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

[steadypulse]

[It worked in some way and that was all that mattered. Or something along those lines.

Surprise worked as well as anything, and the follow-up from Rokurou seemed good enough to him- taking off from the spot even as ears kept pinned back to try and act as some buffer if the mandragora started up again.

Was with a lunge that 76 went for it, jaws wide in attempt to clamp down firmly on whatever part he could reach. Claws digging in as well, even if a thrashing rip wouldn't do much it was something. What he wouldn't give for his own weapon in hand. Just have to do with sharp teeth.]

[rokubro]

[Rokurou continues to provide backup, moving in as he continues to fire a few more rounds. The vines are whipping around again, and now with 76 on the body and the two of them thrashing, he'd rather not risk accidentally hitting his unofficial teammate. So he'll focus on those, rolling to the side when one slams down where he just stood. First he slashes it with the blade then once again fires further down the vine.

By now several portions of the mandragora has caught on fire, bits of flame burning either down the vines to help break them apart or on some parts of the main body. With Rokurou hacking them away it becomes weaker and itsmovements are now more erratic. It actually tries to flop over on 76, as if to flatten him.]

[steadypulse]

[That sense of hearing helps him track where the other is, able to pinpoint where each round is fired from; all the better to move if he needed to get the hell out of dodge. Even while focusing on tearing further in to the plant with his teeth, paws allowing him to hold on tight the more the body of the mandragora moves. Ignoring the taste that filled his mouth with ever rip and tear.

Then there was the feeling of falling, 76 ripping out a large chunk as he kicked himself away to hit the ground first on his paws. All the better to get a brace underfoot and launch himself away for the plant body to slam in to stone rather than on top of him, skidding a little, that long braided tail of his whipped up. Ready to move again be it from the large body that had just fell or any of the vines that could get too close.]

[rokubro]

[Rokurou tried to help by rushing in to try and interrupt the fall, but it's fortunate that 76 is able to get out before it lands. He'll have more time to get up and back in the fray as the daemon jumps in and finally gets a piece of the mandragora, both blades sinking deep into its exposed back.

As he pulls them out, he grins over at the wolf.]

Still alive? Looks like you barely left any for me!

[steadypulse]

[Always was quick on his feet, just happened to have four of them at the moment- didn't take away from his speed at least. Shaking out fur and avoiding burning vines, straightening up and that scarred-up doggy face managed to pull off a scowl.

Might just be his default expression for the moment, braided tail still kept close to his own body.]

Ain't dead yet.

[He talks!]

[rokubro]

[Oh ho, so the wolf can speak! He had a good hunch about it, and he just grins before he's forced to step back due to the still struggling mandragora.]

My essence is disappointed, but good to see you're still kicking. So is this thing.

[He ducks a down before swinging up to slash it on the rebound swing.]

Got enough left to help finish it off?

[steadypulse]

Some huntsman I take it.

[Maybe it was fortunate he didn't have a thing about hunters- just witches. Knew the story of the razorback well enough, more from campfire stories some summers when he was a kid.

76 had been trying to speak as little as possible, really. Make it that much harder to tell who he was once this whole thing was over and done with. Keep some bit of privacy.

Still, he braced himself, claws digging a bit in to the ground as shoulders rolled and hackles raised.]

More than enough for a weed.

[Even if that meant he'd be launching himself teeth first at the mandragora yet again.]

[rokubro]

Yep, Red Riding Hood's, so got a thing against wolves. But don't worry, I've got it under control.

Mostly.

[Just a smirk before he readies himself and joins in to help with the finishing blow. If the blade swings a little close to 76, that's totally coincidental and his imagination. Yep.

But with their combined strength, the mandragora will finally be defeated.]

[steadypulse]

Dumb luck I don't have anything against hunters.

[He already disliked everyone to enforce himself as the dead man he was- so of course he ended up being forced to like certain people-]

Good to know fairy dogs count towards wolves. [That dry sarcasm-

Didn't detract from the force behind his own attack, ripping right in to the plant with maybe a little too much enthusiasm behind the action. A low growl in warning from the closeness and little else. Again leaping away from the falling form to land on all fours, licking at teeth to try and get rid of the taste.

Gross.]

[rokubro]

[Swinging his blades out rid of any excess plant goo, he sheathes both long swords behind his back and looks over at 76. Now with everything calmed down, he can get a proper look at his furry comrade.]

Have anything against daemons? Since I'm one of those, too.

But hey, that was actually pretty impressive! [Just a swish of his fox tail that we totally did not forget existed in appreciation.] Begs the question of whether you're an actual canine or a person who got unlucky in the draw.

[steadypulse]

[All of that white fur tinged a little green in some splotches, shaking his large head and half giving up on getting that taste out of his mouth, ears pinned back in irritation at that. Really, he was a big damn dog with shaggy fur and it was no wonder the fur was braided along that... strangely long tail of his. It kept low and close to him.

Muzzle wrinkled.]

No idea what a daemon is. [Other than one, sounding like demon and... even then he didn't much. Care.

Shoulders rolled, standing a little straighter at leastand resisting the urge to piss on the dead giant plant monster.]

Person, old soldier. Unlucky draw. [Old war dog joke.]

[rokubro]

Whatever you're thinking, it's that. [So helpful. He'd offer an explanation, but only if Mr. Old Dog wants it.]

But I gotcha. At least it's temporary... Which can vary between for this just part or through the entire story, heh. But hey, you've adapted pretty well.

[steadypulse]

[He might know what His Dark Materials is, bro.A shoulder shrugged-] Could be worse.

[At least he was going to be more judged on how he acted than what he was; at this point that was still what mattered. Even if he acted like he hated everything and everyone. Shaking out that fur coat of his.]

Can adapt to most crap, better than some.

[rokubro]

Old soldier, right? Needing to adapt makes sense. I'm sure you have a lot of fun war stories.

But, uh. Think you'll be okay with all that plant monster crap on you? Might need a bath after all that.

[steadypulse]

You'd be right.

[To both the old soldier reaffirmation and the amount of old war stories- even if fun was subjective. Thing was if he'd be willing to tell the fun ones.

He did snort a bit.] I'll jump in a lake or something later.

[rokubro]

Sure that's a smart idea? Never know what could be lurking in the waters.

[steadypulse]

Probably edible.

[There was a baring of fangs in what could have-

Yeah no that was an overly dramatic and played up pull of muzzle, turned in to a yarn, nose wrinkled.]

Fresher the better, right? [... He might seriously do this.]

[rokubro]

Hey, if you wanna do it, I won't stop you. Though I might follow along just to watch and see if anything pops out.

[Not to help him. 76 has already proven that. He just wants to fight things.]

[steadypulse]

Free dinner if it's big enough.

[He would seriously do this, and who knows. Maybe he would just drag out a giant fish.

Good eating?]

[rokubro]

If it is, I'll gut it and slice it up for you.

[Yep. He's definitely following along.]

[steadypulse]

Hand enough for your opposable thumbs, may as well share. More so if you help with a fire.

[This was apparently going to happen, and he was honestly big enough to drag up whatever sort of monster could lurk close enough to the surface to try and go after him.

This was going to be an interesting dinner?]

[rokubro]

That won't be a problem, just leave it to me. Think the lake is down this way.

[He'll lead the way!

And it will be an interesting dinner where they can swap stories and bond. Or something like that.]

[steadypulse]

Lead the way.

[May as well, right? Fuck it moment, really.

Going to real, real interesting.]