CycloneSteve and the Chamber of Swag
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You are looking for a lock n lock container. While access to the area may be difficult during periods of flooding, you can find it if you are determined enough and search the story for clues. Please place exactly as found it so it can avoid muggle detection. The text below is the next chapter in the story and a fun read. It may even provide a few hints on how to reach the cache or hint at the cache location. Please BYOP and enjoy!
CycloneSteve and Calador had already found one of the seven legends of Mine Falls Park and were ready to find the infamous Chamber of Swag.
"My notes indicate that the Chamber of Swag is located somewhere near the river," said CaladorGCS.
"Lets see what the parchment says," replied CycloneSteve.
As before, words magically appeared on the parchment, "The next task is simple for any wizard. Upon locating the Mystical Cavern of Surprises, ye must simply touch one of the golden balls it holds."
"All we have to do is touch an item? There must be a catch," said CycloneSteve
"Just ask the parchment where it is, we only have a few hours before nightfall," said Calador.
The parchment read, "Ye should continue down the earthen path cutting across the main muggle road heading deep into the woods. Simply follow the trail until the land ends. Near this location is what ye seek."
And so the duo continued west deeper into the woods. They soon came across a dry riverbed and found that someone or something had built a dam.
"I guess some beavers built this dam. Its amazing that the riverbed behind it is almost all dried up!" said CycloneSteve.
"Look! There is someone fishing on that island!" exclaimed Calador.
To their surprise, a young man was fishing on an island one moment and then suddenly vanished the next.
"Was that a wizard?" asked CycloneSteve.
"I'm not sure but whatever he was he seems to be gone. Let's keep going," said Calador.
The trail now followed the Nashua River. After walking for a couple minutes, they spied the same man from before fishing along the banks of the river.
"There he is again. Hello there!" said Calador.
The man looked at the duo but did not vanish this time. He turned his head and said "What do we have here, a couple of wizards?" said the man.
"Hello sir, my name is CycloneSteve."
"And you can call me Calador. That was some trick you pulled."
The man frowned when he heard this statement. He put down his fishing rod and got up. He was a tall bearded man with a pale face and old, somewhat tattered clothing.
"I didn't know people were allowed to fish in these woods," said CycloneSteve.
Suddenly the man burst into laughter. CycloneSteve turned to Calador and said "Did I say something funny?" Calador shrugged his shoulders.
It took a moment for the man to compose himself before he spoke, "You aren't wizards, at least in the traditional sense but you aren't muggles either. That makes you two very special."
"What do you mean by that?" asked CaladorGCS.
"You see my new friends, I am how you would say, among the dearly departed. For reasons I will not go into, my spirit roams these woods. You may call me The Fisherman," said the man.
"You're a ghost!" said Calador in a nervous voice.
"He's not the first I've seen but you are more solid that the others," said CycloneSteve.
"You see," said The Fisherman, "I am solid in form because of a spell cast by a powerful wizard. In my living years, I was one of the best fisherman in New England. I developed my own lures and hooks and could find any subsurface object. Sadly, my life came to an end when I crossed paths with that wizard in these very woods. Luckily my form allows me to interact with physical objects so I can still do what I love until the end of time."
"While I like the idea of geocaching for eternity, now is not my time," said Calador.
"Meteorology and geocaching are my career and hobby. I too hope to do that for a long time," said CycloneSteve.
The Fisherman laughed and said, "Trust me, it ain't no picnic. There are many things I cannot do in this state."
"Well we are on a search for the Seven Legends. Do you know anything about them?" asked Calador.
The Fisherman's smile faded and he said "That silly wizard challenge? If that is what you are after, then I have no business with you. What you are looking for lies up the path."
"Oh, I'm sorry if I offended you," said Calador. The Fisherman did not reply but turned invisible instead. The rod that he had set down earlier now seemed to be floating in the air. The lure bobbed in the water.
"Let's just go. I didn't say anything wrong but it he wants to be like that then we have no business with him either," said Calador.
"Okay Calador, let's go," said CycloneSteve.
Calador took the lead as CycloneSteve lingered briefly staring intently at the place where the invisible bobber was. "I hope you get whatever you are looking for," said CycloneSteve before running ahead.
When they reached a point where the trail turned right they consulted the parchment and found words on it "Ye have arrived at the land's end. The chamber lies before ye. In order to complete this quest simply stick your hand into the cavern and retrieve one of the invisible golden balls."
"Invisible?" said CycloneSteve in disbelief.
"Looks like this legend is hidden from us muggles eh?" said Calador.
"No! We cannot give up! I am going to try and touch them. Just because they are invisible doesn't mean they aren't there. Just like The Fisherman."
CycloneSteve reached into the dark hole but yelled in pain when he felt something bit his hand. He pulled his right hand out and found something similar to a spider bite. It wasn't bleeding but it hurt. Calador quickly removed his backpack and found a First Aid Kit to clean and wrap the wound. "Every geocacher should come prepared for any accidents," he said.
"Thank you Calador, it already feels better," said CycloneSteve.
"Well that's that?" said Calador.
"Wait! If we can't see the golden balls and we can't reach in to get them, then we need something to grab them."
"Sounds good but I don't have anything like that."
"But I think I know someone who might!"
For a moment Calador wondered who it might be and then he groaned and said, "You don't mean that fisherman ghost do you?"
"Exactly! He said he has designed all sorts of lures. Maybe one of them will be able to grab a golden ball."
"Well I commend you on your tenacity but last time we met, The Fisherman wasn't very cooperative."
"We have to try."
And so the duo retraced their steps and were able to locate The Fisherman who had reappeared.
"Well look who it is! Did you get whatever you needed?" asked The Fisherman.
"No sir, what we are seeking is inviable and we can't reach for it without getting bit by...something. We need some help to get an invisible golden orb and I was wondering if you would help."
The Fisherman sat there very quiet and still pondering this. A tear streamed from his eye and then a huge grin appeared on his face. "Finally! I knew it! You two are special! Of course I will help you because you will get me out of these woods!" exclaimed The Fisherman.
"You mean you know how to get the ball?" asked Calador.
"Sir, I am insulted you have asked that!"
"I insulted you again?"
"I already said I am the best fisherman there is and my tackle box is sure to contain what you need," said The Fisherman and he pulled out his tackle box from behind a tree. Knelt down and opened it. Inside were dozens or maybe hundreds of different and strange contraptions.
"Wow! I don't fish but I'm pretty sure some of these will catch more than dinner," said CycloneSteve.
"Indeed and if its a golden ball we need then we want this one," said The Fisherman as he retrieved a lure that looked similar to a magnet.
"Do magnets work underwater?" asked Calador.
"He asks a lot of silly questions this one," said The Fisherman to CycloneSteve.
"And I take offense to that!" said Calador.
"Yes, magnets work underwater and as long as these Golden Balls aren't made of solid gold, we can retrieve one with this whether or not it is invisible," explained The Fisherman.
A couple minutes later, CycloneSteve and Calador were back at the land's end with The Fisherman in tow.
"Okay here we go," said The Fisherman. The lure was slowly lowered into the hole and suddenly shook violently and a growling noise was heard.
"Its the creature that bit me! He will destroy the lure or the tether," said CycloneSteve.
The Fisherman let out a laugh and said, "No set of teeth can bite through my diamond filament tether! Gottcha!" Apparently the lure had caught its intended prey and The Fisherman began to retract the line. Whatever was down there must have realized the fight was over as the line stopped shaking so much.
CycloneSteve looked carefully but could not see anything at the end of the line. The Fisherman grabbed the end of the line and dropped it in CycloneSteve's hand. To his surprise, the line and the lure seemed untouched by the creature and there was indeed a round heavy object at the end of the lure. CycloneSteve cupped his hands around the object and suddenly a bright golden light filled the woods even though it was late afternoon.
"What was that?" asked Calador when he could see again.
CycloneSteve opened his eyes and found that the ball was now visible. The beautiful orb was indeed golden and sparked in the filtered sunlight of the woods. "Its beautiful!" he said.
"We better return the ball," said The Fisherman.
"I think you are right," said CycloneSteve as he detached the ball from its lure. He simply dropped the ball down into the cavern where it made a thud in a second or two.
CycloneSteve and Calador turned to The Fisherman and smiled. CycloneSteve said "Thank you Fisherman for all of your help. Without you we couldn't move onto the next legend."
"Is there anything we can do to help you?" asked Calador.
"Finally a smart question! said The Fisherman and then "Just Kidding!" when Calador scowled.
"All I ask is that I am allowed to join you on your quest. I believe my legendary skills will come in handy and I have a feeling you two will set me free," said The Fisherman as he smiled.
"Of course you can come! This quest is a lot like geocaching and the more eyes we have the better!" said Calador.
"Grand! I like your style!" said The Fisherman.
"Where to next?" asked Calador
"I'll check the parchment," said CycloneSteve and he found it to say "Ye have completed the next task brilliantly. Ye must now travel to a point to your north where the four winds meet."
"What does that mean?" asked Calador.
"I have no idea but I'm sure we can figure it out," said CycloneSteve.
"Bully! Onwards to adventure!" said The Fisherman.
And so the trio set off to the east along the path to find the point where the four winds meet.
FTF: mrducky
STF: Ima Freeman
3rd: jojoy5
4th: Grotonian
5th: CaladorGCS
CycloneSteve's Geocaches
1. GC2NRF5 Handycapable* (Micro/Indiana) ARCHIVED 2012
2. GC2Z82T Inbetween Things* (Micro/Ohio) ARCHIVED 2012
3. GC447XV Wii Would Like to Play (Mystery/New Hampshire) ARCHIVED 2013
4. GC48XFP CycloneSteve's 500th Find (Nano/Massachusetts) ARCHIVED 2013
5. GC4D2QG CycloneSteve's Grand TB Hotel (Large/New Hampshire) ARCHIVED 2015
6. GC4GTGD "V"ictory is Mine! (Small/New Hampshire)
7. GC4HBD7 CycloneSteve and the Wizard's Challenge (Micro/New Hampshire)
8. GC4HEDV CycloneSteve and the Geocacher's Stone (Other/New Hampshire)
9. GC4JWX7 CycloneSteve and the Chamber of Swag (Small/New Hampshire)
10. GC4MDE5 CycloneSteve and the Multi-Cache of Azbakam (Multi/New Hampshire)
11. GC4MDEM CycloneSteve and the Goblet of Water (Small/New Hampshire)
12. GC4MDF1 CycloneSteve and the Order of the Geocache (Small/New Hampshire)
13. GC4MDFT CycloneSteve and the FTF Prince (Micro/New Hampshire)
14. GC4MDGM CycloneSteve and the Deathly DNF (Other/New Hampshire)
*Co-Ownership with TyphoonRuth
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