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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[ This is, in truth, a very reasonable question, and Aerith fills the silence by rolling back and forth on her feet, humming thoughtfully. It covers up the fact she is mulling over how no one has really given her this kind of respect before— maybe Zack had, once upon a time, having wanted to see her succeed in business. ]

Thanks, Trahearne. [ Really. Most people treat her like she needs to be coddled; this is the first time she's really been independent, the more she thinks on it. Even her mother's coddled her, held her back from the world she's wanted to be part of...

Ahem. ]

I met him at the beach. He taught me how to slice things like that with dreamotion. Could be great for making a lot of bouquets at once! [ Now that she thinks about it, though. ]

Another friend of mine mentioned you to me that night, too. Susato.

[ At her thanks, Trahearne smiles a touch, and dips his head in a nod. She needn't even thank him, in his mind. He thought he was just stating the obvious.

That's right--she did mention, in the initial chaos, that it was Eustace who taught her some dreamotion tricks, didn't she? Eustace really is a good teacher...though he isn't sure he would attribute all of her skill to Eustace, because that would be an insult to what he sees as proficiency she honed herself.

He is not, however, ready for the statement that comes after that. His mouth is open, about to ask about bouquets when she surprises him. ]

Susato mentioned me? The Mikotoba girl? [ He had literally only met her that very same day, at the beach. Had he really left that big of an impression on her to talk about him to another stranger? His smile grows a touch confused, and he asks with some trepidation, ] ...What did she say?

Mhm. The very one. [ After all, she makes such an impression. Could any other Mikotoba girl be in question? ] She's friends with Eustace, I think. And Tifa— [ "his fiancée," she almost says, but it's not her business to share so Aerith snaps her mouth shut and smiles, lips thin. ] She's a friend of mine. From home. You know, her other home.

[ She's seen her little home with Eustace, after all, come to collect her in the morning just to hang out, and steal her away from him for a few hours. It's great fun imagining it as being so mischievous. ]

Susato told me about you. How you're from another planet, and you're Syvlari, or something like that. Sorry, did I get it wrong?

[ He chuckles a little bit. ] Aren't we all from different planets, in a way? [ Very technical, but he thinks it's funny that's one of the distinguishing markers he's been assigned. ] Susato was correct, and you remembered well. I am sylvari.

[ He's...kind of impressed she remembers this fact about a total stranger from weeks ago. He can't imagine what sort of conversation it must have been to let that fact stick in her mind...aaand you know what, he's not going to try and guess what that might be. Other people's conversations are not his business and he still doesn't understand why people talk about him.

There's a more important matter, after all. ]

You're a friend of Tifa's! From her home realm? [ This is exciting! Trahearne lights up. Tifa is kind and gentle, so Aerith must be a good person, too. ] It's no wonder, then. She and Eustace are--very close.

[ The idea that they're all from different planets is quite true, though she supposes he has no way of knowing how that one statement manages to assuage the sense of worry that keeps finding her. Aerith looks at him with her expression falling for a moment, considering his words, and she knows she'll think about them later. For the moment, though, she just listens to him, turning towards him to face Trahearne with her complete attention. They should start walking, she realizes, but Aerith could not imagine not listening to him right now. She's fascinated by him; for her own personal reasons and for the simple fact she really is talking to a tree person. Goodness! She never thought they'd actually talk back. ]

They are. You must know, too, then?

[ The engagement? Or... their relationship, just in general? Hm. Maybe she shouldn't open her mouth too wide for now. ]

He's a little bit of a jerk, but I see why she likes him. [ Their love is genuine, you see. Aerith can see that. ] Although, I'd bet he would hate to hear that, don't you?

[ He nods slightly. He "knows" in that he saw the dream. He "knows" in that Tifa revealed their relationship to him. Trahearne isn't the sort to pry, taking in information only when others are ready to share, so it's kind of his fault he doesn't know much more than "knowing."

It's also kind of his fault that he's friends with notorious talker, Eustace. ]

That he's a jerk? I'd like to believe he has a touch of self awareness. [ Trahearne chuckles. He can easily picture Eustace shrugging the insult off. ] Eustace is a good friend of mine. He's rather...aloof. A lone wolf, if you will. I doubt he means to act as a jerk deliberately.

[ Though Aerith had Trahearne's complete attention in turn moments earlier, his gaze drifts as he thinks of his friend. He was a strange one--deliberately kept his distance, yet cared so deeply. In all honesty, he doesn't know Tifa as well as he does Eustace, but perhaps they shared things in common. Or perhaps she saw just how deeply he does care.

The little smile on his face remains as he looks back at Aerith, a slight hint of a tease to his voice. ] Does he not have your approval then?

[ He knows these things are important to...animals. Assuming Aerith and Tifa were indeed close, that is. ]

[ A tease is welcome. She swears the only person who ever seems to be up for that these days is Tifa, who surely is just glad to have her around now. Aerith tilts her head, curious, and then smiles in such a breezy way that it's impossible to miss how entertained she is by his quip. ]

My approval? I don't know if he needs that, anyway. I just got here, he barely knows me. [ Then again, Aerith probably doesn't know what exactly that means. Tifa's a big girl, though, she can do what she wants, but it's simply par for the course that Aerith sort of stumbles into the world, far after the fact, coming around just in time to see the climax of something. Outsider or not, it doesn't matter much when you've been as such your whole life. ]

More like... this is a dream, right? So... I just want Tifa to do what makes her happiest. And if that's the guy that electrocuted me, I guess I'll let that slide. On your recommendation, of course.

I'm sorry--

[ Whatever else Trahearne was going to say in response to what she said, likely more intelligent and well-thought out questions for her, immediately goes out the window. He tilts his head in shock, leaning back slightly at the word electrocuted.

He'll always be willing to give Eustace the benefit of the doubt, but it isn't like he knew the man on a deeper level. Maybe he really was just an awful jerk. All perspectives are valuable, even when it comes to people. ]

--He did what to you?

[ There is, actually, a pretty good story behind it all. She had almost thought she would stuck in a conversation about fate and destiny if he took the other conversation branch, but this? This is much funnier. Aerith laughs, waving her hand, as if it's no big deal. Maybe it isn't? ]

He's a petty guy with a mean streak who doesn't like being put into baskets. Why, doesn't sound like the guy you know?

[ Honestly, it speaks more about Aerith than it does Eustace... ]

[ Trahearne is a staunch believer in destiny, and he would have loved a deep discussion on the finer points of it...

...But not in this situation. Because what? ]

Not at-- Is he even small enough to fit in a basket? How did he get there?

[ Or was it a very large basket?

Aerith might be laughing, but Trahearne still looks just as puzzled. ]

[ Instead of explaining directly, Aerith uses her hands to try and measure the size he was at when she stuffed him into the basket. Purse dog size, she deduces, and looks back up to Trahearne like this is all quite normal, even if the way her smile is wider betrays that she thinks it's really funny. ]

You haven't seen him yet, have you?

[ He will know... soon. ]

But he didn't like it! Not at all. So he took it out on me, even though Iwas doing him a favor.

[ Curiously, Trahearne watches, taking in her gestures and what she says with tilted head. The Eustace he knows is much bigger than that. What does she mean when she-- ]

Pale Mother preserve me, he's been turned into the dog, hasn't he?

[ His confusion immediately switches to a surprised delight, and his vine tail swishes in much the same manner. He'd been so busy fighting with his own cowardice that he hadn't even thought about what his friends were up to during this whole ordeal. ]

I'm so sorry he did that to you. I understand we have little control over our assigned roles, but I thought he loved dogs. I'd imagine he would enjoy being one.

[ Much like Phantom would probably enjoy being a real cat, he thinks. ]

You'd think so, wouldn't you?

[ Maybe he had. She looks aside, away, and whistles a little. ] He'll probably like it with Tifa. [ She's a cheeky little shit when it suits her sense of humor. ]

You don't have to apologize for him. I'll get him to do it to me, one day. That's my new mission!

[ She's starting to walk, back to the base of operations, and holds her staff with a tight, determined grip. It all feels so serious... even if it's terribly funny. ]

[ Oh. And she's off.

Trahearne still can't get over the image of dog-Eustace, how angry he must be in a smaller body, how furious he must have been with Aerith. Maybe he would like it better with Tifaaaaaaaaand he's not going to think about that. It's not his business.

So he jogs to fall into step with Aerith moments later. He's still thinking about dog-Eustace, so he's a bit confused as to why she seems determined to get him to apologize now, when certainly there will be more opportunities later. ]

Is that where we're-- No. [ His thought process finally catches up to him, and he points to her apron (?). ] We're returning the gold pieces to base, is that right?

[ Well. Aerith is, at least. And Trahearne will be tagging along until they get there. ]

[ Trahearne is going through the wringer, here, and Aerith's just tromping all the long way, cutting through the path like she knows the way already. She does, sort of, because she's used to walking and walking— you gotta get somewhere, all the time, when you live in the slums, after all.

With a little hum of confusion, she looks back at him, still walking, just in time to catch him point at her pinafore. He must mean her make-shift pockets. She nods, chipper and pleased, chestnut bangs bouncing. ]

Mmhm. Gotta figure out these guys. If we happen to run into Eustace on the way... you'll just have to be my witness, then.

[ No one is ever going to believe half the things she says about that guy.

So, she hums. She hums a happy little tune, like a bird chirping out it's little song, and leads the whole way. Onto the next journey, whatever it may be.]

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{ Saving Oz }

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