Chapter 04: Act III

[storyevents]

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!

Comments

[cancercarcino]

Why not? I mean, it's already been established that I'm basically the butt end of every goddamn joke Paradox Space could conjure up, so why not say what's already true?

[bloodinbloom]

Because... it's sad looking at yourself that way. I don't really know what you mean by Paradox Space, but if it wants you to be a joke, at least be able to say 'I don't care, at least I still like myself to take on whatever you do'.

[cancercarcino]

Be glad you don't know. It's basically the entirety of the universe, failed alternate timelines and everything.

Hah, yeah, sure, easy for some puny human to say.

[bloodinbloom]

Mmm, maybe...

[Even in her dragon form, she had a scar on her chest.]

It's your universe, but you're not there right now.

[cancercarcino]

And yet somehow, I'm still being laughed at by this universe, too! I should be used to it, but guess not.

[He huffs out a sigh, his armoured dragon self sagging into the grass.]

[bloodinbloom]

Hmm... well, how about this? I promise I won't laugh at you because, honestly, that falling thing was really scary.

[cancercarcino]

...yeah. Okay, I can work with that. Because that was fucking terrifying.

[He could have literally died! And he has no idea if there's an afterlife in this weird universe.]

[bloodinbloom]

Okay...

[There was something positive! Next was a little awkward, but with her tail wagging a bit, she reached over his back and tried to wrap her arms around him. Gosh this armor plating...]

Huh, I guess giving a hug as a dragon is pretty hard too.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat can't help but flinch a bit when she moves to hug him.]

W-What are you doing..?

[bloodinbloom]

Trying to give you a hug. It makes me feel better when I'm down so maybe it'll help you.

[She is but a small dragon, and her tail still wags.]

[cancercarcino]

You're...

[She's giving him a hug to help him feel better? He's definitely surprised by this, given how he holds still. But after a while, he lets out a huff.]

...yeah. Fine. Just... don't tell anyone.

[He'll let her hug him right now, because honestly? It is helping a little.]

[bloodinbloom]

Don't worry; I won't.

[And she curls against his side, hoping this at least makes for a good hug.]

[cancercarcino]

[It is a good hug, even if Karkat's never really had one before. And while she hugs him, his dragon form fades away, leaving one very exhausted troll being hugged by a dragon.]

[bloodinbloom]

[Opening her eyes when she realizes he's becoming smaller, she beams and hugs him properly.]

[cancercarcino]

[It's weird, hugging. He's never really been one for hugs or touching (not before he'd stumbled into a moiraillegiance with Gamzee), so he's a little awkward about it. But he's a little too drained emotionally from the freefall to really care right now.]

[However...]

...Don't go telling people about this, okay? Trolls don't do the soft squishy things you humans do.

[bloodinbloom]

I won't. For not doing them, you're very good at them, you know?

[Even if she was a dragon and he was small again. But all good things now; he was gonna be okay.]

[cancercarcino]

Well if it's good enough for a rampaging clown fucker, then it's probably good enough for a human.

[He says it dryly, but hey! At least he's not being horrible at it.]

[He'll give her a few light paps on her back.]

[bloodinbloom]

'A rampaging clown'?

[She's seen clowns before. Do they really rampage?]

[Wings fluttering a bit at his paps, she'll set him down a few seconds later and remains sat back on her haunches.]

[cancercarcino]

Yes. A big, raging dunkass troll who's obsessed with murders and stupid clown bullshit. He's also my worst friend.

[Although, now they're kind of moirails? It was still a little weird.]

[He sits up and looks at her.]

How come you're still a dragon?

[bloodinbloom]

Huh... well, a friend all the same?

[It was nice to hear he had friends even if he's the worst... but how does someone have a 'worst friend'?]

[When he mentions her still being a dragon, she looks over herself.]

Uh, I'm not sure. I think that flower let me transform; I didn't even think about turning back.

[cancercarcino]

Something like that... honestly I don't even know, and it's been such a long time it's weird to think about.

[Technically they're Moirails, but... still weird.]

Flower? Well, maybe that flower will make you change back?

[He doesn't even know if they're still on-script or not. Oh well. He almost became a pancake, cut him some slack.]

[bloodinbloom]

Mm! Then we'll leave it at that.

[Weird friendships work!]

Maybe? Uh... oh!

[The dragon she had been given to 'chase' him brings said flower over, holding it in its mouth.]

Thank you... I guess we should figure out how to use it.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat sees that flower, and he plucks it up from the dragon before frowning at it.]

Huh... well, how did it work when you transformed?

[bloodinbloom]

Mmm... I'm not sure. I think because I wanted to save you it helped me? It's kind of hard to remember...

[Plummeting to the ground maybe has something to do with that.]

[cancercarcino]

Okay... then make yourself want to change back.