Miss Blimey and Betty hates Veronica had been visiting the Reverend Farquar on his wonderful leper isle for the past 3 days, getting away from the hustle and bustle of the high seas and having a well-earned rest. True by this stage they were a little sick of the all coconut diet, but as the Reverend didn't have much else to offer in the way of food they didn't complain. However, Miss Blimey was beginning to wonder if all these coconuts weren't starting to have an effect on the Reverend's mind as he had just made a very strange request, even for him.

"Are you sure you wanna go there Rev?" asked Miss Blimey of the Reverend Farquar.

"Yes, I think it is time I set something straight," he replied.

"But, well you know it's very far away, and from what I hear hostile country as well," continued Miss Blimey.

"Of course it's country my dear," answered the Reverend. "On the island of Jernwain they are known for their wild west ways."

"Yes, I get it, but I still do not understand why you wish to go there," queried Miss Blimey, frowning in thought.

"Well that is a story I can fill you in on whilst we make our way there, that is if you agree to take me," stated the Reverend smiling in the mischievous way that many found charming and some found disconcerting.

"Of course I'll take you," Miss Blimey returned the smile warmly. "But Betty H.V and I will be coming with you, I couldn't rest easy if I thought you were on your own in that strange and dusty place."

The following day the three friends boarded the Raven and made ready to leave the leper island, but before they could cast anchor the children of the village came running up to say their goodbyes to their much loved Reverend.

"Come back soon!" they called out in unison. "We'll miss you!" and then they all cheered as he waved at them, for they knew that Reverend Farquar would return soon and tell them the fabulous stories of all his adventures.

The Raven drifted gracefully out of the harbour, hitting the waves hard and heading out into the open ocean. The Reverend stood at the bow, looking out towards the horizon, deep in thought. Miss Blimey was at the helm, and Betty hates Veronica was trying to get Rawkous to tell her if there were any ships in the vicinity that he could see, but the bird was more interested in singing his latest composition, which contained much swearing, and refused to answer her.

Betty H.V joined Miss Blimey at the helm, and both stood staring at the Revered for a minute or so before Betty H.V finally spoke.

"Do you think he's OK? I've never seen him so sombre, I mean, even with a hangover he's still pretty jolly.... it's weird."

"I know, I'm worried too, but he's promised he'll tell us what is going on so I guess we just wait until he's ready to talk," replied Miss Blimey.

Later that night, when the Raven was set to auto-pirate and everyone was settled down in Captain's study drinking Wild Turkey on ice and enjoying the end of the day the Reverend Farquar turned to his two friends and sighed.

"So I suppose it is about time I told you girls why I need to get to Jernwain, well it's not really a long story, but it is important," he said.

"Whenever you're ready to tell us, there's no rush, we understand this means a lot to you," empathised Miss Blimey who had much in her past she was not ready to tell anybody.

"No, it's right I tell you," smiled the Reverend wearily. "Long ago, when I was still a pirate myself I made a promise to a dying man that I would find his daughter, and pass on to her this," he finished holding out a long gold chain with a golden disc attached. Miss Blimey took the necklace from the Reverend and held it up to the light, on it was an inscription.

"Wow! The crossed rifles!" exclaimed Miss Blimey.

"Yes," continued the Reverend. "Now do you see why I must find this girl in Jernwain? I've waited too long already to get it to her, but I had to wait until she was of an age where she could handle what this symbol will mean for her life. It will put her in extreme danger before she can profit from it."

"I bet a few people would like to have this for themselves," observed Miss Blimey. "It's a good thing we're coming with you".

"Yes, and I am grateful of course my good friends," stated the Reverend.

"But what does it mean?" asked Betty H.V who had not heard as many tall stories of the sea as these two.

"The crossed rifles are said to be the mark of the Calamity's, who were once well known far and wide as cowboys, pirates and cads, they were very powerful and just mention of their name could drive fear into the hearts of many. It is said that they were all killed in a final showdown with my old Captain Miserablesod, in a war to take back the seas. But then rumours began circulating that one Calamity survived taking with him his child and going into hiding. But of course these have always just been tales, until now," explained Miss Blimey.

"Right, and you met this Calamity, and he gave you this necklace then?" asked Betty H.V trying to clarify the idea in her head.

"Yes my dear Betty H.V, this medallion is the key to the plunder of the Calamity's, which this girl, Sassy I think her name is, has the right to claim as her birth right, but many would like to see her remain oblivious to its very existence."

"I bet they would," affirmed Betty H.V.

"Come on you two, it's time to get some sleep, big day tomorrow, and I feel trouble on the way," stated Miss Blimey getting to her feet and stretching before heading off to her room.

"Good-night Rev," smiled Betty H.V stumbling her own way out the door.

"Night my dears," replied the Reverend, but he did not feel like sleeping just yet and sat a while still, brooding over the events that would soon unfold.

Continued in Part 2