Chapter 04: Act II

[storyevents]

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT II—

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With the tasks completed, the story progresses onward to the next Act. As everyone falls asleep, their dreams replay the events of the story thus far.

The two queens fought fiercely with sharp words and powerful magic, but in the end Titania surrendered and muttered “just curse the brat.” Carabosse did indeed curse Tam Lin to prick his finger on a spindle and fall into a deep slumber, as well as give the child an invitation to join her dark forces should he ever decide to forsake his family.

While Oberon was hesitant to trust his son with Puck, the rebellious fairy argued that being rough around the edges meant he could better handle a crisis. So the king set Puck the test of retrieving a flower from a dangerous locale and returning with the flower intact, lending the sprite a priceless dagger for protection and a further test of trust.

Puck trusted little Tam Lin to hold the magical flower while the sprite carried the babe, eventually stumbling upon a convenient baby carriage. The two then enjoyed the beauty of the wild forest on their trek.

While still in pain from parting with their son and previous hurts in their relationship, Oberon and Titania reaffirmed their love and trust in each other as they set out to destroy the spindles.

Puck raised Tam Lin more as a younger brother than a son and they formed a strong bond. While Tam Lin took after Puck in being easygoing and playful, they still had a love and protectiveness for the forest they called home. The two would often use Puck's ability to shapeshift and communicate with animals and Tam Lin magically gifted skill with music to soothe and heal injured animals they came across and to protect the forest from any outside threats.

Carabosse did her best to intimidate Nick Bottom into telling her Tam Lin’s location, but the playwright parried her at every turn and even accused her of being a yaoi fangirl. Eventually the evil fairy’s temper reached its zenith, prompting the soon-to-be donkey to challenge her to a children’s card game. Bottom won through the use of sleight-of-hand, but Carabosse caught the cheater, and for his insolence turned him and all the town into donkeys.

When everyone awakens, they find themselves in the forest cultivated by Puck and Tam Lin and once again in their strange fairy forms. It is flourishing, more color, sound, and even music filling the air as sunlight streams through the open branches. However, within the shadows lurk dangers that manage to slip in and the forest still needs care and protection as it will be their main stronghold.

Like before, the magical fairy rings made of flowers and glowing mushrooms will send those who are to act their scenes to their proper location. However, there are other paths illuminated by glowing mushrooms and flowers, each one leading to various places both within and outside the large forest.

One path in particular will lead them to the cursed village where they are to help cure those afflicted by the curse as well as fend off the Erasers and other dangers that threaten the village. However they should be careful as they will have a "curse" of their own upon entering.

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§ instructions.

The second Act 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.

As a reminder, there are two different fairy forms that characters outside the main scenes can take when in the setting of the story. While in Tam Lin's forest, they will take on their fairy form (can be the same as last Act or different). While in the cursed village, they will take on some kind of "hoofed" creature or fairy with a slant towards the equine.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped into 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.

¶ I. Lifting the curse. Everyone in the village has been turned into donkeys, and those who enter the village will also find themselves "cursed" with a hooved form, causing a bit of havoc within the village. The temperaments between each one vary from morose to hostile, and both can be difficult to handle. Some donkeys even stray from the village and need to be herded back, or else they are attacked and killed by the Erasers that lay beyond. To lift their own curse, the Aspects must protect and lift the curse off the villagers. There are a few ways to do this:

• The cursed villagers no longer remember who they are, but a reminder of who they used to be could help. Although they cannot speak, clues range from the bits of clothing left on their bodies, their behavior, and the locations they tend to stray to.
  
  
• The more hostile and aggressive ones may need to be subdued; knocking them unconscious may expel the curse from them.
  
  
• Finally, there are some glowing white candied roses scattered about the village. Should the cursed villagers eat some, they will be cured.

Reminder: Aspects who enter the village will take on a new "hooved creature" form and must help lift the curse of at least one villager before they can leave the village and get rid of the "curse."

¶ II. Protect the forest and its creatures. With the Fairy Queen caught up in a complicated love affair and Tam Lin distracted by his own romance, the protection around the forests have gone thin, and many fairy creatures are left unattended and vulnerable.

1. The Forests. Tam Lin's forest has a barrier that must be strengthened every so often by using the pollen of the purple flower and casting it over the barrier. The weakest points will be where the shadows and darkness are greatest, and hostile creatures and Erasers are lurking. For the forests outside, follow the glowing mushroom path to different "outposts" to replenish the magic barrier in the area. Not only can they use the flower, but they must increase the amount of light to disperse the darkness.
   
   
2. Fairy creatures. A cute, little fairy creature may help guide them and even become attached. If not leading them to one of the weakened locations, the creature will lead the Aspects to a special nursery where many of the wounded need to be fed and healed.

Note: Aspects will have their fairy forms while in the forests.

¶ III. Clear the Castle Path. The pathway to the castle is covered in thorny vines and unpleasant fae folk under Carabosse's command. Some are just ordinary plants, while others will come to life and attack anything that tries to pass them. These plants also seem more resilient to flames this time, some even spitting fire and acid. The faes will create illusions and puzzles for our heroes to solve, such as turning parts of the road into blocks and forcing them to try and piece them back together (like Tetris). Other faes prefer being combative, trolls and orcs battle ready to stop anyone.


¶ IV. Bucking Bicycles. Scattered throughout the forest, at first they seem like regular bicycles with toy horse heads attached to them, but anyone who tries to ride them will suddenly find themselves bucked and tossed onto the ground. In order to ride one of these mighty metal steeds, one must first earn its trust. Perhaps a little elbow grease might persuade them, or a nice metal carrot.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Comments

[rokubro]

[At least he's mostly staying in character this time so should be. Workable, personality wise??? Probably???

A slight arch of the brow.]

Is that right? And here I thought you were just biding your time for the right moment.

[Like. A CERTAIN CHILD'S BIRTH.]

[chatwithdeath]

I was biding my time where we would meet again and negotiate, but somehow I never received correspondence back from your domain. Next thing I know, I'm hearing word of your son being born and received no prior invitation.

[Annnd since they're back on this, she'll cross her arms and scowl.]

I finished our fight and you shut me out entirely.

[rokubro]

[He has two paths again. The "Oberon was a real dick" path or the "We could make this even more interesting" path.

Clearly, time to make things even more convoluted.]

Hold on, what correspondence? You're the one who never answered my messages.

[chatwithdeath]

What are you talking about? I never received anything from you.

[See? Now this made this story more interesting. And she raises an eyebrow, skeptical of 'Oberon's' claim.]

[rokubro]

[He's also going to be skeptical.]

After everything settled I sent you messages so we could work things out. Regardless of what happened, I didn't want you to be consumed by dark magic. I already lost enough during the war, I didn't want to lose you, too.

[That should make some nice sentimental spin, right? But now for some plausible reasons why Oberon is bitter and not so caring about Carabosse now.]

But your silence and constant rejections were answer enough.

[....Or so he believed. With this new twist, how will things go??]

[chatwithdeath]

[Well, that's a sweet way of putting it... should've been a little more kingly for her taste, but this was fine for their more dramatic route.]

Hm... someone between our domains probably didn't like the thought of negotiations after years of war.

[At least, from this framing they've made... but she thinks she remembered something about fairies being unable to exactly lie, too.]

[rokubro]

[Being kingly is Dojima's thing—Rokurou would probably crack if he tried, let's be real.]

I wouldn't be surprised...but who? [A dark gleam and smirk slowly rises.] It'll be fun trying to hunt them down.

[Sounding more like a demon lord than fairy king—]

[chatwithdeath]

[Yeah, it's definitely the Detective's part.]

Hhmmm, there's the old Oberon I know...

[Which might be code for: 'Rokurou, pull it back.']

[rokubro]

[Code, what code. He just laughs.]

You say that as if he ever left. I might have had to calm down, but that's only because there isn't anything interesting happening. Plus sabotaging a royal's personal correspondence? A beheading is being generous.

[chatwithdeath]

If only I could transfer curses, but they wouldn't be curses if they were easy to alter. Still, if someone wanted this as an end result, I think I have my own ideas on how to draw the culprit out...

I'd give working together again a go, but until this is resolved, we're supposed to be enemies.

[Working in their own methods might be for the best for now anyway.]

[rokubro]

[So back on the real reason why he's here before they got wonderfully distracted—]

You can't alter the curse?

[Should be pretty obvious he's talking about about Tam Lin now.]

[chatwithdeath]

I can, but just away from that death aspect. I should have enough of my old magic to change his fate. If he himself were attune to dark magic even a little, it might also weaken it.

[But trying to get a mental look into Carabosse's magic, Naomi really doesn't have much to work with.]

[rokubro]

[Okay, they just went down bittersweet memory lane, but Rokurou reasons that all that is distant past and it would take more time for either to reconcile, if ever. There's also probably lingering doubt, and since this involves his son...hurt and betrayal are going to mix in, too.

Anger it is.]

Why the hell did you even put that kind of curse on him!?

[And back to the beginning.]

[chatwithdeath]

Hi, Evil Fairy Queen that whole twice scorned...

I wanted to hurt you in my anger, but hurting you directly doesn't have the same impact, does it? Also, it seemed right at the time when everyone else was giving him a blessing.

[If there's one thing they'd established under all their talk was Carabosse was likely the more calculating between the two.]

[rokubro]

[It was very tempting to have a nasty retort, but Rokurou reasons that Oberon was here to actually try to change things, not make things worse. Plus, that's some real revenge right there, he can kind of respect it. So he'll just feign frustration befitting of the role before crossing his arms.]

Then what can be done?

[chatwithdeath]

[She had almost expected a retort, but this was fine. Made Oberon seem to understand enough.]

There's magic that's powerful enough to break the curse, but unfortunately, I can't perform it. I don't think Titania is powerful enough either... I'd go into more details, but just saying 'true love' makes my feathers shudder enough - and no, not in a good way.

[Refrain from any innuendos...]

[rokubro]

[....Aaaah. Rokurou will behave, though Naomi might catch a glint of amusement in his eye before he maintains his act.]

I'd rather my son return without additional mental scarring. [Just dry sarcasm.] But what if redefining the conditions? A different act of true love?

[chatwithdeath]

Indeed.

[He's been through enough.]

So long as the intention is 'true', the love does not need to be romantic. There's plenty of ways to love, but not all of them are so pure. Do you understand?

[rokubro]

[Hm...]

So either I or Titania could also break the curse?

[chatwithdeath]

[Well, about that...]

... It would be better if you did. Titania didn't exactly put up much of a fight to stop me from cursing Tam Lin.

[rokubro]

[Rokurou has two reactions. One is this sounds interesting and vaguely remembers the "recap" vision thing from the dream. The second is "oh wait now I have to think of how Oberon will react" and manages to reign back his expression to something more severe.]

What are you talking about?

[Just going to take on the "clueless hubby" route since not sure if the previous version knew or not.]

[chatwithdeath]

Titania confronted me when I went to curse Tam Lin. Whether she was feeling off that day, or genuinely felt that way, she stepped aside after barely a round. I won't deny that she should be formidable, but that expectation wasn't met back then...

[rokubro]

Wait, seriously— [BREAKS CHARACTER before he remembers. Uh, right so put down the popcorn, focus on Oberon. He would probably...]

You're lying.

[NOT LIKE HE HAS MUCH GROUND HERE BECAUSE OBERON WAS not even around and Rokurou is just using the "deadass drunk" excuse because easiest way out of it. But seems like a reasonable instinctive response.]

[chatwithdeath]

Considering everything else we've discussed, now you think I'm lying?

[Oh Oberon... she shakes her head.]

Ask her then. It's probably time we go our separate ways anyway.

[rokubro]

What we discussed was in the past. Hard to say where things stand now.

[Going to add a bitter smile in there for more of the tragic drama.]

But I'll leave only once I've confirmed that the curse on Tam Lin has been changed.

[It's been discussed, but that's all that's happened.]