The Dark Idol
 

I thought about doing this for a few days... and after some thinking, decided to write a story based on my pirate, Jason Lockbane. :)


The weather is unusually bleak for this time of year. I thought as I walked home from the school house and noticed the grey sky. As I got closer to home, I started to drift into a daydream, and the soft, rhythmic thump of my feet was the only thing reminding me that I was still walking.

I dreamed of what it would be like to sail freely, to do whatever I pleased, to misbehave without getting in trouble by my parents or teacher. I dreamed of being the captain of a magnificent ship. I dreamed of everything I could do if I were a pirate, but I was just a ten year old boy, stuck on an old farm in the heart of the Dutch countryside.

I awoke from my dreaming just as I walked right into the closed front door of my house. Pink with embarrassment, I opened the door and walked in, half expecting to smell Mother's pie in the oven. But I was met by something else... an echo. As I shut the heavy wooden door, I heard an unusual echo reverberate through the entire house. I suddenly realized that there were piles of boxes and crates scattered around the kitchen, and most of the rooms were empty. I ran upstairs to check my room and, sure enough, it was empty.

"We're moving away." A familiar voice said behind me. "We're going to live in the New World."

"Why are we leaving?" I said as I turned around, wide-eyed.

"The English Navy is in need of blacksmiths in the Caribbean, and your father has decided to go. You better say goodbye to your friends, because we'll be setting sail in the morning." And with that, Mother left the room and continued to pack.


The shipyard had become a tiny speck on the horizon as we sailed away from Holland towards the New World, and a new life. I hadn't gotten much sleep during the night, as I was lying awake and thinking about how becoming a pirate could be possible if we were moving to the Caribbean. But after a long two hours of thinking, I had finally fallen asleep. I decided it would be a good idea to regain some of that sleep and flopped into my flimsy hammock. I dreamed of pirates and gold and sailing the seas forever, and that it might not be a bad decision to move away. I would make new friends and pretend to be pirates with them. But until we arrived there, I would be stuck on this tiny ship in the middle of the Atlantic, trying to come up with some kind of self entertainment.

Like it so far? Don't worry... it WILL get better. ;) If you don't believe me,...
:12_1_138: :beer: :12_1_138: :beer: :12_1_138: :beer:
Here's some rum and gold to help you decide. :laughks2:

Comments?

20 Years Later…

It was a clear, sunny day… yet as I walked down to the market place, I could hear the crack of thunder in the distance. I felt a sudden uneasiness come over me as the sky rapidly darkened and hurricane like weather ripped through the small settlement of Port Royal. The normally busy and loud market became quiet and still as a large, black, half rotted ship sailed into the harbour. I felt the temperature drop drastically and the sky turned black as night. I knew what was going to happen. Jolly Roger was attacking Port Royal.

I sprinted back to Father’s shop just as the rotting un-dead corpses began clawing their way up through the ground. I ran into the shop, grabbed the first sword and gun I saw, then leaped for the door. Suddenly, there were about five of Jolly Roger’s vile creations crawling up through the floor and grabbing at my legs to stop me from getting away. I shot one hand off of my leg and slashed at the others until I could get free and fight.

The first thing I saw when I got out was carnage beyond belief. Buildings were on fire and ships in the harbour sinking, hundreds more black ships were coming and firing on Fort Charles, and the redcoats were running around helplessly as their comrades fell before them. I ran up to the first group of un-dead I saw and took down one after another in rage.

“Lockbane!” I heard someone yell. “Get to the Fort! They can’t get in there!”

“But we have to fight! I would rather die than let him take over the Caribbean.” I replied as I cut down another four skeletons. But it was a losing fight, and all we could do was retreat into the caverns and forests surrounding the settlement. As I turned around to follow the retreating Navy soldiers, I saw that the man fighting along side me was my own brother, Hugo.

“Run!” He yelled as he was rushed by ten enemies. So I ran, but not to the caverns, to the fort.

My brother had been mistaken by how much power Jolly Roger really had, because the Fort was completely deserted by the shocked Navy. The only choice I had was to follow the fleeing soldiers into the underground caverns, then escape off the other side of the island. So I ran for my life until I reached the cave system that would protect us for the night. After the battle, I never saw my brother again.

Ooh... very exciting. Looking forward to reading more!

I'll try to be posting one chapter each day that I have time to..... so no one will forget about it. ;) At least people are reading it. :laughks2:

I could hear the dripping of water as I laid awake in the dark cave. I thought about everything that had happened: my brother dying, the pursuing un-dead army, and what would happen if I ever managed to get off the island. I had no idea whether it was night time or daytime in the deep caverns, and the only way I knew which direction to go was by following a small stream that flowed through.

I eventually decided to keep moving towards the exit and I grabbed the few belongings that I still had. As I reached the lit path near the stream, I heard footsteps coming and ducked into the shadows.

"I want you to search the cave systems until you find every last one of those cowardly villagers." It was Jolly Roger.

"Yes, Captain." I recognized the voice of General Darkhart. Then they continued down another path leading away from me and I sprinted away to the end of the cave.


When I finally reached the end of the cave, I could clearly hear the crack of gunfire and ringing of clashing swords echo up from the dark caverns. I knew that the un-dead had found everyone else, and I knew that I was lucky to have left early.

I could also see the water and the docks up ahead of me, and a wave of relief swept over me. I saw that there was a ship in the dock, but it wasn't just any ship, it was the Shadow King... one of the most legendary pirate ships to sail the seas. My only choice was to board the ship and hope the Captain would give me mercy. So I ran across the beach and onto the mighty ship, only to be face to face with the Captain himself!

“What do we have ‘ere?” I was surprised at the kind voice that came from this fearsome pirate and I suddenly felt a little safer. “Mr. Awesome!”

I saw a tall man with a large beard came rushing over. “Yes, Captain?”

“Take this boy to the cabins and get him comfortable.” And with that, I was taken to get cleaned up and fed before we left the island.


“BROADSIDE STARBOARD!” I heard Tiberius bellow over the blasting of cannons. I learned that the Captain never liked being referred to as Captain Fireskull… but rather, by his true name, Tiberius Fireskull. I also learned that his crew wasn’t so much a ship crew, as it was a Guild or Court, and that he was really the Captain of it.

I sprinted over to the starboard side and fired a cannon at the first un-dead ship I saw. We had to fight our way to the open seas because Jolly Roger had begun to set up a blockade around the island. Mr. Awesome came rushing up to the cannon next to me and started firing and reloading, too. Mr. Awesome was practically in the same situation as me… he had just evacuated the caverns and ended up part of this crew.

“They’re retreating back towards the island!” I heard a Deadly Nightshade, another of the newer recruits, announce. “We can sail freely to Tortuga, Tiberius.”

“That’s one battle won by us, mates. But we still must defeat Jolly Roger.” Tiberius said. “I heard a couple of Jolly’s corrupted minions talking about something called The Dark Idol. I think it may help in the defeat of Jolly, so we’re going to Tortuga to try and find out anything more about it.”

So we sailed on to Tortuga to start our search.