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.

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[He follows her down, but he's surprised by her sudden kiss, unable to move at first. But the warmth and love he feels from it warms him and he almost wants to chase her back. But he just refrains and as soon as she takes out the crystal, he quickly takes it into his hands.]

...Be careful while handling these...

[Even now, he'll never stop worrying about her, never stop showing concern and cautioning her. Though it's a valid one at least—if not handled carefully the crystals could drain her dreamotion energy instead and they do not need another reason for Eustace to spiral for his inability to deal with this and putting her in harm's way.

But it's going to be quickly obviously that one crystal is not enough as it instantly flashes and sparkles in bright light, indicating that it's absorbed as much as it can. It will take all four crystals he had on him to finally absorb enough nightmare energy that his arm returns to normal.

However, while the storm clouds have mostly cleared and the electricity has faded to just a harmless buzz, the black ice around them remain and black shadows and mist persist. It's much less thick than before, more like a thin veil that flickers in and out, but it's testament to how close Eustace really had come to becoming a full noctaere.]

[She nods at his warning.]

I know. We got this.

[They always do. As they've proven time and time again, they can overcome anything together, and this time is no different than the other dozens of times they've had to find their way out of trouble. From the forests of Camelot to the dreamscapes here, there's never been a time when they couldn't. So, Tifa offers him her most confident, most reassuring smile as they hold the crystal together.

And when their first crystal is filled to its brim with the magic, she sets it aside and reaches for another, and then the next, and then the next, until all four crystal shards are shimmering with light. Carefully, Tifa places the last one on the ground with the others, and she holds a hand to the side of his face, her thumb tracing an affectionate line over his jaw.]

You feel any different?

[Besides absorbing the nightmare energy, she can't say she fully knows how they work, or if their effects are immediate, but now that the full moon phase has come and they've been able to gather up what they could of it, the air does feel a little less stifling...]

It's...better.

[Which considering where they started from is a good thing. Seeing the number of crystals used and how much he feels remaining, however, concerns him. In fairness he only held onto the smaller crystals to donate larger ones for the team going out as they would need it more. Would larger crystals work better? Could they somehow bring these back to Songerein...?]

It was definitely effective...but not enough.

[He takes another trembling breath before he leans heavily against Tifa, clearly worn out from it all.]

...I'm sorry... I don't think I can move...

[And he knows they need to leave before the new moon phase hits and the cycle repeats.]

[She catches Eustace easily in her arms and allows him to rest all his weight on her, and she wraps herself around him, guiding his head to her shoulder.]

No?

[Tifa could try carrying him back, but even she's still feeling the exhaustion from her earlier efforts with her dreamotion. She tests the waters, carefully slinging his arm around her shoulders and trying to lift, but she hardly gets up onto her knees before she feels them giving out.]

Ugh... I don't think... this is going to work...

[And suddenly, as she deflates back into the flowers, she feels helpless and defeated. The full moon offers them a brief respite, but it's not enough for them to be able to rest and recuperate before they head back, or for her to drag both of them to the temple in time for the next moon shift. Yes, she managed to pull him free from his nightmare, but now they are stuck, and what is there for Tifa to do for him...?

... Why does she keep failing him...

She opens her mouth to apologize, but a rustling in the bamboo startles the words away, and before she can do so much as balling her hands into fists to prepare to strike down whatever it is, a large black wolf unveils itself from the shadows and whines when it sees them.]

Wait, is that...?

[It looks like the mother of that pup they saved earlier.]

[He can feel her frustration, and there's his own for falling for the trap and becoming like this to begin with. He can only blame himself and he wants to say something to her, but the wolf appears before them.

It is indeed the mother and she can quickly understand their predicament. Her ears flatten at all the nightmare energy that still persists, but she just quickly bounds over the ground, avoiding the ice patches before reaching them. She muzzles both of them in reassurance before lowering herself and looking at them.

Come on, hop on.

Eustace can get the idea, but he grimaces as he moves his arms to try and grasp the wolf's neck, feeling as if all his strength has left him.]

[Her eyes blink wide in surprise when the wolf lowers herself. Did she come all the way out here to get them? How did she even know to come and find them in the first place? There isn't much time to question it, because as soon as she sees Eustace struggling to get onto the wolf's back, she helps him, bearing some of his weight on herself until she's sure that he's on safely. Her fingers comb his hair back away from his eyes before she's hopping on behind him where she leans forward with both arms caging him on either side protectively.]

Thank you...

[She murmurs it to the wolf as she buries her face into the back of Eustace's neck, and there's only a small whine in affirmation before she takes off at a steady run, weaving through the bamboo to carry them out of the forest.]

... I'm sorry I couldn't do more.

[It's so strange to be in this kind of position since it's usually reversed, but he's not going to protest as he just uses his remaining strength to hold on. To think not long ago he was the one who was carrying Tifa through...]

Don't be.

[He rests his head against hers, a hand finding hers to hold and thread his fingers through.]

...It was my mistake getting caught like that... And you still helped pull me out of it. That's the hardest part.

Edited 2022-06-26 23:29 (UTC)

[She looses a quiet, contented sigh when she feels his fingers weave between hers, and she gives his hand a light squeeze.]

It wasn't your fault. ... It never is.

[It's not as if he ever has a choice in the matter. Things just always seem to happen to him the way they did today, and she still can't figure out why. Just when she thought their luck had finally changed for the better, this world finds something new to throw at him.]

Did you... see what I think you saw?

[He's silent for several long moments, before he finally answers in a tired voice.]

...Later.

[That's all he'll say.]

[She wishes that he would talk about it with her, but she half expected that he wouldn't... Tifa is hardly ever one to push the subject, so she doesn't, and she only nods in understanding as her head rests against his back. And unless he has anything else to say, she'll remain silent the rest of the way back to the temple. Once she's sure that their conversation is done, the wolf picks up speed until she's breaking off into a sprint to get them back before the next new moon phase comes.

They manage with only a couple of minutes left to spare as the light is already starting to fade again, and when they arrive back, the pup is waiting just inside for them, barking and whining as she brings them up the stairs and into the safety of the temple. She nudges the pup lovingly but moves along, carrying them back to the same room they'd been in before, letting them down on the cushions before leaving to fetch anything they might need for him to heal. This time, however, she urges her pup to leave the two of them alone and carries him off by the scruff of his neck when he puts up a fight.

It's on the cushions where Tifa carefully lays Eustace down, fluffing the pillows up before letting him rest on them. She doesn't lie down, but she sits next to him while she waits to see if the wolf will return with anything for him, as well as waiting for him to talk when he's ready, or sleep, or move his head into her lap if he wishes.

Whatever he wants.]

[Eustace remains silent as they race to the temple, and once back in the room he lets himself be lowered and settled onto the cushions. He's beyond exhausted, his physical and mental limits frayed to the very ends. He can barely stay conscious, and when Tifa is near him he just automatically moves so that his head is on her lap, arms fast around her.

And yet, although he feels so tired he could easily lose consciousness, he doesn't. He doesn't want to. Although he's mostly recovered, whenever he closes his eyes he still sees visages of that nightmare. Of finding Tifa's lifeless body and how real it had felt on that moment. Of how quickly he lost himself, overwhelmed by the surge of emotions that crashed into him, faster than he could rationally notice something was wrong.

Even just the thought makes him tighten his hold around her, face pressed against her abdomen. The only thing that soothes him is the sound of her pulse and her warmth, the touch of her hands. Even should Tifa call to him or try to ask him anything, he won't respond. A part of him really doesn't want her to know the horror he witnessed, to scare her or make her feel responsible somehow. But right now he just really doesn't want to voice it aloud, not ready to recount it.

So he will remain silent, his body still strangely cold even as the wolf returns. She will bring in a larger crystal that will be able to absorb most of the nightmare energy still lingering, and then flowers and honey to finish the treatment. The wolf can only stare at Eustace in concern before she turns away, leaving them to themselves.]

Edited 2022-06-27 01:58 (UTC)

[Tifa lets him rest, adjusting her legs so that his head can comfortably rest in her lap. She comforts him with gentle strokes of her fingers through his hair and over his ears, and small little hums whenever his hold tightens around her. She wonders what he's thinking about each time it does, but she doesn't ask, instead keeping the silence so that he can rest and offering him a comforting squeeze on his arm or his shoulder to reassure him that she's still there.

When the wolf returns with the crystal and a new jar of honey left right at their side within easy reach, Tifa offers her a quiet nod in thanks and waits for her to leave before she leans over Eustace, brushing his fringe back so that she can see his face. She gives it a few more moments before her voice finally prods him, gently...]

Hey. Are you awake?

...Yeah.

[The answer is more like a quiet grunt as he doesn't move.]

The wolf brought some honey to help...

[Although she isn't sure where exactly she should put it. On his shoulder or the scaled hand? Better to do so just to be safe, she supposes, but she can't do it with him holding onto her like this, as much as she'd love to allow him to stay where he is.]

A crystal, too.

[She's sorry. Tifa knows he's exhausted but she really wants to make sure that this nightmare energy is taken care of.]

Can we...?

[He doesn't move for several moments before he finally budges, slowly withdrawing his arms so that he can sit up.]

...Let's start with the crystal first.

[She hadn't expected for him to sit up, only lie on his back—she would have happily let him stay—but Tifa helps him up anyway. If he needs to rest his weight on her still then he may, and she encourages it as she shifts closer, tucking herself right up at his side.]

Crystal first, then.

[She picks it up examines it, and the shard is much bigger than the ones he carried in his bag, but she offers it to him this time to hold while her own hand finds a place over his. Immediately, it picks up the energy, and she watches, her head falling to rest on his shoulder, as it starts to shimmer, and Tifa falls silent for some time while she waits for it to finish.

Its capacity is larger, but it is incredibly worrying how much it manages to take from him. All this pent-up energy and from where? If this is from what he saw in the nightmare, then how terrible was it, truly? Or is it still the residual effects from when they played Romeo and Juliet? He doesn't like to talk about it, so she wouldn't know, and Tifa never liked to push him to, but maybe it's time that changes... She's scared for him.

But now is not the time, she knows. If she were to tell him that, it would only feed into it more, so once the crystal's filled itself up, Tifa offers something else. Something happier. Something to look forward to when this is over because she knows he needs that more than her worrying over him right now.]

... Remember when we said we'd do something after this? I was thinking... let's go away somewhere for a few days.

[Her fingers squeeze around his hand.]

Away from the city and the people. Just you and me...

[He does indeed lean against her, his head resting against hers as he stares at the crystal in his hands. It's large enough that he has to hold it with both hands barely covering it. He knew he had accrued some nightmare energy before but had assumed it had basically "reset" when he left Songerein and then returned. Had it not? Granted when he had returned there had been a small spike, but given all the love and joy they shared afterward surely it would have been cancelled out. Had it all been from this place, from all the other incidents? Could that last one really have impacted him so greatly?

He's not sure if the crystal filled up completely, but it's certainly full by the time he feels a tingling in his fingers. Not wanting to risk it draining too much, he sets it down and sighs, closing his eyes.]

...Mm. Would be nice.

[There's a lot he has to take care of when he gets back. Work on those portals, the limiters. Tifa's piano. ...The pups growing up... Toss in anything else that might be happening and he really doesn't rest much. Not that it's not much different back in his world so he's used to it—if anything it's still pretty easygoing here in comparison.

But he is definitely way overdue for a vacation.]

I think so, too.

[She moves so that she can nuzzle her nose against his, and to press a light kiss to his cheek, but her gaze lingers on that crystal a moment longer before Tifa allows her eyes to close, her lashes tickling his cheek.]

Is there anywhere you wanna go? I'll admit, I don't really know much besides the town itself. Only been outside of it a few times.

[And the few times that she has, it's been with him showing her all these new places she's never been. The flower fields, the barn...]

[Another low hum in thought.]

...Should we go camping then? There are a few places that would be good... [And then he recalls something and despite the weariness he opens his eyes slightly to give her a light smirk as he turns his head slightly to murmur close to her ear.]

Somewhere with a waterfall?

A wa—

[It takes her a moment to remember, but as soon as she does, her face is darkening to a deep, deep shade of red as she tips her ear away from him. She'd almost forgotten about it, and honestly, she wouldn't have minded if he didn't remember that specific detail about her... but of course he didn't forget.

But in spite of her bashfulness as she gives him a gentle shove, she's grinning from ear to ear.]

... You know a place?

[If not, they could probably make one if they really tried.]

[Of course not. He'll never forget anything about his wife.

His grin widens at her reaction, that familiar of lightness and warmth permeating through him to replace the bitter cold that had taken over during the nightmare.]

I can think of a few potential places.

Then let's make plans to go when we're back. I'll let you take care of the gear, and I can worry about the food.

[Considering Tifa's never been camping out in the wild before, she wouldn't know the first thing about what kind of gear to bring besides a tent and some blankets, but at least she knows her way around some food.

...

They really do complement each other well in all aspects.]

We can call it our... one year "meetiversary."

[Never mind that he's had several months in between, but for her, it is. Just go along with it!]

Edited 2022-06-27 16:24 (UTC)

[He just raises his brows before there's a small laugh.]

"Meetiversary"? Which date are you going from—the one from Camelot?

[He tilts his head slightly in thought.]

...Was it really around this time of year?

[The sixth month?]

[She buries her face into his neck, too shy now to look at him. Yes, she keeps track, and yes, she's been counting it down since she got her memories back, but Tifa had always kept it to herself, and then when Eustace remembered, she'd just been so caught up in everything else that she forgot to bring it up.

And so here they are.]

Yeah, something like that... when we met in... Celliwig, was it?

[The memory feels like it was so long ago now, but she remembers it like it was yesterday.]

You bought me a drink that day. Do you remember?

[He continues to smile in thought, the memories nostalgic.]

...Mm.

[Slowly he reaches out to take her hand, threading his fingers between hers.]

They had those godawful drinks and when I paid for yours you thought I was picking you up.

[Another small laugh.]

Guess in the end it worked?

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