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[((OOC note: This fourth wall is open to any character who would be game legal. If a character who posted here reserves or apps in September, these threads can be considered game canon as long as all involved agree. If a character doesn't app, for those in game already... wow that was a weird dream. Wait, what did you dream about again?))]
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For Jordan, still comatose after the magical mishap that had resulted in the first Misrecalled being summoned, it began with a dream. A dream so strong, that it had her stirring fitfully even in her current state; and eventually caused her to release an uncontrolled burst of magic.
For everyone else, unaware of what was coming, it began with falling asleep. Whether or not someone was tired before hand, whether they even could sleep, they simply fell asleep - or a reasonable facsimile - wherever they happened to be. Maybe they remembered falling asleep, maybe they didn't. But either way they suddenly found themselves in... a very strange place.
First all there was that they could see was a vast featureless plain in shining gold and silken draperies. But that was only a glimpse, for just by existing in this space, each dreamer warps it. Changes it. Not all at once, but bits, constantly changing between them and whomever they encounter. Each person brings with them bits of three places... where they had been last, a familiar place from memory, and whatever place they call home. But this is constantly changing and shifting, more so the more dreamers are present in any space. Before long, Bits of different landscapes, different environments, even different weather conditions will cover the landscape like some crazy patchwork quilt. Here a bit of a sunny, idyllic garden, there a section of shadowy, graffiti covered slum. To one side, a chunk of charming cobblestone streets under sunset tinged skies, to the other, a forest of towering trees, some of which seem to be moving. And glimpsed through the gaps between some of the odd terrain sections, some remainder of the poorly defined golden space, hung with colorful draperies could still be seen.
And the ground itself was not immune to the changes. While the ground on which they stood might seem stable enough, if someone walked more than a few paces in any direction, that could change. Solid ground could become shifting sand. Or water. Or a wall might suddenly appear to block their path. Doors might lead to places they definitely shouldn't or open to the edge of a sheer cliff. And if the complete lack of logic to the landscape wasn't enough of an indication that this was some sort of dream, then the unreadable signs would clinch it. Because any signs - or indeed, anything with writing on it that they didn't have on their person when they arrived - was covered with nothing but unreadable gibberish.
And it got even more surreal when a dreamer spotted anyone else in the dreamspace, or even looked at their own reflection - for each person appears in the dream in whatever way they see themselves. So someone with low self confidence might be short, someone with a huge ego might tower. If someone sees themselves as a horrible criminal who needs to repent, they might be in prison togs. If the change is dramatic enough people who know each other well might still fail to recognize each other within the dreaming.
Now normally such a bizarre dream might have been put down to stress, a meal that disagreed with them, or maybe indulging in some sort of illicit substance, but this clearly was no ordinary dream, if for no other reason than that in this dream, they weren't alone. The other people they encounter are not just figments of their imagination, and they too change the shared dream space.
Those already either on the Isle or in the kingdom of Auradon proper would find themselves all thrown together in the bizarre dreamworld. And that would have been strange enough. But more than the current populations of Auradon and the Isle could be found in this place. Maybe the faces where familiar. Maybe they weren't. But they definitely hadn't turned up in the physical world that was home to Ben and Mal. Yet anyway.
Given the extremely variable geography, exploring the area might be dangerous. At least as dangerous as anything in a dream could be. But investigating might help them find a way back to the physical world faster, for those who realize they are dreaming. Or they could just stand around and talk or complain about the latest bit of magical weirdness to happen to them and hope they woke up soon. Or they could go with it and enjoy the weird. It was their dream, after all. They could pretty much do what they liked. Or at least try to. Either way, they seemed stuck there for the present, for better or worse.
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For Jordan, still comatose after the magical mishap that had resulted in the first Misrecalled being summoned, it began with a dream. A dream so strong, that it had her stirring fitfully even in her current state; and eventually caused her to release an uncontrolled burst of magic.
For everyone else, unaware of what was coming, it began with falling asleep. Whether or not someone was tired before hand, whether they even could sleep, they simply fell asleep - or a reasonable facsimile - wherever they happened to be. Maybe they remembered falling asleep, maybe they didn't. But either way they suddenly found themselves in... a very strange place.
First all there was that they could see was a vast featureless plain in shining gold and silken draperies. But that was only a glimpse, for just by existing in this space, each dreamer warps it. Changes it. Not all at once, but bits, constantly changing between them and whomever they encounter. Each person brings with them bits of three places... where they had been last, a familiar place from memory, and whatever place they call home. But this is constantly changing and shifting, more so the more dreamers are present in any space. Before long, Bits of different landscapes, different environments, even different weather conditions will cover the landscape like some crazy patchwork quilt. Here a bit of a sunny, idyllic garden, there a section of shadowy, graffiti covered slum. To one side, a chunk of charming cobblestone streets under sunset tinged skies, to the other, a forest of towering trees, some of which seem to be moving. And glimpsed through the gaps between some of the odd terrain sections, some remainder of the poorly defined golden space, hung with colorful draperies could still be seen.
And the ground itself was not immune to the changes. While the ground on which they stood might seem stable enough, if someone walked more than a few paces in any direction, that could change. Solid ground could become shifting sand. Or water. Or a wall might suddenly appear to block their path. Doors might lead to places they definitely shouldn't or open to the edge of a sheer cliff. And if the complete lack of logic to the landscape wasn't enough of an indication that this was some sort of dream, then the unreadable signs would clinch it. Because any signs - or indeed, anything with writing on it that they didn't have on their person when they arrived - was covered with nothing but unreadable gibberish.
And it got even more surreal when a dreamer spotted anyone else in the dreamspace, or even looked at their own reflection - for each person appears in the dream in whatever way they see themselves. So someone with low self confidence might be short, someone with a huge ego might tower. If someone sees themselves as a horrible criminal who needs to repent, they might be in prison togs. If the change is dramatic enough people who know each other well might still fail to recognize each other within the dreaming.
Now normally such a bizarre dream might have been put down to stress, a meal that disagreed with them, or maybe indulging in some sort of illicit substance, but this clearly was no ordinary dream, if for no other reason than that in this dream, they weren't alone. The other people they encounter are not just figments of their imagination, and they too change the shared dream space.
Those already either on the Isle or in the kingdom of Auradon proper would find themselves all thrown together in the bizarre dreamworld. And that would have been strange enough. But more than the current populations of Auradon and the Isle could be found in this place. Maybe the faces where familiar. Maybe they weren't. But they definitely hadn't turned up in the physical world that was home to Ben and Mal. Yet anyway.
Given the extremely variable geography, exploring the area might be dangerous. At least as dangerous as anything in a dream could be. But investigating might help them find a way back to the physical world faster, for those who realize they are dreaming. Or they could just stand around and talk or complain about the latest bit of magical weirdness to happen to them and hope they woke up soon. Or they could go with it and enjoy the weird. It was their dream, after all. They could pretty much do what they liked. Or at least try to. Either way, they seemed stuck there for the present, for better or worse.
no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 08:15 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 08:18 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 08:21 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 08:38 (UTC)She projected calm towards the frightened young woman, keeping her voice steady, soothing, almost rhythmic. "This space is a dream, and in dreams, your focus determines your reality. Right now, you're focusing on your fear. I want you to breathe deeply and try to picture that fear gradually flowing out of you with each breath, like water being poured out of a cup."
no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 08:43 (UTC)[He probably should. Hear about her new friends so he will know of them when he comes across them himself? So when she mentions them he will know who she is referring to? He'd do the same in filling her in, if the roles were reversed. So he doesn't think anything of getting more information from her like this.]
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:00 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:12 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:31 (UTC)She paused; her tone had gotten... not quite sad. Wistful? There was a kind of quiet acceptance in it, about something she wasn't directly saying... but it was something else which had occurred to her, that'd made her reconsider her words before they left her. She looked back to Rren, smile almost a bit... mischievous?
"Well...."
A glance behind Rren, and a little nod: look that way?
That way, where previously the doorway to the hall had been empty, someone now stood. A someone who appeared at a glance to be in his 40s or even 50s, blond hair streaked with white... and not exactly human. He had the same subtle points to his ears that Mallia did, nearly hidden in the mop of his hair, and the same slightly-too-large irises, though his were a pale blue, rather than a dark purple. Where her dress was elegant and refined, his was peasant at best, though in good repair, all browns and greens, something that would only help him blend in, if he were to step into the woods. He seemed relaxed, smiling a little like he was used to doing so, looking toward the two of them with the same kind of soft fondness that Mallia had so often displayed. He wasn't quite leaning on a staff that looked to be made of a twisted, polished length of wood... with something in a bit of a blub in its shape, at around head level. Something shiny barely peeked out from the gaps in the grain there....
One could be entirely forgiven for thinking him merely a farmer or something; the dust on his pants' legs and the canvas of his boots said he'd been long on his feet, or perhaps simply didn't pay his outward appearance too close a consideration. Someone who perhaps wouldn't even bother rolling up his sleeves before helping with physical chores. But for all that he himself seemed fairly unassuming in the moment, there was something about that staff....
Hadn't there been one just like it in that side-room, off of Mallia's quarters? Not similar, but that exact staff?
He raised an eyebrow, his expression otherwise one of perfect mock-innocence as he looked between them. "Blaming me for something already," he sighed, feigning exasperation. "I spend all this time helping rebuild all this, moving a forest back here, took care of the roses all this time--"
"--And I'll wager that before the month is out, there'll be more people making their way here than I'd have hosted in years, even back in our heyday."
Something had happened, before, and she wasn't exactly bringing it up. Not directly....
"Well, that's it, then. Nothing for it. We'll have to change the floor plans again and expand." The exasperation was clearly all for comedic effect. "I'll need more wine." A glance back to her, and then to Rren, tapping a finger against the wood he held. "Can't drink a staff, after all." Right, as if that cleared anything up....
"We'll use the tower, and my room," she said, quieter, smile not fading, though she closed her eyes a little. "We'll repurpose the main hall, if it comes to it. Make no mistake, however... I'm looking forward to it."
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:37 (UTC)He still had not relaxed or moved his hands from his weapons. There was the whole mentioning killing someone so casually. Don't get him wrong he'd killed far too many people in his life, but it wasn't something he mentioned casually. So it was, at the least, reason to be wary.
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:41 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 09:59 (UTC)Meanwhile, there were voices from within the castle, somewhere. They carried; the front doors were wide open. It was hard to tell just how many, or whose they could be -- but at least one might've been a bit higher, a lady's laugh, perhaps...?
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 11:22 (UTC)Perhaps in response to their mutual magic, perhaps because it was just a dream, or perhaps it was even the power of music itself - but the spotlights suddenly lit on the two, and there was the excited roar of an unseen audience.
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 11:25 (UTC)"Something is better than nothing. What can you tell me - that doesn't make me want to groan?"
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 16:21 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 16:30 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 16:36 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 16:54 (UTC)When he opened his eyes he looked back to the sky and then to her. "I am uncertain what place you pictured, but you are not there right now. This is more akin to a shared dream than a physical location."
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 16:59 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 17:21 (UTC)But for the here and now, they did not release Mallia's hand, giving it a squeeze when she closed her eyes. "I am certain it will work well," they said softly, giving a small half smile.
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Date: 17 Sep 2023 17:52 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 17:55 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 18:49 (UTC)no subject
Date: 17 Sep 2023 19:02 (UTC)no subject
Date: 18 Sep 2023 00:36 (UTC)"But the place is ready enough, and I'd filled everything we'd collected again, there at the castle... so if he should arrive back before I do, at least he shouldn't be unable to handle such a gathering on his own. Even if it lasts years. And I know that the others would assist where they were able, and there's plenty to go around." Maybe there was a reason she wasn't so concerned about being in Auradon rather than home after all?
She eyed Rren. "I'd invite you more officially, but I don't know how I left to Auradon, let alone how to bring someone else...." So Rren had an unofficial invitation, then? "I could always put on a show for you of it, if you'd like... but it wouldn't be quite as good as the real thing. I'm not that talented."
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Date: 18 Sep 2023 02:29 (UTC)Oh no, now it had a decision to make! Does it continue to try petting the unimpressed gray bird, or investigate the new bird and
featherless birdlittle dragon?The goblin made a sound to itself, eyes wide for a moment as it tried to figure this out, put its hand up to its mouth to briefly play with its lower lip in a gesture not too much unlike what Mallia was in the habit of doing, not that either of these two would recognize as much... and then after a brief pause, it turned its attention to the little hawk and dragon, stepping slowly toward them before crouching down and extending its hand slowly toward them. It made a few quiet little kissing sounds, as one sometimes did, when dealing with animals....
This wasn't a hostile creature, at least. Something more like a toddler, perhaps, though it looked like whatever it was, it was a fully-grown specimen of its kind.
In looking for ways to avoid all this, though, Kaylin would probably do well to not look too hard into the environment: the tingle of natural magic was everywhere, though it was hard to pinpoint one source for it. Several ley lines ran through the castle, in addition to some sort of wellspring of it that ran deeper below them.... And a note of it being used was coming from the garden, off to one side of the castle. Someone was off that way, though it wasn't obvious who just yet.