North Sea Dungeon

[Cobalt]

The ground sways underneath Cobalt's feet as they finally step off the boat and onto the dock. The port is beautiful, all of it recently constructed, still shiny and new and full of hope, but their nausea is currently making the sight rather hard to appreciate. This is not the start to their new life that they had expected; doubled over, trying not to retch.
Seymour chitters encouragingly from his place on Cobalt's shoulder, as around them the people mill about, unbothered by what must surely not be that uncommon of a sight. Slowly, the nausea abates, and Cobalt gathers themselves enough to look up again.
Now, that they probably won't throw up after all, the reality of it all starts to set in. This is it, the place they've been looking for, and it's terrifying and exciting and smells an awful lot like fish.
It's intimidating, being surrounded by so many people. But it will be fine, probably. Cobalt steps forward, and lets the drift of the people carry them off.

[the nicks twins]

Newcomers to the island were hardly rare or unusual, but Faeyana and Yenbeck have practically perfected the art of watching the arriving crowds when a ship docks at the port, making a sort of game out of it. There are always tells that reveal a true new body on the island, as opposed to someone on a return trip, and atching sets of eyes scan the small crowd of people milling about the port, looking for just those signs. Playing their game of who can spot the freshest face first, the twin half-foots sit a reasonable enough distance away that they won’t appear suspicious, but close enough to actually pay attention to those walking about.

It’s a hobby and a pass-time more than anything, and knowing who the new blood on the island is always comes in handy. But sometimes, a new arrival just seems to be begging for their attention.

Yenbeck goes to elbow his sister when he spots them, but Faeyana is already looking in the direction, having noticed them too. The gnome seems to be simply moving with the flow of the crowd, no particular destination evident, and there’s a half seasick, overwhelmed look on their face. With no more than a glance shared between the two, the twins stand and weave their way through the push and pull of the people around them easily, until they reach their target.

“Hi there!” Faeyana says, friendly as ever as she steps up to one side of the gnome as they walk.

“You look a little lost,” Yenbeck adds, bracketing the gnome’s other side. “Would you like some help? We’d be happy to offer you some!” He looks up at the newcomer, pleasant smile painted on his face to match his sister.

[Cobalt]

Cobalt can’t believe their luck. It’s the kind of thing that happens all the time in stories, the helpful stranger just suddenly appearing out of the blue, but they would never have imagined it could happen to them, too. It's almost too good to be true.

With every passing second after arrival, Cobalt had realized a little bit more just how out of depth they were; everyone else seemed to know exactly what they’re doing and where they’re going, people breaking out of the crowd with no trace of hesitation, stepping up to stalls like the’ve done this all a million times before. Maybe they have. Everyone else who came on the same boat (a small, flimsy vessel, relatively cheap yet also extremely evidently used to transport shellfish) seemed to be a seasoned adventurer, and Cobalt had planned to ask them for advice, maybe make some friends already, but then the seasickness started, and you can‘t exactly talk to people when you can‘t open your mouth without the risk of losing the meagre ration you'd packed.

Thanks to said seasickness, by the time Cobalt had recovered enough to move, everybody else had already disappeared into the crowd. So they just drifted, instead, hoping to maybe spot a familiar face, yet getting more panicked by the minute. And then, they’d shown up. Out of the crowd, like two angels, offering their advice. They seem to be siblings, twins maybe, judging by how closely matched their appearances are; even their clothes seem to be the same. Most importantly, they’re really, really nice. What good fortune, to meet such kind and helpful people so soon after arrival!

Cobalt could cry from relief, from finally seeing a friendly face, seeing two of them, even, smiling amiably, but they try to hold themselves together as best as possible.
"Oh," Cobalt stutters, the crack in their voice betraying their desperation immediately. "Yes please. I mean, thank you for offering. I’m new here. You’ve probably already guessed that." They rub their neck awkwardly. "So, uh...assuming I only just arrived and don't yet know what I'm doing...where would I go first?"

[Rokuro]

This particular swarm of bright eyed adventurers was no different from the rest. Men and women, all stepping from the swaying boat to rickety dock with hunger in their eyes for discovery and treasure. In that regard, the man that was in the stragglers leaving the boat was no different. But even in this cast of characters, Rokuro felt incredibly out of his depth. More than he usually did. Because he stood neck and shoulders above the crowd, horns prominent on his head, branding him as an ogre. He would have already disappeared, deeper onto the island, if it weren't for the fact that he'd been rudely awoken by the announcement they'd arrived and bashed his head on the cot above him, shattering it into pieces. Even now, there were still splinters in his light hair that he'd neglected to brush out. In that situation, he was glad for his size, if only for the reason that the deckhands were too intimidated to seek compensation. There was not a single coin to his name.

Sighing, Rokuro paused in the slowly dissipating crowd, head turned out to the chill of the sea. He was going to go exploring, just like everyone else. The experience alone was going to be enough to satisfy him. Gaze lingering out on the blue, he began to walk... A rude thing to do when many other races were liable to be trampled by someone of his stature.

[the nicks twins]

A brief look is shared between the two siblings, recognition of an easy mark and their good fortune as spotting them. Faeyana nods in mock sympathy to the gnomes words, “Yeah, it can be a little overwhelming for a first-timer. We were in your shoes once, we get it.” Never mind that their first time on the island they were far less lost and had far stickier fingers than this one. It never hurts to commiserate with a mark, do everything to make it seem like you’re on their side and just want to offer help.

Yenbeck hums in agreement with his sister’s words. “There’s a few things you’ll want to do first,” he lifts a hand, counting off on his fingers, “First you’ll want to register with the Island Lord, either as an adventurer, a merchant, or a visitor. Then you’ll want to get a fairy to keep up with all the news about this place - it’s optional, I suppose, but makes everything much easier!” He offers another charming smile as he digs into his bag to pull out a small jar containing his own fairy, currently dozing on the glass bottom.

“The registration process can be complicated and intimidating to a new arrival,” Faeyana adds, “But we’re very familiar with it and we’re happy to help out and even handle the bureaucracies of it for you! In fact-“ She reaches into her own bag and pulls out several papers, “We have copies of all the paperwork you’ll need and we can walk you through it and even take the finished paperwork -along with the fee for filing- to the registration office for you. After that long trip here I bet you’d like to just sit and rest, maybe even get a bite to eat?”

The paperwork is of course, all fake, excellently forged by their skilled hands to look real and official. The fee is even more fake, and the whole reason for this charade. They’ve found it’s an easy way to make a few quick gold off inexperienced new comers.

“I’m Yenbeck, by the way,” Faeyana says, then gestures to her brother, “And this is my sister, Faeyana.”

[Rokuro]

Nearly tripping on another would-be adventurer is enough to make the ogre quickly plod away, face red. The docks weren't exactly the best place to be meeting people, not when the majority were all so busy getting situated in this brand new locale. Keeping a closer eye on where he was stepping, Rokuro follows the slowly dissipating line of new arrivals into the town.

[Cobalt]

"Ah yes, I forgot to introduce myself, sorry!" Cobalt hurries to answers, their voice just a bit shaky. "It’s so nice to meet you guys. Really, you’ve already been so helpful, I have no idea how to repay you….Maybe I can take you out for dinner or something—once I have a job here, I mean. I’d love to do it right now, but funds are a little tight."
Nervously, they rub their neck. Funds are indeed very tight. The money they stole and took with them seemed like it would be enough to start a new life, but it dwindled much faster than expected. With the remainder of their funds spent on transport to the island—the cheapest ship to travel on, but due to the islands popularity still quite expensive—Cobalt and Seymour are utterly broke.
They really should have set something aside for this possibility, and Cobalt feels utterly stupid for not even considering this earlier. Of course there would be registration of some kind, and a fee only makes sense. After all, they wouldn’t just hand out those fairies for free.
Cobalt still isn’t completely sure how they feel about the whole fairy in jar situation—it does seem a little inhumane, after all they don’t keep Seymour in a little jar, and can the fairy even breathe in there?—but the tiny humanoid seems comfortable, and their new friends seem to be good people, so maybe the fairy just likes being inside the jar. Such kind people, offering help to a stranger they just met—a stranger who must seem like a total mess—would surely never keep a fairy inside a jar without its consent. Maybe the jar is some kind of magical object that is much bigger on the inside, and the fairy is actually relaxing in a luxurious mansion instead of a drab little glass bottle.
Cobalt wants a fairy friend, too. But for that, they need to go through the registration process first. Thankfully, there are the twins. It really was an incredibly lucky meeting; Cobalt wouldn’t even know where to get those papers, nevertheless ask for them, and what little they could gleam of the paper’s content seems almost like a riddle. How are people expected to just know all these things?
It’s clear they won’t be able to fill them out by themselves. It’s also clear, that they don’t have the money to pay that fee, and they can’t possibly ask the twins to cover for them after they already went above and beyond for someone they only just met. Cobalt is utterly unprepared for this, and yet, there's no turning back. Already, the boat has set sail again, and disappeared on the horizon.
Meeting the twins was lucky, but Cobalt still needs to scrape together enough money to cover the fee. There’s only one thing they still have to sell, and as much as they don’t like it, they need to buy their entry into the island somehow, no matter what they have to give up. Some sacrifices are worth making. As if he senses his companions thoughts, Seymour cast a warning glance upwards.
„So um,“ Cobalt hesitates, nervously fiddling with their bag, „How much is that fee? And do you by any chance know someone who'd be willing to buy some cheese?“
Still perched on their shoulder, Seymour chitters. He seems furious.

[the nicks twins]

“Tight funds, huh?” Faeyana raises her brows slightly, glancing briefly at the squeaking creature on the gnome’s shoulder, “We understand that.” She and Yenbeck glance at each other, subtle looks passing between the two. They were sure on the mark with the trusting nature of their target, but if they couldn’t get any money out of the gnome then what was the point. Though perhaps it wasn’t a lost cause just yet. As naive as this one seems to be, it was possible they don’t know how far money could go, and what the values of certain things would be. Someone as clueless as them, setting foot on the island and openly admitting they didn’t know what they were doing was too good of a catch to let go so quickly.

Yenbeck nods slowly, “I do think we might know how you might be able to… sell some cheese. Though, it will be tough to do if you’re not registered with the island first.” He keeps his voice low and sympathetic, his posture as open as possible to assure them he has nothing to hide. “The fee isn’t too steep for registration, which is the most important. The fairy is a little pricier, and while it is definitely and important thing to have, it’s not as pressing.”

Faeyana nods in agreement, catching on to where Yenbeck is going. “It’s three gold to register, and five for the fairy, but like Yen said, the fairy can wait.” They’d normally say it’s more, but if they go too high this time, they might not get anything. “If you don’t have all of it, we can cover part until you can pay us back!”

[Cobalt]

Five gold coins isn’t a lot, Cobalt is pretty sure. That’s how much they paid for the boat fare, and the boat was a ramshackle mess, barely keeping itself together through the journey overseas. If anything, it seems fairly cheap for a living, breathing tiny person you keep in a jar—something the ethics of which Cobalt still isn’t entirely sure about.

But right now, they don’t even have the coins for registration, so they won’t even be able to sell cheese, so they’re utterly doomed—or they would be if it weren't for the twins, at least. Thank heavens they met, though Cobalt is ashamed about taking advantage of their newly formed friendship like this.
They rub their neck, embarrassed. „Unfortunately I have, uh…zero gold coins. I paid my last five for boat fare to the island. So if you could maybe loan me three coins, just to get the registration fee…I’d pay you back as soon as possible. With interest!“

[the nicks twins]

For just a moment, the twins just share a look, having their own brief, silent, conversation. It could be risky to agree to ‘cover’ the fee for the gnome, especially with not knowing if or when they will get the money to ‘pay them back’. On the one hand, it’s not like they would lose money, since there’s no real fee for them to cover in the firs place, and if they do this ‘favor’ for the newcomer, they would seem friendly and trustworthy, going out of their way to help someone they just met. It could open opportunities in the future, and the gnome did seem to be genuine with their words.

On the other hand, for starters, if the gnome was too honest, it could spell problems in the future. An honest person is the hardest to con, and someone with nothing to hide has nothing to exploit. The twins had a feeling though that this wasn’t quite the case here. There was always a risk, though, that before they could get any money out of them, that the gnome would find out the truth. Although, most people who get scammed in this place just get told it’s their own fault for not knowing any better.

Still, after considering it, the two nod once at each other, then turn back to their new companion.

“Alright,” Yenbeck says, “We can do that.”

“If-“ Faeyana interjects, “You promise you’ll pay us back.”

Yenbeck nods. “Also, it’s best if you don’t tell anyone we covered your fee for you.” He ads, “For starters, we don’t want people to start thinking we’ll just hand out money to anyone, but- we like you.”

Faeyana hums her agreement. “That, and, well, people here wont like it if they find out you didn’t ‘pay your own way’, you know? So it’s best if this just stays between us, yeah?”