Keko Chronicles - Island of Jo-Jo
Lord Quiggs has paid Pagley O’Fuzzinstuff a large amount of Galurian Zintas to escort he and Samantha and Daniel Keko to the Island nation of Jo-Jo north of Yeslynn in the Leethra Sea. There, Lord Quiggs plans to restock his Krystal supply (having lost his stash when the P.T.A.W.M.T. was destroyed on the Plains of Torlyss) and regroup for the next phase of their quest.
Nearing the island, Pagley’s Hover Boat takes fire from a fleet of Pyrate Ships that have moved into the waters just off the eastern coast of Jo-Jo. These Pyrates, led by the cunning Captain Kellinjer and his first mate Shanty, the Pyrate Hound, are the latest of many Pyrates to try to steal the shipments of Krystals exported from the Island of Jo-Jo to Yeslynn, Galuria, and other Nuggles’ nations. The Hover Boat takes a hit from the Pyrate Ships and is forced to make an emergency landing near the edge of the giant volcano that takes up most of the Island of Jo-Jo.
The heroes are soon visited by a group of Jo-Jo natives who escort them down the side of the volcano to rendezvous with Koko, the twenty-six year old ruler of the island nation who has only recently begun her reign following her victory in the Jo-Jo Trials that are held once every ten years. As they travel, Daniel begins to notice a cute, spindly creature called a nokmey following them from a safe distance.
In the presence of Koko, Lord Quiggs realizes that his mind is not as sharp as it should be, early symptoms of Krystal Dementia, an incurable disease that develops after prolonged extreme exposure to Krystals. Knowing that the disease will eventually leave him mindless, Quiggs chooses to keep his observations to himself hoping that he can maintain his faculties long enough to see his mission, to defeat Madame Ponqui and her Hound Army, through to the end.
Hearing about the Pyrates off the eastern shore of Jo-Jo, Koko rallies her troops and prepares for battle. Samantha watches her with a keen eye, impressed and inspired by Koko’s confidence and poise, as well as her skills with the staff she keeps with her at all times. Meanwhile, Daniel uses food to lure the curious nokmey closer and earn his trust, eventually naming the creature “Nok-Nok” and keeping it as a pet.
Quiggs joins Koko and her soldiers as they set up around Pyrate’s Cove as Captain Kellinjer readies to storm the beach. Pagley, the Keko children, and Nok-Nok the nokmey return to the Hover Boat to begin repairs. The volcano begins to rumble slightly showing signs that it may soon erupt.
As a fierce battle takes place in Pyrate’s Cove, Shanty, the Pyrate Hound makes her way inland seeking the entrance to Jo-Jo’s famed Krystal Mine. Instead, she eventually stumbles upon Pagley and the Keko children. Nok-Nok shrieks a warning to the heroes, allowing them to avoid Shanty’s initial attack. Pagley grabs his wrench and begins to try and defend Samantha and Daniel Keko. Although he fights valiantly, his skills are no match for Captain Kellinjer’s first mate who manages to pin Pagley up against the Volcano’s Edge and push him into the mouth of the volcano. The volcano continues to rumble.
In a last ditch effort to defeat Captain Kellinjer, Koko uses the sacred Krakkyn Horn to summon several Krakkyns into Pyrate’s Cove to feast upon Kellinjer’s fleet. Kellinjer, realizing that he cannot fend off the Krakkyns and still storm the Island of Jo-Jo, pulls his ships back out of Pyrate’s Cove, retreating to regroup and strike again some other day. Koko and Lord Quiggs turn their attention to the volcano which has begun to spit lava. They retreat to Koko’s Floating Palace Boat docked a safe distance off the northern shore of Jo-Jo.
Meanwhile, Shanty approaches the Keko children. After swatting off an annoying “attack” by Nok-Nok, she prepares to strike down Samantha and Daniel. Samantha grabs a stick, swinging it in front of her, doing her best to imitate Koko of Jo-Jo, preparing to defend herself and her brother. Shanty continues to approach unphased. As the first mate readies to strike, she is assaulted from behind by Pagley and his wrench. Somehow, the Galurian pilot has survived the fall into the volcano. With Shanty unconscious, Pagley corrals the Keko’s and Nok-Nok into his repaired Hover Boat, and they flee out of the volcano’s range just as it erupts.
Elsewhere in Nuggles, Deffilwyne the Hunter recognizes that he underestimated the Keko’s and has withdrawn for now, “planning ahead” and anticipating their next move and destination. General Fydo has maneuvered his troops outside the nation of Galuria to stop shipping from the Galurian Marketplace to the nation of Yeslynn. And Madame Ponqui uses Waximum’s Key to manipulate the odd inventor Waximum to reveal the whereabouts of the Mask he claims to have seen.