{ 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

[foremother]

[ Is she mocking him? Well— partially. She's certainly playing with him, and teasing him in many ways. But Zelda could just as easily ask him why he ran from her earlier, could squeeze his arm until it's tense again and ask him if he hates her so much. Maybe he does. He would be, in some respects, right to feel a twisting prickle of anger at her existence. She's a walking war general, and she had no idea for the entirety of her life; so nothing changes. They walk to the circle, speaking in half-truths, wondering how much the other knows. Forward physically, but never moving in truth.

So she hums with consideration and pretends to think about his question. It is every member of the royal family and every warrior possessed by the courage of the hero's spirit she owes an apology to. But that, you see, would be a burden to bear. Don't Sheikah already take too much onto themselves? Impa was so beautifully stubborn and strong. ]

Did she precede me? [ Just wondering. Just joking. Just fishing for information a bit. ]

I... Let me be honest, Sheik. All daughters of Hyrule with the name Zelda are people I'd like to speak with... At some point...

[ Perhaps he can be an ally, after all. But that, alone, is not so strange. ]

You're teasing me, aren't you? But I think you'd tell me if there was another. Because you are just like Impa...

[sagesurvivor]

Am I, now?

[He asks, lightly, because if she believes he's teasing then that's an assumption he has no issue leaning into, yet just the same there is a genuine question buried beneath all the deflection and carefully chosen truths. Who is this woman that seems to share both a name and role with his mentor? What traits of hers has she seen hazily reflected in all his smoke and mirrors? He is curious, honestly, but they're too far into their dance to ask something so straightforwardly now, and the question he does ask serves another purpose, besides.

It buys him time. All daughters of Hyrule, she says, with an ever so slight hesitation to imply a certain level of reluctance despite this desire. The threat of at least one sleepless night turning over the possibilities that come with that statement creeps into his skull like a recently-fed stray cat, as does the intrusive thought of revealing the daughter of Hyrule that has been walking alongside her this whole time, just to see how she'd react.

Of the two, it is of course the former that he welcomes, and the latter that he shoos away.]

I would see no reason not to, unless I suspected an ulterior motive in one form or another. Or if said daughter desired my silence on the matter. My duty remains to the Royal Family, my lady, regardless of where I find myself.

[It is a truth stretched so thin that it's practically fraying, but...]

[foremother]

[ Something about that felt challenging.

Even so, Zelda cannot place her finger upon it. What she does pick up on is the gentle slope in his voice, all the little implications of what he says, the gentle sway of it. It almost pins her into a corner, because a string of words almost graces her lips with a smile. Instead, she meets the lightness of his voice with her own carefully measured assertion. ]

Does that mean I'm part of the Royal Family?

[ After all, he knows Impa.

The portal sits before them, waiting, just as Zelda waits for him, turning her head and smiling blithely. It's not a particularly nice tease on her part, in truth, but whether she realizes it or not is up to his interpretation. She doesn't show it in her expression— this tangled dance they've woven isn't quite fun, so much as necessary, now. ]

[sagesurvivor]

[She is.

He knows she is.

Yet the way she asks it chafes him in a way he can't describe - so breezy and irreverent, as though she's asking if she was born under one constellation or another, and not if she can lay claim to the very reason he's had to hide and wait and lie all this time.

... He also knows better than anyone how the Sheikah keep some things even from the kings they serve.]

Do you desire the responsibilities of a princess to a kingdom you have never seen?

[He questions as he unravels her arm from his own, brow raised as he absolutely fails to answer her question definitively. It would certainly run counter to the devil-may-care attitude she's shown thus far, and tip the scales regarding his perception of her quite a bit.

Her hand resting atop his own, he lifts them both towards the portal as if to say, in both their departure and in answers, ladies first.]

[foremother]

[ She imagines for a moment that he isn't asking this question in the interests of another girl, as if sniffing out whether or not she's trustworthy. Perhaps he isn't. Sheik is no fool, however, because he must know that she's teasing him, and if he's teasing her back, then they are meeting in the middle, right? Even so... the layers to their conversation still does not go by either of them.

She lets him lead her. It's easier that way; she never did have the physical capability the rest of the class did, and with Sheik's hand, she's able to balance close to the portal easily. There, she stands, limned by the ethereal glow of the portal, like Hylia's grace is blessing their existence for the unwanted thousandth time. ]

I don't know... the choice must be made for me, regardless. [ There's a short beat, and then she says: ] My father was a natural leader. I'd like to take after him and take care for my countrymen. [ Perhaps the timeline has shifted again, making her aware of this kingdom called "Hyrule." ]

If I'm honest, Sheik, it's been my father and I for a long time now... It'd be nice to have more.

[ She disappears before he can reply, slipping into the portal as she always does. She is always lead there by a Sheikah, always zipped away to another time and place, always out of control in her own life. She wonders if it makes her bitter in the end; she's already a little bitter. And if it does, is that why he ran away from her? Does he recognize her, even a little? Does he see some old, mean queen in her face, or is it the promise of the Goddess' presence that made him run like a scared child? ]