songerein | { nightmare bleed: world fragments }

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{ nightmare bleed: world fragments }

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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

... I think I need to take it in. All of it - the nightmares, the sadness... I don't know if it would be better to do it here or if... if it would be better in the place with the... organs. Elina's... organs.

[His voice dips and he takes a deep breath.]

I just... I want the nightmares to stop for people. I don't want to be the cause of them. I don't want my world to be the cause of them.

[He's already been dealing with trying to get purified a little from helping with Joshua's world. He puts a hand on his brother's.]

I already have enough of them.

[Joshua has seen many horrors in his travels. What Ryu is describing sounds like it could outmatch any of them.]

[So, he understands not wanting to perpetuate nightmares. If they must absorb this world's darkness, then so be it.]

[Joshua squeezes Ryu's hand.[

Then we know what must needs be done.

Lead the way.

[Somewhere darker, probably. He frowns and squeezes his brother's hand, leading him out of the building and down into the underhalls.]

[There's the scent of offal and decay, and as they walk into a large room there's a horrible sight. There's no more eyes and everything is sagging, but Ryu puts a hand against one of the organs and closing his eyes.]

I'm sorry, Elina... but you need to rest.

[The energy starts swirling around Ryu and he staggers, trying to keep his footing. The organs in the room start to shake slightly, but he ignores it. Tears start to roll down his cheeks silently. How could they do this? How could people - how could anyone think that this is okay?]

[Joshua has to steel himself against the smell. To gag or react illy would be to disrespect the atrocities that have occurred here. Unacceptable.]

[When Ryu touches that massive mound of flesh and stumbles, Joshua bolsters himself against him to provide a steady pillar. It's then that he also opens himself to the dark energy so that he can siphon some away from Ryu. He's tired and battered, yes, but willing to overcome both if it means helping a friend.]

We'll see to it that she does.

I feel so... bad for what happened to her. But there was no saving her...

[He leans back against Joshua, trying to contain the energy. There's a deep sorrow in his heart and it's not going away. He feels like it's filling him, like his whole being is being dipped into snow. He shivers - he can't stop shivering. Why can't he stop shivering?]

It was a difficult decision you had to make, and remember––it was one she asked for.

You showed her mercy when others would not.

[As the smaller young leans into him, Joshua strengthens his own stance to take on both Ryu's physical and emotional weight. He's used to the cold of nightmares now. When he feels Ryu shiver, he's reminded that others aren't.]

[His reserves of positive emotion are low, barely enough to keep his mind afloat in a sea of nostilium, but he can call upon what he has now, in the moment. Love comes to mind. The love it takes to be with someone at the end of their suffering, the love he's grown for his surrogate little brother.]

[Joshua is the Phoenix. He is the Firebird blessed with healing flames. If he can't share that warmth with Ryu and combat the darkness, then who can?]

Cray... Cray did it... but I don't think he would have if we weren't there.

[He feels the warmth from his brother and tries to hold onto it - hold, but not take. He's aware they're both exhausted after Joshua's own world fragment needed sealing, and his own... it's not exactly a good place to be.]

[How would it have been different if Elina hadn't been experimented on? ... But it's not helpful to think of things that way. If things had been fine then he might not have ever met Nina and Cray. ... He can't let the past cling to him. He has to hold on for the sake of the future.]

[Because if he doesn't... the weight of the past might well bury him.]

[He grunts a little, his hair lengthening slightly and losing some of its color. The energy that he's pulling in feels as if it's nestling in that hollow in his chest that's been so empty - the place where he normally senses Fou-Lu. It feels like being stabbed with ice and he shivers, trying to hold all of the grief of the place in his small body without breaking.]

But you were there.

[Joshua does what he can to reaffirm that Ryu had a hand--a positive hand--in showing mercy. Whether it be from Elina's physical pain, or the emotional toll it clearly took on Cray. He may not know these people personally, but he can still feel for them. Still see how Ryu has touched their lives.]

[He wants to say more, but he notices the change in Ryu's hair. The wave of darkness. His shoulders tense.]

Pray take caution, Ryu.

[As if he should be giving such warnings.]

Trying...

[He can feel it starting to warp him, change him - but he has to take this on. He has to take responsibility. If his own world hurts others, that's his fault - he's the one in the dream. His body suddenly doubles over and he claws at the organ, the smell of offal starting to emanate from where he scratched.]

It hurts...

[It hurts, but he has to keep going. He has to take it all on - all of their sins and all of their sorrow. This place was not of his making but this place is. He's the dreamer and he's not sure when he'll wake... but he won't back down now.]

I know.

[He tries to be cajoling, to share in the fact that the pain of nostilium absorption is unique in its reach. How the chill enters one's bones and doesn't leave. Joshua grips Ryu's shoulders, trying to pull more of the darkness away from his brother.]

[But it's not his to take. That much is clear with how it resists his call.]

[It's just when Joshua begins to think of ways to pivot that the smell reaches his nose. Again, he tries not to retch, and his eyes catch what has caused the sudden intrusion. Joshua reaches down to keep his hand on Ryu's shoulder. He can't fall to desperation, but he can sense that it's near.][Again, he's hypocrite.]

[The darkness starts manifesting physically, and the shrieks and moans of the spirits sacrificed above start to echo through the underhalls. Ryu lets out a sob, wavering somewhat as he presses his forehead against what used to be Elina.]

[The energy starts wrapping around Ryu before pressing against his chest near his heart. The dragon cries out, his own screams echoing like those of the spirits. His breath comes in pants and he stumbles again, pushing at Joshua to get out of the way. He doesn't want to hurt him... he doesn't want to...]

[A feral growl escapes his lips as the energy pours into him. He tilts his head back and just... laughs. Laughs, but there's no mirth to it. It sounds more like the deranged chuckling of a madman than anything else.]

[Oh.]

[The screams bombard him, overwhelming and cacophonous. They're enough of a distraction that he doesn't catch Ryu's movement in time to prevent himself from being shoved away. Joshua stumbles backwards, and has to balance through his heels and to his toes to keep himself from falling.]

[First, it guts him to hear the dragon's shouting mixed with the spirits'.]

[Then, the laugh hits, and tension twists in Joshua's gut.]

[His stance widens, arms raised just enough where he can pull Burning Thorn from its sheathe and call upon his fire if needed--but he hopes with everything inside of him that it won't be.]

Ryu, don't do this... don't let it take hold.

[He takes a step towards Joshua and he's engulfed in black, becoming nothing more than a shadowy figure. His form shifts to his hybrid form, a burst of nostilium ripping through the area. All he can see is an enemy. All he can hear are screams. All he wants to do is to make it stop -]

[He dashes forward, attempting to slam the other into the wall and tear into him. He just wants that energy he can sense inside - and he doesn't know or care who is in his way to get it.]

[Somewhere inside Ryu struggles, lost in a cocoon of nightmare energy. He can't - he can't -]

[Bracing himself against the nostilium takes all of Joshua's focus. Even if his faculties weren't preoccupied, there just isn't enough distance between the two for him to avoid the oncoming attack.]

[His first instinct is to throw up a barrier. A simple affair, even if the situation itself isn't. He taps into the pool of this world's aether equivalent that he knows is present inside his very being--]

[--and receives nothing in return.]

[This isn't new. Not entirely. He's been having trouble with his magic for a little bit, now, but at least he was always able to tap into it. Briefly, he surmises that this latest bout of absorption could have a role to play, but there isn't time to entertain thoughts and theories.]

[There's barely enough time to brace himself against the way his head cracks against the wall and stars suddenly flash across his vision. Barely enough time to try to push against Ryu, only to cry out when those claws cut into him.]

Aaagh!

[His claws tear into his brother and his feet scrape against stone, claws dragging grooves into it. The energy keeps flowing into him and he pulses for a moment, black 'steam' flowing off of him. And yet his hands are cold as he braces one against Joshua's chest so he can strike him again across the face.]

[Mortals... mortals have done this. This is one of them. It's their fault - it's their fault that he hurts so much. If he'd been summoned right then maybe he wouldn't feel like this. He's in the right - he has to be.]

[His head tilts and a low growl escapes him. There's nothing but burning red and blue where his eyes should be. Whatever sense he might have had is gone right now, lost in the animal instinct to feed and retaliate against an enemy.]

Ryu, no! This isn't--

[Stars. Stars again. This time they explode as another one of Ryu's blows connect. Instinct managed to kick in so that Joshua turns his head appropriately to mitigate damage, but he can still hear the rip of a claw catching hair and skin both. He clenches his jaw, but he can't hold back the pained grunt that seems to tense his whole body.]

[He wants to call out to Clive, but he knows he won't receive an answer.]

[Somehow, the answer he got from this adoptive brother, delivered with blood seeping down Joshua's face and a gaping wound now staining his tunic, hurts less than that fact.]

[He calls out again to the Phoenix, instead. Ever-present, despite their now tenuous connection mired by a dark fog. With the present danger quite literally staring him down and ice cold pressure ensuring that to take a breath proved more of a struggle than it already was, it crawls its way to the forefront of Joshua's psyche where the two can work together as one. As they always have.]

[Joshua's eyes flash blue, sclera darkening as fiery feathers wrap their way around him. Slowly.]

[It'll have to do.]

[He grabs Ryu's hand, trying to lift him away, magicks needing yet another moment to manifest.]

[He struggles with Joshua for a moment, trying to claw at him but finding his grip blocked by the other's grabbing his hands. Instead he kicks out, trying to catch a leg and send him tumbling to the ground. He can feel the pressure of some other being, but -]

[But there's no recognition. It's as if Ryu has fallen into a deep slumber and all that's left is a raging being capable of destruction. He tenses for a moment as if preparing for a larger attack - thankfully it doesn't seem to have much access to Ryu's skills and spells for the moment.]

[Joshua grits his teeth against the strike to his leg, which does successfully send him to the ground. He takes that moment to retaliate and launch himself into Ryu's torso, flames belatedly roaring to life like a sputtering motor that's finally managed to start.]

[He didn't have much strength left in him to begin with, and now with both his wounds and the Phoenix's power sapping away his energy, Joshua knows this won't be a long fight.]

[Either Ryu wakes up...]

[...or Joshua dies.]

[Whether he manages to knock Ryu to the ground or not, his plea is still the same.]

I know you're in there! You are no monster!

[He falls to the stone and whacks his head, dazed for a moment. It's enough for his eyes to return to their normal blue - but he's still wreathed in shadow.]

Josh... ua...

[His voice is hoarse and garbled, as if he's talking around a mouthful of marbles. His body twitches and he raises a hand towards the other's face.]

Help... me...

[His hand trembles and drops to the ground, his eyes sliding closed. The energy around him starts to fade, but there's still a thin haze hovering around him, especially around his chest.]

[Somehow, Joshua manages to crawl to his knees and to Ryu's side. His wounds are screaming. He wants to scream alongside them. That means nothing, now. In his weakened state, the Phoenix's healing flames can't close them entirely, but they can hold the acute weight of gashes and bruises. He won't die. Not yet.]

[Neither Fate nor the stubbornness of a Rosfield will allow it.]

I'm here. Hold on, Ryu.

[Brotherly instinct drives him to place a hand on the dragon's forehead with what he hopes is a comforting warmth.]

[Then, Joshua surveys the nostilium. Where it's centered. How it travels. Obvious as the paths are, he has to make sure to get it right. Dear family hangs in the balance.]

[Semi-primed, he should be able to handle the magnitude of absorption it will take to pull Ryu free. Should. Regardless of how uncertain he may feel, he still has to try, and this chance may be his only.]

[Holding a hand over Ryu's chest, Joshua concentrates. He concentrates and opens himself to the dark energy, willing it to join with the storm already brewing inside of him. It hurts--as it always does--but so does everything else. The burning of his physical injuries counteracts the ice-cold of the nostilium.]

[In the back of his mind, there's a delighted hiss that cuts through his and Phoenix's slowly deteriorating harmony.]

Open your eyes. Fight. You can do it.

Don't -

[He feels too weak, but he grabs onto Joshua's arm.]

You're... hurting yourself...

[He can feel it pulling away, unwrapping from the half-soul he has. There's more space there for something to get in because something is supposed to be there. The dark to his light. The cold to his heat. It feels like it's trying to get its clutches into his body and stay there, but the light is dragging it out.]

Don't - don't do this...

[Tears form in his eyes as he looks up blearily at his brother. His head throbs in pain and his whole body feels weaker and weaker. He's not sure what to do, but he tries to pull some of the energy away from Joshua again.]

You held... your own world's darkness. Don't... don't take mine on, too...

[His breathing is slow and labored, each inhale sending a sharp spike of pain through his body. Everything hurts... everything's so cold...]

[He feels the pull. Both on his arm and on the nightmare energy he's dragging out of Ryu. Joshua hears his words. A plea made through heavy breaths and watery eyes.]

[He pauses.]

[What would Clive do?]

[...He would take on the burden all on his own. Just as Joshua confronted him over back home. He always held his brother in high esteem, despite those flaws, even going as far as to blind himself to them so that he could continue to nearly worship the paragon he's made of the elder Rosfield.]

[But he isn't his brother. Joshua has his own path to tread. His own mistakes to make and learn from.]

[He holds the energy in place, ready to take it on once again for both Ryu's sake and the sake of neutralizing this shard, but effectively pausing its flow so that the younger of the two of them can make his choice.]

[Joshua won't be able to hold it for long. His body is already broken, and once the Phoenix's power withdraws, he'll have to contend with wounds allowed to bleed once more.]

[So he injects as much authority as he can into his voice, reverberating with the strength of his Eikon.]

...If you wish that I relent, then show you can fight it.

Prove to me you will not give in, Ryu.

[He pushes forward mentally, doing his best to pull through the hazy darkness. It's like the Hex, all full of guilt and terror and pain. But he cannot - will not - let his brother suffer on his account.]

[He lets out a cry, pushing away from Joshua. In a blink his form is gone, replaced by a large creature that pushes up against the ceiling of the space. It stares Joshua down, its presence enough that it probably feels... not too dissimilar to an eikon. It tilts its head and huffs.]

[Is this proof enough?]

[When Ryu pushes against Joshua, he nearly follows with concern that another fight is to begin anew, but then he changes. Too quick to react outside of glancing up at the visage of a large dragon.]

[Dragons... Joshua thinks to himself wryly, but with warmth and pride towards this dragon in particular, Always so dramatic.]

[He smiles, tired. Worn. Fading.]

If that is your answer, then I yield.

[True to his word, he relinquishes his hold on the nostilium. Slowly, lest he overwhelm his brother, regardless of the form he takes.]

Edited (department of redundancy department) 2024-07-19 04:39 (UTC)

[~~Thankfully not as much as Dion, but then again Joshua hasn't met Fou-Lu.~~]

[The dragon seems to shudder as it absorbs the energy, its skin lightening by a few shades. He'll have to figure out why that is when he's more able to contain himself. But in this form the energy only serves to bolster him, and there's a slowly growing pressure that builds and builds as he's fed more energy until -]

[He turns and blasts the wall with a huge beam of energy, sending stone crumbling and boring a hole that goes straight out of the building and bores at an angle deep into the earth. It's fine, it's not like this place is staying. Probably.]

{ nightmare bleed: world fragments }

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