Chapter 04: Act III

[storyevents]

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT III—

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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.

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§ 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.

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§ 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

[bloodinbloom]

I don't either. This is my first story, but what I know is the characters are in love.

Hmm... Maybe if you just think about fulfilling that? Two people who've gone through everything including becoming dragons just to be together!

[It's so sweet!]

I think Bonny wouldn't mind being a dragon if it meant still being with Tam Lin! They're both magical; they'd make things work, right?

[cancercarcino]

[He hums in thought, crossing his arms, before nodding.]

You know, as corny as it sounds, that does sound like it would make sense for a flushed narrative. The kind of self-sacrificing pity felt for each other is it’s oozing with redrom stereotypes.

Okay, so then, I guess I say I’d be okay with being a dragon if it meant I could spend the rest of my scaly existence being with the one I’m flushed with?

[bloodinbloom]

['Redrom'? Maybe that's what he calls romances?? Oh well! She nods.]

And even if you're a fairy, I'm just happy to be with you.

[And because romances call for it, she'll give him a cheek nuzzle.]

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat jumps a little at the sudden nuzzle, but he sighs and awkwardly gives her a pat on the snout.]

[And that seems to be enough for the flower! It begins to emit a glowing light, which extends to Karkat as well.]

Huh??

[bloodinbloom]

[Her tail has to thump a little at the pat.]

[Of course, she blinks when the flower begins to glow and she pulls her head back a little, watching the glow overtake him.]

What's that??

[cancercarcino]

How should I know??

[The glow continues to cover over Karkat, washing over him in a brilliant light. When it fades, he’s changed back into his fairy form!]

Huh..? Did it work?

[bloodinbloom]

[She blinks, and her eyes grow.]

You're a fairy again!

[Yay success!]

[cancercarcino]

Holy shit...

[Karkat just takes a moment to look over himself, and yeah... it looks like it worked. Success!]

Holy shit, it worked!

[bloodinbloom]

I'm glad.

[That's one thing fixed.]

... Your wings are very pretty, you know?

[cancercarcino]

Huh?

[He blinks at her, before shifting uncomfortably, glancing at his crimson butterfly wings.]

They're just wings... nothing too crazy about them. They're not big and obnoxious at least.

[Was... that a blush on his stony skin??]

[bloodinbloom]

They're still pretty amazing.

[And... this again makes it really weird he didn't get wings in his dragon form.]

[cancercarcino]

I-I guess...

[Probably because of his mutant blood or something... In any case, he frowns at her.]

Okay, we're sharing the stupid burden. Can this magic wear off so we can both get back to normal??

[bloodinbloom]

Hm...

[She raises a claw to her chin and tilts her head.]

Maybe it takes a bit longer to fix two people?

[cancercarcino]

Oh hell no.

[He steps forward, awkwardly pressing the flower into Rosalia's shoulder, head, arm, wherever he can.]

Come on, you stupid thing! Fix us both already!

[bloodinbloom]

[Sitting, Rosalia just watches Karkat, somewhere between amused and concerned. Awe, don't hurt the flower like that...]

Hm... maybe try using Tam Lin's powers?

[cancercarcino]

Huh? Tam Lin's powers?

[bloodinbloom]

Yeah! Tam Lin has fairy powers which are pretty much nature-based.

[cancercarcino]

Oh. Okay. Well...

[He sort of... waves the flower around awkwardly.]

Okay, fine. Stupid silly nature magic, hear me and... fuck, this sounds so awkward... just fix her and turn her not into a dragon anymore!

[And then he... points the flower at Rosalia. Will it work??]

[bloodinbloom]

[Watching him wave the flower around, Rosalia is fortunately patient.]

[Looks like Karkat's weird incantation works...? The flower glows... and Rosalia glows and she begins shrinking down to her human size.]

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat, meanwhile, blinks in surprise as his eyes widen, staring as the magic surrounds Rosalia.]

What the fuck, that worked..?

[bloodinbloom]

[When the magic dissipates, Rosalia's back to her normal form.]

... It did. You did it!

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat stares at Rosalia for a minute, then lets out a loud sigh and throws his hands into the air.]

Thank fuck! I had about enough of this entire goddamn thing!

[bloodinbloom]

[Don't mind her, but he's getting another hug.]

It was a little fun. And it all worked out in the end.

[cancercarcino]

[Karkat flinches as she hugs him again, holding still in surprise. He does end up frowning again after a moment.]

Yeah, says the one who didn’t almost die.

[bloodinbloom]

[She giggles a bit.]

Sorry. I've never had a rush like that.