01-06. Jungle Ruins: Part 2

The second dungeon level down tested Keaunu's and Maria's strength and courage over and over again. While they rejoiced in all the amazing treasure troves they discovered, each new gain unleashed more terror. Three more mummies rose from their sarcophagi to fight with the adventurers!

Whatever god this ancient statue represented was serious about defending his bounty! Keaunu believed the rock god looked like a dwarf from that long-lost race. Personally, Maria thought it was just a run of the mill gnome.

Dwarf, gnome, or ancient alien, he meant business! His mummy henchmen were tough warriors.

Maria lost her second battle with one mummy who wasn't so kind to her. She fell into a deep sleep.

After each victory, the mummies returned to their own slumber.

Keaunu lost fights with two mummies. One was a thin, wiry fellow.

And the other was a hefty strongman!

Keaunu also collapsed in unconsciousness after each lost battle.

There was a second hallway leading off from the lowest level's rock god chamber. Maria had been wanting to investigate this last crypt room from the first moment she entered the ruins.

Now with the crypt's treasures pillaged, both Maria and Keaunu spent a few moments trying their luck with the magic well they found there. Never one prospered!

The well just wasn't going to give up its mysteries for them. They'd have to test the waters another day.

Maria did manage to catch a couple of fish from the well though.

She donated a tuna to the well's display stand nearby--in memory of the Romantic Mummy.

By then, Keaunu and Maria discovered that small excavation sites had materialized inside the tomb. They dug through the muck to find more treasure!

And excavation mounds had appeared outside the crypt as well. The two were really racking in the loot!

Exhausted, Maria and Keaunu took a moment to sit by the fire pit and roast marshmallows. They talked about their adventures and what they should do with the treasure they'd found.

They happened to see a few pieces of ore lying near the ruins and decided they should collect the stones before they left the area.

Content with all their prizes, they bicycled home.

Keaunu: We didn't get anything marked off on our Bucket Lists, but I think we made a good start on them.
Maria: It was a valuable experience ... and a lot of fun too!

That night, they arranged for another addition to their house. Keaunu needed a room to house his relics, and they would need space for their Bucket List projects too.

One more floor was added above the main area of the house with stairs leading up from the utility room.

Keaunu set out all their treasures. He had enough relics to put him half-way to his Lifetime Wish goal of §20,000!

They also added two decks to the new upstairs level. One in front ...

... and one in back. After a few more trips abroad, they would add more luxuries.

Footnote: Neither Keaunu or Maria got cursed by the mummies! So all's well that ends well.

01-05. Jungle Ruins: Part 1

This story line features CravenLestat's Jungle Ruins community lot.

Early one morning after breakfast, Keaunu and Maria started talking. They weren't getting any younger--well, ok, so they'd eaten a few Life Fruits, but those hardly counted. The point was, the two were anxious to tackle their Bucket Lists. It was a beautiful day in Sunlit Tides. No better time than now to start their quests!

Maria: Why don't we begin by exploring that beach cave everyone's talking about? I heard they finally got the door unsealed, but the city council is telling folks to stay clear. What do you think?

Keaunu: Those danger warnings are nonsense. The Power People just want all the treasures for themselves! I say we beat them to the punch! You game, girl?

Maria: Always! Let me pack some food, and then I'm good to go.
Keaunu: And I'll get our first aid kit ready. ... Yahoo!

Keaunu and Maria bicycled down the road to a hidden beach area. The ruins were just as intriguing as they anticipated. The place wasn't completed deserted either. A few brave souls had come out to take a look.

But Maria and Keaunu were the first to step through the entrance. There were a few torches set up, but the room was dark and mysterious. Had this been an ancient temple once long ago?

The first thing Maria wanted to check out was the strange well. She dove in without a thought to what lay below. Lucky for her, she came up with a nice collection of loot. Keaunu also found some loot in a nearby chest.

After climbing down the ladder to an underground level, Maria worked at clearing a doorway while Keaunu practiced meditating. Maria knew he was just brooding, but she never corrected him about that.

Excited to see what she could find in this new crypt area, Maria triggered a fire trap set in the floor!

But her dear friend was prepared and pulled out the fire extinguisher he'd packed.

Maria was saved from certain death, but she needed to cool down and wash off. She headed back upstairs for another dip in the well.

By that time, Keaunu was hacking away at another blocked door. While a local teen sat at a nearby table and watched what they were doing, Maria took a break to eat and recover her strength.

She needed it because as Keaunu ate his own dinner, Maria triggered yet another floor trap! This time it was electrical. Back to the well to heal her poor, tortured body!

Meanwhile, long-buried crypt ants found their picnic, so they packed all their food away.

This level offered a comfortable bed--perfect for a much-needed nap. So they didn't have to use sleeping bags.

When they woke up, Keaunu and Maria tried to disarm the traps, but they couldn't figure out how to turn them off, even after listening to Logic podcasts on their MultiTabs.

Giving up on the traps, the pair climbed down to the next level. Maria found a hidden switch and turned it. She didn't realize that it opened a mummy's sarcophagus!

The Ancient Guardian fell instantly in love with Maria, but he still had a job to do--guard the crypt's treasure!

Maria wasted no time. Catching the mummy by surprise, she lunged first!

The battle was fierce!

The outcome uncertain.

But in the end, Maria prevailed ... this time.

She watched in shock as the mummy disappeared into a whirlwind of dust.

Maria wondered sadly if this romantic mummy had sacrificed himself to let her win. She would never know.

01-04. Romance and Other Traumas

Daniel Pleasant rushed away from the island just as ...

... Mary Sue (his new wife) arrived in a taxi. No joke! She just wandered around the resort. I think she was looking for him!

Apparently romance was in the air. Even this young man, Twikki Wahine, was thinking about love!

The All-in-One toilet was broken, but the maintenance workers just kept mopping up--avoiding repairs and trying to look busy.

When this worker realized the other guy had beat him to the mopping this time, he became a little dramatic! He'd have to be the one to fix the toilet now. He finally gave in and got out his hammer.

That night, we had a little issue with the sleeping arrangements. Keaunu and Maria are best friends, but have no romance between them. That was their agreement when they moved in together to share expenses. Well, the VIP room has only one bed. They'd have to share!

Keaunu wasn't so sure about getting in bed with Maria. I think maybe he'd been a bachelor way too long!
Keaunu: Can I go sleep in the tower?
Me: No you may not! Get in bed. It's late.

Keaunu: I don't know. I might disturb her.
Me: She's already asleep. She's fine.
Keaunu: Maybe we should talk about this.

Me: Maria, do you mind if Keaunu sleeps in the same bed with you?
Maria: Of course not! We're friends.
Me: See there, Keaunu?
Keaunu: I should probably go back to the rocking chair.
Me: Oh, no you don't! ...I'm going to resetsim your little behind! Then teleport you back here!

And I did just that. But Keaunu acted so pitiful.
Keaunu: Oh!! I think I'm having a heart attack! Resets, teleporting, strange beds! This is all too stressful!
Me: Get in the damn bed, Keaunu! Now!! Or I'll teleport you all the way to Lunar Lakes!

Finally he crept into bed and didn't move a muscle most of the night. But ...

... some strange man stared through the wall at them while they slept.

The next morning, after Maria got up, Keaunu was still sound asleep. Housekeeping came in to clean and make the bed, then heckled Keaunu for wearing PJs during the day!

After breakfast, I decided Keaunu needed to get used to physical contact with Maria. She asked him to slow dance, and he seemed fine with that.

But he was much more comfortable just fishing together.

Although, he didn't mind Maria playing footsies with him in the boat.

Me: What do you think, Keaunu? Want to be more than friends with Maria?
Keaunu: She is kind of cute with her new tan.