Skippi Snips

The Scare-Crokabek was a dead end. At first I was mad they refused to talk, but then I realized they didn't have a mouth. And then I realized they didn't have eyes, either... But let's take a look at what you found. Hm... a Wood Carving, huh? That's not your everyday garden-variety garden find. But what could it mean? I have a hunch we're still missing a bunch of pieces of this puzzle. We'll have to continue our investigation elsewhere, but in the meantime, let's hold on to this valuable clue.

Have a look at that mess of rubble and broken wood over there by the coast. With my professional deduction skills, I've, uh... deduced... that it used to be a Wharf. I can tell by all the wooden debris. And also a local witness told me so. She said she heard strange noises coming from around there, too... Even over the wind and rain and thunder. My gut is telling me there's some evidence there just waiting to be discovered. Can you rebuild Enigma Wharf for me to check it out?

Fabulous! Now that Enigma Wharf is up and running, let's see if we can fish up some clues.

Something fishy is definately going on at this Wharf, and it's not just the rotten Rockfish. But I'm going to need something to scoop up clues with to find out. Oh, I know. What if we used some Spyder Webs to craft a tool? There are lots around here. Too many, actually. It's giving me the Breebly-Jeeblies. But a good journalist doesn't let fear get in the way of her scoop! Especially when she has someone to help keep her safe by tapping on the Wharf to gather Spyder Webs for her...

Way to make a splash! That Spyder Web is just what we need for crafting a new tool. Now let's just make sure there aren't any Spyders trying to stow away with us... Whew! All clear. Now, where was that Workshop again...?

The Workshop is the perfect place to whip up some handy investigation tools. Let's see what you can make with that web! The recipe should be all ready to go, so just head into the Workshop. Tap on the recipe book, then tap on the Net icon and the Build button. Then you'll have netted yourself a Net!

Excellent! Now that we have a Spyder-Web Net, we can check the water by the Wharf for clues. Meet me back at Enigma Wharf so we can net this investigation started!

It's time to find out what those strange, non-stormy noises were. I'll bet it was our culprit, looking to dispose of some evidence... This is a big wharf, so I think we should split up to look for clues. I'll check over on this side, so can you go look over there? Tap on Enigma Wharf and gather anything that seems suspicious. And don't forget to use your Spyder-Web Net! I'm counting on you.

I know that look. That's the look of a super-sleuth with a slick new clue! All right then, let's take a peak... A Raygun! That has to mean there's a villain on the island, right? What kind of villain would just leave a dangerous weapon like this lying around? This is excellent - another ray of hope in the face of an impossible mystery, bringing us one step closer to catching our culprit.

You're just in time! I've been doing some digging - literally - and I think I'm onto something. I analyzed some suspicious footprints leading to and from the Beach, and... They seemed to be one piece of evidence lighter when they left! ...What? Don't look at me like that. I can't leave any lead unfollowed or any footprint unexamined! But the trail's gone cold in the ruins of the storm. Can you please rebuild Secret Beach for me so we can continue the investigation?

Beach: built. Now we can put the results of my footprint analysis to the test. We'll turn the tides of this case yet!

There's something shifty about this sandy beach. I'm willing to bet that there are some clues buried around here somewhere... But if we're gonna do some digging, then we need the right tool. Do you think you could gather some Seaweed? I know how that sounds, but trust me.

Great! Now we're gonna have to craft something with that. Do you know if there's a Workshop around here?

Ah, the smell of wood shavings and fresh paint... I love the Workshop! That Seaweed you found should be perfect for crafting. We'll just have to weed out another resource to combine it with... I'm sure the recipe book will have just the solution for us! Tap on it, then tap on the tool you want to make. Just make sure it uses Seaweed.

A Basket! Unbe-weave-able! That's exactly what we need. Time to skippidy-skip back to Secret Beach to get this investigation back under-wave.

I want to know what caused this storm. No doubt it was a nerarious villain... But what was their weapon of choice? An intricate device, perhaps? An ancient spell? Or maybe an ancient intricate spell device! Whatever it was, I bet a clue is hidden on this very Beach. Let's get looking. Make sure you use your Basket!

No luck on my end. What about you? Can I see what you've found? Wait, no, let me guess! Was it a machine? A weapon? A mask? A super-villain utility-belt?! Oh, it's... a Sea Shell? A-ha! I knew it! To the untrained, non-journalist eye, it may LOOK like a normal Sea Shell, but we know better, don't we? I'm getting closer to the truth, I can feel it. With clues like this, we're one step closer to cracking this case like a clam on a Lutati's belly!

Curious about the cliff over there? No need to answer; I can tell you are. You must have a good eye for mystery, because it's a treasure trove of clues. Or it will be. An anonymous tip told me that before the storm hit, they saw a shadowy figure going into Mysterious Mine late at night. Of course, it was dark, but... A tip is a tip! Mysterious Mine is going to need some mys-serious repairs before we can investigate it, though. Do you think you could rebuild it using the Crabulator's blueprints?

Ore-right! The Mine is once again open for operation. I'm ready to strike gold with all the evidence waiting for us!

Make no mistake, there's nothing minor about this mine. There are tons of clues in there to dig up and pick apart. I know it! But we'll need a tool to do it. It's so cold in there, though... and I didn't bring a jacket. I know, right? Every big-time reporter should have a cool leather jacket. Take it up with my editor. So do you think you could look around in the Mine for something useful to craft tools with? I think Rocks will probably work. Tap Mysterious Mine to gather some.

You rock! Now we're just gotta go to the Workshop and craft those Rocks into something useful.

After lots of careful background research, I've deduced that the best thing to help us advance our investigation is... a new tool. And where better to craft one than the Workshop? There must be a recipe inside for a tool that uses Rocks... maybe something that combines them with Bamboo?

You nailed it! A Hammer is the perfect tool for the job. Those clues are as good as mine.

What sort of dark, mysterious villain could have been lurking in this cave? There's got to be something inside that will tell us. Some key clue to unlock this case... With that Hammer, we'll be able to break down the Mine's dark, sordid story in no time. Tap on Mysterious Mine to search it, then select something strange, and get gatherin'!

No wonder it was so cold in there, it was full of suspicious-looking Ice! And yes, it is definately suspicious. It may look like just regular cave Ice, but a good journalist never judges a newspaper by its headline. I think I might be on the verge of having a suspect...

Thanks for all your help gathering evidence earlier. I've been thinking hard about what all those clues could mean... But I realized I couldn't just think, I had to visualize! I need space to lay out all the evidence and rearrange it so it makes sense. Plus a place to write my articles... like an office! My editor even gave me some blueprints for one. So in the name of truth, justice, and knowledge... could you please build me a Neopian Times Outpost?

Wowee! Compared to the rickety old office back home, this place is the Bubblebee's knees! My editor is gonna be so jealous. But don't tell anyone I said that. Right then! Let's skip right to piecing together those pesky puzzle pieces.

This case has really been jumbling my puzzle-muscles. There are just so many possibilities! Who could've done it, and how? Why did they do it? What did they have for breakfast? But I think for now maybe we should just focus on the "who." Why don't you take a crack at it while I try and straighten out my thoughts? All the evidence we've gathered should be on the board in the Neopian Times Outpost. Just tap and draw lines between the evidence items to make connections.

Hm... If that evidence points to that, and this one goes there, then... A-HA! I think I get it. It all makes perfect sense now! There's only one chilly villain who could have caused that storm. All I have to do now is write up my article, and BAM! Case closed. This might just be some of the savviest sleuthing I've ever seen. I'm impressed! Are you sure you wouldn't rather be a detective than a Town Planner?

Just putting the finishing touches on that article. It's the scoop of the century, so I want to make sure I'm doing the story justice! Just one more dramatically placed comma, and... there we go! Hot off the presses, the latest edition of the Neopian Times!

What do you think? Perfectly illustrates all the great work we did, doesn't it? I'm going to make a few more copies and hand them out to the rest of the town. Just remember. We may be done investigating the storm, but there are always more mysteries out there... so stay alert!

Oh, you're back! I was just thinking about what a great, wonderful, amazing job we did investigating the storm together. And how the article I wrote is air-tight and flawless! Yup, there's no way anyone BUT Lady Frostbite could have done it. So, since there's nothing left to investigate, I've decided to focus on my side-job: painting! I know, why would a reporter need a side-gig? Well... journalism doesn't pay what it used to, sadly. Oh well! I just need a Paint Shop to get started. Can you build one for me?

Wow, it's beautiful! Everything I could have wanted out of a paint shop and more.

I still think solving the mystery of the storm was vital to helping Dacardia, but now that I have this Paint Shop I think I can help in other ways, too. Like with paint! This isn't your everyday magic paint, either. We can change the appearances of Neohomes, clothing, and even our friends! But we'll need special Essences. You can craft some by combining resources in my Paint Shop. Try making one of my favourites! Mix some Straw and a Berry, then combine what you get with a Blank Paint Brush.

Nothing makes Neopets or Crabby-bots smile like new paint.

Berry nice! You've got the same knack for this that I do, huh? It's weird, but I never thought I'd be much good at mixing paint. Mysteries are more my jam. In any case, we're not done yet. Just having paint isn't going to be enough. If we want to give Dacardia and its residents some flavor, we actually have to go out and paint!

Sometimes I wonder if maybe giving Neopets a paint bath would make them even happier than just using a Paint Brush, but then I remember the one time I tried that. It wasn't pretty. I ended up chasing down suspicious footprints in my house for DAYS before I realized they were just my own paint-covered feet! Better to just use a brush. Choose the Neopet you want to paint, then tap on the 'Customise' menu. Drag your new Paint Brush to the Neopet, and ta-da! Fancy new colour!

Your friend looks so good I could just eat them up! It looks like that new coat of paint has livened them up, too - I bet they're more excited than ever to help restore Dacardia!

*Sigh* ... I'm so bored. I've hardly had any customers, and we cracked the case way too soon. That's always been my problem - even my editor says that. "Skippi Snips, your deadline's not for another week!" or "Skippi Snips, I can't make Meepits or Feepits of this!" or "Skippi Snips, I'm in the bathroom!" Psh, what does he know? Why did we have to be such darn good detectives? I almost wish there was some new piece of evidence to examine... Like something we could add to Lady Frostbite's Case File.

*Gasp!* Is that more evidence? Jumping JubJubs, do you know what this means? It means... It means my article was complete Blorbis droppings. YES! This is fantastic! I've never been so happy to be wrong, because now we can keep investigating the mystery in the far reaches of Dacardia! I'm going to get to work on a new article to let the Neopets of Dacardia know that there may still be villains out there. Any then I'm getting right back out there to investigate!

I usually solve my cases correctly on the first go, but I guess this time I was just one matrix short of a full printing press. My editor's not gonna be too pleased... But at least we're on the right track! We're going to solve that case and cure my boredom - um, I mean - catch the villain responsible and save Dacardia!

There, all fixed! Now let's continue exploring the region inland and finish our investigation. I can't wait to get to the bottom of this story... all over again!

A-ha! I knew it! My eyewitness was right: there WAS a crash here for me to investigate!

Policy, eh...? Sounds suspicious to me. Mr. Grundo, I'm gonna need a statement. Where were you on the night of the storm? And what are you hiding?

My friend here was approved, right? So they can go right ahead and inspect the Crash Site for evidence while I ask you a few questions...

Nice job snagging a piece of that ship! Now we can... Wait a sec, what's that other piece of metal you have there? It's covered in meteor-dust, just like that piece of Zerix's ship, but... it looks like a totally different material!

Two crashes on the same night, a devastating storm destroying Dacardia, and two different pieces of metal at the site of those crashes...What sort of secrets could these two space metals reveal to us? And what is Zerix's involvement in all this? Only a side-by-side analysis will reveal the secrets we seek!

Well, those two metal pieces are definitely not from the same spaceship. One of them might not even be a spaceship at all. Wait a second, that's it! Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence that a meteor just so happened to hit Dacardia during an "unnatural" storm? That metal piece and the meteor must have something to do with the storm! We'll have to keep an eye out for more clues, though...

Is that machine supposed to be a giant Crabby? Why does it have a lobster tail? You know what, it doesn't matter. What DOES matter is uncovering evidence! Please rebuild Crokabek Field. The blueprints are in the lobster-Crabby.

Gather up anything here you might find suspicious. Just tap Crokabek Field, select something strange, and there you go! Your Neopet friends will come help you out.

I promise you, my source about the noise is accurate... even though she has hearing issues and was playing a big ol' contrabassoon at the time. Can you rebuild Enigma Wharf so I can confirm my source? Tap that big red machine again, grad some building materials, and get to fixin'!

I've been trying to get over my fear of Spydera, but it's no good. They've just got so many eyes! And none of them blink at the same time! NONE! Oogh... Makes my skin crawl just thinking about it. Please tap on the Wharf to gather some Spyder Webs so I don't have to go near them.

Having trouble with the recipe? Make sure you've got all the necessary resources. For a Spyder-Web Net, you'll need Bamboo to go with the Spyder Webs we gathered.

Net yourself any good clues yet? Hee hee! Just tap on the Wharf and gather whatever stands out as weird to you, no matter how small and seemingly-insignificant it may be. We'll get those clues in no time!

Don't just bury your head in the sand! If we're gonna solve this case, we've gotta rebuild Secret Beach. Does the Crabulator have the blueprints? You should tap on it to grab them.

I think Seaweed will be the perfect thing to kept - I mean help - us craft a tool. Tap on Secret Beach to ask a Neopet to gather some Seaweed. I'm sure they'd be happy to lend a paw!

Secret Beach isn't going to investigate itself, you know. Head inside the Workshop and check the recipe book to see what sort of tool we can make with Seaweed.

How goes the excavation? Did you "picnic" up anything good? Hee hee! Tap on Secret Beach and use the Basket to gather anything you find that seems odd.

You'd think something made of rock would be a bit sturdier. Oh well, I'm sure the Mine will be easy enough to rebuild with the right materials. Lania's Crabulator has the blueprints, right?

Mines are full of things to craft with. Why don't you try collecting some Rocks?

If you don't have a recipe for crafting, just throw a few resources together and see what happens. That's what I always do. Here's an idea, though: why don't you try combining Rocks and Bamboo?

What did the grumpy builder say to the dashing, daring young journalist? 'MINE your own business!' Hee hee! But I am minding my own business - the business of cracking cases. Which we can only do by gathering strange objects in the Mine!

To me, there's nothing quite like sitting down at the breakfast table and holding a newspaper in your paws. That's what I want to bring to Dacardia with this Outpost! Tap on the Crabulator to build it; I think the blueprints are in there.

Being an investigator isn't all guessing games, you know... But even so, sometimes it's best to go with your gut. And my gut says: head into the Neopian Times Outpost and draw some lines between evidence that looks similar or have some things in common.

Sorry, Lania! I've been getting non-stop mail from all over Neopia. Everyone seems to want to pitch in to help the restoration effort! They even sent some blueprints.

A "Wheel of Offers!" The attached letter says it's "A traditional way to earn items and money." I think it'll really help out!

I can't wait to get all my painting stuff set up! It's gonna be so colourful and bright. I think you're really going to love it. Just go and tap the Crabulator to pull up the Paint Shop blueprints.

Not too shabby!

Don't worry Lania, I'm on it! I'll just take a quick pic of the finished product and write a teensy little thank-you article.

I think that between the two of us, we can turn Dacardia into a rainbow of fun full of pretty-painted Neopets! Combine some Straw and a Berry to make a Colour Essence, then combine it with a Blank Paint Brush. It'll look great, trust me!

I interviewed Ariel the other day, and apparently she went through a phase where she'd painted herself Fire! I've painted myself a lot, too, but I think I look best in yellow. It's the colour of sunshine and flowers and sandy beaches in summer! Sometimes it's nice to just stick to the basics, don't you think? But don't feel limited to just that! Tap on a pet and drag a Paint Brush over to paint them.

I don't mean to sound like I'm not grateful for what you've done! I am, I'm just... bored. There's not much to do without customers or a mystery to solve... If only there was some shred of evidence that threw my whole theory out the window... Or even a whole new mystery to solve.

Zerix seems awfully keen on keeping us away from his spaceship... I bet he's hiding something, and that something has to do with the ship itself! See if you can grab a piece!

Comparing those two metal pieces on the evidence board should tell us what we need to know. At the very least, it'll answer a few questions!

Hey you two, what's with all the ruckus? Can I join in?

Right, I know, "stranger's glare, Grundos beware." I wrote an article on that once. But we're getting off-topic here. If there's evidence, we gotta compile and examine it.

You two might have stumbled onto something big here regarding our case. Good idea bringing it back to the Neopian Times to check it out.

What?

You did it! Let me just read what you wrote in the case file here... "I made him start the storm." ... I MADE HIM START THE STORM?!

I have no idea. It says here that the voice belongs to a lady, but nothing else. That still doesn't give us much to go on...

What's that you've got there? Did you find another clue to add to our ongoing case file?

But if you have to fill it out, make sure you do after you check the evidence.

So it wasn't Lady Frostbite's voice after all, which means I was right about being wrong... and wrong about being right. Or was I right about being right and wrong about being wrong? Oof, I think I gave my head a case of the spinny-spins. That's okay, as long-as... Hey, wait a second. How did you get a recording of Lady Frostbite's voice?

I do? You're right, I do! Okay then, I gotta run too. Keep an eye out for my next article, though!

Whew! Another satisfied customer. Now I have time to write my article on that recording you and Zerix found! I'll be able to whip it up real quick. Two shakes of a Meerca's tail! Now let's see... How do you spell 'Zerix' again?

I gotta admit, when I started my investigation I wasn't expecting there to be so many layers to it... or so many villains to be involved. But that's fine with me! Now I can really show my editor what I'm made of. If we can solve this case, we might even get to be known as the greatest journalists in all of Neopia!

What's that you've got there? Is that a Squid? Looks like it's got something in its tentacles... Wait, do you think it could be some kind of clue? No! Bad Squiddy! No eating clues! Argh... I think we're going to have to get this Squid a snack to distract it from eating our valuable evidence! Go out and gather some kind of food. Maybe something tasty from wherever you found the Squid...?

I don't think I've ever seen such a delicious-looking Mushroom in my life. Let's see if li'l squiddy here will take the bait... No luck. Hmm... Maybe we need to cook the Mushroom? What a pickt squid!

I guess just a single Mushroom isn't gonna be enough to satisfy this Squid. We'll have to make it into a real-deal meal. You've been to the Omelette Slab before, right? Maybe try whipping up something tasty there. Like a Mushroom Omelette!

Mm, that smells so yummy... this is going to make that Squid let go for sure! Let me just cut it up into cute little munchy-crunchy bite-sized pieces... I knew it! Nobody can resist a good meal, not even a silly stubborn squiddy. Now let's see what it was clinging so tightly to... A Piece of Cloth? Looks like there's some kind of symbol on it, too. But it's all torn up at the edges... I can't make Meepits or Feepits of it!

An enigmatic emblem on a curious cloth... I have a feeling it's going to tell us a lot about who caused the storm once we figure out what it is. See all the torn edges? It looks like this is just a piece of a bigger tapestry. I wouldn't be surprised if there were other pieces hidden around the island, too... Let's have a look around. If we find enough cloth pieces, we should be able to bring them back here and craft them into proper evidence.

Jumping JubJubs, a Pirate Flag! What could that be doing here? Are there pirates hiding in the jungle? I thought Lady Frostbite was the only villain here, but with this flag... Maybe this conspiracy reaches deeper than I thought. It's like that squid. It's got tentacles. It's... A squid-spiracy. And we're going to get to the bottom of it... in the jungle. The mighty jungle! I'll get my mystery-solving gear and meet you there.

The Shipwreck is kinda small to be a pirate ship, don't you think? I thought they had giant boats for big crews... Maybe this one belonged to someone else and pirates stole it? In any case, the Shipwreck seems like the perfect place to find pirate clues. Why don't we take a look inside and see what we can find?

No way! A good investigator never leaves a Crabby unturned. Everyone is a suspect, after all. Even me! I've been asking myself some very grilling questions...

I'm not trying to steal anybody! I've just been borrowing your friend for a little bit -

Nuh-uh!

But it's not even finished yet!

Just look at it! It doesn't fit in at all here. It's not jungley or naturey at all! You know what it needs? A fresh coat of paint.

Hey! Just because my eyes look like they're always shut doesn't mean I can't see what looks good! Aw, forget it. If you're going to be like that, I'll just go somewhere else to continue my investigation. Good day, Miss Cragg! Hmph.

Is that a Cutlass? Hm... this definitely lines up with that Pirate Flag we found. I'm pretty sure there are pirates on the island... but then again, I've been wrong before. I think we're going to need to dig a little deeper with this before we come to any conclusions. I wonder if we know anyone who could tell us more about this...

The salty scent of pernicious pirates hangs thick in the air... or maybe it's just the squid smell still stuck to me. Or... *Sniff!* To you? That's quite a collection you've got there with the Cutlass. Do you think it could point us towards the scallywags that stirred up that storm? We'll have to craft some evidence to know for sure. Go ahead and put every pirate thing you've got together so we can close this case!

What's this, a new Photo? Wait a second. This is Captain Scrablade, isn't it? And in the photo, Scarblade is holding... The Cutlass! Jumping JubJubs, this is the scoop of the century! It'll be the biggest story since... well, since my last issue about the storm. Even if my editor didn't appreciate it... But that's not important. If Scarblade is holding that Cutlass in this photo, and the pirates on the island are connected with the storm... then that must mean Scarblade did it!

... Slorg-slime. I just realized... even though I'm certain Captain Scarblade started the storm, I don't know HOW he did. I can still write an article, but... Between all the panic and pandemonium and complaints from my editor after the Lady Frostbite fiasco... I can't just write the article without definitive proof. I've learned my lesson. Journalistic integrity matters. I'm not going to write that Scarblade did it... but I have to make some kind of official statement to warn Dacardia. It's not perfect, but at least this way Dacardians will know to keep an eye out for the most dangerous pirate in the history of Neopia. And we know who to look for!

What's your favourite colour? Mine is all of them.

Don't tell her I said this, but I really like Lania's house designs. I think I could really make them pop if she'd just let me choose the colours!

I talked to Ariel about the storm, and she agrees with me about how suspicious it is. I'm glad someone else is on our side about it!

My boss sent me here to investigate the storm as puni- I mean, because I'm the best investigator we've got!

I got my start writing cover stories for Gormball tournaments. You know, I throw a mean Gormball myself...

I don't know a lot of technobabble, but I like that Ariel's always curious about stuff. I wonder what she thinks of the storm?

I don't see why Lania has to be so grumpy all the time. There's more to life than building!

It's amazing what a fresh coat of paint can do to lift the spirits!

Let's paint the town red! Or green, or blue, or plushie...

Hey, hey, check this out! Who am I? "Science! Energy! My experiments are fueled by coffee!" Ha ha!

I wonder where Lania got her goggles? They sure are spiffy. I wouldn't mind a pair myself.

Journalism doesn't pay like it used to. That's why I opened up a paint shop.

Could this new evidence be the breakthrough we need? Will it make everything as clear as the crystals in the plateau? Only one way to find out: link and compile that evidence! And don't forget, you can combine new evidence with existing case files.

Ink is kinda like paint, right? I bet we can use some in Essences! We need Squids to make Ink, though.

It's kinda strange that this Squid is still alive after being out of the water for so long. Maybe Dacardian squids are just weird like that? Or maybe... it's the Dacardite that keeps them going! I'll have to ask Ariel about that sometime. But for now, let's focus on getting this squiddy a tasty Mushroom snacky.

I'm not very good at cooking. Well, actually, maybe I could be. The problem is I keep eating all the ingredients before I even start making anything with them. That's why I think you should cook. You've got the self-control to whip up something scrumptious with that Mushroom, don't you? Just toss two in the pan with whatever else you like!

Getting that first piece of cloth away from the squid was a bit of an ordeal, huh? I hope the other pieces are easier to get than that. I don't think life is quite that simple, though. You'll probably have to craft special tools to get some of them.

I don't really know much about pirates, to be honest. All I know is they're suspicious, so we should look for suspicious stuff in the Shipwreck.

Excuse me? I'm not here to make anything difficult! I'm just here to investigate a new lead.

It's kind of exciting, though! Even if you're being your usual grumpy self about it. But that's okay, we'll do great. And I know just the thing to help. A Jungle Paint Roller! We can use Vines to craft an Essence for one at my Paint Shop.

We know there are pirates hiding somewhere... but do we have anything that could identify who these pirates are?

Wait! Before I go, I almost forgot to give you the second set of blueprints that was in the letter I told you about. I think this one is some sort of shop...?

The letter said it was for "special items." Whatever that means.

Wow. It's even prettier than the Wheel of Offers. I guess they got a real pro to design these blueprints!

I guess I can't argue with that.

That's from there, right? No, maybe... Argh, I'm so confused! We've investigated so many suspicious spots, and we keep finding new ones. I can't tell Faellies from Faeries anymore! We need a way to keep track of odd locales. Come to think of it, your Shoyru friend mentioned they'd flagged the Mine as suspicious a long time ago... That's it! We should make flags to mark important locations. You already know how to make a Bamboo Flag, right? Start with that, then add try adding another kind of cloth to it.

I don't think we need anything fancy to start. Just a Plain Flag should do. If you make a Bamboo Flag and add some Linen Cloth to it, maybe that will work.

Now THAT'S a flag that screams "Danger!"

Red Flags are usually used as a warning sign... so I think we should place ours somewhere we think villains might be lurking or have left clues. But where...? Personally, I'd put the Red Flag by Mysterious Mine, but that's just because I thought I saw some spooky glowing eyes in them the other day... I would have investigated, but I've had so many customers at the Paint Shop lately, I forgot all about it until just now!

Interesting... I had a weird feeling about that place, too. We should check it out later. But, um, maybe... much later.

So we have a Plain Flag and a Red Flag... and those will get the job done, I'm sure, but why stop there? We can make all kinds of flags and completely colour-code our investigation! I did a little bit of investigative research before coming to Dacardia, and found that the different regions have different decorating styles. I bet that means unique flags, too. Let's try making one that would fit in at the Crystal Plateau. Hm... I think they take Plain Flags and add some kind of glass material to them...

Was it Clear Glass that turned the Plain Flag into something else? Or maybe an Optic Lens? Or Fibreglass? I can't remember... maybe we should test all three?

This... flag... is... PERFECT! That shape! The colour! The little red bulb on top! I love it. And I know just the place for us to put it...

Now I know this may come as a surprise to you, but I don't think we should put that flag anywhere suspicious. Instead, I think it should go... right in front of my Paint Shop! It really suits the kind of atmosphere I want the shop to have. It's fun and colourful and it really draws the eye with its quirkly shape! I think it'll drum up business quite nicely, don't you? Just place the Zig-Zag Flag in front of the Paint Shop and the evidence to support that theory will present itself.

I can't wait to see what kind of new customers I'll get when that Zig-Zag Flag is placed in front of the Paint Shop... I bet there'll be a line-up out the door!

I've always loved fun and quirky colours and paint, but I never realized how much fun some decorations could be until now! Lania was right - oh, but don't tell her I said that. Hm... makes me think that maybe I should take a day off to craft some more decorations! After we finish flagging certain locations as important to us, of course.

The last flag we made used Fibreglass... so I wonder what other weird materials we could use to craft other kinds of flags? You used Bamboo and Burlap to make a Bamboo Flag... so maybe you can make another kind of of flag using similar materials? I've seen some Branches in the Mystic Jungle that could work. Maybe we should combine them with a new kind of cloth, too.

Branches would work for the pole, but what kind of cloth could we tie to one to make a flag worth flying? There has to be something else in the Mystic Jungle that would work...

A Vine Flag! Weird that it's not made using actual vines, but I'll take it. As long as we can use it to signal a reminder about its location, that's all we need! Now, where do we put it...

What's that you're working on, Lania? It looks - oh, you're not done yet.

Does that mean you think there are missing blueprints? Because if you do, then never fear, Skippi Snips is here! We'll get those missing plans in two shakes of a Meerca's tail!

Lania said Ariel gave her the blueprints, right? Well, that means the first logical step in our investigation is to talk to Ariel.

So you are! I mean - Hello, Miss Celandine. I'm Skippi Snips with the Neopian Times, and I'd like to ask you a few questions about some missing blueprints.

I wonder if those Research Notes will lead us to the missing blueprints? It's the only clue we've got, in any case. Can you check Secret Beach for them?

We've got your notes, Ariel!

I see. We'll have to check out the other regions on the island to find the blueprints, then. The search continues!

Officer Zerix, I'd like to ask you a few questions about some missing blueprints...

Because I'm working! It's official investigation business.

Jumping JubJubs, that could be a clue to our mystery villain's identity! Let's get ourselves a Radio Tuner and see what we can hear!

Sorry to interrupt, Chief, we're here investigating some missing blueprints and we have some questions for you.

Sounds like someone has a good excuse to stay cozy while we investigate! Don't worry though, Chief, we'll get right to work finding those Map Pieces and putting them together.

Do you know how to make a Radio Tuner? Because I'm not entirely sure...

Okay, I think we get it.

That should do the trick. Now let's see what sort of clues we can tune up!

We're getting closer to the truth, I can feel it. Just head into Zerix's ship and use that Radio Tuner to see if you can pick up any weird signals.

I wonder why Zerix's ship is picking up weird signals? Oh well, I'm sure the answer will become clear once we get our paws on a recording of that strange voice he was hearing.

There we go! One mysterious voice recording for us to investigate.

I'm more of a Blue Kacheek Group fan, myself. Maybe we can listen together sometime, when we're not busy trying to solve a case and keep Dacardia safe.

She sounds similar to that other recording we got. I have a feeling it's our unknown subject, but I want to double check to make sure it's not Lady Frostbite after all...

Um, sure. But we have to find out who did it, first. Let's head to the Neopian Times to compare the recording to the villain files we have.

I can't really tell who's speaking in that recording. It's too fuzzy. I hope it's not Lady Frostbite, though, because that would just further complicate the case... We should probably compare the recording to Lady Frostbite's Case File and the mysterious other villain's, though, just in case!

A-ha! I knew it; the voice disrupting Zerix's radio signals is the same voice that we heard at the Sonata Stelae before. Now we know she's using radio signals to communicate with someone. I'd bet my Paint Shop that someone is the one that caused the storm!

... Thanks, Zerix. Oh yeah, that reminds me, have you seen any strange blueprints anywhere, or heard anything about a giant monument in the middle of the island?

I think you'll find everything is in floaty-Faerie shape-

Slorg-slime. Then I guess we'll just have to keep looking! I wonder if we know anyone who might have information on the pirates or their map...

Awesome! Thanks, Chief. We'll look into it right away - and we'll nab those pirates for you!

Aw, don't be like that. We've been looking into the missing blueprints, promise! But while we were looking, we found a treasure map that will help us unlock the Mountain Monument.

No, I'm here for answers! If the keys unlock the Monument, then they must lead to the missing blueprints, too. You can't have a key without a lock, after all. Don't you agree?

That's the spirit! For now.

A-ha! I knew it! Now let's see what's inside... Jumping JubJubs! I was right - there's a Crystal Key in here!

You're welcome!

It just spat something out at us! Ew. Wait, is this-?

I think you're right! We should take these blueprints to Lania right away.

Hm... There must be something we're missing. I wonder if we should take the Map to the Neopian Times Outpost and examine it with the Crystal Keystones we found?

I see... Jumping JubJubs! How did I overlook this?! The map has five different areas on it, and we've only explored three! Oh boy, there are so many more adventures waiting for us! There's mystery and intrigue everywhere... and I bet the villains we're looking for are hiding in these new areas, too.

Dacardia is a much bigger island than I thought. I can't believe there's still so much to explore! And so many more places for our sneaky pirate captain to hide... Which reminds me, I finally finished my latest article!

Now that I've published this, everyone in Dacardia will be on high alert to watch out for Scarblade as we continue our investigation. And now... onto new adventures!

Jumping JubJubs, this is great! Thanks so much for answering my questions. I'm going to share this with the rest of Dacardia and use it to help improve the island even more!