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

i-b

[shithogs]

Food poisoning.

[Kainé gives him a sharp grin in response as they both stand over the wide array of food— she'd been hesitant to trust the food at the initial welcome feast, so hearing that things have gone awry with these offerings is about what she'd expected. It's always nice to be proven right, even if it's about something questionable.]

Honestly, just curious to see if it could even manage. I've shrugged off poison before no sweat.

[Those poisoned berries back home were delicious.

She looks him over for a moment, appraising.]

You'd probably make a good slime monster.

[rokubro]

Food poisoning? You must have an iron stomach.

[At first he looks at her incredulously but then he laughs at her confidence.]

But you think so, too, right? Personally I'd be curious to see how I'd be able to hold my swords if I could. I wonder if I'd be like a real slime monster and dissolve things I absorb...

[shithogs]

Hasn't run into anything it can't handle yet, anyway.

[That could always change, but somehow... she doubts it. It'll take more than anything this place could conjure to take down her stomach, even if only because of sheer force of will.]

That'd be bad news for your swords, if you did. If that happened, I'd be glad to take 'em off your hands for you. Always down to expand my arsenal.

[They'll be safe with her, Rokurou. c:]

[rokubro]

[.........WOW.]

Damn, I didn't think of that.

[And now he eyes her warily.]

Don't tell me you've been eying my swords all this time.

[shithogs]

[She snorts, but her sharp grin pulls to one side as she folds her arms in front of her.]

What, you thought I was hangin' out with you for your body, instead? Of course it's the swords I'm interested in.

[lol]

Just sayin', it'd be a real fucking waste to let 'em rust or dissolve if you can't use them anymore.

[rokubro]

Hey, I wouldn't judge or anything.

[Just a grin, but no, he knows.]

But this is a good point... Guess I should rethink wanting the slime, then.

[Actually a little disappointed about it. He's fought against them a few times so he was just curious what it was like...]

[shithogs]

Not like you get to choose anyway, right?

[Which really has the potential to be either a lot of fun or a complete pain in the ass.]

You can want it plenty, but there's no telling until you roll the dice.

[Metaphorical dice, anyway.]

Don't let it get you down. You could still be the slime of your dreams.

[rokubro]

True.

[And now he has to seriously contemplate the food.

...

.....]

Eh, what the hell, if you tried to take my swords I'd just eat you or something.

[A laugh as he reaches out for what looks like a sandwich. Not one to really stay down for long, he's going to risk it. It's a dream thing, anyway, right? So won't matter in the end.]

[shithogs]

[She snorts in response.]

You'd try.

[Like hell she'd succeed.]

Haven't met a monster whose ass I couldn't tear apart so far. Doubt you'd be any different.

[Is every conversation they have going to be like this? Honestly, probably yes. In the meantime, she watches him with interest, raising a brow in expectation as he reaches for that sandwich.

Roll those dice, buddy.]

[rokubro]

Ever fought against a slime? They can be pretty tough if you don't get hit them right.

[And yes, this is exactly what their conversations will always be like. ...And RNG actually granted him his wish, so after taking a bite of the sandwich, he just stands there for a moment chewing.]

...You know, could use a bit more spice, but this actually isn't too bad—!!

[WAIT ARE HIS LEGS MELTING holy shit they are—]

Oh shit—

[Uh. Uh. FINE KAINE HERE ARE HIS SWORDS catch 'em and don't scratch them.]

[shithogs]

[She hadn't really given much thought to what it would be like, watching someone turn into a slime.

Turns out it's absolutely disgusting.]

What the fuck—?!

[Hey, at least he got his wish. Her reflexes are quick as ever, and she maneuvers to grab each of his swords by the hilt in mid-air as they get flung in her direction, eyes widening slightly as she watches him with some degree of fascination mixed with horror.

This is both so much better and so much worse than she thought it would be.]

Where the hell did your goddamn legs go?!

[Kind of... all over the grass, really, with the melting.]

[rokubro]

Into a slime puddle!?

[He's still slowly melting and is now down to his waist...but despite his initial "what the fuck" moment, he realizes something more bizarre.]

...Wait. I don't actually feel anything.

[Kaine is going to witness a strange sight of Rokurou kind of...wiggling his arms and upper body a bit as he continues melt.]

This is crazy, it's actually kind of a weird cold tingling feeling!

[Which is weird given that his slime puddle is steaming instead.]

[shithogs]

That's—

[Disturbing, honestly? The feeling he describes and his little display, and she recoils slightly with his swords still in hand. As far as weird shit goes, she's seen and experienced more than most, but something about seeing him melting away while still talking to her just hits in all the wrong ways.]

You look like you're about to start boiling, that doesn't make any sense!

[Is being a slime all you wished it would be, Rokurou?]

[rokubro]

[Wiggle wiggle wiggle—oh, there goes his hands, should he try reaching out to her? WOULD HE SPLATTER MOLTEN ROKU BITS ON HER okay no it seems to already be congealing into slime. Still going to wave his arm and "hand" at her though.]

None of it does, but this is hilarious! Wait, I should do that classic line from the fairy tales, right?

I'm meeellttiiing, I'm meeelllttiiing!!

[He even changes his voice to fit the "evil dying croaking witch," but he definitely looks way too enthusiastic about melting.

Down to his neck, how creepy will this look—]

wheezes

[shithogs]

[No matter how much she may want to, she can't look away.]

Is that a thing?

[Sounds pretty stupid to her. Also, is it just her, or is he enjoying this way too much?

She takes a step back to avoid getting any of that molten Rokurou goop on her shoes, and at last has to offer up a laugh that somehow manages to be a derisive snort at the same time.]

Man, I wish there was some way to freeze this moment— if you could only see yourself right now. This is some crazy bullshit.

[He's literally just a neck and head at this point. How long until he's nothing at all?]

Re: wheezes

[rokubro]

Yeah, too bad there's—wait, I think this is it!

[Down to his chin, his mouth would be next to go so it would be impossible for him to talk...well as he is, anyway. And the horror show will end as the rest of him melts, leaving behind a very strange looking goop that is becoming tinted a strange black and red. At first the puddle just kind of...oozes there before it sudden wiggles and starts confirming and gathering up to a central spot.

And then with a bloop!, an amorphous blob rises up. There's a red circle that swims around the surface before it stops near the top and looks at Kainé. And then...]

THIS IS SO COOL!!!

[He has no mouth, and yet she can hear his voice clearly—albeit with a slight vibration to it.]

Seriously, Kainé, you gotta try this!

[And now he's just kind of blobbin', wiggling to the left and then the right.]

this is incredible

[shithogs]

[If she weren't seeing all of this with her own eyes, she wouldn't have believed a word of it. It's not that she doesn't believe there's all kinds of weird shit out there— she sure does, her own experiences making her pretty damn open-minded, but this is more than just weird. It's bordering dangerously on stupid, although the fact that Rokurou is enjoying himself so damn much makes it a hell of a lot more funny than it is unsettling.]

Eh, I dunno. Think I'll pass.

[But she does give him a lopsided grin as she drops down into a low crouch so that she's a little closer to his level. It's not like he really has a face, but his movement gives her a good idea of where things are... you know, centered.]

Everything you dreamed it would be? Little more solid than I would have expected. Think you can fit in a cup?

[What is the volume of a slime monster?]

it keeps getting better

[rokubro]

Dunno what you're missing out.

[Even if it can't be seen, she can probably imagine his smirk as he continues to vibe and wiggle around.]

But this honestly really, really cool. If I were to ever redo things, I'd totally want to try to become a slime daemon. I mean check this out!

[There's a huwah! and what might possibly have been his arm suddenly stretches out before it retracts back in like a yo-yo.]

It's more elastic than I thought! Could probably bounce off walls and not get hurt.

But a cup? I mean... I guess? [He tries to contract and ends up flattening himself before he kind of...oozes back up.] Why?

[shithogs]

[She watches his little demonstration with interest, that sharp smile of hers pulling to one side as she raises an eyebrow.]

Pretty impressive, I'll give you that. Didn't think it'd bounce back.

[Hey, if they wanted to test that theory, all they'd need to do is find a wall, right?]

Well— because tempted as I am to just walk off with your swords, I'm thinking about what'd happen if you tried to slither around on your own and someone stepped in you.

[That would probably be not great for all involved.]

Seems like that could get real shitty real fast.

[rokubro]

I think you'd have to worry about me latching onto you before you could get away. Don't think I won't.

[He even starts wriggling towards her in a "menacing" way. ...Well, as menacing as a slime monster can be.]

But I won't mind a free ride.

[shithogs]

[As he wiggles in her direction, she takes a generous step back, her grin hitching to one side as she puts space between them.]

I dunno. Pretty sure I could outrun you.

[Are slimes known for their speed? Regardless, she turns to the table next to them and quickly skims its contents before spotting a large, empty cup, seizing it so that she can get down on one knee and hold it against the ground for him to wobble his way into if he so chooses.]

Gotta wonder... if there's too much of you for this, what happens to what's been left behind?

[There's so many slime logistics to think about...]

[rokubro]

[He is definitely wiggly wobbling over there, swaying from side to side as he slides.]

Hmmmm you know that's a good question. If you cut in my two, would there be two of me? Or would I just have like my butt wiggling around separated from my body and it eventually reattaches itself?

[And hwup! Into the cup he oozes into.]

[shithogs]

[Okay, that gets a snort and a laugh out of her. Great mental image.]

Hell, who's to say it'd even be a clean cut? Shit would be pretty funny, though. Even better if it was vertical.

[Two half-Rokurous wandering around, one ass-cheek each. These are deep, important thoughts.

She gets back up to her full height, lifting him along with her.]

Well, seems like you fit okay... anywhere you wanna go, Slimekurou? See the sights with new slime eyes?

[rokubro]

Slimekurou? Oh come on, is that the best you can come up with? [The slime whines.

But he does ooze himself up so that the "head" bulges out, looking around.]

I don't really have a preference. No wait, we should try and find Eizen! I want to see his face with me like this.

[shithogs]

Alright, not my best. Ro-goo-rou?

[Not much better, honestly. The appearance of his 'head' definitely gets another laugh, though. She still thinks he's crazy for wanting this, but it is pretty entertaining— and better him than her.

Besides, depending on how long it lasts, she might get some sweet swords out of the deal.]

Anyway, you got it. What's he look like? We'll hunt him down.