The Island of D'roc Khan

[Paks]

Oblivion pulls into bay a couple of hours after the sun is set. You can see many ships harbored, all flying the OID flag. From the ship you can see many lights coming from what would seem to be a hillside. Stepping off the ship, you are greeted by an OID soldier, a gruff looking dwarven sailor by the looks of him. You soon learn that the lights come from the OID stronghold, Kal'ranna, but you could have learnt this from Xxian himself had he been forthcoming.

Making the track to the stronghold takes just under an hour. Having your weapons peacebound at Kal'ranna's gates, Xxian then leads you through the OID's streets to his precious tavern.

Inside, the place is brimming with off duty OID members and local Islanders. Mostly they ignore your arrival, happy to keep to their drinks and conversation. From the kitchens comes a small man, Brownie in race, and when he sets his eyes upon you, they lighten with happiness.

"Xxian, Xxian, You finally decided to come back? About time too, this place is getting so busy! Some more help would be much appreciated. So, should I organize something for your friends to eat and drink while we go through the books?" Keeda says with a grin, knowing full well this wouldn't interest Xxian at all.

[Jereth Ingsbe]

Glad to be off the tide tossed planks of the ship and back onto blessed solid ground again, Arak's color and mood improve, especially after their initial greeting comes from another dwarf. Not so much concerned with the fact that his kinsmen were on the isle as much as their presence meant good food and good drink were finally available, his own private stocks long gone. Seeing that the place is crawling with lawbies, the black bearded dwarf figures his services were a moot point for now.

Ignoring any protests, Arak makes his way through the press of the common room, and finding a table of dwarves he politely invites himself to sit down, this done by buying the first round for the 'strangers'. The thing being that no dwarf worth his beard considers another dwarf a stranger in a tavern when drinks are being offered.

"Whats the lot of ye longbeards be doin here on this rock ina' pond?"

[Paks]

The dwarves welcome Arak to their table without any hesitation. Taking the offered brew, one of the dwarves answers Arak's question.

"We work for the OID, most of us are sailors, cept for Grazin here, he's one of their warriors." Grazin looks over at Arak with a nod. The original speaker continues, "Names Mezrick Grimrock, what do we call ye and what brings you to the Island?"




Before Joe and Agneus can get inside the Inn, a group of children gather around them, recognizing from the crown and collar that you wear that you can perform magic. Though the hour is late and the children should be in bed, the seem unperturbed by this fact. Grabbing at your tunics, cloaks or basically any piece of clothing they can, they beg for you to perform tricks for them.

[Jereth Ingsbe]

Cocking a thick eyebrow at the speaking dwarf, Arak shakes his head, "Ye actually choose to be out o'er these depths? I'da figured a good dwarf would at least have himself a ship o' stone afore he ventured out into that chop!" Chuckling darkly, he hoists his mug, "If'n it be yer callin, then let the mountain stones guide ye home in bad times!" Draining the mug in a single draught, he calls for another round. "Me name's Arak, an I be earnin me coin from that bunch," he motions towards the band of misfits with his newly filled mug, "Gots them a hair up their collective arse to see the homeland, guessin me job is twofold. Keepin them outta tha grave and from makin too much o' fools o' themselves in front of actual respectable folk."

 Settling back and with the perpetual scowl easing ever so slightly from his face in the company of decent company, he sighs and continues on in dwarven, "Dunno what they stopped here fer, but it must be worth the trouble, since they got a couple or so that actually paid to dress like damn clowns, or more like clowns, while here. Any ye know what might be here that be catchin these too-talls fancy?"

[Zee]

Joe:

*Smiles at the young little children patting a few of them on the head. He holds his hands out infront of him and moves them apart, as if to part the crowd of children. Complying the children disperse somewhat, at that point he winks at them and rolls up his sleeves. Over articulating his gestures he casts a spell. First he reaches up his sleeve and pulls out a small blue glowing ball. He looks at the children and bounces the obviously glowing ball off the ground, then he tosses it out at a nearby child and bounces it off their head. Waving a child over he smiles taking the little magical orb and puts it up to the young boys left ear then has it pass through his head and reappear at his right ear. The antics carry on for several more minutes before he finishes the show. Smiling and patting the kids on the head as he passes through he walks over next to paks and stands next to her shaking his head with a slight chuckle.* "Kids..."

[Mudguard]

It was lucky for the children that Agneus was in a good mood and in rags. Otherwise there would certainly be some children clutching hot smarting ears and crying for mummy.
As it was, Agneus watched ,with barely suppressed amusement, as loverboy floated his blue ball… oh dear! through the air. Once the “performance” was over and Joe had departed, Agneus turned to the kiddies and holding his arms up in imitation of a rather famous Fairingport conductor exclaimed “A musical masterpiece!”
Agneus pursed his lips in concentration.
:1d20-1:

[Mudguard]

Rolling 1d20-1:

(13)-1: Total = 12

[Mudguard]

“The dance of the sugar plum fairies!”

Agneus waves his right hand high towards a fat boy. A loud farting parp appears to come from the boy’s backside. He then points his left hand at a more slender boy, his left hand moving up and down lightly. A series of short squeaks emanates from the boy.
Agneus continues in this vein commanding each of his “instruments”. Fluttering trills, Squeaks, parps, and resonating blasts all make their entrance and fade away.
Agneus comes to the end of the tune. He glances at the children, who are either guffawing or completely mortified or, unfortunately, in between.

[Paks]

The children applaud Joe and are sad to see him enter the tavern, however they are quickly distracted by Agneus' performance. Not sure what to make of this man, the children watch in silence. A giggle here and there can be heard, that is until one of the children's mother appears and chases the children off. She turns and scowls at Agneus, shaking her finger in disgust at the Bard before grabbing her child by the elbow and storming off.

Paks

Grinning at Joe, she hands him a glass of water, "Wasn't too sure if you would want anything stronger" she says, indicating to the water.

"Kids seem to like you though, does that happen to you very often?"


Dwarves

The speaking dwarf takes a rather large mouthful of liquor before replying. "Well, I was born here on this Island, my family has worked for the Order for many years, seemed only natural for me to continue the tradition. Ye'd be surprised with the amount of Dwarves that live and work here, in Khalmond too. Seems the oceans not as evil as we once all though it was" he says with a shrug. "As for him" he says, pointing to Xxian, "Well, he's been here before, obviously since he owns this tavern and all. Keeps going on and on about some treasure map, hasn't managed to find any yet that we know of, and personally, I would have thought that if there were treasure out here to be found, the Order would have found it by now. Then again, you never know. What I do know is, is that the islands waters are filled with pirates, looks like you'll be earning your coins protecting that lot Arak", he says, emptying the last of his drink.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Nods as he takes the water from the woman lifting the glass up and bowing politely.* "Aye, the water before the wine will suit just fine 'til this errand is said and done." *He finds a nice comfy chair nearby and pops a squat. Looking over at the woman then back over to where the children were he nods.* "Aye, not uncommon for wee'uns to want something of me. Usually though it be those who've snuk a peek during a tournament wanting something, smart ones these though. Recognizing the crown and collar and knowing that means tricks for them."

[Paks]

Paks

Taking a seat opposite Joe the ranger nods in agreement. "Aye, it does seem that they've cottoned onto the magic crowns doesn't it. Guess that means you and Agneus are not the first of your kind to have come this way" she says, relaxing into the chair.

"I tell you what, it's so nice to be off that damned ship and on solid ground again. I really don't know how anyone could be a sailor" the ranger says, shaking her head at the memory of the long journey. "I don't think I was meant to sail the seas somehow. I don't even want to think about the trip back" she says, almost groaning.

"At least there's a proper bed for the night here and hot bath" she says, looking over at Keeda and Xxian, "At least, there better be" she continues, wondering what could be taking Xxian so long in speaking to the brownie.

[Zee]

Joe:

*Nods simply in agreement with the woman as he takes a sip on his water.* "Aye, hard to picture you on a ship. Far easier to see you in a meadow surrounded by the critters of the woods, although" *he pauses for a moment as he looks over at xxian* "the gnome creeping around in the backdrop is indeed odd." *The man takes a moment to lean back in the chair and prop his feet up on the table.* "A bed and a bath you say, fun to picture those as well." *He puts his hands up for a second and waves them casually.* "I jest." *The casual grin and sly demeanor seem to contest his jesting though.*

[Jereth Ingsbe]

Scowling at his own empty mug, Arak grumbles, "Pirates huh? Never had much experience with the likes o' them, but they cannae be much worse than yer average Coops brigand. Woulda figured yer Order have them stamped out, what with all the muscle and material I seen just comin into port."

Cursing himself for not getting to be chums with the daft-gnome, knowing now that the blighter owned himself a bar, Arak leans back in his chair and packs his pipe. "If'n ye had to say, what would a dwarf be havin to expect for trouble from these rumsoaked cutthroats?"

[Feff]

Getting off of the boat, the girl just silently follows along, her slippered feet making whispers along the trail almost being a shadow following in behind the rest of the party. She calmly lets her weapon be peacebound at the Kal'ranna gates, then slides it back onto her back with a small shrug. She looks about the town, somewhat taken back by the number of children that crowd around the two magic users as they get to what appears to be their destination. She wonders to herself why so many children were out after sunset but then thinks again of the Coopersville streets and shrugs.

After the magic tricks are all finished, Din waits a short while for the mothers to shoo the children away and her own companions to enter the establishment before going in herself. She easily finds herself ignored in the bustling common room. Slipping through the crowd, she finds herself near Arak's table. She sits down a short distance away at such an angle as she can see what goes on in the room, and also so she can hear what is being talked about at the table full of dwarves.

[Xxian]

"Books? what books? What Xxian want to read stories for, got bard with him for telling them he has, much betterer than reading it is - yeees!"

The gnome spying a group of soldiers about to depart, quickly seizes the table, his backside on the chair before the soldier was even standing fully upright!  Waving at the brownie to join him he continued.

"Xxian not help just now he can't, lots to do, yes there is, plan to build a brewery right next door Xxian does, not need to lug ale in from mainland there not then, nooo."

The gnome spies a tavern wench squeezing through the crowded tables and summons her over.  As she arrives, he whispers something into her ear, of which on hearing, the woman scuttles off with a big smile on her face.

"Think Keeda should find helper to run tavern for a bit while Keeda comes with Xxian, yes, help Xxian find the treasure Keeda should." the gnome tells the brownie, all the while searching through his tunic for something.