Enacting A Grand Plan

"Heheh! That was easy!" Said a big man to his cohorts as they dragged their spoils back to their camp through the jungle. "What did I tell ya? Wipe out the stupid small fries first for some easy pickings!"

"You said it, Boss!" One of the guys said grinning as he yanked on a rope leading several mostly stripped female figures bound with bags over their heads. "We even got some Characters! Can't wait to break a few of them in!" He gulped as the big man gave him a hard look. "Uh, after you of course... a-and only the ones you aren't keeping for yourself?"

"I'm keeping them all!"The big man grunted. "But you guys play your cards right and sure... I'll let you play with them." He'd managed to gather a few guys together. Sure they were just a small crew, for now, but they were able to take out weaker groups of contestants easily. "The key is picking them off early!" He said grinning. "Eliminating them before they band together or get stronger is the right idea. When we get back to camp we'll have some fun! I'll toss you guys some of my leftovers after I finish breaking them in! Stick with me guys and it'll only get... better? Hey who's whistling? Quit it stupid!"

But when he turned back all his guys were looking around shaking their heads. "Not us," one said.

"Hey... Anybody seen Andy?" Asked another.

Another gulped. "Norman is missing too!"

A whistle floated from the darkness, high to low note... then another answering it. Then two more together. "Shit! Now two more are missing!"

There was a whistling sound and two guys went down. "Ough..." "Fuck! I'm hit!"

"Show yourselves!" The big man demanded looking around wildly.

The high low whistle sounded again and again seemingly all around as first one man in a black hat stood up from the bushes. Then another stepped out from behind a tree. Then another appeared... and another and another and another!

"Shit! They got us surrounded!"

Roman had stepped out in the path directly infront of them. He pushed his hat up whistling and smiling cockily as he played his bluff. He, Knives, Burt and Carlos had dropped a few of them quietly. Hopefully enough to start them freaking out. After all... these guys had already fought some battles and some were wounded and exhausted. And they were obviously amateur hour in his opinion. But even amateurs could be unpredictably dangerous. "Evening. Toss your weapons."

He watched as half them immediately did and the other half almost did before their leader, a particularly large man giving of ugly bastard vibes, said, "Who's going to make us! You? Well you'll have to take mine fro-Ooohhh!"

Roman hadn't hesitated. These guys had been pushed hard by their "leader" and were on the verge of breaking. Only this loud mouthed bully was holding them together. So an example had to be made and as far as Roman was concerned this guy had just volunteered... which was good because he was always going to be first. So he brought his cane up right between the guys legs.Hard.

As the big guy dropped to his knees groaning and the others winced Roman smiled kicking the man's weapon, a katana, away from where he had dropped it. "Would you look at that? You already moved on to step two! Everybody kneel... Now!"

That did the trick as everyone else tossed away their weapons and then immediately knelt down on their knees. Roman grinned. This was the theatrically fun part! It was important to keep the audience... captive. Both figuratively and literally in this case.

He started pacing back and forth twirling his cane as Knives and the new guys, Burt and Carlos, disarmed the bunch and watched and searched them. "You lot have been having quite the night! Running around, attacking and looting smaller groups and individuals, taking their shit- not that there's anything wrong with that exactly because... that is exactly what we are going to do to each and every single one of you!" He said thumping his cane to punctuate every other word as he paced back and forth.

"However!" He said spinning to face them grinning. "Have I got some good news for you! We got a few little twists! Option B! Any of you who don't resist? Who make this go nice and easy? We are only going to take half your shit! Ain't that nice! Don't you feel lucky? After we're done taking half of your shit, the half we decide that we want of course, you all get to keep your half! Infact from now on we will help you keep your shit! That's right! From now on you all will work for us and inexchage for half of what you produce, make, scavenge, hunt or discover you get protected! Or option C! You join us! In which case you'll be one of us. You'll be entitled and guaranteed a fair and equal share in each venture you participate in. Loot, tokens, Characters. And you'll do and offer the same to every group you run into! From now on you will collect half of their stuff and give them protection too!"

"I don't get it," Burt said.

Carlos sighed. "Seriously? It's not that complicated, my man. We're going to rob them."

Burt nodded. "No, that part I get! And robbing robbers is actually really smart because they're definitely going to have the best loot! That's some genius Robin da Hood level shit, Boss!" He said grinning.

"Thanks," Roman said smiling. The guy wasn't exactly smart but he was eager. He could respect that. "What part don't you understand?"

"Why only take half of their shit?" Burt asked scratching his chin. "I'm sure you got your reasons but wouldn't it be better to take it all? And this recruiting and protecting stuff seems unnecessary. Can you explain it to me?"

"Sure," Roman said. "A one time big score is easier in a way. Less complicated... but that's just it. It only works once. The longer people stay "in the game", the greater the pay off for all! That's something everyone understands, right?"

"Right," Burt said nodding. "That's true."

"It's a protection racket," Carlos said. "The more people who get in on it, the more rewards and revenue it generates. And the more people start actively joining us and participating in it, the bigger rewards we all keep collecting and it will all keep coming in over and over time! The robber types ain't going to want to fight as hard if they can keep half. Easy come, easy go after all... and if they join up they get shares in future raids instead? Keeping half of the take and staying in the game is way better than losing everything! Nobody wants that! If they stop judt being "robbers" and get on board with "pirate protectors" instead and collecting tribute for their services we all benefit long-term."

"Oh-kay," Burt said. "It's a bit complicated but I understand it now." He smirked. "We'll be like kings and stuff!"

Roman nodded. "That's the basic idea but not quite. It also means we got to actually protect folks and our investments in them too. Create a sort of order out of this chaos. Which benefits everyone even those at the bottom. We set up some very basic rules or laws, stuff that's in everyone's best interest like "no stealing from anyone in the group" and "no touching anothers property without permission" and enforce them aggressively."

Knives nodded. She liked that part of the plan. "With order people will start to form communities and trade with each other. It is a bit heavy handed but it could work."

Roman shrugged. "There's almost no way or chance to do it "fairly" or "nicely". The game and it's free for all systems and rules, or lack there of, aren't setup for that. Realistically it just ain't feasible with the current situation. Coercing and cajoling folks to get on board ain't going to work with everybody's self interests on the line. But a simple and rigid hierarchy of sorts with a strong leader? A "pirate" style of self goverance of sorts? I gaurantee that's better than what is happening all over right now in small fledgling wannabe bandit groups. Because the first people getting a raw deal in those groups ain't the people their robbing. It's the others in the group living under a bullies thumb. We're just going to go to the next logical step and do it first! And being first and thinking ahead gives everyone a nice advantage."

Burt nodded. "But what about those bullies that are already in a "leadership" position? They probably ain't going to like having their status quo upset. Ain't they going to be difficult to deal with?"

Roman nodded. "Then they'll just have to be made examples of for everyone. That's true of every gang."

"Fu-fuck you!" Spat the big guy clutching his balls. "No deal. I'm the leader here and I ain't doing things your way!"

Roman smiled and shrugged. "Fair enough. No sale, huh? Well can't say we didn't try!" He whirled his cane and swung to hit the guy. The big man lifted one arm so Roman hooked it with the cane and pulled him face first into his knee breaking his nose with a crunch that made the others flinch. He struck him savagely again and then a third time. He checked his bracer and everyone heard the coin and gameover sounds as Roman was awarded all their leaders things upon defeat and their former leader was cashed out of the game.

"Woo!" Roman said grinning and strutting. "I do so love a pay day! Thanks for playing!" He leveled and pointed his cane at the crowd on their knees slowly sweeping it in everyone's direction so they all got a menacing look at it. "Now let's try talking to someone more reasonable... who's your second in command?"

All eye's unconsciously flicked to a blonde lady who had been leading the string of male Characters they'd seized. She gulped audibly. Things had been going so well. She'd joined a strong group. The leader was a prick... but as one of the few women she'd likely have been able to lay a claim to one of the male characters... and now those plans and hopes had all gone to shit... potentially. "I am."

Roman tapped her on the shoulder with his cane and asked calmly, "And what's your name?"

The woman licked her lips but raised their head to meet his gaze with her clear blue eyes. "Darlene. My name is Darlene but everyone just calls me Dee."

Roman smiled. "Dee, it is. What do you say Dee?"

Darlene thought it over... and it didn't take her long at all. "Half of our stuff is yours."

Roman held her gaze and tilted his head. "And...?"

Darlene looked at the others and already saw their acceptance and even eagerness under a potentially "fair" new boss. She nodded. "And I...We...We'd be happy to work for you... Sir."

Roman smiled and nodded. "Good answer, Dee. Welcome to the Champions of the Island and congrats on joining the "winning" team!"

-later-

"You're sure?" Darlene asked.

Roman looked up from the tallying of the spoils. He'd just made his first major token purchase earlier... a series of several ledgers, pens and a safe. The books were made of high-quality weather resistant materials and so were the pens with ink that wouldn't run. Each had a quality lock and key clasp made of durable materials like the safe they'd be keeping them in. Any well run enterprise like this one hoped to be would require record keeping. That's what made an organization, organized after all. Records and logistics. Luckily, though he looked like a modern-day pirate, Carlos actually worked in supply in the teal world. Roman had quickly appointed him as their organisation's Quartermaster. "Problem, Dee?"

She shook her head. "No, I just... don't you want more?"

Roman shook his head. "I'm a man of my word. Half is half. We get to pick of course and we're taking the nicer, choice bits but I'm leaving you exactly half as close as we can reckon and the important stuff. Weapons, gear, packs and supplies... because you'll need it. Is there a problem with that?"

Darlene shook her head. "No. Hell no! I just figured that... well, you know..."

Roman smiled. "You figured we'd be taking all the Characters and leaving you all just the slim pickings? No. We are taking them, well I am because upon defeating your leader they became my property... but that's just temporary. They're a precious resource and they're going directly into the pool of spoils. Afterwards we're going to try to give everyone a fair chance at getting to claim one of them for themselves. That's fair. Though I do suggest you take one for yourself personally as befitting your new status, Dee. Just like Pirates, Captains, Officers and those who fought "with distinction" get first picks of booty and that includes you."

Darlene actually smiled. "That's fair... and good advice. Thanks, Roman."

Roman nodded. "I know. They were the big guys property since their rights transfered over to me. Let me guess. He was gonna keep half of them exclusively and pimp the rest out to all of you?"

Darlene smiled bitterly and nodded. "Rewards for "loyalty", is what he was going to call it."

Roman shrugged. "That's some selfish asshole thinking. You all can do with your individual Characters what you want and such but there's no reason for one guy to have all of them exclusively or wven a huge majority." He smirked. "Though power isn't without it's privileges. We are going to try making the shares as equal as possible, that's just good for morale, but it's difficult with Characters and there is something to be said for expediency. Anybody who doesn't get one now should get consideration for one later on or have the chance to "buy" them with their tokens or whatever. Were using pirate articles for now until we think of something better. As the Captain of this little enterprise I get a double share. You and the other "officers" get a share and a half and everyone else gets an equal share. Fair?"

"More than fair, Roman," Darlene said smiling. "I really think you're on to something with this plan!"

Roman grinned and clapped her on the shoulder. "I like you, Dee. You're smart and you get it. I think you're going to be a big earner but tell me something?"

"Sure. Anything!" She said.

Roman smiled raising an eyebrow. "You sure you ain't just a little pissed off? No loyalty to your former, boss?"

Darlene smiled and shook her head. "Honestly? Not even a little. You're giving all of us a much fairer shake than he ever did. So... No. I don't miss that asshole at all." She did smirk though. "Can I tell you something else? Honestly?"

Roman nodded. "Of course! I hope you'll always be honest with me, Dee."

Darkene grinned. "Well "Champions" is a bit much, don't you think?"

Roman laughed. "Maybe but it's catchy, right? Everybody loves a good name! Makes them feel like a "winner"! Never underestimate the allure of joining "the winning" side! Even if not everyone makes to the end of this game and crosses the imaginary finish line, the longer they're here, the more they potentially earn for themselves and the more chances to lay claim to some Characters."

She nodded. "Yeah, I get that. It's a way to turn the new system on it's head so everyone walks away with something. But in the end... there's only one winner."

Roman smiled and put his arm around Darlene's shoulder. "Maybe so... But later on, at home with their winnings and Characters, every one of them can claim they were part of the "Champions" team and fondly reminisce, right? "Those were the good times when I was a part of that," they can say to themselves and each other."

She smiled and nodded. "Seems a bit grandiose but yeah, I guess I can see that."

Roman nodded and shrugged. "Well I'm not the best with names. It'll do for now until we think of something better, yeah? Good. From humble beginnings we'll grow and run this game our way! Today's enemy is tomorrow's ally and right now People, Primes and Characters, are this islands greatest resource. Don't ever forget that. Now," he said grinning. "Now... Let's divvy up some booty!"

[Roman Stark and Knives Chau

Will Return In

Dividing The Spoils, Enforcing Order & Claiming A New Girl. Introducing...

Coming Soon]