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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah. I got here just before we got dumped into the ocean and turned into mermaids.

[Man... if only Lance was here... He'd heard about that mermaid planet he and Hunk had found.]

I'm Keith.

[After a beat.]

Thanks for the help back there. I'm not really used to the whole... being half fish thing.

In that case, welcome to the group, Keith. [Just a casual grin that has a hint of amusement in it.]

But you're not the only one. I think only two people actually have essences that are related to fish, and I only know one who may be used to this.

Still, it's pretty cool. Not something I'd be able to experience back in my world, anyway.

[And because he's a fun-loving guy, he'll swim a quick circle around Keith.]

[Erk-! Keith was a bit startled by the circle, but then managed a small smile.]

Yeah. Same here. I mean, there is a water covered planet with a race of mermaid like aliens back home, but, as far as I know, no one can actually change between races like that.

[And they really did look nothing like these "storybook" mermaids from what Hunk and Lance had described.]

So, uh... do you know who you're supposed to be? Apparently, I got Little Red Riding Hood. [Keith wasn't so sure about that one, but he was just going with it for now.]

Whoa, really? I haven't really been out at sea too long, but I think mermaids and sirens are just folktales from sailors. Then again, there are monsters out there so who knows. Could be based on some truth.

[And now he's idly swimming backwards, arms behind his head.]

But you're Red, huh? That explains some things. [Just a grin as he doesn't quite explain what he means just yet.] I'm the Huntsman from the same story.

I thought the same thing... until I went into outerspace. They don't exist on Earth that I know of, but they apparently do on other planets.

[Keith just... kept swimming normal.]

Explains-? Oh. [It took a second as Keith made the connection.] So like... that's why I feel like I can trust you... [Because that feeling was definitely not normal for Keith towards a stranger.]

[There's a look of surprise, and Rokurou is going to answer a little out of order and a bit hurriedly.]

Yeah, and I felt a greater need to protect you, but did you really go into outer space? Like, where the stars and stuff are?

[LOOK THE WHOLE "INTO SPACE" CONCEPT IS NONEXISTENT AND HE ONLY KNOWS BASIC/COMMON KNOWLEDGE IN TERMS OF ASTRONOMY AND STUFF so this is fascinating and way more interesting than their essences at the moment. (They can get back on that in a bit, but for now—space.)]

[Okay, way to skim over the effects of the essence-

Keith blinked.]

Uh, yeah.

[Keith looked so... unimpressed.]

I mean, we were training for it and all, and never thought we'd get as far as we did. I mean, it was a big deal just to get to Kerberos, but then Voltron happened, and we were traveling the entire universe.

[It can't be helped. There will be better talks when he's less distracted by cool stories here.

He'll be impressed for him.]

...Yeah that's kind of over my head, but it still sounds pretty cool to me. Space travel isn't a thing where I'm from. Closest to that I've come to is when Inominat shot himself into the sky and we had to fight him up there in his temple.

You had to fight someone in a temple in the sky?

[That sounded so weird. Keith really should be used to weird things by now. His whole life was weird.

Just wait, Roku... wait until Keith dropped the bomb of news about his family.]

Yeah it was pretty fun. A long journey because it was unnecessarily complicated, but there were a ton of strong enemies to fight.

[This is not even an abridged version it's just... ...Barely even a scratch, and focusing on the wrong things.]

Edited 2019-08-14 05:05 (UTC)

But who's Inominat? Is that who's temple it was?

[Details, Roku... Keith needed them.]

Mmmm, to put simply and without going into the more personal details, Inominat was this asshole god-like spirit who was trying to screw with our free wills. [Easiest way to call an Empyrean without actually saying it because he'd have to explain what that is, anyway. Shortcuts!!] And yeah, that was his temple...or rather, that was his body? [A small tilt of his head as he tries to remember before waving it off with an idle hand.] In any case, it was way high up so that we could actually see the planet.

[Keith almost snorted. His body was a temple? That sounded like a bad fitness video.]

Sounds like it if you could see the planet. The whole planet? Or just like, high enough that the horizon curves? Because, if you can see the whole thing, then you're definitely in space. If you're too close and just get the horizon to curve, then you might still be in the upper atmosphere.

[Leave it to a Garrison nerd to know the difference...]

Couldn't see the whole planet, just the horizon. I honestly wouldn't know what the difference was.

[Keith shrugged a bit.]

That's fine. I was mostly just curious, but it still sounds like you were pretty high up.

[He paused at a hatch in the lower deck. It was pretty damaged, which allowed a glimpse into the cargo hold below, revealing what looked like treasure chests. Carefully gripping the edge, he attempted to pull it open, which was hard when he didn't have much to brace himself against... like with legs... against a floor...

But he tried all the same, despite the hinges being rusted.]

It was definitely a cool experience, especially seeing that the world really was round like everyone thought.

[He knew it was, but...there's a difference between hearing and believing the theories and seeing it with his own eyes, you know?

And upon seeing Keith trying to attempt the open that hatch, Rokurou will swim to the other side to try and help.]

On three. One, two—

—three.

[With them both managing a good tug, the door came free with a crack. The hinges hadn't moved, but the rotted wood broke under their combined pressure. Putting it aside, they could now see the cargo hold with various things inside.]

Alright... let's see what we can find.

[Keith carefully made his way in, looking for anything that might give them trouble.]

But, you're right. It is really cool to be up that high. It's one of the reasons I like being a pilot.

What is it like being up there? And I'm guessing there were other people and civilizations on other planets.

[He'll be swimming around as he speaks, taking a peek at some of the cargo and chests. There didn't seem to be anything really noteworthy, and they're on the lookout for some pearls, anyway. So oysters...oysters...

He does spy a few scattered bones, but no full corpses. So he'll note them, but not be too wary just yet. It's kind of strange but cool that they are able to see thanks to so me bio luminescent algae lighting the walls and floor, and at one end of the cargo hold is another door.]

Yeah. We came across a lot of different races. It was how I found out I was only half-human. [Keith didn't seem overly bothered by that, just let it drop into the conversation like no big deal.] I was even able to find my mom again.

[Like Roku, Keith was checking various chests and crates and barrels. Most everything seemed fairly normal. After all, was this a special pearl that was part of the treasure or was it still in the oyster? Keith wasn't taking any chances to miss it.

But then he spotted that other door.]

What about in there?

Half-human, huh? What's the other half if you don't mind my asking?

[He isn't really bothered by the idea, just curious. After all, he's a daemon—can't really judge.]

We might as well... [His voice trails as his right eye suddenly starts to glow a little bit from behind his long bangs. Holding out a hand as a signal for Keith to wait, he slowly drifts forward and he notices the slash marks on the walls near the door as well as something like black ooze around the frame of the door.

......Hm.]

Think there might be something waiting for us if we open that door. Assuming it doesn't burst through it instead.

[Keith glanced at the other for a second, visibly considering it.]

Galra. They're another race from another planet back home.

[He was just going to leave out the whole 'evil conquering empire' part for now.

Instead, that weird ooze was a bit more important.]

"Something"? [Keith looked... concerned.] Something like what?

[Rokurou will just nod at Keith's answer, the current situation forcing their idle chatter to an end. Well, not that it mattered too much—it's not like he knew what Galra were and wouldn't have too many questions about it.

More of that ooze slowly seeps from the cracks, and there's an ominous creak of the rotted planks.]

...My best guess is either an Eraser or one of those blot monster. But either way, it might be big, and in a cramped place like this we'll be at a disadvantage.

[As fight happy as the war daemon is, even he knows when some are worth the trouble and not. Especially when his sense of "PROTECT" is in higher gear due to Keith's essence.]

[Right... Keith frowned.]

And, uh... what are those again?

[There had to be another way in, maybe? Or... they could open the door and swim away real fast so it came out, and then come back once it was gone?

Or lure it out to a more spacious area to fight it off?

He was going through a few scenarios in his head as he considered their options.]

We really should check that room, but... [Yeah. Cramped space.] Maybe we can get it out into open water.

[The wood of the ship would be easy to break through, judging by the creaking it was making around the door at the moment...]

Basically the native enemies of this place. The Erasers are the Story Eater's minions and the ones who cause real damage to the stories. The blots are... I guess you could say leftovers of the stories. Not all of them are hostile, but going to assume any out here are, like those undead pirates earlier. Pretty sure those were blots. I treat them all the same, personally.

[Rokurou explains as he keeps his eyes trained on the door before looking around, his daemon eye softly gleaming as it begins to point out the weaknesses of the structure. It won't be too much longer now.

But to lure it out...

He looks around to the side of the room and notices a few notable cracks. There are more in other places, including the ceiling above them.]

There are a few weak points we can use. This wall over here leads to the outside, I think, so if it really is strong enough to break through that wall, we can try and make it slam into this one, too. I might be the best one for that since my current form allows me to swim fast. Plus I can take a big hit if necessary.

[Does he want to? Not really, but again. Must protect the Red.]

[Keith looked... concerned. He took in the information about the Erasers and the Blots, mentally filing that away for later, and then considered the area, looking around at things, too.

He moved to the other side, checking the indicated wall. He could see through it a bit, and it did indeed look like open water past it.]

That could work. [He pressed his hands against the wood, giving a little push to check for any give.] It looks like this is an outer wall. [He frowned a bit, though.]

I'm not exactly slow, you know. [Keith was used to being one of the faster, more agile members of his team, and, the longer he spent like this, the more he got used to it. Brute strength wasn't something he could do, but he knew how to fight and compensate for that against stronger enemies.

He moved, positioning himself next to Roku, but also putting the wall crack between them.]

If we let it come for us, we can split to each side once it charges. Hopefully, the distraction of having two targets split up will confuse it enough to crash through the wall.

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