004 - Lucid Dreaming

[tabularasa_mods]

Lucid Dreaming Event Info Pt.1 ▲ Event Info Pt.2 ▼ Comments Please see the two info posts linked above for details on the nature of the event, the nightmares within, and the setting it takes place in. You may ask any unanswered questions in either post. If your character dies at any point during the dream event, please leave a comment in the death report thread to notify the mods.

As a final reminder, all characters will fall asleep for the full duration of this event whether you decide to take part or not. You may continue tagging threads that take place before the event, but everyone will fall asleep simultaneously.

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Falling Asleep, Waking Up
The shift happens without warning, much like the first time people appeared in the world. Perhaps you remember what you were doing in the last moments before a strange feeling of exhaustion overwhelmed you - or perhaps you remember nothing at all. Whatever it may be, you've appeared somewhere new. A seemingly ordinary train station, if not for the bizarre walls of flesh blocking the only exits. The only path forward is down into the pulsating depths, a humid breeze pushing at your back.

There may be others here with you, or you may be alone. Could there be more people trapped in this strange place? You won't find them just by standing around.

Nightmares
The screeching of a distant train will echo through the tunnels on occasion, shadows flicking through the translucent flesh of the walls. Sometimes, however, instead of fading away the noise will only grow louder, closer, until it sounds like the train should be upon you. It never appears, but something else always will.

The train is a siren call for nightmares, and you're unfortunate enough to be their victim. The shadows turn alive, twisting and growing as they rise up from the ground and begin to transform. What form they take varies, but the shadows of the mind know the true fears of those who walk among them. Are you prepared to face the darkness?

Volcanic Panic

The shadows congeal at the edges of the floor, and soon after a hot orange glow begins to fill the room - molten lava is pooling in from the other end of the tunnel. It rolls slowly forward, devouring everything it touches with an unquenchable searing hunger, leaving behind only the charred bones of its victims... although, strangely, the tunnels themselves appear to be completely unharmed.

Outrunning the flow of lava shouldn't be a problem, but there seems to be no end to it. How long can you run from something that never stops? Or worse, what happens if you find yourself surrounded? You'll need to find a way to higher ground before that happens.

A Radiant Plague

The shadows rise up into familiar shapes, and at first glance it'd be easy to mistake them for people. They may even share the faces and voices of people you know, stumbling towards you with wide, open arms... and empty, glowing eyes filled with an orange light. Something smells sickly sweet, and it's only once they're close enough to grab you that they begin to attack.

These are not your friends, and they'll do whatever it takes to make you one of them instead. Unfortunately, it's not an experience you'll be able to survive. Your only hope is to fight back before the plague can take hold, lest you become another mindless husk that knows only to further spread the infection.

Trust No One, Not Even Yourself

The shadows stretch and fill the air, choking everything in a thick blanket of darkness... before dispersing just as quickly as they'd appeared. A few moments pass and nothing else seems to be happening. You must've gotten lucky this time!

... Or did you?

Surely it can't be that simple. Nothing else here has been, so something must have happened just now. It's only you and the person you're currently traveling with... but are you sure that's really them right now? How do you know they haven't been possessed by another nightmare, waiting until you let your guard down to stab you in the back? Should you interrogate them to be sure, or start with restraining them and ask questions later? Wouldn't it be better to just kill them before things get out of hand? The sooner you strike, the safer you'll be when their true form emerges.

Yes, that must be the real explanation. It has to be them that's been possessed by a nightmare. What else could it be?

Joker’s Wild

There’s no limit to what form the shadows can take. The world may have its own perception of fear, but your nightmares are something only you could understand. What darkness lurks in the depths of your heart?

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code bases by tricklet

Comments

[psychokinesia]

[Oh yeah? Saying he helped it... is exactly what a guilty person would say, isn't it???

but Add decides not to voice these concerns, because keeping an open channel like this is a waste of energy and he has a drone to track right now. So, at least for awhile, Blue's new tagalong will be a quiet one. At most it might give a beep every now and then when they pass something interesting—it's quite good at identifying the more, ah, aggressive parts of the flesh-walls, so at least they'll have some warning before anything pops out at them...

Unfortunately, the peace was not meant to last. It was only a matter of time before Add realized the damn coordinates he was following were still moving... this place is enough of a maze with a stationary destination, is this really necessary?? There's a beep of warning from Dynamo this time before the audio channel opens up again.]

—Hey, you! I thought I said to stay in one place. Where the hell do you think you're going?

[halloflamer]

[And saying that's exactly what a guilty person would say is exactly what a stupid person would say! Checkmate, Add!!]

[Blue seems a little wary of the little drone, but it's actually kind of cute.... It definitely reminds him of a Magnemite, or maybe a Beldum. And Blue is thankful once he realizes that the beeps are its ways of communicating points of importance to him, helping him and his Pokémon avoid the more dangerous parts of the tunnel.]

[Too bad that obnoxious voice had to butt in again.] Who the Shellder cares what you said? You're not the boss of me! [Blue calls back, ignoring the drone now (sorry, guy).] If you wanna find us so bad, how about you use your own two feet!

[...Where is he going?? He has no idea, really. No matter where he goes in this place, it only seems to get worse...]

[psychokinesia]

How the fuck am I supposed to do that when you keep moving around?! Do you even know where you're going? It looks like you're just making random movements, I couldn't guess your destination even if I wanted to!

Just take the next tunnel left and keep straight, got it? You're already further than you were before, but at least we'll be headed in the same direction again. Are you trying to go up or down? Make up your mind quickly before I decide to just leave you here. I'm the one doing you a favour!

[Yeah, it's definitely Add doing the favours here, and not Add so desperate for human contact he's putting himself at risk by sending drones out to scout while he walks around hostile territory. He can totally just give up on this and find someone else to bother... probably...]

—Also, who else is with you? You never answered me properly before! I'm still detecting two signatures so I know you're there even if you're not talking...!

[halloflamer]

[This guy... Blue stares with exasperation at poor Dynamo, who has done nothing wrong, like he's going to throttle the poor little thing. What a terrible fate, to be used as your trainer's annoying speakerphone....]

I still don't really see how this is my problem, [Blue huffs, still shuffling along with his hands in his pockets.] Why don't you try and triangulate my movements, genius. I'm the one that saved your partner here, so you oughta be kissing my Feebas!

[The truth is Blue has no idea where he's going- how are you supposed to have a sense of direction in a place you've never been before and in which there's no goal or destination?? But rather than admit that to this abrasive Bastiodon, he's just going to keep the bickering up. Of course.]

[But then again, exactly because he doesn't have any destination... Blue just meanders naturally in that direction anyway, because it happens to be the easiest looking path to go in. Not because Add told him to!!]

Who's "with" me, huh... [Blue and Arcanine share a look, before Arcanine turns around towards Dynamo, sticking his snout into the little drone's business before giving a low growl into a sharp and booming] ARCK!!

[psychokinesia]

[At the sudden and very loud bark, Dynamo shoots out a little jolt of electricity in surprise (which is, fortunately, not aimed at anyone). Rest assured that Add jumped several feet in the air at the same time.]

Why the hell do you have a dog here?! [WHO BRINGS A DOG TO THE MEAT SUBWAY okay to be fair it's not like any of them came here intentionally...] Whatever, fine, so it's one person and a mutt. I guess that's alright...

[The more shocking revelation is... he's actually getting closer now?? Wow, this asshole can actually follow directions after all. They're starting to get close, so Dynamo flies up front to take the lead.

A few minutes later, from around a corner appears... This Guy. And also five more identical Dynamos. Blue's escort zips off to join its happy little squad around Add.]

Took you long enough! Tch, would've been faster if you listened from the start... [really tho, he sounds... kind of relieved? Not that he was worried much about this stranger and his weird giant dog, but seriously, it's been days since he's seen another person, it's kinda nice to know everyone else didn't already escape without him or whatever.]

[halloflamer]

[Oh! So Dynamo was an Electric type! Blue thought so, although at first he had assumed he might be just a Steel type.... The electricity doesn't startle him much, and helps him to ignore whatever complaints Add continue to send his way.]

[Arcanine, however, isn't so content to be called a 'mutt', and growls lowly again into the feed. But, they continue their little march, until suddenly they bump into someone else. Blue doesn't immediately recognize it as being the owner of the voice until Dynamo floats back off to join the others, and forces Blue to settle a skeptical glance on him.]

[Ugh, now he has to talk to him face-to-face, huh. Arcanine, standing tall to Intimidate the other man, glares across the space between them.] You talk big for someone that lost one of their Pokémon, [He scoffs. Irresponsible!] You're welcome.

[psychokinesia]

I didn't lose anything, it's called scouting, moron. It's something that only geniuses like me have the sense to think of, apparently! [except he... did kind of lose them, since Dynamo wasn't supposed to get stuck like that and he'd been getting pretty worried... but it all worked out in the end, so it's fine! He's responsible!!] And Dynamo is a Nasod, not a polkamon or whatever. Get it right next time.

[but anyway, he's not alone anymore, so maybe he can finally relax a little... though that dog sure is glaring at him. The dog is also a lot bigger than he was anticipating. He folds his arms, trying to stand a little taller in an attempt to not look intimidated (he's totally getting intimidated, good thing he's not actually a physical attacker).]

Well? The hell are you just standing around for? We're not too far from the next rest area, so we should probably head that way first. Unless you'd rather wander around in circles by yourself for another hour.

[halloflamer]

Yeah, sure takes a real genius to lose his --whatever you just said, and leave it stuck in a wall, right?

[Add and Blue might be trading glares, but Arcanine's wins out! The canine looks a little pleased with himself as Add notices and tries to straighten up.]

[Blue doesn't look like he intends to just follow after Add right away, crossing his arms with a tap.] Huh? What are you talking about, why would I just follow you around here, huh? All I was doing was returning your- Dynamo to you!

[He turns slightly, giving a casual salute of a wave.] Me and Arcanine can find our own way around without some guy that clearly already got lost! Why should we trust you?