Chapter Text
EPISODE 1:
Rose goes Rot hunting in her local woods, Sage reluctantly tagging along. Rose looks like a boy.
Rose destroys Rot infected plants that are growing too close to town. The plants are magically aggressive, attacking them.
Rose thinks of it as practice for the academy. Sage however is worried. She thinks they’ve been infecting the plants closer to town than usual.
Run into a rot infected pig - now a bloated, deformed monster. They are surprised, as the Rot had never affected the animals this close to town.
Rose fights it with no hesitation. Sage, after a moment, backs her up by setting up Runes on the ground that Rose leads the Infected Pig into.
The Pig is injured but now angrier.
Sage says they aren’t trained enough to do this.
Rose says real warriors don’t back down from a challenge.
Sage physically stops Rose from blindly charging in again. She insists on a plan. While this happens, the Pig runs towards town.
Rose and Sage rush towards town. Rose says she has a plan.
The Pig gets loose into the town and destroys shit. (The town, Pebbles, is visibly a very poor town, something that will be visibly reinforced throughout the story)
Rose fights the Pig to keep it occupied as Sage sets up three Runes inside an abandoned house.
Sage says she's done. Rose leads the Pig to the middle of the three Runes. Sage activates it, trapping the pig in a small enclosed space. (The runes are basically just three walls, trapping the Pig)
Rose destroys the building's crumbling foundations, making it collapse on top of the Pig.
Rose barely escapes the house. Sage fusses over Rose.
Townsfolk are not happy, saying things like: “God Rose, What did you do this time? You lured the beast here, that’s why you shouldn’t be out playing guardian.”
Rose argues back everything worked out and the beast would have wandered into town at some point anyway. She thinks the town needs appointed guards.
* * * * *
Location: A going away party for Rose and Sage later that night. A large portion of their tiny village attends.
Rose looks at herself in the mirror in a dress. She visibly cringes and turns the mirror away. Sage looks at Rose and blushes. She comments that Rose should dress up more (Sage: "too bad it took our going away party to finally get you to dress like a girl").
Rose says she's wearing a costume.
Sage and Rose take a seat at a long table.
The table has most of the village there. Sage’s mother, who is at the head of the table, smiles at Sage.
The women are all at the table. The men are all servants.
Sage's Father is a servant - revealed when Sage's mother addresses a servant (Sage's Mother: "Dear husband, bring me more wine.")
The implication is that Pebble is very matriarchal
The following things are talked about at the table:
-Imply Sage’s mom is the head of the village from her position at the table and how everyone refers to her.
-Sage has a lot of expectations set on her. She “is going to make the village proud” (Sage is anxious over this, though Rose gives her some comfort with a pat on the shoulder or something)
-They are afraid because the rot is getting so close.
-Some complain the guardians aren’t doing their job if its’ gotten this bad. (Maybe sneak in that Guardians are over in the elf woods fighting the rot because it's the most aggressive there. They're a bit racist about this.)
-Sage’s mom complains the use of New Magic has made them less effective. She’s teased by others in town but insists Old Magic should be used exclusively. New Magic is cheap and fast (she’ll make a metaphor that I can’t think of right now)
-Rose's Mom is a controversial figure. While many admire her, Sage's Mom points out how Rose's Mom became a rich guardian and didn't donate any money to their poor town.
Everyone shits on Rose for being a terrible warrior and not like her stoic, strong mother. Sage is implied to be too good for her. They claim it's because Rose was raised by men and needs stronger influences in her life.
Rose talks herself up, saying she’s great and will be greater once she comes back from school
There’s a joke about how glad they are that Rose is leaving because she causes so many problems. They reminisce on all her mistakes
Rose shows she doesn’t care what they say about her, looking more proud than upset.
Sage notes how unaffected Rose always is. How not caring isn’t always a good thing and that she needs to think things through more.
Rose: “why do i need to think when I have these” *Rose flexes her muscles*
Sage: *looks deeply unimpressed*
Rose defends her brother (also a servant) who's being harassed. (because he’s Roses brother, they start picking on him while talking about Rose’s fuck ups).
Rose almost gets in a fight. Rose's father comes out from the kitchen (he's a cook) and tries to deescalate the situation. He apologizes, focused more on calming the women down than addressing how they were bullying his son. This gets Rose pissed and she leaves.
Rose goes home. Her family (father and brother) compares her to her mother and admits they don’t know if being a warrior is for her (especially her brother who suspiciously insisted on this point).
Rose gets into an argument with brother. Things get very personal. The argument would go something like this (but less obvious and would flow better):
Rose: You're not a warrior, what do you know.
Brother: You're a terrible mage! There, I said it! It takes more that swordsmanship to be a real guardian.
Rose: You're just jealous that you're stuck here and I'm going to the academy.
Brother: Fuck You. You're not better than me just because you can wave a sword around!
Rose: I don't want to stay here and end up like you and dad
Brother: You're a girl, that won't ever happen
Rose looks away.
Rose: I'll be a great Guardian, no matter what anyone thinks of me. You or the villagers. Like Mom.
Brother: If mom was so great of a Guardian, she'd still be here
Brother sees a Cat staring at him through the window.
* * * * *
It’s the next day. Rose stares at the sunrise from where she’s doing sword practice, looking very sweaty.
Rose: “It’s time.”
Rose and Sage are leaving.
Sage says goodbye to her parents.
Sage’s mom: Don’t be tempted by the New Magic at the school.
Sage: I won’t Mom
Sage’s Mom: I don’t know why you even wanted to go to that school. Just because Rose wants to go doesn't mean you have to.
Sage: I know mom.
Sage’s Mom: Even if Rose and her mom made use of New Magic, that doesn’t mean our family should stray from their roots. Respect our heritage.
Sage (looking exasperated): I know mom. Don’t worry.
Rose’s goodbye is more stilted due to last night's awkward conversation
Rose and Rose's Brother act mad and standoffish. Brother comes out and gives cheesecake like an offering. It’s her favorite. Sage jokes Rose even has a picture of it.
Rose breaks first and gives her brother a quick hug before crossing her arms. Brother just laughs and ruffles Rose’s hair.
Rose talks to her brother more privately.
She apologizes and Brother also apologizes.
Brother admits he's jealous. That Rose gets a better education and more opportunities than he ever did. That he wished he could have found someone to apprentice under in the village so he could have gotten a job and left the village.
Rose admits she was extra crabby last night because she was reminded of how bad the villagers treat the Brother and Father. She's worried about leaving him alone in Pebble.
She tells him to visit anytime things get bad in town. She'll smuggle him in her dorm room and they can be secret roommates. Brother laughs but Rose is serious.
Brother tells her he doesn’t need to coddle him. He’s the older one.
Rose says once she’s a warrior like mom, she’ll come back to Pebble. All three of them will have a ton of money and go live in Lyngarth, far away. Brother shuts down visibly as she talks
Rose’s father makes Sage promise to look out for Rose. He looks very worried.
Rose gripes (in a way she wants to come off as jokingly, but some bitterness comes through) she doesn’t need a babysitter and she’s going to be a great warrior even if no one believes in her.
They leave on a carriage.
Sage says she believes in her. Sage comforts Rose by saying she’s just like her mom. All strong and not caring about any struggles that lay ahead. Rose thanks her and tells Sage she’s great to, comforting her about her parents expectations.
*******
They make it to the Lyngarth.
Lyngarth is split into two parts. The Cloud City, which floats above with magic and is where the academy is located.
And Shadow Town, the slums underneath the Cloud City, directly in its shadow.
They need to get to the student entrance- a temporary stairway that students climb to get into cloud city. It's open only for today.
It's tradition/required that students climb up magical stairs to Cloud City rather than use the ancient teleportation rune others use to get into Cloud City.
Shadow Town has a Train Station that goes through the city that can take them to the stairway.
They don't know where the train station is so they wander through Shadow Town.
It is Dark, dank and sad. It also has Rot. Rose and Sage get sad walking through the streets. They see amputees - people who had limbs cut off due to the Rot (Sage explains this as they see it)
Rose gives their money to these begging street urchins. Sage protests but Rose claims she left enough for the train ride.
They find the station but don’t have enough money.
Rose: But it’s was 15 Sals (Currency is named after the country Salient - where they are)
Attendant: Yeah, twenty years ago. The prices have tripled since then.
Sage: No one’s from Pebbles gone to Lyngarth since Rose’s mom and that was years ago, so I guess the info was outdated.
Sage is extremely stressed about this. Rose says they just need to find some job. They have time.
They head to a tavern looking for work. Bartender points to a notice board.
Request board to kill Rot monster right outside the city.
Someone explains Normally, a guardian would come but they rarely came to the Shadow Town to begin with and now with the fairy wood (where elves are) is infested, majority have been assigned there.
Rose says she’ll take it but is denied. Lots of people tried and failed. So now they’re assembling a team to go fight it.
A group of untrained mages joined. Including an asshole named Christofern. Group has a plan and plans to split the money between them. They don’t want Sage and Rose to join until they show the group their Academy acceptance papers. Thinking it’ll increase their chances of success, they agree.
They’re going to spend the night at a tavern when a child steals the rest of their money. They give chase and track the kid to his run down home.
Mother apologizes (mother is a stoic but clearly very stressed person)
Child explains he needs the money to post on the Request board. His father took on the mission to kill the Rot beast because they needed money and father is an amateur mage - was taught a few New Magic spells by his own father and had a cheap wand.
He never came back. Child trying to save enough to get a rescue mission.
Mother scolds child. Says father is dead. He went missing weeks ago.
Rose promises she'll kill the things if she can't find the father. Mother says she'd be happy if that monster was simply put down.
Mother is suspicious at Rose's exuberance to help her family. Sage tells mother (child eavesdropping) Rose wants revenge on Rot. It took her mother away. That's why she’s determined to kill it.
Flashback from Sage POV. They’re at a funeral with a fire in the background.
Rose removes the covering from her dead mother’s face, showing it’s deformed from Rot.
Rose is crying with a look of determination.
Group fights the rot monster. They have a detailed plan.
The plan succeeds only because of Rose and Sage. This scene is to show how much better Rose and Sage are compared to the normal person.
While the beast is almost dead, Rose disappears instead of joining the fight.
Rose is looking for someone.
Sage notices Rose is missing and goes to find her.
Rose finds the family's Father. He is alive.
Father has given up. His leg is completely Rot riddled and fused to the floor. He is starved, surviving off cave water and no food. He thinks he’ll shame his family and is just a burden without a leg now.
Rose convinces him to let her amputate his leg. (Inspirational speech about them wanting you, no matter the failure blah blah blah). Rose amputates the leg and Sage heals him.
Rose carries him out while others claim the glory and money of killing the beast in the background.
Sage is angry.
Sage: What about the request?
Rose: I did fill a request.
Sage: What about the money? We had a plan, Rose!
Rose knocks on the door. The family opens the door to see Rose with their father on her back.
Family in shock.
They all hug and cry, reassuring they don’t care if he failed or missing a leg. They’ll figure something out. Rose and Sage are also hugged by the once stoic mother in gratitude.
Outside others are paraded down the streets for killing the beast. Christofern brags how Rose and Sage fled the fight. Rose is unbothered, saying they got the father which is a win for her.
Alone, Child asked why Rose went for the father instead of the Rot - doesn't she want to kill the Rot?
Rose explains her TRUE motivation. It's not revenge, like Sage thinks.
Same Flashback as before but from Rose pov. It wasn't her mother she was looking at, but her family. It was her father and brother that made her cry. The grief and horror they felt. How it had broken them down for years after.
She knew she never wanted anyone to suffer like that. THAT why she's going to be a great guardian. That's why her priority was to save the boy's father or bring back his corpse.
Sage is depressed that they'll miss the entrance exams now - they won't be able to make it to the student entrance before it closes on foot. Rose says they'll think of something. Neither seem convinced.
Child reveals an alternative path that he and other criminals take.
The dank sewers.
They ride in shit water on a tamed water dragon after feeding it some fish and paying the dude who tamed it their remaining Sals.
Climbs out sewers (drenched). They exit the sewers next to the train, where other students exit and stare. They see the student entrance - a magical stairway with Student Entrance Signs around it.