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

[ricebird]

Ah, hi, Shizuo-san! [By now she's gotten used to the split and bolts in his neck (after a HUGE amount of fussing and panicking), so no panicking here... yet.] And yup; I had help from some of the other Aspects and the castle's house spirits, of course, and it took some time, but I think we did a pretty good job.

[A little more confident than when he asked the same question of her during The Little Mermaid's ball.]

Anyway... [Finally she begins ladling some of the ramen noodles and sumptuous beef and vegetable stew into a bowl.] My journal was flashing a little while ago, and I guess it can sense what date it is in the Index, and you'd said you were craving ramen last time. This one's made with pot-au-feu stew instead of the usual tonkotsu or miso broth, but I hope you still like it.

[It's a pretty good leftovers dish back at her house, after all.]

What I mean is... well, happy birthday, Shizuo-san.

[hatesviolence]

[Shizuo is listening and watching with some impressed admiration. He knows Kotori can cook, but it's always amazing to see such a young girl be able to have this much talent.

So he's surprised when she wishes him happy birthday, and he can only stare at her for a moment before he just lets out a rather dumb sounding:]

......Ah.

[He then straightens a little, the crook of his finger resting against his chin in thought.]

I guess it is that time, huh...

[YEP HE WOULD HAVE JUST COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN IT.]

[ricebird]

[For a millisecond Kotori is flustered at the nonchalant reaction... before settling into a light sigh. Right... Shizuo would probably forget his own birthday even if they WERE back in the more predictably paced Index.]

Yeah... time is really confusing here, isn't it? I'm kind of surprised the journal could sense that at all.

[hatesviolence]

Did we even have Christmas? ...Guess not, that was when the Story Eater appeared and that curse happened.

[.........Well now he's thinking of a completely new problem... But he'll just have to tuck that to the side for now.]

But thanks. Guess I'm... [Now he really has to think.] 28? Huh... It feels weird since it doesn't even feel like a year has passed... But guess it has.

[ricebird]

[She nods at that.]

I know. Hard to believe it's been that long since the hot pot party at Di-- Kazuma-san's house, isn't it?

[That was a good memory, and so are most of the ones since then.]

[hatesviolence]

Yeah... We should try and have another one sometime.

[ricebird]

Definitely. And Rokurou-san and I had been talking about having another barbecue too. Unless you count the Halloween festival and the stories, it's been too long since we've had a party with all of us getting together, hasn't it?

[hatesviolence]

Yeah, it has. But if we had one, you'd be the one cooking, right?

[He is also going to reach for the ramen because it'll get cold if he doesn't eat it soon.]

Don't overwork yourself.

[ricebird]

[A soft, easy nod.]

I won't. Not to mention I always have lots of help with the big parties; I couldn't do it without you.

[Him, Rokurou, the half dozen other Aspects who come in and out to help her out. If it's another potluck thing, that'll be a big help as well.

But anyway, YES, ramen time! How does he like it?]

[hatesviolence]

[He was about to say he didn't do much...



......But the ramen soup is kind of. Pouring out of his neck.]

[ricebird]

OH MY GOD! SH-SHIZUO-SAN, ARE YOU OKAY?!

[hatesviolence]

Huh?

[Feeling the liquid suddenly flowing down his neck, he reaches up to touch and swears under his breath.]

Shit, guess it's not aligned right...

[Don't mind him, Kotori, just going to start twisting the side bolts on his neck.]

[ricebird]

[YEAH SHE'S JUST... gonna look away and scramble to look for a tea towel or something to hand him.]

H-here! Are you alright, does it hurt at all?!

[hatesviolence]

[There's an audible CRICK as he turns his head a little this way and that, trying to find the right alignment. There's at least some saving grace that she can't see the line of separation since it's covered by the high collar of his shirt.]

Ah? Oh, thanks. [Going to take the towel to wipe himself.] And not really. It's more weird than anything...

[ricebird]

Okay... [A soft sigh.] I really should have thought this out better...

[Sounds like someone might need a forehead poke.]

[hatesviolence]

[...Yeah she's getting one.]

You didn't know I was some headless horseman. I was the one who should have remembered and considered whether I could even eat.

[ricebird]

[GAH! Even with how light it is, Kotori recoils back and grasps her forehead.]

O-ow, okay okay! Shizuo-san...

[Geez, THIS is how his big brotherhood manifests?]

[hatesviolence]

...Sorry, I thought I held back enough that time.

[ricebird]

Y-you did, don't worry, just... point taken. I'll stop worrying about this.

[Yeah, she's gonna have a nice red spot on her forehead for the next couple of hours, but hey, at least no blood or other major brain injuries.]

[hatesviolence]

[...A little concerned still, but he's looking at the ramen. ... ..Hm.]

Let me try this again.

[ricebird]

Eh?

[Normally she'd say something like "are you sure?", and she ALMOST fails to stop herself, but... she knows Shizuo by now, and she said she wouldn't worry about it, so trust him she shall. It should taste really nicely, though, considering the home recipe it's duplicating. Good-quality store-bought ramen noodles with just the right balance of tenderness and chew, cooked to accompany a rich, savory pot-au-feu stew that had been made the day before so the flavors were married even more strongly than usual.]

[hatesviolence]

[Too late, he's already eating anyway. He does it carefully, taking a little bit first just in case there's another, uh, "spill." But when nothing happens after he swallows, he takes a bigger mouthful and really takes in the taste.]

It's really good. Everytime I'm always impressed by your cooking. Thanks, Kotori.

[ricebird]

[Really? Her eyes light up before she gives a relieved laugh.]

Thank you, I'm glad you like it! It's kind of a home recipe we use for leftover pot-au-feu stew, maybe I can teach you sometime?

[hatesviolence]

I doubt I'd be able to make it as good as you.

[Just a small, wry grin before he continues to eat. Still going to be a little careful, though, because never know.]

[ricebird]

[A soft laugh, stoooop you're making her blush~]

I mean, there's only one way to find out, isn't there?

[Come on, Shizuo, you're the only one of her besties she hasn't had a cooking session with, outside of getting ingredients for the hot pot party.]