songerein | { worldhopping }

Entry tags:

!event

{ worldhopping }

WORLD HOPPING

Nostilium and noctaere have spread to other worlds, and while the "waking" side of the worlds are so far safe, their dream realms are slowly deteriorating and will eventually affect everyone through their dreams. As the only ones aware of this danger, dreamwalkers from Songerein must traverse through the different realms to these other worlds, joining others who have similar dreamwalking abilities of their own—as well as the other local people who have stumbled into their world's dream realm while asleep. And within these dream realms, the tethers that connect all these worlds to the dream world are visible and in danger of breaking.

It's all hands on deck to prevent a catastrophic disaster!

More details on everything can be found here. Because we are in endgame, all events are open to anyone outside the game! Feel free to tag in or start new threads as we march on towards the end!

I. WORLDSCAPES

II. THE VOID

COMMENTS

I. WORLDSCAPES

Nightmare crystals are scattered throughout the worldscapes and need to be destroyed. If left unchecked, these crystals will transform into vicious noctaere that will wreak havoc on the dreams of everyone in that world. Already some will have "hatched" into powerful noctaere. The tapirs of Songerein and the two dream goddesses, Sylvani and Nitiri, are preparing for their own countermeasures to help clean up this mess, but they need time, so it's up to everyone to deal with these crystals. Just be careful that the nightmare crystal doesn't take over the dreamer instead…

A. Worldscapes. Most dream realms of other worlds will be a mirror image of their waking world counterparts. However, there could be distortions that make them appear completely different, particularly worlds that have suffered more damage through the invading nostilium and nightmares afflicting them. As people enter these worlds, they will find themselves adapting to the setting of the world in either small or major ways. It could be as simple as a wardrobe change or a full transformation of some kind. While other canon worlds will be the highlight, all other worlds are available, so we have included some general genres that players can also use. These are a very basic baseline, so be as creative as you wish!

🌎 Canon worlds. Worlds based off of any canon world. Whatever setting and canon mechanics will apply. Players will need to write up a brief blurb in their toplevels if they wish to "open" their canon world for others to come to!
🧙‍♂️ Fantasy. Are there dragons, monsters, castles, magic, and medieval wars waging in this world? Will the inhabitants be able to understand what is going on or will they be too lost and confused to properly help?
🌌 Sci-fi. In worlds where advanced technology and "alien" lifeforms exist, the dream realms here may seem too futuristic for some and exciting for others. But perhaps such advancements may be useful when dealing with the crystals and noctaere.
🕵️‍♂️ Mystery. From needing to solve puzzles, to murders and crimes, or even some other unsolved situation, these worlds seem to be less "expansive" and can be isolated to a specific location, such as a house, the woods, or even a train.
🧭 Adventure. Venturing through temples, abandoned buildings, and finding some treasure or artifact will be some of the major themes here. Given the broad nature of this genre, it can cross over with some of the others.
🧟‍♂️ Horror. One might think the nostilium wouldn't affect worlds of this nature too much, but there is such a thing as too much of a bad thing. It will also make it more difficult to find the nightmare crystals as well as mistake natives for noctaere, so be careful.
🦸‍♂️ Superhero. Welcome to the world of comic book superheroes, where the world not only looks as if it is a comic book itself, but everyone is now a superhero. Maybe teaming up with the super villains will help—or maybe they will be trying to take the nightmare crystals for themselves.

B. Purification. It is possible to purify and transform the nightmare crystals into dreamotion ones, but it requires a large amount of dreamotion and chipping it down. The same is true for the noctaere that are spawning in these worldscapes. The most potent way to purify them is focusing on a cherished memory that will manifest into a tangible representation that can be used or wielded by anyone. An alternative, but far riskier method is absorbing the nostilium and either containing it or manifesting the captured nostilium into another entity to be destroyed. Those who choose to contain the absorbed nostilium will need to be able to control it or risk it overwhelming them.

C. World Tethers. While in the worldscapes, everyone will be able to see large ribbons of light that pass through the skies. Some are iridescent with light, shimmering colors, and some are darker—not necessarily black, but in the darker spectrum. These are the tethers connecting worlds to the dream realm. Most are just visible in the distance, but some are crashing right through the ground, and these impact zones have cracks that are creating holes where uncontrolled amounts of either dreamotion or nostilum is pouring into the world. Which one it is depends on which type is smashing through the ground. To correct the tether's path and "pull it out" from the ground, the opposite type is needed.

🔨 Brute force. The simplest way to push the tethers is by using raw dreamotion and nostilium, and this can be done through any method. Even creating objects made of dreamotion or nostilium to move the tether will work.
💎 Nightmare and Purified Crystals. Using the crystals and chasing the noctaere into the tethers is also a valid tactic but be warned—this method is unstable and it runs the risk of unbalancing the tethers too quickly. Too much of one or the other will cause the worldscape to become unstable and risk pushing everyone out, or worse: into another worldscape entirely. Wouldn't want to get lost or trapped in an endless cycle!
💫 Instability. Should a tether be too unstable, the area around will not only deteriorate but also distort in such a way that those who enter will see not a reflection of the current world, but a warped space reflecting the world depending on the type of tether. If dreamotion, then it will be overly positive and perhaps too ideal, too good to be true. If nostilium, then it's a horrific nightmare.

D. Trapped in a Dream. Due to the influx of dreamotion and nostilium now leaking out from the dream realms into the real world, there is a high chance that people may become trapped in their dreams, especially really good dreams. Dreams of better days, of being with lost long loved ones, hopes and futures unrealized. This is actually quite dangerous as it will make the dreamer vulnerable to nightmare crystals and noctaere. They will be attracted to these types of dreams and try to invade the dream, perhaps in hopes of turning it into a nightmare. Find those trapped in dreams by looking for individuals who are "asleep" within the dream realm and protect them, fighting off any noctaere and clearing out any nightmare crystals that appear. Entering the dream to try and wake them out of it is also an option, but it may be difficult to convince those who truly wish to remain in their dream, so brute force may be necessary.

E. Awakened. Those who visit their home world may be tested as they will also have a chance to wake up briefly with all their memories intact. This will essentially serve as an opportunity for canon updating for those who may wish to do so, or it can just be a brief window for a character to see home again after however long they've been in Songerein. Others may also be able to very briefly exist in the world, but only if they remain in contact with the native character and cannot be seen by anyone else. It would be as if they are a ghost following along and can only interact with the character they are following. Still, it may be a fun way to show friends each other's worlds. Eventually they will be pulled back into the dream and a symbolic memento of their home will appear along with them. It could be personal or it could be something representative of the world. This memento will also be useful and give the character a power boost to strengthen their abilities while in dream worlds.

II. THE VOID

There is one particular world that has been affected by the wayward tethers, and that is a place called The Void from the animated series, Gumball. In this world where everything floats freely and feels as if one is inside a broken TV screen made of static, "mistakes" are pulled in and exist with no way out. They can be from altered designs from their original counterparts, to early concepts, creatures and figures who have disappeared or been forgotten, failed vehicles and constructs, broken parts, etc. Normally this only affects the world of Gumball, but a tether has pierced through it and has allowed errors and aberrations from other worlds to be pulled in—and it is also where Berot Sau has run to to further his cause.

While the Void works to contain all these mistakes and errors of its own world, the influx of other canon worlds has made the Void even more volatile and hostile. Mechanisms have been activated to try and hunt down and destroy these errors, and that includes the tether that's left a huge hole in it, exposing it. Not only that, the errors from within the Void are trying to escape, and that's not good.

Dreamwalkers must take care while in this world as the Void will see them as entities that should not belong and will try to get rid of them while also trying to seal that crack. They may find themselves bound to another and must work together to get through.

A. Error Correction. Not only must Dreamwalkers try to repair the tether and move it out of the void, they must get rid of the errors before something happens with the Void and to prevent Berot Sau from causing further chaos.

🧵 Moving the Tether. The tether is running right through the Void and has fortunately not been "poisoned" with nostilium—yet. However, there are nightmare crystals and nightmare creatures continuously crashing into it, which puts it at risk. To move the tether, first defend it from these and use the same methods as the above section to push it out of the void.
☠️ Destroy the "mistakes." While the errors and mistakes from Gumball are fine to exist in the Void, those from other worlds cannot. They will glow a strange red and will be recognizable to those from the world they come from. As entities that should not exist, they must be destroyed…but they may try to convince anyone else otherwise. Surely they have a right to exist somewhere…right?
⏸Pause. One unique ability dreamwalkers will discover they have while in the Void is the ability to pause, or effectively stop time, a small area around them and anything they touch. This only lasts for a few seconds and is inconsistent, but it could be useful. Just bear in mind that others within the Void can utilize the same skill.
🩹 Seal the Void. As the tether is pushed out, the Void will try to seal the cracks but will need some assistance. Find the gaps and use whatever object and dreamotion to seal it off.

B. Golden Eggs. Scattered throughout the Void are golden eggs that will "hatch" or break easily when in contact with someone. The eggs will either A) produce a special bonus effect that will bolster one's dreamotion abilities or B) affect the individual in a "cartoonish" way, either through physical changes or even switching bodies with the person they are with. These golden eggs are also important as they hold important puzzle pieces that must be collected. What they are used for, no one is sure, but they glow golden and can be used to escape the Void at the very least.

C. Berot Sau. The one behind this madness, he hides within this Void and will utilize all the "errors" of the worlds that have entered to defend himself and perpetuate the nightmares, inserting nightmare crystals directly into the aberrations within the Void to then try and force them back out into other worlds. When confronted, he will consume a nightmare crystal and gain a "mech-like armor" of nightmare crystals. Somehow he's managing to stay sane, but it will be only time until he loses it completely.

🥚 Throw eggs. If anyone is able to grab the eggs before they break, or is able to knock them directly to Berot Sau, there will be two results: 1) a blast of dreamotion that can weaken the armor; 2) a sticky goop that will slow his movements. Additional negative, cartoonish effects may also come into play.
⁉️ Glitched out. Perhaps due to the unusual circumstances surrounding them and the Void, there are times when Berot Sau's suit seems to "glitch" and malfunction. It may suddenly take on the appearance or ability of the "mistakes" that exist in the Void. This can either be an advantage for him, but it can also be a disadvantage if it's a comical change.
👥 My enemy is your enemy. Some of the villainous entities that exist in the Void may not take too kindly to Berot Sau trying to take the spotlight. The Void is also on alert and will also try to attack him. While taking care to not get in the crossfire, try to lure these creatures and figures so they can (unintentionally) help. Just be careful that they don't absorb the nightmare crystals that surround Berot Sau.
🤖 Nightmare crystal armor. Nightmare crystals will periodically form which Berot Sau will try to continuously absorb. They can either be destroyed or absorbed and used by a dreamwalker instead. There is a chance that one may gain a similar "mech armor" for a limited time and be able to rush in and land a few punches (or missiles) against him.

I. WORLDSCAPES

II. THE VOID

COMMENTS

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I...don't know.

[He's also just staring stunned.]

It's rare to see Leviathan...but it seems to have...sent the tether away...?

[HE REALLY ISN'T SURE WHAT HAPPENED, BUT... THINGS ARE FINE NOW???]

I think sent might be an understatement...

[She finally manages to snap out of her stupor enough that she shakes some of the water away from her face, but she looks up at the sky again.]

... Where did it send it?

Hopefully back out where needs to be... However it was still filled with nostilium, so I'm not sure if that's better or worse.

[Tifa just sighs with a little huh...

...

And as her eyes move back to him...

.....

She snorts, which turns into a giggle, which then turns into a full on laugh that she tries to silence behind her hand.]

I'm sorry. [She knows it's probably not the time to be laughing, but—] That was all just... so crazy.

[He just stares incredulously at her...before eventually he starts laughing as well.]

No, it was. Guess even primals don't want nostilium around them.

[And then his gaze softens as he looks out over the waters.]

...Come to think of it, it's not far from here that I met Valo...

[Just give her a moment to get over the initial set of giggles, and she gazes up at him, watching as his gaze softens, her own doing the same as she reaches up to brush back some of those soaked strands from his face, stopping only when he says that.]

Is it?

[Her gaze wanders back to the shoreline, and she rests her head on his shoulder.]

We should go get cleaned up, and maybe you can show me?

[A slight arch of the brow.]

Did you forget where we are?

[Dreamotion powers go. It doesn't take much for that warm air to swirl around them and they're soon dried and cleaned off from the earlier dousing.

With a quirk of his brow he steps past her to walk along the shoreline, the waters having returned to normal.]

Ah... Right.

[She'd meant more a change of clothes considering they're covered in saltwater, but she doesn't say anything and instead, watches him walk past her a moment, tilting her head, brow furrowing a bit.

... Hm.

She follows along a step behind him along the shoreline.]

You don't want to bring Valo?

[He's quiet for a moment as he continues walking.]

...Maybe after.

[That beat of silence...

She jogs to catch up until she's walking beside him, and she's tempted to just get him to stop moving for a moment.]

Eustace, is everything okay?

[He glances at her for a moment, then back forward... Then he will stop, the wind blowing gently past them as he turns back to gaze out into the ocean and then to the skies above them. Without the tether and the noctaere filling it, the once darkened skies are now clear and blue.

A deep blue that somehow looks different compared to the one in Songerein. A blue that he had grown up staring up into, and now deciding to leave it.

He doesn't regret that decision, nor does he have any intent in changing it...but it's only natural to want to look at something for what could be the last time. Even if he could return, he wouldn't have a real need to. Because the only "sky" he needs now is standing right next to him, where his eyes now look back at Tifa.

There will be another beat before he slowly opens his mouth.]

I was thinking of going back for one last time. Really go back.

[Not just in this worldscape, but wake up and see his world for what it really is.]

[Her own eyes widen when they meet his, and her step falters a bit. She really shouldn't be so surprised, given the situation, but she is. It's hard not to be, especially when he looks as pensive and distracted as he had been. There's a brief moment where fear knots in her stomach, pushed away immediately by her care and her love for him, and he'll feel her hand suddenly slip into his.]

Then do it.

[She isn't about to stop him from doing so, even if she might be afraid that somehow, the tether back to Reverein might break in the time that he is awake, and she would be sent back all on her own. She still doesn't quite understand how it works, but perhaps that's partly why she's feeling a little scared.

She could understand the appeal as well, of wanting to see his world one last time, or what could be outside of dreams. If she weren't so terrified of what lay beyond those doors in the Temple, then she might have considered it, too.]

[He watches her carefully before he reaches out to take her other hand, gently squeezing them.]

...You should come with me.

[She squeezes his hands back, almost instinctively.]

... Would that even work? I mean... how?

[She's yet to hear of other people attempting the same thing, but if it's possible, then...?]

I'm not sure exactly, but I did hear the tapirs say it's possible with everything so interconnected now. We just have to try.

Then... what are we waiting for, hm?

[Is she nervous? Yes. Is her voice trembling a little? Yes. But she looks at him with a resolute look in her eyes, steeling herself anyway.]

[His expression softens at that, and he leans in to lightly kiss her lips. A small but heartfelt gesture in appreciation of her staying by his side.

And with his hand still holding hers, he'll guide her down the beach before veering away to head towards another part of the island away from the main ocean.]

It was by a lake, separate from here. Gran and the others wanted me to take a break from training and brought me here... And there happened to be a dog competition going on.

[She appreciates the kiss, a warmth simmering between them as she returns it in kind, her fingers squeezing his, and she lets him lead her down the beach, away from the crowds and the noise towards someplace quieter.]

Oh, I think I remember you telling me about that.

[It feels like ages ago now, though.]

Good thing you listened and took that break, huh?

[A quiet laugh.]

Yeah.

[If he hadn't...he certainly wouldn't feel as fulfilled and satisfied as he does now.]

It's one of the reasons why I feel comfortable "leaving"... I know I have Valo and the others there. I'm...more at peace there.

[There are still his job and the missions and the greater threats that constantly plague their skies, including the one that still looms high above in the darkness of space. But for him personally, he closed a large chapter of his life and is starting a new one—just like he is with Tifa.

He glances at her.]

...I know it's a bit different for you.

[And he does look a bit more concerned for her, knowing that things are still unresolved.]

[Tifa shakes her head, closing her eyes thoughtfully with a smile.]

It's fine. I... honestly still don't think I'm ready to go back yet. Plus, I'm happy to just be here with you.

[She'd rather this be the last memory she has before they step foot back in Reverein forever, not... whatever is waiting for her in the Temple.]

I've always wanted to see more of your life from before, and I'm not about to pass up the chance to do it.

[He studies her for a moment longer, as if to make sure what she says is true before his expression will soften and nod.]

I'm not sure how much you'll be able to see, but... Guess we'll find out.

[And soon they step out from the path and see the large lake in front of them.]

This is it.

[It's quiet without anyone around, the waters tranquil and peaceful compared to the chaos that just happened not long ago.

He does regret a little not bringing Valo here to see this, but since they're about to try and use this as a point for him to "wake up" it's better he not be left alone.]

[She just nods at him and lets him continue to lead her through, and she tries to take in as many of the sights as possible. It may still be a dream, but she still treats it like she would any other "visit" to his world, wanting to commit every detail to memory—every tree, every flower, every animal—so that she will never forget this piece of him that he is sharing with her now.

When they stop, she lets her gaze wander around, her cheeks warm and pink with affection and awe.]

... It's so pretty. And quiet.

[It explains so much about him and Valo, she thinks. How the two of them managed to find each other in this solitude...]

So, how do we do it? [She swings their hands gently.] Do I gotta pinch you to wake you up? ... Or is it just like any other time we wake from the dreams?

Edited 2024-09-05 05:59 (UTC)

[He laughs a little at that before he looks around wondering.]

...It's a good question. I heard it was possible, but not the specifics of how...

[But maybe it's because this place does hold a significant memory for him that he feels something....like a tug. A calling. And when he turns back around he starts a little.]

...What?

[In the space where there once was nothing at all is now something like a shimmering light.]

[Tifa sees it too, and she steps back a little from it, not in fear, but mere surprise. Is it a portal? An item? It's hard to tell when it's nothing more than just a light, and so she nudges them both a little closer to it.]

Do you touch it, or...? Walk through it?

...I'm not—

["Touch it!" a tapir suddenly pops in with some glee, surprising Eustace. Instinctively he moved in front of her, but seeing what it is he lets out a breath as it continues. "This will connect you back to your original body in your home world. But don't worry, you're still connected to the dream realm so you can come back anytime!

But you have to act fast because it won't last forever. They kind of just pop up whenever."]

...And she can...

["Yeah! Just hold her hand and she'll come with you. Oh, but she won't be really there, she'll be dreamwalking for the most part. But you'll be able to hear, see, and talk to each other just fine!"

Hearing all this, Eustace glances at Tifa.]

Still want to?

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