realmofstories | Chapter 04: Act III

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT III—

As everyone is taken from the second Act into the third and final Act of this story, they will all share the same visions of how the story has proceeded thus far:

Bonny Rose and Puck met and proceeded to blame each other for the donkey curse, but eventually took a moment to realize they needed to work together in order to brew the cure, with Bonny Rose protecting Puck while he gathered ingredients and brewed the potion. (All while bickering and swearing as only fantasy-Scottish redheads can.)

After freeing the town, Bonny Rose was in a much better mood and got along considerably better with her new traveling companion Nick Bottom, developing an amiable friendship until the two were separated by distracting swarms of butterflies and will-o-wisps.

Titania found Nick in the forest and he followed her willingly to her castle, with the queen demonstrating her considerable might defending her new paramour against a serpentine creature. The two indulged in a steamy bath and soothing Titania's wounds.

Surprisingly, Oberon and Carabosse had a scintillating past as lovers and partners on the battlefield, until Carabosse fell too deep into dark magic and Oberon began to fall for Titania. The two of them had a tense but surprisingly civil conversation about the past, the curse and her kidnapping plans, and Titania's mothering skills, and Carabosse promised to alter the curse and divulged that it can be broken with True Love, romantic or platonic.

Oberon managed to coax a particularly sharp Titania to their room, and eventually managed to break the curse on her.

Titania apologized to Nick for her behavior while under the love potions' effects. He accepted her apology, and the two agreed to part ways and for Nick to be left alone from now on.

Meanwhile, Bonny Rose and Tam Lin met in the forest, and the two normally outgoing youths were so stricken with each other that they became shy. They bonded over their shared feelings of being trapped in certain roles, and Tam Lin managed to charm her by introducing her to a wolf pup and taking her on a ride through the forest.

After the lovebirds parted ways, Tam Lin went to Puck for romantic advice. This was a mistake, as apparently fairy romance is much more complicated than Tam Lin thought, all he wanted was to know how to ask out a girl.

Carabosse managed to lure Tam Lin away with a handsome male visage before revealing her true form, offering Tam Lin a chance to join her dark forces. He refused, and she unleashed the (altered) curse on him.

When they awaken, the Aspects will find themselves in the middle of a desolate looking fortress, everything battered and filled with debris. A few bones and broken pieces of armor can be found scattered about, dark clouds constantly looming overhead—and along with the occasional cawing of crows, the loud roars of dragons can be heard followed by large, dark shadows as they fly overhead.

This is the fortress where Tam Lin is held captive and Bonny Rose must rescue him from. Once again those who must fulfil their role will find a path illuminated for them by glowing mushrooms and lead to different doors through which they must pass through before appearing in their designated scene setting. The rest will be tasked to try and clean out the fortress while protecting their safe location as well as helping the dragons roosting in the many towers overhead.

The Aspects will also discover that while they no longer are in their fairy forms, they can turn into something else—dragons.

§ instructions.

The third 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.

Fairy forms are no longer at play, but everyone will now have a dragon form they can transform into. It's mostly by their own will, but a few may have some accidents as they get used to it. These transformations can be either partial or full. IMPORTANT! Characters cannot transform into dragons while doing scenes. Only those playing Tam Lin and Bonny Rose in Scene 6 will be able to use their given dragon form to use.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to follow the glowing path of mushrooms to a designated door 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. Dungeon Sweep. Another Act, another place to clear out to make it hospitable during their stay.

Safe Zone. The safe zone in this location is a central outdoor plaza, which may not seem all that safe, but that's where they end up. Flowers from Tam Lin's forest can be found sprouting around the area and like before, the pollen can be used to help erect magical barriers to prevent enemies from entering. There are also small storehouses, barracks, and a kitchen nearby that can be used.
Haunted Armor. Aside from the monsters, there is an army of haunted armor patrolling the halls and walls of the fortress, and some will even try to break into the safe zone. Although mostly armor, they are formidable foes, each one carrying the spirit of a strong, powerful knight of ancient times. Even if one were to hack off parts of the armor, they will still be able to move and even reattach themselves. The only way to completely destroy them is by piercing through the center of the chest piece where a stone core rests inside.
Disabling Traps. There are numerous traps within the fortress, ranging from classic spikes from the walls to sudden pitfalls to revolving walls and even a rolling boulder. When venturing through the fortress, take care not to set them off because where there's on trap, there are sure to be more.

¶ I. Dragon Egg Hunt. Many dragons can be seen flying overhead, but they don't really bother the characters all that much. If anything they seem to be focused on dealing with some other problems, and those who venture up to the other towers will discover the reason why—as well as why they're able to transform into dragons.

Egg Thief. There are several dragon nests scattered about the towers, but there are these harpies that keep trying to steal them and fly away with them. Chase after them and return the eggs to earn the dragons' favor.
Protect the Eggs. One would think a dragon wouldn't have trouble protecting its roost, but when it comes to smaller threats such as small basilisks and other large snakes, their large size becomes a disadvantage, especially if they don't want to accidentally crush their own brood. Help fend off these threats to earn the dragons' favor.
Egg Hunt. Now some of these eggs are on the move. Whether taken by something else and hidden somewhere, rolled off on their own, or on their way to hatching with their little legs or wings already breaking through, they need to be found and returned to their nest before something truly terrible happens.

¶ IV. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

...You said you were in the process? That means there's still a chance to reverse it back home, somehow?

No. There's not.

[He takes a bigger drink this time.]

[. . .] We should get ourselves out of here, while the opportunity is presented to us.

[They've been talking for some time, and nothing has happened still. Did he missed a step? Not that it was a problem.]

Proba--ngh.

[Eizen grips his stomach, frowning.]

Was there anything weird in that booze?

...I couldn't say. [He didn't have the opportunity to drink it. He frowns.]

Are you all right?

Something--something's wrong.

[Like the scales starting to form, maybe?]

Get the window open.

-!! [He's changing~ keheheh now the real fun can begin. He quickly moves toward the window or will at least try to. He has to get passed Eizen to get there.]

Hang in there!

Ngh.

[Eizen stumbles to the window and just sort of. Falls out. As he falls, though, the scales spread. Wings grow. Eventually, a dark dragon swoops up from where Eizen had fallen.]

[The whole tower shakes as Dragon!Eizen rises, a great gust of wind nearly knocking him off his feet.] Tch-! [That, is a really big dragon. Someone in his head was cackling, as he feels a chill down his spine. Be it the Storyteller's doing or this is what Eizen is going to look like one day, his appearance was convincingly formidable.]

Eizen! [Against his better judgment, he calls out to the dragon.]

[Dazed, Eizen turns to face Kazuma and tilts his head like a dog. He's pretty sure he can't talk in this state.]

. . . [He'll take not being attacked as a promising sign. Evenso, his hand is instinctively resting on the hilt of his sword.]

Still with me? [He glances down at the now broken bottle of booze for a moment, it's remaining contents spilled all over the ground. How did it not cross his mind something might be wrong with it?]

[He attempts to shrug. This does not go too well since he's flying, but he did try.]

[An attempt was made. Seeing no indication he's about to become dragon lunch, the tension on his sword loosens a little.]

Sorry. I hadn't consider there might have been something strange in the alcohol. I simply wanted to wake you, because... [Did he really have to say it?] well, you know why. [Fantastic.]

[Hm...

Eizen shakes his head. No he doesn't know. Tell him.]

. . . . [He's sort of wishes he was fighting this dragon and not making this conversation.]

...I'd be beside myself, not being able to speak with you again, to have you at my side. [Even as he felt himself cringe at his words, Hyde cackling in his head, he's putting his all in this performance, because there's never an inbetween with this guy. He takes a step forward.] Dragon or not, I cannot imagine spending the rest of my life without you.

[If he could snicker, he would be snickering. As it stands, Eizen does a flip in the air.

And accidentally destroys some trees with that gust of wind whoops.]

[The tower shakes as he raises his arm to shield any flying debris coming from outside, or loosen furniture inside.]

...Glad, you agree. [How many love scenes must he play? Feeling certain Eizen is still Eizen now--much disappoint to a certain Hyde, he approaches the open window.] Care to give me a lift down?

[Hm....

Eizen shakes his head.]

[He tilts his head, frowning.] Why not?

[In response, Eizen just sort of knocks the tower with the tip of his tail. Just a little.]

H-Hey- [Even just a little shaking is discomforting! Who knows how old this tower was.] At least wait for me to get out, if you want to knock this down. Or is that your way of asking for more alcohol?

[He sighs, eyeing him once more.] ...You're still okay, right? Despite being a dragon and everything.

[A pause as Eizen tries to figure out if he is actually okay. He's still himself (somehow) and he's not raging or mindless, but he feels...

Not good. It's not a good feeling, being a dragon. And Eizen isn't the best at processing this sort of not-good feeling and he's also unable to talk right now so...

He just roars. Good question.]

[Kazuma isn't sure what to make of that. He wants a fight! Let's fight em already! He shakes his head.]

How about you meet me at the bottom of the tower? We'll work this out together.

[Eizen roars in agreement and flaps a few times to try and figure out how exactly to, y'know. Fly. It brings him closer to the tower, nearly knocking the roof off in the process.]

[Well, shit. The roof may not have been knocked off, but it was crumbling from the impact and debris starts to fall into the room. ] Dammit-!

[A dust cloud forms within the room, making it hard to tell if Kazuma managed to get out of harm's way.]

(no subject)

deadmentellnotails - 2020-05-02 19:55 (UTC) - Expand

chippedsoul - 2020-05-03 04:08 (UTC) - Expand

deadmentellnotails - 2020-05-03 22:50 (UTC) - Expand

chippedsoul - 2020-05-04 03:16 (UTC) - Expand

deadmentellnotails - 2020-05-05 04:28 (UTC) - Expand

chippedsoul - 2020-05-05 05:08 (UTC) - Expand

deadmentellnotails - 2020-05-06 16:54 (UTC) - Expand