After two days of riding and a few minutes of hobgoblins and ogres, the party has arrived back in town to receive the honor and glory (and gold) they so rightfully deserve. Greythur: (triumphantly) We have returned! random townsperson: (completely ignores them) Ozzy: Well, let's get the gold back to Greythur's temple, get our reward, and split up the rest of the loot. Then I'm ready for some good hot food and a nice soft bed in yonder inn. Rimli: Let's be returnin' that treasury and then let's divvy up this `ere treasure that's ours. Greythur: Good plan! Rimli: And then let's cast lots for who gets what ifin' we're not agreein' on how things should be divvied. Greythur: I like it! Ozzy: You're just happy to be here, aren't you? Greythur: Yep! To the temple! Your welcome is much warmer at the temple of Fharlanghn, however. A now-healed Lindros greets Greythur and the others at the door. Lindros: (beaming with exultation or something) Ah, Greythur... you've made me proud. You've all done a great service to Fharlanghn these past six days for which you will be rewarded not only in gold, but in the favor of the Wanderer as well. Greythur: Master, how could I do any less for you? Ajax: *ahem* Greythur: Of course, this gold would still be lost if it weren't for these brave souls. (he introduces the rest of the party to Lindros one by one) Lindros: May the Dweller on the Far Horizon protect you on the roads of your lives, friends. We owe you a debt that, truly, cannot be repaid. Eagle: (starting to worry about his reward money) Lindros: The reward you were promised will be a start, however. Eagle: Whew! Lindros and his acolytes are so pleased with your performance that they pay each of you a full 150 gp-- 25 gp more than Greythur originally promised. Eagle: Well, now that we're in town I would like to buy a round of drinks at the Screaming Roc. Come on everybody, let's make ourselves merry! Lindros: Please, friend, allow us to honor you this night with a banquet of food and drink! Eagle: Well, okay, I accept... but I don't really think it's fair to the others. Ajax: He meant all of us, Eag. Eagle: Oh. Even better! Rimli: Then let's go to the Roc and celebrate! Mmm, a roast-- and then let's all get sloshed! Alenniel: I'm sure the temple members will appreciate that. Later that night, in the Screaming Roc.... Rimli: (draining a mug of ale) Urp! Tasencia: (rather disgusted) Try to show a little decorum, Rimli. You didn't have to get drunk. Rimli: Bah! I'm not drunk. A dwarf is never drunk as long as he can hold onto one stone and not fall off the face of the Oerth... whoa! (he falls over backwards in his chair) Eagle: (packing food away as if he hadn't eaten in a week) Ajax: Geez, Eagle-- you're acting is if you hadn't eaten in a week. Eagle: (through a mouthful of lamb) Hey, righting wrongs is tough work! Greythur: (talking with Lindros) Eagle: (drops his mug on a tavern patron's boots) Oh, dear! I'm sorry, sir! Let me clean that up for you. patron: You'd better, shrimp, or you'll get what's comin' to ya. Eagle: (cheerfully) Of course, sir! There you are! Have a good evening! (walks away from the encounter with the man's moneypurse) Heh heh. Ozzy: Finally, I get what I deserve-- a feast in my honor! Tasencia: _Our_ honor. Remember, though, that you wouldn't even be here if Rao had not granted you your life time and again. Ozzy: Again?! No, that would be the first time. Tasencia: Ah, but you forget the healing potion. Ozzy: So? What's that got to do with Rao. Tasencia: Why, everything. Rao granted me the knowledge of alchemy so that I could indentify it as beneficial. Ozzy: Whatever. But I do thank you Tas, for using your powers on me. Dying would'a sucked hardcore. Alenniel: Don't you just hate it when that happens? Ajax: He doesn't sound very grateful to me. And to a lady elf at that. Next time, leave him mostly dead. Slightly alive, but mostly dead and make him ask for further assistance. That's what I always do when people don't appreciate my magical powers. Ozzy: If you weren't talking about me, I'd really appreciate that attitude. Tasencia: Ahh, Ajax, priests have always been seen as weaker members. That is, until a red dragon breathes its belly at a warrior, and then they crawl back in apologetic support for your deity. Ozzy: Sounds good if you're the deity, but otherwise.... Tasencia: Leaving him almost dead does us no good, but your humor is well taken. Perhaps it is time to relax a little and enjoy our spoils. Rimli: You bet it is! (falls down again) Tasencia: By the way, Ajax, _your_ magical powers?? Perhaps you might want to inform the rest of the party of your abilities? Ajax: When the time is right, Tas. The next day, you gather and settle the business of treasure division... or at least try to. Ozzy: So what loot do we have? I have the fire rune ring and this nifty short sword. I have become rather attached to the sword and I would like to keep it as part of my share of the loot. Ajax: (scoffing) Oh, yeah? Well think again. That fancy little blade's clearly sized for someone of a more reasonable stature. It's just right for me and Eagle. I suppose you expect me to start swinging the poleaxe and wearin' the chainmail? Why don't you take the chainmail or the spellbook or the ring or something? Tasencia: Ah, enough of weapons and arms. What of the mage's spellbook? Ozzy: I thought you'd never ask, Tas. The book we found contains four spells: Jump, Identify, Sleep, and Read Magic. Ajax: But what about-- Tasencia: Hush now. Remember what we agreed to? (she holds up a small crystalline polygon) Greythur: Where did you come by that? Tasencia: At Our Lady of Fate, the local temple of Istus. Rimli: I didn't see that temple in town. Tasencia: Well... it's a little out of the way. [read: I forgot to put Istus' temple on the list of temples.] Rimli: I say we get the unidentified items figured out at a local sage's or somesuch, paid for by our "general fund." Course, Ajax could probably be determinin' fer us what all's magical. Ajax: Perhaps... it's not reliable, like I said, but I can try. Tasencia: No need, little one. I will simply cast a spell of magical detection on these items. (begins spellcasting) She determines that the shortsword, glaive, onyx ring, chainmail, blue liquid, green liquid, iron flask (its contents, not the flask itself), fire-rune ring, and jade statuette are magical. Alenniel: That's all well and good, but what about the horses? Ozzy: (shrugs) What about them? Alenniel: Those poor animals have been mistreated by their previous owners. Perhaps we should find them a good home. Rimli: That's your department, Al. You can take care of that. Alenniel: That I will. (he heads down to the stables) Below, in the stables of the Screaming Roc.... Alenniel: (feed the horses sugarcubes) Well, I hope you aren't too angry with us. horse: *snort* And back upstairs.... Rimli: (looking over the pile of magic items) Let's take these things to someone who can be identifin' em, or conduct some tests on the things or somethin'... any of you mages got a clue on this stuff? Ozzy: Well, the ring is some kind of resistance to fire unless I miss my guess. I believe Tas said the blue liquid was some kind of potion that provides invisibility. So that leaves the iron flask, the jade statue and the blue cloak. Rimli: What about the green potion? Tasencia: It has healing powers, I believe. Ajax: Can you tell what the other stuff is, too? Tasencia: Alas, no. I have not learned that spell. Ozzy: This spellbook does contain a spell of identification, but neither of us knows how to cast it. Tasencia: I am sure it is within my grasp. However, Identify is a rather unreliable spell. It might be worth the extra gold to pay a sage to give us a more accurate reading. Ozzy: Yeah, let's get this stuff identified!! I'd like to know what I'm pickin' before I pick it. Also, here's a ring I forgot earlier. (places a black onyx ring with the rest of the loot) It came from the same skeleton as the shortsword. I think they should go together as a set. Tasencia: Hmm, it too is magical. Ozzy: Yes, and connected to the shortsword somehow. I cast a detection spell on it earlier. If you'll notice, the stone set in the pommel of the sword and the ring itself are both made of identical onyx. Eagle: (eyeing the sword and ring with interest) If only we knew what they did.... Ozzy: Let's go find a sage! Tasencia: Before we rush off to the sage, I can give a crack at the iron flask. (she delicately uncorks it and sniffs its contents) Hmm, it seems to have no offensive odor. Ajax: If only we could say the same for Rimli. Rimli: Watch it, you. Tasencia: (dips a narrow piece of fabric into the flask) Undamaged. It doesn't seem to be acid. (she dips a finger in and tastes it) Unusual flavor. Fruity, but not pretentious. Rather like an orange.... Alenniel: (re-entering) Why is Tasencia's face orange? Sure enough, the mage's face is rather orangeish in hue.