Dododex

ARK: Survival Evolved & Ascended Companion

The Terrible Demise Of Tortuga

Chapter two: Welcome to Tortuga

-By SunnyFox57

(Originally released January 16th, 2024. Now rewritten and reposted December 15th, 2025)

The city was extraordinarily beautiful. Probably the most beautiful sight of land that Emma had ever seen. Although that could just be her brain tricking her, simply relieved that they’d finally hit land at all. Their new home. And such a beautiful new home it was. It was a relatively small city. She could tell that even from that great distance before they arrived at the docks.

Aragorn lowered the ramp, letting it drop onto the dock’s side with a soft clang. He expertly tied it down against it, steadying it enough that the family could walk down and then later carry their belongings down it. Her father led the way down, Arianna at his heels carrying Josephina. Emma went next, the twins following in quick succession.

The feeling of her feet against the solid and steady ground was a joy in of itself. She never wanted to set foot on that boat, or any boat ever again. The air had a fresh and almost…metallic smell to it. The wind was balanced, not mixing with the scent of waves and the wetness of the sea to hit her face like a punch to the face at the most inopportune moments.

The buildings were older with a almost fragile quality. All of the buildings were circled around the town square, where a large booth that Emma couldn’t quite make out, sat. A large house, which she would learn later was the mayor’s manor, stood out quite prominently among the houses. It was the only house that didn’t look like it would fall apart in a simple thunderstorm.

Emma’s studying of the small city was abruptly interrupted at the sound of soft voices and heavy footsteps approaching. Two people, one a thin lanky man and the other a short plump woman were approaching, followed closely by a couple of black clad figures. One of them was had a large axe strapped to his belt, a grimace on his half-hidden face, a sight that made both the twins start giggling, despite the serious nature of the moment. Aragorn stepped forward intentionally to greet the mayors, as that was who they were.

“Welcome, welcome!” The woman, Mayor Reine, squeaked. Her voice had a unnaturally high quality to it. Almost like when you scrape a fork across a plate. “We’re so glad to have some new citizens! Even if it’s so weirdly sudden!” Mayor Roi drawled out. Emma could see the corners of her father’s lips flattening slightly at that last passive aggressive remark. Arianna smiled, stepping up beside Aragorn and looping their right arms together, yet somehow still carrying Josephina. The powers of a mother and wife were well beyond Emma’s ability to comprehend. The six year old pressed her face into Ariana’s shoulder, avoiding eye contact with the strangers.

“Thank you for having us, on such sudden notice.” Arianna said smoothly. Both mayors flashed large cheesy grins, that looked about as fake as the Madam Mayor’s hair which Emma was ninety percent sure was a wig. Every wiry curl hung around her overly powdered face in a way that was too perfect. Not to mention that it didn’t match the woman at all.

“Yes… the…large welcome is very appreciated.” Aragorn frowns, looking over the peacekeepers.

“Oh, nonsense. It’s no big deal, really.” Mayor Reine giggled, the mayors turning to the five black clad peacekeepers behind them.

“These are simply just some of are best peacekeepers. They’re just here to help welcome you all to the city. Peacekeepers, these are our new citizens, Arianna and Aragorn Peterson. Petersons, these are our finest soldiers, The Executioner, Helen Jones, Paul, Zooey Young, and Ivo Fielding” Mayor Roi intruded them, pointing to each in turn as he said their names.

Aragorn shook each of their hands, only because it was polite, except for the executioner who only eyed his stiffly extended hand with a look of disgust. “I don’t shake hands.” The man said simply. Aragorn only met the man’s gaze with his own cool one and a frown, letting his hand fall to his side and falling back in step beside his wife.

Mayor Reine abruptly clapping her hands together.

“Alrighty, now that we’re all introduced, you said that there were five of y’all, yes?”

Aragorn’s frown deepened. “No. There’s six of us.”

Mayor Roi tilts his head, as if talking to a sullen child, the sun bouncing off his gelled stiff hair. “Ah..I see. We must have… misheard or something. Nevertheless. The house should still fit six people.”

His wife nodded vigorously in agreement, then clapped her hands once more, something she seemed to do a lot when trying to get the attention back on herself, and waved the Peterson family forward. “Come, come. We must give you the tour. Then show ya’ll your new house. You’ll have to sign all the paperwork and stuff first before you own it, of course. And pay the regular fee.”

“Ya’ll do have money, don’t you?” Mayor Roi prodded.

Emma could practically feel the anger radiating off her father now. Ariana’s hand was on his arm again, squeezing it slightly in a comforting way.

“Of course we do, we ain’t that poor if that’s what y-y-you think.” Jack interjected.

“It’s aren’t not ain’t…” Jay corrected under his breath.

“Jack!” Their mother scolded. But the mayors simply laughed, that same mocking sound that was really starting to annoy Emma. Actually, just the mayors in general were severely aggravating her. They acted so stuck-up and superior.

Mayor Reine waved Arianna’s disapproval at her son’s manners off, chuckling. “Oh, it’s alright darling. Let kids be kids, am I right?” She studied the boys for a second and then Emma and Josephina in a way that made them all quite uncomfortable. “I don’t believe that we caught ya’ll kids’ names, actually.”

“I’m Jack.”

“And I’m Jay.”

“Emma.” Emma said shortly, not caring to wipe the look of disdain off her face. Yes, she might get in trouble from her mom for not watching her manners, but they’re also been taught that respect wasn’t just given, even if you are older than a person. Respect is earned. And so far the mayors had done nothing to earn hers.

“And your name, honey?” Mayor Roi cooes at Josephina, his voice the same as one you would use with a baby. Josephina’s face is still turned away from the mayors and peacekeepers, and she makes no move to change her position anytime soon.

“It’s Josephina.” Arianna answers softly, removing her hand from her husband, to adjust the small girl against her.

“Ah. What a..strange name. Wherever did you get it from? ” Roi clucks.

“It was my grandmother’s.” Aragorn said slowly.

“How..quaint.” Mayor Reine says. The mayors exchanged a look.

Emma caught Jack and Jay rolling their eyes behind the mayors’ backs.

“Oh my gosh, wow..” Jay whispers.

“That’s just soo quaint…” Jack finishes in the same mock high pitched drawl. Emma snorts at them softly in exasperation.

Finally they reach the town’s square and Emma finally can see the large booth in the middle more clearly. Mayor Roi waves at it in dismissal. “This is just for for insurance purposes. You know, with all those freaks running around. It’s only been used a few times.”

The Peterson family stepped around the corner, so they could see the booth fully. Aragorn stiffened. It was large booth, made out of cracked stone. One side had a wooden pedestal on it. Two ropes hung from the tallest board, swaying slightly in the wind. A noose was formed at the bottom of both. A hanging booth, of sorts. The other side had a much darker connotation and feel to it. The only thing on that side was a simple stone table. However the old blood spattered and staining the edges of it, along with the peacekeeper with the axe, the executioner, staring up at it like it was the most extraordinary thing he’d ever seen was quite frightening indeed. The execution block.

Mayor Reine gives a crooked smile, tilting her head at Aragorn, as if studying his reaction. “It’s beautiful, isn’t it?

~

The tour lasted almost two entire hours. The mayors led them ALL over every foot of the small city, continuing to drop snarky comments as they did so. By the time that they were finally shown into their new home and had signed all the paperwork, it was safe to say that the Peterson family was throughly done with the mayors. But the day wasn’t over yet, unfortunately. They still had to unload the boat. Which wouldn’t have been that hard, because they didn’t have many belongings, but any boxes they did have were exceedingly heavy, and Aragorn and the boys were..quite frankly struggling on their own.

Arianna was keeping Josephina busy and out of the way, while attempting to make dinner, and Emma was helping direct the men towards the house and her best to provide her father and brothers any… encouragement she could. They were finally handling the last box, which was the largest and heaviest yet.

“Jay, walk to the right. No, the other right! I don’t care if it’s not mathematically correct, would you rather run into a brick wall, hm? Jack, you’re just supposed to be carrying it not pushing it. Dad, there’s a small incline, remember?” Emma sighed, putting her hands on her hips.

“Jeez, if you’re so picky why not come help?” Jay scowls.

“Jay. Don’t talk to your sister like that.” Their father’s tired voice intones as he attempts to steady the large box they’re holding.

“Yeah. She’s leading the way, Jay.” Jack says sarcastically.

“Jack.”

Emma ignores them. She knows they don’t mean to be mean or anything. They’re all just tired. They’d had finally set foot on land after what was probably several months and then they had to out in the heat all day walking around, and now had to haul heavy boxes. It wasn’t exactly a scenario that any would enjoy.

“Ya’ll look like you need some help with those.” A man’s soft voice suddenly popped in from behind Emma. Whirling around, Emma caught sight of a man standing there. She hadn’t even seen him approach. His hair and beard was a light brown, with several gray stripes swirling into it around the edges, and his eyes were an almost whitish cool blue color. A soft calm looking smile pulled at the edges of his thin lips, like he knew something they did not. Aragorn stiffened immediately as he spotted the owner of the voice, making the boys scramble to keep hold on the box as he releases it instinctively.

“What? Who are you?” Their father spat, not bothering to hide his obvious distrust. If Arianna were there she probably would have swatted him for his manners. That was one thing that she always insisted on, being polite.

But the man did not seem to mind Aragon’s attitude at all, simply raising his hands slightly in a gesture of peace, the smile growing a bit larger.

“I said that ya’ll look like you need some help with those. Aaron Buckleshoot, is the name.” Aaron stepped forward towards their father and held out his hand for Aragorn to shake. Aragorn eyes it for a few moments almost suspiciously and then takes it. “Aragorn Peterson. Nice to meet you.” He says stiffly. Once again, Aaron either didn’t notice or completely ignored the less than warm greeting he was receiving from the other man.

“Pleasure! I just wanted to be the first to..welcome you to our beautiful city!” He exclaims in a rather loud voice. “Since ya’ll are new and all! I’m sure the other citizens will stop by at some point, to do some as well!”

Jay and Jack exchanged curious looks with each other, at that. Why in the world was he speaking like that? That, and the persistent grin splitting across his face, was incredibly peculiar.

“I could help ya’ll with that if you like!”

“Aren’t you like..no offense, you just look kind of….” Jack began

“Old.” Jay finished helpfully.

Before Aragorn could reprimand his sons for lack of filter(although he wasn’t one to talk, considering he was almost exactly the same way sometimes), if he was going to, Aaron chuckled lightheartedly. “Trust me, son it’ll be a lot faster with four sets of hands, even ones as wrinkly as mine might be.” He winked and then looked back at their father. “Don’t you think?”

Aragorn studied the man briefly, then glanced up at the quickly darkening sky and heaved a sigh. “Alright.”

“Perfect!”

Together, the four males picked up the box, and began heaving it towards the house, as Emma directed them. As soon as they entered, Josephina bounded up to them, her small face a bright beam of joyful expression. “Dad!! Dad, dad, daddy!! Guess what, guess what! Mommy said we’re having soup for dinner!”

“Josephina, come on honey. Daddy and the boys are working.” Arianna said, popping out of the kitchen, hands on her hips. She saw Aaron and furrowed her eyebrows slightly in a concerned way. She covered it up quickly though, breezing around the boys and scooping Josephina up again, stopping to monitor them setting the box down.

“And who might this be?”

Aaron straightened, one hand on his back, wiping several beads of sweat from his forehead, and holding out one sweaty palm to her for a handshake. “Aaron Buckleshoot, ma’am.” Arianna briefly freed one hand from around the squirming toddler in her arms, to take it.

“Arianna Peterson. It’s so nice to meet you! I’m sure the boys greatly appreciated the boys greatly appreciated your help!” She softly chuckles. “Will you be staying for dinner?”

“Well,I wouldn’t want to intrude—“

“Oh, nonsense. Of course you can join us! Please, forgive the lack of much furniture, though.”

Aragorn grunted softly under his breath, expression seemingly not pleased, but didn’t protest against his wife’s invitation. Once again, as it had many times, her mother’s politeness and welcoming and kind spirit to strangers she barely knew was greatly confusing to Emma. Aaron, one hand still on his back, seemed to easily make himself at home, moving to close the curtains and windows while the others sat down on the floor in the soon to be living/dining room with their food. There was one random cushion leaned against a wall and the bare floor, and Arianna motioned towards it welcomingly.

“Please. Have a seat.” She says. However, Aaron only shook his head, taking to leaning against the wall instead. “This will be fine.” He chuckles. “I’m afraid if I sit down, I shall never to be able to get back up, my poor sore old legs are just like that. I’d be permanently stuck there.”

“That’s be creepy..” Jay mumbled under his breath, nudging his twin who snorted in response, still shoveling food into his mouth with the ferociousness of a animal.

“Do you want anything to eat, then?” Arianna pushed.

Aaron shakes his head. “No thank you, I ate before coming here.”

Emma furrowed her eyebrows at that. Why would he insist on staying if he’s already ate? Arianna sighed and settled down on the floor in between her husband and Josephina, with her food. “Alright then.”

They all ate in silence for a few moments, Aaron watching them, face now completely serious. “So,” He finally began slowly, seemingly mulling over how to proceed in why he needed to say. “I didn’t just come here to welcome ya’ll to this…lovely town.”

Aragorn stiffened immediately once more. “What do you mean?”

Aaron raised his hands. “Easy, soldier. It’s not anything important. Well, it is. But not important to be a immediate deathly threat. I’m so sorry that I had to be so secretive..but in this town, it’s better safe than sorry. Anyways, like I was saying, I didn’t just come here to welcome ya’ll to the town. And I sincerely doubt any other citizens will welcome ya’ll either. No offense, but..y’all’s arrival is strange and you’ll no doubt draw various amounts of suspicion for a long while until you otherwise prove yourselves.” He paused briefly, heaving a deep sigh and running a hand through his hair, revealing more grey that was hiding underneath it.

“That’s not all either, unfortunately. The mayors…I’m assuming you’ve already met both of them? And the peacekeepers?”

They nodded.

“Good. Their behavior is totally normal to how they usually are. They love to push and prod, just to see if you’ll crack. Can you endure it? Think of it as the first test. To see if there’s anything hiding below the surface. But that’s not just it. Did they tell you about the night protocols?”

“No. What night protocols?” Arianna frowned.

Aaron sighed again. “I figured as much. The mayors have several laws, most you’ll learn about over time probably. However, the almost first and foremost is the night protocols. Right now it’s..” He glances at his watch. “..seven o clock. But, every night once the clock tower bells strike sigh o clock, you CANNOT, under any circumstances, leave your house. Lights out are at nine thirty. Any disobeying and..there will be punishments.”

“Punishments?” Emma repeated questioningly.

“They vary from the severity of each “crime”. Most are performed publicly in a way to maintain order, I suppose. Usually, disobeying night protocols is a severe one but not enough to..harm you unless it’s repeated infractions. However, others….”

He trails off but they keep staring at him, waiting for him to continue. Aaron rubs his forehead.

“Well..you’ve seen the execution and hanging booths, I’m willing to bet. What do you think those are used for?”

~~

The whistle of a tea kettle finishing up it’s good work cuts across the darkened elderly home. The main sources of light in the place were the lamps set in random places, like on counters or the small tables beside the sofas. In every few spots a pinprick of light could be seen illuminating the wall, revealing the white wallpaper with dark vines and white flowers painted on it. A elderly woman moves slowly to the kettle, waving off her guests who insist on getting it for her.

“Nonsense, nonsense. I’m old, but I’m not that old to make my company do my work for me. Especially when it comes to serving them tea.” She clucks. She takes the teapot in a surprisingly steady way in her veiny wrinkled and frail looking hands, and hobbles back into the sitting room where her two guests wait. The mayors. Three perfect white china teacups sit at each of their spots, and the old woman pours tea into each of them, before setting the pot down on the table with a soft clink and resuming her seat.

Mayor Reine takes a sip of her tea, eyelashes fluttering downwards as she closes her eyes to make the moment last longer. “Goodness, Lois, your tea cannot be beat. However you make it so perfectly sweet but not too much is way beyond me. We should hire you to just come to our manor all the time and bring tea over for us.” She chuckles.

Mrs. Lois, smiled softly, one that didn’t quite reach her darkened eyes. “And I would gladly do so. My mother taught me the recipe. A long, long time ago. A very.. strong and independent woman, she was. Certainly knew how to speak her mind. And make tea.” The elderly woman mused.

“Mm. Would you say you’ve taken after her?” Mayor Roi hummed, gaze fixed on a lamp nearby as he sipped at his tea.

Lois simply shrugged. “We’ll never know.”

The three friends went into silence once more, the only noises being them quietly sipping their tea and Lois refilling the cups whenever they were drained.

“The new family arrived today, right? What did you think of them?” She finally said, tucking a wisp of silver hair behind her ear.

Both mayors chuckled at the reminder of the strange new family that had arrived on their docks.

“They were certainly very..interesting. A family of six actually. Rather big, too big, in my opinion.” Roi scoffed.

“Not too mention they had the strangest names. The little girl’s name was..Josephina..isn’t that a bit old? Imagine growing up with the name Josephina..sounds like a old lady.” Reine chuckled.

“Oh, yes! And the father’s name—what was it again? Aragorn! Yeah. That’s what it was. Grumpy looking bloke, he was too. I’m so glad that WE didn’t name our son something as ridiculous as that.”

Lois laughed in her weird haltingly way, with them, eyebrows raising slightly as she takes in the names. “Certainly. Very very strange..Michael is no doubt a lucky boy to have parents that won’t give him a mouthful of a name.”

“Indeed.” Reine sighs in fondness at the mention of her son. “He’s such a special boy. Really, too good for this world. We brought him up well, didn’t we? All three of us? It might as well have been all three of us. Lois, you’re practically like a second mother or a grandmother to him. Such a special boy.”

Lois nods, a small ghost of a smile dancing across her frail face, lamp lighting catching on her sharp rounded dark brown eyes behind her glasses. “Indeed..so very special. He’s going to make such a great mayor one day.”

~~

Author’s note:

I relate to Aaron a lot in this chapter. I too have incredibly sore legs, but not from old age. It’s only because I recently started going to the gym to work out, and my muscles are completely unused to it because I’m usually very lazy. I hate leg day so much, chat. Send help 😔🥀