Act or Die
A film crew trapped on a Wrankwood studio plate in the barrens.
A death from years ago rears its head again.
Joy, confusion, fear, anger, and hatred take the stage in turn...
Until blood paints the final scene of the drama.
Who wrote this absurd tragedy, with emotion as their pen?
Lucian lifts the curtains to take the stage as the star.
- AD-ST-1: To Incite a Death (Interlude)It is the last week of shooting for The Death of Lady Dupont, on a Wrankwood studio plate. The Messenger played by Lucian accidentally 'kills' Sir Dupont, but the blood that flows from the actor is not a prop.
- AD-1: Rehearsal Day (Before Operation)The producer Greta Stone insists that Dalton's death was an accident, but the coordinator Shelly believes it is linked to an incident five years ago. Lucian is reminded of a lesson that the Troupe Leader gave him when he was young.
- AD-1: Rehearsal Day (After Operation)Lucian has long hypothesized that the Troupe Leader may have returned from the dead. The script being auctioned at Wrankwood, with the Troupe's mark on it, and the accident that occurred after he joined the cast, all seem to indicate that he has come to the right place.
- AD-2: Rehearsing a Tragedy (Before Operation)Shelly begins to hallucinate on the set, putting herself in danger and rescued by Lucian at the critical moment. Lucian uses the incident as an opportunity to find out more about the accident from five years ago—the tragic death of a young actress named Laura.
- AD-2: Rehearsing a Tragedy (After Operation)Shelly leaves a movie viewing session with Tippi, the background painter, after getting a message, and dies in the cold storage section of the warehouse. Lucian sneaks into the office and discovers another deliberately concealed secret.
- AD-3: Dramatique (Before Operation)Tippi questions Michael, who was the last to see Shelly alive, and suspects him of being the killer. A camera assistant inquires about Lucian's secrets, only to learn that a Catastrophe is about to hit the studio plate.
- AD-3: Dramatique (After Operation)Greta speaks about the accident five years ago, and persuades the film crew to go ahead with the filming of the Catastrophe. Moira corroborates Michael's alibi and tells Tippi and Marion that Michael wanted to sneak off of the plate.
- AD-4: An Absurd Morning (Before Operation)Michael recalls how Laura fell to her death, and wants to escape the plate with Marion. Lucian is increasingly certain that the Troupe Leader is here. He recalls his reasons for escaping the troupe, and once again resolves to kill its leader.
- AD-4: An Absurd Morning (After Operation)Michael and Marion argue while Tippi and Moira reaffirm their friendship. A quiet night passes, but in the morning, the stagehand Hautin discovers the corpses of Michael and Marion on the set, suspended in mid-air.
- AD-ST-2: Focus (Interlude)The murderer's wanton violence sends the film set into a panic. Greta tells everyone of her past and to trust her vision, but disbands the crew—everyone has the right to leave, and she will finish filming with those who want to stay.
- AD-5: Promises of Reunion (Before Operation)Moira suggests looking for a way to escape. Melanie seeks out Tippi to design the backdrop for her grand finale. While the script's ending is still being written, Greta meets with Lucian, hoping he will become the new leading man. Meanwhile, Steven, struggling with writer's block, hears a knock at his door...
- AD-5: Promises of Reunion (After Operation)Melanie talks about her past rivalry with Marianne, prompting Tippi to decide to help her create the perfect scene. Under the guidance of the 'God of Inspiration', Steven turns Lucian into the savior of his script, and the lead of its grand finale.
- AD-6: Rewind the Monologue (Before Operation)Greta realizes Lucian is not only focused on the film shoot, but also the things outside of it. She officially invites him to become the 'leading man', and to settle all that has transpired on the plate. His first step is to unmask the killer behind the serial murders—Moira.
- AD-6: Rewind the Monologue (After Operation)Lucian reveals every step in Moira's vengeance for her older sister Laura, and as he closes in, Moira discovers she was never a part of Laura's life. The sabotage device Moira installed earlier takes effect, sending the plate straight towards the Catastrophe. The lives of the cast and crew are in grave peril, and there is no turning back.
- AD-7: Blood Diamond's Song (Before Operation)The studio plate is damaged by the Originium storm. Tippi, shocked by the culprit being her good friend, decides to save the plate. At the same time, Lucian finds Moira once more, who has already descended into madness.
- AD-7: Blood Diamond's Song (After Operation)Lucian defeats the frenzied Moira with the Blood Diamond's song, but in doing so, he too falls into madness. Only through Miss.Christine's calming presence does he regain clarity—and uncover the one behind it all: the leader of the Crimson Troupe, long thought dead.
- AD-8: Take a Bow (Before Operation)The Troupe Leader recounts everything that has happened on the plate and expounds on his 'aesthetics of death'. Lucian states his purpose plainly: he's here to kill him—again.
- AD-8: Take a Bow (After Operation)Lucian reveals the true identity of the Troupe Leader: a long-lived known as 'Tragodia'. He kills his teacher, he kills the god. But this murder ends in an inheritance—Lucian becomes the new Tragodia.
- AD-ST-3: A Word to the Audience (Interlude)Tippi visits Moira in prison. 'Lady Dupont' rouses controversy and becomes a film festival's hottest topic. The new Tragodia, Lucian, meets the Playwright and Shalem in a cinema, and they prepare for their new journey.