Chapter 04: Act I

[storyevents]

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT I—

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§ instructions.

The first Act of our fourth campaign is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels.

Reminder that everyone is coming with a fairy form! Feel free to use and/or refer to the meme for what form your character takes. Characters will remain in these forms throughout the entire act, but will change to fit their role when in a scene. So if someone was originally looking like a centaur, they will revert back to their normal form with whatever extra touches needed.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to step into a designated fairy ring made of iridescent mushrooms and flowers and then return. Threading all of that isn't necessary, but it's to help give a better idea that characters can take a break between scenes or wait a bit to help with other things like the Sub Quests.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

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§ sub quests.

Everyone is free to participate in the Sub Quests. There are no specific top levels, so you're free to incorporate them however you wish in your own top level. As a reminder, the main setting for everyone not in a scene is within the fairy castle and everyone is in fairy forms.

¶ I. Fairy Pranks. Fairies are known to be mischievous, and the ones at the party are the worst. They will spice up people's foods, drop cake on others' heads, even inflict minor spells and curses on people! From changing skin colors to turning people into frogs or even bugs, these fairies are such a menace. Catch them in the act and stop them, else try and help those who are victims. (Any curses inflicted are temporary and should wear off naturally after an hour.)


¶ II. Stupid Cupids. A specific group of fairies called cupids are making their rounds. Completely drunk, they're firing their arrows willy nilly, and those who are struck will be enthralled with the first person they see. However, it's not always romantic. In fact some might just want some intense friendship, others are seeking some kind of familial connections, and then there are the few who just want to fight everyone.


¶ III. Weeding the Castle. While the main party hall is safe, the outside is definitely not. If they're not careful, some creepy crawlers may try to slip in. Take care of the hostile plants by either destroying them or by trying to restore them to their original forms. However, this can only be done singing or using special fairy dust acquired by one of the pranking fairies flying about in the party. Watch out for the Erasers, too—they are disguised as mandragoras, so if they're pulled out they will first try to deafen with their screams before attacking. Another form they take are snapdragons, but they will actually transform into a dragon-like beast with a lot of poisonous teeth.


¶ IV. Clearing out Spindles. To help the King and Queen, those not busy with scenes can help clear out the spindles littered about the castle. They could be in any room, closet, bathroom, or tower, so perhaps those taking care of the weeds can do this as well. However, be careful. Should anyone prick their finger they will fall into a deep sleep and must be awakened somehow (the method is left up to the players). Some spindles are Erasers in disguise, and but instead of falling asleep, getting pricked (or more accurately, stabbed), will paralyze and cause severe hallucinations. They also use razor sharp threads to attack and try to bind those they are fighting. But they're made of wood, so fire is a good way to get them.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Feel free to use the wildcard for general party prompts and castle exploration. Outside of the grand hall where the main festivities are held, the castle is run down and lifeless, overrun with withering, rotten, hostile plants. It's even worse outside.

Comments

[chatwithdeath]

[A. Stupid Cupid, Stop Picking on Them]

[By now, Naomi knows of the 'cupids' and has been doing rather well avoiding them. It's not hard given her new nature adaptions for the sake of their new story (stories? She's pretty sure she'd remember someone named Tam Lin in Midsummer Night's) allows her to become mist. If that didn't deter them, a well-aimed water whip works just as well sending them away.]

[So, sitting aside, avoiding the worst of the cupids, Naomi observes the rest of the room. Maybe approach her to see if she could end the effects sooner; or perhaps, she's been caught in someone's sight after being shot.]

[B. Weeding the Castle]

[Though changed, there's no changing her true essence. And her true essence was telling her to collect what samples she could while sparing some fairy dust for later use. A few hostile plants aside, her eyes fall on the 'mandragora' - a true one could be quite valuable - but she's wary with it still in ground.]

[Well... if someone would be so kind to help her get it out. She could easily pull it out herself, but someone more willing to do the pulling would be preferred.]

[C. Wildcard]

[OOC: Want Naomi for something not prompted or wholly unlisted? Feel free to make a new starter then.]

B -> A Cause i'm the worst

[detectiveforhierophant]

[Alright, so if Dojima was honest, like, really honest, he'd admit that despite the whole fairy thing, flying... flying was pretty enjoyable. He was having a good time with it.]

[But just because he was enjoying it, didn't mean he was just wasting time doing it. After all, Erasers could be anywhere, and the flying just meant he didn't need to worry about climbing over all those thorns and vines while doing guard rounds.]

[It was during one of these rounds that he noticed... Ah. Kimishima was out and about. Considering this was a world based on forests and fae creatures, he could guess that this was perfect place for gathering unique medical herbs and spell materials.]

Kimishima!

[Touching down close to her, he walked over, offering a small wave. They hadn't really... talked, too much since the dreams in December. With that Dwarf case going on and... everything that had happened in those dreams... It was just a lot, going on.]

Find anything interesting?

Could always go even more so

[chatwithdeath]

[Arms crossed beneath her chest at her dilemma, she turns her head at the sound of her name.]

Well, Detective, there you are.

[It had been a while since they'd last spoken. Seemed like he had a perchance to disappearing...]

This... if it turns out to be real. [She pointed at the sprout that appeared to be growing from the ground.]

oh lord

[detectiveforhierophant]

[...He had a feeling she was refering to the fact he hadn't been around much, and he looked a bit sheepish, rubbing the back of his head.]

Mm. Sorry for not reaching out in a while. That scammer case has kept me busy... and my nephew recently appeared in the Index.

[Good reasons, right? It wasn't like he was lying...]

[Looking at the sprout, Dojima tilted his head, obvious curiosity on his face as he walked towards it.]

What sort of plant is that?

[chatwithdeath]

Oh, your nephew's here? Happy reunion.

[Could be worse. As for the scammer, she's been keeping an eye on it, but had no personal issues.]

[Now, back to the plant.]

A mandrake... or mandragora. They have potent medical properties and I could use one, but they can be an issue to uproot. That, and there are Erasers around so this might not be one.

[detectiveforhierophant]

Yeah. I shouldn't be surprised he'd come along after his best friend...

[A long suffering sigh, before glancing back at Naomi.]

If you see him around, please keep an eye on him. He's a good kid, but he can take on too much on his shoulders...

[He paused a moment, shaking his head. She had a front row seat to his fears about his nephew, he probably didn't need to explain.]

A mandrake... never heard of it before.

[Leaning down, he got good look at the plant, noting there did seem to be something down beneath it.]

What's the issue?... I can try to help.

[chatwithdeath]

I would. Unless he came across the same book delivered to his friend, there's no guarantee the Storyteller would approach him.

[She raises an eyebrow.]

Alright... I'll have something on standby.

[Teasing perhaps? You'll never know... conversations on the back burner.]

Well, they have a scream lethal enough to kill the average adult within proximity once uprooted. Even with some sufficient coverage, there's a high chance of being knocked out.

[detectiveforhierophant]

You'd think that, but those two were practically glued to the hip, just after Souji's first week in Inaba. One shows up, the other is soon to follow... add in whatever magical bullshit they got into while there in town, and it was almost a given.

[And frankly, though logically he knew she was right, he was starting to lean into that more absurd way of thinking normal to the Index. And he didn't like it.]

Heh, thanks.

[...Did he accidently give her premission to mess with Souji? Oh well.]

[He blinked at her response, before glancing back down at the sprout... and poking it gingerly with his finger.]

It... screams, huh.

[Great, just great...]

...Got any ear plugs handy?

[chatwithdeath]

'Magical bullshit'... right.

[She had to talk to one of them... or both, about that. So yes, she would be messing with Souji.]

Yes, it screams.

[And she shakes her head.]

I have corks, but they're not meant to fit ears.

[detectiveforhierophant]

Well, what would you call the claim of a 'world behind the tv screen that certain people can pass through or push people into?' if it's not just a mass delusion or really stupid lie?

...I really need to get Souji to tell me the whole thing again, especially after all... this.

[Coming to another world, merfolk and fairy forms, etc.]

Anyway...

[Well, he said he would help, so he got back up, cracking his knuckles some before glancing at her.]

...Do you have any potions handy that can revive me if I get knocked out?

[Just pry open his mouth and dump it on in, that'd work, right? Phoenix down him, revival bead, something...]

[chatwithdeath]

Something that can only be perceived by a few doesn't necessarily mean it's a delusion or lie. Or do you forget who you're speaking to?

[And also where they were...]

[But anyway indeed.]

I do.

[So he's really going to do this? Well...]

[detectiveforhierophant]

No, I... know. Sorry, that came out wrong.

[He rubbed the side of his neck, sighing softly. He'd warned her he wasn't good with words.]

I know it's not a delusion or a lie anymore. But I don't have any explanation for it, other than just... magic. And it's 'bullshit' because it's frustrating and against every bit of reality I've ever known, not because it's a lie.

[Does that make sense? He hoped so.]

Alright then. Cover your ears.

[He'd worked with radishes and carrots before, so another root vegetable shouldn't be too hard, right? Leaning down, he gripped at the plants stem with both hands, and began, to... Pull...!]

[chatwithdeath]

That's how the world works. Underneath the surface, there always lurks something else. You just managed to find out.

[And be around people that actually encountered this stuff and didn't spit bullshit. That's the only problem.]

Alright...

[He knows they could just find something to plug his ears, right? But he already looks set on doing this so she'll cover her ears... and watch everything happen at once.]

[Some drunk cupid had drifted in and notched an arrow while they hadn't been paying attention, about to fire when the Mandragora is draw from the ground. The shriek rattles the room, rattles the cupid, and sends its arrow aiming from Naomi to the mandrake before flinging up and actually shooting at Dojima before the cupid drops unconscious.]

A - familial bond/friendship ok?

[twilightskey]

[At first Roxas hadn't thought anything of the arrow that pierced his arm; he's had more grievous injuries, after all. But after fending off the cupids, he feels a little woozy, and he shakes his head to try and get the feeling to go away. This isn't good... what had those cupids done to him..?]

[He looks around in his stupor, and his eyes settle on a familiar face.]

...Naomi?

Totally welcome you know that

[chatwithdeath]

[Hearing her name, Naomi turns and notices Roxas. In another blink, she really notices his disposition and raises an eyebrow. Drunk? Maybe, but she thinks he would've noticed the spiked drinks. Sick? A possibility; his immune system was still in-development.]

[She's not really considering the cupids because his behavior is so different.]

Are you alright, Roxas?

yeee /o/

[twilightskey]

I, uh... don't know.

[Truthfully, everything about him looks okay, even with the new form this world changed him into. But she may notice the small gash on his arm from where the arrow hit him.]

[Roxas, meanwhile, takes a couple steps closer.]

Can I... sit down with you?

[chatwithdeath]

[Everyone's got a new form, it's not surprising. Likely closely tied to the water like herself... but now that her eyes moved over, she does see a gash. Oh boy, maybe it was those cupids...]

... Sure, you can. It's best we get you off your feet now anyway. It seems like you're about to fall over.

[twilightskey]

Thanks.

[She's pretty accurate in her analysis, since when he sits down he all but falls into sitting beside her. He ends up leaning against her, resting his head on her shoulder.]

[chatwithdeath]

[Sitting down, he's already against her shoulder. Yup, definitely cupid; he'd be more hesitant to do this.]

Comfortable?

[twilightskey]

[He nods slowly, closing his eyes. His head still feels woozy, but just sitting here felt relaxing. A wave of calm went through him, and he would feel alarmed if he wasn't feeling so comfortable.]

...I feel weird.

[chatwithdeath]

[Raising her arm, she wraps it around his back and allows him to keep on her shoulder. Meanwhile, her hand rises to rest on his head and pat his hair.]

I'd imagine so. You may have been struck by an arrow, you know?

[twilightskey]

...Yeah. Think I was.

[Oh, now see, before simply leaning on her was comforting, but her patting his hair and keeping him close like that? That makes him let out a small breath, curling in closer to her.]

[He remains quiet for a moment, just soaking in the physical attention. Then, after a moment, he speaks.]

Naomi? You're not so bad for a sea witch.

[chatwithdeath]

[Oh, oh... okay. He's being a little more affectionate than a certain nekomata was (though he's also not sharing his body with a free moral murderer). Now, is that due to the cupid arrow, her water nature, or both?]

Thanks, I try. But remember: I'm a doctor first before this sea witch nonsense.

[twilightskey]

It's not really nonsense if you're helping others, right?

[His experience with new worlds include form changes, so he's unphazed by all this.]

You kind of remind me of my friend, Axel. Or, I guess it's Lea now. But he's always trying to look and act tough when he really cares about people. You're kind of like that.

[chatwithdeath]

Well, the part of being a sea witch is nonsense. Just don't make any big decisions like in our story, alright?

[Because she probably skirted close to being made the villain in that.]

Oh really? Well, sometimes it's easier to do; show you care too much for everyone and everything, and you'll be left too exhausted to help anyone.