You see Tracey with the mighty arch-mage Stiff. Evidently he is taking a hand in some renovations somewhere. You see him poking at a cracked ceiling. Suddenly it comes crashing down, raising great clouds of white dust. When it clears, you see both him and Tracey, covered in dust. Tracey is laughing. Stiff's beard is bristling...usually not a good sign.
It is barely morning twilight, wherever Kadlian is. You see him, a man and another elf staggering through a forest. They all look exhausted, as if they have been up all night. The man is cut and bruised. The rest of that party is not with them.
Checking in on Orlon, you see him tending the wounds of Oh Well, and those of another man whom you do not know.
Frau Hilda presents Occa with a stone with a piece of parchment wrapped around it.
"Zis vas trown through ze window last October," she says in a disapproving tone.
Occa reads the note -
"Meet me tomorrow noon at the 'Dwarf - Guido"
You get a reply back before noon from the residence of the other local arch-mage. Ray Jay is out of town for another week or so.
"Well, I guess we'll have plenty of time to check out the mage's guild."
Occa asks Hilda about temples for training the newcomers.
"Zere are no such temples in Sandas," replies Hilda, concerning the south Amrican deities. "Zere are temples dedicated to ze Issek off ze Jug, ze Tyr, ze Forseti, ze Mielikki, ze Odin, ze Idun, ze Magni, ze Modi, ze Aarth, ze Untamo, ze Death, ze Uller, ze Tuoni, ze Loviatar, ze Gods of Lankhmar, ze Surma and ze Hel. Zere are ze monasteries for ze Frigga and ze Surtur."
Occa frowns. "That is too long, we need to find another alternative if possible. Otherwise, I am going to have to make some more spells."
Occa also says, "We will be identifying all these magic items as well. Anyone have a commune? It would be nice to be able to tell if any of these are cursed."
December 26th is partly cloudy and rather cold. An icy fog lies over the city. It got down to 20F overnight, and by breakfastime it is not much warmer.
In the morning, Varlen looks slightly refreshed as he sits down to breakfast. Despite the large amount of food, Varlen eats relatively little.
In the morning, after hours of rest and meditation, John joins the group for breakfast. "Master Occa, you have my thanks for excellent accomodations and sumptous food." He eats a small amount, and chats with the rest of the group.
Once breakfast is over, he inquires on a temple or shrine to his god and will go there to train.
Niko, having spent the night drinking and chasing the young scullery maid around with Cannon Fodder, greets the party a little bleary eyed and hung over.
He eats a little and has some ale.
Occa sends another note to Guido asking for another audience regarding the list of items.
He then says, "Darian, Niko, could you two identify the magic items? I am going to go to the mages guild and see if they have any items for sale."
Darian nods. "As you wish, Occa. I'll take Niko to the guild later."
Niko frowns. "OK...but then would you be willing to see how long and how much the mages will charge to make a girdle of giant strength. I have the components, although I probably should preserve them now. Also, if they're interested in buying demon parts."
Niko then goes to memorize preservation and casts it on the body parts he retrieved from Hell.
Later that day, he (and Darian) begin identifying the magic items.
Occa plans out the following course of action:
1) Niko and Darian will identify the magic items. Occa will help with any as time comes available.2) Check at the mages guild for magic items for sale.
3) Occa will probably teleport to see Tracey for at least an evening or two. Of course, it might not be good with his new face...ugh. He will also see how the other group is doing and what they have in the community chest.
4) The lowly ones will begin their training. During the evenings when they are not training, he will take them to the various poools and such that DO NOT raise levels.We will save those for last. Occa will, of course, scry in first.
5) He will try to meet with Guiido and with Ray Jay if they are around.
"Can anyone think of anything else?"
"Do you think you should move the community chest here, Occa?"
"No. The community chest was originally Orlon, Op Codes, Stiffs and that group. It looks like Stiff has settled in somehwere else, I expect that Orlon and the others have as well. So, they will probably want to keep hold of it. We will probably have to start another one here....if we can ever hold onto some magic long enough. I doubt there is much there, but I would like to get these newbies some lasers and grenades so that they can be more help."
A puzzled look comes to Varlen's face. "Laser? Grenades? I have never heard of such things. What are they?"
Niko's eyes light up. "Grenades! Yes! Could ya get me a few, too, Occa?"
Gilstrock snorts. "Those aren't a warrior's weapons."
"Maybe not, but they're damn effective weapons! Put a couple of those babies on the tip of a ballista, fire it at a ship and BOOM! no more ship!" Niko grins in with the delight of a little boy with firecrackers.
"Can you convince Orlon to come down? It'd be handy to have a high level priest around in Hell."
"That would be great. That is where we are weakest."
After hearing the news that there are no temples in the area where he can train, Varlen approaches John.
"John, it appears as if we are on our own as far as training, perhaps we should work on assisting each other. Once we are done, and our respective gods see fit to bestow their blessings upon us, perhaps we can take a quick trip to this town that Occa has mentioned to see if there is some small service that we can perform there."
" Sounds good, Varlen, I am able to train myself as experience and practice is my teacher at this stage, but whatever I can help you with, I will." John replies.
Occa will send some messengers out to hire some cries near the port or market. Hopefully, we can find some travelling priest who are willing to do some training. He will also try to find out where the closest temples to these gods might be.
Occa says, "Okay, who all will be going on the pool rides? Just people who haven't been before."
Varlen would be interested in seeing the pools.
"I will go. With my thanks," Ric says to Occa.
John raises his hand and follows Occa.
Niko steps forward. "I'll go to da ones that can increase my strength and intelligence. I'm a little leery about da ones that increase my skills, especially if Darien's right about us elves being limited eventually. Perhaps these pools can give us skills beyond that?
"Unlikely."
"Hmmm...perhaps when we recover Salaam, he could ask Thoth to confirm."
"We will go before Salaam is recovered."
"Well, I was planning on drinking from the two other pools...and the wish pool...but not pulling the lever to increase my skills. By the way, which skill would it raise, my fighting or casting ability?"
"I have no idea. Besides, the first time we go, it will be to the areas that don't raise levels. I want these new guys trained first in order to maximize their potential."
"They did for me. Just know that once your drink from the pool of intelligence, you need to spend time relearning all your spells."
People scatter.
Varlen has a servant take him to the temple of Forseti, to find out about training. He returns later in the day.
Occa heads to the mage's guild. However, he returns empty-handed. Because of the demands of the military, no magic items are available for sale.
Darian and Niko spend the day identifying items.
On the next evening, Occa gathers together the new recruits. He says, "Are you guys ready?"
"I suppose as ready as one can get for such a situation," Emm remarks.
He creates a magic mirror and looks in on the pool in the Su El dungeon, the room with the pool that we met the PBEM group in, the Bella dugeon pool (coin one), and the Guardian Ford dungeon flame room.
All of the rooms are empty, except for Guardian Ford. In that room stand four orcs. They are urinating on the flames.
It is evening.
Gilstrock says, "Oooh, ooh, let me go, let me go!"
"Need we kill the orcs to use the room?" John asks, seeing no need to commit senseless murder.
"They're orcs!" Gilstrock says, as if there were sufficient explanation to warrant their deaths.
"Gilstrock, it does not mean that they are intrinsically evil. Many humans believe that all barbarians are evil, even when they are human. Since their reputation is usually of involves slaughter, rape, and pillage," John counters.
"May the gods helps us. Here we go again," Emm mutters to no one in particular.
Niko grins. "I've got an idea! Occa, teleport John to that spot. If they kill him, we'll know they're evil and then we can kill them! If not, then I'm sorry, Gil, we'll have to let them live. Is that acceptable to everyone?"
Emm smiles broadly at John.
Occa chuckles.
"That's not funny, elf," John replies as he hears the idea. "How about you go? sounds like you just volunteered."
Niko grins and turns invisible. "I'll go, but those orcs will be roasted in about 10 seconds. Interested in coming along, Gil?"
"Sure," Gilstrock says. "And I promise not to attack any orcs if they don't attack us first. But if they do... well...."
Occa, however, has other ideas.
Occa says, "Something is wrong with Kadlian. Let's go see if we can help. You newbies stay here and train and try to find teachers."
He grabs Niko, Darian, Gistrock and Gonzo (if he wants to go) and teleports to where Kadlian is located.
"Right-o," Gilstrock says, steeling himself for the unpleasant sensation of teleportation.
The spell does not work.
"That is odd. I wonder if they are in Mestom." He sighs and says, "Well, good luck, lad, looks like you will need it."
He turns to the group and says, "Anyone know a way around this? Any ideas? I could wish them here, I suppose or us there, but I don't know if we could get out again."
Niko shrugs. "It seems unlikely that a wish would work, Occa. Didn't you try one when we were in Mestom?"
"Why is he travelling alone? He's either really powerful or really stupid!"
"He's not travelling alone. There's an elf and a human with him. And I swear I saw something else move, but I couldn't tell you what it was."
"Sorry to interrupt, but if going there is a problem, why don't you wish them here?" John asks.
"May I suggest you watch them for a while? Despite how bad they look, it may be that there's a reason for that. If you want, I can check up on them during the day if you can leave the spell active on Kadlian."
"Okay, sounds good."
"Hey, Occa! Maybe this potion will make you feel younger!"
"I think I might be able to use that rope," Emm says. "If it responds to my thoughts, of course."
"Arrgghhh! Blasted, I wanted that! Oh, well...I guess I don't really need it right now...maybe the wand or one of the scrolls..." Niko says looking through the loot.
Ricblane speaks, eying the suit of chain mail, "If no one else what this, I would be indebted for being able to use this armour." the man says. "Now to find a weapon that will be useful for me and my skills."
"What's your weapon of choice, Ricblane?"
"My wit," the man says dryly. "However a mace or flail work better against many creatures."
"Sounds like you don't have any weapons, then. Not sure about the mace, but maybe you could convince Gil to loan you his flail while we're down in Hell."
"As for training and meditation, there appears to be no temple dedicated to my liege, Camaxtli. Alas. I am not sure what to do now, but the fates will tell me."
After visiting Forseti's temple, Varlen returns to Occa's home. When everyone is together, he says, "I have learned that the temple requires a contribution of 3000 pieces of gold before they shall accept me as a candidate for training. It is also my understanding that this training will last for two weeks. If it is possible, I would like to borrow the money for my training, which I will repair from my share of the treasure."
"Sure, I can loan it to you until I get around to splitting up the treasure. I thought I would do that after taking Niko to the Mage's guild. However, if he can be patient for a few more hours, I can do the treasure division first."
Varlen bows and says, "Thank ye, Darian. I appreciate it."
"Hope you brought a mule or something..."
Darian goes back to his bedroom and carries out 3000 gold pieces in bags...
"I can help if you wish," John offers.
Varlen looks at the large amount of coins with surprise. He then turns to John and says, "I would truly appreciate it. I had now concept of what that much money would look like all piled together. If I may ever be of assistance to you, just let me know."
He clears his throat and hunches a little, "One day, and that day may never come, I will come to you ask you a favor for this thing I have done for you today."
"Oh, by the way, do you have a wagon we can borrow?" he asks with a grin.
"There are mules and a wagon in the stables. At least, they were there the last time I saw them..."
"Thank you, Darian," John says as he hefts a sack of gold and goes to look for the wagon.
Niko grunts. "You can do that while we're off drinking from pools and pulling levers."
"Occa, did you find out anything from the guild about making my girdle or if they wanted the other body parts from those demons?"
"No, I forgot. Sorry. You might want to run down and see about it."
Occa retires to his chambers.