{ GAME OPENING LOG }

[dreamposts]

✵ GAME OPENING LOG ✵
Normally our TDMs serve as intro logs, but we have prepared a special character intro log for game opening! It is a massive, chaotic feast that can only be found in a dreamworld like Songerein. You can also use this to continue ongoing TDM threads, especially as it nears captcha. Reminder that any thread from the TDM can be carried over. Players are also welcome to make their own logs for things if they would rather skip this part. Be sure to read the Mod Announcement for other information and you can ask any questions regarding the log here.

I. THE FEAST

As the sleepy looking sun begins to set, the small little tapir fairies will buzz around to find all the new inhabitants and usher them to the plaza. There everyone will find several tables of various lengths, sizes, and shapes. Yes, that is a star shaped table along with a moon one. A special feast has been made just for them to welcome and celebrate their arrival. Some may even recognize decorations: leaves mottled and changing to an assortment of colors, festive streamers, popcorn strings, glittering garlands and bows, string lanterns, and maybe a few small gravestones here and there. Some areas might look a bit brown and withered while some of the trees take on a more cherry blossom look. It's a bit of a strange mashup, and yet the chaos seems to have a sense of harmony as well—especially when considering everything else that the feast has to offer. This is one divine feast that is going to be completely topsy turvy.

A. What's Your Sign? Everyone will find themselves mysteriously "tagged" with a special sticker and will suddenly gain special characteristics based off the animal: ears, tails, behavioral traits. They're mostly mild and to add flavor, but they may also feel different compatibility towards another, such as more attracted or opposed. The sticker will be hard to remove, but it is possible to swap with someone if they want to try a different experience.

B. Special Bowls. There are many tables and anyone can sit wherever they want. Just don't forget to pick up the special dinner bowl already personalized with their name on it. Of course there are some extra paints and decorations that can be added to it if one desires.

C. Wild Food. Every table has the same kind of food, and there is plenty to go around. Of course, that's only if the food can be caught and if one can keep an appetite for some of them. The boar's head is a bit talkative and might settle down if someone stuffs an apple in its mouth or tells it a joke. However, it might just get several laughs by the barrel of monkeys funnel cake nearby, monkey shaped pastries hiding within it to chuck out various candies and fruits. Not even the candy is safe, at least not the stringed ones. Licorice, chocolate coated taffy, and others will start slithering around and even hiss, sometimes wrapping around the arm of those who try to eat them. Playing some music might calm these sweet serpents so they can be eaten properly. How about that special carousel cake stand with the horse cookies prancing about?

D. Spice Up Your Li—Meal. However fear not. There is normal food around so it is possible to have a proper meal. However, some helpful little dragons may fly by to add a few herbs and spices to the dishes. They are quite friendly and will listen to requests, however if one is rude or too demanding, they may just dump a bunch of a hot pepper and other unsavory seasoning instead. Make a good enough impression and they might make house calls, even follow someone home. They live to spice up food, after all.

E. Drink Tea. Although there is an assortment of beverages, the prevalent one will be tea. They are similar to the ones found in the cafe and all will help bring out festive dreams and restful sleep later for everyone. However, someone is clearly making mischief as they have slipped in some rodentia tea. Drinking it will cause the drinker to shrink to the size of a rat. The only way to return to normal is to find the elusive cat cookies, which can be strangely hard to find; they seem to vanish and reappear at random, but only the ones with wide grins and “Eat Me” written on them can be eaten.

II. FUN & GAMES

Perhaps the food isn't up to one's tastes, or they just would rather have some fun. There are a few games around the plaza that everyone is welcome to participate in and they are encouraged to play to their heart's content. Just beware of the geese as they are being a menace not only at the tables but disrupting games as well.

A. Playing Chicken. A simple game, really, one that will test one's creativity and taste buds. There is a goat cheese fondue fountain surrounded with various platters of cooked chicken: grilled, steamed, boiled, baked, fried. This fondue fountain, however, is special. The flavor of the fondue can be altered depending on the kinds of emotions near it. Joy and love make it sugary sweet, anger and jealousy spicy hot, despair and distrust salty sour. And of course everything in-between including a chaotic mix. The challenge is one person will try and alter the flavor of the fondue, lather it on a piece of chicken, and then hand it to their opponent. The chicken must then be consumed. If not, the one who "cooked" it wins. If it is consumed, then the second person can now do the same to the other. This continues until one forfeits. It should be noted that the emotions of the one eating can also affect the fondue. (It is of course possible to take either the fondue or chicken without playing this stomach churning game.)

B. Gravity of Luck. There is a special wheel lottery set on a table decorated with rabbits. In fact there are a lot of rabbits congregating here and would love a few carrots. Anyone is free to spin the wheel one time per round to determine what kind of special "gravity" effect they receive. Each time the wheel is spun, a ball will drop and the color will indicate the type. A gold ball will cause them to lose all sense of gravity, their bodies starting to float away and although they can fly and float around, they'll need help being tethered down. White balls allow them to jump higher, small mushrooms appearing at their feet so others can follow. A black ball will cause them to be stuck in place, even fall flat all the way to the ground and need help standing up. Those imbued with the power of the different balls can help balance each other out until the effect wears off in half an hour.

C. Ox Go-Kart. For those who really want some speed and action, there are ox driven carts stationed by various streets. Two people can partner up with one driving and the other serving to help try to slow the other cart down. In this race, all non-lethal, non-destructive abilities are allowed to try and disrupt the other racer. Perhaps utilizing dreamotion based abilities may fare better. Just beware of other obstacles, especially any random crying dodos that create giant pools of tears as water hazards.

D. Tiger Fishing. There are special colorful ponds filled with sparkly gummy koi fish. At each one there is a little round tiger(?) with a pair of tiger mittens. In the same vein of fish scooping games, players must wear the tiger mittens and catch the gummy fish with them. It won't be easy as the gummy fish are even more slippery than normal. Perhaps some other skills could be used...but the little tiger will be watching and will latch onto anyone's heads who try to cheat. But if caught, they will make for a delectable treat—or interesting pet.

Comments

[shithogs]

[While she doesn't feel threatened by him, even with his little pet— she's sure she'll be able to keep up without even trying— that issued challenge still lights a fire within her, spurs her onward, and there's a wide spray of bug guts as she cleaves through a termite that had practically launched itself at her blades.]

Come on, come on, you bastards! That the best you've got?!

[Termites...

Maybe you should run while you still can. There are two bloodthirsty maniacs out to play today.]

[skews]

[ Two of them...

In the back of his mind, Akechi can acknowledge that it's a bit excessive to get so carried away over bugs of all things, but sue him, he's been starved for a good fight since he got here - maybe because he got here. He needs to take his frustration out on something, and better bugs than, you know, other people.

Yet cutting down these termites isn't the only thing he finds enjoyable. It's also fascinating to observe this woman fighting, unrelenting with her serrated blades. It's inspiring, really. If she truly enjoys battle this much, perhaps he can forgive her for stealing his kill earlier. ]

It's going to be massacre! How tragic!

[ Of course, he doesn't sound like he really finds anything tragic about it at all. There aren't too many termites remaining now. Well...alive termites, anyway. There sure is plenty of guts around them, though! ]

[shithogs]

[It's his choice of words along with the pitch of his voice that seem to wake it— the insistent voice within Kainé that has been largely dormant for the last few hours as she's tried to find her way here.

Of course, moving between worlds wouldn't leave him behind. It hadn't before— and with this being a dream world, perhaps there was a chance that he wouldn't be able to follow, but he's there, just the same as he's always been.

"Listen to that, Sunshine! He's just like us! Looks like you've found your soulmate!" The gravely howl of laughter that follows echoes in her head, and she swallows hard to steel herself as she launches herself bodily into the oncoming pack.]

Piece of shit!

[Tyrann, specifically, but her voice rings out as she cleaves another termite in two.

Really, it could be either.]

[skews]

[ Pieces of shit, indeed. He's liking her more and more by the moment. A shame they're running out of fodder to tear apart now, but at least no one living around here will need to worry about termites at all...

Hereward cleaves through a couple more of the creatures, Akechi looking thrilled with a slight sheen of sweat on his forehead. The remaining termites start to scuttle away, as if realizing that they are absolutely outmatched here, and Akechi opens his mouth to insist that they pursue and squash the last of them, when he spots something descending through the trees just beyond.

Another termite, but this time, much, much larger than even the ones that came before. It shrieks at the pair (quartet?) of them, before landing on the ground before them with a mighty thud.

Well then. ]

It would seem we've angered their mother.

[shithogs]

You think?!

[The size of the termite that lands in front of them is staggering— smaller, still, than many Shades she's faced off against, but that's not saying a whole lot, considering. She takes a moment to catch her breath, quickly scanning their surroundings. The smaller termites that had managed not to get caught up in the fray have started to scatter now, leaving their mother to do the rest of the fighting for them.

"Look at that! Something we can really sink our teeth into!" Tyrann's voice is like nails against slate, but Kainé finds herself renewing her grips on her blades.]

You want to die like the rest of them?! Then come on!

[She pushes off, bolting forward at top speed with both arms and blades extended behind her, preparing to hurl herself upwards as the termite matriarch screeches and swings a pincer in her direction.]

[skews]

[ Though Akechi might not be able to hear Tyrann, his thoughts are certainly along the same lines. Finally, something to really satisfy that primal urge, even if he doubts they'll have much trouble with this one, either. It really is pitiful. ]

Let's show her what happens when they mess with the likes of us.

[ Whether he's speaking to Kainé or to Hereward is anyone's guess, but regardless, a moment later he surges forward, commanding his Persona to unleash an arrow at the termite's legs as she rears up. Better to give her none to stand on, to better tear her apart. ]

[shithogs]

[While Akechi aims for the legs, Kainé takes advantage of the queen's own movements as that pincer comes dangerously close to catching her arm, swinging one sword and then the other into an upward arc, managing to hew through the segment just beneath that oversized claw and sending it flying— severed and impotent.]

You dropped something, shitface! I'm gonna choke you with your own goddamn antennae!

[She dodges out of the path of Hereward's arrows, ricocheting off of a nearby log to vault herself higher.

LET'S GET HER ASS, AKECHI]

[skews]

[ ALL OUT ATTACK

He's really going to need to invest in a weapon of his own soon, because he would absolutely love to slice into the matriarch's belly, but as it is, he'll have to let Hereward and Kainé have the pleasure. At least his connection to Hereward means he gets the satisfaction as well, as he motions his Persona to slam into the termite and knock it onto its back, it's remaining limbs flailing in the air. ]

Now! Tear her to pieces!!!

[ Hereward slams a fist into the termite's belly, cracking the carapace and leaving a nice opening for Kainé to slip in her swords. ]

[shithogs]

Take this!

[The termite being knocked onto its back leaves her the perfect opening, the cracked carapace just waiting to be exploited, and Kainé drops past Hereward after her previous aerial attack to plunge both blades into the opening, twisting so that their serrated edges shred anything meaningful inside.

The creature shrieks in response to their combined efforts, remaining limbs twitching— until it suddenly goes silent and still.

With a noise of definitive satisfaction, Kainé pulls one of her blades free and sends a shower of bug guts spraying across the immediate area in the process. Sorry about your shirt, Akechi.]

She's not getting up anytime soon. Don't know what we're supposed to do with the body, though.

[Shades usually just... disintegrate.]

[skews]

[ It's fine, he hardly minds a little grime when in the heat of battle like this. In fact, the splatter of guts is a bit satisfying, really. The bigger they are, the harder they splat, after all.

He claps his hands together a few times in polite applause, as Hereward recedes back into his shadow. ]

Simply magnificent. That really was a rush, wasn't it? I haven't felt so alive since I arrived here.

[ Approaching the carcass, he gives the side of the termite queen's body a nice kick. ]

I see no issue with leaving it for vultures to make off with. I've yet to see them in this world, but there are always other creatures about to eat dead things.

[shithogs]

[Man, they really do have similar tastes. Kainé is grinning broadly as she brings the end of her sword to rest against the ground, leaning her weight on it so that her torso settles into a comfortable slouch.

He's right. It was a rush— even Tyrann's stupid cackling can't change that.]

Guess so. Every place has carrion.

[Or things just... decay. Gross, but if it just ends up becoming a stinking, rotting mess, someone else will probably be bothered enough to clean it up.]

You know, you don't look like much, but that was pretty cool. That— monster thing you've got.

[skews]

[ While he tends to prefer to be tidier with his kills, this is admittedly a very different situation, and unlike in the Metaverse, this monster isn't going to conveniently dissipate the way a Shadow would. Still, it's not his problem. He did his due diligence in helping kill the damn thing.

What good public servants they are.

He rolls a loose sleeve back up to the elbow, tucking a strand of hair behind his ear. ]

You know what they say. Appearances can be deceiving.

[ He says with the most winning smile. ]

Put simply, Hereward is a physical manifestation of my own willpower, called a Persona. Even lacking such a power yourself, you're quite capable with those swords. Perhaps once I get one of my own, we could spar sometime.

[shithogs]

No fucking kidding.

[Seriously, look at yourself in a mirror sometime, kid.

She frowns as she considers his explanation— as much as it had reminded her of a Shade, it's not quite a monster. Not... quite the same as Tyrann. Something that comes from him, rather than something he let inside.]

So it's a part of you... think I get that.

[It might even be more unsettling that he can manifest that all on his own, without having a monster inside to make it possible— but it does throw her own choices into sharper relief.]

You know how to use a sword?

[skews]

[ That she doesn't have any further questions about his Persona but asks him about his sword skills does strike him as a bit amusing. Then again, he doesn't appear to be much of a combatant at first blush, especially standing next to her and her wicked blades. ]

Why, of course. Finding a suitable replacement for the one I'm used to using is at the top of my list of priorities. After all, it wouldn't do to let Hereward have all the fun.

[ So, yes, he's even more ruthless with a sword in hand. It probably won't be a laser sword here, but he can manage. ]

Who knows? Maybe there's even a bit you can learn from me as well.

[shithogs]

[Look, she's used to just accepting a lot of weird shit at face value.]

Wouldn't count on it.

[Her own swords have been her life for years; they're an extension of herself. The idea that she might have anything to learn is ludicrous— at least to her. There might be something to be said for refining technique.]

Still, be interested to see that whenever you manage to get your hands on one. I'm sure there are other pests that'll need exterminating.

[skews]

[ Damn, she's certainly sure of herself. It might be bracing, but he doesn't mind that sort of attitude. It's how he would respond if their positions were reversed, after all. Rather, he respects her bluntness. ]

Then until we meet again in combat.

[ Whether against one another or against a third party he doesn't specify. It could go either way, really. ]

Don't catch a cold.

[ She is asking for one being out in her underwear...and with that, he turns to go, without so much as a wave. ]