The Promised Canaan Episode 2 Part 1

Things begin here with Dagon addressing the kings battling it out for the title of World Representative. He thanks them all for coming to his meeting. Yam is called the ruler of floods and king of water. Moloch is called the ruler of atrocity and the king of earth. Resheph is the ruler of plagues and the king of fire. And finally Baal is the ruler of rain and the king of storms.

Dagon goes on to call them the ones who are recognized as strong and given artifacts made by Kothar-wa-Khasis. Then he starts expositing about how they’re fighting by gathering as much love as possible as is the law of Canaan. Astarte will be the one to judge the winner, and Dagon asks whether so far has any one has won her love.

No one responds, so Dagon takes that as an answer. Some time later Asterius starts talking to Nomad, who notes this is unusual for him since normally he leaves right away after the meetings finish up. But anyways Asterius asks if Nomad really met with Astarte the other day. He finds it odd that he’s asking about that but confirms it and says he won’t give up on the World Rep seat. He also plans to go invite Astarte to his palace later.

Asterius goes oh at that and leaves, baffling Nomad for a moment. He collects himself soon after and heads out next while declaring that he won’t let Baal get ahead. Tangaroa just stands there not saying anything.

Title card pops up, and this chapter is called The Four Competing Kings.

Camera then tunes back in on your side as Astarte gets a bit snippy about you looking anxious in front of her. You say you are getting nervous and question her substitution plan given you don’t look or act like her. Astarte responds by saying that the townspeople have repeatedly said you two have the same mood around yourselves. Your appearance isn’t really a problem, and Astarte thinks it can work.

Astarte jokes that maybe you had the same sort of life situation from where you came from like she does. She then changes you into the sort of clothes she normally wears and says it’ll work. Once that’s done she asks to make sure you aren’t really going to bail on her at this point given all that you said to her. You either decide to roll with the plan since it seems funny, disclaim any responsibility for what happens, or give up and hang your head.

Either way Astarte marches on and says worrying is pointless since the kings, or at least Resheph, Moloch, and Yam, aren’t interested in her personally. In Resheph’s case he only cares about his vengeance, but if it’ll help him then he’ll likely conspire with you. Moloch and Yam only ever sent servants to her, so you can just claim to be Astarte.

You ask about Astarte having people not take an interest in her since she’s supposedly the most beloved in the world. You also wonder if the kings are special somehow. Astarte has to think about it since she never did before and calls it a mystery. She does say she feels a very strong fate tying the ones born and raised in Canaan. She’s never felt that from Resheph, Moloch, and Yam come to think of it.

Astarte wonders if all that is a condition for becoming a World Rep. She also suggests they could be fakes before laughing it off and dismissing the idea since it’s not like they’re you trying to disguise yourself as her. Since Astarte has only talked about three of the kings, you ask about Baal.

Astarte responds that lately she can’t tell what he’s thinking. She thinks he doesn’t have an interest in her and feels like he’s been staring at her a few times. But in any case Astarte tells you that if things look bad, you should claim to be sick and run away. You either agree, express doubts about this, or ask her to not get mad if you get caught. In A she approves, and in B (and?) or C she threatens to cut you up if you mess up.

Astarte then remembers one other thing and tells you to bring your head closer to her. When you do she sticks on horn accessories onto you. You ask what they are and note they’re like hers, or you can say you thought she was going to kiss you. Going with the former, Astarte explains that Dagon once gave her a horn accessory that indicates that she is special. When they’re on you, narration notes that they look like natural horns.

Astarte says that if you didn’t have them you’d be suspected. You either agree with the idea or doubt that this will be enough, but either way you notice some sort of light. Astarte is also surprised by it and asks if you feel any pain. You tell her you don’t but ask if she’s okay. She says she’s fine and decides to shrug the whole thing off.

Back to the subject at hand, Astarte says it’s time to get Operation Body Double on the road and tells you to put your back into it. While you pretend to be her Astarte will go out and try to take the bow from Aqhat. She calls it a master craft artifact that is also proof of strength like the four kings. She feels like things will work out if she can get it. In the mean time, hang in there. You either nod, ask for a souvenir, or say you’ll make her do things as payback when she gets back.

Camera follows Astarte as she reaches the tower. She gets amazed at actually leaving town without anyone following her and marvels at how big the world is. Then she laughs and revels in the freedom of it all, even if it is temporary.

Scene then shifts back to your side as townspeople seem to be fooled by your disguise as they compliment your horns. Randos keep giving you shells as you walk around town, and you note with some disbelief that this is working. You wonder aloud to yourself if it’s a blind spot or something else as you carry all the shells, then start wondering what to do with the things. At some point you were told that the shells are also currency but you wonder if you can shop with them.

Nomad then walks up and comments on the big haul you have. You are thrown for a minor loop at him showing up and try remember his name and keep cool. Nomad starts inviting you to his palace when he picks up on something being different. You try to cover by grabbing his hand and suggesting you guys go somewhere. Nomad is initially preoccupied by some hot feeling in his chest but snaps back to it when you grab him and go.

Time skips as you guys talk at Nomad’s palace and fill Nomad in on what’s happening. He tells you that he didn’t realize what was up until you actually said so, and you ask if he’s serious after a moment. He confirms that, and an awkward silence passes for a moment before you panic and try to bribe him with shells to keep quiet.

Nomad is surprised you’d try to fool all of Canaan including Dagon and the kings. After sorting through some emotions he eventually settles on laughing at the villainy of it and says you’re interesting. He kabedons you again and offers to cut you a deal.

When you ask about this deal, Nomad says he’ll keep his silence about your switching if you’ll be his accomplice and help with his plans. You either ask about those things or mention he said stuff like that yesterday. In any case Nomad starts talking about how there are four kings fighting to be Canaan’s next great ruler, the World Representative. Astarte is the one deciding who wins, and above everyone else is the God that allows the World Rep an audience with them, El the Light Maker.

You ask about God/El/the Light Maker, so Nomad says the rumor goes that he is the one that gave all of them the light that is their classes and concepts. Dagon is supposedly the only one to have ever met him.

Nomad talks about how he swore to become the World Representative and take his revenge. El is supposed to be the one who charged him with the role of being in charge of epidemics which then made him look the way he does now.

You ask him if he hates his appearance, and he finds it surprising you don’t think he doesn’t. He rages against it as an animal similar yet not to everyone else, but you cut in to say you don’t think it’s repulsive; you think it’s cool in fact. You also have the choice of saying you love it instead and ask what’d he think if you said so.

Going C, he’s shocked by your answer before asking if this is how you try to win people over before calling it cunningly devious. Then he tells you that if you become his accomplice you better not butter up/flirt with anyone else like that. Then he composes himself to explain some more.

In any case Nomad goes back to talking about how Astarte is the judge for the battle of the kings. If you back him, then he’ll be a shoo in for the title. You either agree, object, or express some doubts about doing this. Whichever way you go, Nomad offers to sweeten the deal and pulls something from his pockets to give to you, which turns out to be a shell.

When you ask about it, Nomad makes a point about saying he hasn’t fallen in love with a kid like you or anything, so you shouldn’t get your hopes up. You either ask what he’s talking about or keep quiet. Nomad says it just wouldn’t sit right with him if he didn’t even things out after finding out your secret.

But anyways he tells you to keep your eyes on him only, and that the two of you will go to hell together. You can then agree despite not really understanding, be glad your cover is safe, or wonder if this means he reciprocates your feelings.

In any case Nomad gets a little testy and asks if you have a question since you have a look on your face. You mention that he said he felt something was different when you met earlier, but if he didn’t realize you switched with Astarte, then what was he talking about? He gets embarrassed about telling you how brilliant you looked and the sense of excitement he got before getting annoyed and telling you to forget about it.

Nomad then changes the subject to explain the current state of things. He talks about the other kings and starts with the earth king Moloch, who he describes as a rioter with a good for nothing class and a bull’s head. You ask about the title or the class or comment that he sounds like Nomad.

Going B, Nomad says Moloch was given the role of ruler of atrocities or tyranny. Whenever his emotions get the better of him he rampages as if mad. Because of that he normally stays in his underground palace and most people stay away from him. He’s still a king though, and townspeople are offered up as sacrifices to him. Nomad comments that despite how distant Moloch is, the title of earth king has a much better ring to it than he ought to have.

You ask about there being an underground palace, so Nomad tells you there’s tons of underground roads going everywhere. Moloch is located at where they all connect, so that’s why it’s called his underground palace. Nomad is in the middle of telling you there’s occasional earthquakes that cause the ground to open up and cause people to fall in when one such quake happens.

Nomad notes that the timing is too convenient and manages to jump away from a giant hole opening up. After he gets his footing Nomad realizes the quake isn’t natural and calls for you while he looks around. You don’t respond, and Nomad realizes Moloch came to get you.

Camera shifts to follow you as Asterius has caught you after you fell and starts running off. You either ask who he is, ask if he made the hole, or thank him for catching you. He tells you to not look at him, and you ask if he’s Moloch. He just nods.

Asterius then tells you to shut your mouth, and eventually he takes you to his palace. When he puts you down you ask if this is his place, comment on how nice and chilly it is, or comment on how empty and lonely it is. Asterius in turn asks if you’re Astarte and demands an answer. You either say yes, be indirect, or say no.

Whichever way you go, Asterius tells you to shut it and listen to him. He wants you to give him your Shell of Love. Asterius is resigned to the idea that he can’t really be loved but threatens you with death if you don’t give it to him. You however question him about his being unlovable.

Asterius says someone like himself can’t be loved. He starts rampaging at the drop of a hat, he causes everyone around problems, and he’s stupidly strong. No one can stop him, so that’s why he lives underground alone. All in all, he’s convinced that no one would love him, especially not someone who can be loved by anyone. You point out that even if he thinks so, you don’t hate him. He saved you from that fall after all.

Asterius isn’t willing to listen and says there were plenty of people who weren’t afraid of him at first, but they all ran when they saw his power. His emotions start running high and he realizes he’s about to go crazy. He tells you to run and yells out. You try to call him down as you take out your sword, and the episode battle begins. More story afterwards.

After the battle, things tune back in on Nomad’s side as he desperately runs around the underground passageways yelling for you. Narration says the construction of the place is like his own palace, and eventually he finds the room where you guys are at.

Nomad demands to know what he did ‘his’ You. Then he notices Asterius crying over you about how he was lonely and sad. Asterius talks about having looked for someone who wouldn’t be scared off by his rampages and says he won’t let you go. He’s also calling you by your name instead of Astarte’s as he hugs you really hard. You either try to get him to let up, tell him it’s okay, or hug him back.

Nomad is baffled by what’s happening for a sec before telling Asterius to let go of you already. Scene then shifts to Tangaroa as he asks his underlings if things are ready. The mobs say yes, so Tangaroa says it’s time for him to go see Astarte himself. He commands the mobs to come with him, and all of them leave, at which point the episode half ends.