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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At the bright age of fifteen, our little mermaid is to receive a pearl crown from her grandmother. However, with the crown she must also have oysters clamped onto her tail, for "pride must suffer pain." Wearing the crown is easy enough, but dealing with the oysters is a different matter—especially when the mermaid must go through a secret cavern and convince the oysters to actually clamp onto her tail. Consider it a ritual of sorts.

The challenges are the following: 1) collect glowing sea crystals without disturbing the nest of eels sleeping nearby; 2) swim through dark tunnels with strong currents pushing her back; and 3) sing a sweet lullaby to the oysters so that they will remove themselves to then clamp onto her tail. The grandmother can also aid with their own crooning voice and any other aid they may be able to provide. It is not required, but it would be nice.

While partying on his fancy boat, a storm decides to crash it and sends the prince overboard. Having been attracted to the sight and sounds, the mermaid now wearing her crown and oysters has the opportunity to save the prince and bring him to shore. It won't be easy. Whether the prince is conscious or not or can even swim will be the least of their problems.

Turbulent ocean waters, sharks coming for a potential easy meal (or two), and less "human friendly" merfolk will make their journey to shore perilous. It is likely they will need to fight, and while they will have access to any weapons and abilities they have, it may be difficult since it's underwater. Fortunately they will have some aid in the form of...a passing humpback whale. But only if the mermaid and prince are able to sing a song to attract its attention.

NOTE: The one acting the role of Prince will NOT have their merform during this scene...for the most part. If things become too dire than they will be able to transform to make it through.

After the mermaid has brought the prince safely(?) to shore, she must leave. This leaves a passing priestess to find the unconscious(?) prince and tend to him instead. The prince is to believe she is his rescuer and immediately falls in love. Of course, whether that actually happens or if the prince may have vague memories of his real savior is in the air. Also depends on whether the priestess will actually take advantage of the misunderstanding.

Whatever happens, the priestess needs to help the prince up and take him to the nearby castle. It's a bit of a climb, so take care. Any trails and paths remaining are narrow and the walls steep and slippery. There are also black bats and seagulls that may try to pester them as they ascend higher up the cliff, as well as strong gusts of wind strong enough to blow them off. There is one way to make the trek easier—singing any kind of tune will loosen large chunks of rock and will have them fall in such a way to form a couple of steps or fill in gaps. This will only work in certain places, but it's at least something. Just be careful—sing too loudly and it might cause a rock slide instead.

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.

Everything below this comment are the prompts for the sub quests and then any other individual toplevels players may want to create.

EDIT FOR ALL SUB QUESTS: An optional late addition! Each sub quest now has a singing component because why not let everyone suffer the musical nature of this story. For Base Camp, singing or any kind of music making and dancing will help restore the colors and sound of the kingdom. For Making the Crown, some oysters may need a little musical coaxing to open up. And for the Garden, singing and music will also help placate the hostile statues, as well as help the plants to grow. Again, completely optional since this is a late addition.

Edited 2019-07-15 20:39 (UTC)

Help set up, clear out, and protect the central location so that it can be used for a base camp. No one knows how long they'll be here, but it's going to be a few days, perhaps weeks. Time passes strangely within stories, after all. Helping clean up and rebuild around the palace will help appease the more troublesome Blots, as well as further secure the area. There are other supplies scattered about that can also be collected and used. Should anyone need to return to the Index, the gateway still exists, but faintly. It will take a lot of power to send someone to and back again, so it can only be used in emergencies.

Although the Storyteller's magic will help offer some basic protection, there are still dangers that lurk outside of the palace buildings. Taking on the form of mutated sea creatures, Blots and Erasers alike may try to enter and attack, particularly any who are not paying attention. Having a glowing crystal to help illuminate one's surroundings is advised. There are also Blot versions of past merfolk residents, and for the most part they are a neutral party. But if someone were to poke any underwater treasures or intrude on their homes, they may attack.

A crown is needed for the first scene, so those who are willing must set out to five possible locations to find a particular pearl. The locations are:

Midnight Coast: a coast near a city, the oyster is in a shallow cove. Just be careful to not be caught by the "locals" who are out fishing. Stealth will be optimal.
Swans at Sunset: a tranquil lagoon home to a flock of swans. Within their territory is a large oyster, but be wary. These "swans" are large and hungry for anything fish. (And they're swans, they're going to be assholes.)
Upriver: upriver to a forest and hills. There is a group of children and a dog guarding the oyster and will need to be warded off or distracted. They love games and riddles, but they are blots, so you could fight them, but any harm done will transform the dog into a cerberus.
Half sunken "haunted" ship: stranded out in the open sea. The ship ran aground some rock pillars, and the oyster is attached within the underwater portion of the ship. Beware the skeleton pirates and other grisly creatures.
Frozen seas: iceberg surrounded by thunderstorms. The only hazard is getting through the water without getting struck by lightning. Maybe pushing some blocks of ice will help shield them.

Note: there's no limit to these pearls so multiple parties can tackle the same location. Once a pearl is obtained, it will shimmer a bright silver and those who helped gather it will be instantly sent back to base.

Edited 2019-07-14 21:28 (UTC)

The mermaid has her own special garden filled with numerous statues, including a large statue of a male human. It's filled with live coral and small fish that need to be taken care of while the mermaid is off gallivanting with human princes and adventures, or be ready for when she has her moment of grief over the prince. More importantly, it's a giant mess thanks to the state of the story, so creatures need to be contained, "plants" need to be tended and regrown, "weeds" removed, trash taken out, etc. The ingredients for the sea witch's potion can also be found within the garden, and those need to be gathered. Sounds simple enough, but for some reason everyone is warned that when near the statues, they should not blink.

And should they forget... ...Did that statue just move? Did that stone crab always have its claws open and pointed at their back? Or that narwhal's horn aimed straight at their heart? The statues in these gardens are broken, twisted, and downright scary at times. They will move, follow, and even attack those who do not pay attention to them. However, by decorating and revitalizing their area, they will be appeased, be restored to their more peaceful forms, and serve as protectors instead.

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SCENE 1: THE MERMAID AND GRANDMOTHER - KOTORI IIDA AND EIZEN

SCENE 2: THE MERMAID AND THE PRINCE - EUSTACE AND RYOTARO DOJIMA

SCENE 3: THE PRIESTESS AND THE PRINCE - RED XIII AND ELMA

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

(frozen comment) ---- SUB QUEST + INDIVIDUAL TOP LEVELS SEPARATOR ----

SUB QUEST 1: BASE CAMP + UNDERWATER EXPLORATION