The Monster Mash: The Sequel

The Monster Mash: The Sequel
Date	10/01/25-10/31/25
Storyteller	Jolynne
Tier	Trainee
Player Characters	Uravas, Illiam, Claire Casca, Aruwyn, Esther, Husk
Rewards	150 xp, Golden Sprite Apple(s)
Result	success
Author	johnnysupernova
Downtime	0 days

In which Cap’n Stardust reflects, reflects again, and then reflects a third time.

Log

An Excerpt from The Ballad of the Jongleur Three : A Factual and Historical Recounting of Cap’n Stardust’s Adventures as Penned by Sava Ru Book 2, Chapter 7

Dramatis Personae

Uravus - Cap’n Stardust - Honorable Pirate, Leader of the Jongleur Three

Aruwynne Briar - Cruel Judge

Esther - Foe of Time Magic

Claire Casca - A dragon in disguise

Melfyra - Good natured Vampire, Party Hostess

Samara - Accessory to a deception most ingenious

The dark days of Onadbyr during the now well known “Apocalypse” have lived on in infamy to this day. We must stress, reader, that this time of darkness was metaphorical, not literal, as the neverending barrage of assaults from the forces of death and decay hung over our brave city like an impenetrable cloud.

We must also stress, and hope you forgive us for this aside, that at times, this period of darkness was literal, for it just so happened that at one point the sun had been eclipsed by a nefarious villain. However, the events chronicled in this chapter take place firmly before said blotting out of the sun, meaning that, yes, the dark period was quite metaphorical. Ah, but it would be remiss of us to not mention that these events took place in the evening. So in fact, this period during the apocalypse was both metaphorically and literally dark.

The great writer, Lanliss, once prefaced his book series ‘A thousand steps and still adrift’ with the once ill considered, now famous quote “When the sun is farthest from the horizon, then do we truly feel the need to shine”, and such a quote is no more fitting than what happened on this night, for the ghosts and ghouls stalked Trimarket Square with one goal: celebration.

These were, of course, not truly ghosts nor ghouls, but well intentioned facsimiles thereof. The associate Melfyra had taken it upon herself to plan and host a grand party in Trimarket. A haunting decor had transformed Trimarket into a quite fearsome place indeed. Some might have found it in poor taste, but, our brave Cap’n Stardust, whose mastery of the literary device of irony matched his mastery of the blade, could clearly see the genius behind the celebration, and, he hoped, the rest of Onadbyr would as well.

He had arrived at the celebration uncharacteristically early. He had helped suggest ideas to Melfyra, alongside his sister, Arumi, and his fellow associate Claire Casca, and his less than fellow associate Esther. It was at this meeting that they suggested many different challenges and contests for the festival. One of the suggestions he had made to Melfyra was a Golden Pumpkin that could grant any wish.

He would win that pumpkin, and he knew the wish he would make, for the loss of his friend still stung.

Cap’n Stardust reflected on his mission as he strode through the Trimarket square. He looked quite impressive now compared to how he began his adventure. Instead of ragged and worn leather armor, he wore an incredible coat (as tailored by Cyrus at Elro Custom Leatherworks) and a grand hat with a brightly colored plume (also tailored by Cyrus at Elro Custom Leatherworks). At his side hung his two blades, the first, a rapier he carried by his side for sentimental purposes, and the other, an intricately made weapon for an intricately skilled pirate: the Aldori Dueling sword.

He was used to his blades attracting attention, and so he was not surprised when a figure dressed in the guise of a ghost approached him, gesturing to the swords.

“Excuse me, sir,” began the ghost. “About those swords.”

“Ah! You wish to see my swords? You must know a good pirate never parts with their swords, and you see, there is no better pirate than I, Cap’n Stardust.” The good captain said, with a bow.

“I beg your pardon, sir, that is not why I address you.”

“Oh, I beg your pardon, my ghostly friend. So this matter does not concern my swords?”

“As to that, sir, it does.”

“What’s that! You wish to speak on my swords, and yet you do not wish to see them?”

“Well, you must know, sir, that your words describe why I approach you.”

Uravus furrowed his brow at this. He was fond of riddles, but the one put before him had vexed him. “My friend, you must explain your words, for I am quite confused by them.” He said, with a frown.

The ghost bowed to the Captain, a show of respect, for Cap’n Stardust’s reputation had grown quite large at this point from the adventures he had already undertaken. As the ghost rose, he said, “I mean no offense to you, Cap’n, and wish only to explain: blades are not allowed outside the carving area, for safety, you see.”

Cap’n Stardust placed a hand to his forehead, and then shook his head with an embarrassed laugh. What a fool he had been! Uravus grabbed the sash of his coat, which was both an ornately arrayed decoration, but also a gateway to an interdimensional holding space, and stowed both of his swords. He apologized profusely to the ghost, but something he said rang in his ears. The carving area. What better place to find a golden pumpkin than an area to carve normal pumpkins? With another apology, he rushed off to find this so-called “Carving Area”.

Uravus found the carving area with little effort, for there were many pumpkins along the path, each with a wicked face angled to guide the way. As he approached the “carving area”, a mummy and a werewolf greeted him. The mummy, with a grand hug, and the werewolf with an apology.

“I do apologize on behalf of Lamusa, he is quite affectionate.” The werewolf said, as the mummy set Uravus down.

Uravus dusted off the wrinkles from his coat, for his coat was still so new that such things bothered him, and gave the duo a bow. “It is no manner of offense, my friends know me as Cap’n Stardust, I consider you two in their numbers, and such hugs between friends is no cause for offense.”

The mummy clapped, overjoyed to know that Cap’n Stardust meant him no harm, and would never cause fear in his bandage wrapped heart. The werewolf, for her part, nodded solemnly, and asked “Are you here to carve pumpkins?”

Uravus returned nod for nod. “Just so. I have it on good authority that the reward is a golden pumpkin, one that can grant any wish.” He said this final few words in a whisper, for he did not wish to reveal the secret power hidden at this party to just anyone.

The werewolf looked around confused, no doubt concerned that the secret had been out, and said “Yes… Yes… we have something like that. Here. Take this pumpkin! And a knife! Carve the pumpkin up like your future!”

Uravus took the pumpkin, and hefted it. Deciding that the quality of the pumpkin were suitable for a pirate, he set it down. He then held his hand to turn away the offered knife. “Ah, no need. I have my own weapon.” Cap’n Stardust said, before retrieving his Aldori Dueling Sword from his Coat Sash Space Pocket.

The carving station attendants stepped back, impressed by the show of the good Captain. Cap’n Stardust held the blade close to the pumpkin, and considered what he would carve. We regret to inform you, however, that in Cap’n Stardust’s desire for his prize, he terrified and enraged his new friends, for as he coated his blade in flames, the Mummy, Lamusa, burst into tears.

“What the devil are you doing!?” The werewolf roared, as Uravus finished his grisly work. “The sign said no open flames!”

Uravus stopped. He had finished his carving, his finest work, a treatise escrolled on the pumpkin illustrating his past, present, and future… but at what cost? He frowned, as he looked at the anger in the eyes of his werewolf friend, and the tears of terror on his other friend, the mummy Lamusa.

“I…” Cap’n Stardust began, searching his library of verbal tools that could mend the rift he had created between his newfound friends. He was found wanting, and could only utter out “... am sorry, my friends.” He gave them a bow, and backed away. “I fear I got too excited.” He added, as he hid away his Aldori Dueling Sword.

The Werewolf shook her head, as Lamusa calmed down. “It’s… fine. Lamusa’s calming down… just… get out of here. Captain… Pah!” She said, her biting words stung Uravus. The knowledge that he had betrayed the trust of Lamusa was the only thing that stung more.

What was he doing here? Cap’n Stardust wondered to himself. He hoped that the golden pumpkin could restore his lost friend, but what good would that do him if he lost himself in the process? Had Uravus truly known himself? He began to reflect on such questions, a new experience for he seldom did so.

He was lost in his reflections when he stepped face first into his next challenge: the mirror maze.

A girl in a mirror called out to him. “Hello there! Care to try your hand at braving the terrors of the maze?”

Cap’n Stardust looked to the mirror, his present, to the pumpkin carving station he had just left, his past, and then upward to the sky, as he wondered on matters concerning his future. “A pirate knows no fear. Yes, I think I shall. Where then, shall I find this maze?”

The mirror bound girl smiled. “Why, it’s right here, all you have to do to find it is close your eyes and imagine you’re there!” Uravus puzzled this over, then nodded, before closing his eyes. As he opened his eyes, he found himself surrounded by himself- perfect replicas as represented by a maze of mirrors. The only other thing he could see in the dizzying display of himself were a series of glowing pearls scattered throughout the maze.

“So then,” he began, addressing himself in the mirror. “I take it I must collect these pearls, and then escape the maze?”

His mirror visage nodded.

“Well, then. If you are in the mirrors, and I am not in the mirrors, then that must mean the pearls are anywhere you are not, and everywhere I am not.” He said, as he paced through the maze.

He looked at his reflection. His reflection furrowed his brow.

“Oh, come now, me, that is to say, the you that is me, not my sister, who is often called Mi. You must know what I mean, for we are the same.”

He shrugged at himself. Cap’n Stardust found he did not make for good conversation.

A voice that did not match his perception of his own voice echoed through the halls of the maze. “Reflect! Reflect!!!” The voice cried out. Uravus pondered on this, then looked to the voice, as a legion of ghosts manifested from the mirror walls.

“Ah. I suppose it is time we make our escape.” Uravus pondered on how he would make such an escape as he looked to himself, then to the ghosts, then realized the secret. “My friend, if everywhere I look is myself, then everywhere I look is a mirror, and thus a wall, and thus… I must go where I am not, and to do that I must go where I am.”

His reflection nodded. As the ghosts approached, Cap’n Stardust leapt toward one of the mirror walls. He twirled in the air with the skill of an acrobat, landed against the wall, or that is to say, against himself, and kicked off. He repeated the motion, flinging himself along the walls, each time colliding with himself, then jumping off of his reflection. He outpaced the ghosts, for Uravus’s mastery of acrobatics matched only his mastery of literary devices such as irony, which matched only his mastery of the blade.

He found a light at the end of one of the mirror-like tunnels, and leapt for it. He did not remember grabbing any pearls, but he had collected several. He clung to the pearls as the light enveloped him. The light washed over Cap’n Stardust, and a moment later, he found himself back in Trimarket Square.

Only, it was not the Trimarket Square he had been in a moment ago. There were no signs of decorations for the party to come, and the sun shone brightly in the sky. Cap’n Stardust looked around the crowded square, before the realization of what had happened had dawned on him. He rushed to the first person he could see, and cried out, “Tell me! What day is it?”

The person he approached turned to face him, it was Samara Slitherslime, an associate he had worked with on more than one occasion. “Oh, hello, Captain.” She said, warmly. “It’s Oathday, we’ve got the party in a week, you’ll be attending won’t you?”

Uravus took a step back from Samara. He could not believe it. A week prior to the monster’s festival, Uravus had made several suggestions to Melfyra, one was the golden pumpkin that could grant any wish, and the other suggestion was simple: a mirror maze that could send participants back in time.

When he had made this suggestion, one of his fellow associates, a woman named Esther said, in no kind words, that Uravus’s idea was nonsense. They had spent several hours arguing the logistics of it. Uravus smiled as he remembered the argument that had once before caused him great turmoil. Not only had his suggestion been heeded, it had been performed in a quite spectacular fashion.

Another fact dawned on Uravus. At this exact moment, he, that is to say, the he of the yesterweek, was arguing with Esther. “Samara, I must get to Melfyra’s house. I must tell Esther I was right.” He said, simply.

Samara frowned, and shook her head. “Oh, I’m sorry, Captain, we’re not… quite back in time. It’s a sort of temporal bubble, you see. If you leave you’ll be brought back to the present.”

Cap’n Stardust furrowed his brow, and puzzled this development. This was still close enough to prove himself right, and help end an hours long, bitter argument early. He approached one of the patrons of Trimarket, as he dug into his sash pocket for a paper and several gold coins.

“I pardon the intrusion, my friend, I need you to deliver a message for me… the message will be to me, that is to say, not me, now, but me–” As he furiously wrote his message down for delivery, the person he was speaking to faded away. It was just an illusion.

Uravus turned to Samara. She frowned. “Oh, Captain…” She began. “We didn’t think anyone would try to… It’s all just an illusion. You’re still in the present day.”

Cap’n Stardust looked around the square, with fresh eyes. The illusion faded away before his very eyes. He looked down at the pearls, they too were an illusion– not the shiny pearls he thought they were, but a collection of tasty candies.

“Of course. Tricks… and treats… How foolish of me.” He said quietly, as he bowed his head in thanks for Samara’s clever prank. He kept his head hung low as he left the illusionary bubble and headed for his final goal: the costume contest.

Cap’n Stardust pondered again, on his life. Since the passing of Sabelle he had spent more time reflecting on his life. He felt aimless, his only goal had been restoring his lost friend, but he could not reckon with what it had driven him to. He was a pirate without a boat, a Jongleur without a blade, a jester with no japes.

Was he even truly Cap’n Stardust?

As he approached the costume contest, he found Melfyra overseeing the stage. He put on his best pirate’s smile, for such somber moods were not befitting of a pirate, certainly not at a party. Melfyra. “Oh, hello, Captain! How are you enjoying the festivities so far?” She asked, with a colorful drink in hand.

Uravus nodded, and proffered one of the candies he found in the maze. “Ah, yes, it has given me much to reflect on. I wish to enter the Costume Contest, though I will need a moment to fashion my costume.”

Melfyra held her hand up to deny the offered candy. “Oh, feel free to keep those! They’re for you! All the judges are assembled, so when you’re ready with your costume, head on up!” She said, with a warm smile.

Uravus looked to the stage to see who would be judging his costume. He saw three associates he recognized. The first, his new friend Claire Casca, dressed in the guise of an adorable dragon. The second, the Lady Aruwynne Briar, in the guise of Pharasma (he would only know this after the fact, upon tutoring from Arumi). The third was another associate he recognized, and he quickly averted his gaze upon seeing her. First, because her costume was quite immodest and pirates were never meant to look at such sights without several written letters of consent, and second, for he was still remembering the bitter argument he had a week prior. His proposal for a time warping mirror maze had been turned against him and he had been made a fool of.

It was then that Uravus realized that for just a moment, he did not want to be Cap’n Stardust. Ah, but then, wasn’t that what a costume contest was for? He retrieved a scroll of illusion magic, and prepared his costume, and with it, a new name.

Gone was the honorable Pirate Cap’n Stardust.

Here was the infamous scoundrel, The Outlaw Stardust.

The Outlaw Stardust sauntered up to the stage. A mask covered his eyes, a wide brimmed hat covered his head, and a long duster covered his body. “I reckon,” he began, with a drawl, addressing the judges, and then the crowd. “I should be tellin’ my story.”

The Outlaw Stardust, vile scoundrel that he was, traveled from town to town. He was a drifter, forced to live a life of solitude. He always sought adventure and love, but only ever found strife and heartbreak. Such notions of honor and loyalty didn’t come easy to the Outlaw Stardust. Despite all this, he kept hunting for truth and kindness.

How could it? He was no pirate. He walked the weary trail of a wanderer.

When the Outlaw finished his story, he hit a pose. A light shined down on him from the heavens. He had poured his heart into this performance, for it was not just a performance, but a window into another life. He had reflected on his life with the pumpkin contest, and he had reflected on himself in the mirror maze. Now he had cast a rock into the water of his life, and let the ripples warp his reflection into something else.

Would that be enough? The Cap’n Stardust would wonder if it would ever be enough. The Outlaw Stardust had no such concerns. It was beneath a scoundrel to think of such things.

Melfyra was the first judge to cast her judgement. “Woah! That’s impressive! Outlaws are spooky and the costume is well crafted! I think that’s a 7. What do the rest of you think?”

The next judge was Claire Casca, who spoke in a drawl to match the Outlaw Stardust’s own. “First desperado I reckon to be compelled by happiness and kindness, not an unwelcome revelation though.” She said, as she lifted a glass of wine with an oversized drake’s paw.

“Reckon yer a straight shooter, if’n a bit of a talker. ‘Preciate the slick get up. Reckon it gets an eight out of ten.”

The third judge, Aruwyn Briar laughed cruelly. “Oh dear, he must be a bandit for how much of our time he stole. A four from me. What do you think, Esther?”

Finally, Esther chimed in. “A generous score, my lady, though this bandit looks exceptionally scruffy. Though you can rely on drifters for one thing, never sticking around!” She said, with a cruel laugh to match Aruwyn’s own.

Melfyra took a moment to tally the scores. “Alright. Wow. We’ll average that out to a 6 then! Not bad at all!”

Ah, but dear reader, it was that bad. The Outlaw Stardust said nothing as he turned to walk off the stage. He slumped his shoulders, an act ill befitting a pirate, which suited him well, for he was an Outlaw at this moment. He looked back to the judges, for a moment, before hopping off of the stage. His illusory disguise disappeared around him, revealing himself again to be Uravus.

Uravus made his way away from the Trimarket Square with the haste only a pirate could match. He did not stick around to see the other contestants, though he heard the other costumes were quite impressive. He did not see Illiam or Victoria enter the pumpkin contests, though if he had, he would have respectfully shown Victoria the art of the blade, for it is every pirate’s duty to mentor those who would wield the blade. As Cap’n Stardust fled to fight another day, he had seen a hulking figure and their companion, though alas, he did not stop to get their names.

It would not take long for Cap’n Stardust to bounce back to his old pirate self, for as Torthilda wrote in her dissertation on the dwarven pirates of the underground sea, “A pirate ne’er sinks below the rocks, and e’er can be found at the mountain’s peak.” and though Uravus was no dwarven pirate, he was a pirate, and thus, could not be held down for long.