The Tale of Sneaky Sam
Chapter 3: The Skull Temple
Lieutenant Smollet then explained "I've sent two of my scouts – Ensign Livsey and Sergeant Shepard – up ahead, but they haven't reported back for hours. I'd like you to go further up the trail and check up on them; they'll have information on where Fin is located." Sam nodded, before he went up the trail with Subodai and Bonnie Anne; when they crossed a small wooden bridge, they heard a voice to their left that exclaimed "Oi! You there, help!"
They turned their head and saw a Toad Scout inside a bamboo cage; supposing it must be one of Smollet's men, they approached the bamboo cage and the Frog Scout, who explained that he is Livsey, said "Get me out right quick! The Troggies ambushed me and Shepard and we got separated in the confusement." Livsey tried to pick open the lock from his side, but his lockpick broke in two; he then asked "Looks like you'll have to get the key then… I think one of the Troggy Shamans has it."
Not need telling twice, Sam and Subodai provoke a fight with a Troggy Shaman and a Troggy Warrior and managed to grab the key before subduing the Troggies; they then returned to the cage and unlocked the cage. Livsey then let loose his muscles and said after letting them loose "Fin fled farther up the trail, but he isn't alone… There's plenty of sharks up there; Cutthroats by the look of them. I'll slip by them when you pick a fight with a couple of those finheads; we'll rendezvous at the entrance to the Skull Cave."
Sam and his crew nodded in understanding and went up further the path and up a wooden ramp to the Cutthroat Camp; Subodai then made a heavy grunt and said "The Skull Cave… Fin and Avery's Amulet are in there somewhere…" Bonnie then leaned on her musket and said "And there are the Cutthroats; let's go pick a fight."
Sam nodded with a smirk and battled against a couple of Cutthroats with Bonnie Anne: The Cutthroat on the left charged at Sam, when he sidestepped in a spin and shot the Cutthroat in the back, knocking him out instantly; the other Cutthroat charged at him from behind, but Sam nodded at Bonnie and jumped over the Cutthroat with athletic skill before Bonnie shot at the Cutthroat with a critical hit and knocked him out too.
Sam nodded curtly at Bonnie for her part and Bonnie leaned on her musket before nodding at Sam curtly with a small smile; they then heard Livsey catching their attention with a *Psst!* from the nearby bushes and went over to him and Subodai. Livsey then said in a soft voice as to not attract unwanted attention "Good show! While you were engaged in combat with those rough heads, I found this note…" Livsey gave them the note and it read "Our buyer won't be here for a while; we'll set up the meet in the Skull Temple, the deal will go on in the altar room."
Sam, Subodai and Bonnie looked up and nodded in unison with determined expressions, before they snuck inside the Skull Cave; as they entered the cave, Sam noticed a chest on a stone podium on the other end of the cave. He then checked over the chest to make sure there isn't any signs of tampering, before he opened it and saw there was some clothing inside that's about his size.
He then changed into them and felt lighter and more flexible; he then puts his clothing in his bag before he and his crew went behind the water fall and saw a wall of vines blocking their path. Bonnie then held them back and got out her machete before she hacked through the vines until it was clear enough to enter the Skull Temple Entrance.
They then went down some wet stone stairs, as Subodai pointed out a shortcut leading back to the encampment; after briefing acknowledging the shortcut, they entered the Skull Temple to see it was flooded to Sam's ankles and swarming with Crocogators and Cutthroats. As long as they kept to the wall, they won't fight against any hostiles; when they neared the Altar Room, they saw that the water is running too fast to even reach the Altar Room.
As they were wondering on how to get past the rushing water, a voice to their right inquired "So who sent you, then?" Sam and his crew then swivelled to the right and saw a Dog Sergeant leaning on his back against a statue; after explaining to Shepard on their task, he noted "Well, you need to shut off the water first… there's a room back there with 3 keystones embedded into separate statues that'll drain the water right quick. But there are Troggies in there and they will try to keep you from doing that; also, you need a key to unlock the door first, but it sounds like the Cutthroat bullies have found it."
Sam and his crew nodded, before they fought against a couple of Cutthroats and managed to pilfer the Shrine Room Key from their pockets. They then went to the Shrine Door and unlocked it, before they entered it; they then came face to face with a group of Troggies, led by their Chief who exclaimed and pointed at Sam's crew in alert.
When they come into battle, Sam evaded a spell from the Troggy Chief and a slung pebble before he activated one of the keystones, lowering the central pillar. When more Troggies came, Sam kept them occupied as Bonnie and Subodai went for the other two; Bonnie went for the one on the left, since she uses a musket and Subodai went for the keystone at the back, due to his skills with a sword. When Subodai activated the final keystone, the pillar sunk down into the ground, draining the water and the Troggies fled when the last drop of water was drained.
With their task done, Sam and his crew returned to Sergeant Shepard near the Altar Room entrance; when they came back, they saw that the water had drained enough that the doors leading to the Altar Room are now visible. Sergeant Shepard then said "I should report back… but if you're going after Fin, I want in. He and I have a score to settle…" Sam then nodded in approval, before he, his crew and Shepard went in the Altar Room; when they entered, they heard a deep, gruff voice say "You made 3 mistakes Pirate: First, you took the job; second you didn't bring an army… Last, don't fight me in the dark. The dark is where I shine."
As they prepared to fight, Shepard instructed Sam and his crew to go after Fin, since the Cutthroats will turn tail if their leader falls; Sam then nodded and twirled his shock pistol and sword before they engaged combat. Although Fin is their priority, the other Cutthroats proved to be a nuisance; Bonnie used her Ability to slow down the Cutthroats and Fin so they can turn the battle against them.
Fin then gripped his cutters in anger and went for Bonnie; Shepard then intervened by parrying Fin's attack and punched him in the side with his fist, before Sam shot Fin with his Shock Pistol. Although Fin's legs were shaking from weariness, he wouldn't go down; he then swung his cutters at Sam, but the latter fluently dodged each swing before Bonnie took Fin out with a well-placed shot.
Fin fell on his knees in defeat, as the Cutthroats fled from them, just as Shepard would say they would; Fin then made a snarl and said "I want you to remember this moment, Pirate: This is the moment you've made your first victory… and made your worst enemy." Shepard then drew his sword at Fin to ensure he doesn't do anything and replied unfazed "Ah, shut your jaws, ye' bully! *turns head to Sam* Pirate, you're a right helpful hand in a fight! I'll look after Fin while you bring back Avery's Amulet to him."
Sam nodded at Shepard with a slight smile, before he grabbed Avery's Amulet from the ruined altar and left the Temple with his crew; they then crossed the bridge back to the courtyard and went inside Avery's Mansion. Avery looked up from his desk after writing a form and looked pleased when he saw Sam and his crew back with his Amulet; he then stood up and said "Well done Pirate: You've stopped the bombardment, you've recovered my Amulet and Fin is brought to justice!" Sam then gave Avery his Amulet and the latter looked more closely at his amulet, before he added with an amused smirk "You didn't even swap it for a fake… What are you, an 'honest' pirate? Ha!"