All Aboard The Grand Arcadia
First Session and First Chapter
The following is the result of a completed session of gameplay that I converted into a full story. Enjoy.
Welcome to The Grand Arcadia
It is a particularly busy day in the Arcadian Market. The Grand Arcadia, floating in the Tre Helios Light Way, is illuminated by the light of three stars, glowing amidst the vast darkness of space. The light beams through a massive dome and a thin artificial atmosphere within, providing energizing light to a bustling marketplace aboard the top level of the Ark-class carrier. Thousands of beings from all over the galaxy come here to sell the best of their cuisines, wares, weapons, and relics, hoping to become wealthy and well-known. The air is scented with aromatics, exotic spices, steam from cooking pots, perfumes, and incense. The crescendo of many dialects being spoken simultaneously sounds like the roar of a trading floor during an economic boom. All of it could be overwhelming to a newcomer to the Arcadia. It is the only ship in the entire galaxy that currently travels to all known sectors of the Universe, and along the way collects travelers from different planets looking to gain experience among the stars.
During all of the hustle and bustle, at the back of the market, the main lift opens. It is the portal where all incoming passengers of the Arcadia enter for the first time. The lift is located at the south end of the main aisle, which is three times wider than the other aisles in the market, housing the best the market has to offer. As the lift doors open, a tiny peek of the energizing light pierces the eyes of Ray Aldermight, a tracker from the planet Lycosia, a woodland planet with tumultuous weather. The sweet and savory aroma seeps in through the opening and immediately fills his nostrils, uploading information about new species he’s never even heard of. As the gate opens wider, his heart fills with vigor and curiosity. The young traveler, a master of the wooded terrain, has never experienced any other environment outside of Lycosia until now. Some of the scents remind him of home, but one, in particular, catches his attention, almost putting him in a trance. He takes a deep breath to prepare to step out into this strange new place.
The market is a bustling place, with vendors shouting out their wares and customers jostling for space. And then the unusually flat ground felt odd beneath his hind paws. At first, Ray was apprehensive about coming aboard The Grand Arcadia because of his appearance. After all, he wasn't sure if anyone would look like him, a canine. As he enters the center aisle, he takes another deep breath, closing his eyes to savor the familiar scent he noticed while on the lift. He wanders around, taking in the sights and sounds, and follows his nose to a small food stand with bar seating serving garlicky wormnoodle stew.
The aroma is irresistible - and with one deep inhale through the nostrils, he can smell the broth infused with woodland herbs and thickened with Elzen blood, enriched with braised Elzen ribeye meat and mountain-born vegetables. Some vegetables on Lycosia are conscious beings and are referred to as "born," not "grown." They are the most potent, healing, and nutritious sources of food in the galaxy. Considered rare everywhere, they are the planet's most sought-after export. Finally, a poached arch owlraven egg tops off the dish, making his mouth water in anticipation. He realizes he hasn't had a home-cooked meal in two weeks and decides to indulge.
He hesitates at first, but his hunger gives him the courage to slide into the empty seat between an elderly dwarf and a brutish black man in a cloak carrying the largest sword he has ever seen. Their presence is intimidating, but he overcomes his apprehension as he eagerly anticipates his meal.
As he sits down at the table, the waitress approaches him. She's an elderly Lycosian Caninian woman, one of his own people, which brings him a sense of familiarity in this foreign place. She greets him by calling him a pup, a nickname that is customary in his culture and one that he finds slightly bothersome as well. Nonetheless, the aromatic dish is motivation enough to overlook her misstep. She greets him with their cultural salutation, "By the moon's light!"
“By the moon’s light,” he replies.
“My word, it's been light years since I've seen my kind on this here vessel. What can I get you today?,” she asks.
“Your wormnoodle stew smells like…home,” Ray replies with a warm smile on his face.
His reply is met with a smile from the kind-hearted lady. "This one's on the house," she says.
Feeling grateful for the gesture, Ray nods in modesty and engages in small talk with the lady. He asks her about her life on The Arcadia and if she has any tips for him as he acclimates to his new surroundings. The conversation flows easily, giving him a sense of connection to this new place that he hadn't felt before. Almost a reassuring energy, making him feel like everything is going to be just fine.
As he waits for his stew, he gazes around the marketplace, taking in the unfamiliar sights and sounds, feeling a newfound appreciation for the adventure that lies ahead. To his left, he sees the dwarf absolutely destroying his bowl of stew. Ray thinks it strange that this being seems to love the stew as much as he does. He has no idea that wormnoodle stew is even eaten in other cultures. To his right, the statuesque black man is sipping on chlorophyll tea, while staring off into the distance.
Ray is in awe of the man’s stature, distracting him from noticing the waitress drop off his huge bowl of stew. The man senses Ray’s gaze and turns his head to meet his gaze. Ray, embarrassed for staring, quickly digs into his food, slurping up the noodles, and devouring the Elzen meat to cover up staring at the man. The stew tastes as if it was prepared in the trunk of a Golden Ash Tree in the volcanic forests of Lycosia, where heat permeates from the ground and can be used to cook. Everything is so fresh as if it's right off the planet. “How is this possible?,” Ray thinks. With a mouthful of wormnoodles, Ray asks the woman in disbelief, “Where?…How is everything so fresh?”
She giggles and replies, “The Arcadia has the lushest farmland terrarium in the galaxy. So much so that many have chosen to live there and cultivate the land. Many scientists, frontiersmen, and cultivators of the Wood are there growing plants and tending to livestock. You should check it out.”
Ray is excited to know such a place exists in the middle of space and becomes eager to see what this place looks like. It seems as if his excitement makes him hungrier, as he begins to eat faster at the thought of spending time in the terrarium. Disgusted at Ray’s expressive slurping of noodles, the mountain of a man to Ray's right grumbles. Offended by Ray's table manners, he sarcastically asks, "Are you going to use chopsticks with that?"
Ray unapologetically replies, "This is how I eat."
The man replies, "How… uncivilized."
Ray takes in the man’s scent and smells women, the underground, war, blood, and violence. He has a short premonition of his power in battle. As he is having the vision, the man nudges him to get his attention. "Hey, are you okay? I was just kidding around. HEY!"
Ray regains his consciousness and replies, "I'm sorry. These noodles are exquisite."
The man, still disgusted, says, "Yeah, they must be - Anyway, name’s Issa. What's your name, traveler?"
"My name is Ray...of Lycosia," Ray replies.
"Lycosia...such a beautiful yet treacherous place," Issa exclaims.
Ray takes an interest in Issa, who he believes must be the first human ever on Lycosia because he has never seen one there before. Despite his initial skepticism, Ray finds Issa convincing, imagining such a man would come to Lycosia to train his more animalistic traits. However, before he can investigate further, loud music starts to play and people begin cheering as a man dressed in the finest of Arcadian silks makes a grand entrance carried in on a golden hover-throne. The crowd goes wild for him, almost praising his presence as if he could answer their prayers or grant them one wish. While Issa is unfazed, Ray is intrigued. Issa has dealings with the diplomat, but this is Ray's first time encountering him.
Ray notices that Issa isn't as mesmerized as the rest of the people in the market. Nonetheless, the man, dressed in the finest threads Ray has ever seen, is quite the sight to behold. Ray sniffs in his direction to catch a scent, and his nose is filled with the scent of the richest herbal body oils, unknown to him. The scent almost carries him off into a dreamlike state. It is calming and invigorating at the same time.
In the distance, Ramone floats off his throne onto a floating platform. When he lands on the platform, one can hear a microphone turn on. He clears his throat and announces, "Welcome to The Grand Arcadia, where just about everything is for sale. I am Ramone Franchiseman, your gracious host and owner of this vessel. I urge you to be free aboard my ship, but I ask that you do all things peacefully. We only have one rule: no fighting, unless you are willing to challenge your adversary in front of your peers. Why do anything for free? Put your money up and settle your disputes in the Ring. Negotiate, haggle, and get the best deal you can. And until next time, travel in peace."
He descends from the platform as people close in on his position the closer he gets to the ground. By the time he places the soles of his feet on the ground, he is surrounded by diplomats, politicians, and artisans, all begging for a moment of his time. "What kind of wealthy man walks amongst the people with no protection?" Ray thought. From his perspective, this Ramone guy must either be powerful or foolish. Ruling out the latter, because obviously no foolish man could ever accumulate this amount of wealth so early in his life.
Enter The Mage
Amidst all the chaos, a lone figure meditates in the distance. His particular sector has become quieter as everyone shifts to the main aisle in the marketplace to see and hear Ramone. He slowly opens his eyes and glances in the direction of the main aisle. The show is not important to him, as his goal is to become the strongest Mage in the history of his planet.
While on the ship, he is searching for the best training mage training in the galaxy, which he finds in the Quantum Mage Guild, the most revered order in the Universe. Their exclusive and brutal training is run by elder kinsmen from his planet and serves the interests of Ramone Franchiseman. The Grand Arcadia depends on the manipulation of black matter to run the ship, and Ramone pays them handsomely for providing their services.
One of the best ways to gain the recognition of Ramone and the Guild is to enter the Kumite Kaiya, the most brutal fighting league in the galaxy aboard The Grand Arcadia. One could make a name echoed all over the High Emperor's space. Of course, entering the never-ending tournament could cost one their lives, but the reward of learning the most sacred magic is worth the risk for him.
As he hops into the ring, his heart fills with anticipation and excitement. The crowd's cheers echo in his ears, and he feels his pulse quicken with adrenaline. He thinks about his master's words and the countless hours of training he's endured to reach this moment. He knows that he's on the path to greatness, and the feeling is indescribable.
As he moves around the ring, his heart swells with pride. He knows that he's meant to be here, in this moment, doing what he loves. His heart was born overflowing with magic, and he feels it coursing through his veins. As he looks at the stars beyond the city-sized dome protecting the marketplace from outer space, he feels a sense of wonder and awe wash over him. He knows that this is just the beginning of his journey, and he can't wait to see where it takes him.
Issa hears a commotion from the Kumite Ring, located in the western sector of the marketplace, and tells Ray, "That's the best way to make a name for oneself in Arcadia, fighting in the ring." He stands and looks between the stands to the Ring, where he sees energy flowing through the air and a figure performing a kata. Intrigued by the mastery of movement displayed by the figure in the Ring, Issa taps Ray on the shoulder, inviting him to walk with him and discover the person behind this exhibition of power.
Meanwhile, Ray is engorging himself on another bowl of noodles and not paying attention, at least from Issa's perspective. However, Ray has already noticed the mysterious caster from afar. He can smell the dark matter from a mile away, reminding him of the Great Buck Hunts in the highest peaks of mountains all over Lycosia. There were black holes in the tops of the mountains with black matter geysers. He knows that scent anywhere, although it is untraceable for the uninitiated. He can make out all but the traveler's face with his other senses.
After observing the young pup, Issa realizes that he may be eating his way through homesickness. He feels empathy towards the young tracker, but he needs to find more comrades for his next mission. With this in mind, he decides to gather more information about the quarry where the Ring is located. So he tosses a token to the Lycosian woman behind the counter and says, "Get him another on me!"
"Your money is no good here, champ," she replies. And tosses him the token back.
Issa grins, salutes her, and says, "By the moon's light."
"By the moon's light," she replies.
Issa turns to Ray, "I'll see you around... pup," and taps him on the shoulder. Ray, still engorging himself, nods and continues eating.
As he arrives at the quarry, he notices a sorcerer who is channeling dark matter energy, a rare form of magic known only to the most privileged or eldest of sorcerers. What's more surprising is that the sorcerer appears to be youthful. Issa watches in awe as the sorcerer continues to manipulate the dark matter through the air. He observes the sorcerer's movements and tries to understand his technique.
After a while, Issa loses patience with the sorcerer's display of power and remarks, "Let me know when you get tired of that weak-ass dancing." He wants to learn more about the sorcerer's powers and decides to test out how strong he really is.
"Normally, people introduce themselves first before insulting a stranger. But I guess you aren't so normal, are you? I'm Kamwendo," says the man in the ring.
Issa grunts and smirks, then suddenly super punches the ground inside the ring, causing a tremor and making Kamwendo fall. Kamwendo gets up, laughs, and spits on the ground. He charges up with black luminescent energy and increases the gravity around Issa by 5 times. Issa flexes and struggles under the immense resistance. He directs his power to his lower extremities and fortifies his ankles, knees, and hips with stability. However, the pressure becomes so intense that it causes a hairline fracture in his shin. Nonetheless, Issa dispels the pressure seemingly with no effort.
Kamwendo charges the air around him, looking like a luminescent black light, and dashes toward Issa. But Issa stops him in the air with a stiff arm to the chest and counters with an uppercut that barely connects to his chin but sends Kamwendo into a flying backflip, in which he gently floats down landing on his feet.
As soon as he lands, Issa throws a dashing punch from 15 feet away, which is blocked by a black matter forcefield. Kamwendo then grabs Issa's forearm and charges it with black energy. Issa tries to resist the energy, but Kamwendo's power is too great, causing small implosions on the inside of Issa's forearm which push him back, and in that moment Kamwendo creates a small singularity that suspends Issa in the air.
Issa uses his force and pushes himself down to the ground, overpowering Kamwendo's magic. Straining to keep Issa in the air, Kamwendo says, "We are having a bit of a volley here, aren't we?" Issa responds with a double fist hookercut to the left side of Kamwendo's face, cracking one of his molars from the force. Kamwendo increases his own gravity to cancel Issa's power and rolls with the punch into a double aerial roundhouse. He misses the first kick but lands the second right to Issa's chest and knocks him back 5 ft.
Issa laughs, entertained by the small man's power. He believes Kamwendo will be extremely useful in the future. Kamwendo, confused by Issa's delight, says, "What's so funny?"
"You are. Not too bad, rookie," Issa replies as he begins to put his cloak and sword back on.
"Wait, where are you going?" Kam inquires. "We aren't done yet!"
"Hmph, oh, you were done before WE ever got started," Issa replies. "I'll see you around, kid."
Issa walks off back into the marketplace, leaving Kamwendo bewildered yet intrigued. "Who is this man?" Kamwendo thought. He looks around the arena, just taking in the sights. Daydreaming about future victory in the Ring but also feeling sore from his tussle with the mysterious warrior.
The arena has a photo of every champion of Kumite hanging in the rafters. They are chronologically arranged from left to right. Kam skips all of the champs and immediately glances to see the current reigning champ. He reads the nameplate, "EE-SAH, The King Slayer? Shit, that's a name." Then, slowly raises his gaze to the photo hanging above the nameplate. And there it was, the photo was none other than the mysterious man he just fought in the Ring.