The Submarine Shrine Massacre, Or: How I Learned to Stop Breathing and Steal Entire Libraries

The content of this page is relevant to the Lambda Timeline.

**Meta Content:** This section contains details which break reader immersion.

lol, colon story! \*Shot\*

This story is written by JWDD, and his buddy MARVIN who may or may not just use JWDD's profile until JWDD can convince him to create a profile.

**Meta Content** ends here.
## Chapter 1: To set the stage...

A large Sailboat sits un-moving at the southeast end of Iasiputh, docked a the Port of Ryan. Along the sides of the boat are a few people painting over old battle scars. At the captains quarters sits a sharp-eared man in a crimson smoking jacket. In front of him is a desk with some ancient coins. Left of the coins is the man's current project. Upon a balance scale sits a single ruby, on the other end is a full 1lb weight. The man adds a few weights onto the side without the jewel, and the scale balances out. Jaywid walks in through the door.

**???: Jaywid, how many times do I have to tell you. Knock before entering.**

**Jaywid: It doesn't matter Marvin. The group is bored, and more importantly, I'm bored. We haven't had a mission in two weeks. I don't know if you care, but the rest of us are running low on funds. Although I'm sure you're not.**

**Marvin: I know. I've been waiting for a message from George. Although I should contact him now anyway... You know what, yeah. I'm contacting him now.**

Marvin grabs the jewel, and pockets it. He then opens a drawer from his desk, out from it Marvin takes a small glass pyramid. He gathers some magical energy in his hand, and then imbues it into the pyramid. The pyramid lights up like a projector and displays a man wearing a dark green cloak.

**Marvin: George, do you have that mission for me that you mentioned a while ago?**

**George: Yes, I do. Although it is a difficult one. If I were speaking to anyone else, I would say this mission would set you for life, but knowing you..**

**Marvin: There's no such thing as set for life, or enough money for that matter...**

**George: As I thought. Anyway, there is a tribe of aquatic Norfae, the Koaucra, they have taken up residence in the Octo-Gredile inland sea in what's known to the locals as the Submarine Shrine.**

**Jaywid: Fish people? that's stupid. Humanity rules this world, they think they can have the waters? Well, I say we gotta..**

**Marvin: Jaywid, out. Now's not the time for your racist antics. You're not doing this on company time.**

Jaywid huffs, then leaves. Marvin turns back to George.

**Marvin: Continue.**

**George: The Koaucua are worshiping an ocean goddess which was sealed into the Wather sometime around 100 years ago. I don't want that goddess appearing, I need you to stop them, and if all else fails, kill this so-called goddess.**

**Marvin: Any other prescient information you can share?**

**George: Rumor has it that this 'Submarine Shrine' was once inhabited by a great sea serpent, and that it was killed by the original eight rangers. The original shrine was just an entryway and a large altar room which made up the nest of the beast.**

The projection changes to a display of the submarine shrine in the past, showing all that was just described.

**George: Since the Koaucua have inhabited it, the shrine has become more of a fortress city.**

The projection obtains an overlay showing the additions the Koaucua have added. The shrine itself becomes a true temple, and surrounding it are various coral-like buildings. There are multiple buoy like structures floating around the area in strategic locations, akin to guard towers.

**George: I don't have an actual map of the shrine now, but I trust you will be able to Deal with that. Their tactics are unknown, although I'm sure you've faced much worse.**

**Marvin: Payment?**

**George: I've prepared a cover-up for you. You may raze, pillage, and loot the entire complex.**

**Marvin: Understood, I'll get the Marauders ready...**

**George: Good luck Marvin. I'm counting on you.**

The projection fizzles out, and the glass pyramid shatters, then the fragments crumble into dust. Marvin stands up, and brushes the dust off his smoking jacket. He then grabs his gold plated broadsword from the plaque behind him.

**Marvin: I guess it's time to get going then.**

Marvin exits the captains quarters, and pulls the string on what appears to be an old-fashioned boxing ring bell. A few people climb up from the sides of the boat, and Renaldo, who had been standing on guard at the door to the captain's quarters, walks up to Marvin's side.

**Marvin: Winston, is the boat ready?**

**Winston: It has been. The boat is fully prepared. There are just some aesthetic damage that has yet to be repaired. On the other hand, with whatever you're planning, distance is gonna be a factor. We're low on supplies.**

**Marvin: The plan is that we need to get to Okto-Gredile bay. Although I am rather sure we can stop by Faeric on our way for some.. requisitioning.. ...Anyways, next, Ardelis?**

**Ardelis: The magic engines are powered and ready. Although we are low on power, so there will probably be some time on sails.**

**Marvin: Requisition-able. Next, Maxwell.**

**Maxwell: Food supply is actually fine, although we're low on alcohol.**

**Ardelis: We're actually fine on alcohol, we're just keeping it from him so we don't have a repeat of last Thursday.**

**Maxwell: I said I was sorry!**

**Marvin: Don't care. Wasn't on company time. Alright, Abris, Tho, Kai, Fish, raise the sails and get us out of here. When the sails are up, get back to your duties. Jaywid, get to the wheel. Ardelis, crow's nest. William and Michael, get to the front, I want firepower there. Glacier, Maxwell and Winston, to the magic engines. Go, Go! GO!**

**Renaldo: Just another mission, right?**

**Marvin: Religious nuts this time. I've got some confidence that we'll come back with some magical relics.**

**Renaldo: You wanna borrow my Underwater Helm?**

**Marvin: Don't actually need it this time. I got a spell for it now.**

Having dismissed the crew and decides to do an inspection of the boat. He moves to the ships wheel where Jaywid normally resides with Kai sitting near as expecting Jaywid's story time.

**Kai: But I just don’t understand.**

**Jaywid: Cross burning is very simple! It lets the local Nazcan Collaborators know that they are unwelcome by showing a display of force.**

**Kai: Could you not just decapitate them if your hatred is so paramount?**

**Jaywid: Not the point.**

**Kai: I still don’t understand.**

**Marvin: Jaywid, keep your eyes on the water, just make sure you don’t hit a rock. This shit’s expensive. And Kai, I don't care what Jaywid tells you, don't do it on company time.**

**Jaywid: Yessir**

**Kai: Now that I understand.**

As Marvin makes his way to the bow of the vessel, he notices something extremely unusual along the starboard side. With the sails having been raised, Sebastian and Thoropidos have gotten into quite the argument.

**Sebastian: I swear Tho, you're not gonna catch anything tossing that damn spear in the water.**

**Tho: Would'ja bet on it?**

**Sebastian: You know what, yes I would. 5 silver.**

**Tho: Then lemme prove ya wrong 'Fish.'**

Tho tosses the javelin into the water, and a clambered splashing can be heard. He reels in the javelin with an attached rope, and stuck on the javelin happens to be a duck.

**Sebastian: It's not a fish, it doesn't count.**

**Tho: You didn't specify what I had to catch 'Fish.'**

**Marvin: But I specified that when the sails were up, you'd get back to work!**

The two of them fumble about, then tumble overboard as Marvin watches. Renaldo quickly jumps into the water with a lifesaver to get them.

**Marvin: Idiots overboard.**

As Marvin proceeds down below deck, Chloriphitos runs up to him.

**Chloriphitos: Sorry i'm late sir, but we've got important news.**

**Marvin: What is it Bardling?**

**Chloriphitos: I've been doing some training, and checking with some things, and I think I've finally got that stealth aspect down.**

**Marvin: You mean the excuse you've got to spend more time with Abris?**

**Chloriphitos: Seriously sir. I've worked hard on this, and I'd like to know if I can be sent with the scouting party.**

**Marvin: I'm just messing with you, request approved. While the scouting party does have Renaldo, it really needs a heavy hitter.**

**Chloriphitos: Thanks man, I won't let you down!**