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

[rotomphone]

i. a daring escape

[ though the surroundings of this tunneled hellscape are unsettling to say the least, Raihan having his team with him at full capacity has made it much more bearable than it could be. Duraludon may be his ace in battle, but it's Flygon that he relies on to get him around, which is perfect for when the floor suddenly starts to get swallowed up into lava. it's hot, but he's surely not the only one trapped in this tunnel - he's heard someone else's voice in distress, and he'll be damned if he leaves them behind.

those who are starting to fatigue from running or have found themselves trapped will hear Raihan's voice, calling out from further within the tunnel to get their attention. riding on Flygon's back through the air, they fly lower to the ground as he leans down to let his arm down within reach as they approach. he'll circle around if he misses, sure, but time is of the essence... and it'll look cool. ]

Take my hand, now!


ii. dreaming big

[ the nightmares Raihan has encountered so far have been navegable so far, but he's yet to see something personalized. that's probably for the best, but he can't expect it to last forever - he's expecting something grim and terrifying, but what he stumbles across is far more unsettling.

his colleagues.

two women sit at a table, seemingly unaware of the pulsating flesh tunnels as they sip their afternoon tea. one is middle aged, dressed warmly in a parka and boots. the other is elderly, siting with an open parasol resting over her shoulder; both look up from their cups to smile knowingly in Raihan's direction.

"Well, if it isn't the 'great' Raihan," says the older woman, sneering slightly. "Won't you join us?" asks the other. "We heard that you've been through some chilling ordeals!"

Heh, yeah... As good as it is to see you two, I'll have to pass. [ he looks more than a bit uncertain, looking between the two of them. even if they're nightmares, he still feels like he has to be on his best behaviour... he even stands up a little straighter. ] Not exactly the time or place for tea, don't you think?

[ the two look at each other knowingly, their shared tea set shattering with a series of loud cracks. suddenly, their bodies begin to evaporate into two swirling storm clouds that start to take shapes that are all too familiar. Raihan jumps back to make space when he sees them, and for good reason - they suddenly explode in crackling electricity to solidify into two gargantuan creatures: a sea monster with a bone-chilling aurora circling it, and a living cake tower, both pushing 90 feet in size. they both let out screeching cries that ring through the tunnels, staggering both Raihan and Duraludon. one Gigantamaxed opponent is manageable, but two might be pushing it... as if that will stop them. ]

Alright, I get it... If you lot can Gigantamax, so can we!

[ though it appears that Raihan is recalling Duraludon to his Pokéball, the capsule soon begins to glow with a reddish-pink light, resonating with the band on his hand. it grows to three times its normal size, and he grins wildly before giving it a toss into the air ahead. ]

Let's show them what you can do, Duraludon!

[ and similar to the way his opponents grew to jaw-dropping sizes, Duraludon does as well - a swirl of dark stormclouds appears over his head as he rises taller into the air, glowing and crackling with energy until the transformation subsides and he his the ground with an earth-shaking slam, revealing his new, 100-foot tall form. he lets out a roar that rings just as loud as the Lapras and Alcremie had, ready for battle.

whatever trepadation had glossed over Raihan's face has now melted away into pure determination and excitement, his eyes wild as he prepares for the ensuing battle. he's confident, but the fact of the matter is that it is two against one, and he's at a type advantage at that. he might need some help... ]


iii. but first... (text only)

[ in an attempt to lighten the mood some, you'll recieve a text with a photo attached - of Raihan, posing for a selfie with a smoldering, fanged grin as he lounges on the rest stop seats. there don't seem to be any nightmares around here, so why not try to get some laughs? ]

are we gonna talk about the fact that these are teeth or what


iv. wildcard.

[ hit me with something different! Raihan and his Pokémon are available for help with fighting back against nightmares, but will also exchange phone numbers with anyone that is willing to, so feel free to text or call him as well! if you have his number, feel free to assume he's sent a good-looking selfie to start the conversation. ]

iii

[halloflamer]

can we not, actually? this place is creepy enough without sitting on teeth

how did you even get my number

when did I sign up for your fanclub

[rotomphone]

well where else are we going to take a breather? better teeth than like... a tongue or something
you're already part of my fan club just by knowing me 😎 you're welcome


also ren gave it to me

[halloflamer]

maybe better for *you*, dragon boy 😋
I don’t think that’s how it works but your optimism is admirable

[The emoji is probably like, a Lickitung or something in their world.]

[Also phew, now he doesn’t have to murder Lance!]

alright well if you’re gonna send me selfies at least make them worth looking at

[rotomphone]

my fandom is a tight-knit community that anyone would be happy to be a part of!
i'll even get you a t-shirt 🐉

[ the emoji is of a slithering Dragonair - not native to Galar, but beloved by Dragon-type specialists all the same. ]

all of them are worth looking at, fyi
but hold on

[ taking that as a challenge and opportunity, he sends Blue another photo - of him and Goodra, cheek to cheek. both of them are smiling, with Raihan giving a wink to the camera. ]

my slimy girl 💖

[halloflamer]

can't be that tight if it's everyone you've ever met, which is it?
oh boy now the shirt I gotta see

[...Alright, that's not what he was getting at, at all. But it's definitely worth looking at, he supposes, so he'll allow it.]

now that brings back memories
but if we're sharing

[Likewise, Blue scrolls through his photo roll until he finds something good, sending a photo of himself giving double-V's to the camera along with his Kantonian Exeggutor, both being dwarfed by the arcing neck of an Alolan Exeggutor, peering into the camera frame.]

[rotomphone]

says who? i'm just that sociable, you know!
idk if i have a pic but it's adorable

[ he's just playing around now, but he does do his best to interact with fans when the opportunity presents itself. it's just one of the reasons why he's popular, and he wants to present himself as genuinely as possible.

as for his more attention-grabbing selfies, Blue will have to work a little harder for them. besides, now doesn't really feel like the time. ]

aww 😛
was that in Alola?
i've only seen those big Exeggutor when i went on holiday there when i was a kid

ii

[forceofnature]

Uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhm.

[The little girl pauses at the entrance to this particular cavern and raises both eyebrows comically far up.]

Yeah, this definitely seems like a personal issue. And a major IP infringement. Just gonna... you know, wait here until you sort out whatever deep Freudian issue this represents. 'Fear of strong women.'

[rotomphone]

What the-

[ Raihan is a little too focused (and thrilled, thanks to seeing Duraludon able to Gigantamax again) to process what Viridi says, let alone be offended by it, but the sound of her voice makes him turn. this might be a dream, but getting hit by a G-Max attack without something protecting you is bound to be shocking either way. before he can call out to her to retreat back into the cavern she came from, both the Alcremie and Lapras take notice of the intruder. with respective roars, they call forth gargantuan pieces of hail and a heavy rain of... frosting? it sure looks like both are ready to crush both Raihan and Viridi, in any case. ]

Max Guard, now!

[ as Duraludon roars and conjures a shield of energy to block the oncoming attacks, Raihan takes the opportunity to look over to Viridi. mouthy or not, she looks like a little kid... ]

I'll handle this - you need to go!

[forceofnature]

Oh, what?! I'm not part of this!

[rude!]

I'm with you ladies! Us gals gotta stick together! Women supporting women - it's a whole thing.

[The two monsters do not seem very impressed by this declaration as they rear back, seemingly on the verge of prepping another attack.]

Fine. Make some room, Shark Boy.

[There is a rumble from the earth before it cracks open and some sort of... enormous fossilized fish tears its way out of the ground. It's not quite as big as a Dynamax'd Pokemon - but it's no slouch, size-wise. The creature maneuvers slowly, ponderously - but it seems intelligent enough as it awaits an order from its mistress.]

You take turns, right? I missed one, so I'm going first. Lurchthorn - use Heat Seeking Death Ray of Destruction!

[Fanciful and super fake name aside, the fish begins to shoot a hail of lasers at the enemies.]

[rotomphone]

[ even if the attack doesn't connect, it does send a chill through the cave that makes Raihan's teeth clench. he's always hated the cold... but now isn't the time to complain about it. ]

Not to offend, but I don't think they're too keen on the whole female solidarity thing right now!

[ considering that the nightmares had quickly changed from Opal and Melony into their Pokémon, he's pretty sure they aren't going to listen to reason. he's taken off-guard when she asks him to move, but quickly does so when he hears the ground rumble. it's enough warning to know that something is coming, but not a giant bony Barraskewda! it definitely isn't Dynamax (and probably isn't a Pokémon at all, after another moment of thought), but that doesn't make his smile any less enthused. ]

Hah! That's brilliant! [ it might not be a G-Max move, but those lasers look SICK. this girl might be small, but she packs a punch - not unlike Allister, but with a heck of a lot more attitude. the lasers seem to do some damage, but irritating their opponents into launching another attack. Raihan intends to intercept it before they can. with his curled fist, he punches the air in front of him in command. ]

Time to show what we can do, then! Max Steelspike!

[ Duraludon mounts himself on all fours with a mighty thud, summoning a barrage of sharp, steel spikes that extend towards the Lapras and Alcremie. it seems to affect the latter more, as it lets out a wail. ]

[forceofnature]

Isn't it? My children are organically farmed, sustainably grown, and packed with enough firepower to utterly pulverize my enemies!

[This highly concerning statement aside, Lurchthorn lazily circles through the air as it spends some time recharging its firepower. It's not entirely clear on the rules of Pokemon battles - but common sense indicates that it should probably be aiming for the head regions, so it begins to climb upwards.]

Looks like we're going to have our cake and eat it, too! Take out that oversized confec -- oh, wait, it's their turn.

[what a waste of a good line]

Alright, look lively, Lurchthorn!

[The next frosting hailstorm is somewhat predictable, but without any form of protection, the lanky, multi-linked fish can hardly hope to avoid damage. Though it ducks and weaves as best it can, it isn't long until a hailstone the size of a truck smashes through its midsection, literally detaching it from the rest of the fish and sending it hurtling to the ground, whereupon it disintegrates into fossil dust.

...Somehow, the rest of it stays intact and the two disconnected portions join back together.]

Aaaaaaghhh!! My baby!

[rotomphone]

[ he has no idea what any of that means! but if she's got monster-summoning powers of her own, that makes her pretty darn cool in Raihan's book. it may not be a Pokemon, but the way the creature shambles around after such a powerful attack is familiar - like a dragon after letting out a vicious Hyper Beam, he's sure it's on the recharge.

Duraludon takes a hefty hit as well, but his firm footing and heavy Steel defenses help him to tank them as they come. luckily he's avoiding any supereffective damage, but who knows if this nightmare will wise up to that?

in any case, having his impromptu partner down isn't great. two-on-one isn't the best matchup even on on a good day, especially when Alcremie is immune to his ace attack. at least the other creature looks like it's putting itself together... somehow... ]

We're not through yet! Try to focus on the pink one, if you can!

[ which means that his focus is on Lapras. Raihan grits his teeth, determined. ] I'm not gonna let this opportunity slip away... if this is a dream, there's no way I can lose! [ he's certainly in his head now, and it's as if Viridi is no longer there - this is Raihan at his wildest, going all-out. with a hand curled like a dragon's claw, he swipes down in command. ] Roar, Duraludon! G-Max Depletion!

[ and roar Duraludon does. his screech shrills through the tunnels, conjuring a swirl deep red, draconic energy. it seems to swallow up the Lapras, dealing continuous damage until it ceases in an explosion, disintegrating the nightmare away. ]

I.

[king_in_dreams]

[Noct is absolutely in a bad way at the moment. He had gotten trapped by the lava and, out of desperation, had point warped his way to the wall close to the ceiling, hanging onto the hilt of one of his daggers. He's getting tired, though, eyes on the lava below him as he tries to find somewhere safe to warp to - and his head snaps up at the sound of Raihan's voice.]

[He doesn't hesitate, reaching out with his free hand to take Raihan's, clinging tight as he lets go of the dagger, the weapon flickering out of existence in a flash of blue light.]

Re: I.

[rotomphone]

[ seeing anyone in such a pickle would throw Raihan into action, but the fact that it's someone that he recognizes makes it especially dire. he has no clue how Noctis got himself lodged up so high, but he can ask questions later - what's most important now is getting him to safety.

there's a bit of a drop when the dagger disappears, but Raihan makes sure that he's holding tightly onto his hand as Flygon glides them to safety. it's not a long flight before they reach a safe part of the cavern that has yet to be overtaken by the slow-moving lava, and Raihan calls down to him. ]

Heads up - we're dropping you here!

[ he trusts that he'll be able to make the low drop on his own, and lets go on a low swoop to the ground. once he sees Noctis is safe, he circles the area to make sure that no one else is trapped before telling Flygon to land back where they dropped their passenger off. once the dragon has touched down, Raihan hops off his back with a seasoned movement. ]

Talk about a close call! How'd you manage to get yourself stuck up there?

[king_in_dreams]

Uh... I was running from the lava, and then the rock I was standing on crumbled. I was about to try warping ahead to see if I could find more high ground, but I needed to... hang out for a second.

[Get it? 'Hang out'? He'll be here all week.]

Thanks for the lift, though. That was awesome.

[rotomphone]

[ "warping"? now that's not what he expected to hear... his eyebrow raises in surprise, but not complete shock. powers like those aren't unheard of in people like Psychics, though Noctis didn't strike him as the type. if it's something specific to his world, he'll have to ask him about it later! ]

Setting aside the fact that you've got teleportation powers, I'm just glad we caught you before anything worse happened. You didn't get too roughed up, right?

[ Raihan looks him over for a moment, making sure he hadn't gotten burned by a loose ember from the lava or scuffed from the pickup. he seems to be in good shape, so he'll call this rescue effort a success! ]

Flygon's the one you should be thanking! He noticed you dangling before I did. [ the dragon perks up upon hearing his name, looking at Noctis with curiousity. he's much more expressive than Duraludon, though still uncertain of what to make of the stranger. ]

[king_in_dreams]

[Noct looks down at himself, making sure that he's not singed anywhere.]

I think I'm good. Still trying to figure out where the lava came from, though.

[Seriously, where is there a volcano around here? Never mind the fact that there are currently walls made out of flesh, and he knows those weren't there before.]

Oh! Thanks, bud. [He addresses the dragon this time, smiling slightly.]

[rotomphone]

Great question... it's like it came out of nowhere! Wherever this place is, it really has it out for is.

[ frightening nightmares are one thing, but lava definitely leans towards the deadly side of the scary spectrum. but the important thing is that they're safe, and the lava doesn't seem to be coming any closer... it's probably best to leave the area for now.

with a rough exhale from his nostrils and a flick of his tail, Flygon lets out a low sound of happiness at the acknowledgement, likely saying something like "No problem!". ]

C'mon, let's get out of here! The heat's making me woozy. [ maybe that would be less of a problem if he took off his hoodie... but it's far too iconic! even when you're in a flesh tunnel maze, you have to stand out. he nods his head for Noctis to follow, with Flygon flying above to keep watch. ] So besides almost getting your flesh melted off the bone, what've you been up to around here?

iii.

[obsessiveness]

[ and this is how izumi discovers that his phone works in this world. good to know.

too bad the selfie is more than unwelcome. ]

Okay first of all, how did you get my number
Who even is this?!
Also no I don't want to acknowledge those teeth

[rotomphone]

idk! i've been swapping numbers with so many people i lost count
but ren and leo gave me some randos so ✌️ that's probably your answer
it's Raihan, anyhow! if you don't know me, now you have the pleasure 🤭🤭

you gotta admit they're KIND of interesting
it's like this whole place is a living thing... never thought teeth could be so comfy tho

[obsessiveness]

1-800-DID-NOT-ASK
Also why the hell is Leo-kun giving away my number??? As if our phones would work outside this world! I haven't texted anyone in months!

[ so like, on one hand he's kind of relieved for this bit of normalcy in this fucked-up place, but it just had to be with some rando.....

well, could be worse. ]

Also also, how is teeth comfy
Are you that used to this place that you've gone loopy in the head too

[rotomphone]

who knows! take it up with him 🤷
maybe he wants more people to get to know you! more friends is always ideal, right?
especially when we're in a weird flesh maze

[ he doesn't know about this guy, but Raihan would much rather have allies he can rely on in a place like this rather than enemies or general apathy. friendly = good! ]

THAT'S THE THING!! i have no clue
like they're not plush or anything but they just have this nice natural seat to them
not my first choice in decor by a long shot lol but if it's all we've got we just have to go with the flow

[obsessiveness]

Getting the hell out of here is more ideal than anything, TBH.

But fine, I'll bite
Where are you at right now
My legs are fucking tired and I guess if sitting on teeth is the next best thing then I'll take it

[rotomphone]

well yeah, that goes without saying!
but there's nothing saying we have to feed into the misery that's trying shove onto us 😬😬
we try to find a way out but we show the void that we're not gonna take any tauros shit from it, you know?

[ ever the positive thinker, Raihan is trying to find the good in being stuck inside of a subway tunnel system made of flesh. that has to count for something! ]

🤔
somewhere between the third and fourth floor down i think
all of these bloody walls look the same
but i'm hard to miss 😌 tall dark and good-looking guy chilling out in the shelter

[ in case Izumi needs a reminder of what he looks like, he sends another selfie. he's winking in this one (which is obviously the best part), but it also gives a good view of his surroundings. ]