realmofstories | Chapter 05: Act II

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Chapter 05: Act II

A TWISTED WONDERLAND: ACT II—

§ instructions.

The Second 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.

Everyone is still starting from the forest of doors and will have to go through them to their area. Essences are back to normal and bound to their respective Aspect, however those who participate in scenes will have their Essence replaced with one based on the character they're playing (ex, Alice roles will now have Alice Essence at their disposal). This is only limited to the scenes—once they're back out they will have their Essence again. There are various items scattered throughout Wonderland that act as power ups and will grant additional Wonderland character Essence abilities. Example, wearing a top hat will grant bonus Mad Hatter abilities. These power ups are only available for the sub quests.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to pass through the 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. Courtroom Blitz. One of the doors leads to a giant courtroom that looks more like a combat ring complete with large crowds of spectators and a "judge" presiding over the matches. However, instead of it being cutthroat fighting, most of the locals participating are cards and everyone must fight using random silly props to try to score as many points as possible or knock the opponent off from the platform. Of course, nothing here is normal, and the battle platform will shift and move, large pillars sometimes rising up and random glitter bombs dropping down. The judge may even summon a giant (rubber) gavel to try and smash the fighters. Rather than this accomplishing anything important, it seems as if these bouts are to try and help train the cards to fight the good war in Wonderland as well as bolster confidence. Give them all a good show and help teach them a thing or two about (improv) fighting!

¶ II. The Horsey Moves in an L. Another door leads to a giant chess board and everyone takes the place of a chess piece, taking either the red or white side. Here is where most of the twisted clones are, so it is up to the Aspects to try and deal with them by defeating them on the board. The problem is everyone is limited to the moveset of the piece they replaced. Pawns can only move one space a turn, knights are three and over, bishops diagonal, rooks in a straight line. There are no Kings or Queens, but their roles are completely empty so no one has to worry about protecting them. When Aspects meet an opposing piece, they must defeat them to move on. This can either be through fighting or some other method to knock them off the space. At least they have their Essence abilities to use! If Aspects end up meeting each other, they do not have to fight. In fact they can team up to try and take out a nearby blot or clone, or swap roles to continue progressing through the board.

¶ III. Mirror Clones. Not only do the Aspects have to worry about Twisted Wonderland clones, but they also have to worry about their own clones. A mirror will sometimes rise up on the board and a clone of the Aspects will appear. It will try to take the original's place, sometimes even immediately disappearing to appear somewhere else on the board near another Aspect. The only way to destroy it is by destroying the mirror, but act fast before it fools the others. It is possible to become trapped within the mirror, and in that case the clone must be taken care of first.

¶ IV. Beware the Jabberwocky and the Bandersnatch. They occasionally pop out of nowhere. When one appears, all rules are gone and everyone can rush in to deal with them. Vorpal blades and… dog treats will appear on the battlefield which Aspects can use to hack at the monsters. The Bandersnatch will be surprisingly interested in the treats, but the Jabberwocky doesn't seem to be hungry for anything but Aspect flesh. As if things weren't dangerous enough, the clones might snatch blades to wield against the monsters, the Aspects, just about anyone within snickersnacking range.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Theeere it is. The utter shock and confusion on "Roxas'" face puts a smile on his.]

Not smiling now, are ya?! [He's not done, continuing the momentum to pounce onto the fake, reaching to grip his throat.]

["Roxas" tries to lash out at Hyde, but he isn't able to get out of the way before he's pounced. He lets out an undignified yelp, and is completely crushed under Hyde's grip.]

Keke, a shame you're not the real deal. [He starts squeezing his throat.] Your suffering would have been far more satisfying if you were.

[He licked his lips as he strikes at the copy with his free hand, leaving behind a gruesome scene in a sea of ink. Bleg, the ink got onto him too. He flicks his claws to get some of the ink off as he stands back up. He starts talking to someone, though there's no one present.]

Fine, fine, I'll go find him. Can't say I'll keep him in one piece though hehe. [He looks around the board, seeing a few mirrors before him.] Hey Fish boy! Where are you~?

[The Roxas clone is easily dispatched, leaving behind a large splattering of ink. The broken mallet clatters to the ground and rolls away.]

[The mirrors all remain silent. However, the nearest one, one that happens to also be face down, shifts a bit in place.]

[...All quiet, save the fighting happening elsewhere. But then one of the mirrors start to wiggle.]

Hm~? [Mirrors don't just move on their own last he checked, so he's heading over to investigate. As he grabs the side of the mirror with the intent to lift it, he stops. Shouldn't you lift it from behind in case it's a trap?] Tch, stop telling me what to do!

[Though he ends up listening anyway and lifts the mirror up from behind and waits for a moment.]

[When Hyde lifts the mirror, nothing happens immediately. Other than a couple shakes, no evil traps or dangerous threats jump out from the frame.]

[However, once Hyde turns the mirror around? He'll find Roxas on the other side, knocking on the glass soundlessly. He pauses, blinking in surprise at the sight of Hyde, before saying something; unfortunately, no sound escapes from his end.]

[He clicks his tongue in a tsking manner.] Sorry, don't have any idea what you're saying. Though, I don't think you can hear me either.

[He hums quietly, running a claw along the mirror that made it screech horribly.] Did I not break the spell or...am I suppose to break the mirror? [Breaking it sounds more fun.]

[Roxas winces at the claw scraping down the mirror, as if the noise physically hurts him. But hearing about destroying the mirror has Roxas looking briefly worried, before he swallows and nods once. He couldn't do anything, so... breaking it might work.]

[Oh, he heard him? He's nodding? Slowly, he puts on the biggest and toothiest grin on his face.] Well since you said so~!

[He raises the mirror and waste no time smashing it onto the ground.]

[Roxas throws his hands up and winces as the mirror is smashed, and a flash of light bursts from the shattered shards. When it fades, Roxas reappears in a heap on the ground. It takes him a second to slowly get up onto his knees, wincing.]

Agh...

Aw, all in one piece. [Apparently that's a bad thing to him by the slight sulking in his voice. He approaches the young man, kneeling down to lift him up by his coat and back on his feet. He has little regard that Roxas might still be injured somewhere.]

How did you managed to get caught by those fools huh?

[Roxas is a little sore, but overall fine. He lets out a surprised noise as Hyde lifts him up and sets him back on his feet. He does briefly stiffen in surprise, but frowns at Hyde.]

I was... distracted, okay?

[It's true. He's had a lot on his mind with Kotori, Lea, and Isa all leaving at once. His head wasn't in the game, literally and figuratively.]

By what? Your reflection? [He snorts as he lets go. He probably smeared some ink onto Roxas' clothes. Standing at his full height, he's much taller now than when they last encounter each other.]

I was hoping for a fight, but I suppose that can wait for another time. [They're not exactly the only ones dealing with these mirrors.]

What would you care?

[Roxas shoots Hyde a glare, and normally would leave it at that. But he pauses, remembering Disciple’s words from earlier. He sighs and forces himself to continue.]

I’ve just... had a lot on my mind lately. And I wasn’t paying attention. You can laugh at that if you want.

Not really. I just don't want to be stuck here. [Begrudgingly dealing with it. He shakes his head.]

You better get your head out of the clouds then before you get killed. I'm the one who gets to kill you afterall. [He's flexing his claws. He might, still be mad about past incidents.] Is it really that serious?

[The very apparent threat does make Roxas stiffen, and he instinctually takes a step back. He has to be on his guard, because Hyde really is that unpredictable. But he’s trying to keep what he and Disciple talked about in his mind.]

Well, we can talk about having a rematch later if you really want. We’re kind of busy right now. [Because right now they are still very much in the process of dealing with the chess board and other mirror clones.]

If it wasn’t, it wouldn’t have distracted me, would it? It’s not easy being here without the people I care about.

Haah? [Oooh here we go. The deets.] A few people did go home recently, didn't they? [He honestly hasn't been keeping track.] A few ended up being your friends?

[He turns his head slightly, thinking he might have heard something or someone nearby. But there's no one nearby besides a bunch of mirrors.]

Yeah. It did.

[Roxas turns to glance away as well, but it’s less to look out for dangers and more because remembering his friends going home stirs up all those complicated feelings in his heart. He lets out a breath before looking back at Hyde.]

Not like that would really matter to you, would it?

It matters while you're down in the dumps. [He fully turns his head now. He definitely sure he heard some movement.]

They're not going back to die are they? Can't you see them later?

[Hyde cares if he's down in the dumps? That's strange to hear... but Roxas shakes his head, sighing.]

No, they're not going back to die. But they might not come back for a while. And while I can see Axel and Isa if I go back home, I... might not see Kotori again.

[It's telling that this is weighing on his mind, since he doesn't seem to notice the same noise that Hyde does.]

Oh, the little bird is gone? [Now it all makes sense.]

Did you confess? [And wow he didn't wait to ask that.]

[That makes Roxas look up sharply.]

Why do you care??

[But despite his burst of anger, he does sigh.]

...yeah. She knows how I feel about her.

[He cackles.] Just to get a reaction out of you. [A man of simple needs.]

'Bout time though. Shame she had to go, but...let's be real, she's probably better off back home than here.

[That does draw a light growl from Roxas, but despite it making him clench his fists he tries to calm down. Hyde getting a rise out of him... it's not exactly surprising.]

[He looks away from Hyde, crossing his arms briefly. Admittedly, he did think that Kotori wasn't used to combat and fighting the same way he was, especially coming from a world like hers. But he didn't think she was better off back home because of it.]

I don't think that's true. She had a lot of bravery coming here, even if she isn't used to fighting like we are.

Bravery means nothing when you don't have the skills. You could suddenly find yourself facing death in the eye without warning. [His tone turns serious, as something Roxas said irritated him. Perhaps it's that childish optimism?]

I know "fairytale" sounds like a good fun time, but they don't always have happy endings.

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