Keelhaul Key
| Keelhaul Key |
|---|
 Island paradise for arsonist ghosts |
| Source: Paper Mario: the Thousand Year Door |
| Builder: Eightfold |
| Level Range: 45-55 |
| Linked: Yes |
Keelhaul Key is an island off the coast of Shadmire, located between the mainland (in sight of Vanilla Dome) and Sunsnug Isle, east of Kakkara. It's renowned, and hated by merchants, as the lair of the the notorious ghost-pirate Cortez and his crew.
History
120-140? - The early settlement of the Key is uncertain, but warnings begin to circulate in Rogueport about travel and trade through the region south of Vanilla Dome.
154 - The first credible, detailed reports of "vicious Attacks &tc by a Lich or Pirate-Ghoste" are reported by the family of the merchant Flavio.
161 - Near the year's end, Flavio embarks on a journey to the Key at the head of an small armada, promising to put down the threat posed to the early Rogueport merchants by force. The armada arrives at Keelhaul Key and is promptly burned to ash by Cortez' small army of Embers.
335 - A Koopa Kingdom ship, on its way to attack Matango, mutinies and causes an international incident when it slips away through Rogueport waterways. Being hunted by the Koopa navy, the ship's crew, an entire platoon of trained Bomb-Omb soldiers, flee to Keelhaul and join Cortez.
338 - A small Matango fleet engages in an altercation with the Black Flag, Cortez' ship, and its crew. In the midst of combat, the admiral and Cortez are seen striking up an extended conversation, with each eventually signaling their followers to cease hostilities.
339+ - Matango press spend the next several years speculating about said widowed admiral's regular disappearances from his home in Rogueport. Who could he be visiting?, they ask.
344 - A ship washes up near Keelhaul and, like others, is attacked by Embers; however, the crew and passengers survive and make it onto the island. Some of the survivors escape the island, or join Cortez' crew, but the remainder form a small settlement.
Sights
The Key is all beautiful beaches and lush forests, arranged in a horseshoe shape around a central cove; unfortunately, even if there weren't ghosts, a treacherous shell of coral reefs and sandbars makes the surrounding waters nigh-unnavigable for most ships. A small settlement is located on the southern side of the island (as far as they could get from the pirates). Adventurers from Rogueport report a set of jeweled statues on the northern edge of the island, to unknown purpose.
The northwest side of the island is more mountainous, riddled with an extensive cave system, which has been co-opted for pirate use. When he's not out raiding merchants or attacking coastal towns, Cortez keeps his flagship, the dreaded Black Flag, deep in the caves. Rumor also has it (at least among shadier sorts) that a fighting ring has been established somewhere in the caves.
Travel
Being a den of pirates, ghosts, and rabid wildlife, Keelhaul Key lacks a ferry or similar formal transport -- all the moreso because its pirates will attack any large ships that get close. It is well known, however, that if one were to take a ferry from Alfador or Sunsnug Isles to the nearby settlement of Scuttle Town, then one may be able to find a chobin who could provide one-way travel to the Key.
Inhabitants
Besides Cortez himself, Cortez' crew is most infamous for its Embers, spirits of the dead arisen to wreak firey vengeance (by burning down every ship they come across). However, his followers also include living sailors: a large contingent of former Koopa Kingdom soldiers, mostly Bomb-Ombs, plus various other individual unsavory sorts (including dry bones, matangui, squid -- reports vary).
Outside the pirate caves, most of the island is full of dangerous wildlife: beware of several species of Fuzzies (not the fun kind), Piranha Plants, and fire spirits. A small group of castaways are doing their best to live off the land on the southern side.
Quests
A crazed Forest Fuzzy rolls around and gibbers nonsense at a nearby Ember: (outer Keelhaul Key, lv. 45-50)
- Delivered refreshments?
- Recovered a record?
- Got into the hideout?
The Ember muses back, in a language of campfire pops and flashes of light: (within Pirate's Grotto, lv. 50-55)
- Grappled with a gathering of ghosts?
- Fought a looooot of pirates?
- Unlocked a puzzling chest?
- Beat the Pirate Lord once and for all?
The Great Explorer Luigi Says
"Getting ganged up on is dangerous, so Luigi keeps-a many staffs and wands on him, for group attacks or hitting elemental weaknesses. After a fight, a nice-a healing potion gets Luigi back on his feet -- and an adventurer's toolkit helps to keep exploring!"