The next morning they all had a hearty breakfast of pancakes, eggs, and sausage.  The food gave them buffs to health regeneration and stamina.  They’d finished their plans over dinner the night before, then began to distribute gear.

Nancy’s ring was loaded up with healing, mana, and stamina potions.  Each of the others carried at least one of each as well.  They all had knee-high leather boots and pants that tucked into them.  Both pieces gave extra Constitution, upping everyone’s health pools.  All but Nancy wore power-infused chainmail shirts made by Michael.  She claimed it was too cumbersome for her.  So Lilly had made her a studded leather shirt with long sleeves and a fleece lining.

Each of them carried a knife with at least a six-inch blade with a leather sheath and belt.  Allistor, Sam, and Michael all carried short swords on their other hips.  Ramon favored a long katana-like blade sheathed on his back.   Each of them also had a rifle or shotgun on their backs,  and a handgun strapped to a thigh.   And, of course, Allistor carried his trusty rebar spear, slightly improved.

They’d come up with some specialized weapons as they improved their skills.  Meg had earned the Improvisation skill when she’d used oil to fry the canids by the holding cell.  She’d taken her love of the zombicue a few steps further.  With a little help from Sam, she’d figured out how to mix up some small napalm-like grenades.  They were basically crystal Christmas tree ornaments filled with chemicals and sealed with wax.  When she completed the first one, she’d been given a notice that she had the option to name it and file a patent.  The cost was one hundred klax, but when she asked Allistor about it, he jumped at the chance.  It meant that somebody somewhere down the line would have to pay her for the use of her design.

Her plan for the grenades was to throw them at a group of mobs and let Allistor light them up.   She carried matches, a dozen short candles, and a couple of flares just in case he was busy or not around when she used the grenades, or she wanted to set a trap with them.  The candles could be set under a hanging ball that, when broken, would drop its contents onto the flame, creating a pool of napalm under a target or group of targets.

Lilly let them out and locked the gates behind them as they headed for the dungeon.  Allistor decided to use the same manhole cover he’d gone down before.

Ramon was scribbling on parchment as they walked the few blocks across town.  He was creating a new map, trying to earn the Cartography skill before they entered the storm tunnels.  Once down there, he intended to map the tunnels as they went, in order to level the skill.  And to keep them from going in circles.