realmofstories | Chapter 06: Act I

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Chapter 06: Act I

FRANKENHYDE: ACT I—

§ instructions.

Frankenhyde Act I 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.

A few reminders. The city's setting is steampunk themed, so while for the most part it follows ye old Victorian England style, you have a lot of Industrial accents and odd machines about, including small airships. There is a river, so ports and docks are available but although this place may seem large, it's actually a finite space. Sailing down the river will be an endless loop back to the start with fog being the only visible "boundary." Passing through this fog will them back to where they were. There are also numerous research labs and other buildings, but many of them are locked or sealed behind an invisible barrier so no one can enter. The "locals" are all blots, so they are more like living puppets that will have minimum response to anyone who tries to interact with them. Most are neutral, but will attack if provoked. There are also some that are immediately hostile, and are differentiated by the sparks of electricity they generate around their bodies. The "safe zone" for this campaign will be a designated apartment building. Everyone can either bunk together or choose their own room.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are assigned roles will know beforehand and can either communicate with their partner beforehand or just wait until they're in the scene. To get to their scene, characters must enter a specially marked door in the apartment building to be transported into their scene. They will automatically return upon completion (or if something goes horribly horribly wrong). 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. Help the Scientists. A lot of work needs to be done to help the research experiments be a success, some of it a bit more unsavory than the rest.

Gather Ingredients.There are a lot of things that go into creating life, so cue the fetch quest. Items range from organs from wildlife to various plants and herbs to tools such as thread, needles, and large bolts. These items can be found throughout the town and outside of the forest and can be left at either of the buildings that is set for Frankenstein's and Jekyll's laboratories. Do note that no one except those who are cast for the scenes can go inside (there is an impenetrable barrier that will shock anyone who tries to enter).
Bzzzzt. The scientists also need to generate a lot of electricity. Outside each laboratory are various generators used to harness and conduct electricity: lightning rods that can be attached anywhere, strange boxes that need to be powered, and even an odd looking metal ball that can be opened to physically capture lightning. Just be careful to not get shocked!

¶ II. Help the Locals. Like most damaged stories, the local townspeople are not real but Blots taking the form of the original residents. Most are friendly and continue about their lives without paying much attention to the Aspect and providing basic assistance or keeping out of their way. They do not speak but seem to understand if communicated to.

Science Fair. There is a local science fair being held that anyone can participate in! Rewards...aren't that great, but it's the experience that matters. But as expected, things don't go smoothly as various experiments and projects go awry. With the technology as it is, this can be even more dangerous as more than one is dealing with explosive fuel or have way out-of-the-box inventions such as flying motorized bikes or small automaton of some kind.
Dangerous Blots. There are some blots who are badly damaged by Erasers and are more prone to attack. Those that have small electric sparks around them will have jerky movements and must be subdued or destroyed. There are also real Erasers lurking about, taking the form of unidentifiable homunculus and small chimera.

¶ III. Trick-or-Treat! It seems everyone came in time for Halloween. Although not quite as festive as current day, the children still participate in some lighthearted trick-or-treating. The Aspects are free to participate either in wearing costumes, doling out candy, or playing tricks, but they will want to keep an eye out. Some of these costumes appear too good, and some unfortunate accidents and incidents will reveal odd mutant experiments have escaped and mingled with the crowds. Most are not hostile and just cause accidents and disturbances, so they can be gathered and returned to the various research labs. Others may prove a bit more "bite-y" so more force may be necessary to subdue them.

¶ IV. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

A lot doesn't matter now.

[John "Jack" Morrison the martyr, because that was what they needed him to be in the end of it to justify every action taken after. To speed along the Petras' Act and shut down Overwatch completely. Divide everything created there amongst the highest bidders because it meant nothing.

Reason he didn't think twice about his break-ins to take back some items developed by Overwatch. Never killed, used only what force was necessary to get in and out when it came to those.

Everything and everyone else that got in his way was given much less mercy. Was as if he was trying to get that target on his back.]

You got a reason to be here?

[Second one plated, on top of the other, pouring down a third. Both of those done nice and fluffy thick, steaming with heat still.]

[Reaper had no qualms taking any items out of what Overwatch and Blackwatch had developed. It was fair game if it meant that he could push an agenda that would serve his goals.

It was simply far easier to be effective when not striving to go at it alone. Despite being with the 'enemy', it allowed him plenty of his own freedoms and resources to play out his long game. He couldn't exactly be accused of being a rabid dog like 76 sometimes.

And it wasn't like he planned on saving 76 if the man messed too hard or went too far with certain people. There was already a kill order, but he had other priorities that allowed him to ignore it for now.]

Do I need a reason to be in a communal area?

[Paid off being a rabid dog, was following a trail and he had some help in keeping to it. Not just Ana, even if it meant he couldn't tell her where or how he'd gotten some of the information about Reaper's movements and whereabouts. Easy to play like he was just biting at whatever he was close to.

Had always been reckless, just this time he didn't have anyone to stop him from going as deep. Not even Ana knew what to do with him other than knock him out on occasion, outside of the quiet moments.

Knew what he was doing, but he knew how to play it.]

You always have a reason for whatever the hell you're doing.

[Third flapjack was moved on to the stack, stove eye turned off as he moved more to the counter where there was a covered bowl beside the one with the mix of berries and sugar in it.]

[That 76 was sniffing after his movements and trying to pin him down didn't bother him in the least. He moved around a lot, but he also had his own set missions which put him in locations here and there for extended periods of time. He also lead assaults and having a reputation like his was one that tended to draw attention.

At least Jack snarling after him meant the man was less likely to go directly for a high-up throat in Talon. 76 seemed to continue to prefer the direct route straight through people after all, and that was not a mess he had any interest in cleaning up.]

And why do you care about my reasons? They're meaningless to you.

[He was still leaned on the door frame and seemed to consider just rooting there for now.]

Make your life easier if they were. [It was more growled than actually spoken, but was more to himself than Reaper as he made sure the whipped cream was still fluffy and just stiff enough, stirring the berries a bit as he began the layer both between the flapjacks as the stack of three grew that way.

Even dolloped some of that whipped cream on top, drizzling the syrup of juice and sugar over it and let a few of the mixed berries plop there as well.]

Take a guess.

My reasons are my own, and I deal with them. [And his life was never going to be easy anymore, not with the way things were heading. He was only in this story mode because it was required in order to settle things enough so that he could actually get back to what mattered to him. Revenge.

He turned his head as he heard a noise from one of the floors upstairs. It was no matter, and the noise was short lived. He had no reason to move.]

Why would I bother? If you want me gone, you're an adult and can say so.

[Even if it might encourage him to stay.]

[An ear flicked a bit at the noise-]

As if you'd listen to me.

[He picked up his stack of flapjacks and moved away from the kitchen counter then, a knife and fork picked up along his way to the little table there in the area. No reason to go out in to the dining area.

Some of the others tended to hang out there some odd hours anyway. Less dropped by in to the kitchen itself.]

[That earned a soft growling chuckle out of him. No lies detected honestly.]

I might consider it if you ask very nicely.

[He watched 76 and decided that the conversation wasn't enough of a waste of his time nor had they resorted to violence yet, so it meant he felt the urge to stick around to poke the bear, so to speak.

He moved further into the kitchen, coming to lean his forearms on the counter so he could keep an eye on 76 stuffing flapjacks into his mouth. Also, he was curious how Jack was going to get that job done when it involved removing that visor for a period of time.]

Despite yourself, you're making little friends.

Or you'd stick around to see how lung before I throw a skillet at you.

[A hand moved back, unfastening the buckle of his mask and slid it off, setting it on the table. Still had that thick yet trimmed beard/mustache under it.

Blue eyes narrowed, because it wasn't done out of trust. No, it was simply done out of necessity and the fact that it wasn't as if what was behind it was unknown to the man there before him.]

Am I.

It would be the first time you've thrown a skillet at me either. Such a temper.

[It seemed that 76 was committed to this whole beard experience, and his eyes just happened to flick around the room to check about rather than stare. It wasn't as if 76 could tell as his own mask was fastened in place.

Keeping tabs on 76 was part of his job these days, since he knew the younger man better than anyone. Recklessness was part and parcel of 76, especially these days.]

Don't deny it. They may be forcing themselves on you, but you're tolerating it.

Would be the first time. Yours is more known than mine ever was, since it's shorter.

[His was at the end of a much longer fuse, and was far more silent. Cold almost at the beginning. Served him well enough with all of the shit he ever had to deal with, even if that fuse ended up helping to strangle him when he reached the end of his rope.

A hand reached out for his coffee mug, taking a slow sip as his own eyes remained on Reaper; oblivious to the man having to make himself look elsewhere.]

Wouldn't call that making friends.

You tend to throw lighter items at me, though the old weight limitations are clearly changing. Your temper is far shorter than mine these days.

[He had seen 76's temper flare faster than his own, but perhaps that was only when Reaper himself was around. There was a lot to unpack between them, a lot of old wounds that never healed right.

He snorted a growling sound.]

For you, tolerance is practically an invitation. People will drag you growling and howling into friendship, and you'll allow it.

[Reaper was the exception to that long fuse, because it cut short to practically nothing with his presence.

There was a low growl in his throat, lips twitching, the sound more warning than anything else.]

Must be assuming crap again, only just tolerating you at the moment.

[No.]

[And wasn't that just Reaper's swan song right there? The warning was basically just a good place to start poking 76, see how well that temper held up these days.

He knew the truth, no matter how much 76 might deny it.]

It can't be just assumptions when I watch you from the shadows. Deny it all you want, but you're forming attachments whether you like it or not. Lonely old goat.

They might be growing vague attachments to me, but it's a one way line.

[He didn't get attached to people, all it had ever caused him in the past was pain. A liability. One he couldn't afford to have, not anymore.]

And you should know as well as I do, at most they're temporary allies to have.

[76 could work with others if he so chose to, tolerate them enough and find the ones he could work well with. That could be reliable amongst a lot of kids.

A hand rested there on the table, claws pressed just against the surface.]

If anything I'd say a certain house is more telling of loneliness, ragged old feather duster.

Is that so? I suppose time will tell if you're living another personal delusion of your own making.

[This place was different from their world after all, and the stakes, the missions, and the people were all rather different. It opened other doors when it came to becoming compromised.]

Temporary, perhaps, but no doubt in time, it will hurt when you have to leave them behind. Or they die.

[He could easily tell that he was pushing 76, that he was one of the few that could earn such a reaction so quickly. He was usually the one to give 76 the bad and most difficult news.]

It's not my fault the house runs around abducting people. It seems to enjoy the company no matter where it comes from. That has nothing to do with me.

If I am, I'm damn well not alone in one with how you keep going.

[A huff, finally cutting in to his stack and taking a bite with an added growl and showing of teeth. Wasn't just going to let the flapjacks go cold just because of the apparent asshole that wanted to twitter along in to an ear.

Then a snort once that bite was down.]

I plan on leaving this all behind, and everyone here, once there's no longer a danger of this shit interfering with the mission.

[Likely the reason Reaper was still here as well.]

It's linked, connected, to you whether you like it or not. Has everything to do with you.

Yes, no doubt all your little friends are under the same delusion.

[He definitely wasn't going to stop 76 from eating, and if anything, it would give the younger man something to do. And maybe something more to chew on than impotent anger for the time being.

They all, no doubt, planned on that. It was a waste to state the obvious, but here they were.]

Even Ana and myself. That's cold, Jack. Even for you.

[Now he was just poking the bear. It was entertaining, but it was also a good way to find out where 76 was sitting mentally and emotionally.]

You like to think so, but it's just a house on legs. It carries around my things because that's its job. That it kidnaps people is its own tick.

[He leveled Reaper with a flat look, not replying a single time for a long moment.

Only thing 76 did was slowly chew another bite of that stack, free hand still rested there on that tables surface. Those odd blue eyes of his focused far more intensely thanks to the inhuman look of them; surpassed that stare some never wanted to be under with the Strike Commander.

This was different, of course. No act of intimidation or attempt at one as he simply looked at the masked ghost of a man that was likely far more solid than he'd be back home. Pupils even narrowed in his focus-]

You've got an interesting delusion you're living in yourself, feather bag.

As always, your silence is just as telling as you angrily eating.

[Just another little barb aimed at 76, since he knew that there would always be exceptions. After all, he could remember the sheer devastation that old Strike Commander Morrison had experienced when Ana 'died', how the man's guilt had ate him to keep up the search.

Old soldiers like them might have been hard to kill, but the reality had been very real back then. Only with little bread crumbs of revelations over the years would make it to the wool was pulled back from their eyes.

He met 76's cold stare without a hint of backing down in his body language. He was still just leaning on the door frame of the kitchen and watching 76 shovel food into that delusional mouth.]

Hello pot, I've got kettle on the phone needing to give you a reality check.

[Wasn't even giving the entertainment, the acknowledgement of an eye-roll.

No. 76 simply reached over and picked up his mug, taking and long and slow sip of what was left of the coffee held within. Eyes never moving-]

I could sit here, eating my flapjacks and drinking my coffee, and you'd keep putting together this little story all inside of your head.

[Setting the mug down, and finally he let his gaze fall from Reaper. Didn't let his guard down, remained very aware of where he was, but there was almost something dismissive about it.]

Some things never change.

And glaring.

[He could tell those blue eyes were throwing daggers his way as he kept his physical distance and watched. It wasn't as if he made a habit of eating while not an owl; it was easier to dissociate that way.

And Jack trying to peck at him back was normal at this point. They were always digging at each other, since their opportunities to do so without having to answer to anyone - read: Talon - made it far easier to have a go at one another.]

That's because you're old and routine is comfortable.

Whatever you say.

[Dryly spoken after a few more bites of his flapjack, working well in to that stack now that he appeared to be ignoring Reaper was there outside of a little dry comment.

Not that he really was, but he had perfected the act of it. Pretending to be a homeless person on the streets at times gave him more than enough practice; how to seem unaware of the world but keeping track of something. Had been a good way to gain a footing again in the world.

Grow more weapon than man, letting it happen for the mission.]

And you're older.

[Reaper knew the tactic and knew the attitude. It wasn't the first time he had been treated in such a way, and it wouldn't be the last either. Very few matters to do with conversation bothered him, even if he might make it seem like it did.

The fact of the matter was that he didn't care. He could act however he wanted to give a certain impression. A lot of his attitude was to put forward a certain reputation.

So honestly 76's decision to ignore him with a sort of sticks-and-stones attitude was more amusing than upsetting. After all, in the end, 76 would have to cross the boundary and leave through the door he was leaning in.]

And?

You done yet?

[Fork set on an empty plate, picking it up as he stood, mug in the other hand so he could give it all a quick wash. Everything else he'd used was already clean, mask hooked to to his belt just at the side.

Door wasn't how he got in to the kitchen.]

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