songerein | { mirror mirror }

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{ mirror mirror }

MIRROR MIRROR

With the sleepwalking curse over, everyone will have some time to rest and recuperate—until Jack Frost comes barging in with news of a clue on how to help his beloved Ice Queen who still remains asleep. The clue was the mirror shard that was in her chest, and there are theories that it may have been a fragment of a much stronger, powerful mirror she had been given some time ago. Problem is, he can't find it nor can he remember who gave it to her. He does, however, have a magic incantation that will allow people to enter mirrors and hopefully find a trace. Unfortunately, this horrendously backfires and we have mirror chaos instead. Dammit, Jack.

More details on everything can be found here. We will request any thread submissions for certain prompts during AC .

I. REVEREIN

II. MIRROR WORLD

COMMENTS

I. REVEREIN

It all begins in Reverein, where there's a strange shift in the air upon Jack's attempt to cast the spell. But instead of affecting just one mirror, it reflects off the surface and spreads out to the entire town, hitting every reflective surface instead. Ripples can be seen before the surfaces still, but it's too late. Every reflective surface—glass, mirror, window—is under a different effect because of the botched spell.

And some are being unwittingly pulled into them.

Fortunately It is possible to communicate and even watch people from the other side of the mirror, but it's only through certain mirrors and at certain times. It also will be temporary, so while one mirror might work one time, it may not work again.

A. Strange Reflections. While some mirrors may still reflect proper images, many will have…unusual changes.

🪞 You are what you see. Whether it's an odd hairstyle, change in skin color, or style of clothing in the reflection, suddenly the viewer will look exactly like what's reflected. The most extreme is a different form entirely.
🏡 Glimpses of home. Everyone will have a rare glimpse of their home world, and these can be instances from the past, present, or even a limited future. They are just reflections and cannot be interacted with, and future reflections may be blurry to prevent the person from seeing too much. For those who have memory issues, such visions will also be blurry, but perhaps they can help stir some things…
🔮 Most desired. Mirrors that have a bit of a pink hue to them will reflect the viewer's most desired "thing." It could be an object, person, place, or even a general idea. However, if not careful the viewer may become trapped in a trance and will need to be removed or smash the mirror.

B. Clone Wars. Mirrors that do not show any kind of reflection are to be quickly taken away and covered as it will begin to create duplicates in Reverein of what is reflected within it. Yes, even people, and they will be very obviously fake: wrong colors, different voices, odd behavior, etc. and will usually be harmless. These "clones" will continue to appear and multiply until the mirror has been covered, and will need to either be destroyed or captured and shoved into the mirror, where it will lose its "no reflection" status and become a proper mirror again…only for them to appear on the other side in Mirror World.

C. Mirrorsnatched. A mirror with a black rim has the chance of absorbing a significant personality trait or memory of the one looking into it, and when this happens, the person will walk away feeling very muddle-headed and off. The mirror will "keep" this part of the person and someone from the Mirror World side must find their essence and "shove" it back out onto any mirror surface so that the original owner can break the mirror and retrieve it. The downside of this method is that breaking a mirror means one less mirror those on the Mirror side can use, so they need to choose carefully.

D. The Unknown. Appearing in both the Mirror World and Reverein will be a strange mirror masked, black cloaked figure called "The Unknown." It traverses through the mirrors and through the walls, seeking those with happy reflections and will try to corrupt them with nightmares. People on both sides of the mirrors will be able to confront and try to stop the Unknown, though beware its chocolate attacks.

II. MIRROR WORLD

Everything in this "Mirror World" is, in a word, chaotic. Imagine an AI-generated monstrosity based off of Picasso, Escher, and Dr. Seuss, where everything seems to be upside down, backwards, colors everywhere and nowhere, and everything feels so fragmented that one step feels like walking towards the edge of a cliff. In a way it's nightmarish in an unusual sense, and those inside can feel that touch of "madness" that seeps through the cold air.

Beware the strange creatures in the Mirror World. They are grotesque monstrosities, many of them looking as if they were stitched together from different parts. Fortunately they are susceptible to weapons and dreamotion and those inside the Mirror World will find they are able to use different abilities, especially those with reflective properties.

A. Fragment of their old self. In order to get out of the Mirror World, those inside will need to catch a small fragment of themselves that has escaped and is running around. This fragment is actually a piece of their old self prior to arriving in Songerein. For some, this self may not be so different, but for long-time residents, they may seem a lot more different. To make things more interesting, this self can be from any point of the character's past. It just has to be a version of the character from before entering Songerein. This version will also appear "homesick" and "want" to return to their original home, regardless if the character actually feels that way. Thus the fragment will seek out mirrors that will reflect anything of their home world. Shattering these mirrors will weaken the fragment until it can be caught. But that's only half the challenge. If the fragment is injured, the original will also feel the damage but to a lesser degree. If the fragment is destroyed, then the original will be "knocked out" for a few seconds before a new fragment appears. However, this fragment will be much more distorted and worse than the one before.

B. Distorted Memories. At random points while traversing, characters may come across strange pockets of the world that they will feel drawn to. Following said instinct will lead them to a shifted landscape that will reflect images of home from different points in time (past, present, maybe even future) as if they've just walked right into it, but just like everything else, they are distorted. The changes can be as subtle as the wrong color of clothes, having too many limbs, to something major like the sky now being the ground. The only way out will either be destroying the anomalies or correcting them, and they will be rewarded with a mirror shard that will aid in their escape.

C. Warped Sense of Self. The longer a person stays within the Mirror World, the less "coherent" they will feel, and sometimes sound. Their memories will slowly become more disjointed, their personality feeling a bit "off", and they may even forget who they are or where they are from. Even their physical selves will start to twist and change, starting with something subtle (e.g. eye color) and then growing more drastic as time goes on (where did those extra fingers come from? Or why are they suddenly much shorter?) Finding those reflections of home will help with these anomalies, but those weak of heart be warned: the distortions may only exacerbate the issue and make them believe that they are the truth instead. Help anyone who might be caught in fixing these so that they can recover.

D. Finding an exit. To leave the world, those inside must find a mirror that will connect back to Reverein, and those on the other side can also try to help by posing as "anchors" for those inside to recognize. Otherwise, there are many mirrors in the Mirror World that will lead to different places within Songerein—presumably. However, perhaps due to the magic or needing something else, they will be unable to pass through any mirrors that are not connected to Reverein. This is where players have the fun opportunity to make up whatever kind of location or place the characters may see reflected on the mirrors. They could be existing locations in the game, or new ones that could be explored in the future. One unique place we can mention will be reflections of a city covered in night.

Only upon finding a mirror that leads back to Reverein, but they will also need help from the outside. Someone from within Reverein must also be there to physically reach in and pull them out—while hopefully not accidentally be pulled in themselves.

I. REVEREIN

II. MIRROR WORLD

COMMENTS

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[Wait, what?]

<You want to just give up without even trying? C'mon, we have to figure it out eventually, how hard can it be?>

[...not that she has the slightest idea where to start. Uh, what did the baby anteaters say?

Tapirs, she corrects herself mentally.]

<Dream magic is based on emotions, right? So maybe we just need to, like... think calm thoughts. Be zen.>

[Yeah, because she's so good at zen.]

<Who said anything about giving up? I'm just saying that if it doesn't work out then maybe we might need someone to show us how it's done.>

[... Emotions, huh?]

<... We're probably the worst people on the team for that.>

[Between his hawk instincts and Rachel's... Rachel-ness. But he tries to pull on the koi's instincts and think chill thoughts.]

<What's that supposed to mean?>

[She knows exactly what it means, but it gets a rise out of her anyway. Which just proves his point. She tries not to think about that part too hard.

The few weeks since coming here had been relatively peaceful, but it also had a weird, tense feeling. Like she was expecting the dream to turn into a nightmare any minute. It's made her... irritable.

She's at least managed, up until now, not to take it out on Tobias much, and she wants to keep it that way. She shuts up and tries to think chill, carp-y thoughts.]

<We need an Enya album, that'd put anything to sleep.>

[See? Jokes. No problem here. Nope. The carp brain instinctively settles in beside the other two, following them in a circle. Schooling, Rachel thinks dimly. It is sort of calming... would it calm them down too?]

<Sail away, sail away, sail away...>

[Now she's got him thinking it. He will choose to ignore the question because they both know the answer, so there's no point. But he's starting to swim in a circle, slightly getting over his nerves. Being in the water is bad for him generally, so he just tries to mentally float along and swims near the others. It is kind of calming, isn't it? Huh.]

<Or math class. I was good at drawing diagrams, bad at everything else...>

[He doesn't consider himself a great artist, but he's passable. More than that, but self-confidence isn't high.]

[... He doesn't really miss school.]

<At least you won't be missing any essays or something while you're here. Your mom cares about your grades, right?>

[...Oh, right. He doesn't remember. Or. Didn't live it yet. She's still not super clear on how that works.]

<It's been a while since I had to worry about that anyway.>

[She doesn't want to get into it now, not when she's trying to think calm thoughts and all. Just drifting in a lazy circle with the other fish is nice and simple. Relaxing. It even seemed like the koi were slowing down a little bit, as if the slow, lazy influence of their little school had calmed them down.

She hasn't felt this relaxed in a long time. Despite her indignation, she knows exactly what Tobias meant. Knows exactly why it's been so long since she felt this calm.

There's something pretty dark inside you, Rachel.

The thought comes into her mind very suddenly, and it cuts through the carp's natural calm, sending a spike of frustration and tension through her.]

<Did something just... nah, nevermind>

<Wait, what?>

[His tail thrashes, but then the koi's calm cuts through and he chills again. He can ask later. Probably. He's not sure. He almost feels sleepy though, and he tries to not close his eyes. It's a bit of a battle, but he can -]

[Huh?]

<Something just... what? I didn't say anything.>

[Not in the past minute or so, at least.]

<No, like I said, it's nothing.>

[Very believable.

I worry about you, Rachel.

Ignore it. Ignore it. Just be the fish. Be calm. Even as she thinks it, though, the koi beside her seems like it's getting agitated, and the circling gets faster.

Do you feel the adrenaline rush of murderous desire?

Why was this happening? Why now? Why-

Oh. Oh. As she tried in vain to keep her thoughts calm, the waves continued to circle higher and choppier around them.]

<... I think the fish are messing with my head.>

<What do you mean??>

[Tobias is... well he's not perfectly calm, but he's okay. He's passively swimming around, just kind of chill. It's not too hard for him to slip into the koi's instincts.]

[Just be the fish, like I'm the bird. Like he's the boy and the fighter and everything else. Good and bad... they're just concepts. Everyone's got bits of both. ... Some are just more prominent than the others.]

[The koi next to him remains calm - or at least calmer than Rachel's.]

<Not to say that you can't do something but do you want a - fin?>

<Don't worry about it, it's fine.>

[She says it a little too insistently.

Stupid fish. It's just a stupid fish. No way was some stupid fish going to get the best of her.

The agitated koi beside her swishes its tail in agitation, sending out another wave that washes over her and shoves her out of her rhythm. Ugh, if she didn't know any better she'd think the stupid thing was mocking her.

Maybe calming them was the wrong approach. Maybe the best way to stop these things was the old fashioned way. It was two on two, but she was betting if she and Tobias teamed up on one, the other would swim away rather than help its friend. They could just take it out right now. They could just turn it into filet of fish and cook the stupid thing with tartar sauce and see who was mocking who when the stupid thing was-]

<Get a grip, Rachel.>

[... she hadn't meant to say that out loud. Think that out loud. Whatever. Why was this so difficult? Why couldn't she just-

The fish starts swimming faster, urging its more placid friend to do the same. Great. Great, now she was messing up what Tobias was doing too. Typical. Of course she couldn't do this, it didn't involve bloodshed and that seemed to be all she was good for, even Jake had known that at the end.]

<I can't do this. I have to bail. I'm sorry.>

[It felt pathetic. It felt like losing. And even as she suddenly twisted around and started swimming back toward shore, there was a part of her that didn't just feel frustrated, it felt vengeful.

Over a stupid fish.]

[... Huh?]

<Rachel, wait!>

[He swims after her, abandoning the fish. He doesn't really care about them - he cares about her. He chases her, not caring if she's going to keep swimming - he'll keep going after her.]

<We can talk about this - whatever it is, I'm with you. So just please slow down?>

[She doesn't respond to what he's saying- doesn't say anything at all, in fact, until she's finished the swim back to shore, demorphing and hauling herself out of the water.

By the time Tobias catches up with her, she's got her arms folded defensively and she's scowling out in the direction of the fish, not looking at him.]

You should have stayed, you had it under control.

[She sounds like she's sulking, and she knows it, and she hates it.]

[He flaps out of the water, feathers soaked in salty brine. Ugh. Landing on the beach and spreading out his wings he feels a little better, but he won't feel fine until he's dry and preferably unsalted.]

<Maybe, but you were upset. And I don't care what sort of reward I get from them... I just want you to be okay.>

[She's sulking and that's fine. He doesn't mind - he thinks every one of her moods is gorgeous and beautiful and deadly.]

<Rachel... come on. You're upset and I know you don't like talking about that stuff, but in a place where emotions are apparently something that affect reality it's kind of important to talk about it. ... At least to me. You know I won't spill to other people.>

It's not-

['a big deal,' she was going to say, but that sounds lame even before she says it.

She scowls out at the water a little longer, then rolls her eyes and looks back down at Tobias.]

I- I got mad at the stupid fish. Really mad. Not exactly a good way to calm it down. That's all.

<Uh huh.>

[He's not convinced and doesn't sound like he is. He hops up to her and leans against her leg. The bird part of his brain isn't pleased, but he doesn't care. He'll override it if it's for her.]

<... You know I'm here for you. Whenever and however you need me.>

[She knows. God, she knows that now.

She sighs and carefully sinks to kneel in the sand next to him. She doesn't touch him, he's doing enough touching for the both of them just then, but she can at least be closer to him that way.]

...I wanted to kill the stupid fish.

<... I kind of figured that. But why?>

[He doesn't like to push. But Rachel usually has a reason for her violence.]

I don't know.

[She plucks a pebble out of the sand and fidgets with it, just for something else to focus on.]

I swear, one minute I was just swimming next to it, and the next I started thinking about... it's like it was messing with my head. You really didn't notice anything like that?

[He's quiet for a few moments. He really didn't, but... hm.]

<... No. But that doesn't mean I don't believe you. This place is weird and it feels like it likes to target us or something.>

'Us,' yeah.

[Her. It targeted her. It made her start thinking psycho thoughts.

Or maybe she made her start thinking psycho thoughts. It was hard to tell anymore. She sighs and tosses the pebble out into the water.]

Sorry for freaking out on you.

<What, like the tiny bird prince outfit wasn't bad?>

[He's joking. He knows this is worse, but he wants to make her laugh.]

<It's fine. This whole place is weird, and not the kind of weird that's become normal for us.>

[A laugh is a bit beyond her at the moment, but she at least manages a slight smirk.]

I thought it was, y'know, dashing.

[Alright, the good-natured teasing helps her feel a little better- and now that the adrenaline is dying down, so is the weird anger at the fish. She's not really convinced by Tobias's logic, but at least she's less freaked out.]

Alright, well, we've adjusted to weird before. We just have to learn as we go. No giant fish for me, no adorable bird costumes for you.

<Maybe to you. For me it was just uncomfortable.>

[Less freaked out is good. Less freaked out is the goal, in fact.]

<I'll keep it in mind. I'm not really fond of water anyway so it's not like I'm gonna bring you fish.>

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{ mirror mirror }

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Sorry for the moving-based delay, SHOULD FINALLY BE TAPERING OUT NOW

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Please ignore the incomplete tag I just sent because no I didn't.

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