When we stepped out of the gate, we found ourselves in the capital city of Tokuno.  Lady Dahlia led us to the Rokuon Cultural Center. There we found Vos Marigna.

Dahlia greeted him.  Smirking, he looked at us,”  I would ask how you found me, but it does not matter does it?”

” No it doesn’t.” agreed Dahlia.

What you want is information, perhaps we can work out a deal.” Vos asked with a wink.

Shaking her head, Dahlia replied ” No deals Vos, not now, all I want is information and you will give it to me.”

“And if I refuse to give it to you? What are you going to do?” smirked Vos.

Dahlia was still clearly upset from the earlier encounter with Whitebeard, “You will not have a good day then, Vos Marigna.”

Vos Marigna smiled, “Here Tolivar thought you were just a softy to be pushed around, guess he was wrong.”

Suddenly from behind we were attacked by Blood Flagon Mercenaries

“You caused this attack !” shouted Dahlia drawing her sword.

” I did not send them after you. In fact I am pretty sure they were after me and not you.” said Vos Marigna as he hid.”

“Stop them. We have to keep him alive for questioning.” shouted Dahlia leading the attack.

The battle was short but fierce.  Just when we thought we had killed them all,  Governor Veronica Mars called out that one was trying to escape.

“Hurry.” She shouted, “He is trying to slip between the buildings.”

Dahila, herself, killed the last pirate.  Cleaning her sword, she shouted, “Quickly find Vos, make sure he didn’t escape.”

Image our surprise to find him waiting for us.

“So they were after you?” asked Dahlia.

“So how about you haul me away to a nice safe cell in Yew. I’ll play nice.” replied Vos without answering her question.

With an odd look on her face, Dahlia asked.” Play nice huh? ”

If you keep me alive and well, maybe I’ll even talk a bit.” said Vos looking around.

“You want to be… jailed… you shall have your wish.” Turning to us she asked. “Would you all please escort this, guest of ours to Yew Prison?

“Of course, my Lady,” Answered Lady Thalia.

Guard him carefully, We can’t have him getting out once we have him.”  Opening a gate to Yew for us, She said, “I need word with Corian ”

Jahajx Jov placed shackles on Vos. “I trust these aren’t too tight” Jahajx Jov smiled as he pulled them tighter.

“Lead the way to the prison.” smiled Vos. ” Or you can… let me go.” Then remembering the attacked, he said in a worried voice, ” Scratch that I guess.”

As we lead him to the prison, his mood shifted from worried to almost happy.

“This way,” said Lady Thalia walking beside Vos.

“Come with me Vos”, said Jahajx Jov as he pulled on the shackles.

” Oh come on.” said Vos winking at  us. “How much gold would it take?  I’ve got coin.”

His only answers was Jahajx Jov pulling on the chain and Lady Thalia putting Artemis, her Greater Dragon, closer to Vos.

“Ouch, gently,” whimpered Vos. “One of you lot set me free. “ow”

Suddenly Vos looked at the forest.  “Oh look, company.  Why don’t you all kill those, so I live.”

At the same time, Governor Veronica Mars and Governor Markus shouted, “We have pirates here. Help us fight them off”

You lad, you don’t care they’re being attacked? Vos asked Jahajx Jov.

Jahajx Jov ignored him, pulling once more on the chains.

“Fine fellow you are. Not aiding your friends.  Fine by me, lead on!  He smirked, “There’s more coming you know.  Better keep me alive.”

At last we arrived at the Yew Prison.  There we were met by Captain Corian.

“Good Evening Captain,” Jahajx Jovs said as he handed his prisoner over. ” We have a new resident for you.”

“Dahlia sent word she was sending a prisoner she did not want to escape.”Captain Corian replied as he took the chain.

“Prisoner sounds so cruel, I offered to help.” Vos said with a smile.

Captain Corian ignored Vos and addressed us.  “King Blackthorn has authorized the presence of Royal Guard here. Take him through the black door and put him in the first cell past it on the left. Once he is in the cell, come see me again”

We escorted Vos to his cell. ” in you go” said Jahajx Jovas  tossed him unceremoniously in. Where he vanished.

“That’s odd.” said Jahajx Jov shaking his head in puzzlement.

“What happened to him?’ asked Natsuhi:

“Hmmm” Restless said troubled.  When suddenly he shouted,”  he’s gone! its a trap!”

Captain Corian came in with a smile. “A little surprise from Evidias.

” Disappearing prisoners?” Lady Thalia said in surprise.

“Ah,” Jahajx Jovsaid in relief, ” so this is intended?”

“I assure you he is in there, quite annoyed as well.” Captain Corian said as he nodded.  Dahlia sent a warning ahead of your, so we rigged it up making sure he couldn’t get out.

Looking at what seemed to be an empty cell, Lady Thalia said, ” I’m not clear that we got any information from him”

” Information, out of him? asked Captain Corian, shaking his head, “It’s more likely she intends to use him as bait.”

Thalia: No, Lady Thalia said shaking her head. “Dahlia had planned to ask him some questions”

“She can try, he’s better off as bait if you ask me.” said sadly Captain Corian, ” No telling what Tolivar told him.”  With a sigh, He continued. “Tolivar,  what is that old man up to… I thought he was a friend. Come he said opening a gate. “We should check out his house in Jhelom.”

Arriving Captain Corian pointed out that Tolivar’s house was across from his.  He had been keeping an eye on him.  “No sense knocking,” he said as he entered the house.  ” Not sure he left anything to find.”

Just then Lady Thalia pointed at  a book she had found.

Just a book, what of it?  Hold on…” Captain Corian said excitedly,

Ah… I guess he was getting suspicious, and knew I was catching on to him.” Sighing, Captain Corian said to himself,  “Tolivar… I thought I knew you better.”

Refocusing, Captain Corian said, “So those Royal Guards I threw out, the ones gambling and stealing, they were his. At least I appear to have gotten all of them.  Huh… the Blood Flagon had a spy in the Royal Guard as well, from Tolivar’s notes.”

“That explains the pirate attacks.”  I noted.

“Yes,” agreed Corian, ” He notes I found the man as well… I wonder which one he was.  Guess we’ll never know. King Blackthorn had them hanged for treason.

“Which one got hanged?” Asked Lady Thalia?

” All of them, including  the Blood Flagon spy. Blackthorn doesn’t tolerate betraying Britainnia citizens.”

Jahajx Jov asked? “Is it worth the time to figure out which one it was?”

” It might be. I still have their belongings in some chests, as evidence. I’ll have to go through it all.” Corian answered.

“From the sounds of this note, Vos was on a mission of some sort.” observed Jahajx Jov

” Dahlia seems to have gone ahead to detain Whitebeard for a bit longer. Tell her from me, Merrick doesn’t seem a bad sort.” he led us outside.

“Wait outside, she mentioned sending a gate when she was here.”

“We will tell her” Jahajx Jov.

Captain Corian began to walk away. “The gate should come soon enough, about here.” Then he wandered off to think.

“Hmmm, trust no one,” Dolomite muttered. “Is Dahlia trustworthy”

At last the gate arrived.  Dahlia was waiting for us when we stepped out.  Looking around I noticed we were back at the beach where we began.

” I sent for you as soon as arrived… there’s footprints at the shoreline. Something must have spooked him.” Dahlia said.

“Shall we follow the foot prints?” asked Jahajx Jov

” Wait… Dahlia said looking at the tracks. “There’s… two tracks going in opposite directions… One goes to the shoreline..  Must be Whitebeard toward his ship”

looking at the two sets of tracks, Jahajx Jov asked “Shall we track them both?”

“So why is there another track… that way?” wondered Dahlia,” Of course, Whitebeard must have fled. But from what.”

The answer came quickly. Everything dissolved into darkness as  a Mercenary Elite’s burning eyes filled your vision and I found my self frozen.

“Well now we know why Whitebeard fled.  He’d rather we do the fighting for him.” Dahlia raised her sword and the battle began.

As we began to fight, the mercenaries seemed to retreat,  from behind them came Golden Dragons.  At first the number of deaths made it seem that the fight would be lost.  We regrouped and the battle turned.

 

 

 

 

 

At last the battle was over.  Looking around Dahlia mused,  “Whatever he knews though, must be worth it. They were willing to tangle with the city Guards. Those bandits just kept coming, and dying…”

“But golden dragons? asked Thalia, “That’s a little beyond pirates.”

“That’s is possible.” Replied Dahlia. “I have no idea what power is working with them.”

Dahlia suddenly changed the conversation. ” I had word with Calin, whatever he found, we are going after. Calin mentioned something, about the location of a key. I’m assuming it is to the door we found outside of Occllo.”

“What of Merrick?” I asked. “Captain Corian sent us with a message for you.”

“And what was it? Dahlia asked?

“That Merrick is not a bad person.” Answered Lady Thalia.

“If Merrick shows up, so be it, he can help. But I’m not leaving it to his discretion.” Dahlia grumbled about Merrick. ”

Jahajx Jov aced ” Thalia, have you relayed everything we discovered in Jhelom?”

“Jhelom?” questioned Dahlia.

Thalia explained all that had happened and what we had learned.   From the attack to taking Vos to the Yew prison.

Jahajx Jov told that we had learned that there had been a Blood Flagon spy, but that King Blackthorn had them all  hanged so we don’t know who it was.

Dahlia thought about all she had been told.  “Ahem, I need to go speak with Evidias, Calin and then report to King Blackthorn again. He wanted an update, I’m inclined to follow that word to the letter at the moment.  Prepare for our next meeting.  We are going after the key and will try to find out what is behind the hidden door.”

 

 

 

When Lady Dahlia called for a meeting, King Blackthorn sent me to see what her concerns were.  When I arrived at the meeting hall, it was already crowded with the Royal Spies.  She was warmly greeted by Thalia, Natsuhi, Longtoohz and others.

 

I could tell that Lady Dahlia was not  her normal pleasant self.  Instead she seemed angry with us.  I asked what the trouble was.  She scowled at me, responding, ” I am glad that you asked.  In fact, I have a simple question for all of you.”  “Shoot” , said Longtoothz.

In a demanding, annoyed tone, Dahlia demanded! “Who is the Spymaster.”

We looked at each other in confusion.  Lady Thalia asked question we all had. ” Today?”

“Do you think that amuses me?” Dahlia stated turning to Lady Thalia

Bravely, Lady Thalia continued, “I believe that you are the Spymaster, my Lady.”

This answer seemed to make Lady Dahila even angrier.   “I am? Not Merrick? or a handful of other people, who seems to ask for things and all of you  get it done.  Why is it that when Merrick says jump, all of you keep saying, how high?”

This caused even more confusion.  We had been asked by Captain Corian to keep an eye on Merrick.  He had told us, he would inform Lady Dahila.  Could he have forgotten or worse had he been delayed.

” Merrick seems to cause a lot of trouble. Its more that we’re trying to keep him out of it.” answered Lady Thalia.

Looking tired Dahlia sighed. ” Last time I checked, he retired,  he has no affiliation with the Royal Guard, or  King Blackthorn.  I know you are all just trying to help. But I am afraid Merrick has gotten himself mixed up in murky things.” Shaking her head, Lady Dahila added.  “Do you know who just called me in for a meeting?   The King himself . He asked me if what Merrick was doing endangered  safety of Britannia. “You  know the look I had on my face, when he asked me those questions and I could not answer him?.”  “The King asked me if Merrick was putting the safety of Britannia in danger, I didn’t know  how to answer.”  Lady Dahlia sighed again

Rock stated with a frown, ” then maybe…… the king should be king like and come and kill him”

” It isn’t that Rock.”  Dahlia replied. ” I have gotten too used to doing things Merrick’s way.  I am not sure I have that luxury anymore  It is a blurry line is it not?”

We became quiet and thoughtful.  ” We should have informed you what Merrick was up to.” I told her

” Corian was right to go to Blackthorn with questions about what Merrick was doing. He had a right to.  Though I wish he had also informed me.” said Lady Dahila.

Hum, I thought to myself.  That is strange that Corian hadn’t informed Dahila.  I wonder why.

Odd that Corian didn’t confront Merrick though.” Lady Thalia pondered.  “But  then Corian… does things by the book.”

“Have we been appointed knights now? Asked Restless.

Shaking her head, Dahlia replied. ” The King feels we would be more effective as Royal Spies for now.”

“I’m not trying to crucify Merrick, he taught me everything I know. But we need to handle this, Merrick made it our issue, my issue.” said Dahlia. “What has he gotten himself into.”

“Perhaps we should question Merrick.” said Restless.

“Lady Dahila,” said Lady Thalia, “I think it relates to a past obsession of his and Whitebeard. I have found Whitebeard.”

Jumping up Rock shouted. ” Ok lets kill him and be done with it.”

“Lady Thalia, where did you find Whitebeard?” Questioned Dahila.

“He is on a beach, South of West Britain Bank. If you take the Southwest Bridge out of Britain. There is a beach straight south of there.  That is where I last saw him.” Lady Thalia said getting out of her chair.

” You’ll have to get yourselves there. when last I saw him,  I promised I would come alone, and need time to explain your presence.

Looking puzzled Restless asked? “Promised who you would come alone? Who are we meeting?”

“I’m sorry Restless, I got a head of my self.  We are meeting Whitebeard.” said Dahila.

“Do we get to kill?” asked Rock.

“Knowing Whitebeard, I would be prepared for fight.”  Dahila said checking her sword.

Whitebeard was still on the beach when we arrived.  It was as if he knew we were coming.  When Dahila began questioning him about Merrick, He told us his history with Merrick.  “When he was a boy I found him, nothing more than a wittling away lad, living in a gutter somewhere.I took pity on the boy, took him aboard my ship, taught him to be a regular fiend of a pirate” he grinned. He continued, ” One day a man, Tolivar, came calling, trying to hire a pirate crew to chase some “Ancient Treasure.Sent the boy to meet the man and bring him back to me ship. It was a mistake, didn’t know I would regret it so…” Looking hard at us Whitebeard asked, “You’ve heard the name, aye?

Nodding their heads,” Yes,”  said Lady Thalia.  “Aye,” Jahajx Jov added .

“Nice,” Longtoothz, agreed.

Later I heard that Tolivar used the lad for bait I heard later, to kill off a man’s guards while Tolivar could get at this gem, The Shimmering Sea of Eshica.”  WhiteBeard shook his head sadly. ” Merrick was a fine pirate in his youth. ” I remember Merric khad  met a girl somewhere along the way, before I had to maroon them on that island. Her name was Amelia I remember.  He wouldn’t tell me who she was, or what importance she had to him.”  looking at Dahlia, he warned her, “Tolivar didn’t just train Merrick, there was another lad, named Vos Marigna . Don’t trust that one. I’ve a pretty good idea…that lass you know where to find Vos.  I’d get to him before he slips away.”

” If he’s right, we need to get our hands on Vos before he runs. No time, come. this way.” Quickly Dahlia opened a gate.

 

Captain Corian approached  us explaining that  Merrick was going to be late. ” He is still  working on the broken Cypher issue with Calin the Blind.”

“My royal spies, I need your help dealing with a brawl in Yew” Captain Corian said.

When we arrived in Yew, we found  brawl going on in the Tanners shop in the center of the city.

“Pirates again!” someone shouted!  “Show them how we deal with brigands.”

Quickly we joined in the fight.   Several Jukan  Blood Flagon Pirates had focused their  attack on  a man named Tamin the Recursive. After defeating the pirates,  we discussed what had happened.

“Why would Jukan pirates come here and attack. This is very worrisome. Captain Corian must be told. Maybe Tamin can shed some light on this.  Time to question him.”

When questioned, Tamian  became upset and confessed that he had been holding onto a green jewel call the “Emeris’s Jade Sea” though he called it by another name   This gem had been identified by a Jeweler in the city .   He said that twelve years ago  it belonged to a wealthy Noble. before it was stolen.

In frustration, Timan threw the jewel at us.  “I didn’t steal it, I was paid good money to hold it.  They told me some one would come for it. I figured it was the thief who had stole it.  I’ve held it for twelve years.  I’m tired of being attacked by pirates and thieves.  I sick of unsavory men trying to buy it. I’ve  been holding it for twelve years for someone. That jewel has brought me nothing but ill luck. ” shaking his head, he looked at us “Take it, I don’t care if I was paid to hold on to it.  No jewel is worth my life.”

” Looking at the Jewel”, we asked.  ” Who gave it to you?”

“Decarpus” replied Timan.  ” I tried to find him to give it back, but I couldn’t find him or anyone who knew where he was.”

“What did the man look like?”

Timan thought for a moment.  ” As far as I can remember, he had long black hair and tan skin.”

We discussed the situation.  “If we were to protect him, we might catch this Decarpus.”

We told Timan that we could keep him safe.  In disgust, he looked at the jewel and recalled as quickly as he could.

When Corian arrived, we  told him  what has transpired. He looked at the jewel in disbelief.  “This might have something to do with Merrick’s treasure.  I better keep it.”.

“Tolivar has asked me have you all keep an eye on Merrick for him.” said Captian Corian.   “He said the last time the treasure came up, he started behaving shifty.  Tolivar never figured out what he was up to either…  Which is unusual for Tolivar, I’d wager Merrick learned from him a little too well, ” he continued.  “That is why Tolivar had him take over  you ,the Royal Spies, to begin with, he finally pulled the wool over his old Master Spies’ eyes.  Anyhow, Tolivar seemed genuinely worried about Merrick for once.  But he seems intent enough on it, to keep all of it from Dahlia.”

When  mentioned that perhaps Merrick sees it as a contest with Whitebeard, Corian responded,, “It could be, I remember when we found Merrick the first time, when Whitebeard abandoned him with that tiny boat on an island in the middle of nowhere.  Anyhow… keep it to yourself.”

I need you to go to  Merrick. “You’ll find him in Castle Britain.”

When we found him.  Merrick told us he had figured something out.

“That note mentioned Higher, Higher. I believe that means for us to go higher.”

Quickly we went to the roof of Castle Britain. There we found another note with an image on it as well as another riddle.

“On either side them an endless river far too wide, beyond the place of living and the place of dying.  In between them stone.  On one side, follow north, but only half as far as the second city.  In the south you will find the moon.”

 

Confused at first, we began discussing it.  As we start naming off places, cities and dangerous places. “Wait ,”  Merrick said “This  could be referring to a city, and something near it. ” Overlaying it on a map of nearby Britain he discovers this:

“This small triangular location correlates to a small cave!” he exclaimed in excitement.

Inside the cavern, we found it filled with strange objects, presumably to create Magical Keys.

Merrick found another note attached beneath the small sitting bench.  It reads:

I borrowed several things from the Alabaster Keep in Ilshenar. The Ternium Bricks were hard to take, cold as ice. They froze nearly everything I tried to place them into. I do not know how Lorick manages. While attempting to get one of the Sivarum Looking Glasses. I stumbled upon a room of damaged ones and took one of them instead.

I tried to build a Dreamshade lamp, but was not successful. The proper process uses the same materials as for a Frozen Dream Lamp. But when done in the right amounts, will create something different. They call it a Dreamshade lamp. The creation of the type of magical keys I need requires one. It won’t matter if I can get the dust required to reveal the doors. Without a pair of keys for it.

There is a list of the things I have found so far that are necessary to find it. I have hidden it in the gardens of the Alabaster Keep, just in case.

We begin discussing locations, bringing up different cities .  Merrick  discounted each of them. He said that they were all to obvious and that someone would have seen something by now.

Then someone mentioned that it might be an area in Ilshenar  “We can there by accessing the spider caverns.”

Taking a teleporter to an Island area in Southeastern Ilshenar, we found the location we are looking for.   More of the same magical key crafting material can be found upstairs:

 

Looking in the last room, we found a damage piece of paper that reads:

If someone finds this, I beg them to finish what I started.  You have probably tried already and failed to find it.  I have failed more times than I can count now, but with my help you may succeed.  If you found any of the clues with the word, “A.M.E.L.I.A.” on them, then I am already dead.  I cannot say for sure what it means, but I am certain it is not just a name.

I have discovered several of the items I will need to find the location:

1. Magical Dust, from a creature near Althaye’s Garden.
2. A strange Mechanical Cypher.
3. An enchanted gem with a map carved inside, known as Eschia’s Simmering Sea.
4. A set of magical keys, crafted from a Sivarium Looking Glass, reinforced with Ternium and shadow essence.
5. Four “keystones” used with the magic map to be used in the Mechanical Cypher.
6. A list of locations, seven in total where Doorways have been spotted.
7. Essence of Dreamwhisper.

Using a charcoal rubbing, Merrick found another location on the other side.   Realizing it is likely in Ilshenar, it is overlaid and moved across the map.

 

Following the map we ended up in the desert.  Searching, we accidently  encountered a strange magical creature, called a Dreamwhisper.

It disappeared, but Merrick realized he must have stepped in some of the magic dust from before.  Taking the globe he has been carrying , he  poured more dust until the creature  is revealed again.

We quickly dispatched the creature. Looking at  one of the Frozen Dream Lantern’s , he  had been carrying, was now charged with the creatures magic.

 

Arriving back at the meeting hall, ” Hum”  Merrick said ” I  wonder where the “Essence of Dreamwhisper” comes from.”  Touching the lamp, a strange dust flew into Merrick’s face.  Merrick suddenly felt ill.  “It seems ,I just swallowed some Dreamwhisper essence then.”  I wonder if throwing the roses into the lamp would provide it fuel to light it. Would one of you toss the Dreamshade Roses into the lamp for me?”

Merrick moved farther away, “I suggest that the rest of you join me.  You never know what will happen.”

The lamp didn’t light up.  “I guess it would be better to leave it to Evidias. I’m a bit surprised it didn’t explode.”

Looking queasy, “I think I should find a healer to take a look at me.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Upon arriving in Jhelom,  Merrick found he had no money.  “This way,” he called. “That bar keep won’t let me have a tab anymore.  Claims I caused a bar fight… And didn’t pay for the damage…” Merrick paused “Well… I kind of did…”
Laughing we followed him back to the meeting house.  Merrick stopped in surprise. “Hello Anette?”

” I apologize for breaking anonymity, Merrick,  but it was urgent. Anette said.

“Urgent, well we have nothing else to do. He replied.  It is fine, everyone here can be trusted, what is wrong?”

Pirates have been gathering outside the city to the North of here. They snuck in, anchored offshore, unloaded some men and then the ship sailed off.” explained Anette.

“You said Pirates? How many did you see? asked Merrick? ”
It was hard to tell, they swam to shore with weapons tied to their backs.  I was going to warn the Town Guard, but thought you should know first.  Anette said frowning in worry.

“So they hit us while we are distracted… ”   Merrick reassured her. “No need, we will handle the situation ourselves.  Thank you Anette.  You did Jhelom a service that won’t be forgotten, not by the city, or me.”
Looking at us, smiling Merrick said, “I’m in the mood to kill some pirates. Who is with me?”

Looking for a fight, we all agreed and set off to find the pirates.  But when we found them, we couldn’t help but notice that Blood Flagon pirates had …White Wyrms.   That didn’t stop us.  Our tamers knew that they were no match for their Greater Dragons.

 

 

 

At last the pirates and the White Wyrms were defeated.  “Is that the last of them?” Merrick asked as he looked around.

“Seems so,” Dregg replied.

“Yes sir,” agreed Savannah Rose.

“Hurry, I know what they were after.  To the Meeting hall.” Merrick shouted as he ran.  When we arrived, Jahajx Jov reached out, touching the
invisible wall.

Merrick sighed in relief, “Good, the magic hasn’t been disturbed. It doesn’t make sense. What were they after, all we found were blank maps? He thought for a minute. ” What if the maps aren’t important.  Hum Two maps… cypher parts and a red jewel?”  Merrick went into the secret room and picked up the Shimmering Sea of Eshia.   He continued,  “What if the maps, were just a clue, and the Cypher needed two maps to be decoded. But that maps… weren’t maps… the jewels were the maps. I wonder what would happen if I held the gems up to a light?”

“Try it, ” encouraged Zeke Terra, and Merrick did.  As we watched him hold up first the Shimmering Sea of Eshia and then the red gem, black dots appeared on the walls.

“Wow! nicely done.” exclaimed Richard Cranium.

With a grin, Merrick said, “Guess what? Whitebeard isn’t one step ahead of us anymore. I wager that if we fix the Cypher, we can get to the key first and open that door south of Occllo.”

“Woot,” shouted Zeke Terra, “Let’s do it.”

“here is the rub… the Cypher is broken.” Merrick suddenly smiled, “I know just the person who can fix it.  Anyone remember Calin the Blind?”

“No,” replied JINX.

“Funny old man, lives on an island alone in the ocean, but he is good at fixing things and solving magical puzzles.” explained Merrick. “So Whitebeard wants the magical dust, I’m willing to bet we don’t need it anymore.” He might have the key we need to open the door, but I bet he doesn’t even know it.” Merrick smiled. “So if we give him the dust… he’ll hand over what needs decoding, without knowing it” Laughing  Merrick continued, “so Whitebeard thinks he put one over me. After Calin fixes the cypher, We’re going to find us a magical key and treasure.”   Jingling his gold pouch, Merrick jumped up.  “Anyone for a drink?”  Once we all had drinks, Merrick told us of his adventures with Whitebeard.about the time he sailed on Whitebeard’s ship, and how Whitebeard had figured him out, used him to help him steal something valuable and then marooned Merrick with a tiny boat on an island in the ocean.  No wonder, Merrick’s dislike of pirates and his mistrust of Whitebeard.  All to soon it was time to say goodnight.  I thought about the adventures we had that day and what we had learned.  Singing as I went home, I couldn’t help but wonder, what adventures would be next.

 

 

 

 

As we were starting to enter the castle, Merrick noticed a note left in the court yard.

 Picking it up he read,   “It was I who stole it, and though I wanted to turn myself in.
I could not bear being imprisoned without a pick or key.
But I lost the picks when I was startled by someone.
Perhaps if I confessed or spoke of it, I would feel better.
If only my wit had been sharper I could have escaped.
An action, an object, becomming a person suddenly.
Letter by letter, raising higher, higher.
Instead I searched for an escape and then fled.”

I wonder what he stole? said Merrick. “Well someone picked the locks on those doors.  But I don’t see anything… was that it?”
We continued to search the castle.  In on of the bedrooms we found a set of lock picks, Merrick looked about to see if there was any other clues. “Anyone else found anything but Lockpicks out of place?” he asked.

“I found a sword in one of the meeting rooms.” called Jahajx Jov. “there are letters inscribed on it”

“Has anyone found anything else that seems to be out of place?” Merrick asked.

“Ya.” said Jinx.

A map that is locked down” added Demoss.  “There is also a marble column.”

Aye.” replied both Zeke Terra and Richared Cranium.

“Odd place for a column.” Jahajx Jov said.

“Actually the North side,” added Jinx.

“While technically north,” Lady Thaila said. “North East Corner.”

” True. But the column is on the East wall.” Merrick pointed out.

“This mark on map is east.”Demoss pointed to the map.

“Oh! the first maps lines up.” JINX said excitedly.

Let me see if anything happens when I shove the column.”  Merrick shoved the column but nothing happened.  “Hm, I missed something.”  Picking up the sexton, Merrick again shoved the column.  “It won’t… budg…. ”  A  gate had opened.  Carefully we went through.

” What? Where are we?  Delucia? Merrick, still holding the sextant, said in surprise.
“There is a note here.” said Lady Thalia picking it up and showed it to Demoss.

“100? what does that mean?” asked Demoss.

” A 10o? Hold on… it’s coming into place…” replied Merrick.

“Could it mean 10 degrees?” asked Lady Thalia.

“Aye,” agreed Demoss.

“10 degrees and the circle has two lines going East and one going South…Assuming it’s connected could it be 10 degrees north of here?  Does that sound right?’ asked Merrick.

“Aye” Richard Cranium replied.

” I think we are south here.” Lady Thalia added.

If that is correct then I’d better mark our coordinates.   Looking at the sexton, he had me write down the coordinates,  78° 25′S, 47° 6′W.

Merrick continued with the map. ” So if there are two lines going East and they are longer. East looks twice as long as north.”

Deciding that was a good place to start, off we went.  Merrick used the sexton to lead us to the coordinate’s,  68o 0’S, 35o 7’W.  When we had reached 710, Merrick stopped.

Merrick stopped checking the sexton. “710 degrees not there yet.   We need to head East as well, don’t want to get stuck on that cliff.”
Merrick stopped  “Look, More brigands. They must be looking for it as well.”

We change our route to miss the brigands.   Merrick stopped again to check the sexton. ” 63o… we’re too far North. It has to be South of us.”

When we arrived, we found a map piece .

Looking at the map, Merrick looked puzzled. “That’s odd, isn’t there usually another clue.”

Zeke Terra pointed to some thing one the ground, “there’s another sextant.”

“Maybe there are cords on the the sextant.” Thalia said.

Hm, We had a sextant at the start… and now another?” Let me look at the map again.” Looking at the two lines Merrick  noted that one is longer than the other.  “Let’s try it again. So… 10 degrees, no… a longer second line. Let see that would be 11 degrees North, if East is twice as long… 22 degrees East. Does 57o 54’S, 13o 55’W sound about right?”

 

Deciding that Merrick’s coordinates were correct, we set off again. Again and again we ran into cliffs and  Ravines.
After a while, Manticore  sighed, ” looks like a circle to me.”

Finally Merrick found a road, ” I’m going to follow the road…Ravines, are annoying.  We’re close.”  Soon we can to another cliff.  “Well…climb it is…” Merrick started to climb the cliff.  Not wanting to become lost, we quickly followed him.  At the top, we found another piece of the map.  Merrick  placed it together along the seams with the first piece.  Angrily he shouted, “An empty map…is this a joke?”

Looking around carefully, Lady Thalia found a cypher on the ground.   “The missing key?” asked Funky Chicken.

Richard Cranium noticed that the were three parts to it.  Merrick picked it up.  “No map, no Whitebeard. Just a broken Cypher. I think I’ve about had it for the night…lets return to Jeholm.  We need a drink.”

 

At the end of the town council, King Blackthorn showed us a note.  He said he had found it under under his  chair in the old castle.  Merrick was  instructed to take it to Corain.

A few days later Merrick called on us to meet him.  Corain had instructed him to solve the puzzle of the note.

   Studying the symbol for a while, Merrick, began to think aloud.  ”  Well, there is a circle, with several lines drawn through it. Two of them pointing to what appears to be East, and one pointing North.”  He continued, “Corain told me the line was pointing south… but it is on the other side of the page.   Corain thought that if the line was behind the E on the opposite side, it is actually pointing North ” Richard Cranium suggested that the design could have been captured through a refection.

 “Is the image meant to be held to a mirror?” asked Lady Thalia.

“My question also” said Richard Cranium.

“I don’t think so, I believe he simply flipped the piece of paper over.” replied Merrick flipping the map over.  “It does look like it is pointing south if you do that.”   He continued, “But when I held it under a candle, it overlays the E.  It is then pointing north.”

” Perplexing,” Richard Cranium said frowning.

Looking over Merrick’s shoulder  I continued to study the map.  At last Richard Cranium suggested that possible the circle was the rising sun. “Are we supposed to understand that?” Merrick puzzled, “Hum, it could be the East, but… East of what?  We are missing some vital piece of   it… “

 “Could the double line indicate horizon, circle the sun, single line north?” suggested Richard Cranium.

Merrick rubbed his head.  “Ahem, forget about it for now.  Whitebeard wants a sample of this dust.”  Merrick shook the globe. ” I’d rather not give it to him, but we don’t have a choice. Not if we want the other 6 clues.”

” But didn’t he only steal one clue?” asked Lady Tahlia?

“He did,” Merrick replied, He did, a long time ago… a list.  The list listed seven items.  I believe the first was the magical dust we found in the vanishing garden.”Merrick sighed and mumbled “pirates again.”  “What do you say to paying him a visit.” Merrick asked.

“Aye,”  Demoss shouted. The rest of us shouted yes in agreement.  Merrick opened a gate to Buc’s Den.  We began to search the town.

“He should be in the town somewhere.” Merrick told us.”   Our search seemed to be in vain.  There was no sign of Whitebeard.  Merrick called us to the baths.  There on the ground was a little crossbones.   A man stepped out of the shadows.  “You!” glared Merrick.  ” Hello Tibbers. Where is Whitebeard?”

” Well if  t’ bloody Alchemist starboard before me eaye.” Tibbers replied. ” T’ Captain wanted t’ be here but it was not safe, so I volunteered t’ go in his place.”

 ” You  volunteer,” Merrick laughed. ” What do you mean not safe.”

“Well we be not exactly t’ only ones after this treaaye. “Tibbers whispered looking around.  Suddenly he shouted, “There be t’ scoundrels now they must have caught up t’ me!”  Turning, we saw that indeed a band of pirates were sneaking up from behind us.  Determined that no pirate would slip away we attacked.

At last the battle was won. “Now that is taken care of, where were we? Merrick asked, fingering his dagger before sliding it back in to his belt strap.
“T’ Captain says when he finds a safe place he will contact ye again and not before.” Tibbers smirked.  ” T’ Captain also asked you t’ pass on what you found in Occllo.”

With an annoyed smile, Merrick growled, “Leave it to pirates to be twice as dodgy than a thief. You can tell your captain, he will get that when I see him. Not before.”

First Mate Tibbers shrugged,” I will pass it on t’ t’ Captain.” Tibbers turn and sauntered away.

So…Anyone have any suggestions?” Merrick asked in frustration.

“Any clues on the corpses of the brigands attacking us?” Lady Thalia asked. “They were obviously looking for him also.”

Shaking his head, Merrick said  “That was about as much of a clue as we had to what is going on… That and this note that makes no sense.” He began to finger his dagger again. “Whitebeard is hiding somewhere, probably on a ship at sea.”

” he will need supplies,” Demoss suggested.

“Hum that is true.” Merrick thought a minute, We could wait. He has to dock some where.”    Suddenly he stopped. ” Wait a minute…Where did Corian say Blackthorn found the note?

” Under his chair.”  Richard Cranium said.

“In the old castle,” Lady Thalia added.

“Maybe we’re just missing part of the clues.” Merrick said.

“Read the note again.” suggested Zeke Terra.  Looking at the note again, Merrick pondered.  “So… it’s a circle pointing North one and East with two lines.
” Let’s try the castle…” and  Merrick opened a gate.

 

 Excitedly I went to meet Merrick at the Jeholm Docks. At last we were going to have the archery contest.   Several archers and their supporters had already arrived.

Muttering Merrick stepped out of the gate ” Amelia, that sounds familiar but where from…Oh! Good evening everyone.” He began looking in his pocket for something.  Not finding it he left us to go to the Luna bank.  He quickly returned.  “WOAH,WOAH!  I went to the bank for the rewards for tonight’s  and…” He hesitated.  He explained that as his gate opened at the bank, he found him self surrounded by Pirates.

“I was lucky they didn’t see me.” Quickly he opened a gate for us.  The battle began as we rushed the pirates.

It seemed as if they couldn’t be damaged.  Promathia discoverd that in fact you could hire the pirates.  Typical of mercenaries, gold is the way to end the battle.  Others began hiring the other pirates until at last the bank was again ours.

 

“What cocked scheme is that? Trying to rob the Luna bank.  Looking down, he  found muddy footprints, leading away from the city.  We began to following them. When  Merrick stopped.  He had found a trail made of gold coins.  Not knowing who had left the trail, we cautiously we followed it.  Again we ran into pirates.  Ever the diplomat, Merrick tried to talk to the leader.  But with a shout, Silverblade and his band attacked us.   With the battle won,  Merrick stated. “Only one person I know is foolish enough to try something so stupid…. White Beard!”  Merrick lead us to the Exhausted Path Inn  in Tokuno.   Yuuk’s  greeting made it  clear that Merrick was well known. Inside Hidete , greeting him an told him that  Yuki wishes to talk to you.  She has word of the person you are looking for.

 

Yuki  told us that the pirate White Beard was waiting at Modest Damsel in New Magincia.    Merrick gated us to New Magincia.  Now we will find out what he knows.

 

Just as we were about to go in, Merrick warned us to be careful as Whitebeard was a tricky one.  Inside Merrick confronted Whitebeard.  “So the pirate attacks were to lure us here. challenged Merrick.  You didn’t care about getting the gold at Luna.

“What?” said Whitebeard in surprise, ” Lad I care about getting the gold, do you know how long it took to put together that crew.

“Apologies then, the ones who didn’t switch sides, ran away.” laughed Merrick. 

Whitebeard shook his head, ” Aye, who am I kidding?  I tossed a gold coin in the middle of a room and the whole lot of them went for it., I told them if they wanted more I had plans to rob a bank.”  “Good help is so hard to get these days,” he sighed.

“Never mind that,” Merrick frowned. “we have some questions for you.”

” I be waiting ta hear why yer suddenly after me. Ask your questions.” Whitebeard said.

“Remember that treasure?” questioned Merrick.  “Never did find it did we?” Whitebeard answered with a wink.

Annoyed Merrick continued, “You still have the clues though don’t you.”

Whitebeard leaned forward,   “Found something, did ya, matey?  I be curious, how did ye find out?”

Merrick smiled, ” The  sellsword you paid.  You had to know she couldn’t keep her mouth shut.”

“Aye I was counting on it,” Whitebeard said with a twinkle in his eye.

After much discussion,  Whitebeard and Merrick made a deal.  Whitebeard would share his clues after we sorted out the details of the map.  Once outside, Merrick took out the map. ” He asked, ” So where the heck is this map pointing…”  “North,” replied Nightwolf.
” You are right it is… but not here.  It says something about strange elementals ….In the frozen norths of the Lost Lands.”  Merrick continued,  “Hope all of you have something warm to wear.”  Off we went to the frozen north.

We were meet by more pirates.  Defeating them, we continued until we found the strange snow elementals.  The snow dragons were dazzling but deadly.  Bravely we fought.  It was with  a touch of sadness that we had to destroy such beauty.

 

Merrick read the next part of the note. ” After killing the snow elementals some thing  else will appear.  When you find it, it will look like a red beast with four legs and a long tail. It only appears when the garden, at south end of Occlo, blooms.  Off we went.   Going south west we  looked for the garden.  “Oh, I found it,” shouted  Veronica Mars.  “Where,” asked Merrick.   “Here,” Jinx replied. “Night blood roses.” Arriving Merrick lead us south west to Althaye’s Garden the only place the Night blood Roses grow.  Merrick warned us. “Be careful for the untended ones outside the garden, very deadly if eaten.”

 

As  Merrick bent to pick a rose, sleeping elementals in the form of red dragons appeared.  They proved to be tougher than the snow dragons.  But we defeated them.

After the beasts had been defeated, Merrick picked up a strange globe.  “Does it do something?” he wondered aloud.  Shaking it, some dust from the globe spilled on the ground.  A strange door appeared in the garden.

Merrick dropped the globe.  ” Time to ask Whitebeard more questions”  Arriving we found, Whitebeard was gone.   “Did you see where he went?” Merrick asked Alaira.  “No, but he left you this note.” Alaira handed Merrick a note. “He said he would meet you at a different time.” Disgustedly, Merrick lead us outside.

 

He looked at the list of clues.  ” I wonder how many clues Whitebeard figured out.  “The next clue is invisible.  Can any of you read it?”  We shook are heads.  “Then I must find a quiet place to work on this.”  With that a gate opened and Merrick left.

“We’ll follow the map later,” Merrick said, “first we should find White Beard and question him.”  Aevar’s note said that White beard would be found at the Wayfarer’s Inn.   Arriving  at his room, we found  evidence that he had not been alone.

Searching the room for the where about of White Beard, Merrick found a note under the bed.

“Keep searching the room. See if you can find more information about the Blue Jewel.” Merrick said in an excited voice.   We found no other clues except a scroll on the bed.  Over and over the name A.M.E.L.I.A.  was written on it. “There is that name again. Who is this Amelia and what does she have to do with our treasure?”  Puzzled Merrick.  “Well that is a mystery to solve later. Let us be off to search the palaces.  We divided up and searched King Blackthorn’s castle and the old castle in Britain.   The searches were in vain.  We regrouped.  “Nothing at all.  But the note said that the jewel would be in a castle.” Wrinkling his forehead in thought, “What have I missed? Is there another castle in the lands?”  “Wait someone shouted. How about the one in NuJelm. ”  Away we went and after a through search we found the jewel.

 

“I wonder if this is part of the treasure?” Merrick said.  “We must put it into a safe place until we find out more.”   But as we left the palace, we were set upon by the same assassins who had killed the old treasure hunter.  They proved to be an even deadlier foes, than Bloody Blade and his minions.

 

 

At last the battle was over.  Friends and pets resurrected,  we followed Merrick as he took us to a house in Jhelom.  Inside we found a secret room that he had built.  After placing the jewel in the room.  Merrick made us swear that we would tell no one of what we had found or seen.  I asked what he planned to do with the map.  “I must study it before I decide what to do.  I will call you when I’ve decided what to do.”  Rubbing his head, he continued, “of even more concern is the name A.M.E.L.I.A.  We must find out more about it.  I wonder if White bead knows.  We must find him.”

 

Quickly I hurried to Skara Brae.  I found Aevar in front of the Skara blacksmith shop.  At first he was reluctant to talk to us.  He kept asking if the Alchemist was with me.  After assuring him that he wasn’t, Aevar agreed to give Merrick the information he wanted.  But first there was a small task that we had to do for him.

 

It seemed to be a simple task.  “Get me some of the good stuff.  The Alchemist is to deliver it himself  or send it with someone to a warehouse in Britain.  He knows the one.” We went back to Merrick with the request.

Shaking his head he replied, “figures he would want me to have Tolivar make him alcohol.

What seemed a simple task soon turn into a problem.  Tolivar’s  recipes had been stolen.  After much searching we found them.  It turned out that he had just misplaced them.  After he had made the brew and it was delivered, we went back to speak to Aevar.  He told me, “White Beard has what Merrick is looking for.  I saw  it with his own two eyes”.  I turned  to leave. “Come back, I have one more thing for you to tell Merrick. Bloody Blade has returned. ”  “Who is Bloody Blade and what does he have to do with the treasure?” I asked.  “Look in Hyloth.” Aevar said with a smile.

With a feeling of dread, We returned to Merrick and told him what we had learned.  Gatheringa band of brave warriors we traveled to Hyloth. There in the depths of Hyloth, we found Bloody Blade. The fight was long and deadly.

 

As the dungeon was still dangerous, Merrick thought it would be best if we returned to Britain.  There he looked at the map trying to decipher it.

I ran into Merrick at the stables in Luna.  He told me a strange story.   “A few days ago I meet a man named Ishim.  He wanted to hire me to guard his father from a group of assassins.  He had heard, that I was the type to not ask questions. Possibly Tavian told him.  Being a royal spy, I was hesitant to accept his offer.  He offered to pay me any thing and show me a handful of jewels .  That peeked my curiosity so  I accepted the task.  Ishim was able to describe the colors the assassins wore and warned me that they were hired by wealthy men to take care of problems. ”  Merrick paused then frowning he continued his tale.  “At last they attacked.  I found it strange that they did not sneak in.  Realizing something wasn’t right, I tried to put down my weapons.  Alas they attacked and I had to kill them all.”  I sensed that Merrick was holding something back.  He continued “After killing the assassins,  I found the father dying.

 

 

 

I asked why he was telling me all of this.  He responded that he needed me to go to Skara Brae and talk to Aevar  Tyon. Perhaps he had more information about what he had learned.  I was puzzled why he didn’t go himself.  He told me, “if I was able to pay him what I owed.  We would no doubt be best of friends.   However since I can’t, I need you to go and see if he will make a deal with us.  Be careful and don’t offer him anything.  Tell him the Alchemist remembers.  That should be enough for a small bit of information.”