Arno Arazzmus - The Tale of Muskapegs, Skags, and Ceremonies

"if your hearing this, which I know you are..." [after 2 seconds] "you shouldn't go down this road, as fun as it may be..." [after 4.5 seconds] "but we both know you will" [after 6 seconds] "alright brother, listen close because this recording is not gonna play again" [after 7 seconds] "this recording is one of what should be many, but what I'm looking for is something legendary, in this tomb Arno is the key to the Ophir ceremony! do you understand what that means? The greatest story to ever be told by none other than the [[god of stories!]]"

"OOGIE OPHIR" the recording says as it glitches and ends [after 1.5 seconds] A boy with glasses, in a finely made jacket with a small bag with various trinkets fit for exploration, rises from his seat which was a fallen pillar in this strange tomb. Unreadable lettering is riddled across the walls and a [[large door remains in his way]]

the boy pulls out a rectangular trinket from his pack, he pulls the ends apart and a tablet forms. The tablet pings and scans the room and suddenly all the symbols glow with a light blue hue and reveal their [[meanings and secrets...]]

a stone tablet is in the center and bunch of glowing numbers appear, it appears the first number is the ony one that has faded away the most. "hmmm" the boy says the boy presses the 1st button 4 times and the large stone door begins to open as the [[room rumbles]]

beyond the door is a room, paintings are on the wall of a scrawny, god-like being surrounded in flame with a... turban hat? the god in fire is surrounded by beings from all around the cosmos and some the boy has never seen before. Another sphereical node device with the initials "-CA" are carved into it. [[the boy picks up the node.]]

*static* [after 1 second] "how sick is that, now if you wish to continue..." [after 1.5 seconds] [["turn around"]]

"if it isnt the notorious explorer, Arno Arazzmus!" a man says near the door. "says the real explorer!" Arno replies "well, the name "Carlos Arazzmus" doesn't quite have the ring to it that i'd hope for" [[Carlos says]]

"let's get out of here, before dad finds out" Carlos says [after 1 second] the Arazzmus brothers make their way out of the cave and arise into a field of tall reeds in the distance is a nice home built into a mound of dirt also covered in reeds they both make their way home and [[some time passes]]

"quick brother, let me see your pack" Arno goves his brother his pack while he tries to hide it under a rock outside [[the home.]]

the door opens and the boys enter the house, however are immediately greeted with a stern, stoic and angry, Irving Arazzmus "you forgot these" Irving says as he pushes a duffel bag of Carlos things, like maps, trinkets and his research, into his arms "now get out" he says "whats your problem?" Carlos asks "I know your trying to expose your brother to your stupid search for some crazy party with a bunch of flunkheads and skags" Irving says angerily "Irving!!" a woman says in another room "quiet Eve, our son is just leaving" Irving says "why are you so against what i'm trying to do" Carlos says as Arno sneaks by to go towards his room "because looking for riches and glory leads to nothing but problems, so if thats what you want then go! [[Leave and never come back]]"

Carlos looks at his mother, and brother one last time. [after 2 seconds] "I'll be back soon." [after 2.5 seconds] "[[I promise.]]"

[align center] [[7 YEARS LATER.]]

wind blows across a field of reeds, like a wave of gold. an old destroyed ruin stands tall above the reeds. and a small hovership schooner flies [[above the ruin]] sporting a red and white flag.

"make sure ya get the gold forks and trinkets too lads, the cap'n could use anyting here" a ragtag pirate says. "I don't tink a fork is as impotent to the boss ya erd" a mushroom man-creature-thing with the word ORG in their chest replies. "the only thang i'm "earin" is whatever the "cap'n" says!!" the first pirate replies "now get to fetchin the goods" a peice of rubble crumbles off the ceiling, and attracts the pirates towards a mysterious man. "get a look at this skag thinking e' can [[run round these parts]]"

the pirates stealing from this sacred ground all reach for their swords and daggers. "we gon gutchu like a fish, man" ORG the mushroom says "a bup bup.... I wouldnt stand there if I were you" the mysterious man says as he pull out a sphereical trinket from his jacket pocket. the man adjusts his glasses "who knows what traps these temples hold" a third thuggish looking pirate speaks up "and who are you to threaten the "[[Milky Way Muskapegs]]"" she says

the mysterious man steps closer into the ruin. "well, first off." "what kind of name is that" "and second... the names." "Arno... Arno Arazzmus" Arno says as he clicks his device which pulsates a blue glow around the ruin showing a large glowing triangle underneath the Muskapegs the floor collapses and the pirates are left alone in a pit full of harmless but terrifying looking creatures. "wait lad, [[we take it back]]" one of the pirates pleads

"I don't" Arno replies "just wait an hour and the hole will fill up allowing you to leave" "but in the meantime..." Arno looks through the stolen goods "HEY!!! listen here you skag... our cap'n would be most displeased if you take what's hers" Arno finds a sphereical audio device. "[[good thing this is mine.]]"

Arno leaves and takes a misdirecting way home... through the fields of reeds, he passes old homes that haven't lasted as long as his. and eventually passes the spot where he learned to use his artifact hunting gear with Carlos. after a short while he finds the rock where his brother his gear before and does the same [[in his honor.]]

Arno walks towards the door to his home. it was seven years ago today where his brother left at this exact spot. Arno thinks to himself a moment and questions if his brother is still out there or not. Alive? or dead? [[Arno takes a deep breathe and reaches for the door]]

it slams open towards him knocking him onto the ground. "what the flunk dude?!" Arno asks angrily. "I knew you'd be out looking for scrap and trouble, just like Carlos" Irving says as he storms by and heads towards the rock. "oh Arno" Eve says peeking her head through the door a subtle storm begins to approach over the field of reeds... Arno gets up and wipes the dirt off his jacket and readjust his glasses as he trips and makes his father stumble over. "sorry mom, even if dad doesn't love him, I still love my brother and i'll do whatever I need to, to find him" "alive or dead." Arno says as he waltz his way over to his belongings "you dare insult me like that again boy and i'l-" Irving says as he's cut off "[[kick me out? do it.]]" Arno cuts him off

"Arno! Irving!" Eve pleads "not today... just not today" Irving wipes the dirt of his face and gives Arno a dirty glare as Arno grabs his gear and waves his arms up in a "what are you gonna do now" kind of gesture. Irving marches towards Arno... "why I aught---" *BOOM* *BOOM* *BOOM* 3 loud blasts are heard in the distance towards the main town by the ocean. *CRASH* lightning stikes the fields setting them ablaze as the downpoor extinguishes the flames "the town" Arno says "what about it, they don't care for us why shoul---" irving is cut off again for the 3rd time "because its the nice thing to do, you should try it sometime" Arno says as he walks towards his mother "mom I love ya but this old skag is getting on my nerves, I'm gonna see if I can help the townsfolk" Arno says whilst embracing his mother "[[do you what you think is right dear]]" Eve Arazzmus says

"always" Arno replies as he jumps aboard his makeshift "wombly tech" hover bike. Irving looks at his son one more time and says... "don't even bother coming ba-" "Flunk off" Arno says as he speeds away towards the town and through the fields. overtime he enters the rainstorm, and gets thicker into the chaos. Arno gets to the outer part of the seaside town and sees a [[grim sight...]]

Arno takes a brief look towards the town... flames are spreading embers and ash accross the town and above the town lies a hovering man o' war raining fire from above. Arno speeds up and drives over the fallen roof of a burning building and [[enters the fray.]]

He crash lands and his rust bucket of a bike knocks him off as it speeds up towards one of the pirates on the ground knocking him into the sea. 3 pirates menacingly wait and stare at Arno as he gets up. "ya really tink we'd forget whatcha did to us" the mushroom man from earlier states. "hey I let you live, why are you killing all these people?!" Arno asks frantically. *SLAM* a door opens as a man and his family are dragged out from their burning home "wer not killin brutha, just stealing whats rightfully ours ya erd" ORG the mushroom replies. "but perhaps we should kill you, as a statement and a warning!" one of the pirates says as he casually throws and catches a hand-held bomb. "Yeah" a deep voice huge beast of a man says with a deep voice as he cocks the hammer to his blunderbuss. *WAAAHHH* a loud horn is played as the ship from above drops its anchor and begins to lower as it decends above the town and into the ocean. "[[aye, it appears the cap'n would like a word with you]]" the huge scary man says

*BOOM* *BOOM* two grappling hooks grip the sides of two houses as the ship pulls itself inward towards the town. *crash* a flat wooden bridge lands on the edge of the town and a mysterious figure in all black walks towards the edge of [[her ship.]]

A skeleton pirate from the planet Piradon fitted in an all black frock coat, pants and boots wearing a finely fitted black tricorn cap with sinister yet calming purple flaming eyes stares into the soul of- "Arno Arazzmus" the captain says. "I hear you went snooping where you didn't belong and caused my crew a fuss" she says. "yeah well... they had something of mine, or my brothers I mean. It's a long story" Arno replies. a moment passes as rain downpours upon Arno and the pirates. "so that weasel survived" the captain says. "you knew Carlos" Arno asks. "knew? so he is dead." the captain presumes. "well I don't know i'm asking you... [[HEY, who are you anyway!]]?" Arno asks

"the names... Nina, Nina Grimwald... *CRASH OF LIGHTNING* or the scourge of oogalog, the slayer of the crimson skag, the owner of Niko's cutlass... eccetera, eccetera... " captain Grimwald says. "Niko's cutlass? like thee captain Niko" Arno asks exitingly/ "yes boy, thee captain Niko, I bested him in a fair duel amongst the stars..." Grimwald replies as she reaches her boney hand to her side... "but enough chit chat Arazzmus!" with a swift action Grimwald swings forward a handle of a bladeless weapon, and in an instant a light purple blade manifests from said handle... *SHLING* the blade is then aimed towards Arno "you should've minded your own business boy" Grimwald says as she goes for a swing that nearly [[ends Arno's existence]]

"whoa whoa whoa" Arno says as he reaches into his pocket for anything and falls to the ground a sphereical device falls onto the muddy wet ground A giant hologram of Carlos Arazzmus appears... "A- A- Arno... I f- f- found the next piece of the map on Kubelo... if you c- can find a way off Javelin and make it here..." the hologramed Carlos points towards a floating map of the solar system... "Kubelo..." Grimwald says to herself "you will find the way to the OPH-- *static*" the hologram ends as Arno puts it back into his hands "hey what're you doing boy" the deep voiced ugly pirate says Grimwald marches towards Arno who has crept his way towards the towns edge and near the water "what is he talking about! tell me before I-" Grimwald is cut off "not so fast captain" Arno says as he holds the hologram device over the edge "my brother was smart but his tech isnt so resistant to certain things..." Arno says as he lets go of one finger... all the pirates [[gasp at once.]]

"one of those things being the water of Javelins harsh ocean" "what do you think your doing boy!..." Grimwald asks angerly. "making a bargain..." Arno replies as he lets another finger loose from the grip of what could possibly be the map to endless treasure... "OK!! WHAT DO YOU WANT!?!" Grimwald screams in fear, anger and desperation.... "you take me to Kubelo and wherever this leads too, and in the end you can keep the riches..." Arno offers. "and what do you gain out of it..." Grimwald asks "the truth..." Arno states. the soon to be explorer and the group of ragtag pirates are at a pause with this offer.. Arno lets yet another finger loose... "ALRIGHT!!!" Grimwald yells "we'll take you there... but if you play any games boy you'l-" "no no no, you don't threaten me. I may have the key to Carlos treasure but i'm the only one who can read it and use his tech, if I feel like your going to betray me in any way or harm me, then the truth and all the riches [[die with me!!]]"

"ha ha ha" Grimwald laughs "perhaps your meant to be one of us with an attitude like that" Grimwald turns a full 180 degrees and begins to walk back to her hover ship. "let's go Arazzmus, if you want us to fly you to this overgrown rock then you better get used to how this is gonna work" "you know how lucky you are lad, aint no one threaten the cap'n and get away with it" the guy with the bombs says to Arno. "the names Gil, your expert bomb specialist and lover of destruction..." Gil says as he reaches an arm over Arnos shoulders. "that ugly mug there is Blubs, don't get on his bad side or the gods cant even save you from what he'd do to you" "heh heh" Blubs laughs as he wipes saliva from his disgusting face "keep him away from me" Arno says "that mushroom clown you already met with is ORG, his kind are usually dull and dumb as rocks but he decided to leave them behind" Gil says as he poits towards the mushroom pirate. "I left me tribe because mother SHROOMUS couldn't stop using us brother shrooms to spy on the universe, sometimes I feel er [[breathin down me neck"]]

"isnt Shroomus a primordial or somethin?" Arno asks. "oh yeah man, she was also related to that other fool Zardak" ORG says to Arno. "Zardak the dream demon wizard guy?" Arno asks exitingly to ORG. "oh yeah brotha" ORG answers. "perhaps this journey wont be so bad since storytellin and workin is all your gonna be doin on this trip" Gil says to Arno in a playful 'I hope your ready to work' kind of manner. "working?" Arno says to himself as he looks up at the towering ship in front of him. A darkish red rosewood ship, fitted with 50 cannons total, 3 massive sails, and double tri-propulsion engines fit for water, air, and space travel. Arno begins to take his first step aboard the ship with the name "starshadow corsair" written on the side. Arno turns and takes one last look towards the town that was once in flames and is now extinguished from the storm, no one is at real harm and his family house still intact in the distant plains. Arno adjusts his glasses, takes a deep breathe, and aboards the starshadow corsair, not as a pirate, but an explorer, [[just like Carlos.]]

[align center] Arno Arazzmus - The Tale of Muskapegs, Skags, and Ceremonies. [align center] written and created by: [align center] Seneca Chase Stevens [align center] [after 3 seconds] CHAPTER 1 [align center] [after 3.4 seconds] [[New Beginnings]] [after 3.4 seconds] OTHER CHAPTERS [after 3.4 seconds] - [[Muskapegs And Mishaps]] [after 3.4 seconds] - [[Skags And Pirates]] [after 3.4 seconds] - [[Ceremonies And Gods]]

[align center] CHAPTER 2 [after 2 seconds] [align center] [[Muskapegs And Mishaps]]

Arno is now with the muskapegs gliding in the sky and over the ocean below... "you there! get those ropes back aboard and fix the sails while yer at it bub!" a random muskapeg orders. "WHAT!? ive never done ship duty activities!" Arno yells. Blubs and all of his massive stature begins to walk over to Arno with menacing intent "listen here you Jav-skag you either get busy learning how to work on this vessal or we tie you to the bow and plunge into the depths while youu scream for your puny life" "ENOUGH!" the captain says on the helm. "womp womp" Arno says under his breath. angerly Blubs grabs Arnos shoulder "why you-" a sword is drawn towards blubs. "aye don't hurt the explorer man ya erd" ORG defends Arno. "baahhhh... your lucky this time" Blubs says as he stomps away into the lower decks of the ship. "uh thanks. I owe you one" Arno says surprisingly. "don't mention it man, ya get us to the goods and we all er gon be happy" ORG says. "ha right right..." Arno replies in a lower tone. "ARNO! make yourself useful and get below the decks and [[activate the airo-dome]]" Captain Grimwald orders

"aye-aye cap'n" Arno says jokingly. Grimwald throughs a boney, [[unkind hand gesture.]]

Arno and ORG make their way down to the lower-lower deck... it surprisingly smells pleasent down there, almost like old rum and vanilla, and old wood. Food, wood, tools, treasure, and single long metal machine line the floor. The machine has an engine in the center of the room attached to the center sail pole and has the words 'WOMBLY TECH' written on the top. "well well well, how'd the captain get ahold of one of these?" Arno asks as he reaches for the little latched door of the machine. Arno opens the device revealing a dark blue and pink stone hovering in the middle, powering the breathable air device fo the ship. Amazed by the stone, Arno asks... "is that-" ORG cuts him off "Jahstone? aye, it be one of the rarest crystals in the universe, connected to non otha than the primordials themselves ya erd" "aren't you related to them?" Arno asks "ya man, we mushrooms are all connected to the primordial mother king SHROOMUS..." ORG replies. "mother king?" Arno questions "aye she don really know the difference between kings or queens man, she just picked the word that sounded cool ya know" ORG responds Arno looks confused at ORG and simply says.. [["interesting"]]

"so... you left becaus she was spying with or for you or whatever?" Arno asks as he reaches into his bag for a journal. "ya man, after da universe was created, she landed on a mountainy planet, with beautiful pink skies and the first ting she observed was the interesting life surrounding er, and that life was mushrooms." ORG responds. "so would you say it's true then, that primordials take shape of whatever they see interesting first?" Arno asks as he writes down notes. ORG thinks for a second... "sometin like that, but anyway Shroomus took her final form as the mother shroom and spread her influence across the planet, leading to the mushroom pack bein born ya erd? and because we came from er we all share a collective mind." "but some of the shrooms eventually find their way off the planet and like me venture forwad to new and interesting tings, but I soon realized mother Shroomus was using us to see the universe" Arno looks at ORG with a questionable expression "are you sure she was spying? or was she just trying to learn from you?" ORG sits and thinks a moment... "I dont care man, I chose me own destiny and I sure am not gonna be willingly spied on for the rest of me days" ORG pushes the button and activates the airo-dome for the ship and its crew and begins to walk up towards the [[top deck.]]

a light blue but nearly invisble dome appears around the ship, and the tri-propulsion engines begin to fire up with a purple and yellow flame. the crew begins to cheer for they know what happens next. captain Grimwald grabs the steering wheel and prepares for ascension. *WAAHHHH* a loud horn heard in the town earlier plays again and the ship launches up at a 45 degree angle... Arno is leaving Javelin for the first time. he looks down at the atmosphere and his home so small now he cant even see it. "first time?" Gil asks as Arno stares back at is homeworld. "yeah..." Arno replies as he adjusts his glasses "believe me son you get used to it." Gil reasures Arno after a moment Arno looks towards the helm and captain Grimwald makes an announcement "TO KUBELO LADS!!" Grimwald yells. the crowd collectively cheers as the ships tri-propulsion thrusters kick in at max and the starshadow corsair sails into hyperspeed. Arno and the milky way muskapegs glide in colorful tunnel that wraps around the ship like a kaleidoscope. [["it's beautiful..."]] Arno whispers to himself.

some time passes and the corsair enters the Kubelo's exosphere. "LAND HO!!" Grimwald says. "ARNO! get up here" Arno enters the helm of the ship and approaches the wheel of the ship, and approaches Nina Grimwald. "we made it to your planet boy, show us where to go" Arno reaches into his bag and pulls out his brothers recorded message. "A- A- Arno... I f- f- found the next piece of the map on Kubelo... if you c- can find a way off Javelin and make it here--" "hold on let me just...." Arno says as he fast forwards the message... "OPHIR CEREMONY. There's a t- temple in the southern equator over this s- s- section of the coast..." Carlos's hologram displays a map of the coast of where they need to go "however the terrain is rough, and can o- only be done on f- foot..." "there you will see a riv- ver that flows up a ravined mountain, fo -follow the river and you will find the t- temple... I think" Carlos's hologram says with questionably. Nina Grimwalds eye burst in a brighter flame and she ignites her cutlass... "you stupid flunk of a skag..." Grimwald marches towards Arno pushing him near the edge of the ships helm "we just flew to an entirely differnet planet for what your brother [["THINKS" is here!?"]]

"listen listen, I know how it sounds but I know, or knew Carlos, whatever he thinks is right... is!" Grimwald stares into Arnos soul with burning anger "rrrrrrRRRRRAAAAH" Grimwald turns a full 180 and grabs the wheel of the ship, in the center of the wheel is a set of buttons, she presses the red one and the ships tri-propulsion thrusters turn off which begins planetary descent. everyone begins to slightly float a little... "WHAT THE FLUNK ARE YOU DOING CAP'N" a crewmate asks. "sending mr arazzmus a message" flames begins to wrap around the airo-dome as the ship falls towards the seaside of Kubelo. Arno floats towards the captain... "the message is well read Grimwald, but you don't need to punish your crew over a holograms words". "that may be, but it just makes them [[hate you more]]" Grimwald replies.

*WAAAAHHH* the ships plays a loud horn as it begins to stabilize and hang in the air above the coastline. "you better smartin up Arazzmus, if there is no treasure here then ill throw you off this ship myself" Grimwald says. "aye we should gut 'im where he stands cap'n" a random pirate says. "FEED HIM TO THE FISHES" another random pirate yells. Arno makes his way to the right side stair case going down from the helm. "there will be no need for any of that, I promise there will be something for us all at the end of this journey, but the only way to find out is if we move forward". Arno looks down from the clouds to see a beautiful tropical coastline fit with cliffs and jungles alike. "i'm gonna nees help with this one though, we cant just fly down to it, and i'm not familiar with these lands... so who's in?". "aye man me an Gil will get ya there in one piece ya erd". ORG volunteers. "[[I guess so]]" Gil replies.

"then that settles it" Grimwald says as she creeps over and pats Arno's shoulder. she leans in... "you best bring me something worth keeping you alive boy." Grimwald whispers to Arno's face. [[Arno frightened nods his head.]]

Some time passes and the ship has landed on the coastline, while the little crew featuring ORG, Gil, and Arno begin to sail over to the cliff with the giant ravine sized gash on its side and a river flowing out from it. "you see those stairs boys?" Gil asks. "ya man, looks like we gon be joggin." ORG replies. Arno pulls out one of his devices from his bag a collapsed tablet begins to reform and a hologram map takes shape. "Kubelo... more beautiful than I thought... i'm starting to make a trail for us so feel free to park us on the coast Gil" Arno orders. "[[yes sir.]]" Gil responds.

the unlikely pair make their way to the cliffside jungle and follow the stairs into the ravine and begin to follow the river inward of the ravine. some time passes and they come accross some wrighting on the wall, ancient text from a long lost language. "what is this?..." Gil asks out loud. "an old language not used very much to this day, it was more drawing than talking really." Arno replies as he follows the lines and symbology with his hand. "if you look closely you can see what it's trying to say, the lines and shapes are moving in a direction and all lead to here *he points to a star* this is where we are going". "it's just a bunch of people around a campfire?" Gil says. "no no no not a campfire, its something much deeper than that my friend." Arno replies as he aims his tablet towards the mural. the painting begins to glow, in a light blue hue. "[[it's a ceremony...]]"

"so we're looking for some hippy meet up sesh in the middle of the universe somewhere?" Gil says agrivatingly. "no wonder the captain doesn't trust you". "the temples we are going to have riches... whatever trinkets you want are there... you just have to get em yourself, because to me... knowledge is more valuable than any riches this temple can have" Arno says as he points towards a distant sunken temple... *[[BRRRRR]]*

something begins to vibrate in Arnos bag... Arno reaches for the sphereical device and twists it open. "nice to see you made it to Kubelo... this temple is very different from the ones at home." says the voice of Carlos. "it was way cooloer when I got here but I triggered some sort of trap... theres tripwires everywhere once you get close... just use your eyes kid." "If you find another one of tese then I made it. [[otherwise...]]" Carlos says as his message ends.

"this gon be dangruss" ORG says. "no... we just cant be stupid about it" Gil says. "look there" he points. "I used to have to set traps like these back on Xero, coldest hell hole ever by the way". they all start to walk along the edge of the ravine towards the temple. "Xero?" Arno asks "Yeah bub... nothing but ice and war on that flunk up of a planet... it's in the middle of the perfect trade route for ships, everyones fightin for it, been fightin for it for generations and generations to come" Gil responds. "how the ell you survive somethin like that place man" ORG asks. "[[wombly tech.]]"

"Wombly tech had the best ground at the time above a giant clacier, and a massive fortress... all the angles... and all the--"... Gil stops ORG from stepping on a trap. "firepower..." Gil finishes. "thanks brotha" ORG says. "open your damn eyes man" Gil says. the crew walks past the traps and are now in front of the massive pyramid like structure. "how do we get in this thing anyway?" Gil asks "[[the top.]]" Arno answers

the crew makes their way up the mountain of stairs ahead of them and slowly they reach the top of the tilted pyramid. "that was murder man" ORG says. "shut up... you... don't even... need to... breathe" Gil says. "relax boys... we only go down from here" Arno says. Arno pulls another tool out from his bag. "whats that gonna do" Gil asks. Arno cracks the the tool like a stick and it begins to glow a bright blue. "[[lighten up the place a little]]" Arno replies.

Arno tosses the stick down the pyramid and then begins to climb down using the vines that have grown inward of the pyramid. "this should be easy" Arno says as he makes his way down. "easy? oh I hate climbing" Gil says. "[[I dont think I know h-]]" ORG proceeds to fall to the bottom of the pyramid

"hows it going up th-" Arno is cut off. *SPLAT* "auugghhh... sweet motha shroomus me body... its... broken". Gil lets go once hes close enough to the bottom. "ahhh get up flunk head your perfectly fine, you don't even have anything to break". "just because i'm a shroom don't mean I cant feel man" ORG says. "wait look..." Gil says the room is filled with gold, diamonds, riches beyind belief... suddenly a blue glow briefly fills the room as Arno scans for [[the things unseen]].

The walls of the inner pyramid reveal glowing symbols and show another map. A world of spikes and dangerous creatures, a world of skags... "Skavantis-1" Arno says as he grabs his brothers device left behind. *ding* Carlos's device begins to glow and blink. "were gonna be rich!!" Gil says as he lights a bomb and [[throws into the corner...]]

*BOOOOOM* A massive hole is formed on the side of the pyramid... "WHAT ARE YOU DOING YOU IDIOT" Arno screams at Gil. "hey you got what you wanted now it's time to pay up to the captain". Gil replies. "You can have your riches and gold but destorying history is not what were supposed to do!!" Arno says. "no no thats what you want to do... you think we want you on our ship, you were just trying to get off that trash heap of a planet of yours to go on some quest." Gil replies angerly. "we. want. gold!!!". Gil walks over to the opening and lights another bomb with a pink paint strip on it, and hurls it in the air as far as fishingly possible. *POOF* pink smoke fills the air above revealing the location of the temple within the jungle. [[*WAAAAHHH*]]

the starsahdow corsair flies above the pyramid and the muskapegs begin there decent by rope towards the hole in the temple. "watch your step and grab what you can lads, this temples loaded" Gil says to the rest of the crew. Arno just sits on a piece of temple debris and watches the pyramid get picked clean for anything shiny or golden... "aye man if it makes you feel any betta I understand how ya feel" ORG says. "man I just wanted to find my brother, not get involved with the destruction of ancient history, and pirates..." Arno replies. "let's go Arazzmus the captains waitin" Gil says. "[[yup]]" Arno replies

some time passes and Arno is aboard the corsair once again. Arno is invited into the captains quarters for a [[quick discussion]]

inside the captains quarters is maps of the known galaxies and planets and the important trinkets of which Grimwald is very fond of. "Arazzmus my friend you failed to disapoint, but i'll admit you made me question if we should kill you or leave you on a random rock somewhere" Grimwald chuckles. "please boy take a seat" Arno sits in front of the desk of which Grimwald resides... on the desk is the maps needed for them to go forward. "why so silent Arazzmus, we got what we both wanted, your brothers things and the gold left behind for me to find, we both won today". Arno taps the desk with his right hand and adjusts his glasses with the other. "yet we are the reason a sacred place is left touched by chaos and destruction, this thing I want is spiritual, its more important than gold and riches... its about the journey made that is important to get to the destination, now whoever goes on this same venture will have to see a giant gaping hole in the side of a once beautiful temple!!!" Arno replies in anger. *click* a flintlock is pointed at Arno's face. "watch your tone boy... this is my ship, my crew, whatever I want to happen will happen... now I apologize for ruining you sacred temple and what not but Arno, like I said... we both made out good today, [[be happy.]]".

Arno gives an angered yet calm look towards the captain. "be happy?" Arno asks. "destruction does not make me happy. You and your crew are responsible for the destruction of my town! And now a sacred piece of hist-" Arno is cut off. "YET YOU ARE THE ONE WHO STOOD IN MY CREWS WAY!!!" Grimwald retorts. "because of YOUR actions against MY crew, I taught whoever this Arno Arazzmus was a lesson, by tearing apart his precious town. Then what does he do? He gives one of the most fearsest pirate crews a score to chase... HA HA HA HA" she laughs. Arno sits and questins if this chase for a mythical planet, and a god of stories is even true. He questions if he should even go on with [[the journey.]]

Grimwald stands up and leans over her desk with a deadly stare into Arno's eyes. "because of you, everything you touch, look at or love ends up beong destroyed." "[[that includes Carlos]]" she whispers to his face.

*WHACK!!!* Arno punches the notorious skeleton captain Nina Grimwald... and knocks her boney jaw clean off... In shock of his actions he slowly gets out his chaor and heads for the door... "HULGH HULGH HULGH, ta tones ahn yau kidgh" Grimwald says as she reaches for her own disconnected jaw bone on the floor... *CRACK..CLICK* she adjusts. "hopefully you use em for this next trip... NOW GET OUT OF MY QUARTERS!!!" Grimwald says with [[respect and anger]].

Arno bucks up and out the door into the noght sky of Kubelo. he turns and se- *BAM* Arno is surrounded by the crew and is pushed against the door by Blubs... "ya think you can attack our cap'n and get away with it?" the gross and disgusting Blubs says while holding his blunderbuss towards Arnos stomach. "yeah... I do..." Arno says riskingly. "get im over the edge boys, were gonna make it known who we are!!!" Blubs says as he puts away blunderbuss... *CRASH* "NO!! He's got the message and he knows whats next if he stands out of line" Grimwald says as she slams the doors open from her quarters. "but cap-" Blubs yelps. "enough" Grimwald retorts Blubs gets ahold of his blunderbuss once more... "ENUFF!? I think me and the crew ave had enuff with you" he says in defiance. "[[what did you say?]]" Grimwald asks in confusion.

"what we're all thinkin cap'n, you've gone too far with this fool... you try to teach im a lesson by treatin us like skags and drop us into the clouds..?? Then we try to defend ya and ya tell us NO!!?" Blubs argues. "AAYYYEEE" a vast majority of the crew says in unison. *CRACK* Blubs pulls back the firing pin in his blunderbuss... "I think it's time for new management..." he says. Nina gives a cold dead blank skeletal stare towards the crew. "very well... [[is that how you all feel?]]"

"..." [after 1 second] The crew in confusion of what they want are debating whats gonna happen next... [after 2.4 seconds] Blubs turns around and looks at the crew. [after 3 seconds] "oh because yer called out you aint gon say nothin? your all week and ave no res-" [after 3.5 seconds] *SCHLING* [after 3.6 seconds] *SSSSSSSSSSS* [after 4.3 seconds] "ughh ghhh" Blubs says in agony... *VRRRRRRR* A purple blade made of solid light is piercing through Blubs's stomach. "you should've thought twice before pulling mutiny on me..." Nina Grimwald says she kicks Blubs's large body onto the deck... "and for all of you... if anyone of you try this little stunt on me again... there's a pretty planet with your name on it where you'll get [[left behind...]]".

Grimwald deactivates the glowing sword of light... "and wheres that Arno?" she asks. The crew steadly looks at Arno "...uh" Arno says in a daze of the past few minutes worth of events... "Skavantis-1" Gil says. In a quick and terrifying unison the whole ship and its crew gasp all at once... "you got to be kidding me..." Grimwald says "wait wait wait... let's see what we have to our advantage guys..." Arno says trying to ignore whats happened thus far he reaches for his packl and fixes his glasses... *CLICK* *TWIST* "[[testing testing.. 1 - 2...]]" Carlos voice says.

"alright brother this one should be real interesting..." Carlos says. "so unf- f- fortunately this next trip is gonna take you somewhere... hectic... t- to Skavantis-1..." "[[home of the Skags...]]"

"oh flunk..." ORG says. Grimwald fixes her tricorn cap and states her mind. "well then... get back to work and set a coarse for Skavantis!!!" in dissapointment the crew starts to move... "so much for sleeping tonight boys" Gil says. "shouldn't have thrown a mutiny...." Grimwald swiftly replies. "hey I wasn't... ah nevermind" Gil says as he begins to unravel the [[solar sails...]]

The message fades away and Carlos gives Arno a warning... "the next m- message will not play until your at the next t- temple... be quiet on this planet brother..." the message ends... Arno unsure with what he's really dealing with thinks for a second... Grimwald mans the helm and begins to ascend the ship once more. ORG in the lower decks activiates the airo-dome for the crew, whilst Gil lowers the solar sails, and blubs lies dead on the deck... Arno walks over to speak with Grimwald and walks past the large corpse with a burning stab wound upon it. "Arno! Get up here" Grimwald says. [[And so he does.]]

"was this the first time? seeing death I mean?" Grimwald asks as the tri-propulsion thrusters kick in and the ship goes into orbit. Arno still amazed by view and trying to cope with witnessing a death takes a moment to respond. "he wasn't the nicest sure but he shouldn't have died" The Starshadow Corsair enters the colorful warp tunnel once more... "you should be glad, that man was about to make you dead aswell" Grimwald replies. "of course if you hadn't of hit me... maybe he'd still be with us..." "hm hm hm... ha.. HA HA HA!!!" Grimwald lightly than agressively chuckles... Arno realising yet again... [[something was destroyed because of him...]]

[align center] CHAPTER 3 [after 2 seconds] [align center] [[Skags And Pirates]]

In the lower decks of the ship... A few of the Muskapegs speak about the upcoming events... "oi lassy whad'ya know about these "SKAGS" huh?" a random pirate asks another. "ah yes, the Skags... these ugly... crystal spined... armidillo lookin flunkheads..." she replies. "crystal spined?" one asks. "aye... crystal spined... the captain slayed one a long time ago... the big crimson one" the lassy says. "what? how?" someone says in the back "with the scabbard of the savior of piradon... Captain Niko!" she says... A man stomps down into the lower decks slowly... "your saying she killed a crystal covered skag... with sword of light?" Arno asks. Everyone in the lower decks looks at him in disapproval due to the events prior... "[[yeah boy... what about it]]" one replies.

Arno holding a journal in his hand, adjusts his glasses... "Skags are a very unknown creature as in how they act and feel... however they have a reflective set of crystals upon their backs acting as a protective and communicative shell, I shined a light upon one while it was calm and relaxed showing a blueish hue on its shell, and the light reflected accross the entire area almost like a multi-lensed lighthouse -CA". "what are you saying boy?" the one in the back asks. "with nothing but respect to the captain... theres no way she killed one with a sword of light... especially a amassive "crimson skag"..." Arno replies. "..." The crew sits and thinks collectively for a moment... "well i'm sure someone would have seen it right... right" the lassy asks. The entire lower deck murmers and questions the captains actions... "And she killed your friend right?" Arno asks... "[[just think about that...]]"

*static* [after 1.5 second] "....ello.... my.... ame... s... araz..mus" [after 3 seconds] "th-.... tomb was made ap....mately 500 ye..s ago" [after 4.5 seconds] *fast farward noise* [after 5 seconds] [["Arno."]]

Arno leaves the lower deck and stares into the kaleidoscope of a tunnel thats wrapping around the ship. He looks at the captains burning purple eyes... he senses something is off... "we're close Arazzmus" Grimwald says staring to the end of the tunnel. She then stares blankly back to Arno... [[The silence is so loud.]]

*FWOOSH* The starshadow corsair leaves the warp tunnel and the sight in front of the crew and Arno is amazing... yet concerning... The planet Skavantis-1 is covered in spikey sharp rock structures all pointing in one direction like a tree frozen in a direction due to wind... The surface is all yellow with sand and storms with it, while the clouds swirl like a whirlpool of dust... "let the fun begin lads" Grimwald says to the crew... No one cheers, no one yells in excitement... [["hm hm hm"]] Grimwald chuckles to herself.

The ship lowers into the atmosphere and Arno goes to turn off the Airo-dome. Nina Grimwald ready's herself and rally's up the crew for a quick speech... "Muskapegs... gather up for a quick tale..." She says. The crew hesitantly walks towards the captains helm, they all are wondering what could possibly happen next. "I understand we have some tension among the crew... I feel it needless however we are from different places aren't we?..." "In my homeworld of Piradon, we are born from thievery, born from the fight, born to do what it takes to survive!!!" "I sensed a bad feeling when bringing the Arazzmus brother aboard my ship, but I didn't consider where it may take us..." "I apologize for ending Blub's life but mine was at risk... so I feel we should move on as a crew and explore whats next!!!" Grimwald reaches for her scabbard and ignites it. "Skavantis... here is where I proved my right to wield this sword and I defeated the [[Crimson Skag...]]" She says with a balled up boney fist in front of her.

"but how?" a crewmate asks... Grimwalds boney fire-eyed face stares into the soul of this crewmate... "I lured it off an edge like the foolish Skag it was!" she replies. "you see... light bounces off these creatures like a mirror, so I used that to my advantage and was able to blind the beast with this sword, and thus lured it over the edge..." The Airo-dome deactivates and the ship is hovering over the dangerously sharp landscape... "so is it dead..." another crewmate asks. Grimwald deactivates the sword in her hand and sighs... "yes, what do you think powers the ship?" Grimwald replies. "within the heart of the beasts is a rare stone, only the primordials know more about it than I do... but I know it's power." Arno rises from the lower deck and puts his pack around his body. "and so I say this to you, my crew, let's not fight over needless agression and look forward to the riches that could be within our grasps...." The crewmates look around at eachother and after a moment cheer... "[[YEAAHHH!!!]]" they all shout...

"Arazzmus!" Grimwald shouts. "lead the way boy" she says. Arno pulls out his folded tablet, opens it, and scans the landscape from above... Through the clouds and storms the landscape is highlighted... [[And a temple is seen...]]

"I see it... the last temple of OPHIR..." Arno says. "Let's get to it then, Gil, ORG, crew up again... your guiding Arno to where we need to go" Grimwald orders. "yes mam" Gil salutes and begins to board the smaller hover boat attached to the side of the ship. Gil, ORG, and Arno aboard the little ship and begin to descend down towards the sands and spikes of Skavantis-1... "we're not gon destroy this one are we boss?" ORG asks to Gil. "[[i'll do my best...]]" Gil replies.

Arno gets a good look at what lies ahead of them... Mountain sized spikes pointing in one direction everywhere... sand and dust storms over the horizon and a lonely temple underneath one of said spikes... "there she is..." Arno says. The temple is covered in the same murals and symbology as the one prior but they tell a different story... *LOW BATTERY* The hover boat yells... "WHAT!?" Gil questions... Gil flips a piece of the inside of the boats hull open and reveals the meter of charge being only 40% "this thing runs off of the ships Jahstone!? how is that even possible" GIl asks. "hold on..." Arno whips out some tech wizardry and tries to fix the situation. "I can get it back to 60% but you have to land now!" Arno says. "YOU WANT US TO WALK IN THIS HELLSCAPE!?" Gil asks. "[[unfortunately]]" Arno replies.

The schooner touches the warm sands of Skavantis... "oh man we gon die" ORG says to Arno. Calmly Arno waves his hand up and reasures ORG... "nah just relax were gonna be good" Arno replies. "and how do you know? your so calm and collected... what do you know?" Gil retorts. *noise to be chosen* "what the flunk was that!?" Gil freaks out... Arno grabs Gil's bomb-bandoiler and pulls him in close... "you need to stay calm or you'll be the Skag's lunch!!!" Arno angerly whispers. *push* "Alright Arazzmus get off me, just [[get us to the temple]] and do your stupid tricks" Gil responds.

The three of the them all make their merry way to the desert temple. "It's not far now boys" Arno reasures the crew. "yeah but I don't suppose you have a way to open the sky and clear the storm do ya?" Gil responds. Arno stops in place a moment. "listen Gil, where here to get information on the OPHIR ceremony, not for gold and riches..." he says. "no no lad, that's what YOUR here for! if the captain doesn't get something out of it, NONE OF US DO!!! [[DON'T YOU UNDER--]]"

*CRACK* [after 0.5 seconds] *CRUNCH* [after 1 second] *CRASH* [after 3 seconds] *JER JER JER* A massive blue colored, crystal Skag clicks at the crew... It's eyes stare towards Gil's turned back... "[[walk slowly towards me Gil...]]" Arno says...

*clink* *snap* Gil lights a match of sorts... "I got a better idea lads..." Gil responds. Angerly but gently whispering Arno tries to stop Gil "Gil stop, you anger one you anger them all!!!" he says *SSSSSsssss* "[[FLUNK IT]]" Gil says...

"EAT THIS YOU UGLY PIECE OF--" *SMACK* Gil is slapped all they way towards the temple... *BOOOOM* *POP* *BANG* The entirity of Gil's bombs blow up and unfortunately crack open the temple from the side... shards of rock and temple fly towards Arno and ORG... "that flunking idiot" Arno kicks the sand... "no offense brotha but I don think a temple is the real concern" ORG warns as he pulls out a shard of stone from his mushroom cap. *JER JER* The Skag clicks and sniffles towards them... "[[run]]"

As the two of them run, the colorful blast is seen from and through the clouds to the corsair... "that was quick..." Grimwald states. "prepare for descent lads" she says. The ship plummets down into the storm and heads towards the colorful smoke cloud obscuring the temple. *WAAAAHHH* The Blue Skag is scared off... for now... *BOOM* *BOOM* The ship sets it's anchors on the spikey rock formation above the temple... "get whatever ya can lads and lets leave this hellhole..." Grimwald orders. Arno yells at the ship above "Nina!!! look what happened... another sacred place defiled by one of your crew for refusing to list-" "oh shut it Arazzmus... this was never about sacred architecture and ceremonies... [[It was about profit!!!]]"

5 muskapegs jump down via rope and toss another for Arno and ORG to climb up "I thought we had an agreement!" Arno yells up to the ship. "we sure did... but I don't care anymore, you got me paid and that's all this trip was worth!!!" Grimwald says. The 5 pirates grab what they can quickly and begin to repel back up the ropes... "oh man... me gon die" ORG says as he pulls a shard of the exploded temple wall from his cap... Distressed Arno makes his way over to help out the shroom pirate, as best as he can. "here... just stand up man" Arno says as he grabs ORG and then the rope up. Arno wraps the rope around himself and holds onto ORG's arm who is surpisingly light... *BRRRR.....* *BRRRR.....* Arnos bag begins to vibrate and his tablet begins to speak in a muffled voice... "come on, not now!!!" Arno yells to himself. He pulls out the tablet while being repelled up to the ship... *RIPPP* "OH FLUNK BROTHA... [[ME ARM NOT GON HOLD]]" ORG warns Arno...

"Arno just throw the junk bag up and we'll help you" Grimwald says... Arno does so and starts pulling himself and the shroom man with him up faster... *SNAP* "OOOOOooohhh flun-" *CRASH* ORG's arm rips clean off and he hits the sandy surface... "NOOOO!!!" Arno yells. "captain please... lower the rope!" he yells. [[Grimwald ignites her blade...]]

"I hope this w- w- works but I made it so you won't have t- to stay here long..." Carlos's voice plays... *FAST FORWARD SOUNDS* "-on OBABIN... that's where the ceremony is brother... I finally f-" *FAST FORWARD SOUNDS* "GRIMWALD COME ON!!!" Arno yells... "th- theres a statue made of gold at these coordinates, make sure you land there first, then will it make sense b- brother" Carlos says... *FOLD* *CLICK* Grimwald closes the tablet with one hand... "sorry Arazzmus, i enjoyed our little journey... however I have grown tired of your spirit quest..." Grimwald says. "we'll be sure to send you a postcard... (HA HA HA)" she chuckles... [[*SSSSSHING*]]

Arnos rop is cut... He falls down to the surface of Skavantis and his bag is thrown down to him... "so long Arazzmus!!!" Grimwald yells as the ships horn blares signalling the activation of its main tri-propulsion engines [[*WAAAH- HH -hh -h*]] the horn dies...

Arazzmus reaches in his pocket... [after 1.2 seconds] "so long captain...." Arno grins as he pulls out the main power source from the ship... [after 3 seconds] [[A piece of Jahstone glistens in his hand...]]

The Starshadow Corsairs engines begin to putter and fade out while slowly running out of rserve power... "STATUS REPORT!!!" Grimwald yells in a panic. "THE STONE IS GONE AND THE RESERVE WIRES WERE CUT CAPTAIN" A muskapeg yells... "[[well played...]]" Grimwald laughs to herself...

*BOOOOOOMMMMMM* the Starshadows engines explode with a massive red and orange flaming cloud, and it begins to drift towards a sharp pointed rock formation... *CRASH* *vvrrrRRRRRR* *BWAAAAMMMMMM* A blast so loud that felt like a volcanic eruption to the ears goes off in the distance... "[[yer one sneaky man brotha]]" ORG says as hes leking mycelium fluids onto the sands...

*JER JER JER* Skags approach in the distance... "rragghh" ORG says as he tries to get up. *SCHING* ORG pulls out his steel sword... "spose we gon die fightin then brotha" he says. "no man just rest... I'll handle it..." Arno tells ORG. "aahhh... how?" ORG asks. "Unfortunately... the captain had my tablet when she crashed but--" Arno is cut off... *CLICK* "[[But I still have my journal...]]"

"whats a book gon do against these Skags man?" ORG asks. "you'll see..." Arno replies as he quickly looks through his journal... *JER JER JER* "skags will not harm you unless you do so first or manage to find a way to get them aggrivated, qoute from Carlos Arazzmus..." Arno states. ORG looks with his singular eye at the snarling crystal coated skags that have now [[surrounded the pair...]]

"h- hey brotha whats ya plan here?" ORG asks as one of the skags creeps on over to him *CLICK* *CLICK* A green colored Skag slowly approaches ORG and begins to sniff his mycelium skin... "o-o-o-oo flunk" ORG stutters. "just relax and don't do anyhting to startle it..." Arno reasures ORG. Another magenta colored Skag sneaks behind Arno and begins to sniff his head of hair... "hey there big girl... we mean no harm" Arno whispers as he lightly pets under the Skags head... The Skag pushes it's head towards Arnos shoulder as a show of [[affection and even trust.]]

*PPPRRRRRRR* "no way these flunkin things are purrin man" ORG says. The green Skag rests at ORGs feet and begins to lick his wounded arm socket... "well... how are we gonna leave this place" Arno says as a sandstorm begins to roll in... "until then we should get to that temple". ORGs arm seams to heal and he pats the Skags sharp head "ow man... you go i'll follow brotha" ORG replies. *CLICK CLICK* The green Skag clicks at ORG and begins to walk towards the temple... "what the flunk... I was not talkin to the Skag" he says. Arno looks towards the temple and back at ORG... "[[strange...]]"

Arno, ORG and the two Skags make their way to the temple grounds. The sand storm begins to rage on more and more causing ORG and Arno to hide and wait it out inside the now barron temple. Saddened Arno looks around. "they left nothing..." he says. "yeah... ah... that's unfortunate for sure brotha... damn man me head hurts like a motha..." The magenta Skag seemingly stares into the eyes and soul of Arno as it's crystal mane flutters... "ARNO" A [[feminine godlike voice ruptures]] through the Magenta Skags mind into thiers...

"m- motha?" ORG asks... "HELLO ORG. I HAVE MISSED YOUR PRESENCE UMONG THE PACK." The voice gently but sternly says. Amazed Arno walks closer to the Skag. "[[Are you... SHROOMUS? The Primordial?]]" He asks

"YES ARNO. YOU SAVED ONE OF MINE. SO IT'S ONLY FAIR I RETURN THE FAVOR." Skag SHROOMUS claims. "Thank you... oh.. great one... uh" Arno says confusingly "DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED MORTAL. I HAVE NOT SEEN OR HEARD FROM MY PRECIOUS ORG IN A LONG, LONG WHILE. BUT THE FIRST THING I SEE IS YOU HELPING HIM. FOR THAT I OWE YOU." Skag SHROOMUS claims. "oh well, don't mention it... he was in danger so I thought he could use my help." Arno says kindly. "IT APPEARS YOU ARE TRAPPED ON THIS HARSH PLANET. PERHAPS THE NEARBY GOD CAN ASSIST WITH THAT." She says... "[[nearby god?]]" Arno asks...

[align center] MEANWHILE IN THE FAR REACHES OF SPACE... [align center] [[COUNCIL TERRITORY]]

"listen joe... the entire council has room for a chaotic paradise im telling you!!!" an unknown voice calls out. [after 1.5 seconds] "dude... Niko listen... you really think "WAR DAY" sounds appealing to the passed on souls, who which I must remind you probably die in a war from wherever they're from anyway!?" JOE replies... [after 3 seconds] "precisely lad, some people are jus' cravin a slice of chaos and this could be the best way to do it!..." Niko responds. [after 4 seconds] "alright alright... we'll have a meeting then a vote... but Apollo's vote counts as yours" JOE responds. "no no no you wai-" Niko says as the portal from him to JOE closes... "that sneaky-reality-shifting-no-good-piece-of-sh---" "[[CAPTAIN NIKO VON BONAIRE]]" SHROOMUS's voice echos into Nikos mind...

"cheers lassy... to what reason do I owe the pleasure of your presence... oh great PRIMORDIAL" Niko says in his head. "DON'T FLATTER ME PIRADONIAN." SHROOMUS says. "hey I meant it lass, unlike ZARDAK your fun to have a wee chat to" Niko replies. "speaking of which are you two-" "SILENCE PIRADONIAN. I HAVE A REQUEST YOU MUST FULFIL..." She replies. "your lucky you remebered old gal, I completely forgot about that..." Niko says. "LIES." She responds. "yer right (hm hm hm)" Niko chuckles. "DUE TO OUR PREVIOUS AQUAINTANCE, YOU MUST ASSIST ONE OF MY OWN" SHROOMUS demands. "[[go on then...]]"

[align center] CHAPTER 4 [after 2 seconds] [align center] [[Ceremonies And Gods]]

The mushroom man and the explorer sit in the blown open temple. "primordials... gods... man I wish Carlos were here..." Arno says. "try livin with em brotha" ORG responds. *FWOOOOOM* A floating pirate ship ruptures into the clouds from a warp tunnel... "must be our ride..." Arno says as he looks at the Magenta Skag. *"JER JER JER"* it clicks. "gone so soon I spose" ORG says. "hey at least she didn't poke around in your head like you wanted" Arno replies. "I guess you right brotha" ORG responds. "[[ARAZZMUS!!!]]"

suddenly the Skags accompanying the duo are alerted to the hole in the temple... Grimwald appears... "YOU'RE PRETTY SLICK ARAZZMUS" Grimwald growls Her purple flaming eyes ablaze, and the stolen light sword ignited... *HSSSSSS* the Skags's crystals begin to straighten like a porcupine. *WAAAAAHHHHH* Another tri-propulsion frigatte appears above and shines a missive light above the temple which shines through the entry hole in the ceiling like a spotlight. "whoa what the flunk" ORG says as a dark blackish fluid appears form under his feet. "NOOO!!!!" Grimwald yells and begins to run to the outside of the temple. The fluid begins to consume Arno and ORG completely... "[[JUST HOLD STILL]]" Ano warns ORG.

*RAAAHHH* The Green Skag yells... The Skags chase Grimwald up the temple as she runs not for her life but to catch up to the ship above... Next to the temples top is one of the spiked rock formations that pints directly under the floating ship, cleverly she climbs to the side and gets higher and higher... "HA- HA HA-" Grimwald franticly laughs as she runs on the sharp pointed rock formation which is running out of track the closer she gets to the floating ship... *CRACK* *CRUMBLE* A magenta Skag climbed to the peak and blocks her path... "HHHSSSSS" it screaches. As she gets closer to the Skag, the sound of rippleing air is heard like the swing of a bat swinging at 100 miles per hour coming right towards her... *SCHIIIINNNGGG* The magic god-like power-infused hard-light blade SHATTERS and bounces the Skag back and out of the way off the peak... [[Grimwald successfully blocked the lethal swing of a Skag with Niko's scabbard...]]

"RRRAAAaaahhhh" the Skag creams as it falls to the top of the temple... Grimwald reaches the peaks end adn makes the leap of faith... *vrr vrrr VRRR* the tri-propulsion engine fires up... "HUGHHH" Grimwald grunts as she leaps towards the fleeing ship... For a brief moment in the air time seams to slow... Grimwald is above the temple, above the dangerous Skags, ad her only way to live [[is to stick this...]]

*SCHIINNNG* Her blade cuts into the back of the ships hull... "aaaahhhhh" Grimwald sighs. [[Grimwald hangs for dear life and does her best to climb the ship...]]

"..." "MMMMM" A pool of black fluid appears aboard the new ship... Arno's hand reaches out of the fluid and he pushes him self out. "Oh man what the f-" "Welcome aboard" a boney hand reaches out... "[[Arazzmus]]" the voice acknowledges.

Arno wipes the strange fluid off his glasses and looks up... A grinning skeleton pirate with a singular orange flaming left eye stands before him... Sporting a wine red frock coat with a bandoiler featuring 4 flintlock pistols over his boney chest, along with all black pants and boots and black tricorn cap. Arno reaches for the hand... *CRACK* the boney hand is pulled off the forearm. "AAAHHHH OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE YOU DONE" The pirate yells. "I uh didn't mean it, my mistake pleas-" Arno franticaly replies... "AHHH gotchu good didn't I lad, get's em everytime. But seriously welcome aboard the "PIRADON'S SALVATION" I will be your captain... your savior... and your God of War... Niko Von Bonaire..." Niko says. *CRACK* Niko puts his hand back in place... "uh thank you sir... Niko" Arno says confu- "wait god of what?" he says without a thought. "[[WAR!!!]]" Niko Responds

"oh god" Arno whispers to himself. "precisely, but I can't take all the credit, there is my twin brother aswell but he's busy as of late... something about "theres this cool planet called earth, always fighting each other over stupid crap" blah balh blah" Niko responds "hey Niko... captain... wheres my friend?" Arno asks "ah yes the decendant of "SHROOMUS" my bad.. sorry" Niko snaps his fingers and the pool returns on the floor. "ULLGGHHH" ORG screaches out of the fluid... "what the flunk was that man" ORG asks. "you look... better?" Arno questions. ORG puts his hand up and looks at his healed arm and feels for his completely healed cap... "what the-" "ah yes the fluid... you know we never named it but it connects us with oursleves and our souls... as creepy as it is its very powerfull stuff, it'll take you wherever it is you need to go." Niko replies. "so, can it take us to Obabin?" Arno asks. "[[hmmm afraid not... but I can!]]" Niko says and claps his hands

The empty ship suddenly bursts with... life? as a bunch of undead skeleton pirates begin to put the ship to work... Arno looks around and without realizing it they are already in space... "wait how are we breathing, wheres your airo-dome?" Arno freaks out. "relax Arazzmus yer on my ship, not that wrench Grimwalds ship anymore..." Niko tells Arno. "here I make the rules... I am the god of this ship as much as I am the god of war!" "man this is crazy..." Arno relaxes. Arno looks around the ship finally soaking it in... A frigatte sporting ash wood as its main choice, and fitted with wine red sails to match the captains colors. 20 cannons on each side. "I'll admit this is way better than whatever Grimwald had" Arno says. "speaking of which she has your balde right, don't you want it back?" he asks. "I'll get it back, just not now... there are certan circumstances I need to follow to get it back... [[like a rite of ownership... one day.]]" Niko responds

The ship enters the warp tunnel and heads for Obabin at full speed... "neva gets old ay brotha" ORG says while he stares at the kaleidoscopic waves surrounding the ship... "never." Arno responds. "hey man, I never thanked ya, sure my motha spoke to em but you knew how to chill out the Skags man... I owe ya one for real" ORG says. "don't mention it, I thought I might make amends for the destruction I caused along the way." Arno replies. "that wasn't entirely ya fault man, mostly the captain tryna show off ya heard" ORG says. "[[yeah... I guess]]" Arno responds.

*CREEEEK* *SMACK* Grimwald snuck into the boat from one of the cannon ports... She stumbles to the floor of the lower deck, wiping off the colorful flames from the warp tunnel... *pat pat pat* "hm hm hm, never thought I'd be back here..." Grimwald chuckles. "hey!" A boney crewmate holding a fresh bottle of rum yells. "why'd you open that port, scum?" says the other. without them realizing it grimwald removed her cap and coat... in a moment of hesitation.... "[[to get some fresh air lads...ha... ha]]" Grimwald chuckles...

"AHHH HAA HAA" the crewmates laugh. "I GET IT!" *SMASH* The skeleton smashes the bottle on his head... "JUST LIKE HOW WE CAN'T DRINK!!!" He keeps laughing... the pair begin to head to the upper deck... "what a bunch of idiots..." Grimwald says as she re-adorns her cap and coat. Grimwald snuck into the lower part of the deck and decided to wait out [[what ever is to come...]]

*VVRRRR vrrrr vrr* the Piradon's salvation begins to slow down and exit the warp tunnel. "HA! it's one of these places..." Niko says as the ship comes closer to a massive golden statue floating in the cosmos The statue is surrounded by ships from all around the cosmos, all direlect and empty. "where's the planet?" ORG asks. "in your mind..." Niko says as he wiggles his fingers creepily... "it's hidden with some coucil magic..." "council magic." Arno says. The ship arrives towards the statues platform... A bowl of [[mysterious fluid]] lies in wait.

"aye grab the platform lads!" Niko orders some of the crew. A wooden platform is used as a bridge from the ship to the statues base. ORG, Arno, and Niko cross over. Like the ship there is air here but no atmosphere... no airo-dome... magic? togehter they walk towards the bowl of mysterious fluid... it glows with the colors of the cosmos, like a pool of [[glittering sludge...]]

"what the flunk is this stuff supposed to do to us?" Arno asks. "it opens your mind boy... however you only need a little..." Niko says He inserts his boney hand into the fluid, drenching his bones in it... He removes his hand and smacks it on his face... leaving a paint mark colored of the cosmos... "opeeennnn yooouurr mmmiiinnnddd" Niko says quietly... Arno looks at the frozen skeleton pirate gazing into the stars... "Alright here goes nothing..." As Arno reaches his hand into the fluid a familiar face appears on the ship. "[[ARAZZMUS->new something]]"

Nina Grimwald charges off the ship at Arno with her stolen ignited sword... "OH SHI-" Arno reaches in the bowl and tosses some of the fluid into her eye sockets... "ARRRGHHH YOU MOTHER...." Grimwald complains in agony as her eyes burn not only with purple flames but now cosmic jelly... Arno looks at his hands as [[everythign bgeisn ot egnach->opeeennnn yooouurr mmmiiinnnddd]].......

[after 2 seconds] "..." [after 4 seconds] "... arno ..." [after 5 seconds] "[[ARNO!!!]]"

"WHAAAA... WHO!? WHAT!?" Arno freaks out momentarily "what the flunk..." Arno looks around and soaks in the scenery... He's on a beach, next to a calm shallow ocean... the deepest he can see it get is as deep as his waist. He also see's redwood trees, one fallen into the shore, they are all the size of tall buildings shrouding the sky above, which itself is a spectacle to see... The sky is not normal... there are clouds but instead of blue you see stripes and colors like neon paint floating in water... "[[AM... I...]]" Arno looks at his hands...

"DEAD...yeah your about to..." Grimwald says stumbling out of the shallow ocean shore. Arno still dazed struggles to stand up... "Whoa whoa whoa" Grimwald swings her burning scabbard towards him "RAAHHH" *SSCCHHHIIIINNNGGG* A cold steel cutlass blocks the swing... "[[Miss Grimwald...]]" Niko says.

*CRASH* *SPLASH* Niko pushes Grimwald back into the water... "Niko Von Bonaire... you still doing the god's chores" Grimwald asks as she rises from the shore "you should've stayed home..." Niko says lightly. "why? So I could watch you rise to fame and leave everyone to fend for themselves" *SSSSSSSSS* Grimwald slices the water to blind Niko temporarily... "HWAHHH" Niko waves his palm out flat and pushes a god-like wave of power out towards her, pushing her towards the fallen tree. *CRASH* As she hits the log, wood splinters shatter everywhere... "[[go find what you seek Arazzmus!]]"

Arno reaches for his friend and begins to run... "ORG c'mon dude" "huh" he replies trying to stand. *DISTANT CHANTING NOISES* Arno hears chanting in the distance, like a cermony. "it's this way!!!" he shouts. ORG catches up slowly but surely. "hey man, what are we gon do if your brother isn't here?" he asks. "[[I... dont know...]]" Arno replies.

meanwhile on the shoreline, Niko and Grimwald duel it out... "you could have been so much more Nina" Niko says as he blocks a swing from her sword. "AND YOU COULD'VE STAYED!!!" She screams back. *CLING* *CLASH* *CLING* The two skeleton pirates splash their way around the fallen redwood tree, and eventually make their way upon on it... They lock sword hilts momentarily... *CLANK-SHICK-CLUNK* "STOP Nina... please... you act like I wanted to leave..." Niko says. "That's because you did Niko..." Grimwald responds The hard-light sword that once belonged to Niko is inches away from his face... *VVRRRRRRRR* "you'd rather ascend to godhood than explore the universe with me!!!" She says sadly but sternfully. The two face their skulls towards one another and for a second [[stare into their flaming eyes...]]

"killing, smashing, and stealing everything in sight is not exploring Nina" Niko says as he breaks the tension between the blades... Nina tries to talk back to Niko... "well maybe if you-" Niko throws his sword into the redwoods bark... "JUST STOP!!! HOW MUCH LONGER WILL YOU BLAME ME FOR YOUR ACTIONS!!??" "I TOOK BACK OUR ENTIRE PLANET FOR YOU!!!" He points and says sadly... "I ended a war to keep you safe... and... and you do this? You take my blade and choose to cause one yourself... all to make me feel bad for... for nothing!!!" even though shes only a skeleton, she feels her throat close... *SHHOOoop* Her sword deactivates and falls on to the bark... and she falls to her knees... hiding her skull with her hands she sobs... "[[i didn't know what to do without you...]]" she says.

Niko walks over and along the tree passed Nina. He sits right behind her and dangles his boots over the edge of the tree. "me neither..." He says. "I had no idea what I was signing up for..." He stares at the shallow oceans and islands and eventually up in the colorful sky... "I thought preventing galactic wars would be enough to protect you... but I ended up hurting you more and i'm sorry" he says. Nina sobs harder, even without a heart she can still feel. He places a hand on her shoulder and she immediately leans towrds him. A moment passes and eventually she replies. "me too" she says. [[The two Piradonians stare off into the horizon...]]

Meanwhile with Arno and ORG... The two of them reach the voices and are amazed by the site that is in fornt of them... Hundreds of strange looking indivduals and creatures gather around a fire all chanting phrases and songs from differet dialects and languages... There's so many different creatures here that Arno is amazed and doesnt have time to sketch them all... There's a living fuzzball, a rock king? a living maoi head, a massive snake wearing a crwon, a living tree, a unicorn with a sword for a horn? a creep with a helicopter hat, some big eyed aliens, and... [[a tall... one eyed... wizard?]]

"hello Arno..." the one eyed wizard says telepathically as he glances at Arno. "ORG..." He says at the mushroom. "how the flunk you know my name old man?" ORG asks. The wizards eye closes slightly as if he were smiling... "Oh please.. I know everyone here.. I know what everyones thinking and how I know your looking for a being named... Carlos was it?" The wizard says... Arno squints in a creeped-out/angry manner. "uh yeah I am, who the he-" "you know who I am... everyone does... the "dream demon"?.. the "creep"?.. but in reality I'm making sure no one blows up the universe out of stupidity" the wizard says. Arno amazed looks up to the tall being... "I recognoze your voice on the way here...." "you once said you "would end all those who apose you" didn't you? [[your... your...]]" Arno stutters

The wizards glare grows and mesmerizes Arno for a brief moment... He echoes one word into his mind... "[[ZARDAK]]"

Arno immediatley gets on his knees and praises the primordial that stand before him... "oh great Primordial I apologize for my insolense...." ZARDAK scoffs. "stop human... you don't need to be afraid of me." he says. "now shoo, the ceremony is about to begin soon, and your brother is waiting for you" excited Arno looks around... "[[what? where?]]"

"Arno.. Arazzmus... has a nice ring to it" a voice says. Arno turns and looks to see a familiar face... He has the same build as Arno but is older and barely has ny proper clothing, a mat of hair tied up in some twine, and is covered in strange markings that were seen on the pyramids... "[[took ya long enough.. brotha]]" Carlos says.

Arno rushes towards his brother and gives him the best bro hug he can... "what happened Carlos... were you stuck here the whole time!?" Arno asks shakily. "something like that... I missed my exit ticket and ended up haviong to stay a long.. long while... i'm sorry man..." Carlos says. "it's not your fault at all man" Arno says. "hey how the flunk did you get here anyway?" Carlos asks. "I made my exit ticket on Javelin... I found your messages and followed my way to some pirates which I accidently p-o'd" Arno says as he waves to ORG. ORG gives them a thumbs up... "I followed your message to Kubelo and then to Skavantis... met some Skags, and even a few primordials along the way... oh and a god of war!" Arno says excitingly. Carlos just looks and smiles. "see, I told you you'd be a notorius explorer" he says as he outs his hand on Arno's shoulder. "[[SILENCE!!!]]" a loud voice says.

Suddenly the planet turns to night but the glowing lines stay in the sky... The fire in the center fo the ceremony begins to burn a bright green flame... A scrawny bearded man wearing a turban arrises form the flames... Arno does his best to finish sketching what he sees... <img src="https://umainenewmedia.net/nmd443/wp-content/uploads/the-ophir-ceremony-scaled.jpg"> The crowd of various creatures begins to cheer for the arrival of the god of stories... [[OOGIE OPHIR]]

OOGIE OPHIR raises his hands in a god-like stance, and begins to tell a tale... "ARRRGGHH *cough-cough*" he coughs... in a very indian accent the god begins to speak once more... "once... not so long ago there was a boy who wished to find the truth..." "a boy who took risks..." "a boy who sailed the stars for his truth..." [["a boy who met gods and interesting creatures..."]]

"[[this tale is called...->Arno Arazzmus: A Tale of Muskapegs, Skags and Ceremonies]]"