Raining Redcaps

**Raining Redcaps** (空から鬼が落ちてきた, *Sora kara oni ga ochite kita*, **A Demon Fell From the Sky**) is the 1st chapter of the game. It depicts Chabo's arrival in Egglia, seemingly struck with amnesia as he tries to remember what happened to him, and why the world is in disarray.

## Transcript

### Prologue

*[In a blue ocean-like void, a short blonde-haired redcap named Chabo floats in his sleep. He dons a big red hat, and two bone stumps protrude from his forehead.]*

Huh? Where…am I?

Am I dead?

Wait, I remember… I lost my horns.

I felt my strength leave me, and then…

Ah, it doesn’t matter now. Nothing does anymore.

I’m so very tired.

I just want to sleep…

*[He drifts upwards into the light.]*

### The Very Beginning

*[Chabo crash lands in the middle of a field. A faerie and an elf rush to the scene, alarmed by the redcap’s sudden arrival.]*

**Faerie:** Holy crow, Robin! You’re right! This crazy goblin dude just dropped out of the sky! I am so sorry I ever doubted you!

*[They rush over to check on the fallen boy, who wakes up in a daze.]*

**Elf:** Soft, Marigold. He’s starting to wake. …Er, greetings, good sir. How fare you?

*[Chabo turns around to see the two passersby.]*

**Faerie:** Um, so maybe don’t get that close to him? He’s a goblin, remember? A REDCAP goblin. You know? Cursed tribe? Suuuper violent?

*[The faerie investigates Chabo’s forehead.]*

**Faerie:** …Hey, wait. His horns are missing. Do you think they broke off when he landed or whatever?

**Elf:** Perhaps, though I see no other injuries. For all one knows, they were already broken.

**Faerie:** Well, it’s good news, however it happened. Those stupid horns are what make redcaps all angry and bloodlust-y in the first place. Okay, I’m gonna talk to him. Get ready to run away if he starts foaming at the mouth and junk, ‘kay?

*[The elf bows in agreement.]*

**Faerie:** So, um, hey there. I’m Marigold. I’m a faerie. …I mean, if that isn’t totally obvious.

**Elf:** And I’m Robin the elf. We have been awaiting your arrival for quite some time. Would you be so good as to tell us your name?

*[Chabo looks down in confusion.]*

**Robin:** Do you not remember? Mmm. Perchance you did indeed hit your head during the fall.

**Marigold:** Nuh-uh, not happening. We are so NOT certified to deal with head injuries! At least try and remember your name!

*[A memory finally returns to Chabo and he tells Marigold his name.]*

**Marigold:** Yay, you did it! That’s a super nice name. Welcome to Egglia, Chabo! So Egglia is a tiny island with nothing on it. Totally dullsville, I know. Don’t remind me. But anyway, that’s where YOU come in!

**Robin:** Behold, Chabo.

*[Suddenly, an egg-shaped object with a golden aura poofs in front of Robin.]*

**Robin:** This is a Niebel Egg–a magical artifact with a piece of our world sealed inside.

**Marigold:** It looks all delicate and junk, but it’s actually super tough. Trust me–I’ve been body-slamming the thing since we found it.

**Robin:** Er, yes. However, we believe that you may be able to open it and release the realm contained within its shell. Please, friend–we are in desperate need of your aid. Will you attempt to open it?

**>**[Sure, why not?]

**Robin:** Oh, thank you!

*[Chabo receives the Slumbering Egg.]*

**Marigold:** Yaaaaaaaay! Er, I mean, nooo wait! I mean… Look, just don’t crack the thing open right here and now, okay?

**Robin:** Indeed, we cannot open it here. Follow me and I shall show you where.

### Outset Glade

*[From the Slumbering Egg that was given to him, Chabo frees The Willowwacks. He, Robin, and Marigold enter, finding themselves in a thick cedar forest.]*

**Robin:** My word… It’s the Willowwacks! It was hidden inside the egg all along.

**Marigold:** Oh man, I guess the stories were right. Goblins really CAN bust open any magical seal!

**Robin:** Did that perhaps cause your memory to stir?

*[Chabo shakes his head.]*

**Robin:** Ah. A pity. In that case, permit me to tell you a bit about the place in which you now find yourself. Our world, Egglia, was torn apart in a great war. Each portion was then sealed away inside a Niebel Egg. It is my duty to find all of these Eggs and restore our world to its former glory. But merely discovering the eggs is not enough if one cannot break their seal–so it is indeed fortunate that you have come to us.

**Marigold:** Yeah, yeah. Enough exposition. We’ve got a forest now, so let’s chop lumber and build us a MANSION! …Or a house. House is fine.

*[Chabo and Robin nod.]*

**Robin:** My friend speaks true–we are in need of shelter. Perhaps you might use the sword you carry to hew down yonder tree?

*[Robin points at a lone cedar tree. Standing behind it is a stout figure with a metal hat, but he runs away when Robin points in his direction.]*

**Marigold:** For sure! I mean, it’ll probably feel great to chop wood instead of innocents or whatever, right?

*[Chabo nods.]*

### Know How to Build a House?

*[After wandering through the Willowwacks, the trio gathers a sizable amount of lumber for building a house.]*

**Marigold:** Yes! Look at all that sweet, sweet lumber! I haven’t slept under a roof in forever.

**Robin:** It is a mighty pile indeed. However, I fear I know nothing about how to construct a home.

**Marigold:** It can’t be that hard. A house is just four walls and a roof, right? And if we mess up, we’ll just chop more lumber and try again.

**Robin:** Your optimism is…impressive. Still, I suppose we’ll find more lumber if we venture deeper into the woods.

*[Chabo nods and the group advances further into the Willowwacks.]*

### Sassy Succulent

*[Along the way, Robin finds a fresh aloe plant in the forest trail.]*

**Robin:** Goodness! What do you suppose this is?

**Marigold:** It’s a killer salad, is what it is! Oh man, look at those leaves… \*drool\* C’mon, Chabo! Stop standing around and yank it up already!

**>**[One salad, coming up!]

*[Chabo grips the aloe and pulls aggressively, launching it into the air. Just then, the group realizes that the plant is actually sentient as it jumps for joy upon landing on the ground.]*

**Plant:** Great gallopin’ greens! I’m free!

**Marigold:** GYAAAA! TALKING SALAD!

**Plant:** Are y’all the ones who uprooted me? Because in that case, I owe you big time!

**Robin:** W-we are, yes. And who might you be?

**Plant:** Huh? Oh, right! I’m Alovara, and I’m happier’n a radish in dirt to meet y’all!

**Marigold:** Hee hee! Well, Aloe there. It’s Vera nice to meet you.

**Alovara:** No, sweetie! Alo-VARA. That’s my name.

**Marigold:** Oh geez, I’m sorry!

**Alovara:** Don’t you dare apologize! I woulda been stuck in that dirt my whole life if you didn’t show up!

**Robin:** Then you were growing in these woods before they were even sealed away? Remarkable… At any rate, you’re welcome to come abide with us in our new town.

**Alovara:** Well, color me tickled! Y’all have a TOWN?! …Wait, this isn’t some trick where I end up covered in ranch dressing, is it?

**Marigold:** What kind of idiot wants to eat talking food?

*[A distant voice calls out to the group.]*

**???:** YAH HEY DER!

*[The metal-capped person from earlier barges into the scene. He is a dwarf with a thick brown mullet and mustache.]*

**Dwarf:** Cripes, I haven’t eaten an onion in a real long while. Gonna borrow me dis here little fella and chow down, you betcha!

*[The dwarf snatches Alovara and runs off.]*

**Marigold:** Um… What just happened?

**Robin:** It appears Alovara was not the only life sealed inside this place. Let us hurry before something goes terribly wrong.

**Marigold:** And before that ranch dressing comment ends up being horribly ironic!

### Dwarves, Aloes, and Brownies

*[The trio catches up to the dwarf, who still has Alovara captive.]*

**Marigold:** Hold it, you big jerk!

**Robin:** Please, good sir, whoever you might be, let our friend go. I fear they are most frightened.

**Dwarf:** Oh geez, where’re my manners? I’m Dunkel the dwarf. And I was thinking dis here friend’a yours was gonna be dinner.

**Alovara:** I AM NOT A DINNER!

**Dunkel:** You sure do yell a whole bunch fer an onion! And I’m sorry if dis plan isn’t to yer liking, but I’m more’n a little peckish, donchaknow?

**Alovara:** I knew this day would end with me in a salad bowl. At least I got to enjoy a taste of freedom before the cold, cruel end…

**Robin:** Please, sir! We can provide all the food you desire if you would only let our friend go.

**Dunkel:** Oh yah? Give it here, den!

**Robin:** Er, the thing is, we don’t actually have any food on us at the moment. If you come back to town, however, you’re welcome to eat your fill.

**Dunkel:** Yah, I dunno. Sounds like you fellers are planning to sneak me back der so you can eat me, hey?

**Marigold:** Oh, that’s rich!

*[Yet another unknown voice can be heard.]*

**???:** \*yaaaawn\* What’s all this fuss about? Can’t a man enjoy his afternoon nap?

*[From the trees, a boy with blonde hair, a pointy nose, and a big brown hat approaches Dunkel.]*

**Marigold:** Oh, who is it now?!

**Dunkel:** Aw, geez. I KNEW you fellers were trying to eat me! Think I’m just gonna skedaddle along, hey?

*[Dunkel runs off with Alovara once again, causing the brown-hatted boy to fall over.]*

**Marigold:** Aaaand…he’s gone. Well, since our friend is probably getting chopped into pieces as we speak thanks to you, you owe it to us to tell us your name.

*[The boy stands up and puts his hat back on. He is immediately fixated on Robin.]*

**Boy:** Egads! What a beauty!

**Robin:** Um…

**Boy:** I, milady, am Brown of the Brownie Folk. Who would have thought fate would deliver the woman of my dreams to these very woods?!

**Marigold:** Okay, this guy’s creeping me out.

**Brown:** Might you grace me with your name, O Stupendous One?

**Robin:** Er, well, my name is Robin. Robin the elf.

**Brown:** An elf? Oh, sweet fate is indeed a devil. And that name! Robin! It’s like the sweetest taste of honey to a starving man.

**Marigold:** AHEM! Are you gonna ask me my name or what?

*[Brown turns to Marigold with a bitter glare.]*

**Brown:** I assume it’s Buzzy McGnat, considering how you won’t stop your incessant prattle while the lady and I share a moment.

**Marigold:** EXCUSE me?!

**Robin:** This is my dearest friend Marigold the faerie. And I just knew you were a brownie from the moment I saw your hat.

**Brown:** Huzzah! The lovely lady knows of my race's humble headgear!

**Marigold:** Getting some major creepy vibes over here…

**Brown:** And what is an elven goddess like you doing in these woods?

**Robin:** We were in pursuit of a dwarf who came this way, but I fear the trail has gone cold.

**Brown:** Leave it to me, milady! I’ve been wandering these woods for the past month, and know them like the back of my own hand!

**Marigold:** So you’re list, is what you’re saying.

**Brown:** Quiet, Buzzy! I’m not lost at all! I’m just searching for something!

**Marigold:** All right, you wannabe hero! Get over here so I can totally rearrange your face!

**Robin:** Soft, Marigold. Anger will not help us find our missing friend. Good sir Brown, would you be so kind as to help us locate that missing dwarf?

**Brown:** Milady, I would follow you anywhere, no matter how far!

**Marigold:** Yep. Tooootal creeper…

### Broken Horns

**Robin:** We can cover more ground if we divide ourselves at this point.

**Brown:** Er, but milady, it’s dangerous to wander alone in these woods. Believe me, I know… What if milady ran into a goblin? Or, perish the thought, a redcap? Just the notion gives me chills!

**Marigold:** Uh, we’ve got a redcap right there.

**Brown:** …Buh?

**Robin:** That’s Chabo. …The redcap.

**Brown:** Are you people FREAKING INSANE?! Don’t you know what redcaps are like?

**Marigold:** Calm down, drama queen. See the broken horns? This redcap is totally gentle.

**Brown:** Ah. Yes. A fine pair of forehead stumps. Still, are you sure that makes him safe? I thought that was an old superstition.

**Robin:** If our friend wasn’t safe, he’d have gobbled up Marigold and myself long before we crossed paths with you.

**Brown:** Well, redcaps did a number to my village. It may take me a bit to warm up to this one.

**Marigold:** Nobody cares how warm you are. Chabo is our friend!

**Brown:** I see. …Then from this day forth, I claim Chabo as my loyal squire!

**>**[Sure, okay.]

**Brown:** Excellent! Your first–and possibly only–duty is to guard Robin with your very life. Now that we’ve settled that little matter, let’s see after this dwarf business.

**Robin:** Thank you, Brown.

**Brown:** No trouble at all, milady. As I said earlier, I was already searching these woods.

### A Capable Carpenter

*[The group finally reaches the end of the Willowwacks, and they find Dunkel and Alovara. Before their arrival, Dunkel ripped off a leaf from Alovara’s forehead.]*

**Marigold:** There he is!

**Dunkel:** Guldarnit! It’s dem dwarf-eating onion thieves!

**Brown:** I fear the path ends here for you, friend, for my love has demanded that you be slain where you stand.

**Marigold:** She said no such thing!

**Brown:** Ah. Yes. Then perhaps a simple question will suffice for our kidnapping friend… Have you seen my sister? She’s wearing a large brown hat just like mine.

**Dunkel:** Sorry, young feller–can’t say I have.

**Brown:** I assume I can take you at your word? And that you didn’t eat her up in the night?

**Dunkel:** Cripes sakes, no! I’m a dwarf, not one’a dem ogres. It’s rude to walk around just eating folks at random.

**Alovara:** You ate one of my leaves just a second ago!

*[The dwarf begins to look panicked.]*

**Dunkel:** Now listen here! We dwarves are honest, hardworking folk, and we don’t tell no lies. I said I haven’t seen yer girl, and I haven’t.

**Robin:** Dunkel, was it? Well, we have plenty of food for you back in town, so perhaps you could see your way to letting our friend go.

**Dunkel:** Oh, so dis is one’a dem free lunches? I don’t have to do no work or nothing? ‘Cause I’m just a carpenter, see, so I don’t–

**Marigold:** Wait. You’re a carpenter?

**Dunkel:** Well I’m a dwarf, aren’t I? We come from dah finest construction stock around, you betcha.

**Marigold:** YESSSS! Then you can build us a house!

**Dunkel:** A house? Oh sure, I can do dat. Heck, I was planning to build me a house today just to pass dah time, hey?

**Robin:** We are in your debt, dear Dunkel. Now if you would care to follow me, I’ll take us all back to town.

**Brown:** So I won’t be killing anyone, then? Ah, well. Guess I’ll come along anyway. Wouldn’t be right to refuse my Robin, after all.

**Robin:** Your… Robin? Er, yes. Well, regardless, I suppose we’ll take all the help we can get.

**Brown:** WOOOO SHE LOVES ME! I mean, um… If you insist, milady. It would be my honor to… Er… …You’re definitely not luring me in to eat me, right?

*[Everyone looks unimpressed.]*

### Our New Town

*[The group exits the Willowacks and returns to the empty plain. They let Dunkel eat dinner and construct a house in the meantime, which he does surprisingly fast.]*

**Dunkel:** Right den! Work’s done if you wanna poke your heads in and take a gander. It’s a fair-to-middling bit’a hammering, if I say so m’self.

**Robin:** You’re finished already? That’s remarkable.

**Dunkel:** Well, it was only right, what with dah way you stuffed me full during supper.

*[They look north to see what kind of house Dunkel had built. It is a small cottage with straw roofing.]*

**Robin:** You should move in, Chabo. Your help will be essential in the coming days, so we need you to be well-rested.

**Marigold:** Oh, and I’m gonna pop in from time to time, so make sure not to leave a bunch of grody dishes in the sink or whatever.

*[Chabo nods.]*

**Dunkel:** If you fellers need any more done, just bring me dah materials and a bit’a coin and I’ll hop right to it, you betcha.

**Robin:** Thank you very much, Dunkel. You’re proven to be most invaluable.

*[Dunkel bows and leaves.]*

**Brown:** There’s nothing like a building to make a town feel like…a town. Er, but what’s this humble burg of yours called anyway, Robin?

**Robin:** Hmmm… Well, I suppose it’s…

**Alovara:** Do y’all really live in a town without a name?

**Robin:** This town was our entire world until this very morning–and Marigold and I were the only ones in it. A name just…never came up.

**Marigold:** But now that we’ll have more and more places and residents, a name WOULD be handy.

**Robin:** Still, that’s the kind of thing that’s hard to think up on the spot. Does anyone have a suggestion?

*[They all turn to Chabo, who suggests a name.]*

**Robin:** That’s a lovely name, Chabo! \_\_\_\_\_ it shall be!

**Marigold:** Now let’s make it awesome or whatever! Woooooo!

**Alovara:** Reckon I’ll be crashing at your place until my leaves grow back, Chabo.

**Brown:** And I need to track down my little sister. Where DID she get off to?

**Robin:** If we continue searching for the Eggs, I’m sure we’ll also locate your wayward sibling.

**Brown:** Wait, you mean those eggs with a bit of the world inside? I was actually wondering if this was one of those or not…

*[A Niebel Egg poofs in front of Brown.]*

**Marigold:** Wait, WHAT?! You have a Niebel Egg?! Why didn’t you say something earlier?!

**Brown:** Because the idea of a sprawling forest hiding inside a fancy egg is ridiculous. …And if it WAS true, it’s probably not the kind of thing I’d want to have over for free.

**Robin:** May I please have this egg, Sir Brown? It is so very important to me.

**Brown:** O-of course, milady! Take it! In fact, I’ll gladly find a dozen more if you wish!

**Robin:** That’s very sweet, but this should suffice for now. With it, we can restore yet another corner of this world.

**Brown:** I never knew eggs could make a woman so happy.

**Robin:** Indeed, these eggs are my entire reason for being.

**Brown:** …Really? In that case, sign me up for the egg hunt! And if I can rebuild this world and track down my sister in the process, so much the better! Isn’t that right, Chabo?

**>**[Absolutely!]

**Brown:** Well said, squire!

**Robin:** Now that I think of it, Chabo still hasn’t received a tour of our town. Marigold, would you do the honors?

**Marigold:** On it! C’mon, Stumps! I’ll show you around.