songerein | Halloween Nightmare: Part I

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Halloween Nightmare: Part I

✵ 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!]

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[Something, huh? What the hell is that supposed to mean?

Well, his approval doesn't mean nothing, apparently— despite the fact that they've only known one another as they are now for a short period of time, some of the tension eases from her at his reassurance. It feels strangely natural in a way she has no idea how to articulate, and doesn't want to spend any longer thinking about than she absolutely has to.]

Guess if things go bad, I'll just have to rip this off.

[Or slice through it? The skirt, anyway.]

I'd say 'let's hope we don't have to,' but...

[She actually smiles a little bit as she makes a joke at her own expense, shrugging.]

We both know I'm better with that kind of thing than with parties.

[Nier embarrassed to say it out lout but he really thinks she looks beautiful and that's what he meant by 'something'. If he went and said that to her then he'd never hear the end of it. He knows that Kainé doesn't like talking about sappy things. Maybe sometimes he should just come out with it, but he struggles to make these kinds of decisions on the fly and remains vague with his statements.]

Things look okay now so maybe we shouldn't worry so much.

[It's hard not to worry. Nier does that all the time too. They're not in immediate danger and they're still managing so it'll be fine. They can make it through the day without anything terrible happening. Maybe. Naturally he has some doubts about this whole dream situations and what it actually means. Nier just wants to believe in the words he's saying and he remains optimistic.]

Did you get into any fights recently?

[Probably wise of him to take care with his words. She's never really sure how to handle all that mushy stuff, and things are... tenuous at best, at the moment, really. He really wouldn't ever hear the end of it.

She wrinkles her nose slightly at his question, scowling a little.]

Well, not today.

[Sounds like she's actually a little disappointed about that.]

Went out on that expedition to hunt down redcaps awhile back, but it's just been sparring since then. Kinda boring. Things seem alright here at the moment, but it wouldn't be terrible if shit got exciting later on, would it?

[Come on, Nier. You know you like it, too.]

As long as you're okay and unharmed that's what matters to me.

[ Kainé is powerful there's no doubt in his mind about it. She can take on a few redcaps without issue so he isn't too surprised to hear about it.]

Maybe things are quiet. If we have to fight again I'll be there. You can count on that. My blades are starting to get a little rusty. Where have you been sparring?

[ It depends on what happens really. This world is strange in so many ways so it's entirely possible they may end up in combat again or something else happens. Nier's been wielding blades since he was a younger boy. He'd fight to get some practice in. His experiences are different from the Nier that Kainé knows back home.]

There are a few people here who've been looking to keep up their skills.

[Most of her sparring has been with Rokurou; she has yet to meet anyone else besides Nier who can keep up with her so well.]

There's a field out by the treehouses we can use if you ever wanna give it a go. Wouldn't be a bad idea to keep each other sharp.

[Especially since, given how well he seems to know her, he already has a good idea of how she fights— and she figures she can piece his style together well enough, too.]

I actually... might've agreed to giving a friend some lessons using swords, too.

[Look at that. She's opening up, branching out.]

Yeah, we can't stop fighting just because we're in a dream world and-

[ Wait what. Do his ears decieve him? Did she just say that she's making friends and offering fighting lessons? Nier smiles upon hearing that. Kainé has really changed and it's different from before. He remembers how she wouldn't enter places even if she was welcome. He also remembers how she always isolated herself from others. It makes him really happy to know she has good company. ]

That's great. Not everyone knows how to wield a sword and I'm positive that you're doing a good thing.

[She definitely is changing, and while her it feels slow and reluctant, she's sure that to someone else— someone like Nier, who's seen her at her lowest points— it must seem significant.

A small part of her wonders what her grandmother would have to say. Honestly, Kali would probably scold her for taking so long to even attempt to open up to begin with. She'd always wanted Kainé to believe that people had the potential to be good— but given her experiences, she's always struggled.]

Don't know how good I'll be at it. I definitely know how to use a sword, but it's not like anyone taught me. So if she's lookin' for good form and shit, I don't know if I can teach that, but I can sure as hell show her how to destroy something with a blade.

[If Kainé can be happier by being with others than Nier's going to support her in that. He doesn't want her to be alone or to feel isolated from everyone else. He's seen just how much she struggles and to see her opening up to others is huge. ]

You're one of the strongest people I know Kainé. I think you'll do just fine. There's nothing you need to worry about on that end. [He nods while trying to sound reassuring.]

I learned how to fight as soon as I was old enough to hold a sword. You probably don't remember this, but I was so short before. That made fighting more difficult. [With age he got taller and more experience along with it so now there's nothing to worry about. Nier wonders if there's any change in Kainé's memories now and what he could do to help with that.]

Only version of you I can remember was always taller than me.

[It's strange to think of him so small... so young, even though he's plenty youthful right now. He'd mentioned previously that he'd been little more than a kid when they'd met— when she'd first helped him.

Honestly, it's hard to imagine.]

You must have been a pretty scrappy kid, if you were out fighting all on your own.

That's right your memories are different from mine. I remember that.

[ Nier thinks they first met a long time ago but it could have been just yesterday for Kainé. ]

I wasn't fighting alone though. There was Weiss.

[ He hardly went anywhere without Weiss back in the day. All he ever heard was the ramblings of a magical tome. ]

Only some.

[They match up in plenty of other places.]

Seems like we remember a lot of the same stuff, just... a little differently when it comes to the details, that's all.

[Like how she remembers Nier as easily being on the far side of forty.]

What about before Weiss? Must've hunted for food and shit, right? You and Yonah had to eat.

Before Weiss? That feels like forever ago. Devola and Popola were the ones who took care of me because I didn't have parents.

[....He rarely ever talks about his past like this. Nier trusts Kainé so much that he's willing to speak up more. ]

Sometimes I'd go out hunting by myself and I'd get scared. Those sheep in the Northern Plains aren't messing around.

I bet it does. Been a long time since we met, going by my own memories, and you already had him then.

[Not for too long at that point, if she remembers correctly, though there's no telling if that's the same for him. Either way, the point remains that Weiss wasn't always there. He'd had to fend for himself, for awhile.]

The plains are no place for a kid, I guess— even one who managed to grow up into you.

[He can obviously take care of himself now.]

The Nier I remember spent a lot of time going after sheep for their mutton. It was the best eating around, for awhile there.

Yeah, the plains can be dangerous and I think there were more Shades last time I checked.

[ A lot of shades suddenly gathered and they became more active. It was noticeable even to him. Some of the shades wore armor or evolved in a way. They seem to have some intelligence but Nier doesn't care about it. A shade is a shade. ]

He went hunting for mutton? It was the same for me. [their crimes against sheep are far too grave to ignore. ]

Not like either of you had a whole lot of other options, right?

[But still, it makes her smile— if only a little. It's nice to find another parallel, mundane though it may sound.]

Funny how you two are so alike, but not quite. Plenty of differences between you, too. More than just the age.

[She must be talking about the Nier from her memories. The fact that their memories differ so much is strange to him. Maybe some things just don't have an answer. This is a dream world after all. It's possible that everything's been set backwards for whatever reason. Nier still pauses during his thoughts and looks at Kainé again. ]

Do you mind telling me more? What's so different about it?

[Nier can't compare it because he has no idea. The only one with that answer is Kainé.]

You mean tell you more about the other Nier?

[She raises an eyebrow, but she figures it makes sense. Of course he'd want to know more. Who wouldn't, finding out there was some alternate version of themselves out there?

Honestly, she's curious about the Kainé he knows, as well.]

He's a little... harder. Loud. Doesn't do anything gently or quietly, but he's a fucking soft touch underneath, even if he pretends otherwise.

[The way he dotes on Yonah, he'd have to be.]

Not quite as optimistic as you are.

Oh, I don't know if I'd call myself optimistic. I just want to believe that things will be alright. A world without hope would be far too miserable.

[All he can imagine is sinking despair and darkness in a world without a future or hope. Nier is being stubborn and insists that good must exist. It can't all be for nothing in the end.]

When you describe him that way he sounds almost like Weiss.

Sounds like the definition of 'optimistic' to me.

[Hope's not really easy to come by, especially in a world like theirs. That he manages to hold onto it through everything is pretty damn impressive.]

Shit, he'd be pissed if he thought I compared him to that floating magazine, but it isn't like they don't get along.

[They both have a sort of cantankerous edge, but she finds Weiss to be way more insufferable.]

[What if he's just lying to himself by believing in things like hope and better opportunities for the future? It's something he sometimes stops to think about. Even if it is a lie in the end he'd like to believe in it. Having something to latch onto is better than nothing. Maybe he's just being desperate. ]

I guess he knew Weiss too then. We mostly knew the same people, but even then I don't understand how our memories could be so different. Do I seem strange to you?

[He doesn't exactly have a high opinion of himself so he thinks he's more than just strange.]

Most of everything else seems to be the same. You're different, but... I don't think I'd call that 'strange.'

[Compared to her, in fact, he's downright normal, except for the fact that he doesn't even blink an eye at the fact that she barely qualifies as human.]

We don't have to talk about that if you don't want. You're a good kid. Not tryin' to make you doubt that at all. I'm—

[She sighs, shifting her weight as her hand comes to rest against her hip, which is a bit more cumbersome now in the dress she's been given.]

Look, I'm glad you're here.

Thank you for everything Kainé. I'll be okay.

[Nier wouldn't judge Kainé the same way other people would back in their world. He believed that she was a good person and that's all that mattered. She helped him save Yonah and she also saved his life on numerous occasions. It didn't matter if she remembered him or not. Kainé is Kainé and that's all there is to it.]

I'm glad you're here too. Is it okay for me to say that? Look, I know you don't like it when things get so sentimental.

Edited (oh my god theres awkward spacing help ) 2021-11-17 05:19 (UTC)

[Well, he sure as hell isn't wrong about that. She doesn't handle compliments or general sentimentality well, and she averts her gaze to look off at some unspecified point in the distance as he says so— anything so that she doesn't have to look at him, but the faintest beginnings of a smile do start to ghost over part of her lips.]

Yeah, yeah, you can say it. Just not too often. Can't have you going soft.

[No room for that so far from home, right? She looks back at him, letting out a soft, derisive snort.]

It sounds even stupider while you're in that getup, though.

[She is not over their outfits.]

Don't worry, I'm not about to go soft on you. I'm just thankful.

[ Nier looks at their outfits again and then closes his eyes for a moment. No. He's not seeing this. It's not real. ]

You had to go and remind me. I look downright foolish in this and I wouldn't want Yonah to see me in this outfit. It'll be fine after we change back into our usual clothes.

Neither of us exactly looks our best right now.

[That's a flat-out lie; Nier actually looks pretty damn handsome, suit and all, but she'd never tell him that. She, on the other hand, feels absolutely ridiculous.]

Guess it's all about playing a part as long as we're here, right?

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Halloween Nightmare: Part I

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