[three_fourth]
A Funeral was held on the Isle of the Nameless. Malreth Silverlock perished in the battle against the Kurzick. Crysania wanted to help carry the casket but could barely reach it at all with all the other Silverlock on the corners. In the somber mood after the service everyone retreated to their Clan Tents to await further orders.
The Officers followed Crysania into the Anchorwind Tent, where Crysania wasted no time.
Crysania: Dismiss your Clans.
Lalandra: Excuse me?
Crysania: Dandd, Spike, Rain, Stabbith, Myself, Margrid, Lalandra, Balreth, Angel, Nyx, and a Crew. That’s it.
Balreth: Just like old times, eh?
Crysania: Limited supplies and space on the boat. We take only what we need, and only who we need.
There was much murmuring and nodding.
Crysania: On the bright side, once we get established, you all can go back and escort your clans the first time and map travel from there on out.
Nyx: We can Map Travel?
A moment of giggling broke the serious tone.
Angel: What about your clan?
Crysania gestures to two snoring hammocks: They’re right there.
Angel: Oh…alright then.
There was an awkward pause before Lalandra spoke up: La Chad really liked his red jacket.
Spike chimed in: I promised that henchman he would get it back too…
Balreth: I hear you got promoted to Colonel.
Spike chuckles nervously: Yeah, but the army isn’t for me.
Nyx: Oh?
Spike chuckles again: Yeah…that whole drug testing thing…
There was a round of laughter that woke up Rain and Razy, who decided to roll over and go back to sleep.
Balreth: So…lets go break the news.
The Quin Officers gave their orders, guidance, and well-wishes to those they were parting ways with and Crysania ordered Margrid and the Henchmen to prepare the ship to leave. La Chad’s weeping could be heard half-way across the camp. Saddest of all however, was Nyx. Nyx had decided that Georgia probably wouldn’t enjoy the long Sea Voyage and left her in Berner Clan care, temporarily.
The Black Pearl was loaded, Henchmen stationed and Crysania left a generous donation to the Order of the Zaishen. Most of the Quin who didn’t go on the voyage all crowded on the cliff closest to the ship and watched it disappear into the horizon.
—
Angel: Has anyone seen Dandd?
Nyx: He’s holed himself up in the Captains Quarters.
Lalandra: It’s got to be crowded in there, he should come out.
Angel: Crowded?!
Balreth: Yes, dear. Spike, Dandd, Rain, Stabbith, Crysania, The Rum, The Wiki Archives, the-
Angel: Alright, I get it.
Balreth: What I want to know though, is where we are going.
The officers stopped a moment and glanced at each other puzzlingly.
Lalandra: My compass shows friendlies and no quest marker.
Nyx: Mine too
Angel: Yep
Balreth: So her compass must point to something ours doesn’t.
There was a quiet pause.
Balreth: @#$%ing Newtypes?
Angel, Nyx, and Lalandra nodded: @#$%ing Newtypes…
—
Dandd finally emerged from the Captain’s Quarters, grinning wildly.
Dandd: Gather ‘round. I know we’ve been on this ship for a while. I imagine we might be here for a while yet. So I decided to try to break the monotony a bit.
The Quin gathered around Dandd, minus Crysania and Margrid.
Dandd: Ok, so I’ve made some Character sheets for you all.
Rain: What’s a Character sheet?
Dandd sighs painfully: oh Dwayna @#$% me, listen-
An Avatar of Dwayna descends from above and waves to Crysania before she gives Dandd a look-over once or twice.
Spike shrieked in terror and could be heard yelling ‘NOT AGAIN!’ as he dove down the stairs to the lower deck.
The Avatar of Dwayna, full of smiles and giggles: Nah, you’re not my type. Thanks though. /poof
Dandd looks at his party, then the entire party looks at Crysania, who should only grin and shrug.
Dandd: This is your doing!
Crysania: Nope, not this time!
Spike peaks his head out carefully, realizes it’s ok and rejoins the party.
Dandd continues: Now THESE are dice.
Dandd throws two D6 in the middle of everyone.
Rain picks one up, eyes it a bit: It had six patterns.
Dandd: Yep, we call it a D6, and this bucket of them is for you
Dandd produces, literally, a bucket full of various D6s for Rain who can only stare in horror in return.
Dandd grins: Just kidding.
Dandd puts his bucket o’ dice back, which has Spike looking behind Dandd in honest curiosity.
Dandd leans over to Spike: Belt Pouch, mate.
Spike tries for a minute to figure out the physics of it all, but instead drinks some grog and gets back into the game.
Rain: There are six of us, why seven character sheets?
Dandd: Freddy might want to play.
Nyx tries to shoo a parrot off of her shoulder, who comes right back anyway.
Freddy squawks: Send me a Text!
Lalandra: We think that means “yes.”
Nyx sighs: Yep, like thirty times a day.
Crysania looks down from the helm at Nyx and Lalandra, and smiles.
Rain looks at his character sheet and yells: LEVEL 1 ?!
The rest of the party has a good chuckle.
Rain: It’s been forever since I’ve been level one…
Balreth: Keep talking, Kid.
Spike: You too, ferretface.
Angel’s giggle was cut short by Dandd clearing his throat loudly.
Spike: Ok old man, you win.
Freddy squawks: that’s not right! That’s not right!
Nyx tries to shoo Freddy again, to no avail.
-The roles have been explained, as has been the setting and everyone gets started-
— [In Game]
Rain: Wait, BALRETH is the villain?
Balreth draws his Buster sword and holds it to Rain’s throat.
Balreth: Aye! For too long I’ve been unable to find that which I seek!
Lalandra looks down, and the look of realization crosses her face.
Lalandra: YOU opened The Crate Labeled Danger!
Freddy squawks: Parley?
Balreth: Aye, I opened the crate. It be 882 pieces of gold drops that cursed me, and it’ll be no less than 882 pieces of gold drops that set me free.
Spike is rolling on the floor, weakly asking a rock: But why Is the rum gone?
Balreth takes the gold drop from Rain and moves next to the only window of the tower, where a sturdy rappelling rope just magically was lying there.
[out of game]
Balreth: Thank you Dandd
Dandd: My Pleasure
[in game]
Angel: Wait! You’re not going to leave me behind, are you?
Balreth sighs and lowers his sword for Angel to join him, when Lalandra came in with Angel.
In the enclosed space, Lalandra’s smaller weapons prevailed and managed to grab the last gold drop and begin making her way down the staircase [instead of out the window].
Rain: Who’s Lala working for?
Nyx: Probably the East Tyria Trading Company.
Balreth dashes by in pursuit: Bloody Pirates.
Part of the way down the staircase, everyone starts to get rained on.
[out of game]
Angel: Rain, in a—oh.
Dandd: get everything below! Keep them dry!
Spike gathered up everything and headed below.
Nyx turns to the Helm: Where are we?
Crysania: I don’t know.
Lalandra: WHAT DO YOU MEAN ‘YOU DON’T KNOW?!’
Crysania: For certain you must be lost to find a place that can’t be found, else everyone would know where it is.
Nyx: Ok…do you at least know where we are going?
Crysania: Certainly.
An awkward pause as everyone just looks at each other uncomfortably.
Nyx: …so, where are we going?
Crysania: Turtelga.
Freddy leapt off of Nyx’s shoulder squawking: Abandon Ship! Abandon Ship!
Spike screamed and stormed the helm, almost knocking a couple henchmen overboard.
Spike: We can’t?!
Crysania: Oh?
Spike: NO! May we please turn around and go in a way that is not the way we are going?
Crysania: I’m disinclined to acquiesce to your request.
Spike tries to smile a bit.
Crysania: Means no.
Spike looks at his shoes for a moment before he tries again.
Spike: But we haven’t yet negotiated the peace treaty with the empty bottles of the world!
Crysania: Spike…
Spike: We must Detain The Dirigibles!
Crysania: Spike!
Spike is now yelling: Sink and/or Save the Bismarck!
Crysania is now yelling as well: SPIKE! WE are going. Go cool off.
Spike walks down to the main deck muttering: That was more than less than unhelpful.
Lalandra tries her luck: Why is this place so important?
Crysania just grins: Next step in the quest log.
Lalandra turns to Nyx: Quest log?
Nyx shrugs.
Lalandra was opening her mouth to speak when she was cut off-
Stabbith bamfed down from the Crow’s Nest: Crys, we got-
Crysania: Maelstrom?
Stabbith nodded.
Crysania started barking orders furiously: Silverlocks front, Berners Middle, Corvousias in support, Anchorwinds front. Margrid, to the helm. Henchmen mind the sails and rope. Dandd and Spike, Below. NOW!!!
An entire ship was running this way and that way and not entirely sure why, for a moment.
The maelstrom came into view, but it really wasn’t that large.
Balreth turned to Crysania: Why don’t we just go around?
Spike ran back up top as fast he could, yelling: THIS ISN’T THE BLACK PEARL!!!
Crysania addresses Balreth first: It would to us no good, prepare your best spells – you’ll see.
Crysania wanted to address spike when a wurm surfaced from the middle of the maelstrom.
Angel, Nyx, and Lalandra all yell together: WURMS EVEN OUT HERE?!
Crysania: EVERYWHERE!
Spike sees the wurm and dashes back down below.
The Quin and the Maelstrom wurm hurl attacks back and forth. Between Margrid and the Coths the ship escaped with only minor damage, but the wave caused by the Wurm impacting the water carried the ship towards a Maelstrom of immense size.
Henchmen were scurrying about executing repairs and inspections, while Spike got Crysania to come below.
Spike: This ISN’T the pearl.
Crysania: How do you know?
Spike points to a piece of wood.
Crysania has ‘un-amused’ written all over her.
Spike: Seriously. I carved “Spike + Brickhouse” right here. It was a damned good carving too.
Dandd emerges from the shadows: I saw it. He’s telling the truth.
Crysania leans towards the stair case: RAZY!
/bamf
Stabbith: Yes?
Crysania: When we get to port, you will take Spike around to infiltrate ships and look for his carving. Do NOT get caught.
Stabbith nods: with pleasure.
Crysania: We may have a traitor on board.
Spike: Bloody Pirates!
Lalandra yells from up top: OH CAP’N ANCHORWIND! WE COULD USE YOU UP HERE…
Crysania heads up top and to the helm.
Margrid, panicking: The current’s too strong, we can’t escape.
Crysania spins the wheel, aiming the ship directly at the Maelstrom.
Margrid: are you CRAZY?!
Crysania yells, gleefully: It be too late to alter course now [guild] mateys. Best be sayin’ yer prayers now.
The ship tips over the edge and down into the spiral, gaining an increasing amount of speed.
Round and round the ship goes down the spiral, getting closer to a bottom that looks strangely like a city.
The Quin, mostly a bit ill, make it to the city in the maelstrom and the current guides them to an empty dock. Looking around though , most docks are empty.
Crysania, happily, announces: Welcome to Turtelga.
—
Crysania, Raz-One, Spike and Margrid were the first ones off the ship.
Crysania turns to the other three and remarks: doesn’t that ship, docked right next to ours, look strikingly similar to ours, but in better condition?
Margrid, quickly tries to deescalate: Don’t all ships look alike?
Spike leans forward: You’re acting funny.
At that time, a small party from the other boat joins the group.
A man with a big hat spoke first: Margrid! DAMN you ARE good.
Margrid, quietly: not now.
A lady with a big dress spoke second: …! Spike Baltrihper! How dare you show your face again!
The lady slaps Spike with a considerable strength.
Spike, looking at Stabbith: I’m not sure I deserved that.
Crysania: Damn, Spike, you get around.
Spike pretends to grin.
Man with hat: You brought a bunch of people, but we won’t need all of them. When do the executions start?
Margrid: NOT NOW…
Crysania: Belay that! I think they should start now.
Man with hat: insolent crew member!
The man lifted his hand, and was promptly stabbed in the kidney.
Spike took the opportunity to slap the lady back, much to the surprise of everyone else.
The slapped lady healed the man in the hat, who regained his dignity.
Man in hat: You will learn-
Stabbith: for @#$% sake, shut up you glorified henchmen.
The man swelled within his jacket: You will not address Barbossa, First Mate of the Bl-
Margrid: That’s enough, that’s enough.
Crysania smiled at Margrid: You brought my boat here, in one piece too. I should thank you.
Barbossa: Cap’n? Her boat? Why do you tolerate this?
Margrid: Have I ever introduced you to Crysania Anchorwind?
Barbossa: That name sounds familiar…
Margrid started running towards the real Black Pearl: Of the Hoolequin?
The entire Black Pearl armed themselves instantly at the name.
Crysania: So you’ve heard of the Quin?
Barbossa grabs Stabbith and the Lady grabs Spike and they start slowing walking back to the ship: in time, you’ll wish you’d have died as quick as these two will.
Crysania walks back on the fake pearl when she gets bombarded with questions.
Crysania: I’m not sure why they all hate us like that, it might be Margrid’s fault. Yes, Margrid is likely a traitor. Yes, I let Spike and Stabbith get captured, they can verify whether or not the ship is the real Pearl. No, we’re not storming the boat – we need it in one piece. Yes, a 24 full-war guard is in effect now and will be until I say otherwise – see the CSM for your shift-
Balreth Flexes
-Rain will join the guard shift-
Rain: awwww….
-and I have other matters to attend to. Nyx, Angel, and Lalandra will go into the city and find out anything interesting they can. Dandd…whatever you want to do.
Dandd sips from a mug of ale and smiles.
Henchman 1: What about Margrid?
Crysania: She’ll avoid us as much as possible. If she doesn’t – extract information then give her a thorough beating.
The Quin Cheer!
Crysania: Bottom line. Ships Intact. …Move out.
Crysania retreats to her cabin, talking to Leonardo.
Balreth begins breaking the crew into formations for the guard rotation.
Nyx, Angel, and Lalandra head out into Turtelga to see what they can find.
Freddy returns to Nyx’s Shoulders, squawking: Send me a Text!
Spike and Raz-One are thrown into the brig, with Razy promising the kill the @$$hole that touched her daggers.
Dandd continues drinking and making notes to himself.
—
The Ladies of the Quin arrived at an interesting looking tavern called “The Grey Badger.”
They walked in and saw a collection of broken ‘relics’ recovered from long journeys and a equally colorful collection of old sun-baked sailors playing games of chance and drinking the time away.
There was a live band singing: It’s gonna take a lot to drag me away from you, there’s nothing that a hundred henchmen or more could ever do, I bless the rains down in Tyria…
Lalandra groans, knowing she’ll have that stuck in her head for a while.
The Ladies found a corner table to stay out of trouble, when trouble came to them.
Barkeep: HA HA! Fresh Meat.
Lalandra flexes and Angel puts a calming hand on her arm.
Angel: Yes, and we are also ‘freshly’ looking for a way to escape.
The Barkeep Laughs.
Nyx: I guess he doesn’t know. We should go elsewhere.
The Barkeep laughs again: Such tricks won’t work on me, girl. Everyone knows that Splinter is the only way out of the Maelstrom.
Lalandra: What is Splinter?
The Barkeep Laughs even harder: You Girls are hopeless. Welcome to Turtelga!
As many of the sailors begin to notice three unaccompanied girls in the corner all by their lonesome, Freddy squawks: Corsair! Corsair!
The girls peek up to see Margrid and a hooded fellow walk into the Tavern to a table in the opposite corner.
Nyx: Maybe we can try to listen in somehow?
Angel: We have to deal with these sailors first…
Lalandra: Hmm…
— Barbossa and a krewe from the Black Pearl are standing on the pier and studying the Fake Pearl. Balreth decides to have some fun with him.
Barbossa: Hello!
… … …
Barbossa: HELLO!!!
Balreth: Hello, who is it?
Barbossa: I’m First Mate Barbossa. Ye know who I be already.
Balreth waves merrily.
Barbossa: How about you and your men stand down and join us on the Black Pearl?
Balreth: Well, I can ask Crysania but I don’t think she’ll be very keen. She’s already got one you see.
Barbossa: WHAT? Are you SURE she’s already got one?
Balreth: Oh YES it’s Very Nice!
Barbossa: Can we some up and see it?
Balreth: Of course not! You are not Quin Types!
Barbossa: If you won’t show us, we’ll take it by force!
Balreth: You don’t frighten us, silly Pig-Dogs. Go ahead and Boil your Bottoms, Sons of a silly person.
Barbossa: Now listen here-
Balreth: I don’t want to talk to you no more you empty-headed menagerie poop-scooper. You’re mother was a Henchman and your Father smelt of Elderberries.
Barbossa: …is there someone else we can talk to?
Balreth: No! Now go away or I shall taunt you a second time.
Barbossa and his krewe angrily leave for the Pearl.
Balreth spins around quickly, and yells loudly: Henchmen, ATTENTION!
The henchmen drop what they are doing and snap-to.
Balreth: Grab everything that’s worth taking. Prepare to abandon ship. NOW!
Balreth opens the doors to the Captain’s Quarters only to find the back windows open, a rope thrown out and a note that just says “Carry on :)” on it.
Henchmen grab the Wiki Archives, Weapons, some Rum, and other necessities. Dandd grabs his Game stuff and his trusty staff.
Balreth commands everyone to stay out of sight and be ready to abandon ship, with the stuff, at command.
Barbossa returns with weapons and a lot of men.
Balreth: HELLO! Mr. “First Mate” who has the brains of a duck you know. Barbossa: HOW DARE YOU profane this place with your presence.
Balreth sees Spike creep up on to the top deck and wave.
Barbossa’s anger of being ignored boiled over the top: CHARGE!!!
Balreth also yelled: CHARGE!!!
Some of Barbossa’s men got knocked off the gangplank, and the others prepared for a fight that didn’t happen. Balreth and Krewe instead of fighting, ran through Barbossa’s formation and up onto the Real Black Pearl, the rear-guard easily dealt with by Stabbith and Spike.
Barbossa paled. He had lost control of the Pearl without so much as 1 health being lost. Worse, the Pearl was freshly supplied and the Quin had brought their own supplies with them – so the Pearl was thoroughly supplied. For now Barbossa and his krewe retreated to the Fake Pearl only to find it indeed stripped almost bare. Barbossa considered charging the Pearl when Stabbith stood on the gangplank, with no less than three monk henchmen behind her safely on the ship. Even one as rash as Barbossa knew the losses would he heavy.
Balreth and Dandd watched as wreckage from ships made its way down the maelstrom to be collected by ‘residents’ here.
Dandd: I wonder how long they’ve been down here?
Balreth: Long enough for Crysania and Spike to be aware of the place.
Dandd grins: Cartographers…
Balreth chuckles a bit before organizing the Guard Shifts on the Real Pearl.
—
Lalandra, panting: HOW many of these guys ARE there?
Angel, equally fatigued: at least one more!
Nyx is trying not to step on any of the knocked-out sailors, most half-conscious from alcohol anyway.
Part of the way through the fight, the hooded fellow gets up and moves to leave.
Lalandra yells: Stop Him!
Angel deploys her whip, but misses.
Lalandra muscles her way through a couple sailors to give chase.
Angel and Nyx clean up the rest of the sailors and find Margrid still calmly sitting there, sipping her drink.
Angel opens her mouth to speak but Margrid cuts her off: I’m on your side. Let us say Crysania made me an offer I couldn’t refuse.
Nyx: Crysania?
Margrid: Yeah, in the hood.
Angel sighs: Tattoos and glowing hands WOULD stick out, just a bit.
Nyx shakes her head: Guess we should find Lalandra.
Margrid: You know, for the record, I REALLY didn’t like dropped for Gwen like I was.
—
Lalandra is trying to give chase, but the smaller Hooded figure is just too quick. Lalandra turns a corner and finds nothing. Angered, she turns to head back to The Grey Badger but realizes she is lost. Lalandra begins wandering around aimlessly, peeking her head into every unlocked building. She found merchants, make-shift armorers, weaponsmiths, private residences and a pizzeria.
Lalandra walked into The Cheese Shredder Pizzeria, and was amazed to find it still in business. She wasn’t hungry but turned to find Crysania, in her blue-silver Shining Blade Uniform. It startled her: Whaa? YOU!
Lalandra growled at Crysania, who only smiled in return.
Crysania ordered a dozen pizzas and threw down a pouch full of platinum.
The Cheese Shredder Pizzeria was more than happy to oblige and an hour later or so Crysania, Lalandra, and a couple employees were carrying a couple pizza boxes each back to the Pearl. When they arrived at the pier, Crysania wasn’t surprised at all to see the Quin in the real Black Pearl. She knew that between Balreth, Rain, Spike, and Stabbith they’d figure something out. She would have to hear the story though.
The Henchmen were all excited at the thought of fresh food, and were crushed to find out it wasn’t for them.
Nyx and Angel came up behind Crysania to re-join the krewe.
Angel: It’s for us right?
Crysania: Nope.
Freddy: That’s not right! That’s not right!
Nyx agrees.
Crysania: Raph! Mikey!
Leonardo peeks his head out too: FOR US?!
Crysania happily nods.
—
So a bewildered Balreth and Krewe, as well as an equally bewildered Barbossa and Krewe watched as the turtles feasted on pizza. The Anchorwind caretakers each had a single piece each, but each turtle essentially ate four pizzas each. Then the gas started.
Crysania: Paint the Ship.
Razy and Rain nodded, and the three grabbed their turtle and aimed it at the ship. The glittering belches eventually painted the bulk of the port side of the ship. When the turtles fell into a contented nap the three came back aboard. Crysania was walking to the helm when she stopped at Balreth and grinned.
Crysania: Take who you want and deal with Barbossa. We don’t need the ship either.
Balreth roared, grabbed Angel and a couple henchmen and went to play Cortez, again.
The Pearl, reeking of turtle gas and pizza left port and rode the current to the other side of Turtelga.
—
Lalandra: Why are we here?
Crysania: To visit an old friend.
Dandd: I’m right here!
The Pearl sailed around the city to an area with no docks, where the current was weaker. After a few minutes of sitting there, the seas inside the Maelstrom became turbulent. The entire city of Turtelga shook violently. The sound of panicky screams almost matched the roar of the Maelstrom. Out from the waters came a giant head of a turtle.
The Turtles all yell in unison: SPLINTER!!!
Splinter groans: Splinter? Feels like a whole city…
Crysania: It IS a city now, old friend.
Splinter blinks a few times: I know that voice…
Crysania: You’ve been asleep for quite some time. In a Maelstrom nonetheless!
Splinter: Must have been some nightmares. Wait…You’re glowing now…
Crysania: Yes I am.
Splinter becomes suddenly alert: you’re GLOWING!!!
Crysania: It’s that time old friend.
As splinter regains consciousness the maelstrom slowly fades away and Turtelga rises to rejoin the seas proper.
Splinter: Why do I smell Pizza?
Crysania: We had to wake you SOMEHOW!
Lalandra and Nyx looked at each other, and just started laughing.
Splinter: You’ve come for the Highwind Infusion?
Crysania: We Have!
Splinter: You’ve brought the Pearl?
Crysania: We Have!
Splinter: And my children?
Leonardo yells as loudly as his little frame could handle: Safe and Sound!
Splinter inhales deeply.
Crysania yells: Close your eyes and plug your nose!
Splinter releases a mighty belch coats the ship and almost knocks a henchman overboard.
Raph and Mikey: Thanks dood!
Splinter chuckles: I think I’m going to Swim near the Metanni Keys, It’s warmer down there.
Crysania: Enjoy! I AM serious about the city on your back though.
Splinter: I don’t mind. I’ll have Company.
Crysania: We’ll come visit again!
Splinter agrees begins his journey to the keys.
Crysania swings the Pearl around and finds Balreth, Angel, Margrid and the henchmen on a little boat waiting.
The Krewe is united, the small boat is secured and the Infused Black Pearl heads out once more.
Lalandra, curious and afraid: What’s this ‘Highwind Infusion?’
Crysania: The ship is not only lighter, and more responsive, but has a life bar.
Balreth: A Life Bar?
Crysania: Sure. Cast Trogdor somewhere.
Balreth hits one of the side railing with a trogdor spell, burning the railing completely.
Crysania: Watch!
Crysania casts healing spells on the ship and the railing repairs itself.
Freddy and Nyx simultaneously: NICE!!!
Dandd emerges with dice and a smile: I still have everyone’s character sheet!
Rain, grinning: What’s a character sheet?
Balreth thwaps Rain upside his head.
Stations are manned, games are started, and there are plenty of supplies.
Spike bursts from the Captain’s Quarters, arguing with himself about who are “really bad eggs”
Crysania: Drink Up Me ‘earties Yo-Ho!
[/three_fourth]
[one_fourth_last]
Episode 41
3 Feb 2011
Notes: Full reference list to come.
References: Guild History, Pirates of the Caribbean, Monty Python, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
[/one_fourth_last]