songerein | { halloween }

Entry tags:

{ halloween }

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.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view)

Bokurano - Jun Ushiro
Cookie Run Kingdom - Black Raisin Cookie
Dead by Daylight - Zarina Kassir
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Edgin Darvis
Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves - Xenk Yendar
Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core - Genesis Rhapsodos
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Full Metal Alchemist - Alphonse Elric
Genshin Impact - Ei
Genshin Impact - Nahida
Great Ace Attorney, The - Iris Wilson
Hey Arnold! - Helga G. Pataki
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Noragami - Yato
Original - Astralin Turnont
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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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

(It has only been a few minutes since Isabela has entered in the haunted ryokan and yet in no time she could hear noises. The shriek pierces through the air, causing the witch dressed lady to wonder where did it come from. It can’t be from the skeleton guides as far as she can recall.

As she turns around to look around however, she soon spots Pauline running away from the skeletal lady running after her. Oh dear, this is going to be pretty terrifying. Isa better steps in to keep that woman from scaring Pauline even further as she puts her foot down and steps in the way of the skeletal.)

Hey! Let my friend out of your scare pursuit. Don’t try to make me throw random pointy vines or cacti at your face tonight.

[The ghostly skeleton raises its arms and lets out a piercing scream in an attempt to frighten and intimidate Isabela, as the lantern it holds casts a creepy glow.

Pauline, meanwhile , runs right past in a total panic. After a moment, she realizes who she's just passed and tries to turn back. However, her own momentum causes her to slip and fall and she ends up on her backside staring up at the spectral being before them.]

(Creepy glow or not, Isabela is totally unphazed by the ghost skeleton’s wrath one bit. What the skeleton for confronting this very unhinged plant lady is a face full of pointy vines and cacti to keep them distracted for the time being. That should keep them at bay from attacking the two of them for at least a short time.

With the skeleton distracted for now, Isabela rushes as fast as she could to reach Pauline and help her out.)

Oh hi. Is everything alright so far? Beside the lantern skeleton chasing after you that is.

[As she's hit by the vines, the skeletal woman screams and thrashes around.

Even after being spoken to, it takes a moment for Pauline to tear her gaze away from the screaming ghoul and get her head together enough to speak.]

Y-yeah? Well, like, no, but...I think. ...I thought stuff like this was supposed to be fun-scary not like, for real scary!

Yeah. I was not expecting this place to be this spooky as well, maybe more so than the haunted house from last year. The whole scares seem to feel too real this time.

Do you think that we should leave that lantern skeleton and head for somewhere where there are no scary skeletons to be found?

That’s probably a good idea...not that we have much of a choice.

[She starts to get to her feet, watching as the skeleton continues to struggle with the vines.]

I was expecting like, people in costumes or whatever. I guess I should know better after being here for so long...

I could say the same thing for myself too. I thought that this place will be filled with props and people running around in costumes. Was not expecting real spirits to be involved when I first came here.

(She takes a look at the hallway to find the nearest exit for the two of them to take and get out of this portion. Aha! Found one nearby some bamboo ikebana display. This should be a good escape route.)

Hey! I found an exit out of this hallway, let’s get out of here before the skeleton tries to catch us.

Like, good find...! Maybe whatever is up next won't be so bad...

[She starts to move toward the room's exit, doing her best to stick close to Isabela.]

I get wanting to make a haunted house or whatever super scary, but they're really going overboard with it...!

Oh yeah, they sure did went really all out for this year’s haunted house attraction. They must have outdone themselves for real and I can’t get over how realistic the scares can get.

It is really terrifying to navigate this place without being greeted by a lot of spirits at every corner.

I'm starting to wonder if the scares are realistic because they're real. The way this place is sometimes...

[Had she been back home, she would have chalked it up to really expensive special effects or something, but in this world she can't rule out the possibility that there actually are a bunch of real ghosts and spirits lurking around.]

Like, tell me about it! Even without the ghosts and stuff, this place is sort of creepy...

Exactly. This place does have the creepy vibes even if you take the spirits out of here. I don’t even know how the Nightmare Troupe are able to find them and got them to populate this attraction in the first place. The theming alone sure does send chills down my spine already.

I guess they're called "The Nightmare Troupe" for a reason. I mean, like, they're totally good at what they do.

[ She keeps looking around, trying to keep an eye out for any more potential scares.]

Not everyone could come up with something so scary...for anyone that likes being scared this is probably great.

That is also what I thought about them too. They sure managed to live up to their own name very well.

(She is hoping that they didn’t run into more scary spirits on their way to the next portion of the inn.)

Oh yes, quite so. They must have a lot of effort to make the whole experience to feel as real and terrifying as one can get.

It's like, almost too much. I wonder if they actually spend all year working on this.

[She makes a face as she looks around, following Isabela closely. She's half-whispering, trying to keep from attracting the attention of anything that may be lurking around.]

Uuuuuugh, I don't even know why I came in here...! I usually totally avoid scary stuff like this...

Same here. I do begin to wonder if they did spent an entire year planning on this very haunted attraction as well. This place is already giving me the creeps and we’re not even out of this inn just yet.

(Isabela is trying to keep her voice down in order to avoid getting unwanted attention from the spirits in the inn. It seems as if any source of noise could get their attention almost immediately and Isabela doesn’t want to find out so suddenly.)

I’m starting to ask that question to myself too, but we’re going to find the exit and get out of here safely.

Right. Right! We'll definitely get out of here before long. It's like, a finite space. How big can it be? We'll find the exit, get out and never have to look at it again.

[She lets out a quiet squeak as an eerie moan echoes through the hall, unthinkingly grabs onto Isabela's arm.]

Urghhh, what was that...?

(Isabela is about to say something when she overhears the same moans Pauline hears and she too gets scared by it too. This is starting to be more terrifying the longer they stay there and Isabela has no clue as to who or where the moans are coming from.)

Oh no. The moans, I’m not even sure if they are coming from the skeletal lantern ghost or from another spirit in here. Come on, the exit is not that far away from here.

Another spirit...I didn't even think of that. There are other spirits in here! We don't even know exactly what's in here with us...!

[Somehow not knowing makes it even worse. She does her best to keep an eye out for any signs of the exit.]

I hope you're right...like, the sooner we can ditch this place, the better...!

Me neither. I really don’t want to run into more spirits in this place too and see what they look like either. Just seeing the skeletal lantern spirit alone is enough to last me a lifetime.

Right, we should get to the exit quickly and run before they try to get to us. Maybe they can’t get to us if we go outside and run as far away as from this scary inn as possible.

Like, tell me about it! When that skeleton lady was chasing me, for a second I really thought I done for...

[Pauline jumps a bit at a loud creaking sound and starts walking just a little faster.]

It's fine. It's fine! You're right! Once we get out of here, we just need to keep going until we can't see it anymore! Like, out of sight out of mind or something, right?

(Luckily the exit is not that far away from them by now as they run for the door that could get them out of the inn. Ghosts can’t leave the place they are stuck in to live in so they can chase people, right?)

Oh yes. The ghosts can’t escape to chase us all night. Out of sight out of mind indeed. Let’s keep running towards the exit and don’t look back at the spirits too.

Right! I mean, if they could leave this place they probably would and it wouldn't be haunted! So once we're out, we don't have to deal with them anymore!

[As they get closer and closer to the exit, Pauline hears a faint barking in the distance.]

Do you hear that? Is that like, a dog? What would a dog be doing in...Oh! Hey! Maybe that means we're close!

Yes. Me too. I could hearing something close to a dog as well. I have no idea why they have a dog haunting this place as well… Either way, the exit is getting nearer already.

That means that our chances of escaping the spirits and this places are even closer than ever and we don’t have to worry about being scared by them along with the source of the strange ghostly dog noises.

Oh, totally! If I ever see another haunted house, it'll be too soon! I never wanna see another ghost, or spirit or whatever ever again...!

[As they continue to advance toward the exit, the barking grows a little louder alongside the sounds of the carnival outside.]

I think we're just about there!

That is terrific, we’re getting closer to the exit now. There is no way that these spirits are going to throw one more wrench into our escape route right now.

Come on. Let’s try to run faster from whatever is howling or barking at us and any more spirits and ghosts in this place.

(no subject)

ribbonbon - 2023-12-12 12:17 (UTC) - Expand

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