dreamposts: (Default)
dreamposts ([personal profile] dreamposts) wrote in [community profile] songerein2022-12-16 01:00 pm

{ gingerbread town | test drive #09 - december 2022 }




GINGERBREAD TOWN


On Tuesday the 27th, with no warning whatsoever, everyone will awaken and find the entire town transformed into gingerbread and candy, from peppermint candy cane trees, to gumdrop bushes, to chocolate brick roads. They will also find themselves changed into one of the following forms: gingerbread figures, nutcrackers, or wooden figurines. It's a complete transformation—no costumes or partials this time! Although they can move and use most of their abilities, it's a bit hampered when it's also discovered that everything has shrunk down a bit in size. Not only that, but there is an indestructible magiglass dome over the town to prevent anyone from breaking in—or out. So if there is anyone who happened to be out of town at the time, they will not be changed and will be stuck outside. The Tree of Stories, the Observatory, and the Carnival park are excluded from the change and remain normal.

Fortunately a pair of gingerbread twins named "Hansel" and "Gretel" as well as the tapirs are there to help explain what happened. The town has been cursed by the witch who inhabited that suspicious house from the Dream Board, and everyone needs to band together to do two things to break out of curse: 1) gather enough dreamotion music notes to charge up the golden chocolate bell hanging at the Plaza and 2) break into the gingerbread house and destroy the witch.

————— ⊰∙∘☽༓☾∘∙⊱ —————

More details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in December and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of December 27 through 31. TDM only characters can only thread within this log. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count December as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual as people randomly disappear already, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Sunday, December 25th and Applications will open on January 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until March.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view; updated 12/30)

Adventure Time - Finn the Human
Adventure Time - Jake the Dog
Ai: The Somnium Files - Mizuki Okiura
Bleach - Riruka Dokugamine
Bunjou Stray Dogs - Ryunosuke Akutagawa
Chainsaw Man - Denji
Don't Starve Together - Wendy Carter
Fallout 3 - The Lone Wanderer
Final Fantasy XIII-2 - Noel Kreiss
Final Fantasy XIV - Y'shtola Rhul
Fire Emblem: Three Houses - Bernadetta von Varley
Forgotten Realms - Jarlaxle Baenre
Friends at the Table: COUNTER/Weight - Cassander Timaeus Berenice
Genshin Impact - Amber
Genshin Impact - Scaramouche
Granblue Fantasy - Lyria
Heroes of Olympus - Leo Valdez
Kingdom Hearts - Demyx
Kingdom Hearts - Riku
Persona 5 Strikers - Zenkichi Hasegawa
Pokemon Scarlet/Violet - Penny
Rage of Bahamut - Amira
Shadow Game Series - Enne Salta
South Park - Kenny McCormick
Spark the Electric Jester 1 & 3 - Spark
Splatoon 2: Octo Expansion - Agent 8
Tales of Zestiria - Sorey
Undertale - Flowey


THREAD SUBMISSIONS WILL BE IMPORTANT TO DETERMINE HOW THIS EVENT ENDS FOR JANUARY! We will request them during AC and TDM threads will count. For more information, refer to the Game Notes.



I. IN TOWN



There is a lot to process with everything changed and the appearance of Hansel and Gretel, but by now most people are used to needing to roll up their sleeves and get through the tasks needed to succeed. The giant bell at the Plaza helps serve as a reminder of what they need to do and many will be anxiously watching as the musical notes slowly gather into it. To gather enough notes for the bell, everyone will need to work together and utilize their current forms. Note: all prompts can be done by anyone, however some forms have an advantage over others. Musical notes will automatically appear and go to the bell when the objective is achieved. The gumdrops are also trapped in town and will still pull their "mistletoe" mischief.

A. Woodstock. Those turned into a wooden figure will find they have the least amount of changes appearance wise…but their legs and feet are stuck together, forcing them to hop and slide around. Fortunately they can control their movements and after some adjusting they will find it's not too strenuous to be hopping around everywhere. It can be tough to get up if they fall over, though.

  1. Caroling. What better way to gain notes than making some? With movement a bit limited, singing and playing simple instruments may be the easiest way to help. The catch is the music must be filled with hopeful, cheerful dreamotion strong enough to form those notes, and the instruments can also be a problem. First they have to be found, and then some instruments may try to play music on their own—and it's not always the right genre.

  2. Snowmen Mayhem. Snowmen can be found all over town, most of them built before the town changed. Now they are coming to life, wearing big, giant frowns as they slowly shamble around and chuck snowballs at everyone they see. Melting them or using physical force only makes them reform back into snowmen. The only way to stop them is to participate in the snowball fight until that frown turns into a smile to release a note! People could even just have a snowball fight around them and it would please the snowmen. Perhaps they just wanted to have fun, too…?

B. Gingerbread Run. Those made of gingerbread will find they are quite fast and even have the urge to run for whatever reason. However, although sturdy enough, they are still fragile and can break easily. Fortunately they can quickly repair themselves with an extra bit of dough and icing, but water is the greatest weakness. A few drops or even a brief dousing won't hurt them too badly (maybe make their icing a little runny), but they can't swim and submerged in water too long will make them very mushy.

  1. Obstacle Course Marathon. Some streets are sectioned off to have a simple marathon for those who just can't help but feel restless and want to run, and notes can be released throughout the course. More like a cross country track, there are numerous "checkpoints" participants must pass through while shouting the famous line, "Run, run as fast as you can, you can't catch me I'm the gingerbread man!" Each checkpoint mimics the story of "The Gingerbread Man."

    1. Avoid the "old ladies" swinging candy canes (non gingerbreads can take this role to help)
    2. Outrun the plush pups and kittens (or just stay and play with them, also valid)
    3. Climb up and over the makeshift marshmallow chocolate wall (don't let it melt!)
    4. Use the "foxboat" (swan boats altered to look like foxes) to peddle across the river (don't sink!)
    5. Dash through the finish line

    Since it's designed as a group marathon, participants are encouraged to help each other. More notes gained, the better!

  2. The Chase is On! Those who were not turned into gingerbread figures will feel a strange urge to chase those who are. They may be fully aware, or they may desire just a nibble of that delectable baked good. While punching the chasers in the face to try and knock some sense into them will be an option, those who are gingerbread will similarly have the urge to run, run, run! Passing over any type of water, including puddles, will end it. This chase can be long or short, and at the end of it whether the gingerbread is caught or escapes, a musical note will play and fly to the bell, freeing the two from the weird curse…until it happens again.

C. Nutcrackin' Around. Nutcrackers have a sturdier build compared to the general wooden population, with powerful jaws and already armed with a weapon—even if it might feel more like a toy. Their movements might feel a bit stiff, but they have their strength to make up for it.

  1. Get Crackin'. Built to crack nuts, it's no surprise that Nutcrackers are assigned to crack through as many nuts and hard candies to try and find some notes hidden within. They have to go to the farm fields to find the right trees to harvest from, and anyone can assist in this. If they listen carefully, they might be able to hear the note ringing inside as a hint. But they also need to be careful—some nuts are actually cursed and once cracked open will cause the individual to brandish their weapons (or whatever they have on hand) to attack those nearby. Unfortunately there's no tell, so it's truly luck of the draw. Shove a jawbreaker in their mouth and they'll be back to normal. With a slightly damaged jaw, maybe.

  2. Mouse Infestation. Large, toy wind-up mice are causing havoc around town. Although they are just oversized toys and don't attack, they're crashing into buildings and chasing people. Anyone can try to catch and slow them down, but a Nutcracker is the only one capable of inflicting enough damage to break the gears inside and stop it for good. Doing so will release a note.

D. Candy Monsters. While the town is mostly safe, nightmare energy is seeping in from everyone's initial fears and chaos and absorbed into all the candy and delicious goods that make up the town. It makes them come to life to turn into aggressive and sometimes cute monsters made out of candy. Fortunately, they are not too difficult to fend off even with everyone changed into different forms, and dreamotion abilities are in full effect. Other creative ways to defeat them like dumping boiling water or freezing them can also be used.


II. TRAIN CARS



All aboard the Dreamer Express! The toy train has a simple track that circles around the town with the main station right at the Plaza. Anyone can hop on to either enjoy the ride or help get those notes.

A. Past, Present, Future. There are three particular cars that Hansel and Gretel will encourage most to go through because the notes in these cars will be the strongest. When going through either of the "Past," "Present," or "Future" cars, everyone will have a "Scrooge" experience and walk through either a happy or difficult memory or made up simulation of that set time period. The primary theme for each one is something that the individual can learn or reflect on. The experience can be done solo or with a partner. If with a partner, only one simulation will be active, but the other person's could begin after the first ends. Sometimes the memories will be passive like watching a movie and will only stimulate emotional reactions. However, the stronger the memory, the more realistic it will become, to the point that one will live through it all and must face and interact with whatever is there to get through. Once they reach the exit, the note will be granted.

B Unboxing. Most of the train cars are either passenger cars or boxcars filled with presents. A lot of presents. Guess where a lot of notes are hidden. While opening presents seems like a simple task, it can be tricky when some gifts are actually mimics that will pull unsuspecting individuals inside of them instead. Fortunately they are not too difficult to beat up and free the trapped prisoner.

C. Hot! Hot! Ooh, We Got It! There is a special car that's only purpose is to serve hot chocolate…as a musical number. Witness or perhaps even participate as servers dance around with extremely hot chocolate and somehow not spill a drop—or maybe someone gets scalded by an unfortunate spill. But when it's all done, anyone can enjoy some different flavors that can last for quite a while (ie as long as you want it) :

  1. Regular chocolate: Makes the drinker nostalgic, particularly for something in their childhood.
  2. Peppermint: Gives the drinker a spark of inspiration to work on something creative.
  3. Caramel: Gives the drinker extra energy, making them unable to stay still without doing something.
  4. Raspberry: Makes the drinker want to get back to nature by finding an outdoor activity to do.
  5. Spicy (chili powder and cinnamon): Makes the drinker feel more amorous than usual.



III. WITCH'S HOUSE



Getting the notes is just one half of the equation. To completely beat the curse, the witch behind this needs to be defeated. But it won't be easy with everyone transformed and the witch quite powerful. The gingerbread house has a lot of traps inside, from sticky paper to snapping mouse traps to licorice that try to tie them down.

A. Breaking into the Gingerbread House. The witch's gingerbread house will be the biggest piece compared to everything else. The original defense mechanisms are in place and people can get sucked inside like before, however there is no easy way out. A little stealth can help gain an advantage especially as the battle begins by those who enter first.

B. Escape Routes. While some may try to let themselves get caught to get inside faster, having an escape route would be prudent. Since they are smaller in size, it'll be easier to sneak around the house and try to carve a piece out of it to make a hole, or maybe something from the windows or chimney. Multiple routes would be ideal, just be careful not to get caught!

C. Fighting the "Witch." For those expecting some creepy old woman, they will be in for a surprise. The "witch" is actually the oven itself, moving and operating as if it were alive. Rather, perhaps the oven is what the original witch of Hansel and Gretel has become as an eerie cackling can be heard when the doors open and fire flickers out. Regardless, despite its form the "witch" will be a difficult foe to defeat due to its sheer size and everyone still in smaller forms. Restrain it, try to douse the flames, but another effective way to stop it is to just fill its mouth with anything that can go inside, from candy and baked goods, to pots and pans. The more it consumes, the slower it moves. Time to over stuff the oven.

itstillhurt: (pic#15817854)

[personal profile] itstillhurt 2022-12-20 07:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[Hm. Well, the attitude is useful, even if she's not quite persuaded of the woman's skill.]

Fine.

[Strategy, then. Her fire wasn't likely to be effective against a metal oven, but she's not certain a weapon made of candy will be either. They may need to use the environment to their advantage.]

I'll keep it distracted. You hang back and throw things. Don't hit me, or I'll be displeased.

[...and apparently she's pretty comfortable barking out orders, too.]
concierto: <user name=rosebursts> (pic#14600016)

[personal profile] concierto 2022-12-20 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
No, I don't think so!

[Venti taps his chin with a finger.]

And I don't suppose you can just leave them as is either...
grandduchess_anya: (Talking)

[personal profile] grandduchess_anya 2022-12-20 07:49 pm (UTC)(link)
(To be fair, Anya was not planning to hold the lady back in terms of unleashing her wrath on the oven as much as she wasn’t going to hold back. But the oven is pretty terrifying at the moment so they need to find a way (distracting it and stuffing it with random stuff) to stop its tracks.

Sure they’re technically royalty in their worlds, but Anya is not planning to be a thorn on Azula’s side right now. She is totally fine with taking orders from another person as long as they don’t overstep on each other.)


Okay, got it. I will try my best not to misaim stuff at random and focus wholly on that hunk of metal’s mouth. You can count on me to be careful with my aiming.
threebetrayals: (Uh-Huh...)

[personal profile] threebetrayals 2022-12-20 07:51 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not going to.

[One tried to eat him.]

I wonder if they'll run away if I start destroying them.
concierto: <user name=rosebursts> (Default)

[personal profile] concierto 2022-12-20 07:58 pm (UTC)(link)
By all means, why don't you give it a try if that's what you want to do?

[Venti isn't going to tell him what to do.

So long as Venti doesn't have to do any work. The harbinger is more than welcome to do it.]
threebetrayals: (Hm~?)

[personal profile] threebetrayals 2022-12-20 08:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't mind if I do.

[Hm, he probably doesn't have enough power to use any electro...so yeah he's just going to start kicking the presents to see what happens and kick any that look alive into the wall.]
monoceroscaeli: <user name="amayaicons-anime" site="tumblr.com"> (33)

[personal profile] monoceroscaeli 2022-12-20 08:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[Putting some distance between himself and Scaramouche, his hydro bow snaps into existence, twirling it once as he levels it at him.]

Force you to move, of course. I know you can do it.

[Without hesitation, he starts firing at the other Harbinger, letting loose as many hydro arrows as he can. You got this 'mouchie, he has complete faith in you!]
threebetrayals: (Oh Shit)

[personal profile] threebetrayals 2022-12-20 08:13 pm (UTC)(link)
[Oh fuck you, Childe. But he'll start to hop around and dodge, glaring daggers at Childe the entire time. He did agree to let him help, so he'll do this for a little bit!]

Arrows only. There's not enough room out here for that other thing you do.

[The narwhal.]
itstillhurt: (pic#15817846)

[personal profile] itstillhurt 2022-12-20 08:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Well, at least you're tactful about it.

[She doesn't sound bothered- she sounds amused, if anything.]

I think the ferocious beast has been defeated, by the way.
helluvaboss: (Go ooooon...)

[personal profile] helluvaboss 2022-12-20 08:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Jealous I'm getting a kick out of it?

[Hah HAH-- he gives the thing another punt, smirking at Azula. Was... was he trying to pick a fight? or was he just being an asshole for laughs?]
multidisciplinary: (🌱 021)

[personal profile] multidisciplinary 2022-12-20 09:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Excuse her for worrying. Instead of concerned, she now looks perturbed. ]

And I said I'm the only one of us who knows where to go. Unless you've some expertise in exploring ancient subterraneous labyrinths.
whatsamada: (Hydrochloride)

[personal profile] whatsamada 2022-12-20 09:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[With him trying to take a step back, it seemed to be too late! While he managed to avoid the swing, that didn't stop him from breaking a leg as he quickly fell down on his back!]

Now that isn't fair, you can't do that...!

[Was what he do to now as he lays on his back as he struggles to get back up!]
judoflipped: (Default)

[personal profile] judoflipped 2022-12-20 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[he's still not quite sure how to take it.

like. what.]


I didn't even think ghosts were that tangible to...eat...??
whatsamada: (Breaking the Law)

Scrooge

[personal profile] whatsamada 2022-12-20 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Here, as Goro kept burning away at everything, was a gingerbread boy staring at what was before him. He really didn't know if he should say something or just let what was in front of speak of itself. Was this a good time to run? Perhaps.

That was why he was slowly walking away before he stepped on a tree branch. Well, now what he supposed to do?
whatsamada: (Breaking the Law)

[personal profile] whatsamada 2022-12-20 09:47 pm (UTC)(link)
[All the more reason for Ken to run faster! As he turned around and saw the sudden shine of the blade, he just kept panicking.]

That doesn't mean you should cut them! That could really hurt!

[Hoping to avoid being cut, he quickly turned around a corner to outrun this mysterious gingerbread man. Will he be able to do such a thing?]
ectoherbology: (I suppose)

[personal profile] ectoherbology 2022-12-20 09:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Typically no... but they do exist in a paradoxical existence of not-quite-dead, but certainly not alive. And there can be residual, tangible goo produced by their presence... in the depths of Abigail's flower, you can see some of the ectoplasm still in there.

[She gingerly splayed the beautiful red blossom's petals. There were small beads of a wet something in there, but it looked like a cloudy grey nectar more than anything else.]

...Or perhaps you can't see it, and I'm simply some degree of insane. Both are quite likely.
judoflipped: (Default)

[personal profile] judoflipped 2022-12-20 10:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[damn did Rokurou always have that red eye???

but he's not going to be distracted, because he's competitive and gods he didn't know nutcrackers could run that fast.]


Can't catch me, I'm the gingerbread man!

[and he's gonna speed even faster now.]
retrieves: (Default)

[personal profile] retrieves 2022-12-20 10:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[he had just gotten finished getting a note from one after bashing it to pieces when he heard the girl speak up. he turns to her slightly, watching the note float to the giant bell.

it kind of gives him de ja vu, and if his body wasn't made of wood, he'd probably have goosebumps.]


Giant toy mice, looks like. They're making a mess of the area around here.

[and he kinda wanted to see what made them tick. not a released heart, but a note. so Hansel and Gretel were right...]

What do you think they're going to do with it?

[he gestures towards the bell.]
retrieves: (Default)

[personal profile] retrieves 2022-12-20 10:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[it's always so bizarre when random people witness something so personal. this time it's no different, and he tenses slightly, his jaw clicking before he makes his wooden self less...wooden...and relaxes.]

I couldn't, at the time.

[he turns to face the speaker.]

But that's what I'm doing now.

[.......................so serious for a nutcracker--]
retrieves: (Default)

[personal profile] retrieves 2022-12-20 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[the voice startles him somewhat, but since his body is so wooden currently, he can't show it as easily.]

Nightmares...

[so more like unversed, maybe?

. . .

he would cross his arms as he turns to Ira, but he's sadly made of wood. so Riku will have to settle with a suspicious glint in his green eyes as he studies the man.]


You know about Heartless. [not a question, a statement.] If they're not common here...then where are you from?
retrieves: (Default)

[personal profile] retrieves 2022-12-20 10:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[that's not the way the memory ended. Sora had never looked back or called out to him like that. he would know -- he thought about that memory so much, had gone over it a million times to see if he could have done anything to save his best friend, that every look and inflection was seared into his mind.]

Sora??

[he sounds almost frantic, opening the door again. but the scene is in suspended animation, with Sora having his back turned to his friends.

not there.

Sora calling his name again, and something in his chest warms immediately. he knows that's Sora. he knows that's the real Sora. it's undeniable. he would never forget how the proximity to him felt like due north.]


Sora?!

[he turns finally to face him, and sees the boy for just a minute.

Sora.

his brain fries. after a year of not seeing his best friend, of waiting, hoping -- he found him on the first try. it feels like it might be too good to be true, and he doesn't get out of the way of his incoming friend as he makes his way to him.

so. yanno. he's gotta seem at least a little cocky here.]


C'mon, can't you tell it's me? If you can't, we're really in trouble.

[because he can tell that that's Sora.

but we're not going to talk about the fact that his voice cracks a little as he speaks that last sentence, or the fact that his wooden eyes are burning.]
consider8: (Analysis)

[personal profile] consider8 2022-12-20 11:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[She didn't understand all of it, but she could tell that the weight fell heavy over the girl. An ever mounting series of trials, practically Sisyphean in it's scale and futility.]

[Or maybe she was just projecting.]

[There's a pause and she looks between Wendy and Abigail. Well, she didn't have to do it alone, it seems.]


...your chocolate is going to get cold. [Well, maybe not, but it did seem to give her joy.]
consider8: (O8ject)

[personal profile] consider8 2022-12-20 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[It was the first note Eight saw too. Something about it seem to hold some significance. Kind of like memcakes, but... seasonal? Yet they were also playing to the tune of the two, a song and dance that did not fill her with much cheer.]

[Well, if it was a trap, then there was nothing to do but to snap it and see what comes.]

[The girl steps closer to the boy, looking in his eye as she considers her answer.]
I don't know. Cast a spell, perhaps? If this is a dream, anything could be possible.

[She turned her attention to the broken mouse, bending her knees to look at the mechanisms. It was rugged and well-made. She suspected that nothing short of severe force would make it inoperable. Lucky the boy seemed capable.] You really worked this one over.