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

[forceofnature]

Uh... Like a dragon. But goofy. Kinda cuddly? Orange.

[Wait she has her powers.]

Like this.

[A topiary sprouts up nearby and Viridi manifests a pair of hedge clippers that she uses to shape into the form of a Dragonite.]

Alright, so your animals want to live in little balls? ...You! ...Thing that's not really animal-esque. Why would you want to live in that thing?

[rotomphone]

[ the sudden appearance of a topiary and hedge clippers out of thin air is momentarily surprising, but he does his best to not pay it much mind. he hardly has the time when what she's doing with the hedge is more important, and freaking out over every weird thing that happens in these tunnels would be, frankly, exhausting.

but thankfully, it's just as he thought! there's only one other dragon tamer that he knows about in this place, and Raihan is certain he'd back him up if need be. validation, here we come. ]

Hate to break it to you, but he lives in a Poké Ball, too. That's Lance's Dragonite - he's a Dragon-type Pokémon, just like Duraludon here. Whatever you know about animals probably doesn't apply, since they're not animals in the first place...

[ it might be strange to hear that Duraludon is supposedly a dragon, considering that nothing about him looks very draconic in nature. but the Pokémon is listening intently, and looks to Viridi when he's addressed. there's not an easy way he can communicate to her, but the intensity in his eyes at least shows that there's no fear towards her or Raihan. ]

Poké Balls aren't harmful - they're about as safe of an environment as you can get.

[forceofnature]

...This is a dragon?

[is clearly the most pressing question right now as Viridi stares doubtfully at the... metal steel... creature thing standing before her.]

These new generations, I swear. Alright, your opinion's great, human, but I was really asking Duraludon. [Weirdly she pronounces this extremely well.] You understand me, don't you? You are much smarter than the average thing I made.

[And it seems obvious that Viridi is expecting some kind of grunt, perhaps, in response.]

...I mean, they're exactly the right intelligence for what they need to be, but your world seems different.

You're happy with all this?

[rotomphone]

And Steel-type, but yeah. Dragon, too.

[ and one of the fiercest around, at that! Duraludon might not have wings, but he's a force to be reckoned with if you cross him. Raihan is proud of that fact and even prouder to be his partner, which is why he looks a little cross when Viridi seems to dismiss him. sure, he can maybe understand some skepticism behind battling, but their bond is as real as they come!

that said, he says nothing to let Duraludon "speak" for himself. the dragon watches Viridi with intense eyes, nodding with a low rumble of a growl when she asks if he understands her. he is very smart, thank you very much!

there's a moment of hesitation as the Pokemon thinks about how to answer this without words. he blinks at Viridi one more time before turning to Raihan, shuffling over to him and putting his arms around him in a hug - that is, it's about as much of a hug as he can muster without having proper hands or elbows, but he's certainly burying his face into the man's chest. ]

Aw, you big baby... [ Raihan, of course, hugs him back, along with pecking an affectionate little smooch on the top of his head. ] Love you too, buddy.

[ he looks to Viridi, giving her his best, most innocent pout. ]

Am I in the clear yet?

[forceofnature]

Awwwwwwww!

[Viridi half-moves as if to join in the hug herself, because who wouldn't want a hug from a steel monstrosity??? but she restrains herself.]

OK, I give. I don't understand a thing about your world, but I know a satisfied customer when I see one.

...Unless this is some form of advanced brainwashing!

[...]

Probably not. Anyway, your human has a lot of weird issues, so maybe give him some more hugs or something. As for you...

I had fun! Blowing things up is a passion. Summon more brain demons sometime, huh?

Otherwise, I'm out of here.

[rotomphone]

[ as weird as this kid(?) is, if she can recognize Duraludon's cuteness, she can't be all bad. he peeks out from Duraludon's embrace, letting her ramble until he's addressed. ]

Yeah - I did, too. You've got some cool tricks. [ that giant creature she summoned was impressive, to say the least. ] I'd rather keep 'em to a minimum, but I'll give you a ring if we're in a pinch. Sound good?

[forceofnature]

It's called 'divine power,' thanks.

But sure, say hi sometime. Especially you, cutie.

[That's to Duraludon, obviously. With a tap on Lurchthorn, the little girl and her giant floating monster lazily wind their way down the passage.]