Ah, A Nightmare Or A Dream - 4th Wall Crossover Event!

[missrecalled_mods]

For those in Auradon or the Isle it might seem that this world seemed to have a thing for sleep spells, for another one fell upon the denizens of the Isle, Auradon, and even distant Gaia. For those in Auradon they would feel it coming with enough time to lay down comfortably. On the Isle they would just drop where they were. On Gaia, it depends on the person. Some will be able to get to sleep normally, however they do so, while others may or may not just drop down where they stand. Unless of course they were already asleep; as this happened at noon on the Isle, but at midnight in Auradon and late at night on Gaia as well. A given character's mileage may vary. And once again, yes this affects characters who normally neither sleep nor dreamed.

To sleep. To sleep. Perchance to dream. To dream together. Ay, there is the rub. For once again dreams are bleeding into each other. Dreaming they are the age they are in game generally, or any younger age, and it can change from thread to thread, moment to moment.

The sleeping Jordan had still, even asleep, been trying to fix things, but her power had struck someone who existed in multiple worlds at once and her power shattered. It drew in not just those in Auradon and those on the Isle, but those on Gaia as well, and beyond.

Dreamers may think that they are awake, or they may know they are asleep. Each sees themselves in the place they had been before, the way they saw the place more than how it actually was but also... a few other changes. For those who had been in Auradon they are likely to find random things - trees, buildings, furniture - are now made of candy that tastes like whatever they expect or even hope it will taste like. For those who fell asleep on the Isle the area seems even darker than usual, and the wind blows so that a haunted sounding moaning can be heard. That... is just the wind... right? For those On Gaia, it truly depends on the person. Some will have happy dreams, while others will have nightmares. And since most people dream more than one thing per sleep session, the same person may dream good things some of the time and bad things some of the time. And for those from further, they would see their own worlds with either tricks or treats overlayed in the ways of dreams.

The one thing they would all see however, are the portals. They could look like shining gems or metal rings filled with colour, or dark ovals with purple flames, or nearly anything that the dreamer would see as a portal. Those portals, when entered would take the person from their own dream into another. That dream would be the world of another dreamer, or a shared space, merging where they both thought they were. With practice, those who knew that they were dreaming would learn to manipulate whatever dream realm they are in to their tastes.

As dreams, aspects of the characters' normal dreams or nightmares might intrude. The area is malleable to more than just the conscious minds. Waking for those whose bodies are in Auradon or on the Isle is difficult and any victory over the dreams is short lived. The effect only gets stronger as time goes on. By the end of the event, all of the Missrecalled and Misery-called are trapped for the duration...

Comments

NPC - Mal | OTA

[mal_contented]

How Mal saw Auradon was perhaps predictable to those who knew her well, and probably surprising to those Missrecalled who had not interacted with the young queen much.

Mal's dreamspace of Auradon was bright, very bright. As in there were places that took in and bounced back so much light they hurt to look directly at. The walls, the windows, the perfect lawn. All of it almost painfully bright clean and pristine. And everything seemed slightly off, slightly uncanny valley until one realized why it was so wrong. It was wrong because the doors and windows were all slightly off, as were the chairs in the out door seating area of the campus. The doors were too short and narrow, compared to usual. The windows higher than they ought to be. The chairs were all just too small, and the tables too tall.

Mal wandered the dreamscape, wondering at the change. It both was exactly how she saw Auradon generally and also wrong. The artist in her saw the schism. But unaware that she was dreaming, she did not know what the cause was, nor how to fix it. But at least there was a canvas on an easel - a large one - on the lawn outside the castle. And painting helped her to put aside her unease, especially since she was working in watercolours, which was not at all her usual medium.

Anyone finding her will see her working on a painting of a large purple dragon flying over a calm lake alongside a pavilion. Those who have been to Auradon before the incident that sent away the natives and drew in so many people from other realities might recognize the enchanted lake as the scene of her painting. But for everyone else, it is just a painting of the odd juxtaposition of calm tranquil space by a clear lake and a large vibrant dragon overhead; the dragon's reflection softening over the water.

Xion | KH + CRAU | OTA

[nobodys_puppet]

The way Auradon looked to Xion probably explained a lot. Pretty much everything was in shades of grey and silver, a familiar colour scheme for some. Her black coat stood out sharply against all the pale nothingness. But there were also people hiding in every shadows, eyes following anyone who walked openly. Like you were always being watched, and there was a sense of menace to the watching.

Nothing had much detail though. And the whole of her dream Auradon that existed was what looked like a desire path through grey grass between the school and the crenelated arch by the shore.

Xion was looking around desperately for someone or something that she couldn't seem to find. Even with her hood hiding her face, she was so frantic that it was obvious.

The portals around here were the only real colour in her Auradon, being a swirling of black and purple - The Dark Corridors. She seemed determined to search before going into any of them, but if spooked she might flee into one. Perhaps best to approach her when she was away from any of them

Chara | Undertale | OTA

[fallen_child]

Chara's take on the Isle was probably very different than most people's. The mausoleum school looked... comfortable. The whole Isle in their dreamscape was warm, the drizzle pleasantly cool. There were no harsh shadows, the areas of darkness were soft around the edges, almost like they were inviting someone to come to nap.

The room that Chara Foulques and Sun shared was very homey in the dream. The desks they had pushed together as makeshift beds were replaced by actual beds. The area where Chell hung out in another part of the school to make food smelled wonderful and looked more like an actual kitchen.

Even the thorny vines seemed like they would bloom with roses any time soon, making them look less threatening. The kid seemed... almost.. happy here. Almost.

River Song/Mels | Doctor Who | OTA

[professorsong]

River Song

The way River saw this world was smaller and larger than some others. For her there was no ocean between Auradon and the Isle, and no barrier either. But this dream version of the Isle was a dark and shadowy maze and Auradon a plain and bland field. But both were empty since Rory left, and frankly a little boring.

So when the first portal opened, she didn't hesitate. Looked like fun. Or at least look less boring. And the thought that it could be dangerous? Only makes it more fun.

Does she saunter into your dream, or do you find her pwoeling the stone halls on the Isle? Either way could be fun. Fun how?

Spoilers.


---------------

Mels

After hopping through a few dreams, she wondered if she could...

Oh yes she could.

Mels looked down at herself and giggled. "Oh this is going to be fun!" she said.

Now she understood how the dreams worked, she set about crafting one of her own. Once she was done, she walked into the portal, into the new dream.

And she stepped out into her best friend's bedroom in Ledworth, as it was when they got to be children together. Filled with Amy's handmade toys and figures.

Something interesting was bound to happen if she waited there. So she plopped on the bed... and dozed off.

And the thing about falling asleep in the dream? At least... this time?

When she woke up she forgot all about River Song and was once again Mels. In Amy's room. With no Amy. She grinned, unable to help herself. She grabbed a marker and started drawing on one of the walls. Drawing a crack that Amy had described to her so many times. Amy was going to flip, it would be great!

Re: River Song/Mels | Doctor Who | OTA

[familyalien]

River

The Doctor is wandering lost as usual in some sort of stone hallway, "Wut? Wat? What?" Racing though his mind to try and place where he is when he spots a small girl, "Excuse where is - River? How are you here?"

Mel

He remembers that crack and finds it odd that some child is drawing a very particular crack, "How are you able to draw that?"

River here, Mels will reply from other journal. Phone tags

[professorsong]

River turned to give him a broad smile. "Hello. Sweetie. Can't wait to hear how you found a loophole for this one." She beamed brightly. "I have been waiting you know. You, as usual, are late."

[familyalien]

The Doctor gives River a big old hug, he just can't believe he's seeing her, "Waiting for what?"

[professorsong]

She is absolutely returning that hug. "Waiting for you of course." Reluctantly she let go. "Shall we do diaries? When are you then?"

[familyalien]

"Spoilers." The Doctor remarks.

Re: River Song/Mels | Doctor Who | OTA

[needs_a_doctor]

"With a marker, generally," she said, all sass as the turned to face him. "Who are you supposed to be then?"

[familyalien]

"But why? I'm The Doctor."

[needs_a_doctor]

"You? The Doctor? Amy's raggedy Doctor? You don't look like the toys," she said, suspiciously. "How do I know Amy didn't send you in here as a prank? Other than she'd know what you look like and you ain't it..."

[familyalien]

"Yup. Same one. Well not exactly same one I changed a few times since. How do you know Amy? Ask me something about Amy and Rory."

River

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth looked around as the new portal opened. He was very wary by this point. What was going to appear this time? Was it going to be any less chaotic sealing the portal here?

Re: River

[professorsong]

"Whoa..." Lilo said, taking in the stone walls. "I wonder if there's any ooze and slime here!"

"Some, if you know where to look," River said, following the sound of Lilo's voice, coming around a corner to face them. "Well well well, Better looking than the last time I was trapped in a stone maze with an angel..." she said, with a smile that was half smirk and half flirty. "Hello there."

Re: River

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth smirked a bit as well, but stayed on guard for the moment. "Hello. Where is this?"

Re: River

[professorsong]

"I suppose that depends. I think it is meant to be the Isle. Or it could be a tomb. Or a trap." She didn't sound particularly bothered by any of those options.

"A tomb?" Lilo asked. "Cool!" She started squirming. "Let me down."

Rikash Moonsword | Tortall Books - Spoilers | OTA | Warning for war, death, and violence mentions.

[silverwings_moonsword]

Through A Dangerous Portal - Seriously, CW: War, death, blood, gore, violence, monsters, body horror

For those who took the portal to his dreamscape were brave, foolish, or perhaps just unlucky. Few would willingly see the world as he saw it. Especially at the moment he entered the dream from.

The battle wasn't going well. Not for the attackers. Not for the defenders. But well.. There was someone it was going well for. The Stormwings.

The Stormwings circled the battlefield like buzzards. Their silver wings and claws glinted in the sunlight. Odd that there could be bright sun and blue skies above when so much death was below. When the Stormwings grinned - and more than a few of them enjoyed themselves flying the blue sky over the bloody ground - their teeth also showed as sharp silver within otherwise human looking mouths. The rest of their faces were human looking as well, so long as you knew humans whose eyes shone with battlejoy.

One of them pulled away from the other, bothered by something he couldn't put a talon on. He settled on a branch in the twisted remains of a dead tree that looked as though it had been screaming in pain when it died. Like all Stormwings, he had the upper chest, neck, and face of a human - save for those teeth - and the body of a large scavenger bird with silver feathers. They were not just silver in colour, but actual metal. Also like the rest of his foul ilk he was filthy with a stench that was worse. His blond hair was knotted around bones that he wore as some people might wear beads.

He stretched his wings and bated. What was bothering him? He hadn't quite realized this was a dream yet. But he could tell something was wrong all the same. Or maybe off more than wrong.

He scanned the battlefield, enjoying the taste of the death and human fear around him. The pungent scent of death was heady and wonderful after centuries of starvation in the Divine realms. Up above, yes, there was the occasional shadow of the few Dragons that came to aid one side of the humans. Nosey busybodies.

Not that he could be too upset at it this time. Not with the guilt he carried.

That was it. No, but it was nearly it. Something about Orzone and Long Lankin and his godbrat student... Something... if only he could put a talon on it he could go back to enjoying the harvest below them....

Distracted, he didn't realize that the rest had faded slightly, in the way of dreams, letting whoever entered the portal see clearly who the dreamer was. Nor did he even notice anyone approaching in the first place...

Re: Rikash Moonsword | Tortall Books - Spoilers | OTA | Warning for war, death, and violence mention

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth was not pleased to enter such a scene, especially with a child in tow. This was the worst possible place to have taken Lilo. As soon as he saw the battle, he immediately turned to try to seal the portal, intending to swiftly teleport out with Lilo once it was done. If he were alone, he might linger to talk to the dreamer, but he had to think of the child in his care first and foremost.

He raised a hand to start sealing it, praying it wouldn’t vanish like they did sometimes. This was not a good world to have to look for it again.

Re: Rikash Moonsword | Tortall Books - Spoilers | OTA | Warning for war, death, and violence mention

[silverwings_moonsword]

His fear... not as strong as the others, but somehow... more real, more present. Rikash turned to look.

"COOL!" came from Lilo. That one wasn't scared. But that one...

Livid, Rikash launched himself from the tree and flew at the adult man. "Foolish human what do you think...." and then he noticed the wings and pulled up short in the air. A winged human... but the wings... weren't silver.

"What the filth are you and how dare you bring a child here?!"

Anger first.

Lilo looked up at him, wide eyed. "Wow...." she said, awed, even as the stink hit them. Or maybe because of it. She lifted her camera. "He's beautiful...." she whispered, awed.

Re: Rikash Moonsword | Tortall Books - Spoilers | OTA | Warning for war, death, and violence mention

[3wingedangel]

Sephiroth was immediately defensive, and kept the sword ready even after the strange creature didn’t keep coming at him.

Why was he not surprised Lilo was fascinated? At least she wasn’t looking at the carnage.

“I did not bring her here on purpose,” he said, also angry, but keeping his voice even. “We didn’t know where the portal would lead. Now I must seal it and get her out of here.”

Re: Rikash Moonsword | Tortall Books - Spoilers | OTA | Warning for war, death, and violence mention

[silverwings_moonsword]

"Yes! Get her away. A war is no place for a child," he snapped.

"But... isn't this just a dream of a war?" Lilo asked Sephiroth. "So it's like a movie! No one is actually hurt so we can explore."

"A dream? Don't be foolish. Ganiel hardly bothers with the dreams of Immortals. And besides... Unless he is the dream walker himself, he hardly links people's dreams. I'm real which would make the two of you the dream, and again... Immortals don't dream."

"Immortals?" Lilo asked, fascinated again. "Do you molt? Can I have one of your feathers?"

Rikash looked horrified at the thought. "ABSOLUTELY NOT!"

Mallia ♥ OC ♥ OTA

[queen_butterfly]

In her dream....

The way she saw Auradon was rather true to Auradon, actually. One might entirely miss that this wasn't the waking-world version of it. What was off about it was subtle: the decorations were a bit more ornate, but somehow also less detailed. There was more gold in places. It was a bit more vivid, almost... but for whatever reason, there seemed to be some sort of subtle magic at play, an effect that hinted to those present not to look too long at the blatant opulence, gaudy as it was.

For that's what it was -- gaudy. One's gaze would slide from detail to detail, searching for grace and polish... and find only lumpy, crudely-applied, if shiny, paint. Everything about the place itself seemed intended to be lovely... but it simply wasn't.

Mallia herself was at her usual table in the cafeteria, the banquet sprawled over the tables at the front as always. She seemed to be taking a break, back to doing something with cards, writing on them and in a notebook.

Across from her, someone else sat on the edge of the tabletop: blond chin-length hair, a loose green tunic and brown pants, and an easy smile and pose that said that one should absolutely not put it past him to simply swivel a little and lie back to cover her project and be a nuisance just because.

"...been so long since I've dealt with them, I'm afraid my patience has dwindled from a lack of challenge." Her voice was soft.

His smile faded a bit, and he swirled the dark wine around in the glass he was holding as he watched her write on another card. Quiet, "They're children." He sighed, shook his head, and took a sip of his drink while he thought.

"I know. ....And I find myself doubting that role I ought fill."

"Sounds as though our positions have reversed a bit," he said. "....I don't like it."

"Nor do I." She set the card down and looked up... would she catch sight of someone having entered the area?

(( and linking it here for good measure, her post in the other comm for this event. :) ))

Chell ★ OC ★ OTA

[elvendryad]

Visiting him:
Chell's dream-version of the Isle might or might not have been even remotely interesting to anyone: though it looked relatively as it ought to, it was a bit cozier, somehow. The edges and corners were just a bare touch rounder, everything seemingly slightly warmer.... Even the thorns on the bushes that encircled the school weren't as sharp.

And Chell was, as was often the case, at the shore, casting the fishing line out. It didn't look like he'd caught any just yet.... but he was working on it.

He didn't seem to have noticed the portals yet....

Him visiting others:
Chell... didn't seem happy. He didn't seem overtly upset, but he was tense, seeming intent on searching for whatever it was he was searching for. It must not have been all that small, given where he was looking and how he moved about. He wasn't particularly interested in the other environments, but he'd pause, if he spotted someone. Maybe they could help him?

Sun/Moon 🌞🌜⭐ OTA

[dualityinjest]

It was hard to tell how different the jester's dream-version of the Isle was from reality. It wasn't precisely that it looked similar... it was that there was some sort of overlay. The thin lines were -- but weren't, at the same time -- preset and visible over every edge and daintily dotted at every corner, including some that weren't edges or corners, exactly, as if trying to map out how they might best be turned into 3D models. Labels seemed to potentially exist, likewise: what the object was, an underscore, and a handful of numbers and letters after it.

It was the Isle. It was Schrodinger's Unity assets. It was his way, as a computer, of mapping the environment around him, of turning physical space into manageable data.

Sun himself looked as he had in a previous magical hiccup: glowing enough to cancel out a great many shadows on him and the textures of his shell's surface, and his eyes were displaying their details properly, like being gold and having eyelids, rather than being blank white orbs set into his mask. He was humming something to himself as he scraped the floor with the long handle of some defunct broom or mop or something, unsticking bits of yuck and old, dried-into-place paper bits, and sweeping those along with him towards one of the trash bins, oblivious of anyone else's presence for the moment....