(OOC: Ching, Larry, Santi and Victor – this post is for you, next one will be for Jono and Kevin, then John and finally Scott)

Dee Da Doo, Naidana, Nikolae, and Shean

Two months ago you all received a message saying that your application to the Spelljammer Academy had been successful and you were to present yourself at Milliways on the Rock of Bral today. None of you had heard of Mililiways and over the last few days you have drifted into from the various realms you call home, or at least were in when you received the message. Nikolae and Shean having been to the Rock of Bral before you quickly find the address of Milliways.

Standing outside the venue you quickly realise that it is the five star restaurant better known as the ‘Restaurant at the End of the Universe’ which in its marketing material claims to be the place where one will be able to get a grandstand view of the ‘Gnab Gib’ a claim which fortunately has not yet been proven. The Restaurant’s layout resembles a giant glittering starfish. In the arms can be found various bars as well as the kitchens with the main restaurant being located in the bar of the starfish.

At the appointed time, you make your way towards the door of the restaurant which is being held open by a very dour looking metal construct when a tremendous bellow comes from behind you “Gentlemen and I use the term extremely loosely, you don’t want to go in there. Instead you want to come with me!” Surprised you all, well with the exception of Dee Da Doo, spin around; Dee kind of slurps around. Standing in from of you with it's hands on its hips is a very large one-legged half orc; where his left leg would have been is a peg leg made of some sort of dark metal. “I am Command Master Chief Father Patrick Michael O’Shannesy, and for my sins it’s my job to round up and then babysit this year’s sorry lot of cadets. You may call me Command Master Chief, Chief or even if I like you, which I don’t at this moment, Father Pat. You never call me Sir, that’s what I get to call you if you graduate!” He reaches into a pocket in his tunic and grabs out what look like four small glass tablets on lanyards “put these on, you’ll find them useful!” As you examine them, you find written on the back in large red letters the words ‘DON’T PANIC’ and then in far smaller writing at the very bottom the words “actually panicking is a probably a very good option” appear before they quickly disappear. As the party puts the lanyards around their necks, the Command Master Chief bellows “now follow” as he strides off in a very fluid way as if he has been used to only having a single leg for many years.

"Pleasure to meet..." tries to say Shean but the half-orc continues and he hesitates "O... ok Chief" he says now a little bit more uncertain and look to the others as they are handed the small glass tablets. 

"Well I guess we have no choice " he says to the other two shrugging his shoulders and following the Master Chief. 

More out of recent habit than any need to physically do so, Dee Da Doo twisted his upper half about so citrine "eyes" faced the half-orc. These were however but mere stones. Special little accessories upon closer inspection to sell the illusion of attention... well, anywhere. Which was very important to other humanoids... or so he vaguely remember a certain someone teaching him that one. And while he could've just as well harden parts of his form for the sake of the lanyard, the easily eight foot tall mound of ooze merely appeared to examine the tablet, chuckled a little, and then absorbed into his mass so that it floated about close to his "head".

"Aye, aye, Chief. Right behind you." He assured in a rich, bass-baritone voice(think Keith David), and immediately being slorping and sliding his way after the man. If any of the others appear hesitant however, he pauses long enough to make a broad, smiling face at them and add, "Well come on then and worry you not. It's not every day such experiences come from so straight forward angles as whatever directions brought us here this day." With another burbled sounding chuckle, he once again picked up the pace, figuring proper introductions could come later. 

If Naidania Staciaru had emotions, she would be elated, but she kept her calm, but nonetheless, her prayers to the Raven Queen were answered, and she was finally to join the Academy. She follows the directions, and she ends up in front of a fancy restaurant. She finds that it is not very logical to be summoned to such an important event to a restaurant, and one with dubious claims for it's name no less. In front of the establishment, she sees a Half-Orc, a Plasmoid (she makes a mental note that it will be interesting meeting such a creature), and then she notices a creature most likely from the Shadowfell. She stays close to the pale one.

From behind her, bellows what looks like their commanding officer. She was going to note that she wasn't formally addressed when he only yelled "gentleman", but she wasn't going to make herself difficult on her fist day. Once given the small glass tablets, she reads the content in the back, and she is utterly confused. "This is completely illogical." She thinks to herself, then she hears the next command to follow the officer. She is very hesitant, but it seems that the Plasmoid senses her pause. After it's reassuring blurb, she tries to put away her doubts, and follows the group.

Nicolae felt what could only be described as dejavu as he stood in front of Milliways.  For some reason it felt like he had been there before but he didn't know when, or why he felt that way. 

Upon the words of the half-orc he did indeed spin around,  his hand falling to a dagger for the briefest of moments. Hearing the words of the man he gave a curt nod and a sardonic smile crossed his face. 

He accepted the tablet and studied it for a moment before slipping it over his neck.   He looked around at those who had gathered there with him as they began to follow the half-orc. The smile remained on his face as he followed the others. 

(OOC: Jono and Kevin this one is primarily for you, then we’ll move onto John and finally Scott)

The party follows the Command Master Chief. As Nicolae examines the glass tablet in more detail, he realises that across the bottom of the table there are two rows of three circles etched into the glass; the left hand most circles in each row are currently green in colour. He also notes that his name has appeared on the centre of the tablet and underneath there are the words ‘Cadet’.

The Command Master Chief continues to the lead the party towards what some members of the party know as ‘The Donjon’. When they reach there he turns to the party and says “wait here, I’ll be back shortly”. He then marches off into the complex.

Meanwhile for the last two days Ozzy had been sitting in a cell contemplating his exciting but what had turned out to be a very short career as a space corsair crewing Boborc’s ship the ‘Ayceeteeyu’. Bob was a larger than life character and he and his deputy and principal spelljammer Pauljaykeating had despite their outward physical differences – Bob was an Orc and Paul an Astral Elf – and approaches to life been a remarkably successful career. Their greatest triumph had been beating a rival corsair crew led by Johnewson in the ship ‘Fighback’ which afterwards Paul had described as being like “being flogged with a warm lettuce!” However, it had all come to an end when they came across a royal naval fleet led by the cunning and tenacious but extremely short Admiral John Howard, he was in fact an Autognome, and his deputy Petercostello. To cut a long story short, the ‘Ayceeteeyu’ was boarded and despite a valiant effort by the crew quickly overwhelmed. Bob died in the battle and Paul and Ozzy were the sole survivors. When Paul was lead in front of the Admiral and offered a place in the Royal Navy he said “I wouldn’t take a free set of steak knives from you” and turning to Petercostello “as for you, I wouldn’t sail under you because your problem is that your all tip and no iceberg!” Apoleptic with rage, Howard commanded that Paul be thrown in a cell and that was the last that that Ozzy had seen him.

Last night the door on Ozzy’s cell had been thrown open and a Hadozee vociferously protesting his innocence “it wasn’t me honest it was the other guy” was flung into the cell.

(OOC Ozzy and Zalacious – pls feel free to post you initial interactions with each other)

The next morning, the cell door is flung open and a large one legged half orc bellows into the cell “you 'orrible lot are coming with me, and you…” looking directly at Zalacious “don’t think I won’t be watching you all the way!”

Meekly Ozzy and Zalacious follow the half orc out of The Donjon, where they see an Astral Elf, a Plasmoid, a human and something that looks vaguely human standing waiting for the half orc. Each of them has around their necks – well for the Elf, and the two humans – are small glass tablets on lanyards. On, perhaps in is a better description, the plasmoid s similar tablet floated somewhere the top of the creature.

     "It wasn't me, you hairless maroon!  How many times do I have to tell you?  It was the lunkheaded oversized Giff that did it!  But no, they grab the little guy because they know I won't be no trouble!  Cause I am an innocent and those know I won't make no trouble!  They were probably taking money from the Giff under the table to turn a blind, stupid, donut eating eye to what the...." Suddenly Zalacious would shut up and see just what the guards were bringing in and throwing in with him.  

     "Ummm, yeah... As I was saying...  It was the bug-thing with the extra arms!  That's the one you want!  I'm innocent!" he carries on as if there had been no break in his prattle.  "You can never trust those hard-skinned, bug eyed freaks!  They'll sell out their own broodlings for a buck, nonetheless a naive innocent like me!"  

     The guards, as always, ignore him completely.  Not that that will shut him up any time they are in earshot.  If he can't convince them he can at least make him innocent.  It's only to be expected, yes?  Yes.

     "Oh hey, big fella!  How you doing?  They treat you alright?  Let me tell you, the guards here are the worst but if you listen to me and do as I say I think we can both have a lot easier time around here, don't you think?  Of course you do!  You look like a smart one, how could you possibly not see the light of what I speak?"

     Zalacious Crumb talks.  A lot.  Non-stop.  Any moment of silence is filled with prattle and banter and noise of some kind of another. He's either sharing how he was done wrong, bragging of those times he's done wrong and gotten away with it, or trying to rope his audience into planning to do wrong in the future.  

     In the morning, as the cell doors are flung open, Zelacious is awake immediately and tuned up to 11.  "'Orrible?  Us?  My friend, you got it all wrong.  We are victims of circumstance and misidentifications!"

     "Well I am, I assure you.  The Giff though... well you know Giffs, am I right?  But we're not together.  No sir.  I was framed.  I am innocent... The Giff though... Well you are right, there is an awful lot to him.  But that is a Giff thing, they're all overly big sized, don't you think?"

     "So where we going?" Zelacious says, changing topics with hardly a breath.  "Not that I am one to argue, mind you. Agreeable I am!  Totally agreeable.  You want to take me out of that lousy prison and I am all agreeable!  I am innocent and agreeable and the Giff... Well you, you definitely want to keep an eye on that one.  Two eyes, even.  That is one large, sneaky Giff who, I assume, is up to no good.  I am on your side, good sir.  I will keep an eye on the Giff and I assure you I will speak up at the first sign of shenanigans!  You have put your trust in the exact right place and..."

     "Oh!  And who are these chaps?  Not that I don't appreciate the thought but it really isn't true what they say - There isn't ALWAYS room for jello.  Specially jello with floaty tablets inside them?  That does NOT look delicious...  But hey, human or elf or other human or desert, I get along with everyone!  Everyone, I say.  Even the Giff, though you really do need to keep an eye on that one, know what I mean?"

Nicolae looks over at the two that the Chief has brought. "They say that you can learn something new from every person you meet.  As you share your hearts with one another, May they always be loyal and true, And friendship be between you in all that you do." He says aloud, to no one in particular.  "Or something like that."  The sardonic smile remains on his face.

Keeping her emotionless expression, Naidania remains where she is with her hands behind her back. She glances at the pale one, and raises an eyebrow. "Unexpected." She thinks to herself.

In the cell, Ozzy just sits in the corner scratching on the floor and muttering to himself.. "If only we had fought like this... No, no ,no we had to approach from this direction... No that wouldn't have worked either. What about this?.."

If the Salacious were to peak at what the Ozzy was drawing and muttering about, he would see an impressively detailed birds eye view drawing, well impressive considering what he bought used to draw, of ship spaceship combat with scribbles all around, not a lot of the script making sense. "If only I knew more about.. no don't worry about that."

The next day, when they are dragged out of the cell, ozzy stands up, towering over the one - legged orc. When he is told to follow, he does so silently but is constantly looking around the room, making notes of the building he is in.

When they see the other people in the room, Ozzy looks astounded and starts to fidget around this right eye, as if his monocle was still there, he looks over his shoulder, "umm excuse me, is there any chance I could get my monocle back? It has little value but means a bit to me." Before the half orc can respond he quickly moves towards the plasmoid, and starts poking it inquisitively. "Amazing!" He exclaims, "I have heard of these before but never seen on!" He poles again, "oh would you look at that! Very interesting indeed" he says as he poles a third time before stepping back and taking a wider look at the party.

If so prompted, he introduces himself. "My apologies, how rude of me. My name is Oswald but most call me Ozzy. Do you know what we are doing here?" he asks in general, intentionally not directing the question at father pat.

Shean accommodates his long trench coat and introduces himself. 

" I am Shean Tuck Tilard. And we are here to join the Academy of course " he says as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "If I am reading this correctly we all are now cadets at it and we will share the teachings of it... I am looking forward to work with you all... "

The azure haired Astral Elf stands in attention keeping her arms behind her. She tries to ignore the fact that a Giff is poking at the Plasmoid. "Of course. My name is Naidania Staciaru. It is a uhm... Pleasure to meet you all. It is with the grace of the Raven Queen that I have been granted permission to join this prestigious organization, the Spelljammer Academy." Says the Elf with a matter of fact expression. "I look forward to add my navigational skills to aid the academy... However they see fit." She pauses for a moment. "Yes, and I do look forward to work with you as well."

The plasmoid for his part had stayed quiet since the introduction of Ozzy and Zalacious, seeming distracted by something(perhaps?) considering his 'eyes' started to float more aimlessly through the headspace. Even the poking failed to grab any attention as body, much like jello (so long as the Giff didn't poke TOO hard) jiggles near the spot. But then they suddenly snap into their proper position as the plasmoid let out a deep yet somewhat muddled chuckle.

"It be as they say my well figured new friend!" Dimbo added cheerily. "At least in theory in any case. Names Dee Da Doo. Though for short, you can just call me Dimbo!" The plasmoid then appears to 'look' at Crumb and reach out to pat him on the shoulder. "Special pleasure to make your acquaintance as well my rough furred friend! And don't worry. Even if our Giff friend here steps on you, I'll see that you are patched up shortly after."

"Hmm, yes," the pale faced man said, though he has some distinct elvish features. He gives a broader smile, and you see that he has a couple pointed teeth. Fangs actualy.  A little disconcerting.  "Spelljammer Academy is what I am here for.  This thing," he then holds up the tablet, "seems to indicate that I am now a... Cadet.   Seems about right.  Always walk through life as if you have something new to learn and well, who knows?"

He studies the newcomers for a moment longer.

"My name is Nicolae Delacroix.  Nicolae is fine,  a pleasure to meet you all."

In the cell...

     "So, you're a planner, are ya?  A schemer?  A plotter?  The big brains of every operation?  Good, good, never enough of them, I say!  Plans.  Or schemes...  Err, Brains!  Never enough brains, that's the point.  I am sure that is exactly what I intended to say..."

     "Name is Zalacious.  Zalacious Krumb.  One Zalacious, one Krumb.  Zalacious Zalacious Krumb would just be too much of a mouthful, don't you think?" Zalacious offers, hovering around the strong Giff and his rather impressive drawings.  "You now if you need more information for your plans I have been known to, shall we say, infiltrate?  Sneak?  Investigate, even, and find alternate ways of gathering needed information?  If such a thing would be valuable to you..."

     "Valuable... Treasured... Precious...  Worth something... if you catch me drift?"

     "Err, do you catch my drift?" Zalacious asks, noting that the Griff seems rather preoccupied with him sketching and mutterings.  The small Hadozee isn't entirely sure he is even noticed.  Not that that prevents his continuing ramblings...

The next day...

     "Oh, hey! Sharing hearts... Absolutely!" Zelacious responds with an eager enthusiasm.  "Sharing is caring and I am absolutely giddy with the knowledge we shall all care for one enough extravagantly!"

     "Unexpectedly, or expectedly, all the caring is a good thing, is it not?  Though the Giff has an awful lot of caring to share.  Maybe too much.  Am I right, or am I right?"

     "You really must excuse the pokey-pokey by the Giff.  A bit untrustworthy and uncontrollable, you know the sort right?  Always poking and a prodding but at that kind of size who is going to object, am I right?  But he may perhaps have some schemes and plans...  Not that I am saying that is a good thing.  What do you think?  He can sketch up a storm though.  Right from outta his head.  Looked like battle plans of some sort... Perhaps a layout for a burglary... Not that I would know anything about that kind of a thing, but a thing is kind of noticeable for being what it is when it is what it is, is it not??" Zelacious offers to any and all who care to lend an ear.

     "Ozzy here, everyone calls him Ozzy," Zalacious offers up immediately upon the Giff introduces himself, "is a Giff or great renown!  You need a Giff, Ozzy is a Giff.  The best you'll likely to want for.... For whatever you are wanting a Giff for.  And me?  I am of course the great and powerful Zalacious Krumb, at your services.  All services offered and rendered for proper renumeration, of course.  Possibly.  But of course only legal contracts and deals accepted, I am an honorable Hadozee, am I not?  (We can talk if you need something something not quite quite, am I right?) The Giff, Ozzy it was.. Is.  Ozzy and I were just recently detained by...err, retained by our man here for services which are best kept confidential at the moment and he seems to be needing our services on a more...."

     "The Academy, you say?  Sean, was it?  Oh Shawn?  Shaw... Saw... Shaw... nnn?  Shean....?  Sorry, my fellow, but it is a tricky one and I am just a little Hadozee, you understand.  But hey, if you say it's Shean then it's Shean... You would think you would know your own name, yes?  Shean... You sure?  Yes, yes!  Shean, my friend!  I joke, I am a jokester... Shean, Shean, Shean... Always was and always has bean...."

     "So, back to this Academy business...  Which Academy?  I have heard there is this bald human guy with an Academy for gifted youngsters...."

     "Naidania Staciaru," Zelacious says almost flawlessly and with a bow.  "The Spelljammer Academy, you say?  Are you sure?  Quite sure?  Because if the Giff, err Ozzy, is being invited to join...  Prestigious, you say it is?  Still?"

     "Hoah, huh, hey now!" Zelacious exclaims when tapped on the shoulder, jumping and turning around in a bounce as if ready to partake in Queens of Marksbury rules!  

     "Oh, hey now... Dimbo!  Hey, didn't we know each other back on Caligriph Three?  Were you working in the plaid light district doing a little special... Not you?  I could have swore, but no, no... Ok, I guess she was a much more florescent shade of cranberry... Moving on then!"

     "Stepped on?  By the Gri... Ozzy?  Why if Ozzy even dreams of stepping on me he best wake up and apologize, know what I'm talking about?  But the Ozz and I go way back.  Wayyy back.  Like way back to when thing where still in black and white, you know?  Crazy times then, before the great tornado and all...  But you look confused, Dimbo.  Quite understandable... Stick with me kid, I will get you straightened out and together we'll own this Academy!  Errr, us and our new friends, am I right??"

     "Nick, my man!  Of course the pleasure is all yours.  Dimbo and I were just saying that you were a man who seemed to be needing some pleasure, wasn't I Dimbo?  Dimbo?"

     "Hey, Ozzy!  Back us up here!  Ozz?  Ozz-man?  Ozzy??"

     "Well hell, who needs back up when we're all one big family, am I right?"

The Command Master Chief looks somewhat bemused at the prattle from Zalazcious "these gentlemen, and as I've said before I use the term loosely have been invited to join the academy. You and the big fellow are just along to make up my quota. Now put a sock in it for just a minute eh - there's a good lad!" He then leads the party down deep into the asteroid through to its lower side to the naval base. Tied up alongside one of the births is a Flying Fish ship.

Father Pat leads the motley crew of cadets and non-cadets down to the cargo deck. The large rooms amidships have been converted into two small cabins 10 feet by 10 feet each with two bunks. "Sort yourselves out and pair up. Except for you two..." he says looking at Ozzy and Zalacious "you're in the that cabin over there" pointing to the rear of the port cabins "where I can keep an eye on you. The head is down the hall on the port side and the mess hall is at the stern. Feel free to wander around and get you bearings but don't get in the crews way and for Helm's sake don't touch anything!" As Zalacious is about to make his way up to the upper deck to test out what he thinks is his new-found freedom a very large scarred fist grips his shoulder and the Command Master chief says "I wasn't talking to you lad, you and your cell mate are going in there until I know you can be trusted!" pointing to Ozzy and Zalacious cabin. As they enter their cabin the door closes after them and both hear the distinctive click of a lock being turned.

As the rest of the party introduces themselves, the Giff steps backs and analyses the group, nodding and muttering to himself. "The spelljammer academy you say?" He says to no one in particular, "very interesting."

As the the hadozee mentions battle plans, a scowl starts to creep across his face but he catches himself and let's the creature gibber on neither agreeing or disagreeing.

"If joining the academy is the case," he turns to Father Pat, "I must thank you for the opportunity, but I must ask." He pauses for a moment. "How does this affect, ummm, the accommodation I was given last night? He finishes with a slight smile.

As the ships come into sight, Ozzy stops and admires them and has to encouraged to keep moving. When Father Pat says he is putting Ozzy up the back, Ozzy doesn't argue but doesn't rush towards the cabin, making notes of the layout of the ship.

(OOC: Small edit to my last post to include "reaction" to the poking, which I somehow missed in the first go. But with the help of Zalacious wall-o-text forcing greater attention, I caught it in the end! xD)

What Dimbo lacked for visible airs he more than made up for it by practically being unable to take his 'eyes' off Zalacious for even a second! Not that he physically needed, what with his being a plasmoid. And it could very well be that so much focus was being put into trying to keep up with the fast talking Hadozee that the usual shifting of his accessories was put on the backburners! At least little movement beyond the nodding of his head at several points made by Zalacious, even when said point isn't be directed at Dimbo.

And though he'd miss an opportunity to speak with the commander again taking charge on things, Dimbo just softly chuckled to himself while following along again without a word to their next destination. Dimbo at which point found himself lagging behind the rest, as seeing the ship -- no matter how familiar its particular model might've been to him -- kindled desires to oogle and savor examining the hull in passing.

Just for a bit, before practically turn into an orb in his hurry to catch up to the others. "The head, cap'n? ... Ohhh! Right, right~ Seems I'll need to do a bit more brushing up on common terms, eh?" He says as he tries to pat Father Pat on the shoulder. Although at even the slightest mean mugging or word of warning, the plasmoid immediately retracts the psuedopod. Turning to the others after, Dimbo says brightly, "Well, I don't know about the rest of you fellas, but I feel the mess hall calling me~ So if you'll excuse me.", before practically snaking his way there.

Oddly enough or perhaps not surprising for some, Dimbo seemed to leave any slime trails or the like despite going without legs. If anything, the floorboards appeared a touch cleaner

Smiling like a child seeing a long awaited toy in front of him. Shean stares at the ship. He finally mutters "One day... sooner than later" and he follows the others and has to hurry up to catch up with Father Pat and the rest. 

" I'll take this one if you don't mind " he says leaving his stuff at the left lower bunk. When the plasmoid starts to go to the mess hall he can barely hide his excitement. 

"I'll take a look at the helm... hmm see you at the mess hall for supper I guess?" 

When he sees that both the gnome and the Giff are confined in their own cabin he delays a little bit his visit to the helm to go and talk to the door. 

"That's a boomer but... Look at the bright side, you at least have some kind of intimacy in there... I will bring you something from the mess hall later... " 

(Before boarding the ship)

Naidania is miffed that she is not able to follow the very animated Hadozee. She gives up midway, trying to understand what is he babbling about.