#skyways

Take the Skyway

The first skyways appeared over downtown Minneapolis 60 years ago this year. Opened in the fall of 1962, the very first skyway connected the Northstar Center with the Northwestern National Bank Building. Skyways have continued to appear over our heads downtown ever since, and Minneapolis now boasts 9.5 miles of skyway! The newest addition to the skyway system connects our own Minneapolis Central Library to the downtown network.

Verminius “Ratbeard” Blightbeard, Rat Pirate: 

Background:

Ratbeard grew up a prince of the Port Regal Underworld: Born into the infamous Beard family, he knew he was to be a famous pirate before he took his first baby steps. Ratbeard spent his early years happily tending to his father’s business, smuggling and pirating. All that changed when he tried to double cross one of the worst pirates to ever sail the skyways of Cool Ranch: Captain Fowl. Fowl handily defeated Ratbeard, in a fight so terrible Ratbeard lost his leg. Then, for good measure, Fowl killed Ratbeard’s father, burned out their hideout, and even stole Mrs. Chillingsworth… Ratbeard’s favorite parrot.

Disgraced by the defeat, Ratbeard was ostracized by the other branches of the Beard family – instead of becoming a prince of pirates, Ratbeard became little more than a thug, flying the worst skyways in the Spiral, pillaging, cheating, and pinching every last gold piece to get his revenge. Ratbeard was halfway to his goal of buying a ship big enough to take on Cap’n Fowl’s Galleon, The Turkey Buzzard, when he heard tale of a mysterious expedition being formed by Captain Avery, leader of Skull Island. Hatching a plan, he hocked his Sword and Coat, and spent the rest of his meager fortune to hire out a crew of Wharf Rats. Ratbeard was betting everything he had on a chance to find the greatest treasure in Skull Island: Gunn’s Gold. This would be the old Rat’s last chance.

However, fate took a different turn, and he wound up being saved from being thrown into a volcano by Water Moles, thanks to the very pirate he briefly fought against: Captain Evan Ironside. He ultimately found himself forming a reluctant friendship with Captain Ironside, and found himself becoming a hero, against the Armada and its allies.

brunel estate