{ 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.

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

Comments

Labyrinth

[lestray]

[Gina's gone into the labyrinth with him, garbed in a Robin Hood outfit. Van Zeiks's costume was a surprising sight to be sure, that she's still getting used to. She's trying not to poke the bear too much with comments about it (though one or two might have slipped out initially!) and just to focus on getting through this maze. Gina looks around somewhat anxiously, although there's no sign of any danger at the moment. She cracks a light smile while looking towards Van Zeiks.]

This'll make good practice for investigations, yeah?

[discourtesies]

[The most Gina's comments have gotten out of van Zieks are brief side-eyes, for the most part—though perhaps one comment regarding the on-the-nose nature of her costume might have managed to get out.

In any case, he isn't averse to her company.]

Perhaps with some fortune it shall lack the typical danger associated with such endeavors.

[But. Sure, why not. Investigation practice.]

Have you noted anything distinct to these walls themselves?

[lestray]

[She doesn't mind being associated with Robin Hood at least, even if her thieving days are behind her. She still likes to think they're cut from the same cloth!

Gina nods along with Barok's hopes. She's certainly hoping to focus on just solving something without something dangerous happening. But she also fears that it might already be cursed to proceed otherwise.

In any case, Gina looks inquisitive in response to his question. With a frown, she glances towards a wall.]

...No, I ain't noticed nuffin' special 'bout 'em. [Though now she looks a bit self-conscious. Is this a test? Did he pick up on something she missed? She reaches out to touch the nearest wall, as if trying to examine it for clues.]

I- I ain't missin' nuffin', am I?

[discourtesies]

[Look, it's good to keep a detective on her toes, is all. Use your powers of observation, Gina! You'll be needing them.]

If you are, then we both have need of practice.

[Yeah, it's all... pretty uniform to his eyes. A few cracks here, a rugged texture there, but nothing that stands out. By design, he's sure.]

It may be prudent to note anything that may mark our way, however.

[..... how long have they been walking? The idea is just now occurring to him. Hm.]

[lestray]

[Okay, not a test! And Van Zeiks doesn't sound so severe. So Gina tries to breathe and take it easy a bit. She still traces the wall, but doesn't find anything to work with.]

Right. 'Course. [She gives a soft chuckle.]

I shoulda brought some breadcrumbs along, eh? I'll just keep me minces lookin' about for anytin' wot we can use.

[Of course, it's not long until they reach a fork in the road. She glances around, trying to get the best sense of which path to take.]

[discourtesies]

[As they approach the fork, there's a notable sound of multiple skittering legs from the darkness of their left, and van Zieks's attention goes there first, his head turned to try and discern what exactly the quick-moving dim lights are. To the right is an occasional distant rumble, perhaps far enough for them to avoid its source, if they pay attention in their eventual approach.

Or they could run headlong into whatever it is they find. What's the worst that this place can throw at them, anyway?

With a raised brow, he turns his eyes to Gina as if to ask, well?]

[lestray]

[It's on her shoulders now! She pauses, trying to focus and think as she looks between the two choices. Neither sound very encouraging. The skittering noises particularly creep her out! So she thinks more about the rumbling... Whatever it is, it sounds less close. And potentially much more possible to sneak around for a pair like them.

So with a firm nod, she turns towards that path.]

Let's go this way... but keep it quiet. Soft steps now. [If they can hear it as they near it, they can sneak around it! She hopes.]

[discourtesies]

[Soft steps, hm? Not something he's particularly accustomed to, but wearing a pair of fluffy wolf paws rather than his typical iron-heeled Wellingtons should provide a significant benefit in that area. He allows her to take the lead without a word, remaining quiet as requested.

There's a sugary smell in the air as they continue forward... and the rumbling seems to become more evident as the footsteps of something much, much larger than either of them. Still, it's quite dark in this section of the labyrinth, and van Zieks can see no sign of whatever the source of the sound is ahead, even where the twists and turns grant him the possibility. Hopefully, however, that means nothing can see them, either.

In a low mutter, with his eyes narrowed:]

One would hope to avoid any more man-eating giants...

[lestray]

[Gina's in her element now, creeping around like she's part of the shadows. She might not have been pickpocketing for a while, but it'll take a lot longer for these skills to become rusty. She moves forward swiftly but cautiously, keeping alert to make sure they don't get too close to whatever's lumbering about.

She flashes a quick smile towards him, one indicator of her location, while trying to ignore his fuzzy state.]

Or anytin' of the man-eatin' sort, really... [She whispers back to him.] It'll be fine. I've snuck 'round ogres o' people that looked scarier than this noise sounds. We just gotta keep it quick an' quiet.

[discourtesies]

[That's assuming it only has the senses of the "ogres" she's more familiar with, van Zieks muses. Quick and quiet would get her past most such men, he's sure, but he's not so certain of her confidence when they know little of their stomping fiend here, even aside from Barok's... much less practiced skills.]

Let us pray it lacks a keen nose. [Or something more supernatural.

As they continue, there are no roars or other monstrous sounds to give them any hint of the source, but a number of irregular thuds and some shouting of the more human sort speak to a conflict. Some other party has gotten the attention of whatever it is, but hasn't drawn it away from their path forward, it seems.

Barok thinks he sees something very... orange?]

[lestray]

[Gina's sure whatever this maze has can't be much worse than anyone she's already sneaked around, right?]

We ain't dealin' wiv nuffin' like Toby 'ere. [She assures him, completely through assumption, with a smirk as they press on.

Her steps become slower and more careful as the noises grow closer, and she sees the orange ahead. She tries whispering back to Barok.]

Wotever it is, it sounds busy... We might be able to slip 'round the back of it. [She readies herself while creeping closer and trying to get a better look at what they're dealing with.]

[discourtesies]

[And that certainly is an assumption, he notes. He follows, nevertheless.

The others they're now approaching—a group of dreamers like them, it seems—are fighting the large set of pyramidal orange shapes that appears to be the source of the deeper thuds. Additionally, they seem to be covered in... more of some orange substance? While van Zieks may have typically been more inclined to intervene than skulk past at seeing it throw some of its spare shapes at them with marked impacts, the small group appears to be throwing their own physical blows and dreamotion at the thing with a surprising feracity. So... maybe they don't need help at all?

Hmm. For now, he'll observe as the two of them continue. It won't hurt to get behind the creature in the first place, and at that point they'll be at an advantage for either option.]

[lestray]

[Now there's a better look at the situation! She sees the dreamers fending off the unknown entities, and it feels like a good opportunity. They seem to be holding their own - and Gina is much more skilled at sneaking around then she is at fighting.

So she motions for Barok to follow, crouches down and starts moving around behind the creatures. She's sure they can make it!

But she can't see perfectly ahead of herself in the dark. Some orange goop could already be on the floor, just waiting to be stepped on...]

[discourtesies]

[And squish goes her shoe into the unfortunately sticky goop. Barok himself only barely manages to stop before he steps into some himself, largely because Gina is in the lead and he hears that strange noise soon enough to look down and see the faint sheen of the substance.

He places a hand on her shoulder to communicate that he sees the situation at hand without giving any further clues for the monster to notice them. Who knows what this mess is about? For all he knows, the stuff could be dangerous, but even being stuck in place isn't a great predicament to be in.]

[lestray]

[Oh. Gina feels as she steps in something - and soon she feels Barok's hand on her shoulder. She looks towards him with a frown. She really stepped in it this time!

She looks back downwards and grips her leg with both hands before trying to pull it loose. Quietly, gently! But it doesn't seem to be helping. Her foot's still stuck there, and she grits her teeth while restraining herself from making a noise.]

[discourtesies]

[Seeing her struggle, Barok moves to assist her by adding his own strength to the attempt—which doesn't work immediately, but with the two of them, it seems as if her foot is slowly escaping the orange muck...

In the meantime, though, those fighting the large construct are starting to have difficulties. One covered in that substance slumps over onto the ground as if suddenly exhausted, and another gets whacked with a giant piece of candy, sending them flying with a wagh! Van Zieks's attention is immediately drawn by the cry, and he blinks as he watches the group start to crumble.

That... bodes ill.]

[lestray]

[He we go!! Progress! She's coming loose! She's focused almost entirely on doing this as quickly and quietly as possible, so she isn't paying that much mind to her surroundings. But some of the louder noises definitely reach her ears and make her nervous. It's hard to make things out, so she gives a quick whisper to her companion.]

Wot's 'appenin'?! [Almost... loose...!]

[discourtesies]

[His own whisper is tense; he's focused intently on the happenings of the group of strangers even as he continues pulling at the girl's poor leg.]

They're having difficul—

[She's free!—but unfortunately thanks to van Zieks not paying attention to that, he doesn't know to stop pulling until it's too late and they're already toppling over backwards.

The last one standing of the other dreamers doesn't even get hit with anything; she simply sinks to her knees and goes splat in the gooey candy puddle that's dripped off of her, muttering something about needing five more minutes. The monster's pieces clatter together in victory.]

[lestray]

[She lets out a startled grunt as she toppled over backwards with Van Zeiks! Utterly thrown off, she claps her hands over her mouth and quickly tries scrambling to her feet! She hisses back to Van Zeiks.]

Okay, we gotta scarper-! [The enemy might have noticed them, but it might not have. So if they can get back on their feet in time, she's ready to just bolt!]

[discourtesies]

[Even had the monster not heard her—nor heard the man's own breath being forced out of him—and left them plenty of time to escape, he couldn't have agreed with the sentiment.]

No.

[Her instinct may be to abscond, as it must have been for much of her life, but the both of them are no longer simple bystanders in their own world; Van Zieks will not stand to be one here, either. Speaking of standing: he wastes no time in pulling her to her feet along with him as the enormous candy pieces seem to rotate, as if peering over its nonexistent shoulder at them.]

We cannot simply flee and leave them to this danger, Miss Lestrade.

[lestray]

[-And she stops at Van Zeiks' protest. She had convinced himself that this maze didn't have any real danger, but Barok's words remind her that it's a dangerous assumption to make. No more running... She has to stand up for these strangers before things go bad.

So she steels herself and adjusts her hat.]

... You're right. Either we take this thing down, or keep it busy long enough that them others can scarper on out of 'ere. Guess I'll start...

[Either way, she'll start off the same. She draws her gun and shoots a pink gas grenade right at what seems to be the monster's face.]

[discourtesies]

[Barok once assumed a threat he faced in this world was harmless and saw his life flash before his eyes for his foolishness—it's not a mistake he'll make again. Leaving these other dreamers to their fate would never sit well with him, even if it truly ends up being nothing more than a fanciful game.

Gina is quick on the draw, to be sure, van Zieks notes with some pride—separating from her, he currently has no weapon to retrieve, but he's familiar enough with dreamotion that he's hardly lacking in offense regardless.

The smoke bomb is a direct hit, and the dim light is filled with enough pink mist that the creature is barely a silhouette. It tries to wave through to clear the obstruction, but its detached "arm" pieces are not very good for this. Seeing an opportunity to strike, Barok swipes with his paw-gloved hand and sends out claws of ice at the candy corn that seems to serve as its legs.

Distantly, van Zieks wonders why they're fighting a strange candy creature again.]

[lestray]

[Progress! She's amazed as she catches a glimpse of Barok in action. In this moment, that form is now looking a lot more cool than laughable!

But ultimately, the focus is on the enemy. Their sickeningly sweet foe. With the creature being slowed down by the ice shards to the legs, Gina keeps herself moving to look for more advantages.]

The legs are a good idea... Let's try to get it down! [Of course, considering how its body parts have some odd sense of detachment, she's not completely sure if the rest of it will fall with its legs. But it's their best lead for now! Gina fires another smoke bomb at the creature's head to obscure it further while getting closer to figure out her next course of attack.]

[discourtesies]

[Despite its strange construction, van Zieks has to assume that if it can be slowed, it can be staggered—so he'll move forward in the hopes of reaching a different angle of attack on those same lower pieces.

Gina's second bomb goes off after colliding with a thrown candy corn, further away from the monster's "face" than she may have hoped for but still effective enough for her purposes for the moment. Barok, meanwhile, is left somewhat more visible, and splats of orange goop follow behind him as he darts forward and focuses for another icy swipe. The creature isn't likely to just forget about Gina and her volley of grenades, though...]

Be ready to move!

[The goop itself may not necessarily be the end of them, but the others clearly collapsed from something, and being stuck means being an easy target with those projectiles...]

[lestray]

[Barok seems to be doing a good job with applying ice. Looking back at their past experience with a sweet monsters, that does sound like a good strategy! So she'll just keep trying to keep it busy. She smirks as she prepares her next stop and answers Van Zeiks.]

Trust me. I'm always ready to move! [At a moment's notice! Light on her feet, she fires her next shot towards the creature and prepares for some movement!]