Chapter 02: Act I

[keeperoftales]

Tale of the Bamboo Cutter: Act I—

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§ instructions.

The first Act of our second 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. Finally, it is okay to assume that a base camp of sorts is made in that central location. Like the Sub Quests, there is no specific toplevel for it, but players are free to incorporate it in their own.

As a reminder, characters will find similar information and instruction 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. In addition, they will experience a general wardrobe change upon arriving into the Draft to match the general feudal Japanese aesthetic, but you don't have to be too strict about it. Characters in Main Scenes will have a second wardrobe change while acting the scene. 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. So those on Prince Quests, they can wait a day or two before setting out, and after completing their journey, they can rest another day or two before going with Kaguya to be judged.

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

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§ sub quests.

Everyone is free to participate in the Sub Quests. There are no specific toplevels, so you're free to incorporate them however you wish in your own top level.

¶ I. Base Camp. 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. Although the Storyteller's magic will help offer some basic protection, there are still dangers that lurk outside of the forest and the occasional Blot monster or Eraser may try to harass those waiting behind. There's at least plenty of camping supplies, from tents and tools to food and medicine.


¶ II. Find the Gold Nuggets and Precious Stones. Hidden within the stalks of bamboo are golden nuggets and precious stones. To find them, characters will have to find red lined bamboo to cut down. One would think that would be easy when everything is monochrome in color, but the red lines will also be very dull and subdue and obscured by everything else. As to why they must be found, they are actually used to help plant new bamboo stalks to help regrow the forest and bring back life and color to the world. Thus after finding them, clear a patch and plant them.

Note: each gold nugget will provide some small healing to any injured and will have an additional boost in purifying the ground upon planting. It's all right for characters to hold onto a few gold nuggets, but do not be greedy!



¶ III. Eliminate Threats.As said on the tin, this forest needs a lot of culling. Just beware, the Erasers and Blots are dangerous and draw upon the forms they've taken on—from traditional Japanese demons to wild, dangerous animals. As more threats are cleared, the easier it will be to restore the forest as well. Destroying the Erasers and Blots will automatically revive the portions they had been "haunting" and make it easier to replant the bamboo.

Comments

[fifthforce]

[ Yeah this is uncomfortable for a whole bunch of reasons, and now she's starting to physically struggle against it. ]

Put me down, or I'm breaking your hand!

[ A threat she's not kidding about. All she needs to do is grab hold of her mallet again, tucked away under her coat, and she can restore her size in an instant.

And at this point? Boy does she not care if that causes any kind of damage to Disciple. Totally deserved. ]

[chippedsoul]

Ehhh? [He tilts his head playfully.] Put you down? Well all right. [By put down, she means just drop her right? Because that's what he's doing. He'll be sure to catch her, if she doesn't react fast in time before hitting the ground, maybe.]

[fifthforce]

[ Thankfully for her, she was fully expecting to be dropped just like that, and as soon as she feels herself getting let go, she's grabbing her mallet and changing back to normal in the blink of an eye.

... Unfortunately for her, she still landed kind of awkwardly on her knees and needs a moment. ]

Ow, geez! ... Ugh, I'm never doing that again.

[ Not in front of Disciple, anyway. Not in the state he's in now. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Oh tsk. His fun has been ruined. Oh well, he crouches down and pats her on the head. There there.]

But thanks to that little trick of yours, I managed to get us out of there even faster without having to wait for you. [Grin~] I wouldn't dismiss it so soon, it might come in handy sneaking pass the dragon. [That unsettling smile says otherwise.]

[fifthforce]

[ Getting headpats from this guy is the worst after what he just did! She briefly considers throwing one of those marble-things at his face, but only sits there with an annoyed pout instead. He's too useful like this especially with what they've got ahead of them, so as tempting as it is, she'll keep herself in check. ]

I'll pass on getting flattened or blown away by a dragon, thanks.

[ That remark aside, she finally stands back up, and ... "stretches". As in "shoots her arm out to try thwaping Disciple upside the head while pretending to stretch". Whether she lands the hit or not, she acts like it didn't just happen. ]

So anyway, let's go find this dragon.

[chippedsoul]

-!! [As he stands along with her, her arm just whiffs him as he leans backwards to avoid it. His eyes narrow. He could break that arm right now. He abruptly takes her extended hand, and tugs her closer with a lot of strength behind it. It be impossible to get free unless she had inhuman strength too. Their faces could almost be touching.]

...Ladies first then [He just put on that mysterious smile again as he lets her hand free, and gestures to the cave opening behind her.]

[fifthforce]

[ She's a little disappointed that she missed, though she doesn't expect to be grabbed and yanked so close. If he weren't putting on such a dangerous air, she'd actually be kind of flustered by being this close to a pretty boy's face, but Hyde's attitude kills it for her.

... Maybe she's still just a tad flustered, but nowhere near as much as she might've otherwise been.

Once her hand's free, she hastily steps back with a forced smirk, then starts toward the cave's entrance. ]

How generous. I could've mistaken you for a gentleman for a moment there.

[chippedsoul]

Hm, I'll just have to try harder. [He doesn't sound like he's serious though. It might not be the best idea to have her back to him, but he'll try to behave for now. Picking a fight with a big dragon honestly sounds more enticing.

As they traverse through the cave a bit, they'll start to come across some evidence of the dragon living here. There were old scales, scorch marks on the walls and a few unsavory skeletons of others that have tried to take the dragon's treasure. It might be hard for Musashi to spot these things with barely any light, but she could probably spot a few glittering treasures in the darkness.]

[fifthforce]

[ She'd be pretty creeped out if he was serious, but she doubts he is. Maybe showing her back to the guy when he's proving to be an open threat to her isn't the brightest idea she's had today, but despite it all, she wants to believe he wouldn't sabotage their greater goal just to be a jerk.

Well. She's hoping that's true, anyway.

Either way, while her eyesight isn't anything near superhuman at least, not in this way, she does seem some things glittering here and there. She wants to go for them, because holy geez does she ever need money, but hesitates. Eventually, she slows to a stop and whispers. ]

... Hey. If you've got a light on you somewhere, now would be a good time to use it.

[ No way is she running at treasures and getting slam-dunked by a dragon she couldn't see. ]

[chippedsoul]

Eh? [He stops, his head tilting in the darkness.] But it's not even that dark in here. [Yes it is.]

Your eyesight must be terrible. Mine adjusted just fine.

[fifthforce]

[ She turns toward him, frowning and whispering more harshly. ]

My eyesight is just fine ...! [ ... sigh. She starts patting her outfit, hoping it came with a set of matches or something. Which it does not. ] Ugh ... I guess it'd be awkward to hold a match and a sword at the same time. So in that case ...!

[ She stops patting herself and points at Disciple. ]

You take the lead.

[chippedsoul]

[He crosses his arm, pondering at the suggestion.] Hehe, if you say so.

[He hums a tune as he approaches her.] How about I give you a lift while we're at it too? [He plans to carry her over his shoulder if she doesn't stop him.]

[fifthforce]

[ Seeing him approach makes her take a step back before holding her ground with a glare. ]

Are you just looking for excuses to touch me? I'll stick to walking.

[chippedsoul]

[It might be hard to tell he's smiling in the darkness.] Then you best watch your step, or I'll be sure to catch you if you fall.

[That should be a kind gesture, but when it's coming from Hyde...he walks on ahead of her. He'll "lead" the way, and that's the most he'll do, not even bothering to tell her there might be a skeleton she could trip over and such. Also he's not doing a great job keeping close within her vision. Best not to lose sight of him.]

[fifthforce]

How sweet.

[ She doesn't sound impressed, and fully doubts the sincerity of it, coming from him. While her eyes are starting to adjust a little more to the darkness, she does stumble a little from time to time over rocks or remains here and there, but manages to keep her balance for the most part. The only real hint to when she's starting to lag behind will be a frustrated grumble, but for the most part she's keeping up decently enough.

It's a bit distant, but there's the sound of something very large moving around up ahead. Musashi's already moving a hand to one of her sword hilts, though they still have a little ways to go before they reach the source. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Decently, or were her eyes playing tricks on her?] Behind you~ [Hyde's voice whispers into her ear as he goes to grip her shoulders from behind.]

[fifthforce]

[ BOY WHY ]

--?!

[ Musashi freezes on the spot, then glares over her shoulder at him. This guy was really getting on her last nerve ... If she wasn't focused on not messing up this story or making this trip harder on herself, she'd consider killing him even more seriously than she already is. ]

... You're not my type, you know. Your flirting does nothing for me.

[ She sincerely doubts he's flirting but joking around is the only way to stop her from considering a team kill here.

Just need him to help her with this dragon ... or get into a well-lit area. Either one will do, then she'll nail him with one of those marble things for sure. ]

[chippedsoul]

[Because it's amusing to this creep. He's going invade her personal space even more by pressing his head against hers.]

Oooh, I do enjoy the hard to get ones. [One his hands slides down along her body. It's as if he's trying to find something. Hope she hid those marbles really well.] I just need a little something from you, that's all.

[fifthforce]

[ Thankfully for her, she did. It's hiding right between her breasts underneath her shirt, so as long as he doesn't decide to tear her damn shirt off, he's not about to find anything.

Musashi's not about to let him keep feeling her up either, especially not with him saying something like that. There's only one thing he could be talking about, and with how creepy he's been, she does NOT want him getting his hands on it.

She's very roughly trying to tear herself away from him. ]

The only thing you need is my skills as a swordsman, idiot! Now, we have a dragon to face, so focus ...!

[chippedsoul]

[Her attempts to free herself are met with an iron grip.]

Oh, yes of course! Just give me what I want and we'll get going. Simple, right? [There was an edge to the playfulness in his voice. Now his arms were wrapped around her, with all the arrogance and confidence that he could overpower her easily if she rejects him again. Forget the dragon, he's having fun right now.]

[fifthforce]

Tch ...!

[ This guy is way too strong. He's got too much of an advantage while she's like this, and with how gross he's being ... she figures it's a matter of time before he goes for her chest. She needs to get out of here, now.

She's still struggling against him, all the while sliding her hand toward the mallet tied at her waist. Though her struggling might not even be necessary as a distraction from what she's actually trying to do - that "something large" she heard moving up ahead? It's starting to get closer, and louder.

Seems they may be making too much noise here. ]

[chippedsoul]

[The man is practically breathing down her neck when he heard the noise. There's a pause as he listens. He still can't see the beast, not yet.]

...Tch. [He finally relents his hold on her, taking a few steps ahead of her to see if he could find their uninvited guest.] What a pain. I guess it's too much to ask for a little privacy. [And he was just enjoying himself.]

[fifthforce]

[ Musashi has never been so glad for a huge monster lumbering it's way toward them. Not only because she's finally been let go, but because BOY OH BOY does she have some steam to release right about now.

She makes a disgusted noise, wanting SO BADLY to use those marbles on him right now, but that'd do nothing but screw her over. Just a little longer, just need to bear him a bit longer ...

The dragon sure is taking it's sweet time heading their way, though in a minute or so, it should start becoming visible - though Hyde will likely be able to see it sooner than that. ]

[chippedsoul]

[He sure does spot it and....that is a big dragon. The ground would shake with every step it took. Even he's not too sure he could fend off a dragon this big. And there, wrapped around it's neck was that jewel they were supposed to take. Of course.]

Oi, over here. [He whispers as he moves towards the cave wall. There's a large rock they could hide themselves behind to their left along the cave wall.]

[fifthforce]

[ She doesn't want to follow! ... But it's better than a giant dragon roasting her on the spot, so with a quick second of hesitation, she follows along to hide as well. ]

Now what ...?

[ Well, she can think of at least one thing - using most of the marbles on the dragon to knock it out - but she'd rather not draw Disciple's attention back to her and them again. Keeping her mouth closed and her ideas to herself for now. ]