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

It's a pleasure to see you as well. [He can't see her clearly and given the sounds of a chainsaw-wielding skeleton approaching, it's impossible to try to pick out where in time she's coming from.

That will be a conversation for when a giant chainsaw-wielding skeleton is not chasing them.

He looks down at the piece of half-eaten candy that she shoves in his hand, confused as he looks back at her. From what he knows of her, he doesn't think that Tifa would do this as an immature prank in a dangerous situation so he doesn't just drop it but still-]

It's not that I don't trust you but I can't help but be curious as to why.

[Once more, there's something odd about everything he says, and even stranger that he wouldn't try to shove her away and refuse her help as people like him tend to do, and her brow pinches in that confusion before she hears the whirring and scraping of the chainsaw in short spurts, as if Steve is taunting them.]

Dreamotion. [That's all the answer he'll get.] You're just gonna have to trust me.

[Words she never thought she'd say to Rufus Shinra.

Nor did she expect to grab him by his wrist and lift his hand so that the nougat is closer to his mouth, and she is ready to stuff it right in there if he doesn't do it himself!]

[There is only a moment of consideration as he looks at her but it's because Rufus does have some trust in her that he finally eats the candy though she didn't seem to be giving him much of a choice.

If she wanted him dead she wouldn't have to poison, anyway.]

Let's do this then.

[Not that Steve was going to give them much of a choice as the skeleton rounds the corner, revving the chainsaw as it spots them.]

[It's not going to be easy, fighting him in the narrow corridors like this, but there's not much else they can do. She's not even sure if they can fight him or if he's one of the "attractions", but regardless... Steve is terrorizing people as well as her, and she isn't one to sit back and scream her way through something.]

How's your dreamotion?

[A well-timed question because as soon as he takes a bite of the nougat, he'll feel that surge of magic, whether practiced or not, as Tifa's own fists light up with flames. And there's a loud CRACK as the floor opens up near Steve where vines break through, curling and coiling up to grab him by his bony ankles.]

I'm still learning, honestly.

[But as he feels the power surging through him he feels the electricity building up around him.

He's not sure if this is going to work but, while Steve is off-guard and off-balance as the vines curl around his ankles, Rufus takes that opportunity to summon a bolt of lightning, something he had been practicing.

He doesn't aim for Steve but instead at the chainsaw. The bolt is stronger than he had expected, stronger than anything he's managed to produce on his own so far, but he manages to hit the chainsaw which sparks, breaking apart as it shorts out with one last sad revving noise.]

[Alright well, that's nothing short of impressive, and Tifa takes a moment to look at Rufus in surprise when that flash of lightning incinerates the chainsaw and smashes it into pieces, the bladed chain clattering to the vines with a heavy thump. Steve looks up at them, confused—as confused as a skeleton can look, to be fair—but Tifa wastes no time in following up.

Another snap, and the vines crack upwards, wrapping further around his legs, and Tifa puts up a wall of flames between them.]

Nice work.

[Credit where credit is due.]

This should buy us some time...

[Until what, she doesn't know, but she doesn't want to stick around to find that out.]

[Rufus is just as surprised as she is but he can't help but be a little proud- he's going to have to practice with these dreamotion abilities in the future.]

Thanks. Not too bad yourself.

[But escaping the labyrinth and getting away from Steve means any further conversation can wait.

He takes a moment to take in their options before pointing down one of the pathways.]

Come on, this way- it's narrower so it will slow him down if he manages to follow us.

Right.

[Steve is already managing to snap the vines with sheer force and will—being a twenty-foot skeleton will do that, won't it? Though she knows she should question him, she doesn't. If they're going to get out of this, she sure as hell isn't going to be able to do it on her own.

Down the narrow hallway she goes, leading the way as she hears another loud SNAP behind her, and the telltale sound of the vines slithering away.

And as they run, Tifa glances back over her shoulder.]

I have no idea how to beat him yet, by the way.

[In case he was getting any wrong ideas! She's just been running!!!]

I have no idea either but I'm sure we'll think of something.

[He's never encountered a giant skeleton but everything has its weaknesses which can be exploited.

He can still hear Steve following them but there is enough distance that he slows down so he can catch his breath a bit and try to think of something they can do to stop it.]

We break the bones apart and turn it to dust- if we combine our powers we may be able to generate enough heat to do so, at least enough to stop it.

[He looks over at her, the sounds of Steve slowly approaching their position.]

What do you think?

Worth a shot.

[And she's willing to try just about anything right now. She's never tried to burn bones before, but she knows from experience that fire and electricity can burn hotter together than on their own.]

You still got that candybar?

[She could use a bit of a boost again if they want to attempt this, but she's going to motion to him quickly before skidding to a halt once they've whipped around another dark corner.]

I do-

[He had tucked it into his coat pocket since there was still a bit left- once they came to a stop he pulls it out and holds it out to her.

He can still feel electricity sparking at his fingertips as if eager to be unleashed, just as he's eager to see what he can do with it as he hears Steve catching up to them.]

We'll try at the same time- it will give us the best chance to generate enough heat without giving it time to get away or recover.

[She takes the nougat without hesitation and shove whatever is left in her mouth—it's one bite left, but she needs all the boost she can get. Already, she can feel the heat surging within her, the flames that already burned hot burning hotter still, and she'd say something if she wasn't trying to chew her way through the candy...

...

So, she gives him a firm nod and peers around the corner when she hears the rattling of the bones growing louder, louder...

And Tifa points to him as if to tell him he'll need to count them down—her mouth is still full, she doesn't want to be rude!—before she's lighting a fire in her palm to signal her ready. And if that wasn't enough, there's another CRACK of vines, these ones nearly covered in blue, glowing flowers as they slither all around them.]

Aim for the head- we'll concentrate there and hopefully that will be enough to stop it. [Rufus returns her nod before turning to face the skeleton that now comes into view which somehow seems angrier than before as soon as it sets its sights on them

But he still takes a moment to orient himself, he will need to focus every bit of power he feels at his fingertips- he doesn't want to waste what may be their only chance to stop this thing once and for all.

He glances at her to ensure she's ready to go once she's eaten more of the candy, seeing the fire in her hand.]

Three...two...one- now!

[The bolt of electricity takes him by surprise with its force as it arcs up from his fingertips, hitting Steve just left to the center of between his eyes with a satisfying CRACK.]

[This wouldn't be the first time that Tifa has weaved fire with lightning, so she knows exactly what to expect. At his countdown, there's a sudden surge of dreamotion from where they stand, and her flames come to life with more power than what even she is used to. With his crack comes a loud roar as they fly alongside the ribbon of levin, landing square against the large skeleton's forehead.

Well, that sure is enough to stop him right in his tracks, at least. His bones rattle loudly as he shakes and trembles as if trying to hold himself together, hands trying to clutch at the burning hole that they've left in his skull, and there he goes... bony legs giving out under him until he is clattering to the floor. And while he isn't dead...

...

....

That certainly did a number on him and good ol' Steve is down for the count.

And Tifa stands there, staring at him with wide eyes.]

...Did we...?

[Rufus steps back as Steve lurches around, watching the skeleton fall into a pile of disjointed bones- while he's not completely dead Steve isn't going to be following them anymore.

He looks back at Tifa, giving her a nod with a small smirk.]

We did.

[And it had been truly impressive, their fire and lightning combining to smite Steve.

The electricity doesn't spark at his fingertips anymore- this is something he's going to have to practice later.]

[She's not going to let all that dreamotion go to waste, because while Steve is down for the count, she doesn't know if she trusts this place enough to believe he'll be down for long, or that something else won't leap out at them.]

Then we should start looking for a way out.

[Already, Tifa is turning on her heel to walk down the seemingly endless curving hallway. If they stick to a wall, maybe they'll find their way out of this winding labyrinth.

And in the meantime...

...

She stops that tense, awkward silence before it even starts, her voice heavy as it echoes through the hall.]

I had no idea you were here.

[Rufus turns to follow her, giving Steve's twitching pile of bones only one last look before they round a corner.

It was about to get awkward when she speaks up, looking over at her as they walk. So far he can't pinpoint where exactly in time she's come from but he has a feeling it's not from his particular time.]

Likewise though I haven't been here long.

[He stops when they come to a fork in the hall, taking a moment to try to peer down each passage.]

Right- more light and the air doesn't doesn't smell as bad.

[There is a visible tension in the way that Tifa walks, though, even as she turns right at the fork as he tells her to. She can't afford not to, at this rate, if she wants to get out of here.

But it still strikes her as strange and incredibly uncomfortable that Rufus Shinra, of all people, could address her this way. Is she not one of his worst enemies, as Avalanche? They should be at each other's throats right now, and Tifa is doing her very best to be the bigger person...

At least until they find the exit.

It's proving difficult, however.]

Have you seen the others from our world?

I've spoken with Zack and Cloud. And I've had the pleasure of teaming up with Aerith a couple of times.

[As strange as that seemed still but so much about this place was surreal.

There is a moment of silence that hangs in the air but if she doesn't know already, no good will come of concealing the truth.]

And Sephiroth.

He stops at the next fork in the maze- looking at her as he waits for her to make the next choice.

There is more light and it seems they may be closer to the exit considering more noise from the festival can be heard.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

{ halloween }

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so sorry for the wait! rl kicked my ass 😭

no worries at all!

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