Alexander Ironside was not drunk anymore on Yum, but he deeply wished he still was.
The crew had made it to La Mancha, to find Monkey Hotay and what he might know of the Monkey's Paw and La Mancha looked even worse up close as the remains of a great war were all over the place with lingering supplies, barricades, and structures brought to ruins before they made for the slightly-intact castle where this was where Alexander was wishing that he was still drunk at the sight before him, prancing about the grounds in clear madness.
"La Mancha is saved! The giant and his reptilian minions shall never again despoil the shining citadel that is La Mancha." The owner of the voice was... a Donkey, dressed in armor on the torso, his weapons being a pot lid and a broom, a funnel on it to make it look like a jousting lance while the feet... only one hoof was exposed while the other was in a boot as the Donkey continued his rant. "Glad I am to see a fellow Knight at last - Chivalry is not dead!" He paused before exclaiming at the sky. "Wait - the angel speaks!"
He retreated to the fortress and fell to his knees as he bellowed. "I hear you, shining one! I await your commands. Another quest, I pray you! I am ready."
"..." Alexander didn't say anything before he pulled out a hundred coins and gave it to Anne. "It is official, whenever I bring us to some nutjob, we are giving some of our coin to Bonnie Anne." The crew blinked from the display before Wing Chun followed in giving some coin to the fox.
"Take your winnings, Vixen, I can not deny my Captain's request." The rest nearly followed suit before Bonnie spoke, over the Monquistor's sigh at the praying Donkey.
"Ya don't owe me gold! I would have pointed it out, but that is far beyond both Zadok and the tribal Monkeys!" She gave the gold back as she huffed. "We arrange it as a crew, Cap'n, so no just giving out gold on some unknown commands." Alexander shrugged before the Monquistor spoke to the crew there.
"You must forgive my master. He is not the same since... the Paw." The Monkey shook before he spoke in clarifying their reasons. "Why have you come to this forsaken place?"
"The same reason that your... master is clearly nuts... and a Donkey." Alexander answered as he couldn't help but think... that the Monkey's Paw was clearly a powerful magical tool as the Monquistor tensed as he mumbled.
"The Monkey's Paw?" He shook his head as he spoke. "Oh, it is a dangerous thing indeed, my tall friend. It has been the ruin of my lord, and many more noble souls besides."
"Stanza! We must prepare for the Festival of Daffodils! Go and acquire four score purple spoons, immediately! I will count the fruitcakes."
"Of course my lord, it shall be as you say." Pancho Stanza sighed as the Donkey pranced about once more, to the crew's unease of how much whoever he was was lost to this madness and what would be the price if they tried using such a tool before Rebecca spoke in asking.
"I'm... sorry to ask, but we have never heard of the Monkey's Paw before coming to La Mancha, so could you... tell us instead of getting, um..." She blinked before finishing. "...eighty purple spoons...?" Pancho breathed easy before he spoke.
"You do not know the tale? Ah. Let me tell you of the Monkey's Paw, and the sad tale of my master." They took their seats as Pancho spoke, kneeling on the ground with his staff beside him. "The Monkey's Paw is a sacred relic, the preserved hand of Saint Bonzo the Unfortunate, martyred no less than three times during the Great Reconciliation of the Holy Church." That explained a bit before Vasco spoke.
"Oh, that... explains a lot then, I remember that he was shot in firing squad, hung with a noose, before getting boiled alive." Ratbeard smacked the back of the Monkey's head as he spoke.
"I's did NOT need to know how this great monkey died!" Pancho nodded with a small smile, clearly finding it humorous to see a Monkey get smacked into the dirt for listing off the impossible feats of life by Bonzo the Unfortunate. He picked back up with telling the fable.
"Blessed by the First Banana Tree, Bonzo worked many miracles before his third and final death. After his death, Bonzo's hand was fixed to the end of a Golden Scepter, and retains miraculous powers to this day." The crew blinked as Chantal spoke.
"That is more than Hoodoo, that has got to be real-life magic from the sound of it." The Flamingo lit up in embarrassment as she apologized. "Sorry, please continue, Pancho Stanza." The Monquistor nodded at the sound of Bonzo's power being more than just the unusual powers of Hoodoo, like Wizards and Witches.
"Any Monquistan who holds it may make three wishes, which are granted by divine grace. But if their soul is not pure, their wishes will bring them despair instead of happiness." Okay, so not a good idea making a wish if you were less than pure with it, that makes a lot of sense why the Monkey's Paw was a dangerous tool, it was a double-edged sword in those regards as Stanza told of how the Paw entered La Mancha.
"So it was with my master. Monkey Hotay, a retainer of the Lord of La Mancha, undertook a great quest to find the Paw. After many trials he found the relic and brought it back to La Mancha. He was tasked to bring the Paw to his lord, but could not resist temptation: he made two wishes, and despair followed." They adjusted to hear this as Stanza started with the first. "For his first wish, my master asked for one million bananas. He was hungry, you see." All of them face faulted while the Monkeys dreamily drooled at the thought of one million bananas, before Subodai and Kobe proceed to dope slap them across the backs of their heads as Stanza continued, trying not to crack a smile at the sudden antics he was causing. "For his second wish, my lord sought power - he wished to become a Don, a lord. He wished to become Don Kehotay. But this did not happen." All paused in looking at the Donkey before Olivia spoke.
"Oh... oh Spiral..." The second wish had changed the Monkey into a Donkey as Stanza nodded.
"Instead of Don Kehotay, he became Donkey Hotay, transformed from a Monquistan into a donkey. The transformation drove him mad, but that was just the beginning of the troubles."
"Okay, when we find the Paw, and I know we will... NO WISHES!" Alexander exclaimed as the crew saluted.
"Aye, Sir!" Stanza nodded as he continued the story.
"One million bananas, this is an unimaginably rich hoard. Word spread quickly that La Mancha had a priceless heap of bananas, and every lord in Monquista came to claim a share of the treasure. The war that followed devastated La Mancha, leaving it emptied and without a lord. Thus you find it, and my master."
"Yikes..." Ryan answered before Stanza got up.
"My Lord, he still has one wish left! The Paw could return him to what he was, if you can recover it. I fear your quest, it will not be easy."
"Well, treasure easily earned is not really a good treasure to keep." Alexander answered with dusting himself off before he spoke, Donkey Hotay now out on the grounds and somehow flopping enough to get the Spiders and Scorpions to trip over themselves and undergo infighting while the Donkey 'rallied' the Monquistan dummies about the place. "So what is the plan?"
"The Paw was lost in the great battle that ravaged La Mancha. One of the Monquistador Lords took it as a prize. Which one? No one knows." He tapped on his jaw as he spoke. "Or perhaps... Antonio de Miranda might know. He fought here, but later laid down his arms and became a hermit. Seek him at St Bonobo's Abbey."
"Well, time to head back then, not sure if I can linger here any longer with... a delusional Donkey." The Monkey sighed with a nod as the crew headed back out, St. Bonobo's to find this hermit and get the details out of him of the Monkey's Paw.
Making port, they headed down a side path outside the wall and found the Monkey, or who must be Antonio. "Antonio de Miranda?"
"What business could one as big as you have with one as small as me?" Yes, this was the correct one as Alexander spoke.
"We are looking for something from La Mancha." That got the Monkey's attention as he mused with grief.
"La Mancha? Ah... Those bananas, and the things we did to take them - horrible."
"Okay, but what of the Monkey's Paw?" Rebecca asked.
"The Monkey's Paw? It changed hands many times that day." He tapped his jaw in thinking on who could have a precise account of who could be the holder now. "The Historian, Saavedra, wrote an account of the battle. I'm sure his book notes which Lord ended up with the Paw. The book has been suppressed by the Crown, but the Great Library of Saint Horace in Monquista City holds a copy." That was a problem as Ratbread exclaimed with rubbing his head under the hat.
"Monquista City? How the blazes are we supposed to get in there? We're enemies of the Crown!" Thankful, Antonio had the answer.
"There are drains under the city, from the days when it still rained in Monquista. You could use them to travel directly into the Library." Alexander hummed in nodding.
"This should be interesting, to say the least." Antonio was helpful in that regard as the drains were on the other side of the landing to Monquista City, due west and near a checkpoint of Monquistan ships as the Royal Paladin set sailed once more and followed the orange Windlane before they spotted a landing by several drains and made to dock there for the time being, Alexander hoped slightly that these drains didn't smell as bad as Skull Island's.
Though the chances of it being worse depended elsewhere on the idea as the crew readied and the Royal Paladin bottled to keep the ships from spotting their entry as Bonnie spoke. "This is going to be a real treat, Captain, let me tell ya..."
"This should be... hopefully..." Alexander answered as they headed down into the drains, the scent was not pleasant, but better than Skull Island's own as they looked past grates and gates of iron before Bonnie exclaimed with pointing to the other side, to the left of them.
"Look - that must be the exit up to the Library!"
"There she is, yes, but how do we reach her? The bars are too thick to cut!" Ratbeard had the piece of mind to point out the apparent option, right in front of them.
"Here, pull that Lever - I reckon it'll open the Gates!" Ryan breathed before he pulled the Lever, only for the gate in front of them to open up as Milo spoke.
"Good try, Ratbeard! I'm sure we can find a way through."
"Enough yammering!" Ratbeard huffed as he trotted forward. "Let's go this way - maybe there's another Lever." They followed the opened course, to find a Lever among a flock of Bloodbats and, scattering their ranks, they pulled the Lever to open both the gate they were behind now and the one that lead them closer to the Library ladder.
Unfortunately, they were forced to make a detour through a few crypts of the catacombs and fighting some vile Spiders that barred their way, their leader of Long Legs reinforcing their numbers to swarm the crew, but in its defeat, the rest skittered away in fear, as Old Scratch had said in the aftermath. "The evil spirit be gone - this place is clean." They pressed on to another Lever and opened the passages end further, only to come into combat with Renegade Monquistdors, why they were down under Monquista City was one that they were not sure they wanted answered as they knocked them aside and pressed on to the sight of another Lever as Kan Po spoke.
"One last trial stands before us, Dragonfly. Be ready!" This was true as the leader of the Renegades answered to the challenge.
"Giant! You trespass in my domain, and you will pay for your bold audacity! Get them, my soldiers!" The Monquistans rallied to his cause in coming from the tunnels before they laid him low and got through, only the way was not so easy to get to as they had to backtrek through the tunnels to even get back to the proper tunnel system, only as far as the crypts before find the ladder as Bonnie Anne sighed in relief.
"Finally! Monquista City, here we come!" They headed up as Anne spoke with rolling her shoulders. "We made it! Now remember, this is a Library, so keep your voices down!" The crew glared at her as she realized that she was the one shouting, but it did draw attention.
"What is this?" They turned to a Monquisitor who had been working the shelves when he was surprised by the emerging crew. "A HUMAN!? In my Library?" They were tensing up to the possible alert before the monkey mused. "How extraordinary!" They flopped to the ground as the Monkey spoke with ease. "I know who you are, Pirate - but don't worry. You have nothing to fear from me! The Crown reviles you to hide their own embarrassment. Shameful."
"That's good to know..." Alexander breathed with recovering while the crew also recovered, albeit slower than that.
"Why have you come to my Library?" Alexander nodded as he spoke.
"We are looked for a account of Saavedra, we have need of it."
"Saavedra's history? You can get in a lot of trouble reading that book. But I suspect you know trouble well." He hummed as he spoke. "My name is Jerome, Librarian of this Library and I believe Brother Tito has a copy of the book, I believe. He would be willing to lend it to me in return for a book of verses, a book Don Elanda has." He then shuffled through the shelves before pulling out another book and handing it to Alexander. "So, take this Book to Don Elanda. Take the book he gives you to Brother Tito. Bring me the Saavedra when all is done."
"Right..." Alex paused with looking down and back up, Jerome cluing in as he palmed his face and nodded.
"I forget, you are the enemy of all Monquista, yes? Ha!" He pointed down the passage and spoke. "Take a Mask from the Cabinet. Hide your face, and nobody will suspect a thing." Alexander nodded with carrying the book under in hand as he passed the shelves and found the cabinet, setting the book down and finding a mask to don, removing his current hat to pull the monkey mask over his face, the narrowed view an issue, but it would have to do as he turned to the crew and spoke, his voice muffled a tad.
"Stay here and keep a look out for any Monquistans that may alert the Crown, we can't slip here." They nodded as they turned with a breath and marched out, no one sparing a glance in his direction as he left the Library and headed for the Emporium, where Don Elanda set up shop in as he spoke to Alexander's approach and the book he carried.
"You come from the Library? I can see why Jerome hired you - you can reach the tallest shelf!" He started to got through his wears a bit as he spoke. "Jerome inquired after a book of verses. I have it here. Does he have the Geographical Treatise I asked for in return?"
"Of course, sir." Alexander answered in handing the book off in exchange for the book of verses as Don Elanda mused.
"Excellent! Run along, now." Alexander rolled his eyes before leaving with the book, heading for Brother Tito who, as memory served, was involved with that whole 'Seed-Banana' feud going on as he exclaimed.
"Great sun, you have the stature of a titan, my child What is your errand?"
"I come from the Library and in my hands is a book of verses, you inquired for one, yes?"
"Ah... you seek a certain historical volume. I fear I have given it back to its owner." Alexander sighed as it would really be a fetch quest without another matter to handle as Tito spoke in directing him. "Go to Don Salmanco, and offer him the volume you would have given me. Walk in the shade of a Holy Tree, my child."
Finding the Don Salmanco was easy as he was the only Monkey standing in front of a building not in armor as he exclaimed to Alexander's approach. "You... are very tall, child." Alexander shrugged in Salmanco piecing out his reason for being there. "Librarian Jerome sent you? I know what he wants. Has he sent what I asked for?" The disguised captain nodded as he offered the book of verses for Saavedra's Chronicle and Don Salmanco breathed as he answered. "Good. Here is... the book he asked for. If anyone asks, you didn't get it from me." Alexander nodded as he departed, back to the Library and into the back where he could remove his mask freely and handed the book to Jerome as he mused over it.
"Here it is... Saavedra's Chronicle." He cracked it open in searching for what account they were looking for. "Now let me see..." He looked up and Alexander answered to the question.
"La Mancha." He nodded with resuming the search before he nodded with finding it.
"Ah! Here is his account of La Mancha and the Paw: It was Martin Valvida who lifted the great relic of St. Bonzo from the battlefield, and held it high. Martin set sail with his two brothers, aboard the Cornelius. They never reached their home in Gibbonia - their ship crashed in Diablo Cut." He closed the book in answering the need question. "There you have it, Pirate. The Valvida Brothers took the Monkey's Paw, and were lost in Diablo Cut. It must still be there!"
"Maybe, but we should first investigate where it is first, for now, we should be going." Alexander answered and the librarian nodded as the crew headed back through the sewers and back to the Paladin, where they headed into the Windlane to get their bearings as Alex looked over the map before he nodded. "From the looks of it, Daiblo's Cut is due east of La Mancha, that must be the large tear of land we had spotted when approaching the ruined citadel. That is good news for us." The crew nodded before the Captain noticed Ryan curled up at the prow as he called out. "Hey, Ryan, you okay?"
"That shouldn't have worked..." The crew blinked as Ryan repeated. "That shouldn't have worked..." Olivia joined his side as she inquired.
"What's wrong?"
"The fact that Alex just strolled right through Monquista City with a monkey mask and gloves on and NO ONE stopped him whatsoever!" Ryan answered and the crew went through an 'Ahh...' moment as he ranted a bit. "That shouldn't have worked...!" Alex rolled his eyes before he paused and smiled as he replied.
"But it did..." That got Ryan as he leapt up and pointed at the Musketeer.
"But It shouldn't have worked!" Alex just smiled as he shook his head with manning the helm.
"But it did..." Ryan's yell filled the air as the Royal Paladin sailed out to Diablo's Cut...