realmofstories | Entries tagged with !event

FINALE EVENT: INTO NEVERLAND—

After returning from their last Book, everyone had some time to relax, celebrate, and wait to hear from the Storyteller. It wasn't long before the Storyteller happily informed them of the wonderful news:

Aspects. Thanks to your hard work, enough stories have been restored that the power generated from each one is enough to help us rewrite and mend many other stories on our own. It's still an uphill battle as the Story Eater and its minions are still out there causing destruction so the war is not over yet, but you are now relieved of much of the burden that had been placed on you since the beginning of this quest. We thank you for everything you have done so far to help our world.

There are still some stories that may require some assistance and we are searching for the Story Eater. It's not until that beast is stopped will the Realm be safe. So please wait a little longer and prepare yourself for the battles ahead.

Everyone within the Index hears a similar message, of how things are turning for the better and that surely it won't be long before the Realm is safe again. Those from the restored stories celebrate and continue to safeguard their world, the power and magic generated from them making the Books almost look as if they are glowing. Any reports of stories suffering attacks are quickly relayed to not only those in the Index, but to the restored stories as well. With the populations restored, they are able to give aid, sending out strong fighters and medical help to join in the fight to push back the Erasers and the Story Eater's influence.

But there is one Book that has a darkness that has been spreading from inside out. Although it had managed to stay intact throughout all this time, the people within the Book tell of terrifying nightmares that will plague them, some even claiming to witness them becoming reality. After some investigation the Storyteller will send the Aspects a new missive.

Reports from the Book of Peter Pan indicate a strong likelihood that the Story Eater has appeared and may still be there. Go at once to help the people first before trying to find the Story Eater. We will grant you additional powers so that you may unlock everything your Essence has to offer.

Good luck...and stay safe.

Just like previous missions, everyone will gather at the Grand Library, but there is a tension in the air, as if this could be their biggest battle yet—perhaps even their final one. With more supplies than usual, the Aspects will be ushered into the room that will teleport them to the Book, and from there they will have to journey deep into Neverland.

§ instructions.

This is it, our finale event that will lead the game into the new one. Although the Book of Peter Pan is still intact, there has been increased activity of Erasers and sightings of what could be the Story Eater. Although initial reports say it might have disappeared, the Storyteller can sense its destructive power and has sent the Aspects to try and hunt it down. But there's a plot twist that no one will have seen coming at the end.

The timeline of the event is all in this log, so the prompts double as narrative progression of their time in Peter Pan and includes the final confrontation. A narrative epilogue that will tie-in the conclusion with everyone sent to the new game setting will be posted at the game's closing date.

Feel free to refer to the Game Notes for more detailed info as well as ask questions or clarifications.

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storyevents

STORY EATER ATTACKS—

After returning from a rather chaotic Story Restoration, the Aspects were able to have a brief respite...before things take a turn for the worse. It's a day like any other, but without warning a sudden cold chill washes over all of them. It's enough to make them step out and try to find the source, and it's only when they look up do they spot...

Well, it's impossible to describe what they spot. At first it looks like a tall man, and then a small old lady, and then a mermaid? A humanoid apple tree? As they stare and try to make sense of it all, an echoing, reedy voice sounds.

"Dunno wha' I was expectin', but it weren't that."

The same voice, but stronger and more sure of itself, though with odd inflections.

"You were suPPOsed to turn on EAch other! KILL each other!"

Now a delicate, sweet young woman's voice.

"Oh, but that's quite alright, dearies. We'll just fix it and it will all be right as rain!"

"Aye, won't take but a minute."

"Hehehe, sssssoooon you will be at each otherssssss throatssssss! Hehehehe, and ssssoooon."

"Oh yes, quite soon."

"Soon, this goddamn fucking godforsaken hellhole of an Index will be mine, as it fucking should be!"

A snap, a crack, and then a wave of sickening energy as the Story Eater vanishes from sight, leaving nothing but a puddle of inky void where it once floated. Black tendrils of ink spread out, covering the sky until pierces through the barrier. Although Erasers will be crawling, flying, and falling through, the number is oddly low. Instead, the Index itself begins to shake as chaos stems elsewhere...

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storyevents

AWAKING FROM THE NIGHTMARE—

It's a long, grueling fight, but eventually some of the Aspects are able to cut and burn—and in some cases, gnaw—their way through the heavy briars barricading the Grand Library while others distract the Story Eater or free the dreamers who'd been caged. Once enough of the vines are cleared away, a loud chorus of chimes echoes from within the doors and various white, runic glyphs and characters appear on the exposed surfaces. They shimmer and glow like beacons until there is an explosion of wind and light, streaks of white ribbons that shoot out and fly high into the sky before out towards the outer barrier of the Index. Here thick walls of thorns and vines have covered the invisible walls from the inside, some even piercing through the weakened structure. But the ribbons cut through them like paper, thinning out the suffocating walls.

With the thorny cage falling away from the city, it is now possible to see outside the Index, and should anyone look up they will be astounded by what they see. Far, high above, the Books the Aspects have restored can be seen in the distant Void. They spin around each other and soon begin to glow bright colors—one orange, one red, one blue—so bright as if they were heavenly stars. Beams of colorful light slowly pour out from the Books and descend towards the Index, following the Segment roads that connect the two worlds together. From a distance the beams appear as thin lines no thicker than a hair, but as they approach their true size is akin to massive freight trains.

At once these giant beams slam through the gateways, obliterating the thorn walls and all Erasers in their path. In seconds entire sections of the Index are cleansed and victims awakened revitalized. Scents and traces of the sea, snow, and bamboo left in their wake, already giving energy to the damaged earth to help its regrowth. The light fades and the energy is redirected in fortifying the barrier—but there is still the Story Eater. It had managed to avoid the blast and now roars flying towards the Library, its form now a giant hydra large enough to easily scale the building. But before it can reach it, the white ribbons of light ensnare it and transform into chains, binding it.

YOU THINK THIS IS THE END? YOU THINK THIS IS ENOUGH?

The voice is what one might expect from such a creature—a loud, rasping hiss filled with hate, madness, and unbridled desire to destroy.

YOU CAN TRY TO SAVE THEM, BUT YOU ARE ONLY PROLONGING THE INEVITABLE. YOU WILL BE FORGOTTEN BUT I WILL REMAIN.

As the white chains constrict upon the Story Eater, it only laughs, mocking the Storyteller for how weak and powerless it truly is, how it is only delaying the inevitable. Its deranged laughter continues until there is an explosion of light and a shower of burnt, blackened paper that turns into ash upon touching the ground.

The Story Eater has been expelled—or perhaps it was never truly there at all and all they fought was its shadow.

Silence falls over the city as everyone waits for the Storyteller to say something, anything. But there is only a very soft whisper that barely carries in the wind:

The danger is gone. Please rest for now.

When nothing else is said, the natives buzz in worry, but there is no time for them to linger. Although the city has been cleansed, there is still a lot of damage and debris as well as victims to tend to.

storyevents

ONCE UPON A DREAM: FINAL ACT—

Very slowly, the Aspects in the waking world begin to beat back the briars, while those sleeping work hard to break the curse from the inside. Then suddenly, large swaths of plant matter across the city begin to shrivel and die, and the sleeping Aspects finally begin to open their eyes.

Everyone else in town remains asleep, but now the curse is weak enough for the Storyteller’s voice to finally reach them. Their voice is faint and groggy—whether they were cursed themselves and just woke up or if they’ve been fighting sleep to try and reach their Aspects is unclear—but they sound very relieved.

"Aspects… Thank you. The—"

Before they can say more, however, a thundering, furious roar rocks the city; even the sky and the ground trembling at the wave of sound. Older Aspects might recognize the chill in their spine… The same one brought by the Story Eater and his insane laughter in the form he took last year. The Storyteller sounds just as panicked when they speak again, but even the fear can’t keep the fatigue out of their voice.

“No… Aspects! You must come to the Library, quickly, before—!"

But that’s all they can manage before the Story Eater lets loose another howl, breaking the mental connection for now. Brace yourselves, because the Story Eater is coming this way!

§ instructions.

This is the second and final part of our event! To summarize, everyone's waking up and the Story Eater is back to rampage through the Index. We have updated the Game Notes to include the effects for the items that were found and can be used to help fight against the invading enemy. If you have any questions, comment to the Game Notes.

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storyevents

ONCE UPON A DREAM—

The vibrant patchwork of a Halloweenfaire had been a rousing success, all things considered, and a thorough celebration of the Aspect's triumph over the Story Eater. How things have changed—in the year since its defeat and the first revived story, since the last people saw it directly—that the peoples' fears have diminished enough to relegate the world-destroying monster to a mere toy filled with candy to break open. Rekindled courage…or complacency.

Perhaps they should have been more afraid, more vigilant. No one seemed to bat an eye at the black, sickly vines that tried to snare the sleighs, or the unnatural thorns among the mistletoe that seemed to make people feel just a little tired… And once the Aspects and other citizens filed on home and went through their peaceful November, no one seemed to notice the other pieces. All throughout the festival, you see, Erasers had been lurking in the shadows, slipping seeds into one denizen's candy bag or another's coat. (Aspects would be immune to the influence, protected by their essences and the Storyteller's power.) Seeds of power and influence, echoes of the Story Eater's magic, its voice… Traditionalists were more susceptible, given their disapproval for the Aspects, but the Erasers weren't so picky about factions, and all their targets proved as good pawns. Those "chosen" planted the seeds in key places around the Index, nurtured them, even despite the chilling air and hardening ground. Herb gardens at home, windowsill pots, even tucked away corners in the city parks or the surrounding forests, eventually all of them bore dark burgundy vines, just thin woody sprouts at first, barely growing at all even after a month's time and attention from the hypnotized caretakers.

But then near the start of the new month, when the new moon rises into the sky…the vines burst forth and spread. Briars as thick as tree trunks—with wicked sharp thorns and roses so dark a red as to look black—spread and climb and entangle themselves throughout the whole of the Index. Streets become a latticework of brambles, vines weave in and out of houses and buildings, the doors to the Grand Library and the bridges to the other stories are blocked by solid walls of thorns, tendrils wrap around people as they sleep or try to run, and twisted, plant-like Erasers swarm the streets to pillage and lash out at anything they see. And spreading along the briars is a curse, and though a very few Aspects manage to resist, everyone else is pulled into an even deeper sleep that night...

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keeperoftales

HALLOWEENFAIRE—

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

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

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

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

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

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keeperoftales

A Hollow Christmas Carol—

After a little over a week has passed after the Story Eater's attack, the Aspects would receive a "letter" within their journals from the Storyteller. It was a missive alerting them of a Draft forged from two stories destroyed not too long ago and related to the current seasonal holidays: The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and A Christmas Carol. The Storyteller knew not of what such a story would be, only that the elements would be mixed, the characters unique. If they so wished, the Aspects could visit the Grand Library to look up the stories to learn a little of what the stories were originally about, perhaps glean something to work with later. But due to the nature of the Draft, it was hard to say what they would actually need. It was also to be the first attempt at restoring a story, so everything was all experimental. Hopefully all would go well, but...just in case something should go awry they had the Storyteller's vow that they would be pulled back into the Index intact.

Once everyone prepared, the Storyteller summoned them to a place at the edge of the world. The remains of what looked like a road made of white pages and ink crumbled into the Void, but in the distance they could see a torn cover of a book floating. This would be the Draft the Storyteller spoke of. Engulfed in a stream of white runic characters and glyphs, the Aspects floated along an invisible path connecting the Index to the Draft. Should they look around, only the darkness of the Void greeted them, small fragments of paper and ink occasionally drifting by before swallowed into the abyss, disappearing into it as if pulled in by some other force. As they traveled, the Storyteller's voice hummed around them.

To restore the story, some of you will need to find and gather pieces that help recreate portions of the world itself. Buildings, land, sometimes even people. We will not know what you will need until you arrive, so keep your journals close. Others will be tasked to play out the roles of key character figures. On this we have no control—the world itself will choose and the journals will provide the information needed. But we assume that it matters not who performs the role so long that it is performed.

Just beware the Story Eater's minions and take care—you are all but fragments of your own soul. We do not know what would become of you should you face mortal harm.

As the group drew nearer to the broken Draft, the "cover" opened, torn pages fluttering in a windless Void. Images flashed before them through pages singed and grayed. Ghostly horses. Pumpkin heads. Bouncing presents. A gingerbread sleigh. Broken tombstones. Holly ivy and wreathes. Eventually the pages stopped at the beginning, a hole burning in the center. It was through this hole that they hurtled through before disappearing in another bright, dizzying flash of light, words forming around them.

Nestled deep in a valley rested the small settlement of Lowry Town. To this town the young, aspiring teacher Ebegeeser Ichaschrooge was sent. As he was more well-educated than the local townsfolk, Ebegeeser thought himself deserving a better lifestyle and wealth than the poor circumstances he had now, staying from house to house or living in barnlofts.

So he set his eyes on the beautiful Beltrina von Cratchit, daughter of the richest man in town. However, she was already engaged to the local "hero," Bromfred, a strong but arrogant man. Not to be deterred, Ebegeeser began to devise a plan to steal Beltrina's heart on Christmas Day, by whatever means necessary.

On Christmas Eve, three ghosts would visit Ebegeeser to warn him of the folly and danger of his plans. First would be the Horseman of Christmas Past to bring Ebegeeser back through time to try and remind him of the man he used to be before his heart filled with greed, ambition, and jealousy.

And that is where our story begins...

When the Aspects came to, they would find themselves scattered from each other, lost in a strange land devoid of life and color. Some would find themselves in open fields, the sound of a river rushing nearby. Others would be at the entrance of a dark forest, an eerie mist seeping through and the sound of hooves thundering past. And others still would be placed within a small village, its buildings cracked and crumbling, human-like shadows—blots—slowly drifting through. These shadows only spared them the smallest of glances before continuing on their business—whatever business that would be.

What kind of story could possibly be told in this dreary world?

keeperoftales

Story Eater Cast Out—

With everyone's combined efforts, slowly the Story Eater was held back and even suffered serious injury. Giant snowmen iced the ground, freezing the Story Eater in place to allow others to move in to attack. Pumpkins rained from the sky, bombarding the Story Eater in fiery explosion, a large one in particular leaving scorch marks. Other gifts proved to be more of a hinderance, the loud choir deafening and even stunning those who opened them unawares. Special cards, on the other hand, allowed some Aspects to learn new abilities to help aid them in battle. The Erasers also proved to be a menace, forcing the Aspects to fight them off as they tried to reach for the presents. Some even tried to stop them from entering through the vortex, actually managing to electrocute a large portion to leave a charred field. It wasn't enough to stop them completely, but it did slow their progress.

It was a long, hard fought battle, the Story Eater destroying buildings and lives lost in its terrible wake, but they last long enough for the Storyteller to finally finish its spell. In a flash of brilliant white light, cursive script appeared through the air above the Story Eater along with runic symbols and glyphs. Rather than one language, the writing was comprised of many, and these letters swirled and danced in the air before rocketing up high into the sky. For a brief moment, everyone could see the upper boundaries of the barrier, a shield comprised of more white letters, symbols, and characters. They all moved in a dizzying storm before suddenly striking down upon the Story Eater like a ribbon of lightning. These ribbons bounce and arc to strike the Erasers as well, and they all hiss and screech. The Story Eater in particular releases a painful roar, but those closest will notice that despite the magnificent display, there is no physical injury to the giant beast.

Even so, the Story Eater grips its head before screeching.

YOU MAY HAVE WON FOR NOW, BUT THIS ISN'T OVER. I WILL EAT YOU. I WILL EAT YOU ALL!

The white ribbon of letters continue stream down against the Story Eater before it begins to wrap around it. Although it writhes against it, the Story Eater could not break free. Like a slingshot, the ribbon flung the Story Eater out of the upper boundary, its roar disappearing into the Void. Meanwhile the Erasers fled down back into the Vortex, some disintegrating before they could escape. Although the Storyteller's protective magic could harm the Erasers, it could not do much against the Story Eater except cast it out.

The letters then flew separate to go into two directions. First the majority returned to the boundary, quickly closing it and reinforcing the shield to become more solid. The second, smaller group dove into the black vortex, transforming it into a sea of text before it, too, solidified into a silvery white seal. The display of light and letters lingered for a few minutes more before they faded into darkness. The upper boundary once again revealed, dark star filled sky, and the vortex was a sealed charred, black concrete cover.

As people slowly gathered into the streets, many sobbing and trying to tend to the wounded and dying, the Storyteller's voice sighs wearily into the air, the letters forming a soft white but legible mist.

Our people... Forgive us for being so weak to allow this to happen. We grieve for those that were lost. But we must not give up hope. The Story Eater was held at bay, and with more time and power, it can truly be beaten. Aspects. We must hurry and find a story so that we may replenish the power lost in this battle. Heal, rest, but be prepared. We will reach you again.

The words and voice faded, and so the process of healing and rebuilding began. How long it would take, no one knew. Some looked at the Aspects with blame. Others with hope. Many already recount their acts of heroism, not only in battle but also in aid. Tales of those pulling people out of the rubble (a bear in particular being the children's favorite) and using healing spells spread quickly. Of course, many more mourned the dead, some still needed to be found. It would be a long time before many recovered.

[Mod note: And thus ends the battle against the Story Eater! He's been driven off—for now. Feel free to use this post for any initial reactions or aftermath threads, or make your own posts. Please read the accompanying Game Notes for further details as well as information regarding the upcoming campaign!]

keeperoftales

Nightmare on Index Street—

After the final hours of Halloween are coming to an end and everyone is slowly beginning to gather their things and return to their homes to prepare for the clean-up to come in the later days, a strange, eerie silence falls throughout the Index along with a mysterious gray fog. It seeps over the ground like a veil dragged behind an invisible bride and soon engulfs the entire city. The sound of hooves clattering over the cobbled streets echo over every street like an army followed by a chorus of loud, high maniacal laughter. In the next instant everything turns pitch black, as if the light of the world had been shut off.

And then just as suddenly, the light returns. But the sight that greets those who bear witness sends chills down every spine. Pumpkins lay smashed along the streets, cobwebs cover almost every window and doorway, and scarecrows swing from nooses tied to various branches. A cold, black frost covers the ground, steam rising from the thin, icy sheet before a new sound echoes around.

Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch. Crunch.

Big, heavy footfalls and then—

VRRRRRMMMMMM WHEEEEEEENNNNN

An ear-splitting roar of motor and metal as sparks fly from a giant chainsaw. The thing wielding it? A giant skeleton several stories tall, its mouth open wide as another shrieking laugh erupts, its eyes glowing fire. As it laughs, those closest to the abomination scream in terror before it suddenly swings its weapon out, cleaving everything and everyone in its path.

YOU THINK YOU CAN DESTROY ME, OUTSIDERS? YOU THINK YOU CAN BECOME HEROES? I'VE EATEN THEM ALL, DEVOURED THEIR SOULS AND TAKEN THEIR POWER. NOW I WILL TAKE YOU AND YOUR WORLDS! I WILL CONSUME EVERYTHING!!

From its open mouth a black vortex appears, growing larger and larger until it hurls outward to smash onto the street in front of it. At first nothing happens—only a gaping, black hole exists. But then the first claw reaches out, the first tendril, wing, tail, head. Black, hellish creatures rise up and locals scream the words,

"Erasers! It's the Story Eater's minions run for your lives!!"

By now the journals of each Aspect will have begun to burn, a loud buzz drumming in their ears as the Storyteller reaches each and every one of them.

Aspects! The Story Eater has sensed of your arrival and has breached the barrier of this world. It must be repelled, but there are only so few of you and it has grown so strong. We fear you will not survive if you face it now. But with the aid of the one known as the Father of Christmas, you may be able to weaken it enough. Quickly, find his gifts, use your powers, and weaken him until I can write a new barrier to expel him.

Please, hurry!

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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.

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Entries tagged with !event

Navigation

Finale Event: Into Neverland

Story Eater Attacks

Awaking From the Nightmare

Once Upon a Dream Event: Final Act

Once Upon a Dream Event

Halloweenfaire Event

Chapter 01: A Hollow Christmas Carol

Story Eater Cast Out

Nightmare on Index Street

Opening Log: Welcome to the Index + Halloween Festival

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