Patchwall 15, 584
Several days after they left, the MAIN party returns to Castle Greyhawk.
Tragon sighs heavily and goes to look for Drandar.
Apparently the rest of you trail along as well.
Drandar is found to be drinking and partying with Robert and Gilstrock.
Tragon heads towards their table. "Do you mind if I join you?"
"Bring over some beers, first, lad," says Drandar. "We've got a running tab here."
Tragon brings over four beers, as requested. When gets to the table, he sits down heavily.
"We're not the same without you and Zanax," he says as an opening line.
Drandar nods sagely, while drinking his beer.
"I don't think I'm ready to be a leader. But no one does anything
at all, unless I ask them to do it. We came back because I
couldn't figure out what to do next and no one else said anything."
"Well, lad. I'm not sure that bringing me and Zanax back would do
much good. Zanax's gone off on his own. Didn't that
Logan lad say a word? I hear he's a talker, that one."
"Logan said a few words, but nothing to initiate ideas. He either
acted on his own or responded when directly asked questions. I
had hopes that he'd fill those shoes. I don't feel ready to do
so. Not after what happened the last time I led.
"How about you coming back, Drandar? Leading us until we're more
of a cohesive force. Right now, being one of the less experienced
members of the group, I feel uncomfortable about leading them."
Robert shakes his head.
"Ray Jay sent us here for a reason," he says, blowing beer foam on
Tragon. "That was to find that damned Sword of Disco Dancing. We
promised him we'd find it. If these newbies aren't up to the job then
we'll have to do it ourselves."
At this point Amberle announces that she's going to see about training, and departs.
The conversation continues after Amberle's departure.
"Well, you're a paladin, and you're supposed to be used to
leading people. I'm just a grunt. A fighter, who ain't good
at leading people. I tried once, and it was less than stellar, so
now I just offer sagely advice on how best to sharpen a sword," says
Drandar to Tragon.
"Then why does not Zanax lead your group?"
"Because he joined the group late, and when we were first starting out,
a ranger, named Kadlian, seemed to be the best leader, he had training
to be a leader as well," says Drandar.
Drandar then nods at Robert's words. "Aye, that is the
case. The question is what was our time frame to recover the
sword? It might be time for us to go in and get the job
done. Too bad we didn't have a better way find the sword,
so we could go in and get it, then let others clean out the keep."
"I don't think he gave us a time frame," says Robert after a moment of
thought. "But if these guys are going to keep whining when they should
be down there looking for it them let's just fire 'em and do the job
ourselves."
"Shall we round up the others?"
"Didn't Darian and Zanax just leave for your Sandas?"
"True," says Drandar, "But let's see who else is around, and perhaps Occa has some ideas."
"Aye," says Robert. He rises unsteadily to his feet, then sits down again. "I think I'll digest my beer first."
"I think they did," says Robert, seated again. "I remember Zanax saying
once that his god had commanded him to find the sword. He's not going
to be happy when he finds out that Zanax has gone off skylarking."
Robert grins.
"Well that's between Zanax and his god. I'm here for fame, glory
and really good beer," says Drandar. "So let's have another
round before we get up. Better yet, let's send a lacky to round
the others up to come here and talk."
Robert looks at the paladin.
"You heard the dwarf, Tragon. But bring over some more beer on your way out."
Tragon gets stiffly to his feet. "If that is the way you're going
to interpret my being here, then so be it. We'll head back
tomorrow morning. If you want to come along or go on without us,
we'll survive."
"Amazingly thin skinned for a paladin," says Drandar. "Sit
down lad and have a drink. Burp. Stretch yourself.
Don't be so...stiff."
"I came seeking advice. I got it. Just not in the form I was expecting it."
"What did you expect from a dwarf? A warm cuddly pep talk?" says
Drandar. "You gotta ask yourself what you want. What is your
goal?"
"What I want is to learn. And I learned a lot watching you and
Zanax. I had hoped to continue learning from you, but you deemed the
tower too easy. Despite the fact that a number of us have been
badly wounded and even died while adventuring with you. I worry
that I will make a
mistake and get the entire party killed."
"And, that, Tragon, is the way of the world. When I was a party
leader, I got a few killed, but didn't have allies like you do.
For someone with my experience, the tower is easy, for you, not so
much. The point is if I go in with you, and the others die, we still
come out and no one's the better for it. If you make the mistakes
you will, then you'll learn."
"Cheer up!" says Badd, wandering into the bar in search of ale and company. "You won't be making that mistake on your own."
He claps Tragon on the back as he hops onto a stool next to the paladin.
"You have many friends around you, people who will transform a small error..." he grins "... into a major catastrophe."
Swiftly he grabs the paladin's beer and takes a huge, gnomish swig. "Feel better now?"
Robert laughs and says, "If you just want another sword then I'll come in with you tomorrow...if I can stand up."
The paladin replies to the gnome. "Not particularly. But, as long
you'll all shoulder the burden with me, I guess it won't be so bad."
"We could use another sword, Robert and a man to wield it."
"What am I? Chopped liver?" asks a disembodied voice from behind the
group. The form of Logan wavers into view as he removes his ring of
invisibility.
"I use a sword very well and I don't want to be leader of this merry band," he says as he crosses his arms over his chest.
"Nope," says Badd, taking another swig of Tragon's beer "Like chopped liver would be if it had a sense of modesty."
He grins at the paladin as he pushes the flagon back across the table.
"Y'know, I never understood the human custom of ordering only one beer
at a time," he says with a helpless shrug. "See, now this one's all
gone."
Tragon grins in amusement. "Would you like another one on me?"
"Now that, Tragon is a very fine offer," replies Badd, nodding
appreciatively. "Which no well brought-up gnome would respect himself
if he declined."
"So you don't want one then?" Tragon shrugs. "Suit yourself."
Hiding a smile, Tragon leaves the table to get another round of beers, including one for Badd.
"Don't forget mine!" Logan yells after the Paladin.
When he returns, he speaks to Logan.
"No, Logan, you're not chopped liver. We could use another fighter, though."
"We could always use another fighter," he winks at the Paladin. "How about one with long legs and a great rack?"
"Yeah," says Robert, nodding.
"And, actually, I had hoped you would lead our group. Since, you're not interested, I guess it falls back to me."
"Well, one, no one asked me and two, I have led some of these jokers
before, I do better as a grunt man, but can rise to the occasion if I
must," he replies in a serious tone. "And where might you be going?" he
asks.
"To look for a sword," replies Robert, and then passes out.