Not Today Ferryman - A Legendary Challenge

#NotTodayFerryman - Log 1: Rowboat Dreams Begin

Not Today Ferryman - Pirate One, Day One. https://imgur.com/a/dTMz7J7

I woke up at Ancient Spire Outpost, ready to start my legend. No ship for me—just sheer determination. First order of business: sending that non-existent ship "away" and scavenging every barrel and crate in sight. I stumbled across a storage crate, filled it to the brim with supplies, and buried it behind the tavern—because even pirates need a stash of "just in case."

With my pocket filled to the brim, my wits and a swim ahead, I dove into the sea and made for Devil's Ridge. There, luck greeted me in the form of a cannonball crate, a plain yellow rowboat, and an ammo crate. Jackpot! I emptied my pockets into the rowboat and scavenged the island further, but my luck quickly soured. A keg skeleton emerged, cackling with its deadly cargo. I ran like my life depended on it (because it did). A quick shot took care of the keg, and the explosion handled his skeletal entourage. Crisis averted, I rowed my way back to Ancient Spire, dug up my buried storage crate, and added it to my growing loot.

Just as I was about to leave the outpost, a ship arrived. Panic gripped me—my rowboat, foolishly docked by the Sovereigns, was in plain sight. To my relief, the crew was friendly—or maybe just too lazy to bother with a newbie in a rowboat. Either way, I counted it as a win and rowed off.

Next stop: Crow’s Nest Fortress. I snagged a few gunpowder kegs, but danger loomed nearby. A rifle shot cracked through the air, and my health plummeted. I guess for once, I should be glad I was shot. If they had missed me, they could have easily hit the pile of kegs on my rowboat… what a terrifying way to reconsider carrying explosives while doing the Not Today Ferryman challenge. Heart pounding, I shoved food into my face and kept rowing. Whoever it was, they didn’t pursue, and I managed to sell the kegs back at Ancient Spire.

From there, I aimed for Barnacle Cay, where I fought off two keg skeletons and a skeleton captain. Diving into the temple, I looted thw gold but left the bigger treasure (orb of secrets) behind. Fighting hordes of skeletons wasn’t on today’s to-do list—not until I found more courage (and maybe better supplies).

Setting out again, I planned to head back to Ancient Spire... but I got lost. Somehow, I ended up at Cutlass Cay, where I picked up more loot before setting a course for Paradise Spring. After filling my pockets there, I decided to make for Plunder Outpost.

Plunder wasn’t without its risks. A ship flying a red PvP flag was docked there, clearly itching for a fight. But they were parked where new spawns appear, meaning their supplies were low. Taking a calculated risk, I sold off everything I had and prepared to log out. As a final gesture of goodwill and sheer relief, I docked my rowboat, stocked with supplies, on their ship. A silent gift for not blowing me to pieces.

Log 1 complete. I survived, built my stash, and lived to tell the tale. The Ferryman won’t see me today.

Stats Tally:

Ancient Coins: 0
Dubloons: 50
Gold: 72,635
Reaper’s Rep: 1
Gold Hoarders Rep: 4
Merchant Alliance Rep: 4
Order of Souls Rep: 5
Hunter’s Call Rep: 1
Servants of the Flame Rep: 1
Athena’s Rep: 1

NotTodayFerryman - Log 2: The Cat’s Curiosity

I awoke at Plunder Outpost, pondering my next move. Should I lie low and wait for a ship to approach, or swim to an island and hope for a better opportunity? As I studied the map, the distant boom of cannon fire shattered the morning calm.
I made my choice. Perhaps a foolish one, but I decided to let the ships fight it out. Maybe, just maybe, the victor would stop at Plunder, leaving their vessel unattended long enough for me to sneak aboard and hide. There was only one problem—the blasted mermaid. If it appeared near their ship, it would reveal my presence.
To my amazement and misfortune, neither ship emerged victorious. Both were evenly matched, their battle ending in mutual destruction. So much for my grand plan. With no ships left to board, I had only one option: swim.
First stop: Paradise Spring. A long, exhausting swim with only a few coconuts to sustain me. A shark noticed me, and I struggled to reach shore. Miraculously, I made it, found more food, and healed up. Then, I did something both smart and incredibly reckless—I went back into the water and attacked the shark. It was a tough fight, but in the end, I prevailed. Shark meat for dinner!
Exploring the island, I stumbled upon a dire situation—an Ocean Crawler, a Skeleton Captain, and a Siren, all gathered near a damaged but intact rowboat. A clear trap. I thought this was it. Surely, this was the end of Pirate 1.
But I refused to go down so easily. I lured the Crawler and Captain away, dispatching them one by one. The Siren, however, proved a greater challenge, but after an intense fight, she too fell. Victory! And the rowboat? Mine.
The Skeleton Captain even led me to a storage crate, and I spotted an ammo crate tucked near a tree. Not a bad haul.
With renewed confidence, I rowed toward Snake Island, hoping for treasure. Unfortunately, all I found was supplies. Disappointing, but useful. As I prepared to move on, something caught my eye—a Galleon, not too far off.
I should have left. But curiosity killed the cat, and it nearly killed me.
I followed the Galleon, rowing dangerously close, trying to discern its name. It was near Reaper’s Hideout, and I was curious if it was a friend from my main account. I recognized the Silver Blade set, and realized too late that these weren't my friends from my main account...
The Galleon’s crew spotted me, and the chase began. Desperately, I rowed, pushing my tiny boat to its limits. Somehow, against all odds, I out-rowed a Galleon! I reached an island—which one, I didn’t even check. I had escaped. Or so I thought.
A brief chase ensued, ending with their cannon fire finding its mark, sending me to the one vessel I wasn't allowed to set foot on... the Ferry of the Damned.
Stats Tally:

• Ancient Coins: 0
• Dubloons: 50
• Gold: 72,635
• Reaper’s Rep: 1
• Gold Hoarders Rep: 4
• Merchant Alliance Rep: 4
• Order of Souls Rep: 5
• Hunter’s Call Rep: 1
• Servants of the Flame Rep: 1
• Athena’s Rep: 1
  A lesson learned: sometimes, it’s best to let the cat stay curious… from a safe distance.

@xdragonman15558 well it wasn't a keg that send pirate 1 off

#NotTodayFerryman – Log 1, Pirate 2: The Stowaway’s Demise

I woke up at Ancient Spire Outpost—a fresh start, a new pirate. Pirate 2 was ready.

After setting my look and gathering supplies, luck seemed to be on my side. A charter ship had spawned in. I didn’t hesitate. This was my chance. I climbed aboard and stowed away in the crow’s nest, heart pounding as I crouched low, watching the crew below.

They had no idea I was there. Perfect.

That confidence didn’t last long. The crew raised their flag, and my blood ran cold.

Reapers.

My breath caught. Reapers? That changed everything. If they found me, there would be no mercy. But I held my ground. Maybe they’d dock somewhere, give me an opening. I just had to wait it out.

Then the ship dived.

And that’s when I realized my mistake.

When a ship dives, the crew stays safe aboard. But I wasn’t part of the crew. The moment the hull slipped beneath the waves, I’d be thrown into open water.

I barely had time to react. As the sea swallowed the ship, I launched myself from the crow’s nest, plunging into the ocean. The vessel vanished into the depths, leaving me stranded in the open sea.

Panic hit like a cannonball.

I needed to swim. Now.

Spotting a rock in the distance, I pushed forward, fighting the waves with everything I had. I should’ve turned back toward the outpost, but in my scramble to escape, I hadn’t thought straight. That mistake was going to cost me.

As I got closer, I realized a new problem—it wasn’t an island. Just a lone rock, rising from the sea. No shore, no refuge. Nowhere to climb.

And then I saw them.

Sharks.

Two. Circling.

They moved closer with each pass, patient hunters sensing weakness. My stomach twisted, but I forced myself forward. I had food, but not much. Every bite kept me going a little longer, but the truth was clear.

I was too far from land. And I was out of food.

The ocean might be unforgiving, but sharks are worse.

I felt the final bite before the world went black.

Pirate 2… down. On to Pirate 3.

---

Stats Tally:

Ancient Coins: 25
Dubloons: 0
Gold: 0
Reaper’s Rep: 1
Gold Hoarders Rep: 1
Merchant Alliance Rep: 1
Order of Souls Rep: 1
Hunter’s Call Rep: 1
Servants of the Flame Rep: 1
Guardians Rep: 1
Athena’s Rep: 1

Lessons learned:
Stowing away? Bad plan.
Swimming Without Thinking? TERRIBLE plan.

@lady-kalvera I'm soo sorry for ending your challenge... But your narrative has such an epic touch to it, I really, really like it! Keep going!

Log 1 - Pirate 3: Third Time's the Charm (Or so they say)

Every pirate needs a code. Mine? Rule #1: No getting too close to galleons—or any ship, for that matter. Rule #2? No mindless swimming. Why? Because my last two pirates didn’t follow these rules, and they’re now at the bottom of the ocean

So, with survival in mind, Pirate 3 awoke at Galleon’s Grave.

The Plan (or Lack Thereof)

I said my goodbyes to my nonexistent ship (which I probably should’ve looted), set my appearance—swabbie pic secured—and stuffed my pockets with food, wood, firebombs, and cannonballs.

(Don’t ask me how I’m still able to swim with a full stock of literal cannonballs. Pirate magic, I guess.)

With no ship of my own, I did what any self-respecting pirate would do. I swam.

Sharks, Sirens, and Other Unwanted Attention

On my way to Sunken Grove, I met not one, but TWO sharks. At this point, I was done running from them. (Is it still called running if you’re in open water?)

I stopped, pulled out my sword, and fought back.

Two dead sharks later, I was well on my way, that is until the sirens showed up.

Nope. Not today. I wasn’t ready for a fight against sirens, so I did the only logical thing: I swam like a soul out of hellheim, shoveling food into my mouth—including raw shark meat—just to survive.

Then, I found a storage crate! Jackpot!

...Except there was no rowboat.

The Shark That Forgot It Was a Shark

Next stop: Plunder’s Plight.

There, I witnessed something truly ridiculous. A shark attempting to beach itself in its undying quest to snack on me. Points for determination.

Needing a break, I did what any normal pirate would do—I hid. As a barrel.

Treasure, Traps, and an Accidental Escape Room

Once I caught my breath, I snuck up on some skeletons—only to find a rowboat. Not the fancy harpoon or cannon kind, but hey, a rowie is still a rowie. And that was good enough for me.

With my shiny new boat, I made my way to Traitor’s Fate Fortress, cleared it out, and raked in some loot.

Are sea fortresses ridiculously easy? Yes.

Does it feel like I’m cheesing the system? Also yes.

Do I care? Absolutely not. When the goal is not dying, easy wins are a blessing.

I was feeling good. I had my loot, my rowboat, my pride…

And then I slipped into a crack in the floor.

The game black-screened me and sent me to Castaway Isle.

I stared at the screen for a long moment.

And then, I rage quit.

Stats Tally:

Ancient Coins: 25
Dubloons: 60
Gold: 4,288
Reaper’s Rep: 1
Gold Hoarders Rep: 1
Merchant Alliance Rep: 1
Order of Souls Rep: 1
Hunter’s Call Rep: 1
Servants of the Flame Rep: 1
Guardians Rep: 1
Athena’s Rep: 1

Lesson Learned:
Rare seriously needs to work on this black screen issue, and spawn the pirate nice and close to where they Black screened not send them to the other end of the damn map!!!

This challenge sounds like alot of fun! I plan recording myself doing this challenge Do you mind if I add a rule? I like to add the rule you can only end your session at a tavern. No logging off until holding your grog up high.