Imagine a world where fantasy ships are not limited to sailing only onto seas and rivers and they are capable of taking to the onto skies, sailing alongside the seas or rivers of low, gangling clouds. Of course, even those slightly sci-fi, steampunk, fantasy-like ships from wood, brass and sometime something more exotic material that steel still had to fight challenges of nature like winds and wild currents of sky or sea. Of course, it's not always (the bigger the better) as the size itself limits the maximum usable attitude. So, its not a big win if you must evade every hill, because you just can't simply claim the imaginary aura wave around them every time you desire.
Anyway, we are onboard of one of those sky-ships, an agile frigate that has already witness many crazy adventures. Currently on its another voyage, we glanced at the interior of this ship. There, a muscularly, burly old sailor nicknamed the Dwarf from the Iron Mountains, reveals the secrets of sailing among the clouds in the sky to a young rookie with heroic inclinations on its first day on the ship. Among the current crew, they are like the oldest person on board who know nearly everything about sailing seas or skies, and the youngest one who didn't know anything about sky-ships until this frigate shows up. It was like an old master preparing a chosen one protagonist on its promising journey to make an impact on the world.
They were currently deep in the bowels of the ship, walking through the corridor filled by all kind of pipes stitched to the calling when they heard a frightened scream/shriek, possibly belonging to a lady in trouble, from the direction they were going.
The young prodigy immediately switched to combat deployment and wanted to dash to the heroic rescue of the heroine. Except, the hero was forcibly stopped by a massive hand that grabbed its shoulder and trapped the youngster in a place. Of course, the newbie scolded the old pal, saying that the senior should let the rookie go to make the rescue.
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Except, the dwarf had a deadly serious expression. His stern, or rather angry expression, derailed the hero from its rhythm, but the elder still barked at rookie who tried to break away from the grip. No, the experienced old sailor shouted, "Listen here!!, inexperienced greener sucker!!; Do you have a wish to die before you become the proclaimed hero?!! Where do you think we are?!! Think about it!! The only meaningful thing in that direction is the kitchen!! And when I think about it, we are lucky in our misfortune that today is just that day in a year!!" Glaring into a distance, the elder utter an advise of warning. "Approach the kitchen in this day without holding the maximum guard and you can risk or lose your life for no reason."
The young protagonist stopped its action at that reasoning and began to wonder aloud whether the kitchen was a cursed place. Then there was a question if such similar misfortune, if not exactly this type of cruel challenge of destiny, was not the primary reason for this hero to get on board this ship.
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Of course, the rookie was reprimanded for that by dwarf. "Don't be silly, by blabbing bed time book-story topic as a reason to do damn shit!! Trust my life time experience when I saying that I'm saving your life!! And not just yours!!" But since the newcomer dint get it, the elder sighed. "Listen! The voyage is not just a super enthusiastic adventure. It have its own sets of hidden dangers that no one talks about. So learn to think before you act! A calm head is necessary here." Then the dwarf pointed with its thumb onto the direction, from where the shriek come. "Do you remember that I said that we take turns in the kitchen? So~o, today is the worst combination of person in charge and reason to cook a special dish. In general, that matching will result in us not having food until tomorrow. In the worst case, we will have to risk our own lives. Mainly, mental health."
It was seen on the youngster that this explanation was insufficient, to just accepted it as it is, a lot was missing and need to be explained.
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Suddenly, they both heard a wobbly steps from the kitchen direction as something sluggishly moved towards them, making hard steps. So, they looked determinedly towards the intersection of half-dark corridors, which were mysteriously dimly lit by a single lamp from the ceiling. We shall note, that this lamp experienced better times during her tenure and now was hardly make a sufficient light. Maybe it was not a high priority to deal with it, or there was a certain nostalgia to it. Or the low visibility was just the thing needed to disappear from stalker's sight.
It didn't take long, and something humanoid, that resembled a mud monster from the swamp, came to the light, full covered in a brown mass, like some kind of golem. Leaning against the corner, it looked down the opposite corridor and then into the corridor where they were. When it saw them, it stretched its (stump?) or hand towards them and let out a (groan?).
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The young prodigy was already reaching for its weapon, declaring that this hero would fight that monster.
Noticing that idea, the dwarf make a light, parenting punch-slap to prevent the hero from drawing the weapon. At same time, the elder make a stand as a sign that they were in this mess together. "Don't rush to the unknown like a dumb-ass! True, this will be a battle that no one will be interested in, and its tempting to cut it short. But we cannot jump into this without a plan. In fact, if you weren't here with me when I initiating you on your first day on ship, I would have run away a long time ago. But since you're such a protagonist, I'll help you to save that monster. But don't dare to get a cold feet; you signed up for this yourself."
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For a moment, the hero stared very confused at the elder, asking what that meant, completely ignoring that the muddy thing was walking towards them with wobbly steps, supporting itself on the wall.
But the old sailor ignored the question from the newbie. Dwarf just slammed its fist into its own palm and grinned dangerously before the upcoming fight. "I assume that once again, it is that day when a pot of boiled chocolate must have exploded. Right into someone's face." Elder make a determined stare. "Hear me out! You can keep all the credit as long as you do what I tell you. Above all, remember that under no circumstances should you put that substance in your or anyone else mouth. And before you ask like an idiot, you could end up on the toilet for hours. Or in an open-eyed coma. Or traumatized for life. Or temporarily soulless, as the crew will be just stare at yours limbless body seeing a soul that will be coming out from your mouth."
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As the young hero stared at the dwarf in disbelief, its eyes popped out, and their jaw dropped.
Elder noticed that silly expression and grimaced. "First, we have to get the unfortunate sailor out of that chocolate prisons. So, at my signal, we run towards that monster and grab it from one side each. Then, we can sprint-drag the entire thing up the stairs. Up on the main deck is a fire sprinkler. We will use that to deal with this culinary curse."
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Of course, the youngster had so many questions to ask, but they were out of time. The monster was already in front of them, still leaning on the wall with one (hand?), and pointing at them with the other, making wobbly steps and weird noises. Therefore, the dwarf patted the hero unsparingly on its shoulder. With a shout, the elder grabbed hero: "Where's your sense for an adventure when it's finally the time for it??!" Without waiting for an answer dwarf gestured to start the plan.
They both charged forward with a battle cry to fight that chocolate monster!
Indeed, after an unusual fierce battle, they manage to save the (lady?) in distress.
End