March 30th is an overcast, chilly and raw day in Strabath.
After breakfast, Rage gathers up Hlarn, Malvis, Carburator and Dor, and teleports off to Megadungeon I.
A short time after they teleported out, Rage returns with Hlarn, Malvis, Carburator and Dor.
A moment or two later Occa and Darian pop out of thin air and into the common room of the Angry Goose.
This surprises you, as you had been under the impression that Occa was imprisoned in the hells or something.
Kadlian gets up quickly, hands on his swords. "Darian, who is this?"
"Don't worry, Kadlian, it's a clone of Occa. The other Occa is still in Hell. That's what we're here for. We want your help again."
Kadlian frowns. "Oh. Nice to see you, clone of Occa. So, what is the plan and what, exactly, do you want from us? We were planning on heading east in the next couple of days."
Hlarn frowns and turns toward Occa's clone. "Correct me if I'm wrong and the rules function differently here than from my home, but I was taught by my masters that as one travels the planes, magics of the mortal realm grow weaker the deeper one goes. On the first layer of hell we would be twice removed from this world. That would only give Sian, Kadlian and I any weapons able to strike most demons. Any deeper, and I believe we will be unarmed and unable to harm any but the weakest of demons."
"That only affects to a certain level. However, we will go no deeper than the first level."
"Devils are also highly resistant to spells. Thus our highly capable magicians will also be next to useless. While an archmage's talent such as you possess can counter such resistances, none of us are of that skill yet."
"So given these problems, I am not certain what use we could be to you except in some sort of support role against very minor devils." Hlarn smiles. "Don't take what I say as fear. I'd gladly go. But only for a mission we have a hope of success at, and not if we are to simply be used as devil fodder to distract them. Perhaps you have some more powerful weapons which we could be armed with?"
Darian touches one of the swords on his back. "I've got a few back the mansion that I'd be happy to loan out. And some of the others may have extras. Plus, there's always our community chest. Gil and Robert were going to check out the swords to see if they could find any good ones."
"But, we mainly want you to help with the giants and other creatures. We were hoping to take care of the devils ourselves."
"We do have some high tech weapons that might help. A couple grenades will do much good."
Hlarn frowns. "You can use them, but I will not. I will have nothing to do with the cursed magic of technology."
"Hlarn, the weave is amoral," Logan says to the cleric. "It doesn't think or judge, it is how people use the magic is whether it is for good, for bad, or cursed as you say!"
Hlarn shakes his head. "I'm not saying technology is itself evil. Like anything, it is a form of power. But technology is the opposite of magic, and the more it is used, the less power magic has in the world. The opposite is also true, with magic use being the bane of technology, but since I am a child of magic, I choose that realm."
Hlarn waves his hand. "Look at the history of this world, or others we have seen or heard of. Once Earth was a technological society, but we also know that the gods were unknown then. Only when the technology began to fail were people's faith in the ancient gods rekindled, and magic came back to this world. But the opposite can happen as well. As people put more faith in technology, they have little need to put faith in the gods, and even begin to disbelieve in their very power. Without believers, the power of the gods in truth wains as well, and without them the magic in the world then dies."
"Bah! Are you saying the gods don't use technology? I find it very convenient to use both!"
"Here, here!" Logan says with a smile, agreeing with Niko. "Whatever kills are enemies quickiest I like, be it magic or technology!"
"I'm not saying its not convenient. What I'm saying is that its dangerous. And as for the gods, they can do as they please. Obviously they are not likely to lose faith in themselves."
"But how many deities promote the use of technology? The gods demand faith from their followers, but science tells its adherents to have faith in nothing, testing everything using hypothesis and proof. While the gods do exist, they exist because of the prayers and beliefs of their followers. Priests cannot act without their blessings, and the most powerful wizard magic of a 'wish' is also derived from the powers that be."
"Technology however gives mortals the ability to act without their deities. Things once requiring the power of the gods can be done using mortal abilities alone. Soon thereafter folk even wonder if they need the gods. After that they might wonder if the gods even exist, and to even put themselves up as equal to the gods. And by then the magic is gone, and only science remains."
Niko shrugs. "You gotta respect things that scare the gods..."
Occa says, "Call me Occa, please. We would like you to help us in hell. We are going after Occa Prime's soul, Zanax's soul and the Scepter. We expect to meet heavy resistance especially by giants and could use some additional help. Will you help us?"
Hlarn smiles. "Ah, now Giants are another matter. I would have no problem helping with those."
Rage nods, "Let's go. I owe Occa and Zanax that much."
Kadlian looks at Hlarn and Rage and then back at Occa. "We need to talk about this. I was all set to go a month ago, but Jesse, Darian and the others changed their mind about us going."
"Please, take a seat and have a drink while we talk."
Occa takes a seat with the treants.
"Thanks, but do you know if there is a mage's guild or mage supply shop in this town?"
"Yes, there is a guild and an extensive library. I do not know about a mage supply shop, though. At least, other than the one in the guild. Rage, can you answer Occa's question?"
Rage nods. "Yes there is."
Kadlian looks at the rest of the group. "What about you others?"
"My skills as a mage are not strong enough to allow me to properly assist you in Hell," Logan says with a displeased look. "Anyhow, I thought some of us were to travel East in search of one of the artifacts of the prophecy?"
"Traveling to Hell does not preclude us going East at a later date. However, your vote is noted."
"Two for, one against."
After considering the matter, Dor replies. "Maybe the folks with lots of experience can go to free Occa and those of us with less can continue East. I'm continuing East, anyway."
Carburator says, "I don't know if I could be of any help, but I would love to go!"
Hearing that, and knowing that Rage has already volunteered to go, Malvis, beaming and smiling broadly, says, "I, too, would like to go."
"There may be some useful things you can do." the mage says, turning to Occa, "How hard is this technology to use and can mages use it? If so, having some additional bodies to assist us will be quite useful."
"Okay. That makes four for the voyage and two against."
Hlarn turns to the newcommers. "Have any in your party ever been to the east, or closer at least than our location now? Perhaps in return for our help, you could quickly teleport us there and save us the long journey?"
Turning back to Dor, the dwarf says, "If they have, then you might as well come with us. We would likely be to hell and back and there before you could travel even a few hundred miles."
"I have a fighting chance travelling east, but not a snowball's chance in hell," Dor replies stubbornly.
"I am in...but getting some more weaponry never hurt." says Sian with a grin. "I would like to have our friends back before they become a permanent fixture down there."
Umboth turns to Sian.
"Milord, while I would be honoured to teach the word of Forseti to the creatures which populate the lower planes, at this stage in my career I feel that I would not long survive the experience. So, please excuse me from this quest."
Nuanna, Melissa and Callie nod in agreement with Umboth's words.
"Alright, ladies," the elven mage/fighter says with a bright smile as he rubs his hands together. Obviously, his new attention to magecraft has not dampened his libido in any way!
"Perhaps Dor has a good idea," the ranger says. "We can at least make a start on the journey, and then the teleport mage can bring you to us when you are finished in hell."
Dor looks at Callie and beams.
"The name is Rage," the woman says, glaring at the ranger.
"Sorry."
"Lord, I would like to accompany you if you see fit," says Vanadil, "Though I may die at your side."
"I do not know how much use a druid would be in hell," says Birch heavily, "But if Sian commands then I will go as well."
"Sian, better let your followers advance our camp by the safest route while we dally in hell than have to worry over them with us," the mage councils.
"I agree. Those who do not wish to go with us can move East along the safest route."
"It doesn't have to be the safest," Dor complains.
"It would not be good for us to come back from hell and find that you have been killed traveling. That would make me very angry," Rage says. "You will get enough adventure soon, I suspect."
Kadlian turns to his followers. "It is up to you whether or not you wish to go."
"I-I'm afraid my mage abilities would not count for much in hell, sire," says Wizbang.
"Nor mine, boss," says Edelle.
Vastelle and Windul confer.
"We would accompany you if you need us, master," says Vastelle at last.
Roganna says that she would rather stay in Strabath.
At this juncture, it looks as if Hlarn, Malvis, Carburator, Sian, Rage and Kadlian will accompany Occa and Darian to the lower planes. Birch, Vanadil, Vastelle and Windul will go, though they seem to be reluctant about it.
Wizbang, Edelle, Kadlian's creatures, Umboth, Melissa, Nuanna, Callie, Dor and Logan will start off on the journey east. Niko and Kailar have previously stated that they did not want to go to the lower planes.
Kadlian looks at Occa. "Not as many as I had hoped for, but I hope we can change the balance in our favor."
Occa shrugs. "Any little bit will help!" He smiles. "It should be a grand battle. I hope we survive!"
Malvis visibly pales, then forces a smile and adds, "Me, too."
Kadlian eyes Occa. "I am counting on it. Surely you will have provisions made for all of us to cheat death should something go awry? Zanax told me what happened under Sandas and that you all were wished back to life. Cannot something like that be done if we fail?"
"I will start another clone and leave a message for it to wish us back should we fail. That will be eight months out, however. Hmm, I could scribe a wish scroll and leave that with someone should we fail also."
Kadlian nods. "That would work. You could leave it with Ming in Sandas..."
Hlarn says to Occa, "You never answered my question. Have any of you folk been to the east, or anywhere close to Atlantia?"
The dwarf waves toward those not going to hell. "If so, then perhaps you could teleport those of us who are not going with you on their way, and they can spend the time while we are gone finding out about the city and what it has to offer us. Such time would certainly be more valuable than travelling that great distance."
Occa says, "I have not."
"Me neither. Maybe someone else in our group has?"
Dor responds, "What does it matter? Half the fun is getting there. I don't want to teleport to some city, then sit around and wait. I want to travel the lands, meet new friends, and clobber new enemies. So I am heading East in the morning. Whoever wants to travel with me is welcome."
"Where exactly east are we going, as I am not a native of these lands?" Logan asks.
"The capitol of old Saltar, Atlantia I believe the name is, or something sounding like that. Its no short trip if I remember the maps correctly, and is over a thousand leagues distant I believe. You could easily spend months travelling to get there, so teleportation would be preferred."
"None of us have ever been this far east. I was expecting that we would have to walk it. And Atlantia is our destination, as I have repeatedly said."
"Can we go by boat?" he asks.
Hlarn shrugs.
"Anyone else?" Logan asks with a sigh.
"Nope. We walk."
Niko turns to Kadlian. "As I have signed up to follow you, I'll let you decide if I will be of greater assistance in Hell with you or travelling East with the greener members of your group."
"We could use you, if you are willing, in Hell."
"I'll go too. How many giants did you say there would be Darian?"
Darian shrugs. "I don't think we have an exact count. Figure at least a score. Your illusions should be able to distract them easily."
Malvis brightens again at the words.
"I, too, am an illusionist," he states proudly, "And should be of some assistance in defeating giants."
"We are provisioned, so let's go," Dor demands impatiently. "When you are done in Hell, you can find us in your crystal balls and join us."
"Kailar has the crystal ball."
With the question of who is going resolved, Occa goes to the guild.