Its three AM and the Danger Gang know where they are and who they would like answering the mind-talking-spell

3:00 AM

So, it turns out that two of Utpalas thug(gies) were causing a minor ruckus. Even in our pitiful state we were able to best them—a bit more than we wanted to and one is pretty bad off. They agree to come along with us more out of necessity than desire, but we are able to convince them in the down time that, while not their friends, we at least share common foes.

We’re walking along to find the place that Utpala’s key opens when Marcella just cuts the head off of our dragon pal (and our primary mode of egress). Turns out this rock sword hates reptiles even more than shaur hates chaos. Not wanting to let a dragon go to waste Marcella bathes in its blood, devours its heart, and can now understand tulpe (and her ac improves by 2 for 8 days).

We find 3 pots of wraith-making oil and one of flight, then continue on our merry way when Chandra shrieks and passes out. We take his body, relieving him of vik, along with us and make our way into the room.

We make our way into the locked room and find a demon, surrounded by 12 floating swords, guarding the phylacteries we seek. Long story short, we let him go, the snakes comes (in a pitiful matsyendernath disguise) and reluctantly join us. Gwyn lost the tip of his middle finger in an accident involving a gross box that turns body parts into scorpions. We destroy a winged toad (that almost destroyed me).

Arben identifies a lot of stuff and the snakes take us to mosqeland. As tends to happen when we come someplace new two people approach us with two different offers. First, some menacing looking folk who tell us the lord of the domain ‘invites’ us to visit at our earliest convenience. The latter, some friendly jews. We go with them and rest a while. I went to sleep pretty early, but everyone afterward seemed pretty happy with some information. While we slept the lord of the realm was kind enough to send guards to protect our quarters—hospitality I haven’t felt since I was in Vikingland. In the morning I rushed out to greet them and gift them a beany breakfast. They seemed pretty bashful, so I’m guessing people are kind of rude out here and not very grateful. They should learn better. I think I’ll plant as many fecund beanplants here as I can so that they are better able to feel and express gratitude. I swiped a few beans from those magic stalks in C-town and maybe they’ll make this town prosper spiritually and actually.

So we visit this lord and find MY FRIEND DR. STUPIFEROUS! He is kind of cold to me, though. I’m not sure what happened to him when we split up in the plane of shadows but it couldn’t have been good. I’ll try to be extra kind and maybe he’ll unburden his heart on me. That and some beans will cheer him right up. Too bad I gave that necklace away, he’s probably enjoy wearing it. It sure was beautiful.

Anway, this ‘lord’ is a minor god of compassionate wrath who wants us to do his dirty work. We agree for some reason, and do said work with ease. Blah blah blah. I want to find those names of god. There’s one guy I met, Ogmund, while we were in Norway. He said that he got in a big fight with a guy, and he tied the names of god around his chest and that made him win the fight. He probably only had like 12 of them, though. Imagine how many people I could wrestle with 50 tied on my chest. That might be a good handicapping system. Kolya and and I could wrestle and then, as it became clear that he can best me, I could wear more and he fewer names until we have a good match. It would be SO COOL!