realmofstories | Entries tagged with della duck

A MIDSUMMER ROSE: ACT I—

§ instructions.

The first Act of our fourth campaign 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.

Reminder that everyone is coming with a fairy form! Feel free to use and/or refer to the meme for what form your character takes. Characters will remain in these forms throughout the entire act, but will change to fit their role when in a scene. So if someone was originally looking like a centaur, they will revert back to their normal form with whatever extra touches needed.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to step into a designated fairy ring made of iridescent mushrooms and flowers 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 )

storyevents

ONCE UPON A DREAM—

The vibrant patchwork of a Halloweenfaire had been a rousing success, all things considered, and a thorough celebration of the Aspect's triumph over the Story Eater. How things have changed—in the year since its defeat and the first revived story, since the last people saw it directly—that the peoples' fears have diminished enough to relegate the world-destroying monster to a mere toy filled with candy to break open. Rekindled courage…or complacency.

Perhaps they should have been more afraid, more vigilant. No one seemed to bat an eye at the black, sickly vines that tried to snare the sleighs, or the unnatural thorns among the mistletoe that seemed to make people feel just a little tired… And once the Aspects and other citizens filed on home and went through their peaceful November, no one seemed to notice the other pieces. All throughout the festival, you see, Erasers had been lurking in the shadows, slipping seeds into one denizen's candy bag or another's coat. (Aspects would be immune to the influence, protected by their essences and the Storyteller's power.) Seeds of power and influence, echoes of the Story Eater's magic, its voice… Traditionalists were more susceptible, given their disapproval for the Aspects, but the Erasers weren't so picky about factions, and all their targets proved as good pawns. Those "chosen" planted the seeds in key places around the Index, nurtured them, even despite the chilling air and hardening ground. Herb gardens at home, windowsill pots, even tucked away corners in the city parks or the surrounding forests, eventually all of them bore dark burgundy vines, just thin woody sprouts at first, barely growing at all even after a month's time and attention from the hypnotized caretakers.

But then near the start of the new month, when the new moon rises into the sky…the vines burst forth and spread. Briars as thick as tree trunks—with wicked sharp thorns and roses so dark a red as to look black—spread and climb and entangle themselves throughout the whole of the Index. Streets become a latticework of brambles, vines weave in and out of houses and buildings, the doors to the Grand Library and the bridges to the other stories are blocked by solid walls of thorns, tendrils wrap around people as they sleep or try to run, and twisted, plant-like Erasers swarm the streets to pillage and lash out at anything they see. And spreading along the briars is a curse, and though a very few Aspects manage to resist, everyone else is pulled into an even deeper sleep that night...

( prompts )

keeperoftales

HALLOWEENFAIRE—

This time last year, there was still a grand Halloween Feast where the denizens of the Index and the lucky refugees who managed to escape their stories were determined to hold onto hope and welcome these new strangers the Storyteller promised would help them. But there had been an undercurrent of true fear and despair that the Story Eater could not be stopped. Now? Not only have the Aspects struck down and slain so many Erasers- even driven back the Story Eater itself when it attacked the Index last year- but they’ve even managed to breathe new life back into the ravaged stories. So where better to celebrate this triumph and the Halloween season than in the first story the Aspects restored: A Hollow Christmas Carol, borne from the remnants of A Christmas Carol and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Aspects who travel the bridge of light and swirling pages through the portal will be greeted with sprawling farmlands and forests right on the cusp of fall and winter. Normally the landscape would be cool and dark and quiet, but today- with tents and booths, red and green steamers and evergreen garlands with orange and black ornaments, motley costumes and festive, sometimes eerie, always loud music- the whole story is a riot of color and sound!

Even though most of the Aspects are already dressed like their Essence, they still might get ushered into a small temporary shop to try on costumes for some extra flair! Or ridiculousness, that’s also a possibility. Try your luck at some of the carnival games, beat up a Story Eater piñata, or try out the delicious… well, mostly delicious Halloween- and Christmas-themed foods! Though there still might be some tricks tucked away in the treats. You might even have been asked to run your own attraction or sell your own food! The presence of the Horsemen of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, the Headless Horseman, and the Ghost Bride have added other influences as well, such as jousting contests and haunted sleigh rides through the countryside. Who knows? Perhaps you might catch a glimpse of at least one of the ghosts as you celebrate tonight.

However, there is a slight chill in the festive air; the slight disapproval from some citizens in the Index and disagreement with their neighbors is much more pronounced in an actual story. It turns out that some of the citizens- called traditionalists if asked- while grateful for the Aspects’ help in reviving their home, aren’t as thrilled about being mashed up with another story, or with the wild deviations from the original text. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the Freewriters (name pending), who revel in the changes as a sign of new opportunity and growth. Needless to say, the Aspects’ interactions with the denizens might vary a bit, depending on whom they talk to.

But why let a little philosophical dispute get in the way of a good party, right? Eat, drink, dance, play around with the candy effects if you feel really bold, and have fun!

( prompts )

ricebird

Characters: Kotori Iida [Sweet Porridge Girl], Della Duck [Icarus], Master Crane [Crane (Tsuru no Ongaeshi)], Disciple [Jekyll and Hyde], and YOU!
Campaign: Break
Format: Starting with brackets, but will match
One Open, Two Closed
Summary: Kotori comes back from a brief trip home, makes lots of tasty food with people, and wakes up at an ungodly early hour to train. (Oh, also, Hyde happens.)

( And then whistle round the world )

storyevents

Intro Log: October 2019—

§ instructions.

Greetings and welcome to the intro log for Forgotten Tales! There are no hard and fast rules here. Just include your Character, canon, and essence in the subject line and post away! Network prompts are allowed in the intro log, so feel free to put one in.

In terms of timeline, the intro log can span over several days, so don't feel as if everything has to happen all at once. You are also free to post your own logs at any time, and can even take these prompts for them!

For more information or to ask any questions, refer to the accompanying Game Notes.

( prompts )

storyevents

The Little Mermaid: Act III—

Once again, when all the scenes have been completed and some time has passed for everyone to rest and enjoy the ball, the moon will eventually begin to fall as the sun peeks out from the horizon. It is at this moment that all fall into a deep sleep and share a dream of what has transpired so far...

Though the priestess "saved" his life, the prince found himself put off by her pushy demeanor as they danced while watched by the nobles. Throughout their dance and their walk through the castle gardens, his thoughts drifted back to the mermaid who brought him to shore. Eventually they would part ways, and while getting fresh air, the prince heard a voice calling out to him: the very same mermaid who saved him. The two of them made their way through the ice along the shore and found each other through singing with relative ease, despite the prince's shyness. As they spoke, the mermaid made it clear that despite her desire for the prince to join her, his own desires and choices were most important—even if it meant not choosing her or the priestess.

The priestess caught wind of the mermaid speaking with the prince and went down to the beach to confront the sea dweller. She argued that the mermaid didn't belong on land or with the prince, but the mermaid responded that it was her choice and the prince's whether they wanted to pursue their love. Neither lady would back down from her stance.

The mermaid's frequent visits ashore did not go unnoticed by her family, but her two elder sisters were curious and supportive of her romance with the prince.

The prince returned to the beach to speak with the mermaid, still hesitant about the choice ahead of him. The mermaid spoke honestly about how he could possibly go back and forth with the sea witch's help, but not without a price. She again stressed that what he wanted was important. In the end, the prince chose to go with the mermaid and took the potion.

Unbeknownst to them, however, the priestess tried to take matters into her own hands. She rowed out onto the ocean to summon the sea witch and ask for a deal to keep the mermaid away from the land forever. The sea witch supplied her with a potion, but the priestess unwittingly traded away her humanity and became a mermaid herself in order to "defend the land" from the princess.

The prince's disappearance does not go by unnoticed, and the priestess herself sends word to the worried monarchs of the fate of their son. The king is the most outraged, crumpling the paper in his hand before immediately ordering all his ships to be ready for deployment. He would bring war to the people who lived in the oceans.

The dream fades with such an ominous development, and those familiar with the original story will be able to tell that this is a drastic departure from it. But there is nothing they can do but to follow the events as they unfold. When the Aspects awaken, they will discover themselves split up and each side already engaged in war. Some are with the merpeople while others are on the royal navy ships. Strange floating platforms made of debris, sand, seaweed, and wood float between the spaces, allowing closer access to those of the sea. The skies themselves are dark with the distant rumbling of thunder, and the seas are choppy from both the weather and the soldiers of the underwater kingdom raising waves to crash into the ships.

This war will last for as long as it takes for the Aspects to get through their scenes, and each one must follow a designated glowing trail to a special whirlpool portal that will take them to where they need to go. Those waiting must either take part in the war or try to pacify the angered Blots, and just hope that everything will pass quickly.

§ instructions.

The third Act is underway! This is the designated log for everything. Each Main Scene has their own unique toplevel and those cast into the roles are to thread their scenes under each. All scene instructions are provided in the toplevels. Everyone is free to create their own toplevels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below, or for anything else you'd like to thread out.

As a reminder, this Act is set in the ocean with the Royal Navy Fleet. Characters cannot transform into their opposite form, so those on the Navy side can't take on their merforms and those as mermaids cannot have legs. There is a way, and that is detailed in the Sub Quest section.

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to enter special marked portals to travel to the "setting location" 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 )

storyevents

The Little Mermaid: Act II—

With all tasks completed and pearls collected, the Aspects are given a brief respite to heal any wounds and rest. But as night falls and the crystals begin to dim, all fall into a deep sleep and share a dream of the story that's beginning to unfold before them.

While the Little Mermaid was nervous about her trials, with the help of her grandmother she is able to succeed to clamp the oysters on her tail. Still curious about the humans, she chances a trip to the surface and happens upon a large ship holding a party. But a sudden storm causes the ship to capsize, forcing a man—the prince himself—to dive into the water. Not wishing for him to die, she quickly swims to him and tries to bring him to shore. It is no easy task due to his weight and the dangers attracted by the commotion, but they make it, the prince losing consciousness soon after.

When he awakens, the prince finds himself washed up onto the shore with no recollection of how he got there. He is quickly found by a lovely priestess and together the two of them begin an arduous climb from the beach up to the castle, learning about each other as they go.

Meanwhile, the little mermaid can't stop thinking about her prince, and wishes for a way to be with him despite the barriers between them. She travels to the sea witch to ask for a spell that would allow her to join the prince on land. However, after being told of the high costs of going onto land—including never seeing her family again, or never remembering them even if she did—the little mermaid decides to stay underwater...and bring the prince to her, at the cost of half her lifespan. The deal set, the two of them brew a potion that would bring the prince to the sea...

However, there would be more challenges awaiting for the mermaid princess. In the following days, the priestess is revealed to be a princess of a nearby kingdom. Delighted by the news, the prince's parents—the king and queen—host a grand ball in her honor. There is also hope that their son may fancy the princess, as a marriage between the two would be beneficial indeed. The princess already has interest in the prince, though be it romantic or something else is still unclear...

The dream fades with the lingering question of what the mermaid will do and who will end up winning the prince's heart. When the Aspects awaken, they will find themselves no longer in the ocean but in the castle itself and dressed to fit the new environment. No longer mermaids, they are now nobles, servants, or musicians and the grand ball is already underway. With the full moon hanging high overhead and clear, starry night skies, it's perfect for a romantic start of this Act. This time special marked doors indicate where those cast for specific scenes need to go.

Of course, danger still lurks outside the castle walls. There are whispers of pirates lurking nearby and the days ahead will be filled with secret trysts and clashes. The Aspects will also find that they are still able to transform into mermaids upon entering the ocean, but will not be affected while on land. Rooms and accommodations within the castle have also been prepared so that they may rest when needed. Rest that may be necessary for the challenges ahead.

§ instructions.

The second Act is underway! This is the designated log for all Main Scenes. Others are free to create their own top levels for the Sub Quests, which are detailed below. Each Main Scene has their own unique top level and those cast into the roles are to thread their scene under each. All scene instructions are provided in the top levels.

As a reminder, although this Act is primarily on land, characters can still transform into their merforms upon entering the ocean. As implied in the above narrative, they will only transform in the ocean. So feel free to finally take a bath, everyone!

Finally, just to be clear, characters who are in Main Scenes are not immediately dropped in to their location and will have to enter certain doors to travel to the "setting location" 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 )

skyofreality

Characters: Sora [The Boy] (Red Twilight Sky)
Campaign: Between Act 1 & 2 of the Little Mermaid
Format: [ brackets ]
Open
Summary: There's a new fish in the sea and he's here to have some fun, also help save some stories.

( It's very easy, come on in, just take a chance and shake a fin )

rokubro

Characters: Rokurou Rangetsu [Huntsman; Red Riding Hood]; EVERYONE
Campaign: Break
Format: [ brackets ] but you guys do whatever you want
Open
Summary: It's a big BBQ party for a job well done and to welcome all the new people! Because there are a lot of them now. Also do we really need an excuse for a BBQ party BRING ON THE MEATS. Also doubles as a semi-intro log for new people! There's no specific time other than "early enough in the month" so anyone who comes in after this goes up can still join!

( IT'S BBQ TIME AND EVERYONE'S INVITED )

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Entries tagged with della duck

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Chapter 04: Act I

Once Upon a Dream Event

Halloweenfaire Event

A Thousand Sugar Stars, Oh Put Them in a Jar (October Catch-All)

Character Introduction Log: October 2019

Chapter 03: Act III

Chapter 03: Act II

open. Swim this way, we'll dance and we'll play, now

sixth hunt ⚔ bbq open partaaay

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