Juhlhaus

Thanks for the comments and critique @Math Wizard, @Horation, and @YellowFrog; I appreciate it and I'm glad you enjoyed my build! FYI, I do indeed have the original Steve, but when I saw the new expressive red-bearded face, and the nicely matching red pony tail hairpiece I opted for a more modern Steve "reboot." Creative license maybe, but I know there's no substitute for the original Infamous Steve!

Thanks,@NOD, I'm so glad you enjoyed the tale, and you caught those details in the MOC; I had a lot of fun with this!

@Horation, @SevenDeadlyStreamers, and @Yperio_Bricks, thanks so much for the positive and constructive feedback! So glad you enjoyed the MOC and the tale!! @Horation, these are great suggestions, thanks again (I am already working on a sequel, if I can manage it), and @SevenDeadlyStreamers, very true: the Island is quite overgrown. I pushed the piece limit to the max for the small category: 199 pieces, all-in (counting Steve, creatures, props, and backdrop).

I. Steve Goes Rogue After yet another tedious and unprofitable voyage Steve the Merchant became so disillusioned with the Imperials' crippling taxes on honest trade, their heedless consumption of natural resources, and their exploitation of the native Islanders, he made up his mind to seek his fortune outside the bounds of the Empire. II. Fortune Beckons One night playing a game of Whist in a Port Royal tavern, Steve won a tattered map from a crusty old seafarer who swore the map would lead the worthy seeker to the legendary "Fountain of Fortune." It was the first Steve had heard of it but he asked around in the days ahead, curious whether there was any merit in the old mariner's story and in the mysterious map. Over jugs of rum and pints of coffee in the harbor towns he began hearing more tales of the Fountain, and many a night he pondered the map's inscriptions by lantern-light in his cabin. Steve began to believe. III. Fortune Found! With map in hand and supplies carefully stowed Steve and his faithful treasure-sniffing dog, "Captain Fang," set sail to find the fabled isle. The voyage was long and dangerous—a gauntlet of volcanic islands, stormy seas, and shark-infested shoals—but the map led them true and at last they found a small, deserted island covered with lush vegetation and the scattered bones of past treasure hunters, just like the legends said. And sure enough at the center of the island, veiled by tropical foliage, Steve found the half-buried treasure. The weather-beaten chest was broken open but it was there—all there! Steve and Fang set to work digging it up. Gold doubloons, bar silver, diamonds, sapphires, and rubies flowed—a Fountain of Fortune indeed! It was heavy work, and when Steve finally hauled it away he was pleased to find a freshwater spring bubbling from the heart of the island, where it had been obscured by the treasure. Steve drank deeply. It was the most delicious water he had ever tasted: crystal clear, pure and enlivening. In that moment he knew Fortune was with him and anything was possible. He secured the treasure aboard his skiff, turned to the wind, and set sail for the next adventure. IV. Epilogue Back on the island a dark green bottle was lodged in the sand beside the spring, where Steve had overlooked it. Snug inside was a leathery parchment with the following, written in flowing script: Of the Fountain of Fortune drink and beware! For her spell on you will be set: These waters grant life enduring While you spread the gifts you get, But if stowed away un-sharing By the hoard shall your soul be ever possessed 'Til you cast your last coin back to the Fountain And there lay your bones down to rest. What will become of Steve and his newfound fortune? Will he use it to help right the wrongs of the Empire, even if that means working outside the law? Will he share the treasure and find unexpected allies? Or will he succumb to the lure of the hoard? Only the future will tell...