Ruckus at the Riverbank

**Ruckus at the Riverbank** (にぎやかな水辺, *Nigiyakana mizube*, **Lively Waterfront**) is the 2nd chapter of the game. Following Marigold's tour of the town, the group investigates the world within Brown's unique Niebel Egg and bumps into some new faces along the way.

## Transcript

### Brown vs Egg

*[After exploring the town, Chabo and Marigold reunite with Robin in front of the cottage. Brown’s Niebel Egg hovers beside her.]*

**Robin:** Could you open this Egg for us next, Chabo?

**Brown:** Hold on there! Why not let yours truly have a go instead of my squire?

*[Brown runs up to the trio.]*

**Marigold:** You? I wouldn’t trust you to open an egg that’s already been scrambled!

**Robin:** You’re welcome to attempt it if you like, Brown.

**Brown:** Yes! …Oh, and if I get it open, you have to make this my job from now on.

**Robin:** That seems fair.

**Brown:** Then nobody blink, because you’re about to witness a spectacle of raw masculinity!

*[Brown rams his head into the Niebel Egg, causing it to ricochet off of several surfaces before colliding with his face.]*

**Brown:** …Ow. That’s no egg–that’s a freaking BRICK! Can you really open that thing, Chabo?

**Robin:** Heh. Let’s find out, shall we? If you would be so kind, Chabo?

*[Chabo receives the Cerulean Egg.]*

### Sela Swamp's Wildlife

*[A new world called Sela Swamp is freed from the Cerulean Egg. Chabo and Brown enter, finding themselves in a tropical marsh with clear, shallow rivers.]*

**Brown:** Whoa, a new realm appeared out of nowhere! Nice going, Chabo.

*[Alovara joins in.]*

**Alovara:** Is there anyone like me in here?

**Brown:** Like you? I figured a creature as…unique as you would be one-of-a-kind.

**Alovara:** Heck no! There used to be whole fields of us! But every morning, some dang stranger would mosey over and eat our leaves. We’d grow ‘em back, but then he’d just come along and start the whole kit and caboodle all over again.

**Brown:** I never realized planets had it so rough.

**???:** Great story, kid. Sounds delish. Really opened my eyes to a vegetarian lifestyle. Now gimme a few of those leaves!

*[A spotted green amphibian with fins and an anglerfish-like lantern leaps out of the water.]*

**Brown:** Gah! Who the heck are you?!

**Amphibian:** If I tell you, do I get some leaves?

**>**[No!]

**Alovara:** Yeah! What he said!

**Amphibian:** The name’s Craggie. I’m a sahuagin. Oh, and I do a mean 100-meter backstroke.

**Brown:** …And?

**Craggie:** You wanted an intro, right, kid? Well, you got it! …So do I get the leaves now or what?

**Brown:** No. No you don’t.

*[Craggie looks defeated, but he hatches an idea.]*

**Craggie:** Oh, and I’m good at catching fish!

**Brown:** Still no.

*[Craggie hops away.]*

**Brown:** Fish does sound pretty good right about now, though. I haven’t eaten in a while.

*[Just then, Craggie runs back.]*

**Craggie:** Leave it to me, chum! I’ll swap you the slippery flippers for some of those leaves!

*[He darts in all directions, then dashes further into Sela Swamp.]*

### A Gentle Race

*[Chabo, Brown, and Alovara watch from a distance as Craggie recklessly runs around.]*

**Craggie:** FIIIIIIIIIIIISH!

**Brown:** Not exactly subtle, is he?

*[Craggie dashes past the group and enters a gap in the trees, accidentally colliding with someone on the other side.]*

**???:** Hrrrngh…

**Alovara:** Um, that didn’t sound like Craggie.

*[The group rushes over. They find a bearded man in striped clothes lying face-down in the water; Craggie is nowhere in sight.]*

**Brown:** Are you all right there?

**Bearded man:** Hmm? What? Me? Well, I’m alive, if that’s what you’re asking.

*[He gets up and points a finger at Brown.]*

**Bearded man:** But maybe not?! Maybe you’re asking if things are as they should be? In that case…

*[He starts running around frantically.]*

**Bearded man:** NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They are not!

**Brown:** Eh, he’s fine. So what’s your name, friend?

**Bearded man:** Iagan. Iagan the gnome.

**Alovara:** Well, thank the maker! I’ve heard you gnomes are as kind and mild-mannered as can be.

**Iagan:** Oh yes, quite so! Why, I’m an altruist so I abhor causing any creature suffering. That is why I am a vegetarian!

**Alovara:** Aaaaugh! Danger!

**Iagan:** Pretty impressive world you have here, don’t you think? For instance, I was just bowled over by a giant fish.

**Brown:** That would be Craggie.

**Iagan:** Craggie? Hmm. Odd. A hazard, that one. Er, but who are you folks, anyway? Where did you come from?

**Brown:** We live in a town not far from here.

**Iagan:** A town? Don’t the ogres attack it?

**Brown:** Nope! Guess the war’s over.

**Iagan:** Really? Hmm. Interesting. And a relief, I suppose. We’ve all had quite enough of those ogre attacks, wouldn’t you say?

**Brown:** I’d say! Hey, you gnomes are dexterous and good with your hands and so on, right?

**Iagan:** Us? Dexterous? Sure. We work with all kinds of materials. Wood, metal, stone, metal stone, wooden metal; you name it.

**Brown:** In that case, you should come help us spruce up our town! I know Robin would be thrilled to meet you.

**Iagan:** Nope! No way! Nuh-uh! Not happening! I’m not going anywhere until I’ve given that fish fellow a piece of my mind.

**Brown:** I’m starting to doubt you gnomes are as passive as I’ve heard. …But hey, sure. Come along with us if you want.

### Dim Gnome vs Rude Sahuagin

*[The group finally catches up with Craggie.]*

**Brown:** CRAGGIE!

**Iagan:** Oh yes! That’s him! The one who ran into me.

**Craggie:** Well, lookie here! It’s the kids! You sure are impatient, you know that? I ain’t caught diddly-squat yet.

**Iagan:** Excuse me?! Sir?! I’ve come for an apology. So if you please?

**Craggie:** Huh? Who’s this maroon?

**Brown:** He says you crashed into him.

**Craggie:** Oh yeah? Tough break. But you’re a gnome–a tree hugger. Which means I just thought I’d hit a stump. Same difference, really.

*[Iagan trembles with anger.]*

**Iagan:** We gnomes are kind! Gentle! Forgiving! But you… You finny fool… You have made me AAAAAANGRY!

**Brown:** Whoa there! Easy, buddy!

**Iagan:** HEAR ME, FISH MAN!

**Craggie:** Okay first, it’s Craggie, not Fish Man. Secondly, I catch fish and I don’t exist as one, you got that?

**Iagan:** I CARE NOT FOR YOUR NAME!

**Craggie:** Sheesh! This dimwit’s gonna scare all the fish away! I’m heading somewhere quieter.

*[Craggie runs off.]*

**Iagan:** GEEEET BAAAACK HEEEEEERE!

**Brown:** I thought you said you were an altruist…

### Kind-hearted Brothers

*[Once again on Craggie’s tail, the group hears the mischievous sahuagin crash into someone.]*

**???:** Hrmgh…

**Iagan:** That crestfallen groan!

*[Upon investigation, they find another gnome who looks nearly identical to Iagan. His beard is scruffier and he wears a tiny pair of glasses.]*

**Iagan:** Ah! Brother! Speak to me! Are you all right?

**Brown:** Oh, of course they’re related.

**Iagan’s brother:** Hello, Brother. I am alive, if that’s what you’re asking.

**Alovara:** Whew! Thank goodness!

*[The gnome makes the same accusatory gestures towards Brown.]*

**Iagan’s brother:** But maybe you’re asking if things are as they should be?! In that case…

*[Like Iagan, the gnome paces around in a panic.]*

**Iagan’s brother:** NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! They are not!

**Alovara:** Yeah, he’s fine.

**Iagan:** Ah. Yes. Well, in that case, let us perform introductions, maybe?

**Iagan’s brother:** Yes, I’m Yergan, Iagan’s brother. I am peaceful, kind, good-natured…and vegetarian, of course.

**Alovara:** Okay, this is NOT COOL!

**Yergan:** This is a world of wonders, Brother. Don’t you agree? In fact, I just met a talking fish. He was by the river. Bowled me right over.

*[The group awkwardly stares at the gnomes, perplexed over how similar Yergan’s dialogue is to Iagan’s.]*

**Yergan:** I was hoping to give him a piece of my mind, see if he might apologize. Maybe you’d be willing to help me out?

*[Iagan bows and he leaves with Yergan to track down Craggie.]*

### Double Trouble

*[Further down the swamp, Craggie does his best to hide from Iagan, unaware that a second foe is after him too.]*

**Iagan:** WHERE’S MY APOLOGY, FISH FACE?!

**Yergan:** I’LL MOUNT YOU ON MY WALL!

**Craggie:** Oh, for crying out loud, there’s two of ‘em?!

*[Chabo, Alovara, and Brown join Craggie.]*

**Brown:** Yep. And it sounds like you pulled the same hit-and-run on both.

**Iagan:** I’LL GUT YOU LIKE A FISH!

**Yergan:** I’LL FISH YOU LIKE A GUT!

**Craggie:** Now they’re in stereo? This is two gnomes too many for me. Time to blow this popsicle stand!

*[Craggie runs away.]*

**Alovara:** This wouldn’t be a problem if you’d just stop barreling into ‘em head-first.

*[The gnome brothers arrive.]*

**Iagan:** WHERE’D HE GO?!

**Brown:** He took heel and fled. Sorry I couldn’t stop him–though to be honest, I didn’t try too terribly hard.

**Yergan:** So he’s running? No matter. We’ll just chase him…to the very ENDS OF THE WORLD! Come, Iagan!

*Iagan:'* Right behind you, Yergan!

*[Yergan and Iagan leave in search of Craggie yet again.]*

**Yergan:** Hrahaaah! Ho hoo harumpharump-pum-pum!

**Iagan:** Hrohoooh! He hee horamphoram-pam-pam!

**Brown:** Okay, those aren’t even real words.

### All-You-Can-Eat Fish

*[The gnome brothers catch up to Craggie and back him into a dead end. The others come by shortly after.]*

**Yergan:** We’re ready for the stuffing and mounting. You can have the result to decorate your town.

**Brown:** Wow, just what I never wanted.

**Craggie:** Now hold on just a tick, fellas! No need for this to get personal! What say I give you some fish and we call it a day?

**Iagan:** Fish? We can catch enough to eat ourselves.

*[Craggie begins to panic.]*

**Yergan:** Now if you’d offered tasty greens like the ones on the talking plant there, then we might have a deal.

*[Everyone turns to Alovara.]*

**Craggie:** H-hey there! Talking plant! Wanna be a star? I’ll trade you an amazing fish for some of your withered old leaves–whaddaya say?

**Alovara:** Not a chance! Having leaves plucked hurts! And I thought these gnomes were against the suffering of innocent creatures like me!

*[Attention is redirected to Craggie.]*

**Craggie:** All right, howzabout two fish? Heck, three! Heck, all the fish you can eat forever! C’mon, I’m dying here!

**Brown:** All the fish I can eat is actually a pretty sweet deal. SOLD! …For one leaf.

**Alovara:** Gya! You pointy-headed brute!

*[Brown chases Alovara down the river and pulls off one of her leaves.]*

**Alovara:** OUCH!

*[The brownie returns with an aloe leaf in hand. Alovara comes back as well, but one leaf is absent from her head.]*

**Brown:** Here you go. Now what say you take this and let Fish Boy here off the hook, as it were?

*[Iagan and Yergan gladly take bites of the leaf. Their bodies are suddenly enveloped in some sort of magical energy.]*

**Yergan:** \*munch\* Hmm… Crunchy? Delicate? Zesty? I can feel energy crackle through my body!

**Iagan:** Maybe the talking plant wants to come live with us? We’ll build you the finest planter in the land!

**Alovara:** Go soak your head!

**Brown:** I take it we’re all settled now, gentlemen?

**Iagan:** Ah. Yes. That sumptuous meal has restored us to our usual kind and gentle ways.

**Craggie:** And I’ll be locked in a cage with an ogre before I deal with gnomes again. Count on it!

**Brown:** Hold it, Craggie! You’re coming with us. You’ve got a lot of fishing to do, after all.

**Craggie:** Yeah, yeah. But if another stubby gnome tries to knuckledust me, the deal’s off, hear?!

**Alovara:** But YOU were the one who ran into… Oh, never mind.

### A New Ally

*[The group returns to Kovomaka with Iagan, Yergan, and Craggie in tow.]*

**Robin:** My, but this is quite the lively homecoming! It seems you’ve been busy.

**Alovara:** Busy plucking out my poor leaves!

**Brown:** Right! About that! You see, Robin my dear, there was a bit of a…fracas back there. Couldn’t be helped, actually. A-anyway, let me introduce our newest neighbors. This pair of gnomes are Iagan and Yergan. Apparently, they’re quite the craftsmen of furniture and the like.

**Robin:** Marvelous! I hope you won’t begrudge me if I put in an order straight away.

**Iagan:** An order? Yes, that’s fine. We just need materials and payment for our time, okay? Then we’ll make anything you like.

**Brown:** And the gilled wonder over there is Craggie. He’s a sahuagin. Oh, and he swore to catch all the fish we can eat, forever.

**Craggie:** A promise is a promise, even if it’s a raw deal. Tell me whatcha want and I’ll get it.

**Marigold:** Oh, weird! I didn’t know sahuagins could live on dry land.

**Craggie:** Only when it’s worth our while, kapeesh?

**Robin:** Then our first order of business should be to construct a lovely new home for you to live in. And thank you in advance for the fish.

**Craggie:** Wow! What a swell dame! You look like a dream!

**Brown:** HEY! Don’t you know it’s rude to hit on a lady you just met?

**Marigold:** Oh, like you’re one to talk!

**Robin:** Chabo? Brown? Thank you both for bringing these new friends to us.

**Brown:** No need for thanks, milady! It’s a pleasure to serve.

**Robin:** Now that we’ll be constructing furniture, we need more lumber than ever. Can I rely on you, Chabo?

**>**[You sure can!]

**Robin:** I am in your debt once more.

## See also

* Next: A Sprawling Horizon
* Previous: Raining Redcaps