Skirmish at Palm Tree Grove

"*How's that escape route workin'?"*

The **Skirmish at Palm Tree Grove** was a small incident at the camp set up by the Spanish during the quest to find the Fountain of Youth. The Spaniard had come into possession of the silver chalices needed for the profane ritual at the Fountain. Both Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa sought after the chalices, working together to infiltrate the camp and steal the chalices. The attempt seemed to work until they were caught as they were making their escape. They were tied up as prisoners, but not long before they were able to escape, still in possession of the chalices.

## Prelude

##### Previous: Battle at Whitecap Bay

After their battle at Whitecap Bay in which they were successful in capturing a mermaid called Syrena, the crew of the *Queen Anne's Revenge* set out on foot across the mysterious island, carrying Syrena in a glass coffin. Jack was lead onto the island blindfolded by order of Blackbeard who wanted to keep Jack in the dark about the location of his ship. After walking enough distance inland, Blackbeard removed the blindfold and told Jack to lead the way to the Fountain. Jack used his compass to lead the way to Ponce de León's ship where he planned to find the silver chalices that were needed for the ritual. Jack lead the crew through swamps and bogs to the ship.

During a rest on the journey Jack spoke with the clergyman Philip Swift, telling him that he was willing to believe in whatever he needed to in order to gain access to heaven, however only in as "as-needed" basis. During their conversation, Philip spotted that Syrena was struggling to breathe in her coffin. He stole the Quartermasters' sword and used it to prop open the lid, allowing her to gasp at the air. They continued onward, until Jack found that the planned route was no longer possible, having met a bridge that had collapsed and left a large gap over a ravine. Blackbeard ordered that Jack Sparrow was to jump and find the chalices, despite his daughter's protests that they could not trust Jack to return with the cups. She tried to jump herself, but Blackbeard halted her. Blackbeard stole Jack's compass right out of his hand, knowing that he would want to return to take it back. He ordered Jack to find the chalices while they continued on to the Fountain. When Jack hesitated, Blackbeard threatened to shoot Angelica. Jack called Blackbeard's bluff, however the pirate only responded by making a game out of luck. He got the Quartermaster to prepare 6 pistols, only 2 of which have a live shot in them. He then got Jack to choose the pistols that Blackbeard would fire at Angelica. Jack chose wisely on his first attempt, the gun not being loaded. His second guess he grabbed himself, potentially as a result of knowing it was loaded. He fired it into the sky. Jack turned his attention to the Quartermaster, asking if he would survive the fall. The Quartermaster used voodoo magic as he threw Jack's voodoo doll over the cliff edge. He told Jack that, yes, he would survive. Jack then leapt into the river below.

Jack fled across the island in the direction of Ponce de León's ship, The *Santiago,* finding it suspended in the rocks across from a beach. As the crew of the *Queen Anne's Revenge* crossed the island, one of the men carrying Syrena's coffin tripped, dropping the coffin and causing it to shatter. Syrena's legs formed to replace her tail, however her legs were useless as a result of disuse. Philip volunteered himself to carry Syrena to the Fountain. They soon found the deep pools that previous visitors of the fountain had used to tie up mermaids and keep them out to dry, where they would extract the tears they need for the ritual. Blackbeard began the process of trying to extract a tear from Syrena. Philip protested the treatment of Syrena, causing Blackbeard to discover the clergyman's feelings for the mermaid. He used the mutual romantic feelings as leverage, threatening Syrena with the death of Philip. When Syrena failed to provide a tear to spare Philip, the Quartermaster created the impression of killing the clergyman, tranquilizing him with a voodoo dart. Blackbeard had planned to allow Philip to return and free Syrena, hoping that upon his return he would rescue Syrena and she would shed a tear in joy of seeing Philip come to rescue her. What Blackbeard predicated came to pass. He successfully caught a tear from Syrena and recaptured Philip.

Jack climbed the rocky path up to the *Santiago*, entering through broken boards into the captain's cabin, surrounded by treasure. Jack also quickly spotted the decayed corpse of Ponce de León himself. As Jack came into the room properly, Hector Barbossa revealed himself from the shadows, having arrived mere moments before Jack himself. They bared their swords at one another, both intent on finding the chalices. As Jack leapt at Barbossa he unbalanced the ship as it perched precariously on the edge of a cliff. Barbossa called for Jack to back up and re-balance the ship. Jack put away his sword. Together they found the box that contained the chalices. After a rickety back and forth across the shifting ship, both of them landed a hand on the box, only to agree to open it together and find it empty, the chalices replaced by rocks. They sat down next to the corpse of Ponce de León, looking at the map he had held in his hands. Barbossa used his military strategy to decipher where the Spanish must have made camp, also knowing that it must be them who had found the chalices before them. Together, Barbossa and Jack went to Palm Tree Grove to recover the chalices from the Spanish.

## Recount

##### Uneasy alliance

Jack and Barbossa made their way over to Palm Tree Grove where they rendezvoused with the rest of the Navy forces. Joshamee Gibbs was most pleased to reunite with Jack and see an old friend. After their brief reunion, Barbossa called for their beginning of the mission; to recover the chalices. They went down to the level of the camp, a journey through which Jack explained to Joshamee Gibbs his history with Angelica and confessed that this woman caused him... feelings, and still left her. As they reached the treeline to the camp, Jack left his conversation with Gibbs and approached Barbossa, telling him that he would spare Barbossa the mission and stealthily go into the camp himself. Barbossa refused to let Jack go alone. Jack and Barbossa went together across a small stream to enter the camp unseen. They went through the outer layers of the camp and to a spot where they could spy on the main tent, watching The Spaniard. They also spotted the chalices.

Barbossa attempted to employ what he thought was Jack's method of doing things... planning an escape route. Jack revealed that actually he just improvises. Jack lead the way straight to the main tent, while a single man polished the chalices. Jack and Barbossa stole the chalices from underneath his nose, then knocking him unconscious. Jack placed the chalices in his bag and suggested they simply stroll out of the camp. As they left, they passed a Spanish guard who observed them suspiciously. Knowing they had blown their cover, Jack and Barbossa unleashed their swords and attacked. Within seconds they were surrounded by Spanish guardsmen. They were caught in front of a firing squad, ending their escape attempt.

They were caught and arrested, tied up against a pair of trees. Using their downtime, Barbossa recounted the story of when he lost the *Black Pearl* to Blackbeard and how he lost his leg. Jack during the story worked his arms loose of their binding, able to escape the rope. Barbossa revealed to Jack that he wasn't truly after the Fountain, instead only wanting revenge against Blackbeard. Jack was able to shimmy himself into a standing up position against the tree, and then continue the shimmy upwards and onto the leaves, free of the tree itself. He tied the now loose rope around a coconut. He used the rope tied coconut to slingshot himself across the trees and land on the floor. While he was successful, he was spotted. The entire Spanish camp began chasing Jack across the camp. Groves understood this as a signal to rescue Barbossa. He moved into the camp and located Barbossa still tied to his tree, cutting him loose. Meanwhile Jack was able to out-maneuver the Spanish, running circles around them with the rope to tie them to a tree and escape as they were bound. Both Barbossa and Sparrow arrived back at the navy rendezvous point at the same time. Barbossa was determined to find Blackbeard despite the chalices, however Jack revealed that he had been able to hold onto the cups.

## Aftermath

##### Next: Battle at the Fountain of Youth

With the chalices now in possession, Jack Sparrow traveled in the direction of the Fountain of Youth, moving with Barbossa and his navy team. Blackbeard also continued, now in possession of the mermaids tear that he needed. They would convene at the Fountain in a fateful battle.

## Appearances

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides