Escape from Isla de Pelegostos

"*What about Jack? I won't leave without him. Never mind. Let's go.*"

The **Escape from Isla de Pelegostos** was an attempt to escape a cannibal filled island on behalf of the crew of the *Black Pearl*. They had arrived on the island after Jack Sparrow was given the black spot, causing him to fearfully retreat from the water on the closest island nearby, where they slowly learnt that the island they had run aground on was home to a cannibal tribe known as the Pelegostos. Jack became their chief, hailed as a god that the tribesmen would need to devour to free him from his human prison. Soon after Will Turner appeared on the island, Jack and the crew made their escape from the island in an extravagant chase down the hills of the island and back out into the sea aboard the *Black Pearl*.

## Prelude

##### Jack's fear

12 years had passed since Jack Sparrow had made a deal with Davy Jones to bring the sunken wreck of the *Wicked Wench* from the depths and allow him 12 years to captain the ship in return for a lifetime of servitude aboard the *Flying Dutchman*. Terrified by the idea of the closing time he had until Davy Jones called upon Jack to answer for his debt to be payed, Jack set out on a quest to kill Davy Jones by finding his heart that had been locked away in the Dead Man's Chest and stabbing it, an act that would kill Jones and free Jack of his commitment to the pirate lord. Before he could do this however, Jones sent "Bootstrap" Bill to tell Jack that his time was up, giving him the black spot that sent the Kraken after Jack. Terrified, Jack ordered his men to find land and bring the *Black Pearl* aground. They did so, landing on Isla de Pelegostos. Little did they know however that the island they had landed on was home to the Pelegostos cannibal tribe.

##### Life on the Island

The crew of the *Pearl* were quickly found and captured by the Pelegostos. The crew were placed in cages while Jack became the chief of the tribe, a position he held so long as his continued to play the part of the chief. To save himself from no longer being the chief, Jack said nothing as some of his crew were eaten, while others were placed in bones cages above drops made of the bones of their devoured compatriots. Jack learnt that the Pelegostos believed Jack was a god, and as such they would eat him in ceremony to release his spirit from it's fleshy prison. Jack continued to play the part of the chief all the while looking for a means of escape for himself and his crew.

##### Will's Search

Having been arrested by Lord Cutler Beckett at Port Royal for his crimes in aiding Jack Sparrow's escape the year prior, Will Turner was given an opportunity to free himself of his sentence alongside his beloved Elizabeth Swann. He was tasked with locating Jack Sparrow and retrieving his magical compass. Beckett hoped that by using the compass he would be able to locate the Dead Man's Chest, and take control of Davy Jones, thus taking control of the entire ocean. Will agreed to do so, dreaming to free Elizabeth. He set out to Tortuga, asking around for word of Jack Sparrow. He heard tell that Jack had gone to Singapore. One individual told Will that on an island he traded with, he had spotted a grounded ship with black sails. Thinking this could be Jack, Will asked to accompany the man and his crew as they traveled to the island on a trading route.

## Recount

##### Will's Arrival

Will arrived nearby Isla de Pelegostos aboard the trading vessel, spying and identifying the *Black Pearl* from afar. Will was rowed closer to the island on a small row boat, however the guide refused to take the boat closer, fearful of an attack by the Pelegostos. Will leapt from the boat and swam to where the *Black Pearl* sat on the beach. Calling out the names of the pirate crew, including Jack, Will got no signs of life. As he ventured further inland he saw Cotton's parrot, who came down and asked that Will didn't eat him. Venturing further, Will found Gibbs' rum flask. Following a small string trail, he fell into a trap laid by the Pelegostos, hoisted into the sky by his leg. He tried fending them off with his sword but was put to sleep by a dart fired into his neck. Will was taken to where Jack sparrow sat upon his throne as leader of the Pelegostos. He spoke to his men about Will, who had been tied to a pole and carried across the island. Jack sent him off to be placed in prison. Will was not the only familiar face to turn up on the island however, both Pintel and Ragetti taking their rowing boat to Isla de Pelegostos where they plotted to steal the *Black Pearl*. They arrived on the island, excited at the prospect of taking the *Pearl* for themselves.

##### The Escape

As the feeding ceremony to release Jack from human form was prepared, dancing and drumming commenced in preparation for the sacrifice and consumption of Jack Sparrow. Jack continued to sit on his throne. He was gifted a necklace of severed thumbs and toes. He tried to eat a piece but quickly spat it out. Will in the meantime was dropped in a cage alongside the crew of the *Pearl*, dangled over a large drop to a quick death. Joshamee Gibbs was one who shared the bony cage with Will, filling him in on their situation and Jack's facade as chief. Jack tried to distract the tribesmen as they built the fire that would cook Jack alive. He demanded they add more wood, during which time he slipped away, running out of the center space. He ran into the outer town spaces of the tribe, He was able to find some rope and bamboo strips with which to leap a gap, however as he exited a small hut with his findings he found himself surrounded by the entire Pelegostos tribe, having followed him as he ran. They took his back by force, using the rope and bamboo he had collected to tie him up. They put him in place, holding him over a fire.

Meanwhile the crew of the *Black Pearl* used their body momentum to swing their cages across the perilous gap over which they hung, hoping to grab a vine down the length of a cliff face. After several failed attempts to grab solid vines, both cages of men were able to grab hold of the cliff face and begin to climb up the side. It was at this time they realized that the drumming had stopped, suggesting that Jack was being eaten currently. They hurried their pace. That was until Will spotted a tribesman crossing a nearby bridge. Wanting to avoid detection, Will called for the group to become silent. His cage did so, however Leech and his cage continued onward anyway. Leech however grabbed a snake instead causing a panic among the men. Their panic secured their doom as they let go and begin their fall. The rope holding their cage snapped and they plummeted to their deaths. Now having been spotted, Will and his group were forced to climb even faster. The tribesman who had spotted them sprinted to where Jack was being sacrificed, just as the wood beneath him was being lit. He interrupted, announcing that the prisoners were escaping. Jack gave the word to after them, hoping it would give him opportunity to escape. The torch being used to light the fire was dropped as the Pelegostos ran away to capture the escapees. The wind however threatened to blow the flames onto the wood beneath Jack anyway.

Jack was able to rock himself off of the position above the fire. The rope around his legs also broke, allowing him to stand, however he still had the large bamboo rods attached to his back. The crew reached the summit, cutting themselves free of the rope that held them to the support bridge. They quickly noticed however that the entire Pelegostos tribe approached. To escape, the forewent escaping the cage, instead choosing to roll the cage down a hill. They progress was stalled by hitting a tree. They were forced to continue by lifting the cage around their legs, running as fast as they could. Jack ran into a pair of natives who were carrying plates of fruit. He attempted to defend himself by using the end of the bamboo to hurl coconuts at them. They returned fire with the fruit. The crew members continued their escape, falling down a cliff edge and into a stream. Their landing onto the water broke the cage, allowing them to swim freely to cover as the Pelegostos fired arrows and darts at them. The Pelegostos were then distracted however as a young boy who had spotted Jack pointed in the direction of their escaped deity. The Pelegostos left the crew to capture Jack.

Jack ended his throwing battle against the natives, running into a wall, causing the bamboo he was attached to to turn into a pole vault, lifting him off his feet and springing him into the air. He landed safely on the far side of a perilous gap. The weight of the fruits that had collected on his bamboo however outweighed him, causing him to topple backwards and fall. His fall was ended as the bamboo caught the edges at either side of the gap, stopping it from falling. Jack spiraled from the rope holding him to the bamboo which caught around his ankle. For a moment, he dangled in the gap by his leg. The bamboo then slipped, continuing his descent. He collided with numerous bridges on his way down, breaking through the wood which slowed his fall momentarily. Eventually, he hit the floor, the bamboo hitting the ground right next to his head.

The crew approached the *Black Pearl*, which Pintel and Ragetti had been preparing to steal. By the time the crew reached it, it was already in the water. The crew climbed aboard except for Will who asked about Jack, stating that he couldn't leave without him. This was when Jack called out, revealing himself running across the beach, pursued closely by the entire Pelegostos tribe. The crew immediately set for their escape aboard the ship. Jack ran into the ocean after the *Pearl*, climbing aboard to find his crew, who with him, had successfully escaped the island.

## Aftermath

##### Next: Theft of Davy Jones' Key

After Jack had climbed aboard the *Black Pearl* set out for open waters, however Jack ensured that they remained in the shallows. To hope that their trespasses against Jack in the previous years were forgiven, Pintel and Ragetti made a point of donning Jack with his coat. Will confronted Jack, stating that he needed to take his compass to rescue Elizabeth. Not wishing to give up his compass so freely, Jack agreed to help Will and Elizabeth in the agreement that he help Jack locate the key to the Dead Man's Chest. When Will agreed, Jack set route for Cuba, the Pantano River, where he would find Tia Dalma and learn about the key, hoping for clues as to it's location.

## Appearances

1. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest