The Promised Canaan Episode 1 Part 2

We begin with some narration by Astarte. She talks about how she wants to be strong, and that she wished she was born strong. She hated her body. She hated how her arms and legs were thinner than anyone else’s, and how useless it was for fighting or anything else. Astarte’s life was ordained to be protected, which she found wretched and frustrating. She wished she wasn’t born the way she was.

Astaroth appears in Astarte’s cosmosphere or whatever, and when she notices she asks them what their deal is. No one else can see or hear Astaroth, and Astaroth tries to communicate with her. Astarte goes on to say she’d never forgive them if they butt into her head again. She rails against them for asking what she’s dissatisfied with about her body. And when Astaroth says they’d trade bodies if they could, Astarte angrily says that’s what she wants.

Astarte then changes the subject to ask if Astaroth really meant it when they said they were her other self. Their answer isn’t shown, but Astarte finds it maddening. Then she talks about how she thought she couldn’t be any worse off.

Camera then tunes back to the present or whatever as Astarte comes to greet you in the morning in a bad mood. You comment on it and ask if she had trouble sleeping. She’s mildly irritated but passes it off as having had a bad dream last night.

You then notice that she’s in the same clothes as before. She snaps at you and says she wanted to change, but Astaroth (who she doesn’t refer to by name) called her other clothes not cute and said the uniform was best.

Astarte changes the subject away from herself and talks about how she’s here because Dagon ordered her to show you around. You thank her and ask if she’ll start with the town. She hesitates but tells you she’d rather not go there at a time when lots of people are around.

Astarte says the tour around the main town area will wait while she starts showing you around from somewhere else. You pester her to explain why, ask if she hates the place, and ask if she hates walking. She denies both those questions but trails off on actually giving a reason. When you prompt her to go on, she claims it’s nothing.

Anyways, Astarte mentions that she’s a soldier and that she’ll solemnly obey Dagon’s orders. She however decides to choose how the tour will start and says you’ll begin with the temple from yesterday. She wants to wait until evening when less people are around to show you around town. Also she has some business to do at the temple anyways.

You call Astarte pushy but shrug and go along, then ask what her business is. She declines to tell you since she says it has nothing to do with you. Then she orders you to follow along. When you get there, Astarte describes the place as the palace in the center of town that Dagon lives in. It can also be thought of as the center of the world where the city spreads out from.

A shadow merman starts talking to Astarte and welcomes her while a shadow mermaid notices that you’re with her. You ask who they are, so Astarte explains that they’re servants to Dagon as well as palace managers. The mermaid bows and says she heard from Dagon about the new citizen in town. You either politely greet her back or say nothing.

Astarte speaks up to ask where Kothar-wa-Khasis is. She’s been asking after him every day but figures he might still be in his workshop. The mobs inform her that Kothar was just there and then left for town. Astarte is shocked by this and says you guys just came from that way. You speak up to ask who Kothar-wa-Khasis is. The mermaid tells you that he’s the best artisan in Canaan.

A silhouette of Kurogane pops up as the mermaid elaborates that Kothar can make anything in the world. He even made the palace, as well as a number of excellent weapons. Anyone given the best of his weapons would be the most fearsome of heroes and the best suited to shoulder the world. And lately people have been saying he’s been making the greatest heavy bow in history. He only just finished this morning and carried it to town.

Astarte is shocked by this news and complains that she wasn’t told of this since she kept asking him to let her know when it was done. You ask Astarte if she wants that bow and if that is why she’s looking for Kothar. She gets embarrassed and tells you to forget about her business before telling you you’ll both be chasing after him. You ask her to wait as she runs off or sigh about how selfish she is.

Scene shifts to outside as Astarte catches her breath while looking for Kothar-wa-Khasis. She went around looking all over in the interim, and you say you’re tired, comment on how the place is bigger and more crowded than you thought, then ask how tired Astarte must be because townspeople everywhere are fawning over and worshipping her.

Astarte complains about the hold up and asks them to make way while all the randos stick shells in front of her. You comment on how this must be why she didn’t want to go around town earlier and say being popular is tough. Also there are people throwing Promise Shells at you too, and at least one merman says he was fawning over you since he saw you the other day. He also asks you to marry him while some mermaid gives you her number.

As you try to beat them off, Astarte starts laughing at you saying it’s tragicomic seeing it happen to someone else. After a moment she prompts you to come with her so you two can escape the crowd. Time skips a bit to after you guys get away, and Astarte feels you’ve gotten to somewhere where there aren’t as many people around. You say what just happened was awful or was great.

Astarte laughs at what a mess you are and suggests you fix up a little. You notice she’s right but say she should too, then say you were mobbed after all. Astarte says it’s been so long since she laughed so hard. She suggests that next time she should just ditch you and asks what you think. You can either object, agree, or suggest ditching her instead.

Going A, Astarte laughs a bit more. In any case you comment on her popularity and ask how she got that way. Astarte gets a bit sad as she says she didn’t do anything for it. She was just born that way. She’s about to say more when she hears loud cheering and wonders what it is. You say it’s coming from that way and wonder if Kothar is there.

Astarte is curious too, so she tells you to come along to check it out. Over yonder, what looks like Seth Alter (labeled as Nobleman?) is in the middle of fighting with Nomad (who gets labeled Beast-Faced Man). Crowds are cheering and spectating. Narration says both are showing off their moves on a stage while the crowds are placing shells down for them.

Seth Alter refers to Nomad as Resheph, the one in charge of plagues and fire, and compliments on him getting better. Nomadsheph in turn calls Seth Alter Baal, bearer of storms and rain, and snorts about how calm he is. He also says he can’t let himself lose and let Baal take the seat of Canaan’s World Representative.

The crowd oohs and aahs as the match continues, and you try to ask someone for an explanation. Merman A explains (while not looking away from the show) that Baal and Resheph are two of the four candidates vying for the title of Canaan’s World Representative by competing with martial arts demonstrations.

You ask about either of the names or about the World Rep candidacy battle. The merman elaborates and says that the first is the ruler of dragons and the water king Yam, who is Tangaroa. The second is the ruler of sacrifices, the earth king Moloch. Asterius is acting as him here it seems. Third is the plague ruler and the king of fire Resheph. And finally the fourth is the ruler of rain and the storm king Baal.

According to the mob, each of them has been given one of Kothar-wa-Khasis’s best weapons. The World Rep contest is being used to figure out who will be the one to take the position. You wonder if it’s a tournament and say you don’t understand what representing a world means. You also ask what they’ll do if they do get the position.

The merman starts mentioning a rumor about the Representative doing something with the structure of the world but stops and says he doesn’t know. He has heard that the Representative is the only one allowed to have an audience with God, who existed before Canaan did. He admits it’s just a legend or story though. All he knows for sure is that it’s prestigious. Astarte is quiet at the mention.

You decide to ask how the contest works since it doesn’t look like Baal and Resheph are fighting directly. The merman is gobsmacked you don’t know Canaan’s most basic rule, then says Dagon has declared love will decide all things. As such the winner of the contest will be whoever is given the most love.

You ask if the victory condition is what it is, why isn’t Astarte winning? The mob laughs and says she is loved, but she can’t do it. He’s about to explain why when the exhibition finishes. Nomad is catching his breath while Baal notes that the piles for each side makes it hard to see who won so someone has to judge. Nomad asks about this, so Baal calls out to Astarte.

Astarte is a bit displeased to have attention drawn to herself. Baal calls her lovely and asks her to render judgment as the Winner’s Proof for this world. She doesn’t say anything at first, and you try to ask about that term Baal used. Astarte goes on to call no contest. Nobody won, and nobody lost. Baal has to mull that over, and Astarte snaps at him asking if he disagrees.

Baal denies it and tells Nomad that they’ll settle it for sure next time. Nomad says he looks like he was saved and won’t thank Astarte. She says she didn’t do it for thanks because she just did as she felt like. Nomad says it’s nice if that’s true but notes that he was winded while Baal still seemed ready to keep going. If they were to go again it probably would end with a clear winner.

That said, Nomad makes a point of saying he won’t yield the World Rep spot so easily. He then asks Astarte if you’re that rumored foreigner who came from outside Canaan. Astarte is annoyed that everyone is already talking about you and complains about how bored people must be

Nomad greets you and says he’s called Resheph. You introduce yourself, ask if Resheph is his name, and go quiet. He figures you must be weirded out about his appearance and says he’d be staring too if he saw someone like him. You deny being weirded out or surprised and can say you thought he looked great.

Going C if it matters, he calls you a kid and snorts about you trying to flirt with him. He makes it clear that he’s unfortunately not looking for a sweetheart, but rather an accomplice.

In any case, Nomad says he can tell you’re a skillful opponent and summons some flames from behind himself. Narration describes them as moving like living things. Astarte is shocked by this and demands an explanation. Nomad says he wants to see your abilities and figure out whether you’ll be his enemy, then starts the episode battle. More story after that.

After the battle, the story picks up with you cutting through the flames. Astarte is shocked that this can even happen, and Nomad stops fighting as he says you’re a better fighter than he figured. He then asks you straight out if you intend to take the World Rep position. You say you aren’t, say you don’t intend on it now, or say you just heard it for the first time.

Nomad goes quiet but accepts your answer since he doesn’t think it’s a lie. He does warn you that he won’t give any mercy for traitors. You ask why he wants the position so much, and Nomad says he’s not actually interested in being the best of the world. What he wants is the part where only the World Rep can speak with God.

Nomad says he hates Canaan and he hates the one who forced him to have the role and unsightly body he has. He swears revenge on whoever did it, even if it were God. You can’t bring yourself to say much to him about it, and Astarte tries to talk to him. Nomad preempts her and asks if she’ll tell Dagon that he’s up to something.

Astarte denies the idea and admits she understands his feelings a little bit. He gets defensive and says only he knows how he feels. Astarte doesn’t disagree with it and says she said something foolish. You however speak up and ask them to wait, to Astarte’s surprise. You say that wanting to understand is important, so you don’t think Astarte was being foolish.

Astarte seems touched, and Nomad waits a moment before telling you he doesn’t want any platitudes. He walks up and slams his hand like his pinning you against a wall, then tells you all he wants is an accomplice who would burn in hell with him.

When Nomad steps back, he swears to take the World Rep position. Despite what he said earlier, he says he hasn’t shown his full power to Baal earlier. He talks about how he can do it if he has the weapon he got from Kothar-wa-Khasis, and the name makes Astarte yell and interrupt as she remembers about him. Nomad is startled into stopping, so Astarte asks if he’s seen Kothar. He starts telling her he left before the exhibition and headed back to the palace. He doesn’t even finish before Astarte runs off.

Back at the palace Kurogane greets Astarte and says he was looking for her. He wanted to talk to her about the heavy bow she wanted so much, but she interrupts him and grabs him by the toga. Or shoulders, whichever. Anyways she demands to know what happened with the bow. You ask if this is Kothar-wa-Khasis, say he looks fantastic, or look in confusion.

Kurogane introduces himself as Kothar-wa-Khasis and apologizes for the late intro, saying he’s somewhat well known in Canaan. You introduce yourself in turn, and he says you have a good name. He offers to help you as a senpai if there’s anything troubling you in the city. Kurogane also offers to make you stuff if you want him to. You either be polite or ask if he’s not looking for love.

Going A, he just responds politely as can be expected. Anyways Astarte goes back to demanding to know where the bow went. Kurogane eventually says he picked out the person who could best use it and that person is Aqhat, the prince of the neighboring land.

Astarte complains about how she had begged Kurogane for that bow and asks if he was ever going to give it to her. Kurogane however says he repeatedly told her she couldn’t use it since she’s too weak for it. He does offer to make her one she can use, but Astarte refuses it. She gets desperate as she says she wants the same strength they do. You try to calm her down as you call out to her.

Astarte runs off, and you chase after her. Kothar doesn’t have anything to say as you leave. You eventually find her somewhere in town some time later, and she asks why you came for her. She tells you she won’t apologize and that she did nothing wrong. She then prompts you to say something if you have anything to say at all.

You say you don’t have anything to tell her and ask to sit next to her. She eventually calls you weird and says you can do as you please. Silence passes for a bit until eventually Astarte says Nomad was right. She tells you that she is the trophy for whoever rules this world. You either ask about that or stay quiet and listen.

Astarte explains that she was born to marry whoever becomes Canaan’s World Representative. Due to that she is the one person who can’t qualify for the position. You ask for more details, so Astarte admits she has no special powers that can be used to fight. Not like Resheph’s flames, nor Kothar’s crafting ability to make mysterious tools. In fact she has no ability to fight at all, which you’ve seen firsthand when you met.

Astarte says she is the weakest person in Canaan. No one will follow her because of it, and she has no hope of becoming a World Rep. Astarte admits that no one really thinks of her as a soldier. She just goes around saying so while everyone else just smiles and nods. If she really were one she brings up that you wouldn’t really just put them on leave all of a sudden. That would mean she’s a self-proclaimed soldier whose presence means nothing.

You try to say that Dagon doesn’t see her that way or say nothing. Astarte says that all she can do is be loved because no one expects anything else from her. The only role she has to stand there and smile next to the World Representative.

Astarte then starts talking about how everyone treasures her and says she can just be there. However, she has no say in the important things and couldn’t be anything more than someone held up as important. She hated being powerless and thought only of wanting it. She wished she was born with a body that people would view as a great king or soldier, just like the other kings.

You speak up to either ask if the body you’re born with is that important to what you want to be or say you feel you can become anything no matter how you were born. Astarte takes a hard line and says she doesn’t want any cliches and that it’s common sense to have a strong body to be king or in the military. Since love decides everything in Canaan love is also why she can go around proclaiming to be a soldier. It doesn’t mean that she’ll actually be seen as one though.

Astarte then asks if the world you came from isn’t like that. If it is, it really does have a different kind of faith to it. If you came from a place where you can become anything no matter how you started, did you come from paradise? You then ask if you did come from a place like that, has Astarte ever considered that you might have hated your body?

Astarte admits she never thought about it since all she knows is Canaan. You ask if that’s why she wanted Kothar’s heavy bow, and she confirms it. She thought that maybe she could change something if she had an ultimate weapon like the kings did. It was the last bit of stubbornness holding her up.

But as you’ve seen, Kothar-wa-Khasis didn’t give it to her. Astarte decides to give up, but you grab her by the shoulders and cut her off. She’s shocked by this sudden move, and you suggest going to see Aqhat to look at the bow and maybe try to use it. She’s not quite on board with the idea, and you say you don’t know what will happen and it’s possible nothing may change.

Astarte thinks you’re making fun of her, but you persist and say that it’s possible something can change. You let go and add that Astarte giving up is unlike her. She sulks a little about you speaking like you know her before proclaiming she thought about saying it first. You apologize and nod.

Astarte decides to go look for Aqhat tomorrow and comments about how excited she feels since it’s been so long since she left the town. You ask her why she didn’t, so she tells you the townspeople would harangue her about it if she did. Lots of cooing about ‘oh no you’ll get hurt’ and overprotectiveness. Even going to the tower caused a commotion and prompted people to send search parties.

Astarte complains about how suffocating it is especially with the World Rep contest going on, at which point she realizes something. When you ask what it is, she says she has to be the arbiter for it when the shell count is tied. If she leaves people will notice right away. You wonder if someone can switch with her.

Astarte considers the idea but says no one would allow it. She also feels there’s no one who resembles her enough to take her place when she looks at you again.

A) What?

B) I don’t like where this is going.

Astarte then realizes that you’re here and figures you can be her double while she’s gone. You are dumbfounded by this.

Astaroth is apparently watching and says nothing. Elsewhere Baal is being sinister and talking to himself about how nothing can begin if you don’t have power. He says he won’t let anyone take control of his fate nor will he resign himself to be someone’s servant. And that is why he has power. On that note the episode ends.