realmofstories | Chapter 06: Act III

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Chapter 06: Act III

Frankenhyde: ACT III—

With such an unpleasant ending to the last act, the mood in Londeva has changed further. The weariness and silence felt in the evenings continues and the bright splashes of color from before have taken on a more garish contrast, no longer seeming quite as cheery as they had before. Still, life and the story must go on, so the quill is once again put to paper in order to deliver the events of the scenes to the Aspects once more.

Some time after we last saw Hyde and the illustrious Dr. Jekyll, Hyde approaches the doctor to demand some sort of recompense for being the doctor's experiment; after all, Hyde pointed out, they can't get good data on an "unhinged man" if Hyde's limited in what he can actually do. Though Hyde threatens him, Jekyll is able to keep calm and compromise with his test subject on the matter of pay. He once again warns Hyde to avoid drawing too much attention to himself. Hyde assures him that he knows what he's doing.

A few days later, Mister Utterson is called to Jekyll's house to discuss some personal matters. The old friends take a few moments to clear the air between them, to allow Utterson a moment to vent to his old friend, before the settle down to the business Jekyll called his solicitor for in the first place: adjusting his will to leave everything to one Mister Hyde. Utterson is appalled at the very idea, but Jekyll eventually confesses that he and Victor Frankenstein were working on creating life and that Hyde is a vital part of these experiments. It only makes sense to leave all of his money and property to a known criminal who would probably kill you as soon as look at you.

Perfect sense.

That night, as the young Danvers is out walking, Hyde decides it would be a wonderful idea to kill an innocent man in cold blood. A few hours later, Stixen finds Hyde in an alleyway covered in Danvers's blood. Tired of trying to play nice with the "normal" humans, Hyde points out that the two of them will never be accepted for what they are, so he and Stixen should just kill them all. Stixen admits it's a solution, but is not entirely convinced. The two part ways.

As Hyde returns home to Jekyll, Jekyll has had enough. He realizes what happened last night when he sees Hyde covered in blood, and that is a line too far. Jekyll demands Hyde stop. Hyde decides that he doesn't want to stop, but instead take over Jekyll's life. The two fight, and Jekyll is locked in his cellar, leaving Hyde free to do whatever it is he wants.

The next day, Stixen is wandering around and thinking about what Hyde suggested. He runs into the young Agatha de Lacy, who is trying to get her cat down from a tree and is very clearly annoyed. Stixen, still wanting to help people, climbs up the tree in an impressive display of acrobatics and rescues the girl's cat. Agatha is impressed and the two start to form a very tentative friendship before parting ways. Unfortunately for them both, Hyde was watching.

As Stixen was saving kittens from trees, Utterson rushes to Jekyll's house to report Danvers's murder and ask him to come look over the body. He's distraught to find the poor man having a panic attack in his cellar and hurriedly gets him out of there. Jekyll hates what science has become since his younger days, though Utterson does point out that it was always a little unsettling, and things are about to get a lot worse. Upon inspecting the body, Jekyll realizes that this was the man Hyde had killed.

That night, disgusted at what he had seen earlier that day, Hyde tracks down the de Lacy house and sets it on fire. Agatha flees the scene; Hyde gives chase. Eventually, the poor girl is torn limb from limb by the now monstrous Edward Hyde. When the girl's body is discovered, a mob forms outside of Victor's lab, demanding that Stixen face justice. Victor knows that the girl's death was not Stixen's fault, and so the two try to calm the people down to no avail. Eventually, they resort to looking around the lab for something to use to force them to calm down, allowing Victor to escape and get help.

Victor eventually finds Jekyll and begs him for help. Jekyll, of course, agrees, but he first insists that Victor join him at his home and all but forces Victor to follow. As they get closer to Jekyll's home, Victor realizes that it is not Jekyll at all but Hyde and tries to get away. He fails and, realizing that there is no hope for him, is gentle and almost calm about it all. Hyde, in one more act of brutal violence, stabs Victor through the heart.

Unlike before, when everyone awakens they will not feel refreshed and ready to tackle the day. Instead, there's a feeling of lethargy and unpleasantness, as if they experienced a restless night with unpleasant dreams. That feeling of past and possible potential dread will be hard to shake given that the city still seems as dreary as before. Still, life goes on as the citizens of Londeva continue to go about their daily routines. If anything, the city seems livelier than it was before, almost as if people are trying their best to make it a better brighter place in defiance of recent events.

But all is definitely not well in Londeva. With all the residents being busier and livelier, that means the blots and Erasers are more active as well. And as the Act goes on, the city itself seems to become more active with entire blocks disappearing and transforming seemingly at random. Additionally, cracks begin to appear in the city, ground, and sky as well as if the story itself is having trouble holding itself together. Hopefully everything will work out in the end, but it looks like getting there may be a bit of a challenge.

Still, the Storyteller has faith that the Aspects will be able to see things through, even if some of their behavior during this story gives room for pause.

§ instructions.

The third 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.

As stated in the flavor text above, all sorts of craziness is happening this act. There’s some additional information in the game notes, but things to keep in mind and possibly play with are as follows:

there’s a pervasive feeling that something bad is going to happen
cracks will begin to appear in the city and sky as the act progresses
the amount of Erasers and rogue blots in the city will increase as the act progresses
the city’s layout will appear and disappear, and change throughout the act (see the book repair subquest for more information)
Aspects could be susceptible to behavioral changes (see the pick a side subquest for more information)
During scenes where Victor's body is involved, the body will appear as his plant creation from before. Will it be dead, alive, friendly or hostile is up the players.

Costumes are also provided for this Act, although there's something...odd about the choices this time around:

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped into their location and will have to go through specially marked doors and then return. Characters will also be aware of their roles and partner prior to entering the scene, so it's possible for them to meet and coordinate beforehand or meet within the scene for the first time. 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. Pick a side, any side. Early on, everyone will start feeling not quite themselves throughout most of the act. It can range from mild to severe and last for varying lengths of time, but the effects will always be temporary. Characters will either take on a "Hyde" personality or a "Stixen" (Frankenstein's Monster) personality.

"Hyde" side. Will have erratic, immoral, and violent tendencies. Those who have non-human Essences can become more monstrous and transform at will, even capable of hiding their transformed self while still able to use some of those powers.
"Stixen" side. Will be the opposite with a more curious, polite, and generous disposition. Those who have non-human Essences will more often be stuck in their transformation; alternatively they will only transform when enraged and become more violent in this time.

Should any of the two meet each other, they will be immediately hostile with "Hyde" personalities taunting and trying to coax the "Stixens" to be more like them. It is possible for a "Stixen" to switch to a "Hyde." It is also possible for anyone not affected to try and snap the other out of it, or at least convince those who are under "Hyde" influence to focus their violence on other problems instead of each other. A solid hit to the head will work wonders.

¶ II. Creepy Crawlers. There is an abundance of abominations roaming through the city—failed creations that will attack anyone on sight. The robotic reindeer are still around and will try to aid in clearing them out, but some will actually be consumed and mutate instead.

There's another reason to destroy the abominations: any not killed will be captured by an Eraser and loaded into one of the many airships to fly towards a darkened space in the sky. For what reason is unclear, but it's best not to wait and find out. Stopping the Erasers and destroying the airships will be paramount.

¶ III. Emergency Book Repair. The very book itself is starting to tear apart and it worsens after the final battle scene. Buildings starting to crumble, Blots disintegrating, even the very ground ripping open. If this keeps up the story will be destroyed. Fortunately, the Aspects aren't left helpless. Ribbons made of white light and runic symbols appear here and there as if trying to help "stitch" things together. Using their Essences, Aspects can find these "ribbons" and gather them to spread over other places. Use of Essence abilities will also help with patching things up, as if the use of them is reaffirming the story’s existence itself. Buildings will start to be repaired, cracks in the earth sealed over, and possibly blots restored, though some of the construction work may be a little patchy. That building wasn’t always partially made of straw or gingerbread, but it might be now!

¶ IV. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

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What is there to answer...? [He ponders idly at his silly question as he shakes his head. He takes a turn, the path leading him onto the main town area of this story. There a door awaits him, waiting patiently for him to begin the scene.

If Shizuo hasn't arrive or tried to stop him, he'll raise that vial toward his lips, a small smile forming on his lips.]

You...!

[Immediately he follows after him, wondering what the hell—

No. Already he knows what the problem is. That's not Kazuma.]

HYDE!

[But he's a step too late, registering the vial being taken just before he makes it there.]

[Hyde...yes, that's who he is now. A monster who takes pleasure in the suffering of others, and a murderer. The vial is drain of it's contents as he crushes it in his hand.]

Hello, Shizuo. [He cracks his neck, feeling the formula spread through his body, bones cracking, muscles shifting.] I'm not surprised you're too stupid to understand my message. But...I suppose I can't expect much from a fool.

[Yeah screw talking, Hyde's not worth wasting his breath. Instead he just responds with his fist flying towards his face.]

[He tilts his head out of the fist's way as he grins. He then reaches up to grab his arm before Shizuo could pull it back. Claws had already formed as he starts growing.

And he doesn't stop growing.

He gets so tall, that he could lift Shizuo off the ground, his claws practically holding his entire arm. He roars as the transformation keeps tearing into his body, going even beyond what was usual for Hyde. His ears grew longer, teeth so large and sharp that the shape of his face is forced to change to fit them. Even his posture changes, more hunched over like a beast. His screams of pain turn into a mixture of laughter from all the power surging within him, with Shizuo there for the ride.]

[...The fuck???

He's fought against Hyde enough to expect some kind of counter, so the arm grab doesn't surprise him. Nor do the claws, that part isn't new. The rest of it, however?? What did he drink, some magic growing potion from Wonderland!?

All Shizuo can do is reach up with his other arm to grab onto the now monstrous one of Hyde and hang on.]

[He feels Shizuo squirming about, looking down at him for a moment. The monster's lips widen into a toothy grin of glee as he proceeds to smash Shizuo into the ground. He then drags him along it, smashing through pavement and eventually tosses him right into the doorway for their inevitable scene.

He'll join him momentarily, having to stretch the door a bit to even fit through. His transformation still hadn't quite finished as he clumsily lands into the scene. Bones were growing out along his spine, elbows and heels, forming sharp spikes and talons to be used as weapons. He had stop growing at least, now double the usual Hyde size, but he hardly resemble anything human like this.]

[Yeah that's gonna hurt. Not enough to be unbearable, but definitely going to sting a bit.

Tossed through the door, he enters into the scene and finds himself falling into a snow covered ground, which is a small mercy as it's thick enough to cushion his fall as he skids and rolls through it a few feet. Swearing and spitting out blood, a small stain that will surely be joined by more, Shizuo pushes himself off the ground.

But...he feels strange. He's noticed it a few times in the past, but whenever he's around large amounts of ice and snow, his body feels weird. Stiffer, harder to move. Not enough to render him useless, but it was a bit annoying.

However, the moment he sees Hyde enter through the door, he'll feel something else. Something that will burn out that initial debilitating feeling. An all consuming fiery storm of emotions that he's all too familiar with.

Unbridled rage.]

[Ah, what's the sound? The sweet sounds of terror from the townspeople? Hyde manages to straighten himself back up, the transformation now completed and just healing some of the more violent alterations on his body.

It seems they only just landed outside of town, where a few villagers were caught unawares by two monsters suddenly appearing and frantically trying to flee in the thickening snow. Hyde glances in the direction where he had tossed Shizuo, and then at the fleeing, helpless villagers. A toothy grin forms, maybe he have a little pre-show practice before the real performance. It wouldn't be difficult for him to catch up, having a much wider stride in his walk. His steps would cause the ground beneath him to shake a little.]

Come here... [His voice was even more of a growl, deeper and demonic. He swipes the poor helpless villager into his massive claws, stepping onto another that couldn't get away fast enough. He chuckles darkly, continuing to gather the remaining stragglers, or squash them. Whatever he felt like doing to them.]

[What is he...

That fucking bastard—!

The dark clouds above seem to change, flashes of light rippling through as a bolt suddenly crashes into the ground not far from him. At this point there is very little thought to Shizuo's actions—all he does is react to what he sees.

There's a loud sound of something ripping as a tree nearby is suddenly uprooted and is sent hurtling into the air as if it were a mere spear, its aim right at Hyde's giant head.]

[His ears picks up the uprooting of tree, but is he concern? Not really. As the tree spear approaches, he lifts up his hand and quite literally punches it off course.]

I haven't forgotten about you, hehe. [Holding onto a handful of villagers, he turns to face his friend, rival, frenemy.] I'd be careful if I were you, unless you want to see them perish. [He squeezes the hostages as they scream a reminder that they were there. It's as if he was enticing Shizuo to get as mad as he can be, to unleash that berserker mode of his once more.]

[Were these real people... Shizuo might have been both more cautious and wary. Knowing that they're not, however, makes it easier for him to at least cope—even if he abhors the idea of what he's doing. And if Hyde can do it to these Blots, then it's not a stretch to say he would do it to real people. So even if they're fake, his anger is just as profound. Although as the character he probably should take more care, as it is he's caring a lot less about "props" since in the end he just wants to beat the shit out of that monster.

So either contrary or to Hyde's expectations, there's no hesitation as sparks fly around him, the usual indicator that his rage levels are broiling over as he rips up another tree. Instead of throwing it, however, he slings it behind him like it was a baseball bat and charges at Hyde, ready to smash it against him.

There will clearly be some collateral damage regarding the Blots, but...well. It was going to happen one way or another.]

[Oho, he really doesn't care. Excellent. Unafraid of Shizuo's monstrous strength, he meets the assault head on. He forms a fist with his free hand to punch the tree off course. He could hear bones crack, the strength behind that swing go through his body. But also, the tree was groaning. Feeling the strength between two such strong forces only causes it to start forming cracks. Parts of the tree breaks off.

Hyde wasn't finished though. He crushes the hostages in his claws, instantly ending the lives of those blots and then tosses their remains in Shizuo's direction. Ink and parchment splatter everywhere, Hyde's intention was to blind him with the ink.]

[Although he's not he's not completely blinded, the sight of the substance flying at him does make him jerk his head away, some of it still spattering over his face and sunglasses. The movement affects his grip on the tree, and although it remains, it's enough to cause the tree to snap.

However, that doesn't stop him. Even through the slightly hampered vision, it's as if he doesn't need his full vision, moving through instinct alone. He immediately swings the remaining half of the tree straight forward so that it could slam into Hyde's torso. And as he does, lightning crackles above them and sparks sparks generate around Shizuo's body, amplifying his strength.

Rather than a "punch," it will feel more like the full force of a battering ram.]

Agh! [Hyde actually let out a sound at the immense force behind the hit. He's sent flying into the forest, knocking down more trees as he goes. That actually hurt...now we're getting somewhere. He grunts, getting back up with a grin on his face.

He grabs hold off several trees, tossing them where Shizuo would be coming from. He'll hold onto two to use as weapons once he gets closer.]

[As Hyde suspected, after flinging off his sunglasses and wiping his face, Shizuo runs after him. He doesn't bother dodging—he just punches the trees that fly his way, lightning crackling through some of them as they break and fly off.

And once he reaches Hyde, as if remembering the skill, a giant, thick shovel 2-3 times his own size appears in his hands as he swings it.]

[Shovel will meet trees as he raises them to guard. The trees were sturdy to stop the momentum, but they're definitely strained by the force. But it's fine, with Shizuo's attention on trying to get through with a shovel, he can give Shizuo a good hard kick.]

[The kick catches him and sends him flying back, skidding along the ground. Any normal person would have suffered injuries, but just like his entrance into the scene, there are only minor scratches and bruises and he's quickly to rolls himself back up.]

[Hyde was chasing after Shizuo as he was flying, so by the time Shizuo was rolling himself back up, a claw will come swinging in to meet him.]

[He only has a moment, but it's enough for him to slam his fist into that oncoming claw. It probably won't do much in terms of stopping and he may sent back again due to the force, but it will be an explosive parry accompanied with lightning striking down right on impact.]

[It doesn't stop him, but lightning still hurts. Hyde visibly wince at the electrical hit, but grits his teeth through it and continues through the momentum before falling backwards. His hand smelled of burning, unable to feel anything from it, for now.

But he didn't seem to care.

The more they fought, the more of a thrill he got from the challenge. He gets back up, lifting a nearby tree as he checks his surroundings for Shizuo.]

[The force of the blows does indeed send Shizuo staggering backwards, but he's managed to get up. His own hand... A few of his fingers are likely fractured, knuckles bloodied, so probably could dish out one more good punch out of it. But he can still use his arm and his other one is still capable of wielding the shovel that's reappeared.

With a roaring yell he charges at Hyde, more lightning striking around them as if in reflection of his state of enrage. It's safe to say that Shizuo has hit that berserker state, so his strength and speed is amplified.

It also means he's fighting like a beast—a monster—moving on pure instinct w ith little to no regard to his own well-being. The only thing he wants to do is take down this son of a bitch.]

[This was not the first time he's seen Shizuo like this. It's probably even worse than the last time. But he has a feeling that this time, this time he can fight him.

He charges forward as the lightning strikes around them, striking him. He shrugs them off, fixated on getting to his one target. He lifts the tree, preparing to slam it down onto Shizuo and his giant shovel. Smash him. Smash him!!!! If he's smashing anything is another question.]

[Shovel will meet tree, and if Shizuo was more aware of his weapon, it's quite possible he could have cleaved it in pieces had he angled it right. Instead the tree will hit the flat of the shovel, and Hyde will feel great resistance, the force for the impact reverberating down both "weapons" and their arms. Yet Shizuo digs in his heels and pulls his shovel back to swing again at him with such strength and fervor, it's as if he's wielding an axe instead. Since he's going about it recklessly, the shovel blade may indeed catch into the tree, hacking deep into it before it's pulled out to be smashed again.]

[All Hyde does is block the continuous shovel assault, but his tree isn't going to last forever. He has to get the timing right. As the shovel comes down once again, he reaches out to grab that shovel with both hands, abandoning the tree. It doesn't go very well considering the force behind it. As he's forced downwards, he shifts his body and arms so that it turns into a swinging motion instead, dragging Shizuo along the ground, and then off it.]

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Chapter 06: Act III

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