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

"Uh -" Ser? Is that like 'sir'? What in the fantasy medieval... anyway. Whatever, didn't matter! What mattered was that she was fighting to the beat, too. He wasn't totally sure what a bard was but if she was calling him one it had to be good!

"Yeah? I know that if I move to the beat it gives me more power! Wish 808 were here - I'm stronger with her tagging along. Still, I'm pretty strong myself." He winked at her and danced to the beat, kicking the spiders out of the way. "Thanks! The arm's magnetic. And I -" Well. He doesn't know how to play guitar.

"I'm learning!"

She laughed. A wink, eh? So fresh, this up-and-coming rockstar...

"Well, you'll have plenty of opportunity to practice, at least. Pardon the spooky, candy-colored mess! The carnival likes to play games."

She moved to take his unoccupied hand and twirled him alongside her for the last stretch, leaving the labyrinth in one slightly candy-coated piece. She would take the next moment to quiet the music and look him over. How was he...?

"Hey, I like games. ... I like being toyed with less, but I don't mind a challenge." O - oh. He cleared his throat slightly as she took his hand but shut his mouth lest he say something to earn the slightly intimidating woman's wrath.

Peppermint and Korsica had trained him well.

As for himself, now that Madhuri's music was quieting, a different song was starting to play. Quietly, though loud enough for Chai to hear - but he was used to it at this point. In fact, Madhuri could easily notice that his foot was tapping slightly to the beat. His whole body seemed to be attuned to the beat, down to his breathing and his blinking.

"Y'know, when they said it was a dream world I imagined something more like the dream I had when I got caught by security, not... carnivals and mazes."

"Consider it a collective unconscious, I suppose. But when you dream here, you can create a little world that others can visit via 'dreamwalking'. It's a fun little exercise in exploration. ...Or a way for folk to communicate in some form of privacy."

She smiled, eyes hooding. "Just imagine, sweetheart: Concocting your own private little world... just you and one other person. What sorts of things might you get up to when you can simply set the mood...?"

"Cowhative what?" Nope, no recognition. But the explanation made a little more sense. But... was she flirting back? He could count the number of times a girl had done that on one hand.

He gulped and took a breath. "A lot of things. ... In a dream I don't have to practice to be good at the guitar or - or I could be on stage..." His own imagination was powerful, and he had enough creativity that he could be pretty strong even on his own. "So it's just the power of imagining things? That doesn't sound so hard to get used to."

Ahh, forgive her- she adored putting a person on edge sometimes. It stirs the blood. Plus he's more than earned a little play.

"Exactly! With enough willpower and positive emotion, you can create whatever you like here. The same goes for negative emotion, however... but there is a strength in that, too. It's all in balancing them."

She brought her hands together. "Which reminds me- I give newcomers a little welcome treat chock full of dreamotion. If you're feeling hungry, I can get a pie together for you, be it pie-pie or pizza pie. Do you have a favorite?"

"I try not to let things get me down anyway. Wastes time, pulls the mood into the dumps. Much better to keep it high energy."

... Free... food? Now that he was definitely game for. "Pizza sounds great. Maybe with meat on it? I know not everyone's into that but it helps keep me going." It wasn't like he could really afford pizza on his own at home most of the time. ... Though they were letting him eat for free in the Vandelay cafeteria nowadays, but before that.

Madhuri shrugged good-naturedly. "Meat's just fine. Shall I drag it through the barn and make it a meat-lover's?"

It wasn't like he needed to share, at any rate. Let's see, she had dough in the shop, the sauce, the cheeses... the meats were simple enough.

"If so, I can have that good to go for you in time for dinner tonight."

"Oh heck yeah." He was a carnivore and didn't really care what anyone else thought of that. But uh. ... Hm. That raised a few questions.

"Didn't see anything I knew around before I headed into the maze... I guess I'm gonna have to find a place to crash." Tapirs? What tapirs?

"...Aw, honey, did the tapirs miss you too? I swear they've gotten so sloppy lately!" She retrieved a whistle from her pockets.

"We're given a treehouse to live and work on a barter system for goods. I did small jobs in exchange for food and the like, as there is no money to be had here, so don't worry about rent or anything of the sort. I can have Ruby take you to an unoccupied cottage!"

"Oh. A treehouse? Haven't seen that since I was a kid." He'd fallen out of one once. Lost his grip with his bad arm... but that was in the past.

"No money? Huh. Guess it's back to looking for work for me. Man, and I thought I was done with resumes."

"Well, rather than be trapped at a desk and its drudgery, one may ask you to take down a monster or deliver a package to a friend."

She blew the whistle. A soft cry sounded in response. After a few moments, a very pink bipedal bird the size of a horse arrived, all tacked up and prepared to bear a rider.

"This is Ruby, my chocobo. She'll take you where you'll need to go."

"Good, 'cause I never want to be stuck behind a desk again. I left that in school." And whenever he could manage it, he'd get away with ditching school.

... ... ... Sure. Why not? He's dreaming, right? Anything could happen. "She's... uh. ... Well. Definitely not from my world." What, like he was going to insult a horse-thing where it could bite him? No thanks. "Cho... cobo. Okay." Hm.

Wait.

"I forgot to ask your name. You know I'm Chai, but what's your name? I - in case I need help again, obviously." Not just because she was very nice in other ways. Clearly.

Ruby's not a biter, to the best of Maddie's knowledge. In fact, she found herself distracted by Chai's hair. The bird was now giving the guy a little greeting preening with very gentle little chirruping noises.

Pardon her, she's nesting and very fussy.

"Of course. I am Madhuri. I should hope you won't be a stranger...?" She smiled at him.

...Then walked up to tap Chai's nose once. "Look forward to your pizza, sweetheart. I'll have it ready in a flash, so do be hungry in time for dinner, if you'd please? I'll bring it to you."

Huh wha - sure. He was not going to argue with the big bird. "Oh yeah, definitely! I mean, I wanna explore this place and find out what it's got." Other than slightly terrifying mazes...

... Did she just boop him? His eyes crossed for a moment, just staring at his nose... man, she was cute. And could probably destroy him, but that seemed to be every girl he met recently.

"Of course! And I'm pretty much always hungry. Look forward to seeing you soon!" Now how to get on this bird...

Ser, you have been booped. And she probably could destroy you, but you'd enjoy every moment of it.

Madhuri canted her upper body. "...Oh! I'm sorry- I forget some worlds don't rely a lot on mounts for travel. I wouldn't even know where to start when it comes to a car, if it's any consolation."

She stepped to Ruby's side. "Here, grab the horn up here on the saddle, and your right foot in the stirrup there. Then you'll lift and swing the other leg over. On three. One... two...!"

Ohhh. He lifted his leg and followed her instructions, settling onto the chocobo a little awkwardly. He grinned down at her and lifted a hand towards her, then saluting her.

"This is gonna be interesting, but I'm sure I can hang on." He'd hung onto worse before, though it wasn't like he could magnetically zip onto this bird. He was pretty sure it wasn't a robot.

... Like, most of the way sure.

"Three! There we are. Look at that, like a glove." She offered his knee a pat before she turned her attention toward the very organic and not at all robotic bird.

"Now Ruby, you be good with this one. Nothing more than a canter, alright?" The beak clicked in response.

"I'll ask him later how the ride was! If you've been extra good, you get an extra muffin. With the biggest blueberries inside."

The pink bird roused, excitement evident in the fluffing of her feathers.

"I'm glad we understand each other. ...Do enjoy your ride, Ser Chai." She offered a salute back. With a chirrup, Ruby set off at the leisurely canter, far from a full on sprint she could easily slip into.

Ruby really wanted that extra yummy muffin.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ halloween }

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