songerein | { gingerbread town | test drive #09

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{ 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.

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.
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.

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!
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.

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.
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) :

Regular chocolate: Makes the drinker nostalgic, particularly for something in their childhood.
Peppermint: Gives the drinker a spark of inspiration to work on something creative.
Caramel: Gives the drinker extra energy, making them unable to stay still without doing something.
Raspberry: Makes the drinker want to get back to nature by finding an outdoor activity to do.
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.

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... Why not? I like making friends and having friends!

[ And... don't most kids like that too??? ]

Hm... We will.

[With a hum of amusement, Tifa follows his lead... But she pauses to take one last look at the nursery before she leaves. Just one more look at this older Eustace as he tucks her into her blankets, and at the baby whose little white ears twitch when his fingers brush against them... The sound of her broken, sleepy sobs as she tries to beg him not to go.

She never, ever wants to forget this.

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen, the boy is helping his mother put clean up and put away the dishes, the two of them chatting happily among themselves about the kinds of things that he and his father are hunting... He tells her all about how they are definitely going to go out and check the traps later today while Tifa simply listens with a smile.

Once again, she pauses to take it in. The boy, how happy she looks, and the entirety of the house, and she wonders if this is the same cottage she and Eustace had talked about all those months ago... the same one that she dreamt up.

And when she's ready, her hand gently taps at his.]

Should we get going...?

[Wendy tilts her head, curiously.]

I suppose you'd be the first person to not want something out of me.

I wonder if you're really okay with this.

[Alphen's going to take it seriously if Demyx will take it seriously! ]

I'd like to compete but only if you're serious about it.

Before I was kidnapped? Me. After? Someone that called themselves "The Usurper". Though, they hid behind the shadows until we decided to go after her.

[Flowey thinks he's going to have to tell the story of how he became a flower and is debating whether or not to do a little trolling before.]

Thanks!

[Two white-gloved hands meet. There's a little bit of static electricity in his touch as Amy helps haul him up.]

It's Spark, by the way.

With that, all Ken could do was take a step back. Raising an eyebrow or two, he gave a small frown before feeling a sense of dread coming his way.

"....How worried should I be about your flames?"

[ ... Hoo boy. What kind of button did she just press? Della blinks a few times, having not seen such mushy enthusiasm one person had for another since Webby introduced Lena. ]

... Uh, Ames? You are remembering to breath between details, right?

[lovely rapport...he's just going to leave that alone.]

Who knows? See what happens when you do it on yourself. I'll watch out for burnt cookie.

[Percy.]

[ Zelda leads on, looking rather pleased with herself. ]

This labyrinth is located several miles below Hyrule Castle. It predates the castle by millennia, undoubtedly, but it is difficult to determine how many specifically. What I would like to find out is whether or not it was built by the ancient Sheikah. To do that, we'll need to get a better look at the architecture and the hieroglyphics painted on the walls.

... G-Good...? I think? We're okay now, right?

[well damn son way to tell your bestie he needs some beauty sleep--

...but Riku's not going to tell him anything. even though it's apparently written all over his face if even Sora notices, but Sora didn't really give him an easy way to shift out of this line of conversation.

time to make a joke out of it.]

Can you blame me? I have to look after you, of all people.

[he has his hands so full just looking after his best friend, but he wouldn't have it any other way.]

I think you're the reason why my hair is this color.

[...he'll take that answer, he guesses.]

So it looks like I came at a great time.

[he's. so sarcastic.]

...I'm Riku. And you are?

[if it comes across that he might be screening Sora's friends...he might be screening Sora's friends]

[LMAO THIS CHICK FUNNY FR THO] I'll look forward to it! [he actually will too, the nerd]

Loona lobbed the flaming projectile with all force possible, immediately illustrating how bad an idea it was in a sequence that required at least a few observations to be made.

One, being that Loona had a sick snapback, sending the fireball indeed right into the flying mouse in a crescendo of tinkling gears and sprockets, fwoomfing fake fur and a last tiny squeak before it became an ex-mouse.

The second being that chocolate logs were likely bad choices for bludgeoning weapons, particularly more so against items that could make the already brittle material melt.

Third being when said impromptu bat did indeed break, it splattered the hellhound nutcracker in fragments of flaming chocolate flakes that turned into molten globs of still flaming debris that immediately splattered her.

And the fourth and final note, as Loona leapt back with an almight FUCK! was that before Loona could entirely lose her dignity at trying to stamp out the flames, she stopped. Because she noticed what that fourth point was.

"...Hey. Alastor? Know how we're normally pretty damn fireproof?"

The hellhound scraped off a piece of shockolade flambe and held it in her hand. And aside the obvious sticky melty mess, she was entirely unsinged.

"Maybe we still have more of our skillsets than we recognized..." She looked back to him, suddenly thinking about that fireball he just straight up summoned.

[Hearing the conversation, there is something bittersweet about it. Rather than the boy, he sees himself as a child speaking with his mother about similar hunting excursions. Especially the very last one, when talking about being able to use his own rifle, how his father would teach him. At the time he had only held his father's, barely able to listen to his words from the excitement but still trying his best. All the basics, all the tips and tricks he knows today first came from his father, and then expanded from his training with Ronan and the other Society sergeants.

Now... He doesn't have to see it. He knows he will continue that tradition that legacy so long as any of his children are interested. It doesn't have to be the son, it could be the daughter, too. Or even...

Now he's really getting ahead of himself, and with a mental shake of his head he looks at Tifa beside him. Gingerbread or not, he sees her for who she really is, and this older, motherly version of her overlaps. It truly is a blessing how he can see it. How much he looks forward it.

...How much he truly wants it and will do what it takes to make it happen. For the both of them.

So with a little squeeze, he nods.]

Let's go.

Edited 2023-01-06 02:08 (UTC)

[It's hard to leave it all behind, but she knows that she has to. If she could afford to spend a little longer in here, if only to watch how the day unfolds, and to bask in the happiness of their future selves, she would... but they have things to take care of in the here and now—responsibilities in this world to see to it that they can one day have this. That life of peace and quiet that Eustace craves, and she wants to give it to him. For now, these are not only necessary sacrifices, but stepping stones to get themselves closer to all of this.

It's just the way things have always been for them, and if it meant working extra hard to get there, then she would do it.

Tifa feels him squeeze gently at her hand, and she follows him towards the exit of the train car, pausing just at the door before they leave.]

Oh... How will we know if we got that note?

That's interesting. I don't have a lot of experience with how larger cities work, so I admit I don't know the difference between a knight and a guard. [Wanders over to the hot chocolate car while they talk, only stepping in front to get the door]

A last name? Were you a nobleman? [Should he be using the past tense??? Is that offensive to hellions to imply that their mortal lives are gone? how is he supposed to know hellion etiquette]

[Not a Pokemon, but close to one? She supposes that could be true.]

Do you come from a world of magical beings or something?

Wow uh, that's... a lot. To deal with.

[To put it lightly...]

Well, I'd like to stop being gingerbread. What can I do to help?

... Just a Pokemon.

[What's a Chinpokomon? Something similar? She stores that away in the back of her mind to ask about later.]

She might be hungry. I was gonna check some of the restaurants to make sure she isn't getting into any garbage cans or something.

No, it's not... nevermind.

[She focuses on Ortega.]

He's very sweet. And an incredibly skilled engineer. He honestly surprised me since he seems like kind of a soft kid, but he's pretty strong.

[By now, Penny is slowly getting used to the nonhumans on the train. She jumps a little, but that's not so much from Octavia's nonhumanness and more Penny's skittishness.]

I guess it is. It's been a while since I've been on a train at all, but it's pretty cozy.

I'm sure you will watch out, because if that happens, I'll make sure we match!

[With that vague threat, she conjures a fire spell.]

Now is it hot in here, or is it just me? Crown Fire!

[With that, she makes a swirling blast of fire appear, which leaves behind a decent-sized flame. Magilou approaches it like a campfire as she tries to dry herself.]

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

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[Train]

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