Halloween Nightmare: Part I

[dreamposts]

✵ HALLOWEEN NIGHTMARE: PART I ✵

It comes without warning. A few nights before Halloween, when the moon is supposed to be full and bright, it suddenly blinks out and turns pitch black. Even the stars seem to be covered, casting a strange darkness all over Songerein. While the fae sense something unusual, the newly arrived people—the dreamwalkers—all suddenly fall over asleep as if struck by a curse. Thick, black fog covers the town and one by one their bodies glow bright before converting into dream energy and disappearing into their crystals.

Alarmed, the tapirs investigate, some plunging deep into the realm of dreams to try and find wherever they went. What they discover is something they had never seen before—a massive dreamscape rippling through the dimensions, one full of life, color, and sound. It's as if its own little world, unaware that a giant group has dropped in uninvited. Before the dreamwalkers can be too confused, the tapirs send out a message via their crystals:

Careful, Dreamwalkers! We don't understand what's happening, but you have entered an unusual dreamscape, one where everyone here believes this to be their own world. It feels unstable, to the point where if too much disturbance happens it could turn this entire place into a nightmare! One that could affect Songerein!

Good news is it looks like they're throwing a huge party, so maybe if you just have fun and help out, it will pass quickly and you can return. There's a strange barrier that prevents anyone from coming out of the dream normally...but, we'll figure it out! Just try and have fun, okay?

That might be a tall order for some, but there's little choice. Already everyone has been outfitted in appropriate costumes that serve as "disguises"—some more realistic than others—allowing them to blend in. So long as they follow along and don't cause any disruptions, the locals won't bat an eye. However, the moment someone behaves oddly, such as speaking of other worlds or not behaving in a "frightfully ghoulish" manner when expected, the locals will start eying them with suspicion and small cracks will start to form in various places, most notably the sky where are a large grinning moon watches over everything. Fortunately it will take quite a lot before things get dangerous, but care is needed.

Now, what kind of "dream" have they been pulled into?

I . HALLOWEEN FESTIVAL

The town is bustling and looking quite alive despite its rather monstrous and undead citizens. The architecture style is a mix of ye olde Victorian England and steampunk—with bones and spiders and a lot of sharp things, of course. There is a giant cauldron in the center that acts as a fountain, and while touching it won't harm anyone, drinking it might cause a few green, gassy, flammable hiccups and fire breath that goes away after a while. There is even an odd story going around about a crazy witch called Baba Yaga and many wonder if something strange will happen again like all the other years. For now it's advised for everyone to carefully explore while perhaps getting into the various festivities. It's their time of the year after all!

A. Costume Party. Everyone's in a costume and there are plenty of contests and parades for everyone to show theirs off. All are encouraged to do their best and act like whatever they're dressed up as, and some may even be pulled into random impromptu "acts" for fun. Cute little black cats with witch's hats will hop on their heads and drop some special candy as a "reward." What could be so suspicious about this? (Yes, this is the cursed candy mentioned in the official details.)

» BONUS: MAGIC THREADS. Some locals need a little help with their costumes and request special thread that can be harvested by the ghoul worms—an underworld version of the silkworm. However, getting to them can be a bit...tricky. The worms need to be scared out of their wits for them to spit out the thread. The next difficult part is capturing the thread and not having it all over one's face. There are also some rainbow spiders who produce colorful threads, but they need to be sweetened up before they'll pass over their hard work.

B. Beware the Food. Of course the food is to die for. No, really, be careful of the food because there's a high chance it's been cursed and will cause one or more of the following: 1) suffer severe food poisoning; 2) become an undead zombie; 3) turn into a ghastly toad; 4) have a Wicked Witch experience and turn into a puddle of goop to then become a slime monster. Except for the first one, these changes are all painless and will just make the affected feel funny for half an hour. For the food poisoning, drinking from the Cauldron in the center of town will cure it, but for those who don't want flame breath, creating a certain witch's brew could be concocted.

» BONUS: WITCH'S BREW: Gather the following items to create the special witch's brew that will not only cure the food poisoning but other maladies as well. Just need a few tails of newt, a couple eyes of mud guppies, and the nails of opossums. Fortunately there are quite a few stores that carry these items so no one has to harvest them themselves, though they are certainly welcome to. If buying, the payment requires five chocolate coins. The catch? All the kids have the chocolate coins so need to somehow get them. Maybe the trick-or-treating can help.

C. Jack-o-Lanterns. There are pumpkins everywhere and an assortment of activities to do with them. From simple pumpkin carving for decoration, to loading them into catapults to see how far they go, to avoiding flaming pumpkin heads flying around causing mayhem. But the real buzz is carving pumpkins for the newly "arrived" skeletons that have unearthed to join the populace. As part of a celebration these special pumpkins will be worn by the new skeletons so the more decorated the better.

D. Trick-or-Treat. Of course there is candy being handed out and thrown out to be passed to the younguns. Some adults may find a giant skull head full of various candies shoved into their hands so they can give them to any excited gremlins. Just beware, those little monsters are more than happy to pull a trick instead, so tricks are also fair game as long as they are eventually given candy. In fact, tricks and pranks are highly encouraged, to the point that some are throwing competitions. Should anyone try to withhold the goods, however...well, curses from children are the worst.

E. Candy Corn Golems. Some candy corn will randomly come together and transform into candy corn golems. They range from knee-high that can do little more than just do feeble punches and throw goop on people's legs to a towering ten foot monstrosity that is ready to launch candy corn missiles that explode into harder gunk that can completely imprison anyone. While some locals might find their presence a suitable chaotic ingredient, many don't as they have no idea how these creatures came to be as the usual hexes and underworld magic seem to have little effect. Yet they are susceptible to the dreamwalking abilities… Most will cheer when a golem is defeated, but some may become suspicious.

» BONUS: FIND THE SOURCE. Even though the golems can be taken care of, the more that only the dreamwalkers can destroy, the more unnecessary attention and suspicion is aroused. Best to figure out where to find what's creating them and put an end to it. Whispers of a "mad witch" and "crazy hag" can be heard and curiously, some of the smaller golems trundle down away from the main chaos through some small alleys. Following them will lead them to a strange house, the magic spilling out unnatural. There are drag marks and broom bits that are tinted blood red and inky black. Stray, tattered pages and black smears can also be found around the house. Attempts to enter the house result in being blown back into the town center cauldron, however as long as attention is drawn to the house then suspicion will reduce from the dreamwalkers.

II. GRAVE WEDDING

Just outside of town is a vast graveyard that stretches for a considerable distance, the madly grinning moon seeming to loom and be its brightest here. Although mostly consisting of graves, there are also large mausoleums and a dilapidated looking chapel. Many live within the graveyard and those not participating in the town's festivities are having their own little parties. There's even a wedding being held at the chapel. However, not everything is going well and a helping hand—connected or not—will be appreciated.

A. Haunted Wedding. What a spooktastic night for a wedding between a bootiful bride and her ghastly groom. The chapel may be old, riddled with holes, and look ready to fall apart at the slightest breeze, but it's the ideal venue for all wicked weddings. With the pews filled with other residents of the town, it looks to be a perfect celebration—until red-eyed goblins suddenly burst through the already broken windows and holes. Some of the guests are quick to fight back (with some thinking it part of the event), but these goblins seem stronger than usual. Anyone who is nearby will be asked to help and get rid of them before they really do wreck the wedding!

» BONUS: GOBLIN SEALS. No matter how many are defeated, more just keep appearing to take its place. A gravekeeper shouts out that they witnessed the goblins appearing near a dark corner of the cemetery, a place known to be heavily cursed and filled with hexes due to all the witches buried there. Those who investigate will find all the graves dug out and each one with a summoning seal inside. Fortunately they are easy to destroy by either casting magic or even chucking rocks to break up the symbol. Destroy them all to stop the goblins, but be careful as some will pop up in the process.

B. Grave Situation. The graveyard is considered as one of the largest neighborhoods with many finding their underground or stone mausoleum homes quite comfortable and even luxurious in some cases. As part of the Halloween prank, tombstones, grave markers, and even coffins have been moved around and the residents are not happy. They'll need help replacing everything, but be warned—some pranksters have gone beyond and boobytrapped some. Triggering the traps will produce sticky webbing, glitter paint, and "bloody" marshmallow slime (it's just dyed red).

» BONUS: HOSTILE NEIGHBORS. There are some undead and skeletons lying in their earthly beds and cramped coffins that will not take too kindly to being disturbed. They are quite aggressive and will outright attack anyone who comes near their homes, even if they aren't in the right place. They need to be restrained and it would be bad news if anyone is severely harmed or worse—destroyed. Careful examination will reveal a strange slip of paper with what looks like a hex symbol on their heads, and if removed they will pass out but return to normal.

C. Nightmare Graves. Some tombstones will have writing that will mysteriously change to words that will provoke those who read it and send them immediately to a nightmare. It could be something completely random or it could be personal with the severity also random. Some dreams will be reflected on the tombstone similar to the crystals while others can be entered via dreamwalking. In either case, the dreamer's body will be lying in repose in front of the tombstone, which will have a line of "Do not disturb" along with cryptic words related to the nightmare.

» BONUS: NOCTAERE. The longer someone stays in a nightmare, the greater the risk in either attracting noctaere into the dream and out into the dreamscape and for the dreamer to become a noctaere themselves. It could be a partial or full transformation, depending on how strong the nightmare and how sensitive the dreamer is. Dreamwalkers must help try to stop the change before it's too late by attempting to change the dream or calm the dreamer. But if the dreamer turns into a noctaere and starts causing havoc within the dreamscape, then they must be subdued physically with dreamotion abilities.

[Mod Note: This is Part I of our event! To look over the official details as well as ask any questions, drop them in the official Event Details post. While we prefer for threads to remain in the event log, players are welcome to take their threads into their own individual logs for personal organization. We only request players to comment to the event log with a link to it so that others can find them more easily!]

Comments

[chippedsoul]

[He'll get a response back, by the sliding doors suddenly shutting close in front of him. The path forward is now closed, as a new one opens. Distant sounds of doors opening and closing can still be heard. The maze has shifted.

New voices join in the crying sound. They echo, muffled like they were coming from behind the walls. It's all whispering for now.]

[steadypulse]

[Eyes narrowed, head tipped as an ear twitched in the direction of the echoing muffled voices and the crying. Fingers flexing, but for now he was willing to take the opened turn. Even if fingers curled enough that claws of the hand following the wall dug in to it a bit.

The damage it caused was more testing than anything, trying to get a feel for whatever the hell he stepped in to, exactly.]

[chippedsoul]

[Wherever he made a hole, the voices would momentarily became clearer.]

That boy has been the talk of the town lately!

Well of course he is. He carries the hope for our country's future!

I can't think of anyone else who can carry that kind of responsibility.

It's a shame his parents aren't here to celebrate with him...

Awful thing, what happened to them. And he was so young...

Have you heard the rumors though...? About his father-

[The voices cut off and suddenly gets drowned out by laughter. Then it repeats again. Lights start to flicker on in some of the rooms, though there's no one in them. No one physically at least. Shadows of people come in and out of existence in these rooms. Scenes of a child being chased around playfully by a woman, the child practicing with a wooden sword while a man watches approvingly, and other various memories of what appeared to be a family of three.

Will these lit rooms take him closer or further away from the crying child though...? A clue or a red herring?]

[steadypulse]

[He stopped, listening as fingertips remained rested, even as claws had ripped enough holes that he could hear. Flimsy walls, but he didn't know if that was sign that it could be better to try and take a direct approach or follow something else.

Even as his gaze followed shadowed scenes.

A hand placed down on the floor then, claws digging in as he took in a slow breath; letting a few oddly shaped shadows split from the pool at his feet, sending them off in different directions of those open rooms.]

Can anyone hear me? [A little louder as he stood, waiting for some response or reaction, weighing options of following after one of those probing shadows or not.

Being haunted by better memories, and words whispered behind ones back was something he knew himself, but following could make it worse. Still, he had to push forward somehow, right? Try and find a way out, and not alone at best.]

[chippedsoul]

[The voices stop, the lights turn off. Once again the doors are sliding open and close at different locations, but then-]

-Aah! [The doors stop, so did the crying. One of the shadows must have located the source of the crying. Some of the rooms disappear, leaving one straight pathway toward one lit room. Inside that room was a child, probably under ten years old and looked like the shadows of the boy that wandered the other rooms. He's sitting on the floor, clinging tightly onto a sheathed katana. Poor kid looked absolutely confused and bewildered by whatever entered his room.]

[steadypulse]

[—Ah.

Well, that was definitely one way to cut right to the point, the other shadows retreating back in to his own as he stood straight and walked the path that had opened for him. A hand rested just on the door frame rather than barging in, sinking down to sit on his feet.

The ball of shadow wiggled a little, lifting up a little like a piece of fabric pinched in the middle, swaying a little as 76 kept his eyes on it and the... kid.]

Hey. Looks like something found you. [His voice was rough, but there'd never be any changing that. Still, kept it quiet enough in some attempt of not startling someone that already looked like he'd been through something.] You alright?

[Had to be careful- just in case.]

[chippedsoul]

. . . [Who was this man, beast? He glances between the ball of shadow and 76. His hand slides up toward the hilt of the katana. Some kind of dark wisp was leaking out of it. In fact, a dark aura can be felt around the room, something sinister hidden in the shadows, waiting for something to happen.

Ominous feeling aside, the room itself looked like any typical child's room. The place was well kept, indicating someone who like to keep things orderly and tidy. Only thing that stood out was a paper that lay on the floor. Should 76 choose to pick it up, there will be writings on the other side. It's a scathing letter from someone unknown, talking about condemning the entire Asogi clan for the serial killings in London.]

[steadypulse]

[His own shadows kept pooled around, keeping in his actual shadow in the room, carefully reaching out for that paper without letting his gaze drop from the kid.]

Think if you draw that, going to do more harm than good, kid. [Kept his voice steady and calm. Trying to come off as disarming as possible without coming closer. He had dealt with children before, even if right now it could be far more looks and old fear and memories than anything else.

Still best to keep cautious. Even as he skimmed the words, eyes narrowing a bit.]

I'm not who you should be worrying about, am I?

[chippedsoul]

[He doesn't draw the katana, but continues to grip the hilt tightly. The whispering comes back again, although what is being said, are fiction in Kazuma's head.]

"He killed all those people..."

"Those Far Easterners aren't to be trusted."

"What about the son of the serial killer? He's here, you know!"

"You can deny it all you want, but he killed all those people." [A male voice, clearer than all the others speaks up. A man suddenly walks out from the shadows, standing behind the child.] "The evidence is all there."

You lie! [After the silence, the child finally says something, turning to yell at the man.] He...didn't do it.

"Are you planning to kill me?"

[The child flinches, fingers twitching around the hilt of the sword. The whispering gets louder. Even if he was a child, there was a wild look in his eyes, ready to cut this man down.]

[steadypulse]

Are you going to give him that much power over you, kid?

[That rang clearer, paper allowed to slip from his fingers and flutter to the ground. A hand rested on the floor, and even if he remained crouched it would be easy for him to spring and launch himself if need be. Still, the situation seemed- well, like it'd be better for him to stay where he was rather than risk them both.

For now, at least.] To let him make you do exactly what he's trying to provoke you in to?

[Killing for revenge was one thing, but to do it because of something like this was... manipulative, playing in to an act wanted.]

[chippedsoul]

[There's a moment of hesitance when 76's voice reaches him. No, he's far too proud to let others push him around, but...he hangs his head. The whispering gets louder, memories of happier times flooding his head]

My father's dead...because of him! [Damn being used, his target is right in front of him. There's a klink as he starts to unsheathe his katana. Whatever was waiting inside leaks out, latching onto Kazuma.]

[steadypulse]

[It's not like 76 was anyone to talk in situations like this, given the opportunity he'd probably kill those he was hunting down- but he didn't really have any hope for anything in his own future. He expected to die. He was already dead as far as the world cared, visited his own grave and was made a martyr for others to feel better about themselves.

But it didn't stop him from—]

He's not real! [It was almost a snarl, having the appearance of a kid or not.] You're letting the thought of him control you- what do you want out of it? These thoughts and opinions, the memories you hold and feelings you've got to drive you- what's important to you?

[Go for it, but make the decision solely for his own want. Own the entire thing, and whatever comes with it. Claw to get what control there could be had, or at least just try to get some hold.]

[chippedsoul]

[His hand shakes when 76 shouts at him. The sword is not drawn any further, but the dark wisp continues seeping out. What does he want out of it? Revenge? Peace of mind?

His father back, his whole family together again. They were unjustly taken away from him. Even if he knows his actions won't ever bring them back-] Someone has to pay.

[The whispering turned into people shouting in fear. It cannot be seen, but there is the sound of something being cut through mixed in as well, like flesh. Gregson's figure suddenly shifts to a masked figure. It was drawing his blade.]

I'm cursed anyway. [The child Kazuma is standing up. The blade from the masked figure is being raised, preparing to strike the child who does not seem to notice or bother to move.]

[steadypulse]

[76 does something that was likely incredibly stupid, without hesitation or thought other than 'this may be stupid'. He was always reckless, only certain people able to ever hold him back from acting on his impulses. Going on years of no one holding him back.

He moved, and was in front of the child, kneeling down and leaning so that any strike that came would have to go through him first. That he could even side-swipe the kid out of the way as he went down if it came to it.

All to look him in the eyes as well as possible. That mask of his was pulled off, dropped to the floor to make that eye contact, blue eyes sharp even with swirls of black in the whites of them. How tired he looked even here.]

You and me, both. [Firmly. He hadn't shared this with anyone, but fuck it, this had gotten personal long before this hadn't it? The nightmare walk, the talk over moonshine—] I had everything I ever loved, that I sacrificed so much for, taken from me.

You either own it, or let it own you. Don't get consumed by it, Kazuma- no matter how deep in that dark you might get swallowed, it's never too late.

Someone does have to pay- but don't let it continue to be you. [He was all for revenge, for hunting down the cause and making them pay. Walking the line and being consumed.] You've paid enough.

[chippedsoul]

[The masked figure keeps his blade raised as 76 swoops in between him and the child. The child blinks, coming out of whatever miserable spell he was under when this old man was suddenly in his face, spewing words at him.

You've paid enough.

Has he? There's a small voice telling him no, but that voice is getting pushed aside by this overwhelming feeling of acceptance. He sheathes the katana and suddenly tackles 76. The reason becomes clear when there came the sound of metal hitting the ground. That masked figure was still there, now frozen in place. The room starts to dissipate, the nightmare fading back to the cemetery. A cracked has appeared over the tombstone that caused this whole mess in the first place.

The child is back to being a full grown man, still holding onto 76. He was trembling, his face hidden from view, pressed against his chest. The gathering clouds above them probably indicated his emotional state as it starts to pour. He's tired, of carrying all this burden he brought onto himself, the secrets. Never did he think he could rest until the mission is complete. Never did he try to ask for help, because he knew he would do anything, even betray others for his reckless mission. He couldn't trust anyone, and thus was alone. And he was fine with that. It made things easier for him to stay focus, keep others away the least the know. They wouldn't understand.

At least, that's what he thought.

Someone practically telling him he's done enough, it broke the camel's back. Everything that he kept inside suddenly bursting out, having no where else to go.]

[steadypulse]

[76 went with the tackle, it far too low to be anything or anyone but the child he had been looking at. Arms around him to keep the both of them together for whatever came after, feeling his back hit the floor, the sound making it clear as to what happened and why. Even with how quickly it all happened.

His mask was still on the ground as the nightmare faded, even if it was now a hockey mask again. Back in that Halloween dreamscape, letting out a slow breath as a hand rested against the back of Kazuma's head.

Sometimes a reckless and brash action could do something good. It was broken, the nightmare gone and the tombstone- had to have gotten through.

76 didn't mind the rain, eyes closed as he didn't bother moving either of them and just held Kazuma close so he could hide there. Giving him as long as either of them could spare in this graveyard plot of nightmares. All he did was sit up, half cradling the other man as he sat there with him held to his chest.

I've got you.

Not saying it out loud, but it was clear enough in action. Let him get that release of everything held so tightly, fall apart. Something like that- 76 could understand, for his own reasons. Let Kazuma take what he needed, what he would take of the comfort there for him to have as it broke loose.]