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

[Kotori's form isn't much bigger, honestly. About the size of a collie dog, lithe like an Eastern dragon, covered in scales and feathers in dull grays and browns. The only thing that's become MORE impressive are her eyes, which have gone from indigo with soft flecks of green to a brilliant turquoise.

Said eyes WIDEN at Wembley's shout, and she can't think of what else to do other than scramble and try to shove the eggs behind her at the approaching snake.]

AH! [Wait no, she needs to scare it away!] D-d-don't come any closer, I mean it!

[It's seeing not just the eggs but his friend in trouble that inspires Wembley to finally take his dragon form. When he does so, there's a pause where he nearly gets distracted by how weird this new body is... But right! He's gotta help Kotori and the eggs!

He sort of stumble-rolls down from his perch on the egg, and once he's on solid ground, he rushes forward and calls out to the snake:]

Hey, leave them alone! These eggs have little creatures in them, you know!

[Normally, Kotori would be squeeing about how ADORABLE Wembley's dragon form is. Unfortunately, she's too busy being scared of the snake to properly appreciate how cute the big round dragon of floof is at the moment.]

I-I don't think they care, Wembley-kun! [HISS HISS!] G-get behind me!

[She has NO idea what to do after that, but she's not going to let either of them be harmed if she can help it.]

[He does as his told - Wembley often does - but he's keeping a close eye on that snake... Even as he's shivering with nerves.]

Kotori, w-w-we gotta do something! Maybe we can take the egg far away, a-and run, or... Or maybe we could stay here and-

[Whatever the next option was is forgotten as the snake rushes forward, then rears up. At that point, Wembley's mostly just screaming, though he does make sure that whatever angle the snake positions itself at, he's between that direction and the egg.]

NO!

[That "no?" That no is punctuated HARD with a GOUT of turquoise blue bolts of lightning, reaching out and freezing the snake mid-strike, seizing and then falling to the floor!]

[Wembley just looks from the snake to Kotori, back and forth, his head moving faster on each switch.]

Wow! Kotori, that was... Wow!

[Kotori keeps blinking, a bit more concerned about whether the snake could wake up any second (thank god she didn't end up killing it in front of Wembley) and gingerly poking it with a claw.]

That was too close... are you okay, Wembley-kun?

[Wembley nods as he checks on the egg they were protecting.]

Yeah, I'm okay. You were really brave, Kotori.

Ah well... not really, I was more just panicking and reactin. You were pretty brave yourself, though.

[At least it's lighter, this particular downplaying her compliments, instead of letting it sink and weigh down her heart like before the sleeping curse. Deep down, she can acknowledge that she's getting a little stronger.]

But it worked! I think that makes it brave!

[Pause, blink blink.]

Wait, I was brave?

[Her smile softens, and she gives him a warm smile and nod.]

Yeah... you were very brave, Wembley-kun.

[Especially since this is still his first story, and he's a lot smaller than her, but really, maybe only the first one is really a factor.]

Heh...

[He bobbles his head side to side with a mixture of pride and bashfulness.]

Thanks, Kotori. [He frowns a bit then, though.] These eggs are going to be in danger still, aren't they?

[That makes her sober a bit as well, and she nods.]

Yeah... probably until we're done fixing the story.

[So basically a war of attrition.]

Yeah? But... What happens to them after?

That's... a good question, honestly. [But she tries to smile a bit.] Maybe once the story is fixed, their parents will come back and be able to protect them.

[Granted, Kotori only has about a 70-80% surety she believes her own words, but she's trying to be optimistic.]

[He pauses a moment, looking at the smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes, and then - as best he can manage, in this particular form it's a little tricky! - he gives her a hug.]

I hope so, too, Kotori.

[Awww... now the smile reaches her eyes a bit more easily. It's harder for her to properly return the hug as well, but she can at least nuzzle him.]

However it turns out, we're doing our best. That goes for the rest of the Aspects too.

Chapter 04: Act III

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