PaddleQuest was created in 2002 by Matt Kirsch and crewed by his classmates and friends from Loyola University Chicago. For the next decade the event was held each summer and filmed, made into videos that documented the story line - hosted by Eliot Masters. Starting in 2014 the video production was scaled back but PQ continued. This page attempts to capture some of the stories that have unfolded.

The stories in PaddleQuest are directly influenced by the outcome of the events. The Questers’ actions during PaddleQuest have an impact and change the course of PQ history.

2024 Homecoming

In order of their finish in 2023, the main alliances going into PQ 24’ are Kajun’s College of Explorers, The Royal Marauders, The Phoenix, and the Pirates have been dropped out of contention. Moving back up are The Lewd Druids, who had a connection with the college and the pirates.

The college, led by Headmaster Chip, had conducted research into conservation in 23’ and sent students to study the druids, they tested their questers and cut their hair - with many graduating and receiving ‘Kajun’s Fist”. Kajun the Rare himself was in attendance after a long hiatus, and despite having the smallest group by far for the Sunday games - they proved to be the champs yet again. With more support from the questers and from the denizens of The Backwaters, the college will continue it’s exploration into conservation curricula - and their continued campaign against the Royal Marauders.

Nearby Ranger Smith was investigating the death of Krunch, who lay motionless in his kayak. Smith questioned teams and eventually it was revealed that Krunch was not dead, and in fact thee corpse was a red herring. Krunch never died. The tactic did get him some intel on the backwaters, and won him the support of the college. In 2024, Krunch will join the college, but in what way, we could not possibly guess.

2023 The Legend of the Ghost Pirates

The four main alliances in 2023 are somewhat less contentious than in the past. They are the Pirates with Captain Timber and First-Mate Turd Beard. The Royal Marauders with Captain Matt, King Mike, and the Faeries. Phoenix with Chester, the Jester, Dr.Bro Hop, and the Cosmic Hoarder among others. Finally Kajun’s College of Explorer’s remains intact, scaling back programs but string as ever. Freelance groups are the Lewd Druids, Kay Runch, The Prophets, and the Dream Warriors - among others.

The Pirates have taken roost at The Salty Seadog Tavern, on the shores of Bahamas on the River. WIth their victory in 2022 they have more recruits and are determined to spread joy and chaos through the backwaters. Word on the river is that treasure remains on their now vacant Bear Island. Look for roving pirates spreading fun throughout the backwaters!

The Royal Mauaders enjoyed a very successful 2022 quest. The King Koin currency brought in a lot of credits towards building their camp and they have grown! They helped make King Mike “King of the Faerie’s” in 2022 and now are determined to bring the King back to govern the Backwaters and rule as he once did, in 2002. The Faeries’ are thriving under King Mike’s rule and the Royal Marauder continue to protect this magical part of the Backwaters. They are sending messages to the Pirates about King Mike and also making attempts to remove GOATS from his location in Star Field.

Kajun’s College of Explorers Have been on top over many years of PaddleQuest, but took a fall in 2022 - however they are still well intact. Head master chip worked with GOATS to bring Kajun the Rare back into the Backwaters through the portal - but whether or not it was truly successful remains to be seen. They are rumored to be working with the Druids to develop natural classes and perhaps develop more of the elixir of life. with their ally GOATS still in charge of the portal, they have a lot to manage in 2023.

Phoenix This is a new alliance born out of the ashes of the Hoarders. The Cosmic hoarders were trash collectors that traveled into the Backwaters through the portal - led by the Cosmic Hoarder. The have had many allies in the past, and they are on a mission. Joined by the King’s Jester, a former quester name Chester, the Cosmic Hoarder and time traveler Dr.Bro Hop - they are determined to take control of the Portal and stop the King’s desperate grab for power. They are the “new” backwaters.

Freelancers:

Kay Runch, who has been associated with the Pirates in the past- distributed his Heart Stones in 2022 and now they are coming into power. Whether or not his attempt to raise a viking army remains to be seen!

2022 Renaissance

The main alliances at play at PQ 2022 were the Pirates, The Lewd Druids, The Royal Marauders and the reigning power house Kajun’s College of Explorers. Questers paddled out into a misty, chilly backwaters unlike questers have ever seen. The first destination for many questers was Pirate infested Bear Island, where no pirates were to be found. It turns out that their ship had run aground, delaying their arrival. The teams hunting the pirates were slowed down, with nothing to show. Nearby Kay Runch, now outfitted with a viking ship - was recruiting questers to join him in his battle against Kajun’s college. He also succeeded in distributing a number of Heart Stones.

Next stop was the Bahamas Bar where Dr. Bro Hop, a time traveling professor, had set up a training ground along with others from the future and game masters Julius Ceaser Salad and a hero who’s name is unknown. Bro Hop had previously been aligned with The Cosmic Hoarders, who had been broken apart after their loss in 2021. They had a obstacle course of skill, where teams came ashore in the now driving rain to test their abilities.

Allied with Dr.Bro Hop was Chester the Quester and the Jester, who have formed a new alliance called Phoenix, possibly descendants of the historic Team Phoenix from 2003 Legends. They waited for teams in a nearby slew and challenged many questers and formed bonds with The Cosmic Hoarder, and others. The Cosmic Hoarder, formerly running trash through the portal, found himself in a swampy bog trying to find inspiration alongside a mysterious backwater shaman named Fibby Qui.

The Portal was opened in 2009 and now was in control of the Kajun’s college ally, GOATS (greatest of all time shaman). From the portal emerged different versions of GOATS, and the outcome of this has yet to be seen. GOATS was attempting to find Kajun the Rare (founder of college) in the portal and have teams reconstruct him from the other dimensions. This was ultimately unsuccessful, but they were able to contact him and his return has been foreseen in 2023.

Kajun’s college is led by Head Master Chip, and despite the chilly rain that spinkled the beach, the college was a hive of activity. Chip himself has been progressively going mad and cracks were beginning to show. The college staff had teams create videos for the web and sent them on a slew of other challenges. They had in their capture Cackle Straps, who was freed and sent to the Lewd Druids, but lost in the fray.

Kaegan the sailor and Prophet John sailed the backwaters once again, this time joined by otter children, half otter- half human. Setting their sights on new lands and a new alliance, they thrived and grew in number.

Main Alliances for 2022 — Read below for more stories!

Hip P’s - Lawful evil (blue)
Kajun's College of Explorers - Various levels of chaotic (red)
The Lewd Druids - True neutral (green)
Royal Marauders - Lawful good (purple)

2021 Next Level

Here is the story from 2021 working in reverse. After a new drafting system where the alliances drafted their teams - the dust settled from a very competitive Sunday alliance games, and these are the results: 1st place Kajun’s College, 2nd place Lewd Druids, 3rd place Royal Marauders, and 4th goes to the Hoarders. What happens to the alliances next year will be shared at the end, but for now let's turn to the outcome from the Saturday adventures.

First, the crabs. In 2019 the crab infestation grew and in 2020 it became so troubling that the entire quest was cancelled. In 2021 the college was working to slow the spread but alas the crabs were drifting and attaching to many questers and all of the crabs survived cooking. Look for the crabs to return in 2022! At least one of the crabs set up near GOATS lair, only telling what that may bring.

GOATS (greatest of all time shaman) was using his soul stone power in the field and aligned with the successful Kajun’s College, and has been put in charge of a plan to close the portal. Whether or not GOATS will follow through with this plan or not, remains to be seen. One thing is clear, GOATS has again made powerful allies and grows in power.

On the Druid shores, a new camp was founded in 2021 and the expanded druid team had bottled the precious elixir of life that they had found in 2019. When teams visited the camp, the druids would award a vial of the fluid to only the best of quester teams. The questers then had to choose to leave this potion with the College or deliver it to Medicine Man aka Kay Runch - who has aged considerably due to travel into and out of the portal. The questers ended up delivering the vast majority of the elixir to Kajun’s college, resulting in the college developing a dedicated program to the research of this important substance.

All hail the King of the Faeries! King Mike, formerly known as Lakeside Mike, has regained his previous title of King. Thanks to quester teams communicating with the faeires and the legendary Queen Nestra who emerged from the Portal in 202. Thanks to the questers, Mike was given an ancient sceptre only wielded by the faeries’ matriarch long ago. This means that the Royal Marauders will be expanding into the faerie camp, as long as they are tolerated.

The Cosmic Hoarders bought Lakeside Bar in 2020 during the crab year and hosted a battle ground training camp in 2021. With the help of the battle hoarder, it was a success. It was however, a year of defeat for the hoarders. Kaegan the Sailor cut ties with the Hoarders as did Bear (whose location is a mystery). And so, as the Hoarders lose strength, the Hip P’s will become one of the four main alliances in 2022 - led by Timber and Kay Runch.

2020 Year of the Crab

Quest cancelled due to crab infestation.

2019 Rise of the Heroes

As 2019 PQ Rise of the Heroes came to a close, the winning teams known as Protectors, A League of Their Own (the Class A winners) and The Go Go Gadget Paddlers (Class B) met at a table within Lakeside Bar and spoke in hushed tones about the state of the river for the coming year. Both teams had allied with Kajun’s College of Explorers which had, after a morning of fierce competition defeated the three other alliances in the alliance battle.

⤱ What happened during the 18th annual PaddleQuest- Rise of the Heroes? Firstly, Kay Runch- formerly Captain K. Runch also known as the medicine man, emerged from the portal having aged 30 years and was seeking to tap a fountain of youth--and found the means thanks to Kajun’s College who helped deliver to him a bedazzled magic plunger. Sadly, the fountain of youth was within Druid territory and they did not release enough of it for him to reclaim his youth. Now the Druids have bottled these healing waters -- and Kay now seeks the Druids’ help in getting these bottles before it’s too late.

⤱ Chronos Karkinos the Time Crab was lured to Kajun’s College and boiled by questers who had been gathering butter chunks. However, Chronos’s legacy will live on. It’s three baby crabs have survived and thrived-- getting spread all around The Backwaters. Little did the questers know that these crabs are invasives and will begin to spread once settled into a location. Although the crabs are a nuisance, they may have hidden benefits to you. Look for them to return in 2020.

⤱ Kajun’s College of Explorers, the academic powerhouse that has transformed the Backwaters- was happy to regain Kajun the Rare from his Rangers, as well as key rangers Himay and Buzzkill. When the questing team Reserved Houligans graduated from the college and gained enough power--they returned to the Red Bridge and convinced Kajun the Rare to leave the Rangers, a group he headed up himself, and return to the college. Professor Chip keeps his plans for the school quite secret, but there have been talks of new offerings and a transition into a new school structure. With another alliance victory--the College is expanding yet again and rumors of a remapping have been circulating.

With a three way tie for second place in the alliance battle- the existing alliances will remain strong and stable for 2020.
⤱ The Rangers lost their leader Kajun the Rare but have gained a new leader in Lakeside Mike-- formerly King Mike of The Backwaters, Mike is a born leader and has been recruiting questers left and right. His plan, along with Jolly Greens’ Captain Matt, is to halt the Hoarders’ treasure grab and the Colleges’ continuous expansion plan. The Rangers also fear that some of their demon studies programs could result in decimation of the natural bogs. The Rangers are also acting as patrol against the growing Druid force which they fear may take over the central area of The Backwaters and beyond. With a new team and new identity, the Rangers await an exciting new quest to prove their worth.

⤱ The Hoarders’ had a great year and were able to gather great trash piles which they have been busily transmuting and sending into the Portal. The silver clad Subatomic Hoarder has been on the other side of the portal (or within) collecting the trash and treasure that Cosmic and others send through- and returning with credits from their dimension. The Hoarders trained the questers in hand-to-hand combat and archery along with a game they created called Power Draw-- which led some lucky teams to huge piles of treasure. Cosmic and White Lightning have abandoned Hoarder Field to pursue the capture of Pirates and now have a new station in 2020 that remains a mystery but is rumored to be much closer to the portal. Hoarders Supra-arcade and ValCarley held post at Kirsch Camp where they held a trash-based fashion show with great success. Questers built a great tower of trash and dressed in ragged plastic bags and others, parading for the cameras. The trash show will return as they will not forfeit Kirsch Camp in 2020, thanks to Bear the Younger, the Faeries, and Karlow. Time traveling Dr.Bro Hop, who was with the Hoarders at the camp has departed to parts unknown on a research project- perhaps expanding his sport. The Sailor Kaegan, a hoarder ally with a small group all his own, has been drifting in the east and may have found new lands for the Hoarders to settle. With so much treasure being banked and so many allies in the mix, there are many directions for the Hoarders to go in 2020.

⤱ The Lewd Druids, led by Lunea, have also expanded their encampment after a successful quest. They had a very successful year in recruiting and summoning forces from within the bog that they inhabit. They bottled the fountain of youth which was sought after by Kay Runch. After forming an unlikely pact with Wizard Kulku, Captain Abraham and Turdebearde, the Druids have received a major boost. It is not clear what the intentions of these two Backwaters legends are but it does appear that they are looking to Lunea, the leader of the druids, for her power and sway over this growing group of nature loving mystics. With multiple encampments along the waterway- the Druids have been plotting a return to the natural state of things- which stand in the way of everything that Hoarders and the College stand for. Will they tap the portal with the help of Wizard Kulku?

⤱ In other news- The Shaman GOATS and his acolyte began their recruitment of soul stones at Bukolt Park, a land previously ruled over by dangerous and often wreckless settlers from distant lands. In his quest he was successful. He put the teams through a grueling paddle to the far north where they collected the souls that the questers’ themselves had unwittingly encased into the pale blue stones. By using this power- GOATS has gained enough power in his staff, to create a field of protection at Bukolt Park- which has become the new starting location for the quest thanks to a demand of The Hoarders who now control Lakeside Bar. Lord Houlihan, hidden in the shadows, tapped GOATS to make this change and now it has come to pass.

Nukpana the trickster and master of games had a great time on the water and has likely come closer to finding a new home. With more than a decade of time spent in this dimension, Nukpana has lofty aspirations but will need the help of questers to reach his goals, whatever they may be.

The Sun Code Scouts, mysterious healers from beyond the portal-- were found only by one questing team and have vanished into the flowage. It is unknown what fate they have met but rumor has it they have joined the Druids.

Lastly The Pirates held camp on Bear Island but were chased off by allies of Kay Runch who are a mystery at the writing of this summary. With Cathedral missing and Captain Abraham having joined the Druids- The Pirates have a new identity with Captain Timber at the helm. Only by recruiting new privateers will the Pirate force have any chance of gaining ground at PaddleQuest 2020 Next Level.

2018 Odyssey

2018 saw a great deal of change in The Backwaters and one of the greatest battles of in PQ history. A new alliance appeared and one of the oldest was fractured.

In the far north, a former Quester by the name of Lunea, formed an alliance of Druids known as the Lewd Druids. Little was known of her motivation but after she transformed many questers as well as the Agents of Dumpster of AOD. The AOD are two inspectors from the north that camp down to check out the King’s Quest and promptly were transformed and ensnared by Lunea and her Druids. It became clear that she was attempting to start some kind of natural revolution and restore The Backwaters to their original state. Her acolytes are strong and they finished well in the battle and so her Druids will expand and her camp will move south in 2019. The Druids are masters of seeing into the unknown and so will have among other things, a card game that will allow Questers to obtain Destiny Cards.

In the far south on the other end of the map on Bear Island, the Pirates had set up camp here for the first time in 16 years. After years of them attempting to take over these shores, Pirate Timber and Dr. Bro Hop were here along with agents from the future known as Ruby. In 2017 Dr. Bro Hop landed in The Backwaters from the future, by way of the portal and his time machine smashed into pieces, scattering around The Backwaters. Thanks to the questers, his time machine was rebuilt and he brought the agents of Ruby to the isle. They made some recruits and importantly, they moved the Kurse stone from Bear Island to Kajun’s College at the last minute.

In the center of the map at Red Bridge, the Pirates had a camp that was better than ever in 2018 and despite their bull riding, slingshot training and singing- the Pirates, led by Captain Abraham, fell in The Battle to a defeat from all three other alliances. Abraham then sent a promotion to Cathedral at the last minute sending the message that Abraham’s role in 2019 will be unknown but that Cathedral will lead a new armada. As an alliance in PQ, they have fractured: Jolly Green’s Captain Matt is now alongside The Rangers (more on them later), Abraham’s presence is unknown and Cathedral will be leading the remaining Pirates. Dr/ Bro Hop, formerly sided with the Pirates, has moved on and is conducting new experiments elsewhere.

The Hoarders, trash collectors from another dimensions, had a very strong year and they began fighter training with a new program called Sword and Rock. They also succeeded in getting Bear and Kaegan to join their forces with Fish Discs. At the final battle the Hoarders finished behind Kajun’s college yet again but thanks to several Hoarder Questing teams, they earned enough points by visiting the Hermit on Day 2 that they pulled ahead and emerged victorious for the first time. As a result the highly successful art program at Kirsch Camp led by Kajun’s College in 2018 will now be held by The Hoarders and led by Yardiff, a Hoarder new to The Backwaters. Nukpana, who came out of the portal in 2010, has fled the shores in search of a new domain.

Kajun’s College did very well indeed. Professor Priss married Allie Charbut and the ceremony was held on the sand bar. Dr. Chip led the teams through the ranks and they had many fine graduates. The Sirens in the east continued as an extension of the college and they also brought new exciting programs to the teams. The Kurse Stone which originated from the Medicine Man, ended up in the hands of Kajun’s Rangers and ultimately cause The Rangers to branch off and form their own alliance with Kajun himself in 2019. They saw the original mission of the college fading away as Kajun was on sabbatical and decided to claim the Red Bridge in the absence of The Pirates. They are seeking new recruits and will have a training program of their own.

Other stories emerged as well. Kronos Karkinos, a crab that came out of the unguarded portal, led many teams astray as they towed him to a breeding ground where his baby crabs have hatched. Somehow the questers in 2019 must face this evil and figure a way to stop their spread.

Kaegan the sailor, now aligned with The Hoarders, has set sail yet again and discovered something in the north…

The 2017 Jolly Arrrmageddon saw the Jolly Pirates alliance against Kajun's College, the Wayward Questers and the Hoarders. Captain Abraham, the Pirate leader and Captain Matt of the Greens were seeking the 5 parts of the Ghostly Galleon. A time traveler named Dr. BroHop was found by Shaman Chas Chunka. BroHop was looking for 4 time machine parts to rebuild his machine. Bear, the former leader of The Backwaters, returned to his homeland at Kirsch Camp but was seeking allies. After a epic day of beautiful weather and a grand battle - Kajun's college emerged victorious. Dr. Hophop's time machine was rebuilt and the questers steered him to join the Pirates. Bear found The Hoarders to be his new tribe after Questers filled his purse with silver Fish Discs.

2018 will bring a new and expanded Kajun's College and with any luck, the return of Kajun himself. More to come!

And then there were four: The Alliances in 2017

Jolly Pirates
Pirate captain Abraham and Captain Matt from the Jolly Greens have expanded their territory and reign supreme over The Backwaters and are enjoying a boost in power. Even King Mike has joined them with his child, Prince Michael the II. Abraham now seeks to summon the Ghostly Galleon, a powerful vessel of destruction. To do so he needs some items to be brought to him or to the scoring table in his name. The items are a Lantern, journal, monocle, sextant and telescope. The problem is that the items have been scattered to the winds - thanks for a flood in 2016. The Golden hoarder, who chased the Cosmic Hoarder into The Backwaters, is now a Pirate ally and is dead-set against his former colleague and vows to crush the Hoarders. The Jolly Green Marauders are the ying to Abraham’s yang. They are both good and evil respectively but together balance out. With little emphasis on the evil shaman threats and portal disruptions – there is no telling of what may occur if their power holds.

Wayward Questers
Lord Houlihan, the original founder of Paddle Quest and hermit woodsman, has created a new force with Wizard Kulku, GOATS and the Medicine Man - called the Wayward Questers. For the lost souls and free hearts the Wayward questers are for an independent Backwaters and have emerged as an anti-pirate force. Although Kulku’s past is checked with darkness, Houlihan trusts him and Prophet Steve to bring the Wayward Questers to power. Although they are against Kajun’s college, they have little conflict with them at this point. They see the hoarders as well intentioned but lacking in the experience to truly lead The Backwaters to prosperity and wonder whether their intentions are true or if they seek power only to collect more trash for treasure. The know better than most, the spiritual dangers that await just outside the portal.

Kajun’s College of Explorers
Kajun’s College of Explorers has a new head administrator: Professor Chip, now known as Master Chip. Kajun himself is on hiatus, studying downriver his whereabouts unknown. The college continues to thrive however and welcomes new professors and programs for questers to enjoy. The college will compete for power again in 2017, hoping that science and new discoveries will win the day. Their new research vessel, The Ruby, has launched and explores the northern reach and is experimenting with a new, dark and warm beverage that is allegedly boosts questers ‘spirits.

The Hoarders
The Hoarders are led by the Cosmic Hoarder who traversed the place between worlds, allegedly fleeing his own world due to large debts until he finally found the portal into The Backwaters. Here he has prospered turning river trash into treasure and allied with the strongest forces such as classic hero White Lightning, trickster and game master Nukpana among others. He seeks trash to turn into treasures and only recently has recruited once evil, Prophet Busa into his fold at Fort Hoarder.

Other characters to note:

A strange fellow has been spotted camping on a shore nearby the Swamp Sirens. Not much is known about him but he seemed to appear out of nowhere and keeps asking what day it is.

The Swamp Sirens are a trio of backwater ladies who are powerful and wise river sentinels. They both seduce questers with their sing and have become a new force in the lands. Focused on cleaning the river and cleansing the spirits of its inhabitants, their alliance is yet to be determined but they tend towards the Hoarders and the newly formed Wayward Questers.

Medicine Man has a story all his own and it goes back to 2009 when the portal first opened. As a paratrooper by the name of Captain Krunch from another time and another world he dropped into The Backwaters through the newly opened portal. He made his way around The Backwaters and sided with the Jolly Green Marauders. He was later taken captive by the pirates and nearly starved to death but was rescued by The Medicine Man. After this teaching of spirit power in The Backwaters Captain Krunch become the Medicine Man and whether or not there ever was a guru or if perhaps the transition happened on its own…is not known. Now Medicine Man resides on Bear Island and he has dabbled in lycanthropy and sees more of what happens in The Backwaters than most. He is the Destiny token holder – a token only awarded for teams with matching destiny cards.

There are many other characters to meet in The Backwaters. Be persistent, ask questions and carry on with the spirit of the heroes before you and your quest will be a success!

High time for a Jolly ARRRmageddon! : A PaddleQuest tale.

Real stories from PaddleQuest history. By Matt Valtman

Years ago, when the Backwaters were quiet and simple, a quester had a vision to protect the river lands. That quester was Captain Matt of the Jolly Greens. There was also an observer to the spectacle and plight of the Jolly Greens, Justin, an impartial witness to the wonder of the Backwaters, all the majesty and magic. Fate was set and wheels were in motion to bring about the most powerful forces for good and evil the Backwaters have ever seen. The Pirates and the Marauders are a power in the making both terrifying and wondrous. Captain Matt of the Jolly Green Marauders full of spirit took to the Backwaters to make them a better place for all questers. His spirit was bold but it was not enough to secure a spot as a protector. For years he strived to make the Backwaters as safe and secure as he could. Inspired by Bear, he led his team in an attempt to join Bear’s army, but was again unsuccessful. Yet, his ambition to do good deeds in the Backwaters would not be extinguished. He spent a year in observance with the great Elliot Masters to see the overview of the forces for good and evil. Captain Matt saw an opportunity to keep a once secure spot safe for all questers. Bear Island, a pirate free zone, the home of that great hermit was abandoned so that Bear could go on to the destiny the Backwaters had in store for him. That is when Captain Matt secured the island. For the good of the questers, to keep the Wake Pirates at bay. Two things happened that day. The Backwaters had a new force for good, a force to aid all questers. However, unknown at the time, as nature has a way of balancing all things; especially in the Backwaters… a force for evil was crafted.

The Wake Pirates, you know them, you hate them.

The Wake Pirates were a force of disruption on the Backwaters. Confused and mostly unorganized, the Wake Pirates would roam the Backwaters looking for trouble. They would steal tokens for fun, or tip questers for a laugh. They were a mindless crowd, and at their worst, merely a nuisance. Bear had taken control and won the day. A victory for good and honor, and even better, good was spreading throughout the lands. The Wake Pirates knew their days of spoils were numbered. Word was out, and Bear was the man. Evil, losing its foothold on the Backwaters, dug deep. As evil is opportunistic in nature, and the Wake Pirates were idle allies, they only needed a proper leader. Justin, an impartial caught in the ethos of the Backwaters, became a man possessed. The Wake Pirates now had their Captain Abraham Abraham, and the most monstrous Leviathan.

The treasure, oh the treasure…. It calls to us all.

The Pirates, now with a proper leader stayed away from Bear Island. Captain Matt thought he had managed to do right by Bear in keeping the island a safe haven for the questers. Unbeknownst to Captain Matt and even to Bear, the man that had spent so much time on the island, the island had a secret that only the Pirates knew. There was a reason the Pirates avoided the island. There was a treasure, and if Pirates know one thing, it is treasure. However, this treasure was cursed. A curse so horrible that it was buried on the island long ago and almost completely forgotten, until the day Captain Matt had stumbled upon it. Captain Matt, a new force to the Backwaters, new and naive, went about digging bunkers on the island, to train forces for Bears army, train them so they would not fail the same way he did. Whilst digging in places he should not have been, Captain Matt discovered an ancient treasure. The treasure filled him with wonder, and he could see the power emanating from it. Questioning why Bear would have kept such a power hidden, Captain Matt took the chest of rare and magical stones, and that is when the chest took him. A slave to the chest, a slave to the treasure and the call forced Captain Matt from the island. Before he left, he used the new powers he had to craft the Green Barbarian, a strange and powerful creature to aid him in the Backwaters, and a single boat to take him from the island. Captain Matt was forced to drink and keep his terrible powers subdued within him, for if he lost control, an ancient curse would spread like wild fire. He encourages the questers to fight for good, and forever warns them that the treasure is his burden. The treasure had plans of its own.

The marina was a chance at redemption.

Captain Matt was able to make shore on the Grubba Marina, a good land, just and strong. He sent the Green Barbarian away, back to the island to guard where he could no longer stay. The Green Barbarian lays dormant waiting for the call. The lands knew of Captain Matt but could see that he was troubled. Still, he was allowed to make a home on the marina. This was a fine vantage point, because in the distance, in clear sight, he could keep an eye on a new stronghold forming, the Pirate Island is where Abraham Abraham now called home. The Backwaters were becoming a strange place, with new alliances for both good and evil. Somewhere in between set against each other were Captain Abraham Abraham, and Captain Matt. The two forces were at constant war. The Wake Pirates were growing in numbers while Captain Matt used questers to grow a crew of his Jolly Green Marauders. Captain Matt would take little by little from the Pirates, while Abraham’s gaping maw would spew endlessly loud onto the land. Until the day that Captain Matt decided to silence Abraham Abraham for good. The Redneck River Rats were just the ones for the job. A powerful force on the Backwaters, Captain George and the Redneck River Rats were recruited by Captain Matt for one job, to shut the mouth of Abraham Abraham. Captain Matt promised a great reward to Captain George if he would become a force for good. A reward Captain George knew would help him succeed where he had fallen just short so many times before. Captain George, and in a way, Captain Matt also could now both become a proper Protector of the Backwaters a champion for the land, and one for good. Captain George, clever and with great speed, managed to capture and deliver Captain Abraham Abraham’s voice to Captain Matt and slay the mighty Leviathan.

The celebration was epic, but short lived.

The land was safe, and a new protector in place, and with Abraham Abraham unable to spread word on the Backwaters, Captain Matt felt he could finally rest. The drinks and merriment flowed from Bahama’s bottoms all the way to Kirsch Kamp. The party became material of legends. Everyone was enjoying the victory, everyone except Captain Abraham Abraham. Furious over the loss of his voice, and inconsolable from the death of Leviathan, Captain Abraham Abraham looked to make an example of how powerful he really was. Late in the night after a drinking contest between Captain George and Captain Matt where they both won, Captain Abraham Abraham made his move. He kidnapped both Captains Matt and George in a mighty swoop before anyone had noticed, restored his voice, and brought them back as his hostages to Pirate Island.

It was a confusing year, a strange alliance, with a new type of quester.

Captain Abraham Abraham had managed to do what no ‘evil force’ had ever managed in the history of the Backwaters. He captured a protector, and even worse, he captured the only force that was keeping him in check. At Pirate Island both captains were put on display, a sick and disturbing show of force that awakened a new type of quester. This new breed of quester no longer sought to fight for good. They sought to be protectors, yes, this is true, but the hard lined ideal of what made a protector was fading to grey. New voices took hold in the Backwaters. New schools took shape to try and claim the questers and claim power. Captain Abraham drunk with power forced questers to compete for his amusement. He passed out trinkets claiming them to be of value, and mocked the idea of protectors. Fascinated by the curse that consumed Captain Matt, Abraham would encourage, trick and mislead questers to take the cursed treasure to see what damage it could do. Yet, he would never touch the treasure himself, for he knew of the disturbing power it held, and for that reason he could not let Captain Matt plunge into darkness, nor destroy him. Captain Abraham would let Captain Matt try to help the questers, because this also amused him, but also because if Captain Matt was doing good, he would not be consumed by the curse. Captain Matt saw this effect on Abraham and used it to influence his behavior and subdue some of his evil ways. There they both were locked in a game of strategy while Captain George bided his time. The questers were unsure of this shaky alliance, and were right to fear it. Captain George painted his face, and thought of changing his identity and pretended to go mad with silly games on the island in order to trick Abraham into letting down his guard. He waited for an opportunity. Froggy Freedish was just what George needed. The marina was deserted, but not for long as a new force tried to claim the land. The Froggy Freedish was an upstart that claimed he had banished Captain Matt from the marina to take control. Captain Abraham Abraham laughed at this claim, but also took the insult to heart that his mighty foe could be taken by such a fool. Captain Abraham took an army of questers and his ship to do his bidding and wipe Froggy off the map. The battle was quick, and Froggy was in over his head. His time was short, but it served a purpose, because this was the opportunity Captain George needed to slip away and change his identity to the Golden Hoarder. Captain Matt, knowing the marina well could have also escaped, but he stayed, because he saw that while he was with Abraham, he was not focused on war, and Abraham’s evil ways were subdued. A partnership was born, and it was the best that both could hope for.

The schools, the fools, Jo Jack and the rest.

Captain Matt and Captain Abraham had both seen that the questers were confused by all the schools coming into power. New faces claimed lands, new forces in the waters. Who could say which way was right or wrong? Might made right. This was the new law in the Backwaters, and the only source of the old ways was Kirsch Camp. That is why Captain Abraham and Captain Matt left Pirate Island and secured the Red Bridge, to choke out the source of the old and take control of the new. Any quester that sought knowledge from Kirsch Camp needed to pass the Pirates and Marauders both on the way in, and on the way out. This created two opportunities to influence each quester, two opportunities to consolidate power. Both Captains Matt and Abraham knew the power of the questers to influence the Backwaters and change the tides. They both knew they wanted that power. After many attempts to win the favor of the questors and build the force they would need, the Pirates and Marauders fell short. Captain Matt, convinced that Abraham’s ways were dissuading the questers from joining their cause, convinced Abraham Abraham to leave the Backwaters on a quest of his own to seek out powerful magical items. Captain Abraham elected Captain Jo Jack to lead the Pirates in his place while he set out to consolidate power. Captain Matt, now in control of the Red Bridge, took the opportunity to show the questors that if they came to him, the lands could be good again. Captain Matt made Jo Jack a lackey, and he even had given the Pirates a jester to play games and occupy their minds. Captain Booger, a part of the winning team of Redneck River Rats, and a strong captain on his own throughout the quests, decided to be a covert operative for Captain Matt, and took the title of “Mr. Captain Boogers the Defender” while he played the part of Jester, and kept a watchful eye on the Pirates activities. Everyone enjoyed the games, especially the Pirates, and the Pirates were occupied, which was good. This made Captain Matt free to influence the questors and gain the support. However, the support was not enough to win the war against the new and rising force of the schools. Captain Abraham Abraham returned, and more powerful than before, he imbued the cursed treasure with new magical items that he had found on his quests so as to take control of both Captain Matt and Captain Jo Jack to become Admiral Abraham Abraham. Recognizing the ruse of Captain Booger, Abraham marooned him to Bear Island where he endured the harshest of climates and became a prophet. Now with his new powers Captain Abraham influenced the once captive Captain George, now known through the Backwaters as the Golden Hoarder to join forces and gain support from the questors to take the power in the Backwaters once and for all.

Power he will have, but it’s never enough.

The Pirates and Marauders won the day. A strange and eerie calm swept over the land. These schools, these forces, the questors are unsure. The Marauders help, the Pirates hinder, The Golden Hoarder gloats, the rest fight for the table scraps. The prophets…. Those poor damned prophets. Then there’s Captain Abraham, the power, the influence and the vision to unify the Backwaters. He has a plan, he knows the old and he has a vision to bring about the new order. Abraham Abraham has his sights set on a power not seen in these Backwaters in ages. Before kings and queens, before we knew how to breathe easy, before we Swam for Evil Amy, trembled before wizards and sorceresses. Before the Epic Legacy, before Destiny was shaped, before heroes and Bear and Legends of old. Before the Guppies knew how to kill… there were the pirates of old… there was the Ghostly Galleon.

Abraham Abraham knows how to summon the power of this ship and control the Backwaters. There will be order. He needs the help of the questors to bring him the pieces he cannot get on his own. With this new ship and ghostly crew and all the powers they contain, he can finally restore the Backwaters to better days… or days he thought were better. The Jolly ARRRmageddon is nigh.

Abraham Abraham needs the following:

The Telescope of Edward Teach “Blackbeard”

This telescope which once belonged to Blackbeard can see the enemy coming well into the future. When you know everything, you can plan for anything.

The Sextant of Sir Henry Morgan

This astronomical instrument was used to align the stars as the user required, the move through space and time in a blink of an eye. No wonder Captain Morgan had all that time to drink.

The Monocle of Captain Kidd

This monocle was used by Captain Kidd to read enchantments and see curses. It was even thought to show how to remove curses. Don’t let the name fool you, Captain Kidd was no foolish child.

John Rackam’s Lamp

Better known as Calico Jack, this lamp allowed him to navigate unscathed through the toughest of storms. This lamp can force waters to calm, and can cause storms, mists and rocks to clear the path.

Madame Cheng’s Journal

Within this journal are the secret enchantments of Madame Cheng. With a word, she could take down a fleet. The sea obeyed her orders and swallowed her enemies. She commanded 1,800 ships at the height of her power. Together all these pieces control the Ghostly Galleon and the journal has the incantation to summon the ship. The ship is described as a monster from the deep with an endless appetite.

STORIES FROM 2015

Paddle Quest 2015 was truly an amazing adventure. With 72 teams of questers, never before has the level of competition been so fierce. In the 2014 chaotic contest for the strongest alliance, "Kajun the Rare’s College of Explorers" edged out a slight victory over “Wizard Kulku’s Army”. Following right behind was the “Kirsch Camp Crew” led by Nukpana and the “Jolly Pirates”. With some support early on, Lord Houlihan and Sheera the Sorceress finished with hardly a flag between them, despite some strong showing from their outnumbered allies.

So what does Kajun’s victory mean for PaddleQuest in 2016? Since Kajun’s 2010 arrival in The Backwaters from the north, he has been working towards founding a college of explorers and now with this victory he and his Rangers finally have achieved this goal. PQ 2016 will be set up by Kajun’s College and the Questers will be required to pre-register for one of his 4 courses, each with a 25 team limit. The course you choose will determine your path you will have you own professor assigned to your team to check in with and report your findings. The solo class and possibly the two-person class will be eliminated, as advised by the COE (College of Explorers). Look for class listings coming in early 2016. By separating the classes, we hope this will alleviate some of the congestion at certain events as well as add some strategic elements.

The Wizard Kulku is still very strong and has not lost the Alpha barge or his grip on the portal. As the Interdimensional Shaman Lord, Kulku must monitor the portal at all times. For this reason in 2016 all teams must visit Kulku and help control traffic in the portal. Kulku considers Kajun a true ally and important force in The Backwaters- although he does worry about the influence of some of the professors. Although a clear leader in The Backwaters has not yet risen, Kulku is the closest thing and will surely influence the outcome in the foreseeable future.

The Kirsch Camp Crew: Consisting of Nukpana, the Faeries and their King, Cosmic Hoarder, Golden Hoarder and Lakeside Mike will hold the camp for yet another year- although the shores have weakened with the loss and the forces are scattered. Lakeside Mike’s affiliation with Lord Houlihan has softened, but he is interested in forming an alliance of sorts with the Houlihan’s Weekend Warriors. Nukpana will again be looking to test the questers’ skills in 2016 but may also require some kind of support or protection to hold the shores.

Due to his all-seeing-eye, the Medicine Man who has built a formidable camp on Bear Island, may have influenced the questers away from joining the Pirates. For likely the tenth year in a row the Pirates failed to gain the domination they seek. With Captain Abraham Abraham off on a fool’s errand, Captain Joey Jack was promoted and has found a place amongst the Jolly Pirates. The Pirates again vanquished yet they did receive more support than Medicine Man would have liked. The Medicine man, by drawing wisdom from fallen warriors and from spirits in The Backwaters has forseen a coming darkness that clouds the future, and it comes from the Prophets to the north.

Crushed by the questers, Sheera the Sorceress drifted back into the shadow alone leaving a new and more terrible force in her place: The newly formed alliance of the Dark Prophets. Unbknownst tp many of the factions in The Backwaters, several of the prophets have become followers of the demon spawn known as the Bog Demon and now have a pool from which they are attempting to summon new demon forms using similar methods. Prophets Woody, Busa, Jessica and Steve are all worshippers of the new dawn of evil. Prophet Steve has for a long while been the right hand of Wizard Kulku, but not even Kulku cannot hold Steve back from the voices that call to him from beyond this plane.

Lord Houlihan has been left discouraged at his failure- but still hopeful that the college will bring new discoveries to the backwaters. Lord Houlihan has become wary of Lakeside Mike and Nukpana, feeling that perhaps they do not have the best intentions. He and his Weekend Warriors and the Jimmy Ford Heroes will make another go at gaining quester alliances in 2016.

In 2016 you will be given the opportunity to join an alliance at the end of the day on Saturday and there will still be an alliance-based competition on day 2- although more organized than it was in 2015- Epic Legacy. The matches between alliances will be scheduled and less numerous. In 2016 however, the number of questers each force can accept will be limited to a number based on attendance. Also, there will be a quick check in Sunday morning that will earn your team points for Sunday participation.

Other changes brought forth by Kajun’s College is a new trash collector. This still unnamed member of the college is looking to compete with the Cosmic Hoarder for trash with motives unknown.

More checkpoints, floating chant totems and more unique treasures await in the 15th annual PaddleQuest! August 19-21 at Lakeside Bar.

The rebellious alliance: Jolly Green Pirates
In 2014 the Wake Pirates led by Captain Abraham Abraham and Jolly Greens with Capn' Matt joined together against all leadership in The Backwaters instead lobbying for a free-river without limits. The were once bitter rivals until Matt from the Jolly Greens was a captive of his crew on Pirate Island after being kicked out by Freedle Frogesh. After witnessing the pirates cruel ways he realized that by joining the Pirates he could keep the questers safe by keeping Abraham Abraham at bay. Become the Ying to Abraham's yang. Captain Matt of the Jolly Greens has sent Abraham Abraham on a mission to find treasure and in his absence Abraham has promoted on of his crew to Captain until his return....

Wizard Kulku & THE ALPHA BISTRO
Elected Interdimensional Shaman Lord in 2012, The Wizard Kulku is the shapeshifting shaman who helped open the portal and has through the years been a force of great controversy but also a bringer of logic and fun into the land. After opening the portal he now struggles to fight against the many forces that threaten this land from...beyond.

Lakeside Mike & Lord Houlihan
Once known as King Mike, Lakeside Mike is all about tending bar at Lakeside and being a new Dad. He and Prophet Amy had a baby boy, "Young Prince Lakeside". After the birth, Prophet Amy left The Backwaters so since then, Lakeside Mike has been working odd hours and is a single-Dad. He is vying to regain his power to bring strength to the people and to find a home for his new family. He has no permanent home as of yet as he was ejected from Kirsch Camp.

Lord Houlihan helped start PaddleQuest with Lakeside Mike and now he has returned from seclusion to help steer the Backwaters in a new direction.

Kajun the Rare & The Rangers
Kajun floated into the Backwaters 5 years ago looking for a place to call his own after his life took a turn. After recruiting questers and several professors he gas cultivated a Community College of Explores or Kajun's College of Explorers.

Nukpana, Cosmic Hoarder and King of Faerie's: The Campers
Nukpana is a mysterious yet fun loving character of magic from beyond the portal. After the portal opened in 2009 Nukpana emerged and was able to easily charm the pants off of everyone he met including Bear and Queen Nestra. He moved into Kirsch Camp and has not left. Faeries have arrived at Kirsch Camp due to unknown causes. The Cosmic Hoarder is the trash collector and has a strong alliance with Nukpana at Kirsch Camp.

Sheera the Sorceress, Bog Demon and Dark Ward
The Sorceress is seeking to regain a hold on The Backwaters with her charm and magic. Her motives are unknown. Ever since it was revealed that she was sister to Queen Nestra, her actions have been conflicted. She is trying to reunite with her Bog Demon. She has employed an evil force called the Dark Ward which is mysterious and surely hold secrets.

Remember that if a team obtains HERO STATUS (having in their possession the power helm, completed bi force and power cape) they may move characters to alternate locations creating different alliances or changes in the story. They will also receive a solid bonus as well ;) More questions?

History

2002 - 2004

In a time of great doubt and fear Lord Houlihan and King Mike determined that a competition must be held to find the strongest paddlers in the land to serve as Protectors for The Backwaters. The Backwaters are the lands cradled by the Wisconsin river flow-age in which PaddleQuest takes place. In fact, The Backwaters are in-fact classified as a lake. Among the powers to rise were: Wizard Kulku and Queen Nestra. These two wielders of spirit and song delivered to the worthy Questers the "Bi-Force" which was a powerful ward against evil forces. Among the feats of questers during these years: Lord Highjinks kept a bay, Queen Nestra saved from isolation in the swamps, Bi-Force successfully completed, Alpha station saved from capture and pirates held at bay.

2005-2006

The evil sorceress Sheera emerges as an enemy of King Mike as her plot to take over The Backwaters is exposed. Pirate forces grow ten-fold and they attempt to capture the southern Isle from Bear, a former quester who has taken up residence on the island. The Pirates are thwarted when White Lightning the hero is delivered to the island by team Arrr! The Bog Demon appears in a swamp, summoned by Sorceress Sheera. It tips canoes and does so with a fury. Evil monkeys descend on The

Backwaters led by resentful former quester Evil Amy who made a deal with evil forces. When three wise prophets arrive in The Backwaters they are promptly kidnapped along with the Queen by Sheera the Sorceress. As the prophets and Queen Nestra are held hostage aboard her Suffer Scow, Bear raises an army of questers and the teams with the Bi-Force, Power Helm and Power cape are able to make rescues. Team Arrr! rescues Queen Nestra and all three prophets (Busa, Steve and Woody) are brought to safety as well. Prophet Busa however was corrupted. Queen Nestra falls in love with her champion Bear and they wed later that year, disrupting leadership in The Backwaters and strengthening Sheera...

2007

Year of Omens. Teams choose sides in a fight to control the Heart Stone. The Heart Stone is a magic stone that gives Kirsch Camp (a central checkpoint in The Backwaters) it's power. Teams choose to join Sheera and King Mike or Bear and Queen Nestra. After a one-sided victory by Nestra and Bear, Kirsch Camp becomes under their control sending King Mike into exile and Sheera back into the shadow. This was also the year the Jolly Green Marauders, once a team of questers, became Pirate fighting allies of Bear. Led by Capt. Jolly Green Matt himself, they victoriously held them at bay.

2008

Invasion! The Bog Demon lays eggs and Wizard Kulku destroys them with the help of the questers. Bear and Nestra welcome a baby: Baby Bear! The Pirates take over a camp near Grubba marina and the Jolly Greens hold them at bay but pirate Captain Abraham Abraham reigns and manages to keep all his hidden gold. Bear enjoys peace at Kirsch Camp. Sheera gains momentum as she gains strength from Questers' sacrifices. The King was lost at sea in his kayak and Questers return him to Lakeside Bar, where he then calls home.

2009

Turmoil in the Backwaters. Sheera convinces Wizard Kulku joins her in an effort to create an army of undead Questers. Questers decide to join Kulku and are killed and then raised from the dead to serve. If Sheera and Wizard Kulku gain enough strength, they could open a portal to another dimension. Bear raises an army to protect. The Pirates raise an army to plunder and the three forces collide in an all-out battle. Looking over the fight is a force known as The Great Spirit- only summoned when Questers find all the animal spirits hiding in The Backwaters.

In the end, the battle was inconclusive but the tie was broken in an all-out paddle back to the start. Team JLA was first back to the dock after a Bear team spilled near the finish. This secured the victory of Kulku and Sheera and the portal was opened.

This is the year King Mike denounced the throne and his title of King and becomes Lakeside Mike.

2010 - 2011

When Kulku and Sheera opened the portal they created a passage into another dimension. Entering into the portal without skills leads the traveler in an unpredictable direction. Returning through the portal however always leads to The Backwaters. The different dimensions reached have been: Milwaukee Cross Town Passage, Mystic Chain in Waupaca, Minneapolis Uptown Chain, Lake Dubay and Minocqua's Island of Fate. Wizard Kulku traveled into the portal in search of the Power Skull while a shaman named Nukpana come into The Backwaters and immediately took Kirsch Camp as his own. Bear and Nestra took to the portal also, seeking the Power Skull for their own, wary of Kulku and his mission. With the opening of the portal came new evil forces come into The Backwaters and even Wizard Kulku wondered was was to be done. Shaman from Minneapolis, Chas Chunka emerged as well as a traveler from the North- Kajun the Rare who was seeking a new home. The Pirates moved ever-closer to Kirsch Camp and the Jolly Greens even began toying with the idea of forming an allegiance with Abraham Abraham. A hero named the Cosmic Hoarder followed a call through the portal and entered into the Backwaters to collect trash and transmute it into treasure.

Also coming through the newly opened portal was Captain K. Runch. He was parachuting on a mission but was unknowingly drawn into The Backwaters. He quickly joined the fight of the Jolly Green Marauders.

2012

The year of the Conclave. All the questers across the dimensions voted for their own Inter dimensional Shaman Lord: The Shaman who would rule over all traffic into and out of The Backwaters. Wizard Kulku won leaving Bear and Nestra wondering what was next. Kulku was fair however and limited traffic into and out of the portal. Kajun the rare started The College of Explorers.

2013 - 2014

The Cosmic Hoarder was tracked down by a long-lost companion named The Golden Hoarder from another dimension who was coming to find him to collect a debt. After the Questers intervened, he decided to stay in The Backwaters and forgive Cosmic his debt. A revelation occurred on the shores of Kirsch Camp- Sheera was actually Nestra’s long lost sister. Sheer slow turning to Nestra’s allegiance was mostly due to Kulku’s new rise to Inter dimensional Shaman Lord. Captain K. Runch studied with spirits of The Backwaters and sheds his fatigues to become Medicine Man. He takes up residence on Bear Island. Golden Hoarder sets up his location outside Kirsch Camp to protect the shores along with Cosmic Hoarder. Nukpana, almost always setup at Kirsch Camp maintains his firm grip on games in the yard. Kajun’s College grows for yet another year

Due to forces unknown, Queen Nestra departs silently into The Portal. After Bear trains another army, he decides to join her and leaves the Backwaters into the portal to search for his Queen. With the departure of Bear, the de-facto leader of The Backwaters, the land is in a limbo without clear leadership or direction. Lakeside Mike calls for another Quest however, calling it “Epic Legacy”.

Lakeside Mike and Prophet Amy had a baby, named Prince Lakeside. After the birth Prophet Amy fled the Backwaters to the East and left Mike to be a single Dad.

PADDLEQUEST 2015 Epic Legacy

Lord Houlihan has been left discouraged at his failure- but still hopeful that the college will bring new discoveries to the backwaters. Lord Houlihan has become wary of Lakeside Mike and Nukpana, feeling that perhaps they do not have the best intentions. He and his Weekend Warriors and the Jimmy Ford Heroes will make another go at gaining quester alliances in 2016.

Other changes brought forth by Kajun’s College is a new trash collector. This still unnamed member of the college is looking to compete with the Cosmic Hoarder for trash with motives unknown.