Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[Ahelos]

It was a glorious day on the open sea, sun shining, waves gently rolling. Any sailor would call it the perfect day. Dyran however, would have definately disagreed with him... or her. To him, the sun was a glaring evil eye sent to burn him to death; and the gentle waves were enemies seeking to dislodge him from the bit of reckage he so desperately clung to.

Two days ago, he had been content, sailing towards the adventure of his life and dreaming lazily of treasure. Then the storm had hit, and adventure turned to nightmare. His ship had gone down and his crew dispersed. There was no signs that anyone else had survived, nor of anyone coming to help him. Dyran's strength was giving out. Soon the cold ocean would have him as well, and fabled jewel he searched for would never be found. He was probably going crazy, but he could almost see it hanging in the air before him, glinting silently in the sunlight...

[Ceri]

The Night Tracker surged through the waves, sails full and flags flapping. The wind wasn't strong but it was steady, and the ship was making great speed through the water.
Captain Carlos Chalcedony was standing at the starboard side of the ship, leaning over the side and surveying the empty waters. It was more than a week since they'd set sail from Spain and land was nowhere in sight; in eight days they'd seen nothing but clouds and water. Carlos loved the sight of the bleak, untouched ocean, undisturbed, knowing that there was nothing around to see them for miles and miles, that no one in the world knew where they were, what they were doing, where they were going...
Carlos' head snapped up. He'd spotted something in the water. He squinted in the glaring sunlight, trying to make out the dark shape below him.
"McLaren, come here." He called over the first mate, who handed him a telescope. Focusing down, he managed to make out several chunks of wood, wreckage, it must have been, and--he gasped.
"MAN OVERBOARD!"

[Aulius]

"McLaren have the men pull up the sails and send a group on a long boat to pick up any survivors...or bodies, they still have to be commited to the sea properlly" Carlos Ordered
"Aye sir!" he said as he set off giving orders to the crew of the Night Tracker.

Soon the ship came to halt and the row boat began its short journey towards the wreckage. With what little energy he had left Dyran called and waved at the boat, he blacked out because of exhaustion but was quickly picked up by the boat which quickly headed back to the ship after seeing no other survivors or bodies.

[Ahelos]

Dyran later woke up to the familiar feeling of rolling on the waves, so relxing. He just layed there when suddenly he sat bolt right up remembering the storm, the bits of the ship floating all around him. He looked around the room finaly realising it wasn't his room. He was in a small cabin which had a desk with folded clothes on and a chair and there was a port hole and the door.
Dyran got up, he could hear voices up on the deck.
I better go say thanks to my saviours and get some food, im starving
With that he got dressed and looked out the port hole, outside he could see the blue rolling muscular waves, and green land.

Ok Dyran, you can do this, take a deep breath and walk out of this room... he thought

[Aulius]

He stepped out of the room and onto the deck of the ship which had rescued him. He stood looking around as the crew were busily doing various tasks that were needed. From a distance Carlos saw Dyran standing outside of his room looking like a child lost in a crowd. He adjusted his clothing and strided over to Dyran who stood still not knowing what to expect of his rescuers.

"Well good to see your finally awake, and standing I see!" The man said cheerfully. Dyran surveryed him quickly. He was a tall man in his mid thirties he guessed, his clothes were moderatly well kept and would have costed a fair amount. His face was slightly rugged showing evidence that he had been in fights at some point in his life. His hair was a dark a blonde and tied back into a small ponytail which could be washed more often. "Where I my manners, I am Carlos Chalcedony, Captain of the Night Tracker" he said with his a hand gesture over the deck of the ship.
"Dryan...former Captain of the Lost Ark. Tell me what day is it?" He asked looking out toward the horizon.
"I believe it's the 3rd of July, its about time you woke up really" Carlos replied
"For two weeks I've been what? Unconcious?"
"Not really mostly delirius I'd say. You were constantly ranting about a Jewel or something along those lines"
"I see..."He sighed and turned to face Carlos "Did you find any other survivors?"
"I'm sorry but no, you were lucky though. If we had arrived any later you would have been surly be somewhere in the deep"

[Ceri]

Dyran groaned and ran both hands across his face and through his hair. His ship...all his crew...everything was gone. How did everything go so catastrophically wrong? They'd been so close...how would he return and face his family now?
Carlos tilted his head, watching the newcomer sympathetically. "Would you like to join me below deck?" he asked gently. Dyran noted a slightly Spanish intonation to his voice. "Then we can talk about this."
Dyran silently followed the Captain across the deck, glancing over the hardworking crew, and allowed himself to be led down a staircase and through a corridor. Carlos pushed open a door leading into a small, messy study; it was barely big enough to fit a desk and two chairs, a rickety shelf to one side straining under the weight of several thick books, and a blatantly locked chest on the floor below it. Carlos manouvered around the desk and sat down, brushing maps and instruments aside and motioning for Dyran to follow.
"So," Carlos said, reaching for a bottle and two tankards. "What did you say the name of your ship was?"
"The Lost Ark," Dyran said sadly. Carlos nodded.
"Well and truly lost now," he said with a grim smile. "Strange, though, that we recieved word that the Ark had disappeared from British waters some time ago."
"We did," Dyran admitted. "We lost our course from England and were at sea for many months. Then, when we finally found ourselves back on track, there was a storm...the most fierce, terrible storm I have ever encountered. We lost many overboard, and then the winds snapped the centre mast..." He trailed off, and Carlos could see that he was hurt by the memory. He, too had lost his first ship and much of the crew to Davey Jones' miserable wrath.
"Where were you bound from England?" he asked.

[Ahelos]

It took Dyran a little while to reply to this question. Should he tell this man...Carlos...of the treasue...could he trust him?
"I was heading towards...La tierra de ningún regreso...the la.." he was cut of quickly by Carlos gasping
"The land of no return! You should not go there, there are many bad things have happen there say the tales, only one man has survived that place and they say he is now bound to a chair throthing at the mouth, the treasure a myth that attracts sailors and pirates from around the globe" he said

[Aulius]

"Treasure..Is it really worth it now" Dryan said to himself "I've lost my ship, many friends, my crew hell even most of my money was lost. Do I still want to keep doing this?" He said frustrated and rested his hands on the table.
"We're heading to Port Royale. We can leave you there if you wish" Carlos said and walked out of the room. A moment later Dryan followed him out.

[Ceri]

He hurried across the deck, following Carlos. "Captain Chalcedony!"
Carlos turned around to face him. "You aren't a member of my crew, Mr Dyran. You may call me Carlos."
"Carlos," Dyran said. "Where were you bound after Port Royale?"
Carlos hesitated, wondering why he wanted such information. "Actually, I have no further plans beyond that. I intend to stay in the Carribean for a while, then look into anyone who has need of my ship and crew."
Dyran's mind was working furiously. Carlos seemed opposed to the idea of going anywhere near La tierra de ningún regreso, but if he could be persuaded...maybe it wouldn't be so futile to just ask...

[glow=red,2,300]EDIT: Yes, I know where Port Royale is... *shifty eyes*[/glow]

[Aulius]

Inside his mind he argued with himself to reach a decision whether he should attempt to persuade Carlos. He watched him from a distance as he walked up and down the deck. It's not my right, he saved me. But it could be decades before I have another chance to find it. Would the crew mutiny if he agreed. Everyones heard the storys of how no one ever returns. Carlos looks like a man who could use some money, maybe he's out here looking for it himself? The map I had with me, maybe it was rescued and its in his cabin? I wonder if I should check but would I ever get the chance to see if he has it?

Carlos stood infront of him with his hands behind his back "Do you know how to navigate?" he asked
"Huh? what?" Dyran stuttered as his train of thought was jogged by Carlos's interruption.
"Can you navigate?" he repeated
"Yes, why?"
"Our navigator...he's sick and theres a possibility that he may die and well I need someone who can do it but my crew are already spread thin" he sighed "Would you mind taking his place for now?"
"Sure...alright"
"Goto my cabin, the maps are all there, you should find all the equipment you need and our last marked position"
Dyran smiled, he now had a chance to check but he thought would Carlos watch me?

[Ceri]

[glow=red,2,300]I am gonna post here, but I can't right now!

EDIT: As I promised:[/glow]

Following Carlos' instruction he found the navigation equipment in Carlos' cabin. He checked that there was no one outside and carefully closed the door behind him. He quickly located the maps Carlos had moved aside earlier. Cautiously, he began to search through them; but his was not in the pile. He began to search the rest of the cabin; the shelves, the draws under the desk; finally he came to the chest in the corner, obviously locked. He decided not to search for a key: he didn't see why Carlos would keep his map locked up, and the Captain's business was his own.
"Dyran?"
Dyran started as the door opened. He darted back to the desk and navigation as Carlos entered the little cabin. "Sorry to interrupt. How's it going?"
"Okay," he said quickly. "I'm just...I just found the stuff for it."
Carlos smiled. "It's a real mess down here. I've been meaning to clear it up, but as I say..we're stretched thin..." He came over to Dyran, and he noticed his jacket in Carlos' hand. "I took this from you when we found you in the water." He handed the jacket back. "And, also...this, I think came from the pocket." He held up a map. "Is it yours?"
Dyran recognised his map instantly. "Yes." He held out a hand for it. Carlos hesitated, examining it.
"Dyran..." He sat down on the desk, holding the man slightly out of reach. "If I may ask, why were you searching for the La tierra de ningún regreso?"
Dyran didn't answer immediately, then said...

[Aulius]

"Fame, Money. I spent nearly every availible penny on this trip and now...my son will have to suffer the consequences of this" He sighed "The map please" Carlos didn't hand it over straight away but slowly held it in reach of Dyran who quickly took it and unfolded it.
"Where did you find this map?" he said looking over Dyrans shoulder as Dyran examined it closely.
"In a book from a library. The book was pretty old and hadn't been borrowed for fifty years and thats when the legend started if I remember right. I still havn't worked out where this island is either"
"What was the book?"
"The Catholic Bible"
"That would explain alot"
Carlos recognised something about it but he couldn't think what. "Wait, I recognise this point" He said placing his finger on one of the three points of the island "This coastline is from somewhere else, hang on" He began to search through all the maps he had causing an even greater mess "Ah ha! he cried when he found the map he rolled it out next to the treasure map. "See it matches this part exactly, maybe its a clue?"

[Ceri]

Dyran frowned, looking closely. "Yes, you're right...the very same." He looked up, but the far edge of his treasure map was torn and the land further up the coast was gone. "I wonder if they are the same place. Where is it?"
"East of the Carribean...the edge of Spain," Carlos said thoughtfully. "Some hundreds of miles away."
"They may not be the same," Dyran added. "Just similar...but strangely similar, at that."
"Maybe," Carlos said excitedly, "maybe it is a clue! Maybe this map doesn't lead to the treasure--maybe it leads to other places! Look--" He pointed further down the coastline. "It's the same up to this point, then it changes. So this section is the west coast of Spain. But this part further up, it looks more like the south of England. And do you see the foldline? I wondered why it was folded so strangely. It marks the boundaries between the coastlines. Maybe if one was to visit each of these places, one could gather enough clues to find exactly where this treasure is!"
Dyran couldn't believe how fast the Captain had warmed to the idea. Was he actually intending on doing this? "The top half's missing," he added. "The last piece of coastline."
"That doesn't matter," Carlos said. "We can find out about that later on. There's...five places to visit already--I'm sure there's a clue to the sixth at one of those!"
Dyran raised his eyebrows. "Are you actually considering this, Captain Chalcedony?"
Carlos hesitated for a moment, the excitement dying in his eyes. "Listen, Dyran." He sat down on the desk, motioning for Dyran to do the same. "Listen. I used to be one of the most well-known Captains in the Carribean. Captain Chalcedony, Master of the waves, that's what they'd call me. I was the first one in all of Spain to brave the trip toPort Royale with a crew of no more than fifteen. I was up in the top, I was, Dyran. But then...but then I lost my crew and ship to the depths. Twenty-five strong hands, more loyal than you could find, and the finest ship hands could craft. And I lost my best and dearest on the very voyage you yourself attempted, Dyran. I too tried to take the route straight to La tierra de ningún regreso, and found my way back alone and close to death on the floating remains of my ship. But now--" his eyes lit up again, "now, with this map, this prospect, maybe together, you and I can really find La tierra de ningún regreso, really find it and really get there. What do you say?"...

[Aulius]

"What will the crew say..." Dyran said slowly, bursting Carlos's moment "Another thing, The map's coastlines mean something or even point to something, but how thats a problem for later"

[Ceri]

"What I assumed," Carlos said thoughtfully, "was that we'd find clues leading to the treasure at each of these places. We just have to work out where they are then search them until we find them. And as for the crew...One or two of them have served me since I gained the ship, almost as loyal as my own, and I think they'd trust me enough to come. As I say, we're docking at Port Royale anyway, and if any of them don't wish to come along, they'll be left there to find another ship. It won't take us long to find a crew willing to join us."

[glow=red,2,300]They could always find and accidentally employ pirates onto the ship...[/glow]

[Aulius]

"Maybe so, After Port Royale we'll head to here" Dyran said pointing at the Island. "Santa Faye, Tiny Island that no one cares about, how come you recognised it?"
"Ah well, I was abandoned on that island a long time ago"

[Ceri]

[glow=red,2,300]Do you mind if I use the map idea for another story I'm writing? Seeing as it was my idea after all...

^^ And who is saying what in this post? It really confused me[/glow]

[Aulius]

[glow=red,2,300]Fine, edited for your benefit[/glow]

[Ceri]

Dyran raised his eyebrows. "Really? Why?"
"Mutinous crew," Carlos muttered. "I was the first mate on the Black Hydra. They killed the Captain and marooned me. Fortunately, I was rescued..." He trailled off, looking back at the map. "Well, we can go to Port Royale and look for a crew. No harm in trying. What do you say?"

[Aulius]

Dyran thought for a moment and smiled "Sure why not?"

They drank a small amount of rum in celebration and began to plot their course towards port royale from where the navigator had left off. Carlos had decided to tell the crew his plans when they were a day from Port Royale to see who would stay.

[Ceri]

Over the next few days, few of the crew could work out exactly who the newcomer Dyran was, or exactly why Carlos was walking with such a skip in his step since his arrival. The navigator died with two days left of the journey, but, to the crew's surprise, Carlos refused to go ahead with the traditional ceremony, instead ordering all sail to be let loose, announcing that the sooner they made it back to Port Royale, the sooner they could respect their navigator's death properly.
"Make more speed than you've ever made, men!" he shouted from the upper deck. "Make the sea tire to keep up with us!"

[Ahelos]

'Why is he pushing us so hard?' whispered Maudie, a member of the crew. He had been with the ship since it first set sail
One of the new crew members replyed 'Something to do with a treasure map i think. We are stopping at Port Royale, dropping off people who dont want to go on the adventure and and getting newer crew members to help'
'yer, that and i bet he wants to find a woman to bed for the night' Maudie replyed while rolling his eyes. 'arrr, its just i've not seen him this excited or pushy before. i wonder if maybe he might be rushing into something very bad, like he did with his olde crew...' Maudie said with a sigh

[Aulius]

[glow=red,2,300]You know maudey just did a schitzo thing in your post...[/glow]

[Ahelos]

[glow=red,2,300]huh?[/glow]

[Aulius]

nvm...didnt read it properly

[Ceri]

[glow=red,2,300]I have an idea for a storyplot, if anyone's interested...When they get back to Port Royale and Carlos is looking for a crew, he runs into some old 'friends' who say that he has a debt to pay them. Carlos tells them that if they come on his ship as the crew they'll get what they want back. He and Dyran with this crew carry on as planned, until, as they are nearing the last place, Dyran discovers that the crew are pirates, and that Carlos was once their pirate captain...

Possibly a little inspired by Treasure Island, but what do you think?[/glow]

[Ahelos]

[glow=red,2,300]SOUNDS GOOD![/glow]

[Ceri]

[glow=red,2,300]Excellent *rubs hands together looking evil*

Sorry I can't add right now but I will! I will!!

EDIT: See, posting now [/glow]

It was a further two days of hard sailing before the Night Tracker finally pulled into the bay of Port Royale. As soon as they made port, Carlos ordered his men to derig the ship then, those who were staying, to wait for him there. Many of them who had not heard Maudie's rantings were shocked to hear that those of 'weaker allegiance' were discharged from his service.
"All of you have served your time under my colours," Carlos said to them, "and served well, without exception. I no longer ask you to follow me without question. Those of you who wish to may remain in my crew; those wanting a way out of piracy or a chance on another ship, this may well be your one chance to do that without the words 'mutiny' or 'maroon' being mentioned. Dismissed.
"Come on, Dyran," he added, jumping down from the gangplank where he'd been standing to address the crew.
"Where are we going?" Dyran asked. He was tired from the voyage, ill from being cast away in the water and hoping they wouldn't be setting off too soon.
"I need you to find someone who can go over the Tracker to make sure it's in good condition for the trip. Tell them to do what they need and expect payment if they meet me there at dusk. After that, do as you please. Meanwhile, I'm going to find us a crew."