The Tightwad Conjurer: How Do Things Become More Exciting? (Drum Jungle, Part 2)

(This is the remainder of Drum Jungle. Another interlude after this and then we complete the final part of Zafaria, except for the finale dungeon.)

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She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She knew what she should do now, but something deep within her, that part of here which had survived all those years ago, that part which just could not stand up to Note, which drew her to him like a light draws in a moth -- that part propelled her to the gate and the door beyond the gate. (In the Company of Cheerful Ladies)
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"Yes, we had heard him say that," said Grace. "We knew Prince Tziri was being taken there. But..."

"We can't be too late, the jungle is a nasty place," I said. "Let's not assume the worst until we get there. Umlilo, do you know anything about this place?"

"I don't know how to find it!" said Umlilo.

Christina glanced behind her. "Uh, that huge gate with two giant elephant-men is obviously it."

"Yes," said Umlilo. "Could you do me a favor? There is a shadow-touched elephant barge at the docks filled to the brim with those evil black bricks from the quarry. The barge captain, Aksil Blacktrunk, most likely knows the way. Rap his trunk!" He gave us a shard of the Flame. "Also, take this shard of Eternal Flame. Use it to put the barge out of commission. Keep those bricks away from Stone Town!"

You didn't have to ask again.We wanted to make sure the Black Palace never rose again.

Christina flexed her muscles. "Yeah, and we're gonna keep doing it, because she's got a lot of stuff on my hit list!"

"We're shutting this operation down!" I ordered. I waved to my friends. "NOW!"

Grace's Leviathan beat the bloody tar out of his trunk. (Aksil is Myth and has 7290 HP.)

"We know that, ivory fangs," snarled Christina, pressing her katana into his trunk. "How do we open the gates to that place?"

"She ordered them to cover their tracks," said Aksil. "The pedestal at the feet of the great statues must see all that enter. Her minions pulled out the pedestal's gem eyes and hid them nearby. You need a local guide to even have a chance to find them."

"Fine," I said.

I tossed the shard of Eternal Flame into the furnace and made it explode. "Tell whoever fetches you that Trio has spoken - we are coming for Morganthe."

"I saw the barge burning from all the way here!" laughed Umlilo. "You did well, girls!"

"We need to find those gems," said Grace. "But I have no idea where they are. Perhaps Mma Smokesign would know..."

We explained the situation again. "We need to find the gems to the door, Mma," said Grace.

"I do not know where Morganthe's agent hid them," said Koko. "But I know a ritual to find the missing gem eyes. You will need Shango's blades to find them."

"Shango's blades?" I asked.

"Shango is the spirit of war and strength," said Koko. "He cleaves through deception. But his tomb was robbed and his blades stolen."

"Great," said Christina. "Who has them now?"

"The blades, Shango's Thunder and Shango's Lightning, were stolen by a Gorilla Spider Witch called Oya Bloodstorm. She lairs in a cave near the Elephant Graveyard."

"We'll kick her butt and get those blades back post-haste," I said.

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(Oya has a lot of HP and is Fire, and she's the first boss which uses Efreet. So yeah, I was lucky she hit Sierra after the girl used Earthquake instead of Grace...)

(Because having this guy do piddly damage would have SUCKED.)

"Where is the other blade?" demanded Christina angrily.

"I'll never tell!" said Oya, but she screamed as Christina stabbed her. "Okay, okay, I'll tell!"

"Scary woman," whispered Grace.

"I gave it to a Goliath in the jungle," said Oya.

Oh great, another of THESE guys. Well, it's only one! (I would eat my words later.)

(I wish I could tell you the name of this Goliath or what his stats were...)

(But I killed him once Sirens was available. Did I mention I have the Lazy Trait?)

We grabbed the iron sword which was Shango's Thunder and suddenly I felt the blades pulling me somewhere...

"This must be a hidden entrance," said Christina as I slide the swords into the elephant-shaped rock and a cave was revealed behind a waterfall.

Grace sighed. "This is it..."

She relayed the last part of the legend. "The Council of Light destroyed the Spider Temple and sealed away Morganthe's power deep below Zafaria. The treasures sealed it away... and now..."

"We won't let Morganthe get her power back," said Christina. I wish I could have said the same.

Another day, another Shadow-Weaver. Medusa slapped him good and we snagged one of the gems.

(This guy has a forgettable name and is Ice, which is weak to Myth. Luckily no extra mooks show up to mess with your day. I forgot that Oya has Black Tusks show up to fill up her roster if a third person joins and boy did that battle take FOREVER.)

Grace shuddered. "We'll stop him," said Christina.

"You won't stand a chance if you try to cut through those webs," warned Koko. "They are enchanted by Morganthe - you will lose your energy and die quickly! I have a ritual to remove the webs. I need my iron pot, wooden spoon and some Eternal Flame."

Okay, okay, we spent a lot of time fighting Blackback Gorillas to get the dang spoon! :(

We got another shard of his Eternal Flame from Umlilo and bid him farewell. "Tell Professor Falmea that all is well," said Grace. "We will rescue the Prince soon."

"I will definitely see that you girls get recognized for your valor," said Umlilo. He teleported away.

Chris burned through the rope with the magic paste that Koko made. Grace was nervous and I assured her we were there. The situation was much different than before.

"You," said Grace.

Kallah sneered. "So, if it isn't the little child who was brought before me by the Weavers a month ago, the one begging for her life. Why are you not dead?"

"The Hoarder is dead," said Grace angrily. "And you will die too. You will not be forgiven for what you have done to blaspheme the Gorilla clan by serving the one your ancestors fought against!"

"Yeah, you stink!" shouted Christina, waving her hand before her face. "PU! Do you even bathe?"

Kallak roared in rage. "You..."

"No, you listen to me, you ugly ape!" I shouted as a sinister form rose behind me. "Nobody..."

"And I mean NOBODY hurts my friends!"

Medusa's gaze slowly petrified the gorilla tyrant.

"Umbra Queen, take meeeee----" was the last thing he said before he turned to stone.

The Sirens appeared and shattered the statue to bits. The Gorilla Spider Witch with him fled in fear.

"You... did not need to do this..." whispered Grace.

"I did it because you are my best friend forever," I said, holding her hands. "I won't ever let you get harmed again. We die together."

She sobbed as Christina grabbed the other gem. "Hey, enough WAFF. Let's get to the Elephant Graveyard and intercept that harlot before she gets the Swords!"

"Well, he's dead now," I said. "I don't know how you'll fare..."

"Don't worry about my people, Wizard," said Koko, smiling. "You should stop Morganthe. If she succeeds in her plans, all we have worked for will be naught."

"You got it," said Christina. "We're off!"