Fantasy Cursed Island

[Darkling0096]

The party followed the servant out of the castle to the barracks. The city didn't have a large standing army, but the barracks were populated. "Now we just have to find the captain," Jalin said, "I would think his uniform would be the most ornate."

 

[Fangs9090]

The guard captain, a wolf man, was fairly easy to spot with his armor. He was sitting at a desk, filling through paperwork, and waved them over when he saw they'd come in. Roy led the way over and the man spoke as they came close. "Here for your bounty, no doubt. Normally this task goes to someone else, but this time was a little bit complicated."

 

[Darkling0096]

"How has the situation been complicated?", Turac asked. He didn't really care about the bounty, he brought ample supply of treasure with him, but if they could gain more favor by resolving an issue, then Turac wouldn't object to another job.

 

[Fangs9090]

“Well, bounty rewards are normally based on the wanted criminal and their offenses. Bringing them in alive rewards the full price of the bounty. Proving they’ve been killed rewards half the bounty. You brought one in alive, so...” He reached down before depositing a sack of coins on the table. “There’s the pay for that. According to the report, however, all the rest were burned in a pile. We can’t identify them, so we can’t determine their bounties. As such, you’ll get a set pay for each one dealt with. Do you have any guesses as to how many there were?”

Roy, Nidia, and Emilia glanced at each other and the others. None of them had been counting.

 

[Darkling0096]

Jalin was quiet for a moment. He knew how many corpses he had reanimated, at least, and to his knowledge only a few hadn't been reanimated. "I believe that if any of your soldiers were inclined," Jalin said, "They will find at least seventy-four skulls. You are welcome to have someone check that number when the fire dyes."

 

[Fangs9090]

“Hm, well, that still adds up.” He added to the sack, a small amount for each one, before sliding to them. “Your pay.”

 

[Darkling0096]

"Thank you," Jalin nodded again as the party collected their pay, depositing them in the mix of bags of holding they had. "Is there anything else we can do to be of use?", Turac asked.

 

[Fangs9090]

The guard captain looked to his paperwork. “Nothing you need to talk to me for. If you’re looking for more bounties, there’s a board at the Adventurer’s Guild. They post other odd jobs as well.”

 

[Darkling0096]

"Then we shall take our leave," Jalin nodded, tapping his cane to get his bearings again as the party returned to chambers. "We need a plan."

"And we need to divide loot," Sinach agreed.

 

[Fangs9090]

Nidia nodded. "Yeah, I was just thinking, how exactly are we supposed to hang around the prince? Surely he's got duties to attend to where we can't just be lingering around and chatting with him."

 

[Darkling0096]

"How about we try chatting with him, first," Siege said, "Then we'll figure out who he gets along the best with."

"We will have to earn substantial favor with the king," Jalin pointed out, "We have only a day in the palace presently. We have to get to the treasury, find the stone, and find a way out with it." He nodded towards Sinach on Roy's horns, "Perhaps we can send Sinach searching, first, and avoid that part entirely."

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy nodded. "I'm wondering if I should ask mom for tips. I don't think she's ever stolen from royalty, but she might still know something that could help." He sighed. "She's guaranteed to have a fit when she hears about this though..."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Are you sure that's even a good idea?", Siege asked, "You know how mom and dad are..."

 

[Fangs9090]

"Calling them is always a risk, but if they can give us good advice, I'd say it's worth it. Better than running into a problem we didn't expect."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Ugh," Siege closed her eyes and made a face, "Fine, but I'm not gonna be in the room when you call."

 

[Fangs9090]

"That's fair. I guess I should just go ahead and get it over with."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Fine," Siege got up and left, going back to the girls' room.

"This is going to create issues, I can tell," Turac sighed. "Who has a mirror?"

 

[Fangs9090]

Nidia held hers up. "Here."

Roy nodded and took the mirror before sitting on the bed. He looked away as he called up the mirror at home.

 

[Darkling0096]

Roy seemed to have gotten lucky, sort of. His parents weren't engaged in their usual nightly activity. But neither were they awake, and Roy was treated to an image of his mother's bare back and wings obscuring most of the room.

"Well, that is.... arguably better," Turac sighed.

 

[Fangs9090]

Roy glanced at the mirror before looking away again. Still more of his mother than he wanted to see. "Do we want to wake them for this?" He wasn't sure how much his parents cherished their midday naps.

 

[Darkling0096]

"That depends on your mother's proficiency in theft," Jalin replied.

"She's the best," Turac shook his head, "There is no better thief that I know of."

"Then we should wake them."

 

[Fangs9090]

"Alright." Roy looked at the mirror and looked away again. "I don't want to see when she rolls over."

"I got it." Emilia took the mirror from him almost immediately, calling out into it. "Hello!"

 

[Darkling0096]

Turac averted his eyes as Jerry stirred, folding one of her wings so she could look over her shoulder and almost jumped through the ceiling. "ERINA!", she snatched the blanket of of her legs and Asta to cover herself, "What is wrong with- Emilia?! YOU KNOW BETTER!"

 

[Fangs9090]

Asta sat up and looked around as Jerry yanked away the blanket.

Emilia just giggled. "Roy had something to ask you, but he didn't want to look."

 

[Darkling0096]

"Damn kids," Jerry grumbled, "What would your parents say?" She looked at Asta, "Can you believe this?" She reached out with her tail and flipped the tiny mirror so it was laying face down on the desk, "Is everyone over there a pervert?"

"Not really," Turac shook his head, though he knew his mom couldn't see because all he could see was the desk, "Just Emilia, and probably Sinach. Possibly Jalin as well."

"I have done no such thing, turtle."