The Merchant of Mystery
Pick Your Peril: The Hero of Mudtown
(This is part of a series of choose-your-own-adventure articles. If you want to start from the beginning, click here.)
The man tending to the display of trinkets is a scrawny little merchant wearing fine clothing.
He spots you and greets you with a smile as soon as you step towards his table.
“Ah yes! Welcome… welcome!” The Merchant leads you over to his inventory and presents his wares. “Don’t be afraid to take a look! I’ve got a little something for everyone!”
He gives a slight bow and holds out an arm.
“What kind of adventurer do you want to be? You are a peasant now, but that is about to change! Which item speaks to you?”
A magnificent lute absorbs your attention. It is inlaid with a surprising amount of gold and fine jewels. It looks more like a decorative piece than a playable instrument. The Merchant follows your eyes.
“Yes, of course! The Magic Lute!” He lifts it off the table and demonstrates it, plucking out a lovely little melody.
“Any song that comes to your mind can be played when you hold this lute. Even hearing the title of the song will give you the ability to play it, all you need to do is put your fingers on the strings. You’ll be able to perform your favorite tunes and instantly take any requests! Here, you try…”
He hands you the lute, and you’re able to play the same little melody just as well.
Next to the lute is an amulet of gold. The face of a dragon is carved into its surface, with two rubies standing in for eyes. The Merchant once again provides a sales pitch.
“Ah, the Dragon Amulet!” He replaces the lute and picks the necklace up by its golden chain.
“Truth be told, I do not know if this item works. The enchantment is said to be incredibly powerful, but sadly I do not have the stomach to test it.”
He leans closer and lowers his voice.
“It is said that this amulet… can tame dragons!”
Dragons? Does anything like that even exist? The Merchant can see the doubt in your eyes.
“Oh yes, I thought the same thing!” He attempts to quell your doubts before you can even voice them.
“The real value comes in information. In addition to the amulet, I will provide the location of a dragon’s den! I have seen the creature with my own eyes when I was a child, and will tell you how to find him. There you can discover the mythical beast and see for yourself if the amulet works.”
He shrugs.
“And if it doesn’t work or you’re unwilling to test it, the amulet still makes for a fabulous piece of jewelry.”
The last item of any interest is a plain iron ring with runes crudely carved into the sides. It seems to be a perfect fit for your finger, and the ruggedness of the ring is a stark contrast to the other items. The Merchant sets down the amulet and scoops up the ring.
“And finally… the Iron Ring!” He holds out the ring in the palm of his hand.
“Again, I have not tested it, but I have seen it in action! If you are struck by anything that wishes you harm, then you shall strike back thrice as hard! I have seen weak men win many a bar fight wearing this ring. And so…”
He places the ring back on the table and grins graciously at you.
“Which item would you like to purchase, or should I say… Which treasure will be the key to your victory?”
Some of this stuff is pretty tempting, but nobody is forcing you to spend your money right now.
What will you do?