{ stroke of midnight }

[dreamposts]

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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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.
   
   
3. 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.

1. 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.
   
   
2. 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!

Comments

Erichthonios | Final Fantasy XIV | TDM

[beshackled]

I. Get in the Carriage
[‘He’s heavy!’ one may hear the coach mice say, a pair of them attempting to pull a tall man into a carriage. And not just a tall man. A very tall man, for although this world has seen fit to diminish Erichthonios by half his height, it’s approximation of minimization was perhaps… not quite enough. So it is that the two large mice are doing their very best to wrangle someone easily twice their size.]

I don’t understand! Where are you trying to take me!?

[The giant in dark robes speaks. He is confused. He is perplexed. It is possible these large mice mean to abduct him. But where? Why?]

II. Royal Banquet
[Erichthonios… is far more interested in the dragons than anything the tables have to offer by way of food. So caught up in his wonder at them, he barely gives a glance at the sustenance.]

I wonder whose creations they might be…

[…Are they creations? It is enough to momentarily distract him from his unfortunate change of clothing, for the fairy godmothers, having found his robes too plain, had taken certain…. liberties in embellishing his wardrobe.

He’s very sparkly now, embroidery refashioned in gold, and the fabric of his garments dyed in the colors of the sunset. Metallic colors of the sunset.]

III. Extravagant maze

What in creation...?

[Erichthonios is not afraid when the maze transforms to take on the shape of the gates of Pandaemonium. Much as the idea of a magick reaching into his mind to recreate the place is… concerning, he knows his way around the uppermost layer well, and has even recently traversed the greater expanse of the place.

That does not mean, however, that he desires for someone else to be caught in the dreary labyrinth along with him. The giant chains and cages with spikes on them (pointing towards the outside, fortunately) hanging here and there would probably make for quite the foreboding sight to one unaccustomed to such environs.]

IV. Crystal Greenhouse
[The architecture of the greenhouse is wholly unlike anything Erichthonios has seen before. Almost entirely crystalline, it catches his eye even in the dark of night, he finding himself drawn further and further away from the clamor of the ball… not that such was not already his inclination.

In its direction, he drifts on cautious steps, in clothes too bright, in diminished height, making his way towards the structure. When he arrives he finds a verdant oasis within the glass. There are flowers. There are grasses. There even appear to be small trees. Greenery abounds in this place.

He finds himself reminded of the carefully crafted test gardens of Elpis.]

Ah… this must be a controlled environs. [The man who stands nearly nine feet fulms tall speaks, murmuring thoughtfully to himself as his gaze wanders across panes of glass from wall to vaulted ceiling.] The crystal likely allows for adequate permeation of light…

[Hypothesis on the nature of the structure posited, Erichthonios turns his attention back to the plants.]

I. Get in the Carriage

[refantasma]

[Nico can't help but stare at the tall man, is he a giant? be put in the carriage with him.

Nico's bad at guessing heights, he seems ten feet tall instead of the usual twenty, and after a discreet check, he doesn't seem to have snake feet. With that, Nico breathes a sigh of relief. And does his best to give the tall man his space by pushing himself into a corner]

They're taking us to a ball.

[Nico points out the window to the fairy tailesque castle they're heading to.]

They threw me in hear too. I dunno why the ball's important.

[beshackled]

[In a yet-to-be-discovered bit of irony, Erichthonios' true height dwells much closer to twenty than ten, his father even slightly over.

He does, however, have feet free of any snakes or snake-like appendages.... which is probably for the best in this case, as such a thing might have gotten caught in the door.]

...A ball...

[The mice, at last successful after having endured much exertion, make to take the reigns of the pegasi.]

Could a mere orb be so important?

[...He has no context of what this kind of ball is.]

[refantasma]

[Nico blinks. His first thought is, 'ah, English is a dumb language.'

He gives the tall man a little smile. Or tries to, he's out of practice.]

Ah, not that type. A social gathering where there will be dancing. Ball is another word for a very fancy version of those.

[Now that he's sure that the man isn't a giant, he's more comfortable. Most gods tend to default to around the ten-foot-tall mark, give or take.]

[beshackled]

Dancing?

[At this, Erichthonios lifts his head, looking at the boy directly.

His red eyes are luminescent, a faint patterning around the central pupil a display of radial symmetry.]

I do not... think I would do well at that.

[Or at the social gathering part. Already, he feels his trepidation increasing.]

This is going to be fun.

[refantasma]

[Oh, those eyes are pretty. And clearly not human.]

I won't either. Last time I was at function like this I was little and stood on my mother's feet while we 'danced.'

I'm Nico di Angelo, son of Hades.

When both your series have have strong Greek myth influences...

[beshackled]

'Tis good to meet you, Nico di Angelo. I am Erichthonios.

[The names similar to that of his own people, he finds the Nico's easy to speak. Nor does anything in particular stand out to him.... but perhaps that is because the Hades of his star goes by the title of his office rather than his true name, as is their custom.]

Is it a custom of your people, to introduce yourselves alongside your parentage?

Extravagant Maze!

[leveillpier]

[ How Alisaie ended up in this labyrinth, she didn't know. The foreboding appearance already puts her on edge. She's grateful that her weapon wasn't confiscated at the entrance, given the extravagant grown she was put in. It also makes moving quite troublesome.

She peeks around cautiously and notices Erichthonios not too far from her. He stood out mostly because of his ridiculous height, to which she may have to crane her neck uncomfortable to look and speak to him. ]

Have you any idea to what is happening?

[ She still glances about, trying to locate any threat. Of which she did not catch sight of any. She notices the soft and sweet smell, though. Strange. ]

[beshackled]

...Aye. It seems this maze has taken on the form of a place familiar to me.

[Ahead, stone statues stand, three-headed snake-men with broad torsos appearing much like ominous guards.

They are but stone. They do not move.

Erichthonios, on the other hand, does, neck bending low to observe the little one.

He cannot fault her for being wary.]

You need not worry, though. I... believe I know the way.

[That is... if the maze has taken on the shape of Pandaemonium.]

[leveillpier]

A place that is familiar to you--? You can't be serious.

[ Because this whole thing looks bizarre to her. It's not the weirdest, but certainly not anything she's seen before. Though, she can't fault the dream world for creating its own false sense of reality. He must miss where he came from. She still looks around at the stone statue stands and the three-headed snake men.

Fortunately, they aren't moving. Alisaie can't say she won't attack sight if she feels threatened. What a peculiar-looking man he is when she makes eye contact with him. He's much taller than anyone she's ever met. She does at least relax a little to his words. He doesn't come off as hostile. At least, not yet. ]

That will be quite-- helpful you can get us out of this-- maze.

[ If it is something that manifested because of him, she's pretty certain that it may also play with her sense of reality too. Alisaie doesn't need to have her thoughts manifested in actual illusions. ]

[beshackled]

[Erichthonios is indeed serious. He has spent most of his life in this place. The real place, anyhow. Consequentially, he doesn't so much as bat an eye at the stone Ladon Lords.]

'Tis full of dreary halls, but I walk them often. So long as this maze remains true to the layout, we should be through in no time.

[At that, he strides forward.]

...though I do not understand why it has taken on this form. Do you know anything of this place...?

sorry for the really late reply. suddenly got a writer's block ;w;

[leveillpier]

[ Alisaie can't say she's seen these sorts of creatures before. Everything about this place feels foreign to her. It's as if they've transported another dimension of sorts. Her hand still hovers over her rapier, as she glanced around as looks at him, almost incredulously. ]

What sort of facility is this, pray tell? It feels quite-- ominous.

[ Alisai follows after the taller individual as she listens to his inquiry. It makes sense now that he asked about what kind of place this is. She looks thoughtful for a moment, before speaking. ]

This place is a dreamscape of sorts. It has a mind of its where the impossible can be possible. Mayhaps, you are experiencing something created from your memory, or something you've thought deeply about.

[ Alisaie just remembers the train incident with herself and with a few others she's encountered. The emotions of those memories lingered in the back of her mind, but they don't trouble her as much as when they happened. ]

That's alright! I got finger-nicked deep by a cardboard box so my typing has been limited

[beshackled]

[Erichthonios responds to her speculations with a nod.]

That... makes sense. I was there before I found my consciousness here, and have had numerous experiences those halls. Though, for a mercy, the magicks of the maze do not seem to be recreating the chaos that unfolded there recently.

[After walking a little ways forward, they reach the front gate of the building proper.]

...and to answer your question, this place, or the place you see recreated here, is Pandæmonium, a facility where some of the most dangerous of creations are interned. Though most creations that prove too dangerous to be released into the wider world are reduced back to the aether from which they were created so that they do not cause unwarranted destruction, some few are delivered unto the halls you see for further study, that we may yet learn from them.

II; I meant to get this out sooner, sorry.

[crystalized_hope]

[Madhuri was off talking to some people, leaving G'raha to wander for a while. Hanging around the banquet, he hadn't quite taken notice of Erichthonious just yet. Well, not completely. His height was hard to miss. It wasn't until he mentioned creations that it piqued G'raha's interest enough to say something.]

Pardon the intrusion, but what do you mean by creations?

[He only has slight exposure to this from his time around Hythlodaeus and Emet-Selch. It was possible that it could be two different things entirely.]

No need to apologize! I have been a bit tired myself. I bought... a few trees yesterday.

[beshackled]

[And yet, they are the same things exactly.

Erichthonios is broken from his contemplations by the approach of the little one. nd though he gives the small one his full attention -- it is only polite to do so, after all -- it takes him a moment to things to click in his mind.]

The people of Etheirys are wielders of creation magicks. Objects, sustenance, life... so long as we are able to hold the concept clear in mind, we are able to channel the powers of creation to bring it into existence.

[He lifts his head to glance at the dragons once more, the owlish mask upon his face. Everyone is wearing masks here, so he has worn his own; the ornamentation changed to gold to match the new color of his robes, much to his chagrin.]

...though I do not recall any concept of their design. Are they... like us?

[crystalized_hope]

['People of Etheirys'... That term, along with creations, was unique enough to verify this man's origins. His ears quickly perked up in interest. Though the robes were altered by the faerie godmothers, they were close enough to the ones that Hythlodaeus had worn.]

Well, they have probably been here for longer than any of us here, much like the tapirs.

[He paused for a moment.]

My name is G'raha Tia. I hail from Etheirys as well, though -- like as naught -- likely from another time period than you. Would I be correct in assuming you are from Amaurot? Mayhaps Elpis?

[He had heard about his dear friend's time in Elpis, but the closest thing he knew of was the conversations with Emet-Selch and Hythlodaeus.]

[beshackled]

[Though Erichthonios cannot place the man -- though, tis no wonder he cannot, for even in his own time and place he was somewhat isolated -- the mere mention of those places, familiar to mind and memory, bring him a measure of comfort, his demeanor visibly brightening in response.]

Aye. Though not precisely in Elpis, the facility in which I reside and work is connected to it by neus... and though it has been some time since I have spent any prolonged period in Amaurot, I once lived there, early in my childhood.

[crystalized_hope]

Time works differently than back home. I travel in a place called Eorzea, mostly.

A dear friend of mine has been to Elpis through unconventional means. I only know about the information they gave us from their time there, but I find creation magics to be quite fascinating.

[beshackled]

You speak as though they are uncommon...

[A thing surreal in itself, for how common they are in Erichthonios' time.]

Though you did mention the possibility of coming from another time. I wonder how it is we are able to meet like this...

[Have they somehow managed to cross time? Or is there some aspect of the universe to which the standard observations of time do not apply...?]

...Ah. Apologies. Your words were so intriguing, I neglected to introduce myself. I am Erichthonios.

IV. Crystal Greenhouse

[mementomoracle]

[ sorry erich this is the best surprised icon i have gjfdhhjkgd

Though Aera herself has wandered into the greenhouse for much the same reason as Erichthonios himself - the beauty of the building itself and the greenery within - she did not expect other people to be here. And certainly not someone like... like... that...

It's rude to stare, but that's a little hard to remember when you are confronted with the sight of the most inhumanly tall person you've ever seen. Aera does stare, open-mouthed, and a worried thought occurs: perhaps this isn't a person? Could they be a daemon? ]

Er...

Re: IV. Crystal Greenhouse

[beshackled]

[Pulled from his thoughts by the vocalization, Erichthonios turns to face the small woman. Though he is a far greater measure taller, he has seen encountered some several others closer to her stature by now.

...still, he can't help but feel in this case that he has caused her some alarm.]

...Greetings. I hope I am not intruding? I saw no sign barring entry...

[An awkward start, but he can think of no better way to show her he means no harm.]

[mementomoracle]

[...Well, at least that is absolutely not daemon-like behaviour. She is yet to hear about any of them even speaking. Aera pulls herself together, clearing her throat a little self-consciously.]

Oh no, I was merely... surprised because I expected everyone to be at the masquerade. [She pauses briefly, and at least it seems as though it lets the initial awkwardness dissipate.] You were drawn here because of its beauty too?

[beshackled]

Aye... though I must admit, escaping the eye of the fairy godmothers may have played a part in my initial impulse to wander from the festivities.

[Still, the flowers are... quite beautiful, now that he takes a moment to look around him, and not just at the architecture of their housing.]

[mementomoracle]

[Now that she gets a closer look at him, he's... rather young? Possibly younger than Aera herself, despite the difference in stature. About Somnus's age, perhaps. In that case it would make sense that he would want to wander away...]

Do you dislike being looked after?

[beshackled]

Looked after...

[Erichthonios lets out a sigh, head hanging dejectedly, mask still... mysteriously very much in place, as though it is affixed to his face despite not having visible straps.]

I was thrust into a carriage without warning, and little more than a moment had passed since I emerged before they set upon me, coloring my garments with their magicks... after a time, I could have sworn I heard them fussing about changing it again, debating each other over which color they preferred...