EVENT 27

[sticksandbonesmods]

ONCE UPON A DREAM

SO FAMILIAR A GLEAM

It starts with a rush of pure white butterflies flooding one's vision, and a soft, dreamy song with no words. It starts with a gentle breeze and the scent of flowers and sugar. It starts with heavy eyes and a gentle heaviness like a blanket.

… What starts?

The Silver City is in celebration. Everyone is invited, and you, a member of the city's populace are especially welcome to the castle to visit the new queen! A beautiful, massive silver tree that is certainly only a tree stands in the center of the city, overlooking the entirety of it and shielding the city within it's shade, and flowers bloom on every corner. Faeries stand in the streets and flutter through the air, singing a song of joy. White Lily Cookie has returned from her journey, taken her place by the Elder Faerie's side and is now ruling over the kingdom at his side. And yet she still welcomes the common people to see her! So wise, so kind…

… They don't really shut up about White Lily Cookie, honestly. It's a little embarrassing. But the joy and relief is felt all the same, and even in the serene kingdom everything feels vibrant and energetic. Music flows through the air freely, and the shade of the grand tree grants the illusion of a lovely starry night. Occasionally the king and queen take to the streets arm in arm, the very picture of love as they talk with one another, greeting their subjects and take in the celebrations. Occasionally a man with blonde hair and kind eyes and a tall dark skinned man with dark hair join them, much to the Queen's delight. And, well, you've lived in this beautiful city all your life- why not go see your neighbors and the queen?

Wake up. Wake up! Wake up wake up wake up please wake up HELP ME-

… What was that? … Probably nothing. There's a celebration to take part in, after all! Though some of you may find things not… quite meshing with what they know, now…

Or maybe you are suddenly very, very aware that the peaceful life you've been living is nothing more than a lie. And there are eyes on you to make sure you don't stray off script everywhere.

VISIONS ARE SELDOM ALL THEY SEEM

Of course, not everyone loves the queen- or rather, they don't love her new role. There isn't a faerie who doesn't love White Lily Cookie, for all that she's done for the kingdom, but sometimes you go out to the market and hear whispers… "She's not even a real faerie… the king just made her into one. She doesn't understand us." "She's a lovely woman and a wonderful hero, but wake up! She's not a politician in any sense. What does she know about being a queen?" "Wouldn't a consort be enough? The king has no idea what he's done, making an outsider his queen."

Hushed whispers echo in dark places, and quiet discontent seems to bleed into the shadows. Though many are happy, the few who aren't are certainly vocal- and they may think you agree with them. Something has to be done about the queen. Don't you think? Maybe it's time to wake up the king, and show him the mistake he's made. They'll both understand in the end. Or maybe…

Maybe this is too far. Maybe the city needs a wake up call, and the outsider needs to be removed by any means necessary. Tensions rise, and even just going to the market or library can feel like one wrong step into a conspiracy you want nothing to do with.

Or maybe the Queen really does have to go, and you have just the knife to do it. Maybe she doesn't have the right. Maybe she has no idea what you went through to get this peaceful life, and she's going to ruin it one way or another. Maybe the Queen should have just stayed a friend, and has long since overstayed her welcome… especially with the foreign kings constantly visiting. Maybe you should take matters into your own hands…

To those already Awake, things feel heavy, the city is a tangle of puppet strings and none are as thick as the ones around the castle. The only one free of them seems to be Elder Faerie Cookie. And he's watching you.

BUT IF I KNOW YOU...

Within the Grove, outside of a beautiful dream, something magical happens and spirits away so many residents of the town. The tidal wave of butterflies comes and goes, centering into itself just before the Archives, leaving a giant glowing white flower bud in the center. It could consume a building if it were placed differently, and it occasionally pulses an unusual energy. As the haze of the swarm leaves those left behind fades, they'll find themselves alone.

Touching the flower reveals a brief translucent effect, the silhouettes of the missing residents trapped within the closed off petals. Between this and several animal spirits deciding being gone a lot means that your house is free real estate, it's not a good day to say the least.

Especially when "day" becomes "days". How long will this last?

Shadows roam the edge of the fog barrier, laughing like hyenas as you work to get by, to free the others, to understand what's going on. But for once, the feeling of eyes in the woods is gone.

So.

Time to get to work.

Spark Notes

summary

SO FAMILIAR A GLEAM: Those who are successfully ensnared within the surge of corrupted faerie magic will find themselves in a dream where they are citizens of White Lily Cookie's kingdom of faeries and believe they always have been. Amidst the festivities celebrating her union with the king, a cry for help rings out. Not everyone hears it, but those it truly reaches find themselves now lucid within the dream, but still trapped on the stage. Paranoia might seep in, because now that they know its a dream, everything seems far more aware of them too.
VISIONS ARE SELDOM ALL THEY SEEM: Despite White Lily Cookie's popularity as a hero and friend to the faeries, not everyone is happy with her ascension to the throne. And some of those dissidents are interested in collaborators, especially those who might be more than happy to remove her permanently. And to those who are lucid, the king seems to be watching you.
AND IF I KNOW YOU...: Not everyone was snared within the Dream! Those who somehow escaped will find themselves dealing with the Dream from the outside, as everyone inside are trapped within a giant glowing flower bud. And something approaches the fog walls... laughing.

out of character

Hello everyone and welcome to the White Lily player plot! Enjoy being stuck in a shared dream that's actually a nightmare. The ending of this event is going to be determined by the players. Anything could happen! As a note, within the dream only White Lily Cookie is capable of dying for real,and will awaken in the Garden. Anyone else will simply be removed from the flower bud, completely awake and back to normal.

updates

A friend is now patrolling the flower in the waking world! It is definitely a friend and is not going to try and maim you, trust. (This is a lie.) (CW: Descriptions of body horror in an animal within the link.)

submissions

❖ Questions
❖ August Plotting
❖ Past Life Plotting (Closed to Game Members)
❖ Investigations

code

Comments

i

[friendshipbeams]

[ This is not far off from Elsword's ideal, so of course he doesn't even bat an eye at any of this. Sure, the marriage thing will be weird when he wakes up, but for now, sure, why not be married? Elsword is hand in hand with Yuno, who'd been just outside their little fairy home-camp-thing, and helps him get settled before Elsword is at Ain's side for a hug.

They don't need to wake up. They deserve the rest, probably. ]

Ain! Is there anything I can help you with out here?

[eidxiety]

[The marriage is weird FOR YOU. For Ain this is literally the best thing to ever happen to him.

Of course, because they are Married, Ain and his oversized sunhat are twisting around to give Elsword a kiss on the cheek. Checkmate, nerd. Get loved. Ain would return the hug if he weren't currently holding a bushel of veggies.]

Hi, my love~. Can you help me with harvesting these carrots?

[They're wild carrots, growing outside the camp, and Ain has been tasked to Get Them so that Ciel can make them dinner, as usual.]

[friendshipbeams]

[ They're going to have such a talk later. When Elsword wakes up he's going to be so confused. For now, though, he just nods, heading over to the carrot sprouts. He gives them a little tug — maybe a big tug. They're bigger than they usually are, after all. Once he has a few of them in hand, he brings the bushel back over to Ain with an excited grin. ]

I got a lot of dirt with them, too. Are we taking them to the river to clean them off, too? Is that heavy? I can carry it for you, you know.

[eidxiety]

[Ain holds the basket out for them... he thinks to himself that he can carry it, he's usually carrying stuff like this, but passes it off to Elsword anyway. It's like telling a golden retriever no if he says "I can do it", so.]

Haha, yeah, let's. Grab that for me?

[Compared to how they'd be if they were still on Elrios, Ain is dressed casually. There's no need to fight out here, they're just hanging out as you would in normal society. He has his favourite gardening hat on, even though they're not exactly at home base. He has overalls and a T-shirt. His pockets are full of camping supplies like flint and bandages, just in case someone trips out here.

He is, for all intents and purposes, vibing.]

Wanna race there?

[friendshipbeams]

[ Elsword perks up like a dog who's just been excitedly asked "Go for a walk??? Wanna go for a walk??????" He's still holding the basket, and thus the added weight is technically a disadvantage, but… ]

I do!! Ready?? [ He doesn't wait for an answer. ] Go!!!!

[ And he's off! He's careful not to drop any veges, at least. ]

[eidxiety]

[The added weight is a disadvantage only if he forgets how to zoom. Ain has full confidence in Elsword's ability to outspeed him.]

I'm— oh okay we're going!

[Good news, the delayed start gives Elsword the head start he needs (or perhaps didn't need at all) as Ain happily zips after him, dodging tangled roots and shrubbery in the path to the river. They're going to pass by the campsite as they do this, and he can hear Rena sighing then chuckling as they run by.

All is right with the world.]

You're shorter than me, so you shouldn't also be faster than me!

[He calls forward, though he's only a short distance behind. Ain was always the less physically fit of the two, though.]

[friendshipbeams]

I train waaaaaaaaay more than you do, Ain~! If I were slower than you, that'd be a slight on my training, not my height!!!

[ Which! He is not short! (He is.) He is just!!! Not as tall as the tall people in the group!!!! It's not his fault y'all got legs. ]

[eidxiety]

[He is short. That's okay, Ain thinks it's cute.]

Hahaha! I could probably outrun you one day if I put my mind to it, you know!

[The distance between them is growing, and Ain is having to yell after the other man... but eventually they'll reach the riverside, and Ain will inelegantly skid to a stop after nearly tripping on the way. Yeah, he's not much of a runner... or a trainer... or someone who does anything super physical beyond just general casual activities like gardening and hiking.]

I... [pant, pant, hi,] I could beat you in a race if you give me another two years... h-haha...