songerein | { stroke of midnight }

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{ stroke of midnight }

STROKE OF MIDNIGHT

Although the Masquerade is being held on the night of the Fourteenth, some new problems arise in the days after. This log is split into two sections, the Masquerade and Around Town. Everyone is free to participate in either or both, whichever catches your interest.

More details on everything can be found here and here. As a reminder, events double as our TDMs and information can be found here with arrival details here. Any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in February and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of February 14 through 28. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count February as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Wednesday, February 22nd and Applications will open on March 1. Our next cycle after won't be until JULY.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view, updated 02/22)

Avatar: The Legend of Korra - Korra
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Iroh
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night - Miriam
Chainsaw Man - Power
Dr. STONE - Dr. Senku Ishigami
Elsworld - Noah Ebalon (Nyx Pieta)
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Zack Fair
Final Fantasy XIV - Erichthonios
Final Fantasy XV - Noctis Lucis Caelum
Final Fantasy XV - Prompto Argentum
Genshin Impact - Shikanoin Heizou
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist - Solanaceae
Katekyou Hitman Reborn - Hayato Gokudera
Kingdom Hearts - Ienzo
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Link
Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time - Sheik
Marvel Cinematic Universe - Kate Bishop
NieR: Automata - 9S
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Jason Grace
Percy Jackson & the Olympians - Nico di Angelo
Persona 3: FES - Shinjiro Aragaki
SinoAlice - Sleeping Beauty
Tales of Arise - Shionne Vymer Imeris Daymore
Tales of Symphonia - Kratos Aurion
Tales of Symphonia - Martel Yggdrasil
Tales of Zestiria - Mikleo
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 - Sena
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel

We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.

I. MASQUERADE

It's time for the masquerade and the carriages will start arriving before sunset. Upon arrival, everyone who leaves the carriage (or mercilessly spat out if they try to resist) will be greeted by fairy godmothers with an eye for the most dramatic and extravagant fashion. It's a masquerade, after all! For those who already arrive with their outfits, the fairy godmothers may add a little embellishment here and or just change it completely if they think it could look better. For those who did not, they will create a whole new outfit that would fit the wearer perfectly—with magic of course. They will also create the masks and half of the glass slipper brooch that everyone will wear. The masks are enchanted so that regardless of obvious personality or physical traits, they are somehow unrecognizable at first. While it is possible to figure it out through interaction, or if it's someone they already know well, it's more likely they need to reveal their identity first. These outfits can be kept even after the masquerade is over.

A. Get in the Carriage. As the pegasus drawn carriages begin to arrive to transport those who have decided to attend the masquerade, there is some commotion from others. The pair of coach mice—who are only about four feet tall—can be found smiling and cheerily squeaking about the masquerade as they grab and literally throw protesting individuals into the carriage, whereupon the door will immediately shut behind them. Ho ho ho, it'll be such a grand time! Will anyone try to help the poor soul? Or perhaps help the mice? Maybe you're a struggling victim instead. Should anyone want to try and drive the carriage, they might have a chance…but good luck having the pegasi listen to them. Eventually the carriage will land and take them to the front of the castle where the masquerade is hosted.

B. Half of a Pair. Near the entrance, everyone is encouraged to pull out one or more of the shoe brooches contained in a large bowl. The rules are simple: 1) use the brooch to lead them to the person wearing the other half; 2) spend whatever time or activity with them, be it general socializing, a dance, a walk in the gardens; 3) keep the brooch or return it to a designated "Used" bowl. The brooches will absorb whatever kind of dreamotion energy is formed between the two, and the stronger it is, the brighter (if positive) or darker (if negative) it will glow. The interaction can be romantic, platonic, or hostile. For those who do happen to "click" and wish for some privacy, there are numerous terraces and balconies available. Some are public, but there are quite a few with curtains, so be sure to close them to signal the balcony is occupied!

C. Dancing in the Air. The main draw will be the dance floor, and the ballroom is wide and spacious to accommodate numerous pairs to dance to their hearts' content—the music is played by enchanted instruments so they'll keep going without much of a break! Of course, what makes this dance floor truly special is how it uses dreamotion energy to lift everyone up—literally. Pairs who are having a fun time may find themselves floating up and dancing in the air instead of on the ground. Somehow they can maintain some balance…but it's just as easy to lose it.

D. Royal Banquet. There are numerous tables one can use and be served an assortment of foods. In fact, one could make special requests and somehow the dragons serving will be able to make it, or at least as close as possible. One just has to imprint the idea of the dish onto a special card that the chefs will use to recreate it. There are also two bowls filled with special tear drop chocolates, one with only white, pink, and red, and the other filled with the other colors. The "game" is to randomly choose one from each bowl and share a kiss depending on what is picked.

E. Out in the Gardens. Every castle has extravagant gardens, and this one is no different. Filled with numerous pink, red, and white flowers, the gardens have their typical fare…with not so typical effects.

Extravagant mazes that one could easily get lost in are common, but what's special about these gardens is that the flowers will emit a soft, sweet scent that will feel as if they are walking through a dream. In fact, the section they are going through will begin to change to look like a place from their world and must now find their way out. When this change happens, only those who are in the area will be affected and no one else can enter the area until the main person affected gets out. Those inside can help, and there are no threats—it's all in simple fun…unless the place evokes certain memories and emotions for the person. Might not be as fun for them, then.
A crystal greenhouse where the temperature is perfectly warm (or cold!) and houses various different flowers. Here some may recognize flowers from their world, the scents also creating nostalgia. There are instructions left that indicate anyone can try to help grow the flowers. The key ingredient will be dreamotion energy, and should they succeed in creating a blossom, a small marble containing a symbol of their home. There are also special daisies that can be used to play the "they love me they love me not" game. If the last petal is "they love me," then become extra flirty and clingy. If it's "love me not," they become angry, jealous, and possessive. The effects only last for a short time…unless they keep plucking flowers.
The white fountain in the center of the gardens will have a bit of a musical playful side. It will splash colorful water at any who pass by, chime-like notes playing out as it does. But if one were to drop a flower that has absorbed positive dreamotion into its water, it will calm and let people sit to look and relax. There is also a strange frog wearing a crown that claims to be a prince. For those who believe its words that a kiss will free him from the curse, they will be sorely disappointed as nothing happens and the frog just laughs and hops away.

II. AROUND TOWN

A. Mask Up. Attracted by the masquerade, some enchanted masks have found their way to town and are now finding their way onto people, be it by tricking their victims to be put on or just forcibly latching themselves on. Depending on the type of mask, the wearer will behave based on a festive, dramatic emotion. While wearing the mask, the dreamotion that is projected is stronger. Examples are angry emotions will cause tremors and cracks on the ground, happiness could blind people or will cause confetti to fly everywhere, while sad ones will cause clouds and drizzling rain to appear overhead. The only way to remove it is to somehow make the other person feel the opposite of whatever emotion the mask is using. Once the mask’s emotion is countered and stabilized, it could be removed or even fall off if the countering emotion is strong enough. Masks can also be captured and collected before they attach to someone.

B. Special Messages. Throughout the month, valentine's are being delivered to people all over town. Some are even receiving some from the fae and dragons who live outside… Perhaps some caution should be had from those. Regardless, while the messages are brimming with both platonic and romantic (and questionable) love, the messengers are a bit… Well they need help.

Insightful Mockingbirds. Special mockingbirds are flying around and perch on random shoulders. They have the ability to "read" a person's thoughts and repeat them out loud. Without warning. Hope there aren't any secrets because that bird is going to make it public, especially if it's an observation or thought—good or bad—about another person. Good luck shooing it away, too—it'll stick around for a while because it might enjoy sowing this bit of chaos.
Arrow Delivery. The group from last year have decided to use their prank arrows for good and start a business in delivering special Valentine's messages via arrow. A "shot to the heart" in the less literal sense this time! While some of their archers are skilled, others are…less so. Some are hitting a bit too close to comfort or way off the mark. Some messages are going to the wrong person entirely. Help avoid, retrieve, or even deliver these messages around town.

C. Candy Kisses. A special assortment of flat bottomed, tear shaped chocolates are currently selling like hotcakes and can be found practically everywhere. Their main selling point is they come in different colors and each color has a special effect that will make the eater want to kiss the person near them in a certain way (see chart). Some people are deliberately swapping the wrappers around, so be careful!

D. Bleeding Hearts Return. It's Valentine's, yet Cupid is nowhere to be seen. That is because he's still corrupted from last year and now he's thirsting for love, any love. Using the Bleeding Hearts from last year, Cupid is using them to gather all that jealous, possessive love, but of course that's going to make it worse. We're not tackling Cupid here, but the main goal will be helping those who are afflicted by the Bleeding Hearts and purifying them via dreamotion instead of just destroying them. Purifying the Bleeding Hearts with pure love—romantic, platonic, familial, reminders of how they are loved and cared for by others—will help Cupid. Of course this could backfire and make the person feel worse, so be careful!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Exactly! [She nods along.] You get it. See, I'm getting used to this whole dream business. Sometimes there's real danger, but this is really feeling like it's more on the 'illusion' side.

[She speaks matter-of-factly, stepping forth confidently.]

I'm sure we'll find ourselves back in the garden any moment now! And if any of those nasty corrupted things were going to be part of it, they would have already shown their malevolent faces! Wow, I'm feeling less terrified for my life by the moment!

Glad you're confident about it.

[He's... not, but he's trying his best here. They reach the top of the steps, and beyond the ancient, broken down throne, the temple that once existed here is no more, broken to pieces when Heldalf fused with Maotelus to try and kill them with his final form. There's no body, but no one had ever bothered to clean it, so he does his best to ignore the brown stain surrounding the hole where a sword was still thrust through the stone.

Beyond the throne is a small patch of greenery, leading into an enormous chasm. It appears to be for the most part an empty abyss, save for a single bright light rising up from the center, reaching towards the top of the sky itself. It pulses softly, moving upwards at a slow, gentle pace, dispersing into nothing.

Mikleo pauses at the edge, staring for a long moment, then glances over at her.]

...Come say hello.

[Once they reach the actual throne, Magilou does pause at the sight before them. For a moment, her expression looks more serious as she takes in the state of the throne. She had chalked up the previous differences to natural wear and tear over some prolonged period of time, but now it's undeniable that something went down here. This definitely wasn't her group's handiwork! Something must have happened here after the fact. Huh, is she feeling a twinge of worry for that kid...? He's an Empyrean now, he should be fine...

There are many questions in her head, but Magilou will contain them for now. There's only so much she can say without playing her own hand, after all, and the state of that throne really leaves her unsure about where anyone stands currently.

She quickly resumes her more jovial nature and skips over next to Mikleo, to the edge of the abyss. And she gives a very curious look towards that floating light.]

Who am I saying hello to?

...This is Maotelus.

[Mikleo's gaze drifts back towards the light, hesitating for a long moment, before adding more quietly,]

And Sorey.

[And then there's one name she should have expected to hear, yet still catches her by surprise.]

That's Maotelus?! [She blurts that right out. She's not sure what to make of the other name - sure, she's met someone here by that name, but he's just some innocent golden retriever of a person. Magilou's mind races with the possibilities, but things don't sound good combined with the state of the throne. The formation of Maotelus seemed like a good sign for the future alongside all the ways in which they messed it up, so it's not very good to see a sign that something ended up going wrong to him.

She quickly tries to get back into character and gives a big theatrical wave.]

Oh, um, h-hi there Maotelus! And Sorry!

[...Aha.]

So you're from the same world. [And she's been putting on quite the show, hasn't she?] You're a pretty good actor.

[He shouldn't be surprised. He's had enough experience with people who hide their true nature by now - humans and seraphim alike do this from time to time - that it shouldn't bother him. Still a little disappointing when he falls for it, though, considering he's been taught how seraphim are meant to see through to the heart and discern their intentions. ...Maybe eventually he'll learn, he's still fairly young. At least here, it might for once be harmless.]

[Well, the cat's out of the bag. Or at least part of it is. But now that he's onto her less-than-truthful tendencies, it feels like she might as well admit to the big things she's hiding.

But first, she gives a dramatic bow, as if she had received a full applause for her performance.]

Why thank you, thank you! I'll be here all week. [She the proceeds to twirl around.] Cone to think of it, I do remember this place! It really brings it back. I remember when this whole place was newly built, and a lot less destroyed!

You were at Artorius's Throne?

[He glances towards the ruins at their backs, and her, at the same time. He looks surprised. The ruins didn't look as ancient as those he'd explored throughout the rest of their journey, but they weren't new by any means, even if half the destruction they'd endured was due to malevolence and the weather conditions Heldalf and the corrupted Maotelus's presence had wrought. It must have been a long time ago.]

What was it like in your time?

[Artorius... hearing it called that causes Magilou to make a Face. She might not have Velvet's grudge, but she's definitely not happy about That Name enduring. Artorius's Throne is just a throne of lies!]

They call it the Empyrean's Throne where, or rather when, I'm from. I like that name a lot better! And what's there to say? It was a lot less ruined for one. Had that classic 'new temple' smell. It was supposed to be a place of worship, but really it was more just a base for the Exorcist's Abbey. Far from the most exciting travel destination!

Empyrean, exorcist? I've never heard of either of those.

[He's a little excited to learn more about the area, even if it comes with the bittersweet feeling of never really wanting to come here for any reason besides visiting Sorey. He'd studied what was left of the ruins a little in the years between, but he never wanted to experience too much. It's on the "wait until Sorey comes back" ruins list, because maybe it'll hurt less for the both of them if they do it together.

Those words mean nothing to him, though. It makes sense that names and terminology might change, but…]

My, my. Oh, how the times change!

[She shakes her head back and forth for a moment and then goes on, sounding like she's musing to herself more than Mikleo.]

I suppose the 'exorcist' part is no surprise. Without malakhim under their control, they must have crumbled apart and dissolved. Vanished from the pages of history! [She seems oddly delighted by that.] But even 'Empyrean' has fallen out of fashion? [Now she glances towards him.] Hey, what do you call Maotelus and his four elemental pals?

They're known as the Five Lords. But that's just their titles- they're still seraphim, not Empyreans.

[Malakhim is a new one, too. From the context, he might have made a guess, but... her phrasing makes him hesitate, his historian nature crawling to the forefront of his mind past the excitement he'd rather indulge. The "abbey" implies that the throne was once a church, which lines up with it being the temple where Maotelus was enshrined. That shrine was in Camlann, the village formed by a Shepherd at the foot of a seraphim mountain. A mountain surrounded by ruins honouring the Shepherds, ruins that were confirmed (begrudgingly) to date prior to the Era of Asgard. And Maotelus has only been a recognized lord for a thousand years or so, after that era. She said the temple was new. All those threads wove together, leading him to dread asking the question-]

What are... malakhim?

[And if they're what he thinks they might be, then... why would she say control?]

Wow, they're really simplifying it. I suppose they are quite lordly, but we know them as the Empyreans!

[It's very curious! He does mention one word she hasn't herself heard until her journey through the Heavenly Steppes back home. So that's another dot that was connected!]

Malakhim? So that's one more word that's fallen out of fashion! 'Malakhim' is what seraphim are called in my time. Apparently the name was given to seraphim who chose to live side by side with humans. But for full disclosure, my source was a flying rappig!

[And there it is. The answer he halfway expected, and is at the same time confused by. So Empyreans became the Five Lords. Exorcists are possibly early iterations of Shepherds. Malakhim are seraphim who... lived among humans, but were also sometimes controlled by them?

The past is just as confusing to hear about in person than it is reading about. Then again, this woman could just be pulling his leg like before. The flying rappig comment does not fill him with confidence. (What even is a flying rappig?)]

Hang on. Were malakhim being controlled by humans, or did they choose to live with them?

Yes.

[She just had to give that answer, the opportunity was right there! She smiles for a moment, before she decides to give him a line.]

It was one than the other. They chose to live among the humans initially... but then the Abbey turned on them and started using them as their deamon-hunting tools. They just had to get rid of a little thing they had called free will!

[He's heard a lot about the past. Some good, plenty bad. The world is huge and fraught with danger and disturbances, so there's bound to be awful things still undiscovered in its past. Wars and betrayals, plagues, violent uprisings, murder... the list could go on.

This, though. This is possibly the worst thing anyone's ever told him about their world's history. And yeah, he has a particular bias, but the existential horror it implies is too powerful. Humans revere the seraphim as gods, particularly the Five Lords but lower ranking seraphim as well. Any of them could be a Five Lord, given enough offerings, after all. This is the equivalent of someone telling him that humans enslaved their own gods.]

I... I don't understand. [His voice is faint, struggling to believe it. He doesn't want to.] Why would they... hellions can be purified with the cooperation of humans and seraphim together! Why would they have to take away free will?

[Sounds like she dumped something heavy on the guy. Not that she can blame him, given that was one of the things she fought to eradicate! Free will is one of the most important things after all. But it definitely sounds like it's personal for this guy.]

A very good question. And the answer's simple. There was no such thing as purification yet. That's a very new thing for me! Our mutual friend, Maoutelus? He pretty much just learned it recently. So it sounds like he'll be successful in spreading it around the world, if I'm hearing you right... [She shakes her head.] ...It just wasn't an option before that. So mankind really stooped to try to solve their problems with daemons, or hellions, or whatever you want to call them!

[He keeps asking questions and not liking the answers more and more the longer this conversation progresses. You'd think he would learn to stop, but that's the downside of being obsessed with history. You have to face it, no matter how ugly it is. He recognized that a long time ago, and it's not a lesson one easily forgets.]

That's... awful. It's no wonder so many older seraphim distrust humans... it's not just the malevolence issue, it's that they could have been enslaved a long time ago. It's a miracle any of us are able to cooperate at all in modern times...

[That would also explain why there hadn't been Shepherds for a long, long time, prior to Michael. Who would risk their life to tie themselves to a human again, with that kind of history hanging over their heads? Maybe Lailah is young enough - for a seraph - to have missed the worst of it. Edna, on the other hand, had been less forgiving, and she'd given the impression of being much older. To say nothing of Zaveid. What must they have witnessed...]

[His reactions all feel genuine to Magilou. So, while 'trust' is a very strong word for her, she does feel some confidence that they're not enemies. At least not when it comes to issues of free will and the rights of malakhim/seraphim. Though there is also the tricky matter of the Lord of Calamity. Things sure are confusing in the future, huh?]

Oh yeah, I wouldn't blame them in the slightest for wanting to just get the hell away from humans. Time doesn't actually heal all wounds, after all. But hey, it sounds like you've managed some kind of getting along in your far-flung future. [She pumps a fist, with excessive cheer.] Way to go!

Some of us, at least.

[Not all seraphim think the same way, after all. But it's true that for the most part, they seem to at least be willing to forgive, if not forget. Many have seen the growth of humans, overlooked their flaws, or recognized their potential. It isn't only malevolence that humans can generate- they also create hope, and an impressive tenacity. It's not like all seraphim are perfect, either. Some of Symonne's tactics would have felt right at home amongst what those exorcists did in the past.]

I'm glad I wasn't born in your era. No offense intended.

In any other context, I would be quite offended that you wouldn't want to live in the same era as the marvelous, majestic, magnificent Magilou! But as it is? I get it. [She lowers her arms, and most of the theatrics.] None taken.

So, which do you happen to be? Human, or malakhim slash seraphim?

I'm a seraph. I'd never heard the term malak before now, but if they're interchangeable, then that's the correct one.

Seraph it is, then. [That does seem to be the 'original' term anyway. Not that Magilou wants to go into everything she's learned necessarily.]

From what I know, it's essentially one in the same. In any case, it's no wonder that this is, well, a lot for you. Maybe this would be a good time to get back to finding our way to the garden?

[Rather than dwelling in this epicenter of difficult memories.]

...Yeah, I agree.

[With one last look towards the light, he finally fully turns away from it to focus on the rest of the scenery.]

I wonder how we do that... I'm aware of another path out of these ruins, so maybe we could try that instead of going back?

[She doesn't want to get caught up in history lessons all day... and there's probably some atrocities he's better off not learning about. She takes one last glance at the light that apparently was Maotelus, before readying herself to follow Mikleo's lead.]

Sure, let's try that! Your memories of this place are more up-to-date, so you'll know better than me!

{ stroke of midnight }

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