The Perfect Storm: 1-1 An Unforgettable Dream

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I wake up from a vivid dream on the night before my wedding. I'm a young aristocratic bride-to-be, but each time I close my eyes I dream of brave piratical adventures and my grandma's lost treasure map. If I want to change my destiny, it is now or never.

Info

• Style:
• Gifts: Lady of the Sea, Sea Change
• Recommended: Lady of the Sea, Sea Change
• Perfect Score: 1,300
• Rewards: Blueprint: Brave Adventurer, 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1

Dialogue Choices

Captain! What are your orders?

• Prepare the cannons! We will turn them into driftwood
  • Story effect only.
• Keep searching! The treasure must be here
  • Story effect only

Transcript

Expand for script.

• You: (Oh wow... what is this place?)
• The salty wind blows in my face.
• The ship deck rolls below my feet, but I feel strong and stable.
• I belong here.
• ???: Captain, we have a problem. A huge problem.
• ???: That's an understatement. Let me have a look at the treasure map!
• The man takes the treasure map from my hand. Our fingers brush, and I feel a jolt of electricity between us.
• He smiles at me and pushes his glasses up his nose. He studies the map.
• ???: This cannot be happening. We are exactly where it says we should be. Our coordinates are spot on.
• ???: Burning barnacles. Are you sure?! I will flog you myself if you are joking. You must have made a mistake.
• ???: I don't make mistakes.
• ???: If we are where the map says, then where in the seven seas is the treasure island? Look around!
• The sailor gestures to the horizon around us. It is totally empty.
• ???: Sea to the right! Sea to the left! Sea before us! Sea behind us! There is nothing here. Definitely no riches or legendary treasures.
• ???: There must be a logical explanation. I have faith in our Captain.
• The man looks into my eyes. He puts his hand on my arm.
• ???: I believe in you. We can fix this!
• ???: Of course, Captain. You've led us through worse scrapes than this!
• You: These two sailors are looking to me to lead us! They are treating me with such trust and warmth.
• Sailor: Sail Ho! Someone has followed us!
• ???: Neptune's beard! As if things were not bad enough. Captain, what are your orders?!
• You: I...
• I look up, and see our black flag proudly fluttering in the sea wind.
• The flag is unmistakable. It is the Jolly Roger. This is my pirate crew!
• Despite the danger, I feel a shiver of excitement.
• ???: Captain! What are your orders?

Prepare the cannons! We will turn them into driftwood

• You: Load the cannons! Let's light them up! They will regret the day they got in my way!

Keep searching! The treasure must be here

• You: Forget the ship. Our prize must be here! We will be swimming in gold before the day's end!

• (The crew cheers. I can't believe I have my very own pirate crew!)
• Suddenly, my head is swimming... the scene before me flickers and then changes.
• (Ow. I feel groggy, like I just woke up. The ship, the crew, and the sea have all disappeared. I'm lying in a plush four-poster bed.)
• I am confused for a moment. Then, the memories and images come rushing into my mind.
• You: I am in a new book, but the pirate ship was just a dream.
• You: I am Cordelia Delamare, an aristocratic young lady, not a pirate Captain at all. It's 3:00 am on the night before my wedding.
• I still feel dizzy from the dream, and the details of my life are hazy. So I search for clues...
• You: A letter! It is signed "from Thomas"... he must be my fiancé. Maybe I can find something out in the letter.
• You: There must be a clue here.
• Thomas De Vere: "Light of my Life, my dearest Cordelia. Paragon of women, loveliest of creatures, and Queen of my heart."
• Thomas De Vere: "Your beauty is matched only by your virtue. Such perfection among women is peerless."
• Thomas De Vere: "Tomorrow cannot come soon enough. I cannot wait to make you into my perfect wife, and a perfect mother. Your endlessly devoted, Thomas De Vere"
• You: (Wow. His words are so romantic. So why is my heart not filled with excitement?)
• You: Thomas, such romantic words. But why do they only fill me with a vague sense of... dread?
• Something feels wrong. Despite the late hour I am nervous and restless.
• I am too anxious to sleep. I look around the plush bedroom. Among the luxurious furnishings and vases of fresh cut flowers, I see a wedding dress hanging by the wardrobe.
• You: I know! I will try on the dress.
• I examine my reflection in the gilded mirror.
• You: (Wow. It is a gorgeous gown. That is undeniable... but is this what I want?)
• You: Does the life of a perfect wife truly suit me?
• You: (My mind is still full of the pirate ship dream. The sea air, the sunshine, the crew, the treasure ship!)
• You: (Most of all, I remember the feeling I had there. I felt so free, so... right.)
• Next to the mirror, there hangs a painting of a woman. She has grey hair which is the colour of steel and smoke: the colour of battle. Her sea green eyes are sparkling. In her hand, she holds a map, and a curious looking lamp.
• Looking at the portrait, more memories wash over me.
• The regal and powerful woman in the painting is Miranda, my grandmother. When I was a child, she would fill my head with stories about pirates.
• She told me tales of brave adventures, legendary treasures and plunder on the high seas.
• Miranda: Cordelia, sweetheart.
• Miranda: When I am no longer with you, follow the map. Find the other five pieces, and find the treasure.
• Miranda: You have the heart of a pirate. Your destiny is yours to carve. Sweetheart, grandma loves you. Find the rest of the map.
• She kisses me on the forehead, and then walks away.
• That is the last time I ever saw her.
• You: Grandma...
• Cordelia's connection with her grandma burns so brightly in my memories. She admires her and misses her so much. But among all that love, a crushing wave of loneliness also crashes over me.
• You: I guess after you disappeared, I never found the courage to carve my own path. I never did pursue the map.
• You: And tomorrow morning my destiny will be decided.
• I look back to my fiancé's letter. "My dearest Cordelia... such perfection... I will make you into the perfect wife and mother".
• You: "Perfect". It is such a loaded word. Is it a compliment... or is it a cage?
• Again, unease and dread wash over me at the idea of marrying Thomas.
• Thomas' letter. My grandma's last words. My heart flutters.
• (I can feel the girl's emotions and memories merging with mine. Her love for her grandma, her anxiety about marrying Thomas, her desire for freedom and adventure. Her heart yearns for more. She has such a big dream. But she hasn't been able to fulfill it. This must be why I'm here.)
• I also feel her defiance. She has a tiny spark of rebellion in her. It is delicate. It has been diminished by years of being perfect and pleasing everyone. Just like a good young lady should do.
• But this spark is also bright and hot. She has felt it in her for so long. It is only a spark now, but it is ready to turn into a wildfire.
• You: We can do this together.
• My mind is set. I understand why I have entered this story.
• You: I have been a fool. Life is bigger than this. Come what may, I must seize my destiny, and find the missing map pieces.
• You: It really is now or never!
• My heart is beating hard in my chest as I sneak into my Father's study.
• You: (There is something here that I want.)
• You: (It's early, the house is still asleep. But I must be careful not to wake anyone. If the servants or anyone finds me, there's no way I will be able to escape.)
• You: (My Father is keeping my dowry here somewhere...)
• I rummage through his desk, my memories guiding me.
• As my hand glides over the mahogany, there's a sudden click.
• You: Aha! Here it is.
• I slide open the drawer. Inside, I find my dowry. Among the banknotes, there is also a small piece of colourful parchment.
• You: (This tiny piece of map was my Grandma's inheritance to me. The map fragment would belong to Thomas after we married, along with all of my family estate... and me.)
• I tuck the map piece into my dress.
• You: I guess if Thomas' wife is missing tomorrow, he won't be needing the dowry either.
• You: I know just what to do with this money.
• You: The ship from my dream vanished when I awoke. If I am going to hunt for the rest of the map, I will need a ship made of wood and sailcloth, not just dreams.
• You: I will use this dowry to buy a ship, and create a new life. Not the one that was planned for me, but one of my own making.
• I hear someone moving outside
• You: The servants must be up early to prepare for the wedding banquet. If they see me, it will all be over.
• You: I don't have time to prepare better.
• You: I have to act now, or forever hold my peace!
• I look to the window. I am on the third floor. It is high above the ground, but not impossible to climb... I have a plan.
• You: A captain climbs masts in the middle of storms.
• You: My captain's training begins here!
• With my dowry in hand, and map piece tucked into my dress, I lift my skirts and climb out of the window.
• My next step is clear. I will go to London. My destiny awaits me.