{ 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

[snapoutofit]

[There was a small little snort.]

Do not make assumptions on that.

[Such fleeting little lives these people had. They didn’t understand the length of time a person – complete and whole – could truly live. They didn’t understand the honor of returning to the star and how it was different than the screaming, painful deaths these fleeting figures suffered.

And here was this teenager claiming to understand him? What he had been through after all this time? What loneliness truly was? It was laughable, if not insulting.]

And how is offering “kindness” helping your fellows, hm? Have you been able to truly help in a lasting way for the better? And what makes you think you can even begin to do the same for me?

[refantasma]

[Nico shrugs at the snort.]

Even the gods die. Fade into obscurity when they're no longer worshiped. Thousands and thousands of years after they come into being.

[He was quiet a moment.]

A little kindness can go a long way; make an awful day just a little better. Mostly, I help the dead move on. ... I'm not as good with the living.

[He rubbed the back of his head.]

[snapoutofit]

Gods are far more complicated than that.

[Tempering. Primals. The aether that created them. It wasn’t so simple as worship, but sacrifice and desperation, a need bigger than themselves. And sometimes, they were imprisoned and someone’s only hope.

What did this person know of any of that?

Still, the latter part – helping the dead move on – felt familiar in a way that few would understand. His eyes looked at his face, trying to read it, to understand if it was a joke or something that he believed was true, before shaking his head.

It sounded too close to his own position. More personal in that way that felt distinctly born of the fragments, but close. Adjacent.]

So I have noticed. [Droll and flat, as most of his statements were.] Humor me, if you don’t mind: how do you do that?

[refantasma]

[Nico nods in agreement.]

As complicated as the mortals who worship them. Or remember them. The ones I know aren't worshiped as much as they were in the past and mostly survive thanks to cultural memory.

[Faith is such a funny thing. And so powerful.]

At least the gods from my world. There's one here that's different. But he's from a very different world, and I don't know how divinity works there.

[When the man looked at him, Nico looked back. Open, if slightly guarded.]

By being the half-mortal son of Hades, the god of the dead and ruler of the Underworld from my world.

[snapoutofit]

[Not everything that this person was saying seemed completely wrong; that was better than some of the people he had met here. However, the mention of a god that was here made Emet-Selch raise an eyebrow, curious and minorly concerned. Primals could be difficult, but could also be the treat he needed. It all depended on the beast at hand.]

What can you tell me about the one here, then? The one that is very different. Does it have a name? Worshippers?

[How deep did the power go and was it something that could be maneuvered, manipulated, used?

He was so tangled in this thought that he hardly noticed the all-too-familiar name of Hades. His name, not his seat, but his name. His golden eyes snapped to this ‘half-mortal’ and started laughing. Absolutely laughing, the kind that made him clutch at his side.]

Ahh, you reached too far with your lie. I sired children, but I didn’t sire you.

[refantasma]

His name is Zhongli. He doesn't have worshipers here, as far as I know. He's nice.

[Nico wrinkled his nose at the man.]

What? People can't have the same name as you where you're from? Growing up, there were at least two other Nicos in my neighborhood.

So you have the same name as Father. Big deal. I know you aren't him.

[But this guy is similar to his father—that same power level. That same cranky demeanor.]

[snapoutofit]

“Nice”?

[And how many sacrifices did he require to maintain this ‘niceness’? How much did this god require to do what they asked of him?

There was a glare at the dismissal; if was honest, he hadn’t interacted with another Hades, not had he interacted with another Themis or Hermes or Hythlodaeus or Azem – the latter two were more than likely better for his sanity. Still, he glad that these lines were drawn, even if it was still utterly strange and too close to his own assignments. ]

I am glad we have an understanding on that. [It was still mildly uncanny.] Tell me about your father, though. Humor me.

[refantasma]

Yeah. Nicer than most gods I know.

[Nico rolled his eyes at the glare.]

As I said, Hades is the god of the Dead, and ruler of the underworld. In this position, he rules over those who have passed on, and watches over the Pit of Tartarus, where monsters come from. He watches over the Fields of Punishment, the Fields of Asphodel, where the normal dead go, and the Fields of Elysium, where the pious go to die. The soul could choose reincarnation instead. I know some wait for a time before doing so.

[He wonders if the damned are offered that choice. Probably not, it's probably only those in Elysium that get to choose reincarnation.]

Father is a hard god. Out of all the children of Kronos, he was the only one not offered a seat on the Olympian Council, which made him bitter as he fought just as hard as his brothers and sisters in the war against the Titans. His sisters, Hera and Demeter, seem to hate him. Zeus, is always paranoid about someone usurping his title as role as King, and his paranoia always keeps Father and their other brother Poseidon in his ire. Only Lady Hestia is kind to her siblings.

People are always afraid of him, because of his association with death, and the fact he is inevitable. Kings and paupers are all equal before his court. He values contracts and oaths, and will always keep his word. [Nico scowls a little bit at this] Though sometimes he will find loopholes through it.

[He found himself on the receiving end of that a few years ago.]

He's almost as serious about law as Lady Themis is. He's outraged when someone breaks their oaths, or escapes just punishment. And his rage is as terrible as any other god's.

Mostly, though, I think my father is lonely. He misses his family, that until recently, had kept him at arms distance, and forced him to do a thankless job while his brothers pretty much do whatever they want.