FINAL TRIAL

[bathymetric]

Eventually, the investigation ends. You have time to move your supplies (and Jimmy Buffetts) off the ship, but it's a hike up to the lighthouse. You're only going to be able to bring what you need.

All that's left is to hope that you have that, after all of this.

The jungle that stretches out into the distance is eerily quiet as you make your way up to the lighthouse - enough time to wonder, certainly, what awaits you in there. Will The Captain finally show you his true face? Can he? There's only one way to find out... time to make your way inside.

Unless you're Magica, the lobby (so to speak) of the lighthouse might be a little overwhelming: piles and piles of pirate treasure to the sides of the room, with a raised, dark glass cylinder in the center. Around that cylinder are a series of makeshift podiums, ready for you all to stand together one last time.

Standing in front of that cylinder is The Captain. Not to get too into details, but though natural processes are slowed, Jack's body isn't exactly in perfect shape, and still moves in that unnerving puppet-y way he has each time you've seen him.

"Welcome... to your-!"

Is what he manages before there's a pair of very loud noises behind you - the first a massive blast of water that draws your attention just before a massive explosion on the side of the SS Swift detonates moments later, sending a blast of energy outwards - which pauses, for a moment, before almost reversing into an implosion that sees all traces of the ship sucked into the aether. A pirate ship you've never seen before sails behind it, visible for just a moment before the doors slam closed.

"... I'll be with you in a moment. Don't go anywhere."

And The Captain leaves the room fast. So fast, in fact, that he... leaves Jack's body behind, though it's too quick to get any kind of good look at him. Ignoring... that, looks like you guys have some time to talk things over! Better make it count.

Comments

1/2

[bathymetric]

How did- Jones. I should've known that barnacle brain was setting something up! It's just so hard finding good help these days...

[There's a hard chunk as the floor shifts beneath everyone's feet, rattling the mountains of treasure around you and scattering it about. Ancient mechanisms are at work, slowly but surely, raising the room upwards.

It's a slow process, but your platform eventually reaches its destination: the top of the lighthouse. You stand now in a glass dome, overlooking the island, and the docks, where the SS Swift appears to be sinking?

The dark cylinder in the middle of the room glows faintly. The air tenses with anticipation.]

Grr, fine! The laws of parley have come into effect! Just as well, I be seeing so more sense in carrying on with this charade. So, I suppose without further ado...

2/2

[gangrenousgut]

[A collection of green mist and smoke falls from the ceiling, collecting in one corner of the room with surprising speed, coming together, forming something... physical.

It all comes together in the shape of a man. Or, rather, something that was once a man. Now decomposing, but positively overflowing with a powerful energy.]

The great pirate LeChuck answers yer terms.

[He grins at the small group of survivors with a rictus grin.]

Let us talk.

[Parley, START]

[jibunwo]

A pleasure to finally meet you, Captain. At last, we can engage on proper footing.

[i'm sorry, he's completely reverted to Full Zero Dramatics(tm)]

...I suppose this explains the kerosene drink, doesn't it? Do you drink that manner of cocktail normally, Jack's organs be damned?

[gangrenousgut]

[Listen. When have we not been about the dramatics?]

...Is that what yer concerned about? Ye never had a cup of grog before, have you?

[jibunwo]

Concerned? No, except for perhaps your sense of taste. I'd call it 'morbidly curious'. And the cold remedy, I'm guessing, was something in a similar vein. Though the soul of a livestock animal seems a little hard to procure just for a drink.

1/2

[gangrenousgut]

You'd be surprised how well a cup of grog can taste! Really sits well, all things considered... You just need to find a mug that can withstand the concoction without melting, is all.

And the cold remedy was quite simple actually. Ye see, it was asking for the "soul" of a livestock.

2/2

[gangrenousgut]

Turns out the "sole" of one works just as well! Gahaha!

[sivard]

The ingredients are a bit much for a cocktail, aren't they?

[gangrenousgut]

Well what do ye expect from pirates?

[ahelpingpaw]

Good to meet you in...person? In the undead flesh? I dunno...

[Well looks like even in the face of ungodly dead pirates he's trying to be courteous]

So, uh...that wasn't really a cold medicine recipe, was it? What was that awful thing Jack supposedly drank?

[gangrenousgut]

I prefer to word it as simply "in the undeath." Rolls of the tongue, don't ye think?

Honestly, have none of you tasted grog before? Or even taken a cold remedy?

[ahelpingpaw]

I mean, I'd give it a try? But I'm pretty sure it'd be...toxic. For me. Must be a grumpus thing.

[Yeah no, he's sure that grog would kill anyone except Data]

[gangrenousgut]

Aye, that is what you are, isn't it?

You're a right curious fellow, Filbo.

[cethflayn]

[This guys vibes are absolutely rancid.]

The treasure in this lighthouse - will it facilitate your ascention to godhood, perhaps?

[gangrenousgut]

Aye. Within this island lays the The Eye of the Triangle. A treasure so ancient and powerful that it generates fierce storms to prevent even the hardiest of pirates from finding it.

oh NOW she has a brain cell

[cethflayn]

[Ah, so, fuck you then,]

So the "ritual" we went through - all of the deaths and murder and trials have been to facilitate your reaching this island, then. [A pause.] You never intended Handsome Jack to be the one to gain its power.

[gangrenousgut]

Oh, I never intended for Jack to get ANYTHING! I learned my lesson long ago that you don't work with suffering CEOs!

And all those deaths were... part of it, yes. I didn't tell Jack the full story, of course.

After all, why would I tell that chowderhead that he's taking part in a Voodoo resurrection ritual? Haha!

[magycks]

Well, I suppose it's good to know that the color of your magical signature is exactly in tune with your... everything else.

[cethflayn]

Honestly, you look much better in green than he does.

[magycks]

Didn't ask, since it's manifestly obvious, but thank you.

[gangrenousgut]

You know, I need to be frank.

Why is it exactly what you turn green out of nowhere? You don't know a speck of voodoo to my knowledge.

[magycks]

Oh, for — first of all, my magical aura is purple, which you'd know if you bothered to look into any of the 26 souls you had that hideous loser gather for this ritual! Secondly, the color of my feathers isn't some cheap hat trick! It's a manifestation of the numerous forbidden magics I've familiarized myself with, because I'm not some one-discipline scrub, and once I got my hands on the amulet containing that magic, of course the pigment reasserted itself regardless of the damper on my powers. And I arrived without it because—

... okay, I don't actually know why I showed up here with white plumage? By all accounts, it doesn't make any sense.

[scythegun]

Pleased to meet you face to face, finally! So, LeChuck... Why don't you tell us how this is supposed to end?

[gangrenousgut]

It's quite simple, really.

What we are standing over now is a great, big Vault. A vault that only opens to one sort of key.

And you lot are to be the ones that will help me open it.

[scythegun]

So the vault contains this treasure you seek, ja? How exactly does it work - it's surely more complicated than just a sacrifice, isn't it? After all, it's taken so many carefully-planned steps just to reach here, hasn't it?