A Prompt Anthology

It Began With the Mutiny

"Anchors aweigh my boys!" Move we did not. "Anchors aweigh!" The Captain's face turned as red as the rubies he had lost to the navy. We were a brazen crew, ready for our pound of flesh in restitution.
"Captain Haulsfield, you are to be removed from your post as Captain of The Orbit."
"Who dares speak of mutiny!? Show yourself you cowardly louse." Our delegate pushed their way to the head of the crew, the first signs of a storm in an otherwise calm bay burning within her eyes. "Hah! Just you?"
"No."
"All of us!" It was satisfying watching the picaroon squirm from our cheers.
"I say again, stand down."
"This is my ship and I won't allow you to get your calloused claws on her!"
"Then we shall use force. And, just before I kill you myself, I shall let you see my claws upon The Orbit. Your last thought, your last sight, shall be of me taking her from you." As tense as over extended rigging, we waited for our signal.
"Why are you lot backing her? I'm your Captain and Sharma is a snake. This mutiny proves it! Take her down and continue following me and I will see all of you rewarded for your loyalty." My hand had reached for my dagger before I knew what I was doing. I was eager for action.
"W-Why aren't you moving?" Small beads of sweat began to run down the soon to be removed Captain's forehead.
"Shall we?" Sharma's eyes turned calm, the calm that is only found in the eye of a storm. What have we brought upon ourselves, reward or ruin? The question came too late as we rushed forward to claim what was owed to us, in blood.

"Was this a joke? A century's long jest designed to fool any who would dare be brave enough to attempt to pursue the clues and the promise of their riches?" The crew mumbled something in answer, becoming more interested in their scuffed boots than her frightful presence. "Where is it?" This time they didn't answer at all. "Have you all forgotten how to speak? I know you all still have your tongues because I have yet to cut them from you! Where. Is. It?"
"C-Captain we-" She held up a hand to stop them.
"Oh forget it. Your excuses would only make my mood worse." They step aside and let her pass, the empty cavern flickering in their torchlight, before reluctantly following Sharma back to the ship.

I was summoned to the Captain's cabin which, for the first time since the mutiny, was clearly not providing the comfort Sharma had come to expect. She sat with her feet on the desk, gently leaning back in the large, ornate chair that had once belonged to Haulsfield. "'Far beyond the ice, far beyond the lands of the known, there is one last hidden paradise.' We found that. 'Follow the trails.' Done that too. 'A cavern that glitters will mislead; a trap for the greedy but the cavern that burns will open up the way.' We found it but it opened up into nothing!" She stood up and pushed her papers off the desk in frustration. "Useless riddles and vague maps! Bah!"
"Maybe there's a clue missing? Some final puzzle before-" Our crew interrupted my attempt at calming her down as they began shouting from the deck excitedly.
"What is going on out there?" I followed Captain Sharma as she went to investigate the commotion. We found the rest of the crew shouting and pointing towards the island. A cave that hadn't been there when we landed was glowing with all the intensity of a funeral pyre.
"Captain! Look!"
"Give the orders, we're going back ashore."

"This is it, the burning cavern. I can already feel the jewels upon my skin, that's how close we are." Though the crew followed without hesitation, I was reluctant. The promise of treasure was the only thing that pushed me to that cave entrance but it was the marvel of it that spurred me to continue.
"But- Where's the fire?" I glanced over to the pirate who had spoken. She had a look of curious wonder, not fear, unlike the rest of the crew. I reached out to touch the cave wall and was surprised by its lack of heat.
"The walls feel cold and... slimy"
"You can wonder at the natural world later. We have treasure to find!" Sharma led the expedition with a renewed intensity, focused on finding the treasure she sought.

As the hours passed we found no change in the tunnel around us. No openings, no turns and, most disappointingly, no treasures. The rest of the crew had grown silent leaving only our footsteps to break the otherwise silent trek.
"Has no one seen a bloody turn off?" No one responded. "Have you all again forgotten-"Sharma turned around. "Talon, where did they go?" Her stunned look made me slowly follow suit. The rest of the crew was nowhere in sight. Turning back I found myself standing alone, Captain Sharma having vanished as well.

"Talon! Where did he go? Talon! Answer me you scurvy ridden mudflap! Some first mate he's turned out to be! Ah to the depths with them, there's treasure ahead." Now alone, it wasn't long before I found the tunnel open up before me. In this new cavern I found a field covered in small, deep amethyst flowers; dark and yet glittering in the low-light. A strange mist obscures the cavern walls which still appears to be aflame, just like in the tunnel. Walking further in my heart sinks as the horizon stays stubbornly empty until, after far too long in my opinion, a shadow slowly materializes ahead of me, propelling me forward with urgency to reach my goal lest another treasure seeker beat me to my prize. A greed-fuelled hunger took me over as the stone well, grey and cracked, came into view. I wasn't surprised to find it in such an aged state, the little wooden roof rotting away on top of it, but the bucket in pristine condition that lay beside it was unusual. Leaning over the edge to peer into the well my head swam with the scent of rum and the water itself seemed to shine with a golden aura.

"I take the bucket and-"
"Nope. I'm done. I'm out. This is ridiculous. First, you split off from the rest of the party and now you're going to drown in a well."
"I won't drown... will I?"
"You don't know," the Games Master replied with a sheepish grin.
"Don't trust her. Step away from the well."
"Yeah, step away from the well."
"I say go for it." Everyone at the table went silent. Even the Games Master was stunned.
"What?! It's like you haven't played this game before. We can't trust her." It was clear where the comment was directed but from behind her screen, The Games Master took no offence.
"Look, we don't actually know what it will do, right? So let's find out. Worst case scenario, you have to roll a new character that will, undoubtedly, end up just as problematic as Sharma."
"Gee, thanks."
"We're so close to the end of the campaign, why would you want to support a decision that could lead to their death?"
"Because, Sharma's been rolling like a boss tonight. Think of all that sweet, sweet loot."
"Assuming I even share it."
"Boo."
"So, what's the play?" The players looked from one another unsure until Captain Sharma herself spoke up.
"Alright. I pick up the bucket-"
"With your bare hands?"
"Oh no," whispered Talon.
"No, I'm wearing my fancy leather gloves from that creepy gardener."
"No you're not, they're back at port getting enchanted."
"Shit they are too."
"In that case I need you to make a saving throw."
"You got this."
"Can we assist?"
"We aren't even there."
"So? We can send... good vibes or something?" The Games Master chuckled.
"No, unfortunately you can't assist. Captain Sharma, make the roll." Everyone held their breath as they waited for that familiar sound of dice rolling upon the wooden table to end so the players could learn their fate.