CANTR Webzine: "WHO STOLE MY NOTES?"

[Doug R.]

Hopefully a little more structured and cohesive than the 5 word story

[Snickie]

Just had an idea for an interactive, regular webzine piece. It would be like a choose your own adventure with a twist. The story would start with a spawning, and then, the week after the story publishes, the players would debate and vote on what they want the character to do in the next issue. People could even take turns writing it.

I like this!

-WANTS-

[Alladinsane]

I like the idea of a programmed adventure, but I think that you might have to publish the zine more often than once a month to keep interest piqued. The blog idea might work well. There is a site where some people have been writing programmed adventures like that though: http://www.choiceofgames.com/ This might be the wrong thread for that, but it aligns with the discussion. A few are professionally done and a few are...well, at least you get the idea of the flow chart etc. But too many cooks probably spoil the broth as writers, as players its likely fine.

I think that turning the zine into something that people want to follow is great advertising for the game itself. (and at a decent price!) Make them like the zine first (assuming that they have never played Cantr) and if its perceived as being that great, then you can probably get them into the game. Make it a fun mag that people will bookmark even if they don't play cantr. The problem is that it would not be a small undertaking and whoever takes on the project would need to plug alot of time into it. What about things like games, puzzles etc? Just good lures, perhaps a poll of the players as to what would make them want to pop into the magazine regularly. Even if its a very diluted example of the general net denizen, its a 100% sample of people who play the game and the type of people we want to draw in.

I am working on a bit of a submission (sorry Doug, I know it took me 10 months) myself. I just need to drag somebody into a locked room and tickle the truth out.

in fact...

[Snickie]

I've seen something similar to this idea on Neopets, where somebody started a plot or story, and then others sent submissions in to be added onto the story, and every submission was read and the best one would be chosen by a staff member (in NP's case, that staff member was appointed only for that game). Perhaps we could have this or something like it, and the frequency of incoming entries would determine how often updates were published, with maybe one new story or plot every month given the activity of people here. The accepted entry would then be edited for spelling and grammar errors and whatnot, and then added onto the part of the story that's already been written. The author would be credited, of course, with...the ability to brag that they wrote that part.

[Joshuamonkey]

I've seen something similar to this idea on Neopets

Neopets seems to be good at having this type of stuff.

However, Neopets has many many players, and Cantr II doesn't, and I wouldn't want to have to deny what people have written, nor can we really rely on a reasonable amount of submissions. So, it's probably better if we just have one person write a part, and then we can switch between different people.
People can always submit other stuff though.

[Alladinsane]

I think its not a bad idea Snickie...though what I did observe in NP is alot of times it is more popularity contest than judgment of quality of work. Somebody writes something that all of the sudden everybody in their guild votes for. Perhaps the entries could be submitted to the staff and then re-posted sans authorship, but even that could be easily manipulated within this small community. Like JM said, NP has many many players, but isn't that what we want to build here? But we are likely getting ahead of ourselves...a volunteer is needed, or team of them etc. Both ideas are valid depending on the original writers commitment...it just needs to be finished if it is started.

[Snickie]

Alladinsane, the entries were judged by one person....
You're thinking of the Caption Competition, but I was talking about Storytelling.

[Alladinsane]

You're right. My bad...thats exactly what I was thinking of. All I do on NP nowadays is stock market and an occasional game here and there.

[EchoMan]

The Stolen notes are still unavailable unfortunately. After a discussion in another thread I dug up this old piece. Hopefully we will be able to replace the old blog with something more modern and secure in a not too distant future.


The Pirate Hunt by Karin of Heartswater Hills

Prologue

I came to Vrayllnuets Hills South (VHS) some time in the late 1270's. I immediately noticed something was wrong and soon learned about Helga Veezbrook, the leader of the town, being kidnapped and pirates attacking the town. At first I didn't care much, most people were too busy preparing to defend against, attack or hunt the pirates, to introduce themselves. I was young and innocent, I had never been anywhere before. Many things in this crowded place amazed me; especially that everyone was in a hurry, always having lots of important things to tend to. For my own part I manufactured some basic tools and clothing minding my own business for a week or so, trying to stay out of the way of all the big and important people. Then, out of the blue the pirates came back!

They charged the town, slashing and firing crossbow bolts at people, broke into buildings and I could hear screams coming out of them. It was complete chaos for what felt like an eternity. I tried to hide from the pirates, but the most evil and ruthless of them, Ryan, spotted me and had his partner in crime, Artex, dragged me off along with some other people. At this time I noticed Dahlia helping them out. That shocked me, she'd seemed nice and had been friends with the survivors of the first attack.

I was thrown in a temporary jail, set up in the General Store. Besides myself there was Jessica, Jurand, Kanti and a couple of others, too scared to speak. Jessica was really nice and talked to me to calm me down. She said she had spoken to someone named Allana to run for help, but had failed to see if she got out of town safely.

A few days passed. Jessica told me a little more of what I didn't already know, among other things that Ryan, one of the pirates, apparently had acted as a friend of VHS, cunningly disguising his plan. Jessica wrote notes and pushed them out through under the door, and eventually Ryan came for her and dragged her out, saying something about reuniting her with Aaron. That was the last I ever saw of Jessica. I still wear the bracelet she gave me just before being dragged out, saying it was a token of that we were in this together. She had one herself, just the same as the one she gave me.

A few days later, people of the DoUrden Mercenary Guild came to release us. A few people were still alive, but many–oh so many—had been slain. I spoke some to Phaedrus Armanti and Surly Surmont during this time, and both will have large parts in the following story. The survivors started working to get prepared for another pirate attack and to rebuild the town. After a few days we got word that Helga had survived too and was on her way back on foot. I was very happy to hear this, although I'd never met her before I understood she was an important person in town. For my own part I made the biggest decision ever in my life, up to that point: To become a citizen of VHS, help rebuild and protect the town and the people in it, no matter what.


A Passage by Helga Veezbrook

"They dragged me aboard their boat while everyone slept. No one knew what was happening. Artex lied, and said that he would go chase Ryan, but of course he was in on it. I can't recall the date now, my life has been a blur ever since they took me.

They have this storage room on their boat. The idiots took me before they built a lock for it. So I just walked out, and started redocking. I was in complete shock, but I still had my wits about me to not cry out, or say anything. So then I hit them both, and found out I'd never be able to hurt them. They are both...well, I`ve never seen such skill before. They hurt me bad, but I started out with a bit of healing food, and then I was able to redock to the town, and my dear friends gave me tons more. That saved my life, more than the crowbar, or I would have been dead before I popped the lock. They dragged me back in when the lock was done, after they undocked again. I popped that sucker on the first go! This is where I would grin proudly. Oh, the other thing that saved me...Ryan fell asleep. Never woke up until I had escaped.

So after I broke the lock, I started us east. I had to assume they had just fled straight out, since I couldn't see land. Well, then Artex and I had a back and forth struggle for a bit. But I was more wakeful than him, so I was winning the battle and getting closer to town. He knew I was skillful with a crowbar, and that I had lots of healing food. He got worried, and accepted my offer of just dumping me across the lake.

I couldn't believe my luck, but he was true to his word. I, however, wasn't. It almost got me killed, but I felt like being stubborn. I had agreed to a weight test when we arrived, but my stipulation was that it be on land, after we broke the lock and got off the boat. You see, Ryan had the only key, and he was fast asleep.

So, we get on land, there`s nothing to do a weight test with, so we have to collect sand. No one was paying much attention to us. Then we both had to be awake at the same time, because I had to drop everything. I wasn`t about to leave it on the ground for him to take...yet. He wanted my sabre and crowbar, which I had agreed to give him. Well, he went on his boat one night, so I figured he wouldn't see me slip away.

Well, whether he did or not, when Artex saw I wasn't there, he picked the right road, and was soon enough to give me a damn good gash. I turned around, and acted very complacent and upset. I cried, and told him I only ran because I didn't want to give up my sabre. He relented, if I agreed to come back, to let me keep it. He felt so guilty. I made him feel that way. I sometimes cried for Ben, and others, talked quietly to him, made him feel sorry for me. All of these things I felt. I would be lying if I said it was all acting. So anyways...we went back, but someone had taken the sand we had gathered for the test. Oh, I forgot...we had been ready for the weight test before I ran off, but I was stalling. Never awake when he was. We had to collect more sand. Then all of a sudden, he felt a long sleep coming on, and ran. He didn't want to risk being caught sleeping in that town, afraid people were after him and Ryan. So he sailed away, and told me not to leave. Oh yes, I laughed then. I left, and the rest is quite another story. It was an eventful walk home, parts of it. I`ve never told this part of my story, but it involves freeing a poor woman in the Xiria area who had been locked up for years.

And that's it. I remember every detail. Every emotion. I was so worried about my friends at home, and my driving goal was to save my own life...only so all of them would know I didn't die, and that I could make sure they were alright as well. That was the most important thing that drove me on. To see all my friends again.

Needless to say, I was heartbroken when I returned home to find half of our town kidnapped or killed by those damn murderers. Surly, Phaedrus and Karin eventually went after them, and were able to defeat them, though they did not find a single survivor from our town, except for Cassius and Dahlia, the traitors.

Bejamin Taft, Lulu Prester, Gatz, Alyxandria Beckett, Aaron and Jessica Manning, Ashley Storms, Crematoria, Thor and many others. May their souls be at peace. They are all sadly missed by those of us who survived.

Cassius became a traitor with Ryan and Artex, as did Dahlia and possibly a few others. It is hard for me not to hate and despise them for what they did, but I realize the complete blame lies with Ryan and Artex, and some people make choices when faced with a life and death situation that others don't. If no one had made that wrong choice, many of our friends may still be alive today."

-Helga Veezbrook


Chapter 1 - Vrayllnuets Hills South

Helga came back in 1297 and there was some rejoice, but even more sorrow when she heard about the second attack and all the people killed by those scavenging creatures the people of VHS thought were friends. I pledged to her my eternal vows to help rebuild and protect the city. I'm not even sure she noticed at that time, I could see her sorrow being so overwhelming she almost couldn't bear it. But after a few days she got that grim and determined look in her eyes that we all had since the attack, and started organizing our efforts a bit better. We concentrated on making healing foods and the resources needed for a few weapons.

After showing Helga my fighting skills, she said I could be a member of the group going after the pirates if I wanted to. I didn't hesitate for a second, just bowed and said, "Of course I'll go on the hunt if that's how I can serve the best.”

We continued work and preparations for almost two years. There were many people helping out in gathering corn and tomatoes, preparing food, manufacturing weapons and armor and gathering resources. Too many to mention them all here, but everyone should know how grateful we are for their help. On the fine day of 1343 Helga gave me a brand new broad sword and a pickaxe and we were all set to go. 'We' were Surly, Phaedrus and I, and we were supposed to go in Surly's Saint Victory, a fine longboat, but we also brought Little Lulu, a dinghy, just in case.

For the first time I felt a little scared. Not only was this my first travel anywhere at all, it was also eventually going to be in a boat out on a big lake and chasing after some murdering, ruthless pirates. I think I managed to hide my fear, but my legs were somewhat shaky as I entered the longboat. I had some second thoughts at this time, as I felt the earth moving and rolling beneath my feet. My carrot breakfast was quickly left behind in the waters of the dock area. Phaedrus assured me that the nausea would pass so I tried to relax and decided to better sit down in the boat from now on. We undocked VHS and set a course in a westerly direction. I looked back at the town for a long time - how different it looked from out in the sea - and felt a sting in my heart. I was leaving everything I ever knew and owned, except for a sword, a shield, and my two new friends, behind. Many thoughts went to Helga; being the senior citizen, she had lost so many friends during the last years. To me she had become like the mother I had never known, and I missed her already.

Re-focusing on the task at hand, I tried to look at what Phaedrus and Surly were doing to get the boat to steer in the right direction, but unfortunately—as will be seen later on in this story—I didn't really understand much of it. The time passed rather slowly for a few days. We did some equipment maintenance, mostly in silence. What we had before us was clearly affecting our moods.

One morning Surly spotted something behind us on the lake.

"Who is that behind us?" he asked.

Phaedrus replied, "I've been wondering that myself. One way to find out. I can take the dinghy out. But I'll need you to stop the boat so that I can redock when I need to."

Said and done, Phaedrus left in the Little Lulu and tried to get close to them to hail them. He was gone awfully long, or at least so it felt. When he came back he told us that the ships name was Seadrake. None of us had heard of it or seen it before. It seemed to be heading in the same direction as us, so maybe we would get a chance to talk to them in port and ask them if they had seen the pirates.


Chapter 2 - Stachni Hills South

By 1351 we arrived at Stachni Hills South (SHS) and decided to dock to ask around about the pirates. If they had left the lake and taken to the sea, this was most likely the spot they would have transferred. I immediately went ashore, still being somewhat dizzy. Even on land everything seemed to wobble and I was sick for a while.

The people of SHS were mostly youngsters. A couple of them were talking about a pirate attack, but nobody seemed to have any details. I was talking in length to a woman, who's name has slipped my mind, about what she'd seen and heard, but apparently she had been detained for the time being. The rest of the population—few and miserable to the point I almost gave my food to them, against better knowledge—seemed to be too young to have experienced anything. Did those bastards slaughter everyone here as well as in VHS? Finally, someone mentioned a man called Jeff and a woman named Deserea who had been dragging pirates, and a van, and someone mentioned a hunt, but I really didn't get it all, just scraps of information here and there.

All of a sudden Surly came running, yelling, "I see them, I see them!" while pointing towards the western sea.

Dead right, he was! There was the longboat Jareth & Mephiston`s Dreadnought, with two dinghies on tow. Phaedrus immediately scrambled on deck, dragging me along, since my legs still weren't obeying my orders. We started to undock and get to the chase.

My heart was racing and for the first time the seriousness of this hunt came down at me. The pirates were actually in sight. Although scared, my hatred took the better part of me, and I sat down onboard, preparing my weapon and shield, making sure everything was in excellent shape.


Chapter 3 - The Pursuit

Surly undocked The Victory towards the Western Sea, set a course slightly north in pursuit of the pirates. The sea was much rougher on this side of the thin land ridge that makes the Stachni area, and so I spent most of the following day crouched deep inside the vessel as it sped after the Dreadnought. Apparently we were gaining on them and on the evening of the second day we had caught up with them. We didn't think they had noticed us since they were moving at such a slow pace, so we crept into the Little Lulu, very carefully closing up to the longboat. We spotted Ryan sitting in the boat completely unaware of us. Phaedrus took a shot with his crossbow and wounded the pirate deeply and Surly did the same. The rage when seeing him made my blood boil and apparently my brains too, as I launched at him with my broadsword instead of grabbing one of the heavy bows. I missed him completely of course, and we withdrew to make plans for how to continue getting our justice.

When we got back to Surly's Saint Victory I was kind of devastated since I had launched out and missed, we were quite sure we would have killed him, had I hit. Both Surly and Phaedrus comforted me and said he wouldn't be able to escape anyhow; it was just a matter of time until we finally got him.

We rested for a day, and carefully kept watch over the Dreadnought. No motion whatsoever was seen from it, making me wonder if we somehow had killed Ryan after all. At nightfall Phaedrus and I set out again to repeat our attack. Before we came all the way, the Dreadnought suddenly took off. We changed tactics, trying to pursue it. There was the cat and mouse chase for the better part of the evening, but late at night we finally managed to maneuver close enough to the longboat. Phaedrus started working on the lock and after a while he was sneaking aboard. He came back and said nobody was in sight and asked me to run over deck of the Dreadnaught and jump into The Helga Veezbrook dinghy, and take it back to Surly’s Saint Victory. There was no time for argument, but now I really wished I had taken more note of what the guys had been doing when steering the ships.

I scurried over the deck and into the dinghy, docked right besides Vrayllnuets Hills South Dinghy (another proof of their crimes), and undocked it. It was full with weapons, shields, tools, healing food and other resources. This was going to be a heavy blow to the pirates if I managed to get it back to Surly's Saint Victory. But it had become really dark and apparently I was on the wrong side of the ship now, without any knowledge on how to navigate the little boat I was in.


Chapter 4 - Alone at Sea

I spent all night huddled up tightly in Helga's dinghy, bobbing up and down in the rough sea. I was cold, miserable, scared, feeling completely deserted and alone. Occasionally during the night I could hear faint sounds from ships in the darkness around me, although it was very difficult having a sense of direction I tried my best to keep close, but not too close, to the sounds. When moonlight broke through the clouds, I went through all the items in the boat a little more thoroughly than before. There were a couple of recurve bows and I slung one of them across my back together with a spare shield (or two). I also took the healing food and some bread, since I left all food onboard the Victory. From the tools I selected a screwdriver and a crowbar; those could come in handy if I were to dock any more ships. Better-armed and equipped, my spirits rose slightly, and I continued sitting at my post trying to see through the surrounding darkness.

As daylight broke I saw that the Little Lulu had undocked the Dreadnought and was heading for Surly's. But more than that, the other dinghy from the pirates ship had also undocked, and was heading right towards me. I panicked and tried everything I could come up with to get the ship to move, and finally I got the hang of it. Though I started out in the wrong direction, I managed to get it steering steadily due north, towards my friends, but with the Vrayllnuets Hills (south) Dinghy the pirates had stolen in pursuit of me.

Several times I tried to get close enough to Surly's to dock him, but every time he steered off, apparently taking me for a pirate, and I had to start all over again, taking aim towards the longboat. I was getting really tired after a night without sleep, constantly on the alert. And now I was chasing my friends boat with the pirates chasing me. I was thinking that if only Phaedrus managed to dock to the Victory, he could let Surly know it was me in Helga's dinghy and they could let me dock. But at the same time I wasn't sure if maybe it was me who was doing something wrong with the navigation to fail the docking over and over again. I tried to hail them but the strong winds at sea made my voice completely disappear.

The situation soon became chaotic, there were ships everywhere and I lost track of which ship was which. After trying to manouver around for a while it seemed as if the VHS Dinghy was heading southeast. That led me to believe it was Ryan fleeing away from us, since he was the only pirate we'd seen so far and he ought to be scared now, when we had hit him and stole one of his dinghies full of supplies. Surly's Saint Victory was still moving around and I couldn't dock it. Now I decided to head back for the (hopefully abandoned) Dreadnought and at the same time I was hoping that Surly would let Phaedrus dock to him with the Little Lulu. This might have been a long shot, but at this time I was convinced that Surly took me for a pirate. Said and done, I steered off towards the northernmost ship, which apparently was the Dreadnought.

After chasing the Dreadnought for hours I gave up. Their ship was much faster than my small dinghy and they were heading towards shore. I set course for the Victory and went to get some sleep. The next morning I docked safely with Surly and Phaedrus. Apparently I had been right, Surly thought I was a pirate and avoided me like the plague. I now learned that at least two more pirates had been on the longboat, as well as some other people in their cabin. They had been trying to drag Phaedrus in there but he managed to escape into the Little Lulu, then the pirates had set after us and docked their longboat to town.

[EchoMan]

Chapter 5 - Back in Stachni Hills South<p>

We docked to the jetty of SHS only to find the Dreadnought docked there as well. Surly and Phaedrus seemed sleepy so I decided to do a little investigation of my own. I left the Victory and climbed up on the deck of the Dreadnought and looked around. There were a couple of corpses on the deck, probably victims of the pirate scum. I started working on the lock of the cabin. After an hour or two, Phaedrus awoke and desperately tried to convince me to leave their ship, but I wanted so badly to break the lock and get in there to get even that I didn't listen at first. Eventually I came to my senses and headed back. All of a sudden a young woman appeared and I readied my bow, pointing it at her. She introduced herself as Deserea Seadrake (the owner of the Seadrake, the ship we had seen earlier) and said that she and a Jeff were going to try and break the lock of the cabin. They had a pirate in custody and the dinghy was inhabited by a Wilfred, a pirate they had damaged some. They also had the keys to the jetty and we only had to knock if we needed some assistance.

We decided to wait until Surly woke up so we could lock the Victory, and then hopefully finally get to work on the Dreadnought. Suddenly people came running to the jetty saying that Wilfred had docked his dinghy to town. We immediately ran over, only to find the very much hated Ryan in there. We came to the conclusion he had used different names in different ports. We all attacked him and we all missed. Our frustration was growing huge. We went back inside, and now we all continued to work the lock of the cabin door on the Dreadnought. Jeff came in and introduced himself as Jeff Hardy and said, "It’s good to see you guys again. Wilfred redocked and is ready to be hit again."

Just as he was finishing that sentence Ryan came running in, put a crossbow bolt in Phaedrus’ shoulder, and ran into the cabin. After a short while he came out again and he and Jeff started speaking. Jeff said that we had all the healing food in the world, while Ryan said he had two ovens going full speed inside. Ryan left inside again after a while, but then came back with Dhalia in tow, the woman who had been family and friends with everyone in VHS and then betrayed us. Jeff immediately yelled, "Surrender your weapons now and your life will be spared. I am Jeff Hardy, a soldier of the empire of Ladvicitavoi.”

Now that was impressive to hear. I got scared and then I was on the same side as him.

Now everything happened really fast. Ryan and Dhalia pulled Surly off of their ship to the jetty and then Jeff undocked the ship out to sea again to prevent them from pulling more of us off the ship. Ryan said, "Jeff, surrender your weapons and you will be spared. Or help us and we'll let you join us. We plain outnumber you."

Jeff countered with laughter, "Take a look now. In case you didn't know, every one of the people in town had very powerful weapons. And we are docking straight to the town now. I have more than enough healing food to let you all tire yourselves out so I can slice your neck. You’re not going to live through this. Give it up."

The two of them continued their war of words for some time, while Dhalia helped Ryan pull Phaedrus inside and then Jeff. I was all alone again, except for a stinking pirate and his deceptive wench.


Chapter 6 - Captured again<p>

Ryan turned to me and said, "If you want to join, miss, let me know. Otherwise we'll have to kill you. Help me drag her, Dahlia. If we're too weak, hit her. We'll drag her back out here so she'll be off the lock picking project for a while."

Both Dahlia and Ryan hit me then dragged me inside where even more pirates were working on repairs, where he said, "Until she joins us, the woman I dragged in here is our number one priority to kill."

He and Dahlia then left outside again. He was scared of me, the coward! I looked around and there was Cassius Clay, a man in his twenties, and a woman in her twenties. I later learned their names were Jo and Kansea, respectively. There was a door outside to the deck, and another to an inner room. I picked up a screwdriver , which was pretty much the only valuable thing among all the junk in that filthy cabin, reeking of sweat and maggot-infested pirates. Then I saw it. A bracelet exactly the same as mine. I froze, unable to move for several minutes.

If that bracelet was lying there tossed among garbage, then Jessica... no, she couldn't be dead. I felt rage boiling up inside me, and I drew my broad sword and lunged at the door, which flew up. I had tunnel vision, and in the end of that tunnel stood Dahlia, the woman that betrayed us. I whacked her well with the sword, but unfortunately her shield took most of the blow. I thought I should say something appropriate, and came up with "Bitch!" That was good enough for then.

I went back inside. I figured Jeff and Phaedrus was working the door from the inner room, so I started working the lock with my crowbar, when Ryan came in and said, "So are you going to give up, or are we going to kill you?"

I wasn't in my most polite mood when I answered, "You worthless peace of murdering shit. Your end is close. You others in here should make mutiny now and attack this piece of shit and maybe your lives will be spared."

If that wasn't a big mouth on a small girl, I don't know what is. Jo started picking up stuff from the floor. I figured if he didn't take my advice, he was going to pay, and I hit him with my sword. I was really getting tired of this bunch of filthy pirates so I hit Cassius and Kansea too. She was terribly hurt after that.

"You really should be considering turning against Ryan/Wilfred/Whatever. The number of people hunting you guys at this stage is getting somewhat large.” I grinned. “And most of them aren't too happy with pirates and murdering pieces of shit at the moment.” I was trying not to show how scared I really was.

Ok, that was a lie, but I was getting good at lying to those maggots. Then both Cassius and Jo hit me. Hard. I immediately ate half of my popcorn to heal my wounds. Then I yawned in their faces to mock them.

A bit later all the pirates left to the deck, which meant that I couldn't get out there because of the crowdedness. By this time I thought I wouldn't last another day. If Jeff and Phaedrus had trouble getting out of there, I would surely be dead before long. It wasn't hard to accept my imminent death, a fact that somewhat surprised me. I started thinking about what I could do to hurt those guys in other ways than physically assaulting them. I did my best to destroy their possibilities to create healing food and new tools. I was feeling really good about myself as a saboteur. I also found some more notes, among them something Aaron must have written of how he and Jessica had tried to escape the pirates, being aware that they would probably be killed if discovered.

All was silent for a day or so, when suddenly Phaedrus came out from the inner room.

"Damn. How are you doing, Karin?" he asked me.

I quickly told him what had happened to me since we were parted. Phaedrus continued, "Here's a plan...but our timing would have to be very good. When Ryan or one of the others comes in, one of us can slip out. That way we will have at least one trapped in here with us to kill at our leisure. If two of us can slip out, even better. Then we can try to drag another inside here and the third can get out. It would require vigilance on our part. Getting outside we can dock the boat and steal healing food, because I don't think they have a dinghy to keep things in, and we can work on killing the bastards. Hold nothing back, Karin. If we can get three locked inside here, we will be at the advantage out there. In the mean time, we should destroy this lock and build a cot."

I thought that the plan sounded really good. I continued showing him the bracelet I had found and he said, "Jessica is most certainly dead, Karin. As is my partner and her husband, Aaron."

"I found this note," I said, handing the note describing the attempted escape over. "I think Aaron wrote it."

Phaedrus read it, then sighed with pain and said: "Yes...it is written by Aaron."

"I'm so sorry for your loss...or losses. I never met Aaron, but Jessica was one of the first people I got to know in my life. She was so nice and protective of me when we were locked up. I really miss her,” I said, trying to comfort him.

"When all that happened I had been dragged into a building at VHS. By the time I got out I found Lulu...dead. She was my love." Phaedrus said.

We tried to comfort each other and keep our spirits up for a while, then Dahlia came in and said, "Listen...if you don't cooperate, he'll kill you. Please...I was dragged on board as his prisoner. If I don’t cooperate with him, he and the others will kill me. I'm not here by choice. Phaedrus, I don’t want to see you killed. Or you, miss."

Phaedrus immediately shot her with his crossbow, apparently hurting her some, but not fatally. "You are a traitorous bitch," he said, and left outside. Part one of his plan had succeeded.

Now something happened that baffled me. Dahlia gave me a kilogram of popcorn, saying, "It's not much but it might help. I'm sorry...I don't know what to do here."

Then she asked for my name, and I exploded in her face, "My name is Karin. You didn't even bother to have a look at the people you helped those murdering bastards drag around and kill?"

Jeff came out from the inner room and I told him of recent events. Dahlia kept saying she never had a choice, and I kept telling her there is always a choice. Jeff said, "You have a choice. And a chance. If you stand with your head held high we can overpower them. I have 20 heavily armed and very active people in the town I just docked this ship to before they dragged me in."

After this Jo came in and Jeff slipped outside. I said, "Ok, you two. If we're ever to trust you, you had better join us against Cassius and Ryan, or whatever their names are, right away. There are so many people dead because of these guys I know many would like to see everyone who ever joined up with them dead."

Now Phaedrus and Jeff came in, dragging Ryan after them. I joined them on the outside shortly after. Jeff said, "Well. We are back together now. But we can't let them build any more locks while we wait to dock. Karin, sit on the cot and rest."

I followed his advice. I was really tired after the last day’s events. Jeff attacked and killed Kansea at this stage. I felt nothing, and that scared me some. I was thinking that seeing too much death must be what created monsters like Ryan. I decided to try and find myself a peaceful life somewhere when all of this came to an end.


Chapter 7 - The Mutiny<p>

Jeff started burying the corpses on deck, which unfortunately led to more people being able to enter. After a while all of us except Ryan were standing on deck. We were trying to get them to make mutiny on their pirate captain. We said their lives would be spared if they surrendered to us and helped us kill Ryan.

Dahlia mourned Kansea’s death and told us she had recently been dragged onboard as part of the workforce and was pretty much innocent.

Dahlia said, "Very well...Cassius, Jo. I am helping them. You have that choice. Drop your weapons. Help them stop Mephiston. We were all dragged unwillingly. Give up and help."
Mephiston was apparently another of Ryan’s aliases. Cassius spoke for the first time. "If we help you, you're going to kill us anyway.”

Jeff said, "Sir, surrendering now will save your life. I promise that all of you will survive this if you do. But you will all serve a sentence of community service for what you have done. But you will continue to live and can then try to build a new life."

Dahlia responded, "I think I would rather die, sir. But that is a decision I will make later. Right now, I will do whatever I can to stop Mephiston."

I told the pirates to enter one at a time and strike Ryan. Jeff went inside to make sure they attacked him. We all took a turn attacking Ryan, but we still didn't manage to kill him. When I was in the storage, Jeff said, "He has nowhere to turn now, Karin. This man is going to fall now. Your and Phaedrus' long hunt is finally over."

I said, "Yes. It feels...strange. I should be happy but I am not. I guess most of me died when he murdered my friends. I'll be outside and sleep in the fresh air for a while. This cabin reeks of cowardly murder."

Outside I asked Dahlia again what had happened to Jessica.

"Karin...yes...Jessica is dead. She was my friend....I pretended to sleep so that I wouldn't have to hit her. Aaron and her attacked Mephiston. She was the only one who believed me to the very end that I was trying to find a way out for them. I didn't hit her until Joseph started torturing her." Her eyes filled with tears. "He cut out her tongue...he was so cruel with her. She begged me to let her die, for me to end her life. He was going to torture her further and she asked me....I ended her life against orders," she said, and showed me her journal of the days Joseph had been torturing Jessica. It made me sick. I was really sad that this Joseph apparently had died earlier, because I would have liked to see him brought to justice.

Ryan came out, and the pirates, or former pirates, started blaming each other for different crewmates’ deaths and arguing about who was the most murderous person and this and that. It became tedious after a while and we dragged Ryan back inside.

Dahlia said, "Ryan tried to play on my emotions...tried to tell me that when the boat was taken, he could have left, and he came back for me. Said he was jealous of Joseph...that he cared about me. Cassius, what have we done? We should have been dead a long time ago." She started crying.

Cassius replied, "Ryan will say anything to play with your emotions, to get you to side with him. That is the kind of man he is. You know that as well as I do, Dahlia. Besides, if he was jealous of Joseph, he would have killed him or asked the rest of us to. You need to look inside yourself, and inside your heart and do what YOU want to do. Look inside yourself and see if you really believe what he says. He killed people for no reason, and he has no heart and no way of loving anyone but himself. He is a selfish man, and I believe he would kill us when he was finished with us. He liked Ben, then one day he wanted to kill him because he had nothing better to do."

"I know he would say anything. I know the man all too well. I know he's lying to me. I know the truth. I'm scared, Cassius...for the first time in my life...I'm scared. I'm in this mess because I followed my heart and tried to help. Jessica was the only one who ever believed in me and she knew what I was doing. She believed in me until the day she died," Dahlia continued.

I wasn't sure at all what to think of Dahlia. She seemed very regretful, but at the same time she was trying to blame the others. She kept saying she did it all unwillingly, only trying to survive. Yet there was something in her journal and her way of talking that made me believe she'd actually enjoyed her position with the pirates. She had grinned after killing Jessica...and was claiming Jessica had begged her to end her life.

The following day we all took turns in attacking Ryan, who seemed to have given up. I said to Phaedrus, "I...I don't feel good about this. He doesn't even defend himself. This is harder for me than I thought it would be."

He replied, "I'm glad this doesn't come easy for you, Karin. It doesn't come easy for me either. That is what makes us different from someone like Ryan Weeks. But it is a job that has to be done. We owe it to all of those who have died at his hands, directly or indirectly. Alyxandrea...she and I used to go on resource runs together. Ben...whose love is waiting back at VHS. Helga still doesn't know....Jessica, Aaron, Rory, Crematoria, Gatz...and my Lulu...." He caught his breath in a long pause. "I blame myself for her death...as I left her with all of the keys when we went to find Helga....”

"I guess you're right Phaedrus," I said. "He has to die for what he has done and has had others do. He's a charismatic man and he can be very convincing in his madness. Two days ago when he told me I should join him or die I almost considered his proposition for a while...then I found Jessica’s bracelet tossed in a pile of junk in there, and the hatred made me come to my senses again. Something Dhalia felt, since my rage was focused at her at the time I found it." I lowered my head as I touched the matching bracelet around my wrist.

"Helga is alive?" Cassius said, very surprised. Apparently it took a while for him to analyze what Phaedrus had recently said. We told him briefly what had happened to Helga.

"That is the best thing I've heard in ages," he said. "I was lead to believe she was killed also. I should have known better. I should have done more for Alyx."

Jo spoke, "Have you heard anything of my home town of Xiria? All those I knew there were murdered...Lilliana, Woostric, Raedon...and so many more." He swallowed hard and tried to hold back his tears. "If only you could tell me that some survived. How I do wish to be back home."

Dahlia answered, "Jo, I'm sorry...you were dragged into this...I hope you'll be able to go home soon. I promise I'll do whatever I can to see that you do. You don't deserve to be punished; you've done nothing wrong, my friend. You've been my friend through all of this...even in the position I was in. I hope you still consider me yours. I want nothing more than to see you make it home."


Chapter 8 - The final blow<p>

It was quiet for some time. Cassius and Dahlia were comforting each other while talking quietly, and Phaedrus, Jeff, and I kept watch while mending some equipment.

Dahlia raised her voice while talking to Cassius, so the rest of us clearly heard,"No...I don't intend to live long enough. I know what I have to do."

Jeff bursted out, "Dahlia. Don't you try it. Drop your weapons now. You’re not going to go hurting yourself."

Cassius said, "Killing yourself won’t make things better, it's not the answer. We must pay first, to help those we can. We need to repay our debt, and death is not the answer, not now anyway."

Dahlia said, "Why not? It's what I deserve. I won’t drop them. What will you do, attack me if I don't? Same results." She seemed truly hopeless while continuing, "There is NO way to repay this, Cassius. Nothing we could do would repay this."

"That is not up to us to decide," Cassius told her. "That is for the loves of those who were hurt to decide. Let them choose your fate, don't choose it yourself, please. If our death is what they want, then let them say it, and let them kill us."

"I don't deserve a new life, Cassius," Dahlia continued. "I'm merely making their decision easy. If they decide a new life is what I should have, I don't deserve it. They would be doing so on compassion and kindness, allowing me to live. No...I won't give them that choice. I won't make them choose, it will be hard enough on them."

She held her sword in front of her, staring at the sharp edge of the blade, some rust-brown stains of dried blood still on it. Jeff said, "I have been in this position before. I wanted to take my own life. I blamed everything on myself. Rene, Cliff, and even my wife Vida. They all died. And I wanted to end my life as well. But I didn't. There are still people that depend on me. Just like there are people that depend on you. Jessica still depends on you. To right the wrongs that were forced upon you, every person you help is a sin forgiven."

Jo cried out, "Please don't do this to yourself, Dahlia. You are the only friend who has truly cared about me that is still alive. Please, for my sake and for the memory of your other friends, don't do this to yourself. You can yet make a difference in this world. You can make a difference for the better. Help those who cannot help themselves. I know things will not be easy if you stay the course, but I do not believe that those who went before you would want you to give up now that freedom is within your grasp. Isn't that what so many of them died for? They were trying to attain freedom for us all. Please reconsider. You can make a difference. We'll be here for you, Dahlia. I forgive you for all the things that you were forced to do and I thank you for the kindness you showed me and the hope you gave me."

Cassius said, "They're both right, Dahlia. You have two friends here, who care about you and what you do. If you take your own life, you're letting Ryan win. He's gotten inside your head so badly, you think this is the only way out for you. That is not true. I only gave the last blow to two people, but I stood around and watched Joesph and Ryan kill my friends and I did nothing but swallow my pride. I want to give in just as much as you do, but I want to tell those who I can that I am sorry and I will do what I can to make up for it. I can't bring back their loved ones, but at least I can give them the chance to be angry with me. Most importantly, they need to know their loved ones fought to the end, and who better to tell their story than you?"

Dahlia slumped down next to Cassius and started crying uncontrollably. After a few minutes, when her crying had turned into silent sobs, she said, "Alright...I won't take my life. Jeff, you're very kind. Thank you....Jo, I've tried only to be your friend and protect you. The advice I gave, the hope...It was only to keep you and Kansea alive...in hopes that someday I could find a way to free you. Cassius, I don't know what to say or do now. I don't know what I'm thinking or doing anymore. Ryan's had control of my life for so long. I don't know how to break free...."She dropped her weapons and we quickly gathered them and put them away, a safe distance from her.

Phaedrus went inside the cabin again. He came out moments after, paused and took a deep breath. "It is done," he said.


Chapter 9 - Docking<p>

I went inside to make sure, and there he lay. The man I've hated all my life was dead, slumped in a pool of his own blood. I felt relief, and we could finally be going home. I noticed something glittering from one of his robe pockets and pulled out several dozens of keys, which I held on to.

It was a strange silence on the deck when I got out again. It seemed that a lot of tension was gone from everyone, and although thoughtful and silent, most of us seemed relieved.

While we were docking back to town, Dahlia and Jeff seemed to getting well acquainted. Jeff was telling her over and over again that she would probably be forgiven in time and that he wanted her to come and visit when she had gained her freedom. I was kind of bored at everything right then and kept to myself. However, I noticed Phaedrus getting more and more upset, and finally he lashed out at Jeff, "Don't minimize the enormity of the devastation that Ryan and his crew was responsible for. Dahlia is right not to accept your platitudes. She has her own demons to grapple with and I won't contribute to her struggle. But... to compare their offenses to a petty thief who would steal from a corpse is ludicrous. I realize your losses are not comparable to mine...nor the wrenching hole in my gut at the realization that I could not save my friends or the woman that I loved....but please know that a town has been destroyed....and lives have been lost. And I don't just mean those who have gone on to the afterlife."
Dahlia said, "I'm sorry about Lulu, Phaedrus. I was there when Ryan and Artex killed her. I tried to stop them. I was free then. I was armed with only a knife and I was the only one awake. I watched them viciously kill her...and then I attacked them both. That's when I was taken. I tried to stop them then, but I couldn't, not alone. I know you're angry, but I had nothing to do with her death. Many others, I'll claim to have a hand in, but not her. I was not under his control then...and I tried to stop them."

Jeff replied to Phaedrus, "Don't call Vida just a corpse, alright? I understand you lost a lot of friends. I am I trying to cheer her up, knowing full well that there are people that would rather have her dead than let her try to redeem herself. I just don't want any more lives lost, do you understand me? Even if they are those that were taking the lives."

"Has it occurred to you that now is not the time for cheering up?" Phaedrus asked him. "And I have already made it clear...they will not be harmed by me.” He turned to Dahlia. “I don't blame you personally for Lulu's death, Dahlia...but for me it is all part of the same...." His voice trailed off.

"I know what you said," Jeff remarked. "But can you safely say you can stop someone from tearing into them before you have the chance to step in? I don't think so. It doesn't matter. I just want to get back home. I need to bury my wife."

I felt I needed to say something. "Jeff...you talk to Dahlia as if she doesn't have anything to do with all of this. I've heard her say, ‘I stood beside and could do nothing’ about the deaths of so many of my friends. ‘I would have been killed by Ryan.’ Fine. I was given an ultimatum by Ryan three days ago, and I spit in his face. Dahlia could have done so too, but she was a coward and decided to ‘play along,’ or whatever. I don't judge, but I also don't forgive that easily."

"I am not asking that, Karin," Jeff said. "I know the ultimatum he gave you. He did the same to me and Phaedrus. That isn't the point. And like I said, I know she did terrible things and didn't try to stop them. I know she is a murderer. But it doesn't mean we have to treat her like one when she wants to try to do good. I know she has a sentence to carry out as well. They all do." He paused for a second and turned away, before muttering, "I have work to do."

I wouldn't let him get the last word, and said, "I was certain I was going to die. I was OK about that, because I knew I did nothing wrong. I was all alone in the storage back there, and I didn't know for sure if I was alone with six pirates or not at the time, so I was preparing to die, when that bastard told me to join or die. You at least had each other, two experienced and strong men. I was by myself and Ryan said to the other pirates I was priority one to kill. All of this has changed me. Hitting other people. The death of Kansea, which I learned afterward was totally uncalled for. I'm sorry if I sound harsh or stupid or anything. I am so grateful for what you have done to help with this. I'm sorry...." I felt the tears coming. Apparently a reaction to the last week’s events came now a few hours after the death of the pirate. I sat down against the railing and cried softly for a while.
Phaedrus came over and put his arm around my shoulders and said, "You are a brave woman...and you've been an excellent partner. I couldn't have asked for one better. I forget that you are so young...this has all been traumatic for you, I'm sure. But you've been rock solid throughout."

I said, "Thank you, Phaedrus. I guess I wasn't prepared for all of this. I only had a lot of hatred inside and I was happy to volunteer for this hunt, but I never expected it to be...this real. All the blood. The stories of torture and even more pain. I just want to go home...."

"Were going home, Karin. That we are," he said with a smile, and went over to the others to help give a sea burial to all the corpses onboard, except for Ryan’s.

Jeff said, "Karin, I am proud of you as well. We did come on here without much of a chance by ourselves. I undocked the boat hoping that we could gain some allies while fighting it. I am glad my hunch was right."

"Jeff, I'm certain we wouldn't have seen this victory without your help. I am really grateful about that...." I replied.

"Well. They did kill two of my newspawns," he answered. "Whether they were sleepers or not. Plus I just had to help. It was the right thing to do. And I owe it to Vida.”

With a weak smile I said, "I wish I'd known your Vida. And I wish you could have known Jessica, Aaron, Ben, Gatz, and all the others. I didn't know all of them but I've been told they were all fine people."

"I miss her a lot. She showed me a life without pain and suffering. That which I knew as a soldier," he said, with his face turned away toward the shore.

I felt a little bad about yelling at him before. Now when he seemed so sensitive, I said, "I'm sorry for my words earlier. I am not sure of myself. My reactions are new and confusing."

"It’s alright," he said, still looking away so I couldn't see his face. "You did a great job at handling yourself. It’s almost over for you. Then you can relax and forget all this."

"I'll never be able to forget this," I said.

"I know," he said with a sigh. "I wouldn't blame you. You have been chasing this ship for a long time. And then you caught it and went through more in a couple days than in your entire life, as you discovered the things that he had done to people."

"I thought he was doing this for fame and fortune," I continued. "Now I have learned he was enjoying the torture and pain of people he had captured and broken. I didn't know such evil existed until yesterday. I've seen people slain, but I never knew someone could actually find pleasure in the act." I felt tears running down my cheeks again.
He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder and said, "Well. If you need a shoulder to cry on I am here for you. I know it was tough. And I know there are people out there like that. Too many really."

We stood there in silence for a little while, then started helping with the burials.

The following morning we were docked by Deserea Seadrake, who was wielding a crowbar and looked eager to hit someone. We managed to explain the recent events to her before she had time to hit anyone.

With the weight of the dead bodies gone we were making much better speed and docked in Stachni Hills South within a couple of hours. There was some rejoice among the locals as Jeff got back but the VHS-gang and Jo seemed quiet. I decided to go ashore, and when I felt the solid ground wobble beneath my feet I realized I must have grown sea legs after all.

While waiting for Surly to get back to town there was lots of arguing again about blame and sentences and what not. Phaedrus and I stood our ground and said the prisoners’ lives would be spared, and they would be brought to VHS to stand trial, except for Jo, who, like Kansea, was pretty much innocent. Deserea Seadrake wanted to kill them right there and then, but we wouldn't have it that way.

Deserea kept being rude to us and hateful against our prisoners. She really made me feel uneasy and I noticed the same with Phaedrus. We tried to convince her, without much success, that the right thing to do was to show mercy, or we wouldn't be better than the pirates. She kept rambling about cowardice, disloyalty, and a quick death until Jeff had had enough and made a speech, glaring at her.

"Deserea! I understand you and I might not think exactly the same, but as a former military officer to one of the finest captains I have ever seen, have you no respect? If it had not been for them turning against Ryan we all," pointing to himself, Phaedrus, and me, "would be dead. The three of us did not have much of a chance and when I undocked the boat I knew our odds were slim and that they only laid on us gaining their support in stopping Ryan. Phaedrus and I both promised them their lives if they surrendered and I even invited them to return here one day when they are free. Also Phaedrus is going to compensate us so don't worry. I will be going back on the boat to pick up some things we need. Third, I think your attitude to the people that helped capture the pirates," he motioned toward Surly and the rest of us, "is a little rude as well. Show some hospitality and remember you’re not on the sea at the moment, and in a town. Now you're my friend and I trust you with my life, but I thought you would have some better manners than that. Yes, they are pirates and they did kill a lot of people. But their wanting to right their wrongs and willingness to pay for their crimes is truly admirable in my book. Not many are willing to turn from the evil that had consumed them. They did. They know what they did and will face their punishment with their heads held high. There is no reason continue crushing them like this."

After that Deserea eventually apologized to Phaedrus and Surly, but as usual, I was forgotten. Things calmed down after a while and we started to make plans for how to get ourselves, all the boats, and the prisoners back to VHS. Surly seemed very strange and came out from the jetty only for a short while and said he'd be on his ship, which then left for the sea. A little later I took the VHS dinghy out to the lake, and when Phaedrus undocked the larger ship from town, I joined it. Phaedrus set course for home and we could see Surly's Victory setting the same course.

Finally, in 1366, we were on our way home.


Epilogue<p>

The journey back home was rather eventless. We were repairing tools and equipment in silence for the most part. I believe all the events from the recent past had rendered us exhausted and it felt rather good to sit in silence, concentrating on work. On 1377 we got back to VHS. Dahlia, Cassius and Jo were inside the ship’s cabin, just for safety, so they wouldn't be attacked by the citizens of VHS.

Helga ran up and gave me a big hug and welcomed us home. I told the townsfolk about Ryan and that we had prisoners inside. We had Dahlia and Cassius placed in Phaedrus’ apartments for then, awaiting their trial. Jo was released, but seemed awfully sleepy.

There were lots of tears when we brought bad news to town, about the loved ones tortured and murdered. We provided all the notes we had found onboard. Although we couldn't save any of our kidnaped friends and family, at least we stopped that ruthless pirate from devastating any more lives. That's what still makes me think it was worth going on the hunt. Now I will try to live the rest of my life in peace, helping out in the rebuilding of VHS into a flourishing community again. But I will always keep that sword and shield ready, just in case....

[Rebma]

Bravo.

[Doug R.]

This is a masterpiece. I loved re-reading it.

The following morning we were docked by Deserea Seadrake, who was wielding a crowbar and looked eager to hit someone.

My favorite line.

Did those bastards slaughter everyone here as well as in VHS?

No, that would be the Barrons. Apparently, Jeff and Vida came to SHS after the last Barron that had lived there passed on. They inherited a fortune in weaponry. The line about there being 20 well armed people in SHS was not a lie. That they were active was.

So, now for the part where we say what happened to everyone later!

Deserea had grand plans to map the whole world, and also fell in love with Jeff, though she never acted upon it. Jeff eventually remarried, but by then Deserea's visits to SHS were very far between. She died of a heart attack off the coast of Naron, mere days after discovering a map to a foreign land that she was very excited about. Having spent most of her days at sea, she left behind no friends, Jeff having died years earlier.

Karin -
Helga -
Surly -
Phaedrus-
Dhalia -
Jo-
Cassius-

[EchoMan]

Karin didn't enjoy the quiet life she longed for when all this happened. She built a home for herself and was rather miserable for a few years, stayed mostly indoors and made furniture and clothes I believe. She starved or had a heart attack eventually. Someone erected a landmark for her in town.

[Oasis]

Wow, I think I cried through most of that, such horrible memories and acute sadness brought back.

Helga and Phaedrus fell in love and were together for a long time....I don't remember much else, just that she did find happiness, but never forgot her love for Ben or any of her other friends that were lost. I remember Surly falling asleep on his boat that was docked to the town, I assume he never woke up.

Cassius and Dahlia were allowed to live, and I remember Cassius working a long time for the town to repay his sins, but I think Dahlia must have left or killed herself, I don't remember what happened to her.

[SekoETC]

I`ve never told this part of my story, but it involves freeing a poor woman in the Xiria area who had been locked up for years.

Was that Katrinn Jelan of Xiria Forest?