Posted by Brian Richards in Zoo Ceremony - Jake Ridgley

Posted by Jennifer Ward in Zoo Ceremony - Jake Ridgley
“Hurry up! You landlubbers are so slow. Come on, maties!” Kelpie urged the rest of the fellowship that was to board the Nautilus, to embark on their quest for the most elusive personage. She treaded water next to the ramp leading to the hatch. “Giraffe have you spotted a good dock for the party yet?” she called up.

The Giraffe stood with a pair of binoculars around his very long neck and as such rather inconveniently out of reach when he said, “I think I’ve found it! It’s either the most sturdy dock around these parts or the fabled long lost Infinite Fleet, either way, a good place for a party!”

“Cappy, Bourguignon for dinner. Made with a Gamay red, and a white loaf with rosemary and thyme infused into the dough. Anyone find that bottle of Red Burgundy? The one made with pinot noir grapes from Burgundy’s eastern region?” Kelpie bemoaned the fact she couldn’t make him cook his own meal, he was always showing off and teasing the rest of them with photographs of his culinary prowess. But alas it would no longer be a surprise if they had him cook his own meal. “Oh and bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon. And Flat Cap coffee!” So many details to see done. It was a very good thing they had such a large fellowship this time.

The ramp creaked and groaned as Rhino made his way slowly up the ramp and through the port hatch. Quokka and Cappy racing up behind him. Panda and Raven bringing up the rear.

Kelpie dove, the Nautilus close behind and began the long trek to the cold arctic waters.

Kelpie surfaced for the 10th time. “Raven!” she called up into the sky. “Do you see any more? This last group was just beluga whales.” Raven circled several times and then pointed far into the north. “There! It’s the last one!” Kelpie dove again leading the Nautilus further north. This last group appeared to know who they were looking for and agreed, quite happily to deliver their letter.

“Thank you most kindly!” Kelpie, relieved to have found the correct pod passed over the gold embossed letter. Shimmery and elegant the message simply read, “Jake. It is finally time. You have been summoned to the Great Hall for a most important ceremony.” But on the back and quickly scribed, “PS actually come to the dock, the canal to the Great Hall hasn’t been finished yet.”

The Nautilus surfaced next to the dock, Kelpie flopping sideways in the surf. “That took forever….” The rest of the fellowship disembarking onto the softly illuminated, by fairy lights, dock and a beach filled with the rest of the Zoo excitedly buzzing awaiting the arrival of their newest member.

“Panda, do you think he’ll be here on time? Do you think they gave him the message?”

Soon a long spiral tooth could be seen breaking across the waves of the surf. “He’s here! He’s here!” came the call rushing through the assembled animals on the beach. Kelpie swam up next to the dock. “Panda, climb on. Raven? Are you coming too?” The three swam out to the edge of the surf. “Welcome one and all to this most special of occasions. Today our ranks will be growing by one more. Jake joined us in May of last year, and in that time he has made amazing strides not only as a writer but as an outstanding member of the club. I have had the pleasure of writing alongside him to develop deep and moving story lines. He has beautifully developed characters that are endearing and believable, and at times aggravating.” grumble grumble ‘Give me back my weapons’ grumble grumble “His time as XO of the USS Leviathan is outstanding. Not only does he lead by example as a writer, but his character, Cmdr Ryder Raauhl, does in character as well. Jake’s contribution to the lore and mystery of the ARU is outstanding both for its quality and the time he has invested into creating such a vivid and intense role playing environment for us all.”

From the dock Capy stepped forward, “Jake’s been an outstanding player in his entire time in the club. When we were told we needed a CO for the Sentinel, and he was recommended, we were all in agreement he was the perfect fit.”

Quokka stepped up, “He’s been very gracious to me during a difficult situation of giving up one position and transitioning into another, and I’m grateful to him for making that easier on me, and for upholding the vision I had for the Sentinel.”

Riding comfortably on Kelpie’s back Panda waved a paw in excitement, “Jake has been an amazing player to write with, a fantastic writer to read and collaborate with both in character and out and a great command team member to work with as a crew member and as a Fleet Commander.”

Raven, from her perch on Kelpie’s head flapped her silky black wings for attention, “Jake has absolutely been my right hand for the whole journey of the Leviathan so far. He was the first person I asked to join and purely on the strength of his writing and characters and how much I was enjoying RPing with him on other ships. He was instrumental in the initial days of building the Leviathan’s framework and lore and was hugely creative in every area with ideas, deck listings, images, you name it. He is someone who I can absolutely rely on, is always there whenever I want to talk about the ship or just STF in general. He cares about this club and about the people here and puts a huge amount of commitment and passion (and talent) into absolutely everything that he does!”

“Jake, please come and join us.”

“Jake, for your creativity and endless research both on the boards and off; for your generosity and support to others; for your ability to turn the written word into a world that all are eager to be a part of; for your affinity and love of Narwhal’s…” Gently Kelpie removed the wreath of mint leaves adorning his head and swam off to place it, with all the other mint they could find, into a Viking long boat.

“Quokka! Fire at will!” Kelpie called out. And soon a burning arrow landed among the dried mint and the boat was rapidly engulfed in flames, drifting out with the tide, the smoke bringing back the scent of fresh mint.

Swimming back in front of Jake Kelpie dipped her head, Panda raising a giant glittery sword to touch gently on each of his shoulders “Watch the giant tooth” Kelpie whispers trying to tread water and avoid both sword and tooth.”

“No longer will you be known as Minty Narwhal. We hereby christen you, that from now on you will only be known as Captain Narwhal.” Raven settled down on the Narwhal’s back, placing a British Sea Captain’s hat upon his head. Kelpie looked around where was that yeoman? “Really? RANDY! Where’s the captain’s salmon cream cheese bagel and Flat Cap coffee?”

Having made sure that everyone had their floaties and was prepared for their soon to be aquatic experience Giraffe said, “In accordance with our Narwhal’s love of pirates, I’m going to make you walk the dock! Er…. Plank!” After saying this the Giraffe made his way to the back of the dock, charging head down in a rather awkward fashion knocking the Quokka, Capy , and Rhino into the water before plunging in and shouting, “For Captain Narwhal!”

THE END

Cpts Kelpie and Giraffe (with help from Panda, Raven, Rhino, Quokka, and Capy)

Good to have you in the zoo my dear Narwhal!!! Glory to the long toothed one!!!! I need to get you this shirt!

https://www.threadless.com/designs/kawaii-captain-narwhal

—Brian

Congrats Jake!

~Linds