Scenario:Ayer - Dim New World

Dim New World

Ayer is a brawler that hones his abilities in illegal arena battles. He celebrates a recent victory with his friend Bowman, but the festivities are cut short when guards begin a mass arrest in the arena. In the ensuing struggle, Ayer encounters (Captain), whose strength intrigues him. Afterwards, he stows away on an airship to escape, which turns out to be the Grandcypher. In the end he joins the crew on their adventures.

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???: Dogs, pigs, monkeys...

???: Sigh... Call 'em whatever you want.

???: Growing up, I was just that. A domesticated animal.

???: Follow the rules, mind your manners, and never forget to smile. Then you'll be happy. Humph. Useless.

???: That's when I discovered something new: a new world that all but obliterated the values I used to believe in.

???: A new world for me, filled with the sublime brutality of combat.

In the underground fighting arena of a distant island, crazed cheers erupt around a pit soaked in blood and sweat.

Spectator 1: Wipe the floor with'em, champ! Paint the arena red!

Gladiator: I'm gonna clobber this punk. Time to teach you who the real king of the ring is around these parts!

Spectator 2: Listen kid, you'd better win! I bet everything I had on you!

Ayer: A chorus of fools.

Bowman: Ha ha ha! Sounds about right. It's about time for the big fight to decide the number one spot, yeah?

Bowman: This is the new world we both wanted. We sacrificed everything to get here.

Ayer: Right. It's the only place I feel alive.

Bowman: Heh. Hope your eyes are as sharp as usual, buddy.

Gladiator: Bring it on, punk! Hope they sell coffins in kid's sizes, because you're goin' in one after this!

Ayer: Sadly I could only find ones that fit hulking brutes like you.

Gladiator: Heh heh. You're messed up in the head, kid. I'm taking you down!

Ayer: Not any more messed up than you're gonna be!

That night Ayer celebrates his victory at home.

Bowman: Hahaha! That counter jab had me shaking! And after I told you not to freak me out too!

Ayer: Really? I could've sworn you were laughing the whole time.

Bowman: You got me there, but I realized something during the match. You purposely chose to fight within his reach, didn't you?

Ayer: It's pointless otherwise. If I don't risk anything, I don't feel anything.

Bowman: You don't feel alive, you mean. Sheesh, you're just a big bundle of instincts, aren't you?

Bowman: Still you're the champ now. Who could imagine a privileged squirt like you being king of an illegal fighting arena?

Ayer: It still comes to me in my dreams.

Ayer: Dreams of a milquetoast daily existence. Dreams where I never met you.

Bowman: But it didn't turn out like that. Instead, your wimpy, honor-student self picked a fight with some thugs and realized what you were born to do!

Bowman: And then we started our quest to find a new world! One that would satisfy our thirst for combat!

Ayer: You're delirious. I'm the king. You don't get to celebrate more than me.

Bowman: C'mon, it was my idea to have you leave home and go underground! And I was the guy who taught you how to fight!

Ayer: Right, got it... Granted, you deserve some amount of thanks, I'll admit.

Bowman: I need a do-over on that one. Didn't really feel the respect in your tone of voice.

Ayer: Oh, get off it! When are we going to see you fight anyway? Aren't you stronger than me?

Bowman: What a pain. We wouldn't make any money that way, I told you. The only reason this works is because people refuse to bet on a pipsqueak like you.

Ayer: I'm gonna make you regret that!

Gladiator: Look alive! The authorities are doing a mass arrest of the whole arena!

Bowman: They never learn, do they?

Ayer: Yeah, who cares. We'll just crack their heads like we did last time.

Gladiator: Are you nuts? Just so you know, they brought guards from other islands this time. Crews too! They're trying to shut the whole operation down!

Bowman: Crews, huh? I was wondering why the town seemed a little extra bustling. So we're outnumbered. What do you want to do?

Ayer: As if you had to ask.

Gladiator: W-wait, you're not seriously thinking of fighting back, are you, kid?

The streets are wrapped in a strange aura of anticipation in the dead of night. Ayer joins the fierce battle between guards and arena fighters, toppling guards left and right.

Guard 1: Argh!

Ayer: Humph. Fighting these fools doesn't do anything for me.

Ayer: Still, how are they doing so well? There might be a lot of them, but they should be no match for a trained brawler...

Gladiator: Ha ha ha, I knew it was you! Now that you're here, we've got a chance at winning this thing! C'mon, let's—

Gladiator: Urgh!

Vyrn: Nice, (Captain)! Keep it up and we'll have these guys locked up in no time!

Ayer: They took out that big lug in one shot?

Vyrn: Hm? What's a kid doing here? This is a danger zone, buddy!

Ayer: ...

Vyrn: Whoa, he's glaring at you, (Captain). Wait a sec—is he a fighter too?

Ayer: Heh... Hahahahaha!

Ayer: Now I get it. You might look like a kid, but you're the one leading this charge.

Ayer: All right, this is what I'm talking about!

Vyrn: Um, (Captain)? I'm not sure what he wants, but he seems a little off his rocker. Watch it!

Guard Captain: Now, men! Force your way through!

Ayer: ...?

Distracted, Ayer is forced to the ground by the combined weight of countless guards.

Ayer: Out of my way, pigs!

Guard Captain: Thanks, Captain! Your help is just what we needed to pin this guy down! We're counting on your help with sector four too!

Vyrn: You can count on us!

Guard Captain: Whew... Well, we managed to apprehend the biggest threat. Our victory is at hand!

Bowman: Hoo boy. Heck of a situation you got yourself into.

Ayer: Bowman!

Guard Captain: What the... This guy's a freak...

Bowman: Humans possess an innate ability to crush each other with one punch. Harness your full potential, and even giants will fall before you.

Bowman: That's the theory anyway. Tough to execute. And why is that, Ayer?

Ayer: Will you quit screwing around?

Bowman: It's because we can't draw out our full potential. Our minds are clouded by ethics, morals, and common sense. Noise that gets in the way of the killer instinct that lies inside.

Bowman: But loosen those restraints, and...

Guard 2: Aauuugh!

Bowman: That happens. Now stand up, Ayer. We're punching these chumps to the curb.

Ayer: Right.

Guard Captain: You're a... m-monster!

To escape the island, Ayer hides away in a docked airship's storage bay.

Ayer: So, any idea where this airship is heading?

Bowman: Hahaha, none whatsoever! The arena's done though. Whatever happens, we can never go back.

Ayer: ...

Bowman: Hey, don't be glum! There are still greater heights to be found out there!

Ayer: Who was that skyfarer back there?

Ayer: I could tell they've survived battles we can't even imagine.

Bowman: Yawn... Well, guess I'll hit the hay. Boy, today really took it out of me.

Ayer: One day we'll meet again, my supreme quarry.

The crew has finished a request and are en route to the next island when (Captain) and Vyrn pay a visit to the airship's storage bay.

Vyrn: Where are those salves at... Anyway, yesterday sure was crazy! Talk about folks you wouldn't want to meet in a dark alley!

Vyrn: I mean the guards sure seemed happy, but— Hey, what's someone doing sleeping in here?

Ayer: Snore...

Vyrn: W-Wait, this is that fighter from yesterday!

Ayer: Hm? My prey from yesterday?

Ayer: This is your airship? Well, that was faster than I expected. There goes the suspense...

Vyrn: Awfully nitpicky for a brawler. What are you doing here anyway?

Ayer: Stowing away. Thanks for the ride.

Vyrn: We're not giving you a ride! And try to at least act embarrassed about us finding you, darn it!

Lyria: Oh, good morning, Ayer!

Ayer: Huh?

Vyrn: Um, Lyria? Do you know this guy?

Lyria: I heard about it in the mess hall. Ayer was tricked into fighting by some evil men!

Lyria: And after leaving home with dreams of becoming a skyfarer too... You've been through so much!

Ayer: Er...

Ayer: Ah, so this is your doing, Bowman. I was wondering where you went off to.

Vyrn: Now I get it! But he still did all sorts of bad stuff, didn't he? He clobbered all those guards! And he's just a kid!

Ayer: Let's see you call me a kid one more time, dragon whelp.

Vyrn: I ain't no dragon! Wait... Maybe I am?

Ayer: I read about dragons in an encyclopedia, and you seem like a match. That was a long time ago though.

Vyrn: Heh heh heh... Yeah, that's the ticket!

Vyrn: Okay, I've got it! We'll rehabilitate you as part of our crew! Right, (Captain)?

Ayer: What?

1. Agreed.
2. I'm not sure we can trust him.

Choose: Agreed.

Ayer: What are you guys thinking?

Go to "Continue 1"

Choose: I'm not sure we can trust him.

Vyrn: Oh yeah? But he called me a dragon! We can totally trust this guy!

Ayer: What kind of reasoning is that?

Continue 1

Lyria: Becoming a skyfarer was your dream, wasn't it? If you join us, that kills two stones with one bird!

Ayer: I think you've got that reversed.

Ayer: Gah.... Bowman, if you weren't trying to make things miserable for me—

Vyrn: You must be starving! Let's show him around the dining hall, Lyria!

Ayer: Sigh... Whatever. I'm going back to sleep.

Vyrn: Heh heh heh! Let's take you to an empty room then!

Ayer: The storeroom's fine.

Ayer rolls over and falls back to sleep. A strange twist of fate has reunited him with the crew, yet he refuses to open his heart.

What could possibly lie ahead for him?