realmofstories | 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

[Any mirror that's smashed does not reveal the clone, though there's been some near misses that's left it a little too uncomfortable. So when it manages to position itself behind Roxas, an axe will appear, along with it's owner as he swings it at Roxas. Off with his head as the queen would say.]

[Roxas's eyes widen as he hears that swing, and he isn't able to dodge out of the way in time. But he still has a trick up his sleeve.]

[Just like when Hyde had attacked him at Kotori's house, when "Hyde" strikes, Roxas wills his magic to go through him, transforming him to sea foam. So when "Hyde"'s axe connects, he's met not with the feel of a blade cutting through meat and bone, but the swish of water as Roxas turns to sea foam.]

What the-! [What a weird sense of defa vu, if this clone actually knew. He's now out in the open, looking at the sea foam on the ground. Expecting it to reform into his opponent, he keeps his distance, weapons raised as he watches and listens all around him.]

[The sea foam doesn't immediately reform, but it does shift and move; not incredibly fast, but it does begin to circle around the clone, and after a few seconds does begin to reform into Roxas's form. While still reforming, he grabs at one of his swords and makes a swing at the clone.]

[He may have been going too slow for the clone to notice, or believed his opponent wouldn't actually come from there. So when Roxas comes out to strike him, he isn't prepared for it.]

Gah! [He manages to strike his legs, knocking the copy flat on his back.]

[As the copy falls, the rest of the sea foam reforms into Roxas, who holds up his two swords menacingly. He doesn't want to give the clone a chance to strike back; he rushes forward with a yell, aiming to slice the clone clean through the middle.]

[By the time the clone could get his axe ready to strike back, it was already too late. Roxas will successfully take down the clone, but as it sinks into a puddle of ink, it was laughing. What was so funny, becomes clear in a moment. It had lure Roxas further away from where they had started the fight.

Who knows which mirror had Hyde now, especially when his voice cannot be heard. Though Roxas might be able to pick up a faint pounding sound, like someone banging on a muffled drum somewhere.]

[Roxas pants as the clone vanishes, but after he regains his breath he straightens up, looking for Hyde. It's almost impossible to find him, but eventually, he hears on the faint banging.]

[It'll take some effort, but eventually he'll find the mirror Hyde is trapped in.]

Hang on!

[And it'll be with a wide swing of his own that he smashes his sword into the mirror!]

[He blinks in surprise before Roxas smashes him to freedom. He reappears with a thud as he falls onto the ground.] Grrr, I'll kill that guy!

[He's back on his feet and waste no time smashing the nearest mirror in fury.] Where is it?! [There goes another mirror.]

Ah!

[Roxas throws his arms up as the first mirror smashes, before he yells at Hyde.]

It's gone! I took care of it!

Hn?! [He quickly turns his attention to Roxas. If looks could kill right now, Roxas wouldn't be alive. After glaring at him a little longer, he finally relaxes.]

Wish I could have been the one, but thanks all the same. [He's still giving Roxas a peculiar look. As if he was puzzled over something.]

Don't mention it. You beat my clone, so consider it payback.

[He swishes his swords in the air to get the ink off of them, but pauses as he notices Hyde looking at him.]

...what?

...Heh, nothing. Just thinking about kicking your ass later. [A light shrug, before turning away from him. Was that really what he was thinking...?]

Let's not hang around here.

[Roxas gives Hyde a quizzical look, but seeing as how the other man is turning away, all he can do is let out a breath and follow after him.]

Yeah. Let's get out of here.

Chapter 05: Act II

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