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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Gotcha.

His sword will parry hers, but in that moment he disappears and will reappear behind her. Of course he still can't see her and it's not like he can always keep track of her, but he now at least roughly knows where she is until she moves away again.

Anyway, swing slash goes his blades.]

[Too close! ...but where did he go? It's not until she feels his blades slice into her back that she finds just where he is. Serah stumbles forward, reappearing from her invisibility for the moment. Now that she knows she can do it though... maybe she can use it later?

Serah spins, sword in hand, to face him again. She looks pretty beaten up, but her eyes flash, and what looks like a symbol flashes there. There's death around her, she can sense it. Can she use them, she wonders? For now, she's got to try to keep his attention to keep the rest of them safe.]

Why are you doing this?

[He doesn't advance, but his blades are still poised as if ready to lunge forward at any second. That earlier sense of disappointment has disappeared as the excitement of a challenging battle returns. In fact he's starting to admire and respect her determination and persistence, a reflection of her own kind of strength. So he doesn't mind this little interruption and indulges her with an answer.]

I told you already—I'm a daemon and I like fighting. That's all there is to it.

Edited 2021-01-21 10:46 (UTC)

You didn't want to fight me before! You weren't trying to kill me! [Or anyone else, for that matter.] That's why something is wrong. Please, you have to snap out of it!

[Her mogsword is in front of her, ready to deflect strikes. She knows he's strong and fast like this now, so she's ready to fight against him again.]

[There's just a slight arch of his brow. That again? What does any of that matter... That carefree grin lowers to a hard line as he shifts into a more definitive stance.]

It just means I've been slacking and lost focus.

[Though even that sounds...strange to his ears. Focus on what? His need to get stronger?

For a moment it might seem like he's considering her words more, but then there's that weird feeling of need to fight, an itch to get rid of the woman standing in his way and wasting his time to find someone else. Normally he would just call it and leave, but the bloodlust that had slightly cooled (ironically from the excitement of the fight) flares up again.

Rather than just fight now he wants to just kill, and he hasn't fully realized that that has been his true motivation.]

Guess I should have finished you off earlier.

[That's her only "warning" before he darts forward, his killing intent stronger than before.]

I won't go down so easily this time.

[Just because she can't fly doesn't mean she can't fight.]

If I fight, will you go back to normal?

[She won't get an answer to that as he's darting forward. Mog turns into a bow for her to fire off arrows as a distraction, before Mog shifts forms again and she goes to meet him with a sword in hand.]

[He swipes away the arrows before his sword swings out to strike against hers. Compared to before, there's more brute strength behind it and he immediately follows up with his second blade.

Again his daemon eye pulses red and that ominous, heavy pressure seems to grow around him.]

[He's stronger this time, but she won't die or fall here again. His second blade she sees and dodges out of the way so it doesn't swipe her. This close distance though is good for a magical attack to the face, this time she's using a Thunder spell. Hopefully that's enough to catch him off guard before she pushes against his blade with her own, hoping to knock him down.]

[He actually is surprised since he's not used to magic being cast so quickly and at close range. That and combined with the push back does indeed knock him down, momentarily stunning him.]

[She doesn't want to hurt him, but right now there's really no choice, is there? She levels her blade at him, and goes to kick his blades away from him if she can.]

Have you calmed down now? Or do I have to go further?

[Sitting on his back, he stares up at the blade from the tip to the wielder standing above him. The strange bloodlust haze seems to momentarily clear as a look of respect is reflected in his eyes instead and he looks a little more like his usual self. He really never would have expected the weird, perky girl from before would be capable of something like this...

He's intrigued...and maybe something else, though he doesn't really notice or realize it yet.

But just as he's reaching up to grab the blade of the sword intending to pull it away and taunt her, he feels a sharp pain in his head. At that particular moment, he had forgotten that intense desire to kill her blindly and instead just wanted to continue the fight. But now that strange impulse is back and this time he's more aware of it—and aware of how strange it feels.

So there's a slight hiss and cringe before his hand immediately retracts away from the sword, the tip cutting his palm as he reaches to touch his head instead.

What is...this weird oppressive feeling?]

[The actions are making her on edge, so while she doesn't press the blade far, it still inches closer, as her stance takes on a more defensive posture.]

I don't want to have to hurt you if I don't have to. [Not like he's done to her already.] Please don't make me make that choice. Are you done doing... whatever it is this was?

[He takes a deep breath as that weird feeling comes and goes in waves. What makes it difficult is because Rokurou is a daemon, he already has a naturally violent side. Fighting, killing, that's pretty normal for him so that alone isn't strange. The difference is he's usually in control and maintains reason, and right now that is what's being stripped away, with his malevolence feeding into it.

So for a moment he just stares at her and his eyes narrow as if he's about to revert and succumb to the bloodlust again. But at the last moment he grits his teeth and grabs her sword to pull it towards himself and drive it deep into his shoulder. A pained yell escapes him, but with it is the flash of clarity he needed.]

Haa... Hold on... Think I'm... Getting there...

Wh— hey! What are you doing?!

[All of a sudden he's stabbing himself?! What the heck, Rokurou?! Serah is clearly panicking, but pulling a sword from someone like that or letting it go is also a bad idea. So for now, she'll wait for him to pull it from himself, but...]

Are you crazy?!

[Hurry up so she can heal you, you dummy!!!]

[Just a wry laugh.]

Probably.

[More like definitely depending on who's asking. But he just winces and grits his teeth as he feels the throbbing pain, not even caring about the amount of blood that's spilling from both his had and the wound at his shoulder. It's only when he no longer feels his malevolence churning up like a storm does he finally pull out the sword and relax his grip. In reality it only takes a few seconds, but it probably seems long.]

Sorry about that... Was the best way to keep my head straight.

[That dark, ominous feeling is gone, and despite the wounds Rokurou seems to be taking it fairly well. Perks of being a daemon.]

[Once he pulls the sword from himself, Serah tosses it to the side, where Mog poofs back to his normal moogle form to fuss over Serah and make threatening gestures at Rokurou— after all, he hurt Serah and that's unforgivable!

The sudden movement makes her a little woozy, so while she was going to kneel and help him anyway, she's doing so from adrenaline and the fact that, you know, one of her wings is gone. They're not always visible, but she can feel it. She uses his good shoulder to steady herself once she falters to her knees, but she presses her other hand to his wounded shoulder and begins to heal him.]

It was a stupid way to do that. Wasn't there another way you could have done that?

[He's a little surprised when she's suddenly dropping down to her knees and needs to somewhat lean against him to support herself before she starts using healing magic. It's been a while since he's been treated with it, but the sensation is the same.]

Probably, but it was the only thing i could think of at the time. [When he could still properly still think.

But despite his answer he sounds a little a distracted, and that would be because he's noticing her own pale and worn complexion. Immediately remembering what he did before, his eyes flick to past her shoulders and... Her wings aren't visible, but he can still imagine the one missing. So with a slight narrowed gaze he tries to move back, his good hand reaching for her wrist to try and stop her.]

And, I appreciate the thought, but you're in worse condition than me.

Edited 2021-01-22 15:23 (UTC)

[Despite feeling like death warmed up (pretty literally,) she has enough fight left in her to break her wrist out of his grip and go back to healing him. Don't fight it, Rokurou, let her do her thing here.]

I'll be fine, I've had worse.

[Nothing worse than dead, but he doesn't need to know that.]

You need the help more than I do, I can help myself after I've healed you. If you argue, you'll just find you'll be butting heads with me until I get my way.

[Fighting with Meanie Miss Farron is a bad idea. :)]

[Normally he's rather complacent and would just let it be, especially seeing how determined she is. But not this time.]

I sliced off your damn wing, Serah! Don't try to pass it off as nothing, you passed out from the pain.

[He doesn't know how her wings work, but it was clearly attached to her body like another limb. And she kept moving after she regained consciousness... Even if she had done some healing before, with the toll its taken her whatever energy she has left shouldn't be wasted on him.

...Definitely not him.]

Look, you're barely staying up as it is. If you want to treat me fine, just don't use anymore of your powers.

I'll be fine. [Yes, clearly fine since she's using him to prop herself up.] If I didn't think I could do this, I wouldn't be trying.

[Because guess what she's still doing? Yep. What now, Rokurou, she's stubborn and she'll keep doing so until she's satisfied.]

And unless you have something for me to bandage that up with, then this is the way you won't bleed out, so either get me some bandages to work with or shut up and let me heal you.

[It IS almost healed to her liking anyway, but she'll just heal it completely out of spite too if she has to.]

[What happened to that sweet, angel like personality?? No seriously, he would never have guessed she had this kind of side to her. Granted he barely knows her to begin with, but this is definitely against his initial first impressions.

But after recovering from the initial surprise, his mind races for ideas because dammit she does have a point. At the same time, he's not wholly convinced she can handle this given how much she has to lean against him. He even has his hands on her side and shoulder now to help support her. So he can't just let this go without protest.]

You could just use my shirt, it would be good enough until we get somewhere else.

[Hell he'd take it off right now if he didn't think she might collapse.

He can even feel his wound healing so he's going to be just as stubborn and once again try to push her back. Not too roughly since he's still trying to support her, but enough to try and break her concentration.]

Serah, it's enough! Stop already!

[Don't worry, he's not the first to wonder that. :)

When he pushes her back to try to break her concentration, that just gets her more stubborn and she pushes back against him to finish her healing because how dare he try to get her to stop??]

No, it's not enough!

[That may just be spite fueling the need to at least heal him a little more...

...a little more...

...

...you know, a papercut is fine. That's not bleeding out from a sword wound so she'll take it. Satisfied, and not running off of pure spite to heal him up, Serah slumps against him with a groan. No regrets, but she really wishes there was a way to heal herself at the same time.]

Hey—!

[This girl...! He must still be feeling the effects of that whole personality switch thing. How else would that explain the intense frustration he's feeling right now? And when she does slump against him he can only hold her while shouting in aggravation.]

This is why I told you to stop, dammit!

[It's weird to feel this agitated over someone. That's not to say he never has, but it's been a while since he ever had to.

Of course he can't just sit around like this. Concerned over her own injuries, he readjust his hold on her so that he can stand up while carrying her in his arms while being careful to not touch the injured wing.]

I'm fine. [Clearly.] I just need to rest a little and I'll be able to heal myself. Why are you so... so...

[Worried. Angry. Like this?]

You don't need to worry over me, okay?

[When he lifts her, there's a grimace of pain, but why is he coddling her!!! (That's why, just shut up and let him, gosh Serah.)]

[Just giving her a look.]

Oh, like I told you to not worry about me?

[He won't deny that he is concerned, though. He may be a daemon, but he's not heartless. But some of his earlier aggravation dims a bit as he sees her in pain. He knows he shouldn't be jostling her around like this, but he can't just stay here, either. Who knows if more abominations will show up, and there's nothing here he can use to treat her with. The apartments are also too far, so he'll just have to try and find somewhere else he can take and tend to her.]

Just be quiet and save your strength.

[And he's already walking.]

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