The Maelstrom

"The Maelstrom is a massive whirlpool in the middle of the Great Sea which suddenly appeared. Some powerful force under the waves must be responsible."

- Travel Map description

The Maelstrom is a Guardian-only quest in which.......

Summary
Aquella and Captain Rhubarb are sailing towards the Maelstrom. Aquella goes off to investigate, leaving you and Rhubarb to fight off several water creatures. Aquella returns to say that there is a big problem and all the sea creatures are upset. Then she reveals that the Mermazon and Sarkanian nations are at war!

After fighting another monster, Aquella explains what started the war. A Mermazon princess, Sherah, and a Sarkanian prince, Merris, fell in love. The two races had never been friendly, and their families tried to keep them apart. Then they disappeared. Each nation blamed the other, and the war was started. The incredible forces caused rifts to appear in the sea floor, causing the maelstrom.

After you fight through some Mermazon and Sarkanian troops, you come to an underwater cave. Due to differing opinions, you have to choose which one to go with, Graggy or Aquella. If you roll your luck well, you come to Nepto.

Dialogue
Sailing across the Great Sea, you find a gigantic whirlpool – a maelstrom which threatens to pull passing ships under the waves. What could be causing this?

Rhubarb: Yarrgh! Avast, me hearty—ye need to exercise yer sea legs, eh? Take yer time – we must sail a ways a'fore the deepest sea is below us! Aquella: There is a reason we may want to stop, though, good Captain. The maelstrom which is just off the starboard bow! Twilly: Whatsa mail-storm?? Rhubarb: Nay, the lass said "maelstrom", not mail-storm! It's a mighty current of water that swirls in a circle. Powerful tides that collide are usually the cause! Rhubarb: A maelstrom is usually strong enough to pull entire fleets down into Davy Jones' Locker! Once a ship is the grasp of a maelstrom, there is no escaping it. Aquella: I sense that the cause of this maelstrom is different, though. We must investigate it! Rhubarb: Yarg! I'll not be sailing any closer to that monstrosity! Aquella: Then I shall go alone for now. Twilly: !!! Oh nooo's Aquella! It's dangerous!! Aquella: It's the only choice. Captain, can you drop anchor here? Rhubarb: Aye! Anchor's aweigh!! Good luck to ye.

Aquella jumps?????

Twilly: I'm scared, Captain... Rhubarb: Don't worry, Twilly, she'll be fine. Rhubarb: *sniff* Hmmm... does anyone else smell sushi?

You are joined by Rhubarb.


 * 6 BATTLES

Aquella: Finally, I'm back! It looks like the maelstrom ha angered many sea creatures, you may want to keep your sailors on the lookout just in case they attack! Rhubarb: ...... Good idea. Thanks for the advice. Aquella: It appears there is a BIG problem, everyone... I will need to go back down there, and I need help. Aquella: Captain, you should sail back to the mainland and spread the news: The Mermazon and Sarkanian nations are at war! Rhubarb: Shiver me timbers!!! Twilly: !?!?! Aquella: You will need to wear a special armor to help you stay in these deepest waters without dying: the Aqwarrior Armor!

''Shop opens. See below.''

Rhubarb: Now THAT is a strange looking armor, matey! Aquella: It is time we acted! Good luck on your return journey Captain! Rhubarb: Take care of yourself, Aquella— May the Elemental Lord of Water watch over you! You: But-- how are WE going to get back home?? Aquella: I'm sure the Captain will come back for us. Rhubarb: Aye... and please, you can call me Rhubarb. Aquella: Alright, let's go!! Follow me into the water, and be sure to equip the Aqwarrior armor as soon as possible!


 * 1 BATTLE

Aquella: Well, now THAT was quite a welcome! The maelstrom is really causing these creatures to go wild. Aquella: As a Water Elf, I have some innate psychic powers... not as strong as Sage Uldor's, but strong enough. With them, I have been able to understand why this war began! Aquella: My psychic abilities are weaker on land then they are underwater. Here, my reach even extends to lesser creatures! ???: ...... ???: Hmf! I bet she can't translate my animal thoughts and project them to others, so that it seems like I am talking to them!! Aquella: Our friend here just heard everything you "said", Graggy. Graggy: *grumble grumble* Aquella: Graggy the krabb is my witness to this story-- he really gets around down here! Aquella: As I was saying, I know what started the war between the Mermazons and the Sarkanians! Aquella: It all began only a short time ago, when two young people realized they weren't so different after all... Aquella: The princess of the Mermazon realm, Sherah, met the prince of the Sarkanian kingdom, Merris, and the two fell in love. Aquella: The two races had never been very friendly, but this was unheard of. A Sarkanian and a Mermazon could never be married! Aquella: Their families tried to keep them apart, but their love was too strong. And one day—the two just vanished. Aquella: Each nation blamed the other, saying they were hiding the Prince and Princess... Aquella: The two nations became outraged, and began a massive war! Aquella: The incredible forces unleashed in this war have become rifts in the bottom of the Great Sea. If the war continues, the Maelstrom could cause worldwide disasters! Graggy: Disasters are not good. Aquella: Thank you for that deep insight, Graggy. Now, it's up to you and I to somehow fix this problem. Aquella: It won't do for us to simply tell each side the truth, that neither nation is holding the Prince and Princess... Aquella: We will have to FIND Merris and Sherah and bring them back alive!! Graggy: FIND them--? Do you realize how big this place is? The don't call it the GREAT Sea for nothin'! Aquella: That's why YOU are coming with us, crusty krabb. Graggy: *sputter* Aquella: Graggy, we need your keen tracking ability as well as my psychic powers to find them. But first, we must fight our way through the battlefield! Lead the way, friend!

You are joined by Aquella.


 * 8 BATTLES

Aquella: The trail has led us here, to an underwater cavern. But there is a complication... Graggy: Yah gots THAT right, yah blue-skinned angel! See, my nose (figuratively speaking of course) says that the trail goes down the left cave. Aquella: ...while my psychic powers point to the trail going into the cave on the right. Which one of us do you want to go with?
 * Go with Graggy
 * Go with Aquella


 * Who is right?
 * Roll against your Luck to see if you made the right choice!

You: Whoa!! Who are you? Nepto: I am Nepto... and you are either very brave... or very lost.

Rewards
Aqwarrior Armor

Trivia

 * This quest was released on March 2, 2006.