237 replies to this topic

[currymaniac]

They weren't far, not more than three miles and the turtle was only one mile in radius. It seemed that the big beast wasn't able to get any closer to the shore without running aground, something that might not have been a problem for your average turtle, but when it's as big as an island there were definitely complications. The land seemed to be deserted, it wasn't exactly the most recognisable, though close to the mountain - which itself was now only about ten miles away, more or less - the air seemed darker, as if it had been filled with smoke.

[quizzical]

"I think we should send a scouting party to ascertain WHERE we are before we all jump ship and release the turtle. Be awfully ironic if we ended up on another island with unfriendly natives..." says Quarin quickly, starting to jog back to the cave entrance "and we should probably back the turtle up a bit so we don't attract more notice than we may have already..."

[Dehoffren]

Feeling extremely pleased with himself that he had been able to remain up-right while all round him had been tumbled to the floor Arty peered at the distance island as Quarion spoke “Yes caution is the better part of valour my dear, but that circle, I’m not sure if its smoke, around the mountain there looks a little ominous doesn’t it, and how are we to reach this other island we have no boats and I really don’t think I would be fit for that length of swim” He looked around the group an embarrassed hue adorned his face “I think this may have slipped into my pocket once Annabel had finished with it” he waved the chip of the mask around “I really couldn't stomach a repeat performance of the last thing it showed us” Arty shuddered at the idea of a mange a trios between Scurvy, Eldrid and Annabel

Edited by Dehoffren, 08 March 2009 - 03:30 PM.

[quizzical]

Quarin halted then turned to address the castaways. "Time to make a raft, I think. Shouldn't be too hard to lash a few trees together with some vines. Swimming in unknown warm waters is generally a bad idea... sometimes we are not the most dangerous things out here..."

[currymaniac]

The ground shook again and there was a deep hum, it sounded almost as if it was something in pain. There was also shouting to be heard, and down near the land it looked almost as if there were ships........

[quizzical]

Quarin RAN back to the 'Drumming Lounge' at top speed, filled with guilt. She'd never meant to HURT the turtle!!

She picked up the drumsticks and beat out a rhythm that would encourage the turtle to carefully back up until it was free, then go at moderate speed about 2-3 miles East to fairly deep waters, then submerge. They needed a plan before trying this again-one that wouldn't hurt the turtle ...

[Ghost]

"They'll come. And like as not they will kill us, if they learn the turtle's secret. "

Eldrid walked over to Arty and held his hand out for the chip, then added: "The sooneer we can get ye folks to the beach and onto a makeshift raft, the sooner I cam take the turtle away from here, and the sooner yonder seamen will get you back to civilization. Provided ye can convince them that the island is now only inhabitet by some mad shaman who controls the island by magic, and that nothing ye can do can bring it back..."

[currymaniac]

There were definitely ships, and now there seemed to be little figures running onto the shore. "My how I wish we were still aboard the Ascension," the first mate said, his first words in a long time and also very important ones, for they triggered Anabelle's understanding.

Many years previous a young girl, a princess no less had told everyone that she was to die. She said she knew the exact details and as such was presumed to have an ailment of the mind. Her prophecy told that she would be lost for many years, alone, and that where she would be men would eat of themselves. After years had passed there would be an descending Ascension, and all would know that what she had said would come to light. The secret of the gold of generations would be known to all as long as these signs were observed, and she herself would die by the hand of those who believed her prophesy.

So, her father, worried about her health, sent her across the sea to a shaman would was said to be able to heal this type of problem, and she or the ship she sailed on were never again seen. That father was soon deposed by a cousin who had not been so skeptical about her prophecy, and should the signs ever be evident he would make sure that the final part of that prophecy was fulfilled.

And it was now that it must all come to fruitition. As Quarin reached the drums there was a deflating pop and drums became useless, as did yet another part of Anabelle. "This is the way it is," she said to those nearby, her voice also being heard in the hall of the drummer. "They come to kill all on this island, you must leave now, go off of the other side, they are too distracted with the novelty of it all to be looking for anyone trying to flee from the other side." She seemed different, her voice was ever so slighty elogant, rather that the wiry coarseness that it usually had. She remembered who she was, and she would die for that identity, but she was not afraid, deep down she had always held onto the truth, even if it was hidden well.

[Ghost]

It was difficult to argue with that voice, and yet... And yet Eldrid had always been the quarrelsome one, and he would likely take his death from that. Looking at Anabelle, who felt... changed, somehow, he muttered: "And go where? We know not where we are nor where to go; those of us who can swim that is... Here he looked to Arty.

Then something came to him, a certainty of sorts. The whole atmosphere of the island seemed different; desperation grabbing at his heart, Eldrid brought out the mask, and put it to his face, desperate for the power it had held; power he felt, even as he he lifted it, must surely be gone...

[Dehoffren]

Dignity suddenly surrounded what was left of Annabel and her voice while soothing could not be argued with. Arty heaved a sign equivalent to his weight as he viewed his options, Eldrid idea now appeared the more appealing choice. Even as the thought crossed his huge mind Eldrid descended in to fantasy and Arty nodded his agreement to the man although Eldrid was oblivious. In to Eldrid’s grubby paw Arty pressed the chip of the mask “Sweet dreams” he whispered before looking at what was left of the crew “I think this is the point where someone say every man for himself” he tried to smile to break the tension “Personally I’m off to the village to read through those books that we found, heaven knows island life might agree we me, I certainly think it will agree with my waistline.” He chortled as he wandered off “This time next year I’ll be a lithe whippersnapper” he added although he wasn't deluded enough to think this would be true.

[Gryffydd65]

Steffan ran to the other side of the islands and decided to swim off.

[currymaniac]

The water was slightly warm as Steffan entered it, and no one noticed him slip away.

Down in the village Arturo managed to lock himself away before the men reached it. They would no doubt find him eventually, but for a time he would have peace, and after a short disturbance that peace would be ever lasting.

The mask had not lost it's power of illusion, at least, not the power that managed to illude those wearing it. Eldrid felt as though he were in charge, and in his mind he was able to fight off the cowardly men who came aboard his island with his tricks of monsters, savages, natural disasters and all manner of things he could imagine. To him in fact, the only effect that Anabelle's mucus seemed to have was that there was a constant vision of her, much younger than she appeared now, seemingly cooing at him from the sidelines. Well, you have to take the good with the bad....

Anabelle watched as the man she loved - or at least one of them, her eyes were still on Scurvy as well - pranced around thinking he was some kind of god. She was diminished, and the end was coming, but there was time yet, and if Quarin was to make her escape she would have to soon.

[currymaniac]

Two women were killed on that Island that day, one who had tried hard to pretend that she wasn't one, the other had evolved during her time on the island into a form that belied her nobility.

Eldrid ruled his island for many years, at least the mask made him think he did, in truth he wore the mangled wood for little more than an hour before an arrow flew through his heart, something that he never felt.

Arturo held his position for both alot shorter time, and alot longer. The defences that they had built around the shop to fend off the natives of the island this time held off the invaders. He had enough time to write the events, which whilst they took up quite a bit of the paper from the long dead corpse's diary only encompassed a short amount of time. When he was evenually bludgeoned to death these notes were confiscated, and were kept secret, only surfacing many years later.

Quarion had not the time to run, and she cursed Anabelle, who had fulfilled her own prophecy by stopping their mistake. She shot down two of the soldiers before she was overwhelmed.

The identity of Steffan was never revealed, he kept talk of the island secret after knowing what had happened to those he had left behind. He built a new life for himself, though the niggling thought of what he could have done to help the others often lingered in his mind.

Ironically, Scurvy died in the arms of the woman he had found so revolting, though perhaps 'in the arms' was pushing it abit. He collapsed untop of her mildly chilly corpse as more and more of the men flooded onto the island, noticing as he fell the small smile that rested on the crone's lips, after all, she did have the power of foresight.

The island itself was seen as an abomination, devoid of gold and unable to be controlled due to Anabelle's destruction of the drums the monarch who had so feared that the true heir would take his place ordered it to be killed and set adrift into the sea. It is said that it still drifts around the multitudinous seas to this day, though it is a barren place capable of sustaining no life.