storyevents (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
storyevents) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
realmofstories2019-07-14 04:23 pm
storyevents) wrote in realmofstories2019-07-14 04:23 pm
Chapter 03: Act I
The Little Mermaid: Act I—
§ 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.
§ 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.
no subject
Again. Disappear again. Just like Saki Konishi, just like all of Souji's friends, just like, his daughter--
He pushed that thought aside, focusing on the young boy in front of him. And his question. How... how to answer it? He didn't like not having answers for people. That was, you know. His job, to discover the truth. And admittedly, running into this head first wasn't something he should encourage...
"...I don't know the answer to that, honestly."
God, he wished he had a cigarette. Can't smoke underwater...
"...But I've been thinking a bit more about 'stories' lately. And how much they already change."
How... how to word this?
"...When I was young, I can remember seeing a movie about The Little Mermaid. In it, it... had a similar ending to the actual story." He frowned a bit, trying to remember.
"Actually, it was even more tragic, because just as the Mermaid threw herself into the sea, the Prince suddenly realised who she was, that she was the one he was in love with all along, and called out to her, in vain."
It had been pretty depressing, he remembered. Also pretty stupid that it took the Prince that long to figure it out.
"...Then, when I was older, another version of the Little Mermaid was in theaters; the Sea Witch was the villain, she only had three days to convince the Prince to fall in love with her... and in the end, she got her happy ending."
He'd watched that one with Nanako, one time... He should sit down to watch more movies with her.
But what exactly was he getting at?
"...Stories change. Sometimes they get sadder, sometimes happier. Sometimes they turn into horror stories, sometimes syrupy sweet and child friendly. It depends on what they're being used for."
He looked over at Roxas, tilting his head,
"...Even if we change the story, someone can always change it back. Maybe it won't be the 'original', but it doesn't have to be."
no subject
"And it was still okay, even if it changed that much..?"
He knew that each of these stories were mini-worlds unto themselves, so he had been approaching them as such; and with that, the long-seated notion of World Order and keeping balance when visiting new worlds that even the Organization enforced rang true in his head. He knew that their efforts sometimes changed details about the story they were repairing, but hadn't paid it that much thought. After all, none of their Essence powers had been affected, since none of them were from those stories, so it wasn't clear how their efforts truly affected the stories they assisted.
But if this story becomes different from their efforts, then maybe Dojima was right. Maybe it meant that it didn't mean he would be affected. And maybe... if he did end up changing the outcome, it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe it wouldn't hurt him or his Essence.
He looked down a bit, his gaze settling on his tail. He fell silent for a moment, his thoughts mulling over in his head, but then began to speak.
"...I'd like for her to have a happy ending, if she can. She seemed so full of sadness when she had to disappear..." He looked back up at Dojima, a resolve setting in his expression.
"I'd like to give her a chance at happiness."
no subject
Souji had helped him understand that. Even if things had changed, even if his family wasn't what it once was, it could still be a good thing.
"...You deserve the same, you know."
Raising his hand, Dojima hesitated a moment, not sure if it was appropriate or not, but then reached out, ruffling the kid's hair.
"But yeah. Let's see if we can't change the story to something better for everyone involved."
Because, thinking on it, hadn't the Prince also lost his friend, even not knowing of the Mermaid's feelings? He could understand that pain himself, the loss of a friendship...
no subject
He starts a bit when Dojima ruffles his hair. Under normal circumstances, he would frown and bat the hand away, but in this instance? He didn’t mind the contact, and actually felt a little comforted by it.
“Thanks, Ryotaro. It means a lot, really.”
no subject
Dojima pulled his hand back, nearly telling Roxas to call him 'Dojima-san, or at least Dojima' but, stopped, thinking.
This kid barely had what anyone could consider a real life; it was no wonder he had no clue about The Little Mermaid and other stories. And could he really ask or explain to a kid like that the appropriate names and suffixes you call someone depending on personal closeness based on Japanese society?
...Yeah, no. It wasn't worth the effort anymore than it was worth trying to teach that damn blond kid not to put pop rocks in spaghetti.
"...Heh. No problem, Roxas."
no subject
"I really hope we can fix this place soon. I've never been to an underwater kingdom before. I bet it looks beautiful when it's not all... broken." He gestured to the murky water with his hand.
no subject
Dojima paused for a second, before glancing back to Roxas.
"...Are all the stories like this, when you get to them before fixing them up?"
...The kid looked a whole lot calmer now. That was a relief.
no subject
"Yeah. All of them look dark and ominous... one world was completely devoid of colour, and the other was all dead-looking; the river even had skeleton fish in it."
That was also the story he'd learned of the limitations of his Essence form. It was not a fun ride.
"But the more we work at them, the more they brighten up and, well, come alive."
no subject
Quite literally too. Dojima gazed out over the broken, grey coral and dark waters.
"...Well. Guess all we can do is do our best to set things right... And get a happy ending for you, and her."