songerein | { once upon a fairytale }

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{ once upon a fairytale }

ONCE UPON A FAIRYTALE

One night, a sweet melody fills the air around Reverein, causing everyone to fall into a deep, peaceful sleep, as if trying to soothe all from the stress of the past few months. However, there are those who are completely lulled by the beautiful music, silently slipping out of bed or off the floor or wherever they were sleeping and sleepwalk out of town to disappear into the woods. It will only be in the morning when everyone left will notice them gone.

Fortunately it's not too difficult to follow the trail. The music continues to play and there are music notes floating in the air to guide searchers deep into the Wildlands. When they approach a golden bridge crossing over a large, rainbow river, they are stopped by some local fae who had witnessed the strange changes. They will tell of how the forest has shifted and changed, with new structures and creatures suddenly inside. There is a strong magic over it, and they are wary of entering as those who have gone to investigate have yet to return. There are witnesses who have seen people inside, but they are acting…strange. And dressed strangely, too, with some looking as if they are in costumes. It's not Halloween, so what's going on?

Those brave enough to cross the bridge will find themselves suddenly changed into different clothes or costumes to match a fairytale character. Those who have had previous experiences in various story based dreamscapes may be somewhat familiar to this. It's completely random (ie, player choice) and a piece of sheet music will appear in front with the following words:

Deep within the forest your friends are stuck in play
Dreaming of a different life to live from day to day
Fear not, brave hero, for their lives are in no threat
But until the music ends will this spell continue yet

Find them in their role and play along
Be it through facing evil villains or singing a song
Perhaps you can remind of who they really are
Find pieces of their memories locked in a jar

Good luck to you, dear hero!
You've reached the final verse
Break this spell before the next new moon
Or this spell will be a cUrSe 😈

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 February and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of February 14th (however, the event itself ICly takes place February 25th through March 2nd). TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count February 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 February 23rd and Applications will open on March 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until May.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view)

Animorphs - Tobias
Final Fantasy VII - Tseng
Final Fantasy XIV - G'raha Tia
Final Fantasy XVI - Clive Rosfield
Granblue Fantasy Re:Link: Rackam
Hazbin Hotel - Husk
Hazbin Hotel - Lucifer Morningstar

We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.

"ENCHANTED" FOREST

All characters in the Enchanted Forest will be dressed in some kind of storybook, fairytale role, and they can be as generic or as specific as players want them to be. Heroes, villains, or an odd mix between are allowed.

The following prompts are more like "setting pieces" that players can utilize either for their sleepwalking character or for a general prompt for those helping out to get through. This is a non-exhaustive list and players are encouraged to be creative and add whatever they need. Sleepwalkers can create their own toplevels featuring their own story setup and/or tag into others. Players are also free to use NPCs who are also caught in the curse to help instead.

Finally, all original abilities are gone while in the Forest, including dreamotion. Instead, they will be replaced with abilities and skills based on the role the character is playing. This does mean you can cheat and choose a role that has abilities similar to the character's original set, but if you're willing to try and be completely creative, you can do so. You can be as open or as restrictive as you want, whatever works best for you.

(Note: The Love is in the Air bubbles are also in effect throughout this event. Because of the IC dates, the Dream Board can also be used as prompts as long as they are set before the event occurs.)

A. SLEEPWALKERS

Those affected by the spell will be called "sleepwalkers" and will be found at various parts of the Enchanted Forest that fits their fairytale character's role. They will be dressed as the character, be a protagonist or a villain, and a lot of creative liberties and freedom are allowed. Their role may also be a little strange and mixed up. Perhaps Red Riding Hood is part wolf, or Thumbelina is a fierce warrior princess ready to take down all the "giants."

The "script" and story may also be twisted up, so it will be up to those trying to help them to try and play along to get a hint on how to save them by finding their memories locked in jars, which are hidden somewhere within their vicinity. Once found, it can only be opened by the sleepwalker, and it will help "wake" them up back to their original self. However, this is a temporary measure until the whole spell is broken.

(Note: To help players find your scenario, please comment to this Sleepwalker Scenario Directory thread here.)

B. FIND THE FLUTE

While some are trying to help those affected, others are focused more on the curse and breaking it. There are bubble-like music notes that appear here and there, and popping them will reveal a piece of sheet music that will have a bar or two of lyrics that will give a hint to where the flute may be hiding. It's different for everyone, and sometimes it can be straightforward and sometimes it's not. However, should anyone sing the piece, music notes will appear and form a trail to lead them right to the flute (the notes will visibly reflect how good or poorly it's sung).

There are multiple instances of the flute and it can be found anywhere within the Forest. Sometimes it's easy to see, others will be hidden or guarded by a creature. It could even be in the hands of a sleepwalker. (Note: as mentioned in the Dream Notes, at least 10 different flute instances must be destroyed for the spell to be broken. If we do not receive enough submissions, the curse will continue with a Part Two in March.)

C. DARK WOODS

There are portions of the forest that are visibly darker. Not only is it denser with more trees, but gray clouds hang over it, further blocking sunlight from it. It's so dark in some places it almost feels like night and lanterns or other sources of light will be needed. Beware of the creatures that lurk. Some are friendly, others like to appear with random rhymes and riddles, and then there are the dangerous ones that are feeling a bit hungry. Be careful of the fruit that hang from some trees, as they can either be poisonous or just have a strange effect on those who eat it.

Deep, deep in the dark woods there is a mysterious fog that will quickly disorient anyone who are caught in it. This is known as the haunted section of the woods, so beware of spirits and ghosts that might wander through.

D. BRIDGES

There is a strange amount of bridges scattered around the Forest, and some of them aren't even crossing over any rivers—just empty ditches or even large chasms. The types will also vary, from fancy bricks to wooden bridges suspended by something that isn't very discernable (the ropes disappear into the sky…??). However, they all have one thing in common: trolls. Some are friendly and will let people pass after answering a few questions. Others will require a bribe. And some will force fights and other annoying challenges. Even then, the bridges themselves may be a bit wobbly, especially those wooden ones, or things like goblins may still pop out to try and steal from them. But perhaps some goats will help?

E. COTTAGES

And all other manner of houses, some of which may be made out of food, straw, sticks, or brick instead of wood. Some of these may be empty, others may already have an occupant. There could be people, could be animals; friendly or hostile. Just be careful of the beds—they can be quite comfortable and some may even be drawn to sleep in them…and need a little smooch to awaken. Those tempted by the food may find it delicious, but they may turn into a grumpy bear always complaining about the temperatures of the food and never satisfied. Baking a few goodies may also help those affected nearby.

Watch out for wolves and young, blond girls. They seem to like breaking into these places.

F. SWAMPS

Deeper within the Forest are pockets of swampland that house all manner of dangerous creatures, such as the will-o-wisps that like to lead wanderers astray, and those looking for a trusty steed? Avoid the horses here—they are kelpies that will waste no time in taking them into the murky waters. As it is a favorite spot for witch ingredients, it is more likely for someone to encounter one and suffer some kind of strange curse here, especially those involving animal transformations with frogs as a favorite. Don't forget the ogres—they don't like to be disturbed.

G. CASTLES

There are at least one or two castles deep within the Forest, though they are a lot smaller than their real counterparts. Some are just a single tower that needs to be climbed up to help whoever is trapped up there. While there could be fair damsels that need rescuing, there are also treasures that could be found and taken instead. Or perhaps one wants to conquer the castle instead and be its king or queen. However, like everything else here, there are curses and enchantments everywhere. The cutlery may not be so keen on intruders, and one may feel the need to sing and dance a musical number more often than not.

But of course these have their own guardians, with the dragons being a favored choice. Wizards and other sorcerers are also common tenants, and they will gladly use their magic to expel anyone who tries to get in.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The silence just continues to thicken along with the darkness until it seems as if it's all about converge and consume her—]

Who is "Eustace"?

[His voice suddenly sounds right next to her ear along with the coolness of his breath.]

[That has her leaping backwards and shoving him as hard as she can all at the same time, the sound of his voice and his breath against her ear is not something that should scare her as much as it does, but it lacks any of the playfulness or affection within it. Maybe if she was sure that this was a dream, it wouldn't be as frightening, but...

She's pretty certain now that it isn't.

She takes a fall to the ground, her knees buckling under her, and she stares up at him.]

... You are?

[It's a hard shove, but it does little to move him as he just stands there barely moving as he watches her fall. The eyes lack any warmth as he continues to eye her less like a person and more like something interesting he's found.

Like prey.

With a subtle smile he crouches down to one knee so he's a bit more eye level with her, yet he still looms over her as the distance closes between them far too quickly.]

Me? Hm, that's the first I've heard it, Red.

[Her stomach absolutely plummets at the look that he gives her. It's different from that other one that she so often sees... One that she knows is reserved just for her. And while it's similar, it's... not the same. It doesn't stir the same sorts of feelings—that love, warmth, the heat that it stokes in her in the same way it does him.

It only provokes fear.

And it makes her stumble back as he moves towards her.

She could fight him off, sure, but... her hands are paralyzed, and that sword had dropped out of her hand when she took the fall. She could reach for it, try to use it, but...

This is still her husband standing over her... right?]

... You don't remember.

[Slowly, carefully, her eyes never leaving him, she tries to get to her feet, wincing when she feels a slight pain shoot up her leg.]

You shouldn't move.

[And he'll just watch her try to get to her feet, but there will be another reason why she won't be able to get up—he'll have his foot planted right on the edge of her cloak, pinning her down before a hand is now on her knee of the leg that seems to be in pain.]

...You're hurt.

[She cries out, the sudden weight on her cloak lurching her back to the ground, and before she can do anything else, he's closed in on her like a wolf ready for its dinner.

Though, it's not her wolf.

She tries to steady her breathing as that little seed of fear begins to grow and spread, bleeding into the air around them in that stifling heat, almost like her emotions are trying to set the fog surrounding them on fire.]

I'm fine.

[She tries to shove his hand away from her leg, kicking it with another small wince before she looks at him, eyes lined with sadness.]

What happened to you...? Why does this keep happening to you?

[Slowly, very slowly, she starts trying to crawl back, tugging on her cloak.]

[Despite her attempts, it only ends with him applying more force to keep her in place, and the cold, indifferent eyes turn even colder... And have a hint of red.]

Hmmmm.

[Just a low hum before his hand changes, the fingerless leather gloves he wears stretching as his hand turns into claws—]

You should be more worried about yourself.

[—sharp points tearing through the fabric as they dig into her skin and draw blood before he's suddenly yanking her leg forcibly towards him, pulling her closer with a strength he normally does not have as his other hand grabs her throat as he is now fully over her.]

[This... reminds her so much of the Eustace that she saw in those nightmares. The ones after he had turned Noctaere, when she was drawn in, or had tried to help him. The red flash in his eyes, the cold indifference, the lack of affection...

Or perhaps it's been twisted into whatever this is... Hunger?

Tifa feels sweat bead at her brow as the temperature continues to rise and the fog thickens, heat fighting with cold, and she slams her eyes shut when she feels those claws digging into her skin... feels them around her throat as he hovers over her...

She grabs hold of his wrist to try and tug it away, but he's just as strong as she is, if not stronger in this form. She didn't want to hurt him, but—]

I'm sorry. I love you...

[—her legs hook around his and she twists, sending him flying sideways to the ground with force.]

[He hadn't expected such a strong counter, so he hits the ground with a grunt, a little stunned. Yet at the same time he isn't so quick to get up, either, as if processing what happened as only his eyes snap towards where she is.]

[It's probably adrenaline that has her leaping to her feet so quickly despite her leg, but before Eustace can register what's happened or get up, Tifa is turning on her heel and running, a hand clutching at her throat where his had been. She doesn't care which way she goes, as long as it puts some distance between them. As long as it's away from him... to a safer place where she can buy herself the time she needs to figure out how to break him from it.

Because apparently, talking it through wasn't going to work this time... Not as she feels the blood trickling from where his claws had broken through her skin.

She blinks back some tears that burn the edges of her eyes, swallows down the fear, and rushes away.]

[He just watches her run off from where he lays on the ground before he slowly moves to roll over and stand on his feet.]

Hm... Things have gotten more interesting...

[He sheathes his axe and as he steps forward he feels something at his boot and looks down. Finding the sword she had dropped and left behind, he picks it up and grins at his reflection.]

And better to return this to its owner.

[A very low, quiet chuckle escapes him as he turns towards where she ran and slowly walks after, her footprints and trail clear to him despite the fog as he once more disappears into the shadows.]

[How far she runs and where, she doesn't know. All she knows is that she is moving as fast as her legs will carry her as she weaves through the trees and bushes, tripping every now and then when she still can't see a step ahead of her through this thick, dark fog. She has no idea if he's chasing her or not, but she doesn't dare look back to check, nor does she dare to speak or call out to the dogs. The further away they are from her, the better, honestly. At least until she can figure out a way to get her husband back. She just hopes that they were able to find Lyria like she asked...

Eventually, she does find her way out of the fog when she lands on the beaten path through the forest again, but that only makes her run faster. No longer completely shrouded in shadow, she is just as vulnerable out here as she was in there.

There is some respite when she manages to find a small clearing at the end of the path with a cottage, and it's only when she slows down that she feels that pain shoot up her leg again from her ankle.]

Shit...

[Her heart racing and her breathing quick, she rushes at the little house. A place to hide...

She peers through the windows first to be sure that it's empty, but it's pitch-black inside. Surely that means that no one is in there... and the door creaks loudly as she pushes it open, surprised to find it unlocked. She isn't about to light any lanterns or flick any switches, though. No... as soon as she shuts the door behind her, she presses her back to it and crumples to the floor to catch her breath, hands wrapping around her head as she tries to fight back a quiet sob, Eustace's indifferent expression filling her head all over again.

This truly is a waking nightmare.]

[She will have a brief moment of respite before she'll suddenly feel the cold steel of a blade pressed against the side of her neck.]

You dropped this.

[Her gasp echoes through the entire cottage, something clattering from a small table beside the door as Tifa falls and crashes against it, only just feeling the edge of that sword on her skin before it's gone. She can't even use her fire in here, the forest having sucked her dreamotion and magic away, so she's stuck in the dark with only the light filtering in from outside to light his silhouette.

She clenches her teeth around the pain in her leg, and forces herself to stand, using that side table to brace herself.]

I'll be taking that back now.

[He just stands there unmoving...and with that eerie little smirk playing at his lips as he watches her.]

Will you?

[He then raises the blade up, turning it this way and that.]

Do you even know how to use it?

Does it matter if I can?

[She tries to keep the tremble of fear out of her voice, and she wonders if he can still pick it up... even if he isn't himself. Or if he can see the way her eyes glisten with the beginnings of tears as she watches him carefully.

Her eyes narrow as she starts to move away from him, step by step putting a little more distance.]

Still managed to take you down even with a bad leg...

[And she feels guilty as hell about it, but if he's going to keep playing at this angle, then maybe...]

[He catches it clearly, yet it only makes that smile twist even more as he just follows step by step, heavy footfalls thudding against the floor.]

It was impressive, really. More than I expected.

[So... he really doesn't remember anything about her at all, does he?

Her heart twists into a tight knot again, remembering all the other times he'd been possessed by the magic of this world against his will, only to end up with him coming after her in some way. She just hopes that he'll forgive himself after all of this and remember that none of it is his fault. That she won't blame him for the marks he's left on her...

For now, she still needs to find a way to buy herself some time, and that time is quickly ticking away as she stumbles backwards, bumping into a chair and knocking it over. It startles her, she jumps, and whips around to face him again.]

I could do it again, if you'd like...

[Whether that's a threat beneath her slightly sweeter voice, who can say.]

[He just continues his slow advance, sword scraping against the tabletop as he circles around.]

You like being pinned?

[She'll keep moving around the table, keeping it between them, her eyes flitting to the sword before locking back on him.]

Well. Least you remember one thing...

[Just another grin.]

I'm always open to try and "remember" other things.

[At that, she accidentally limps and fumbles into another chair, the sound of it clattering to the floor far too loud. She doesn't step over it but rather, starts moving away from the table.

She has no idea how much space is in this place, if there's another room she can run to, or if this cottage is as small on the inside as it looked on the outside, but she isn't going to dare risk turning her back to him in here.

Not yet, anyway.]

Yeah? ... Like what? Could be that I can help.

[Just keep him talking.]

[He just idly twirls the sword in his hand as he continues to follow slowly after her. And unfortunately for her, the cottage is indeed quite small, with only one other room she could try to dart into—the bedroom. Which he may or may not be trying to push her towards.]

You're the one who seems to know me... You tell me.

[Completely unaware of his little plan, she continues this game of chase. It's the only option she thinks she has, as she tries to look around the house for something. Anything that she could use to safely change him back. But with that sword and his axe... jumping in and trying to fight him would only end up with him more hurt.

So, she lets herself be cornered. Lets him come to her... painstakingly slow as it is, giving that fear more time to really sink into her.]

Hm. [She hums thoughtfully, as she quietly tries to conjure them herself... to no avail.] Well. You're pretty fond of using vines, too.

[That is to say... can he?]

Vines? Interesting...

[Instead she'll feel something cold slither up her legs as dark shadows wrap around her.]

Like this?

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