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Dead Man's Chest -- Spooky Pirate Fun -- COMPLETE! Nov 3/06
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<blockquote data-quote="barsoomcore" data-source="post: 1764600" data-attributes="member: 812"><p>Dras, standing at the kitchen counter, turned to find the pantry door open and a woman standing there.</p><p></p><p>She was white, and small, and dressed in a few filthy rags. Her terrified eyes studied Dras with trepidation and one hand clutched at the doorsill.</p><p></p><p>"Where did you come from?"</p><p></p><p>Dras peered past the woman into the large pantry beyond. The mulatto chef had been in the pantry numerous times preparing the feast for Papa Agwe, but there hadn't been anyone hiding in there before. The woman nodded.</p><p></p><p>"Under the potatoes."</p><p></p><p>Dras frowned.</p><p></p><p>"There aren't any potatoes."</p><p></p><p>The woman nodded and headed back into the pantry. Dras followed, wiping oily hands on a borrowed apron, to see the woman heave open the lid of the potato bin and clamber inside. Looking in, Dras saw the back wall of the bin lever up and expose a narrow shaft descending into the rock.</p><p></p><p>"Clever. What's down there?"</p><p></p><p>The woman's voice was flat and empty.</p><p></p><p>"Treasure."</p><p></p><p>"Hang on."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Newly assembled in the pantry, the four companions from the Ascot Marine peered into the potato bin.</p><p></p><p>"Treasure?"</p><p></p><p>Black was still a little woozy. He leaned on the planks of the bin and frowned at the girl.</p><p></p><p>"You say there's treasure down there? Whose?"</p><p></p><p>"Monsignor Domino's."</p><p></p><p>Quinn frowned.</p><p></p><p>"That name rings a little brass bell, yes it does."</p><p></p><p>Ana replied before Quinn could retrace his memories.</p><p></p><p>"It's the name of that crazy hougan Stormy Jack ran into, same ship he encountered Horse and Red."</p><p></p><p>"We're on some sorcerer's island?"</p><p></p><p>Black opened his mouth to scoff at Quinn's suggestion of sorcerers. He considered the top half of a wizened man, a black-bound book and a talking monkey.</p><p></p><p>"Seems to be the case, lad. Fortunately for us, he seems to be out. If his treasure is down below, let's have a look."</p><p></p><p>Dras shrugged and turned back to the kitchen.</p><p></p><p>"I've got an offer to make for Papa Agwe. You folks see about the treasure, I'll see about our future."</p><p></p><p>Quinn and Black eyed each other with a grin, and Black bowed, chuckling, giving way to the younger man, who scrambled into the bin and lowered himself into the shaft.</p><p></p><p>Black leaned over to watch.</p><p></p><p>"What can you see?"</p><p></p><p>Quinn's voice came echoing up from below.</p><p></p><p>"It goes down quite a ways... thirty feet, I'd guess. Walls are damp. Slippery-like. But it opens out... there's a light down here. Oh, and a -- "</p><p></p><p>Quinn suddenly broke off in a high-pitched scream. Black turned to look at the girl, who nodded in her numb fashion.</p><p></p><p>"What's going on down there?"</p><p></p><p>"He's being attacked by the zombi."</p><p></p><p>"Zombi?"</p><p></p><p>The screams continued.</p><p></p><p>"To guard the treasure."</p><p></p><p>"We should probably ask you a few more questions. Once our friend is safe."</p><p></p><p>Black levered himself into the shaft and was about to plunge down after Quinn when the girl put a hand on his wrist. She passed him a wooden pendant on a greasy bit of string, and smiled.</p><p></p><p>"Okay. Thanks."</p><p></p><p>Ana watched with a worried expression as Black disappeared. There was more yelling, not quite so desperate this time. Black's head emerged from the hole, wearing a glare that was directed at the girl.</p><p></p><p>"Now we need to ask you a few questions."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>"My name is Elizabeth Mallory. My husband James and I were bound for Antigua. Pirates took our ship, and... and I came here. Mister Domino brought me."</p><p></p><p>Ana brought the girl a cup of water. They'd found some undamaged chairs in an otherwise devasted dining room and she was sitting on one while Black, Quinn and Ana hovered uncertainly, listening.</p><p></p><p>The afternoon had worn on and the sun's rays slanted sharply across the wreckage-strewn chamber, piercing the nailed-up boards that blocked the windows. The stink of blood was still clear in the air.</p><p></p><p>Black asked, "Who is this Mister Domino?"</p><p></p><p>The girl's eyes widened in terror.</p><p></p><p>"He's the worst man, sir. He's a demon. He brings corpses to life, like you saw, and he says the foulest things to me. He says I will serve him and I'm so afraid..."</p><p></p><p>"It's okay, child," Black patted her shoulder, never at his best with crying women, "We'll take you away from here."</p><p></p><p>Quinn, his face drawn up in a scowl, leaned forward.</p><p></p><p>"What happened last night? Why were you down in that cellar?"</p><p></p><p>"Something came here. Last night. Something terrible. I'm sure it will come again tonight."</p><p></p><p>Black considered the destroyed barricades that had once sealed off the front doors of the mansion. Barricades that had been torn apart and thrown down, but that nevertheless provided some measure of protection.</p><p></p><p>"Let's get to work. I'm in no mood for something terrible."</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>Dras stood at the top of the gravel beach, watching the waves come rolling in and tumble over the platter of roasted vegetables, decorated with flowers and what festive sorts of objects the youth had been able to find. The sun was just setting behind Dras, casting a lurid glow across the dark waves.</p><p></p><p>"Agwe, I'm afraid. Thank you for your warnings and your care. I hope you will protect us tonight. Please."</p><p></p><p>With a brief bow the young mulatto turned and headed back to the mansion, unaware that a figure had risen from the waves. A figure dripping with seawater and ichor, its face rotted and festooned with barnacles and waving branches of seaweed. It hissed, and dozens more crawled up onto the gravel beach, watching the youth disappear into the compound beyond.</p><p></p><p>The sun set. The figures started forward.</p><p></p><p>*****</p><p></p><p>"Just put the damn thing on, lad."</p><p></p><p>"It's ugly. And creepy."</p><p></p><p>Black glared at Dras.</p><p></p><p>"And it evidently renders us invisible to certain members of the undead, so put it on."</p><p></p><p>"Fine, fine."</p><p></p><p>The dark-skinned youth took the greasy string with the strange wooden pendant, and despite obvious misgivings, put it on.</p><p></p><p>"Now what?"</p><p></p><p>Black pointed up the stairs where Quinn and Ana were struggling with a large copper tub.</p><p></p><p>"Upstairs. We've rigged the stairs to fall, in case they get in. Did you get done your... thing?"</p><p></p><p>Dras nodded and was about to speak when there suddenly came a heavy crashing at the barricaded front door. Black grinned.</p><p></p><p>"Our guests arrive. Please, after you."</p><p></p><p>Pistols were drawn from belts and hammers pulled back as Dras and Black joined Ana and Quinn at the top of the stairs. Everyone stared down into the central hall, watching the shuddering of the front door. Dras frowned.</p><p></p><p>"Where's Elizabeth? And if these pendants make us invisible, why are we hiding up here?"</p><p></p><p>Ana scowled as she answered.</p><p></p><p>"Elizabeth went back into the treasure hole. She thinks we'll die up here."</p><p></p><p>Quinn chimed in, "Apparently whatever those things are out there, these pendants don't help against them. Elizabeth says that yesterday there were about twenty people living here, with a bunch of Domino's zombis running around. Now they're all dead."</p><p></p><p>Crash crash crash went the front door. Dras' voice got a little high-pitched again.</p><p></p><p>"How do we know they're dead? And where in the Devil did those things come from? I was just out there, there wasn't a soul around. There's nowhere to hide on this island."</p><p></p><p>"Perhaps," said Black politely, "If you ask again, even louder this time, they'll hear you and explain."</p><p></p><p>The door downstairs burst open. Ana and Quinn both muttered curses.</p><p></p><p>In through the shattered panels of the door shambled hideous figures, deformed and dripping. The fetid stink of brine and rot filled the air. Black choked.</p><p></p><p>Dras shuddered. These things were long, long dead, the bodies of drowned seamen given foul animation through sorcery. The cook's mate cried out in disgust and fired a pistol.</p><p></p><p>The bullet smacked into one of the figures, blowing a hole right through the thing's water-logged body. It looked up at the four. Its eyes were hollow sockets where white grubs writhed.</p><p></p><p>Two others found the stairway and made their lumbering way up the unsteady wooden steps. They were half-way to the top when Black pulled on a length of rope and a post tilted out from underneath, sending the entire construction plunging to the flagstones below, crushing the horrible creatures under heavy beams.</p><p></p><p>Quinn cheered.</p><p></p><p>"Lucky these beams are so rotted."</p><p></p><p>Ana frowned as several of the undead creatures took hold of one of the posts supporting the balcony she and her friends were standing on. They began to shake it, and the whole balcony wobbled.</p><p></p><p>"Maybe not so lucky."</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="barsoomcore, post: 1764600, member: 812"] Dras, standing at the kitchen counter, turned to find the pantry door open and a woman standing there. She was white, and small, and dressed in a few filthy rags. Her terrified eyes studied Dras with trepidation and one hand clutched at the doorsill. "Where did you come from?" Dras peered past the woman into the large pantry beyond. The mulatto chef had been in the pantry numerous times preparing the feast for Papa Agwe, but there hadn't been anyone hiding in there before. The woman nodded. "Under the potatoes." Dras frowned. "There aren't any potatoes." The woman nodded and headed back into the pantry. Dras followed, wiping oily hands on a borrowed apron, to see the woman heave open the lid of the potato bin and clamber inside. Looking in, Dras saw the back wall of the bin lever up and expose a narrow shaft descending into the rock. "Clever. What's down there?" The woman's voice was flat and empty. "Treasure." "Hang on." ***** Newly assembled in the pantry, the four companions from the Ascot Marine peered into the potato bin. "Treasure?" Black was still a little woozy. He leaned on the planks of the bin and frowned at the girl. "You say there's treasure down there? Whose?" "Monsignor Domino's." Quinn frowned. "That name rings a little brass bell, yes it does." Ana replied before Quinn could retrace his memories. "It's the name of that crazy hougan Stormy Jack ran into, same ship he encountered Horse and Red." "We're on some sorcerer's island?" Black opened his mouth to scoff at Quinn's suggestion of sorcerers. He considered the top half of a wizened man, a black-bound book and a talking monkey. "Seems to be the case, lad. Fortunately for us, he seems to be out. If his treasure is down below, let's have a look." Dras shrugged and turned back to the kitchen. "I've got an offer to make for Papa Agwe. You folks see about the treasure, I'll see about our future." Quinn and Black eyed each other with a grin, and Black bowed, chuckling, giving way to the younger man, who scrambled into the bin and lowered himself into the shaft. Black leaned over to watch. "What can you see?" Quinn's voice came echoing up from below. "It goes down quite a ways... thirty feet, I'd guess. Walls are damp. Slippery-like. But it opens out... there's a light down here. Oh, and a -- " Quinn suddenly broke off in a high-pitched scream. Black turned to look at the girl, who nodded in her numb fashion. "What's going on down there?" "He's being attacked by the zombi." "Zombi?" The screams continued. "To guard the treasure." "We should probably ask you a few more questions. Once our friend is safe." Black levered himself into the shaft and was about to plunge down after Quinn when the girl put a hand on his wrist. She passed him a wooden pendant on a greasy bit of string, and smiled. "Okay. Thanks." Ana watched with a worried expression as Black disappeared. There was more yelling, not quite so desperate this time. Black's head emerged from the hole, wearing a glare that was directed at the girl. "Now we need to ask you a few questions." ***** "My name is Elizabeth Mallory. My husband James and I were bound for Antigua. Pirates took our ship, and... and I came here. Mister Domino brought me." Ana brought the girl a cup of water. They'd found some undamaged chairs in an otherwise devasted dining room and she was sitting on one while Black, Quinn and Ana hovered uncertainly, listening. The afternoon had worn on and the sun's rays slanted sharply across the wreckage-strewn chamber, piercing the nailed-up boards that blocked the windows. The stink of blood was still clear in the air. Black asked, "Who is this Mister Domino?" The girl's eyes widened in terror. "He's the worst man, sir. He's a demon. He brings corpses to life, like you saw, and he says the foulest things to me. He says I will serve him and I'm so afraid..." "It's okay, child," Black patted her shoulder, never at his best with crying women, "We'll take you away from here." Quinn, his face drawn up in a scowl, leaned forward. "What happened last night? Why were you down in that cellar?" "Something came here. Last night. Something terrible. I'm sure it will come again tonight." Black considered the destroyed barricades that had once sealed off the front doors of the mansion. Barricades that had been torn apart and thrown down, but that nevertheless provided some measure of protection. "Let's get to work. I'm in no mood for something terrible." ***** Dras stood at the top of the gravel beach, watching the waves come rolling in and tumble over the platter of roasted vegetables, decorated with flowers and what festive sorts of objects the youth had been able to find. The sun was just setting behind Dras, casting a lurid glow across the dark waves. "Agwe, I'm afraid. Thank you for your warnings and your care. I hope you will protect us tonight. Please." With a brief bow the young mulatto turned and headed back to the mansion, unaware that a figure had risen from the waves. A figure dripping with seawater and ichor, its face rotted and festooned with barnacles and waving branches of seaweed. It hissed, and dozens more crawled up onto the gravel beach, watching the youth disappear into the compound beyond. The sun set. The figures started forward. ***** "Just put the damn thing on, lad." "It's ugly. And creepy." Black glared at Dras. "And it evidently renders us invisible to certain members of the undead, so put it on." "Fine, fine." The dark-skinned youth took the greasy string with the strange wooden pendant, and despite obvious misgivings, put it on. "Now what?" Black pointed up the stairs where Quinn and Ana were struggling with a large copper tub. "Upstairs. We've rigged the stairs to fall, in case they get in. Did you get done your... thing?" Dras nodded and was about to speak when there suddenly came a heavy crashing at the barricaded front door. Black grinned. "Our guests arrive. Please, after you." Pistols were drawn from belts and hammers pulled back as Dras and Black joined Ana and Quinn at the top of the stairs. Everyone stared down into the central hall, watching the shuddering of the front door. Dras frowned. "Where's Elizabeth? And if these pendants make us invisible, why are we hiding up here?" Ana scowled as she answered. "Elizabeth went back into the treasure hole. She thinks we'll die up here." Quinn chimed in, "Apparently whatever those things are out there, these pendants don't help against them. Elizabeth says that yesterday there were about twenty people living here, with a bunch of Domino's zombis running around. Now they're all dead." Crash crash crash went the front door. Dras' voice got a little high-pitched again. "How do we know they're dead? And where in the Devil did those things come from? I was just out there, there wasn't a soul around. There's nowhere to hide on this island." "Perhaps," said Black politely, "If you ask again, even louder this time, they'll hear you and explain." The door downstairs burst open. Ana and Quinn both muttered curses. In through the shattered panels of the door shambled hideous figures, deformed and dripping. The fetid stink of brine and rot filled the air. Black choked. Dras shuddered. These things were long, long dead, the bodies of drowned seamen given foul animation through sorcery. The cook's mate cried out in disgust and fired a pistol. The bullet smacked into one of the figures, blowing a hole right through the thing's water-logged body. It looked up at the four. Its eyes were hollow sockets where white grubs writhed. Two others found the stairway and made their lumbering way up the unsteady wooden steps. They were half-way to the top when Black pulled on a length of rope and a post tilted out from underneath, sending the entire construction plunging to the flagstones below, crushing the horrible creatures under heavy beams. Quinn cheered. "Lucky these beams are so rotted." Ana frowned as several of the undead creatures took hold of one of the posts supporting the balcony she and her friends were standing on. They began to shake it, and the whole balcony wobbled. "Maybe not so lucky." [/QUOTE]
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