songerein | { dream faire: part 1

Entry tags:

{ dream faire: part 1 - festival }

DREAM FAIRE: PART 1 - FESTIVAL

The first annual Reverein Dream Faire kicks off with an explosive burst of flower confetti and music. The town itself is ~~blinged~~ decked out with all kinds of jewels and decorations and everyone is in a festive spirit. The local townspeople and many of the fae who live outside of Reverein are gathering at the Riverside where all the activity has been set up and down the banks and neighboring streets. After a year of being in this world, although many have come and gone, others have started to think of this place as home, especially those who don't have anywhere to return to or just prefer it to what's waiting for them back home. Although there's no known way for the current Reverein residents to stick around permanently, everyone is enjoying their time and for all its ups and downs, the world has given something worth celebrating.

This is the first part of our double anniversary event! ICly, this log covers three days and is focused on just the festival portion of the anniversary event. The second part will go up Sunday, September 18th is here. For more details and questions, refer to the Dream Notes.

I. COSTUMES

The day of the Dream Faire has finally arrived and everyone must, absolutely must wear clothing that are fairytale or general fantasy themed. Even dressed as a casual peasant will do. But for those who would like something more creative, there are several boutiques that will have been open for days before the start of the faire and continue to remain open during it so that participants can rent or buy costumes as the faire goes on.

A. Fantasy Flair. Regardless where or how a costume is made, once within the faire grounds all costumes will have an additional "effect" where those wearing them may feel more inclined to "act out" what they're wearing. This is especially so for anyone modeling after a storybook character. Dreamotion abilities may also be "stylized" to fit the theme, which could come in handy for the games.

B. Runaway Outfits. A bit too much dreamotion magic ended up exploding in one boutique's selection of costumes and now the clothes have come to life and are flying amok through the streets and the riverbank. Some outfits are forcibly trying to put themselves on people while others are acting out their design. A set of pirate costumes with sword props are even trying to rob and pillage, though with mixed results as most of their "victims" are too surprised to pay much attention. Collect them all before they get damaged!

II. FESTIVAL FOOD

Stalls and vendors are lined up all along the Riverside and the streets, and many cafes and other eateries are open with special discounts. There are a lot a variety of styles and tastes for anyone to try, as well as the typical festival food, but there are some special Faire food and treats as well. Plenty of open picnic tables and blankets available so enjoy the refreshments! Just don't mind the singing fish that may occasional serenade those eating on the riverbank.

A. Cotton Candy Clouds. A special vendor is requesting customers to dreamotion up their own special cloud, particularly by mood. Happier moods will produce thick, fluffy clouds while sadder clouds are a bit thinner and more coarse. But that's alright because this vendor will take the clouds and sweeten them up no matter what they are! Even thunder clouds are welcome. With some special sugar, a dab of color, and some special dreamotion the clouds are now edible. Happy fluffy clouds will have a sweeter taste while stormy ones may have a spicy kick to them.

B. Firebreather Kebabs. These kebabs are the talk of the faire, daring any to take a bite to see if they can handle the extremely spicy taste. If one is able to handle the flames, they will be able to breathe fire for a few minutes. Of course, this does provide hazards, such as loose cloth and pennants catching on fire from overexcited eaters. And when there's alcohol nearby…

C. Honey Mead. Plenty of cat-bee honey was collected for the Faire and there are several stands and makeshift pubs set up for anyone to have a taste of the special Honey Mead. Even minors can have a taste as there is a low alcoholic version that is safe for consumption. Drinking it will leave anyone feeling giddy and festive. Just be on the look out for very small bumble bears and not so small honeycomb badgers. They're not aggressive, but they will be attracted to the Honey Mead and if they get the strong alcoholic versions…might get a bit more exciting.

D. Starfruit Candy and Jam. Special starfruit are available to be turned into candy or mashed into special jam. What makes these fruits special is when cut open, the inside looks like the starry skies and the jam will also appear like distant galaxies. The taste is also out of this world and can make for great gifts for friends! Anyone who is doing the glassblowing activity could use their jars here.

E. Wild Bliss, At Day's End Pop-up Cafe. A lively looking pop-up outdoor café has been setup on the faire grounds, and by the sign setup with it is called Wild Bliss, At Day's End. The closer the curious venture, the more clear it becomes that this is a collaboration of three restaurants in Reverein itself; At Day's End, Lady of Bliss, and The Wild Harvest. Reason behind the curious name! The food and drinks they provide are somewhat exclusive in the celebration of reaching the one year mark in this 'dreamy' town all have found themselves in. A seating area has been arranged so one does need to travel far to settle down and enjoy their treats:

Bountiful Taco (Wild Harvest): A tortilla bowl filled with vegetables both grilled and fresh, braised tender pork, and seasoned chopped steak. A mix of both Western and Eastern spices and marinades made to work in harmony for a delicious taco-bowlful of filling food. Comes with verde salsa on the side.
Radiant Tempest (Wild Harvest): A trio of bright and colorful tacos, filled with shrimp and other fresh caught seafood. Topped with pico de gallo that includes chopped apples, pineapple, and a splash of lime juice to help tie it all together like a refreshing drink. Comes with a choice of wine-infused salsa or spicy verde.
Taco Temptation (Wild Harvest): A choice of any color of the rainbow, these are waffle cone inspired taco shells filled with rolled ice cream, with a few various toppings of your choice! Enough sweetness and sugar to appease any sweet-tooth.

Azure Omen (At Day's End): A naturally cold, dark blue wine that glitters like ice, with a taste halfway between dry and sweet and hints of mineral flavors. When drunk, it may grant a change in luck for a period of time from mild to moderate, potentially increasing with the more consumed. Disclaimer: the luck is not always good.
Dawn in the Wildlands (At Day's End): A non-alcoholic punch consisting of white grape juice, peach concentrate, sparkling water, multiple fruits (limes, oranges, strawberries, cherries, and peaches), and mint.

Pudding Tapirs (Lady of Bliss): Steamed pudding shaped into a sleeping tapir on a cloud of whipped cream and people can jiggle em or slap their lil tapir bumbums
Dreamer Tarts (Lady of Bliss): Like little baked alaskas, a cloud of toasted meringue with a chocolate tapir on top, and cutting into the cloud reveals a scoop of ice cream over a lil cake.

III. FUN & GAMES

A. Leather Bags of Holding. Special leather bags can be made at this stall, with the option to either make one from scratch or decorate a ready made one. The sizes range from small pouches, to medium shoulderbags, to large backpacks. What makes these special are the special patterns that can be sewn on. If done using the proper amount of positive dreamotion, particularly ones filled with hopes and dreams of the future, the bags will be able to hold up to three times the amount they physically can hold.

B. Dreamglass. Wearing appropriate gear including gloves, aprons, and face shields, participants can use dreamotion to create their own special glass creations. One way is using the traditional technique of using a blowpipe to blow through the rod to expand the glass into any shape that is on their mind. The other is using special tools to sculpt their creation instead. Imagination is the only limit, and colors, decorations, and other accessories can be added. Even a memory could be imprinted on the glass.

C. Flower Swings. A few trees have flower swings installed and while some are for relaxing and enjoying a fun swing, there is one in particularly that actually spins like a swing carousel. Everyone hangs on tight for a thrilling ride—until there's a little too much excitement and the branches suddenly raise everyone up way too high, spin dangerously fast, or even shake the branches. Time to calm this ride down!

D. Dreamotion Dancing. A special dancing troupe has formed to perform unique dances supplemented by dreamotion to retell stories and scenes. With each movement, a scene is painted briefly in the air, each one so vivid it's almost like watching it first hand. They can also create other spectacles, kicking up dust made bunnies, ribbons rippling up a glittery storm, and making their musical instruments dance as they play. They invite anyone willing or unwilling to dance with them, encouraging others to find partners to try and create their own special dance. Perhaps the costumes will help add an extra flair.

E. Duels. What better way than to show one's combat skills by a friendly duel? However, to keep everyone safe, instead of real weapons everyone is given ~~pool noodles~~ foam weapons molded in the shape of their real counterparts. They are soaked with special paint so when one is hit, a red or blue color splashes to indicate the "injury" sustained. Dreamotion is also allowed to be used, with the only restriction that no one should enter with killing intent and anyone who goes overboard will be thrown out by these friendly looking ogres. (The only thing "friendly" looking about them are the flower crowns on their heads.)

F. Axing Redcaps. Show off your throwing skills by competing against each other and going through a short obstacle course filled with various targets. Players must throw their ax at designated red bordered targets, using dreamotion to give it an extra boost in speed, strength, and even direction. Don't hit any with the green borders! Bonus points are given to Redcaps that pop out—but wait, why are some of them real!? In the middle of a few games, real Redcaps will appear to try and steal goods, especially other axes and weapons. Capture or kill, they need to be stopped!

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Really? [ That actually does surprise him a bit. ] It does feel like this place has been around for a while. I thought it had been here for much longer.

It's still a bit hard to believe that there's even a world like this, let alone there might have been others. How are people even brought from other worlds like this?

I think it's because bits and pieces of other worlds are here, ones that have been around far longer. [He sat back a little-] Those of us who first arrived built this place up from... a lot of abandoned buildings and nothing. It attracted more fae and others to establish places and homes around.

Even the farmers started up because things weren't abandoned.

[Hands folded there over the bag in his lap, needle held carefully.]

They dream, and a fraction of consciousness slips in- so we've been told. You're still doing things in your world, same as you're doing things here now. You're very much you, and it's pretty weird to think about.

[Not as weird as being a soul anchored to a realm by a story Essence and a fake one in control of your actual body like you never left. Probably.]

[ Dorian frowns as he listens, trying to understand. ] So there had already been buildings when you arrived here?

[ That implies that there had been people here before. But what happened to this place that caused it to be abandoned. ]

And this [ he places a hand to his chest ] is just some sort of...subconscious version of myself, while the rest of me is back home?

Yeah, all completely abandoned as if they'd been like that for years, yet it was made clear this place hasn't existed that long. As if they'd suddenly appeared like that when this place came to be.

[It was strange, but that was the nature of this place if that was to be believed.

Still, the town was more lively than it had been a year ago. They ha really built the place back up.

His head tipped in some brief nod.] Yeah, more or less. Still you, still real in a way that means you need to eat and everything while you're here. Can feel pain, get hurt and- well.

[Nearly die.]

I see. [ Sort of? Not really. ] This place just seems like an entire world of paradoxes.

It's... confusing at best. I'm just rolling with it since it's a bit more stable compared to a realm of stories. [A little sort of sympathetic wince. Sometimes it was best not to think too hard about it all.

Didn't stop the questions and wonderings of just what was going on—]

Sort of fitting for a dreamworld though, isn't it?

[ He chuckles faintly. ] I suppose that's true enough. Anything's possible in a dream, and all that.

[ Even dying, apparently. But it's better not to dwell on that too long. ]

A realm of stories sounds interesting though.

Anything, good or bad. Nightmares are a hell of a thing, and can turn into something physical if someone loses themselves to it. [Not great for the person lost to it-] Can still get pulled out before that happens by others, at least.

[76 nodded a bit, shifting the position of his bag a little. Checking stitches was something he could easily do while talking.]

Folks who lived there were from various stories, myths, legends- an interesting assortment living in a village together, and some a bit further out.

[ Dorian frowns. ] 'If someone loses themselves to it'? Do you mean they become the nightmare?

[ That was a terrifying idea in itself. ]

[There was a slow breath taken as his head tipped, something in those blue eyes of his perhaps holding that he knew too well. 76 had seen someone nearly be possessed, then taken over and turning and-

He glanced down briefly at his own hands, blackened skin and matching sharp claws. Turned once himself, and the corruption still clung as much as it had when it had initially infected him.]

They can be possessed by the nightmare, turning them into a creature known around here as a Noctaere. Coming into physical contact with a Noctaere is also dangerous, it can infect you with nightmare energy. [Shaking his head, as if shaking away a memory.] But not all Noctaere are possessed people, some are purely nightmare energy strong enough to have been able to take a form, and they try to possess people, too. Allows them to grow even stronger.

[ He can't help glancing down at the other man's hands as well, and an unpleasant chill runs down his spine. ] So how can you tell if a Noctaere is just a nightmare, or if it used to be a person?

[ Because if it had been a person, they always had to try turning them back, right? ]

Depends on how far the transformation has gone- you can still see who it is that has been possessed early on from what I've seen, more so if there's still a chance to break them free without... well. [Without having to kill them.

His own transformation had been more on the monstrous side; was lucky the few that personally encountered him had been able to recognize him. None that would want to just destroy some beast on the loose.]

It's rare to see a Noctaere outside of a dream that isn't possessing something, unless it was pulled out of a nightmare somehow. Can attach to animals, too.

[ He's relieved that there's still a chance to save people who have transformed, and that Noctaere outside of dreams was rare, but it wasn't impossible. ]

Has there ever been cases where it was too late to save someone who turned into a Noctaere?

Not as far as I know. It still a difficult task, and sometimes easier to stop before it gets attached- some folks are more susceptible to it than others, too. The nightmare energy stronger than what dreamotion is, tipping over what natural balance there should be.

[Idly, 76 had one hand held in the other, thumb rubbing over knuckles as if chasing away some bit of pain.]

Can't have one without the other.

[ Dorian makes note of some things as he listens. He's glad to know that people who are turned into a Noctaere can still be saved, and it made sense that some were more prone to it than others, but it's still troubling to think about. ]

I suppose that's part of why we have to practice with dreamotion, isn't it? Trying to grow stronger with it and maintain the balance.

[A low hum, and even with a flex of those clawed and blackened fingers 76 was able to conjure up a spark of fire; turned a mix of light and dark blues, white close to his skin as it curled. No harm being done to him, it was warm—]

Dreamotion is our strongest weapon here, especially against Noctaere. The better we grow at harnessing and controlling? The better off we are, I think.

[—Fingers curled and the flames extinguished, the same digits flexing after.]

Still, the balance is needed, yeah.

[ Dorian watches with interest. Most of his use of dreamotion has mostly been an accident, though he's been practicing a bit. So seeing someone do it intentionally was interesting. ]

I do wonder though...what could happen if dreamotion became stronger than the nightmares. If balance is important, could it be just as bad?

Don't know. So far there's been more than enough nightmare energy simply for the fact it exists. We all have nightmares still, after all.

[Seemed like enough, for it to simply exist and be the balance. Some folks more prone to them, nightmare energy itself.]

I think it is something worth keeping an eye on.

I suppose that's fair. That's why we were brought here, after all.

[ After all, if the balance was already being maintained, there wouldn't be a need for them, would there? ]

It was just a thought.

A worthwhile one at that. Think most don't worry about that, and maybe they should- too much of what we consider a good thing can still turn out... well.

[Bad, could still wreck some havoc depending just what it was.]

Some folks have a hard time in controlling their dreamotion after all, and some of it can be surprisingly destructive.

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{ dream faire: part 1 - festival }

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