Entry 1 - date ????

[aucella]

It's been a few days now since I, and droves of others, have arrived in this strange new world. There seems to have been a collective mass hallucination of the phantom captain Davy Jones upon our first aware moments here.

I cannot recall a proper transcription of what was said during those first moments - it all happened so fast. What I do remember is that we were told to seek treasure.

As wonderfully vague as that statement was I think I might have made a connection.

At the fountain in the town where the majority of us appeared (if your situation differed I would love to hear about it) there is an inscription just below it. A poem.

I've taken the liberty of writing it down here:

Behold this ruby,
Centuries old.

Its power is great,
True depths untold.

What once was whole,
Now in parts 'tis shattered.

Having it all,
Aye, that's what matters.

Rebuild the gem
And whatever ye wish will be.

Whether wealth, good fortune,
Mayhap the chance to flee.

Strangers listen:
Take heed, take care.

Or be lost forever
To Davy Jones' lair.

This gem - this ruby the poem speaks about. Does it actually have the power to grant wishes? Or is it simply some kind of metaphor my mind cannot process at this time. Where are these pieces? Was this the treasure Jones spoke of, and are we meant to find it or is it simply an old wives tale?

I've recently found that the line between fact and fiction is not quite as solid as we might think it is. Whatever this gem is...I intend to learn more.

- Croft

Comments

written:

[hostclubshadowking]

I doubt it's much help, but I do recall one sentiment expressed when we first arrived. I (others too, perhaps, but I know I was personally) was called trash.

[...Yes, that has stuck with him. Shut up.]

We are in a place where what seems to be a ghost pirate has kidnapped us all and transported us to another world entirely. A wish-granting ruby seems to be in the same thematic vein and can't be ruled out as a literal possibility.

Otori

written:

[aucella]

I couldn't tell you one way or another if I received the same sentiment, I'm sorry.

He seemed almost [...] saddled with us. If we weren't the first choice, I wonder what happened to the ones 'they' did want to bring here.

[She uses 'they' because both 'ghost pirate' and 'Davy Jones' feels stupid still.]

written:

[hostclubshadowking]

In all honesty? They could be dead already.

[It's a simple fact, really.]

[text]

[scryinghope]

The dialogue ran thus:

'Dribbling cack-handed deck apes. This be the trash I ended up with? Aye, these maggots will have to do. There's treasure here for the taking. You'd be best off heading for the seas to find it.

Because if you don't ... You'll be regretting it.'

[text]

[aucella]

Thank you for that. Are you certain it's accurate? I don't mean to question you but for the sake of figuring all this out into sense the slightest detail could change things.

[text]

[scryinghope]

You're welcome. I'm certain, yes--unless you count transcribing his accent on the 'you' to be important.

[It helps that he heard the words resounding over and over amidst the collective memories of the newcomers, in those first few minutes.]

[Text]

[hearts_beat]

You saw that, too? I'm guessing that it might what we're looking for... or it's just a major red herring.

[Text]

[aucella]

Yes, it's been occupying most of my thoughts for the last few days.

I wish I could be certain of it's legitimacy though. A wild goose chase is not what I'm looking for.

[Text]

[hearts_beat]

I don't think that's what anyone's looking for, really.

[Voice]

[grandlineswag]

Such is the nature of things. Even the tallest tales have at least a semblance of fact to them.

[Voice]

[aucella]

Yes, that much I've learned.

[Yamatai was a awful wake-up call though.]

written;

[wavesoakedlegs]

This creature needs us. If the enchanted ruby is the treasure it was referring to, perhaps it is unable to reach it and needs us for that purpose.

- Akechi Mitsuhide

written;

[aucella]

If it is the treasure Jones' was referring to then we should learn as much as we can about it before running off to unknown places just looking at random. The quicker we can figure out why we are here, the quicker we can try to leave.

- Croft

written

[arcadiasailor]

The contents of his first remarks was "This is what I have to work with?"
I'm still insulted. There's plenty of strange things out in the universe but this gem sounds like trouble.

written

[aucella]

Give our situation, I think we're already in trouble.

If you'll pardon the cynicism.

written;

[goldcomplex]

Considering the circumstances around here, a wish-granting gem is possible. Though there's likely a catch, and it's likely we only know a part of the story.

written;

[aucella]

Which is why I want to learn all that I can possibly about it and share that. I think it'd be best if we tried to work together but ...well. People hardly are the cooperative sort.

[Not to mention the possibility of people going completely insane a la Yamatai. She does not want a repeat.]

[handwritten]

[carptricks]

[He doesn't reply immediately, instead taking a moment to absorb the poem's text as well as its implications. A wish-granting gem. . .?]

[It couldn't be. . . still, it sounded suspicious enough that he knew he had to investigate immediately]

Do you plan on learning more by trying to find the lost parts of this ruby?

[handwritten]

[aucella]

First I'd prefer to collect whatever texts or depictions of this ruby to learn more about it.

It's best to approach these sort of things prepared, I've found. Especially with how little we know.

But if the crew I've attached myself to decides otherwise I don't really have a choice in it do I?

Voice

[exceptionallybright]

It's truly an archetypical set up for a quest. A bit cliche, even.

Voice

[aucella]

Do you believe this negates any legitimacy of this?

[dragmire]

Such a thing exists in my own world. An ancient relic left behind by the first gods. Its existence is not the mystery, but why this Davy Jones would use as instruments to gather it rather than seek it himself.

[aucella]

[There are a thousand questions swirling in her mind at what Ganon offers with what he says. What kind of relic? First Gods? What kind of world?

Best to focus on her immediate concerns though.]

Perhaps he cannot? He did seem rather intangible when I saw him.

Though maybe he's just looking to keep us busy, or he's lazy.

There could be many reasons.

[written]

[jadethenecromancer]

[Jade is copying that for future reference. You never know...]

I can't say I feel optimistic about the existence of a wish-granting gem, but this seems to be our only lead for the moment.

[written]

[aucella]

Neither do I but - as you said - it's what we have to go on.

If you like, I can certainly keep you in the loop as to what I discover.