{ summer beach episode 2023 }

[dreamposts]

SUMMER BEACH EPISODE

Thanks to the Dreamsortium's aggressive advertising in town and around the Wildlands, the Forever Dreams resort's grand opening is a bustling and lively one with both dreamers and local fae alike coming by. Even the dragons from Dragefjell are coming down to enjoy luxurious sunbathing.

Just remember, only the first night is free! After that, one must either pay or help fulfill some "odd jobs" around the resort for the Dreamsortium.

More details on everything can be found here.

I. FOREVER DREAMS RESORT

A. Resort Amenities. Everyone will have a room to stay in, though there are also camping options for those who might want to stay outdoors.

🧑‍🍳Outdoor Dining. There are outdoor kitchen patios that are available for guests who would like to prepare their own food, however while the resort will provide with some ingredients, guests will have to bring their own. Perfect for those who try their hand at fishing and want to enjoy their catch. Just beware of the sea gulls that will try to pilfer anything left unattended.
♨️Spa and Massage. Need a break? Relax those sore muscles? The resort boasts only the best and have a special spa for those who can gather and relax with a drink and snack. They have also hired friendly dragons and orcs who specialize in providing the best massage possible.
🦀 Crab Shuffleboard. There are some shuffleboard courts setup that are said to be more unusual than normal, which is quickly revealed by the usual round "discs" used for play. The discs work well enough regardless…until at some point legs appear to reveal they are strange little crabs! They are sturdy little ones so some consider their traveling as part of the game, but others might want to catch them. (Note, they are not normal crabs and are Karka hatchlings.)

B. Animal Control. Unfortunately the construction agitated and displaced a few of the local creatures in the area, and while most have just moved on, others are less willing to leave their original habitats. Some are making it work, while others are hostile. Perhaps creating a newer, better habitat will make them more willing? Or figure out ways to coexist.

🐍Sea Snakes. Completely harmless, these aquatic snakes would nest in the tall seaweed that grows near the beach by the resort. Most of them were able to be relocated in other places, but there are some patches that haven't been moved because of their nests. By now the eggs have hatched, but the babies are still hiding out. Help move them to a safer location!
🦦Seaweed Otters. The otters prefer the clams that can be found in the shallows which is why they can be found lounging about. They're cute and friendly, but also mischievous, stealing other food and toys from beach goers. Although relatively harmless, it's dangerous for them. Good news, the same types of clams can be found further down. Catch the otters and guide them towards the new location. Alternatively, have them try different foods from other areas of the beach to encourage them to move elsewhere.
🦉Pineapple Owls. Pineapples are popular to serve, but harvesting them has been difficult. There are some owls that are dive bombing those who try. It doesn't help their eggs look like small pineapples! Help locate the affected trees to mark them and find empty trees to safely harvest from.
🦀Karka. KARKA ROOOOOLLL. Appearing by the coves on the edge of the Wasteland, these giant, monstrous creatures have a tough outer shell that is difficult to penetrate and requires using a special acidic solvent that somehow the Dreamsortium are able to prepare quickly. They appear to be very agitated and while they mostly stay where they are, some will come close to the resort to attack. Maybe returning some of those "little crabs" from the shuffleboard courts would help…

C. Beach Fun. There are some casual fun beachside activities that everyone can partake in! For those who didn't bring their own, towels and beach chairs are available to rent.

🤿Snorkeling. Grab your gear and do some snorkeling in the clear shallows around the resort! Might make a new finny friend or two.
🐚 Shell Collecting. There are a number of beautiful shells, and they say the large conch shells will whisper a dreamy tune that could help one sleep. There are also contests and requests to collect certain shells.
🏐 Games. Various games are set up, such as beach volleyball, watermelon smashing, water balloons and water guns, and the return of the fruit slicer, where one must slice a barrage of fruit with only dreamotion.
🍈Melon Dodgeball. A new game that's becoming an explosive hit is a dodgeball game using special melons. These melons are sensitive to the temperament and dreamotion of the players, so the more tense and energetic they are, the more likely they will explode and splatter their target instead. Still counts as out!
🐢 Boating. The turtle shell boats are back! Toting large clams shells big enough for two people, these giant sea turtles will happily pull people for either a relaxing cruise, or a fast paced ride through the water. Small sailboats are also available to rent.

D. Special Businesses. Some of the local businesses are putting up stalls on the beach!

🍷 At Day's End.Two days a week during the month of July, At Day's End will have a booth available at the beach resort! The bar and winery's offerings include a number of fine drinks and cocktails designed with summer in mind, such as: the Champagne-like Dew of the Ether; the luck-changing, naturally cold Azure Omen; the floral and sweet Divine Retribution, available with or without alcohol; and the minty and light fruit punch, Dawn in the Wildlands. Other drinks will also be available at the beach stall, though in limited quantities compared to the town's location.

Much like the services provided to patrons of the establishment proper, van Zieks will be available to provide cooling through his personal dreamotion abilities, though in exchange for passing out pamphlets or helping him serve drinks. He can't do anything about sunburns, though, you're on your own there.

🌸Wild Harvest. There is nothing unusual about the Wild Harvest's stall, and at a glance, it is exactly as you'd expect. There are flowers for the taking, set decoratively inside a vase beside a stack of fliers for any new dreamers who don't know about the establishment yet. A list of names that seems to be a sign-up for something called You Be the Chef also sits in front of whichever staff member may be running the booth, and if asked, they'll happily speak about the contest.

There is a grill set up with sticks of freshly grilled kebabs, also for the taking to sample, and nearby, a wooden-looking slide of sorts has been set up. Those who have visited the Harvest in recent weeks will know this is for the nagashi somen, or flowing noodles, for anyone who'd like to "catch" them. Chopsticks are provided, as well as the complementary dipping sauce.

In addition, as a dessert, there is also a station set up with cups of shaved ice for passersby to create their own Summer Dreams. Various toppings, condensed milk, slices of fruit and fruity syrups are provided. Even emoji-fruit with positive emotions are used! And if patrons are unable to infuse their sample with their own positive dreamotion, the staff is more than happy to assist.

II. ATLANTIS

At some point during the grand opening, some merfolk will surface and wave at the beachgoers. With reassurance from the Dreamsortium, anyone who wishes to visit the underwater city Atlantis may do so and will be given a special potion that will allow them to transform into some kind of merfolk or aquatic creature. They can last for several hours and will automatically bring them back to the surface before it wears out. Enjoy~ And beware the sirens.

A. Around Atlantis. The city is vast at the bottom of the ocean with so many things to see and do, with numerous shops opening their doors and the locals curious to meet their land based neighbors. So much so, perhaps another visit will be in order. For now, here are some highlights, and for those less inclined to try the potion, they could try and figure out a different way down there. Surely someone with enough dreamotion talents can come up with an idea?

🎣 Jellyfish Hunting. A favorite game of the Atlantians, there are special schools of jellyfish that swim around the city that come in a total of five different colors: blue, pink, yellow, green, and orange. If one catches at least one of each jellyfish, a small chest of jewels will be given as a prize. The jellyfish are friendly and harmless, though they might still try to sting out of defense.
🍴 Look at this Stuff. A young mermaid has been watching the "landdwellers" for a while now and has started to create her own collection of items only found on land. She asks any visitor she encounters whether they have or could find some trinket to add to her collection.
✨ Glowing Coral. The city is filled with beautiful, large coral patches and large reef gardens, especially just outside the city. Of particular note are special coral that sing, and one particular group of merfolk request some help in harvesting these to be used for everyday purposes in the city. Visitors are welcome to gather some for themselves—with careful moderation of course. As long as they are cut properly and kept in sea water, the coral will continue to thrive and potentially grow.

B. Temple of Saudade and Hiraeth. An ancient temple that is partially submerged just outside of Atlantis, and there is an indiscernible melody or song that can be heard faintly throughout the temple. The merfolk are still excavating it to find what all is within it, but it's a difficult endeavor due to the effects of the temple. It has a large amount of dreamotion energy and there are certain areas where people can become trapped in an illusory vision of a memory or unrealized dream with a very strong emotional tie to the individual. This will make the individual more emotionally reactive and must be calmed and talked out of their illusion. If the emotion is strong enough, whatever the character is seeing or wishing to be real will form.

C. Sirens. While not targeting the visitors swimming through Atlantis, there are sirens and other hostile fae that dwell in the ocean depths that don't take too kindly to the visitors. Stray too far from the safety of Atlantis or drift too deep into the shadows and they may appear to either harass or downright attack. Their songs are not as effective while someone is in merfolk/aquatic creature form, but they do have some effect to at least try and lure them for attention. Those who are afflicted with nightmares or have more nightmare energy will also be more susceptible.

❄️ Christmas Carols!? One siren in particular may be familiar to those from around Christmas. Called "Sirenia Caviary," she is one of the more "friendlier" sirens, but her voice wails through the waters as she is suffering from writer's block. Help her come up with new Christmas songs and the sirens may look more favorably on everyone.
🍌 Treasured Bananas. One reason why the sirens are hostile towards outsiders is due to a recent "plunder" of their precious chest of bananas. Seasalted Bananas are a delicacy and hard to come by since bananas are not found underwater. Bring some bananas to the sirens and their mood may improve.
♻️ Underwater Cleanup. Another reason for the sirens' hostility is the amount of trash and litter that has accrued both during the construction of the resort and the large influx of visitors thanks to it. While it wouldn't be enough to make them as friendly as their Atlantian cousins, clearing out some of that trash would at least make them less inclined to attack and chase upon sight. The collector in Atlantis might also find some use out of the items.

D. Thieves. There are some suspicious individuals (pirates) that appear around Atlantis trying to steal various treasures and items from the city and from the temple. Try to stop and catch them–but even if they are caught, they somehow escape. There is always an odd "click" and "buzz" sound before they disappear in black smoke that has a hint of nightmare energy in them…

Comments

Sandcastles

[whirlwindthrust]

[ It's actually a rather impressive assortment! Xiao doesn't even know what all of it is to be used for. Or, rather, how this little girl is going to use the trinkets and the different sizes of pails to form a... What is it? A sandcastle?

Why is this an activity to do at the beach at all? ]

How are you going to achieve that?

[azuresong]

[ The sound of the voice pulls her away from her work as eyes look expectedly in Xiao's direction. ]

How? Well... [ She pauses to peer back at her work. ] I just need to take all this sand and pile it on each other! I can mold it once it's on there to make little arches!

[ Lyria clearly has a vision, but more than that... ]

Have you ever made one before? You should try it!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ His hands rest on his hips. There are moments where people seem to truly have idle time on their hands to come up with these activities. ]

If you pile sand on top of sand, doesn't that make a mound? Not a castle?

[ Probably answering the question with that. Nope, he's never made one before. Has no idea how this works. Maybe he isn't going to sit down but he's standing there, looking ever like a curious bird. ]

[azuresong]

Hehee, it would normally! But adding a bit of water and putting the sand in this bucket… [ she demonstrates, brushing off the excess sand from the top of it before quickly flipping it over ] … then you press it down and slowly lift it up before—

[ and she pulls the pail up, revealing the sand had maintained it shaped, each curve at the top creating a block like design ]

Ta-daaa! Like this!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Xiao watches, arms folded over his chest. He knows that sand is an unstable thing. But it does become more solid with water - not that he really knows why.

But this is what she means. Packing wet sand together to form some kind of structure. ]

That does not look like a castle.

[ Bear with him, he's trying. ]

And this is... Enjoyable?

[azuresong]

[ She doesn't seem to mind the bluntness. In fact, she'll simply smile through it and gesture back over to her pile. ]

It is very fun! The more piles I make, the more it will look like a castle! [ She pauses momentarily- her eyes bright with anticipation. ]

Did you... want to try it? I'm sure you would have a lot of fun, too!

[whirlwindthrust]

I've... Never fussed around with sand or water.

[ Well he's never actually played before at all. But isn't this a little childish for someone as old as Xiao? ]

I can. Observe. First.

[ So he might reconsider! ]

[azuresong]

[ She's certainly content with that! So with a bright smile and a nod the girl will get back to work! Scooping up the sand and putting it into the pails before quickly turning them over to form another mound. ]

I want to make this one as high as it can go! Maybe it'll be big enough to go inside... like a real one!

[ She isn't an expert on the design though, so one of the first mounds she created might already be spilling over a bit... ]

[whirlwindthrust]

[ He just is awkward. Doesn't know how to insert himself into these situations, even though he's being invited. Rather, perhaps it is that he just doesn't want to look foolish. Who can say?

But he does watch the mound start to crumble and fall apart. There's a slight frown. ]

Do these not have enough water added? Or is there some other fault in the construction?

[azuresong]

Water? What do you me—aaaahh! Oh... oh no!

[ Picking herself up from the ground she scuffles to the other side of the mound, hands flailing in confusion. ]

I thought there was water! Is it too high!? [ She's frantically patting at the sides, only for them to crumble a bit more upon impact. ]

I... I need water!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ While she begins to fuss and flail about, Xiao is picking up one of those pails. He walks out to the water and fills it about halfway with water.

The Yaksha then brings it back for her to have. He's even gently setting it down in front of her. ]

Here.

[azuresong]

[ She was a little too busy trying to repair the damages that she rarely noticed his absence until he had returned with the pail.

There's a small blink of surprise, before it shifts to gratitude. ]

Oh, thank you so much! [ Lyria beams as she takes scoops some of the water up in her hands and presses it against the sand to mold it back together. ]

I really appreciate it that... uh, I'm sorry. I don't think I got your name. Mine is Lyria!

[whirlwindthrust]

[ Now he crouches in front of the girl. Watches how she moves the sand about in her attempts to repair the castle. It's like he is trying to absorb what to do here. As if he can glean something from it. ]

You may call me Xiao.

[ Lyria looks young, but also especially bright. ]

What are you going to do if you finish this castle?

[azuresong]

Xiao... I really like that name! [ She hums, fixing the last piece of the castle before scooting back a big to see her work from a longer angle.

But when he poses the next question, she blinks. ]

Mmm... I never really thought about that! I think the act of making it is the best part. [ She pauses before letting her gaze drift over to the water. ] By nighttime the waves will probably reach this point, but that's okay! At least I can say I made something really special with a new friend.

[whirlwindthrust]

[ He has a feeling that this "special friend" is him. Which he has a secondary feeling that nothing he says is going to change her mind about that either. At least Xiao has gotten to the point where he can accept this much and just roll with it.

Instead his facial expression softens. The girl likes his name. That's - yes. A name given to him by Rex Lapis should be liked. ]

It's a good name.

[ Okay so. He's going to just. Awkwardly take another pail and go to get water. ]

[azuresong]

[ The sudden change in reaction is a bit shocking to Lyria as she will follow him with her gaze all the way to the water. But he was participating now, right? So that was clearly a good thing!

She'll momentarily go back to securing the walls before he arrives, her smile more than inviting. ]

Is there something you wanted to add to it? You can have your own little piece of the castle, too!

[whirlwindthrust]

Something... That I would want to add to it?

[ He's not really sure if this structure could, at all, be called a castle. It really doesn't seem like it. Ziao tilts his head this way. Tilts it that way. Frowns just a little. ]

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