The Adventures of Sharkbane - Treasure Amidst Sickness

[John Sharkbane]

Threads are sewn into the tapestry of History every day by both the most common of street urchins to the most powerful of the Celestial Dragons. Every moment a person or a group takes action, it can either send ripples or tidal waves. Events that can be felt around the world. It can be argued that not a single moment has reshaped the course of History like the death of a particular individual—a man whose last words were shouted across the seas and shook the world to its core.

The last words of the pirate Gold Roger spoke of the existence of the greatest treasure possibly known to Man. The One Piece. Countless adventurers scattered to the seas in search of the legendary treasure with the dream of becoming the next Pirate King. The birth of the Golden Age of Piracy would be a thread of notoriety, possibly as meaningful and memorable as the creation of the World Government. And, like so many before, a newcomer vied to make his name known among the world's oceans with the dream of becoming the King of the Pirates.

Black leather boots crunched against the beach sand on the outskirts of the forest. Eyes that rivaled the blue of the ocean waves lingered on a crudely-written warning against pirates. Just beside it was a hangman's noose with a skeleton occupying the loop below the knot. Whether it was fake or not, the man didn't know. And he didn't want to ask it personally to find out.

The man soon tied a crimson cloth around his face. He was aware of the rumors that surrounded Golden Island, of course. Tales of a deadly disease and fatal traps throughout the forest protected a treasure of great renown...Or so the rumor told. 

This stranger was clothed in a blue frock coat with golden trim. Brown pants were tucked into black leather boots. A red sash remained tied around the waist. Two swords and pistols remained fastened to his black belt with a golden buckle. A light cream-colored shirt covered the man's chest as a shark's tooth stayed tied to a necklace. His short unkempt dirty blond hair was covered by a crimson bandana that helped keep a dark brown tricorn hat in place. 

A quick sigh passed through the mask. "Well now...Let's just see what this treasure is, eh?"

[The Last Berserker]

Where our adventuring stranger had made successful landfall, feet grinding into sandy beaches of this mysterious island. In the pursuits of treasure and adventure perhaps, a goal hidden to all... But would we know?

---

With the deep and somewhat haunting sounds of the forest pressing out to the new arrival. A rumbling creek and groan erupted from within, a rapid gust of wind blew off and out from the lands' interior. The creeping shadows and that harrowing wind gave a more ominous sensation that kept on... Rising.

...

Yet deeper off... Past the winding branches and twisting paths, far and away etched into the earth self had been... A place where the flowers grew. Flowers of golden petals and crimson roots sprouted up from the ground. Soft, beautiful, enticing. *Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.*

To the side, it revealed a small animal. Something of a small boar with a skin that was a splattering of brown only to transition into a bold golden hue... As if something had caused the beast to shift from ordinary to unordinary. Sniffing away at the planet - The creatures' mouth opened before it proceeded to bite into the planet. Rip up what pierced the surface as it causally grounded what it had found for food before swallowing up the small portion. Waddling over, the boar proceeded to bit and eat up another.

Then another... Then another... *Snap.* It paused... Ears' twitched, eyes' widening, breathing quickening... A deep inhale as it's stance lowered, something else was here... Raising a foot, it began to walk backwards. Cautiously as the small creature was attempting to distant itself from whatever was causing such noise.

...

*Groarh!* The savage cry of a predator and the looming form of a white and gold striped tiger appeared, it's claws were out as the boar squealed. Twisting on it's foot, it lunged out of the way as the claws of the big-cat pierced a stray tree. Marking it heavily as the large feline growly hungrily, giving chase soon afterwards.

The two beasts' ran all about these woods - One in flight - One in fight. Two opposites that had interactions similar to this one that they were experiencing day in and day out.

*Thoom.* A soft rubble came as the two ran through the woods, the golden-furred tiger was near the splashed-gold boar which the pair were nearing the forests' edge near one of the entire rivers. 

*Thoom.* Another louder one but obscured as the two were going through a bout of survival, the tiger however had caught on. It's claws' latched into the thick-hide of the boar as the two tumbled over and crashed. A mud-festering brawl was to follow as the boar fought against the bigger tiger who was struggled to restrain the tusked animal.

*Thoom! * The two stopped as they felt themselves lifted off the ground... Whatever it was, it literally caused the earth to shake so much that they happened to bounce right off the ground. Bloodied had been the two after their fight... But they both saw a figure which was both the biggest thing but also the most dangerous thing that they had seen in their lives.

"SQEEEEEEEE/GROAAAAAH!" Their respective sounds erupted as a silvery-flash was brought down with area shaking force... And their cries rippled throughout the forest.

The cry of a boar.

The cry of a tiger.

[John Sharkbane]

John remained steadfast as the howling wind gushed over him. The tickling, cold, unseen face lapped at him and caused his frock coat to furl in its wake while his hat blew right off his head! Thankfully, the tricorne remained fastened to its string. The retinas of the sailor's eyes contracted. Not out of shock or fear, but determination and wonder.  Was the island itself giving off a warning not to enter its depths?

The determined pirate flashed a toothy grin beneath the cloth that covered his face. Warning or not, John Davis was sure now more than ever that he wished to explore the island and locate what riches he could find. So into the forest he would go, warning signs be damned. He felt confident that he would come back out alive.

It would not be long before a hunt's natural symphonies resounded ahead. First, a pained, terrified squealing followed by guttural growls and yowls. By the sound of it, some wild pig was being pursued by a big cat.

The adventurer of the sea halted dead in his tracks and reached for the sword sheathed on his left hip. The gold-splotched boar and golden tiger of unnatural size crashed into the path that lay before him, now locked in the struggle between life and death! Tufts of fur erupted from the fray as crimson stained the forest floor! John kept his distance-- ere he drew the ire of the predator that had its meal in its talons.

Then the earth beneath his feet tremored. John was uncertain of what made such an occurrence. An earthquake? A volcano, perhaps? He didn't have a chance to delve into this thought as another thunderous crash made pebbles jump from the path. Now, the predator and prey in mortal combat ceased their squabble.

This concerned the pirate. "Okay, what could cause animals to stop fighting like this?"

Another tremor, now, much closer than before. The very force caused the boar and tiger to bounce. John, who braced himself, allowed the shockwave to travel harmlessly through his legs while he kept his muscles loose and bendy. A shadow was quickly cast over the unaware trio now. To the horror of the beasts, and to the wonderment of John, a mountain seemingly sprouted from nowhere.

John nary had a chance to react before a flash of silver struck the ground like lightning. And, with distressed howls, the beasts of the forest succumbed to their injuries. The Pirate thought to unsheathe his swords. But, for now, he kept his right hand hovered over the hilt of his primary blade.

"Be you friend? Or foe?" he asked, keeping both eyes on the mountain of a being covered in furs.