realmofstories | Chapter 04: Act III

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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!

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DRAGON EGGS

[ Felix could really get used to his new form. He still doesn't exactly have hands, but he's got claws, sharp teeth, and a body that's apparently capable of flying even without wings.

All things considered, he'll call this a win.

Felix is happy to chase after harpies, snapping at their heels and then slashing their wings to send them plummeting down. He seems less concerned about the dragon eggs, though, and he catches them only as an afterthought. After a few close calls, he decides to enlist some help. ]

Quick question for you. [ Said to whoever happens to be nearby, regardless of whether they're in a dragon form as well. ] How good are you at catching eggs?

[ When he's not hunting harpies, Felix can be found chasing off snakes and basilisks. Again, he doesn't seem terribly concerned about the eggs: he's just having a good time. When dealing with a particularly slippery enemy, he calls out to someone ahead: ]

Hey! Block its path!

DUNGEON SWEEP

[ Know what a ridiculous thing to do is? Trying to navigate the interior of the fortress while in dragon form. Know what Felix is doing? Exactly that.

Help Felix avoid traps? Stay behind him as he gleefully attacks the haunted suits of armor? Or catch him poking around shiny things, as though considering adding it to a hoard? ]

SAFE ZONE

[ Felix takes on his humanoid form here. He seems agitated about something, and he keeps touching his tail and foxlike ears. Catch his eye, and he'll call out, ]

Hey, is your body back to normal yet?

[ Felix can also be found digging through the kitchen while grumbling to himself, or sprinkling pollen over vulnerable areas while wearing a long-suffering expression. ]

( ooc: have another idea? come at me! i can be reached by pm, at

twofouroneten, or in the game discord for plotting. all art was commissioned from the amazing charlie! )

"C-catching...eggs?"

[Fuuka was in her dragon form helping round up runaway eggs, which meant she was barely the size of a cat, sporting butterfly wings, and generally looking significantly more delicate then the massive serpent of a dragon in front of her. She knew he was like her, a person who was transformed into a dragon, but she couldn't help noting how big his teeth were.]

"I-I mean, I have been doing alright...d-do you need some help?"

[ On the bright side, Felix isn't acting overtly threatening, and his tone is friendly enough. On the downside, he also looks like he could chomp down the cat-sized dragon with no trouble at all. ]

If you think you can handle it. [ He flicks a claw at another group of harpies. ] Those things keep dropping eggs while they're trying to run. It makes it a little difficult to actually catch them.

[ "Them" meaning the eggs or the harpies? He doesn't specify. ]

[Swallowing, she shook her head to focus on what this other dragon was saying, and not how big he was by comparison. He was just asking for help, which is all she wanted to do. Following the direction his claw pointed, she noted the harpies. Perking up she squinted at them.]

"Well...perhaps, I can fly lower, and catch any falling eggs while you go after the harpies? I am pretty fast...I should be able to catch them before they hit the ground...provided they don't drop a ton of eggs all at once."

[She looked back at him, looking for his approval or other suggestions.]

[ Felix smiles. It may not be a reassuring thing, given those massive teeth, but he's trying. When he speaks, his tone is approving. ]

Now you're talking. A little teamwork will get this done in no time.

[ Because much as he may not want to admit it aloud, Felix works better as part of a team. He's used to having a partner at his side. But since that partner isn't here…

Well. He's doing his best. ]

Come on. [ Said as his serpentine body undulates in the air, somehow rising higher still. ] We'll see if we can find a straggler. Try this out on just one to start.

[The frills on the side of her head fluttered, pleased he liked her idea. She was going to be helpful! Nodding, she took a running jump so she could fly up into the air on her butterfly wings.]

"Y-yes! Lead the way!"

[She darted beside him, keeping an eye out for any harpies that might be on their own. After a short amount of time, she saw one, lagging off to the side; was it injured? It didn't matter, as she saw a precious egg clutched in its claws. Tapping his cheek, she pointed.]

"There! I'll drop below!"

[ Felix wasn't sure how well (or how fast) she'd be able to fly on those delicate-looking wings. Then again, he was flying without any wings at all. Maybe it was another magical thing. Still, he made sure to let her set the pace as they flew, keeping his glowing orange eyes peeled for any likely targets.

The smaller dragon spotted one first. Felix looked where she indicated, and then he gave another one of those too-toothy smiles. ]

Perfect. I'll move in as soon as you're in position.

[ And so he did. Once she'd dropped down below, Felix bared his teeth and snarled at the harpy. Unfortunately, that wasn't enough to make it drop the egg — but it did cause the harpy to flee, both from the two dragons and from the rest of the harpies. Felix closed in quickly, those deadly claws ready to slash its wings…

Panicking, the harpy abandoned the egg. ]

[Nodding, she quickly moved below the harpy, and waited, alert to both it and her companion who...oh dear, she had forgotten to ask his name. Now wasn't a good time for that, as the harpy began to flee. The large dragon took chase, and so did Fuuka, her eyes now glued to the egg.

Could she catch it if the harpy was moving this fast? She hoped so, because here it came. As the egg dropped she rose to meet it, her small claws held out to catch it. With a thud and a small yelp, the egg fell into her outstretched arms, though the force dropped her several feet.]

"This is a big one...!"

[She panted, her wings almost buzzing like a humming bird's to keep her aloft with the large egg. Glancing up, she checked on her companion; she could drop this egg off and come back right? Did he need help?]

Edited 2020-05-18 02:08 (UTC)

[ As the egg fell, Felix kept his eyes on the harpy: either his new companion would save the egg, or she wouldn't. His job was to make sure that the harpy wouldn't come back for more eggs later. And so he chased it a short distance, then slashed it twice with his monstrous claws.

The harpy shrieked and plummeted toward the ground, its wings useless.

Satisfied, Felix turned and flew back to his tiny companion. She was lower in the air than she had been, but it looked like the egg was safe and sound. ]

Hey, nice catch. Can you carry it by yourself?

[Fuuka watched with some apprehension as the larger dragon fought off the harpy, but soon realized she didn't need to worry. He was very capable and was soon flying back. At his praise, she beamed.]

"T-thanks! I can manage, just need to get it to a safe spot, and then we can rescue more?"

[She nodded and began to hurry back where they came to drop off the egg. She didn't want to keep him waiting!]

"You were incredible, by the way! You really know how to handle those harpies!"

[ If he had feathers, Felix probably would've preened at that praise. As it was, he laughed and wiggled his long, deadly claws. ]

The built-in knives make it pretty easy. I've gotta say, I could get used to this form.

[ Not that he preferred it over his regular one, of course, but it did have its advantages.

Felix kept pace with his new companion, ready to fight off any harpies that might attack her for the egg. Fortunately, it didn't look like any were willing to take that risk. ]

I'm Felix, by the way.

[She giggled as he wiggled his claws. They were very intimidating, but the more they spoke, the more at ease she felt.]

"I bet! I don't mind mine...but it's...a bit smaller then I was expecting."

[It did not take long for them to find a spot to put the egg down, other dragons coming close to take them.]

"I'm Fuuka! A pleasure to meet you. Should we head back out? It looks like a small group of harpies isn't too far off."

[ She was indeed a small dragon, but Felix didn't think that was necessarily a disadvantage. ]

You're small, but you're agile. That can make all the difference in a fight. Trust me.

[ How many times had Felix's speed saved him? More than he cared to think about. It was essential when it came to fighting back-to-back with Locus, too.

Once Fuuka returned the egg and suggested they head back out, Felix was quick to nod in agreement. ]

That sounds good. Let's do this.

[Gobo might've been spotted once or twice before, as he's been walking around the whole area checking on other Aspects and that the barriers were still strong. Either way, so involved, it takes him a moment to register a question being asked of him after a glance over. He looked back with a blink, then another moment of confusion-]

Back to normal yet? You mean, outta the changes that the story keeps doing?

[ It's not Felix's first time seeing a Fraggle, but it's still an unusual sight, to say the least. Then again, Felix is currently sporting fox-bits, and there are actual dragons around. So it's a lot less weird than it could be. ]

Yeah, those changes. [ He gives his tail a flick. ] I'm still dealing with some extra parts here.

[He glanced him up and down, tilting his head some.]

Looks like it, yeah. [Look, still getting used to humans so-]

The story's still doing weird stuff to me, but I'm glad at least that I'm not some kinda... hoofed creature anymore. I didn't enjoy falling on my face every thirty seconds.

Man, tell me about it. It turned me into a unicorn. Can you believe that?

[ Never mind the fact that Felix has been having a grand time as a dragon. His dragon form gives him huge claws and sharp teeth — weapons he's had plenty of fun using. All he got as a unicorn was a stupid horn.

More to the point: dragons are badass. Unicorns are not. ]

What kind of "hoofed creature" did it turn you into?

Nothing I'm familiar with. Apparently it's called a "centaur"? I had a devil of a time trying to balance and walk, before I could even get near solving curses for other people.

I met someone who was turned into one of those. Not a bad form in a fight.

[ Naturally, Felix's first thought is combat-related. That's just how he is. ]

Well, that's assuming you figure out how to walk in it. What was the problem? Too many limbs, or just too many legs?

Too many legs, and a lot taller than I'm used to being. Took me way too long to find a whole new center of gravity, much less putting one hoof in front of the other.

[Pause, snort.]

In front of the other, and in front of the other.

Yeah. These new forms have been an adjustment all right.

[ He runs a hand through his hair and immediately hits one of his ears. Making a face, he flicks irritably at it. ]

So, how far from your normal body are you now?

[ It's about the most delicate way he can think to phrase it. ]

Right now? I'm pretty much as I normally am. Sometimes in this part of the story I've got wings, which is a little different compared to the Index, and I had different wings when everything first started, too...

[That'd be the fairy form.]

But the hardest adjustment so far was definitely the.. centaur thing.

Huh.

[ Felix's ears prick forward, betraying his interest even as his expression remains relatively collected. That's what this … person? Individual? Whatever — that's what they usually look like? The hell kind of species is that? ]

Let's hope this place doesn't pull a repeat of that. Be a shame if you missed out on the dragon thing.

[ Because that form, at least, is pretty fantastic. ]

Name's Felix, by the way.

Yeah, I guess so. According to my friend Red anyway, dragons are pretty cool.

[He offered a smile at the introduction, his tail lightly waving behind him.]

I'm Gobo, nice to meetcha.

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Chapter 04: Act III

Felix (The Fox) | open to all!

Dragon Eggs

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Safe Zone

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