songerein | { Moon's Haunted }

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{ Moon's Haunted }

MOON'S HAUNTED

Elimei, the female winged kirin twin from the Tree of Stories, was suddenly taken by a large, gruesome figure wielding a butcher's knife with a bear at its side. They appeared from a black portal and everyone in the room at the time was unable to move due to a sudden increase in gravity and heavy weight of nightmare energy. The figures disappeared into the black portal leaving behind no trace—except Elimei's feathers tinged with nightmare energy. Using Elimei's feather, researchers in the Observatory were able to pinpoint her location within a foreign moon. By this time, the moon mirror created by the fae has collected into its glass the stories of various moons gathered by Madhuri. Powered by this enchanted mirror and with dreamotion energy, they are able to create a dreamscape-like gateway to this foreign moon.

Unfortunately the power was so great it acted like a dreamshift and sent in everyone. Now everyone finds themselves on the surface of this strange moon, but fortunately they have allies in the form of lunar wolves to help guide them. To help combat against the noctasers, which are an evolved form of Erasers that have consumed great amount of nightmare energy, the special potions that were created back from Halloween and are effective against Erasers will be available. They will work in conjunction with dreamotion energy and other items useful against nightmare energy; perhaps a new solution can be made.

For more details on the event and to ask any questions, please refer to the Game Notes. Reminder that this is forward dated to the end of the month.

I. MOON PHASES

At random intervals, the moon will change between full and new phases. When the moon is full, the moonscape becomes ghostly white; when it is new, it becomes pitch back. There are both advantages and disadvantages for each phase, and everyone needs to be mindful as it will change without warning. Although we have some generic prompts for each phase, the phases and effects carry over through all the prompts, they can be used at will.

A. Darkest of Nights: New Moon. Whenever the moon phase changes to the new moon, it becomes so dark it's almost difficult to see. Light sources will need to be found to help traverse through the moonscape unless one uses dreamotion to help guide them. The new moon phase is also when nightmare energy is at its peak, the ground seemingly seeping with it and noctasers lurking. Some characters might find themselves transforming into some nightmarish creature in response to it. Perhaps into something that reflects their greatest fears or anger; some may even start to relive or have nightmares. Those who are easily influenced by nightmare energy should take caution, but must also remember that nightmare energy can also be harnessed here. For those who want to try and control it, the new moon phase is the best time.

B. Light of the Full Moon. Whenever the moon phase changes to the full moon, it is almost blindingly bright in some places. During this time, dreamotion is at its peak and it'll be easier to fight off the noctasers should they be encountered; of course during this time the noctasers will go into hiding. The black goopy puddles scattered around will be most suspicious, and this is the perfect time to clear them up with dreamotion. Just be careful not to get trapped in them or it'll be like quicksand. Anyone who was transformed during the new moon phase will slowly begin to transform back but will still need assistance; otherwise they'll just remain and continue transformation when it changes back to the new moon phase.

II. LUNAR WOLVES

For those who wish to help the lunar wolves that inhabit this moonscape, they live in a brightly lit temple that is impossible to miss. With a unique "wolf blessing," characters can transform into a wolf to help blend in with the environment as well as gain temporary powers: ability to conjure moonlight to use against noctasers; powerful howl attacks capable of knocking back small objects and creatures; ability to see clearly in the darkness during new moon shifts; increases speed and other heightened senses; ability to see the leftover "moon dust trail" from the moon fragments to track them down. Appearance of the wolf form can be whatever the player or character wishes and while partial transformations are allowed, whole transformations will be stronger. The blessing will last for up to an hour, and characters can willingly change back at any time. However, they'll need another blessing to turn back into a wolf unless they can do so on their own through their own dreamotion ability. The wolves will also be around to help give aid when they can.

A. Defend the Temple. Noctasers are becoming more aggressive as they attack the temple the lunar wolves are based in, aiming for the collection of corrupted moon fragments the lunar wolves have been guarding in hopes of later purifying. Some may even notice the moon fragments depict certain images or have unique characters that may look like the moon from their own world. Maybe that fragment is from their home world. Characters need to use everything they have to help protect these fragments and fight alongside the wolves.

» BONUS: DEFENSE BARRIERS. Shoring up defenses and creating dreamotion barriers to help keep the noctasers at bay will also help. The wolves will inform of special flower that needs wishful based dreamotion energy to make it grow large enough as a shield that can help repel the noctasers.

B. Retrieve Moon Fragments. Some of the noctasers still manage to break in and steal several moon fragments, scattering them all over the forests surrounding the small temple the wolves dwell in. While some have been dropped and can be found a little more easily, others are still in the clutches of the noctasers that must be destroyed, especially if a noctaser consumes it. While safe to handle, the moon fragments must be collected into small glowing jars to ensure their protection.

C. Save the Wolf Cubs. In the chaos, a few wolf cubs got separated from their families and ran into the forest, with some having the bright idea to try and find the moon fragments on their own. This is a disaster waiting to happen, so they need to be brought back quickly! Wolf transformation will be mandatory as the cubs will be wary of anyone else who approaches. They are also clever cubs and will hide in deep thickets and tree hollows. Luring them out with mooncakes will help win them over.

III. ITEM COLLECTION: ELIMEI

Certain items are needed to help defeat the Mutton Man and its Bear steed, as well as to find and heal Elimei. Thankfully they won't be going in blind and Baba Yaga will make an appearance to inform them of what they'll need. Although primarily to be collected and given to those who will go out to find Elimei, all items can also be collected for personal use to be against noctasers and other effects. There's plenty to go around! All items will be found in the swamp area.

A. Follow the Moonflies. In the outskirts of the swamps, there are special fireflies called "moonflies" where they produce pure moonlight from their bulbs. They are attracted to darkness as they will absorb it to produce their light. Gathering these moonflies in special jars will allow those seeking Elimei to help track her down as the moonflies will fly towards the darkest area of the swamp where she is being held. They will also be useful in blinding the enemies as they will fly up to them, attracted by the darkness the nightmare energy brings. They are also great to use as lanterns during the new moon phase.

B. Lunar Honey. The petals of this flower can be crushed up to create a delicious sweet honey that can help soothe any tormented soul. While not a cure all for nightmare energy, they work similar to the Glowing Dawn flowers back in Songerein and will be valuable for those affected by nightmare energy and monster transformations. Although ineffective against the Mutton Man, the Bear may find the sweetness irresistible.

» BONUS: KEEPSAKES. Collect the flowers to eventually bring back to Songerein so they can be used for additional treatment.

C. Moon Crystals. Special crystals which illuminate in the darkness and turn black during the full moon phases. They will absorb nightmare energy and convert them to potent dreamotion energy to a poisonous degree. Thus those afflicted with nightmary energy will be good sources for these crystals but must be handled with care. Anyone who is punctured or cut by a crystal risks becoming crystalized and will need to be taken back to the wolves to be cured. The crystals will serve as the main "weapon" against the Mutton Man and the Bear, and can be deadly against noctasers as well.

D. Swamp Threats. Beware: the swamps are filled with not only noctasers but also hostile moon creatures, mostly of the reptilian side, such as snakes and alligators. At least the latter can be soothed with dreamotion unless they have started to corrupt from nightmare energy. Be careful not to follow the red wisps as they will lead unsuspecting rescuers deep into the swap to black pools where kelpies in them, ready to pose as Elimei and drag them under.

IV. ITEM COLLECTION: KAGUYA

To help get Songerein's moon fragment back, certain items will be needed to help evolve the moon mirror and purify the corrupted Rabbit Kaguya. All items can be used for other purposes and will be found around the bamboo forest.

A. "Holy Hand Grenade." This has a few steps as the "grenade" needs to be made. First, a golden bamboo stalk must be found and cut down. The crystals that pour out of it must be quickly collected in a crystal globe provided by the wolves. Dreamotion must then be channeled into it to melt the crystals and then the globe must be capped off. To use, one must count to three and then throw it at the target. This only has a purification effect, but it's very potent. It should only be used on anyone who is fully corrupted and is either close to or has become a noctaere. Even then care must be given as it will knock them out completely. Using it on someone with only a small amount will cause them to have too much dreamotion energy and make it more of a poison, requiring the excess dreamotion energy to be drawn out or counter balanced with nightmare energy. Handle with caution.

B. Bamboo Slicer. To get through the corrupted bamboo thicket to chase after Kaguya, special tools will need to be made. Cutting silver bamboo stalks well produce various metals to pour out, and with these metals blades can be forged via dreamotion. The blades can be of any shape and form, they just must carry enough fortitude, strength, and tenacity to cut through the stalks. Blades lacking that kind of dreamotion will remain dull and brittle.

C. Mooncakes. One of the easier items to collect, the mooncakes can be found growing off the leaves of the bamboo stalks. The trick is being able to climb high enough to get them; alternative cut or shake down the stalk to reach them. Just beware the lunar bees—they find the mooncakes delicious and will angrily attack anyone who gets in their way.

D. Don't Get Lost. Everyone will be warned to avoid entering the bamboo forest until everything has been gathered and designated groups are set, but should any accidentally further than necessary or get lured in somehow, they will need to find stone lanterns and light them up with dreamotion to help guide their way out. It will be relatively safe during the full moon phase, but during new moon there is higher risk of those trapped to hallucinate their worst nightmares and be lost in them until someone helps them.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The dreamotion wolves lit up like beacons, even the pieces of light n the shifting shadowed part of their coats twinkling brighter, them shifting around even as they ran to better use their self-light sources. There was only a brief second, as the darkness hit, that 76 slowed as he felt something like knives dig in from the inside, but never let his steps falter despite that.

Instead he pushed, adding a little extra light to help fight that darkness as balls of blue fire took to the air, glowing bright and warm.]

Still together, repositioning to better use light!

[A call, short and to the point while getting information across.]

[With all the different light sources, they at least have a good chance to not be surprised.]

I can cover one area if it helps.

[Especially since 76 is using all his abilities to control everything it seems.]

[It doesn't hurt he's trying to keep a solid flow of dreamotion to- well, not puncture too much in to the nightmare energy he's leeching to help with that. The odd chill some of those fires of his seem to have, the occasional crackle of electricity around them- the noctaere clambering just under his skin enough he could feel the claws.

The dreamotion wolves, at least, were not turning; no shadow encroaching over their light, no blue glowing bone structures breaking through 'skin'. It was fine, everything was fine—]

It would, yeah. [All the black fur helped hide the way corruption of nightmare energy clung to him.] Need to make sure we can see whatever's waiting for an opening.

Understood.

[He'll focus the light ahead of them with just a few trailing on the sides and behind to help buffer whatever 76 can provide.

And so their motley pack continues to rush through the pitch black forest, with only the sounds of their paws...but it's not long until everyone will be able to feel an ominous chill soon followed by the sound of something crashing through the trees near them.

Something large.]

[Ears flicked backwards, but he didn't dare to turn his head to look back, could feel how the ground shook through his paws as the crashing grew louder. Something was heading their way, and quickly—]

That doesn't sound good.

[An understatement? Yes, a little intentionally so just because of the pups' presence. Electricity crackling a bit sharper around those balls of blue fiery light he had near the dreamotion wolves.

The chill was far too familiar, but it had to be something catching their scent and pursuing. Not what he was fearing.]

Keep running or should we make a stand?

[He glances a the group.]

Might be safer if we deal with it rather than get caught in an ambush.

Making a stand might be for the best- because we don't want to lead this thing back with us, do we? Or chance that it's got friends.

[Right along with the possibility of being caught in an ambush, snorting a bit as he still kept speed—]

Need to pull off and get these kids tucked down somewhere safe. At least one or two of my wolves can keep watch over them.

We don't have a lot of options... Over there?

[Ahead he can see a large tree that might work.]

Better than nothing.

[And easy to direct the dreamotion wolves towards, his own lights moving to help fill in the gaps them breaking ahead created. Frost started to spread where 76's paws hit the ground and shadow darkened.

Keep control.]

[Eustace notices the slight change in 76. Better make whatever is happening fast.

With the plan set, the group splits—the dream wolves looking after the cubs and Eustace and 76 the primary opponents against what's quickly approaching. And with a signal to 76 they'll round back to keep the attention on themselves and hopefully be able to get into a suitable position before what is undoubtedly a noctaser breaks through and finally makes its appearance.]

[The darker turn made it all the more obvious that something was a little off, but he was willing to fight even his own corruption to keep some control. The flare of glowing blue along otherwise dark fur something that at least kept some small balance despite the ease he could lean in to the nightmare energy.

He moved with the signal, narrowing his focus enough that with the dreamotion wolves left with an order he could feel less thinly spread. The sound growing louder, something off about the gait that he was catching. Still big but-]

It's there— [A low hiss before, well-

The noctaser ripped through the underbrush, a few trees fell as it broke through them. A few limbs knocking them away as multiple heads snarled and thrashed about. Fucking hell.]

[Fucking hell is right. Eustace is seriously considering switching out so he can properly use his weapons, but the noctaser lunges at them before he can make that decision. He leaps out of the way and with a growl he lets loose his lightning, the bolts striking hard against the grotesque heads. There are so many, would blinding any of them do any good? Well can't hurt to at least try to hinder it at least.]

[76 practically blinked out of the way with how he had sunk in to shadows and appeared out of them elsewhere. All the better to take advantage of Eustace's electricity with a bit of his own, bright blue sparks arcing along head and- well.

At a few points that electricity had hit wild and blooming vines burst out; helping blind a few heads along with tangling them together. Help stagger the monstrosity.]

[Their combined efforts is working better than expected, and Eustace is going to help bind the thing with some ice, frost with a crackle of electricity mixed in racing over the ground before it slams up in a series of spikes in an attempt to pierce through the body. It's too tough to get too far, but it will score a few hits, the ice continuing to try and freeze around its legs.]

[The sounds the noctaser made were- well, definitely didn't sound like any natural creature he'd ever encountered even in dreams. The rage of it mixed wit pain as it snarled and screamed. Taking advantage of the ice already there so the vines could take it on, freezing them in place as thorns grew, electricity traveling through them. When it managed to break an icy vine all it would get for the trouble was an intense shock.

Staggered as it was, it was still moving towards whichever one of them felt the closest. Multiple limbs picking up felled trees to throw, and there was a sticky ink-like substance being spewed to try and slow them both down.]

[Eustace nimbly jumps away from the trees, even creating an ice shield to help deflect one that gets a little too close as he also tries to avoid the substance. But he's forced to land near one, his paw touching it and he immediately retracts with his ears pinned and a growl.]

Careful—it's filled with nightmare energy.

[And a lot of it.]

It's trying to pin us down.

[Get them herded in to one spot, keep them from being able to keep dodging for too long- buy itself time despite all of the damage it was taking. It could move through the stuff with ease after all.

Best 76 could do was use another flung tree like a stepping stone with a leap, try and use that to keep from touching the stuff spreading over the ground. Kick up a bit of soil when he hit the ground as plant-life sprung from it, trying to make them more ground that way as he panted briefly.

Fight against time as much as this nightmare of an abomination.]

[Eustace continues with the long range, large spheres of electricity forming before they fly towards the noctaser for another set of solid hits—and yet it still doesn't seem like they're doing enough.

After another barrage from the noctaser, Eustace manages to land next to 76 and looks him over.]

We may need to combine our attacks for one shot. Can you make it?

[There was a snapping of jaws when 76 got too close, a few limbs grabbing for him, but vines filled with razor-like thorns at least as enough to give him the space needed to maneuver out of dodge. Claws digging in to the ground once he was back on it, freezing out some of the nightmare energy ink to keep the spot as clear as he could.

76 huffed out a breath, ears flicked back and took a few seconds to get a feel for himself. Could he? Even with the clawing under his skin, the chilling ache in his bones—]

I believe so, yeah.

[At least they seemed to share a few elements that would combine damn well. Make the most of it.]

[Eustace only gives him one more glance before nodding.]

Attack with everything you have, I'll keep it focused on me.

[Sensing that 76 is reaching his limits, Eustace takes it upon himself to take on the riskier role of being "bait" so that 76 has all the time and opportunity he needs. With several large yellow spheres forming around him, Eustace runs in, slamming it with the high voltage as he channels every positive emotion he has into them to strengthen his attacks. All of this is gearing up to one final charge attack once 76 is ready.]

Got it- and watch your steps, still try to have your back.

[If something went wrong, he would dive in.

It gave 76 time to build up that bit of electrical ice as he moved around for an ideal spot to hit it from, even as vines grew to help act as a path to keep him out of the ink. Pulling off the nightmare energy building up in to him and shoving it right in with his dreamotion to give it the needed boost for a good and solid hit—

76 went right for the point that seemed to actually be 'bleeding', charging in with a large blade-like structure of ice that crackled with blue electricity, driving it it as deeply as he could. The frozen and thorn covered vines acting as much as a shield as it could to keep the nearest heads from snapping in to him. Pushing every bit of dreamotion in to it as he could, create a stronger charge and make the opening even wider; over power the damned thing and be done with it.]

[Eustace keeps up the assault on his end, leaping in and out as he continues to strike down with ice and lightning. But when 76 finally moves in for his attack, Eustace is quick to help add to the finishing blow. With the noctaser floundering, he concentrates one last barrage of lightning that descends from the skies, slamming into that opening. For a moment the light is so blinding, the heat searing, before it all fades.

All that remains is the lifeless body of the horrid creature, its body a charred and frozen mess as it slowly disintegrates into black smoke and ash.

Panting Eustace watches before he immediately snaps his attention to 76, bounding over to him.]

[It was a lot, but given the circumstances could only hope that it was enough. Eyes closed tightly even as he kept flooding what power he could, endure the heat with how close he had to be before he was finally leaping back- not quite as agile as before, just a little sluggish, shaking off as he still at least managed to land on some vines from earlier.

Did a full body shake, stumbling once before regaining his balance. Head lifting as an ear perked- canine teeth were more obvious, longer, and some fur looked darker against what was already black, but otherwise?

76 was keeping himself together, despite the frost still existing where paws touched down. Letting out a huff-]

You good?

[Of course he'd ask.]

I'm fine, but you?

[He's noticed the changes and it's a bit concerning. If 76 has a hold on it then it's fine, but if not...]

Don't push it if you can't hold it.

I'll shake it off the sooner we get out of this.

[The corruption certainly made it riskier to use Nightmare energy as a boost, but with shit like that out here in the darkness of new moons- it was a risk he was willing to to toe the line of. High risk, high reward.

His head tipped towards where the dreamotion wolves were guarding the pups-]

So long as they remain like that? Got a handle on it.

[A good enough indicator that he as still in control. So long as the shadow didn't overtake the light.]

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