Devil's Luck: One Piece D&D

Prologue

Fate is a curious thing. It's said that fate drives all aspect of life and the universe in perpetuity. It pushes each bird, bear and beast. It brings direction to every dog, cat... even geese. Whether possessing the stature of a minute ant or the silent humility of a steadfast plant, we are all woven into the silky threads of fate.

"Did I mention I'm really proud of the rhymes I made there? They're great right?! I'm really proud of them! Don't take this away from me okay!!! Anyway, where was I again? Oh that's right! Ahem."

However, fate is not some iron-clad prison that locks us into an immovable, linear path. No, on the contrary it is but a tool that allows us to choose a way forward; a road that meets our wishes, expectation and our wildest dreams.

However, even beyond that, fate boasts an ability that is truly magnificent to behold. It's delicate threads run concurrently but never quite seem to display parallelism. Instead they are often deeply intertwined in an interconnected web that binds us all together. Fate has a unique tendency to bring those whom share a proud destiny towards each other and all the better for it. Hand me one stick, I'll snao it in two. Hand me a bundle and not even the outermost members shall splinter. As the saying goes: alone we may shake a mountain but together we can move the world.

Many examples of this have reared their heads in this bygone era, from the bloodthirsty Big Mom Pirates to the benevolent Whitebeard Crew. Despite all of it's members standing as pillars of ultimate power, the Rocks Pirates could never align their goals and stand as one and it was because of this that fate pulled them apart, leading the tyrannical army to it's downfall.

Though, while Rocks casted highlight on the dark shadow of fate, there was one who proved its blessings. There was one man who always believed in the power of fate. He knew that fate was not merely some trifling serendipity but a tool that could only be forged by one's ambitions. He knew that sitting and looking out of the windows at his home would craft a fate of entrapment, jailing him to a tiny space forevermore. However this could not be further from his ideals. He grew tired of seeing the world live in unspoken oppression and he longed to spread his wings and free himself of these hindering shackles. Thus, it was so he set out to sea flying a symbol of self-made fate characterized by freedom: the Jolly Roger. He came to be known by many names: pirate, fiend, criminal, thief... but whatever one's opinion of the man, a single title was echoed universally across and lands and seas. The Pirate King, Gold Roger.

One by one, Roger amassed a crew of the hardiest men this world had ever borne witness to, and together they travelled the planet searching for adventures and ecstasy. Their journeys led them to every nook and cranny as they explored the unknown thrills of joyful independence. The Roger Pirates were never all of the same mind, dreams or ambitions but what they had was a shared and understood goal to stand with their brothers as one and prop each other up on a shared journey.
Roger always bore his heart and dreams on his sleeve. He never shied away from it knowing that the fate built by himself and his allies had brought them together inseparably; he had no reason to fear for his insecurities for as long as they drew breath, his friends would protect and raise him as he would for them. It was with this that they achieved the impossible. On his final journey, Roger conquered all of the oceans, discovering it to the fullest. He had finally achieved true freedom.

Roger's benignant conquest had begun to stir the hearts of many a man, woman and child. Feared by the Marines and adored by the people, the World Government knew it could allow him to reign no longer but over countless nights and unending attempts, the Navy could not reign in the splendour of the Pirate King. The World Government and the Marines were at a complete loss until one day, Roger appeared before them in his own. Turning himself in, Roger made them believe their break had finally come. Little did they know this had all been part of his infallible, perfect scheme.

Roger had been cursed. He wished only to see the world rejoice and live freely, and he had made progress towards this end. Even so, he needed just that much longer to see it true. However, as fate would have it, his time on the world had been stolen by an incurable disease. He would not last to see the foundations he built to fruition. Yet he could not simply leave. He needed one final push, and his capture was the penultimate stage in his quest to send the people forth. Less than two decades ago, as he kneeled on the scaffolds, the platform of his execution, Roger voiced a declaration that shook the planet to the core.

"Inherited will... the tide of times... people's dreams... As long as people seek the answer of freedom, these things will never cease to be. My treasure? If you want it, you can have it. Find it! I left everything this world has to offer there, in One Piece!"

With those words he roused the fighting spirits of the people and ignited in their hearts the burning will to pursue an unshackled fate. Single-handedly, Roger heralded the Golden Age of Pirates, an age in which the winds of fate favoured those in pursuit of liberation as they crossed paths, formed bonds and marched forward in hopes of achieving the elusive treasure and the crown as the new King of the Pirates.

However, this story isn't one of a man seeking to stand above all. Rather, it is one of humble beginnings and one motley crew with hearts of gold... even if sometimes of questionable moral ambiguity.