{ nightmare bleed: world fragments }

[dreamposts]

NIGHTMARE BLEED: WORLD FRAGMENTS

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 June and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of June 14th. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count June 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 June 24th and Applications will open on July 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until September.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view)

Satan | Obey Me!

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. CORRUPTION

COMMENTS

I. CORRUPTION

It all begins when there is a call for help by the local tapirs. Ever since the final battle against the Story Eater last summer, some tapirs that over indulged themselves on the nostilium never recovered and in fact disappeared somewhere. It turns out they drifted to other worlds, and while they were able to do so already, the amount of nostilium has affected the tethers connecting worlds to Songerein and the dream realm as a whole, causing something of a "nightmare feedback." More dangerously, these tapirs are insatiable, seeking nightmares to feed on and are deliberately corrupting dreams to turn into nightmares.

This nightmare feedback through the tethers means while the original worlds are not seeing much of an effect—yet—Songerein and the rest of the dream realm is. Bits and pieces of these worlds are appearing in Songerein and need to be sealed before it's too late.

A. Safe Place. While most of Songerein is covered with patches of different worlds bleeding in, there is one place that's managed to escape: Dragefjell, the floating island home to the dragons. The massive dreamcatcher found within the strange castle that had been discovered last year immediately released a bright, white light and created a powerful barrier protecting it from the nostilium spreading throughout the world. Along with support from the dragons' own magic, they are quick to offer aid to those suffering below, flying down to grab anyone they could to bring them back to the island.

🩹 Medical aid. Those who suffer any physical injuries will be treated both through traditional and magical means. There are many dragons who specialize in healing magic that will be able to provide greater healing, but they are reserving these abilities for those grievously injured.
♨️ Purifying Springs. The hot springs are available to help purify those who have been affected by nostilium. Although not as strong as the pods, it still helps those who are on the "low" to "medium" scale. Some are even bottling the water so that it can be converted into some kind of spray to try and help purify areas affected.
🐉 Dragon Transport. After the initial flurry of rescues, more efficient means to transport larger groups are constructed. Gondolas carried by the dragons are made and volunteers can assist in finding and bringing people on board. Assistance is also request to help protect the dragons as the days pass so that they do not succumb to the growing effects of nostilium.

B. Corrupted Tapirs: These tapirs have changed entirely, the excess nostilium turning them into unrecognizable shadowy figures that will take on the form of one's worst nightmare to try and instigate more fear and terror. They continue to seek out nostilium out of anyone, sleeping or awake, and will appear outside of dreams to do just that.

🕊️ Purification. Many will try to purify the tapirs, but they must be subdued first. Once the corrupted tapir is down, pure dreamotion can be channeled into them to try and purify the effects of the nostilium. Other methods that have been discovered can also be used to try and reduce the corruption.
🛏️ Orkili Pods. The Orkilins will have brought their purification pods from the city to try and help purify not only anyone who has succumbed to the rampant nostilium, but also for the tapirs. If they can be subdued enough, they can be tossed into the pod to try and help purify them. However, if they still have too much the pod will overload and break.
💀 Eradication. Some tapirs are so far gone there is no saving them. They must be completely destroyed by using any offensive attack type dreamotion possible. Special "bombs" constructed from pure dreamotion can be made and used against them. Although extreme, it may be kinder to put them out of their misery, and those that are destroyed will whisper words of gratitude before disappearing…

C. Nightmare Battles. With both worlds bleeding into Songerein and the spike of nostilium spreading everywhere, noctaere and other nightmarish creatures from these bleeds are running rampant. They are aggressive with two different types. One type will just feed on pure destruction and will try to attack and destroy anything in its way. The other will try to invoke more fear and nightmares so they can feed off the nostilium and grow stronger that way. They need to be handled regardless and dreamotion is key.

🌚 Noctaere. Rather than be killed, those who overwhelmed by these creatures will be corrupted and turn into noctaere themselves. How weak or powerful the corruption is will be up to players. Note: It is possible to save the effects for next month for our second part, or even have the effects last into the next month. Anyone who turns into a noctaere and continues into July willy (hopefully) be saved in July.
👤 Slenderman. He's baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. And he is angrier than ever. Like before, the Slenderman will prove to be a formidable foe, utilizing its noodle tendril like appendages to trap and capture anyone who has the misfortune to cross its path. Those who are caught will remain trapped inside it in a dark abyss-like cage but can be rescued by those who are able to simply make any cuts to reveal the person inside. Those within can try to escape using dreamotion, but the longer they are captive, the weaker they become as their energy is drained.
👥 The Unknown. The Unknown from the Mirror World has returned, but for some strange reason it is trying to capture noctaere and nightmares in a grotesque, black mirror. However, those who are captured will find themselves in a strange place where all the nostilium is extracted to create a "nightmare version" of themselves. They are then pulled back out of the mirror and returned to normal free of most of the nostilium that once afflicted them, and after the Unknown stares at them it will disappear for its next target. While some may think it is helping, those who actually go through the experience are left feeling strange and wary. After all…what will happen to that nightmare copy that was created? Should people help the Unknown? Or stop it?

D. World Fragments. Technically any canon could be found somewhere in Songerein, especially since the NPCs that live in Reverein are also from different worlds, but in Reverein and surrounding areas specifically, it will be mainly current canons represented in game and any guest character canons participating in the event. While players can create specific toplevels, we also request small blurbs to be added to our Canon World Fragments directory thread so that other players can reference and include them in their own threads. There is the option to include a link to your toplevel as well. For those who need a refresher on how this portion works:

🌎 World Fragment. A fragment of their world will appear somewhere around Reverein. It's most likely in the town, but it could be out in the Wildlands. The fragments will be no bigger than a 2-block square. These fragments can be a specific place or a mashed up amalgamation of places to represent that world, and it can include nightmare versions of people and creatures. While they mostly stay within the fragment area, some may escape to add to the havoc and chaos.
🧎 Conductor. To seal world fragment and contain its spread, natives from that world can serve as "conductors" and absorb the nostilium in the area into themselves. This does mean they run the risk of turning noctaere, but they can be assisted by others to help keep them purified. They also have the risk of falling into a coma-like sleep while still absorbing the nostilium.
🫙 Nostilium Absorbers. The Orkilins will deploy numerous containment devices to help try and absorb nostilium so that it's not just the individual. These devices can work directly on the fragment area or on the conductor to try and help keep them stable. However, these are not strong enough to work on their own and will need to be constantly changed out, especially if they are damaged.
📚 Fairytale Fragments. Because Songerein had such deep ties to the fairy tale realm, it is not surprising that there are nightmare fragments of fairy tales scattered among the different worlds. These bleeds will be as if someone took inspiration from the Grimm brothers and then made it more goth horror. Any fairytale, myth, legend, folklore, and story can be stumbled upon and will need to be purified like any other place. Some may even encounter the original heroes or villains of the story trying to serve as conductors to seal the fragment.

I. CORRUPTION

COMMENTS

Comments

[lestray]

Van Zeiks?! [She says his name again, but this time it's more of a startled gasp. Her eyes are wide as they can get as she sees the glint of that pistol, a weapon she knows now has no place in that man's hands. At least, not when it comes to the Van Zeiks she knows.]

Wot- wot're ya gonna do wiv that? ...Stay back! [She urges him, while trying to reach for her own equivalent of a gun, but the fact that he already has a pistol out is alarming. He could take a shot before she can make any kind of movement.]

[discourtesies]

[Thankfully, the statue's movements are slow and deliberate—the Reaper has no need for haste. Its curse is inevitable, and now it comes for one of those who escaped him before... which is to say it is indeed lifting the pistol to aim at the apprentice detective with full intent to fire. She still has another moment to act—for now.

An inquisitive murmuring muffled from the turn of hallways, the oppressive atmosphere, or both can be heard from somewhere in the dark—a familiar voice, perhaps?]

[lestray]

[It takes her a moment, especially with her emotions running high, but she does start to notice there's something off about the Reaper's movements. Something sluggish. He's taking his time to raise that pistol...

So Gina decides to out-draw him. She whips out her gas gun, quickly loads a pellet and blasts a pink smokescreen right at him before dashing off in another direction! Though she's not sure what to trust now, she tries to move towards that faint voice to check it out...!]

[discourtesies]

[In her well-cloaked retreat, Gina may very well end up running head-first into the real man who shouldered the name Reaper for so long, at first looking no more grim than usual. Whether the meeting is a collision or not, he'll look at the faintest trace of the smoke that's left in her wake with some consternation. If she's felt the need to use that...]

Miss Lestra—?

[Before he can finish, the sound of the firearm blasts from the far end of the hall, the slug whizzing past them and lodging itself in the wallpapered wood.]

[lestray]

[She barrels right into him, and then stumbles over backwards. Her initial reaction is a chill-inducing surge of fear, as it looks like her pursuer has somehow caught up with her! She scuttles back - and as she hears the gunshot, she winces!]

N-no!

[Breathing heavily, she opens her eyes and thinks. She hasn't been shot - and there's no sign of a gun in this Reaper's hands. Also, just hearing his voice, it helps her to feel this uncertain hope.]

Y-you real? [She says while trying to look him dead in the eye.]

[discourtesies]

[Van Zieks doesn't exactly answer her query with words; as soon as the question leaves her he's already all but picking her up to move them both behind the corner, where they're much less likely to get shot and killed. He means well, really, even as he demands to know in a hurried tone:]

What was that? Are you being chased?

[lestray]

[Okay, he seems real enough! She moves with him around the corner and huddles over quickly.]

Y-yeah! [She whispers back.] By you! ...Least, it looks just like you. But e's got a gun, an' I think 'e's got it in for me!

[discourtesies]

[A doppelganger? Wielding a firearm no less—this place certainly likes to add insult to injury, reminding him of the last time he'd held such a thing. Van Zieks clenches his jaw in frustration, turning his gaze towards the slowly approaching footsteps.]

Stay behind me.

[It doesn't matter why this fake is after Lestrade, or even how it's come to be. He draws his sword slowly, for once ready to press the attack as soon as his target comes into view, rather than standing his ground as he typically does.

The iron heels of the waxwork's boots make it an easy task to track it for Barok's ears, his posture tight like a wound spring. When the gleam of the gun's barrel comes around the corner through the smoke, the clash of weapons and the crack of another shot echoes through the air.]

[lestray]

[She feels nervous and shaken from the encounter. Ultimately she trusts in him to handle this and steps back and leaves it to him.

Her heart races with anxiety as she hears their weapons. The gunshot in particular gets her to wince and immediately run out towards the source!]

B'rok!!

[She has to make sure he hasn't been shot!!]

[discourtesies]

[Barok previously claimed he would refuse the apprenticeship of anyone unable to defend themselves, and this circumstance would be prime among his listed reasons—it forces him to split his focus during the inevitability of a violent confrontation.

And that is what he does when Gina dashes towards them. She's clever and resourceful, and she's survived both a rough life on London streets and the magic nightmare scenarios this world has forced upon them, without a doubt, but he can only think of her as untrained in terms of direct combat. He sweeps an arm out both as a command and a shield and raises his voice over his shoulder as the wax figure recovers and aims—]

Don't!

[He realizes his mistake with only a split second to react, but—BLAM.]

Agk—

[The blast forces him to jerk backwards from a point somewhere in his shoulder, a spot of blood splattering on the wall, but van Zieks doesn't let the injury stop him for even a moment—rather, it narrows his focus once more, and a sweep of his blade disarms the nightmare creation.

... of the gun, in any case. Its stone-faced scowl unchanged, it reaches for its sword.]

[lestray]

[She might have learned a lot in her time here, but it's still hard to act in the heat of the moment - and she hasn't exactly developed counters for guns specifically.

She starts to realize her mistake just as it happens. Her eyes widen as she witnesses him take the bullet and the resulting splatter of blood.]

Barock!! [She calls his name now, much more shrill.

But she can't just stay there immobilized. She has to do something!! Thankfully the gun is quickly gotten rid of and Gina holds up her own type of gun, quickly trying to blast a gas pellet directly into the imposter's face!]

[discourtesies]

[The supernatural forces that have brought the statue to life have, thankfully, not granted it the ability to see through the colored smoke that explodes into being when the pellet meets its mark.

Fortunately, the true van Zieks has dreamotion on his side to sharpen his other senses well enough to continue an aggressive assault. Blades meet, obscured, and the sounds of footwork may be enough to tell Gina that the fighting is quick despite the man's usual measured pace.

Moments later, a thud marks the dropping of a knee, and one Reaper's silhouette stands over the other, both still ready to strike from their respective positions. The red gleam of the apparent victor's eyes is the only thing marking a difference between them through the veil, as thick it is now.]

[lestray]

[Gina's eyes dart around as she tries to follow an action, her heart still pounding from the aftermath of that gunshot. It's hard now to keep track of who's who, but she knows she has to act at some point. She can't let Van Zieks get hurt again!

Amid the chaos, she sees one of them fall... and the one standing above... Red eyes glow. That doesn't look good at all! Wielding her gun, she tries to focus, to channel her feelings to shoot out anything other than the gas grenades.

...And so she ends up blasting a net towards the red-eyes figure, hoping to immobilize or at least distract him.]

Oi, take that!