it was a hot smothering july (or june.. was a long while ago) at the equator when a certain sailor and his shipmates crossed the equator.  sweat dripped off all his companions only long enough to be swept away by the salt water.  Davey Jones and Neptunus Rex had come.

It is an old sailor's 'right' to go from pollywog to shellback.  Many do not earn this privilage, and thus are still Wogs to the belief of all who sail the sea's under Neptune's blessing!  Woe be those who sail without his protection!

Many were the Wogs lined up on the forecastle of the ship that day.  All dressed appropriately as the Shellbacks surrounded them laughing at the wogs niavity. 

Neptune approaches the front of the crowd of Wogs, and bellows, "Those of you wishing to join me and my men, must face the trials of accension!!  Those who fail shall be deemed a wog for life!"

Wog after wog, climbs though obstacles, faces the brine of the sea multiple times and competes at competitions of strenth, brains and agility.  Some make it, and some fail.  One Wog, salt water dripping steadily off of him, makes his way to the final obsicle.. the leap of faith.

"Does though give thoughst to the sea" Davey jones asks.   "yar" responds the wog.  "Then make thy leap of faith!"

The wog leaps, head first with his arms flailing into the deep green sea and eventually emerges... with the green of the sea dripping off of him then slowly approaches

Neptunus Rex.Neptune roars, "So this Wog seeks accension into the ranks of the Shellbacks does he?!  What do you have to offer the king of all the seas?"

"All my loyalty and service" responds the Wog.

"Then rise" says Neptunus "And assume the mantle of Shellback from this day on.  Know all the of the sea that this man before me is a true warrior of the sea and is due respect as such!"

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I still think it's because I control the toilet paper....