dreamposts: (Default)
dreamposts ([personal profile] dreamposts) wrote in [community profile] songerein2024-03-11 01:52 am

{ 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


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.

herlockian: (111)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-03-22 07:48 am (UTC)(link)
[Iris looks up at Gina, and while she doesn't really smile, her glumness seems to go away for now.]

Mm hmm. I had to be careful about it before I got here, actually. He kept crying every time I tried to say something to him as my daddy.

[While that got the smile back into her eyes for an instant, she quickly grows serious again.]

...On that topic, I've been meaning to talk to you about something recently, Ginny. It's...rather complicated, however.
lestray: (smile)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-03-24 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
Wow... The bloke's even more sensitive than I thought...

[If this wasn't being said by a sad Iris, she might have gotten a chuckle out of Sholmes being driven to tears like that. Although at the same time... to think that Sholmes could value being a father that much... It's more than Gina would expect of most adults.

In any case, Iris's condition has Gina's full condition. Gina remains by her side, ready to give her whatever support she needs.]


That's fine. I know I ain't the best at keepin' up wiv tough things, but you know I'll do my best. Especially if it'll 'elp you out! [She tries to give a reassuring smile.] You can tell me anytin'.
herlockian: (75)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-03-26 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
[Iris takes a deep breath.]

Well... Do you remember how you promised you'd find my father and bring him to London? It's just as well that I told not to look for him. You see, I found out who he was...

[She pauses if only because she's not sure how to continue from here.]
lestray: (Toby no!)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-03-28 11:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's so shocked, the ground beneath her trembles slightly.]

Wot?! You- you found out? You know?! [This is big! This is wild! Of course Iris is brilliant enough that she could find out by herself, but it's still such a big revelation!]

Well, who is the bloke? Do I gotta give 'im a piece o' me mind? [Gina is always, always prepared to duke it out for Iris!]
Edited 2024-03-28 23:37 (UTC)
herlockian: (31)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-03-30 06:40 am (UTC)(link)
[Iris notices that, yes. Now she's a bit worried about giving her more details. She'd hate to be responsible for Gina causing massive damage. Or for that to happen in the first place.

She gives her a very feeble smile.
]

That's just it. You can't. He died a long time ago. Hurley must have thought it would make it harder for me to figure out the truth if he lied about that...
lestray: (lesad)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-03-30 12:37 pm (UTC)(link)
[She gasps softly.]

'E... 'e's gone...? [Now that makes her feel an empty pit in her stomach. It's one of the saddest resolutions their quest for her father could have. She keeps a hand on Iris's shoulder, giving a supportive grip.]

Oh Iris, I... I'm so sorry that 'e's gone...
herlockian: (127)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-04-02 04:58 am (UTC)(link)
[Iris just nods in response, but she truly appreciates the sympathy. Gina doesn't have to care, after all. But it's thinking about the next part that keeps Iris very troubled.]

Thank you, Ginny. And, I found out more. His name—

[She hesitates, but starts speaking again soon after.]

—Daddy was Klint van Zieks...

[Iris's voice gets a bit softer as she says that last part.]
lestray: (Toby no!)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-04-02 05:24 am (UTC)(link)
Wh.... wot...?!

[Gina's even more flabbergasted now. It's the last name she expected to hear, and one that her mind starts going into overdrive to try to process.]

Klint... Klint Van Zeiks? Th-the brother o' Barok?? The one wot did all those Professor- [She stops herself from finishing that sentence because of how sensitive that might be for Iris.]

I mean, from that last case back home...? That was... 'Ow could 'e be your dad? [She doesn't doubt him, but it's really such an inconceivable truth!]
herlockian: (06)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-04-06 05:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Iris fully understands this reaction; it's basically what she went through in her mind after she heard it. She waits quietly until Gina manages to come to something final, then nods.]

I found out by accident. Runo and Mr Reaper—it seems Professor Mickey told them after their last trial. They hadn't wanted me to hear it through the magical things in this place but... well, that's precisely what happened.

It's not really that outlandish when you consider the facts. Mr Reaper said his brother had a widow during the trial, right?
lestray: (puzzling tail)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-04-06 01:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[So they knew already...? Did everyone know, aside from her and Iris? Gina's mind is reeling with questions as she grasps with this.]

...Yeah. 'E was married an' all. But... I never 'eard nuffin' about them 'avin' 'emselves a baby...

[She stares at Iris with an uncertain frown. The more she looks at her, the more she thinks she can see some kind of family resemblance...]
herlockian: (115)

[personal profile] herlockian 2024-04-12 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
[By this point, yes. After everything Gina's gone through in regards to it, though, Iris really thinks she deserves to know, too.

Iris returns her frown.
]

I was told that it was hidden on purpose. That my daddy was worried about what would happen to me when he was going to confess... [You know what to, she doesn't have to cover that part, right?] So he asked Kazoo's daddy to help before he died. But then Kazoo's daddy was arrested, and he had to ask Professor Mickey to keep me safe. And even though...the confession never happened, he and Hurley decided to keep it a secret.
lestray: (lesad)

[personal profile] lestray 2024-04-12 01:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[She looks down while processing this. When it's all laid out like that, it does make some kind of sense.]

...Wow. S-so you... you was part of Van Zieks and the Baskervilles' family all along...? Cor... That's gotta be a lot to take in.

[It feels like a lot just to her, and she's not the one actually related to them!]

I- I'm sorry that your pa, that 'e... that 'e's already... gone. [She sniffles. Also sorry that he was a murderer too, but it feels particularly bad that the quest to find Iris's father has led to someone long dead.]

Oh Iris...! [She tries to pull her into a hug.]