songerein | { 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[With the mirrors behaving as oddly as they are, Roxas does his best to avoid being pulled into one. However, he notices a strange reflection in one of the mirrors in his home one day. It reflects not the living room of his tree house, but a strange town he's never seen. One full of Keyblade wielders. He stares in awe at the little tournament being held.]

[But as Roxas watches, he catches sight of a familiar face in the crowd. Or well, a familiar masked face.]

Ira?

[Ira looks up at his name, before smiling and waving Roxas over.]

Roxas! You should come join us!

[Though the mirror, he's surprised that Ira could hear him. Roxas jolts a bit, before he tries calling out to Ira back through the mirror.]

Ira! What are you doing? How did you get in there?

[Ira is momentarily confused, since, well, nothing has seemed off to him. He wasn't aware he could get anywhere, much less in anything.]

What do you mean? I'm here.

Here..?

[Roxas gives Ira a baffled look. Did he not realize he was in a mirror? Does he not realize Roxas is speaking through one to him? Just how strong is this illusion?]

Listen, Ira, you're not where you think you are! The mirror is trying to trick you!

[Ira looks around. Everything looks as it should, which is probably an indication that it is something different from a dream. But it was a good one, to.]

This isn't a dream?

No, it's not!

[He waves to Ira again.]

Look at me. Where am I standing right now??

[Because he's currently looking in from a mirror, at least on his end.]

[Maybe it's from where he is standing, maybe it's because this illusory world has its claws in him, but Ira cannot see the mirror.]

You look like you're standing in the street.

In the street?

[Roxas rubs the back of his head.]

Ira, I'm not in this dream. I'm looking at you through a mirror right now.

[And perhaps after he says that, Ira might notice something a little odd about Roxas. How his colour's a little out of place, or like a subtle filter is over him.]

[At that, Ira frowns, and starts to move closer to Roxas, where the glass, for lack of a better word, starts to appear more clearly.]

I don't even know how I managed this.

[And he puts a hand up to find his way blocked.]

How do I get out of this?

It's okay. I'll help you out of there!

[But the question is how. Hmm... Roxas frowns, looking at the mirror and the glass. He tries to rest his hand on it, and finds that, much to his surprise, his hand sinks through.]

Woah!

[There's a good chance this may have been how Ira ended up falling into this mirror world as well. Even if he doesn't remember doing it.]

Careful. It wouldn't do for both of us to get trapped.

R-Right.

[Roxas pulls his hand out, flexing it a bit. He then looks to Ira.]

Hey, if I put my hand through, maybe I can pull you out?

I...I suppose it is worth trying.

Though, I am concerned that I could pull you in as well.

[At that, Roxas gives Ira a firm, confident look.]

You won't. I promise. And if you do... we'll find a way out together. But I won't let you just stay in there, okay?

I appreciate it, Roxas. It seems I've been relying on you for a lot lately.

But I am glad you have opened my eyes to a potential trap.

As pleasant as it was.

[He really does miss being able to hang out with his friends like this. Days long past.]

Hey, it's what friends do, right?

[Even if Ira is more used to being a Master, they're still friends... right? He likes to think so at least.]

[Ironically, Roxas is probably one of the few who actually understands Ira right now; being stuck in a fake world interacting with fake versions of his real friends? He's been there. But he also knows that even if they're fake, those emotions are real. Which is why he hesitates for a minute before asking.]

You ready? Or... do you need some time?

Right.

[It would be right to call them friends.

Given everything, the lines of teacher and student were really blurred from the start. Even if it is hard for Ira to let go of being a Master.

He glances back at the image, trying to take it in one more time. Committing it to memory, so to speak. But ultimately he shakes his head.]

No, I think should leave now. If I stay, it may only make things more difficult.

[Roxas wouldn't blame Ira if he needed more time. But when Ira claims he's ready, Roxas nods and presses a hand against the mirror again.]

Alright. Get ready to grab my hand.

[And soon he'll push his hand through again, beckoning to Ira with it.]

[Well, he's expressed a desire to leave, and that should be enough. He hopes, anyway.

But decisions have been made and it doesn't do to look back, so he reaches out and grabs Roxas's outstretched hand.]

I've got it.

Alright. Hang on...

[Roxas gives a grunt, pulling both Ira and his hand back towards him. Is it enough to get him through?]

[Ira is pulled through and rescued.]

{ mirror mirror }

C - Strolls in late with Steambucks

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