songerein | { surprise eggs }

Entry tags:

{ surprise eggs }

SURPRISE EGGS

A few days after the Tree of Stories has been established, there's a startling announcement that is spread throughout town: there are eggs in the room at the top of the tree! Two large eggs about a foot and a half long and half as wide can be found nestled in a nest. The owls have no idea what kind they are, where they came from, or how they got there and can only assume it must have appeared along with the tree. But the eggs are clearly unusual as they can move and jiggle about, often responding to what's going on around them. A lot of extra hands will be needed to ensure the eggs are protected and hatched safely.

Note: This log is open to everyone and doubles as a "Character Intro" for new characters who were just accepted this round. As a reminder, new characters are welcome to use their TDM threads and consider April as their first month in Song so that they're not really "new" if players wish to do so! Starting fresh is also acceptable.

The log has two parts, with the first portion focusing on the eggs and the second half forward dated to when they eventually hatch. Since the log is mostly isolated to the Tree of Stories, what happens here won't affect the character base at large. Any questions can be directed here. We'll ask for thread submissions during Activity Check at the end of the month.

I. EGGSITTING

The interior of the room housing the eggs is fairly large, almost as large as an entire floor of a one story house. There are no other rooms or doors, so it is an expansive space. There are, however, various furniture pieces such as a large table with chairs, large beanbag cushions, numerous pillows and blankets, and hanging from the ceiling are white and red crystals. The largest side has a large stained glass window that filters the sunlight to change into different colors.

A. Egg Warmers. Although no one knows what kind of eggs these are, it's decided the eggs should be taken care of. There's already a nest, but the eggs will need more than that—they even look like they're shivering! Calls for blankets, fabrics, and materials to tidy up and liven up the nest are made, as well as volunteers to watch and make sure the eggs are comfortable. However the eggs are picky! They like bright colors and they will push out anything they don't like.

» BONUS: ROOM DECORATION. The room is a bit bare, and whatever is going to hatch from it will need their own space to sleep! Help redecorate the room to make it more comfortable and cozy for its future baby tenants. The eggs will seem to notice and glow a bit brightly as more things are added, but they will also shake violently if something they don't like is put in, the item either burning or slimed. Anything colorful and shiny will be a hit.

B. Temperamental Eggs. Unfortunately, eggsitting is more difficult when the eggs can exhibit emotions. Just like a newborn, the eggs will go in random bursts of emotions and it causes a bizarre assortment of effects. Sudden loss of gravity as everything in the room suddenly floats in the air; everything changing different colors; sudden temperature changes; strange music filling the air. Even worse when the eggs decide to move and roll around, risking injury as there are a lot of things they could bump into or spaces they can get stuck in. Sometimes they will try to deliberately run away from their sitters as if playing a game of tag. The only way to counter the effects and to calm the eggs down is with opposing dreamotion effects, so anything positive or calming. Perhaps reading stories, playing music, or singing lullabies will also help soothe them.

C. Egg Thieves! Somehow or another, three-headed lizards are trying to steal the eggs. However they're quickly identified by the owls as Erasers, the Story Eater's minion. But they seem to have noctaere elements to them as well, which is fortunate as it means dreamotion will work well against them. Should the lizards manage to make it into the room, the eggs will emit a loud ringing sound like a shrill alarm and the room will react to the threat. Fire erupting on the walls, storm clouds inside the room, ice covering the floor, strange black ooze that tries to trap people in place, the tree branches coming alive as fiery thorned vines whips—all out to try and eliminate everything. Unfortunately, those who are also trying to help rescue the eggs may get caught in the crossfire. Volunteers are requested to help guard outside, including on the large branches. As soon as a creature is spotted, it needs to be destroyed quickly! Using strong dreamotion abilities will help drive them out, and be careful as the tree will also lash out from the outside as well. The lizards themselves will spit out acid and inflict nightmare energy that can momentarily cause any who get hit to temporarily be afflicted by hallucinating one of their darkest fears.

II. HATCHLINGS

Sometime later in the month the eggs will finally hatch to reveal two very small winged kirin-like foals. One is a male with an orange yellow hue with a fiery mane and tail that flicker like a true blazing fire, his wings tipped crimson. The other is a female with a dark blue hue, with a silvery white mane and tail always flowing even when there isn't wind and small clouds appearing at her hooves. Although they cannot speak much, they can say their names: Perlios and Elimei. They don't know where they came from or who their parents are, but they prefer to stay in the tree where they feel safest. The lizard Erasers will also cease their attempts and no longer appear, providing some peace. Unfortunately, while Perlios is fairly active and curious, Elimei usually remains curled up in the nest and is plagued by nightmares.

A. Pastry Run. Seeing his sister suffering from nightmares, Perlios takes it upon himself to try and bring her things to cheer her up! Venturing into town, the sweet scent of baked goods attract his attention and with a bit of dreamotion magic, he brings them to life so they can march right on up to the tree. Unfortunately, he's a baby and it causes all sweet treats to take on interesting forms to run amok through town instead. This can be a little upsetting and cause Perlios's dreamotions to make every other food around him burn to a crisp. Help Perlios gather the runaway baked goods to bring back to Elimei.

» BONUS: MAKING GIFTS. Help Perlios make other gifts that could help cheer up his sister. This could be other baked goods, toys, or other shiny crafts they might enjoy.

B. Buried Book Hunt. Sometimes Perlios manages to sneak out and cause some mischief. This takes the form of grabbing books from the library and burying them in the ground. Why? To annoy the owls. Fortunately it's around the tree, but the Tree of Stories is massive, so it's a lot of ground to cover. Searchers will get some clues by seeing life sized paper cut outs of the story characters circling in place where the book is buried. However, retrieving the books may be a little difficult as depending on the genre, the cut outs may interfere, especially if they are horror based and monsters have spawned. Other books may have other elements of their stories creep out, like miniature castles or giant puddles. They can be dealt with, just a bit bothersome. Help recover the books quickly before the owls blow a gasket.

C. Nightmares. Elimei remains in constant sleep and can often be found making small sounds of distress as she seems to be trapped in nightmares. Nothing seems to wake her up, but dreamwalking and dealing with those nightmares can help. A few owls watching over them will alert anyone nearby when she is having one and will ask them to quickly dreamwalk into it to help end it. But the dreams are strange—could they have some secret meaning?

1. Moon Rabbit. The dreamscape is set on a strange rocky, gooey black surface with the sky a bizarre green with purple stars that twinkle in and out of existence. In the distance a small strange looking white rabbit can be seen hopping about as if trying to escape from something. The "something" is quickly revealed to be a strange looking fox . The goal is to rescue the rabbit from the fox and help it gather mooncakes that are also being stolen by the fox.

2. Monster v. Hero. Here the hero of the story is terrorizing and hurting the people they are supposed to protect, whereas the monster that is supposed to be the villain is now fighting against the hero to try and save them. While one person will find themselves transformed into some kind of monster character type, the other can either be a fellow monster or some other side character to assist fighting the "hero," OR the other person could take the place of the hero instead and will behave violently and must be stopped. The cause of the "hero"'s strange behavior is due to an abomination found latched onto their back. Destroying the abomination will free the "hero" from the mind control, but it won't be easy as the "hero" must be defeated first before the abomination will release its hold. Saving the hero will restore everything back to order and end the nightmare.

3. Crumbling Library Tower. The first thing dreamwalkers will notice is they will find themselves looking a bit paper thin as they are now mostly two-dimensional and appear like a paper cut out, similar to those seen from the buried books. Movements are limited, which is unfortunate as the floor is immediately starting to crumble and give to a black abyss below. In this form they must climb up a spiraling tower of books while grabbing shining pages that stick out. Finding three will be enough to stop the process and additional pages will help rebuild the tower. Of course the ascent is filled with razor blades and scissors that will try to cut the climbers, so they must be avoided, deflected, or blocked. Any who fall into the abyss will be immediately ejected out of the nightmare and will need some time to recover.

» BONUS: DREAMOTION FOCUS. While dreamwalking is the main method to help Elimei, focusing positive dreamotion energy to the small foal will help as well. Sharing one's good dreams via the crystal lantern is another method. There is also black ooze that starts to pool around Elimei that can be cleared away with positive dreamotion, especially those filled with hope and love.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[...Oh? Isn't this the girl from the flower festival? ...She seems too sweet hearted for taking on a nightmare, but he won't dismiss her courage despite how nervous she looks.]

We'll need to dreamwalk into her nightmare. Have you ever done it here before?

( nene shakes her head and almost looks upset... before she gives a determined frown and straightens up more- like she's trying to be proud and strong. )

No, but I can help! I pacify berserk spirits at home!

( normally this wouldn't be something she brings up- but it's a dream, and magical. spirits should be nothing, really. )

[...Again he has to silently question her ability, but she seems determined... If she has to do this then he might as well be the one to help guide her.]

I don't know what kind of nightmare we'll be facing, so you should brace yourself for the worst.

[That will be his last warning before he continues.]

To dreamwalk, it's easier if you're already asleep but it's possible to do it while awake. You only need to focus your dreamotion energy and channel it into entering the dream. In this case, imagine yourself turning into a spirit or a glowing wisp disappearing into her mind.

( listen. listen it's fine, she can do it, probably! or at least help. maybe? ... let's not go into the fact that she hasn't figured out how to use dreamotion energy intentionally yet. no time like the now to learn, right? right! absolutely nothing will go wrong.

nene nods, and takes a deep breath as she does as instructed, closing her eyes. )

Okay.

[He watches her for a moment and is about to do the same thing...

...

But then a thought occurs to him and he stares at her for a second longer before speaking up suddenly.]

Wait.

[He holds out his hand.]

Give me your hand.

( nene squeaks as her concentration is broken, looking up at eustace with wide eyes- was she doing something wrong? or- ... oh. honestly, for a moment she's torn between indignance- how old does he think she is?!- or embarrassment but... well. she's never done anything like this. he's probably right. quietly, nene puts her hand in his. )

Okay...

( no she's not pouting a little shush. )

[There might be a slight amused look as he sees that pout.]

It's your first time trying this, so it's better if you don't get lost.

[Yes he knows how that sounds BUT IT'S TRUE.]

Now follow my lead.

( how dare you be amused at her childishness. 5/10. awful.

but he's probably right, actually? considering this girl got herself run over during a parade once.

don't worry about it.

nodding, nene takes a breath and tries again. )

[...Nene. Please.

Anyway, he won't leave her completely in the dark about how to do this. It'll be brief and concise, but he'll explain how she should focus her dreamotion energy into herself and into entering the foal's mind. Just imagine doing it and it should automatically happen. And even though they'll lose their bodies, they'll still be tethered together with Eustace's link, and he'll help guide her into the dreamscape where they'll find themselves standing on a strange black, gooey surface.

Now, hopefully Nene didn't "let go" at any time when entering the dreamscape and they're actually there together. ...Though Eustace is going to be a little confused because his view perception. Why is it lower...

...Eh, why does he have paws—wait, he's a white wolf!?]

What—

[Oh good, he can at least talk. That would suck otherwise.]

( don't worry about it!! she's fiiiine it's fine everything is okay and they have a nightmare to deal with!!

except uh. goodness, eustace, what big teeth you have. not that nene's any better- she's spent more than enough time cursed to know immediately that she's her tiny little betta fish form and almost immediately deflates. when she speaks, it's noticeably squeakier. )

Not this again... What am I supposed to do like this?

...Nene?

[It would be one thing if he was just the one who changed, but Nene, too!! Though a fish? That's the last thing he'd ever imagine. It's a good thing he at least has experience.]

Can you move? [No wait more importantly—] You don't need water do you?

[IT'S A DREAM BUT SOMETIMES THE RULES ARE WEIRD BETTER BE SAFE THAN SORRY???]

( nene pauses for a moment and then tries to move forward a bit. it's a little slower than if she were in the water, but it's just about the same as swimming, it feels like. and her breathing doesn't... hurt? so. )

I think I'm good! So. Uh. What now?

[He's still trying to process how this all happened, but seeing the rabbit dash off in the distance and then a strange looking fox chasing after it.]

My best guess is to first help that rabbit. If you can't keep up, you can ride on my head.

( yeah, she's gonna take that offer, actually. she's not an especially fast swimmer like this. ... what a sight they must make. )

Right. Let's go!

( does she have a plan? no. has this ever stopped her once in her life? nope! sorry eustace. )

[As long as she can actually hang on with those little fins! Though he does have a nice thick tuft (mane? floof???) of fur there that she can nestle in.]

Hold on.

[And that's all the warning she gets before he's bounding off after the fox and rabbit. It's not easy, though, especially with this thick black goop that makes him sink a bit with every step. It's like trying to run through sludge or thick mud, ugh. Though...speaking of sights, would this be more terrifying to the rabbit or not!?]

( nene sure does her best to not fall off or get left behind, floating in the air like a sitting duck. and her best is good enough, apparently! but if eustace is struggling with the goop... )

Hey, maybe you can go in the air like I was? It might be faster!

In the air?

[...Well. If she's capable of flying through the air with no issue, and this is a dreamscape...then surely?

...

Fuck this is going to be like that whole flying reindeer thing back in Christmas isn't it—

With a slight flick of his ears and a small sigh, he concentrates...

And slowly...slowly he rises...!!!

And then proceeds to flail a bit as he starts teetering forward because what is gravity. Give him a second.]

( nene quietly cheers him on as he begins to rise- and then flails her little fins a moment as he leans forward and rushes to push him back to a... standing? floating? position. but once they've got him settled, she cheers! )

Alright!! This is gonna be way easier, I bet! Do you need to practice moving or anything- we can do that, probably...

( ... sorry to the rabbit, they're having some technical difficulties but being able to move properly is important, isn't it? it is. so. they need this for a moment- )

[Yep rabbit is. Going to have to wait.]

...Give me a second, it's been a while since I last did this.

[Okay. Last time he had the help of reindeer magic to fly, but so far as he hasn't needed that, complete concentration. Which flounders a little as he dips forward again, legs momentarily flailing and running in place before he abruptly "stops," legs splayed out as if to try and stop himself and looking more like a newborn fawn.

...

He hates this—

Okay balance... Just remember the balance....

And after turning around in a circle and almost barrel rolling to the side, he'll finally move forward!!]

There has to be an easier way......

[Just a terse mutter under his breath as he "bounds" through the air, doing leaps for the moment until he can really get his bearings to try and "run." WHAT IF HE JUST FROZE THE GOOP no he'll just slide along the ice dammit.]

( oh she has it so much easier huh, being used to the whole... fish thing already and everything. what can she do to help though? ugh, she's used to hanako being there to make things a little easier... but he's not here now. so it's up to her. if she could bite her lip, she would be, but. well.

fish.

after a moment though, she lifts off his head and floats with great intent a bit ahead of him. )

Try focusing on following me! I'll go ahead and keep upright!

It would be easier if I could change into a bird...

[Just at terse mutter as he watches her float off.]

But all right. Just don't get too far ahead.

[That fox is still after the rabbit as if it hasn't noticed them yet, but if it decides to turn around and see a little fish...would it change its course?

For now, Eustace just focuses on keeping his balance while "running" through the air, recalling the time he was in that dreamscape and had turned into a flying reindeer. It does take a bit, but he'll eventually get the hang of it until he moves more naturally.]

I won't!

( nene glances behind her and all but cheers when he's got it figured out- so now its time to actually help that rabbit! nene keeps close but somehow it feels like she's leading the charge... though once they actually get close to the fox, nene doubles back and settles back onto eustace, because. well.

that thing could get her in one bite, so to speak! no thank you! )

[He had wondered if Nene would continue keeping in the lead, so he's amused when she turns back as they close in on the fox.]

I won't let it eat you.

[A joke. Maybe.

But he is picking up speed as he narrows the distance. ...Can he...use his dreamotion while in this form!? The idea of summoning Flamek and trying to shoot his gun like this immediately thrown out, so he can only gather electricity around him.]

But stay close unless you want to end as grilled fish.

( the tiny little betta fish trembles for a moment, whining ever so slightly- no, no, she'll keep close! she doesn't want to be eaten or grilled! )

Eep! I'm good!

Then hang on.

[And with that as her only warning, Eustace puts on a burst of speed, the lightning gaining strength around them to the point that it might feel as if he's part of the lightning itself. In one giant bound forward, he catches up to the wolf and releases the gathered electricity outward with a loud BANG!, nailing it in full. The fox yelps and is knocked away to the side.]

{ surprise eggs }

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