Chapter 05: Act II

[storyevents]

A TWISTED WONDERLAND: ACT II—

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§ 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.

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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. 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

Forest of Doors

[no_reload]

[If it lived and showed an iota of aggression, Reaper was game to kill it. So went his battle with a few others contending with a jabberwokey. It felt good to be in combat, to weave his way in and out of slashing claws, snapping jaws and cutting wings.

While he didn't have his trusty Hellfire Shotguns, he made good use of the feathered knives that he had been endowed with since coming to this place. Of course, being in so close and used to having regenerative abilities, he might have cut a few attacks too close. Victory was theirs and that was all that mattered to him.

Back in the Forest of Doors, he took to an owl form and hid in the trees, hunkered down. There was a slow but steady drip of blood that curled along the tree branch his talons were dug into.

He chattered his beak as if scolding when a cat found its way into the tree with him. Both threat and deterrent.]

Go prowl somewhere else. This is my tree to guard.

[nanoscope]

[The cat's ears rose up as the owl chatters at her, and she pauses in surprise. And if the fact the cat was missing its right eye wasn't suspicious enough, the familiar voice definitely would be.]

I didn't realize we were in the business of claiming trees.

[She does pause as she eyes that slowly dripping blood.]

What happened to you?

[no_reload]

[Missing eye. Cat. And he'd know that voice anywhere. Of course Ana had to be prowling up the trees. She always liked the high ground, given the advantages that it gave her in much of her occupation. No fault there.]

I didn't realize any of us were in business.

[He shuffled more into a shadow of a tree branch, fluffing up his wings and ignoring the blood.]

It's just a small wounding. Nothing I can't handle.

[nanoscope]

[Ana's feline eyes narrow a bit at the comment, but she chooses to ignore it in favour of leaning in closer to examine his injury.]

That doesn't look like a small wound to me.

[no_reload]

[Reaper narrowed his big eyes and chittered his beak at her even if he didn't actually plan on doing anything. Ana was one of the few mostly exempt from a good thrashing.]

It looks bigger because I'm a bird.

[No, the gash across his chest and wing was probably proportional. He was just ignoring that fact.]

[nanoscope]

[Ana just fixes him with a look. One that all cats seem to excel at giving.]

If that's the case, it would be more serious in this form.

[You know, the fact there's a big wound on a small body, after all.]

You need medical assistance.

[no_reload]

[Reaper made a point of grooming a few of his feathers. He knew that look well enough. Even when not a cat, Ana was adept at making it.]

Birds don't always heal well, I suppose.

[He tucked his wings closer to himself as if to hide his wounds.]

And I suppose you're determined to administer that?

[nanoscope]

[It's almost as if having that cat form somehow emphasizes that Look Ana is good at making.]

If not from me, then from someone.

She knows that Gabriel is dangerous, and has his reasons for being opposed to her and Jack. But at the same time, she still wants to help a man who was once her friend.]

[no_reload]

[If an owl could frown, Reaper definitely did. He issued a low hiss and chattered his beak in opposition.

He trusted other people less than he trusted Ana.]

There is no one.

[nanoscope]

Then you don't have many options, do you?

[She fixes him with a hard look, before she stands up on the branch and turns around.]

Come with me. I can at least patch you up so you won't bleed out.

[no_reload]

Casual second intention healing....

[He knew that look. That was the 'if he didn't come, she would haul him off' look. He huffed, ruffling his wings and slowly hopping along the branch to watch her go.

He took his sweet time trying to decide if it was worth his efforts, or if he should just fly away and patch himself up in Owl House as it had become known. It was probably skulking somewhere in the forest.]

You ever treated an owl before?

[He walked down the tree branch, talons digging in so there was no hurry.]

[nanoscope]

[Good to know that look can still translate over when she's a cat.]

No. But I can do what I can. Or you can attempt to transform back into a human, but I don't know how much it would affect your injury.

[no_reload]

[He could turn back, but he wasn't certain that he wanted to. Not just to be difficult this time, but human form meant more exposure. He was avoiding that as much as possible.]

Just put a bandaid on it and I'll be on my way.

[nanoscope]

[Ana's ear flicks, and her tail swishes in annoyance.]

Then come with me. I'll get you your "bandaid".

[Her supplies, unfortunately, are closer to the forest floor. So she'll be hopping down the tree to go and get them.]

[no_reload]

[He continued down the tree, keeping his wings tight to his body and forced himself to walk down to the tree trunk. A bit of difficulty given owls were more meant to fly and soar.]

You sound so tart about it.

[He finally opened his wings so he could glide to the ground. He looked over at Ana and decided to follow her with an owl stealthy walk.]

[nanoscope]

And you sound less than thrilled to be receiving aid you clearly need.

[Perhaps it's not the best idea to be exchanging such banter with a man who had tried to kill her, but perhaps it's just the fact that she's talking to him as an owl rather than as the man she'd been hunting for so long. But either way, he seemed less threatening as a bird, though she knew better than to tell him that to his face.]

[She trots through the underbrush to a small area; a little clearing she's claimed for herself, outlined in a faintly-glowing circle that smelled strangely fragrant, like perfume. She trots into the center of this area before her form shifts, and she becomes humanoid once more.]

I have enough potions and medicine here to help patch up your wound, but my potions aren't as powerful as I'd like them to be. I would recommend resting before doing any strenuous flying; you don't want to re-open your wounds.

[no_reload]

I will heal eventually.

[Reaper was still following though, walking along the ground and keeping his wings tucked in close as if to make himself smaller. He could change back to being humanoid himself, but that took more energy than he was willing to expend right now. He didn't have the same ability to just draw energy from living things around him anymore, so he was getting used to that.

He hunkered down in the underbrush and watched her, big eyes flicking around for signs of danger. Only once Ana was human again did he emerge from his refuge in the bushes to move over and flap his wings until he could settle himself carefully on one of her shoulders.

Folding them, he flexed his talons and grumbled.]

I'm only doing this so you don't decide to carry me around by my wings like a puppet.

[nanoscope]

It does not look like that to me.

[She had heard stories of Reaper's uncanny ability to survive things that would kill lesser men. Why had such a cut proven challenging to him, then? Perhaps it had to do with this world and its bizarre rules.]

Then I'm glad we can come to an understanding.

[She goes to her bag to fish out the potions she's made. There's several in different potions in unlabeled bottles, but she seems to know exactly which ones she's looking for.]

[no_reload]

So glad your medical doctor knowledge is as sharp as ever.

[While he was using his usual biting sarcasm, he couldn't actually deny that Ana had her fair share of medical skills. They all did, what with all the shit they had seen over the years. One picked up on combat first aid rather quickly.

He technically followed along with all over her movements because he was still perched on her shoulder, and he glared at any sound that came his way. No way anyone was coming into this place without getting talons to the face.]

Are you planning on giving me a bath now?

[nanoscope]

Someone's needs to be out here, if people are going to run themselves ragged and run around covered in their own blood.

[Truthfully, she would hate to see how he would fare without any help. That looked like a painful gash, after all.]

[Despite any blood he may drop on her cloak or dig of talons, she doesn't shoo him away. One ear does remain on him, but other than a brief pause in her movements she focuses on mixing a few of the potions together in a larger bottle.]

If you feel it would improve your mood, I can offer one. But I was planning on having you drink one potion to help any internal injuries while I clean and dress your outside wounds with another.

[no_reload]

Injuries are just part of the fight. You likely have your hands full with the injured, and I am capable of making do.

[He would likely find a tree to hide in, hunker down and wait it out since he didn't have his life draining powers to heal himself. It was back to the old fashioned way, since what he was now clearly didn't have advanced healing abilities.

He watched her work, keeping as much of his blood to himself. He wasn't so certain he was keen for any kind of dunking or bathing in the stuff.]

Just... drinking will do, won't it? You should save your medical supplies.

[nanoscope]

[Ana does pause briefly at his words, but continues to prepare the potion.]

Normally I would agree with you. But fortunately for us, this forest has provided me with plenty of ingredients to help me replenish my supplies. I can make do sparing some for you. Though, I appreciate the concern you have for my stock.

[It's... a little unexpected to hear Gabriel be concerned for her stock, but she's not going to deny it. Instead, she finishes her preparations and holds up two bottles.]

And besides. This is the best way I have to ensure your wounds heal on the surface as well as inside.

[no_reload]

[It wasn't that much of concern so much as finding excuses to have her shuffle off to deal with someone else. Reyes had been fairly independent with his own wound treatment, suturing himself and escaping the medical bay like it was prison.]

Your time is worth something, and I dislike the idea of owing anyone anything. [And this would mean that he at least owed her a small favour.

He leaned forward on her shoulder, still careful with his talons as he examined the potions that she had mustered up.]

Dr. Amari to the rescue. [His beak nipped at the lip of the bottle, expecting he would be much more useful for what he had planned if he wasn't bleeding all over the place.]

[nanoscope]

Promise you'll make an effort to not get yourself in such a state again and we'll call it even.

[She knows injury is inevitable, but she would feel better if he at least attempted to not just throw himself in the middle of the fray.]

[She holds up one of the bottles for him to drink.]

Then as the doctors say, take your medicine.

[no_reload]

Not a promise that I can make. Combat is a duty that I excel at, and it will always have inherent risks.

[It wasn't a promise he would make. He was learning to pull it back, keep himself from being absolutely decimated. So in that way, he was more careful, considering he couldn't guarantee that leaving his old survivability was such a good thing.

He leaned forward, parting his beak and allowing her to half pour and half chug the potion that she had made up. It was only because it was Ana that he did so with less of a fight. If she wanted to poison him, she'd had plenty of previous opportunities.]

Tastes better than your cooking.