Patch Notes #1
NPC’S can no longer maneuver single adventurers into providing the requirements for achieving divinity. Groups of an undetermined number will be required for this feat.
Crash was awakened to the sounds of a muffled conversation in the living room and the unmistakable smell of his favorite Kona coffee. He sat up and stretched feeling more relaxed than he had in years. He slipped out of bed and made his way to the door where he saw Malia talking to someone with their back to him in what looked like a maids outfit. Malia saw him and a smile stretched out on her face. “Good Morning Sir Crash.”
Crash smiled back. “Morning to you to.” The maid turned at the sound of his voice and his smile grew even larger as he took in her face. “And who do we have here?” The maid gave him a tiny bow of her head. “Hello Sir Crash!” The little maid was positively beaming at him. “We have been waiting so long for visitors I can hardly contain myself!”
“What is your name beautiful?” Crash flirted with her.
She seemed to blush if that was possible. “My name is Beebee Sir, A pleasure to meet you. I am your housekeeper for the duration of your stay in Bolina Bay!” Facing him was the cutest creature he had ever seen. She looked like a baby seal pup except that she was walking on two limbs. (He assumed she had legs, but they were covered by her outfit.) She had on a baby blue maid outfit with white lacy trim. The thing that took him in though was her huge seal eyes that were a deep blue color. As crazy as the whole getup seemed, it worked on a level that he instantly believed. He had no problem accepting that she was real.
“Beebee I’m no Sir, please just call me Crash. Everybody else does and I’m only 22.”
Beebee gave a small nod of the head to him. “As you wish Crash. I have brought a small breakfast and some coffee. After you are finished you are very much invited to the newbies welcome center in the middle of the village. There are many people dying to meet you two so please make sure to go there first thing!” She gave a small bow again and turned and went outside.
Crash took a chair and poured himself some coffee and started a plate with fruits. He looked over to Malia. “Can you believe how cute she was? I wanted to run over and hug her as soon as I saw those big eyes!”
“I know right!? She was filling me in on The Island and the history of the bay. This bay is a perfect circle believed to have been created thousands of years ago by a huge meteor that crashed here. It got it’s name from the legend of a beautiful maiden named Bolina who was being chased by a God and threw herself in the waters and changed into a Sea Nymph! The bay is HUGE! It is in the shape of a perfect letter C. Tip to tip at the entrance to the bay is over two miles across! She said that there is a magical city down below the entrance that is guarded by a race of fish centaurs called Itchyocentaurs or something like that.
“Fish Centaurs? I wonder what they look like?”
“I asked the same thing. She said they have a fish body with 4 legs and a fish tail. Attached to that is a human torso and head. They are supposed to be fierce warriors, they guard the citizens of the bay and let no creatures in here. It’s been a stable place for as long as it’s been here. Oh, and one other thing. The bay has a magical event every day. She said that the elder locals say that every day at noon a huge bubble of magic floats up from the area that the city is located. It lasts about four hours. The release of the bubbles creates perfect waves that are magical.”
“Wow! Magical how?”
“Well, from what I can tell they are perfectly spaced out coming in exactly 30 seconds one after the other. When you paddle in the catch one, the wave “accepts” you and forms the perfect size according to your ability! The entire town shuts down every day and heads to the beach. From what she said it seems that every person in this village can surf like an expert. From child to elder they are all surf crazed!”
Crash just stared at her taking it in. “Whoa, no wonder they sent us two here! This sounds like our kinda place! It feels like it is about ten in the morning right? We better get a move on it before noon hits and the place shuts down. Wanna go hit up this newbie center?”
Malia nodded in agreement. “Yeah, Lets get dressed and hit up this town!”
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Crash went in to his wardrobe. There were a bunch of surf shorts and all kinds of shirts including colorful Aloha button-ups. He picked a bright one with parrots slipped on some thongs and headed out. He stopped at the doorway stunned by what Malia was wearing. She had a long, sparkling green sarong that looked like it was made with layered, sparkling scales and a tight sporty black bikini. “Whoa!” Was all he could say.
Malia twirled for him. “I know right? This sarong makes me look like a Mermaid or Nymph or something!”
Crash couldn’t tear his eyes away from her. Her long, wild, unbrushed hair was flowing halfway down her back and her shimmering skirt was mesmerizing. She looked like a wild sea Goddess come to human flesh.
Malia snapper her fingers at him, “Yo stud, wake up!” As she started to turn her back to him Crash could see a slight blush on her face and an all-knowing smile.
He shook his head to clear away any impure thoughts and trotted after her. “Coming dear!
As the two of them started down the path to the main village Malia reach down and grabbed Crash’s hand. He could almost feel a tiny surge of electricity between the two of them. He looked over at her and smiled. He couldn’t remember that last time he had felt this excited. They were coming around a big bend that was engulfed in tropical plants making it impossible to see anything but the path. They heard what seemed to be a throng of conversation and came out into a large rounded plaza that was packed with locals in some sort of market.
When they stepped out into the opening all conversation ceased and the crowd turned towards them. Crash whispered to Malia, “Uh oh, What did I do now?” Then as one the entire mass of people started cheering and clapping. Children were jumping up and down and running at them. Malia started to laugh as a tiny feline child of some kind jumped into her arms.
An old man with long grey hair tied into a pony hurried up to them. He held out a hand. “Finally we can officially open! Hi there, my name is Oha. I am village elder.” He grabbed the cat child from Malia’s hand. “Kala, don’t smother our visitor’s right now we have some things to do!” He patted the child on the head and set her down. “run along now.” He took Crash’s hand and pumped it up and down. “Seems like we have been waiting ages for our first adventurers to show up. The village is quite excited as you can see. Let’s get you over to the center so we can fill you in!”
As they walked thru the crowd everyone wanted to shake their hands and offer some kind words of welcome. Men were patting them on the back and the children who seemed to be everywhere were jumping around and pulling at Crash’s shorts for attention.
They walked to a standard looking one story village building, but when they stepped inside their mouths both dropped open in amazement. They were in a huge room that looked like a luxury hotel lobby. White marble was everywhere offset by colorful red hibiscus in planters. There were check in counters all over the place and desks behind golden chains and poles. Oha chuckled. “Not what you expected when you saw the building right?”
Crash shook his head. “This is amazing, How is this lobby so huge?”
Oha shrugged. “This realm is magical. Anything you can think of is possible. In a month this place will be packed with new arrivals. Bolina Bay is a “Premier” starting town you know? We are proud of the fact. No slums or roving bands of thieves here my friends!”
Oha led them over to a desk. “Have a seat please and let’s get started. First of all take these.” He handed each of them a hardened leather pouch the size of an envelope. They had some kind of velcro on the back of them. These are 50 slot pouches of holding. Normal folk will get 5 slotters to start hehe, but your not normal are ya? No indeed! You are our first couple and the most V.I.P.ish we will ever have here, so only the best for you two. You have one of the best villas with the best view also! He winked at both of them.
Crash nodded his head at him. It has been amazing so far, thank you.”
Oha nodded back with a big smile. “OK, I would advise you to attach the pouch on the hip of your dominant hand for the easiest access. Once you place it that’s where it stays forever. Inside of those right now are equipment tailored to your class, some potions, a map of the bay, and an information packet about the do and dont’s of our town. I highly suggest you read that as soon as you leave here.”
Crash nodded. “We will.”
Oha pulled two colorful bracelets with seashells and tiny crystals out of the desk and put one in front of each of them. “These are your personal I.D. bracelets They are attuned to your spirit and cannot be faked, copied or hacked. These little babies handle all kinds of good things. They allow you and only you into your villa unless you invite someone in. They can be used when you wish to buy or sell something. Oh by the way, you each have been gifted 20 gold each which is a pretty hefty amount here I can tell you. Anyways you must put those on now in front of me. You don’t want these getting in someone else’s hands before you put them on for the first time heh”
Malia and Crash attached the bracelets and admired them. They felt a tiny jolt and the bracelets started to twinkle.
Oha nodded. “Now with that out of the way I only have a couple of things to ask of you. You know of the magical properties of our bay right?” They both nodded. “We will ask all of our new community to observe our customs. From noon to four every day we gather on the beach. You are not required to be at the beach, but you have to observe our custom of not doing ANY business during these hours. No coin can exchange hands from noon to four. It is meant as a time of thanks to our God for keeping Bolina Bay safe. Our God can be a little cranky at times and his siesta is important to him. Do you both understand?”
His seriousness was plainly evident and they both nodded at him.
“Great! Now one other thing. Today is a VERY important day of celebration for us. Going forward this date will be know as Pioneer day and celebrated every year. It is the day that will change The Island for better or worse. I have no doubt that you cannot understand how important Adventurers are to us. Our futures and fortunes are tied to you all. We have a little welcoming party going on in the ballroom pagoda out back and we would like you to attend. The people of the community wish to meet and greet you and present you with a most important gift if you would allow it. Then we have our beach hours that I know for sure you will want to see. Finally, tonight is the Pioneer celebrations with fireworks and festivities. You must see it to believe what we have planned!”
Malia and Crash looked at each other and nodded their heads. The least they could do was to attend these parties that the town was having for them. Crash stuck out his hand to Oha. “Let’s get this party started then!”