realmofstories | Chapter 07: Act I

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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

[Naoki had gone and done some scouting of his own, and had been in the area hinting some Erasers when Rokurou had appeared. So now they were kind of, sort of, teaming up for the time being. Or at least hunting Erasers in the same spot.]

[When Rokurou pauses to pick up the toys, Naoki glances back, gold eyes flicking from the huntsman to the broken doll in his hand. He frowns.]

It's just trash. Leave it behind, we have things to hunt.

[Rokurou just laughs at the kid, not really minding and understanding his impatience.]

Don't worry, there's still plenty around. You're not even a little curious why there's so many around here?

No.

[Said pretty bluntly and to the point. Naoki turns to Rokurou, adjusting his grip on his scythe as he looks on in disinterest.]

Should I care? It's just junk.

Normally I'd think the same, but remember we're in a story...and wasn't one of the characters some kind of toy repair dude?

[Guess who only read the cliff notes before coming in—]

Never know, there could be some giant toy monster lurking around.

And that matters how?

[A giant toy monster... given the kinds of enemies they have here in this world, Naoki wouldn't put it past this strange world. So he huffs, turning back around to face the way they were headed.]

If you want to pick up garbage, be my guest. I'm not going to waste time.

[Seems like someone still doesn't understand how involved repairing these stories can be, sometimes.]

[He just chuckles.]

Aw, c'mon, you know this might be part of what we need to do, right? But I get it.

[He tosses the toy in his hand thoughtfully before tucking it in one of his pockets.]

Let's keep going. As curious as I am, not much I can really do right now, anyway, so might as well keep looking for any other threats.

I thought we were here to fight off the Story Eater. Fighting those ink creatures I get, but why would that include picking up broken toys?

[A line like that makes it clear this is his first draft he's repaired.]

[Yeeeep.]

You really are new to this, huh? The Story Eater only comes around when it feels like it—or maybe whatever we do draws its attention. [An idle shrug.] But although we're here to fight it off, we're also here to help repair these broken stories. By repairing them, we strengthen the Storyteller's magic and weaken the Story Eater...or something like that.

Pretty sure it pisses off the Story Eater, anyway. [A light laugh.]

And to repair these stories, not only do we act out scenes to fill the story, but we also help try to patch things up around like. For instance...notice how everything is all dull, gray, and lifeless it is out here? The more work we do, the more it will change to something more normal. And finding these toys and bringing them back to town—[He taps the toy in his pocket.]—could be part of it.

After going through a lot of different stories, you come to realize that a lot of odd things usually mean something.

[Naoki listens carefully, if only because this is a lot of good information to have. He frowns, crossing his arms, but doesn't cut off Rokurou as he talks. He taps]

So... we repair these stories to piss off the Story Eater. And when he comes to deal with us personally, that's when we deal with him.

[There's the whole part about repairing the stories and reviving them to strengthen the Storyteller, sure, but this is the part that Naoki is more interested in.]

[Not surprised that's what Naoki focuses on so he just grins.]

That's been the pattern. Wish we could go out to him, but no one knows where he hangs around.

No one's tried to track down his hiding place?

[That makes him curious. Has no one tried to hunt the Story Eater down?]

Bet this whole thing could be fixed if we took the fight to him.

Bit hard to do with the whole "big black abyss" and no real way to travel out there. And as much as I hate to admit it, we're at a disadvantage.

[That was a problem, wasn’t it? It did put them at a disadvantage. Naoki frowns.]

...so we should either find a way to travel that abyss ourselves, or find a way to force the Story Eater to stay here so we can destroy him ourselves.

[If they can’t go to the Story Eater, maybe they can lure him out and grab him by the collar while he’s here?]

Trapping him might not be a bad idea. [Seriously considering it. The thing comes in and is then repelled back each time...but hard to say if it's even weakened. If anything, Rokurou wonders if it's gotten stronger...]

The problem is actually fighting the big guy. I've crossed my swords with it directly several times, and each time no matter how hard we hit it doesn't seem to make much of a dent. Either we need more power from somewhere or there's something else that needs to be done to weaken it.

[Ugh, which is annoying. He'd rather be able to cut through it with his swords and not have to deal with complicated matters.]

Everything has a weakness. Or can be brought down with enough force.

[He's fought literal deities and came out the victor, after all. But Naoki's brow furrows further as his frown deepens. Catching the Story Eater and trapping him could probably be easy, but it wouldn't matter if they can't deal any damage to him.]

...how long have you been here? Gathering strength?

[Rokurou opens his mouth to answer, but then he stops and crosses his arms over his chest as he thinks.]

...That's a good question... Time passes strangely in this place. I can't even base it off holidays since those seem to happen a lot and I sometimes go back home to check on things. So... Hmmm...two, three years, maybe?

[Two or three years, and he still wasn't strong enough to face off against the Story Eater? Naoki huffs, crossing his arms.]

That's too slow.

[Too slow to expect everyone to come here and gather strength over time, especially if the Story Eater is also gaining strength. At least, too slow by Naoki's standards. That meant weakening the Story Eater other ways, and while he knows that repairing these story drafts helps, he'd like something that felt more like he was doing something worthwhile.]

...maybe he has a power source somewhere. What if we cut him off from it?

[Hmmmm.]

It's possible. I don't think there's really much known about what the Story Eater is other than it destroys books and probably absorbs the power from them. It's one of the reasons why we're restoring them—you know, other than it just being a good thing to do. [A small laugh.]

But how could we cut him off if we don't know the source?

[Naoki gives Rokurou a look.]

What's a good thing to do is subjective.

[Sometimes saving stories is a good thing to do, sometimes destroying a world is a good thing to do.]

Dunno. But I think looking into that would be more beneficial than just doing menial tasks.

Nah, I think both are just as important. We get stronger while we cut off the source at the same time.

[He would argue the notion of picking up broken toys not really feeling like getting stronger, but Rokurou does have a point. He nods once.]

...fine. Guess you have a point there.

[He just prefers punching things!]

Edited (typo oops) 2021-05-14 16:37 (UTC)

[He just chuckles a bit.]

Hey, I understand. I'm always in for a good fight, and there are a lot of strong foes here.

So let's keep looking, might hit one of those Erasers or whatever else this story has. And I'll save the toy fixing for later.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Chapter 07: Act I

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