Once upon a dream... (4th Wall Event/TDM Combo platter)

[missrecalled_mods]

[((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.

Comments

NPC Sylvando OTA

[smilingarmor]

Among those who suddenly found themselves in the bizarre dreamworld, there was one man whose outfit probably made him stand out a good bit more than the others. Though he was looking around in no less confused a fashion than anyone else. "Goodness," he said. "What sort of place is this?" He looked down at himself. "And how did I get back into my parade costume?"

Where Sylvando stood seemed to be some sort of campsite set amid mountains. A campfire crackled merrily in its center, and a few logs and the like provided enough seating for a small group around it. A statue of an angelic being with a serene expression on her face stood a bit off to one side, and three tents were pitched nearby. A few objects lay scattered about as if their owners had just set them down and stepped away for a moment. A leather-bound book. A small lap harp. A simple walking cane. A cooking pot meant to be hung over the fire and about half full of some sort of stew. A halberd leaning against a large rock. An odd contraption that upon examination would prove to be a sort of portable forge. Indeed the only thing missing from this rustic scene was the people. Aside from Sylv himself of course. A fact which made his usual bright smile fade into a softer one of fond remembrance.

[logic_in_unity]

As Skisan was aware this was a shared mindscape, he took each step with care, constantly grounding himself in the here and now, whatever it might be at the moment. As he approached the campsite, he raised an eyebrow. At a glance, the young man's costume seemed to be that of a performer. He was uncertain if the man was aware of the nature of this place.

By appearances he seemed a standard enough humanoid and Skisan picked up no signs of a mental presence against to indicate he was a telepath. So, logically, a shared mental state might be entirely foreign to him, but he also did not know his life experience. All of this meant Skisan should likely handle the matter delicately and see what he could learn. "Hello. I hope I am not intruding?" he asked, folding his hands behind his back as he stepped into the campsite.

[smilingarmor]

Sylvando couldn't recall ever experiencing something quite like this before. The place had the same sense of unreality as the space inside the mural in the ruins of Nhou Wat, though thankfully without the sinister edge and appearance cause by its creator. A vison, of some sort, perhaps? Or a dream?

He was brought out of his musings by someone arriving at the campsite. He looked to be of the same race as Æn'kae, if Sylv was any judge, though beyond that, the man was a stranger. "Of course not, darling," he said. "The more the merrier. I'm not really sure what sort of place this is, but this part at least seems safe enough, so you're welcome to sit by the fire a bit if you like."

[logic_in_unity]

"You have my thanks." Skisan arched a brow upward at the casual use of what seemed to be a term of endearment. He had very little experience with humans, so it was entirely possible this was the norm? Or perhaps it was simply this individual human.

He glanced around for a moment more. "It would seem that this place is as safe or dangerous as what each person brings to it." And on that note, it was fortunate this place only seemed to pull from three memories of his and none of the people from said memories.

[smilingarmor]

It was 100% just Sylv. Very few other humans were that consistently cheerful, at least when sober. "That's good to know," he said. "Though it can't hurt to still be careful. After all, the last place I was in that felt anything like this was definitely dangerous, though that was by design; its creator was quite the nasty sort."

[logic_in_unity]

Skisan gave a firm nod. "Taking care is the most sensible course of action. Even if there is no malicious intent overall, the more people there are, the greater the likelihood that one of them brought a dangerous memory." It was even possible this cheerful human had done so. As he'd pointed out, he had encountered a similar location with danger to it.

[smilingarmor]

Sylvando certainly hoped that he hadn't brought any part of Dora in Gray's world to this place. But that was far from the only memory of danger he had. "Well I certainly can't argue with that logic," he said. "Though I do hope I'm not the one to have done it if there is one; my friends and I led rather adventurous lives back home, so danger tended to find us quite often."

[logic_in_unity]

Skisan nodded and then raised an eyebrow in curiosity. "What sort of danger tended to find you?" he asked, repeating the phrase rather than rewording it. Had he been concerned, he might have reworded the question, but as it was simple curiosity, some faint amusement affected his phrasing. From what he had heard, when humans used the phrase 'adventurous lives' they had some stories to tell.