realmofstories | Chapter 07: Act I

SUGAR PLUM BEAST: ACT I—

§ instructions.

The Sugar Plum Beast 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.

Quick reminder that everyone is dressed to fit the rustic village style! Costumes for each role is linked in the scene they first appear but carry over into other scenes. And for those who are cast as Beast roles, will undergo full transformation, though the degree of transformation is up to the players. They can go into full hulking beast or be something more benign and cute with just ears and a tail or something. The Beast form also can be whatever you want, there is no set "design." In terms of affected personality, in general those in the role will be a little angrier and grumpy than usual, but it's not a complete personality switch. So it's possible to have the character mostly unaffected but snap or get annoyed more easily than usual or over the most random things they normally wouldn't. However there are cases when they may fly off the handle and while we leave it up to the players on if and when that can happen during a scene, anything more extreme that is specifically required will be noted for that scene.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped into their location and will have to go through designated flowered arches 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. Toy Repair. Scattered around the roads and around the boundaries of the town are damaged sometimes broken toys. They vary in size and shape, but for some reason their expressions are one of fear and pain. Take the toys back to Drosselmeyer's workshop and try to repair them. Even a fresh coat of paint will make the toys seem happier and relieved. Who knows maybe this good act will be returned later…

¶ II. Toysitters. Some of the toys brought into the workshop are on the young, baby side, and boy are they needy. Constantly crying "Mama! Papa! Poopy!" one would easily think they're just malfunctioning. Though that's strange, does this kind of setting have the technology for these toys to have voice recordings...? Regardless, better pair up with someone and try to soothe these baby dolls before the locals come in wondering what kind of witchcraft is going on in there.

¶ III. Garden Birthday Party. There is a birthday party being thrown and everyone is invited to either help decorate or just chill and enjoy the food. However, the garden it's held in needs some pruning. You know those plastic joke flowers that squirt water at people? They're blooming all over the place and are dousing anyone who gets near them. Either weed them out or figure out a way to lessen their water output! And of course there are Eraser and hostile toy blot problems that need to be taken care of. The further out towards the boundaries of the town, the more dangerous it is.

¶ IV. Easter Egg Hunt. Similar to a scavenger hunt, toy eggs have been scattered all over town and all the children are having fun trying to find as many eggs as they can. Perhaps the Aspects want to join in either hiding or finding eggs. However, some of these eggs are actually not toys but rotten, or if they are toys, terrible pranks like a pie to the face or a small firecracker exploding happen once opened. Some of the children are upset, even hurt, so it's imperative to find the culprit! Witnesses say they saw a strange, yellow polka dotted Velveteen rabbit hopping around the areas where the prank eggs are found.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"One mallet coming up!"

Only he has quite a bit of wool in his hold, he might not be able to grab it... sike. This was why having a tail is awesome because he grabs it with that once he's gathered his wool and begins walking back. He sets the tool down next to Roxas while heading over to get his material spun.

That's pretty handy! Roxas blinks, but then smiles when he sees Zidane grab the mallet with his tail, nodding when he drops it off.

"Thanks." He picks up the mallet and looks over the toy soldier. "Man, this is a lot harder than it looks..."

"You're welcome."

Meanwhile, to the tedious grind of getting all this going. They needed more cloth in general, but eh, looks like their resources were limited.

"Right? Cinna makes dolls like no one's business, but I can't focus on small details for long."

"Cinna?" Roxas asks, looking up from his task of gently using the mallet to hammer the arm into the socket. "Is that someone from your world?"

"Yeah. He's one of my brothers." It's a good thing he has Aladdin's essence or he'd have more issues getting things spinning, but it's progressing... slowly. "He likes building things by hand during our downtime, but I think that's also because he loses at cards too much."

"Oh, cool." It sounds like a neat hobby that his brother does. Kind of reminds him of Pence when he tinkers with technology or fiddles with his camera.

"How many brothers do you have?"

"Three. There's Cinna, but then there's Blank and Marcus, too. I was raised with them, but everyone in Tantalus is family really."

Shoot, what color would be best for this wool and how long would it take?

"Tantalus?"

Roxas tilts his head. He's never heard that word before. Was that the name of his world, or..?

"Tantalus is the name of our theater troupe."

So nope, not the name of his world... hahahaha. Zidane slows down in his work and tilts his head. "I wonder what they're up to right now."

"Theatre troupe? So you're an actor?"

That would make sense then, coming here and performing in Acts.

"I bet doing scenes is easy for you, then, huh?"

"Yup! I am!"

He grins brightly, working to spin the rest of the wool.

"Oh yeah. I might not know the stories, but you gotta know some improv to be a good actor."

"Heh, that's pretty handy. I've learned it's pretty hard to act sometimes."

He's been in his fair share of scenes, and he does have to admit it's a little difficult to stay in character at times!

"But it's been fun. And I've had a lot of good memories so far. So, hopefully you'll have a good time too."

"It can be. Forget lines, flub them, even slip up during fight scenes... Gotta save that all in rehearsal and do your best when you're in front of the audience."

That's all the wool threaded, but now to the dye pot.

"I am! The last story was something though..."

"Heheh, yeah. That does make sense... I guess it would be nice if this place gave us time to rehearse then, huh?"

Maybe that would give them all time to actually plan stuff out rather than improvise if they get stuck?

Zidane's words do cause Roxas to grimace a little, though.

"Ah, yeah. That last story... normally it's not that bad."

"If you want, people can use my house. It's gotta pretty big stage area."

Or they could use it like a stage, he doesn't really care.

Zidane hums.

"I know some stories don't have good or happy endings, but that... I'm gonna put it on the Story Eater that it ended up so bad."

"It does?"

It might be a bit difficult to plan for a story they don't know about, but for general practice it could honestly work...

"Yeah. Normally the stories don't affect us that strongly, especially those outside of main scenes."

"Yeaaah. I guess people use it to watch the pond, but it's still... there."

Because he doesn't do that. It's a napping spot though.

"So even the side stuff in the stories wasn't supposed to be like that... great."

"Huh... It sounds pretty interesting, though."

It's an interesting addition to a house, though!

"No, not really. There's the damage caused by the Erasers that we need to fix, but it's never done that before. It's never caused us all to lose ourselves like that."

"I'll show it to you once we finish here!"

But they had toys to finish sprucing up.

"Huh... Wonder why the sudden power creep."

"Power creep?"

Roxas blinks, tilting his head.

"Yeah. You said it's never done that before so how'd the Story Eater get a sudden boost in strength like that?"

If he was the one manipulating the stories like that.

"Oh... You know, I never thought of it like that."

And now that it's pointed out, it's a little troubling...

"Yeah, there's something up. And we never did figure out who or what was behind those airships."

Zidane might be a little dumb when it came to things, but he was observant.

"You're right. Something definitely sounds fishy."

Roxas frowns, humming in consideration.

"We'll have to be extra viligant, then."

"Right. Maybe these little guys could help us out here."

Sitting back down at his toy, he'll work with some fabric he grabbed by the dye pot.

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