Rusterwaters

In a chaotic, steam-powered city that resembles a grittier 1700s Paris, Avery, a sharp-witted young thief, struggles to survive. After a botched pickpocketing attempt involving stolen jelly, she finds herself pursued by Billy, a baby-faced but overzealous police officer and pirate hunter. Narrowly escaping, she stumbles upon a bustling dock filled with ships, pirates, and mysterious figures, including the enigmatic Captain Quarters and his cybernetic dog, Captain. The dock is teeming with life, from cyborg sailors hauling crates to bureaucratic robots enforcing questionable maritime laws. Desperate for a change and adventure, Avery infiltrates a secret pirate meeting after her pickpocketing skills come in handy against a particularly pompous pirate. The assembled outlaws receive news of legendary pirate Captain Culiver’s death. His will reveals a challenge: a hidden treasure, left to whomever can claim it first. The revelation sparks chaos, with pirates scrambling for any advantage. Amid the turmoil, Avery cunningly attaches herself—literally—to Captain Quarters, hitching a ride on his back as he pushes his way out of the brawl. Meanwhile, Billy's naive commitment to the law quickly unravels when he’s captured by a ruthless mobster pirate intent on executing him. The city’s underbelly, filled with cutthroats and criminal syndicates, is no place for a by-the-book officer, and Billy soon realizes just how out of his depth he is. However, his grizzled training officer, Woody, arrives just in time to save him. Woody, a jaded and cynical robotic officer, sees potential in Billy but also recognizes the futility of enforcing the law in a city where crime is a way of life. Disillusioned by his near-death experience and the corrupt state of law enforcement, Billy abandons his badge and sets out on his own, determined to forge a new path. Aboard Quarters’ dilapidated ship, Avery secures her place among the small, ragtag crew, which includes the jovial robot first mate, Sam, and the gruff, peg-legged Thomas. Despite their camaraderie, the ship is barely holding together, and tensions rise as they chart their course toward Culiver’s rumored treasure. The sea is treacherous, and their journey is quickly fraught with danger. Their voyage takes them to a mysterious, fog-shrouded island, where they battle a monstrous robotic sea creature. The battle with the beast is brutal, leaving their ship damaged and their spirits shaken. Barely escaping with their lives, they push deeper into the island’s dense jungle and come across an abandoned campsite. Scattered maps and cryptic notes suggest that someone has been searching for the treasure for a long time. To their shock, they discover an unexpected inhabitant—Jack Belmy, Captain Culiver’s supposedly dead first mate. Emaciated but very much alive, Jack has been surviving in isolation, how he got there, and why Culiver thought him dead, is still a mystery. With Jack’s return, the race for Culiver’s treasure takes on new and dangerous stakes. As rival factions close in, Avery and the crew must navigate shifting allegiances and face hard choices about trust, loyalty, and what the treasure truly represents. Billy's goals unknown, setting off after leaving his old life behind. Is he after Avery? The treasure? His own adventure? With the looming threat of betrayal and the unforgiving sea against them, they set out for the start of their adventure, knowing that only one crew can claim the prize.