Opening Log: Welcome to the Index + Halloween Festival

[keeperoftales]

Opening Intro Log: October 2018—

§ instructions.
Greetings and welcome to the first intro log for Forgotten Tales! There are no hard and fast rules here. Just include your Character, canon, and essence in the subject line and post away! Network prompts are allowed in the intro log, so feel free to put one in.

In terms of timeline, the intro log can span over several days, so don't feel as if everything has to happen all at once. You are also free to post your own logs at any time, and can even take these prompts for them!

For more information, refer to the accompanying Game Notes.

---

§ greetings from the storyteller.

It's no surprise that everyone who first enters the Realm of Stories will feel disoriented, especially when their soul is basically fused with that of another. Fortunately, there is someone who is more than willing to explain things—just not physically. Once the initial dizziness and confusion passes, be it through the pages of the journal glowing in their hands or through telepathy, the same "voice" who sought them out and pleaded for their aid will speak.

Greetings, Aspect, for that is what you are now. We thank you for your agreement in helping fight against the Story Eater. For those whom we had to bring in for your own safety—forgive us. Once we have enough power we will return you to your worlds should you so choose.

All of you have been gifted with the essence of a powerful character from one of the many stories now lost to the Story Eater. We did not choose it—it chose you. If you touch the medallion hanging on your journal, its name will be revealed to you and you are welcome to browse through the Grand Library to read their stories.

But time is of the essence. Even now we feel the loss of yet another Book and many more will follow. We will contemplate and decide on a Draft to send you to, so in the meantime, please explore the city and learn what you can. You should have been given everything you will need for your temporary stay here in the Index, and the city residents have been informed of your coming.

Keep your journal close—we will reach out to you again.

The message will remain within the first few pages of the journal, and past it are other informative passages that the newly arrived may find useful. Information such as how to use the journal, local maps of the Index, notable businesses, where they may find their own unique residence, even names of other Aspects who have arrived. And despite the seemingly endless blank pages when rifling through, the journal itself remains thin and light when closed.

So for now, all they can do is wait and learn more about themselves and each other.

---

§ prompts.

¶ I. Getting to Know Your "New Character." Even after being told by the Storyteller about everything, there's still a lot to learn. There's also the satchel and journal to investigate and figuring out where they live. In any case, firsthand experience and experimentation is the best way to figure things out.

• A. Brushing Up on the Lore. Perhaps a trip to the Grand Library to read up on the essence's stories wouldn't be such a bad idea. It might help give the Aspect some ideas as to what they can do. But you know, it would be their luck to have a large tome dedicated to their stories way high up on a top shelf. And the ladder is rusty. Might need some help.
  
  
• B. Magic Journals. For those of the modern era, needing to write is going to be an interesting exercise. But after reading the instructions, maybe they want to reach out, see who else is out there. Or troll people with dumb doodles.
  
  
• C. Watch What You're Doing! Testing out a new spell or weapon? Great! Just be mindful of the surroundings—this is all new and no one has thought to create a special training area for everyone (yet). And while most of the locals are happy and hopeful about their potential heroes, broken windows or almost burning one of them won't go over too well.

¶ II. A Halloween Festival. Despite the threat of the Story Eater always looming somewhere outside in the Void, the residents are preparing for the Halloween season. With so many stories either fostering or born from the traditions, it's no surprise that survivors of said ghastly, sometimes fun tales are throwing their all to keep the spirit of their stories alive, especially with help now arriving. What better way to meet the residents than participating and helping out? Might learn a few things about their new abilities, too, and can even put on a different costume.

• A. Batty Books. A few well meaning young wizards and witches in training had hoped to spice up the Grand Library with a few flying books. Unfortunately, they were a bit overzealous with their wandwork and now there are hoards of flying books overrunning and ransacking the place. Even worse, books of violent content are attacking, spitting out pages or clamping down on hapless victims. Hard covers are the worst, and watch out for all those paper cuts! Help capture these rogue books so the reverse spell can be cast, but be careful! They are still precious books and can't be damaged! If they are, well... There will be more than a few librarians wailing in mourning and will need to be taken care of.
  
  
• B. Wild Jack o'Lanterns. Can't have Halloween without those scary pumpkins! Or silly ones if that's your preference. However, a few residents have gotten a little overzealous in their creations. From pumpkins bursting with fire like volcanoes to giant golems bumbling through the streets to some sprouting bat wings and flying all over the place dumping their pumpkin innards or candy corn on unsuspecting victims. Things are definitely getting out of hand, so either find some way to turn the pumpkins back to normal or just outright destroy them. Bonus points if the leftover pieces are collected to make pumpkin pie so nothing is wasted!
  
  
• C. Beyond the Grave...? What's spookier than haunted graveyards? Graves that actually are haunted. Storybook characters of the skeletal and ghoulish nature have opened their neighborhood for a Fright Night Challenge, happy to use their homes to spook those who dare to tread near. And there are a few openings for volunteers for that night's haunting. Perhaps an Aspect could fit in? Or perhaps they'd like to go through the challenge instead. Just remember everyone is supposed to be friendly so try not to hurt them. Of course, some of the nastier residents might take this an opportunity, in which case anyone is free to bury them.
  
  
• E. A Haunted Feast. During the evening hours, everyone is invited out to one of the larger plazas of the city for a chance to eat delicious meals prepared by a number of different businesses and volunteers. This is the perfect chance to unwind, mingle with everyone...until some sneaky young ghosts pilfer all the good food and desserts. They even have the gall to steal right off the plate! Try to stop them—or maybe one of the Aspects is among the thieves. If not, there may be a food fight on the horizon.

¶ III. Recreate Some Stories. The main reason the Aspects are in the Realm of Stories is to help restore and recreate the lost books. But it would be good if they got a little practice in how they can do that. While there isn't much to restore here in the Index, there are still plenty of opportunities to get the feel of "acting out" certain roles and scenes in the city. And who knows—maybe these little stories and plays will be written down and filed away in the Grand Library.

• A. Make Your Own Horror Story. What's more fitting for Halloween then recreating or even creating frightfully scary stories? From nightmareish to silly, there are a number of storybook characters doing their best to relive their lost stories and could use a few volunteers.
  
  » Roles: 1) ghoulish monsters, 2) unfortunate victims, 3) bloody murderers, 4) the last hero.
  » Scenes: a) chasing, b) fighting, c) saving, d) the final blow.
  
  It doesn't matter how the combinations work. Monsters could be fighting murderers to save the hero; heroes could be monsters; monsters could be victims; murderers could be the anti-hero; etc. The scenes can also be either be based on actual stories (perhaps the Aspect's) or just something random. Have fun with it!
  
  
• B. The Adventures of the Little Scarecrow. In one of the many parks, a few older residents are recounting the favorite children's tale, "The Adventures of the Little Scarecrow," a tale of a little boy scarecrow who leaves his cornfield to explore the world beyond. Small puppets are being used, but it looks like they could have some help. These are elderly folk and their hands aren't what they used to be. Just follow their narration, shouldn't be a problem. Or for those feeling a bit more daring, they can act out the roles instead, even mixing with the puppets for stand-ins.
  
  » Roles: 1) the little boy scarecrow, 2) the scary wolf, 3) the friendly crow, 4) the lost pig.
  » Scenes: a) a battle of wit with the crow; b) running from the wolf; c) helping the pig (crow aid optional); d) getting lost with pig and crow; e) return of the wolf; f) back home to the fields (did the others survive??)
  
  There are a lot of variations of how the story can go, just keep in mind it's supposed to be kid friendly.

¶ IV. Exploring the Index. The Index is a large, vast city inhabited by a large variety of characters from numerous stories. Because of this there is no uniform style to the city. One street could look like a normal street plucked out of a Victorian, English fairy tale and then the very next is made of candy. It makes for an interesting mishmash of cultures that somehow manages to get along. Most of the time, at least.

• A. House Hunting. Among the items found in the satchel is a set of keys. These keys will magically lead their new owner to the house they will be living in for as long as they are in the Realm of Stories. The home will be styled to fit the essence and the location will also be fitting of that essence. It could be within the main city of the Index, outside of town, underwater, in the air—anywhere! Now if only the keys didn't take their own through...interesting, winding routes. Like through a random bakery or down someone's chimney. Have fun!
  
  
• B. Decoration Wars. There is one particular section of the city that houses many of the more "ghoulish" storybook characters, and for this Halloween festival they've taken to their storybook roots to pull out the creepiest, ghastliest, and sometimes silliest decorations and themes possible. The thing is, they've become so overzealous that some of those decorations aren't just for show. With everyone on the block already high in competitive spirit, it's a bit of a war zone straight from a horror story as hanging skeletons and floating ghosts fight against one another via throwing pumpkins, rotten eggs, toilet paper, and stale candy to prove they have the scariest house. They may even pull one of the Aspects to try and win points.
  
  
• C. Pumpkin Carriage Rides. All the taxi and transportation carriages have been changed to fit the season, so there are giant pumpkin carriages drawn through the streets. The horses vary from skeletal, ghostly, and even headless, and while some are genuine, others are just painted to look the part. They still enjoy apples, carrots, and a good scratch on the neck as thanks! Now the insides of the pumpkins are usually clean and look almost like a real carriage, but a few may still have raw pumpkin or giant seeds stuck to the inside. And if someone says the phrase, "Bippity Boppity Boo" they run the risk of the carriage shrinking, expanding, or even changing into something else entirely. Of course, how would they even know of such a phra—oh look at that, someone carved the words in small print on the walls...
  
  
• D. Shopping Around. Everyone is arriving in a new set of clothes, and some may want to buy something more fitting of their own sense of style. Unfortunately they're going to have to wear something still in line with their essence's style, so compromises will need to be made. But hey, better to have multiple sets of clothes instead of wearing the same one all the time, right? It's not like this is a video game or something.
  
  
• E. To the Edge. Those who wish to venture out of the city to travel to the edge of the world are free to do so. They may even see remnants of the last Segment pathways that once connected the Index to a lost Book, letters of the destination scratched through. And within the Void they will see scattered, torn pages floating in the far distance, some actually disintegrating into the darkness right before their eyes.

¶ V. Wildcard. Make up your own prompt! Especially in regards to the festival, anything can really happen.

Comments

Edna | Tales of Zestiria | Rapunzel

[breakingthrough]

I. Getting to Know You(r New Character)
A. Brushing Up on the Lore

[To step inside the Grand Library, she's immediately reminded of two idiots who'd have enjoyed this trip far more than her. Picking up a book isn't something she'd typically do on her own, but she doesn't have much of a choice here. This isn't a situation where she already knows what she needs to. While she already has a few ideas about the person who's role she's filling, thanks to the addition of what feels like seven tons of hair, what she knows doesn't tell her much.

Too bad extra height wasn't a part of the deal. Even someone small like her doesn't trust that ladder.

Luckily she's not the only one who's come here recently. So she's going to take a deep breath and then turn around, looking for the nearest person that's come here looking for a book, like her.]

...excuse me. Could you get that book for me, pretty please?

[She's doing her best.]

II. Halloween Festival
B. Wild Jack o'Lanterns

[The town is in chaos in several different aspects. It doesn't take long to learn that the decorations should be viewed with caution. But that's when they're just being annoying. When they start spewing fire, seeds and pumpkin guts among other things, even Edna can't just sit back and ignore it.Least of all the giant pumpkin golems.]

My umbrella would be really useful right about now.

[Ah, yes. A salty hero. Oh well. Nothing that can be done about that right now. With an over-exaggerated sigh, she raises her voice.]

Hey. You. With the rotting head.

[Well, at least she still has her witty battle commentary.]

Watch where you step.

[Ah... it's foot is on her hair, which just barely trails on the floor. With a fiesty yank, she pulls it back and-- sets the golem off balance rather easily. Everyone nearby should probably hurry out of the way if you want to avoid being potentially splattered with flying pumpkin, when it hits the ground-- or worse, having it fall on you.]

IV.Exploring the Index
A. House Hunting

[Where was this thing taking her? The tracking feature was nice enough, but it wasn't very well done. She realized that quickly enough when it brought her straight to the edge of a large lake, which it pointed right through. Her face instantly soured.]

You know I can't swim, right.

[It's not a question, really.

Although... she's not quite herself anymore. Maybe she can swim-- but is that really something she should try? She certainly doesn't feel any less uneasy about the water standing here. But it's a really long way around and there's no telling what else she may have to go through if she diverts her path.]

If I die, this is all your fault.

[Wait, she's going in?!?

...well touching the water doesn't make her want to die. But--

She did learn a few things. The key being-- She still can't swim. This has to be a record for quickest and stupidest Aspect death. Unless maybe you want to help a sputtering, long-haired "princess" out?]

D. Shopping Around

...they're all like this, aren't they?

[Edna is girly. She happens to like her dress from home very much. But the dresses of a princess are very different from the cute and easily managed dress she's accustomed to. It doesn't stop her from trying one or two on. Neither are terrible but--]

If it was fifteen inches shorter I could deal with this.

[Is she going to have to learn to sew?]

4.a

[sparrowrain]

[ Aya is nearby, trying to find her own way home, but she hears the splash and attention is drawn toward the water immediately. And maybe she can't quite see who'd fallen in, but it's clear someone is there with the commotion. Helping is the only option and she's already starting to jog toward the dock - ]

Hang on, we're coming!

[ Wait, we? Yes, what better to rescue a princess than a fellow princess and her pet... bear?

Who overtakes Aya and splashes into the water without a second thought, making his way toward whoever is there. ]

I.A

[shadinator]

[ Awww a child (?) needs some help. He won't ever say no to that! ] Oh, why, yes, of course.

[ He'll say, but not without a double take at how long her hair is. But that's a question for a different time, and so Shad moves towards the ladder and...hm. Doesn't look to be in the best of shape, so he'll test it out first with a good shake.

Miraculously, nothing on it breaks. So with a nod, he'll begin to ascend. ] Now, which book is it again? This one?

[ The ladder is creaking, yes, but. Thanks to his ~lightness~ as a fairy (although his wings have not come in yet), it's not breaking under his weight. ]

IV-D

[solificate]

[When Varian sees Edna from behind, holding that dress and with all that hair, his heart leaps with hope that there's a familiar face here in The Index with him. It's not the Princess, of course - at least, not the one he knows - but that doesn't stop him from striking up conversation. Mostly because, well...]

Wouldn't that be a little... You know. Too short? [Look, he doesn't really pay attention to fashion, but he's pretty sure he's right on this one. Give the kid a break, he's from around the 1700s.]

D.

[slovenlyserenade]

[He overhears her as he's looking around the shop. Same old habit of listening to those around him, even if he doesn't mean to eavesdrop. But she's likely just as new here as he is... and she's still a kid.]

I'm sure you will grow into it eventually. [he offers a small smile] But until then, maybe there's a tailor nearby?

[If she doesn't know of one, he'd be happy to help her look.]

IV - A

[twilightskey]

[Fortunately for Edna, the lake she had to go through happened to be the one Roxas was practicing his swimming in. He had been submerged underwater, but when he realized someone was struggling in the water, he was quick to swim over to help her.]

[He circled her once before he moved in, hooking his arms around her waist and kicking up with his tail, pushing her up to the surface.]

Here, I've got you. Are you alright?

Ophilia | Octopath Traveler | Abe no Seimei (Konjaku Monogatarishū)

[starseeing]

A: Library
[ The idea of an "essence" inhabiting a part of her is a little bit unsettling. She's not quite sure if it's something like carrying a life with her, or simply some sort of relic. Either way she understands that the duty she has to this essence that's bonded to her is an important one, and that the essence itself is both precious and fragile. Having one's tale devoured by the Story Eater must be akin to having their entire world demolished. And this little part of it that remains-- this small essence now a part of her-- ...It is something she must protect.

What better way to begin protecting this essence than by learning more about it? And of course she ought to be taking some notes... but, oh, goodness there is a whole section of stories dedicated to onmyoji in general. She'll be taking a whole section of it down and transfering it to a desk.

Only that's not the smartest thing to do, because now a young woman is carrying a stack of books so high that it's obscuring her vision. Prepared to be bumped into and having those pile of books topping over you. ] Oh--!

My apologies, I did not see you there! [ Sorry-not-sorry for the cliche! ]

B: Batty Books
[ Hours may pass buried within those books and scrolls. And she's looking quite tired and worn, perhaps only a few minutes away from dozing off. Luckily, or unluckily, Ohpilia will be woken up by a piece of paper being thrown at her. ] ...Huh?

[ There it is again, and this time another page strikes the back of her head! It doesn't hurt, but it is a nuisance. ] Who-- [ The third time this happens, Ophilia takes the hit right in the face, and she nearly falls off her chair. ] Ah!

[ Leaping out of her chair and spinning around, she looks for the culprit... only to find that it's one of the enchanted tomes. There's another look of confusion as the book hovers in midair. That same look quickly turns to one of realization, but it's a realization that's come too late as now the book is spit-firing torn pages at her.

Covering her head, she bolts from her workstation to slide underneath a different desk... where she will find you. She'll blink a couple times before giving an awkward smile. ] ....Oh. My apologies. Did I take your hiding spot?

[ Meanwhile, the enchanted books are zooming around the library like drones seeking their next target. ]

C: Trying out Powers
[ So apparently this Abe no Seimei guy was pretty damn good at divination. Ophilia, having no experience with divination or fortune telling, decides to see if she can test this technique with a simple set up: a guessing game, and that's where you come in!

She'll provide you with a box and tell you that you must place something in the box without her knowing. Then, she'll have to use her newfound divination abilities to see what is in the box. If all goes according to plan, she'll be able to simply know what is in the box before even opening it! ]

It is... there are... [ Look, she's trying. She's really trying to somehow discover these new abilities. But it's hard! She doesn't know the first thing about fortunes, let alone reading the future.

Closing her eyes, she attempts to tap into Abe No Seimei's abilities. ] ...Is it a dove? Ah-- no. There are two daggers within the bo-- [ She pauses again, uncertain and just a little bit disheartened. ] ....No, that's not right either.

A cat, perhaps? There is a cat within the box! [ Whether she is correct or not is up to you! ] ...Am I getting close at all?

D: Fake Haunted Graves
[ She is not one to turn down a request to volunteer, and that is the short of how she's come to be dressed like a fox spirit-- and wearing a traditional mask to boot-- and made to scare anyone who passes through a long and treacherous gauntlet of spooks through a graveyard.

Since her aspect is not actually someone who is spooky, her station is a simple last-minute cheap jump-scare right before the end. ]

Boo! I've come to curse you!

E: Play-acting
[ She'll be taking the role of the victim, which she considers lucky because she cannot act to save her life. It doesn't help that there was little in the way of rehearsal before going out and acting this horror story the group has spontaneously made up. ]

Oh... help! This fiend-- [ An actor. ] --is about to slay me! Woe is me!

[ And you? You're either said fiend, the hero that is going to stop the fiend, or the one that is going to be there for her super dramatic and totally realistic death scene. ]

F: Shopping
[ After a long day of reading about her essence and exploring the town, it's time to relax and enjoy the Index for all that it has available! Which includes shopping for new clothes... And particularly new shoes. Because she cannot walk in geta.

But you've come along with her, hooray! So the both of you are currently shopping together, and you and Ophilia are in a boutique. ] ...Would this one suit your essence?

[ She'll be holding up a garish feathered hat. ]

G: Network
To: All

Greetings, everyone. My name is Ophlia Clemet. It is lovely to meet you all! It's been quite the enchanting day, hasn't it? And an even more whimsical night!

I have a simple question for those of us new Aspects here:

Have you found your house yet? I seem to be having trouble locating my own....

G: Wildcard
[ Wildcard. Have an idea for Ophilia not in one of these prompts? No problem, post your response here! PM or drinkteapots are both available for plotting purposes as well. ]

E.

[slovenlyserenade]

[Capell doesn't know what to make of this... scene? before him. She doesn't sound like she's distressed. And the so-called 'fiend' standing before her is wielding a sword that appears to be made of wood? Like a toy. But there's no crowd, and a couple onlookers stop for a moment, as if undecided about what they are witnessing. It's best to not chance it, he thinks.

He takes out his newly acquired, and very real, sword and steps in-between the fiend and the woman. Sword in front of him, he addresses the woman behind him.]

Can you stand?

G

[breakingthrough]

I found it alright.

So. Just where was it trying to take you?

[She wants to hear this. This is the only thing that will cheer her up after her own misadventures.]

C

[twilightskey]

Uhh... not exactly, no.

[She had asked him nicely enough to help her with her powers, and Roxas could tell she was trying, but he had to admit, he felt kind of bad to see her floundering so much.]

Do you want a hint, or..?

Aya | Infinite Undiscovery | Princess (The Bear)

[sparrowrain]

I. a, Brushing up on the Lore
[ She doesn't regret her choice to come. Not at all. Knowing that someone would be there in her place certainly helps, but all that she needed to be sold on coming was that this was for the benefit of everyone. Because everyone's worlds are in danger. But she's also not going to let herself go into this unprepared. It wouldn't hurt in the slightest to know more about this princess she's now bonded to. But the problem now is that there are just so many princesses in fairy tales that she's not quite sure where to start.

You may find her between stacks of books, flipping through one tome while running her fingers through her hair with a hint of frustration, mumbling something about a bear. Or you might find her reaching for a book on the top shelf, just a little bit out of reach...!

Also, speaking of bear, it's amazing that they let this one in the library, huh. ]

IV. a, House Hunting
[ Her set of keys is leading her home but really, she's using this opportunity to walk around town. Seems like her keys have a similar idea, with how they make her meander up and down lanes and alleyways, through small secluded parks nestled where they probably shouldn't be...
You may find Aya at a dead end of a street with a brick wall, looking at her keys askance, and asking her bear companion- ]

I think we're supposed to climb it, Gustav.

[ Or at a strange little bridge on the east side of town, arguing with a troll peaking out from underneath, demanding a toll. She's holding her hand on Gustav's collar... just in case he gets any ideas. ]

I know you're just doing your job but I need to get home...

I a.

[shadinator]

[ Shad's spent most of his time thus far in the library, and it's worked out for him pretty well. For one thing, he's gotten his fill of many legends and fables. For another, the library seems to be a place where a lot of the Aspects come to at one point.

But this? ] ....Is that... a bear? [ That's a first.

He would like confirmation that he is not actually dreaming this up. ]

Capell | Infinite Undiscovery | Tamino (The Magic Flute)

[slovenlyserenade]

2B. Wild Jack o'Lanterns;

[Capell has no trouble adapting to peculiar situations, so he's not that perturbed by his surroundings. Probably because he was never one to think too deeply. About anything. That is... until he comes across this town. The streets are littered with pumpkins, and several eerie decorations that he can't really make sense of. Or perhaps this is part of the reason he's been brought here? He stands in the middle of the street, puzzled, looking around and trying to make sense of the chaos unfolding before him.

He speaks up, to anyone in the immediate vicinity that might hear him.]

U-um... excuse me. Is this normal?

[At that precise moment, a flying pumpkin bursts mid-air, showering an unfortunate person below with goopy innards, while another pumpkin nearby explodes into flames, someone barely managing to escape being set on fire.]

Maybe not?

[He quickly approaches the nearest victim of one of the creepy pumpkins.]

Are you all right?


4D. Shopping Around;

[All right. Time to look for a sword. If what he's seen thus far is any indication of what's to come, he's going to need one soon. As well as a few other supplies. But there's a lot of clothing stores, and they're all packed. He doesn't care enough to change the clothes that he's wearing, with a combination of bright blue and lavender he stands out quite a bit, so he wanders aimlessly outside the shops, meandering through the crowds. Eventually, being overly distracted, he bumps into someone hard enough that they hit the ground. He inwardly panics a little, looming over the person almost immediately, and offering his hand.]

I'm sorry! Here, let me help you up.


(( closed to Aya; new home))

[Deep breath. So, no rest for the weary, huh? Saved one world, and off to save another. Strange how this all turned out, that before he can properly rest, and likely for an eternity, that he's needed to ensure the future safety of not just his world, but others. Can't have everyone's efforts wasted, or his life. But his companions, his friends, they won't ever know anything about what he's doing here. He's alone again, and while that's clearly not the main issue here, it's something he can't help but feel wash over him. He made so many friends, had a lover, but instead of being left with those as his final memories, he's got more work to do. Alone. Or not... entirely alone, there are others here that have been brought to help, but it's not the same, and he can't help but feel the way he does. Even so, it won't stop him from what needs to be done. He's been through so much, he's changed, just a bit, and he's far more capable, and confident, than he used to be.

Father... I'm going to need your help one last time. Think you can watch over me for just a little while longer?

It takes him some time to orientate himself, not wandering far from where he first arrived. He's been given a few things despite losing everything he had on him. And he's regained a flute. There will be time later to write some songs to distract himself, once he locates where he is staying. He doesn't look too deeply into the journal, just obtained the basic info with this... 'essence' he has; the colours of his outfit will take some getting used to. And he's now preoccupying himself with a map. He's disappointed he doesn't have his father's sword, what had been such an important memento for him will not be present on this latest journey. So it's probably best to head over to some shops and see what can be purchased. From there, well, who knows. Probably where ever he's staying? Might be nice to let everything sink in for the night. He's never been much of a planner, so wandering aimlessly while getting some supplies seems like a good idea...]

[Later that night...]

[Located not far into the woods is a little cottage, his new home, for a time. The first thing he notices is that it's pretty big for one person. Kind of lavish? It's just him. And growing up, he never had much, so this might be normal for most people, but he's used to staying at small inns when affordable, and sleeping outside. Not that he's going to turn down the opportunity to sleep in a nice, comfy bed. He's looking forward to that, just... not the alone with his thoughts part. He has a lot to reflect on, and it's got him feeling a bit inspired. Sad as the thoughts are, he can easily turn them into a nice melody.

Setting his few belongings down in the bedroom, he takes with him his newly purchased manuscript paper, flute, and a quill. But it doesn't feel quite right being cooped up inside when, outside, the stars are out. And this night sky looks far different than the one he remembers. Might be nice to sit under it while he writes music. So he heads out of the back door of the cottage, and sits down on the stone steps, looking up.

He only just severed the final chain not too long ago, and already he's wondering, hoping, that everyone is okay. Especially Aya. He hadn't meant to lie to her, and she took it the hardest. Serves him right, though. She always told him to be honest with her, but when such a critical moment came, he just... couldn't. Even after he promised that from now on he would. It wouldn't have been fair, the focus needed to be on freeing the moon, saving their world. Not about him. There was nothing that could be done. But she has everyone else now. And she'll be fine. She's so very strong-- much stronger than him. She's going to help rebuild the world with Edward, Michelle, Eugene, and all the rest. And he knows that she will take care of Sapran. The thoughts that come flooding into his head are bittersweet, yet strangely comforting. At the very least he will have enough to distract him...

He grabs the manuscript paper and the quill, and begins translating the conflict between his heart and mind onto paper.]

[sparrowrain]

[ The decision to come here had been an easy one; Aya has always been more than willing to help those in need. And even more, this was something that would impact everyone, everywhere, somehow... Well, what else could she do? Leaving the rebuilding of Sapran had been difficult but the plans had been made, and everything was in good hands. Sinking herself into something new and useful would continue to keep her distracted from things that she still couldn't let go of.

Upon arriving she was pleasantly surprised that Gustav was with her - one thing from home that she wouldn't feel complete without. Her closest confidant. Now, anyway. It's embarrassing but she'd spent entirely too long sitting with him before starting to go about town. She'd concerned herself first with getting familiar with the Index before making her way home. Her home away from home. Near to it, she'd sent Gustav out to take a look around - there's no harm in him getting familiar with these surroundings.

And really, the place is beautiful, a little cottage just slightly into the woods. Nothing at all like Fayel, but it reminds her of the highlands outside of Halgita. She approaches the door with keys in hand. The funny thing is - there's light peeking through the windows and the door is unlocked. She frowns. There's no reason for this. Unless this has something to do with her essence? Though nothing she'd seen at the library indicated as much...

A breath and her fingers push the door open, the hinges creaking slightly. It's in this moment she regrets letting Gustav go off on his own, but she steps inside. Other than the lights, there's no indication that anyone had been here. Or so she thinks until she wanders into the bedroom. There are items on the nightstand and... a sword? ]

What..?

[ These definitely have nothing to do with her Essence at all. She hesitates before reaching for that sword, just in case. Someone still might be inside the house, and, well, it doesn't hurt to be prepared... ]

Shad | Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess | Oberon

[shadinator]

A: Flying Books
[ Basically, he's reading a script. Simply pure dialog between characters. And after what seems like an hour or so, he closes the book with a satisfied sigh. He's not much of one to read fiction, but even he enjoyed the work. Although. It seems that the essence that's attached itself to him is not the best of people. And even among Oberon's good traits, Shad can confidently think to himself that he has absolutely nothing in common with his the fairy king.

He's just about to pack away the book to take with him when it suddenly flips open of its own accord. ] ....What's this? [ And then the book starts to hover. Shad leans in closer, curiously peering at it with a scrunched up nose. ] Hm...

[ And then the book begins to flap at him. ] --Ah! [ And bop him on the head. ] Stop that--! [ And spit paper at him. NOPE, book don't care. Book just gonna continue to be an enchanted little thing and annoy Shad. ] Help!

B: Festivities
[ Wow what a party. But where's the mead? There it is. He'll have a pint of that, for sure.

But even with a drink in him he's not going to go into some haunted location for a scare or two. ] Ah.... no. Pass on that one, thank you very much! [ He'll say to whomever has decided to spend some time with him. ] I would rather not fill my first night here by dealing with the undead, demons, or anything that is otherwise evi--

[ Oh but the host insists that they take a tour through the haunted graveyard, they worked so hard on it after all! ]

C: Pumpkin Carriage Rides
[ Gonna just spittake at the headless horse pulling it. Two words: ] But............ how?!

D: Shopping
[ Much to no-one's surprise, a fairy king prefers to be shirtless. Shad, on the other hand, likes to be fully clothed. The compromise here will be sashes and scarves and looser shirts, but that doesn't mean he's not eyeing the jackets. ]

I would say that most of the fae in my realm have wings. [ He'll casually say to whoever is also shopping with him. As it were, the fairies in his world also do not like shirts, not even the women. ] But it seems mine have yet to come in. [ If he'll get them ever. Which he's not complaining about, because he would prefer a jacket over wings. ] ...And for that, I am grateful. [ With a bit of a smile, he'll be taking one of those jackets down from the rack. Sweet coverage at last. ]

E: House Hunting
[ Good news: he's found his house. More good news: it definitely looks nice enough to be a king's villa of some sort. But bad news: it's all the way up in a tree. More bad news: he doesn't know how to fly yet.

Grimly, he stares up at his home from alllll the way down on the ground. ]

Splendid.

F: Wildcard
[ Have something in mind for Shad? Feel free to tag! PM and drinksteapots are also available for plotting! ]

C

[hatesviolence]

[Shizuo had walking through the streets, just quietly taking in all the sights of the city. It's somehow both smaller and bigger than Ikebukuro, and while it's definitely strange and different, he still feels oddly comfortable by the hustle and bustle. He's actually considering trying the pumpkin carriage to try and ask the driver to find a place to shop for clothes and other things when he hears the man's exclamation.]

How what?

[Just a curious look at him before looking at the headless horses. He doesn't seem bothered in the slightest.]

Rokurou Rangetsu | Tales of Berseria | Huntsman (Red Riding Hood)

[rokubro]

⋚ i. getting to know you ⋛
[Rokurou had been more than happy and willing to answer the mysterious book. One would think he'd be more cautious about it, but given that he had fought several of the Erasers back in his world and had nothing else pressing to do, it was basically "challenge accepted." So true to his nature, he's taking everything in curious stride. The wardrobe change is a bit...well it's not too bad, so no real complaints. Nah, the real surprise is when he tries to figure out his weapons.]


» 1C: how do gunblades work «
[One of the first things Rokurou notices is he has his swords...but not quite the same. Two short swords strapped at the back of his waist, and two greatswords at his back—yep, that's exactly how it was before he was sent into the Realm. But he can already feel that they are not his real weapons, so he reaches back to pull out one of the greatswords. Instead of seeing the sleek, black blade of Kurogane's Stormquell, he finds himself holding up a strange sword with a...trigger at the hilt? He's only seen such a thing once before, so he's holding it closer for inspection.]

What in the... Is this like that Siegfried weapon? [Slowly he tries fitting his hand around the hilt, forefinger resting on the trigger. This...definitely feels weird. As he's thinking about probably finding some normal swords and giving the blade a few testing swings (well at least it moves fairly well), he accidentally presses the trigger and—

BANG!

Both the sound and the recoil startle him, and he staggers back a few steps in bewilderment. He's going to be even more confused when the projectile was a "bullet" of fire. ...Out into the streets. Whoops. Hopefully he didn't hit anyone, but if he did the good news is that will just leave a bad burn. Bad news, it'll still hurt since it was still a solid object before bursting into flame.

Eh heh heh...]


⋚ ii. halloween festival ⋛
[SAVING FURTHER WEAPONS TESTING FOR LATER...Rokurou heads out to explore the city and is thrust into the going-on's of the festival. But hey, he's not going to complain! There's a lot to take in, and seeing all these different creatures and characters is kind of fun. Now, where to find some drinks...]


» 2Ba: rogue flying pumpkins «
[Getting a candy shower is definitely not what he expects, so when a waterfall of candycorn suddenly falls on him he can't help the surprised shout as he quickly covers his head. Even though they're small, it still kind of hurts!]

Hey, watch it! [Assuming someone had been the one doing the dumping. But when he looks up to see just a floating pumpkin with its face cackling, he just stares up in surprise because what the what. But then here comes another and—okay, that definitely looks like pumpkin drool and while he enjoys eating pumpkin, this is not what he had in mind!]

Whoa— [He has to hastily dodge out of the way to avoid the spillage, and then another jump when the pumpkin suddenly shoots out pumpkin seeds. REALLY.] Okay this is—[Dodge.]—getting way—[Side roll.]—out of hand!

[Okay, forget practicing the weapons later, HE'S WHIPPING OUT HIS SHORT SWORD GUNBLADE WHATEVER WEAPONS AND FIRING. With crappy aim. He's an excellent swordsman, doesn't mean he's a great marksman yet, essence help or no. So most of those bullets are either grazing the pumpkins or missing entirely, but that's okay. He's more than happy to just slice through one when it gets close enough.

Anyway, Rokurou is just over here shooting and slicing at flying pumpkins, feel free to join in. And hopefully don't get caught in the crossfire of fire bullets and pumpkin seeds.]

» 2Bb: taking down giant pumpkin golems «
[After dealing with the annoying, tricky small pumpkins, taking on giant big ones is a treat. The particular one he's helping to put down is a very...interesting one. One large pumpkin formed the body's bulk and face, and then a series of smaller ones formed the arms and legs. With its gaping, toothy maw, pumpkin sludge spills out to trap those caught in its path.

But it's cool, the daemon has two giant swords that work excellently to carve out giant chunks. Still going to need some help. Oh and—]

Look out, it's about to bring down its fist!

[...Or whatever is being counted as a fist. Anyway, one of its arms is raised up and about to slam down, so better get out of the way!]

» 2E: pass the ale «
[After dealing with all that pumpkin mess, Rokurou is happy to unwind, take a break, have some food, and, more importantly, enjoy some alcoholic beverages. So he'll be sitting off at one of the tables...made out of a giant black pot? Oh, cauldron, that's what it's called. ...With some strange and green cooking in it uuuh he might pass on that. But once he has his food and drink, he's going to lean against the back of the table portion and sigh.]

If I have to deal with another pumpkin, it'll be way too soon. Man this place is crazy.

[But still kind of fun so he's not really complaining too much. bonus points if he's dragged into a pumpkin carriage later]


⋚ iv. exploring the city ⋛
[When not busy with pumpkins and the festival, Rokurou will explore the city to try and get a better understanding about it. Although given how crazy everything is... It's a good thing there's a map in the journal.]


» 4A: living in the wild «
[His key is a bit interesting, but hey at least it's a sword! Now if only it didn't take him all over town. Seriously, through random stores, he almost entered another house, across a small pond—if he hadn't been uncertain about where to go he would have taken different routes (he may have had to go in a circle once).

And when he finally manages to stick to a main road, turns out he's now facing what looks like a way outside of the city with dense forests ahead.]

...Well this can't be right. [Just turning to the left and right, looking around before down again at the key. But every time he turns in a direction, like a compass the point turns to the direction into the woods. ...Huh...] But guess it's somewhere out here...?

[Tossing the key up into the air before catching it, he thinks it over for a moment before continuing on. If he's a hunter, maybe it makes sense? Let's just hope no weird creatures are around—or that he has to actually camp out.]

» 4E: at the edge of the world «
[Although not actually close, the perks of living out in the forest is that it cuts the distance to the edge so it makes venturing out to explore easy. And now that he's out here, he sits atop a large boulder, staring into the void.]

So...does that mean this world is flat? Or round?

[He's murmuring more to himself than really asking a question, thinking of when he had gotten a view of his own world from Inominat's temple.]


⋚ v. wildcard ⋛
[Any other ideas or mashing some of these up together is totally cool! Feel free to ping me on laenavesse or Discord.]

2E.

[breakingthrough]

[There's hardly anything immediately recognizable left about the girl sitting on the edge of one of the nearby cauldrons, kicking her legs and ignoring any of the strange looks she might have got for choosing to do so. In an effort to make her sudden abundance of hair manageable, it's been braided and hangs heavily over her right shoulder; her own green ribbon keeping it secured at the end.

Her outfit has been personally tailored into something shorter, similar enough to her own style. And while it's significantly less useful here, a fashionable parasol befitting a princess hangs from her right hand.

Listening to him, though, she simply feels like chiming in with a dry smirk on her face.]

The people outside saved nearly every last scrap of those things.

[She shrugs, tapping the closed parasol on the side of the cauldron.]

We'll probably be eating them for the next hundred years.

Varian | Tangled: the Series | Puss in Boots

[solificate]

A: Watch What You’re Doing!
[Varian’s not sure how to adjust to any of this, and really, having a weapon isn’t the strangest part of all of it by far. But it’s still something entirely new to him, and he’d like to learn how to use the clawed brass knuckles with a degree of comfort in a practice situation before he’s in actual danger.

He doesn’t really get that far, though, because there’s that which actually is the strangest part of it – his new tail. It keeps twitching; he’s not sure why. Maybe it’s the nerves, or maybe this is just how being kind of a cat will go how he’s here. Whatever the case, the fluffy tail has really made a big production out of his attempt to find a good place to practice with his “claws”, as it keeps knocking into people. The locals grumble at him, and the next person he knocks against happens to be a fellow Aspect, not that he realizes it.]

Again? I’m so sorry!


B: Brushing Up on the Lore+Batty Books
[When Varian headed to the library, he’d intended to just read over the story of Puss in Boots and then be done with it. And he did get to read the book, but then he found himself being approached by a small flock of flying books.]

How is this - [ - Possible? He doesn’t have much time for curiosity and awe, or even remembering hello, magic, before the books start to attack. He’s quick to take out his Cat Claws; it looks like that practice time is finally here. Except the moment he does so, a librarian is shouting for him to show mercy, and Varian stops to stare at them.]

…Wait, seriously? [And then the books are coming down on him again. Great.]


C: House Hunting+Magic Journals
[Varian’s been lead to his new home with minimal difficulty. It’s a mill, which is slightly disappointing after reading that the character he has the essence of, or whatever, wound up as a lord in a castle. But he can make the location work. It’s living alone that’s more bothersome. After all, when the day is done, he’s only fourteen years old. He’s used to being alone for long stretch of the day, but rarely more than that. So, after a moment of thought, he pulls out his new journal.]

I’m guessing everyone got keys to a place, right? Nobody needs someone to live with or anything, do they?

B

[starseeing]

--Over here!

[ He'll hear a call from nearby, and then the owner of the voice will be gracefully leaping into his vision, the long sleeves of her kimono trailing behind her. In her hand is a net, the same kind children would use for catching butterflies, and she brandishes it towards the enchanted books as if it were a pike.

Some of the books are quickly captured by the net, but others scatter like gulls upon the beach. ] Blast, they are tricky little things, aren't they? [ But look! She'll be handing him another net. ]

Take this.

[ She's been bothered by these enchanted books so much that she actually went out and bought nets and returned. ]

Shizuo Heiwajima | Durarara!! | Frankenstein's Monster

[hatesviolence]

[ i. at the library]
[Shizuo had been surprised but also a bit happy to actually have something ask for his help. Of course he had been very skeptical, but given what was appearing in his world, he figured if it was a prank he'd just beat them up and forget about it. Now that he was here and everything seems to be true (if unbelievable), he's made his way to the library to try and learn more about the essence he had inherited. Discovering that he had become the host of sorts for Frankenstein's monster had not been the......greatest feeling in the world, especially with how he feels about himself. But he admittedly only knew of the character from what he had seen in movies and common story caricatures, so it only seemed right that he tried to read up and see why this essence chose him.]

[ 1A: no yelling in the library ]
[He was actually sitting in an old leather chair off in a corner reading a copy of the original story. He hadn't had a lot of time to read much back home, let alone go to a library, so he found the peace and quiet of the area actually very calming and comfortable. He could get used to this. But in the middle of reading, he could hear some other people whispering very loudly. Now, he knew that people could talk quietly in libraries so long as they weren't being a disturbance, so at first he ignored it. But then he heard the chatter grow louder and louder and—well he couldn't take it anymore.]

HEY! This is a library, dammit, so shut up or go somewhere else!

[Welp. Now he's the one yelling and causing a disturbance, and with how the lights around him are flickering as small bursts of static crackle around him, he makes for quite the imposing figure.]

-------
[ 2B: batty books ]
[After being scolded earlier for his outburst, Shizuo had moved to a different corner of the library to try and stay out of trouble. Unfortunately, he just wasn't going to have that kind luck. First it was just a little flap by his ear, and he just idly swatted his hand thinking ita fly or something. But when a book actually falls on top of his head?]

Who the hell is—!? [SMACK! A large hard cover book slams right into his face. But rather than hurting him, it seems his face left a large indentation on the cover, and it's not a very happy expression.

If anyone hears a loud yell and crash in a distant corner of the library and choose to investigate, they will find a man raising up a giant book shelf, a swarm of flying books around him. And he will be swinging said bookshelf around, slamming it into the books.....and other bookshelves.]

-------
[ 1Ab: cleaning up ]
[...Yeeeah he's going to be busy cleaning up the library. Putting the bookshelves up, shelving the books. He's not going to complain though—if anything he is regretting his actions and is a bit gloomy thinking it's his first day and he's already causing such a mess. Guess the essence is fitting after all, sigh.

If someone happens to wander in, he'll look down from the high ladder he's standing on.]

Aah, sorry, but this area is closed off for now. Looking for something?


[ ii. around town ]
[After taking care of the mess in the library, going out to explore the city and enjoy the festival might help clear his head a little bit. As crazy as everything seems and feeling like he just walked into some weird movie or video game, it is pretty fun and his mood has definitely lifted. Hopefully nothing happens to set him off again.]

[ 3A: let's make a spooky story ]
[Okay. Acting is his brother's job, not his, so he's a bit awkward and uncertain when he's pulled in to try and help act out something.]

Uh... [Yes, great start. Let's see what's the script again??? He's cast as— ...An unfortunate victim? Well that's a twist, but it's better than being a monster. Anyway, it would seem he got struck by something so... ... ...] Ah. I've been hit. [Complete with awkward arm movement over his stomach.]

[That is the stiffest, poorest, and most robotic delivery of a line in the history of acting. HOPEFULLY HIS ACTING BUDDY WILL BE BETTER. (choose whichever role! or be an audience critic)]

----
[ 2C: haunted graveyard ]
[All right, maybe his acting skills will be better in the Fright Night Challenge. It seems some folks recognized him as Frankenstein's monster and rather than be afraid they were all too eager to rope him in to play a part that there's no way he could fail: the groundskeeper. With a shovel in hand, all he had to do was stay in one spot, dig this empty grave, and when people come by scare them a bit, even chase them if he feels like it. At first he was a little uncertain—it's not like he wants to scare people—but since this is supposed to be fun and it looked like they really wanted his help... So here he is in position, idly "digging" away. It's not so bad—he's actually able to chat with some of the locals housed nearby during lulls (it was very strange at first, but he got used to it).]

[ a: BOO. ]
[Are you trying the challenge? As soon as he sees someone approaching, he waits until the designated time to slowly turn and face them. With the dim lighting and spooky fog, really just the glare he gives could be scary enough. But then he'll raise that shovel and give a—]

Graaaaahhh!!

[—waving it threateningly. Cue the creepy lighting to reveal his suture marks and patched up appearance. With ghoulish voices warning of how the grave is meant for them, he'll then start approaching with menacing, lumbering steps before giving chase if they choose to run. (Okay, this is kind of fun, he'll later admit.)]

-------
[ b: not part of the script ]
[At some point Shizuo will hear a ruckus being caused by one of the rowdier residents, and since no one was coming by his place yet, he decides to deal with it.

"Dealing with it" involves slamming his shovel against the head of a zombie and making its head snap down in a way that's definitely not right. ...Whoops? But before he can apologize, the zombie makes a grab for him so—

Anyone who passes by will bear witness to a guy slamming his shovel against a zombie, angrily yelling at it as he tries to beat it into the earth. Literally.]

Just because you're undead doesn't mean you can be an ass to other people just tryin' to have fun! SO! STAY! DEAD!!

[...You know, Shizuo would be good for zombie apocalypses. Anyway, either just pass by or stop him because the zombie might be getting the point by now.]


[ iii. wildcard ]
[Open for any other ideas or prompt mashups! Feel free to contact me at laenavesse or Discord.]

1-A

[myown]

[Pearl has always considered literature to be one of humankind's greatest achievements. Gems don't have books that aren't strictly educational and informative, after all. She's read several of the classics, but never any of Carroll's works. She's heard of them, yes - she's familiar enough to know that the name "Alice" probably leads to "in Wonderland", in this case.

Now is clearly the best time to change that, and she's sitting at a table, perched elegantly on a stool, as she reads. Except... Nothing in this story makes sense, and the talk of others is making it very hard to focus on an already baffling work. She's finally ready to say something about that when another beats her to it.]

Yes, thank you.

[An aggravated sigh as she looks over to Shizuo, not seeming all that phased by the static and such. In fact, her look of annoyance shifts into an appreciative smile.]

Reaper | Overwatch | La Lechuza (La Lechuza Bruja Folklore)

[gr1m]

I - Getting To Know You
A
[This was ridiculous.

Felt more clumsy that he'd had since some of the early days of SEP, an extra weight suddenly there and needing to be gotten used to. How.. solid, stable he felt, yet... Well. He'd get the hang of things eventually. Had a guess as to what had attached itself to him, and it had been confirmed with the whole medallion thing, but it wouldn't hurt to.. read-up.

Refresh himself on a piece of folklore he'd not heard of in a long, long time.

Which was why he was standing in front of a book shelf, scowling even with a book in hand.]

This barely explains the wings. [What?]

C
[Reaper had found himself a place further from everyone, shoulders rolling a bit under the hooded cloak he now wore, glancing over the daggers that sat on either side of his hips attached to his belt. Really, this was quite the jump from shotguns, but he was no stranger to fighting with a knife.

But that wasn't why he was out there. Nope.

The reason he was out there made itself apparent when two large black feathered wings unfurled from under the cloak, feathers scattering a bit in the air, drifting to the ground. Grimacing a little as after that their movements were a bit.. clumsy. Still got them lowered and some parts folded in front of him to get his hands on the feathers.]

Is this some stuck shift or what?

[How do Owl.]

IV. Exploring the Index
A
[That was definitely a large shadow on the ground from above, but maybe it was just a bird—]

Heads up!

[The only warning before the man hit the ground, wings flared out wide with an upwards arch, and after a few seconds it was clear he'd been following a key and and been gliding in jumps from rooftop to rooftop. The key suddenly guiding him down just sort of caught him by surprise as well, said key just hanging there for a moment.

He slowly stood-] I'm getting too old for this shit.

E
[It was difficult to not be curious with how he worked, but perhaps this was... a lot worse than what Reaper had been picturing in his head. After finding the place he was supposed to stay he'd gone out to explore.

The Void was... well.

Hard to place words on what could be seen, the damage and everything simply vanishing. Quiet while staring off in to that dark distance, jaw set.]

[w i l d c a r d]
[make your own prompt if nothing here works!]

A

[twilightskey]

[Roxas had just been following his own key, minding his own business, when he heard the yell. He turned and looked up, and was surprised to see a man falling right for him.]

Waugh!

[He jumped back and threw his hands up as the person landed and kicked up leaves around them. After a second he lowered his hands and looked up, gaping at the older man.]

Are... you alright? [Had he been flying?]

Roxas || Kingdom Hearts || The Little Mermaid

[twilightskey]

I – Library
[Being so deep in Sora’s heart, Roxas was genuinely surprised to hear a voice that wasn’t Sora’s within it, or the strange sensation of stirring into wakefulness by someone who wasn’t Sora. He had been alarmed, yes, but the voice who had contacted him sounded… desperate, and the pleading message reminded him of the threat of Heartless consuming worlds and plunging them in darkness. Though he had been confused and reluctant, he had ultimately agreed; after all, he wasn’t truly leaving Sora’s heart, if the Storyteller was to be believed.]

[The idea of traveling to another world was less disorienting than simply waking up in said new world, and when he woke up it took him some time to shake off the dizziness. But once he had oriented himself, he figured finding some more information was probably a good idea.]

[The Grand Library certainly was grand, and he marveled at just how many shelves of books were housed within the building. It took some time to find just where his own essence’s book was, but soon enough he found the cursive title emblazoned on the book he was looking for. However, the shelf that the book was on was very high up, and Roxas wasn’t the tallest person. Looking around yielded no ladders in the immediate vicinity, and he let out a disgruntled sigh. He looked around again until he came across someone else.]

Hey, do you know where I can find a ladder? I can’t really reach that shelf up there…

I – Watch What You're Doing!
[Once he got the basic understanding of just what his new powers were, Roxas decided it was best to test it out. First that would mean finding a big enough lake, of course, but eventually he did manage to find one big and deep enough to properly test out his abilities. It was a quick enough endeavor to strip down and slip into the water, and all he really felt was a strange tingling sensation in his legs. Looking down once he was in the water was more of a shock, and he had let out a surprised yelp as he realized his legs and feet had fused into a long tail.]

[Swimming around took some effort to get used to, but he eventually got somewhat of an idea of how to swim with a dolphin tail. Now, the singing was another story. He wasn’t the best singer, and it wasn’t like he spent much time singing around Twilight Town or with the Organization. But, he was told his essence could sing, and that he should give it a try. So, while a little apprehensive, he made himself comfortable on a rock and cleared his throat.]

[He was a little hesitant at first, and his voice wavered a bit from inexperience, but as he continued he found himself gaining more and more confidence, and his voice grew louder as he sang. However, if someone nearby happened to be passing by and heard his song, they’d be drawn in by it, almost compelled to come closer and listen. The only problem? Roxas was currently sitting on a rock out in the water, so those who approached would be drawn towards him without a care over the fact they were walking into the water. When he glanced over, he will give a start and stop singing to instead shout out at them.]

Hey, watch out! You’re gonna fall in!

IV – House Hunting
[Roxas was fortunate enough to find his house without much difficulty. It was on the outskirts of town and was a little bit out of the way, but the small little house on the lakeside was actually quite nice once he got in and explored it. There was even a small hatch in the basement that fed right into the lake, giving him easy access to swim into the house should he need it. Honestly, he was surprised how quickly he found the lakeside house, but he wasn’t about to complain about his good fortune.]

[The downside, it seemed, was that as he got settled into the house, he would occasionally get a knock from someone who insisted their key was leading them through his home on their winding path. And more often than not, said keys would often lead them to the hatch in his basement, which led out into the lake. So while his afternoon wasn’t spent hunting for his house, it WAS spent trying to ease the concerns of those who had to go through his house to get to their own.]

Trust me, it’s not that deep of a tunnel, and it’s not that long, either. If you can hold your breath for a minute, it shouldn’t be too bad.

IV – Shopping Around
[Once he’s settled in, Roxas can be found walking around the Index properly, exploring some of the local shops. With his blonde, spiky hair and his black coat he was easy to spot in a crowd, and it was clear that he was an outsider just by his outfit alone. So he can usually be found exploring the various tailors and clothing stores, although he does occasionally get drawn to a couple of candy shops and, to his delight, a small ice cream parlour. Sure they didn’t have sea salt ice cream, but vanilla was just fine.]

V – Wildcard
[Got an idea you wanna explore with Roxas? Just send me a note and we can work something out!]

I - Library

[hatesviolence]

[Shizuo happened to be passing through with a few books of his own tucked under his arm when Roxas approaches him.]

A ladder? [A small, quiet pause as he tries to think where he last saw one.] Yeah, I think there's one at another shelf. I'll go grab it.

Therion | Octopath Traveler | Snow White

[trustfallen]

1. Mirror Mirror

[Grumpy doesn't even begin to cover how Therion's feeling right now. Sure, he agreed to help, but he didn't agree to the weirdass way he and -- others, apparently, were dragged here. And he definitely didn't agree to be dressed like this. He'd be lying if he said he's never worn a dress - he'll do what it takes to pull of a heist, and he's a pretty good actor when he wants to be - but even setting the skirt aside, his new fancy get-up is a far cry from anything he's worn before. It feels like something only the richest of the nobility and royalty could afford. Finely woven fabrics, elegant embroidery, a plush velvet ribbon in his hair, an obnoxiously stiff collar, and a uselessly small cape? All he can really think at first is how many leaves he could make selling this. Except... he doesn't have anything else to change into just yet, and he'd rather not go around naked.

It's only after he's sulked over the clothes, glared at the journal, and started rifling through the rest of the satchel to see what he's got that he abruptly realizes something else that's different. At first, he'd only thought that things looked a little... different because it's some weird magical book world, but then he realizes he's seeing double when he looks past something without focusing on it. On a whim, he covers his right eye and nearly drops the satchel in his other hand in surprise because he can still see properly.

Quickly, he stuffs the things he's taken out back into his satchel, throws it over his shoulder and heads off on a mission.

At first, he just searches on his own, ignoring any other people he meets for the most part, but eventually frustration seems to get to him, and he turns to whoever's nearby to ask:]

Do you have any idea where I can find a mirror?


2. Dressing the Part

[Therion's next mission is to find different clothes. For all that back home he basically wore a blanket for a top, skirts aren't really his thing. Not trusting a giant pumpkin and creepy horses to take him anywhere, he walks, hiking up his skirt in some attempt to keep it from getting too dirty. He's still of a mind to see if it can be sold.

Anyone else visiting the tailor at the same time as he might just overhear a bit of an argument:]

I don't care if I'm supposed to be a princess - just give me a damn pair of trousers.


3. Festive Feast Filching

[The ghosts aren't the only ones pilfering from the plenty, though since the meals seem to be free, maybe it's not so much stealing in Therion's case as it is stocking up. Any unattended whole apples are a free target, in his opinion, and he can be found lining his satchel with them.

And maybe a few other things, too... like money, small trinkets, and any spare sharp knives he can find...

It's not as easy to obscure the movements of his hands in his current outfit (allegedly the tailor will have new clothes for him tomorrow), and the places he has to hide things amount to his satchel, tucked in the folds of his skirt, or uh... in the bosom of the dress, so he's finding the need to be a bit creative and a lot more careful. But still, the foodie ghosts provide a really good distraction, so he shamelessly helps himself to other people's things while they're busy chasing after the spooks.

Maybe you catch him in the act, despite his best efforts? Maybe you see the edge of something suspiciously familiar sticking out of his dress?

Or maybe you just want to chat with the grumpy guy polishing an apple on his sleeve?]


((ooc: Feel free to hit me up if you've got an idea for something different you wanna do!))

3

[myown]

[Over the past six-thousand years, Pearl has gotten very, very good at noticing things when she's on her guard. And she's always on her guard. She's also here to help others, right? So when out of the corner of her eye, she spots an unnoticed Therion swiping something, Pearl quickly takes her options into account - and once Therion is a bit more out of the way of the others, she draws her new sword - her Vorpal Blade - and confronts him.]

I'm going to need you to return that, Sir.

Kazuma Asougi | Dai Gyakuten Saiban | Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

[chippedsoul]

[This will be his attire, with or without the top hat.]

2A-He almost miss the bats back home.
[Study up on your character's story would be a whole lot easier without a bunch of books constantly flying at you. A frustrated grunt escapes him as he dodges yet another book while he tries to read at his table. It's rather impressive to watch this man's reflexes as he dodges books like they were nothing as he kept reading. A few times he smacks a book away with his cane, other times, he threw a book at them once he was finished reading them, much to the dismay of the librarians. He's not trying to slice them in after or anything at least.

He won't always hit those books though. His cane might swing as you pass by, or the book ends up landing on you instead.]

3A or B-Behind the storytelling
[You won't find the Disciple acting anything out with the others. Instead, he is sitting off to the side and working on props? Getting some practice is great and all, but these props won't fix themselves, and he couldn't stand seeing the wear and tear anymore. So that's where he'll be and what he'll be doing. Don't bother to insist he should participate, he's not interested. If your prop needs mending though, he'll gladly patch things up for you.]

1B-Journal for profit
[It's been about a few days now since his arrival, and the Disciple has finally resigned himself that in order to get home, he really will have to play along with this Storyteller's games. In order to live here, he's going to need to make some kind of income though. He has learned his essence was rather proficient in medicine and has been studying up on creating them. People get sick all the time, it seem like something he could make a decent profit with.

His dedication to the trade eventually rewards him with being able to make basic medicines for now. Of course, there's the case of advertising his work...he suppose he'll have to make use of that journal sooner or later. Writing isn't the same as talking anyway.]

To: All

If you find yourself ill and in need of medicine, I am providing my service at this address. At the moment though, I can only treat minor illnesses and fatigue. Once I have a better grasp of my essence, my service will be further expanded. I thank you for taking the time to read this. If you plan to make a visit, please let me know ahead of time. I won't always be at home.

4D-Shopping??
[To make medicine, he will need ingredients. The home he was assigned to certainly came supplied for him to get started, but if he wants to try more advanced stuff...he'll have to check the shops. These shops aren't exactly in the nicest part of town though. Unpleasant folk and thieves roam these darken streets with odd and dangerous scents in the air. And here was this well dressed gentlemen, trying to get his shopping done and not cause any trouble. He really should get some clothes that don't stand out as much. Perhaps you're the thief, trying to steal some coin from this fancy fellow, or just someone who took the wrong turn and got lost.

If not for medicine, it's looking at what weapons this place had to offer. He felt naked without at least a weapon to protect himself. A cane can only do so much. So he can be seen in front of weaponry stores, looking over swords in particular.

...

These are far too expensive for such low quality.]

Wildcard
[Hit me up if there's something else you wanna play out. PM or silentdrifterz]

2a

[finnality]

[Also in the library is a 17 year old boy wearing green clothing, including a green hat over his shaved blonde head. Also his right arm from the elbow up looks like it's made of something very beanstalk-y! The boy seems to be no stranger to action. His plant arm deploys some vines that yank some of the books out of the air! As he does so, he takes note of the others' appearance.]

Yo! Nice top hat. You've got some mad good style!

Finn Mertens the Human | Adventure Time

[finnality]

[One new resident of the Realm of Stories is a 17 year old boy named Finn Mertens. He's dressed in simple greenish clothing, complete with a green cap covering part of his shaved blonde head. Finn had eagerly accepted the call to action. He's glad for the chance for a new adventure, and he does always want to help people in need. He arrived in this world still missing half of his right arm, but that changed when he tasted one of his magical beans. Now, he has a green arm made of a beanstalk-like material.]

A. A Has-Bean

[As Finn arrived and gained his bearings, he ended up giving some of those magic beans a taste test. Now, he's looking at his newly-grown beanstalky arm. He looked into its palm and flexes one finger at a time, looking transfixed - and sad.]

Whoa. [After a beat, he goes on.] ...Like Fern...

[Come and find him in this reverie? Or perhaps his powers may shortly snap a little out of control, unleashing vines towards someone or something nearby!]

B. Raise the Roof

[Finn has found his house. It's a one-story, somewhat humble abode. He stands in front of it, rubbing his chin as he looks at it with a scrutinizing eye.]

Hmmm... I dunno. Something about it just doesn't feel right...

[He heads inside his house, and there's the sounds of some floorboards being taken apart. Then he steps back out... just as a large beanstalk grows beneath the house, lifting it up some yards into the air! Now Finn looks up proudly towards his home and cheers.]

Wowzow, now that's what I'm taking about!

C. Moo-der she wrote

[At some point, Finn leads a cow back towards his home. He smiles and pats the cow gently.]

Iiii think I'll name you... Bartram! Yeah, that'll do it! [He's not sure why. It just sounds like the right name!]

D. Smashing Pumpkins

[It was only a matter of time until a call to action appeared. And here's as good a one as any, as some pumpkins run rampant! Wielding a sword that also seems to be made out of a beanstalky material, Finn gives out a shrill cry as he runs towards one giant pumpkin.]

Stop it right there!!

E. You Don't Know Jack

[Finn eventually finds his way to the Grand Library, where he scans the shelves for any books that might be helpful.]

Hmm... Jack, Jack, Jack... [He's soon amassing a small pile of books on the table. Astounded by how many he's found, he gestures dramatically towards the stack of books.] This place is Jacked up with Jacks!

F. Edgelord

[And as evening sets over the area, Finn finds his way to the edge of the world. He just sits on a rock and gazes out into the Void, watching as the bits of paper dance around and dissipate against the darkness.]

Whoa... [He hums in admiration.]

G. Wildcard

[Feel free to come up with another scenario, using pretty much any of the prompts! And/or feel free to hit me up for plotting!]

[ a ]

[rokubro]

[Let's go for SUDDENLY VINES.]

Whoa, watch it—!

[He had to lurch backwards to avoid getting whipped by one and barely manages to keep his balance.]

Pearl | Steven Universe | Alice (in Wonderland)

[myown]

A: Cry for Help
[Pearl is still sitting in the library several hours after she locates the first “Alice” book… And Pearl is a fast reader. It’s just that this book doesn’t make any sense! She’s growing increasingly frustrated when she finally pulls out her new journal and sets to writing.]

Hello, everyone. My name is Pearl, and I’ve recently arrived in The Index. While I look forward to meeting my follow Aspects over time, I’m currently writing to see if anyone here is familiar with the story of “Alice in Wonderland”. If you are, I’d appreciate assistance in some literary analysis, thank you.


B: My Gloves! At Once, Do You Hear?
[Yes, the dress she arrived in is rather pretty, but it’s not the most practical thing to wear, so shopping for clothes is Pearl’s second quest, once she realizes she can no longer simply manifest a new outfit. The fact that her Gem abilities don’t seem to be working is a large concern, but one thing at a time.

She finds herself browsing through the men’s clothing more than anything else, though her style at home is quite feminine by choice. She needs proper pants. After a bit of browsing, a handsome blue suit catchers her attention, but there’s no way it will fit her…]

Hmm, I wonder where I could find a tailor here? [She lays a finger against her chin and begins to think aloud.] I mean, there must be one. Not even the locals here are all the same size and shape. [She turns to someone nearby with an uncertain smile.] Although, of course, that’s true of most places, isn’t it?

[Not Homeworld. Homeworld is very uniform, but… Most places, yes.]


C: Sworn to the Sword
[Well, she’ll have to be in her dress for a while longer, it seems, but at least now she can focus on something that, really, is more important. After all, she can’t summon her spear. Or change her clothes in her usual way. Or do anything a Gem should be able to do, for that matter! But since she’s here as the result of a call to arms of sorts, it’s the lack of a weapon that’s most concerning. That said, she does have the sword she arrived with… A sword she imagines must be the Vorpal Sword from the “Jabberwocky” poem that young Alice reads in “Through the Looking Glass”.

So, just outside of town, Pearl is getting used to this new weapon. With a masterful swing of the blade comes a melodic sound, almost like a brief burst from a choir. But Pearl is far more interested in the incredibly clean cut she got, chopping a branch off of an apple tree.]

Now, this isn’t a bad thing at all…

[Hopefully that’s not someone’s apple tree, though...]


D: We’ll Eat Today Like Cabbages and Kings
[The completely foreign sensation of hunger has been plaguing Pearl since her time in the library, but she had no idea what it was. She’s put it all together, now, and realized that no Gem abilities mean she can’t live without some sort of nourishment.

This is a bad thing. She’s trying to accept her fate and bite into a dinner roll when a ghost swipes it right out of her hand. She draws the Vorpal Sword and chases after.]

Now, wait a minute! That’s mine!


E: Gem Harvest
[Pearl is admiring the handywork on a carved ghost pumpkin. The Jack o’Lantern grins at her, innocuously…

And then springs to life, chomping down on her nose.]

Why, you little…! [The pumpkin even cackles as it starts to hop away.] Get back here!

[...And now she's chasing the white pumpkin down the streets.]

A.

[alittlebadluck]

[very tight writing comes back, slow and neat.]

I know a bit about the original Alice in Wonderland story. What is it you'd like to figure out?

Ib | Ib | Red Riding Hood

[her_rose_is_red]

Brushing up on the Lore

[The library is probably the first stop for a lot of people. Even Ib, who knows the story of Little Red Riding Hood, is here to check. In case it's different here. Or in case she remembers it wrong.

But did they have to put it so high up? And that ladder looks....bad. Like it's going to collapse. She spends a few minutes fidgeting indecisively. There are a lot of other people here. Most of them a lot taller than her. But they all look so busy. She doesn't want to bother them. Steeling herself, and pulling up her red hood which is comforting for some reason, she starts climbing the ladder. It creaks alarmingly. Which only gets worse the higher she goes. Eventually this leaves the poor girl halfway up the rusty ladder, uncertain whether the next rung will hold her weight.]


House Hunting

Excuse me....

[Ib is trying to follow her key to find her new house, but the key seems to have a weird sense of direction. Through crowded streets, a barn, a small river, and now... your new back yard. Which she's entering cautiously.

So, yeah. A little girl, red cloak still damp from the river, is walking through your yard.]

To the Edge

[It's scary. The endless blackness of the void, the countless pages floating in the distance, the idea that each one of those stories represents a whole world. Her mind briefly flickers back to the picture book. Mary's world. Mary had done a lot of bad things. But Ib still feels sorry for her. If only that story could have ended differently.

She's pulled from these unpleasant thoughts with a small gasp of surprise.]

Oh! That one just....

[One of the floating pages had just vanished. Right before her eyes. And the others just float on. Ib shivers, and it's not entirely the fall chill in the air.]

The Edge

[starseeing]

...It's quite humbling, isn't it?

[ Ohpilia will say, coming up to her side just as the page vanishes. Her voice is gentle and soft spoken, carrying with it a genuine warmth with it. Despite facing the bleakness the void and being all too aware of what it may mean for the fragments of stories within it, she still remains smiling as she speaks. It's not a happy smile, no, but one that's calm and understanding, sympathetic and concerned. ]

Careful, now. [ She cautions the young girl, and a hand will be reaching out to place it upon her shoulder as if to secure her in place. ]

Kotori Iida | Sweetness and Lightning | Sweet Porridge

[ricebird]

[Honestly, the book came to Kotori so late at night, she woke up and thought she was dreaming. A magical book, telling her that worlds are getting destroyed and that she needed to help save them through stories? Clearly she’d been worrying too much about that English exam coming up. But the book told her she’d gain the power to create unlimited food, and that was all she needed to accept the dream book’s offer. And that’s how Kotori Iida finds herself in the index, wearing an ordinary, slightly shabby peasant’s dress under a brand new apron, a leather book in one arm, and a small donabe pot in the other.]


I.A. Brushing Up on the Lore

[A magical donabe… Kotori gives the shiny, dark brown clay pot a glance, rice stalks and three little birds gracing the lid in fine, sweeping paint strokes in reds and creams.]

Like a fancier version of ours…

[Still, she has no idea about this Sweet Porridge story, so she should read it so she knows how to actually USE the magic. It’s apparently not a popular story here either, tucked away in the far corner of the Grimm Brothers section… and nestles THREE shelves above how high she can reach, even with the tips of her fingers on her tiptoes. And that ladder…]

Geez… Is this the part of the dream where I climb the ladder and end up falling into an abyss?

[Because that seems likely, although at least it doesn’t involve anything sharp or pointy so that’s not TOO bad of a nightmare. Still, she looks around to see if there’s anyone who can help, maybe even someone taller than her that can reach.]

Um, sorry… have you seen if this place has a stronger ladder?


II.E. A Haunted Feast

[It’s a little weird to be celebrating autumn when it’s still April back home, but that weirdness is SWIFTLY ignored when she hears there’s going to be a FEAST! And here it is, a whole plaza lined with tables and tables LOADED with steaming, fragrant, absolutely breathtakingly beautiful food! If this IS a dream she’s going to CRY when she wakes up!

Anyone passing by or seated next to her will be treated to a VERY enthusiastic commentary as she piles her plate high with food. No, really, the mound’s already six inches high now, and even her chowing down with gusto isn’t slowing that growth down by much.]

Aaaaah this all looks amazing~! Ohhh wow this sanma is so crisp and salty~~~! [She swallows after squeeing through a mouth full of salt-grilled fish and daikon radish.] Even the daikon is grated to the perfect texture! [A long sip from a tankard.] Mmmm, the fresh cider is so warm and sweet and perfectly tart, but it has this butteriness in it too! Do you think they added some caramel to it? [Nom!] And the RICE! The turmeric in there is so bright and floral and the yellow is so sunny! Should I try the garlic mashed potatoes or the roasted yam? Ah, this is a dream, so why not BOTH~?!


IV.A. House Hunting

[After a long, good evening of ghost chasing and delicious, delicious food (and sneaking a few final sweets away from the feast in Nabe-chan), Kotori was actually starting to feel exhausted. The keys she’d found in her satchel seems to know where they’re going, and Kotori’s too full of food and new information to question anything.

At least at first. She’s been walking around the commercial district for a while now, vaguely wondering if there’s a restaurant in the area that’s the source of the tugging, but…]

Wait… didn’t I already pass that café already?

[Yup. That is indeed the Eggs & Bakey café, and judging by the tugging it’s NOT Kotori’s new place.]

Uuuuuugh, don’t tell me you’re taking me around in circles, keys! Whyyyyy?


V. Wildcard

[Got something in mind that doesn't fit the prompts above? Feel free to hit me up on my plurk or the Discord channel and we can plot something out!]

II-E

[solificate]

[Varian can't help smiling at the other teen's enthusiasm over food. Seeing someone get so excited over something so every-day is highly reminiscent of Rapunzel's usual behavior.

At the end of her happy rambling, though, something she says really get his attention, and he's scowling when he actually approaches her.]

Did you just... You think this is a dream?

[Now, there's not a moment where Varian considered this possibility - and honestly, he isn't now, either. If this was a dream, it would have to be his dream, the way he figures it. And sometimes he has dreams where he knows he's dreaming, but never have any of the other - for lack of a better word - characters.

His tail flicks from side-to-side, and his browline furrows. He's kind of worried about what she might do, thinking she's dreaming, that goes beyond eating extra carbs.]

Toshiro Hitsugaya | Bleach | Yuki-Onna

[freezetheheavens]

I. C

[For the record, Hitsugaya is sorry for anyone who potentially gets caught in what’s about to happen.

And by caught, it’s a sudden snow flurry that seems to flood one area and freezing it solid. While Hitsugaya doesn’t seem particularly bothered by this, he’s also very much annoyed by the seeming lack of control he has over this new power. Frowning a bit, pale turquoise eyes that seems to almost turn white or silver in color.

He frowns a bit before he looks up cautiously and tries again.

Sorry if you get frozen!]

II. A

[He thought going to the library would help make things easier once he’s managed to finally control his somewhat newfound powers. Of course, Hitsugaya figured it’d be too easy considering a place like this.

He ducks his head when a book suddenly comes flying overhead, just barely managing to miss his hair, but a tinge of frost still does appear on that poor book, causing it to slam right against a wall. He eyes the book before he shifts his gaze over to where there are more books deciding to go crazy.]

Anyone have any idea what spurred this on?

[All he wanted to do was read, dammit.]

III. A

[There’s just one problem with stories.

There are many different varieties on how a story can be told, about how it progresses and when it comes to certain stories like fairytales or folklore, it’s easier to change the origin of a story. Especially stories that can easily fit the description of what Halloween needs it to be.

How Hitsugaya found himself a part of this is…interesting.

He isn’t happy about being a part of this and it shows on his face.]

…So what role am I playing again?

The murderer! You’re going to kill these ‘travelers’ on the mountain!

[The person in charge gestures to the other ‘volunteers’ that could be you!]

I. C

[hatesviolence]

[So...being suddenly frozen in place is already kind of not cool hah. But apparently Shizuo is about to learn the very hard way that ice is one of his weaknesses because shit this actually kind of hurts?? The ice has completely encased his lower calves and while normally he would have had the strength to break out of it, he apparently can't.]

Hey, who the hell is freezing everything!?