{ 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

House of Mirrors

[holdshisown]

[Maedhros is already regreting stepping into this place, if he'd known he'd meet a reflection of himself that sounded that much like his father he wouldn't have done so. He's almost tempted to throw a punch at it with his prostethic hand, that would probably wipe the smirk off it's face.

So he's in a rather foul mood when he runs across Azula.]

Annoying things, aren't they? Unless you want to end up with a headache I suggest you don't waste your time either listening or arguing with them.

[Oh? Running away already? His reflection calls mockingly after him]

[itstillhurt]

[Azula, for her part, was expecting something else entirely in here- and compared to last year, it's actually fairly tame.

"A whole year, and all you've done is inflict misery and suffering. But then, that's all you've ever done. Why should this place be any different?"

...which isn't to say that she's enjoying herself. She narrows her eyes at the reflection, but Maedhros's approach distracts her. She wheels around, startled, but once she recognizes him she calms down. He's... not wrong about the mirror, really, it's a stupid, meaningless distraction-

"Clearly, he doesn't trust you to keep control of yourself."

She ignores it and addresses him.]

Last year, twisted reflections of us were emerging from the mirrors to attack. I'd call this an improvement.

["Of course, why would he? Why would anybody ever trust you?"

Azula's expression twitches fractionally, a reaction so minor it's barely noticeable, but she doesn't respond otherwise.]

[holdshisown]

[Can't you stop brothering for one minute? Eru, it's like you can't exist without something to take care of!

He pretends he doesn't hear the prattling and jeering of his reflection. But judging by the tension in his face he's not entirely unaffected.]

It sounds like it, annoying as they are I'd take this over an outright attack.

[Liar! The reflection need not say more than that, it knows as well as he does that it tells the truth.

His face twitches slightly, but he manages to keep his composure.

It feels invasive to comment on her own reflections commentary, though he wishes to tell her that he does trust her to control herself. That one slip caused by the magic of this place does not define her character to him.]

[itstillhurt]

[Azula has also opted to ignore his reflection- less out of any sense of decorum or sensitivity to his privacy, and more because acknowledging his reflection means acknowledging her own, and she's trying hard not to do that.

Unsurprisingly, her reflection doesn't share this concern.

"Isn't that nice? You have something in common-"]

Unfortunately, It seems multiple mirrors have this... unique effect, so it's difficult to avoid.

["-it sounds like you'd both prefer something external that you can hurt to an honest look in the mirror."

That draws a glare from Azula, fingers of her hands flexing as if contemplating violence. The slip is quickly covered, and she turns back toward Maedhros with a strained smirk.]

Which means it's time to simply leave.

[holdshisown]

[Really, as long as the thing is ignored he doesn't really care about the why of it. He hates it, hates it's stupid arrogant expression and hates how it knows just which insecurities he'd least want it to bring up.

I mean, it's not like you haven't done it before. Violence always come so easy for you, you only ever just pretend it doesn't. It smiles slyly as if it knows a secret he doesn't. I think you rather like it, honestly.

It's not true, not true at all... but it was something he feared could be true.]

Unfortunately that seems to be the truth... a rather cruel thing to set up, honestly. It doesn't seem like a thing that will garner a good reaction from most people.

[You've always been good at turning a blind eye to what you don't want to acknowledge.

He clenches his fist hard enough to draw blood but his face turns into a blank mask at the reflections words before he nods at Azula's suggestion to leave.]

I think that would be for the best.

[itstillhurt]

[Azula glances down at the slight trickle of red beginning to seep from his fist, then back up to the impassive face.

Not just her, then. She's not sure if that's a relief or not. Gritting her teeth, she wordlessly turns and starts heading out- any exit she can find will do, she's not fussy.

"Running away again, Azula?"

Unfortunately, the mirrors are everywhere, so it doesn't take long to pass another black-framed mirror-

"You can run all you like, but you can't escape yourself."

-and even more of the endless taunting.]

To answer your question-

[And to drown out the reflections-]

These attractions were created by a group that seems... confused about what most people consider fun.

[holdshisown]

[Not just her. Maedhros might be better at keeping the darker parts of himself at bay, but they were very much present and in times like these they bubbled to the surface.

He is glad enough to make his way out of this place as well. He does not need a reflection to tell him things he's already fully aware of.

Turn your back, why don't you? You always do in the end. His own voice taunts him as he walks down the mirrored hallway towards the exit. Just like you did at Losgar.

He tries his best to close his ears to what it says, to push away the memories of the smell of acrid smoke and the sound of his father laughing as a man possessed.

Poor little Pityo. You didn't even notice he was missing, did you?

If this continued he'd start to break these damned mirrors.]

I see...

[There's barely restrained rage in his voice. If he met these people before he calmed down he was likely to do something unwise.]

They must not be very bright people, then. This was obviously something most people would find offensive.

[itstillhurt]

They apparently have a philosophy that nightmares can be a positive thing.

[Which already struck her as foolish before, but after what she'd been through- what she'd done- it felt downright infuriating.]

And I suppose some might find the diversion amusing.

["Some who don't hate themselves, you mean?"

Rrgh. Another one. She ignores it and turns aside, taking a different path.]

[holdshisown]

That is a... unike way to look at things. I'll give them that much.

[But he thinks it is also a rather stupid way to go about things, even if you did think nightmares could be a good thing.]

Hmm. I have a hard time seeing how this could be amusing.

[It's because you've always lacked any sense of humor, no wonder everyone always found you unbearably dull.

He was starting to hate the sound of his own voice.]

[itstillhurt]

Witless people are easily amused.

["Keep lying to yourself. You've always been good at that."

Ignoring the reflections, she finally rounds a corner and sees the exit. She lets out a small huff, as if expelling the frustration in order to summon her usual neutral-to-smug smirk again.]

And we didn't have to destroy any mirrors after all.

[holdshisown]

[He makes a small noise of assent. As he blocks out whatever last minute insults his reflection throws after him as they exit the horrid place.

Relaxing as he schools his face to look slightly amused.]

Good, I'd hate to garner myself a reputation of vandalism already.