"As long as you don't eat them, they were made fresh so they'll be hard to replace."
"I wouldn't eat Captain's honey buns... I'm not that crazy." he says as he looks under the napkin covering the contents of the basket and smells their sugary scent. "Very well..." he says in an extra formal tone. "You're allowed to meet my captain. Follow me."
He guides you through one of the doors leading to the inner areas of the Golden Galleon... The hall is surprisingly well lit and ventilated... Floating flames illuminate the area. Not only you see much grander tables of common gambling games, you also see a variety of more exotic games... There are pixies playing what seems a tiny, flying version of free-for-all dodgeball, two men staring at a wooden crate with the only open side facing them and no one else... Until one of the men turns to stone and the other laughs and finally looks away as an employee closes the open side of the crater... Mages casting spells and shouting orders to each other while doing their best to resist their opponent's commands... sailors arm-wrestling large golems (and losing), nervous-looking men and women deciding what to drink from a selection of 6 colorful vials... And other similarly bizarre entertainment. All of them have a few players participating and many more cheering and betting large quantities of gold while at least one Golden Galleon employee watches closely.
You walk by a few of these odd games as you follow Kozu through a fancy-looking corridor and into a cabin numbered "23".
There, a slim woman who must be in her thirties plays five-finger-fillet against a young man, no older than 20...
She has blue eyes partially covered by spectacles with red lens, wears a long dark red long coat with golden buttons and has a light blue handkerchief with golden embroidery around her neck, as well as long gloves and boots are made of crimson leather that are almost completely covered by her coat. Her ears display small, golden earrings with tiny blue gems inlaid in them. Her hair is golden and shiny, tied back low into a ponytail.
When she sees you entering the room, she shouts a random noise, startling the young man, who then stabs his own hand.
"Hah! I win!" she says, laughing, then turns to you. "Where is it? Is that it?"] she questions, pointing at the basket.
Kozu rolls his eyes and speaks solemnly
"Captain, there are the gentlemen who requested an audience..."
"Yeah, yeah... Whatever..." she replies, not caring about Kozu's words as she quickly approaches you and takes the basket. "Aaaah... Honey buns! My favorite!" she grabs one of the sweet delicacies and takes almost half of one in a single bite, looking very satisfied. "Hmmm... Marina really didn't lose her touch..."
"Captain..." Kozu insists, but is interrupted again.
"Hmm-hmm..." she mumbles, still chewing... Her words muffled by the pieces of honey buns. "Sho... 'hat you 'ant?"
"We'd heard you could help us locate someone, that you had contacts and an unrivaled attention to detail. I was wondering if you'd entertain the idea of helping us?"
"Gotta b' mor' shpeshific th'n that." she says, still eating a honey bun. "Who 'ou 'ant t' find?"
"My mother. An orc woman, who was in Blue Shell during the Purple Moon Festival fifteen years ago. She was there with my father, a human man, and wore a distinctive sapphire bracelet."
How eccentric. Is she really a privateer? Oh those honey buns look delicious. I'm beginning to feel hungry now.
Melissa looks at Frederick, curiosity showing on her face...
"Hmmm..." she mumbles, intrigued. "Yes... I can see the resemblance."
Her words are followed by a sly smile, as she takes the basket with honey buns and calmly walks back to the chair where she sat moments ago.
"Ah, yes... She did have the most peculiar bracelet. A beautiful, precious-looking and enchanted bracelet..." she grins. "Much like this one."
Melissa pulls one of the sleeves of her blue coat, revealing a golden bracelet with sapphire encrusted in it... One that Frederick immediately recognizes.
"Isn't it adorable? It's magical too... Worth a fortune, really." she says with a cunning smile.
Cyrus frowns, not quite sure what she's getting at.
"So you...bought it from her?" Frederick asks, fearing the worst but making sure.
"I didn't steal it, if that's what you're thinking..." she says. "No... Your mothers bracelet is filled with magic... I don't know all of its properties, but I know it can give safe passage to her destination."
"What do you mean? It can transport people, or just that it provides safety on the way?"
Jaazkara is both intrigued and confused by the direction of the conversation.
"As I understand it... The bracelet opens a door. There are other ways to get to the same place, but none so convenient."
So, she gave it to you...why?
Melissa shrugs.
"I suppose I could show you where she went... I might even be willing to part from my little trinket..." she says, calmly. "...But why should I? I have a ship to maintain and mouths to feed... I can't give golden ornaments and take some time off to give a tour to every merry band that shows up at my door, after all."
"Good karma might help your luck here. Desna notices that sorta thing dontcha know?"
"That's big talk from a man covered in magic gear... How much is that armor worth? I bet you're all carrying a small fortune in enchanted equipment... Have you ever freely given any of it?" she says nonchalantly. "Here, gold talks. Now, this being an unique item. I wager it's rather valuable... Bur you guys brought me honey buns, so I'll give you a discount... I say 90,000gp is a fair deal. What do you say?"
"I think that's quite a bit more than everyone's gear combined. If that trinket only opens a door to where his mother is, it's specialized function can only be worth so much. If anything that should make it worth quite a deal less. Cyrus starts letting his mercantile origins bleed into his voice.
"But you probably know that...smart lady as you are. Which means maybe we can trade favors? We're a resourceful bunch. Went to a place no one goes and returned."
"Before that, do you know where she is? Is there a way to get there without the bracelet?"
"Well... We are on a gambling house. All you have to do is make enough money to buy my little trinket. In fact, I know the perfect little game for you... I'm sure you'll do well! It's more skill than luck, although luck never hurts." Melissa then turns to the green-haired man in black-and-white robes... "Kozu! Why don't you take them to the blue room?"
"Are you sure?" he replies, solemnly...
"Sure, why not?" she replies, smiling. "They are new here... We should show them the ropes, after all."
"If you say so..." he answers. "Follow me if you want a chance to earn your gold."
"Blue? Well it's not exactly my FAVORITE color, but it sounds nice."
Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Cyrus droops his shoulders and shakes his head.
*sighs - Eitylen remembers that the goddess of fortune tend to not be on his side.
Jaazkara follows after, reminiscing about her clan's version of the ole "dont-stab-yourself-while-darting-a-dagger-between-your-thumb-and-alternati ng-fingers-and-looking-smug" game.
Now there is a game I understand, she thinks to herself.
Zoku leads you to a blue door where a bald keeps guard.
"What's your business here?" he asks with a hostile tone.
"They're here to play. Captain Sweetdew is their sponsor." Kozu replies...
The bald man scratches his chin. "I thought they were dead."
"Those were the lat ones... These ones are still alive, as you can see." Kozu speaks calmly.
"Grumph... Okay, then..." the bald man says before opening the blue door.
"Thank you for your comprehension. Kozu replies one last time.
You follow him through the door, which takes you to an windowless room with blue walls and furniture. On top of a blue table, 4 blue amulets rest.
"Grab those amulets... You'll need them." Kozu says without emotion. "The game is simple... All you have to do is collect crowns and get more points than your adversary... A copper crown is worth 1 point, a silver crown is worth 2 and a golden crown is worth 4."
Eitylen *sighs* and takes an amulet - What crowns and what adversary?
Frederick looks curiously at his amulet.
"So what do these do?"
Eitylen *sighs* and takes an amulet - What crowns and what adversary?
"Whatever crowns you see, from whatever adversaries are playing against you, I suppose..."
Frederick looks curiously at his amulet.
"So what do these do?"
"Not sure... Every game has different ones, but they all look the same... They are meant to 'keep things safes'. This way, you can play without holding back, making the games more exciting to the audience... And more profitable to the Galleon."
"I don't know the specifics of tonight's games... It's always a surprise. Captain Goldbeard says suspense makes everything more thrilling. Considering how many people gather to watch and participate... He appears to be right."
"Er, what can we expect?"
Kozu sighs heavily...
"Tsc... Knowing Goldbeard, probably some insanity with moving floors or trapdoors... That man has an ingenious mind and little restraint. I'm half convinced he runs this place for entertainment, rather than profit... Although eh certainly doesn't mind the gold." he says, rolling his eyes. "Now... You all put your amulets on and I'll send the signal that you're ready."
Jaazkara dons her amulet.
"Moving floors...trapdoors, what kind of game is this?!" The priest sighs and puts his amulet on.
Once you all put your amulets on, a ghostly silver crown appears on the head of Eitylen. Kozu doesn't seem to notice it, though... At the same time, a faint light blue-ish glow covers your bodies and weapons.
"All right, then... Let's get started." says Kozu, before he walks towards the wall opposed to the door and knocks on it 6 times in an specific rhythm...
You start hearing voices... These voices grow louder and louder, into shouts. And the wall starts turning more and more transparent, until it eventually disappears completely from sight... Revealing a large "arena".
You see a large hexagonal hall split in six blue and red triangles, four of which have large statues in them... A maiden with a sword, a demon with glowing hands, a coiling serpent and an ax-bearing dwarf... All of them bear copper crowns on their head.
At the very center of the hall, at the top of 30 ft-tall green "tower" covered in ropes, lies a single table with a golden crown. At the opposite side of the hall, you see a group of four warriors, just as diverse and surprised as your own party... An robed orc with a staff, a dwarf carrying a hammer and wearing armor with the holy symbol of Torag, a human with loose clothing and a scimitar and an elf with a longbow and spiked gauntlets.
All around the arena, you see many sailors, tourists and wealthy-looking people shouting and cheering!
A booming voice then speaks loud enough to cover up all the noise, as if its owner were all around you.
"THE PLAYERS ARE FINALLY READY, DEAR GUESTS!" says the mysterious announcer. "HOLD ON TO YOUR SEATS!"
"WELCOME TO BATTLE ROULETTE! THE RULES ARE SIMPLE! EACH TRIANGLE IS A KINGDOM! EACH KINGDOM IS PROTECTED BY ITS LORD! DEFEAT THE LORD OR STEAL ITS CROWN, AND THE KINGDOM IS YOURS! IF YOU HAVE AT LEAST THREE KINGDOMS, YOU CAN BECOME THE KING! HOLD THE GOLDEN CROWN FOR A MINUTE AND THE WHOLE REALM IS YOURS! BUT BEWARE! A KING HAS MANY FOES! AND ANY KINGDOM CAN BE STRUCK BY DISASTER!!! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! GOOOOOO!!!"
Eitylen
Frederick
Dwarf Priest
Elf Archer
Staff Orc
Jaazkara
Brother Cyrus
Scimitar Human
This is...totally what I was expecting
Eitylen doubts for a moment, will the amulet actually make things safe for everyone involved? what if he hurts some innocent people?, The elf decides that the people in the ship could not be that evil and with a movement of his wrist makes a wand appear and try to activate it
- And fails
The booming voice speaks.
"AN UNDERWHELMING START... BUT THINGS ARE JUST HEATING UP, PEOPLE! PLACE YOUR BETS!"
"Okay wow this is completely crazy. Let's grab the golden crown. They'll never expect that. Jaazkara and Frederick can keep them busy whilst Eitylen and I secure the crown." Brother Cyrus sputters out some quick ideas.
"Let's go to the demon first!" Fredrick calls, and heads off that way.
"They'll never expect us to run that far!"
You hear the other team talking about the arena in front of him... You can't make it out very well, but you do understand they are quite confused about the competition...
"...in the abyss is this?"
"...think they got a crown too?"
"...a snake? Enough is enough! I've had it with these motherf&*!ing..."
"Better than last week's job."
And so on...
The dwarf priest casts a spell and reluctantly takes a few steps forward... He's followed by his orc friend, who touches his forehead with the tip of his staff, seemingly concentrating on something, and the elf with the longbow, who draws his arrows, ready to loosen it in a moment's notice.
The booming voice speaks again.
"THE RED TEAM IS ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT! AT LEAST ONE TEAM WON'T HAVE TO LEARN THE HARD WAY WHAT HAPPENS TO LITTLE BIRDS WHO REFUSE TO LEAVE THE NEST! BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHA"