{ 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

[wwtd]

[ you haven't met the yatogami, then, have you? that guy has one follower, one girl who worships (????) and prays to him, and you're looking at her.

and when hiyori was searching high and low for any mention of him in all the mythologies and lore and books about gods in the library, there was nothing. there was a sidenote about ishtar, inanna's sister, though. the goddess of the dead. much like izanami.

she just put two and two together. she's a good student. ]

So you are Ereshkigal...! Sama! [ OOPS. ] It's my honor to meet another god! [ FROM ANOTHER LAND. if gods can be here, too, then...

hiyori does the usual praying gesture to ereshkigal. clap, clap, 🙏 ]

[queenofkur]

[ So that's what it's like to have someone praying to you? It's been so long she'd forgotten...! ]

R-Right...!

[ Look at that confident smile. It totally doesn't hide absolute panic and a desire to run away and bury herself into her bed. Nope. Absolutely not. And she is most certainly not struggling to think about how to socialize now that the emergency is passed. She's not clueless at all.

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ]

I commend you for knowing the gods of ancient pantheons so well.

[ It is praise-worthy, after all! Most people didn't care for the gods of old pantheons... And praise is something that should always be given when it's deserved. Can you imagine never getting any praises?

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

Being a detested deity sucks sometimes. ]

[wwtd]

[ never fear, hiyori is well-versed in super socially awkward gods!! ]

I wouldn't say I know them well-- [ she waves her hands, embarrassed for the praise that isn't warranted, in her opinion. if she can remember yato, she can remember a god like ereshkigal. aha. ]

But I'm glad that I remembered enough! [ BECAUSE NAMES. names are important. if you can remember a name, you can remember the rest! or something.

catching her reflection from the corner of her eye and afraid of what she'll see once she looks at it she looks at the goddess with some pleading in her eyes. ]

B-by the way, Ereshkigal-sama, would you happen to know how to get out of here? I've been trying to find a way for a while now but I've been getting lost with all the mirrors. [ and... distracted........ ]

[queenofkur]

[ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

R-Right, the way out. She absolutely knows it, she is a goddess after all. How could she not know it? It's not like she had been lost when the spirit took her in the mirror. It's not like she has no idea how to leave this place. Perish the thought. ]

O-Of course...!

[ She tries(?) to look confident and turns in a random direction, hoping with all of her heart it is the right one. Surely her luck stat won't be E-rank any longer after what she's just been through! ]

Please follow me.

[wwtd]

[ PERISH

THE THOUGHT. ]

Great! Thank you!

[ hiyori falls for the faux-confident look and tags along with no reason to doubt her. she seems pretty happy to have someone to hang out with. maybe it's the right path. maybe it's not. maybe they'll wander this house of mirrors for the rest of their dream lives. ]

So, I take it... you and your sister don't get along?

[queenofkur]

[ Ereshkigal's mood dims noticeably at the mention of her sister. Ugh, just thinking about her makes her mad... ]

She is a spoiled child with no sense of responsibility. The other gods are unable to say "no" to her. She even tried stealing my domain and powers once. [And the worst is that the other gods ended up siding with her and forced her to revive her! Ugh ugh ugh!!] She has everything she could dream of, and yet she still attempted to take what little I have...!

[ Meanwhile they are getting more lost than ever in the mirror maze, b-but that should be fine! ]

[wwtd]

[ hiyori is NONE THE WISER, she's following. and mulling over this sister feud.

that does sound greedy... but also? ]

Are you her big sister?

[queenofkur]

... On a technicality.

[ She's not going to bore her with the details about how they once were one until the original goddess they used to be was split into two halves. She doesn't remember anything from their previous "life," after all. And it doesn't change much since they both agree she's the older sister. ]

Why?

[wwtd]

[ the first response nearly makes her smile. it's the sort of behavior you'd expect between twins.

nothing about that would bore her, either. that being said, a small smile DOES tug at her mouth as she answers, ]

Because it feels sort of like little sister behavior. You know, wanting everything your big sister has? Getting into her things so that she'll pay attention to you. Annoying her until she gives up and gives in. [ oh. ] That... doesn't make it right! Of course, but... I-I just had the thought! Aha...

[queenofkur]

But I...

[ ... Have nothing. The Underworld and her duties, nothing else. Meanwhile Ishtar has everything. She just needs to cry and whine enough, and whatever she wants is handed over to her. That's so infuriating to think about.

Did she want her attention...? But that makes no sense. She's the boring and gloomy goddess everyone would rather forget. ]

I doubt it. But thank you for trying to make sense of her behavior.

[wwtd]

No, actually-- [ it was more like she was trying to cheer ereshkigal up but... looks like it didn't work.

well, what if it were him...? ]

Have you seen any of the other attractions yet, Ereshkigal-sama? The pumpkin carving challenge looks fun! Did you want to try it?

[queenofkur]

[ Her mood immediately goes back up with the topic of her sister dropped. While things had improved somewhat in recent years, her relationship with Ishtar is a painful thing that started before human civilization had even begun. It may take some time for things to get really better between them. ]

I haven't, no. This fake has kept me trapped... [Pumpkin carving challenge...? Surely that can't be harder than crafting cages.] I-I would be able to try if you would come with me.

[wwtd]

[ the change of the air isn't lost on her. as if something heavy has lifted off of them.

trapped the entire time?! i-it's a good thing they ran into each other then? hiyori's concerned stare shifts, too. she smiles. ]

Yeah, of course. I'd love to. We can be teammates? Or if you'd rather compete against me...

[ don't, she'll get too serious about it.

although that could be fun in its own way, too. ]

[queenofkur]

Without any prior experience, I would rather cooperate.

[ Only a fool enters a competition they have no chance of winning. Like Ishtar when she stormed the Underworld only to end up stabbed to death.

... ... ... ... Bad example.

Maybe they can compete once she has enough experience to actually stand a chance. ]

[wwtd]

[ or!! they want to test their skills! (there's no denying ishtar was uh... out of her element tho)

nothing wrong with a little healthy competition. for now, ]

Teammates, it is! [ yessss. aaaaah, what a relief. while the circumstance of their meeting wasn't the best, she is glad that she ran into someone kind.

and it just so happens to be a god(ddess), too. what are the chances...? ]

So, what should we carve? A cat face could be cute and not too difficult if it's your first time. But what do you think?

[ if they ever get out of this mirror place. if hiyori has noticed they haven't made any progress, she doesn't say it ]

[queenofkur]

[ What should she carve? That seems obvious to her. ]

I was thinking about carving a human skull.

[ She is the Goddess of Death, after all. And besides, she likes that motif. Even her neck piece has a skull motif on it. ]

They're thematically appropriate, aren't they?

[ Meanwhile, they are indeed further away from the exit than ever. But at least, she's slowly getting a general picture of the place in her mind. Give it half a hour and they'll be out.

S-She's doing her best really! She hasn't had to memorize the layout of a place in thousands of years, it's difficult to map it all in her head. ]

[wwtd]

Oh.

[ a human skull. that's not creepy at all.

she sure is the goddess of death. ]

Y-yeah, I guess they are! [ right, Halloween IS for spoopy things. haha, she's getting worked up over nothing.

if she's going to become a doctor she should get used to the idea of a skeleton, anyway.

everything looks to same to hiyori as far as this maze goes. but half an hour is a long time to be wandering about... hopefully hiyori's evil twin doesn't show up... ]

Do you like skulls?

[ she makes a gesture to that neckpiece. ]

[queenofkur]

[ She nods confidently at the question. ]

Yes. I have a natural inclination towards symbols that symbolize death. [She would go into how divine spirits such as herself are shaped by what they incarnate and human beliefs, but she's sure that'd bore her to tears.] I sometimes replace them with crosses, as it is the most common symbol associated with death in this era.

[ She's not sure why, religions that arose after the Age of Gods ended are an absolute blind spot to her. She remembers they're also associated with death in Nictocris's pantheon, but since it faded as well it can't be the explanation.

But ah, she recognizes the spot they're in! Finally, the mental map of this place is nearly complete. ]

This way. The exit is close.

[wwtd]

[ a-as expected of the goddess of death, huh...

truthfully, it would not bore her to tears. that's something she kind of knows? ereshkigal isn't aware that hiyori is concerningly tied to the far shore, to the realm of gods and spirits, and everything about it. to the point that sometimes... she can neglect her very human life. that she chooses gods and spirits to spend her precious and short time with.

crosses symbolize death. lost in thought, she perks up at the idea of getting out of here. finally!!! ]

Yes! I couldn't have done it without you, Ereshkigal-sama!

[ hiyori beams, following close behind as they head out. hah, CAN'T TRAP THEM FOR HALF AN HOUR SHE HAS A GOD AND ANIME ON HER SIDE. ]

[queenofkur]

[ She smiles brightly and once again sparkles. Of course they won't spend half an hour in there! The exit is right around the corner...! It has to be. R-Right? She can't be wrong? For once in her life, please let her luck stat not be abysmal...

She keeps smiling even as they walk round the corner. A smile hiding untold amount of anxiety and fear. What if there's another mirror? What if she's lost them even more than before? What if the fake Ishtar is going to come back?

Smile. Keep smiling. It'll be fine. Surely the exit is there. Surely. ]

And...

[ ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... The exit is actually there?!

S-She did it? She didn't get lost? And in under half a hour? Her smile gets only brighter and she relaxes immediately. ]

W-We're out!

[wwtd]

[ uwaaa sparkles!! wait actually?

even if sparkles aren't actually there hey!! the exit is! in under half an hour to boot! ]

We're out! Alright! [ hiyori cheers, bounding out of the building and happy to feel a light breeze through her hair as she spins around. happy to see things that aren't MIRRORS, too. what she saw earlier is already going to stick with her for a while. she finally got over it.

no, it wasn't ishtar and ereshkigal. although that will stick with her for a while as well.

now they're even. not that she's keeping track of which gods she's saved or anything. it's two, though. two gods. ]

Thank you so much!! [ she turns and throws a smile over her shoulder at the goddess. ] I'm really glad I ran into you.