{ halloween }

[dreamposts]

HALLOWEEN

Another Halloween has arrived in Reverein, and the Nightmare Troupe returns from their mysterious origins to help transform the carnival grounds to fit the season. They've added a new feature attraction: The Labyrinth, where everyone just runs around to fight spooky baddies for candy, prizes, and flex one's combat abilities in dreamotion. It's all in good fun, of course!

More details on everything can be found 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 October and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of October 25th, just before the event ICly begins. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count October 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 October 25th and Applications will open on November 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until January.

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Cookie Run Kingdom - Black Raisin Cookie
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Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Xenk Yendar
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Genshin Impact - Nahida
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Noragami - Yato
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Touhou - Maribel Hearn

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I. CARNIVAL

II. LABYRINTH

COMMENTS

I. CARNIVAL

While the carnival grounds still have the standard fare of attractions themed up for Halloween, there are a few new ones popping up thanks to the Nightmare Troupe. Some are similar to what appeared last year, but with a different look to them. Some, perhaps, more terrifying than before.

A. Personalized Costumes. All throughout Reverein boutiques and tailors are in full swing to create costumes for those who wish to wear, either by renting or buying. However, for those who are a bit adverse, the fairy godmothers are out and about ready to employ their fashion magic to grant anyone and everyone a special Halloween costume, just for them! There might be the slight side effect that the wearer may behave like the costume itself, but it's just a temporary phase.

B. Vampring Frights. The vamprings are still out and about, nibbling on nightmares. But now they are also appearing outside of dreams, deciding that a bit of fear could make as good of a snack or meal as any other. Only the ones that are truly hungry will appear, so a little purple blob will bounce and latch onto any part of their target's body they can reach (though they particularly like the top of the head). Those who are bitten in this manner won't try to bite others, fortunately. Instead, they will become something like a "Vampring minion" and try to invoke fear and scare others. (For more information and use the original version of the Vampring, read here.)

C. Monster Swaps. Small monsters will roam the carnival grounds and will swap bodies with random people to go around pulling pranks and tricks in the person's body. The person is now trapped in the monster's body, but has access to the monster's trickster, spooky abilities as well (ie, players can make this up). To return to normal, they must find their original body and bite it. Otherwise, they will have to wait for the monster to get bored and return to switch them back.

D. Carnival Fare. Here are a few of the general games and attractions available for carnival goers to enjoy.

🔫 Zombie Shooter. Ride through a rickety car through a building and shoot the "zombies" that pop up with bright green paintball guns. While most are cardboard, there are a few volunteers that dress for the occasion. Don't mind their pain as they get hit, they're fine.
👻 Spooky Stories. Instead of a fire, there is a boiling cauldron set up where people can gather around and try to conjure up their spookiest story. The steam over the cauldron will change and twist to try and illustrate the story as it goes, and should it proof particularly scary, a manifestation of the terror will crawl out of it to terrorize everyone for a little bit before disappearing.
🍏 Poisoned Apples. Special caramel covered green apples are handed out throughout the carnival. One bite will inflict one or more of the following effects: floating, dizzy, sugar rush, creepy, frightful. (Players are free to be creative and come up with additional effects!)
🧹 Broom Carousel. The horses have been replaced with different styles of witch brooms, letting everyone have a safe experience of flying on a broom. Until the brooms suddenly fly out of the carousel and into the carnival. Hang on or stop that broom!
🎃 Pumpkin Carving Challenge. Pumpkins can be found all over the grounds, and there is a challenge to carve them with dreamotion and light a special candle in them. Doing so will bring the pumpkin to life and behave like whatever expression or drawing carved on them. Whether they behave nicely is a different matter. Blowing out the candle will stop the pumpkin.

E. House of Mirrors. The House of Mirrors will have new mirrors installed that have new special effects…many making everyone inside feel not quite themselves.

🎭 Jekyll and Hyde. A black framed mirror where the opposite version of the viewer appears to taunt them.
💅 Narcissism. A gold framed mirror where one will see the best version of themselves and will stand stuck in front of it admiring themselves. They will need to be forcibly dragged away…else they may get stuck on the mirror.
🛌 Dream or Nightmare? A silver framed mirror that will reflect either a good dream or a nightmare that's on the viewer's mind. It will be a strong image, so strong that the viewer may be tempted to dreamwalk into the mirror, either to be a part of it or to destroy it. Some help may be required to help them either accomplish their goal or pull them out.
🪞 Mirror Version. Sometimes, a "mirror version" of the viewer may reach out to switch places, trapping the original inside the mirror while the mirror version goes out to cause some chaos. The trapped person can only traverse through mirrors, and can only be freed if the mirrored version is shoved back into any mirror. One way to tell a mirror version apart is that they will randomly reflect things off their body.

F. Haunted Ryokan. A haunted Japanese styled inn is the theme for this year's "haunted house." On the outside, it looks invitingly eerie, with life-sized traditional Japanese dolls as their hosts and guides. They hope their new patrons will enjoy their stay…forever.

🏮 Peony Lantern. At first a beautiful woman will appear holding a lantern and take a person's hand to lead them through the narrow halls lit by floating lanterns. But whenever they pass under a lantern, the woman's form changes into a skeleton. Once they are noticed, they will screech and chase them through the hallways and rooms to the next location, but if left alone it will quietly lead them without issue.
🛁 Bathhouse. Somehow they get to the bathing area where the steam rises thick around them. Without warning a ghostly figure of a long-haired drowned woman will crawl out and chase with a bloody knife. Fish spirits will also fly out to impede them, but they could be used to smack the woman instead. Should someone slip in the water, they'll feel hands grab at them, trying to pull them under…
🪦 Graveyard. Past the courtyard is a graveyard where all manner of Japanese inspired ghosts and demons roam. A special paper talisman is available, and once powered with positive dreamotion it will create a shikigami that will help ward off and defend against the ghosts. But it must have constant dreamotion poured into it, so should it ever go out, the ghosts and demons will suddenly rush into chase.
🐕 Shiba Statues. Should anyone be having a truly terrible time, special little shiba inu statues will trot in to dispel the "evils" and give the visitor some much needed comfort and respite. They will even guide them to the exit if needed. Those who manage to pass through on their own will also meet the shiba inu statues and have a chance to play with them as if in congratulations.

II. LABYRINTH

A big structure now occupies the area just beyond the Fairgrounds. Towering stone walls hide complex pathways inside, and it turns out its express purpose is not to get people lost, but for a little bit of exploration. There is no entrance/exit, just a special circular teleportation pad that will take them inside and there is no end goal. It's not difficult to get out once inside, but the winding paths encourage visitors to check behind corners for treats because there's a lot of treats AND tricks!

A. Halloween Creatures. The labyrinth is populated with silly creatures held together by craft glue and duct tape both dreamotion and nightmare. These creatures will attack on sight, but subdue them and reap the rewards: candy and silly toys! It's all for fun, after all.

🦴 Skeletons. Their bones are made of rubber and most physical attacks will bounce off them. Have to get in close to blast with dreamotion!
🕷 Glow-In-The-Dark Plastic Spiders. Will shoot sticky licorice webbing that will trip up and trap any caught in it. Have to eat through it to get out, and the flavor could either be red or black.
🔺 Candy Corn Golems. Chuck giant pieces of candy corn that are delicious, but hurt! Golems will melt under intense heat.

B. Mysterious Doors. Sometimes, you may find a door at one of the dead ends. Knock, and most of the time a kindly old lady (where did she come from? Don't worry about it–) will present you with special trick-or-treat bags. The other times, a swarm of genuinely sinister nightmare creatures will come pouring out. Oops! Try again next time! Here are some of the items the old lady will give and their effects (they can be taken home after the event):

🧙 Witch's Hat. The hat will automatically fly on top of the person's head and will allow them to cast silly hexes of misfortune on their targets.
🧹 Witch's Broom. Can fly at fast speeds for a few minutes at a time. Only goes up to three feet in the air.
🤓 Plastic Fangs. These fangs will fit themselves in the person's mouth and will allow them to bite any candy corn golem or sticky spider licorice webbing with ease. And normal foods, too.
🕸 Spray Can of Licorice Webbing. Releases a spray of licorice webbing similar to the ones used by the plastic spiders.
🧻 Roll of Toilet Paper. Exactly as it says.
🍫 Nougat Center. A delicious treat that will temporarily boost one's stats dreamotion abilities.

C. Beware of Steve. If you're very unlucky, you may hear an ominous clatter in the distance... The low rumble of a revving chainsaw... Those who spend lots of time in the labyrinth will know soon enough–those are noises that mean you need to run. Because STEVE, THE 20-FOOT-TALL CHAINSAW-WIELDING SKELETON, takes no hostages, and he's out for blood!!! He will continue chasing people until fought, and anything goes with this foe. While dreamotion attacks will work, using the items given by the old lady in the doors will inflict greater damage. Anyone who is "killed" by Steve will be knocked out of the Labyrinth unharmed.


D. Grand High Viscount of Candy Corn. On the other end of giant "horrors" is a giant golem made of candy corn with a large top hat that may appear out of one of the doors. Its main attack, besides trying to punch and pummel, is spewing sticky candy goop that will trap anyone caught in it. It'll wear off, but until then, any caught in it will at first feel very energetic and attack more quickly before becoming sluggish and unable to do much, as if they suffered an extreme sugar crash.

I. CARNIVAL

II. LABYRINTH

COMMENTS

Comments

Xenk Yendar | Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves | TDM

[partybabysitter]

I. Arrival at the Carnival

[ An adventure in the land of dreams, now this is perhaps a tale from a fairy tale. Xenk received the welcome package with the journal and the rest, but he's going to need some time adjust before he gets his bearings and figures anything out.

Which of course is why he appeared in the middle of some kind of carnival, for some kind of holiday connected to costumes and frights? Except some of these costumes look remarkably like the clothes and armor he's already wearing.

Xenk is indeed browsing the catalogue, brows rising as he leafs through the pages. One describes a "Gallant Knight" with armor and sword, a fine blue suit and perhaps a "free horse" with costume? Huh? ]

How curious.

[ He turns the page, finding another with a set of dashing riding boots, red coat and regency wear. "Dashing Duke," now what's this one about? There are just so many choices and he's barely just gotten here, he needs help... ]

II. Zombie Shooter

[ Fighting evil and killing zombies is exactly up Xenk's alley! Truthfully, he's never wielded a gun, and the way he's staring at the paintball gun in his hand makes that pretty obvious.

But he's sat in the car now, perhaps you've decided to join him thanks to the Single Riders line, who knows? But you may want to try and fix his aim a bit before you get started, because Xenk really is turning the gun around, this way and that, trying to figure out what it does.

He's, uh, pointing the wrong end out, for one thing. ]

III. House of Mirrors

[ Xenk should have known better than to stumble into the house of mirrors. He doesn't bat at eye at the taunts of false doubles or narcissistic jabs, but he pauses for a moment when he catches his relfection in a particularly darkened portal.

It isn't his relfection that stares back at him, though. It's a younger version of him, heaving and crying, the sky darkened around him with the red tinge of vile magic. When Xenk steps through, it isn't to put an end to the nightmare, or seek his revenge against Szass Tam.

Instead Xenk bends down to place a comforting hand on his younger self's shoulder. ]

All will be well, young one. You'll see.

[ This might be one of the weird cases where you have to pull him out so he can stop comforting his inner child. ]

[ Or just wildcard me or hit me up at cantito!! ]

Carnival Arrival

[senorita_perfecta]

(With her grandfather memorial taking up most of her time, Isabela is also in the hunt for a good costume pretty badly. So there she is: also checking at the costume catalogue and wondering which one to choose from so yes Xenk is not the only one in a middle of a costume pinch.

The first one she finds, ‘Woodland Pixie’ seems to be a nice option for a lady with plant powers but Isa is not in the mood for anything related to nature this year. So she passes it for the second option, ‘Sly Witch’, and the third option, ‘Siren of the Seas’. They seem to be calling for her but she can’t seem to choose between them when she sees Xenk going through the catalogue next to her.)

Oh hey there. Looking for a good costume this year? Maybe I can help you in picking out the right one for you.

[partybabysitter]

This would be appreciated.

[ Xenk nods amiably at Isabela. He is not the best at small talk, and so while he smiles to see Isabela, he has no idea what he's doing. At least he's not fumbling around on his own anymore! ]

I am afraid I don't understand the practice in its entirety. What is the purpose of the costumes, exactly...?

[senorita_perfecta]

Oh, the costumes being worn this time of the year? Apparently it is a common practice for people to dress up as anything and anyone on Halloween. To be somebody you want to be for one night. It gives people an excuse to have a dress up and get into all sorts of spooky fun.

I didn’t get to celebrate Halloween a lot back at home, but ever since last year, I am excited to see what sort of costumes people gets to wear and what I could be for the day itself. You don’t celebrate Halloween in where you’re from?

[partybabysitter]

Why would you need to become someone you wish to be, if one can simply... be oneself? I do not understand. Nor this concept of "spooky fun?"

[ The way he says it, it's clear he's never even considered the notion. ]

We do not. There are various festivities in Faerun, many to mark the changing of the seasons, solstices, and the like, but I have not heard of any place that practices this Halloween.

mirrors

[skyglider]

[He-- feels like he's intruding. But the dark tint of the sky, the cries in the distance...if not for the rounded ears of both man and child, he might think he was looking at a memory of the Calamity. It's both unsettling and, strangely, a bit nostalgic...but not his vision. All the same, a vision within a mirror doesn't exactly seem like a good thing.

He clears his throat softly, announcing his presence.]

... A memory?

[His curiosity always seems to come out in moments like this.]

[partybabysitter]

[ This is an old hat, to Xenk. This memory is one he often dreams of, burned so deeply in mind that he can recall nearly every detail. His younger self is crying, wiping at his tears and the mark on his forehead -- one he shares with the real, adult Xenk. ]

Indeed. This is a very old, sorrow-filled memory, I'm afraid.

[ He pats the boy's hair, cropped short in contrast to Xenk's short locs, and stands, though he remains close-by to his younger self. Would that he could take the boy away from all this... but he knows the truth. ]

It was a dark day in Faerun, and in Thay.

[skyglider]

[The dots connect fairly easily. Would that they could all comfort their younger selves...he, too, would have much to say to the young bearer of the Master Sword, if he had the chance. So he gives Xenk another moment, watching from as much of a respectable distance as he can while the man offers that comfort to his own memory.]

I'm sorry.

[If for no other reason than intruding, but also...because he can sympathize with those dark days. There's another meaning, too, as he takes a step closer. Mirrors projecting memories...Songerein isn't always or even often a terribly dangerous place, but something about it does feel ominous.]

... I don't think we should stay here, though.

Zombie Shooter (Pew, Pew!)

[grandduchess_anya]

(Shooting out zombies with paintballs like they are the Erasers and Noctasers? That sure does sound like a fun activity and a nice way to vent her frustration against those creatures. Anya is also in the same car as Xenk, just getting in before she brings out the paintball gun.

Truth to be told, Anya never uses a gun before. In fact she is more of shoots fireballs & ice and sword-fighting kind of gal, but having seen many soldiers in Russia’s army using guns with her father and siblings in a couple of occasions and using a spray paint gun, she does notice that the new guy is holding the gun the wrong way around.

So she might as well give Xenk some help in how to hold a paintball gun.)

Excuse me, Sir. I think that you might need help in holding your paint gun properly before we get to attack the ‘zombies’.

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk very much appreciates the aid, having never wielded a gun before. He watches how she's doing it, adjusting his grip carefully. Ah, now this feels right! He gets it now. ]

I see. You have my thanks for your assistance, miss. Might I have your name, before we embark on this adventure together?

[ That's not a line, this is just how he talks. ]

[grandduchess_anya]

Glad to be of help, Sir. My name is…

(She was about to use her actual royal name but it does feel weird to say that you’re royalty back in your world in a place where titles don’t seem to matter at all. Also it might be hard for people to spell Anastasia Nikolaevna right away.

The Russian naming system: making things very tricky for non Russian speakers since time has existed.)

Anya. Just Anya. I would like to be called by that personally.

ii.

[foremother]

[ how one xenk yandar ends up partnered up with a young woman wrapped with white and gold is anyone's guess. perhaps it is the singles line, indeed, or perhaps it's that zelda herself is a go-getter with little in the way to stop her from getting to do what she wants, which is, apparently, flex some knight academy training.

while a gun isn't her preferred method... well, she's seen enough to know top from bottom, and only pauses at the last moment, readying up her own shot— but the senses are tingling, it seems, because her head snaps to him so fast that a feather dislodges itself from the wreath of gold and pearls on her head. ]

Are you better with a bow?

[ g-gently reaching out to lower his shotgun, expression curious and considering. wrong holiday, xenk! you can shoot your eye out 70 days from now. ]

[partybabysitter]

[ Zelda certainly has an air about her, something almost ethereal. Perhaps she's a cleric of some kind? Yes, that makes sense. Xenk feels heartened to know he's working alongside a cleric on his attempts here.

And that she at least is correcting his form, because again, Xenk has no idea what he's doing. ]

Indeed, I favor the shortbow.

[ He's gonna... try and turn it. Again. Is this the right side out? Is this where you hold it? His second attempt sees him pointing it at the floor. But he is holding it more like a bow, now! ]

This is all quite new to me.

[foremother]

[ maybe that air is just her deodorant. the ancient stuff always is a little mystical, isn't it? or perhaps it's the costume. she feels like she hasn't even changed, in truth.

lucky guess on her part, she muses— or goddess' intuition, but she can only reject such a thought. ]

We've got that in common. [ putting her own paintball gun down, zelda watches him for a moment, observing the way his hands try to figure out the whole contraption rather than merely ask or observe. this is a doer. honestly, tugs at her heartstrings a bit. reminds her a bit of home. ] Oh, wait... It's that we have new things to experience here, I meant!

[ with her hands free, she raises them, palms flat, facing the heavens, and the gears in her head turn a bit— free practice is practice. ] It was shortbow you claimed, didn't you? We mostly learned with wooden swords and shields in knight academy. Still, ranged combat would be useful at times to learn... [ nothing happens as she focuses for a moment. it's mildly frustrating, and her palms are starting to go slick with sweat. she rubs her fingers down them. ]

You can put that down.

[ there's a flicker of light, hot white like fire, dreamotion pulsing together before a yellow beam snaps together into the shape of a bow, half sunlight and half timber. a bead of sweat rolls down her brow, but it's tangible, at least. ]

Think it'll do the job for you?

House of Mirrors

[holdshisown]

[He isn't sure how long this man has been here comforting this dream child when he stumbles upon him, but he doesn't seem in any hurry to get out again. So after a brief moment of hesitation Maedhros places a hand on the mans shoulder, much like he himself is doing to the child.]

My friend, I do not think this is a good place for you to stay. Will you not let me lead you out of this place?

[partybabysitter]

[ Xenk would like to stay as long as he needs -- which would be a very long time indeed, for a man who was cursed with a long life. The foreign touch does pull him back more to the present, as he stands and turns. ]

I...

[ He takes a moment to consider their surroundings. While the memory is a vivid one, Maedhros' existence puts it in stark contrast with reality. He'll gain nothing from dwelling here, even if... his younger self continues to quietly sob. ]

Perhaps you are right. Much as I may wish to, there is no more I can do here.

[holdshisown]

[Maedhros gives the man what he hopes is an encouraging smile, though he needs to harden his heart himself to turn his back on the sobbing child. It might be nothing but a shade of this place, a dream of a past long gone by, but it's obvious sorrow still cuts deep into one who has spent many long years shepherding younger siblings and cousins.]

Dwelling in dreams of things long gone by does little good, I have found. Hard as it is at times you must move forwards.

Arrival at the Carnival

[najaran]

A young teenager, maybe fifteen at most, was also looking at the costumes. She seemed so confused. "I don't get it... Are these like clothes for missions?" she asked looking at one of the options.

[partybabysitter]

Xenk turns a page on his own catalogue, finding yet another "Dashing Prince" outfit. They certainly seem to want him to dress nice.

"I am unsure myself," he adds with a confused look. "Tis something to do with the local holiday, if I understand correctly."

[najaran]

"Holdiay?" they didn't really celebrate those on the Train. And her Master wasn't much for celebrating anything either.

House Of Mirrors

[uncle_iroh]

Iroh would give him some time, then would enter beside him. "The young stumble and fall," he said calmly. "But in falling, we learn. Would you unmake this memory, knowing you would take with it all that was built upon it?" he asked kindly, gently. "This is history, a foreign country that neither of us belong in."

[partybabysitter]

Xenk pats his younger self on the head, a comforting gesture like his parents did so often before him. The child does not stop crying, and indeed he should not. Xenk can only smile with sympathy, taking a short step away as he watches him still.

"He has been cursed with a great and terrible fate. One he will not understand for many years." The child clearly does not hear him, for this is indeed a memory, and not one which contained a vision from his future. "All will be well, in time. I do not think even knowing this would have made my life easier. Would that it had."

[uncle_iroh]

"Many of us have been cursed the same. But I do not know that knowledge would have been a boon. Come, let us have some tea. We can talk of this more, or of other things. But either way tea will make it easier. And I think it is time that we leave this space."

zombie shooter to start!

[inheritedearth]

[A young woman dressed in your typical Spirit Halloween witch's garb (only in red) proceeds to slide into the seat beside him just as he settles, her own gun in hand, and smiles as she turns her attention to him.]

Looks like we're together for— oh!

[She bites at her bottom lip, stifling a laugh as she sees the way he's holding his gun. Setting her own down carefully, she reaches out to gently take hold of his, carefully turning the right way around.]

Here you go! We don't want you shooting yourself instead of the undead.

Zombie Shooter

[chocobosnap]

[ Oh dear god no, Xenk is one second from getting a hand placed over his. ]

Okay. [ Prompto breathes. He's usually the nervous sort, but Xenk is about to seriously hurt himself. ]

First of all, don't point the gun at yourself. Second of all, only put your finger on the trigger when you mean to fire it. [ He definitely sounds knowledgeable and he should be as a sharpshooter himself. ]