songerein | { lingering distortions }

Entry tags:

{ lingering distortions }

LINGERING DISTORTIONS

Everything might have wrapped up for the Story Eater, but there are still some lingering effects persisting throughout the world. Notably, for new dreamers that enter the world may find themselves coming in via their nightmares and creating a pocket distortion (optional).

More details on everything can be found here and here. As a reminder, events double as our TDMs and information can be found here. Any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in June and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of June 9 to 30. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count June 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 June 24 and Applications will open on July 1. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until September.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view, updated 06/17)

Avatar: The Last Airbender - Aang
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Toph Beifong
Avatar: The Legend of Korra - Korra
Devil May Cry - Lady
Devil Survivor - Naoya
Fate/Grand Order - Ereshkigal
Final Fantasy VII - Sephiroth
Final Fantasy XIV - Aymeric de Borel
Final Fantasy XIV - Estinien Varlineau
Final Fantasy XIV - Hephaistos
Frozen - Hans Westergaard
Genshin Impact - Ei (Raiden Shogun)
Guild Wars - Aglovan (OC)
I Was a Teenage Exocolonist - Solanaceae
Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild - Revali
Kingdom Hearts - Axel/Lea
Persona 4 - Kanji Tatsumi
Okami - Amaterasu
Silmarillion, The - Maedhros
Trigun Stampede - Vash the Stampede
Vampire Knight - Ichiru Kiryuu
Vampire Knight - Zero Kiryuu
World Ends with You, The - Tosai "Fret" Furesawa

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. WRECKAGE AND RUIN

The Story Eater has been defeated, and with that, a trail of disorder is left in its wake. Patches of nightmare energy still linger about the town and its immediate surroundings, causing danger to still be ever-present. While the stability of the dream world is still maintained, dreamwalkers can help maintain it by aiding others (and maybe even themselves), as well as dealing with the formations that begin to spring up in the coming weeks.

A. Nightmare Pocket Distortions. These small, isolated, tangible dreamscapes are appearing here and there everywhere, especially around town. They are usually caused by an individual having nightmares, but they can sometimes appear around large pockets of nightmare energy. They are easily identifiable by the large shroud of black mist that appears, trapping anything and anyone inside a small area, usually around the size of a small house. However inside the mist the space may feel smaller or larger, and they cannot exit on their own easily. The content of the space can also range from silly and benign, to horrific.

🌫️ Trapped Within. Those inside the nightmare may either be fully immersed in what they see, or they may realize it's a nightmare and be more aware of their surroundings. Regardless, they must deal with what they see. Perhaps dealing with the "source" of the nightmare will help break through and close it off.
🤝Outside Help. Those who happen to encounter a pocket nightmare distortion will be able to freely enter, though they should use dreamotion to keep their wits or else they may become immersed into the nightmare and it will be more difficult to escape.
🌌 Closing the Pockets. The best way to close a pocket nightmare is using dreamotion, which can also be used from the outside without ever entering. In addition, there is a special tool being offered by those who hail from the "nightmare side of things," calling back to when the Nightmare Troupe appeared in Halloween and those who helped during the Story Eater battle. The tool is a portable vacuum backpack that will suck in all the nightmare energy and clear most of it up. It seems suspicious, but given its effectiveness and dire need, there isn't much choice.

B. Displaced Fairy Tales. One side effect caused by the Storyteller's connection between the Realm of Stories and Songerein are dimensional "blips" and "tears" that cause actional fictional characters and creatures appearing within the town of Reverein. These are not copies but the original versions, which is why they need to return to their book ASAP! Especially when a lot of them are causing problems for everyone else. Note: any classic fictional fairy tale character is allowed (even a generic version of one) so long as it's from a work from pre-1920. Characters original to comic book, movies, video games, and other "modern" works are not allowed since they are more likely to be apped in.

🛑Find and Catch the Character. Fortunately, the characters and creatures are easy to spot—they will have some version of a large book icon (📕) floating over their heads. They will also likely be behaving erratically and behaving like their original self. Some may prefer staying in Songerein, but if they want to do that, they need to return to their story first.
📖 Find and Enter the Book. Once caught, head over to the Tree of Stories to try and find their book. The book icon over their head will help give a clue on what it looks like and will even have the title appear on the front. Of course this isn't easy, either, as the book is on the run (flying, sliding around, hiding in other shelves) and also needs to be caught. To enter the book, one just needs to hold onto the character and dreamwalk in.
👻 Clear Out Noctaere. Once inside, there will be some noctaere lingering inside the story that need to be cleared out. Fortunately there aren't too many and while some may take on appearance as corrupted monsters, others might take the form of the main villain or antagonist—and said villain or antagonist isn't liking that, especially if they are they one being returned. Regardless, the noctaere will be easy to find as other characters of the story will be fighting against it. Once defeated, a special quill feather will drop which will allow the storybook character to enter Songerein through their dreams one day.

C. WISP Anonymous. Those who had turned into a wisp, either before or during the Story Eater battle, have formed a group to share in their experience as most suffered trauma from it. Volunteers are welcome to assist the members.

🧘Yoga Meditation. Because of the lingering emotional distress, meditation is used to help calm those who have been put in distress over the recent happenings with the Story Eater. Instructors—fae and other dreamwalker volunteers alike—say that it promotes calmness and relaxes the mind. However, there are some who need external help clearing their mind as distress causes a nightmare spike. These spikes can create Nightmare Pocket Distortions or cause small noctaere creatures to swarm into the yoga session. Be sure to calm them back down before this happens. Or deal with the noctaere or pocket distortion should things escalate.
💥 Rage Against. Those who choose the more aggressive route to deal with their distress are invited to a tent littered with accoutrements of all kinds. Ranging from glass instruments to furniture in disrepair, those who enter can release their anger in the enclosed space. Safety gear will be provided upon entering the establishment. Those who prefer to release their excess energy in a less violent setting can also participate boxing or martial art classes with provided fake straw targets. Though originally meant for boxing, participants can use any number of weapons of their choosing to help them through the process. Just try not to injure the staff and volunteers.
💨 Escapees. Regardless of which WISP activity you choose, there are others who get cold feet and try to run away from in the middle of activity. Whether it be to hide in fear or running off to find noctaere to fight, their levels of distress may cause more trouble than they realize in their volatile state. Bring them back before anything happens to them!

D. Dragon Help. The dragon island Dragefjell also suffered damage, but they are also offering some respite for those who might need it.

♨️ Hot Springs. The water within the hot spring have some healing properties, so those who have either emotional or physical wounds are welcome to a free visit to the springs to relax. A monkey or two may accompany you in the baths but they're mostly harmless.
🐛 Pest Control. The damage sustained by the castle has called forth pests in the form of vibrantly colored caterpillars that seem to be attracted to the lingering dreamotion emitted from the formerly housed Dreamcatcher. Help rid the dragons of the pests by using dreamotion to attract them out of the castle grounds and then catch with special dreamotion powered nets. Stronger emotions will definitely make the task much easier! However, be careful: if the caterpillar is killed or seriously injured, it will emit a noxious gas that will cause one to hallucinate and leave them stunned.
🐲 Calming Greens. To aid with the fight and to defend their home, some dragons tapped into their feral instincts, letting loose on the Story Eater and its minions. Even if the danger has passed, some of these dragons have yet to revert back to their cognizant selves, causing chaos and more damage to the castle and its surroundings. Help calm them by finding a purple bamboo-like plant that can be found by the edges of the hot springs and snapping it close to the dragon. The plant is said to have calming properties that can soothe the dragon and bring it back to its senses.

II. AROUND TOWN

There is no lack of help that is needed around town. Whether it be repairing broken structures or bolstering a sense of community, there is sure to be something for everyone to do.

A. Reconstruction. While it wasn't a complete disaster, there is still a lot of damage left to deal with from the battle.

🧱 Building Blocks. Small, special ~~LEGOs~~ bricks that interlock with one another called "dream blocks" can be used to create smaller models of a damaged area or building and with dreamotion can expand to fit perfectly into place—or remodel the building to the new design completely. Very handy—except some people, especially children, see them as toys so there are some unintentional renovations occurring that may need to be fixed.
🎨 A New Coat of Paint. Similarly, a special spray gun with special paint can be used to cover entire building walls quickly…however the spray zone is quite large and the sprayer itself a bit unwieldy to use, so the paint will occasionally hit unintended targets—like people.
🌴 Planting Fields. The fields outside of town were especially ruined, so after clearing it of debris, special seeds are given to plant. Most are normal, however some seeds are immediately sprouting into giant crops and need to be quickly harvested and uprooted before it takes over the entire area.
🏠 From Memories. Naminé's powers had gone out of control during the battle and currently many houses and buildings have transformed to reflect a place from the memories within the owner's or whoever was closest to it. Being around these affected places will also cause others to reminisce about old places from home. Some may actually want to keep the look, but others may want to change it. If not using the opportunity for a full reno, using dreamotion with the memory of how it looked before will revert it back.

B. Potluck. Everyone is invited to a potluck hosted by the Reverein citizens as thanks for defending the town. A large bonfire will be erected during one of the cooler days and picnic tables and blankets will be laid out around the plaza. Anyone could bring whatever food they wish to share for a night of merriment and thanksgiving.

C. Babysitting Tapirs. After the Story Eater was defeated and the nightmare energy levels went down, the eggs from the Flower Festival have hatched to reveal them to be baby tapirs. These weren't the only baby tapirs to appear—other baby tapirs appeared as a result of all the excess nightmare energy and thus many little baby tapirs can be found roaming around town. They're cute, but they can be a handful.

🍴 Nightmare Snacks. As dreameaters, the tapirs enjoy eating dreams, especially nightmares. And these babies are hungry. While the nightmare pockets might seem tasty, they're too much for these little babies. Prevent them from getting too close (or eating too much) and create little snacks made from nightmare energy for them to chow down on instead. Maybe those nightmare filled canisters from the vacuum packs could be used as a source?
🎶 Dreamy Lullabies. All babies need naps and these tapirs are no exception. Left awake for too long and they will get cranky. Tuck them in somewhere warm and sing them a little lullaby while using dreamotion. That should soothe them sleep! (Should.)
🎈 Playtime. When not eating or sleeping, the little baby tapirs will be wanting to play—a lot. Whether it's flying around with reckless abandon or coercing others to play hide-and-seek or some other game, it'll take a lot of energy to keep up with these little ones. Especially when they decide to go into…
☁ Dreams. Even as babies the tapirs can enter dreams freely. However, they still need to learn their abilities so they don't usually know what they're doing—and can get lost! Oh no! Find the baby within dreams before something happens. Some clues will be visible bite marks around parts of a dream and the sound of sniffling and crying for the ones upset.

D. Commemoration Wall. Those who follow Beat's instructions or those passing by the north side of the markets will find a large tarp hanging by an empty wall that reads COMMEMORATION WALL HERE. Paints in cans, brushes, spray paint, and other art materials have been provided for everyone to use, as well as some scaffolding and ladders to get to the hard-to-reach places. People are even encouraged to use dreamotion to help shape their vision onto the wall if they so choose. Artist or not, everyone is encouraged to contribute something to the wall, to commemorate their victory against the world's tireless foe or to remember those who have since left, no matter how big or small it may be.

Food and refreshments have also been provided care of Dreambucks for anyone who may need a break from the festivities. Others are also welcome to bring their own food to share if they so choose.

III. WELCOME TO HYRULE

The nightmare energy generated by the Story Eater has been dispatched, but small pockets remain in the form of the Malice generated by the Calamity Ganon nightmare. As the Malice continues to collect—potentially fueled by Link and Zelda themselves—it begins to affect the surroundings with what can best be described as a partial dreamshift: changes come and go, noticed by some and not by others. These changes may be small at first, but become bigger and more difficult to avoid over time.

A. Malice. This reddish-purple gooey substance began appearing during the final battle with the Story Eater, and while most effects from the battle have disappeared, this one seems to have stubbornly stuck around. Touching the Malice can increase feelings of negativity, and prolonged exposure can have devastating effects, including making characters aggressive and eager to fight.

B. Lost Woods. Visitors to the Wildlands will find the area shrouded in a fine mist, making it nearly impossible to navigate the woods. Adding to the disorienting effect, you can sometimes hear the far-off sound of childlike laughter, or faint flute music in the distance… Didn’t you already pass that tree a few minutes ago?

🍃 Korok puzzles. You may occasionally come across strange curiosities: flowers that disappear as soon as you touch them, metal blocks that look like they’re part of a pattern, pinwheels and moving targets. Interact with these puzzles, and you might find a hidden child of the forest. “Ya-ha-ha!” The seed they give you smells a little funny, though.

C. Strange Plants. Unusual plants have begun to sprout all around Reverein. Curious dreamers will find that these plants can have some very surprising effects, such as:

🌱 Magic Bean Sprouts. When planted, they grow into large leafy platforms that begin to hover when stepped on and will fly a person to a new place, potentially high off the ground and unreachable by other means.
🌙 Blue Nightshade. When eaten or stepped on, this blue flower (which glows at night) will quiet a person’s footsteps. Ingesting a large quantity of the flower could render someone unable to talk.
🏃‍♂️ Swift Violet. Will increase a person’s speed—make sure you watch where you’re going!
🍄 Mushrooms. These fascinating fungi can cause a wide range of effects, such as sleep, confusion, temporary animal transformation, glowing/glittering, feeling hotter or colder, and any number of other things.

D. Monsters. The deadly creatures summoned during the Story Eater battle might have disappeared, but Hyrule is not without its own dangers. Bokoblins, Keese, Chuchus, and Octoroks can be found anywhere in Reverein during this time; at night, one might be taken by surprise by a skeletal Stalfos. Unlucky adventurers may stumble upon a small Guardian Scout, or find themselves facing down the deadly laser of a Guardian Stalker.

E. Fairy Blessings. Small fairies can be found floating around Reverein, and congregate in groups around fountains and other bodies of water. These fairies will offer dreamers a range of effects, from healing to cleansing nightmare energy to temporary abilities and more. You could try to catch one in a jar to keep for later, but why would you do something so mean?

F. It’s Dangerous to Go Alone. As the week goes by, these strange phenomena only become more pronounced.

🔮 Visions of Hyrule. You open the door to your home, or a shop, or…anywhere, really, but instead of a familiar location, you find yourself in…a throne room? All across Reverein, small pockets of another world are superimposing themselves over familiar locations. The fountain in the Plaza definitely seems bigger, and is decorated with a strange new statue. A new shop that sells masks has appeared and it’s all the rage. Was there always an active volcano here?
🩹 Items. Characters may find that their ordinary, everyday items have transformed in some way—normal boots become Pegasus Boots, giving you the ability to run faster. Perhaps your clock now has the ability to stop time for a moment, or your coat has become a Magic Cape that can turn you invisible for a moment. These are examples, but not the limit on what is possible.
🎵 Musical effects. Those who play instruments might find their music is accompanied by strange effects, like generating a cool breeze, changing the weather, turning day to night, or even calling animals to you. Whistle a certain tune and you may find yourself very popular with horses.
📜 Side quests. It seems like everywhere you look, someone needs help with something. All around town, people are asking for help with minor (or maybe major) tasks. A cook is missing a key ingredient for a recipe and needs you to fetch it. A mailman needs your help delivering letters. A little girl needs you to rescue her cat from a tree. In return for these good deeds, dreamwalkers will receive gratitude crystals.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you say so.

[Nico shrugs, stepping fully out of the shadow he traveled in from and towards her. His footsteps are as soft as someone wearing combat boots can be.]

I was trying to travel to my apartment, but I must have overshot. This place really messes with my powers.

Apartment... right.

[ She's going to pretend she knows what that means. Yup. But he did say something curious. She didn't entirely feel him approaching, which is unusual. ]

What kind of power's that? You did kindof... appear here.

Shadow travel. I step in one shadow and can step out of another.

[He shrugs and steps up beside her.]

I used to be really accurate with it. Now not so much.

Shadow travel... Great. Don't suppose it lets you travel right out of this dumb forest?

[ She's been in here for what feels like far too long, you see. Standing there, huffing as he steps over to her side. ]

It could. But I'll need about five-ten minutes before I do it again with someone riding along. Otherwise, I'll pass out when we're done.

[He cracked his neck and huffed. He didn't like not being so limited.]

I'm Nico, by the way.

Doesn't sound like the worst outcome. Don't suppose you know any other way out of here.

[ It's not that she needs help (she does), but that she'd just rather not waste the time figuring it out. Totally. ]

Toph, like tough.

No offense, but I don't know you well enough to want to sleep in front of you.

[He shoves his hands into his pocket.]

Other than that, just wander around some more.

Huh? Was that the only other option?

[ Seems inconvenient. Her hands settle on her hips, letting out a huff and starting to walk in one direction. ]

Right, so what I've already been doing. I'm going this way, if you want to follow, up to you!

[Nico frowns at her.]

It's just five minutes!

[But he follows with a grumble.]

Just be patient. Jeez.

Don't know what a minute is, doesn't matter. We can walk while we wait right?

[ She's just forging right on ahead like nothing's changing. At least the ground around here is even and easier to work with. She's quietly debating just throwing up a big wall or something on the path they're taking to mark it out.

Probably a bit excessive for now. ]

How long have you been in this place anyway, Nico?

You don't - what?

[Most of the people from different worlds from him seemed to know what a minute was.] You know, a measurement of time. Sixty seconds.

I've been here since February. So, almost half a year.

No, I don't. Didn't you listen to me?

[ Sassy, but her tone's fairly light and playful, hopefully making it clear she's just being rude for the fun of it. The closest they get in her world is time candles, an encounter she missed due to ~~not being introduced in the show yet~~. ]

Half a year though. That's a long dream. How does this world compare to yours?

I just never met someone who doesn't know what a minute is!

[He grumps some more.]

It's a very powerful nexus. It's more powerful than gods since there's one here. It completely nullifies my power over dreaming. I'm not sure if it puts a damper on my other powers or if I'm still recovering from the last war.

Yeah? Well, I bet you don't know what a Boar-q-pine is!

[ Point childishly proven. ]

It sounds important, whatever it is. I more meant like, how similar is it?

Not at all. To both questions.

[He frowns more at her.]

It's... weird.

Hmmm... Right. I was going to ask what was different but it sounds like that would take a while. Time wasn't a huge deal where I come from. Dream from?

[ She gestures briefly to her clothes, too. Pretty elegant if simple designs. ]

It's a stretch but, I don't suppose you've heard of bending? Earthbending? Water, fire... air?

You know? That's a good question.

[Dream from... Oh, that was going to bother him.]

Earth bending? I can use earth magic. My sister is better at it, which is fine because I'm better at death and shadow magic than her. Then Jason can do wind and Lightning stuff. Percy can do water magic, like breathe underwater and throw it around. And Leo throws fire around and is fireproof. That's the four of us here.

[He misses his sister, it's obvious in his voice.]

Yeah, I guess magic is how it probably looks to most people but you just kinda... Move the earth the way you want to. It's more art than magic. Like so-

[ Her foot stomps down, and a small round pillar of dirt and rock rises just high enough for her to sit on, seemingly done walking for now. Well, now that she's found a comfortable spot. ]

That sounds like a lot though, I wonder if any of my other friends are here... I definitely saw Zuko... but that was in a nightmare.

I don't see the difference other than the label.

[Nico lifts a finger, and a small piller of black stone comes up about a foot next to hers.]

I don't know a Zuko. But there's a good number of people here... and I'm not exactly the social type.

Huh... There is one, but maybe just in form. Water and juice are both drinks, right? Same thing, different taste.

[ It didn't feel like bending. One finger? No form or pose. Nothing. Her foot taps once, and the pillar descends. This whole time she hasn't so much as looked at him, but there's a soft smile on her lips. Whaaaat? I never would have guessed.

[ Snarky teenager isn't she? ]

[He does a shrug. About to say he still thinks 'magic' and 'bending' are the same thing.

But then she makes a snarky teenager remark and he retreats into scowl-y teenager]

Juice has water in it.

[ She lets out a small chuckle and puts her hands on her hips. ]

So do people.

Yeah, it's called blood. It also has iron in it. Humans are made of all the elements. Your point?

[ 'Not enough Iron to bend', is a phrase definitely not spoken out loud. ]

So people, juice, and water are all the same thing then?

[ Yes she's still on the magic vs bending thing. She's 13 and stubborn. ]

I'm saying it doesn't matter.

[Yeah, well he's 14 and stubborn.]

It's the same result no matter what you call it. No one's going to care.

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Snarky teens continue to snarky teen. Perfect.

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