songerein | { 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

[The whole time—

The little creature. Ferran's attention moves to the cat thing, blinking down at it as he recognizes how strange it was that the thing was so docile in his arms. With a determined set to his mouth, he releases Pauline's collar to grab her wrist, and shifts his hold on the monster to allow it to easily reach its target.]

You've had your fun.

Edited (noooo not the line break) 2023-12-28 07:42 (UTC)

Yeah, yeah. I guess. Spirits forbid I have a little fun once in a while...

[Pauline, or rather the monster inhabiting her body, gives him a sour look but makes no attempt to resist. The real Pauline, still in the form of a cat monster, goes for the bite...but thinks better of it and goes for a gentle nip instead. It is still her body, after all.]

You humans are so uptight about this kind of stuff! So bori...

[Both of them seem to suddenly become still, their expressions blank. After a moment, Pauline slowly blinks and she begins to stumble a bit.]

[Ferran moves to steady her by the shoulder, holding the monster by the scruff just in case it decides it wants to pull something new. You can never be too careful with these things.]

Pauline? [There's a hint of concern to his tone.]

[At the sound of Ferran's voice, she blinks a few more times, almost as if she's just waking up, looking at him before looking down at herself.]

Oh. ...Oh! I'm me again!

[She looks back to Ferran and her expression turns a bit awkward.]

Oh my gosh, I'm like, sooooo sorry about all this! Really! I'm like, so super embarrassed! I'm totally sorry you had to deal with all this, I'll even get you another pastry if you want! I really owe you one, or I guess two after what happened last time and-

[She's just going to continue with this top speed rambling apology.]

[Maybe he should have expected it, but he doesn't; he blinks momentarily as she tries to take responsibility for that whole mess, as if it were her fault.]

Hey—

[His initial attempt at interrupting her is more of a gentle utterance, and as a result she barrels past it with another sentence and a half before he finally raises his voice.]

Hey! Pauline—I don't care about the pastry, or whatever. I'm just glad you're okay.

[He's still holding the creature in one hand, out of reach of the both of them. It's probably grumpy, and he'll have to figure out what to do with it, but making absolutely sure the girl is properly back together takes priority.]

You're not hurt or anything, are you?

[She inhales sharply when he finally manages to stop her rambling apology. She smiles, a bit embarrassed, her shoulders relaxing just a little.]

I think I'm more or less okay. Nothing that won't be better in a few days.

[She holds up her hand, showing off two bite marks. One of them is a little worse, but nothing too bad. Meanwhile, the monster is squirming a bit; it may or may not be contemplating trying to bite Ferran.]

...Sorry you had to step in to help me again. Thank you.

[Feeling the movement of the critter, Ferran pointedly shoots the thing a glance that could potentially kill in a dream world, given enough effort. It had better behave, or else.]

[With that accomplished, he brings his attention back to Pauline, his expression immediately on the entirely different end of the spectrum: open concern, with a hint of relief.]

You don't have anything to apologize for. You didn't ask to get body-snatched.

[Better take care of this mess before he gets to anything else, though. With a momentary flash of red in his eyes as he turns his gaze to his left, a large bird cage appears on the ground at his side. Guess who's getting a new set of iron bars!]

[Pauline jumps just a little with a quiet "Whoah!" when the cage suddenly appears. Can dreamotion even do things like that? Is it some other magic? It takes a moment for her to actually realize what the cage is for.]

Um, you don't really have to do that, do you? [She crouches just a little to look at the creature.] Even if it did cause me a LOT of trouble and it probably would have been way better if it hadn't done that because I kind of hated it...

[Her tone softens a little.]

I can kind of get wanting to be someone else once in a while.

[She is absolutely projecting and reading too much into the motives of a little monster who really just wanted to screw around and cause trouble.]

[While Ferran waits patiently for her to say her piece, he ultimately shakes his head at the idea, adopting a tone halfway between his disgust for the thing and his respect for her, hovering somewhere around stern.]

There's a difference between wanting a different life and stealing someone else's.

[For the latter, he has no sympathy. Ferran is doing plenty of projecting on his own, recalling the Fae urges he struggled with in another world well enough, but he's seen plenty to convince him of those thoughts being true in this case. So—he gets to putting the thing into the cage.]

They don't get to play with us like that just because it might make them feel better.

[The creature, realizing that Ferran has more power than it thought it did, protests to being put in the cage, but doesn't resist. Pauline starts to fiddle with her hair, briefly glancing off to the side.]

N-no, I guess you're right. But it's not like you can just keep it in there forever, right?

[Complain all you want, you gremlin, you'll get no sympathy from Ferran!—though he is admittedly less rough than he would have been, owing to Pauline's apparent concern.]

I'll figure it out.

[He may not. He may simply end up leaving it out somewhere in an alley, where some other poor sod has to deal with it. What Pauline doesn't know won't hurt her, though.

... he might try, at least.]

Maybe the carnival people know where they came from.

You think so? If the carnival people knew about these little guys you think they would've done something about them...

[Unless they're just willingly letting a bunch of little monsters run around bodysnatching people, but...well, maybe she shouldn't push that idea given how much Ferran seems to dislike the little creature and its shenanigans.

She smiles, just a bit uneasily, at what "figure it out" may nor may not mean, but...well, between the two of them, he's far better equipped to handle this sort of thing.]

Well, I'll like, trust you to take care of it, then.

There's only one way to find out.

[Ferran's expression softens with a sigh, and he picks up the cage as he prepares to track down a solution to his newly acquired problem.]

Enjoy a snack for me, okay? And avoid anything suspicious. [His poor pastry has been long abandoned on the ground nearby at this point, but he'll take it as a win as long as Pauline is fine. And stays fine.]

I'll see you later.

{ halloween }

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