keeperoftales: (Default)
Forgotten Tales Mods ([personal profile] keeperoftales) wrote in [community profile] realmofstories2019-10-27 04:37 pm

Halloweenfaire Event

HALLOWEENFAIRE—





This time last year, there was still a grand Halloween Feast where the denizens of the Index and the lucky refugees who managed to escape their stories were determined to hold onto hope and welcome these new strangers the Storyteller promised would help them. But there had been an undercurrent of true fear and despair that the Story Eater could not be stopped. Now? Not only have the Aspects struck down and slain so many Erasers- even driven back the Story Eater itself when it attacked the Index last year- but they’ve even managed to breathe new life back into the ravaged stories. So where better to celebrate this triumph and the Halloween season than in the first story the Aspects restored: A Hollow Christmas Carol, borne from the remnants of A Christmas Carol and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Aspects who travel the bridge of light and swirling pages through the portal will be greeted with sprawling farmlands and forests right on the cusp of fall and winter. Normally the landscape would be cool and dark and quiet, but today- with tents and booths, red and green steamers and evergreen garlands with orange and black ornaments, motley costumes and festive, sometimes eerie, always loud music- the whole story is a riot of color and sound!

Even though most of the Aspects are already dressed like their Essence, they still might get ushered into a small temporary shop to try on costumes for some extra flair! Or ridiculousness, that’s also a possibility. Try your luck at some of the carnival games, beat up a Story Eater piñata, or try out the delicious… well, mostly delicious Halloween- and Christmas-themed foods! Though there still might be some tricks tucked away in the treats. You might even have been asked to run your own attraction or sell your own food! The presence of the Horsemen of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, the Headless Horseman, and the Ghost Bride have added other influences as well, such as jousting contests and haunted sleigh rides through the countryside. Who knows? Perhaps you might catch a glimpse of at least one of the ghosts as you celebrate tonight.

However, there is a slight chill in the festive air; the slight disapproval from some citizens in the Index and disagreement with their neighbors is much more pronounced in an actual story. It turns out that some of the citizens- called traditionalists if asked- while grateful for the Aspects’ help in reviving their home, aren’t as thrilled about being mashed up with another story, or with the wild deviations from the original text. On the opposite end of the spectrum are the Freewriters (name pending), who revel in the changes as a sign of new opportunity and growth. Needless to say, the Aspects’ interactions with the denizens might vary a bit, depending on whom they talk to.

But why let a little philosophical dispute get in the way of a good party, right? Eat, drink, dance, play around with the candy effects if you feel really bold, and have fun!






§ prompts.

[Mod Note: Refer to the Game Notes for full details on the event.]

¶ I. A Halloweenfaire. A variety of activities and stalls can be found throughout the town. There are games that range from the traditional fun like ring toss and throwing darts to more specialized sports entertainment such as jousting and archery. There is a live band playing festive music along with other minstrels singing their share of ballads, and there is an area cleared away for dancing. Finally, there is plenty of food about, although the candy may be worth paying attention to.

  • Bumper Swan Boats. Grab a friend—or go it alone if you have the strength—for a two-person swan boat ride. Of course, in keeping with the spooky theme of this world, these swan boats are either missing their heads or have pumpkin head replacements. And that’s not the weirdest thing about them, either. After a few minutes in the boat, it becomes clear that these decapitated swans are possessed, and what should have been a calming boat ride is going to be more of a game of bumper cars… Or boats, as the case may be. The boats with pumpkin heads have a trigger that can fire the pumpkin at their target—only one shot, so make it count! Those without pumpkin heads can create smoke screens to defend themselves and create obscuring fog.

  • Santa Claus’ Snow Army. In the vein of things that should be harmless… There’s something wrong with the snowmen around the place. These snowmen are able to move around, but these are no Frosty the Snowmen… They’re quite angry to have people around, apparently, and will attack anyone who gets too close. Fortunately, at least they’re pretty slow as they hop along, and can be destroyed with Essence-based powers; they’re particularly vulnerable to fire and light magic or weapons. Leading the charge is an evil Santa Claus. Not only does he have complete command of the snowmen, but he’s also got a shoulder cannon that shoots pumpkin-sized snowballs with powerful force. Whether naughty or nice, you’d better watch out.

  • Smash the Piñata. Piñatas in the shape of Story Eaters have been hung up for those to try their luck in breaking the goodies they carry inside. Candy! But they're not quite your average candy. Thought sweet and delicious, some of the traditionalist candy makers might have slipped some prank-laden treats in with normal candies, for some light revenge. These effects won't last forever and will eventually wear off. Till then, you'll just have to deal with what your sweet tooth has brought upon thee. [Note: Refer to the Game Notes for all the possible candy effects.]

  • Food Stalls. If you don't fancy candy, don't worry! There are plenty of food stalls offering other carnival treats, from turkey legs to cider. Careful though, some of those turkey legs might actually be candy flavored. There is also a selection of pies to choose from. Some are your usual flavors of pie, like pecan or sweet potato, but a traditionalist baker might be tempted to slip you an eggnog pie laced with crickets or squid tentacles. Meanwhile, some of the more ambitious Freewriters might be trying a bit too hard to please the Aspects, offering creations like whole turgooduckens Wellington and three-story haunted mansions built from gingerbread and fruitcake! Good luck to your stomach. There also appear to be a bit of a commotion by the cider booths too. Apparently people arguing over which is better, pumpkin or apple? Which side will you choose? Or will you try to subdue the tension?


¶ II. Gifts from the Horsemen. The three horsemen of Christmas Past, Present, and Future will randomly hand out small presents to everyone with each gift matching their job. Opening the gift will provide display a brief memory or vision.

  • Past: This pale green box rests easily in the palm of one's hand and is topped with a sparkling yellow bow. Upon opening, a bright light shines from within and a brief memory will play before them. This memory will reflect a happier moment in the past of their own life. Of course it may be bittersweet in the present, but at least in the past they were happy.

  • Present: A brilliant red bag tied with a white ribbon. Once opened, a flurry of snow will burst from the bag and reflect a vision that represents how they are now in the Realm. Perhaps it's something they are worried about or an accomplishment they've recently achieved. Whatever it is, it is meant to be a reflection of who they are now.

  • Future: A black envelope with a golden seal. Upon opening, black smoke billows out to wrap around the envelope. In this smoke there is a heavier vision alluded within: their world as it's being attacked by the Story Eater. However, how it ends will vary. It will depict both: first a dark ending where everything is lost and destroyed, and then a happier ending where their world is saved. It is not a premonition but a what if, of what could happen depending on what path they take. Perhaps that is what the Horseman is trying to remind them…


¶ III. Wild "Slay" Ride. Experience Ebegeezer's wild ride from the "Headless Horseman." Featuring a two person sleigh driven by a black horse, one person is designated as the driver and the other is in the back to try and fend off the headless horseman chasing them using an assortment of tricks such as smoke bombs, sticky taffy, and other assortment of silly equipment designed to slow the Horseman down. The Horseman itself is completely fake—an animated puppet created by the Bride—so there is no real threat unless it catches up. If caught, the sleigh goers will have a giant pumpkin smashed over them and dump an obscene amount of pumpkin guts before the Horseman gallops away laughing.

To make matters trickier, there will be black, sickly rose thorns that appear every so often on the course. Sometimes they chase the sleigh to try and wrap their vines around it and trap it, other times they're already in front creating a thorny wall barrier. They must use their Essences to defend and break through any thorny obstructions.



¶ IV. Magical Mistletoe. Streamers and ornaments aren't the only things hanging around the festival. If you happen to be walking under a tree branch or a lamp post…or inside a barn…just about anywhere there's something to hang from, you might find yourself frozen in your tracks, caught under a sprig or clump of magic mistletoe! Maybe someone will help free you with a display of affection, like a hug or a kiss! Or you could try to destroy the darned things. Normal brute force will only make the plants grow bigger, but maybe some Essence powers might work. But really, where's the fun in that?

Just be careful when touching it, if you can even reach that high. Apparently there are some sort of thorns growing among the normally harmless plants too, and not only does getting pricked sting…you might start feeling just a little drowsy for a little while.


¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Feel free to this for any who plan to have their own character activity.




twilightskey: (Oh?)

D

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-10-29 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
Kotori?

[Roxas notices her lingering by the lamp post, looking troubled. He frowns, walking over.]

Everything okay?
ricebird: (Stress Eating)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-10-30 09:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Great, first the fox ears and tail from the gummy bears, then not being able to lie thanks to those peanut butter cups which are STILL wreaking havoc on her, and now being stuck--

Oh, hey. Seems like Roxas finally got out of that dancing haze.]


Ah! Roxas-kun, I don't know what's going on but... I'm stuck in one spot!
twilightskey: (I mean...)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-10-31 01:49 am (UTC)(link)
[At long last... though it looks like Kotori's now stuck. And... with fox ears and tail. He blinks.]

Really? Um, it's got nothing to do with those, does it? [Pointing to her ears.]
ricebird: (Mom just cancelled... again...)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-10-31 01:58 am (UTC)(link)
[.... Both Kotori's face and the ears flatten as she looks at him, cheeks going a little red.]

No... These are from some gummy candies I ate earlier...
twilightskey: (Huh?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-10-31 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh... so it's like not just the chocolate causing weird effects.

[Oh dear... though still, he frowns.]

Was it something you ate maybe?
ricebird: (Stress Eating)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-08 02:07 am (UTC)(link)
That's what I'm trying to figure out! I've eaten a LOT of things tonight, including candies, but nothing in the last few minutes!
twilightskey: (Oh?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-11 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
Oh... then maybe it's something else. Something around you, maybe?

[He begins to look around. Anything out of place..?]
ricebird: (Rebooting)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-12 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
Something around me? I don't see any--

[And then she pauses, eyes widening at something above her. A plant... a tiny green plant with white berries and a red ribbon.]
twilightskey: (Huh?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-13 04:09 am (UTC)(link)
Huh?

[He glances over to her.]

What's wrong? Do you see something?
ricebird: (Whyyy...)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-17 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, well.... I um... think I might know why we're stuck. Do you... know anything about mistletoe, Roxas-kun?

[Sora, Lea, Isa, SOMEONE has to have told him, right?!]
twilightskey: (I mean...)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-18 05:51 am (UTC)(link)
Mistletoe?

[He frowns, thinking it over. Mistletoe... it does sound familiar, but he can't remember all the details.]

It... has something to do with Christmas, right?
ricebird: (... What the heck did I just taste...?)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-18 07:07 am (UTC)(link)
[CURSE YOU, NUMBSKULLS!]

Aha well... yeah... it's um... you're supposed to stand under it, and um... and... well there's more, but basically, I think we're stuck under here because of that!

[BOY she's turning red, isn't she?]
twilightskey: (Oh?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-19 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
Oh... so, it's the reason you're stuck is cause of the mistletoe?

[Well, at least they have a culprit!]

Okay. So, what do you have to do when you're under it normally?
ricebird: (I dunno...)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-19 01:32 am (UTC)(link)
A-ah... I... normally you're um... you're supposed to...

... Kiss...
twilightskey: (Huh?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-20 02:43 am (UTC)(link)
Supposed to what?

[He didn't catch that.]
ricebird: (Flustered Exclaiming)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-20 03:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Embarrassment reaching critical mass aaaaand...]

You're supposed to kiss!

[WELP, there is it!]
twilightskey: (Stunned)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-20 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
K-Kiss??

[O-Oh... wait...]

S-So to get out, you have to...

[...oh dear.]
ricebird: (... What the heck did I just taste...?)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-20 03:18 am (UTC)(link)
[GULP, and then just... a VERY shy nod. Don't make her say iiiit.]
twilightskey: (What is this feeling..?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-21 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
O-Oh...

[The realization makes Roxas immediately look away, a hand coming up to hover over his mouth. From beneath his hand, his face begins to turn red.]

[He may not know a lot about love and relationships and emotions and such, being a Nobody and having very few experiences inherited from Sora's memories, but he knows the implications of a kiss, at least.]


Uhm...
ricebird: (Flailing)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-21 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh geez, and she thought the dancing had been embarrassing!]

I... I-it's okay, Roxas-kun! You're not stuck yet, right? So you don't have to... you know! If you don't want to!
twilightskey: (This is so embarrassing..!)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-21 05:45 am (UTC)(link)
N-No, it's okay... I, uh...

[He clears his throat, taking a breath before looking at her. For all his experience with combat, and fighting monsters, and discovering his true nature and dealing with his lack of self... this is something he has no experience with.]

Are... are you... okay with it? If I..?
ricebird: (Rebooting)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-21 06:38 am (UTC)(link)
[Wait, WHAT???]

R-roxas...?
twilightskey: (What is this feeling..?)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-21 06:44 am (UTC)(link)
W-Well, I... I don’t want you to be stuck under there all night. And, if it’ll help, I...

[Oh man, what is he even saying? The more he talks, the redder his face gets, and the more his heart hammers in his chest. Why is he feeling so nervous all of a sudden?]
ricebird: (Whyyyyy do I have to wear this?)

[personal profile] ricebird 2019-11-21 06:50 am (UTC)(link)
[A long pause, and even MORE blushing...

...... And then a slow nod. After all, it's not like she WOULDN'T like it!]
twilightskey: (O-Oh!)

[personal profile] twilightskey 2019-11-25 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
[Oh, and now Kotori is nodding... Roxas stares for a moment, before he swallows a lump that forms in his throat and nods.]

[Right... okay. This was a thing that was happening. Wow.]

[...give him a minute to prepare.]

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