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Entry tags:
{ nightmare city }

NIGHTMARE CITY
On a fine, dreary day while Reverein is still experiencing the chaotic aftermath of worlds bleeding into Songerein, a familiar top hat, long tailed coat wearing figure will appear in the center plaza. Dubbed "The Ringmaster," he calls out to everyone a friendly greeting, and while a bit wary, those who remember him and his crew who hosted the first Halloween carnival and subsequent iterations gather around to listen to what he has to say.
With a heartfelt plea, he asks assistance from the Dreamwalkers to help aid his brethren, "Nightmarians" who are suffering from nightmares of their own. Residing in a city dominated by nostilium, they are creatures and figures who thrive off it and are able to live without issue, but the recent influx has affected even them. In return for receiving aid, they will help absorb the excess nostilium and seal remaining world fragments.
Meanwhile, the tapirs have another mission for those who would prefer staying behind in the city, and that is to start repairing the tethers.
More details on everything can be found here. Because we are in endgame, all events are open to anyone outside the game! Feel free to tag in or start new threads as we march on towards the end!
I. REVEREIN
Those who decide to stay behind will find the tapirs appearing in and out around the town. There are still a few corrupted tapirs that need healing as well as some that need help recovering, however the more important task is finding the tethers and repairing them. Doing so will help stabilize the connections between Songerein and every other world and stop the world fragments from bleeding further in.
A. Moon Crystals. It was a bit of an accident, really. Those in the Observatory were doing their own research to try and determine the connection between Songerein and other worlds, and one topic of interest was the dream world's moons, a medium the Story Eater employed to traverse between worlds. While debating if the twin moons still maintained those connections, somehow the giant floating crystal activated and fired a giant beam of dreamotion right into the moons, which also just so happened to have aligned right on top of each other and right above Reverein. While no physical damage was detected, as in there are no visible giant holes, light falls from the moons and are revealed to be "moon crystals," crystal shards made from the moon and infused with pure dreamotion.

✨ Crystal Collection. While most of the shards are small, those viewing through the telescope notice there are quite large ones that could cause some damage. Quick, collect the ones that have fallen and try and break up the larger pieces before they put a hole through someone's roof!
🌙 New purifiers. The amount of dreamotion in these crystals is significant and could help with the remaining world fragments and nostilium that continues to bleed into the world. While they could just be scattered around like seeds, the Orkilins will be quick to fashion a device that could help amplify and focus the dreamotion into the area. Now they just need those areas to be cleared out of noctaere so they can be set into the ground and activated.
💊 Tapir Medicine. When crushed, these crystals can be used as potent medicine for tapirs who are still corrupted or recovering, either as a pill or even dissolved into a drink. However, the trick is administering said medicine and will require someone to hold down the medicine adverse dream eater. Perhaps offering it with a snack conjured by some nostilium will help.
B. Tethers. By now everyone knows about the tethers that connect the worlds to Songerein, however, no one really knew what they were. They seemed to be this intangible pathway that could not be seen or touched. However, the tapirs have discovered that due to the current circumstances, the tethers are taking physical form in this world. They're still not sure what's happening, so time to investigate!

🔮 World Object Fragments. Within world fragments, strange broken pieces of some kind of object can be found scattered around. They have a distinctive sparkle and shine to them, drawing anyone to them. Collect the pieces, and if successfully able to put it all together, it will take the form of a symbolic object of that world. Perhaps those from that world fragment will be able to recognize it and explain what it is.
📔 Dream storytelling. With these new objects, the tapirs will inform everyone that those from those world fragments should try and create a simple dreamscape based somewhere in their world, perhaps an important or popular place, and tell stories about their world in general. Although they can share personal stories, ones about the world in general will work better. Others not from the world can ask questions to try and learn about the world. These dreamscapes and stories will help strengthen the object.
🌙 Moon Crystals. If there isn't anyone nearby for a particular world fragment, using the moon crystals will work just as well. Crush it into dust and let the object absorb it while walking around the area while imagining what kind of world the place is trying to represent.
C. Nightmarians. As promised, residents from Nightmare City, the Nightmarians, will enter Reverein to assist in absorbing excess nostilium and serve as conduits to seal off world fragments. However, their initial appearance may startle and confuse the natives as they are creatures that tend to have more "nightmarish" appearance. Try not to attack them! In addition, they will need someone to help them when the nostilium becomes too much by channeling dreamotion into them when needed.
D. Mysterious sightings. Reverein has been abuzz with eerie occurrences over the past two nights following the tail end of the eruption of nostilium and the appearance of world fragments. Witnesses have reported sightings of a strange, humanoid creature wandering the streets under the cover of darkness. Descriptions are vague but some claim to have found fiery red feathers in its wake, along with ominous claw marks etched into the alley walls. In addition to this enigmatic figure, there have also been sightings of a large wolf roaming the area. Despite the unsettling nature of these events, no attacks or injuries have been reported from either the creature or the wolf.
Those who have investigated a slew of recent interrelated occurrences may notice a few things about this creature’s description and the timing of its appearance. Even if not, thanks to their efforts, related professionals in Nightmare City will have a wealth of information to help with dealing with this matter, should it be brought to them (literally and figuratively). Those looking to investigate can also use this toplevel for additional information and responses.
II. NIGHTMARE CITY
For those willing to venture to Nightmare City, a special gateway is erected in the Central Plaza where anyone will be able to enter and leave freely, and will remain for as long as needed. Passing through the gateway may feel strange at first, a sharp chill that seems to overwhelm the senses before it is replaced by a rush of heat as they step into the center of a much larger city square. Tall buildings tower around them with neon lights blinking in and out from windows and signs. Music, chatter, and other sounds fill the air as all sorts of "nightmarish" creatures walk or fly past—demons, monsters, ghouls, masked figures, all from horror based worlds. But rather than dreary, it's lively with laughter mixing in with those ghastly screams. Those from modern cities may liken the city as one of the larger populated metropolises. However while it is busy, there is a tension, and as soon as the Dreamwalkers start to appear many will rush in not to attack, but to plead desperately for their help.

B. Dreamwalking. Right away requests for Dreamwalkers to enter nightmares is called upon, but somehow the nightmares are so terrifying to the Nightmarians they can't even properly explain what they see. Bracing for the worst, what the Dreamwalkers find will surprise them.

😺 Cuteness Overload. In some dreams, the dreamer is surrounded by a plethora of cute things: cute animals, cute aesthetics, cute colors—even the Dreamwalker and the dreamer are "cutified." Big eyes, sparkles, even the sun has a cute laughing face. This has left the dreamer hunched over in sheer terror while kittens and puppies paw and purr around them. Help the poor Nightmarian by somehow ridding the dream of all this cute.
☕ Domestic living. Some may find a dream where one is just chilling on the couch and enjoying a cup of coffee and watching TV relaxing. For a Nightmarian, it's pure hell. They feel trapped, unable to break through the cycle, and they feel their sense of self being drained away, Even the colors are starting to fade. Time to spice up their life, perhaps even shock or scare them back to their old self.
🔨 Dream wreckers. One way to try and break the Nightmarian out of their stupor is to destroy and "horrorfy" the dream as much as possible. Whatever could terrify the Dreamer may be a sweet dream to the Nightmarian, so this could be good practice for someone who may want to try and twist and use nostilium actively for a good purpose.
🚪 Open door. If the Dreamwalker is unable to handle the situation on their own, creating a rift into the dream so that an awaiting Nightmarian can assist is another option. To create a rift, they have to conjure a weapon and use enough nostilium to break through and create a tear in the space. The job isn't over even when the Nightmarian arrives. The Dreamwalker will need to still assist them so they aren't scared off by the contents or worse, fall into the "nightmare" themselves.
C. Nightmare Forms. For those who want practice or need help controlling their nostilium, there are a number of experts willing to teach the way of the nightmare, both in and out of dreams. This will require a lot of mental strength and fortunately if someone loses control, they are in a place that will help them. This also includes learning to take on a controlled nightmare form. What that form will be will vary, but as Dreamwalkers will be facing nightmares and their vices, it could incorporate the seven deadly sins.

👥 Strength in Sin. It may sound strange, but instead of trying to face one's fear, Nightmarians will ask Dreamwalkers to think of what their worst vice is. Do they have anger issues? Prideful? Lazy? Gluttonous? Envious? Lustful? Covetous? Because nostilium is also formed by negative emotions, it is easier to try and focus on a negative aspect of oneself than trying to grapple with something more emotional based on fear. By focusing on a negative trait instead, they can lean into that vice and turn it into a source of power and strength. Thus in this exercise, whatever powers they exhibit will reflect that particular trait.
😈 Nightmare Form. The next step will be trying to transform into a unique form born from nostilium. Those who have turned into noctaere before or have transformed in some way will naturally lean into that form. But they can also try and learn something different, one based off their vice. This form may actually be more stable and offer them more control. What look will they have in this form?
🎯 Target practice. Whether in a dreamscape or out in a designated practice zone, participants can go through various exercises and use targets and dummies to help focus, channel, and release nostilium into a controlled force no different than when utilizing dreamotion. Some may use spells and abilities similar to what they know, however with nostilium it will be changed in some way. Different element, different color, curse or hex-like effects, etc.—how it manifests will be unique to the individual. Weapons are treated similar.
🤺 Sparring practice.It's also possible to try and spar against someone, whether it's two nostilium users or one using nostilium and the other using dreamotion. There will be experts supervising and will intervene if someone loses control, so do not worry and push to the limits. These exercises will benefit both nostilium and dreamotion users as they navigate using and countering nostilium.
🪞 Worst Nightmare. After going through the different exercises, those who want to try go further and harness the powers and force born from their nightmares have the chance to take a partner and be launched into a nightmarescape based on their worst nightmares. They will remain lucid, but they will feel the effects of the nightmare more keenly than usual. But if they are able to "defeat" their nightmare and take control of the nostilium and emotions created by it, they will be able to strengthen their powers and their nightmare form.

The Doctor | OTA
Collecting Moondust
"There's nothing that I haven't stepped in that wasn't interesting. So the question is- what is this?" The Doctor goes to lick one of the moon stone, "Where are you from? What's breaking apart? Don't like it when that happens. Seems to be a crystal of sorts but from where?"
Taking out his sonic screwdriver he points at the crystals, "The moon. But that's impossible! Something strange is going on here."
Pickup/Storytelling
The Doctor is noticing random pieces of a broken down object, so he begins to collect and try to rebuild.
"What is this? More importantly why is this broken?"
Cuteness Overlord
This is really a day or rather a reality and The Doctor feels that they're passing though many realities with this place.
"Oh, blimey the sun is smiling. Where's the stairway back to the other reality?"
Worst Nightmare
The other things didn't make The Doctor flinch but seeing Rose, Martha, Donna, Jack, Amy, Rory, River, Bill all slowly being blown to dust, that did. The Doctor goes to run to them but he can't get to them. There's a really big shadow dog like god that is even keeping The Doctor able to run to them. Along with the ToyMaker pulling the strings on The Doctor who is chained down, he is locked up tight in a small prison designed just for him. He can hear the Daleks and The Cybermen rejoicing in their victory. Let him out of pandorica!
Wildcard
Have an idea? Let's do it. Will match format
Collecting Moondust
Alastor swooped in from behind to greet the newcomer. How does a non-flying person swoop, you ask? Excellent question. Regardless, it was the only way to properly describe the way Alastor swiftly slid all seven feet of himself in from seemingly nowhere.
"Many many strange things go on here, to be quite honest!"
Re: Collecting Moondust
Joshua Rosfield | PLAYER PLOT TOPLEVEL | OTA
As stated in the main post, thanks to the efforts of our investigators, options have opened up that will impact events in Part Two. This event post marks an Intermission of sorts! Following the conclusion of Intermission (see the final prompt in this comment), we'll have the setting for Part Two, which will take place in Joshua's dreamscape. I’ll have another OOC plotting post up within the next couple of days complete with sign-ups and further information on what to expect (also rules for the battle system I’ve put together). That post will include extensive information on the kaiju battles, final boss, as well as an outline on other ways to get involved without fighting and how that involvement will impact on how the battles go.
Thank you to all who participated in the investigation process! Please consider this a friendly reminder to send in your conclusions ASAP if you haven't already so you can receive your rewards!
And because y’all have uncovered enough clues, congratulations!
There’s still one more (the “true” ending) that you can get, where if everybody (and I mean everybody; not just players/characters who've joined in already!) comes together during the second half of the story, all your hard work will pay off even more (and will hopefully be personally fulfilling, as well!).
Please stay tuned for Part Two, and please accept my sincere gratitude again to everyone who participated in Part One. Seriously, it means a lot, and I hope it was fun! Enjoy the Intermission!
I(a). I am the monster you created (OTA)
[Somewhere in Reverein, under the cover of night, a large wolf stands at the entrance to a shadowy alleyway. In his mouth, he holds a basket, and his eyes gleam with a wary intelligence. If approached, the wolf growls, a low and menacing sound that's a clear warning to stay back.]
[Behind him, there's a soft groan and the shift of something that previously looked like it could have been some debris from the recent incident with the world fragments. A breeze picks up, and a downy red feather tumbles down and along the narrow path. The wolf glances behind himself, concerned, before refocusing his attention on this new stranger.]
[Oddly enough, he looks like he can be reasoned with, if someone is brave enough to try.]
I(b). I am a ghost, a fallen angel (Open to CR)
[To anyone who knows Joshua or Torgal, the evening brings an unexpected encounter. Torgal approaches from a side street, his behavior urgent and uncharacteristically desperate. Gentle, but also without warning, he'll grab onto a friendly sleeve with his teeth, tugging and whining insistently. If that doesn't work, he'll start pushing with his massive head towards a nearby alley.]
[It's hard to see with the shadows, but something stirs. Look closer (Torgal will insist on it), and it's Joshua slumped against a wall. At first it’s hard to tell it’s him. Small tufts of red feathers stick up from his hair, while larger feathers jut from between his shoulder blades, though they don't form full wings. His forearms, too, are covered in feathers with red, green, and blue hues, and his otherwise humanoid fingertips end in talon-like claws. A gnarled mass on his chest glows a disturbing purple, feeding into a web of dark veins that snake up his neck, across his chest, and up his face. His sclera are completely black, and his irises glow a brilliant sapphire blue.]
[He coughs, then looks towards the entrance.]
Torgal? Are you back already?
II. Stars are only visible in darkness, and I've been poisoned inside (OTA)
(Both of the first prompts can lead into this one based on player preference!)
[Joshua, now trapped in a form that is neither fully human nor noctaere, has been brought to Nightmare City. Specifically, to a facility that's a hospital first, and a quarantine second. There is some promising news that comes up over the first couple of days of his admittance: based on records, names, and recounting of events during investigations into Joshua's disappearance, the crew at the facility may be able to work with some doctors to adjust an existing cure to treat Joshua's specific condition.]
[In the meantime, he’s confined to a single room designed for comfort but also security. It's small but functional, with a bed pushed against one wall, covered in simple but clean linens. A sturdy desk and a single chair sit opposite the bed, providing a place for writing or contemplation. The room is sparse, the walls bare except for a small window with reinforced glass that's just big enough to allow in some light. Despite its utilitarian design, the atmosphere is meant to offer some measure of solace amidst his confinement.]
[Here, those who wish to ask questions about what happened to him can do so. Alternatively, visitors are welcome to come see him--although he may not be one for much conversation, understandably.]
III. Nobody can save me now, the King is crowned, it's do or die (OTA)
[The normal evening hustle and bustle of Nightmare City is shattered by a small explosion.]
[Immediately after, anyone in the area will catch sight of an enormous Phoenix that seems to materialize mid air. It's just as big as the building it's escaping, although thankfully the hole that's filled with billowing smoke is relatively small. Just about the size of a large window. Glowing as if with firelight, it screeches as its wings catch the warm city air, allowing it to soar quickly through the night sky. The Phoenix moves with a sense of urgency, frantically dodging skyscrapers and covering as much distance as possible before it vanishes into the darkness on the outskirts of the city.]
[For anyone who wishes to chase after, it isn't hard to keep tabs of. No giant firebird would be--that is, until it disappears. Thankfully, it's relatively easy to track its trajectory, and find the silhouette of something vaguely human against a barely visible horizon where grass and the night sky meet.]
...Pray turn back, friend. Before it's too late.
Regardless of the conclusion in the above prompts, Joshua is committed to his decision. In a desperate bid to protect everyone from the imminent danger he poses, he intends to seal himself away. Fire erupts into massive pillars that seem to touch the edge of the sky, marking boundaries that blend reality and the dreamscape held within. Although far from the city, the giant wall of flame is easy to see for anyone on the accompanying edge.
To most, it's a spectacle, to some, it's a sign of trouble to come.
Anyone who happened to follow Joshua here will be met with a wave of sweltering heat. The same silhouette that was difficult to spot moments ago now strikes a sharp contrast against the dancing lights of fiery waves behind him--
--and it changes.
Wings unfurl from Joshua's back, accompanied by long, winding tail feathers and a feathery crown fit for royalty. Red. Orange. Green. Blue. The colors swirl around him, blown about by hot winds buoyed by the growing fire. Eyes, amber now against black and laced with more red plumage, glint with the wavering light, and his face splits into a smile, fanged and sinister as the laugh that pierces through the crackle of the blaze swallowing him. He manages a single taunt before disappearing into the dreamscape.
Ia.
She carefully composes her face to keep the growing suspicion from marring the mild, detached neutrality she usually shows.]
Not the time and place I would choose for a picnic.
[Can it understand her? She can't say for sure, but she strongly suspects that it can.]
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I-B.
Huh. What’s wrong? Is there anything urgent you want me to attend to?
(Before she could say anything more, Torgal tugs on the right sleeve of her blouse, causing her to go to the nearby alley he is trying to take her to. Whatever is causing him to run to her and take her to an alleyway, it must be a very serious matter. Pooka and Mashka follow after the two of them as well, not wanting to be left behind and nervous for their master’s safety.
Soon enough, she finally enters the alley to find Joshua in a very rough state: neither fully human nor fully bird. And honestly, she is very terrified of what is happening to him and is speechless upon seeing the current form he is in but she tries to put up brave face for her friend as she tries to get close to him and see if he is okay.)
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III
[He's not sure how Joshua feels about him right now, but he has to try. He read the letter, of course... but people have complicated feelings. And he's been able to predict most... but Joshua seems to act counter to his expectations at times.]
[He's still worried about Kazuya, but... he can't do anything about it right now. He does know that if something happened to Joshua that Kazuya would be upset, however.]
Too late for whom, Joshua? You? Or me?
[It's unclear if it's a threat or a genuine concern coming from the young man, after all. But he has to try to see this through. ... There's no other choice.]
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IB
[But when he spots the familiar shape in the shadows he rushes forward. He can see the changes, but - but it's Joshua. He stops in front of him and kneels to get close. It's still him. He's still there.]
Joshua?
[His voice is soft and he digs into his bag for his water canteen. He thrusts it towards the other, not sure what else to do.]
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I-b
[He's surprised by the wolfhound, but he immediately senses and understands the urgency, allowing him to lead the way through the shadows of the streets until...]
Joshua!?
[Ever since finding those notes and unable to find Joshua in the days, weeks since his own recovery, Eustace had been alarmed and worried over him. Seeing him like...this—
He rushes over to him, eyes wide with rapidly rising concern.]
What happened, are you—
[Even from far away be could feel that thick trace of nostilium, and various possibilities race through this mind.]
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Ib (one of my fave horror games)
He has a lot to make up for, after all.
Much and more still, when he hears that familiar voice, and his body starts, almost sluggishly as his eyes pick out a figure, and then a voice from down further in the alleyway. The wolf won't need much more insistence than that, because Kazuya's body lurches once, then his legs move full speed towards his friend.]
Joshua!
[He looks... bad. It's not good, but he can figure something out. Summon a demon to help heal, maybe? Can this be healed? His experience with noctaere and nostilium is low, and now he curses himself for not doing more, for not reading more into it. He's had all this time, and now for what?]
Tell me what I need to do.
[Joshua was looking into them, though. He must have a clue, some semblance of something, anything.]
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IA
Accustomed to the company of far more dangerous fauna, the towering Amaurotine advances without hesitation, although not so forward as to attempt to touch the creature without forewarning.]
Where did you come by that, I wonder...?
[Alas, he moves a little too close too quickly, the following growl thus giving him pause.]
I mean you no harm.
[His voice placating, he seeks to soothe with speech and gesture, though in time his attention is drawn by another sound. One that sounds not unlike a man.]
Is someone there? [Catching sight of the shifting rubble, his voice raises in alarm.] Are you injured? Wait there! I shall come to you!
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II
So she comes to pay him a visit. She doesn't want to push him, given his condition, but she's hoping to find some answers. So she lingers by his door and gives a little knock.]
You Joshua? Can I come in? [She asks with a friendly smile.]
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Isabela Madrigal | Encanto (OTA)
(Isabela clearly didn’t expect to hear stories falling moon crystals falling down on some roofs she happens to be passing by while going on a walk. But yet there she is, trying to gathering as many moon crystals as she could before the roofs could get holes on them. She must have been wondering What on the realm is going on in here? as crystals begin to fall from the moons to the ground below.
She looks rather concerned as she continues to pick up the big crystals and attempt to break them apart as fast as she can. Perhaps tou could lend her a hand in this task?)
New Purifiers
This seems to be a good place for the Orkilins to place their devices at. But it is currently overrun by the nocteare at this time. We need to flush them out so they can set them up safely.
(Good news: Isabela has found a perfect spot at an empty section of the marketplace for setting up the Orkilins’ dreamotion purifier devices. This should be looking good for everyone right? Well, the bad news is that there are still nocteare running amok in town and Isabela knows that it will take a lot of work to get rid of them so the devices will be set up in no time.)
It is going to take a long while for us to get them out of here. Do you have any suggestions to clear the area of the nocteare?
To Envy is Power
(Growing up with a gift and a beauty that might have been a curse than a blessing, Isabela had grown very envious of her sisters for having something she could have traded her gift for: Luisa is strong and tough and, while not given a Gift of her own, Mira had a more normal life and creativity beyond one’s dreams.
So when she is told by the Nightmarians that she has to focus on a sin in order to face Nightmares, she knows of the one sin that comes up to her mind very well. The problem is that she has a hard time trying to focus on being envious than she expected. Isabela might be needing some help with this one.)
Wrecking the Cute
Agh! There is so much cuteness here. No wonder that many of the Nightmare City residents are having such a hard time trying to sleep well.
(Much to Isabela’s horror as soon as she steps into a Nightmarian’s dreamscape, the scenery looks rather too cheery for anyone’s taste with oddly smiling faces, dainty crystals flora and happy puffballs running amok in pastels and big eyes. This is starting to get on her nerves, reminding her too much of how she felt caged up by high expectations from her grandmother to be super perfect.
But then she gets a very clever and sneaky idea and it could be vital to save this particular Nightmarian in no time.)
Hey! I think that I have a great idea for us to use to get the Nightmarian back to reality. Want to help me out with it?
Well if anyone knows Envy... (I'm sorry for her anyway)
But whatever the reason, it looks to Helga like she's not having much luck. Honestly, neither is she, which is why she's noticing anything in the first place. So, with an eye-roll as she can't believe she's doing this, she goes to sit next to the young woman.]
Hey, Princess. Are you here to actually do something, or did you get lost on the way to the garden shop?
hehehe no worries Isa’s struggling hard
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Anastasia Romanova | Anastasia (1997)
Come on, little one. You need to take this so you can regain enough energy to be fully active again.
(Anya is in the middle of trying to offer a moon crystal dust medicine drink to some tapirs that are very reluctant to take it. She knows that it is going to take her a long time to get them to get the much needed medicine.
But she does know that tapirs love snacking on nightmares and nostilium so she can try to conjure one out of it. At the same time though, she is going to need someone who can help in gently keeping them still. So she turns to the first person she sees and asks them for some assistance.)
Oh hello. It seems that I could use some help in getting these tapirs to take this medicine drink. Perhaps you can help me out with it?
Worst Nightmare (cw: mentions of deaths, corpses, bats)
(Seeing the dead bodies of her family and friends scattered across an abandoned cobweb strewn ballroom is not a pleasant sight to behold and it does scare her quite a bit. Pooka barks in fear and Mashka huddles behind as Anya tries to hold back the fear and faces her biggest fear of all.
To make matters worst, green bat like creatures fly in the sky like they’re giant swords swinging ominously over her head and an eerie green glow fills the room. She almost freezes as she sees every dead person and tears begin to water her eyes. Get her out of this trance and help her to conquer her fears!)
Capture the Cute
Hey! Get over here, you little rascal! You should stop terrorizing the locals right now or I will have to do it for you.
(Anya runs as fast as she can all over Nightmare City, giving chase to the cute creatures who are bringing terror onto the poor Nightmarians. She thinks that they could be of better use in Reverein which is why she is going to catch them alive in one piece. But these creatures are just too fast for her and she is honestly getting annoyed by how fast they run already.
Pooka and Mashka are also helping in chasing after them as well, but even they are no match for the cute creatures’ speed. The little dog keeps barking at them relentlessly as they keep chasing them. If you happen to be near by, maybe you can step in and help them catching these speedy cute pains in the neck and ship them off to Reverein ASAP.)
Azula | Avatar: The Last Airbender
[Azula still doesn't trust herself anywhere near Nightmare City, suffused as it is with Nostilium. However, she's still compelled to be helpful now that the Noctaere and nightmare creatures have died down. Gathering crystal shards? That's something she can do. By an odd coincidence, it's something she has done before, and under far more humiliating circumstances. And if these things are the best way to treat the corrupted Tapirs...]
Stop squirming, you irritating little rodent!
[This is being spoken to an agitated Tapir, smoldering with Nostilium corruption. She's wrestled it to the ground on its back through brunt force, and she's currently attempting to restrain its forelimbs with one arm while using the other to try and force crystal shards into its mouth.
Helping.]
IIa. Welcome to your life
[When not plying, uh... medicine... she can be found trying to repair tethers in these fragments of other worlds. She might stumble into yours, looking... well, annoyed, but that's pretty typical. Still, she is genuinely here to help, which is... big for her. If you're hunting pieces of these tethers, she's willing to help.
Alternatively, you might stumble into a fragment of her world- this time, it's not a prison, it's a vast stone courtyard leading up to a large staircase and a ceremonial building, under a dim red sky with a blazing comet overhead. It's not clear what the purpose of the plaza is, but those who have witnessed her prior dreams might recognize it as a recurring feature.
She'll pause for only a brief moment, frozen in place to stare with a slightly pained expression, before her face sets into a more typical smirk.]
Good, I know my way around. This shouldn't take long.
IIb. I can't stand this indecision
[Or perhaps you'll stumble into the plaza later, after she's fully assembled the object. In her hands, she now holds a flat hair ornament in the shape of a gold stylized flame: The 'crown' of the Fire Lord
She's staring at it, her face oddly distant, and she's clearly so captivated by the object in her hands that she's totally oblivious to the arrival of another person. She knows she's supposed to share stories of her world, but apparently she's a little out of it right now, because it's the furthest thing from her mind.]
III. Wildcard!
(OOC: Don't see anything you like? Have something else in mind? Feel free to DM me or hit me up on the discord!)
Rachel Berenson | Animorphs
[Nightmare City sounded like the place where most of the danger was, so it's probably no surprise to anybody that knows her that it's where Rachel decides to go- especially since she's not entirely convinced that the Nostilium is out of her system from her bout as a tapir.
The place is kind of quaint compared to the nightmares she's used to, but she knows better than to assume it's safe based on that. When the locals begin asking for her help dreamwalking, she assumes that the danger is finally here, and she'll eagerly volunteer to help out. Obviously, her tune will change when she sees just what sorts of 'nightmares' she has to deal with...
Well, as long as she's here walking in their "nightmares" anyway she may as well help. But she can't pretend she isn't a little disappointed.]
II. It's not the demon inside me that needs killing...
[When Rachel hears about the opportunity to master Nostilium, she's quick to volunteer to learn. Partly to make her more effective here, but also, she knows how she is, and she knows what she's capable of. And after the incident with Tobias... Let's just say she has no desire to find out what going Noctaere would feel like.
It doesn't take her long to determine that the negative emotion she's most afflicted by is anger, and that's her focus as she tries to harness that power. It doesn't take her long at all to feel the change come- it seems to be going well, a change that feels much smoother, faster, and more natural than the grotesque morphing process.
When she opens her eyes, she's become something recognizably Rachel, yet distinctly different- far taller, impossibly and inhumanly tall, over eight feet, with powerful muscles, long limbs, a ferocious snarl on her lips, and long, metallic, deadly-sharp claws erupting from her fingertips.
Recognition quickly comes to her face, followed immediately by panic- though she tries to smother the latter.]
I can't- I can't do this. I can't do this.
(OOC note: Rachel's anger problems will be ramped up even worse than usual in her nightmare form, fair warning.)
III. Blood screaming inside you to work its will (Locked to Tobias/@notachickenhawk)
[The good news is that she's managed to get... most of a handle on this form, and the aggression that comes with it. The bad news is, the next step involves confronting her own personal nightmares, and she's had enough of those to last a lifetime.
There's only one person here in this world that she'd trust to have her back for this- honestly, he'd be her first choice back home, too. And the two of them have enough experience with each other's nightmares that they can probably handle it, whatever this shared nightmare throws at them. But that doesn't mean she's looking forward to it. She takes a deep breath, mercifully back in her normal shape, and forces a grin she doesn't quite feel, pulling her dream lantern from her pocket and holding it out on front of her.]
Let's do it.
[She closes her eyes and enters the dreamscape.
When she opens her eyes again, she immediately loses the cocky smile. They're underground, a roughly hewn roof high above them, damp stone walls. An old sewer. One she recognized all too well, though she'd only been there once before.
Last time, she'd been trapped in a transparent box. This time, she was out in the open- but there was a second box, right where it had been the last time. Only instead of Cassie, or something else pretending to be Cassie, there was a small white rat. It was scurrying around the edges of the cube in agitation, trying to find a way out. It didn't seem to notice that it had company. Rachel stares up, seemingly at the room itself.]
Not much of a nightmare unless I'm the one in the box...
[As soon as it hears her voice, the rat stops and turns toward the two of them, staring at them warily.]
IV. Wildcard!
(OOC: Nothing here that inspires you? Have something specific in mind? Feel free to DM me or hit me up on the game discord!)
III
[One of their greatest failures as a group and one that'd stuck with them all this time. Of course she feels some... kind of way about him. They all did. Tobias could have probably eaten him but that felt too close to cannibalism...]
[He lands next to her and stares at the rat, giving it as angry of a look as he can manage while still being a hawk.]
<... So what do we do? There's the easy answer and there's the complicated answer.>
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cw for a super dead, uh... "animal."
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cw for some deliberate torture because we have FUN on this channel.
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I.
Anyone else think this is a huge letdown?
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Helga Pataki | Hey Arnold!
[Helga had been hearing about this "Nightmare City" ever since she arrived and had resisted every reason to check it out... until now. Sure, it just looks more interesting than Reverein in general, but the key reason for her visit? This "nightmare form" she can apparently make from the energy after her boyfriend's penthouse showed up.
When encouraged to tap into her biggest sin, she opted for the most obvious one to her: Wrath. The problem? She doesn't feel particularly angry. She's moody, don't get her wrong, but she hasn't been filled with real rage in months at this point. What gives?
So others in training are unpleasantly to her attempting to... yell it out of herself.]
Oh, that's just great! I get stuck in this stupid place for months and I can't even throw a little tantrum? What is wrong with you, Helga? You've never liked it here!
Dream Wreckin'
[She expected something edgy and cool when the Nightmare folk desperately threw her into one of their own dreams... until she lands into a pink cushioned nursery full of plush bunnies seeming to move on their own. Once she gets up, she just stands there as the bunnies bounce on her with a satisfying boing!.]
Really. This is the menace terrorizing Nightmare City?
[From somewhere above, a pencilcase lands on her head. After a casual shrug, she bends down, unzips it, and pulls out a pair of scissors. She snaps it menacingly at the bunnies as a disconcerting smirk appears on her face.]
Capture the Cute
[Later, she can be seen wandering the skirts of Nightmare City... well, not alone. That's an understatement: She's surrounded by a circle of cats, a couple of birds have landed on her head, and cotton balls with faces on them keep latching onto her face. Apparently, she's just used to this, because when she sees someone of Reverein origin, she calls out to them like she's selling hot dogs at a food truck.]
Hey bozo, you heading back? Take these with you.
Strength in Sin
You can't really force anger, Helga. It's something that has to stew and marinate until it bubbles over.
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Satan, Avatar of Wrath 🙀 Obey Me!
[ Satan is supposed to be helping the Nightmarians get rid of the cuteness in their dreams which are allegedly horrifying to them. And he had absolutely every intention of doing just that. There's plenty he could do to make the dream less cute. After all, he himself is a demon (despite his current appearance), so how difficult could it possibly be to toss some fake blood on the walls and make the dream look like the end of a murder mystery or gory horror movie? Maybe turn the sun's smile upside down, wreck the buildings.
Most animals he can handle. They're very cute, yes, but they only offer him a small amount of happiness when he sees them.
But this dream? It's full of cats. Purring cats with squeaky meows who wants to be pet just the right amount. Satan could transform them into ferocious lions or tigers, maybe jaguars. He could. But instead, he finds himself victim to their charm.
So, instead of doing anything useful, Satan is honestly making things worst most likely by sitting here, practically starry eyed, as he pets each and every cat in the vicinity. ]
II. 👥 Strength in Sin
[ One would think that the Avatar of Wrath himself would want to lean heavily into his wrath, that it would be such an easy thing to do. But what the Nightmarians are asking of him is so contrary to how he has tried to live the entirety of his thousand year life.
Sure, he's quick to lose his temper over things both big and small. There is always a sense of anger deep within his heart, constantly boiling, always threatening to spill over, and he has worked hard to stop it from doing so.
Breathing techniques, yoga, happy thoughts -- he's tried a variety of methods to help him keep his anger in check over the centuries. Sometimes it doesn't work and he loses his temper anyway, but he always works to rein himself back in. He doesn't want to be angry, to succumb to his Sin and let it control him. Because the things you do and say in anger? You can apologize for them, but you can never take them back. The damage is permanent, and he knows people will remember the the times he's lost his temper, that it might be the only thing they remember him for.
And so, when a helpful Nightmarian urges him to lean into his wrath so that he can wield that energy, he flat out refuses, citing that he can already do that, thank you very much. Of course the follow up to that is why doesn't he do it, then? And, if he doesn't want to help, why is he here?
Which, of course, only causes a flash of irritation to cross Satan's expression. ]
There are seven deadly sins. It doesn't have to be Wrath, right?
[ The Nightmarian suggests working with Pride, which causes an immediate response of: ]
NOT. PRIDE.
[ But why not?! ]
III. Wildcard
[ If there's a different scenario you prefer, just let me know! I am on plurk at
I. Cuteness Overload
He really was expecting things to be a lot worse and give him nightmares. He was expecting blood dripping down the walls, hands coming from cracks in the walls, all sorts of terrifying things, but what he got when he looked around was a sea of cats. Sea of cute cuddly cats that all want to be petted, and among the petting was a familiar head of blond blond hair.
—
WAIT THAT'S HIS HEAD OF BLOND BLOND HAIR! ]
S-Satan?! [ He coughs loudly ]
You're lookin'.... different.
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🌠⚡ closed to eustace.
Still, as they visit the training facilities that they have set up for those from Reverein, she's back to feeling nervous again. Others have taken to it naturally, and she glances around the room to see what they have managed. Meanwhile, she has no idea where to even start.
Hands out in front of her, fire sits in her open palms, but it bleeds and radiates strong dreamotion rather than nostilium, and as she peers up at Eustace, she exhales and deflates with a defeated sigh.]
I'm not sure if I'm even cut out for this...
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Still... Perhaps she's a little too resilient.
A puzzled frown forms as he looks over that strong, beautiful ball of flame.]
That...may be possible. We did focus your fire to be something of a purifier to counter my own nostilium...
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