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
Final Fantasy XIV - Emet-Selch
Final Fantasy XIV - Hermes
Final Fantasy XV - Somnus Lucis Caelum
Full Metal Alchemist - Alphonse Elric
Genshin Impact - Ei
Genshin Impact - Nahida
Great Ace Attorney, The - Iris Wilson
Hey Arnold! - Helga G. Pataki
Hi-Fi Rush - Chai
Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword - Zelda
Noragami - Yato
Original - Astralin Turnont
Touhou - Maribel Hearn

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. 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

[ BRC only gets a few seconds to be surprised before she bolts! What is this giant creature?! A... Cakehound, without the cake??? ]

Crows, to me! We need to get out of here!

[ The Five Raisin Crows try to pick her up, but they might not be enough to fly away! ]

Ugh... fly away with me! I'll fend it off, save yourselves!

[The young corgi continues to bark in excitement as she nears them, but the crows are a bit intimidating... So Melody will stop a little short, tail wagging a bit as she looks at the strange looking but delicious smelling talking treat...

...

Eustace will soon be there.]

[ Hurry up, Eustace, your dog is about to commit cookie murder!!!

BRC stays where she is, knife held up... can she scare this monster off? ]

Back off! I may be small, but my dough is stronger than it looks! I'll ensure you're nothing but crumbs if you take another step closer!

[ "Caw, caw, caw!" The crows refuse to abandon their mistress! ]

[HE'S ALMOST THERE!! He can see and hear Melody barking at... Crows? From his angle he can't see BRC just yet.]

Melody, back!

[This little troublemaker...!!!

But when he finally manages to catch up and reach down to grab her, he'll finally notice the...cookie holding a...knife?

...

Eh?]

[ Hey, Eustace, you can still be surprised by this place. Surely that says... something?

Anyway, now she's extra worried now that this... extra huge thing has approached! Has she finally met her match? ]

The beast is yours? ... I see, another commander of cakehounds, just like Red Velvet Cookie... well, just like him, you can tell your mistress, Dark Enchantress Cookie, she will be stopped! I'll never join forces with her, no matter what kind of monsters you throw my way!

[WELL PEOPLE AREN'T ALL GINGERBREAD RIGHT NOW so yes even Eustace can still be surprised!!

...]

Red Velvet Cookie...? [Dark Enchantress???

Well his mind is still spinning about this...cookie. And the crows. But at least he's quick enough to put a few pieces together.]

I have a question. Did you run off from one of the bakery ovens, or did you suddenly awaken here?

What difference is it to you? ... Or are you saying you aren't the reason I'm here now?

[ That answers that - she's not of this world. She doesn't move from her attack position, ready to strike if provoked. ]

[...Hmm.]

No, I am not. You were brought here through your dreams.

... My dreams? ... Gingerbrave did say something like that happened, on his journey to the City of Wizards... But that should have no effect on me...

[ She looks Eustace up and down - well, mostly up, due to size difference. ]

Are you a Wizard? Answer carefully, beast-tamer.

[Beast-tamer—]

No.

... Are you my enemy? I have no quarrel with you, if you keep your... wild, unruly monsters at bay from me and my crows.

[ She points with her knife at his wild, unruly... pile of fluff. ]

[Unruly!? Melody barks in protest, and Eustace's brows narrow just a fraction before he shifts the pup in his arms so he can quietly pat her to try and calm her down.]

No, I'm not your enemy...now is she a monster. I take it dogs do not exist where you're from.

[But the crows...are they like the real bird, or are they also made of gingerbread?]

Hmph. We have Cakehounds, of course... but I can't even begin to guess what your beast is made out of.

[ Surely it's a food, right? Some type of edible thing? What else is there? ]

... And where I hail from, the only time I've seen them obey a command is by a Cookie who is my enemy... and the enemy of all Earthbread.

[ Which is why she's still eyeing you with hella distrust. ]

.......

[Cake...hounds...

...

He's curious.

He's so curious.

But he'll restrain that curiosity and continue to be professional and try to...well he's not sure if this cookie will ever trust him, but whether she believes him or not, she'll at least have some information to remember and think on.]

Then I should probably start and make it clear that you won't find anyone else made of cookie or other baked good here.

[...There's no way he can try and explain what flesh and bone is, so let's just go with that first.]

...But I won't deny given your size and...making, you may be in danger from other animals.

[ Oh, that's a one-two punch! She's so startled, she even backs up a bit, blinking rapidly. ]

Wh... what? Not a single other Cookie? That's... impossible!

[ She had accepted her size was absolutely not normal here, since... well, just look at everything here! It's so wildly huge! But then, so is he! But the idea that she is the only one of her kind here... how can it be? And... there are OTHER animals besides this not-cake-hound??? ]

Am I really... no longer on Earthbread? This isn't some... elaborate nightmare or trick from Dark Enchantress Cookie?

[There's really no way to sugarcoat this.]

While this is called a "dream world," it's not a nightmare or a simple dream. You are in a completely different world.

But... that's... I did nothing to leave my world! I never would have! There's too much to do! I'm on a mission from Pure Vanilla Cookie... we must find Golden Cheese Cookie... and my village!

[ She seems pretty upset about this. Even her crows are trying to comfort her, gently cawing and patting her with their wings. ]

[...Oh dear. Sensing the little cookie's distress, Melody whimpers and wiggles. Must...comfort...!

Normally Eustace would allow it, but in this case he's going to err on the side of caution and not let go of his pup. Instead, he will slowly crouch down so he's not towering over her anymore.]

...I'm sorry. [A small pause before he continues in a quieter, gentler voice.]

This... May sound confusing, but listen carefully.

Like I said this is something of a "dream world." The version of yourself here is called a "dream self" and is just a fragment of your real self. You are still awake and existing in your original world.

[ It would be a comfort to hear... if it was true. But what proof does he have? This could still be one long trick. ]

... Am I merely supposed to take your word for this? True, this... entire place is beyond anything I could ever imagine, and none of it makes any sense. But I can't trust a complete stranger with a monster for a companion just because he says things I want to hear.

[ Sorry, the dog-slander isn't going to stop for a while. That pile of floof is a menace to society. ]

[MONSTER!!!!! Melody is now very sad, complete with droopy ears and big, watery, sad eyes that look like that actual tears could fall any second.]

No, you can't.

[He's not going to disagree. It's honestly a good thing that she's wary, so he won't hold it against her.]

Whether you believe me or not is up to you. But you'll hear the same from everyone else.

Everyone else. Who aren't Cookies. And they are...

[ She pauses, looking Eustace up and down again. She doesn't have a name for... whatever you things are. ]

... What are you, exactly? You don't appear to be made out of any sugar, icing, or even dough. There's not a single thing about you that could be crispy or crunchy.

[All right he's going to kill his knees if he stays crouched like this, especially with Melody becoming a sad lump in his arms. So he takes a moment to shift to a sitting position, crossing his legs over the other to settle the pup between his legs as he looks at BRC.]

I'm an Erune. However, most of the people you'll see will be human.

[He twitches his ears.]

We look similar, but they won't have my ears.

We're also... [...This is kind of weird to explain.] Made of flesh.

[...Would she even know what that is...]

[ Judging by the slow blinking, no, "flesh" is a completely foreign word to her. ]

... And you're all so... huge? Is that why every building is so massive, to accommodate you creatures?

[...Please don't make him try to explain that—]

Correct. There are those who are shorter in stature, including small children... But they would be half my height, even less. About as tall as I'm sitting now.

[ !!!! ]

This place snatches away children?! That's terrible! Who cares for them, who watches over them?

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