Basic History: Golden Island was founded and built by its current ruler,
Goldoro Midas, who also happens to be the CEO of the
Gold Corporation, a financial institution so large that it even has sway with the world government and Tenryubito. The Corporation's headquarters is located on the island, making the whole island completely owned and operated by the Gold Corporation. The residents of Golden Island are merchants who work for the company and enjoy every luxury one could ask for as long as they keep working. There are many visitors to the island: sailors, pirates, marines, and even occasionally a Tenryubito. But because fights on the street are bad for business, the marines and event the Tenryubito are in an agreement with the Gold Corporation to not exercise their normal jurisdictions. The Gold Corporation, being too major a financier of many world powers, even has the power to kill a Tenryubito if they decide to break the agreement, and not even the marines will step in to help or avenge them. The problem most non-marine or non-rich visitors have is that the tariffs, taxes, and docking fees are so outrageously large that it's very easy to rack up a large debt, and no ship is allowed to leave the island unless their debts are paid. Any pirates or the like who think they can just force their way out are in for a nasty surprise...
The Island's Defenses: Midas Island has near infinite resources thanks to the corporation that funds and protects it. Even the Shichibukai and the Admirals know not to cross the place. There's a ten-story-high circular wall with the width of a football field that protects the entire island, consisting of gold-plated tempered steel and Seastone. The gates are large enough that when they're open, traffic can come and go as needed, but when shut, nothing can leave the island, and to date nothing has penetrated the wall. But that's just the outer defenses. The police force of the island consist of the best-trained warriors in the world that money can buy, and money can buy a lot. Most of the police force are trained in at least several aspects of Rokushiki and other martial arts, and are equipped will full seastone armaments, including full body armor, guns with plenty of seastone ammunition, seastone weapons, and seastone nets. Each one has mini Den Den Mushis built into their equipment so that they can communicate with one another, and if an officer is ever knocked unconscious or killed, whether they were aware of the attack or not, the Den Den Mushi immediately contacts all other officers in the area and warns them. Many of the officers have other advanced weaponry, including Dial technology. Furthermore, the police force cannot be bought off or bribed, because they know that their employer can pay them far more than even the Tenryubito. Fortunately, the law is not completely strict, only reacting to major violent outbreaks or attacks on citizens of the island to keep the peace. Most minor infractions simply result in major fines which add to growing debts, and debtors are allowed free reign of the island until they actually steal or attack someone.
Those in Debt: A common theme among visitors to the island is quickly and unwittingly racking up a huge debt due to huge tariffs, taxes, and docking fees. It doesn't help that being in debt costs additional docking fees while your ship is impounded, as well as fines being added to your debt for basic welfare relief (which consist of bread and water being provided to the destitute). Unless you begin to work for the Corporation, at which point you'll still never be able to pay off your debts but the Corporation will provide more amenities, or a miracle happens, the only way for those in debt to pay off their debts is to somehow win one of the annual tournaments (described in further detail below). Even if you are in debt, food and water will be provided to you (at an additional cost which is tacked on to your existing debts) and you are otherwise allowed free reign. Most marines and Tenryubito have any funds they need provided for them by their respective powers, so it's rare for either of those factions to be in this state.
The Seven Tournaments: As a form of entertainment for the residents of Midas Island, once a year there is a week-long festival with a different major tournament each day. If one is lucky enough to win any of the tournaments, they are not only invited to a special banquet at the estate of Goldoro Midas, they are allowed to select one of many prizes. Such prizes include rarities such as Devil Fruits, unique slaves (some of which might have Devil Fruits of their own), artifacts and treasures, or, as a lot of people would want, one of the prizes is to instantly cancel all of a person's debts up to that point plus in the next 24 hours, everything being covered by Goldoro Midas himself. Unfortunately, the tournaments are not only coveted by those in debt, but marines, Tenryubito, and all sorts of powerful people come to these tournaments, entering not only themselves but their crew/servants/slaves as well to earn some of the coveted prizes. Some Tenryubito even purchase and train slaves specifically for these tournaments. For the first three tournaments, Devil Fruit users aren't allowed, and the Tournament Committee has ways of verifying if someone has a Devil Fruit power or not. Seastone weapons are not allowed except for in the Devil Fruit free torunaments where it won't have an effect anyway. The actual tournaments are as follows:
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- The Trial of Eyes - The first tournament is a marksmanship contest. Contestants are given a variety of targets that they have to hit accurately. Over the contest, the targets are more difficult, becoming smaller, farther away, or moving for more difficult shots. Accuracy and rate of fire are all taken into account. Contestants are not allowed to interfere with others shots.
- The Triall of Steel - This is a trial for swordsmen, but all sorts of bladed weapons and variations are allowed as long as the blade itself does not have a Devil Fruit ability.
- The Trial of Fists - This is purely hand-to-hand combat. No weapons are allowed, though sometimes people with artificial limbs or cyborg enhancements have been allowed on a case-by-case basis, as it makes for great entertainment.
- The Trial of Shadow - Officially this trial doesn't exist, and really only insiders know about it. Officially speaking, this day is supposed to be a day of rest between festivities, but in actuality an entirely different contest is taking place: the only one outside of the Coliseum. Contestants who are signed up are given a "package," usually a slip of paper or something of the like, and have instructions to find other contestants in the game all throughout the island and take their "packages" by any means necessary. Once a certain number is reached, the contestant races to a specific location. The first to reach the place that has fulfilled their objectives wins. The interesting thing about this contest is this is the only contest where you can sign up someone else without their knowing until the contest begins.
- The Trial of the Heart - This tournament consists of teams of anywhere from 2 to 5 people. The amount is up to the applicants, but there has to be at least two people. The actual contest itself varies, but it's usually some sort of team sport, not a straight up fight.
- The Trial of Beauty - What entertainment palooza would be complete without some excuse to show off beautiful women? This contest is for women only, and mostly involves a swimsuit competition, the most popular girl getting the prize. This particular contest is well-known for the antics and on-stage feuds that tend to happen though.
- The Trial of Devils - The final and most popular tournament is a fight between Devil Fruit Users. Anyone with a Devil Fruit or Devil Fruit-enhanced weapon can enter, but some years Logia fruit users aren't allowed since they have so high an advantage. This decision is made on a case-by-case basis.
Locations
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The Bazaar: The marketplace makes up the majority of the area that tourists can visit. Merchants set up their stalls all throughout busy, crowded streets. You can buy nearly any luxury you can think of, but only at exorbitant prices. The tariffs and taxes on foreign coin are huge, and even basic necessities can run a normally well-off pirate captain in a few days. Fortunately, it is more than possible and even encouraged to rack up a line of credit, just be wary when the collectors come for their money.
The Golden District: Where the richest of the rich stay. The streets are literally paved with gold, as are the walls, the floors, the sidewalks, the lamp fixtures, the park benches, etcetera. There are numerous luxury hotels and apartment buildings, each carved by the hand of master artisans. It's well separated from the other two districts, as the rich enjoy being away from the poor.
The Silver District: A step down from the Golden District, but still quite luxurious. The majority of the island's visitors can stay here without any want or need. All the luxuries of the world are available here as well, but without the pretentiousness that comes from the residents of the Golden District.
The Copper District: Sometimes all the wealth and glamour in the world doesn't beat the homey feel of an inn and pub and a nice homemade meal. For a more peasant or down-to-earth feel, visit the Copper District. It isn't as pretty as the others, but it's comfortable, and it's cheaper than the other places too. Whereas everywhere else might charge ten times the normal price for basic goods, here they'll only charge five times the normal price. Don't be fooled, you'll go broke just as quickly here.
Blackjack Alley: This infamous part of Midas Island has rows of various casinos, racetracks, and other gambling establishments, each one playing up the spectacle of their attractions more than the last. Whether you're simply lured in by the presentation or you need to try and make some money quick to pay off your debt, Blackjack Alley is the place to waste your money. And wasting it is what you'll do. The house always wins, and whether or not the games are actually rigged, the concept of someone in debt winning enough to pay off their debts here is virtually unheard of. Many have tried, few have succeeded, most simply end up much worse than they were before.
Goldenworld: the Themed Amusement Park: Ferris wheels, roller coasters, carousels, an entire circus even. All sorts of rides and fun attractions await you at Goldenworld provided you can afford the high admission and the individual ticket prices for each ride.
The Slave Auction House: Slavery is not only legal but thriving here, and the Slave Auction House has some of the rarest choice picks in the Grand Line. A lot of poor saps end up here if they can't pay off all their debts. Whether you're a captain with enough coin and you need a new crew member, or you're a world noble in the mood for a new servant, you'll be able to find choice picks here as long as you can afford it.
The Impound: The Impound is the headquarters of the department in charge of impounding ships until their owners can pay off their debts. Technically, the Impound also refers to any dock on the entire island, since they all have the Impounds mechanisms. When the owner of a ship cannot pay their debts or docking fees (which is most everyone who visits), giant seastone pillars are stuck through each porthole of the ship and locked into place on both walls surrounding the ship. Even if one could somehow sever the seastone pillars, the extra weight would just make the ship sink to the bottom of the harbor instantly. The only way to free a ship is a complicated process at the Impound's HQ which requires multiple levels of authorization.
The Commercial Docks: Most likely your ship will dock at one of the many public docks here. It has direct access to the Bazaar and merchants will bombard you with offers right out of the gate, attempting to sucker in new guys whenever possible. Entering or leaving the docks forces you to wade through the crowds of the Bazaar, a process which can leave you broke fairly quickly. There's also very little security protecting your boat besides what you yourself provide.
The Private Docks: If you have a little extra coin (read: a ridiculous amount of extra coin that in no way will ever be enough, you'll just throw yourself into debt that much quicker) you can dock your ship at the Private Docks, a little more separated from the crowds of the Bazaar and each ship has their own private dock building which you can lock up when you leave. Even when your ship is impounded, you're allowed to visit and, if you wish, live on it.
The VIP Docks: If you have business with the Gold Corporation, if you're a high government official, or even a Tenryubito, you'll be docking at the VIP Docks well separated and hidden from the rest of the crowd. There are waves of security guarding the ship night and day to make sure no commoners rob your ship, and you have direct access to all the most luxurious locales of Midas Island.
The Corporate Docks: These are connected directly to the corporate headquarters where the Gold Corporation actually works. Company ships only, and usually these ships export large shipments of gold bars to their customers, financing their operation. These docks are well secluded within the corporate headquarters where no tourists or visitors are allowed.
The Debtor's Prison: When you finally do something to get arrested, you are thrown in the Debtor's Prison, a large underground prison deep beneath the island made completely of seastone from the bars to the walls to the floors. Devil fruit users are in constant fatigue and agony just by being here, and other people find the labrynthine structure of the prison unescapable, even if there wasn't a large squad of heavily armed trained guards to watch it. The only plus side is that most people don't serve life sentences. If they don't off themselves, they work menial, difficult labor (usually some sort of basic manufacturing) and work off a portion of their debt before being let back out onto the island once their sentence is up. Of course, they still retain most of their debt and still have to find a way to pay it off.
The Debtor's Village: When you've finally hit rock bottom and have nowhere else to go, you'll end up in this ragtag collection of cardboard boxes and hastily put up shanties, well out of the way of the paying customers of the island. You'll be provided basic food and water at a huge cost which will only be added to your debt.
The Coliseum: This giant stadium is the main attraction of Midas Island, and that's saying something. It's only used for the annual tournament, a massive event which attracts spectators from across the world. Pirate captains, shichibukai, high-ranking marines, and even Tenryubito train either themselves or their subordinates for years to compete and hopefully win the bragging rights of one of the contests. Independents compete a lot as well, hoping to get noticed by someone rich enough to buy out their debts and get them off the island. The prizes are many and vary each year, from exotic slaves to actual devil fruits, but one prize always remains constant: the choice to instantly wipe out all your debts on the house from your arrival to the island to 24 hours after you get the prize, so you can even go crazy for a little while longer before you leave.
Gold Corporation Headquarters: Several massive buildings make up the corporate headquarters of the international financial giant the Gold Corporation. Typical office and business work goes on here, and employees find themselves paid enough to enjoy the luxuries of the island without racking up a debt, that is as long as they do a good job. The headquarters is tightly guarded from intrusion and is well separated from the tourist areas.
Goldoro Midas's Estate: The entire island belongs to Goldoro Midas, but his personal estate is still large enough that if you woke up on his front porch you wouldn't even be able to see any signs of any other inhabitants on the island except the estate. A solid gold mansion which puts even other mansions to shame, with suprisingly few but very trusted and competent servants. The entire estate is well-guarded and private, the only visitors allowed at Goldoro Midas's personal invitation.