Ghosts and Goblins
As they entered the fortified center of the swamp, the first thing that caught their attention was a massive structure of twisted living wood in the distance, like several trees that had been forced to grow rapidly together until they became a tower of wood and darkness, looming over all beneath it without a hint of leaf or blossom. They didn't need Bentley's confirmation of paranormal energy in the structure to know it was unnatural.
"Based on the amount of energy I'm picking up, Mz. Ruby herself is inside there," Bentley explained firmly. "But the only way in is through that Skull Temple, and it isn't clear how to make that happen."
"Bet it involves Treasure Keys," Coco murmured softly.
"Already scanning for them," Bentley confirmed as Sly slowly made his way forward.
As Sly made his way towards the first area a Treasure Key was detected in, they heard Mz. Ruby proclaiming part of her plan through what sounded like a megaphone, instructing her followers to toss 'shiny bones' into the soup to create an army of ghosts with which to conquer Mexico. "Talk about a real Day of the Dead party," Sly joked as he entered the new area.
At the end of a short tunnel, the area with the Treasure Key was sealed with an industrial strength iron gate enhanced with voodoo enchantments. An effigy of some sort of creature surmounted the bars. "Think that's to keep us out?" Sly quizzed Coco.
"No," Coco countered firmly. "The magic's directed inward. This is a cage."
"Then we'd best watch out for whatever's locked inside while we explore," Sly confirmed as he leapt upward to the top of the wall before making his way in.
The pair made their way carefully in, smashing through spiders and mosquitoes as they hopped from vine to branch and back again as they sought out the deeper portions of the area. When they were close to the swamp water below, however, the waters shifted near them, seeming to follow their progress. "There's...something in there..." Coco murmured worriedly.
"Probably whatever's locked in here," Sly observed as he picked up his pace, trying to outrun whatever was in the water.
They moved more slowly and with relief as they moved back up into the trees, and became cautious as they approached the waters again. The caution proved viable as a massive serpent burst out of the water behind them, its mouth big enough to swallow them both whole as it exhaled a stinky cloud.
"Any chance you could knock it out?" Sly asked as he raced along a root to get away.
"Even if I could penetrate its scales with a needle, there's no way I could make a dose big enough!" Coco insisted in fear as the giant snake ate the roots and vines behind them. "Just run!"
Thankfully, it didn't pursue them for long, rapidly losing interest and returning to the waters as they reached the Treasure Key and the vault nearby. While Sly grabbed the key, Coco popped open the vault and found a more modern page of the Thievius Raccoonus, covering Bruce O'Coop's Computer Hacking Technique. While not useful for Sly or Coco, Bentley was overjoyed, as it would let him hack the duty rosters at each hideout so as to provide real time locations of all guards patrolling via the Binoc-u-Coms.
With that collected, the pair took a few moments to catch their breath before returning to the center of the swamp to seek another path.
A careful maneuvering within the main area led to yet another path, this one leading into an old cemetery scattered around both swamp and jungle. "I don't like this place," Coco whispered, seeming afraid to raise her voice any higher than that. "It...it feels like I'm surrounded by ill will...and grasping hands..."
Sly frowned thoughtfully. "Sounds like your magical nature is making you more sensitive to the voodoo magic being used here. Since it involves raising the dead, you're probably feeling the presence of the disturbed specters."
"How do I make it stop?" Coco whimpered, her eyes huge. "It's uncomfortable...watch out!" Reaching into her bag, she hurled a toothpick forward.
A ghost panther took shape in front of them, only to disperse as the toothpick passed through it, several similar phantoms dissolving behind it as the needle flew before embedding itself in a gravestone, banishing the dark aura within it.
"Good shot and reaction time," Sly whispered. "What was on that pick?"
"Umm..." Coco fidgeted nervously. "That was from your sandwich. So...salted fish?"
"Well, salt is supposed to keep ghosts away, though I thought that was only rock salt," Sly mused.
"I thought it was sea salt," Murray offered through the Binoc-u-com. "At least, that's what I heard. And I do use sea salt in making our food, since it's healthier since I can use less."
"I thought only blessed salt worked," Bentley countered.
"Maybe it's Coco's magic that makes it work," Sly concluded logically, ending the conversation. He retrieved the toothpick and handed it back to his daughter, the gravestone crumbling. "Hang onto it...and dip a few clean needles in my sandwich for the salt."
Nodding, Coco did so, preparing herself to deal with ghosts manifesting. The strategy proved useful as they made their way into a mausoleum filled with gravestones that generated the ghosts at great speed in an attempt to overwhelm them. As each gravestone was disabled, Coco became more and more relaxed as the oppressive aura of death became less pronounced.
The last such gravestone guarded both vault and Treasure Key. While Sly grabbed the Key, Coco cracked the vault, finding Mz. Ruby's blueprints inside. With those in hand, the pair made their way back to the center of the swamp.
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Guess those ghosts are pretty... salty!
Obligatory musical reference GO!
nicely done, though quick question:
it's been a while since I've seen this particular mission (gameplay or otherwise): remind me: is that snake creature connected in any way to the cage they saw earlier?
Another enjoyable chapter. Good job.
Salt is a natural deterrent for demons, specters, ghouls, and ghosts. Blessed rock salts work the best from what I understand from lore. Also works if its silver salts.
7710520
The entire area was the cage. It was basically an enclosed environment for the serpent.
7710626 Huh I did not know that. I figured salt effecting them only applied to zombies who has others shadows in them cause of Devil Fruit powers since One Piece had Thriller Bark do that. Surprised that's a lore solution to those manner of creatures and monsters.
7710766
Yeah, if you watch Supernatural, they spread salt around chairs when torturing demons for information. I think it's largely Celtic, as is the use of silver salts.
Now that Christmas is near, a lot of the traditions we use over the holidays have their roots in pagan beliefs. Holly and mistletoe both have uses against spirits and such. Probably against things such as Krampus, though I'm not as familiar with that particular bad guy.
7710464 Keep trying
You'll get the Pun Lord rank someday
Those ghosts don't stand a... ghost of a chance against those salty picks!
...
I do good?
Nice job!
These new enemies don't stand a ghost of a chance against Coco now.
Sandvich makes Sly unstoppable, ask Heavy Weapons Guy.
Sounds like Mz. Ruby has a bare bones plan to conquer Mexico in the making. That's just souper.
7710719
in hindsight, that WOULD make a little bit more sense...
7710783 Interesting. Though isn't Krampus suppose to be a good guy who punishes naughty children so they become better people in life where the parents failed to rein them in? As well as those who ruins others Christmas to the point of losing the holiday spirit?
When I saw the title I thought of Super Ghouls 'N' Ghosts - Haunted Graveyard level theme.
7710583 yes, yes it did.
I have a Dr. Venkman on line one. He's accusing you of 'steeling his shtick.' Looking forward to more.
Keep up the great work. Deus tecum.
7711043
Good? He steals bad children and eats them; no lie, that's part of the lore surrounding that character. He's part of Saint Nicholas' camp, but he's more of an anti-Santa than anything.
7711262 Wait really? I thought he just whipped them with that branch thing of his and made them behave better.
7710798 Heavy: Da, tis good!
7711585
Like I said, I'm not real familiar with that character. However, the wikipedia entry had several different versions, and that was one of them.
I almost feel sorry for the ghosts and zombies, long range salt attacks wrecks them.
7710798 That last one was mean; I don't like your... salty attitude!
7710464
7710795
7710798
These puns are both so good and so bad its... fishy! I'm onto ya'll...
7740944
Ah, that explains a few things to me. I've been wondering how Sly wasn't just going to end up with so many abilities by the end of this story considering how often they find pages, but if the other members of the team will get some of them that dilutes the pool a bit.
7740944
Heh, I sea what you did there. But don't these jokes go against the grain?
8485161
You should 'pick' your battles more carefully, cause the 'tooth' is hard to handle!
teamfortress.com/heavy/images/06_sandvich.jpg
Once again the sandwich fixes everything.