realmofstories | Chapter 04: Act II

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT II—

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.

§ 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.

§ 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.

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.
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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The trip through the fairy circle had been easy and harmless, but still left Fuuka with a slightly queasy stomach. Or maybe it was being put into the shoes of a fairy queen who had to talk to someone she had fallen for because of a potion. Smoothing down the skirt of her dress, she stood at the edge of the town; it looked lively and happy. No longer cursed.]

"I guess I will...know him when I see him..."

[It was a very odd sensation, to be herself but filling the role of someone else. Wringing her hands, she scanned the townsfolk, looking for Nick and whatever form he would take.]

['Nick' was there alright, glad to not be cursed, but annoyed at whatever colorful horror he was wearing. Someone would actually wear this? No, he made the suit turn black and left it at that. The fact he wore anything different from the rest of the town made him enough to stand out.]

[For now, he goes around 'Nick's' day, but... what does a playwright do anyway? Watch people? He could write about the nonsense that happened to 'him' previously. Why did he still have to get mixed in any ordeal with faeries?]

[Just when she thought she wouldn't be seeing Nick, a rather annoyed looking man in a black suit caught her eye. It was very strange to recognize someone she had never met before. Especially when seeing him filled her with a strange nervousness. Taking a deep breath, she stepped out, and gently touched his arm.]

"Nick...I have been looking for you...we...we need to talk."

[Even the small touch had him reflexively snapping his head and leering - but his 'role' wasn't meant to do that... he doesn't think. He can boil his glare down into a leer which was only a few degrees different, but being taken was not something meant to be pleasant.]

... Speak then.

[He should probably be less rude, but he felt himself mentally warring his own disdain of royalty.]

[Fuuka flinched as he looked at her with some level of disdain. It took great effort to not drop her own gaze. She had taken the part of a queen, and queens never dropped their gaze. Or so Fuuka assumed, as it was giving her courage. Gripping her hands together, she put on a brave face.]

"I...I have come to apologize. I would prefer to continue this in private..."

[She glanced around at the passersby, who were taking a bit of notice of her ornate dress, but otherwise were leaving them alone.]

"But I understand if you would rather not be alone with me."

... I am not the one who should be concerned.

[He doesn't know how much this role affected his natural abilities, but he could defend himself if needed... not that he suspects she would be a problem. A brave face was only so much; she overall was not someone he should fight on principle.]

Lead. I will follow... for now.

[Oh dear. He was very defensive. On edge. She had hoped this scene would be simple, if a bit uncomfortable. Not so tense she felt almost stifled by it. Swallowing she bowed her head some.]

"I...I did not mean that as a threat, Nick...I apologize if it sounded as such."

[She spoke softly, and then moved down a street, where there was a garden. Tall hedges would allow for privacy without locking either one of them into a tight space. Something she knew he would refuse, as she glanced over her shoulder at him.]

[He raised an eyebrow at her, but said nothing to her apology.]

[She led, he followed her to the tall hedge garden without a word. Good, plenty of places to go if he found reason to leave. He caught her eye when she glanced at him, but again, no comment. She wanted to talk to him so... he was waiting.]

[She did not lead him very far into the garden. Just to a place with no people, near a bench, though she wasn't sure if he'd actually sit down. Stopping, she turned and looked up at him. He looked very serious indeed. But he had followed her; they just needed to get through this scene, and maybe he wouldn't be so stern faced anymore.]

"Thank you...for coming with me. I wanted to come and apologize for what I did. When I first saw you...it was love at first sight. But, not of my own volition. I had been...secretly given a love potion. T-the details of why, do not concern you, but it was done to cause trouble. Which...it clearly did. I am so sorry you were dragged into my own problems..."

[She stumbled over her words a bit, blushing some. It was all a bit embarrassing, even if she had been Titania when the love potion had been given. Just imagining it was enough to make her stomach twist.]

[Unfortunately, stern was just default. And he stared and stared... but he was thinking. To him, it sounded weird fairies be affected by a love potion at all, but it does also make his brow furrow again because he hated love magic and supposed love magic of any kind. There was also the weird fact that someone decided to give the potion to a Queen in the first place - taste of her own enchantments?]

... You have fools stationed in your castle.

[Or people who needed to be punished thusly, but she looked like she might just wave off or faint at such suggestions.]

I suppose given the... nature of your befuddlement, I accept your apology. Still, swear upon your title, this will not happen again.

[Fuuka was tense, unsure what his response would be. His face was so serious, she couldn't tell what he was thinking. But when he finally replied, she was relieved, letting out her held breath. An unconscious smile spread across her face/]

"Not fools as much as...well, it is complicated. But I shall ensure this will not happen again."

[Quickly realizing that wasn't enough, she put a hand on her chest, and held the other up, swearing.]

"Ah, I swear upon my title as queen of the fairies, that I shall fix the issue that caused this in the first place and never again pull a human into the fairy world, especially under the influence of a potion."

[That accounted for everything, right? She lowered her hand with a small breath. Hopefully this matter was resolved now...well, at least in Nick's case. But that was most important right now. If he was satisfied with her promise, then she had done what she needed to do.]

"I thank you again, for listening to me, and accepting my utmost apology, Nick."

[Good, she swore upon her title. He didn't know if it would apply here, but there were rules fairies did follow that he hoped still applied. He should've had her swear upon her true name, but fairy tales were written by humans - they probably didn't know.]

[Well, if they were done, he was going to nod and turn.]

I take my leave. You should return to your domain as well.

"Ah, yes, thank you!"

[Fuuka curtsied low, then stood up straight with a small smile.]

"May your journey be safe, and your destination a comfort to you when you reach it."

[She would wait until he had started heading off, before letting out a sigh, and heading out herself, feeling all the tension in her shoulders leaving her. This had been more stressful then she thought!]

Chapter 04: Act II

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject