realmofstories | Chapter 03: Act I

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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.

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". . ."

So, upon doing a headcount after his patrol return, Dojima noticed a particular dark haired, tattooed young man was missing, and no one was sure where he went.

Great. With a heavy sigh, Dojima decided to go looking for him.

Now fortunately, the man wasn't a complete idiot, leaving crystals around that easily marked his path, leading Dojima to him.

...And to an angry throng of what he supposed, were blots-- lingering regrets of the original story characters... with one about to knock Rokurou right in the back of the--

"Hyaaah!"

Or...was, going to knock Rokurou right in the back of the head, if Dojima hadn't done it to the blot first with the hilt of Excalibur.

"What did I say about going out on your own?"

That being said... the two of them were surrounded.

Rokurou was a bit surprised when he sensed something behind them, a hand extending to reach his own blade—only to turn just in time to witness Dojima knock out the blot with the hilt of a sword, one still hidden within its sheathe. Of course the daemon had noticed it earlier, and there was just a flicker of curiosity to it before he grinned at the older man.

"What, the whole pair up thing? Thought it was just a recommendation, not an order." The smirk he wore clearly indicated that even if it was, he would have the exact same damn thing.

"Besides, I can handle myself just fine." More cavalier words as he barely seems to pay much attention to the throng of blots surrounding them, their "voices" a creepy warble.

Oh, you were going to be one of those types, weren't you? Dojima growled something under his breath about idiots, frowning deeply as the blots just, kept coming.

"Like you'd be the type to obey an order," Got you pegged already, Rokurou, he could tell just by looking at you.

He pulled Excalibur from it's sheathe, the blade already starting to glow in the low light of the room.

"I rather not cause these things anymore harm, but if you're going to be an idiot and get them riled up, we may not have an alternative--" Though his expression turned a little deadpan at Rokurou's response, "...Right, so even under water with completely different physics and weight, you're going to have no problem at all."

Dumbass.

"Depends on the order and who it's from," just another smirk before his eyes followed Dojima's blade.

...Interesting. Very interesting. But alas, there was no time to truly take in the blade as the blots are now starting to take action. With his twin greatswords fully unsheathed, there's a red gleam from his daemon eye as a fierce grin forms.

"But how about you save the lecture for after we take them out?"

And with that he's suddenly darting forward, using his tail to propel his lunge to reach his first target almost instantly. With a wide swing of his blade, he cleaves the blot in two before spinning around for a powerful uppercut to another. Sure, his movements may be slowed and require more strength to push against the weight of the water. But he's not letting up, already seeking his next target.

Twin Greatswords.

Red glowing eye.

Cavalier attitude but with obvious skill to back it up, and a whole lot of blood lust.

... This guy was like something out of an bad direct to video cartoon back in the 90s. Had the hair to match too, now that Dojima thought about it, like some knock off samurai.

But enough about the knock off-- Dojima had his own set of opponents to face.

A defensive stance, unlike Rokurou's full on assault, Dojima waited for the blots to make the first move towards him--

Parrying their blows, countering-- he felt his mind shifting into muscle memory that wasn't his own, Arthur's--

Striking them down, one after another.

Unlike Rokurou, his face was stone like, taking no obvious pleasure from his actions. Why would he? They were the ones that had riled up the Blots, after all...

The wild youth versus the more even tempered senior. Despite the contrast, the two will be able to make short work of the mob, Rokurou cutting through the initial wave leaving Dojima to deal with any who either make it past or just stay clear away from the daemon entirely. One might wonder if Rokurou shouldn't have been a shark instead, each cut and slash ruthless as the already murky waters become stained with the black ink-like blood of the blots "killed," their bodies dispersing into the water.

Eventually none were left, and as Rokurou sheathed his swords he turned to look over at Dojima.

"Still alive, old man?" he grinned.

Maybe a shark, but a sword fish seemed a little more on the nose...

Considering the man had tried to plunder the armory.

Dojima was bowing his head as he sheathed his sword, his and Arthur's instincts the same-- honour your opponents and hope them a better existence in the next life. That was what they were trying to give them, right?

He opened one eye as Rokurou called back to him, a frown obvious on his face.

"I'm no spring chicken, but I'm not that old." He muttered, before finally turning to look at the other man, "And I'm fine, no thanks to you deciding to go thieving."

He gestured towards the armory.

"You got an obsession with swords and weapons, I'm guessing?"

"Hey, it's not like I was actually trying to steal any of these." ...Mostly. "Was just checking to see what we had on hand in case we might them. Wasn't sure how many were actually able to bring their weapons or if they would even work underwater, so figured any native made weapons would work better."

All of which was true! Although whether he was fully altruistic in his endeavors, that much was up for debate. It was probably more along the lines of wondering what he might find useful and then the benefit of others as an afterthought.

"Plus I do have an interest in seeing what kind of weapons the people may have used so... Yeah, guess you could say that."

Yeah, like Dojima's gonna believe that. This guy was the type to have his own desires front and center in his mind. Not necessarily maliciously, just... selfish.

"They probably have spears or tridents, in that case. Easier to thrust forward than slash with a sword."

Dojima pulled up his own sword, still glowing, checking it for anything left on the blade. The one good thing about blots... no blood.

"A few shields, too," he said while looking around and even picking one up to inspect. "The materials used are also interesting since they obviously can't use steel."

But before he could ponder too much, Dojima had pulled out his own sword and Rokurou was looking at it with keen interest before he swam over.

"But speaking of swords...never really seen one that glowed before."

"Mother of pearl, or coral?"

Both of them were pretty solid, if Dojima remembered right. It Also could just be raw metals...

But the man just stared at Rokurou as he came close, his expression rather deadpan.

"Unfortunately, that's about all it can do right now."

He'd at least hold it up for the other man to look at. The blade was ornate but not to the point of being over burdened by design, and perhaps Rokurou's more 'demonic' side could feel that purifying energy in the blade, a holy light just beneath is surface...

"Ever heard of Excalibur?"

"Excalibur?" Rokurou mused thoughtfully. "I think I read something about it in one of the books in the Library." Because if he was going to read anything, it would obviously have to deal with swords. That said, even if Rokurou delved into the Arthurian legends, given how dense and expansive the collection was, it would not be surprising if his interest faded before finding the more interesting stories.

But his answer at least provided a hint that he had never heard of it from his world, only in this. And as to that purifying energy... He could indeed sense something like that, something reminiscent of the "holy" or "light" element artes the malakhim and exorcists of his world used, but he wasn't bothered in the slightest. If anything, it just made him all the more curious.

"...Somehow I shouldn't be surprised the first thing you'd look up is weaponry."

Can you see the deadpan, Roku? Cause it's still there. But he'd offer the man an explanation, at least.

"Excalibur is a legendary sword given to King Arthur by the Lady of the Lake, some sort of fairy like creature, to replace Caliburn, his original sword he lost fighting a major enemy." Forgive him if he couldn't remember exactly who it was; there were a lot of english names that were rather complicated.

"It's exact powers are a bit... nebulous, but it's apparently powerful enough to slay a man in a single blow, at least. ...And the glowing thing is apparently holy magical power. It can only be wield by people of noble hearts." ...Dojima stared down at it again, making a face.

"Don't know how accurate that is if it chose me of all people, but what do I know?"

Edited 2019-08-18 00:39 (UTC)

Rokurou actually listened attentively—although that was likely due to the subject matter.

"A sword powerful enough to slay a man in a single blow and with holy magical power..." The daemon grinned. "Definitely wouldn't mind going up against something like that. Although even though I'm a daemon, that kind of thing has no affect on me." Different type of "unholy beast," apparently.

"But hey, I could ask the same question for my own Essence. Maybe this Arthur guy thought you were interesting enough," he added with a grin.

"Maybe when I'm actually a challenge for you."

He's being frank about it; he could tell as much as Rokurou was an idiot, he practically lived and breathed by his sword. If all Dojima had to rely on was his essence, well, it wasn't really a fair contest between them.

"...Wait, a daemon?" Demon, yokai? So he wasn't that far off about him being something out of a bad 90s cartoon, huh? "What does that mean?"

...He'd ask about the guy's essence after figuring out what this guy actually was.

The question that he gets asked a lot, but he honestly doesn't mind explaining.

"Let's see... Short version would be I used to be a human but I was so consumed by hatred and revenge all that negative energy turned me into a daemon. Monster could be another way to describe since that's what most people end up as." A small laugh. "Well, I have my own 'marks of daemon,' so to speak."

Dojima likely noticed the black marks on his neck already, but as if on cue, the current and flow of the water shifts his hair in such a way to reveal some of his daemon markings, his red eye just barely visible.

". . ."

And all Dojima could do was just, sigh. Loudly, rubbing the bridge of his nose with his hand as he felt like a migraine was coming on.

"You're like something out of a bad cartoon or manga."

He should be more afraid, probably. But the man was so nonchalant about his own condition, that Dojima really didn't feel any fear. Or maybe he was beyond the point of being surprised anymore due to everything he's seen so far? It was also a strong possibility.

"...So are you still consumed with the whole 'hatred and revenge' thing?"

'Cartoon'? 'Manga'? There was a bit of a puzzled look at Dojima's words, but he didn't inquire.

"Hm... Not really. I killed my brother, so that settled that." Again, said with so much nonchalance and a casual grin. "Now all I do is just go out and try to find strong opponents to fight."

If Rokurou ever asked, he'd explain. Or maybe Dojima'd be lucky and someone else would eventually see the resemblance too.

Listening to Rokurou explanation, Dojima... rose an eyebrow. Talking so very, very casually about killing someone (his own brother no less)...

Yeah. That reminded him of someone. It was an uncomfortable reminder, and Dojima really wondered sometimes; was it something wrong with people like them for being so nonchalant about taking someone's life, or something wrong with him for valuing life so much?

Either way... this man wasn't likely a threat, but Doima also didn't know how much he could trust the other man. Maybe in a fight against a mutual threat, but in anything else...?

Probably not.

"...Well. I'm sure you'll keep finding challenges." He gestured towards the Armory. "So are you done, or do you still want to look around?"

Whether Rokurou noticed any change in Dojima's expression, he paid no mind. He was used to varying reactions to his answers, and he knew how he may appear to others. The simple matter was he didn't care and thus wasn't bothered how he was judged. He was who he was—that was all.

But Dojima's analysis wasn't wrong. Rokurou made for an excellent ally. But should the case ever arise where the other man was a threat or in his way... Then it wouldn't matter what kind of relationship they had.

At his question, the daemon looked around for a bit.

"Nah, I think I'm good. There doesn't seem to be anything I can really use, anyway." Which was a bit of a shame. "Think I'll head back out and see what else there is to this place."

"Well, maybe you'll be lucky and find a cutlass around somewhere."

That was the type of swords pirates used, right?

All the same, Dojima held up a hand.

"...Next time you head out on your own, though... can you at least give someone a heads up about it?"

...Before smirking a little himself.

"...Just so if you don't show up in a few days someone can go looking for you, or what's left of you."

Because he had a feeling if Rokurou was the type to bite off more than he could chew at the wrong times...

"If it's not rusted over," he chuckled as he prepared to leave.

But then Dojima held his hand up, and the daemon was polite enough to wait to hear the words he expected. So Rokurou just grinned and waved a dismissive hand.

"Don't worry about that. I have friends from my world who know how I work. But, since you care so much about it, I'll be sure to let you know, Dad."

"...Is it that obvious I've got a kid?"

Cat's out the bag, he supposed.

"... But, alright, if you have friends from where you are, I guess they'll know how to handle you. Just don't get your head in too deep."

...God, he really did sound like a dad. Ugh.

"I wasn't going to assume, but even without one you have that 'overbearing, watching over the young' kind of personality," Rokurou answered with a grin. Especially when Dojima did nothing to really to persuade him otherwise with that warning at the end.

So he just gave him one last wave and a smirk.

"And you're talking to a war daemon. Getting my head in too deep is part of the lifestyle."

With a flip of his tail he jetted off into the water to do exactly what he was told not to.

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Chapter 03: Act I

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