Age of Retribution Part IV: The Gauntlet of Izabran

[Tyler294]

"Good," Gideon grinned, "Oh, also we need to meet downstairs. Remember, keep an eye out, but don't say anything."

And with that, the trio headed for the stairs down into the sleeping quarters.

[DeadJim]

Once most the crew had gathered, Melvyn also descended below deck.

"You are probably wondering why I have called you all here," he said.

[Tyler294]

"Aye!" Killroy responded impatiently, having been waiting for some time by now.

[DeadJim]

"You see, in two days, it will be our captain's birthday," Melvyn explained, "And we are going to throw him a surprise party!"

[Tyler294]

"You called us all here for that?" Gideon spat indignantly.

"It be the captain's birthday in two days?" Killroy's eyes widened, "I had no idea! Wait... how'd ye know?"

[DeadJim]

"I have my ways," Melvyn winked. "But we don't want the captain to find out. We will need to be swift, but secretive; I know I can trust you all."

Eamon simply lifted an eyebrow.

"We will need a cake!" Arlyss said excitedly.

"A what?" Shelana asked.

"Cake? You know, like bread, but lighter, and sweeter, and wonderfuler?" Arlyss tried to explain, but Shelana had a blank expression upon her face.

[Shawnex]

"Aye! But also," Tucker spoke in, "We shall sing and drink for him!"

[Tyler294]

"Cook made a cake once! But Lutenberger tripped and accidentally threw it into Jeff's face," Killroy noted, tapping his chin.

[DeadJim]

"Do you think he could do that again?" Melvyn asked.

[Tyler294]

"Throw food in Jeff's face? Absolutely," Killroy nodded with confidence.

[DeadJim]

"He meant the cake," Shelana sighed.

Melvyn furrowed his brow, "No I didn't."

[Shawnex]

"We should get him some presents!" Deve pointed out, "Like tre-"

"Seagulls!" Broose spoke out after he covered Deve's mouth, "Jeff would love a pet seagull as a present! Right Deve?"

"What? Uh...YES! YES!" Deve quickly agreed, "A nice beautiful seagull!"

[Tyler294]

"I once had a pet seagull," Molly stared off into the distance, "He was nice... until he flew away."

[Shawnex]

"Me know! Sea turtles!" Deve pointed out, "A pet that won't fly away!"

[DeadJim]

"Great idea," Shelana rolled her eyes, "No way for a water pet to escape around here."

[Tyler294]

"So anyway," Gideon stepped-in to change the subject before Deve and Broose messed up further, "Yerr plan is to have the cook--"

"He ain't "the cook", he's just Cook!" Killroy interjected indignantly.

"Whatever. Yer gonna have Cook throw a cake in the captain's face then?" Gideon scowled at Killroy, then turned his attention back to Melvyn.

[DeadJim]

"Of course not!" Melvyn laughed, "I'm going to have Luetenberger do it."

[Tyler294]

"Is that common birthday courtesy in Noverth then?" Gideon scoffed.

[DeadJim]

"In Noverth, it would be considered a great insult. But luckily, we aren't in Noverth anymore," Melvyn said. "Now getting down to business, here's the plan..."

Two Hours Later

"Okay, are we in agreement then?" Melvyn asked as he stood up.

[Shawnex]

"Aye!" Tucker replied.

[Tyler294]

"Aye!" Killroy agreed.

"I... don't know what we even agreed on..." Gideon mumbled, having just been zoned out for the past hour and forty-five minutes.

[Shawnex]

"A party for thee Captain of course!" Broose barked, "When do we start?"

[DeadJim]

"Right now," Melvyn smiled as he ascended the stairs and opened the hatch to the main deck. As he did so, a streaming torrent of rain blasted him in the face, sending him crashing back to the poor blokes who were following him. Through the hatch they could hear a crack of thunder, followed buy a loud crash.

"We've lost the foremast Jeff!" Finnbarr screamed as he attempted to lower the other sails.

[Tyler294]

"That's because nobody lowered the sails! Where the devil is that crew I hired!? AND WHERE THE DEVIL DID THIS STORM COME FROM!?!" Jeff bellowed over the gale.

"I would have told you it was coming, captain! But you told me not to give you bad news!" Molly shouted back.

"WHEN THE NEWS IS THIS BAD, YOU TELL ME!"

"Was only following orders, captain!" Molly shrugged with an innocent smile.

"BAAAAAHHHH!!!" Jeff raged, as he rushed to try and help Finnbarr lower the sails, but his small stature made that somewhat difficult.

[DeadJim]

"I told you we should have bought a smaller boat!" Finnbarr railed as he furiously pulled on a rope. "But no! You had to get one that required a crew!"