It is strange how things work out. What Jupiter thought was a clue leading to the merchant girl's lost father, may have turned out to be a diversion by the ruthless pirates to get them to clear out of Paws. For while the village was empty, the clockwork oracle was 'seemingly' vulnerable. But Jupiter had no choice, he cast a protective spell over the oracle so that should any vandalism or damages come to her, the tower would immediately eject them! Then he mustered up a group of the bravest (or most foolhardy heroes) he could find, and set off to the Lost Bay Hope! Somewhere in the Bay of Lost Hope… A seemingly abandoned vessel rocked in the waves. It was clearly worn by the weather and appeared almost on the verge of collapsing. The silence of the solitude and cover of night were interrupted by a blue portal which opened just near the ships main mast. Slowly at first and then seeming all at once, ghosts appeared on the ship’s deck; followed by a familiar grey wizard, who was wearing a not-so-familiar chest piece of daemon armor. “Remember,” Jupiter spoke out to the shrouded visages as though they could hear him, “that once we cross into the next realm, you will be able to both touch and be touched by the spirits there. Some of them will appear human, but do not let them fool you. And remember, we have until the hour glass turns about a dozen times before our fates are sealed, and we everlastingly join this crew of undead pirates.” Jupiter turned to Athena, “We must wear these relics of old, crafted from the fragments of daemon bones, for the duration of our exploration. Otherwise, all that will be left of us will be a fancy tale, and a pile of ash.” Athena nodded and clasped the arm pieces around her wrists. They constricted her wrists badly and she winced a little, but after a moment she began to almost admire them. They almost matched perfectly with her dress. With everything seemingly in place Jupiter nodded to Athena to open the gate, and hoped for the best… [/i]
A poem I remembered from an age long past when I lived as a mortal in Moonglow: An errand of fools who chance to tread Upon death's door their journey has led One lost in spirit or so it seems Will haunt the seekers in their dreams To find a shadow in the dark Into the void one must embark No mortal maps can show the path To reveal the ancient serpent's wrath Which drowned this world in days of old Or so the the tales of men have told Of treasure vast and perils deep Black pools of blood in which to sleep She waits for all who worship death With venomed teeth and poisoned breath Deep and dark the way is blocked With sigils dark her lair is locked To find those lost in such a realm Must do so from a ghost ship's helm Be warned of what has been already said Or you will be lost among the dead
