Chapter 05: Act II

[storyevents]

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!

Comments

Courtroom Blitz

[no_reload]

[Reaper had been watching the proceedings because it was an opportunity to fight, but this was just... well, he couldn't say it was unexpected. This place made everything weird and a little vanilla. He wouldn't have thought that fighting cards was any kind of big deal.

It also wasn't something to be handing compliments over.]

If you count 'amateur' as getting better, I suppose. Too much telegraphing moves before they happen.

[As for the weapon he had been 'graced' with? It was a ball of lime green yarn. It looked soft. He was currently busying himself hand knitting a bunch of it into plaits. He had several beside him. Those plaits would soon be plaited together. It wouldn't be the first or last time he turned yarn into a garrote.]

[twilightskey]

[The card soldier looks first shocked, then a little hurt by the comment. It's enough to draw Roxas from his own thoughts and look up at the masked man, a frown forming on his face.]

Well, it was better than before. Cut them some slack.

[no_reload]

[Reaper didn't even look up from his activities, his fingers moving as if they were well practiced at this. If he was going to fight, he would do so with his advantages.]

If they want to improve, they need to face criticism and adapt to it. So do you. You telegraph, and someone very skilled would own you.

[Of course, a mallet that big made it difficult not to telegraph.]

[twilightskey]

Yeah, but you can't just criticize someone all the time. They really are getting better, even if it's just a little bit.

[Maybe it's the small echo of Sora within him, but that harsh of criticism, while accurate, still seemed pretty cold.]

Then how would you do it, then?

[no_reload]

Oh, you underestimate my ability to criticize. Besides, human nature becomes more forceful when one takes negative feedback. That whole 'prove them wrong' aspect kicks in.

[Reaper wasn't generally one that trained new recruits, though they used Blackwatch tactics early. People were too afraid of him, and that was fine by him. Limited potential attachments. They were probably all going to die anyway.]

Sharp jabs, less jumping around like you're a monkey.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas's frown deepens, because, well... Reaper wasn't wrong. He himself had definitely had that "prove them wrong" mentality from time to time.]

[His teeth do grit at the "monkey" comment, though.]

Then why don't you prove it, if you think you can do better.

[no_reload]

[The frown was enough to indicate that he was right, as expected. He figured this one was young enough that being told 'you can't' would have the opposite effect.

Slowly he rose from his seat, setting aside his yarn.]

Are you demanding I prove it because it hurts to know I'm right, or you're trying to learn from what skills you clearly know I have?

[twilightskey]

I want to see if you're able to back up your words, or if you're just here to criticize what you don't like to see.

[So, a little bit of both, really.]

[no_reload]

[He didn't particularly feel baited to prove himself, but more, he was more inspired to show this brat his place. Maybe in the process, he would teach Roxas a thing or two about combat in the process.

He approached and just used his hip to push the kid out of the way and then turned to the card warrior and gestured.]

Do your worst.

[He didn't have a weapon, but that was fine. For this show, he wasn't going to need one.]

Sit down and learn something.

[The card came at him, weapon raised and over-emphasized as far as he was concerned. He gave a small side-step to avoid it coming down on his head, grabbing the handle of it and shoved it right into the card's 'stomach', knocking it back. He released the weapon so it wouldn't end up in his possession. Another attack, another deflection through swaying his body and then he tripped the card, grabbed its flailing weapon and set it on the course to crush its throat. Stopped right at the last second.

Then he simply walked away.]

Combat can impress a subtlety.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas frowns as Reaper goes to set up, but his eyes widen at how swift and ruthless the masked man was. It was just a few moments, but the fight was over quickly. Roxas can't help but stare in surprise.]

Woah!

[He blinks, then watches Reaper walk away.]

You didn't even give him a chance.

[no_reload]

[He figured that was proof enough that he knew what he was doing. He returned to his yarn and began to work on it again.]

What's the point in that? Did you learn something?

[twilightskey]

Yeah. I learned you're tough, and you can fight. But you're a pretty lousy teacher.

[no_reload]

[Kids were selective when they clearly felt the need to be punks. No matter, he could wipe the floor with this kid, but what was the point? That as like rubbing a dog's nose in shit; no one actually learned anything and it still stunk.]

You're a mouthy little punk. You insult every masked stranger you meet, or am I just special?

[twilightskey]

No. Just the ones who think they're better than others.

[He is probably playing with fire, but this guy... it reminds him of Xigbar when he would play around, pretending to know more than everyone else.]

[no_reload]

It's not just thinking it with me. I am better than that card, and I am better than you when it comes to combat.

Other matters... perhaps not, but we are here to engage in combat, and that's where I'm in my element.

[And he had no problem proving that to anyone. If he could start a reputation then he could use it to his advantage as he did back in his world.]

[twilightskey]

Half the reason we're here is to help these guys learn to fight. So far it just looks like all you're doing is showing off.

But you think you're better than me? Then why don't you prove it with a real weapon?

[no_reload]

And you learn to fight by being shown your flaws in technique. That was to show how far they have to go. If they need asspatting, they clearly can stay with you, but if they want to learn to fight, they can ask me.

[Not that Roxas didn't have skills, but at this point, it was a matter of delving into the perception that he was nothing more than an asshole. He needed to set up his reputation as it was, and this would lead well into that.]

I don't need a real weapon to prove it. This yarn is weapon enough. Unless you're talking blades or firearms? In which case, get us some and we can dance.

[twilightskey]

[Those words may be true, but Reaper's attitude just riles up Roxas even further. He grips the handle of his giant mallet tighter, before getting back into a fighting stance.]

Fine then.

[The few card soldiers around them, sensing the impending fight, all begin to back away and make room.]

[no_reload]

[Reaper examined the stance for a moment, but it was also to give the by-standers a chance to make themselves scarce. He flowed to his feet, bringing with him lengths of yarn that had been braided. Enough to tie a person up if he needed to.

He held the lengths of yarn in one hand, tilting his head as he watched Roxas.]

You're going to be limited with a mallet that size. May as well show me what you can do before I let you eat dirt.

[twilightskey]

[Roxas looks down at the mallet in his hand. Reaper wasn't entirely wrong; the mallet was off-putting and threw off his balance. But if Reaper wanted a real fight...]

[He lets the mallet fall to the ground, before going to retrieve two swords from a nearby card soldier; he's not near any water sources, so these will have to do for now. With both blades in hand, he turns to Reaper, getting into his fighting stance.]

I'll make you eat those words, first!

[And that's when Roxas is going to run forward, swinging his blades with a yell.]

[no_reload]

[Reaper watched and let Roxas go to find weapons more suited to combat. They might be swords, but he expected that they were training ones so would be dulled. They would find out he supposed, since the boy was serious about dual-wielding.

That was either brave or stupid. Sword and shield would be smarter, not that he actually had a sword of his own.]

Is that so?

[He drawled the words, like a lazy challenge, and he eyed Roxas as the boy charged at him swinging those swords. He walked and hopped backwards as he studied the boy's tactics. Wild and swinging.]

You have talent, I suppose, but you're swinging about like you're swatting at flies.

[twilightskey]

[They're training swords, so not as sharp as a real sword, but they would still hurt pretty hard if struck by them. In any case, they feel fine enough in Roxas's hands for him to use for now.]

Rrgh!

[The casual taunt makes Roxas grit his teeth even more and try harder. He was certainly serious about dual-wielding, and even if his swings were wild, two things were apparent: he was quick despite the lack of defence, and he was well-versed with wielding two weapons at once. And if he does manage a lucky hit, Reaper would probably feel some impressive force behind the blow.]

[Even if his strategy is mostly offensive, it's clear he knows how to fight. But he's also still fairly ticked off, which could be a detriment.]

[no_reload]

[He had seen his fair share of people wielding swords, though they were generally ineffective against firearms so had fallen more out of favour in actual warfare. However, he'd been a part of Overwatch to see and experience all kinds of weapons and strategies. Swords had their place.

Reaper continued to give ground, twisting and dodging to avoid blows until he was certain that Roxas was beginning to work up a lather. He also figured he had seen many of the swings and jabs that could be expected at this state in the boy's emotional raging.

He waited, giving ground here and there until he saw an opening and then he moved with inhuman speed to try to slam his boot right in the middle of Roxas' chest in an attempt to blow to kid right off of his feet.]

[twilightskey]

[That kick makes it through Roxas's guard, and hits him square in the chest. His eyes widen and he grunts as the breath is forced from his chest, and he's knocked back before falling hard to the ground.]

Ungh!

[no_reload]

[A Sparta kick was an excellent way to assert dominance. He pulled his kick so he didn't cave the kid's sternum in, just knock the wind out of him.

Reaper was on the move though, covering the distance between them so he could hopefully reach Roxas in time to step on the kid's wrists.]

Need some more training.