A Ship Called Oblivion

[Mudguard]

Savages, Philistines, Galoots, Masturbaters...

Agneus ,still fuming, mooches over towards Soldier. "Say mate, where do they keep the booze on this tub?"

[Jereth Ingsbe]

Bored of looking off into the vast waters and even more bored with the lack of killing in-congruence of the screaming aboard, Arak spits again into the surf, and makes his way to the galley. After his polite question of where the store of ale was ignored, the terrible dwarf simply shoves his way past the protesting galley officers, headbutting what turned out to be the head cook, splattering the poor man's nose all over his cheek. Yet the dwarf could hardly care as he finally found what he'd been looking for. With a devilish grin, he poured not one, not two, but three dusty flasks into the small keg. With a rough shaking and a few more odd ingredients, Arak set down the barrel, and with his own personal tap he poured a small mug. Without an apology of words, he hand the bloodied cook the first glass. Despite the man's wounds and obvious indignation, the cook can only smile the smile of many a tavern goer finding their perfect drink.

"Aye its a good mix, but I'd not be givin it to ye steerrin crew!"

Most the immediate crew are quick to taste the concoction, but thankfully the duty officers don't allow it to be served ship-wide as those that taste it find only the hint of fine ale but the kick of dwarf-shine. Arak sits back into a chair, sipping at his own mugful, chuckling at how an age-old dwarven  sea-sickness remedy was almost too hard for hardy humans to partake.

"Oy! Promise me lads, if ye be singin this trip, ye be doin it outta tune and not at the behest o' them lubbers yer daft captain be bringin aboard!"

After his exclamation the normally surly dwarf leads the roughneck humans in bawdy and tawdry bar tunes, throwing into the mix several dwarven drinking songs. The crew being typical of coastal human crews, the songs were exactly what they were used to singing, even sometimes spruceing them up for flavor. Arak himself was only grateful to be away from the shrill voices of men fixated on their own importance, and for the effects of dwarven spirits on his tide-tossed belly.

[Paks]

Lilac

I felt a wide smile spreading across my face as the dice rolled the magic number seven. "Well, am I certainly glad you said they were still my dice" I said with a laugh. "Come now Xxian, show me to my new quarters!"

[Paks]

Sailors

The sailors roughly gives Agneus a set of directions that if he follows with care, will lead him right to where Arak is currently drinking.

[Mudguard]

Agneus made his way downstairs covering his ears as a cacophonous din assaulted them. Wincing, he stepped around the blood spattered on the floor and plucked two flasks of ale off the shelf. He then backed out of the galley gingerly and grabbed the oboe out of his sack. He made his way up on deck and climbed his way carefully, with flasks tucked into his clothing and oboe down his back, up to the crows nest.

Here he sighed, and opening the first flask took a deep draught. “Ahhh…”
Blue all around him and the sun above.  He pulled out his oboe and began to play, taking occasional draughts of the booze to wet his thirst. The music floated on the breeze, first serene and melodic but then ,as time wore on, slightly dissonant.

Agneus had spotted a seagull and was hoping to attract a flock to bring a bit of “rain” down on those still on deck.

[Paks]

FF a while.....

The next couple of weeks pass by in a haze of stormy weather. Sleeping up on deck becomes impossible most of the time forcing everyone to sleep below.

As the weather finally eases, you reach a place in the ocean where some large rocks, obelisks, stick 20-30’ out of the water every 2500 feet or so come into view. Behind them, you can see land in the form of Islands and it looks like the rocks may circle the entire islands, like a barrier. Waiting here is a large war ship flying of a flag of purple and yellow with a purple dragon insignia upon it. Your ship is flagged and soon a man from the dragon ship boards and speaks with Xxian. You can see that the conversation is rather animated with Xxian jumping up and down and arms flying everywhere but the man from the dragon ship shakes his head and stands his ground, forcing the gnome to gather you all together so that he can speak on the mans behalf.

[Mudguard]

The past few weeks have driven Agneus to slight distraction. Bores, Dolts and Cutthroats abound.
He's only stayed sane by steadily emptying the cellars of all liquid refreshments. His depression has driven him back into the filthy black rags and he sits every day in the crows nest, like some ill-omened bird of doom, parping dissonantly and disconsolately on his oboe.
On seeing the ruckus he appears in dissaray at the gnome's request. Kicking absentmindedly at the air in front of him, he wonders if it might have been cleverer to have got himself booted out of the family before he was given this RESPONSIBILITY.

[Xxian]

Xxian storms off after the heated discussion with the OID official.  Calling the group to the main deck he relays what the fuss is all about.

"any you lot that not a, er, messenger of the gods, that do spells and stuff, well you gotto have a collar thingy and silly hat thing too, or, well, you not do spells and stuff for much longer, cos you be deaded.  thing is, cost money for these things and, well Xxian not got much, so, might all have to chip in we will, otherwise start swimming back to Hush you might as well, mmm."

Xxian looks to the deck as he scuffs his foot about, then continues.

"Sending this little one (reaches back and slaps Chip on the chest with the back of his hand) to collect for these things Xxian is and anyone not helping pay, dont get his cut he dont, noo!"

With that, Xxian hands over 3GP to the younger gnome, starting off the collection.

[Mudguard]

Agneus's mood gets worse and he stamps his foot. He turns out the pockets of his rags and raps at the gnome, "Look I'm cleaned out! First losing to you in games of chance. Then shelling out for the past two weeks for the "privilege" of being on board this Wre...Ship."
Agneus's tone of voice becomes hurt "Now I'm sure some of us practise the obscene art of magic, but I can assure you that I'm not one of them. Is it really fair to expect we non-magic users to cover their fairy dusting backsides?"
Agneus pauses and says reasonably "That said, in the hope of avoiding trouble maybe some one can loan me a donation. I will certainly...cough... pay it back when I am flush again. Then again, perhaps an even better idea would be for me to  go and negotiate with that buff...gentleman."
Agneus waits for a response.

[Paks]

Paks

Fishing into her pockets, the ranger pulls out a couple of gold coins for the collection. she hands them to Chip but addresses Xxian, "So let me get this straight, if you can do any sort of wizard magic you need one of these collars or you'll die right?" as the gnome nods, she glances over to Agneus.

"I wouldn't be making too much of a fuss if I were you, if you don't have one of these collars, we won't be enjoying the pleasure of your company anymore. Though perhaps that wouldn't be such a bad thing?"

Lilac

I couldn't help but let out a small laugh at Paks words but I quickly tried to hide it by handing over a gold coin myself, hoping desperately that this treasure would soon be restocking my coin pile.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Can't help buy smile as they make it to the island, he would be more than happy to get off this boat for awhile. He looks curiously at the gnome as he talks about the magic users and needing a collar and a hat. The collars he had heard of, but such magics that would be in collar to allow them to counteract or survive anything causing them harm other wise would have be supplied by a powerful magi. No one of that caliber would put such magics into one of those absurdly rediculous large pointed hats, well except maybe a crazy old wizard but chances of that were low. He'd be damned before he put on one of those, regardless though he tosses in two gold pieces, all he had left. He likewise chuckles a bit at paks' comments towards the boy, and he thinks about adding to it, but he doesn't feel like listening to another hissy fit and hopefully the lack of a collar will do the work for him.*

[Xxian]

Xxian raises an eyebrow with a smirk on his face and presses 2 gold pieces into the palm of Agneus's hand.

"yees, that right, that what big soldier man tell Xxian, and, and, we got to pay every week, not keep them we dont get to noooo."

[Paks]

As the money is handed over to Chip, the young gnome in turn passes it onto the OID official. In return he is handed two collars and two crowns. The collars, made from true silver attach around the neck by a clasp at the back. Chip hands one to Joe and the other Agneus, making it well known that they must place the collars around their necks before the ship passes through the rock barrier just beyond them.

The OID ship pulls away and continues to patrol the boarder. Oblivion pulls up anchor and heads for the Island of Xxian's choice.

[Mudguard]

As he felt his fingers clench tightly over the cool metal of the gold coins in his palm, Agneus had smiled beatifically and let out a sigh of pleasure "Ahh..."
However he had been startled out his dream by an insistent nudging at his knee caps. Looking down he had seen the younger gnome, glaring at him, with hand outstretched. With the greatest reluctance he had parted with first one gold coin, and when the nudging didn’t abate, the second as well.
Agneus almost cried with grief. He said bitterly “Bah give with one hand and take with the other!”
But he cheered up when he saw the silver collar. He quickly snapped his into place. Then looking over at Joe he drew his hand back and brought it down in the motion of a whip. “Woop Pish!”
Agneus laughed and eyed the silly hat admiringly before plonking it on his head.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Can only smirk as he sees agneus givin a crown and collar.* "Boy, not once did i try to deny that i have the capability to use magics." *He says simply and plainly, almost giving off a defiant tone. Taking the collar he places it on, and even finding the crown an acceptable burden he places it on his head as well. Now then, to test and see whether or not said magics still work... oh an idea he would like to test upon agneus, but if the boy isn't as hardy as he hoped, well murder by magic tends to be frowned upon.*