songerein | { Saving Oz }

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{ Saving Oz }

SAVING OZ

After a month of increasingly windy weather, it all comes to a head when a giant book appears right above the town of Reverein. It opens its pages facing the town and a large tornado emerges, descending down to cover the entire town. Miraculously, no buildings are destroyed, but the entire population is sucked up into the air and into the pages of the book. It's a wild, twisting ride until everyone crash lands into a strange city all in emerald green. The tapirs make their usual rare appearance and look around before gasping, "Oh! It's the Emerald City from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! Looks like a mess though… And so do you!"

As pointed out, everyone will find themselves dressed or transformed into some semblance of one of the five main characters: Dorothy, Toto, Scarecrow, Tin Woodman (Tinman), and the Cowardly Lion. They could be wearing authentic costumes, have an almost complete appearance change, partial transformation, and anywhere in-between. While they are mostly stuck in whichever "role" they've been initially cast in, they can temporarily change if a different role would work better. They gain additional abilities fitting of the character, such as the Scarecrow unable to bleed as they are now made of straw, the Tinman always wearing or made of some kind of metallic armor, the Lion have wind blasting roars and the strength of a real lion, Toto able to become a real dog, and Dorothy has their charisma stat shot up through the roof. Everyone will be able to use their dreamotion and original abilities as well, so they can be even more creative. While there are no complete personality changes, some may feel some "adjustments" to fit their role at times. Some roles will be more effective for certain tasks and objectives, and they will receive additional buff bonuses to help clear it.

With the help of local citizens who have formed their own rebel force, everyone must now help push back the nightmare force that has taken over this story and lure out the mysterious new "Wizard" that is the source of all this chaos. If they can fill a giant emerald with positive dreams and launch it at the "Wizard," then it'll be a mission success.

For any questions, refer to the Game Notes and comment there.

I. HELPING THE CITY

Emerald City is a mess, but not lost. The rebel force has a base set up to help direct everyone and serves as the main camp for aid and rest. There's plenty to do, and now that they have "Dorothy and her friends" again, they may be able to win back their proud city. Oh, if only they could find the Princess Ozma...

A. Porcelain Rubble. Aside from the usual physical destruction, large portions of the city have turned into porcelain and broken apart. A special glue is available and becomes more potent with dreamotion infused into it, and as soon as pieces are glued back together the structure will return to its original form. However, there is a risk of someone turning into porcelain the longer they remain in the area and will need to be glued back together if broken (fortunately no one can die, just lie helplessly in pieces). Perhaps those who are cast as Toto can help sniff out trapped individuals, while the Scarecrow's straw would make for excellent padding for those broken pieces.

B. Statued. Many citizens have been turned into statues, scattered all over the city and outside the walls. They need to be moved to safety first before a cure can be used as it takes time to fully work. Special sleighs fashioned after the Gump are available to help carry any statued citizen to safety; just be careful when driving it as they are very unpredictable. Once in a safe spot, a few drops of the potion will start the curing process. The many witches that cursed everyone to begin with are still out and about, ready to turn anyone unaware into statues. Strangely, the spell bounces off metal, so those cast as the Tinman will be great in offering support and could even try and reflect the spell back onto the witches to turn them to statues instead.

C. Into the Poppy Field. The dangerous poppy field known for its ability to lull any who are flesh and blood to sleep until their dying days has been inching closer towards the city, perhaps drawn by the nightmare energy flowing out from it. To make matters worse, they now can move their roots and leaves to try and ensnare people. A special plant killer diffuser has been developed, but it requires anyone cast as Dorothy, the Lion, or Toto to take the diffuser and run into the field as deep as they can before they succumb to the pollen, which will activate the diffuser. Either the Tinman or the Scarecrow must then make their way through to fetch them. Those who volunteered to run in can use their ability to dreamwalk and appear as a little wisp to help guide their would be rescuer to their slumbering body, even give them some help with the snares. (Mod: for threading purposes, characters can either partner up as the sleeper and rescuer, or both can be rescuing an NPC that served as the role of sleeper instead).

D. First Aid. For any who prefer to stay out of combat and help the wounded and scared, the base camp is stocked with medical supplies, food, and other necessities to help weather out the attack. They do need to be resupplied, however, so those more daring to venture either into the city or outside the walls to get items should take someone capable of defending just in case. Some places include an orchard of lunch pail trees that grow fully stocked lunch pails filled with various foods. Lions will be great at climbing them while Scarecrows can shoo away annoying crows. Another is gathering wood in a cursed forest where the trees have become Fighting Trees. The Tinman's ax is lethal against them and will chop through them easily.

E. Yellow Brick Road. The famous golden yellow brick road has been broken apart and needs to be repaired so additional support from neighboring areas can come in. Because it's a magical road, it needs to be fixed in a magical way—which is reliving the whimsical, iconic, song and dance of Dorothy and her friends. The Munchkins have created special silver shoes that anyone of the cast can wear and it has the magic to inform the wearer how the musical rendition goes. It will also "help" their movements to skip and dance along the broken spaces. Should they be successful, the broken and missing bricks will be repaired and the road will start to shine. So partner up, link arms, and belt out those vocal chords because they're off to see the Wizard!

II. FIGHTING FOES

There are numerous enemies attacking the city, but while some are original to the story, many are abnormal creations or noctasers, the unholy union of noctaere and the Story Eater's minions, Erasers. Of course the Story Eater would have a hand in this! But with the advantages gained by the roles, they can be defeated.

A. Wheeling Monkeys. The Wheelers and the Winged Monkeys have been ensorceled and are creating havoc within the city. However, instead of violence their actions are more…goofy. They're throwing rotten eggs, colored water balloons, creamed pies, and other strange pranks to hinder everyone's movements. They're relatively easy to capture and even prank back. The more aggressive ones, however, are actually noctasers and will need to be destroyed via dreamotion. Those cast as Dorothy will be able to distinguish those who are original to the book and the disguised noctasers as well as inflict extra damage to weaken the noctasers. Everyone in the cast is strong against noctasers.

» BONUS: THE GOLDEN CAP. The Winged Monkeys were once free but after the Golden Cap was ripped apart to steal its magic and now many are once again enslaved. Dorothy can convince the originals to join their side, if they have some Golden Cap fragments that appear when a noctaser is defeated. The more noctasers defeated, the more fragments collected and the more Wheelers and Winged Monkeys will join their side!

B. Meeeelllttiiiinng! Those witches are causing the most problems, and they are abnormal creations that need to go. Because they were fashioned after the Wicked Witch, they are weak to water, especially dreamotion infused water. The trick is actually getting to them as they are often found flying high above. There are numerous small hot air balloons that can be used to fly up and to either hose the witches or dump giant buckets of water, both tools already attached to the balloon basket. Just be careful because it just takes one giant tear to pop the balloon and send everyone into a crazy spinning crash to the ground. Having a Tinman to help deflect spells off their armor will be a great help.

III. SWEET DREAMS

The Projector of Dreams has been set up and several beds with the magical headsets are available to those who wish to volunteer and produce positive dreams that will be used against the Wizard. These dreams will be funneled into a giant emerald that will be launched from a cannon at the Wizard once lured out.

A. Positive Dreams. To help the Projector, positive dreams are needed. These dreams will briefly be projected onto the emerald so those nearby monitoring things may catch a glimpse of the dream. Perhaps those who are dreaming will have theirs be more interactive to try and get others in and create a stronger positive experience.

B. Luring out the Wizard. The Wizard is holed up in the Throne Room of the castle and needs to be lured out before the dream infused emerald can be hurtled into it. The methods to do so might seem a bit unorthodox, but it will work and may give a hint on who the "Wizard" really is. Everyone is told to play various children's games within the Emerald City's castle. Tea parties, hide and seek, tag, games—whatever they can think of. As they play, a strange shadow that looks like a young princess will emerge to either watch or join in. Players can either incorporate the shadow playing or just focus on their characters, but the shadow will always be happy and laughing. The goal is to produce happy, positive fun feelings, so there are no dangers. Unless someone wants to throw in a noctaser or something to spice things up.

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[JUST ANOTHER ICY GLARE. So icy that the basket is actually starting to frost over.

Would probably be more intimidating if he wasn't a puppy.]

[ The basket ices over, but through the biting cold, Aerith taps the freeze off as much as she can as she huffs. ]

C'mon now, don't be so silly. Staying out here too long alone is bad for you, and waiting for us to get back... So, to avoid making Tifa sad, you in the basket. Keep it up and I'll snap it shut... okay?

[ :) ]

[NOW THERE'S CRACKLING ELECTRICITY THAT BUZZES OVER THE ICE.

Would she actually do it? Should he call her bluff? Can he just like try to bite a hole through this thing.

...

She just had to say something about Tifa.]

...Have you seen her?

[A very quiet grumble as some of the effects wane. He still hates this for the record and while he'll ease off for now, he'll look for his chance to escape.]

Ouch! [ The electricity makes a crisp, zippy sort of noise, sparkling through out the basket and tickling her skin. It zaps Aerith and she yelps, the shock echoing from her arm to the tips of her toes. This time, it's her time to huff and shoot him an icy glare— fortunately for him, she's far less adept at this "dreamotion" thing. ] So petty.

[ Pouting, she turns her head back and keeps walking, not answering for a long moment; in the end, the silence doesn't sit with her. ]

I haven't seen her, but Tifa isn't the kind of girl to do nothing in this kind of situation. She's probably out helping, too. Keep your furry butt in check and you'll find her sooner than you think, I bet.

[Grumble grumble. Not sorry at all she got zapped he warned her.

But he does huff a little.]

I know. But that only makes me worry more...

[It can't be helped. He doesn't know what kind of role she's taken. What if she's stuck like a small dog like him? Or gets caught stuck as porcelain? Or attacked by something? He does trust her and her abilities, but things are always so different each time.]

[ As she walks, she listens. Aerith is always listening, though in this case, it isn't for her own benefit. She's not quite sure how much these two have been through, but Eustace and Tifa's relationship is quite deep, and Aerith suspects that she may never know the depth of it. She hums, filling the silence with music for a moment. ]

You really do love her, don't you?

[ The heaviness in her voice is uncharacteristic, though not unpleasant. She's treating his feelings with the weight she believes they deserve; that is all. ]

Of course.

[His answer is immediate, no sense of hesitation or even embarrassment. What's there to be shy about his own feelings? Even if he may not voluntarily proclaim it, he would never shy away or deny them if prompted. So his voice is also sharp, those two words carrying all the weight he needs without any further embellishment.]

[ It can't be helped, then. Aerith huffs, sighing with a feigned heftiness, as if deeply annoyed. If nothing else, she knows he's telling the truth, and it's something she'll hold onto. It may not be 'destiny' but perhaps that alone makes it more comfortable and just as true. It's what Tifa has chosen for herself. ]

I'll hold you to it.

[ She expects good behavior, even if she knows that it can't always be predicted. ]

Just a little longer. How about you tell me... did you guys decide on a date, yet?

[Psh, of course he will, and the look he gives Aerith reflects as much.

But...fine. He'll be on good behavior and the basket is no longer crackling with electricity or feeling cold from ice. It's completely normal...even if he does still feel a little grumpy about his situation.]

...Not exactly, but it will likely be in the twelfth month, December.

Tifa's definitely figured out her side of the party, soooo? What about you?

[ Not that she can help him plan that or anything, but she's nosy, and would still be interested in helping. She hates not doing something. There's just too much in the world to do! ]

[Just an arch of the brow.]

What do you mean?

[ ?? ]

Well, there's a bridal party, and a groom party... for helping you both get ready.

[ Hm. She's never been to a wedding before, but... ]

You haven't figure it out yet, have you?

[.................................Ah.]

...I forgot.

[ uh— ]

How'd you forget that? [ Jeez. There must be a lot going on in that treehouse. ]

I'll help you. Sound good?

[....................

Just giving her the most distrustful look a dog can muster.]

I'm afraid what you'll think of if I leave it to you.

[Just a huff.]

I'll figure it out. Just help Tifa instead.

Hey! What is that supposed to mean?

[ She's telling Tifa on you!! ]

[And he's just going to remain silent.

Do it.]

[ She can't stand the silence. This is torture. Mere seconds later. ]

So... how'd you guys meet?

[ She's coming up on the base of operations now, the sound of more people slowly getting louder as they get closer, but yeah, she can't wait another moment. ]

[Ooooh so that's how he gets her. Being silent he can totally do this—

But he'll finally respond.]

In another world...Avalon. Chance meeting at a bar.

[ Her one weakness... loneliness... ]

Was she the bartender?

No. It was some...strange bar run by the fae and they served food and drinks...strangely. Something molecular. [Just a small shake of his head.]

It was a waste of time, so I paid for hers and left. She chased after me and I tried to leave but she kept following me.

[He'll always think back on that day somewhat amused. It really had been a "chance" meeting all things considered.]

She chased you, huh...?

[ That Aerith didn't know. Kneeling down, she opens the flap of the basket again, so he can hop out onto the ground if he likes. She casts a glance behind them; the porcelain tomb of a city is far behind. ]

Well, in that case, I'm going to have to make sure you go chasing after her some times.

[Oh? She's actually releasing him— Well he's not going to miss this opportunity. There's only half a second before he's hopping out and on the ground, a quick glance back telling him all he needs to know how far they are from the city. And oddly enough, he does notice his limbs feeling a little looser...

...

Perhaps it had been a wise idea for her to take him out.]

That was the only time—she's been making me run after her ever since. I catch her every time.

[Although it might be hard to tell, there's a little huff of amusement and there would have been a soft smile if he weren't a dog.

He then looks up at her.]

Has she not told you any of this?

[He'd be surprised if she hadn't......or not. He knows Tifa is rather shy about it, but since it's Aerith he assumed she might be more open about it.]

[ He likes the chase, Aerith thinks. Not just for the sake of it, no, but for how much it wraps him up in Tifa. It’s understandable, she thinks, to lose yourself in your pursuit of another person. Without realizing it, she’s smiling in a way that someone who knows something can only smile. She thinks she’s got it figured out, but who is to say? ]

I wanted to hear your side of it, too. Every story has two parts— even love stories, you know.

[He sees that smile...and he's not sure what to make of it but he leaves it be.]

Are you satisfied?

[HE'S SUCH A SHARER ISN'T HE.]

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