sixth shot ⊗ open march log

[flamekthunder]

Who: Eustace and You!?
Which: Open March Log
Where: Various
What: Requesting information from those who have turned noctaere; dog park shenanigans; vine traps; four leaf clovers; elemental cores;
Warnings: None unless stuff happens in the fighting prompts


⊗ a: network - turning noctaere intel

Sender: Eustace
To: Everyone EXCEPT TIFA
Subject: Gathering information from those who have turned into noctaere

Given how much time has passed and the increased number of incidents, I would like to gather information from those who have experienced turning into noctaere first hand, witnessed, or had to handle someone who changed. This is more for personal reference but something more public could be compiled for others to use.

The main questions I have are:

1. When did you first start noticing the effects from overabundance in nightmare energy?
   
2. Can you recall the events that led up to the change? Frequent nightmares? A negative trigger?
   
3. Did the change happen quickly or did it take some time?
   
4. At any point do you think you could have stopped and reversed the effects? If you did try, were you successful in any way?
   
5. Did the incident occur while dreamwalking or while awake?
   
6. How long did you remain as a noctaere?
   
7. What changes did you undergo?
   
8. Were you able to retain any sense of control or was it completely lost?
   
9. What did it take for you to return to normal?
   
10. What, if any, kind of effects did you experience afterwards?
    
11. After the first experience, do you believe you can better prepare or safeguard yourself from another? This assumes a natural progression and not a forced change.

I realize some of these questions may be personal so those who respond can keep more private details vague. Anonymous accounts or privately filtered threads are also acceptable.

Accounts from those who dealt with someone who has turned noctaere will also be appreciated, particularly the methods used to help subdue and help them return to normal.

Thank you for your insight and cooperation.
— Eustace

⊗ b: it's a dog's life

[AKA, the "if you want to play with dogs this is for you" prompt.

Last month Eustace had started working on creating a suitable dog park for not only "his" dogs, but for any other dogs that may arrive or wander into town. So far it's completely fenced in with two different entrances, including "dog gates" where dogs can freely enter and exit. There are several designated "watering holes" for water, with giant tanks set up that dogs can easily nudge for water to pour out into the bowls, though he's looking to create something of an automatic system (maybe those water cores...see prompt e2). A pathway circling the park has been marked, but not yet finished, and while there are already a few ramps and tunnels, he's still working on creating a few more obstacles and "training exercises" for the dogs.

Most of it is primarily for the two groups of dogs he's taking care of, but he is considering a more general use for potential future doggy guests.

Of course...he belatedly realized he focused so much on the dogs he forgot to create amenities for the people who may be with them, so setting up seating and table areas is on his to do list.

For now, throughout most of the month, Eustace can be found in the park with the corgis and the Flowers, either throwing balls or other toys for the dogs, working on finishing constructing the last few amenities, or even just sitting under one of the many trees and just relaxing with the dogs. Of course that's kind of boring.

The dogs will happily bark and run up to the fence should anyone pass by. Some of the smarter ones will actually boop a toy ball over the fence, bouncing it off each other's heads and noses to have it sail over towards the person in question. They then to proceed to bark once and then wag their tail (or butt) and look at the person with eyes that say, "You're not going to leave that there are you?"]

⊗ c: quest 301: vine traps

[1. Thawing ice and burning vines. Given his interest in noctaere at the moment, it's no surprise he's quick to take up the quest in dealing with the trapped corrupted animals. Although seeing it being frozen patches given how his...own effects regarding ice can be similar is a little disconcerting, he just only studies it.]

...Fire, huh. Suppose I should try a different element...

[And fortunately, his current mindset allows him to channel that warmth, a soft whitish blue flame forming at his hand before it spreads out onto the frozen ice, thawing it along with the vines that burn safely away. That part is easy, but when it comes to the vines with the trapped corrupted animals...

2. Eliminating the threat. Pulling out his gun, Flamek, he flips the trigger, an electric humming sound following as electricity starts to spark around the barrel.

It's a pity, really, about the animal. Could it be purified? He knows there is research into it and maybe he should inquire... But for now, these creatures are in populated areas and need to be dealt with immediately.

When Eustace is certain he is clear and that no one is around, he will first create a small dome of ice that is effectively serving as a barrier to help as a safeguard. It's something new he's trying, so this is a fairly good opportunity for it. As he raises his gun in the air, he makes another check. If someone happens to approach now, he'll just glance at them.]

Stand back. I have it contained, but I'm not sure how strong the barrier will be if it explodes.

[And with that he'll fire the shot, several bolts of lightning releasing from his weapon to arc down into the small top opening of the dome. It's not just any lightning—it's filled with his deep rooted desire to protect everyone, especially the one who cares most deeply for. The last thing he wants is for them to get affected by the nightmare energy that could generate here, so he wants it gone.

The sound of destruction is muffled, and if by chance the vines do explode, most of the shards will be contained by the barrier. However, some of it will also cause the ice to crack and break. Fortunately it still contains the bulk of the blast so no one should get hurt unless they were foolish enough to ignore his warning and run in for some reason.]

Still needs improvement...but it'll work for now.

⊗ d: quest 304: four leaf clovers

[1. Clover Hunting. Anyone who knows Eustace might not expect him to be out gathering four leaf clovers... But here he is, out in one of the many clover fields with one of the corgis, Briallen, looking for that elusive four leaf clover. Does he believe in it?

No. ...Not normally, anyway. But his luck has been shit and he has a date coming up with Tifa and he does not want it ruined. Given how this world is, good luck may actually manifest and be potent here. So with Bri sniffing out the four leaf ones, Eustace will also be slowly pacing through the fields, his keen eyesight looking careful over the plants.]

T'sk... I've heard these were difficult to find, but how would anyone find them...

[Just a quiet grumble. Yes, yes, four leaves are supposed to be difficult to find, that's what makes them so lucky! Doesn't make it any less annoying—especially when he decided to find two instead of just one for himself. However, it's not just clovers. He may have been gathering a few wildflowers... Maybe. It's only because Briallen keeps giving him some that's all!!!! it's not it's not at all

2. Jackalopes. Of course, despite wanting peace and quiet he never gets it easy. While still looking for that elusive four leaf clover, Bri starts growling and Eustace immediately locks on the tall antlers of the jackalope. Now, he actually doesn't want to engage in a fight if he doesn't have to... But the jackalope isn't going to let that happen.

And so the once peaceful clover field will be disrupted by the sound of fighting. Eustace will have at least drawn the jackalope away to the edges, where he can freely fire lightning from his weapon while the small corgi assists in trying to keep the jackalope from running off. Assistance will be welcomed.

Alternatively, if someone else is dealing with a jackalope, Eustace will assist them instead.]

⊗ e: quest 306: elemental cores

[Hunting monsters is his expertise, so it doesn't take him too long to track down spots where the cores he's after can be found, namely fire and water. Eventually he might look for the others, but he has vested interest in these particular elements for personal use.

1. Sniping golems. Whether on his own or working with someone else, rather than face the golems head on he'll take on a sniping position, either using a cliff ledge or trees. So if anyone is in the area, don't be surprised or mistake his lightning for another elemental golem—it's just him bringing the thunder and sniping golem limbs to shatter the arms or legs off from the distance so he can pick up the cores later...

...Or rather, so two corgis can weave in and grab the cores when it's clear. The dogs will also help in dealing with the golems, with Ivor body slamming those already staggered from Eustace's lightning or from other attacks to knock the golem down.

2. Water core "thief." After delivering a few water cores and having something like an automatic water fountain bowl prototype created in return for his efforts, Eustace is at the dog park to try it out. However, there is a small flaw. Before he could finish installing the fountain, one of the dogs has snatched the core and is running around, shaking its head and causing it to create water and spray it everywhere.]

Hey—Idris!!

[And that rambunctious young corgi is going to be running around trying to douse and spray anyone and anything in his path. He's a fast one, too, good luck catching him.]

⊗ f: wildcard

[Oh God I had more but this was already too long. Not included but can be done: Preparing for Spring planting, orange feather removal, get rid of the frogs, and feel free to push him through the rainbows. One could appear in any of these prompts or could be set anywhere in town. He also has a dating advice request anon post if anyone wants to hit that still. Feel free to hit me up on discord, PM, or laenavesse for questions or further discussion!]

Comments

[steadypulse]

Really isn't something easy to talk about, even before a turn if you can just feel it as something coming. I had people willing to help me and only reason I'm not making this anonymous is because I trust you'll not spread my name, but use the information as you need.

You'll likely find them in caves- I'm not sure how easy as so far the only cave I've ever found them in had a certain type of ent-like beings guarding them. I can get a whole flower to you, just tell me where you'd like me to bring one. Not a clue, as I've only been speaking with Jude about his progress and Mikotoba has been growing them in his greenhouse after I brought him several live samples to plant.

[flamekthunder]

Your privacy is assured, 76. I'll also keep the caves in mind and can already think of a few areas to check. And if you don't mind, I'd rather come to you.

[A small pause. ...Should he disclose his own personal suspicions? Speaking with someone with prior experience, and someone he knows he can trust would make it easier...]

Truthfully, I have some suspicion that I may be at risk of turning into a noctaere and I'm trying to keep this discreet as I'm still uncertain.

[steadypulse]

I don't mind. Would you rather somewhere private-or just semi-private to meet at? I can move from where I'm at depending.

[Either way he was close enough to get a couple of the Glowing Dawn flowers from Yujin's greenhouse.]

Understandable, honestly. Rather not cause worry for nothing, and if it is something better to try and understand it before broaching the subject further.

[... This is a man who only had others know he was dealing with corruption by accident for the most part.]

[flamekthunder]

Private.

[steadypulse]

Head for the firepit area by the residential district, keep going straight through it. You'll be able to spot me some paces in.

[flamekthunder]

When would be a good time?

[steadypulse]

Afternoon work out? I'll be taking a break from helping out farmers before the sun gets too high, which should have me closer to town by then.

[flamekthunder]

That's fine. I'll see you then.

[AND TIMESKIP??]

[steadypulse]

See you later.

[TIMESKIP.

True to his word? 76 would be out there, leaning back against a tree with a bag settled by his feet and- well. At least he did know how to make himself obvious enough to see when giving a place to find him.

Even if he did have the hood of a jacket pulled up over his head, that mask was hard to mistake for someone else.]

[flamekthunder]

[Coming in later turned out to work in Eustace's favor as found himself busy with other things. And 76 won't be waiting for long as he makes his way over to the spot, his mind preoccupied with all that he's learned throughout the day so far.

Seeing the man, he just makes his usual quiet approach before finally greeting once he nears the older man.]

Thanks for this.

[steadypulse]

Figure it's better to help than not here, given the subject.

[A hand had lifted up in greeting before he was moving to pickup that bag, already getting it open as he pulled out a jar -there were holes punched in to the lid- filled with some level of soil and three flowers in said soil. The jar kept them safe in the bag, and there was another jar mostly filled with the softly glowing petals lifted out as well; smaller than the one with the flowers themselves.]

And it's easier to show what these flowers look like in person.

[flamekthunder]

[Eustace looks at it all curiously.]

They seem notable enough... How many flowers has it taken to be effective?

[steadypulse]

[It was the jar full of petals that 76 held out first, an offer for Eustace to go ahead and take them.]

Depends. Can be as simple as a single flower to more; scattering the petals around you seems to help ease nightmares a bit, as does drinking tea made of dried petals. [Everything was still experimental, being researched.] The more nightmare energy you've got in you, more it takes to do something.

Yujin Mikotoba has been growing Glowing Dawns in his greenhouse since I helped get him samples to start from. Outside of where they were originally found and a small patch a friend and I managed to get going, that's the only other place I know they're growing. Reason I recommend getting in touch with him, and Jude Mathis; both of them have been looking in to just how to use these flowers to help fight against this kind of thing.

[Really did depend on the corruption-] You start with one, and go from there. They're a bit bitter if you ingest them, but also taste like mint- you'll know it's doing something even being near if you feel a slightly tingly, cooling sensation and- well. Best way I can describe it as is that part that could go Noctaere being suppressed. Repulses them.

[flamekthunder]

[He'll carefully take the jar, looking at the petals curiously with closer inspection while also paying close attention to what 76 is telling him.]

I see... Even if it's just a small enough, that's still more than any kind of protection we have now. [Which is basically none.]

I'll take my dogs out and see if we can't find another source, or perhaps even a similar plant.

[steadypulse]

It's better than nothing, and even if it just slows the process down to the point some control can be fought for.

Fair warning- wherever you find these in particular? You're going to find ent-like creatures that use animal skulls for heads. [There was a hunch, given some theories with what more was being discovered-] Probably best not to attack or get in to any fight with them, they might be what created the Glowing Dawn flowers.

[Better to keep on their good sides, and just turn around and go in the opposite direction if they acted aggressively.

76 was turning the jar with the soil and flowers in his hands slowly as he spoke. They were glowing, brighter the darker the area they were in.]

[flamekthunder]

I remember you mentioning them earlier.

[He crosses an arm over his chest in thought.]

Given the potential power of his flowers, it would make sense that they would have wardens of some kind. I'll keep it in mind—if anything their presence will also aid in finding potential other locations.

Now if we could communicate with them and form some kind of partnership... There had been those Ents that appeared during Christmas. I'm going to guess these are more hostile.

[steadypulse]

[There was a slow exhale-]

Yes and no. They seem to get agitated by anything that's heavily corrupted by nightmare energy, or very close to turning. [Sounded like he earned that the hard way.] Otherwise? They sort of don't really mind anyone being around, reason I was able to go in and out of the cave for a while.

So it could be possible to find a way to communicate with them, could even be pretty reasonable since they really did not mind me taking flowers from the cave.

[Until he was too corrupted, and even then thy might've been trying to 'help' him, just didn't really understand his biology in not being plant-like.]

[flamekthunder]

[He muses over this.]

It makes sense for them to be hostile towards more corrupted individuals, given the flowers' nature. I should be fine, so I can at least try and see if I can make out anything. Maybe take someone else I trust along to try and help.

[Should he ask Ori to come with him? Would she be able to communicate or understand them better...? Or that new plant guy—]

Have a map?

[steadypulse]

They'll even attack animals that get near if they're corrupted, saw it myself. [Really, he should have paid closer attention to that moment since only days later- well.

Fingers drummed against the glass jaw.]

No. I've been personally showing people the way, think only a handful know how to get there. Currently? That cave's a bust anyway. Everything in it was killed off, Ent population and flowers. Everything alive in there.

All the more reason finding another might be the way to go.

[Oh, he'll be finding out that's not as true as he thinks, but timey-wimey shenanigans.]

[flamekthunder]

[He frowns at that.]

...I see. Regardless I'd like to take a look at the area. Knowing how it was before can give clues as to what locations they may like to grow.

[Cave systems can be different after all.]

[steadypulse]

I can take you there.

[Wasn't opposed to it at all, really-] The one who killed off everything has stopped going back to make sure it all stays dead at least, so no worrying about running in to them.

[He looked upwards, briefly, as if catching the time from where the sun was.]

If you don't mind this meeting extending in to a trip into the Wildlands, anyway.

[flamekthunder]

[He'll need to ask questions about what happened later...]

Not really, I have no further plans. I only need to drop this off first, but depending on the direction it could be on the way. Which side of the Wildlands?

[steadypulse]

[Overprotective war buddyAt least it'd be an easy enough story.]

North west, more or less. There's a river to follow. [One that went back underground rather than feeding in to any pond or lake in an obvious way.]

[flamekthunder]

...Somewhat in the same direction then, if I'm thinking of the same river. If you don't mind the detour, otherwise I can always meet you.

[steadypulse]

I don't mind the detour. Could do with the fresh air after spending so much time inside and recovering.

[Getting out and stretching his legs after spending the last half of last month sleeping on and off after turning Noctaere? Yes.]