(After our mission in Scotland, we find the base decorated from top to bottom in Christmas lights and flags. An amazing tree is in the center of the main hall)
Me: Whoa! It's been a while since we had the base decked out like this.
Ash: Yeah. Christmas has always been the best time of the year.
Pikachu: Pika!
Boy's voice: Wow! I really love this place!
(We turn around and see three children: two boys and one girl)
Me: Oh, hi there.
First Boy: Hi. I'm Connor, and these are my friends.
Second Boy: Name's Greg.
Girl: And I'm Amaya.
Me: Connor. Greg. Amaya. Pleased to meet you. Let me give you the tour.
(I give Connor, Amaya, and Greg the tour)
Pirate101: The Pirates of Lore
Chapter 13: Race to the Treasure
The pirates managed to finally locate Ratbeard in Flotsam, but he escaped. He also knows the location of Gunn's treasure and destroyed most of his will so that he won't be followed. The only way to find their way to Gunn's treasure is to follow the instructions on the will. Their first stop: Gunn's old refuge in Corsair's Channel. They find a lone island with a dock. They assume that's where the refuge is. They dock and make their way inside. Emmet notices an old tome on a table.
"I say, look at that old book – it's important, I'd stake my life on it!" Emmet noted. Lindsey picks up the book and starts reading it.
"What is it?" Ryan asked.
"I know this. It's a training tome!" Lindsey confirmed its contents.
"Training tome?" Gaspard asked.
"When one of you reads it, you get somewhat stronger. The experience from books like these will help us against stronger foes." Lindsey explained. During the conversation, Ryan checks a cask and finds a note.
"Then we better keep an eye out for more of these in the future." Wing Chun suggested.
"Yeah." Kyle agreed.
"Hey, guys! Check out this note I found in that cask." Ryan reported. "Here, I'll read it to you."
"Welcome, pirates, to what was once my humble home. A ship is a wonderful thing, but sometimes a pirate needs a home to go to when tired of the sky." As Ryan reads the note aloud, we hear Gunn's voice fade in.
"To find my next lesson, sail to the lighthouse on Buccaneer Isle. Follow the trails through Shady Hollow to the grave of Honest Ned, my first mate."
"Buccaneer Isle? There's a graveyard for all the fallen pirates there." Lindsey noted.
"I don't think that's a good idea to go there." Lola argued. "Last time we tangoed with the undead, Kyle and I became the Dutchman's puppets."
"She's right. That's something I just can't live through again. It's best we back out and forget any of this happened." Kyle agreed.
"And let that scoundrel Ratbeard keep Gunn's treasure for himself? I won't allow it!" Sarah argued.
"As much as I would love to agree with you on this, Kyle, Sarah brings up a good point." Hunter agrees with their crew member. "The sooner we find Ned's grave, the closer we get to finding Gunn's treasure and stopping Ratbeard. Besides, I've got a feeling this won't be like what happened on the Marie Celestia."
"Alright, I guess we'll just keep going, then." Kyle concedes.
"That's just what I wanted to hear." Ryan smiles. Everyone boards their ship and heads to the Flotsam Skyway. From the crow's nest, Ryan searches for Buccaneer Isle.
"Any luck finding the island, Ryan?" Lola asked.
"Not yet." Ryan reported before seeing an old worn-down lighthouse. "Hey! Check out that lighthouse! It looks like it's seen better days."
"I'll bet that must be Buccaneer Isle." Hunter deduced. They dock in front of the ruined lighthouse.
"Okay, the note said to follow the trails to Shady Hollow." Hunter reviewed the note's contents.
"Yes, but what trails does it mean?" The Marchioness asked. Barnabus noticed some footprints in the sand.
"Perhaps those footprints in the sand are what it meant."
"Good eye, Barnabus." Ryan said. They followed the footprints into Shady Hollow. Once inside, they see undead pirates everywhere.
"Look at this place! The dead are running riot!" Bonnie Anne noted.
"Life and death out of balance – we must put the evil dead to rest." Kan Po spoke.
"Kan Po, you are speaking my language." Ryan agreed as he pulled out his rifle.
"When we find Honest Ned's grave, here's hoping he's still in it. Lead on!" Lucky Jack said as they proceeded to the graveyard, fighting undead pirates along the way. They reach the first grave the crew sees.
"Here lies Old Ben Harkinson: the pirate's life he found was fun. Quick to the fight and slow to run – one cannon blast, and he was done." Bonnie Anne read the headstone.
"I feel bad for Ben, but this isn't the grave we're looking for." Lindsey said.
"She's right. Let's find another." Bonnie agreed. They searched the graveyard for another grave. They see another one.
"Pity poor Lieutenant Mark: he went to dinner with a Shark." Wing Chun read the grave this time.
"This isn't the grave we want either." Kyle said.
"Our search continues." Kobe Yojimbo agreed. They go deeper into the hollow and find another grave by a pond.
"Here lies our own Wesley Moore, buried on this distant shore. Bravely he went off to war, but won't come back: no Wes, no more." Emmett read the third grave.
"Such poetry!" Louis admired the wordplay on the grave.
"I hate puns." Lola groaned.
"I hear you, Lola. Let's keep looking." Sarah agreed. Along the way, they see yet another grave.
"Pity dear departed Jed: a great big rock fell on his head." Milo read the grave.
"Does it seem weird that Jed sounds like Ned, in a manner of speaking?" Ryan asked.
"I think so. Let us go a little further." Gaspard agreed.
"We've checked every grave here in this hollow and not one of them is who we're looking for." Kyle sighs.
"It appears we're running short on options." Lucky Jack noted.
"He's right. The only place to look is over there. I just hope we don't have to read any more poetry…" Birgus said, pointing to a cave lined with old vines. They enter it and find a graveyard with more skeletal pirates.
"Yikes! There are undead everywhere!" Lola yelped.
"You!" They hear a voice coming from the other end of the graveyard. They see a skeletal witchdoctor. "Destroy me children, will you? Now I and I show you why you afraid of the dark!"
"Hold on. I've heard of this guy." Lindsey noted.
"You have?" Hunter asked.
"Yeah. They call him Old Scratch. A well-known hoodoo worker in Skull Island." Lindsey explained. "He rose from the grave when he made a pact with a powerful nightmare spirit. His old life has been a mystery – the only thing he remembers was his former teacher: Papa Legbones, who taught him to communicate with and raise the dead."
"That would explain all the undead pirates we saw all around the hollow." Kyle deduced. "Speaking of undead pirates, I say we put these to rest." He unsheathes his sword.
The pirates fight their way to Old Scratch. The undead witchdoctor starts fighting the crew. His spells were powerful, enough to summon a bunch of skeletal pirates, but they weren't enough as Ryan blasts Old Scratch with his dual pistols. The Musketeer aims it at Old Scratch's bony head.
"Any final words?" Ryan asked.
"Mercy, Pirates! I beg you, spare I, and I repay thee for the favor." Old Scratch pleaded for mercy. Ryan glances to the others. Kyle gives him a trusting gaze.
"Alright, we'll let you live, but only if you join our crew." Ryan agrees to spare him.
"I thank ye for your mercy and promise I will earn it. I and I follow you and all my mojo be yours to command. What was it brought ye all here?" Old Scratch accepts the invitation.
"You're letting him join our crew? Why?" Sarah asked after leaving the Hoodoo House.
"Hey, I could trust him about as far as I could throw him, but he could be our best lead in finding that grave." Hunter said. "Besides, once we see the first sign of betrayal, Mormo will destroy him."
"I don't like it, Hunter, but you're right." Sarah agrees.
"Aye, and I'll trust your judgment, don't worry." Emmett said. "More than I'll trust this… thing, anyway."
"Old Scratch, we came here searching for the grave of Honest Ned." Hunter told the skeletal witchdoctor.
"If it be his grave you seek, you came to the right place." Old Scratch said. "Honest Ned buried over there." He points to the grave behind some trees. They search it and find another note within it.
"So there was a note in the grave after all." Ryan confirmed.
"Read it quickly – I grow tired of this dead pirate's games." Subodai said. Hunter grabbed the note and started reading it.
"Here lies Honest Ned, the finest officer I ever had. Without him, I'd never have amounted to anything."
"This, then, is my second lesson: a pirate is nothing without his crew."
"Sail to Bounty Island and find the Mermaid Statue. She'll show you the way to my tomb and treasure. X marks the spot!"
"So, Gunn's tomb is on Bounty Island, huh?" Kyle noted. "Then that's where we're going." They left Buccaneer Island and sailed over to Bounty Island. But as soon as they docked, they're met with an elderly crab.
"You! Intruders! Stand to and prepare to make account of yourself!"
Ryan tried to pull out one of his pistols, but Hunter stopped him. "Let me handle this." Hunter said before stepping forward.
"Who are ye and why ye come to my island?" The crab asked them.
"Your island?" Ryan asked, confused.
"That's right. The name be Squinty, and this island here is mine." Squinty said.
"Sorry if we were intruding, but a note told us that we would find Gunn's gold here." Hunter explained.
"Gunn's gold? HA! That's right funny, that is!" Squinty laughed.
"I'm guessing you've been here searching for the treasure yourself, huh?" Lindsey asked.
"Aye. I've spent ten year and more on this barren rock, digging for that treasure – look about ye!" Squinty responds. "No one knows this isle better than I! If I've not found the treasure, what hope do ye have? Go ahead, look! Fairly warned be ye says I. Ha!"
"Alright. We'll notify you if the way is clear." Kyle said.
They enter the island. "Nice island… cozy." Milo commented.
"Well, Captains, this is it! Let's have a look at that mermaid Gunn mentioned, eh?" Lucky Jack said. The pirates search the statue and find another note tied to the tail of the statue.
"Another note. Can't say I'm surprised." Bonnie sighs.
"Give it here. I'll read this one." Ryan hands Lola the note. She reads it aloud.
"Welcome to Bounty Island! My treasure awaits, within my tomb. Don't bother digging – the way is blocked."
"That must be why Squinty couldn't find it, even after ten years." Kyle noted.
"To pass the gate and find my tomb, you'll have to prove you're a true sailor. Your first test: gunnery, a discipline dear to any pirate's heart."
"Head to the north beach – there's a rope bridge to a nearby islet. Dig at the left post."
"One thing I'll say for Captain Gunn – he's consistent. Let's go." Sarah said.
"To be honest, it would've been easier to just bury a key." Lola said. They head to the north beach, where the bridge is. Hunter digs around the left post and sees another note.
"There be a note here, wrapped 'round the post, Captains. Read it!" Old Scratch said. Hunter reads the note.
"The Gunnery test: one of the kegs on yonder islet still holds good gunpowder, the rest are spoiled."
"Any pirate who knows a broadside from a cowhide can tell the difference."
"When you find the good keg, take it to my ship, beached on the far side of the island and load the cannon there."
"Leave this one to me." Ryan spoke up. "I know a lot about gunpowder, so I can tell good gunpowder from bad."
"How?" Chantal asked.
"All it takes is one good whiff." Ryan said before crossing the bridge to the small inlet and inspected each keg by smelling the contents within. The first three he smelled were bad, but once he caught a familiar whiff on the fourth, that's when he found it.
"This is it! This one's got the good powder." Ryan confirmed.
"Good nose, Ryan. Let's take it to a cannon." Milo said. They take the keg to the cannon on Gunn's ship and start loading it.
"There. Cannon's armed." Lindsey said.
"Here, I found another note in the barrel." Emmett noted. He reads the note.
"Important as Gunnery is, there's another skill even more vital: Rigging. A pirate who doesn't know his or her way around sails and ropes is doomed."
"Here's your second test: go to the western beach and find the barnacle-covered rock. You'll find a rope buried beneath it."
"Tie the rope to the anchor and run it over both the masts. Hoist the anchor up and tie the other end of the rope to the cannon's platform."
"When you're finished, both anchor and cannon should be hanging in the air. You do know how to tie a strong know, don't you? Good luck!"
"Here we go again! Good thing Squinty never dug up any of these notes…" Bonnie Anne noted.
They go over to the west beach and find the rock covered in barnacles. Lindsey digs underneath and finds a strong rope.
"Here is the rope. Now for the anchor." Subodai spoke. They head to the anchor and tie it to the anchor. They pull the anchor up over both masts with all their might.
"Heave!" Gaspard shouts with a grunt of effort. "Put your backs to it! Now quick! Tie the other end!" Lindsey quickly ties the other end to the cannon's platform. Once done, the platform rises and a note was found below it.
"Look! There's another note on the bottom of the platform here!" Bonnie Anne reported.
"Your final test is at hand. Go to the eastern beach and find the parcel I've hidden in a cask."
"The treasure's close, can you feel it?" Gaspard asked. "Let's go!"
"I hope the treasure's all worth this…" Dead Mike said. They head to the eastern beach on the island. Kyle searches the cask and sees a Spyglass and a note.
"A spyglass! And a very fine one at that." Kyle analyzed the Spyglass.
"Look! There's another note with it." Milo reported. He reads the note.
"You've tried your hand at Gunnery and Rigging. Now we shall see how well you fare with Navigation."
"Take the Spyglass back to where you started and put it in the mermaid's hand. Then orient the glass south by southwest, ten degrees below horizon."
"I've had you load the cannon, set the rigging, and orient the spyglass. If you have the skills of a true pirate, my gold will be yours. Good luck!"
"I wonder why he wanted us to orient the spyglass like that." Ryan wondered. Hunter pondered before seeing a sunbeam reflect off Kyle's shield. He looked at the how the cannon is aimed and the setup of the rigging.
"I got it!" Hunter realized, gaining the crew's attention. "This is how Gunn wanted us to open the gate! If we position the spyglass as Gunn said, the sun's rays will create a sunbeam from the spyglass and burn the rope, dropping the anchor and the cannon. Then the lit end of the rope will ignite the cannon's fuse, blasting the gate to bits!"
"That has to be the craziest thing Gunn has ever set up! I respect him for that." Kyle grinned.
"Then what are we standing around for? Let's get to it!" They head back to the mermaid statue and position it in her hand and aimed it at the anchor. The sun's rays create a sunbeam from the spyglass.
"Oooh, look at that!" Bonnie Anne said in awe. Just like Hunter said, the sunbeam burns the rigged rope, dropping the anchor and cannon. The lit end of the rope swings to the cannon, lighting the fuse. The cannon fires and blasts the gate to pieces.
"It worked! Hunter was right!" Milo cheered.
"We did it, guys! We're rich!" Lucky Jack cheered.
"Hunter, your navigation skills never cease to amaze me. Come on!" Lola complimented. They head right to where the tomb is. But once there, they see only a trail of gold coins and footprints in the sand.
"Something's not right here." Ryan deduced.
"He's right. I see Gunn's corpse, but the treasure's gone!" Sarah agreed. "All that work for nothing! I smell a rat here…"
"Couldn't have thought so myself." Hunter confirmed. From the freshness of the trail of footprints, they note that Ratbeard beat them to the treasure. "I say we track him down and teach him a lesson!"
"You little whelps! How dare ye!" They hear Squinty's voice. They turn around and see him. "This tomb was mine to find, mine! I'll teach ye to cross me!" He summons forth a squad of crabs. "Get them, me crawlies!"
Ryan shoots some crabs with his pistols and backs Kyle. The girls are back-to-back, surrounded by crabs. They look at each other and nod, thinking the same thing. Lola grabs Lindsey's staff and the latter swings the former around, using her halberd to strike the crabs.
"Squinty, wait! I apologize for not telling you sooner, but we've got a bigger problem on our hands!" Hunter tries to tell Squinty before taking out the last of the crabs. "Look!" He points to the open chest.
"This treasure… it's gone! All that quarreling for nothing!" Squinty cried out in anguish. "Ten year and more of picking over this rock, gone to waste! That's it! I'm done! Goodbye!" Squinty turned to the ladder and left.
"I never thought I'd say this, but the old crab's right. We spent hours following Gunn's instructions and all for an empty tomb?!" Lola groaned. "If only we knew what happened here!"
"You are correct that the treasure be gone, but Capt. Gunn, him tell us what happened here. Let me work me art…" Old Scratch said as he used his mojo to bring Gunn's remains to life.
"I stand corrected. This… thing will prove useful after all." Emmett admitted.
"You were right to bring him." Sarah agreed.
"I can talk to you! How unexpected. I would congratulate you all for being the first ones to find my treasure, but sadly, you aren't." Gunn said.
"Yeah, the clues speak for themselves." Kyle noted.
"After all the trouble I went through to write my lessons and engineer this amazing tomb, a cheating rat comes along and spoils it all!"
"I should've known Ratbeard had a hand in all this." Lindsey scowled. "How did he take your treasure."
"He sent Water Moles, detestable creatures, to swim in through that flooded tunnel and steal my gold. I knew I should have sealed that passage!"
"Water Moles?" Mormo thought before realizing who Gunn meant. "Waponis!"
"They plan on giving the gold to their Fire God. That must be the volcano at Waponi Wu – take my treasure back and teach them a lesson!"
"That's the idea, Captain." Hunter agreed. "That treasure is important to us!"
"Waponi Wu, huh? That's their home island. It shouldn't be too far. Let's go!" By Gunn's request, they take off to recover the treasure from the Waponis.
Connor: Wow! You really have some cool rooms.
Me: Yep. And I have rooms for you three as well.
(I lead them to a blue cat-themed room)
Me: I got a cat-themed room for Connor…
Connor: Awesome!
(Our next stop is a green lizard-themed room)
Me: …A lizard room for Greg…
Greg: Cool!
(And finally, I show them a red owl-themed room)
Me: And finally, an owl room for Amaya.
Amaya: This looks so amazing!
Me: I'm glad you like them. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to be done. You know what to do here, readers. Excelsior!