OMNIA: Chapter 8: Three Unwise Men

[Travosh]

Becoming enlightened without a god. Its like he was looking for me but couldn't find me!

Now scratch his beard. Its a pirate weak spot.

[Adept]

Well, I'm not sure how strong he really is, but he seems like he means business...

[flyingBrick]

- "Look, Mr. Captain... I'm not a fighter. I've spent more than twenty years of my life as a traveling salesman. I used to stay quiet and keep my head down when someone did something unfair.

But now I'm not just Rick the merchant. I'm Rick the adventurer. The great ones of old would never let themselves be taken by someone like you, not without fighting, at least.

They would never forgive me if I did the same.

Sir, you're not a nice man. You come to this town without being solicited, refuse to pay the measly docking tax, try to extort the good mayor, threaten me and my associates and talk REAL FUCKING LOUD RIGHT IN MY GODSDAMN EAR!

I'll take you, your crew... Hell, I would take the entire central continent in a fight before going willingly with you.

Because what would the world be like if the good men didn't give the bad ones a fight?"

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@Hey guys, flyingBrick here.

So, yeah, sorry for taking a bit long to answer. Shit be busy around here, yo. For the next few days, I'll be unable to use the internet except at night, but I'll keep checking this thread everyday(night).

Except if I'm killed by a god-pirate. Because that's pretty damn likely right now.@

[Saint Game]

Rick, you magnificent bastard,You are an inspiration to us all. maybe not a role model, but certainly an inspiration.

[thetoastking]

- "Look, Mr. Captain... I'm not a fighter. I've spent more than twenty years of my life as a traveling salesman. I used to stay quiet and keep my head down when someone did something unfair.

But now I'm not just Rick the merchant. I'm Rick the adventurer. The great ones of old would never let themselves be taken by someone like you, not without fighting, at least.

They would never forgive me if I did the same.

Sir, you're not a nice man. You come to this town without being solicited, refuse to pay the measly docking tax, try to extort the good mayor, threaten me and my associates and talk REAL FUCKING LOUD RIGHT IN MY GODSDAMN EAR!

I'll take you, your crew... Hell, I would take the entire central continent in a fight before going willingly with you.

Because what would the world be like if the good men didn't give the bad ones a fight?"
Ye have courage, Rick. More so than you know, but... I bet I can make ye change yer mind... About that.
- "Can you back up your statement somehow, Mr. Captain?"
Yes, yes I can. While ye were busy talkin' to me, I took the liberty of rounding up yer compatriots.
On cue, a large amount of pirates surface from seemingly nowhere, surrounding the group. The mayor is, oddly enough, nowhere to be seen. A large metal cage, glowing with magic, is dragged onto the deck and hooked onto the ship.

Where'd ye find her lad?
Jus' out wanderin', cap! Real easy too! HAR HAR HAR!
I hope ye didn't do nothin ye'd regret, ye swab. Good work though. As ye can see, rick, ye are surrounded, and yer airheaded dame be stuck in a magic cage, what solidifies her. I'm thinkin' if ye don't comply, we might do some stuff. Air be real gentle on certain parts, if ye know what I be talking about.
His expression darkens.
Truth be, lad, I respect ye far too much to try an' capture ye, more or less get in a fight. I know what ye did in Kathmandu back there. I can sense and learn a person's secrets. It helps to learn treasure locations.

Truth be, we were on a journey, cross the sea, when They started showin' up, what and wrecking everything. They be dark creatures, foul and terrible, emerging only because of a powerful source. Ye be that source, all o ye. Only ye could've released The Corrupted One an' caused this, and now, ye are going to help me fix it. You will accompany my ship cross the sea to Bolet, where I can store me loot. Ye get a free ride out of it too. On the journey, I can almost guarantee thar will be monsters. If we be unlucky, it'll be the Corrupted Kraken. Ye will assist me crew in slaying it in order to get across safely...
He pulls out a flintlock pistol. It glows with a rage and pride only a pirate could contain.

Or I'll kill ye to make an example, using yer corpse to distract the beast.

Rick..

You don't have to take this rick

You can take the ship
For your own

Nobody will miss the bloodthirsty

Guilty

Pirates

[Xander]

"Well, heading to Bolet was our plan..."

[Adept]

Yeah, this may not be ideal, but it gets us where we need to go, and no one has to kill each other!

[Saint Game]

Wait, all along you were just going to OFFER us a ride to Bolet? That was our plan all along! Why didn't you just say so?

[Sinjin]

Cassius taps the cage. looking as harmless as possible while trying to nab really small bits of magic from it.

"So you only rounded up one of us? Anyway we'll comply as long as you release her. But if you are lying there are probably going to be consequences on... both sides."

[Askia]

"hell no"

> take looong deep sleep

[flyingBrick]

You shut up.

- "... Fine. Let's do things your way."

[thetoastking]

Wait, all along you were just going to OFFER us a ride to Bolet? That was our plan all along! Why didn't you just say so?

Cause I ain't "offerin". This be a trade, of sorts. Ye get us across the sea, we get ye to where ye wanna go.
Cassius taps the cage. looking as harmless as possible while trying to nab really small bits of magic from it.

So you only rounded up one of us? Anyway we'll comply as long as you release her. But if you are lying there are probably going to be consequences on... both sides.
Cool yer jets, ye construct, and stay back from that thar box. She be... Collateral. Ain't that right?

hell no.
Sitrah closes her eyes and visibly dims. This is a good indicator to say she's fallen asleep.
Well too bad lass! Enjoy yer nap, and be thankful ye got so many dear friends...

You shut up.
My Dear rick...
You sound angry
at me

Why?
Is it because of
Her

Do you...
detest me
because of her?

She does not know
what I am
Or how helpful
i've been

Why are you so scared of me
Rick

... Fine. Let's do things your way.
HA HAR! I KNEW YE'D CHANGE YER MIND!

LADS! HAUL THE COLLATERAL ONTO THE SHIP, AND PREPARE TO SET SAIL!

WE SAIL TO BOLET!
A unified cheer rises from all the pirates around, as they begin their tasks. One by one, the group is herded on via gangplank, and the ship begins to sail out. You see various citizens emerge from their buildings to look; They seem relived, for some reason...

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You are aware
Yes?
YES. I AM.
Then you know
I will warn them
of you

Should you attempt to kill them
They are under my good graces
FOR NOW...

[Travosh]

Rick my mortal, I think in the midst of any attacks it would be a perfect time to listen to mr purple and take the fancy ship for yourself! Loot abound!

[Adept]

Well, as long as we don't get the crazy pirate guy mad at us, we'll be fine hopefully! And as long as we aren't attacked by crazy sea monsters. That would help too.

[Saint Game]

Oh yes, Mr. pirate guy? once we get out to sea, I''d appreciate it if you'd let our friend out of the cage. We gods have been in a cage before, it was cramped and small and stupid and I'd rather she not have to go through that.

[flyingBrick]

Why don't you tell me what you are, then?

I'm listening.

[thetoastking]

Oh yes, Mr. pirate guy? once we get out to sea, I''d appreciate it if you'd let our friend out of the cage. We gods have been in a cage before, it was cramped and small and stupid and I'd rather she not have to go through that.

Well that be too bad, cause the wench be collateral. She ain't comin out till we get in the thick O it. Now, onwards!

MINUTES IN THE FUTURE, BUT NOT MANY...
Why don't you tell me what you are, then?

I'm listening.
Rick
I am a force
which saved you and your friends' lives

is this not enough
for you?

I help you out
I save you from the
guilty
and evil

But I understand
The woman is more respectable
than I

You don't have to like me rick
I know you don't

Your heart is very cold
right now
and your affection is hard-earned
I know
I have seen people like you

Doubting
of help
with no strings attached

But I have one string
it is a thin one
I don't ask for power
or affection

Only acceptance
that is all
but I will leave you be rick
you hate me right now
Maybe captain muerte can take your mind off
me

-And that way be the mess hall, where ye can chow down to yer hearts' contents. Course, the crew might have other opinions, but just shove em off. Also, don't mind the lad back there with the violin. The crew thinks he be some sort of prophet with his music, but it be a ridiculous notion. None o' his songs have even come true yet.
On cue, the bard opens up a stirring pirate tune.
BARDLOG:

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We keep him around cause his music be damn catchy, and good fer morale. Anywho, that be it. We ought to be at bolet by second light, so sit tight, and...

If me ship should fall to any sort of... corrupted fiends... I'll be sure to take yer heads off before this ship sinks.

With this, the captain walks off, leaving 3 adventurers on a deck full of pirates, and a small air elemental stuck promptly in a corner with chains all over the crate, securing it.
I tell ye, I have no idea how he does it, but the capp'n always gets us outta trouble. You'll make it fine I bet.
A deckhand chirps, while tending to some ropes.

[Xander]

"I hope I'm imaging what I think I saw. If not, we might be in trouble."

[Travosh]

Don't look at the ocean

[DS Piron]

Don't look at the ocean

> Ignorance IS bliss after all.

> Erm... is that-
>> Ignorance is bliss.

[flyingBrick]

- "Hey, deckhand. Is that our corrupted kraken or just a normal, run-of-the-mill, giant man-eating sea monster?"

[Adept]

Maybe it's just waving hello! ...Okay yeah this is probably bad

[thetoastking]

"I hope I'm imaging what I think I saw. If not, we might be in trouble."
"Hey, deckhand. Is that our corrupted kraken or just a normal, run-of-the-mill, giant man-eating sea monster?"
"kracken? What? Where!"
The idiotic deckhand falls easily for the ruse and looks heavily over the bow of the ship.

"I don't see a kracken. You must have some sort of sea madness, though, considering what the wanted paper says you've done, I am not surprised. Come along, there's nothing out there. You'll be fine, just... Follow me, and I'll show you all to your rooms... There's nothing out here, really! The captain will keep us safe."
With an almost nervous demeanor, the deckhand begins showing the willing prisoners to their rooms...

The Godly Window of Vision begins to fade to blackness, an almost hissing laughter can be heard, yet not heard, in the distance...

Text types itself upon the plane of vision.

The darkness dissipates, as though it were a mist. The Plane of Vision pans over a desert scene.

To those knowledgeable in geography, they would recognize the city of Jimen-Sei, the Namean capital City. Everything seems tense as the Vision pans over to an army, swathed in darkness, glowing with eyes of malice. They are all attentive to a hologram being projected.

-THIS IS WHY YOU HAVE BEEN SUMMONED TO THIS LOCATION. YOU ALL HAVE YOUR SEPARATE ORDERS, AND I EXPECT YOU TO FOLLOW THEM WELL.

YOU KNOW MY POWER, AND YOU KNOW WHAT I DO... TO THOSE WHO FAIL ME...

GET IT DONE. TODAY... BEGINS THE FIFTH!
The hologram winked out, and a small glowing orb is picked up by a glowing soldier in armor. He appears to be a higher level troop, one more in-tune with the occult.

he looks at the large gates of Jimen-Sei, then directly at the Plane of Vision, as though he could see through it.

A text dialog pops above the war-soldier's head. It simply reads:
INSERT DESIGNATION
>_

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Break time for the protagonists! Time to give the gods some love while watching how they direct an army to demolish an entire civilization.

[Travosh]

Aardvark Komsan, take off your helmet! We can't see your face laddy!

[Adept]

Yeah, I'm fine with that name, haha.