Darren had refused to go shopping for world-conquering supplies for the coconut. The list had included ships, guns, cannons, rope, a lobster, three jars of turpentine, and 47 pins—among other things.
They had neither the money nor the time for such nonsense.
Wilson strongly disagreed.
But seeing as Wilson wasn’t exactly loaded, and Darren had longer legs, they were doing what Darren wanted.
After a few minutes of wandering, they found a clothing… ‘shop’ by the name of Fitted Fit and Darren stomped inside. The counter was near the front of the store and spanned the entire width; a counter-to-ceiling metal fence separated the two sections of the store. A short, wizened old man stood behind the counter, and benches piled high with clothes sat behind him.
Darren let out a small sigh and walked up to the counter.
The man gave Darren a toothless grin. “Welcome, welcome!”
“G’day,” Darren said. “What’ve you got?”
“Jus’ about sumthin for erryone!”
“Let’s see your best then.”
“Right you are, mister!”
Darren suppressed a groan. It felt like the man was ending every sentence with an exclamation mark.
The store inventory appeared before him, giving him a digital view of everything the merchant carried.
He began mentally flicking through the long list of basic clothing items. Better than nothing, he supposed, but a long way from what he really wanted. He needed some magic items. Leaning forward, elbows on the counter, he slipped a Sovereign from his inventory and began rolling it across his knuckles. “Got anything for a more… discerning gentleman?”
As Darren hoped, the merchant’s eyes never left the coin as the man ran his tongue across chapped lips. Now that was the correct response to flashing wealth to a merchant.
“Well… it jus’ so happens that me supplier left a chest tha’ was s’posed to go to Tarlia at Suave Wears!” He lowered his voice conspiratorially. “I was gonna send it up to ‘er later, but mayhaps we can take a peek, eh?”
“So long as you won’t get in trouble,” Darren said with a smile, “I’d love to take a look.”
The little man waddled to the back of the room and, with a grunt, picked up an ornate chest.
“This is s’piciously lucky,” Wilson murmured.
“If I didn’t have 14 points in luck, I’d be inclined to agree. Now shush.”
The old merchant staggered back to the counter and dropped the chest with a loud thud, then with a few deft movements and a fizz of blue sparks, the chest popped open.
The shop’s inventory window updated with the new items, and Darren let out a whistle. The gods were smiling on him today.
At the top of the list was a complete matched set. Boots, pants, shirt, vest, coat, and even a hat. With a thought, he opened the description on the set.
<<<<>>>>
Swashbuckler’s Ensemble (Legendary) (6/6)
This complete set of Swashbuckling finery is the perfect partner for the pirate life. When worn as a set, receive special bonuses.
It may be warm, but fashion is worth the price of a little sweat.
Swashbuckler’s Boots (Legendary)
Durable, stylish, comfortable as a down mattress after a long day at sea.
-
+6 Armour
-
+5% To CON
-
+10% To Dodge Chance
Swashbuckler’s Pants (Legendary)
You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.
Heavy and tough as leather, but feel as soft and supple as silk.
-
+19 Armour
-
+20% To DEX
Swashbuckler’s Shirt (Legendary)
You’ll never wear another shirt.
-
+5 Armour
-
+5% To DEX
Swashbuckler’s Vest (Legendary)
For that extra style and protection. Plus more pockets!
-
+8 Armour
-
+50% To Inventory Capacity
Swashbuckler’s Coat (Legendary)
Weather any storm. Be the talk of any fashion event.
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+25 Armour
-
+20% To CON
Swashbuckler’s Hat (Legendary)
Every pirate needs a hat. How will everyone know your status without a really great hat?
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+3 Armour
-
+20% To INT
Bonuses when complete set is worn
Bonuses are only in effect when wearing all six pieces. Pieces cannot be removed by force, only by your will. Never fear your hat blowing off while at sea!
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Self cleaning
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Self repairing (will repair from up to 99% damaged)
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When set is first soul bound, choose one stat to improve by 30% (ongoing)
<<<<>>>>
Darren nearly choked when he saw the price. The whole set was 19 Sovereigns! Sure, he could afford it, but that was enough for a decent ship! But Legendary quality. The only tier higher than Legendary was Mythic. And a complete set… With it being soul-bound, that meant Locals must have died for the set to have been collected. And once players joined the world, there’d once these were claimed, that’d be it. They’d be out of circulation unless the player got banned.
So it was easy to see why it was Legendary. Percentage boosts to up to three stats, soul-bound and self-repairing? This was the last outfit he’d ever need to buy. He’d have paid triple that for it. “Thank you, Poseidon,” he whispered.
“Ya like what ya see?” the old merchant asked, a lecherous leer on his face.
“Oh yes. I’ll take it.” As soon as Darren said it, he knew he was in for a fight. He groaned inwardly.
“We-ll,” the old man said, wringing his hands, “see, I didn’t know how valuable these here goods was. If Tarlia finds out I sold ‘em, she’ll skin me, she will.”
Darren nodded. “I understand completely. I wouldn’t dream of putting you at risk.” He materialised a pile of Sovereigns into his hand, the merchant’s eyes locked onto them like a homing missile. “Tarlia is a scary woman. The honourable thing to do would be to return the goods to her, I suppose. Shame.”
With a wave of his hand, Darren returned the coins to his inventory. “Well, I’ll let you be about your day, good sir. I imagine you’ll be in a hurry to get that chest over to Suave Wears before she’s forced to come down here herself!” He turned and strolled slowly to the door. He could almost hear the man sweating.
Darren put his hand on the door and pulled it open, making to step outside.
“Wait!” came the pained croak behind him.
Darren smiled, but quickly wiped it from his face, feigning curiosity. “Yes?”
“I s’pose… I s’pose if you was to buy the whole chest, I could, ya know, maybe say it went missin’?” he finished hopefully.
“You’re asking me to be complicit in theft?” Darren asked in mock horror, open hand going to his chest, his face aghast.
The merchant winced. “No! No way. I came by this chest proper. Bu’, see, Tarlia don’t always see things the way we common folk do. She might think I was tryna steal from her.”
Darren nodded slowly. “You know, given the circumstances, I can see how she might think something so blatantly false about such an upright and honest man as yourself. Tell you what. I think I have an idea.”
The old man perked up.
“I’ll take the chest now and return it to her on your behalf!”
The man blinked several times, the gears visibly grinding as he tried to find an angle where he could still profit.
“I mean, I understand if you don’t trust me. I’m happy to run back up the hill and let her know where it is so she can send her own courier to pick it up if that’d make you more comfortable?”
Wilson, who’d been sitting in silent amusement through the exchange, chuckled and whispered, “I’m so proud of you.”
The merchant wilted, and Darren cringed, suddenly feeling embarrassed and guilty. He’d pulled this kind of “negotiation” off a hundred times in games before. But this time… it felt… well, it felt real. He supposed, in a way, it was. He was an NPC as much as the old man was now.
There was also a very real chance that Tarlia would kill the old merchant, given the value of the set and that people had likely already died for her to procure it.
He sighed and pulled two Sovereigns from his inventory. “I’m sure the generous Tarlia would pay you a finder's fee, so I’ll cover that now, and she can reimburse me.”
Like the sun breaking through a stormy sky, the man’s face lit up. “Aye, I reckon that’d be right fair. Meet me around back, and I’ll give ya the chest.”
Darren nodded, slid the coins across the counter, and headed around back.
“Here I was finkin’ you were finally gonna do somethin’ diabolical. Then you go and cock it up by bein’ nice. What made you change your mind?” Wilson asked as they walked.
“Felt sorry for him.”
“You gonna take the clothes then?”
Darren clenched his jaw in a grimace before he said, “No. Three reasons. One: This is real to me now, and I’m quite against theft IRL.” He winced. That probably sounded awful to an NPC like Wilson… He continued. “Two: I don’t want to risk the old man getting murdered over an outfit. Three: Well, I’ll demonstrate in a minute.”
They rounded the building and found the merchant waiting there with the chest. Darren gave him a brief nod, and the old man waddled back inside, the door slamming and a deadbolt grinding into place.
Darren knelt by the chest and lowered Wilson beside it. “Try putting it in your inventory,” he said.
Wilson laid a hand on it, then frowned. “It says stolen goods can’t be stored in an inventory. It’s telling me I can either kill the original owner or hold onto it for seven days, then I’ll become the new owner.”
“Yup. So all those pretty, pretty status effects on the clothes that benefit the ‘owner’ wouldn’t happen for seven days.”
“Oooooh.”
“Yup.” Darren popped Wilson back on his shoulder and hoisted the chest up, grunting in over 30s. “So let’s go see if I can convince the lovely lady at Suave Wears to sell me the damn outfit…”