realmofstories | Opening Log: Welcome to the Index + Halloween Festival

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Opening Log: Welcome to the Index + Halloween Festival

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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!]

[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.]

[DO IT FOR THE VINES

That shout snaps Finn out of his reverie! He snaps into action, and the vines quickly withdraw. He then waves meekly at the stranger in apology.]

Whoa! Sorry dude. Still getting used to this whole... [He raises his planty arm up, clenching and unclenching a fist with it in demonstration.] ...y'know, this whole thing I've got going on here. I think I had a few too many beans?

[...All right there's a lot to unpack here. He doesn't mean to, but it's pretty hard to not stare at that planty arm.]

I'm not sure what to ask about first, but I guess right now all I can think of is—did beans change your arm?

[Finn makes a clicking noise and points a finger-gun towards Rokurou.]

Preeetty much! I thought they were just normal beans, for eating. I was a little too hungry to question it! But before I know it, these bad beans grew a new arm for me! Now things feel all viney, you know?

That's...actually kind of disturbing to hear. Makes me wonder if you ate some cursed food and if I'm going to have to worry about everything here now.

[This place is clearly magical, but dude. Beans that could change a person's arm????]

[Finn laughs.]

I don't think it's that bad. It's probably just these beans! I think they have to do with my... essence, or whatever it's called. They just showed up for me! The other grub around here's... probably fine? [He shrugs.]

[So reassuring, Finn. But huh, that's actually kind of interesting.]

Your essence has to do with beans? [That's...kind of weird.] What's it called?

It's, uh... called Jack. [He offers a helpless shrug.] Just... Jack.

Finn Mertens the Human | Adventure Time

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C- Cow!

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