Chapter 2 - The Hungering Deep

Trailer
May 29, 1718
More than a month has passed since you entered the Sea of Thieves. You have garnered some reputation with the greedy Gold Hoarders, the mysterious Order of Souls, and the stuffy Merchant alliance, and along the way, earned a fair bit of coin (5,062 gold). The Lady LeGoon has made her way to the Ancient Isles, a very different region to the Shores of Plenty, with towering craggy cliffs. You are now approaching Plunder Outpost, a tiny development on a forested island with a mountain of rocks dwarfing the little settlement. It's the evening and there's another ship at the port when you dock, the Faithful Gull, though it looks like a dying gull. You should probably leave someone to watch the ship. What do you want to do?

[CHOICE]
Who are you leaving?

Going down the boardwalk you pass by the shops; trinkets, weapons, clothing; and the trading companies; Order of Souls, Merchant Alliance, and Gold Hoarders; and the planks turn and lead into the Drowned Rat, a tavern on Plunder Outpost. What do you want to do?

[CHOICE]
Where do you want to go?

[TRINKET SHOP]
A cozy building with many tools on display. Behind the counter stands Travis.

[WEAPON SHOP]
A smoky room with a furnace in the corner and weapons sitting on racks. Whitney is sharpening a sword.

[TAVERN]
Inside is your run of the mill bar and seating, there's a crew having an argument, a lady leaning on the counter, the Men of Low Moral Fiber, and- oh it's your pal Duke! What do you want to do?

[CHOICE]
Who do you want to talk to?

[ARGUING CREW]
Getting closer, it seems like 3 people yelling at one person, you can hear their conversation;[ETHNICALLY ANBIGUOUS WOMAN (BEA MUSKELLUNGE)]
- It's over François! You gambled all our money away! Don't you know everybody cheats in Karnath Fortune?
[SCOTTISH MAN (JOHN BARQUE)]
- Yer off the crew! I don't even know why we hired ya!
A large bearded man shoves "Francois" to the side and the rest of the crew storms out.
What do you want to do?

[DUKE]
first interaction
- Here's to the open sea! You ready to test your mettle with the Bilge Rats? 
So, what's new around here?
- You noticed the sharks getting excitable lately? Great fun trying to outswim them if you ask me! Bit of a mystery, really. If you're feeling curious, there's a fella called 'merry' Merrick who seems to know something about it. He might tell you, if he's sober. Last I heard, he was camped on the South-West side of Shark Bait Cove. Adventure calls, mate!
https://youtu.be/DE8aZo6B7Kc?si=Eym4DQdIJD1V9PFt


[MEN OF LOW MORAL FIBER]
first interaction
Well hullo there! Whaddaya need?
further
Duke's got a lead on something interesting.

[LEAVE]
It's dark now, and walking down the docks to your ship, you see the Faithful Gull from earlier lowering it's sails, you can see the ethnically ambiguous woman from before is at the helm. [TBD - LEFT CREWMATE] is on your deck, asleep against the main mast. Your group is also feeling tired. What do you want to do?

[CHOICE]
Sleep or go to Shark Bait Cove

May 30, 1718
A flat group of islands in a circle shape, taking the appearance of rings. You can see a small camp on the shore with a skinny old man standing nearby. Is this Merrick? What do you want to do?

Getting closer, you can see that the old man has severe injuries, two peglegs he's balancing on, scars all over, an eyepatch, and a hook.

[MERRICK]
first interaction
- Come to hear ole Merrick perform? Well, I'm retired. And this is the soberest I've been in weeks. And if one more person asks me how I lost my legs...
How did you lose your legs, Merrick? (Only available at first meeting)
- Very funny. You wanna hear me story? Go read me journals. There's one on this island, by the fin-rock that stands in a lagoon. But be careful out there. See, for me latest shanty, I took inspiration from the writins' of the tribes that once lived here. They worshipped a great beast... the Hungering One. Don't you go looking for it! I couldn't handle it, and neither can you. Hmm... I can't give you a bigger boat, but I can give you this... it'll make it easier to speak to other ships. It's dangerous out there alone!
Got any more stories, Merrick?
- Fine, I can't resist strechin' me bardic muscles. What do you fancy?
— Something about your injuries?
- Good idea. Let me tell you a real tale of terror- how I lost my eye! I was out on Black Sand Atoll in the Wilds. Out of nowhere... a huge, fearsome, crazed beast swooped down and plucked out me eye - just like THAT! What was it? Well, it was a parrot. Don't laugh! A parrot's no joke when it's pecked out your peeper!
— Something about sea monsters?
- How about the time I frightened off a Kraken wiv nothin' but me powerful performance? Me crew fell afoul of that beast after workin wiv that stinkin' Merchant Alliance. We were doomed. The Kraken was angry. But inspiration hit me. I played me drum like never before! A stirrin' war-song! That slimy squid fled in terror! And no, NOT because my playing was so awful. I wonder if it was because...
Got any shanties to share?
- I'm not some performing monkey! And I'm a bit nervous about playing, lately... You seem remarkably skelly-free! True, at first I thought they were takin' pity on me after me brush with death. But maybe it's me pungent aroma. Makes even the dead's eyes water. Sorry.

What do you want to do?

Heading inland, you can see the water separating the islets, and you can make out where the center is. What do you want to do?

Reaching the center ring, you can see a makeshift bridge leading to a boulder sticking out of the water in the deep central pool, it looks like a rough sculpture of a shark. What do you want to do?

Approaching the boulder, you can see incense burning and a thick book with XX on it; one of Merrick's journals has been discarded here. What do you want to do?

Read Page 26: Disaster!
- Disaster has struck! I played me new shanty with me new crew, inspired by the notes of the old tribes. Even another ship joined in! But... the beat somehow called to a creature... just like what the tribes worshipped. It was over in moments. The sea was red before, but much more so after. Me crew were reduced to nothin' but shark bait, along wiv' me legs. The last of us fled. I've noted the map number, in case I ever get so drunk I forget. The letter needed is one dear to me heart.
Read Page 30: Goin' for a drink!
- I'm goin' for a drink! I'll charm one out of me favourite tavern keeper, with a little romantic verse...
Red haired and fair of face,
her tavern stands at a shining place!
A place where captains hang their hats,
head there for boozy chats!

What do you want to do?

[GOLDEN SANDS OUTPOST]

[TINA]
first interaction
- I'm Tina, the life and soul of any party. You won't get a better grog pulled anywhere!
What's the grog like in here, Tina?
- Much the same as everywhere else I think. To be honest I don't really know much about it. I'm more of a rum girl myself, but we've been out of stock for ages.
Hey, that's a nice necklace you're wearing.
- Why, thank you! The tavern owners make us wear the same ones. They call it 'brand recognition' or something. Never heard of it, so I've put a few extra things on mine. Steal me something new to add during your travels and I'll be very grateful.
Have you had any especially drunken pirates in lately?
- Well, there's that scallywag Merrick! Always trying to get charm free drinks out of me with shanties and stories. You seen the wreckage of his ship, The Killer Whale? The crow's nest is still standing out of the water. He said he 'fled for sanctuary' after fighting some beast, but ran out of planks! It lies North of the place... Idiot Island, or something. East of... Double Trees. I'm awful with place names. If you see that drumming drunkard, tell him to pay his tab!

[WANDA'S SHOP]
Looking in through the window, you can see Wanda holding something up to the light. You lean your heads to get a good look, but she notices you and shoves her arm behind her back, giving you an evil eye. That skeletal parrot, Salty, has moved on top of the building.
Once inside, her shop looks a mess, but there's some strange things on the shelf behind her, cannonballs, they seem to glow green and purple, and you can almost make out images within. Wanda's arm is still behind her back.

[WANDA]
- What do you want? Pick a weapon and get out!
You're awfully snappy today.
- (if they don't ask something that makes sense, say "I've no time for pleasantries!" at the beginning) This is shop where you trade money for objects that kill things. Not a... a... hand-holding friendship parade! And soon it'll be the ONLY weapon shop that matters, thanks to the treasure I've got my hands on! But it's MY discovery! Keep your nose out! Buy something, or leave!
What are those things on the shelf?
- They aren't ready yet. Leave them alone! I’m working one something... new. Something that every pirate will want. You should go and start saving your gold, because the days of Wanda selling rubbish to get by are GONE!

May 31, 1718
[I-12]

[MERRICK'S JOURNAL V]
Read Page 12: Back to the wreckage
- Why do I TorrTure meseff? Comin back to the wreckij of th Killer Whale. If I could summon the shark again... I could avenge me CRew. An me legses. I went Too the same spot, but he isn't comin. What's difrent? Mebbe I'm tooo drunk. Can't harrdly writ. Gonna get a cuppa T, clerr my head.
Read Page 12: A grog from T.
- Tea is too.. sobering. Gonna get more grog, from me dear... whassAName. T somehinge. Find herr from my romantic verse:
The tavern that hass a nasty bite, where the drunks sslither evry nighT.
The BARkeep's fond o her ownn grogg, a scarred beaut in a Wild spott.
Rhymin's hard when you canT sea strait.

[DAGGER TOOTH OUTPOST]

[TERI]
first interaction
- My name isshh...ISSHH TERI and it'sshh g-g-good to sshhee you at T-T-The Sshhnake Pit.
What's the latest news in Dagger Tooth outpost, Teri?
- WHATSSHH W-WHAT? Newsshh y-y-you sshhay? I-I-I've been berry visshhy ...hic... VERY BISSHHY c-c-checking the g-g-grog sshhtock all d-d-day. Needshh t-t-to check itshh...itshh alright l-l-later too...
I'm on the hunt for fame and fortune! Know where I can find any?
- Yesshhh I d-d-do! Yer m-m-me BESSHHT m-m-matey, that y-y-yousshh are, sshho I'll t-t-tell yousshh. On Devilsshh R-R-Ridge, there isshh...ISSHH A TIG BREASSHURE...j-j-jusshht for usshh. Gerrit for usshh will y-y-you?
Have you had any especially drunken pirates in lately?
- Mossshtly seen ’merry’ Merrick! That rogue issh the one (hic) p-p-pirate who can match me grog fer grog! Lasht t-t-time we had a party, t’wasshh in that fishy lil cave. Not assh romantic assh he thinkssssh. Underr the golden arch. What a PALAVER! I can’t rememember (hic) where exactly, jussht a lil’ uncharted place wessht o’ Shark Tooth Key- he sshaid there’sh a rock nearby ’looks jussht like hish enemy’. If you wanna know more about (hic) him, I’d loook there.

June 1, 1718
[N-13]

[MERRICK'S JOURNAL I]
Read Page 23: Back to me hideout.
- Back to me hideout, where I do me best writin'. Must admit, I didn't like making the swim, knowing what's out there. Thankfully, it seems to stay near that infernal ridge. I don't know how to get my revenge on that spiteful shark. Maybe I'll go back to the grog. I stole animals from the Merchant Alliance for bait, but that didn't work. I tried me shanty again, but one man cannot call the beast alone.
Read Page 26: Retiring.
- If worthy enough souls could learn me shanty... no, it's too dangerous. I'm stocking up on grog, going to Shark Bait Cove, and retiring me drums. I'll be there, crafting new drums, just in case someone does prove their worth.

June 2, 1718
[SHARK BAIT COVE]

[MERRICK]
Found all your journals. Spill the beans about the beast, Merrick!
- Oh... you really found all those? Okay, I’m impressed. Alright, I’ll change me tune and share the secret of me shanty... When played properly... meaning you need at least five people, playing in harmony... The rhythm calls to the finned fiend that took me legs... as well as me crew. I wasn’t up to the challenge, but maybe you can avenge us... I’ll teach you me shanty. It must be played in that special place I mentioned in me journals... Just don’t get too close to the Shroud! I hope you can carry a tune... Take this drum with you. I’m thinking of making more, now I’m retired. And hey, wear me tattoo. I want that thing to know who sent you!

[APPROACHING DEVIL'S RIDGE]
Now that you're closer to the island, you can make out a ship sitting in the bay.

[DEVIL'S RIDGE]
The ship in the bay is the Faithful Gull, and the crew looks to be on deck. you hear a voice coming through a speaking trumpet:

[SCOTTISH VOICE]
- WHAT DO YE WANT?

[CROW'S NEST]
You can just make out some birds circling a spot a ways away from of Devil's Ridge. What do you want to do?

[COMPASS]
south-by-southwest

[SOUTH OF DEVIL'S RIDGE]
There's an unsettling feeling as you approach the birds. Jose raises the sails and your ship comes to a stop. The birds suddenly start flying away. cue "The Hungering Deep," switch to extended before the ending plays.

The water starts to churn as a shadow rushes from the deep. You have but a moment to feel the terror as it bursts out of the water; A giant nasty maw of countless teeth erupts out first, two piercing green eyes sit on one side of it's face and behemoth fins run along it's back. This is it; the hungering one. It starts speeding through the water, circling the Faithful Gull and ??? at incredible speed. What do you want to do?

Include the Faithful Gull in turns, it will fire at the meg.

The eldritch shark is charging towards the ???/the Faithful Gull

1 shot
It looks like that hurt the Megalodon.

5 shots
The Hungering one is injured but still ferocious.

10 shots
The Hungering one looks a bit weakened.

15 shots
It looks halfway defeated.

25 shots
The Megalodon is extremely hurt.

30 shots
The Hungering one roars and flings it's head up, then falls limp. A wave crashes against your ship. You've defeated the Megalodon. Treasure from years past and chunks of meat float out from the Megalodon's maw. As the two crews cheer, the giant shark twitches, then retreats back into the depths...
there is a moment of silence, but the Faithful Gull starts moving towards the treasure.

[BARQUE]
- SORRY, BUT WE DON'T INTEND TO SHARE! WE'RE PIRATES AFTER ALL! HAHAHAH!
roll for luck

[SHARK BAIT COVE]

[MERRICK]
Thanks for sharing your tale, Merrick.
- I’m just glad that you avenged me crew and dealt wiv' my unfinished business. I hope there aren’t any more of those things out there... Enjoy using those things I gave you. I might even come out of retirement!
https://youtu.be/n1qjJu8b2fM?si=efIRPRt4yoLDIQ3y
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