keeperoftales: (Default)
Forgotten Tales Mods ([personal profile] keeperoftales) wrote in [community profile] realmofstories2018-12-10 07:21 pm

Chapter 01: Act III - The Horseman of Christmas Future

A Hollow Christmas Carol: Act III—





The party goes off with almost nary a hitch. Everyone plays their part, their actions developing the story in strange and interesting ways. Poor families are given gifts and tributes, bringing in some hope and life into the town. The party itself is filled with festive cheer—and a bit of mischief, but it remains under control. And thanks to a few brave souls, the mansion is also protected from attempted attacks from the Erasers, several fended off without anyone noticing inside. Compared to the muted, subdued beginning, everything and everyone is brighter and the entire town feels more alive.

Then, after the final scene comes to an explosive close, once more mist and fog from the forests roll over the entire town, casting a spell over everyone so that they fall asleep right where they are. Again they are left completely unaware as the the environment shifts and shuffles, letters and ink swirling as more constructs are formed. And just like before, the Aspects will have a dream depicting a little more of the story they've helped create.
In a sleigh pulled by a strong, heavy horse, the Horseman of Christmas Present pulls Ebegeeser through the town of Lowry. The Horseman tries to instill into Ebegeeser the lesson of generosity, and as they pass through the streets and come across poor families, the man is slowly moved to pity. He offers money, but it's the clothes off his own back that bring true joy and comfort to the people. Seeing this, Ebegeeser's heart begins to change and he vows to try and find a way to help them further.

After arriving at the party, Ebegeeser lives through the possible "what if" of the day. He shares a dance with Beltrina, awkward though it is. One might think she could be charmed, but Bromfred's love for the woman may be genuine. Despite the harrowing and terrifying tale of the Headless Horseman he shares, he treats Beltrina with care and charm before sharing a dance with her.

Seeing this, Ebegeeser is once again driven to consider his plans, even debating if he should actually kill Bromfred. But the Horseman of Christmas Present intervenes and manages to talk him out of executing such a nefarious plot. Thus already resigned to his fate, Ebegeeser asks Beltrina to meet him in private, a room on the second floor.

Although he already knows the answer, he makes one last attempt and proposes to Beltrina. She rejects him, but Ebegeeser takes it in stride. She then asks if he could help loosen her bodice as it had grown too tight for her. However, given his apparent inexperience, Ebegeeser accidentally tightens the garment instead, constricting the poor young woman's chest even further to the point that she struggles against him. In his attempt to help her, they both stumble instead, tripping over the carpet and she staggers toward the window...

.......And that is where the vision ends, the Horseman of Christmas Future bearing down, dragging in darkness and the stench of death. This is where our story continues...

When the dream fades, the fog disappears and everyone awakens scattered around a church and its cemetery. It's dark, the moon just a small sliver in the starless, night sky, and the fog covers the ground. There are some sounds—various insects and the occasional hoot of an owl. But a more sinister sound can sometimes be heard deep within the dark forests: hooves thundering over earth and gravel, the shrill neigh, and a hoarse, raucous laugh.

All Aspects have been assigned to their new roles, and their journals softly glow with their assignments. Everyone set to work with one another will find themselves near each other or in their set location. Aspects will also learn of a particular task regarding the collection of certain items that would help create the Segment road to connect this Story to the Index. There are also no enemies here except for one—the real Headless Horseman, which will look eerily like the one described in the story told during the party. Everyone should be wary for it it seeks not just Ebegeeser's head, but everyone's.

They are nearing the end—but what kind of end will it be?





§ instructions.
With fairly unanimous support, this will be the designated log for this Act. All Main Scenes and Sub Quests have their own top level created for those involved to respond under, but players are also free to post outside of the designated top levels to create your own for any additional prompts you'd like to take on. Each Main Scene top level has the scene prompts and casting, and assignments for the sub quests are listed below. If you haven't signed up for a sub quest yet, you can still do so!

As a reminder, characters will have the necessary information within their journals. Those who are selected to play a scene will find their journal flashing red, so hard to miss. The information they have is roughly the same as what is written OOCly.

If you have any questions, post them to the Game Notes.





§ sub quests.

Everyone is free to participate in the sub quests, including those of the main cast. You can also participate in both. Characters can help each other with their assignments, even if they do not have one or already finished theirs. If you have any questions, post them here.

Segment Scavenger Hunt. Characters are tasked in finding particular relics that will help forge the Segment path between the soon to be finished Story and the Index. These relics are scattered around the setting area and will be objects symbolic to the story. The list itself can be found in the journals with clues as to where to find the items and anyone is technically allowed to find any of them, but for our purpose we're using assignments to make it more organized. Upon finding and collecting the relics, the relic will glow a soft white before disappearing into a sparkle of white light and ink. Here are the assigned relics and their locations:

  • 9S: The first is a large red apple. Located in a nearby apple orchard, most of the apples there are either green or rotten. But there is one large apple hanging near the top of one of the trees. Beware the hungry crow "guarding" it. His second is a small pumpkin. Somewhere within the graveyard is an open grave. Inside is a pumpkin along with a knife. Carve a face onto it.

  • Shizuo: Must reach the large church bell and ring it three times. It's found at the top of the church bell tower, but caution: the way up is rotten and rickety, and there is no rope to pull the bell. He'll have to find another way to ring the massive bell.

  • Alfyn: Must retrieve an old teacher's handbook. It's buried in the old headmaster's grave located in the center of the cemetery beneath a large oak tree. The skeletal remains are harmless, but its holding onto that book pretty tightly.

Players can still sign-up to find a Segment relic! Just comment here.


Hunting the Headless Horseman. Characters will need to fight the Headless Horseman and will have multiple chances to do so, like a repeating mini boss battle. Each time the Headless Horseman suffers a deep wound, it will disappear, only to reappear again later somewhere else. Although the characters own powers and weapons will be sufficient, there are additional items to help. Pumpkin bombs for explosive splash damage; pitchfork spears for the extra jabs; ornamental stars for piercing projectile attacks; and the handheld choir bells which when rung will have a charm and stun effect on the Horseman (good for distractions) and provide some healing and support buffs for the fighters.

Although the horse itself will be dangerous, the Horseman will also be armed with a fiery whip chain sword, capable of slashing and slinging it out to try and grab others. The order in which each particular part is hit is based off sign-up/assignment order because lazy, and when struck the part will alight in flames and turn black before the Horseman disappears. When it reappears it will be unable to use that part. Although characters are assigned certain parts, they can still fight it multiple times to help others. Simultaneous hits are also allowed.

Here are the assignments:

  • Rokurou: Left Flank. A large enough slash will result in the left rear leg of the horse to become broken and limp, hindering and slowing its movements.

  • 9S: Horse's eyes. The entire head is also viable, but damaging the eyes in particular will at least result in the horse losing more of its balance and erratic movements due to blindness.

  • Finn: Horseman's arm. Either arm, although its right arm is dominant. Damaging the arm will force the Horseman to only fight with one arm and potentially lose balance.

  • Asougi: Horseman's leg (either one). Damaging the leg will cause the Horseman to fall and unable to ride the horse.

As a reminder, the Horseman will disappear soon after receiving critical damage. Although a lot of progress is being done in the fight, there's still plenty of damage that can be dealt and there is no "final" piece to allow any late sign-ups or if anyone wants to do more. Just sign up here.





[Mod note: Refer to the accompanying Game Notes for more information. If you wish to switch out of your current role, let us know!]
chippedsoul: (we're left with nothing)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-27 04:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Are you mad?! [Actually, he should know that answer already after their last conversation. He was also offended at the very idea he would need to rely on this dangerous power to fend for himself. He can hold up on his own just fine, the problem is he can't seem to go through a full fight without going insane. He wince as his head was pounding with excitement, enticed by Rokurou's words.

If you're not going to let loose, then why are you here?!

But he didn't want to be here. He could hear the horseman's chain sword swinging closer. He jumps out of there in time as the horseman shatters the tombstone. This gave the Disciple some time to draw his sword. He will not let this thing control him. He'll win this without it.

The sound of a horse crying ominously fills the air as it comes galloping in the Disciple's direction. It's easy enough to dodge one target, it's a little harder when you got someone whispering sweet words in your head.]
Tch. [He feels the wind blow by as he narrowly avoids the horse. Quite suddenly there was a loud pop and the horse rears back, it's hooves covered in something gooey. They were bits of pumpkin, apparently it had stepped on a pumpkin that just exploded. An idea comes to his mind as he surveys the cementery. Were there more of those pumpkins lying around?]

Keep them distracted!
rokubro: (‡ 082)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-27 09:15 pm (UTC)(link)
[Rokurou is... Yeah there's a great argument to be made about the daemon's sanity sometimes. But it's clear that Disciple wanted to get through this without his other self's help, and while he's still not sure if that's a great idea right at this moment—he's not going to argue.]

Hope you know what you're doing!

[That's all he'll shout before darting back in, stepping off one of the tombstone to give him a bit of leap as he first fires a few shots from his blade before slashing at the startled horse. Maintaining some awareness of where Disciple is, Rokurou will try to keep the Horseman's attention on him and keep him circling so that its back is to Disciple. So there will be a mix of gunfire and slashy stab.





Annnnnnnnnd fair warning that Rokurou is still working on that whole "shooting while fighting" thing, so. If a stray bullet whizzes near Disciple, totally not intentional.]
chippedsoul: (reach out)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-27 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[He totally knows what he's doing, or at least very good at faking it. As Rokurou fights, there will be the occasional interruptions of pumpkins exploding when they make contact with the horseman or his steed. The Discple was carefully aiming his shots to ensure Rokurou won't get caught in the blast, but he may mistime a few of his shots.]

Hey-! [In return though, as a bell sounds nearby, one of Rokurou's bullets ricochet's off the surface and nearly scraps him. The bell let's off an eerie sound, startling the horse as it gets in range. Seeing an opportunity, he throws another pumpkin bomb in it's direction. Sooner or later these two monsters are going to wise up and have enough of the Disciple's antics.]
rokubro: (‡ 118)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-28 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
[It doesn't take long for Rokurou to notice the explosions, and just a few seconds longer to realize they were coming from Disciple. He does have to narrowly avoid a few, but given his own missed shots—]

Sorry!

[—can call it about even. The bell also surprises him, but he feels a sudden surge of...speed? Whatever it is, after the next pumpkin bomb, when the horse turns towards Disciple, looks like it's now or never. Rokurou flash steps in with a slightly faster Hurricane Thrust and strikes his blades hard against the side of the horse, quickly following it with a deep cross slash against its flank. Compared to the other strikes, he managed to make, these are definitely going to leave a mark.

And they do—seriously the horse is now on fire and scorching black, what.]
chippedsoul: (petty little coward)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-28 06:01 am (UTC)(link)
[Is...is that suppose to happen? He doesn't have time to really question it, as the horseman was still putting up a fight. Ignoring his charred horse, he whips his sword chain where the Disciple had been hiding. He feels the fabric on his sleeve rip as the sword cuts through skin on his arm while he was trying to get out of the way. He doesn't let that stop him from counterattacking though, throwing his last pumpkin bomb at the horseman.

As the horseman staggers from the blast, he draws his sword and swings through him. As he lands somewhere behind the horseman, his sword splits apart. It was just a cheap sword he picked up in town, so it didn't surprise him that it would not hold up. But did he at least do something to the horseman? There's a long creak as the horseman falls to his knees, the Disciple managing to make a cut through one of his legs. The attack wasn't in vain.]
rokubro: (‡ 074)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-30 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
[Rokurou was a bit surprised by the damage, but he's not going to complain. He takes the opportunity to worsen the original blow, slashing at the same spot to further weaken and hopefully render that leg useless. It's then that he notice it actually start to... Flicker?

And that same "flickering" will occur on the Horseman as he lets out a loud, unearthly yowl as it falls to his knees, the wounded leg also charring black. Had he eyes, he would be boring right into the Disciple, but instead Disciple will just hear the loud hissing and how his neck looks first at Disciple and then Rokurou. The horse lets out a shrill neigh before in an explosion of wind and black ink, both it and the Horseman disappear.

Only after the dust settles does Rokurou finally begin to relax and look over at Disciple.]


...Looks like we got it—or at least made it run, anyway.
chippedsoul: (take me back)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-30 05:20 am (UTC)(link)
[His head may be gone, but he could feel the Horseman's glare, if he did have his eyes. He tightens his grip on his broken sword, still willing and able to fight if it comes to it. But it doesn't, as the horseman and his steed both suddenly disappear.

Letting out a sigh, he moves so he could sit on the ground properly.]
Good. [He still held onto his broken weapon, just in case.]
rokubro: (‡ 131)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-31 05:44 am (UTC)(link)
[He takes another moment to scan their surroundings just in case before he finally sheathes his swords and makes his way over to Disciple.]

Nice work with those bombs and that last attack. Looked like you were struggling to keep that other side back, though.
chippedsoul: (my footprints won't be found)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-31 05:54 am (UTC)(link)
He never made an appearance, that's all that matters. [And a success in his book. He looks down at his weapon, tossing it aside. He'll have to find another one somewhere.]

Would have helped though, if someone didn't suggest to set it loose. [He glares up at him.] I can handle things without it.
rokubro: (‡ 132)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-31 08:36 am (UTC)(link)
[Ah ha... Rokurou just stops in front of him and places a hand on his hip as he looks down.]

Hey, I'm all for controlling "inner demons" and the like, but I was only thinking about your safety. From what I saw, it looked like you were having trouble and distracted enough that it could have ended badly if you didn't manage to control it.

But, you did prove me wrong, so glad it worked out.
chippedsoul: (the language that you sing)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2018-12-31 08:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[He sighs.] This time at least. I wonder if my reluctance to confront the Horseman straight on was a factor? [He moves to stand.]

Did you really intend to fight that thing your own?
rokubro: (‡ 006)

[personal profile] rokubro 2018-12-31 09:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[If he needs a hand up he'll step in to offer, but if he's got it he won't interfere.]

That was the plan, yeah. [Just a cheeky grin.] I admit that it was a lot tougher than I expected, but it was also the first real challenge I've faced since coming to this place. It was fun.

[Of course he'd think and say that...]
chippedsoul: (take me back)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2019-01-01 12:04 am (UTC)(link)
[HE'S A TOUGH GUY. HE'S FINE. Ok, maybe he needs to grab his hand so he doesn't fall back down.] That recklessness is going to come back and bite you one day, and then you won't get to have anymore fun. [He doubts that'll actually convince a "war daemon"]

rokubro: (‡ 192)

[personal profile] rokubro 2019-01-02 07:04 am (UTC)(link)
[Yeeeeah...naaaaaaah.]

Oh I know. [Just grins as he steadies Disciple.] But that's also why I train every day so that I'll be ready for when that time comes.
chippedsoul: (the language that you sing)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2019-01-02 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Hah. [He shakes his head, letting go now that he was standing.] I don't think any amount of training will prepare you for that, but your determination is admirable. [Or is this stupidity?]
rokubro: (‡ 079)

[personal profile] rokubro 2019-01-05 05:14 am (UTC)(link)
Hahaha, you're probably right, but hey. Won't know until the time comes.

[Once Disciple is steady, he takes a step back to give him a bit more breathing room.]

So how is handling that "inner demon" of yours coming along?
chippedsoul: (years gone by)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2019-01-05 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
This "inner demon" doesn't even belong to me to be called that. [He crosses his arms. This is nothing but trouble brought on by this place.]

As long as I avoid confrontation, there's no trouble. Though I want to find a means to control it. [While he is skilled on his own, considering the fantastical beast that exist here...he can admit there's potential utilizing that strength.] I won't use it unless it's under my terms. [He says mostly to himself, or to "Hyde" perhaps.]
rokubro: (‡ 076)

[personal profile] rokubro 2019-01-05 08:18 am (UTC)(link)
You're going to be a little hard pressed for that from what we've been through so far.

[Definitely a lot of fights—not that he's complaining.]

But as for control... Unfortunately I can't really offer much advice aside from having a strong will and sense of reason. Accepting everything helps, too. It's what keeps me from losing it completely, anyway.
chippedsoul: (the language that you sing)

[personal profile] chippedsoul 2019-01-06 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
[He huffs.] Of course. [Of course to what? Or maybe he knew all these things Roku was telling him already.] I will make this work.
rokubro: (‡ 128)

[personal profile] rokubro 2019-01-07 06:41 am (UTC)(link)
[If he already does, then at least he's on the right path! He grins either way.]

You seem like a capable guy, so I don't doubt it. Just use him as much as he tries to use you.