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

[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.