Realm of Stories

Tick tick tick tick tick tick tick.

Out of nowhere, no matter where each Aspect is, the sound of a pocket watch ticking loudly can be heard from nearby them. At first one could walk away and escape it, but then all suddenly it comes back again, louder this time until a soft, hurried voice joins it.

Oh I'm late! I'm late!
So very very late!
Heads will roll
It's out of control!
I'm late you're late we're late!

The last phrase roars into every Aspect's ears, the voice warbling and distorting into a ghastly wail filled with panic, terror, and despair that could render even the most hardened soldier to their knees. Not long after it passes, the ghostly image of a young girl on the ground holding the bloody remains of a large, well dressed white rabbit flash before every eye before the ground beneath them suddenly trembles and crumbles away. They only have time to take one gasping breath and perhaps let out a shocked scream before they fall through the gaping hole, its opening shutting close as if the ground itself had formed a mouth and swallowed them whole.

Down, down, down they fall into the dark abyss, and soon they will be able to see all the other Aspects plummeting down alongside each other. All powers and abilities are rendered useless in this fall, as if momentarily sealed away, so they are left at the mercy of gravity. The seconds pass like hours as the darkness finally crumbles away like torn paper--or rather, it is paper. Scraps and burned ash and ink now fly up and looking up reveals a straight sight as if they are looking at a book that had been punched through and they had fallen through that hole.

As for what waits below, only fog greets them, dark and cold and not too dissimilar from fogs and mists from other stories. The curly, twisted tops of trees now fly past, and just before they hit the ground—their bodies stop in mid-air before slowly dropping the last few inches. After gathering themselves and checking on everyone, they will find themselves in a strange forest of trees with doors attached to them. Signs to all sorts of places both vague and specific hang from the branches. But before they could ponder any further, a figure suddenly appears before them. Completely black is if made only of ink stands the form of a young girl. Some might find her similar to the one from the vision before. Although no mouth can be seen, her voice can still be heard after she performs a polite curtsy.

Greetings, Aspects, how do you do? I am Alice, and although this is not my original body, it is the best I could manifest with the little power I have on my own. I have brought you here to help save my world, my story, Wonderland.

Although she appears and sounds like a young girl, she speaks and carries herself like a young queen. In this manner she explains the situation. Although the Aspects have done much to help restore and strengthen the realm, the Story Eater continues to consume and destroy stories. Wonderland had managed to survive and keep its forces at bay, but it has finally succumbed and is facing death's door. What they see is what is currently left before it is completely erased. Thus before the story is completely destroyed, Alice has forcibly brought them here to stop the destruction and restore enough of the world so that it can fight back once more. Because of the urgency, she acted without informing the Storyteller, so it will be some time before the Storyteller can properly reach out and lend its power.

Behind certain doors are key locations that if fixed will give the world its foundations and power necessary to sort itself out until the Storyteller can give aid.

Please help my world, Alice pleads with a small tremble in her voice. All my friends, family… Please save this world so we can return to it soon.