dreamposts: (Default)
dreamposts ([personal profile] dreamposts) wrote in [community profile] songerein2023-05-15 02:15 pm

{ battle against the story eater }




BATTLE AGAINST THE STORY EATER


The Story Eater has arrived.

More details on everything can be found here. We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.

Players who made boss submissions, if you are creating a prompt in your toplevel or wish to create a designated prompt for your boss, please comment here which will be used as a directory.



I. ON THE MOON



Those on the moon will at first feel overwhelmed, possibly even forced to the ground by the sheer enormous force of the nightmare energy that continues to pour out where the Story Eater had once stood. It feels as if they had extremely underestimated its power, and those of a weak mind will already feel the effects of the nightmare latching onto their worst fears. However, a cold air brushes over them and the ground beneath warms as it pulses white. In an instant, the oppressive feeling disappears, clarity returning to them.

It's too early to fall now, little dreamers, a sultry voice whispers in their ears with a laugh as another sighs, the softer voice like a melody. Quick, before the blessing loses its effect. The rest is up to you.

A. Tapir Calvary. The tapirs may have been hanging back for a while, but they will pop in, all eager to feast upon the nightmares that appear. Of course… Like anything, too much is dangerous for them as well. While they are able to withstand the seemingly endless amount of nightmare energy as if they are just swimming through flooded waters, after eating too much they start to wobble and complain of their stomachs hurting. This in turn makes them irritable, and instead of stopping to eat, they start eating more. Stop them before they eat themselves sick. Those that start to exude a dark mist and start turning black need to be quickly taken off the moon or sent into a dream. If they are not… They will disappear to somewhere unknown.

B. Slenderman and Cupid. There are two particularly strong foes that will be working with the Story Eater. "Slenderman" will be just like it was when it first appeared by the castle, feasting on nightmare energy and using shadows to its advantage. It will be a tough foe to kill, but explosive wisps and pure dreamotion light will be effective against it. Cupid will be insane and will try to inflict hatred upon any struck by his arrows. He is more unstable and will be more susceptible to those who try to purify it with love and kindness. (Cupid will most likely move to attack the town so he is available for On the Ground prompts.)

C. Wisped Away. With the amount of monsters and damage caused by the Story Eater directly and its creations, deaths are inevitable. Normally for those who have fully integrated into the world, like the fae and the dragons, this would have been permanent. However, perhaps due to the unusual nature of the Story Eater, they will be "graced" the same fate like the dreamers that inhabit Reverein. Their physical body may disappear, but their "soul" turns into condensed dreamotion energy and takes the form of a wisp. (Characters can and will be turned into wisps if they die so these can also apply to them.)
🛑 Because of the high likelihood of the original body suffering a traumatic event, the wisp will be extremely vulnerable and has a high risk of turning into a noctaere. They will flash red and black and the deeper the color, the closer they are to changing. Find and help purify them via dreamotion.
🚦 Escort vulnerable wisps to the portal so they can be taken to a safehouse and calm down.
💣 Some wisps will not feel negative emotions and instead will want to continue to fight. Although they are still vulnerable, because their dreamotion energy is so condensed they have the ability to explode without any harm to themselves to either inflict damage on the creatures OR to help purify those afflicted with pure dreamotion energy. These wisps will be gold in color.

II. ON THE GROUND



As soon as the Story Eater appeared, those of strong magical prowess had attempted to erect a barrier to protect the town and its surroundings from the brunt of the fallout, but it could not keep up forever, especially as those who try to keep it in place begin to quickly fall as their own nightmares take over. Thus while it's still safer than what's going on on the moon, the same afflictions can still be felt and experienced.

A. Support the Barriers. There are two different barriers currently protecting Reverein and the surrounding areas. Not only must they be defended from attacks, they also need help to stay up.
🧱 The sand walls erected earlier will stand tall and withstand most physical attacks, but eventually they will begin to crumble and create gaps. They must be quickly patched up and defended as the Story Eater's minions, creations, and those turned into noctaere start to push through.
🔮 The magic barrier is fueled with dreamotion and serves to help keep the effects of the nightmare energy lowered so that most of the people inside can withstand it. However, as those who are trying to keep it up fall, replacements are needed. To help, the moles from before bring up crystals that anyone can help channel and use to help as a power source to empower the barrier.


B. Aid Relief. Those who have been injured and brought back from the moon or from around town will be ushered into designated locations set up for healing. Be it physical or mental, they will be treated and protected by those who remain on defense. However, as the battle goes on and more people are afflicted, supplies and personnel will wear out, so additional aid will be needed. This may even require venturing out to get much needed herbs or supplies unless someone can dreamotion them up.


III. SPECIAL MONSTERS & BOSSES



The Story Eater is using its powers to take on the forms of an individual's worst nightmare or enemy. This could be anything. Below is the full list of special bosses and mob monsters that were submitted by players and can be encountered both on the moon and on the ground. Refer to the original links for more information. Players are still free to create and use anything that is not on the list, especially f their character's worst nightmare is something else. IMPORTANT! While any of these are capable of killing, those marked with the red flag (🚩) indicate that these are more likely to perform kills or destroy the individual to turn them into wisps.

A. Monster Mobs. Typical monster/mob creatures that while numerous are the weakest and easier to defeat. Physical attacks will be enough, but dreamotion or using Aspect abilities will inflict more damage.
🍆 Sinner Demons. They take on any form based on the type of sin they committed. Could take on the form based on the person they face.
😱 Devils. Takes on forms based on the fears of people.
🚨 Garlean K-9 Soldiers and hunting dogs. These soldiers aren't here to help and will be targeting anyone they come across.
👻 Cursed Spirits. Spiritual beings manifested from cursed energy as a result of the negative emotions that flow out of humans. They cause harm to humans and seek humans out to harm them.
💨 Redead. Emits a scream that immobilizes temporarily, moves towards target and jumps on back to deal damage.
🐍 Nagas. Breathe and spew toxic miasma and prolonged exposure to it can cause weaker beings to transform into nagas themselves. Archnaga's venom is corrosive in both liquid and gas forms. Can also swallow large objects. 🚩
🕶 Shadows. Shadow-like blobs and tables and headless dancers and things. Fairly weak.
💎 Zeugles. Aggressive genetically enhanced animals; must destroy the core inside to completely destroy them.
🤺 Sword Retrograde Army. Sword tsukumogami summoned for a cause to change history. Generally stronger than normal humans with some spiritual powers.
👹 Demons. Can hide their horns and wings to appear more human, otherwise their true form is more monstrous. They range from committing harmless silly pranks to more violent and murderous. 🚩
🎭 Four Masks. Drains one's sanity until they go berserk with potential to summon Atman (boss).
🔊 Noise. Affect people with weaker willpower and play on their negative emotions or nightmares.
📰 Xeroms. Monsters capable of attacking, infesting and draining emotions dry leaving the victim an empty husk.

B. Solo Bosses. Some nightmares manifest into one singular entity with greater powers and considered a higher leveled "boss." They do not appear as often or in number as the monster mobs and some may be controlled by players.
🍬 Gumball Waterson. Cartoon character turned creepy due to nightmare energy, but still on the sillier side. Body parts morphing or separating from him, getting into weird places, driving invisible cars, surviving crazy falls; basically whatever might be funny at that moment.
👂 Parrah & Nayo. Twin puppets that are not physically strong, but they're very annoying and are the "like to break people by talking" type of antagonist.
🙍‍♂️ Takaya Sakaki. Charismatic but otherwise a weaker enemy capable of standard Persona based magical and physical attacks and capable of summoning nightmare based Personas.
🐀 Rasputin. Can summon minions, destroy things, conceal nightmares within illusions.
🔥 Firelord Ozai. Can bend/generate fire and lightning, strong physical abilities.
🦋 Valentino. A charismatic moth demon capable of controlling smoke and has pheromones that can attract those to him.
🧝‍♀️ Gaea. Goddess of the Earth. Stronger when tethered to Earth. Powers include geokinesis, chlorokinesis (control of plants), creation of sentient life forms, atmokinesis (weather), control of animals, transformation.
🌱 Omega Flowey. Can grow vines, venus flytraps, plant stems that shoot, lots of plant based attacks.
🍐 Sephiroth. Sword fighting proficiency, shapeshifting, ability to cause hallucinations, telekinesis of medium sized objects, minor manipulation abilities, materia magic. Potential lethal backstabs. (Prompts available within FFVII toplevels). 🚩
Raiden Shogun. Scary lady with lightning based attacks, illusions, large-range attacks.
🤖 Shouki no Kami. Divine Automaton that uses lightning based attacks.
💃 Stella. Vile woman who thrives off mentally and physically tormenting.
👑 Paimon . Stolas' father, a powerful demon capable of shapeshifting, teleportation, grimoire manipulation, projection.
🧣 Ardyn Izunia. Has thirteen weapons at his disposal; can cast powerful magic such as striking down lightning, summoning blizzards, fiery explosions; has the power to heal; and is resilient to physical pain.
Kronos. God-like strength, specializes in sword combat, tough to take down. Has several types of kinesis magic.
💀 Nyx. Only has one main ability: cast death. However it's a slow windup so can be beaten beforehand. 🚩
😾 Wakaba Isshiki. Large sphynx with a woman's head. Heavy wind, almighty, and physical attacks. There can be riddles that are pertinent to those who engage it.
👮‍♀️ Makima. A woman who looks normal but is actually a Devil of immense strength, enhanced smell, domination, and can force manipulation that can damage weak targets by simply staring at them.
🖤 Atman. A very creepy giant mask that will disappear but then reappear after being defeated.
🤸‍♂️ Vholran. Fights with a waterblade. Acrobatic swordsman, mastery over water-elemental astral energy and can cast high power artes.
🎨 Creed Graphite. A Will Artist (spellcaster) capable of casting spells and summoning and controlling Xeroms.
🎼 Ganon. Hate and hunger for power in physical form. Can corrupt anything with darkness, will only be able to corrupt non-PCs unless players want to do something with that.
🌋 Calamity Ganon. Capable of creating Malice (poison substance that can cause other monsters or bosses to go aggro) and raising other monsters from the dead. Can be destroyed by any type of sealing dreamotion magic.
💔 Xehanorts (multiple). Control darkness and use darkness as a weapon; controlling people to his will by turning them into versions of himself, otherwise known as getting "norted" where victim gains yellow eyes and is controlled to his whims and the darkness in their heart/they will follow their darker side. Darkness meteorites can also be a thing.
Emperor Demitrius (final boss form). Basically heal himself back up to full mid-fight so it will take a few rounds to defeat him.

C. Megabosses. Extremely powerful entities that may not even be defeated by conventional means and instead have powers that affect everyone instead. High chance of death. 🚩🚩🚩
🤖 Diaspora. Half the size of Dragon Island and up in the sky, it can disassemble dreamotion energy and knock someone out into wisp form without dying with a beam of blue goop. Has high regeneration, but will be vulnerable to prolonged attacks.
🐲 Dragons (Voids). Faces of dragons that coalesce in from the sky when they decide to attack with high concentrations of nightmare energy. Zhaitan will be capable of turning those who turned into wisps into noctaere in the form of Void Risen. Mordremoth will just descend and smash into small areas to inflict damage. Kralkatorrik will fire a giant beam of crystal fire breath that will encase anyone and anything in its path into purple crystal, and they must be freed before they turn into noctaere.

lonelysmiles: (Eldritch Fire)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-05-25 06:21 pm (UTC)(link)
I do believe you're correct!

[Perhaps this is why he was rerouted from Hell: Killing ancient evils is what he's made to do and the Creator sent him to Reverein to put that to good use. True, his power is greatly diminished here even with the boost from his first "proper" meal in almost two years, but there's a reason the Radio Demon still terrifies most of Hell.]

[Alastor's grin widens as balls of flame hover over his hands, eldritch symbols dancing around him.]


Absolutely!
Edited 2023-05-25 18:21 (UTC)
pactmarshal: (PHOTOS TAKEN MOMENTS BEFORE DISASTER)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-05-28 01:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Perfectly pleased, Trahearne nods firmly in response to Alastor's grin. Good. He doesn't know what sort of magic Alastor is capable of, but it hardly matters at this point. The eldritch symbols are a good enough sign for him.

Mordremoth's face looms closer, and Trahearne flicks out his torch. The bright white flame leaps to life, licking forward and coalescing into the shape of a large blade.

Just as he puts his second hand on the torch handle, the dragon's face rushes towards them--it practically falls to the platform. Trahearne immediately sees what's about to happen and turns to dash. ]


Run! [ He says, calling over his shoulder to Alastor. ] Avoid the shockwaves!

[ And just as he's finished speaking, Mordremoth's massive face collides with the platform in a headbutt. Roll a d20 twice--one to dodge the initial face slam, and one to escape the shockwaves that come shortly after. ]
lonelysmiles: (What? No Deal?)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-01 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[8 and 15. Alastor mistimes the initial shockwave, hitting the ground as it slams into him. However, he teleports above the ground to avoid the following shockwaves, landing shortly afterwards. Well, that's something to watch out for.]

[Given the dragon is rather plantlike, Alastor unleashes a jet of flame, trying to gauge if it's effective even if the initial strike isn't that powerful to save on magic for the moment. No reason to throw his all into an attack that has little or no effect!]
pactmarshal: (sword//1)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-07 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Trahearne just barely manages to scamper out of the way when Mordremoth's face collides with the platform with a 10, but he falls anyway, the jungle dragon's massive nightmare-ridden teeth inches from his feet. But, with his body mostly plastered to the ground, he miraculously avoids the wave with a 20 (HUH???).

By the time he manages to get himself to his feet, Mordremoth is already retreating. A low growl rumbles through the air around them, as though causing the very moon itself to shudder in the dragon's displeasure. The fire doesn't catch, unfortunately, but the way the dragon's eyes roll to look at Alastor shows that it is doing something, even if the effects are imperceptible.

Trahearne takes his spot beside Alastor and in one quick movement, he lunges forward with his torch-turned-blade, arcs of pure white dreamotion soaring through the sky to collide with Mordremoth's face.

He whips his head aside. ]


Let's try and coordinate our attacks!
lonelysmiles: (Eldritch Fire)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-09 08:32 pm (UTC)(link)
Absolutely!

[If nothing else, Trahearne knows Mordremoth better than Alastor and could strike at its weaknesses while Alastor held the dragon's attention. Though best not to shout that in case the creature understood.]

[Alastor aims and sends a blast of flame circled with whirling red eldritch symbols that's so tightly-condensed that it's like a small harpoon of solid fire towards Mordremoth.]
pactmarshal: (they could be our allies)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-10 08:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Mordremoth's true weakness, both fortunately and unfortunately, doesn't apply in this situation. That leaves them with little choice but to attack it directly, for better or for worse.

Luckily, they have that.

Trahearne leaps forward as Alastor blasts out the fire of eldritch symbols, arcs of pure white lightning streaming from the tip of his flaming blade as he whirls into position. The attacks merge, swirling around each other, the combined energies hitting Mordremoth square in his massive face.

The dragon growls in discontentment again, this time its gaze turning to look at Trahearne. ]


I think it's going to try and slam us again. [ There's no way to actually tell, but it's a hunch. He whips out his hand and points to the opposite end of the platform. ] Let's split up, and attack it with everything we have when it comes down again!
lonelysmiles: (Shadow Stag)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-12 03:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Alastor darts away from Trahearne, raising his fingers to his lips to give a sharp whistle.]

[His shadow leaps from the ground in stag form, Alastor swinging up on its back and leaning over its neck to try and put as much distance between himself and Trahearne. It'd be faster to teleport, but he doesn't want to teleport right into the next attack by mistake.]
pactmarshal: (PHOTOS TAKEN MOMENTS BEFORE DISASTER)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-12 09:21 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A wise decision!

Trahearne, being a necromancer, has no special movement abilities, so he has to stick with running as fast as he can towards the opposite edge of the platform. He is very conscious of the descending face of the dragon behind him. He whirls around, feet and hand skidding against the ground as he nears the edge in the slowing of his movement.

Mordremoth's face connects, neither are near the center, but the platform shudders all the same. Roll another d20 to dodge the shockwave that comes after the impact! ]
lonelysmiles: (Shadow Stag)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-12 11:58 pm (UTC)(link)
[13. The dodge is better this time. Still too close for comfort as his shadow's hind hooves are clipped by the shockwave as it leaps above the strike, but the landing isn't too unsteady.]

[Well, at least they're learning the timing.]
pactmarshal: (sword//3)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-13 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ They are! With a 14, Trahearne does just as well. Now that he's expecting it, he manages to get out of the way in time. Not gracefully, but he's unharmed.

Mordremoth's face lingers on the platform for a moment, and Trahearne leaps forward. ]


Now!

[ As planned, while the dragon is close up, he lets everything he has loose for an all-out attack on it. ]
lonelysmiles: (Now For Some Real Fun)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-25 12:17 am (UTC)(link)
[Alastor's shadow wheels about as Alastor unleashes a blast of pure flame, trying to aim for wherever Trahearne's strike was likely to land.]

[It's probably just chipping away at the dragon, but it's better than nothing.]
pactmarshal: (send them back where they belong)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-25 09:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ Definitely better than nothing.

Mordremoth pulls back slowly, letting both of their attacks linger on both sides of its face for long enough. The ground, the air around them rumbles as it growls, clearly displeased by the assault from both sides.

Even as it retreats into the sky again, Trahearne doesn't let up, sending forth a constant stream of dreamotion arcs from his torch-blade to the dragon. The nightmare creature's eyes turn to look at him, but he feels a spark of smug satisfaction--Mordremoth can't do anything to him like this.

Its face hangs in the sky for a moment, when shortly afterwards the edges of its face begin to blur. Trahearne remains at the ready, eyes still on their enemy, but he doesn't move. ]


...It may be retreating.
lonelysmiles: (Now For Some Real Fun)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-06-28 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Then let's make sure it doesn't change its mind!

[He raises his staff and aims a concentrated beam of light and fire at the retreating form. A warning that if it tries to turn around, it will be met with further resistance.]
pactmarshal: (hope and pride)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2023-06-30 08:56 am (UTC)(link)
[ Trahearne isn't going to say no to that!

Once Alastor shoots his beam of magic, Trahearne does the same--his bright white stream of dreamotion colliding with the dragon's face alongside Alastor's. He watches as the dragon slowly dissipates beneath it.

And once it melts into the sky, vanished, Trahearne stands back, and lowers his weapon. ]


I think it's gone. For now.
lonelysmiles: The greatest show: reality! (Showman)

[personal profile] lonelysmiles 2023-07-07 05:52 pm (UTC)(link)
So it would seem!

[He slides off of the back of his shadow before it returns to its usual place.]

Well done, my good fellow! Quite the performance!