Chapter 03: Act I

[storyevents]

The Little Mermaid: Act I—

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§ instructions.

The first Act of our third campaign is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels. There are also toplevels for each Sub Quest this time around, but players are more than welcome to create their own individual toplevel if they have something else in mind they would like to do.

As a reminder, characters will find similar information and instructions within their journals so they won't go in blind. Also to note, all characters will have all their belongings within them as well as the additional supplies provided to them by the Storyteller. As you know, everyone has undergone a special "mermaid" transformation upon arriving into the Book, but do note: characters in Main Scenes will have a second wardrobe change while acting the scene. Their merform will stay the same, but they'll have additional bits to add to their role. Outfits will be provided in the prompts themselves, and these outfits will only be in affect during the scene. The moment they leave the setting area, they return to their other wardrobe.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to travel to the "setting location" and then return. Threading all of that isn't necessary, but it's to help give a better idea that characters can take a break between scenes or wait a bit to help with other things like the Sub Quests.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

Comments

SCENE 4: THE MERMAID AND THE SEA WITCH - VELVET CROWE AND NAOMI KIMISHIMA

[storyevents]

Lovesick over the prince, the mermaid learns from her grandmother about the fate of mermaids and how marriage to a human can give a mermaid an immortal soul. Thus, while still wearing her crown and oysters, she seeks out the sea witch wearing her powerful necklace who will give her a pair of human legs in exchange for her voice and intense pain while walking. However, if the prince falls in love and marries someone else, the mermaid will turn to seafoam. Will the mermaid take this deal? Will she try to barter something else? And will the spell succeed?

Before that, however, they will need the following ingredients to gather the potion: red seaweed, blue shrimp, yellow clams, and a purple starfish. All of these items can be found within the sea witch's cave, but they are protected by a spell that will repel them. They must sing a song involving the item in question to dispel it and gather the item. Then they must come up and sing a duet about the potion while making it.

[oligomania]

[ Of all the roles, Velvet had to end up as the lovesick mermaid. Ridiculous really considering she's never had any time for boys. Now she was expected to make a deal with the Sea Witch to go be with him.

This will certainly be interesting considering as Velvet has had plenty of practice in negotiating for the things required. Arms crossed over her chest, gold eyes narrow at the Sea Witch. ]

It's a bit much, don't you think? Asking for my voice and causing intense pain for a pair of legs.

[chatwithdeath]

[Naomi doesn't mind her role at all... after all, it was her role.]

[Staring back calmly at the 'Little Mermaid' before her (not Roxas, but maybe he'd play his role later), the jellyfish Sea Witch shrugged.]

Is it? You're asking to change the fate of yourself and another for a soul. You need a new form to achieve that goal on land and this is the smaller price to pay. Unless you find another method to reach out to the Prince, this is all I can do.

[oligomania]

[ If there's one thing Velvet has learned, it's that these stories will grab anyone to fill any role. Regardless of if they wanted to or not.

But she won't simply play along, the mermaid has to get something out of this than the ending written in the story. Which was a terrible ending, in her opinion. ]

All I'm asking for is a chance, to let the prince decide his own fate. The choice I make here is my own doing but it doesn't guarantee that he'll love me. Besides, hasn't his fate already been changed simply on the fact that he didn't drown?

[chatwithdeath]

It will still come at the cost of your pain. And while your right about his love, it's something you do want to obtain otherwise become seafoam.

[Meanwhile, closing her eyes...] ... He would've been worse for wear if not for the intervention, but that couldn't be known at the time.

That aside... Are you sure about this? You will not come back to the sea the same as before... [Fin curling, the Sea Witch stares at Velvet. Was the wish true for her heart... or just for the role?]

[oligomania]

Pain is merely a minor inconvience. All I wish is to negotiate the terms of this deal. Already I risk my life for this yet you also want more as payment.

[ So, the prince would have lived regardless. This means that it was the mermaid who's fate was changed by their meeting. ] I see.

No one remains the same forever. Whether I stay or go, I will change from this experience. [ Velvet is certain the Sea Witch couldn't give her what her heart truly wants. ]

[chatwithdeath]

The sea's naturally dangerous. That's not a new risk... also, I don't make the rules when it comes to this magic; I only have the ability to make desires more feasibly obtainable.

[Well, as long as Velvet's heart isn't into it, Naomi's not in a hurry. Nor does this potion have to come out completely right. She might not know how to feel about Velvet, but Roxas was the actual Mermaid. What would happen to him?] Well, I have the ingredients ready... but there's some stipulations. Not by my choice...

[Waving her hand for Velvet to follow her into the cave, the Witch would show her what she meant.]

[oligomania]

Everyone - sea being or human - lives with that risk. It's not what I'm complaining about. [ Is she willing to die for love? Yes. But Velvet does not love the "prince".

She follows the Sea witch into the cave with only the smallest hint of wariness. If this story suddenly takes a weird turn, Velvet will be ready to fight. ]

What sort of stipulations? [ This definitely seems more trouble than its worth and there's more barring the way? ]

[chatwithdeath]

Well, always keep in mind, you didn't have to come here.

[Stopping by the red seaweed, Naomi looks at it... and looks at it hard.]

This... [And she doesn't reach towards it with a hand, but a tendril. When it gets close enough to almost touch, it doesn't. She's trying to get it too, but she shakes her head.] Another magic is preventing me from getting my ingredients. If you still want this wish granted, I might need you help... and if you do that, perhaps there can be some altercations to cost and consequence.

[oligomania]

Trust me, if I'm not satisfied with the terms then I won't agree to any deal and leave you alone.

[ Even it means the whole story will change. That might even be a good thing considering what happens to the mermaid.

Gold eyes move to watch the way the Sea Witch interacts with the seaweed - trying to touch but failing. ]

What would I need to do to break this barrier?

[chatwithdeath]

Deal.

[If the wish wasn't made now, the story would face significant alterations, but sometimes, changes to old tales were welcomed.]

Well... [Raising a hand, a helpful octopus clinging to the cavern's ceiling drops her journal so she can check it.] ... Right, 'sing a duet'.

[oligomania]

[ Velvet has to at least give this a chance. If she can change part of the story a little bit more in the mermaid's favor, it might be worth...

Wait. What?! ]

Sing... a duet.

[ Silently she's cursing Rokurou for this turn of events. Clearly this is his fault for hearing her hum earlier. ]

You can't be serious.

[chatwithdeath]

[She nods... and then shrugs.]

Check your journal. Maybe you have another set of instructions to work around it.

[oligomania]

[ Velvet pulls out her own journal and there it is written in ink. Sing a duet. ]

Tch. This just keeps getting worse and worse. [ She peers around, wondering if Eizen's nearby so his Reaper's curse turns bad to terrible. ]

IF I do this... you are going to find a way to give me something in return. [ And that's a very big "if". ]

[chatwithdeath]

[And part of her had been hoping Velvet would be against the idea...]

Give you specifically, or the character? You'll have to convince me of the former since I don't want to sing anymore than you do.

[oligomania]

[ Right now she's extremely tempted to say "Screw it all" and walk... swim away. Though that would put a completely different spin on the story. Who knows how it would end then? ]

The latter. Magical spells on the Sea Witch's cave are entirely your problem, not the mermaid's.

[chatwithdeath]

[Naomi doesn't know, but it would be fun to find out.]

Sure. I'll see what I can do.

[oligomania]

[ It could be fun. Maybe this is why Velvet has been chosen for this particular role against the Sea Witch. There's an annoyed flick of her tail. Not annoyed with Naomi but the whole story. ]

Might as well see what you can do now, before we both have to suffer trying to sing together.

[chatwithdeath]

[Raising a hand to her cheek, Naomi considered the tale of 'The Little Mermaid' again. Soon, she'll begin getting the potion's base ready over a good vent.]

... Well, this wish in the story isn't about the actual 'love' in the sense, but the want of a soul. 'Love' comes after, but if we make the wish truly for the Prince's love, then I can make new arrangements.

However, there will be new consequences. If the Little Mermaid cannot gain the Prince's love, she cannot return to her family. That will be the first loss - one love for one love. Also, because of her bending fate, I'll have to tie her to a new one... one that allows her to return to the sea.

Hmm... I don't know, but I might like a brewing apprentice and I cannot be the Sea Witch forever.

The voice will be the down payment, but the pain must remain until the Mermaid succeeds or fails. If I remove it, she will forget why she's on land in the first place... and I mean forget.

[oligomania]

[ Velvet waits while Naomi considers the possibilities of a new arrangement, then is silent as the Sea Witch speaks of new terms. ]

So if the mermaid fails, she won't turn into seafoam but will return to the sea. Giving up her family forever yet remaining alive. Helping you brew potions as her new life.

[ It removes the part about the mermaid dying simply because a prince doesn't love her in return. Means giving up not just one love but two - yet all remaining alive. There are ways around not "returning" to the family. ]

And should she succeed in gaining his love? Will she regain her voice, will the pain end, will she be able to see her family?

[chatwithdeath]

Yes, she will regain her voice and the pain will end... However, as I said, if the pain leaves, she will forget. And that will be the ultimate price of her leaving the sea.

If her family comes and tries to remind her, they are free to, but there must still be a loss for her new life.

[oligomania]

I see.

[ Personally, Velvet wouldn't give up her family for the love of some man but technically she isn't really the mermaid. She knows what it means to sacrifice one thing for another.

Right now, she's currently in the role of mermaid and has done her best to ensure the mermaid won't simply die because the prince doesn't love her back. Either she takes this deal or swims away completely. They're supposed to be restoring stories, not completely re-writing them.

Velvet is trying to consider what the actual mermaid would do in this scene. ]

What do you believe would happen to this story if I decided not to take your current deal?

[chatwithdeath]

Hm... Well, a few options.

[Looks like her brew is at a decent simmer and ready for the main ingredients...]

You take the original deal, and either something is altered in another act or the Mermaid succumbs to their original end.

Next choice, you swim away and the mermaid gives up on her pursuit and the story ends, altering the story. Something, something, 'love is lost', 'what's worth a soul', the truth possibly bothers the Prince down the line but he marries anyway; point is, the story changes.

[Floating by her cauldron, she places a finger on her chin, tapping, and then crosses her arms.]

Of course, you could take the route too, but then try to make the Little Mermaid take another course of action, maybe find a way to bring the Prince to the sea instead. Just keep in mind, for him to come into the sea is to give up his immortal soul which was the whole start of this mess which makes the tale more about love itself. Merfolk have longevity at the expense of becoming sea foam when the pass.

Still, I guess here is a bittersweet twist to that end as well. Same if the Mermaid and Prince were to love as they were - her life spent to find him again and again until her own end. If that too leads to a God extending a hand to her and giving her a chance for her immortal soul, you'll retain the end.

[oligomania]

[ "Altering" the story, it sounds more like skipping towards the end where the prince ends up with the priestess but the mermaid doesn't have to suffer physical pain or potentially risk her life. Physical pain is easy to recover from, though.

The emotional loss the mermaid will suffer, however... that's a different story. Velvet knows what it feels like to lose her family. She also doesn't have any faith in a God who would be kind enough to grant the mermaid everything.

Velvet wants to consider all options. ]

What would I exchange as the price if I were to change him and bring him here?

[ It would be her "wish", therefore her price. Not the princes. Though she knows it doesn't always work fairly. ]

[chatwithdeath]

Hmmm, to bring him here...

[She supposes she had been thinking more along the lines of the Prince making the wish himself - therefore, leaving the Mermaid to sacrifice nothing.]

... Half of your remaining lifespan. Keep in mind, without knowing when or how the Mermaid would've died due to the original wish, I can't say how long the Mermaid will live after this new wish is made.