PART 17
(Part 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20)
A.C.224.12? (estimated) - THE AFTERLANDS
Purket awakes, on the decaying wooden deck of a ship long lost in an oceanless waste. What happened? The Wraiths attacked... Is he... dead? Is this the Afterlands?
In the distance, glowing lantern lights, moving closer. "Hello?" No answer. They vanish. Then reappear, closer...
A metallic cry of warning from above! Purket sees a furry sphere, and a metal slab, plunging straight towards him! Griff deftly catfalls to the deck as Purket dives for cover...
... And Squalor smashes hard into the deck, wood planks exploding into the air, and launching Griff airborne again!
The dust finally settles, Squalor miraculously surviving his fall, breaking the ship instead. Purket worries- are Squalor and Griff dead too, now?
Glowing lantern lights creep ever closer. Purket watches, fascinated, as a horrific creature lunges out of the black air and sinks venomous fangs into his arm!
Squalor charges headlong into the creature with enough force to launch it into orbit.
Griff and Squalor argue names for the beast... "Fang-ler!"No, Lampyre!" Purket grows faint...
In the distance, the remains are set upon by even stranger creatures...
Griff tries to heal Purket's wounds as he runs to a shiny, giant coin lodged in the rocks nearby.
Before Squalor can help, Purket pulls with all his might, and the coin leaps free and begins to roll away....
Squalor dashes ahead of it and catches it with a resounding "CLANG!"
But then, another lantern-light approaches...
...carried by a survivor of noble presence. "Huh. Never expected to see a Glint in the Afterlands. And friends with such charming little creatures too..."
Griff responds. "I'm Griff, this is Squalor and Purket. We're looking for a friend- a Lutrinae named Tara."
"Andrea. I'm also looking for someone. Wish we were meeting in safer circumstances. Perhaps we travel together?"
As the strange group makes its way through the Afterlands, they hear a rumbling metal sound ahead, as if someone else was rolling a giant coin along the ground... It's Mayne! "Mayne, what are you doing here? You're not dead are you?" "Nah man, I'm just visiting for the coins- Er, *koff* I mean, getting ready for the Battle of the Bands, yeah."
Just then, a coach pulled by two glowing squidlike steeds rumbles up, a flamboyant Wolverine aboard. "Uh oh, that's my Boss, Electra. She runs the Battle of the Bands. OH, HELLO Electra!" Mayne sheepishly tries to hide the giant coin behind his back. "Mayne, you're supposed to be setting up the stage- Good Grief, what happened to the stage!?"
The Crew insist the "stage" was like that when they arrived, but agree to help Mayne repair the damage. Squalor quickly covers up the Squalor-shaped hole in the middle.
A ship approaches next, on a strange glowing cloud, loaded with performers, instruments and concessions. A surprising variety of staff are aboard: A Pyrrhic Druvan, Gaian Aelves, a trio of Grablins, and a A crow-costumed human that Mayne identifies as "Sable- weird dude, he used to rock out, I think he's lost his marbles though." The stage is set...
Meanwhile, a small crowd of spectators begins to gather, including none other than... Gramblarr! "Oh! Oh, Purket, Squalor, Griff! What are you doing here? Oh no... are you... Dead? Oh, my poor poor friends..."
Griff explains, they were each transported to the Afterlands, alive, thanks to the Canopicon charms given to them by the Garwolf. Gramblarr shouts for joy- "OH, I'm NOT dead! Whoooeee, we're alive!" His celebration is cut short by Elektra's booming vocal announcement...
"Welcome everyone to Battle of the Bands in the Afterlands! We have a special show for you tonight. To start us off, here's a little number from our rambunctious friends, the Grablins!"
On stage, three Grablins begin to operate a bizarre collection of "instruments"...
(Grablin Opening Instrumentals-link)
The crowd just watch in silent awe and confusion...
Without pausing, they next launch into a jaunty lyrical tune.
Grablins.mp3
(Song by Suno, Lyrics by Sean Patten)
We! Are! Grablins! No Wait…
What! Are! Grablins?
Pokey... Jablins? Maybe? What?
Garblogs! Gribblins! Grillbees! Nibblins!
Meekers! Sneekers! Finders... Creepers!
Mookies! Gleebles! Marbles? Weebles,
Goobles, Noobles. Slinkies, Foobles!
Taking things! From here to there!
Your underwear? But we can share!
‘cause all is fair in love - and - wardrobe!
We! Are! Grablins! The end! Is near!
We’re filled with fear! Wait no, I mean Beer!
And now… it’s… HEEEEEERE.
Without waiting for applause, the Grablins stage dive into the self-proclaimed "apple bobbing" station below...
Elektra steps in. "Well, there you have it, always a surprise from these little guys. Up next, Mayne will be performing his 'Instru-Metal'. Brace yourselves!"
Mayne's Instru-Metal.mp3
(Music by Suno)
As Mayne plays, Sable joins in from the sidelines, forming a rich duet. The crowd warms to their performance, and Sable seems to be more in his element.
"Up next, everyone get wild, as the Gaians perform, well, the Gaian Song."
Gaian Song.mp3
The crew agree, "Wow, it's a whole new thing hearing it performed LIVE, huh."
As the bands take a brief intermission, Squalor tries to learn more from the mysterious Andrea. He notices her gear is a mix of ancient Panjandran technology and scavenged equipment from a dozen times and cultures.
Andrea comments. "You don't seem like a Panjandran Glint. Druvan perhaps?" Andrea removes a metal plate from Squalor's chest... "This nameplate is obviously tacked on. Says "Pallor", but I take it that's not you." Squalor responds, "I think I'm a Druvan named Drill, or some reincarnation of him."
Meanwhile, Purket is fascinated by this Sable character, and asks who he is. "I... can't remember. But the music is bringing it back." Purket offers, "Our friends Tara and Cap'n agreed to return your book to you, uh, Sables Fables? I wish I had brought it with me, but..." Griff jumps in- "Yeah, I got it right here!"
Sable thumbs through the pages, most of them blank. But then, as he plucks out a tune, words and music appear on the blank pages! "I remember now... I wanted to share the truth with the world... But the Panjandrans just wanted to hide it all away! Purket, Griff, the messages are in here!" Sable blasts riff after riff, and the book fills with his memories...
Beyond the Pale.mp3
(Music by Suno)
"Purket, can you help me? I'm ready to perform, and I need you to hold the book." Purket and Sable take the stage...
...and perform a shocking ballad of the Panjandran Empire!The Rise and Fall of Panjandrum.mp3
(Song by Suno, Lyrics by Sean Patten)
Long before mankinds rise, the lands did tremble,
Aelves and Druvans locked in endless fight.
Their war beneath the stars, an ancient sight,
These beings deemed Mankind a cursed gamble.
Then great Kasha rose,
To lead the charge against humanity's plight.
From shadows deep she called her mighty steed,
A Hoargriff fierce with wings that cut through night,
Upon its back she rode with valor bright,
She faced Kairos, Dracontyr of War,
Whose roar made mountains bleed,
And struck him down to free her people's light.
Crowned first empress of Panjandrum's throne,
A treaty forged with Druvan hearts unyielding,
To battle Aelves with Panzer force revealing.
Proxy wars raged where titans' fires shone,
Heavy Metal clashed with Living Aurans calling.
The lifeblood of Panzers controlled by Druvan few,
Panjandrans yearned for power all their own;
Ghaustus Gundrake's dark arts grew and shone:
Fuelled Panzers now by souls cast into blue;
The revolt began, Druvans overthrown.
Ghaustus trapped a Dragon’s soul to fuel his might:
A deadly Panzer champion brought to life.
As Dragonkind in vengeance took up strife;
The sky was torn by Boreas in flight;
The Dracontyr of air, of ice moon took a bite,
And spat cold shards into the Ur,
A cataclysm born from ancient rite.
Sky fractured wide asunder; seas did boil,
And Ur reshaped beneath an icy rain.
Mankind again stood on extinction's lane,
Their empire shattered like forgotten toil;
And Aelves and Druvans vanished from the plain.
But as Sable performs, the Druvan and Gaian ancients take great offense at the ballad, and move to beat Sable down as revenge for the crimes the Panjandrans inflicted on their people...
"Walk with me Purket!" Sable knows he MUST finish the song, and moves into the crowd to evade pursuers...
Just as the Gaians attack, Purket disables one with a well tossed Lament Apple.
The other is entangled by Griff's Vine magic.
The Druvan strikes next, but is intercepted by Squalor, who launches him into the side of the ship!
All the commotion has attracted the attention of a Guardian, come to see who among them should not be in the Afterlands.
Mayne realizes the threat. "Dude, if that thing spots you, it's game over! Quick, you gotta perform something, to blend in!" Mayne and Crew take the stage, Griff on Drums, Purket on Banjo, and Squalor turning himself into a flaming pyrotechnic pipe organ...
Gramblarr leads the crew in a catchy but familiar tune!
Fur Feather Friends Theme.mp3
(Song by Suno, Lyrics by Sean Patten)
Squalor, Griff and Purket agree, "I wish Cali and Tara were here, it's not the same without them."
Right on cue, a familiar pegleg gait precedes the arrival of... Tara!
"Hey gang! Looks like those Canopicons really work. And hey, look who I ran into here in the Afterlands!"
From behind Tara, Dima steps forth. Andrea startles. "Dima!?" Dima responds. "...Mom?"
With much to catch up on, Sable interrupts with an Encore performance. "Pay attention Squalor, Dima, this next tune is about an ancient and special couple you may have already met."
Sable opens his book to a page with an illustration of a Druvan woman and an Aelvyn man. And they DO look familiar...
Mattock And Aquitar.mp3
(Song by Suno, Lyrics by Sean Patten)
Mattock and Aquitar
Kick drum and bass guitar
Reaching up for the stars
So close and yet so far
Aelvyn and Dwarven fight
Can't ever find the light
Run away into night
Can they still make it right
Where did they ever go
Better you never know
Panjandrum says it so
Buried beneath the snow
Metal and filigree
Loops of infinity
Trapped for eternity
Smash them to set them free
As the implications of this song sink in, a booming, rhythmic thunder peals from the sky. Almost like- clapping...
Then a golden rain descends, beautiful until it turns into deadly giant coins plummeting to the earth!
Mayne, scared but excited, runs to and fro gathering the Giant coins. "Yessss! I'm gonna be rich!"
Squalor interrupts: "Hang on, the song... Dima, I think Mattock and Aquitar are trapped... in our rings!"
Mayne "Smash them to set them free, right? Dude, let's smash 'em!"
Squalor and Dima set the rings down, but when Mayne hits them, there is only a painful glare of light, and Squalor and Dima hear a distant Mattock and Aquitar shouting in pained voices. "Not even a scratch- what's it gonna take to smash these things?"
The crew start to notice the waters rising. "Wait, where is this water coming from?" Sable answers.
"The Lost Sea returns! This is your chance to escape the Afterlands- dive through the sea to get to the other side!"
Andrea cannot leave the Afterlands, and bids Dima farewell.
"I am so proud of you, and your friends, Dima. Make a better world. Safe travels, my child."
"How do we get through the sea without drowning?" Squalor suggests they use Mayne's coins as ballast to plunge even faster. "Okay, but I want those coins back!" Mayne grumbles. Purket rummages through the pilfered loot in his pockets and finds a bubble egg for Squalor so he doesn't get extinguished.
The crew dive one after another into the water, Purket skilfully jetting past everyone with his diving coin in hand!
A.C.225.08 - CORIANDER COAST
Suddenly Purket finds himself diving through starry sky, straight towards a sinister ship on the high seas!
Purket manages to stick the landing, but his coin punches straight through the ship.
Mayne comes down much harder, exploding through the deck into the hold below!
Somehow Griff manages a smooth landing sliding down the sail.
Squalor breaks his fall by snagging the aft mast... and snapping it off!
Tara hits the water hard, refusing to let go of his coin but at risk of being pulled under. "You better not lose my coin, man!" Mayne yells from inside, unaware of the danger... Purket hits Tara with a Warp shot, transporting him and his coin directly on top of Mayne!
Gramblarr is excited to have made it through. "Yes! I'm Alive! Oh no... I might dieeeee!!!"
Griff's Druid magic bends the ship's mast to catch Gramblarr in time.
"Thank goodness everyone made it down safely. Wait, where are we?"
Cannon fire cuts the night air. The ship they landed on is under attack!
Onboard the Arcadian ship "Dracontyr", a crew of sea dogs and other Animas continue their barrages on the "Red Tide", a Panjandran Empire corsair sailing out of Coriander, and the ship our unfortunate crew has landed on!
As the crew assess their position aboard the Red Tide, they find themselves surrounded by cruel human mercenaries.
None of the Red Tide's crew notice Dima... yet...
Hoping to blend in, Gramblarr plays along. "Wow, yeah these pesky boarders just came out of nowhere. Welp, gotta get back to work now..."
Thinking fast, Purket fires a Magnet shot at the helm, and weapons, cannons, and armored crew are pulled in!
Griff surfs on a magnetized coin up to the helm, and takes the wheel, steering the sinking Red Tide towards the Dracontyr in the hopes of rescue.
With more crew still to face, Tara casts an illusion of a Comet coming down to strike the ship.
The crew panic, all except the "Jugger" with a bucket for a helm, who fails to notice.
The Jugger charges, Tara barely pivoting aside in time. Mayne guides the Jugger's charge right into the side of the ship!
Tara's sorcery takes its toll- everything gray in color he sees as a translucent blur, including the ship!
In case the comet wasn't enough, Purket blinds the enemy Berserkers with a Flare shot.
Gramblarr had his eyes closed while "swimming" on the deck to get away from the comet. Now the one eyed Gramblarr is truly leading the blind, as they all try to escape the chaos!
Dima finally makes herself known to the crew. "Everyone, we must abandon ship! Stop your fighting and save yourselves!" The crew, shocked to see their Empress on board, comply with haste.
As the two crews work to get on board the Dracontyr, Mayne, Squalor and the Jugger save as many coins as possible.
The crew reunite with old friends as they realize the Captain of the Dracontyr is none other than... Cap'n!
"Empress" Dima negotiates terms for the captured crew to be returned to Coriander, in exchange for the release of all Arcadian prisoners held there. Cap'n wonders where the crew has been ... A lot has changed in the last 5 mooonths!
Griff is surprised to find the mascot of the Dracontyr is an actual Drakewyrm! Not a true dragon, but fitting nonetheless. He offers treats and makes a fast friend (almost losing a finger in the process).
Cap'n addresses Griff: "Oh that reminds me, I found this book on Dracontyr during my journeys. Inspired the name of our ship, it did. As the cat who's seen more Dragons than any of us, it made sense for you to have it, Griff."
TOME DRACONTYR.pdf
As Griff flips through the pages, a ballad printed in the back plays magically from the book.
DRACONTYR AND DEATH.mp3
(Song by Suno, Lyrics by Sean Patten)
As the crew listen in, their heads fill with questions...
ON TO PART 18!
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