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

[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?

[king_in_dreams]

[Noct nods.] Yeah. I was a lot happier when the only things that appeared randomly were couches. [And buildings and train cars and things that aren't trying to kill them.]

[He walks with Raihan as they begin moving forward, weapons stowed back in their pocket dimension.]

Mostly just looking for people and trying to find a way out. I've been looking for Prompto - my friend from home. I can use my weapons again, so I wanted to make sure he could.

[rotomphone]

[ he smirks. ] I could use one of those right about now! Have you seen those seats in the shelter areas that are made of teeth? It's mad!

[ it would be almost comical if it wasn't so creepy; not that he hasn't already taken some selfies on them already out of curiosity. he also makes note of the fact that he's looking for a friend, and reminds himself to ask for a description before they part. ]

Is that what that sword was? [ he raises a brow. clearly Noctis wasn't as plain as he initially thought! ] Looked pretty impressive, even when you were dangling from it.

[king_in_dreams]

[Noct looks to him, horrified and disgusted.] Teeth? Okay, the walls are bad enough, I didn't need to know that part.

[He nods - and calls up one of his daggers again so Raihan can get a better look at how it works. One moment, there's nothing in Noct's hand - and then there's a flash of blue light, and he's holding an ornate but serviceable knife.] Yeah, it's one of the things I can do with my magic. Back home, we all kept our weapons and potions and small stuff in there, and the guys could call them up if they needed them, too.

[rotomphone]

Well, now you're ready when you see them. [ at least that's one less thing to be surprised by, right? ] They don't try to take a bite out of you or anything, if it's any consolation?

[ it probably isn't but he's trying to bring some comfort here! a subject change is probably the best way to do that, though - thankfully, Noctis' powers are the perfect shift. he's familiar with energy conversion from Poké Balls, sure, but that was science. this is straight up magic. ]

Hah! That's brilliant! [ he leans a little closer down to inspect the dagger, almost wondering if it's solid, but it sure seems to be! he has to wrap his head around this somehow... ] And convenient, too... is it just for weapons, or can you poof other stuff away like that, too?

[king_in_dreams]

[Noct chuckles a little.] Yeah, I still don't think I can sit on them without worrying they're gonna bite me, though.

[He holds the dagger out for Raihan to inspect.] I think it's basically anything I could, you know... carry. I keep all our weapons in there, and my fishing stuff, and then, like... I can make, um... elemental bombs? And make energy drinks into... potions that can heal stuff. So I carry all that while we're out.