>>6228274>“How do I reach this vault?”“Two ways. Neither of which is easy, but one of which you’re already on track for.” Chelsey says. “The vault is strictly prohibited. Only the most elite of the Merchant Consortium is allowed down there. Them, and the Coliseum Conqueror. You, perhaps very unwisely, told Klement you’d take part in his gauntlet. That isn’t just a little fun exercise. In all its existence, clearing the gauntlet is something that has only happened a handful of times. If you win those battles, Klement will have no choice but to face you himself. And if you defeat him, the Consortium may very well begin to doubt their pick of champion. It’s likely they’d move to support you instead. Perhaps drawing you into their conspiracy while at it.”
>“Win a few fights and kick Klement’s ass? Doesn’t sound so hard to me.”“Of course it’s hard you oaf!” Chelsey jabs you with a pointed finger. “There’s a saying here in Shangri-La. One a foreigner like you has probably never heard of. ‘The House Always Wins.’ Men gamble away their entire fortunes here. For them, skill has nothing to do with it. The only thing that matters is luck. Luck rules all in these halls, and the odds are always in favor of Shangri-La. Fighting is no exception. Battles in the gauntlet are not just determined by skill. The Wheel of Fortune casts its shadow, and determines the rules and stipulations by which you must conduct combat.”
>“Did you drink too much of that wine? What are you blabbering about?”“The Wheel of Fortune.” Chelsey mimics a spinning motion with her finger. “An ancient relic upon which this place is founded. It is spun twice before a battle in the gauntlet is fought. Once for each side. The wheel contains 10 sections, each of which determines a different boon or bane that combatants must follow. The wheel then enforces those rules through magical means. If you’re lucky, the wheel may determine that your opponents must fight while under the influence of poison. If you’re unlucky, the wheel may determine that you are forced to fight without weapons. You must win five battles under the effects of the Wheel of Fortune if you wish to get a shot at Klement.”
>“Ugh, so it’s all luck-based?” You groan. “That’s bullshit. But you said the enemy has to spin it too, right? So they can be just as fucked over as I could, right?”“Unfortunately, the wheel is not infallible.” Chelsey says. “Its outcome can be manipulated by a sorcerer of sufficient means and know-how. When Klement ran the gauntlet, I believe Adjunct Targa had been altering the spins. His luck was far too good to have been natural.”
>“Alright…I’m beginning to see where the negativity was coming from. So, is a gauntlet battle completely hopeless?”“...Not quite.” Chelsey says, playing with Bronte’s bracelet. She holds her hand out, bringing it into clear view.
