 10 percent less powerful."
Nothing happens.
"Well, I would say that would conclusively prove that you only get one reverse wish. A 10 percent increase wouldn't seem to be overly greedy to me."
Cannon Fodder says, "I will try it!"
He jumps into the flame and says, "I wish I were not a real person with my current skills, abilities and personality."
Occa rolls his eyes at Cannon Fodder's wish.
"I didn't tell you to do that!"CF says,
"I know, butt head!"
Cannon Fodder awaits the outcome of the first wish before he tries another...
Nothing happens.
Cannon Fodder frowns and says, "Damned to be snow always."
He sighs loudly and says, "Okay, where is a trap I can diffuse."
"It seems," says the bard, "That this is a one shot deal. A good thing, I suspect, else people could become like gods."
"You mean we aren't already?" Gilstrock asks, seemingly innocently.
"Of course not silly. I have yet to write and sing the definitive story of this group. The heroic Gilstrock, The insane Occa, Pharion the grouch, Angst the warrior, the traveling Salaam, Op Code, Orlon the mighty, and the most dashingly handsome Darian." says Jesse. "When I finish, this group will be the right hand of the gods fighting the mighty evil. Of course, it will take at least twenty minutes to properly introduce everyone... since even I get confused as to he who is with us."
Darian blushes and studies the tops of his boots.
"HEY! What am I? Chopped liver? I know I'm ugly and all that.. but don't Icount for something?" says Gonzo.... "Must be that wish... no body loves me anymore!"
"Apparently it was a non-dwarf song," says BrightAxe.
The bard looks at the dwarf, "Of course not, silly. I was just naming some names. My fault. You will be part of the center of the story, since we are cleaning the halls of your forefathers out," Jesse says to Gonzo, as she puts her hand on his shoulder.
"Oh danks...I feels betta already... me part won't be too big a verse willit?" asks Gonzo.
"The story will have to start with your lineage... and how you recruited each of the great heros becuase of your charisma and leadership skills. How you led them into the deep." Jesse grins, "Why, you... you'll be bigger than a hill giant... a fire giant... huge.." the bard says excitedly.
Gonzo starts to turn red.... covers his face... "OH NO! ME wish you makin'me wish come true... I've made a big ol' mistake... me not want to be so LARGE ta da werld... Couldna' I be jez small dwarf in da songs you make?"
Salaam looks at the flames again and checks to see if they changed in color or intensity and if they still radiate magic.
"I have this feeling that the magic is gone or finished for the day or some period of time," he says in a grave tone. "Stiff, are there any other pools or flames that we can go to?" Salaam says.
The flames are still magical.
Pharian, seeing that Occa's anti-wish seems to have worked, steps into the fire and says, "I wish that I don't permanently have the extra abilities as bestowed by a ring of wizardry of the type that doubles first level spells."
"Right-o," Gilstrock says. He looks over at Occa. "So, we gonna test this dragons breath thing? Or should I try me a second wish here to see if the first one was too greedy?"
Occa says, "I would try a second one...that may have been too greedy."
"Hmm, OK," Gilstrock says. He strides back into the flame, less enthusiastically this time. Once in it, he says, "I wish that I were as weak as this wish could make me."
Nothing happens.
Gilstrock strides back out. "Allright. Either my first one worked, or you guys used the magic all up before I made up my mind."
Gilstrock shrugs.
"We'll do the shape change test later to see if I really canresist dragonsbreath. If not, no biggie. Let's go to the next one."
Occa says, "Yes, well...time to go to the next pool. Stiff, can you do the honors?"
Stiff nods.
"Back in the hole, if everyone's ready," he says.
Cannon Fodder says, "What a minute...does that mean that it had just stopped working for the day?"
"What?"
Jesse holds Darian's hand as she enters the hole.The rest of you follow.When you next emerge from the portable hole you find yourselves in a circular-shaped chamber some 20' across. A 10' wide passage exits the chamber. Three curved and ornately carved marble sitting benches follow the perimeter of the chamber. Apart from these, there nothing in here but for a pool. This pool is some 10' across and is filled with dirty, scummy water.
"Don't be fooled," says Stiff. "Toss a coin in and see what happens!"
Darian pulls a platinum coin out of his pouch and tosses it into the water.
Jesse watches to see what happens, standing quietly next to Darian, fingering her own coin.
Nothing appears to happen.
Jesse tosses a copper into the fountain and says, "I wish to have psionic abilities like Darian."
Darian moves to stop her and realizes it's probably too late. He shakes his head sadly.
"Jesse... You shouldn't have done that, dear. You don't want the attention that psionics gives you."
"And yet, you can heal people. Something I would like to be able to do as well," says the bard.
Darian hugs her. "I understand, but I have other powers now and they will just attract additional attention to me and know you."
"Well, let's see if my wish worked." says Jesse, "and if not, well, then that is it."
Jesse squeezes Darian close and waits...
Nothing obvious happens.
Occa pulls out a dagger and makes a cut in his hand.
"Heal me Jesse....just will it to happen."
Gilstrock laughs.
"Not a very good test. We saw last time around that you'll now get healed regardless."
Gilstrock down his spear and pulls a dagger out of his own belt. Making acut in the back of his hand, he says, "Jesse, heal me. I don't grow back like Occa does, so without your help it'll take me a day or two to heal this."
Angst steps up to the pool with a platinium piece. He flips the coin and when it lands in the pool, says, "I wish that I Angst Hordus have theability to destroy my slayer in the instance of my irrevocable death."
"Let's not test this wish, Ehh?"
"I'M NEXT!" broadcasts Peter, as he tosses a copper piece in and says, "IWISH I WERE STRONGER!"
Nothing seems to happen.
Joan is next with a coin.
"I wish I were stronger!"
She pauses, and flexes her muscles, which suddenly seem to be a bit more substantial.
"Hey! It worked!" the halfling squeaks.
"Well," says Stiff, stifling a yawn. "That is all of the magic pools thatI've come across so far. Do you want to go home...or do you want to hit thecasino..?"
"Wait!" Gilstrock cries. "We haven't all yet had a chance to try this out.I still can't figure out what the hell it's supposed to do. It didn't seem to do anything for most of these people; only Joan had some results from it. Stiff, how is this supposed to work? Typical wishing well? What sorts of limits does it have? Why isn't it working for most people?"
"If Stiff doesn't know, maybe we should all think about this for a few minutes before we run off," Gilstrock concludes.
"I don't remember, exactly. Maybe it's a random effect."
Occa says to Peter, "Do you feel any stronger at all?"
"NO."
"Joan, are you a fighter per chance ?" Salaam asks, then he tosses a gold piece in and says, "I wish I am wiser than I am now!"
Salaam suddenly feels wiser (he gains 0.1 points of wisdom).
"Yes! I'm a warrior!" says the halfling excitedly.
BrightAxe quickly tosses a gold piece before we all leave and says, " I wish I were stronger to smite the enemies of mine and my god."
Nothing seems to happen.
Darian tosses another platinium coin in. "I wish I was fifteen percent stronger than I am now."
Nothing appears to happen.
Occa says, "What is the casino, Stiff? Is it something more than a normal casino?"
Stiff shrugs.
"What do you mean by normal?" he counterquestions. "It's in Atlantia, and it's run by that city's thieve's guild. There are some gaming rooms. I lost my shirt there...but most everyone else won big time. I do recall therebeing someone with a deck of many things...if you REALLY wanted to gamble."
Occa tosses a copper coin into the well and says, "I wish I were more dexterous."
Nothing appears to happen.
Gonzo takes a gold coin out, rolls it across the backs of his fingers,thinking for a moment... then tosses it into the pool,
"I Gonzo Gallahad,wisht fer me ta use da weapons wid more dexterity den ever befo'"
Nothing obvious happens.
"HEY, LOOK!" announces Peter, as he fusses through his coin purse. "ALL OF MY MONEY HAS BEEN TURNED TO PLATINUM!"
Brightaxe checks his funds, and notes that all of his gems and jewelry seem to have become more valuable, too.
BrightAxe gives a general W00-Hoo !
Darian looks at his own purse.Nothing has changed.
Occa checks all his equipment to see if anything has changed....
Nothing has changed.
Gilstrock grunts as he pulls out a gold piece. "Don't have much gold on meto turn to platinum, but I guess I should try the wish thing. Seems likeyou only get what you want by wishing to be better at what you do, so I guess I'll try that."
Gilstrock tosses the coin into the pool and says, "I wish I were a lot stronger."
After a pause...
"Huh," Gilstrock says. "Not a wishing well after all, but still useful."
He looks into his pouch to see if all his gold turned to platinum.
Nothing has changed.
Darian says, "Oh, well, no change for me that I can discern..."
Occa says, "Me either. Maybe it is the type of coin."
He throws a gold coin in and says, "I wish I had more dexterity!"
Nothing happens.
Darian shrugs and tosses in a copper coin.
"I wish I was stronger."
Again, nothing happens.
Darian scratches his head and tosses another copper coin in.
"I wish I were more intelligent."
Nothing.
Darian sighs.
"I guess Occa's right. We can figure out this pool later and come back to try out any theories."
"I have a theory," Gilstrock offers. "It's random. You throw your coin in, maybe, if you're lucky, something good happens. Nothing else makes much sense."
"Guess, I'm not very lucky then."Angst adds, "I believe that you are correct because I certainly get some bad luck, maybe we had better not go to the casino until our luck gets a lot better."
Jesse looks around, breaking her reverie. "I do not seem to have gained in psionic abilities like you have dear Darian." says the bard, a hint of sadness in her voice, "And yet, I feel like myself, before the vampire bit me for the first time," she adds. "I'm ready for this casino. Or should we go back and see how things are with Guido?"
"I'm glad you've recovered, but don't be so sad about your lack of psionics. That may be a blessing in disguise."
Occa says, "Okay, let's go to the gambling hall...a deck of many things sounds fascinating.""
Wow," Gilstrock says. "I didn't get any stronger when I threw that coinin, but all of a sudden I feel like I know how to fight a little better than I did a moment ago...."
Occa says, "Well, we can analyse why this didn't work for us later. Let's go to the casino...we do have dragons to slay."
Gilstrock looks at Occa. "Are they there? Maybe that's how dragons amass their vast hoards."
Occa tosses a peach cobbler at Gilstrock and says, "No, we need to stop wasting time! We only have to the end of the year!"
"Then why go to the casino at all? Let's just head back and start cleaningup the place."
"What happens at the end of the year?" Gilstrock asks.
"The dragons leave the caves and take over the planet. The invasions all begin. We must destroy Tiamatlet by then or else all will suffer."
"Oh," Gilstrock says. "That's bad, then, I guess. Does this mean we are going to have to stop resting up for a month after every combat?"
Occa says, "No, if we need rest and traiinng we will take it, but we can't go too awfully long. Everything we have done so far has helped us greatly."
"Hmm," Gilstrock grunts. "Well, if I read my message headers right," he says, using the world's euphamism for 'digital watch,' "then it's currently nearly the First Month of Winter... er, whatever you call the tenth month of the year around here. Now, unless this world works different from how I think, there's twelve months, which means that we get two, maybe three month long breaks before these dragons take over the world and eat everybody or whatever. So we gotta be efficient if we are gonna take our long breaks."
Occa says, "Yes, we have about 2 months. Let's go to the casino....Stiff?"
Stiff takes out his crystal ball and peers into it.
"Um, Occa? I don't think you answered my question... If the time limit's so important, why are we going to the casino? Stiff says it's just forgambling..."
"There is a deck of many things...that can have huge benefits to us!"
"Or huge disasters, as I recall." replies Jesse.
"So," Gilstrock says, ever suspicious of this magic stuff, "what is a deck of many things? What will it do to you? Is it like one of these pools,or is it dangerous?"
Occa says, "It can be very dangerous...and very benefical! You can gain wishes or have to fight death. You could be ruined or made to be rich. It is very random."
Darian shakes his head in amazement. "Occa, how can you risk playing witha deck of many things? Sure, it can have huge benefits, but the risks outweigh them... I'll not take a chance like that."
Occa says, "Very well...what do the rest of you think? Stiff, I would like to see this place so that I can go back at some point. Could you take me for a moment?"
Gilstrock nods along with this. "Are you sure it's worth it? I mean, Iwas nervous of these pools, and all, but I guess it was a good idea.We're all stronger, better at what we do, than before we started doing all this. But do we really want to go mucking about with this deck thingy before we have to face all these dragons?"
"I'm just not too keen on the idea of being ruined," Gilstrock adds.
Occa says, "Okay, back to Sandas then."
If need be Occa will teleport everyone back to Sandas. He will ask Stiff for a visual of the place with the crystal all so that he can go sometime...Stiff agrees with this...then he teleports you all back to Occa's house in Sandas.It is noon hour, and you are just in time for a light lunch of: cold cuts(ham, chicken, many different cheeses), salads, breads and rolls, followedby a dessert of fruits, trifle (piled high with custard and cream) and chocolates. Of course, there are assorted drinks (beer, ale, wine, coffee,tea, lemonades) to go with this small meal.Jeeves the butler informs Occa that there has been no word from Guido.
After lunch, then, you teleport back to the base camp.After the wet heat of Sandas, the mountain air is bracing. The temperaturehere is some 10 degrees cooler, and the sky is partly sunny. A steady breeze blows out of the southeast.You spend the rest of the day preparing to return to the Halls of Gallahad.