Session 2: Devil’s Deal
Date: October 31, 2025 In-Game Date: 4 days before main party arrival on Hangover Island Party Members: Sylen Vaelmont, Seth (temporary character) DM: Brandon
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Quick Summary
Session 2 follows the duo of Sylen and Seth as they arrive on Hangover Island (also known as Lager Dagger Island) several days before the main party. The session opens with a mysterious figure inviting them to “Snippy the Clown’s Davy Back brawls” at the circus tent.
The central event of the session was Sylen’s acquisition of the Horu Horu no Mi (Hormone-Hormone Fruit) from a mysterious purple-robed merchant in a dark alley for 30,000 berries down payment with 2,970,000 berries owed within three islands. Shortly after consuming the fruit, the pair encounter a shipwreck with injured merchants. Sylen helps heal the wounded using conventional medical techniques, earning recognition as “Dr. Silent” among the locals.
Meanwhile, Seth investigates the shipwreck and gets into a violent brawl with four scavenger thugs, resulting in multiple deaths. The duo loots 40,000 berries from the bodies and Seth acquires a comedic portrait of a fish. The session ends with them arriving at The Tipsy Bartender tavern where a skeleton man greets them, and they learn about the Blade Festival hosted by King Ilur of Lager Dagger.
This session provides crucial backstory for Sylen’s character and establishes his presence on the island before the main party’s arrival.
Timeline of Events
Pre-Island Arrival
- 4 days before main party - Sylen and Seth’s timeline begins
- Mysterious figure in long coat approaches on docks
- Invitation to Snippy the Clown’s Davy Back brawls extended
- “There’s always a winner” - Snippy takes 10% cut
Island Exploration & Devil Fruit Purchase
- Dark Alley Encounter - Seth and Sylen enter dark alley with ominous wind
- White-Haired Stranger - Young man with white hair and aviator jacket playing with strings bumps into Sylen; Seth immediately grabs him aggressively
- Seth’s Eye Injury - Seth looks directly at sun (NAT 1 constitution check), goes blind in left eye, Sylen patches him
- The Merchant - Old man in dark purple robes with purple flame lanterns appears
- Devil Fruit Purchase - Sylen purchases Horu Horu no Mi for 30,000 berries down, 2,970,000 owed in three islands
- Fruit Consumption - Sylen eats Hormone-Hormone Fruit while looking at sun, gains needle-like finger claws
Shipwreck Incident
- Distress Call - Commotion at shore, people on stretchers from wrecked merchant vessel
- Medical Aid - Sylen rushes to help wounded, stabilizes 3 of 4 victims using conventional medicine (bandages, pressure, stitching)
- “Dr. Silent” Born - Locals give Sylen the nickname after he helps while saying only “Silent” as his name
- Seth’s Looting - Seth runs to shipwreck to scavenge for treasure
Combat with Scavenger Thugs
- Ambush - Four scavenger thugs attack Seth with guns and cutlass
- Seth Rages - Uses barbarian rage, massive leap (15ft jump) onto ship
- Brutal Combat - Throwing people, anchor, barrels, cutlass; Sylen arrives mid-combat
- First Hormone Use - Sylen uses Calcitonin injection on Seth (+1d4 damage buff)
- Burning Hands - Sylen casts fire spell (3d6 damage, 15ft cone)
- Casualties - Most thugs knocked unconscious, one dies from falling and breaking neck
- Looting - Seth finds “Time to Kick Some Bass” portrait; Sylen loots 40,000 berries
- Escape - Duo leaves bodies on burning ship, no pursuit
Tavern Arrival
- Seagull News Vendor - Charges 1,000 berries for newspaper
- Newspaper Contents:
- Ajou Restaurant Fire (boat restaurant burned, “gas leak” cover story, Marines arrived)
- Blade Festival Announcement (King Ilur initiates festival, held every 3 years)
- The Tipsy Bartender - Tavern on northern/upper level of island
- Skeleton Host - Well-dressed skeleton man greets them, charges 1,000 berries for drinks, 10,000 berries for room (negotiated to 5,000)
- Session End - Skeleton asks them to tell their story
Locations Visited
Hangover Island / Lager Dagger Island
Description: Multi-level island (Animal Crossing-style terrain) with waterfall and civilized buildings. Northern section has upper level accessible by stairs/slopes. Island name suggests heavy drinking culture. Contrary to typical pirate island expectations, appears relatively well-developed.
Notable Areas:
- Docks/Shore - Where merchant shipwreck occurred, stretchers brought to hospital
- Dark Alley - Ominous location with purple-robed merchant’s stall, two purple flame lanterns
- White Building (Hospital) - Tall white building, described as “full” during shipwreck incident
- Circus Tent Location - Far west side of island, hosts Davy Back brawls run by Snippy the Clown
- The Tipsy Bartender - Tavern with rooms available on northern/upper level, run by skeleton man in fine clothing
Shipwrecked Vessel
Description: Small 2-3 person traveling merchant vessel, approximately 15ft tall from ground, wrecked on shore with holes in hull. Contains multiple barrels, empty chests, anchor, wooden planks. Portrait of fish hung on wall. Boat caught fire from Burning Hands spell but only produced steam.
NPCs Encountered
Mysterious Purple-Robed Merchant
Appearance: Old man, bottom half of face covered by purple robe Location: Dark alley with two purple flame lanterns Items Sold: Horu Horu no Mi (Hormone-Hormone Fruit) - double helix shape with counterclockwise to clockwise swirls Price: 3,000,000 berries (30,000 down, 2,970,000 due by third island) Behavior: Cryptic, warned “it’s best that you have what is due” by third island, disappeared after sale
Quotes:
- “I only have one item. I think it belongs to one of you. Depending on your journey.”
- “Well, like I said, stranger, just make sure you pay me the additional 970,000. Otherwise no one’s seeing me.”
- “Wish you the best of luck on your journey, stranger.”
White-Haired Young Man
Appearance: White hair, aviator/bomber jacket, playing with strings between fingers (making shapes like Eiffel Tower) Behavior: Aloof, preoccupied with string manipulation Incident: Accidentally bumped into Sylen, Seth immediately grabbed him by collar and interrogated
Possible Significance: Jackson suspects he was “supposed to be a friend somehow, like he’s supposed to be a smart guy” - potential future ally or plot character
Snippy the Clown (Mentioned)
Role: Runs Davy Back brawls at circus tent, takes 10% cut Location: Circus tent on far west side Recruiter in Long Coat: Approached Seth and Sylen on docks Quote: “Say, you seem in need of coin. You fancy yourself a betting man? Either of you two come by Snippy the Clown’s Davy Back brawls? There’s always a winner. Come to the circus tent in the far west. But always remember, Snippy always gets his 10%.”
Shipwreck Victims
Number: 4 people on stretchers Condition: Covered in contusions, open cuts, severe injuries First Victim: Pulled Sylen down by shirt, begging “Please help me” Outcome: Sylen stabilized 3 of 4 victims using conventional medicine before leaving
Scavenger Thugs (4 total)
Equipment: Flintlock pistols, cutlass swords Behavior: Immediately shot at Seth without warning when he approached shipwreck Combat Stats: ~12-13 HP each, AC ~16 Loot: 40,000 berries total (10,000 each) Fate: 3 knocked unconscious, 1 died from fall damage and broken neck
The Skeleton Man (Tavern Host)
Appearance: Skeleton wearing fine clothing Role: Bartender/owner of The Tipsy Bartender Personality: Welcoming, conversational, interested in guests’ stories Prices: 1,000 berries per drink, 10,000 berries per room (negotiable to 5,000) Design Note: Inspired by Brook from One Piece but not direct copy
Quotes:
- “What brings you to this island?”
- “If it’s just the one person, we can do 5,000.”
- “Make yourselves home, you know. We host many people here on Hangover Island.”
- “Why don’t you tell me your story?”
King Ilur of Lager Dagger (Mentioned in Newspaper)
Title: Chief of the Lager Darien Daggers Event: Hosts Blade Festival every 3 years Status: Undefeated, seeking challengers Note: Players arrived 4 days before this character’s death in main timeline
Items & Loot
Devil Fruit - Horu Horu no Mi (Hormone-Hormone Fruit)
Type: Paramecia Appearance: Double helix/DNA structure shape, swirling designs from counterclockwise to clockwise Owner: Sylen Vaelmont Cost: 3,000,000 berries (30,000 paid, 2,970,000 owed) Payment Terms: Balance due by end of third island visited Physical Manifestation: Retractable needle-like claws from fingernails (syringe-style)
Abilities Unlocked:
- Adrenaline/Epinephrine Injection: Heals 2d6 + target’s Constitution modifier temporary HP, bonus action, touch range, 2 targets maximum
- Calcitonin Injection: +1d4 damage to physical attacks, supports bone health/density, lasts ongoing, bonus action, touch range, 2 targets maximum
Future Abilities Discussed (not yet unlocked):
- Oxytocin - Mind control/charm effect
- Gender Transformation - Using hormones to change appearance
Currency & Valuables
40,000 Berries - Looted from 4 thug bodies by Sylen
- Party started with: Seth (0 berries), Sylen (50,000 berries)
- Sylen now has: 90,000 berries (but owes 2,970,000)
Portrait of Fish
Description: “Time to Kick Some Bass” plaque-style portrait Location Found: Shipwrecked merchant vessel wall Owner: Seth took it, rolled it up Significance: Unknown, possibly comedic trophy
Medical Supplies
Quantity: 3 “moomoo milks” (healing potions) between Seth and Sylen Carrier: Sylen holds all party supplies (Seth has no backpack) Other Supplies: Doctor’s bag with bandages, stitching needles, basic medical equipment
Character Moments
Sylen Vaelmont (Jackson - Priest)
The Debt Decision: Despite Seth’s encouragement to “just take the fruit and run,” Sylen insisted on paying 30,000 berries down payment, showing his moral character and sense of obligation to honor debts.
Healer’s Instinct: When hearing the distress call about shipwreck victims, Sylen immediately ran to help while Seth ran to loot the ship, establishing the core difference in their moralities.
“Dr. Silent” is Born: Stabilized multiple critically injured merchants using conventional medicine, earning the nickname “Dr. Silent” from grateful crowds. This reputation will persist when main party arrives.
First Fruit Use: After eating the Devil Fruit, Sylen’s first action was to help Seth in combat by injecting him with Calcitonin (bone-strengthening hormone), demonstrating his support-focused mindset.
Burning Hands Revelation: Used fire magic (3d6 damage, 15ft cone) for first time in combat, hitting both enemies and Seth, showing he has offensive capabilities despite being primarily a healer.
Quotes:
- “I believe my friend would be interested in that, but I don’t think I would be.” (declining brawl invitation)
- “I simply say silent, and then go back to helping.” (introducing himself while healing)
- “I hope this doesn’t hurt.” (before injecting Seth for first time)
- “That’s really immoral.” (regarding keeping enemies on “cusp of life and death” for experiments)
Relationships:
- Seth: Childhood best friend from the Belmont (orphanage/prostitution house), serves as responsible/moral compass
- Mysterious Merchant: Owes 2,970,000 berries due in 3 islands
Seth (Dustin - Barbarian, temporary character)
The Sun Incident: Looked directly at sun (NAT 1), went blind in left eye, had to be patched by Sylen. This has happened “probably the 30th time” according to Seth, establishing pattern of reckless behavior.
Instant Aggression: Immediately grabbed white-haired stranger by collar after accidental bump, asked Sylen “Did he steal anything from you?” showing paranoid, aggressive tendencies.
Loot Before Lives: When shipwreck victims were dying, Seth’s immediate instinct was to run to ship and loot it, contrasting sharply with Sylen’s healing response.
Human Projectile Combat: Picked up unconscious thug and threw him at another thug, dealing 9 damage to both, showcasing creative improvised weapon use.
The Accidental Kill: Despite claiming he wanted to spare enemies, Seth slammed thug’s head into anchor causing him to fall off ship and die from broken neck. Seth’s response: “That’s on him. He did that, not me.”
Bass Portrait: Only thing Seth found valuable on entire shipwreck was comedic fish portrait, showing his simple priorities.
Quotes:
- “Silent. I’m gonna need your help again. It happened again. It’s happened again, bud.” (after blinding himself)
- “I have no money. You are the responsible one. Yeah. You’re holding.”
- “He’s never gonna find us, bro. Just take the fruit.” (encouraging Sylen to run from debt)
- “I got the goods, bro.” (showing off bass portrait)
- “He did that, not me. That’s on them. I didn’t do the kill.” (denying responsibility for death)
Fate: Temporary character. Seth will likely be left behind at brawling pits before main party arrives. NOT joining main crew.
Shared Dynamic
Codependent Brotherhood: Seth and Sylen are best friends from childhood at “the Belmont” (orphanage/prostitution establishment). Neither knew their fathers. Repeating pattern: Seth does something reckless, Sylen saves/heals him.
Moral Contrast:
- Sylen immediately helps wounded strangers | Seth immediately loots during crisis
- Sylen pays debts and follows rules | Seth encourages breaking promises
- Sylen uses conventional medicine to hide powers | Seth uses maximum violence then claims innocence
Combat Synergy: Despite personality differences, they work well together - Sylen buffs Seth with hormones while Seth tanks damage and deals with threats physically.
Combat Encounters
Shipwreck Scavenger Fight
Participants: Seth (Barbarian level 3) vs 4 Thug Scavengers, Sylen (Priest level 3) arrived mid-combat
Enemy Stats:
- HP: ~12-13 each
- AC: ~13-16 average
- Equipment: Flintlock pistols (1d6+2), cutlass (1d6)
Terrain: 15ft tall shipwrecked merchant vessel with barrels, anchor, holes in hull
Battle Highlights:
- Round 1: Thug shoots Seth for 5 damage; Seth enters rage, uses Massive Leap (15ft jump) onto ship, attacks twice
- Round 2: Seth throws unconscious thug at another (9 damage to both), Sylen arrives and uses Burning Hands (3d6 fire, 15ft cone, 7 damage), kills one thug
- Round 3-5: Continued melee with improvised weapons - Seth uses barrel, anchor, cutlass; Sylen provides Calcitonin buff and healing
- Final Round: Seth shoves thug, slams head into anchor, thug falls 15ft, breaks neck and dies
Results:
- 2 thugs dead (Burning Hands + broken neck)
- 2 knocked unconscious
- Party Damage: Seth took 12 total, Sylen took 13
- Loot: 40,000 berries, bass portrait
- No witnesses
Notable Combat Mechanics:
- Improvised Weapons: Seth used people, barrels, anchor, cutlass as thrown weapons
- Rage Benefits: Half damage from physical, advantage on STR checks
- Fall Damage: 1d6 per 10ft
- Bleeding: 1 damage per turn from lodged cutlass
Mysteries & Hooks
The 3 Million Berry Debt
The Deal: Sylen owes mysterious purple-robed merchant 2,970,000 berries due “by the end of the third island.”
Questions:
- Who is this merchant?
- Will he actually find them?
- What happens if they don’t pay?
- Merchant warned “it’s best that you have what is due”
Threat Level: High - ominous warning suggests severe consequences
Four Days Before Main Party
Timeline: This session takes place 4 days before main party’s arrival
Established:
- Seth as drunk at tavern
- Sylen as “Dr. Silent” who saved lives
- Shipwreck with dead bodies potentially discovered
- Newspaper dated 4 days older
Questions:
- What happens to Seth before main party arrives?
- Will main party encounter “Dr. Silent” reputation?
- How will Sylen join main party?
King Ilur’s Fate
Newspaper: Announces King Ilur hosting Blade Festival, undefeated for 3 years
Known from Main Timeline: This character is already dead when main party arrives
Questions:
- How does he die?
- Is Seth involved since he’s looking for brawling?
- Does this tie into Session 1’s events?
The White-Haired String Man
Encounter: Young man with aviator jacket obsessively playing with strings, making shapes
Suspicious Elements:
- Jackson suspects he’s “supposed to be a friend somehow, a smart guy”
- Playing with strings between fingers (Devil Fruit power?)
- Aloof behavior
- In exact right location for “random” bump
Questions:
- What are his powers?
- Is he Devil Fruit user?
- Will he return as ally or enemy?
The Ajou Restaurant Fire
Newspaper: Claims “gas leak” with “crazy owner” but main party knows they burned it down
Questions:
- Are Marines covering it up?
- Is someone else being blamed?
- Why is this story being published if it “shouldn’t even have happened”?
The Shipwreck Mystery
Incident: Merchant vessel wrecked on shore with wounded crew
Questions:
- Who were the merchants?
- Why were they attacked?
- Were scavenger thugs just opportunistic or was this planned?
- Ship had empty chests and barrels - already looted before Seth arrived?
The Belmont Connection
Background: Seth and Sylen grew up at “the Belmont” - orphanage/prostitution establishment. Neither knew fathers.
Questions:
- Why that specific name?
- Is Vaelmont derived from Belmont?
- What’s the history of this place?
- Will it be relevant to plot?
Seth’s Ultimate Fate
DM Statement: “Creating a rival or a future enemy” not teammate
Questions:
- Will Seth betray Sylen?
- Become corrupted by fighting pits?
- Challenge main party when they arrive?
- Die in brawling tournament?
Status: Dustin explicitly said Seth won’t join main party
Session Statistics
Combat Metrics
- Encounters: 1 major combat
- Enemies Defeated: 4 thugs (2 dead, 2 unconscious)
- Rounds: 6-7 rounds
- Party Damage Taken: Seth 12, Sylen 13
- Damage Dealt: Seth ~35+, Sylen ~10+
- Healing Used: 6+ HP via Healing Word
- Resources Spent: 1 rage use, spell slots, 1 Calcitonin charge
Economic Activity
- Spent: 37,000 berries (30k fruit, 2k newspaper/drinks, 5k room)
- Earned: 40,000 berries (thug bodies)
- Net: +3,000 berries
- Outstanding Debt: 2,970,000 berries (due in 3 islands)
- Current Holdings: Sylen ~93,000 berries, Seth 0 berries
Character Progression
- Sylen: Gained Horu Horu no Mi powers, earned “Dr. Silent” reputation, first combat spell cast
- Seth: Temporary character, no permanent progression, one eye temporarily blinded
NPCs Introduced
- Purple-robed merchant (disappeared)
- White-haired string man (departed)
- Long coat recruiter (departed)
- 4 shipwreck victims (saved 3)
- 4 scavenger thugs (2 dead, 2 unconscious)
- Skeleton bartender (ongoing)
- Seagull newsvendor (transactional)
Locations Discovered
- Hangover Island/Lager Dagger Island
- Dark alley with purple flames
- Shipwreck site
- White hospital building
- The Tipsy Bartender tavern
- Circus tent location (mentioned)
Best Quotes
Comedy/Character
- “Silent. I’m gonna need your help again. It happened again.” - Seth after looking at sun (30th+ time)
- “He’s never gonna find us, bro. Just take the fruit.” - Seth encouraging fraud
- “Time to kick some bass.” - Fish portrait Seth considers greatest treasure
- “I got the goods, bro.” - Seth showing off bass portrait vs Sylen’s 40k berries
- “I hope this doesn’t hurt.” - Sylen before first needle injection
- “Seth strong. You punch.” - Seth roleplaying increased bone density
Dramatic/Story
- “I only have one item. I think it belongs to one of you. Depending on your journey.” - Purple-robed merchant
- “Well, like I said, stranger, just make sure you pay me the additional 970,000. Otherwise no one’s seeing me.” - Ominous debt warning
- “Please help me.” - Dying merchant grabbing Sylen’s shirt
- “I simply say silent, and then go back to helping.” - Birth of “Dr. Silent”
Philosophy/Morality
- “That’s on him. He did that, not me.” - Seth denying responsibility for causing death
- “That’s really immoral.” - Sylen when Seth suggests torture/experimentation
Tags: session session-02 sylen-backstory devil-fruit horu-horu-no-mi hangover-island dr-silent debt seth shipwreck
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