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realmofstories2019-12-01 04:51 pm
storyevents) wrote in realmofstories2019-12-01 04:51 pm
Once Upon a Dream Event
ONCE UPON A DREAM—
§ prompts.
[Mod Note: Refer to the Game Notes for full details on the event.]
¶ I. Exit Light, Enter Night. Most of the Aspects were not strong enough to resist the curse, and whether the vines caught them without even being noticed, or they attempted to run and fight until magic and exhaustion wore them down, eventually their eyes, their bodies, their minds grew heavy, and all fell into a sleep like a deep abyss. Here, the curse tailors itself to the victim's mind, whether beautiful paradise, inescapable hell, or simply the warm embrace of home. The Story Eater has even sent Erasers of thought and shadow within these dreams, all the better to keep them there forever. However… the curse's hold isn't perfect, whether thanks to some lasting magic from the Storyteller, or simply because of the nature of the heart and soul. Slivers of the Aspects begin to float between dreams that aren't their own, even if another fragment of them might be free. Together, they just might be able to free each other from the dreamscapes, and weaken the curse not just on themselves but on the waking world.
¶ II. A Waking Nightmare. Whether by magic, willpower, or simple luck, a few of the Aspects have been able to stay awake and able to fight. The plants constricting the city are thick and sturdy, with only attacks of fire or of a chemical nature slowing the rate at which they grow back, and there's a chance that too much damage will summon a swarm of Erasers. Most will be flower golems only two or three feet high- weak since the Story Eater didn't anticipate anyone being able to resist the spell- but their strength comes in numbers as they use thorns and vines to try and restrain or wear their prey down, and occasionally a pack will be led by a much taller mutant. Thankfully, the Erasers are much easier to damage than the cursed briars, especially with fire and acid or poison. If they're lucky, they might be able to find the cursed Aspects entangled among the wreckage, and be able to free them… at least physically.
Still, spending too much energy on brute force might not be the best idea: sleeping for too long at a time will make one grow susceptible to the curse, as will spending too much time dreamwalking should they find their minds drifting towards their cursed comrade's minds. In addition, the curse will try to protect itself, as uncursed Aspects will have limited abilities in the dream worlds, and only be able to spend an hour in a dreamscape before being forced awake, extremely groggy and with any injuries faintly echoed on their real bodies. Hopefully Erasers won't be nearby to deliver a wakeup call.
Still, perhaps they're not as outgunned as they think. As they travel through the town, it seems that the plants have shifted the landscape in certain ways, almost as if they're trying to hide something... At first these might be hard to spot even without the Story Eater's tricks, looking ordinary, even like seedlings among the vines in some cases, but they're brighter in color and faintly sparkling, imbued with the Storyteller's power. It seems like the Storyteller was able to give their chosen some assistance right before the Library was engulfed. Removing them even seems to weaken the presence of the briars and Erasers in the immediate area, and they cure the Aspects of any adverse effects they might suffer retrieving them, but gathering them won't be so easy.
Black Rose Friday. The next three items are more concentrated in the commercial district.
Cut the Clouds Full Fast. The last few items are obscured by heavy clouds of pollen scattered throughout the forests. Hopefully Aspects brought along plenty of tissues to keep up with the sneezing, but at least procuring the items will make the fog clear away.
The vibrant patchwork of a Halloweenfaire had been a rousing success, all things considered, and a thorough celebration of the Aspect's triumph over the Story Eater. How things have changed—in the year since its defeat and the first revived story, since the last people saw it directly—that the peoples' fears have diminished enough to relegate the world-destroying monster to a mere toy filled with candy to break open. Rekindled courage…or complacency.
Perhaps they should have been more afraid, more vigilant. No one seemed to bat an eye at the black, sickly vines that tried to snare the sleighs, or the unnatural thorns among the mistletoe that seemed to make people feel just a little tired… And once the Aspects and other citizens filed on home and went through their peaceful November, no one seemed to notice the other pieces. All throughout the festival, you see, Erasers had been lurking in the shadows, slipping seeds into one denizen's candy bag or another's coat. (Aspects would be immune to the influence, protected by their essences and the Storyteller's power.) Seeds of power and influence, echoes of the Story Eater's magic, its voice… Traditionalists were more susceptible, given their disapproval for the Aspects, but the Erasers weren't so picky about factions, and all their targets proved as good pawns. Those "chosen" planted the seeds in key places around the Index, nurtured them, even despite the chilling air and hardening ground. Herb gardens at home, windowsill pots, even tucked away corners in the city parks or the surrounding forests, eventually all of them bore dark burgundy vines, just thin woody sprouts at first, barely growing at all even after a month's time and attention from the hypnotized caretakers.
But then near the start of the new month, when the new moon rises into the sky…the vines burst forth and spread. Briars as thick as tree trunks—with wicked sharp thorns and roses so dark a red as to look black—spread and climb and entangle themselves throughout the whole of the Index. Streets become a latticework of brambles, vines weave in and out of houses and buildings, the doors to the Grand Library and the bridges to the other stories are blocked by solid walls of thorns, tendrils wrap around people as they sleep or try to run, and twisted, plant-like Erasers swarm the streets to pillage and lash out at anything they see. And spreading along the briars is a curse, and though a very few Aspects manage to resist, everyone else is pulled into an even deeper sleep that night...
Perhaps they should have been more afraid, more vigilant. No one seemed to bat an eye at the black, sickly vines that tried to snare the sleighs, or the unnatural thorns among the mistletoe that seemed to make people feel just a little tired… And once the Aspects and other citizens filed on home and went through their peaceful November, no one seemed to notice the other pieces. All throughout the festival, you see, Erasers had been lurking in the shadows, slipping seeds into one denizen's candy bag or another's coat. (Aspects would be immune to the influence, protected by their essences and the Storyteller's power.) Seeds of power and influence, echoes of the Story Eater's magic, its voice… Traditionalists were more susceptible, given their disapproval for the Aspects, but the Erasers weren't so picky about factions, and all their targets proved as good pawns. Those "chosen" planted the seeds in key places around the Index, nurtured them, even despite the chilling air and hardening ground. Herb gardens at home, windowsill pots, even tucked away corners in the city parks or the surrounding forests, eventually all of them bore dark burgundy vines, just thin woody sprouts at first, barely growing at all even after a month's time and attention from the hypnotized caretakers.
But then near the start of the new month, when the new moon rises into the sky…the vines burst forth and spread. Briars as thick as tree trunks—with wicked sharp thorns and roses so dark a red as to look black—spread and climb and entangle themselves throughout the whole of the Index. Streets become a latticework of brambles, vines weave in and out of houses and buildings, the doors to the Grand Library and the bridges to the other stories are blocked by solid walls of thorns, tendrils wrap around people as they sleep or try to run, and twisted, plant-like Erasers swarm the streets to pillage and lash out at anything they see. And spreading along the briars is a curse, and though a very few Aspects manage to resist, everyone else is pulled into an even deeper sleep that night...
§ prompts.
[Mod Note: Refer to the Game Notes for full details on the event.]
¶ I. Exit Light, Enter Night. Most of the Aspects were not strong enough to resist the curse, and whether the vines caught them without even being noticed, or they attempted to run and fight until magic and exhaustion wore them down, eventually their eyes, their bodies, their minds grew heavy, and all fell into a sleep like a deep abyss. Here, the curse tailors itself to the victim's mind, whether beautiful paradise, inescapable hell, or simply the warm embrace of home. The Story Eater has even sent Erasers of thought and shadow within these dreams, all the better to keep them there forever. However… the curse's hold isn't perfect, whether thanks to some lasting magic from the Storyteller, or simply because of the nature of the heart and soul. Slivers of the Aspects begin to float between dreams that aren't their own, even if another fragment of them might be free. Together, they just might be able to free each other from the dreamscapes, and weaken the curse not just on themselves but on the waking world. ¶ II. A Waking Nightmare. Whether by magic, willpower, or simple luck, a few of the Aspects have been able to stay awake and able to fight. The plants constricting the city are thick and sturdy, with only attacks of fire or of a chemical nature slowing the rate at which they grow back, and there's a chance that too much damage will summon a swarm of Erasers. Most will be flower golems only two or three feet high- weak since the Story Eater didn't anticipate anyone being able to resist the spell- but their strength comes in numbers as they use thorns and vines to try and restrain or wear their prey down, and occasionally a pack will be led by a much taller mutant. Thankfully, the Erasers are much easier to damage than the cursed briars, especially with fire and acid or poison. If they're lucky, they might be able to find the cursed Aspects entangled among the wreckage, and be able to free them… at least physically.Still, spending too much energy on brute force might not be the best idea: sleeping for too long at a time will make one grow susceptible to the curse, as will spending too much time dreamwalking should they find their minds drifting towards their cursed comrade's minds. In addition, the curse will try to protect itself, as uncursed Aspects will have limited abilities in the dream worlds, and only be able to spend an hour in a dreamscape before being forced awake, extremely groggy and with any injuries faintly echoed on their real bodies. Hopefully Erasers won't be nearby to deliver a wakeup call.
Still, perhaps they're not as outgunned as they think. As they travel through the town, it seems that the plants have shifted the landscape in certain ways, almost as if they're trying to hide something... At first these might be hard to spot even without the Story Eater's tricks, looking ordinary, even like seedlings among the vines in some cases, but they're brighter in color and faintly sparkling, imbued with the Storyteller's power. It seems like the Storyteller was able to give their chosen some assistance right before the Library was engulfed. Removing them even seems to weaken the presence of the briars and Erasers in the immediate area, and they cure the Aspects of any adverse effects they might suffer retrieving them, but gathering them won't be so easy.
- A Rose Among Thorns. Scattered among the cursed brambles are small sparks of color from real flowers. However, the black briars won't be so willing to let these flowers be picked.
- The vines around red roses are longer and more prehensile, all the better to swipe at and restrain any Aspects in a grip like steel if they dare to venture too close.
- White roses will be lost in a thick cluster of illusory copies; touching a false one will result in a handful of thorns or a spray of thick pollen in your face, but the real rose will be the only one with two blossoms growing together.
- The last flower isn't a rose but a small purple pansy, barely visible through its encasement in a thick sphere of branches, even more durable than the normal vines… at least to physical damage. It seems like these vines are a bit less fireproof than the others, after putting so much stock in durability.
- The vines around red roses are longer and more prehensile, all the better to swipe at and restrain any Aspects in a grip like steel if they dare to venture too close.
- A satin pillow in the middle of a small furniture store seems to shine brighter in the others, but is guarded by a minefield of soundly sleeping mandrake Erasers. Wake any of them up and you'll be met with a piercing scream that will stun you for a minute and leave you deaf for an hour. Maybe hopping across unoccupied pieces of furniture might help… as long as you don't make too much noise.
- A few of the coals in a blacksmith's furnace still burn brightly… as do the bright red snapdragon Erasers that spew flames at anyone who approaches the smithy.
- Meanwhile, a small and shiny robin plushie can be seen peering into a toy shop window. Unfortunately, it's closer to the back of the store, and guarded by more bestial dogwood rose Erasers. A bite or prick from one of these will give the victim bestial traits much like the gummy candies at the fair… but this curse might ALSO come with an altered state of mind matching the new body part's disposition, like becoming more placid like a lamb, or aggressive like a lion. At least these changes only seem to last a few minutes, or can be cured by touching the plushie, if you or your partners can last that long.
- Giant spider webs will be hiding inside a few of the white clouds, and resting in the center of the webs might be a shining spindle. Retrieving the spindle will be a feat, though, if you don't want to get caught in the silk and summon a swarm of plant-like Erasers in the shape of spiders.
- If the pollen cloud is more purple, inhaling it might risk the chance of falling prone to violent mood swings, from deep depression to uncontrollable laughter to unstoppable rage and everything in between, all within a few minutes. If you manage to make it to the center of the cloud, however, touching the glass bottle labeled "Love Potion" will ironically clear the mind of anyone who touches it.
- Green clouds will cause more visual hallucinations: a vicious monster, a sworn enemy from home, a really pretty person begging you hither… Interacting with the illusions will make one more exhausted and lessen their ability to see through the fog, but ignoring them will let them be able to see some of the pollen moving strangle… due to being swayed by a floating green cloak. Grab it quickly and everything surrounding it will clear away quickly.
no subject
Oh, was that it...? [He sounds let down, almost sad to see the boy had stopped in his attempt. How long had he been watching?? He sighs.] Are you going to ask me to help you get through this thing? [He gestures to the despair-inducing obstacle.]
no subject
Okay, Kokichi, keep it cool. As long as you let him go first, he'll have less chance of killing you in your sleep. Just don't. Show. Fear.]
Yeeeeeah? I'm pretty sure the last time I had to go through that thing, I was more sucessful with the whole class helping.
no subject
no subject
[He's already trying to think of a better story than "we were trying to escape a murder dome." The truth itself already sounds stupid, but...]
So, wanna help me out? Maybe we'll both wake up if we make it to the end.
no subject
no subject
Good question... You feel like taking a measuring tape with you to find out?
no subject
no subject
You don't get to hear it land, but you may hear the faint yelp of some eraser stationed in a pit.]
no subject