Scenario:Kurapika - Swept Along to No-Man's-Land

Swept Along to No-Man's-Land

The crew receives a high-paying request to retrieve a time capsule from North Vast, which Kurapika finds suspicious. Since Vyrn already accepted the job, Kurapika decides to handle it and brings Skull and Balurga along for guidance. Their trip takes a turn for the worse when their boat sinks, leaving Kurapika stranded atop a glacier.

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Kurapika: That's a stupid request. If it were up to me, I'd refuse it.

Vyrn: You're sure quick to judge!

Kurapika sighs and looks up from his book, displeased that Vyrn is unreceptive to the advice that he himself asked for.

Kurapika: Haven't you ever heard the phrase "too good to be true"?

Kurapika: If the client knows exactly what they lost and where they lost it, why would they shell out fifty million rupies for someone else to find it?

Kurapika: Use your brain for a second and think. There has to be some sort of catch, because otherwise they'd be giving away free money.

Vyrn: Ugh... You didn't have to be so harsh about it...

Vyrn: I get why you'd think that, but the client seemed desperate. Kept sayin' it was the second most important thing to them—after their own life.

Vyrn: It might not be worth much to us, but some things are priceless when they mean something to someone, y'know?

Kurapika: Let me go over the details one more time. They want us to find the time capsule they buried in a cave close to their home village...

Kurapika: But that village is now deserted? I fail to see what kind of danger would justify a reward that large.

Vyrn: Just because no one's around, doesn't mean it ain't risky. Plenty of monsters take over abandoned places...

Kurapika: Even if entering can be unsafe, that still doesn't answer my question.

Kurapika: Skyfarers are regularly hired to handle all sorts of bandits and monsters. This shouldn't be anything special.

Vyrn: I guess that's true... But we've also gotta consider a different problem.

Vyrn: The client's from an island called North Vast, and it's... not the easiest place to get around.

Kurapika: North Vast... I've heard a thing or two about it.

Kurapika: Commonly referred to as a barren wasteland, it's the least hospitable island in Phantagrande.

Kurapika: At one point, it was controlled by a heinous group of individuals called the Odajumoki.

Vyrn: Your info's spot on! The Odajumoki's not around anymore, but the cold and snow aren't goin' away anytime soon.

Vyrn: That, plus the lack of settlements means that you're in real trouble if you run into any mishaps.

Kurapika: Hm... I suppose that with everything in consideration this job might be more than a simple search-and-retrieve.

After spending a moment mulling over the information, Kurapika shakes his head in disapproval.

Kurapika: Despite that, I still don't see why the reward would be as high as fifty million.

Kurapika: Perhaps some other danger lurks in the client's home village, or the time capsule itself holds a valuable secret...

Kurapika: Whatever it may be, I'm willing to bet that we don't have the full picture. I'd highly recommend that we refuse this request...

Kurapika: But if I know you, you've already accepted the job out of sympathy.

Vyrn: Urk!

At Kurapika's tired look, Vyrn gulps and glances elsewhere.

Vyrn: I mean... What else was I supposed to do after all that crying and beggin'?

Vyrn: B-but I swear I got (Captain)'s seal of approval before givin' the okay!

Vyrn: We thought something might be fishy too, but it was just too hard to say no...

Kurapika stares in silence at Vyrn's apologetic expression before heaving another sigh.

Kurapika: All right. Vyrn, can you leave this request in my hands?

Vyrn: Huh? But I thought...

Kurapika: My power should come in handy for locating the object and dealing with any traps that might be waiting.

Vyrn: I won't argue with that, but you're not plannin' on going at it alone, are ya?

Kurapika: Don't be ridiculous. I'm not stupid enough to think I can handle unknown, hazardous terrain on my own.

Kurapika: On the other hand, it wouldn't be smart to bring a lot of people on a journey with so many risks involved.

Kurapika: With that in mind, I'd like one or two crew members to join me... Preferably ones that know the lay of the land.

Vyrn: If that's your only criteria, I've got some people in mind, but—

???: Hyahaaa!

Skull: If you're headed for North Vast, then you're gonna need the right crew! Name's Skull!

Balurga: And I'm Balurga! We're your guys!

Skull Jr.: Awooo!

Kurapika: ...

Words fail Kurapika as the rowdy duo and their dog burst into the room.

Skull: We heard everything—including the part where the payout's to die for!

Skull: So if we help out, I just know we'll get a bonus to our allowance! Am I right, or am I right?

Skull: You better believe we're all in on this hustle!

Kurapika: Excuse me? Your allowance?

Skull: What, don't tell me you've never heard of it. You get a small cut whenever you help out with the crew's jobs!

Vyrn: Huh? Oh, yeah...

After giving a hesitant nod, Vyrn flies over to Kurapika for a quiet whisper.

Vyrn: We normally split the rewards equally with everyone who helps...

Vyrn: But these guys always cause a lotta property damage on the ship, so most of their cut goes to paying for it. They only get what's left over.

Kurapika: A paltry amount that could be considered an allowance. That explains it.

Skull: The larger the reward, the bigger our allowance'll be!

Skull: And the bigger that is, the sooner we can pay back our debts and run free! Hyahaaa!

Balurga: Listen up, newbie! Nothing can stop us once we've got our eyes on the prize!

Balurga: Especially not one this rare and this big! We're coming with, no matter what you say!

Kurapika: Vyrn, you and your crew should really reconsider the disposition of the people you let in.

Kurapika: It's not a good look for such vulgar, violent simpletons to be among your ranks.

Balurga: The hell did you just say? You wanna go, tough guy?

Vyrn: Now hold on a second there! Kurapika, if you've got something to say, you can at least put it nicely!

Vyrn: Anyway, if you're lookin' for people who know North Vast inside and out, you won't find anyone better'n these two. I guarantee it.

Kurapika: Really? I find that hard to believe...

Kurapika: (Though I suppose I'm in no position to complain, as I was the one who requested their skill set in the first place.)

Kurapika: (Putting their speech and behavior aside, they should at least be somewhat capable if they're members of the crew.)

Kurapika: Well... I'll take your word for it. You two can come along.

Skull: Hell yeah! We're North Vastian born and bred—the best guides you could ask for!

Skull: Place is basically our backyard! Plus we're sail together, fail together kinda men, so you're in good hands!

Kurapika: Is that your version of "all for one, one for all"?

Letting out another of his signature sighs, Kurapika heads to North Vast with Skull and Balurga in tow.

Kurapika: I didn't expect our attempt to sail to actually fail!

Alone on an icy shore and shivering in the cold, Kurapika glares at the boat he had been on moments ago, now sinking below the water.

Kurapika: Achoo!