TDM 002

[etrayamods]

⏵ arrival⏴ Arrival goes as anticipated. Characters awaken in the pristine, new hospital, greeted by Aurora and potentially getting a rundown of what's happening depending on their approach to being dropped somewhere new. The door to their room opens, and new arrivals are left free to explore their new environment. When the first round of citizens arrived, Aurora and the companion bots had been largely unprepared. This time? They made sure to put up welcome banners, even if the sentiment isn't quite right. There are cupcakes and cookies set out in the hospital's lobbies, and a digital map has been placed just in front of the entrance of the hospital, telling others how to reach the various locations throughout Etraya. Companion bots wander throughout the city, some carrying construction equipment to half-built facilities while others act as nurses, servers, or sales associates throughout the constructed buildings. ⏵ rainy awakenings ⏴ Many concepts are new to Aurora, including rain. She is familiar with how it functions, and its purpose, but rain has never been present on the lands of Etraya. Given how new it is, that may not be all too surprising - but the method of how it’s being introduced is… a little much. Rainfall commences in the early days of April, a persistent downpour that waxes and wanes in intensity but never ceases entirely. Most nights in Etraya are characterized by a soothing patter of rain against rooftops. Yet, some nights leave the grounds flooded come morning. Rivers begin to swell, the current much too strong to justify trying to go for a swim. These showers also bring a new assortment of plants blooming across the green lands: bright blossoms whose petals spread wide when the yellow sun shines down on them, while numerous cherry blossom trees have grown out of nowhere, flourishing despite the rainfall. Clover carpets the grassy expanses of the islands, weaving a beautiful tapestry of color across the grounds. ⏵ Getting drenched by the rain can trigger a surge, followed by a slump. Initially, individuals will feel giddy, excited, full of energy, and ready to take on the world. However, in the subsequent days, they’ll find themselves feeling depressed, lacking the energy and motivation to move forward. Aurora advises that these effects are only temporary and should fade within the week, but they can be resolved more quickly by embracing a stranger. Attempting to hug anyone they already know well will not produce the same effect. ⏵ With the rain comes a significant increase in the greenery around Etraya that isn’t fake. Most of these plants will resemble ones originally found in the characters' universes. ⏵ A couple of these plants contain magical properties: The Emberloom is a bright red, fiery flower that only inhabits smaller land masses. Those exposed to its pollen will experience heightened aggression and impulsivity. Shadowbloom resemble tulips during the day, but during the night the petals open and it looks more like the night sky: dark petals with specs of white throughout them. Growing too close to the apartment building for comfort, those who look at the petals after nightfall will fall into a deep sleep. Worse yet: the dreams they find themselves in are not their own, but are the dreams of other residents. Ones who had not looked into the Shadowbloom, but had drifted off to sleep elsewhere on the planet. The one who looked into the Shadowbloom will find they cannot awaken until the person whose dream they have entered does. These flowers will continue to bloom through April, after which the companion bots will search for and remove them from the atmosphere bubble. ⏵ If there is a specific, unique plant that those in game (or those accepted during the next round!) would like to add, please comment to the LOCATIONS page! We’ll add mentions of these to the Outskirts section. Along with the botanical resurgence, numerous new animals appear: glowing fish swim freely through the waters. In the canopy above, new species of birds and critters flit among the branches. Some diligently construct new nests in anticipation of the coming spring, while others seek refuge in the shelter of trees, retreating from the weather. Not all the creatures are so small, or so peaceful. ⏵ Small critters make themselves comfortable in the forested area around Etraya, staying mostly out of the way. There are the occasional visitors that will let themselves in through windows for a quick visit, or maybe a snack, but they’re mostly harmless. ⏵ Several larger beasts make their way into the city to try and find land that’s more habitable for them. Giraffes navigate gracefully through the areas designated for new arrivals, using their elongated necks to reach for the foliage near the hospital when they aren’t finding new places to make themselves comfortable. An eclectic array of cats, ranging in all sizes and breeds, brazenly saunter into buildings they don’t belong. Hopefully, the lioness lounging in the apartment complex's common area does not prevent residents from reaching their rooms, because she has no intention of yielding. ⏵ The leopard adorned with a rattlesnake tail in the hospital's cafeteria may be difficult to ignore, given his determination to devour everything in sight and attack anyone in his way. ⏵ Cat scratches and bites pose a significant risk of infection. In the event a character is injured, individuals can expect the companion bots to quickly seek them out and approach them with a special antibiotic cream developed specifically for these cats. Refusal of treatment may result in severe symptoms, including high fevers and itching. In extreme cases, individuals may begin to exhibit cat-like characteristics, ranging from physical alterations to changes in mental traits. ⏵ Numerous other creatures of all shapes and sizes will be coming and going through the city. You may play with this as you wish! While the uproar caused by these guests doesn’t particularly bother Aurora, she does send out a message to everyone wearing an earpiece to request their assistance in capturing the larger animals that her companion bots may not be able to handle themselves. She has converted an island to the East into a temporary holding area until the companion bots can set them up with something a little more permanent. ⏵ network ⏴ Welcome to Etraya! Upon your arrival, Aurora provided an earpiece, a device to make communication with others stuck in the same situation more simple. The device connects to an internal network, which is accessible by everyone else currently residing on planet. Whether you’re looking for guidance, camaraderie, or want to see if there are any familiar faces around, this is the perfect place to do it! Please feel free to post any questions, offer your name, ask for assistance, or maybe complain to the powers that be about how you’ve got better things to be doing than sitting around here completing their missions. Maybe they’re listening. Maybe they’re not. ⏵ NOTES⏴ ⏵ During April, Etraya’s getting a little wet! Those who spend too long in the rain may experience a few unfortunate effects. ⏵ The rain brings in new flora, including a couple that may cause characters to experience aggression and impulsivity, or take a stroll through others’ dreams. ⏵ New animals also appear! While many of them are friendly, others… are less so. The cats specifically seem to be a little grumpy. Characters scratched or bitten by these cats may find themselves becoming just as catty. For any questions relating to the contents of this log, please reply below. All other questions can be directed to the FAQ. The TDM is game canon, meaning everything happening above is occurring within the game properly. Those who apply to join in the April application round may keep their TDM threads as game canon. ⏵FULL NAVIGATION⏴

Comments

Dream of the Endless | The Sandman + City CRAU

[hypnagothic]

arrival

[ Morpheus had almost been offended by being greeted by a soulless AI, but not enough to stop it from explaining his presence here. then he was offended for an entirely different reason, having been brought to yet another place against his will so soon after the other experience ended.

he leaves the hospital room to see what he can of this new place, walking slowly through the various locations with only a mild interest, keeping mostly to himself and generally avoiding the bots flitting around. they can't help him. when he happens to come upon an actual person though, he approaches them in his usual silent and unobtrusive manner, possibly even startling whoever he's approaching. ]

Perhaps you can assist me.

[ it a question by only loose standards of phrasing, but the confidence in the tone of that deep voice makes it sound more like a demand, an assumption of a foregone conclusion despite that starting word. ]

shadowbloom

[ wow, it's like this plant was made for an anthropomorphic personification of dreams. he can sense the blending of dream among those dreamers around him, and it's easy enough to step into the same dream as others do the same, easily slipping between the different worlds inside the minds of those either caught in the effects of the flowers or even those who are dreaming normally.

he usually stays to the background of such dreams, always watching but hardly ever participating. what need has a king to interfere with his subjects? but maybe a dreamer can catch sight of him, perhaps bump into them as they run away from their nightmare, or invite him to join in their dream of a happier event ... ]

wildcard

(( hmu if you'd like to do something specific or really anything else with Dream! please PM this journal ♥ ))

arrival

[prevail]

[ He does, indeed, manage to startle Sandalphon out of a round of intense brooding. It's an undeniable truth when he visibly jolts, red-brown eyes widening owlishly for a bare moment and a startled noise catching in his throat.

To his credit, he recovers quickly in the form of plastering a frown upon his lips, because that sounded something like a command tucked into a request. He knows something of how that is because of what he is, though he was blessed to have not been treated as others of his kind were. ]

I have my doubts that I'd be of use.

[ Responds, tone even but overtly guarded, a cup of coffee clasped between his hands. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ either he disregards the comment or he just plows on with his question anyway, the level of confidence in his tone doesn't change either way. ]

I seek to find my companion, though I am uncertain if she arrived as I did. A woman of pale complexion with dark hair. Vanessa Ives.

[prevail]

[ A companion. That would explain his urgency. Sandalphon hums as he tries to recall whether he has sighted such a person. ]

I did meet a woman with fair skin and dark hair, but she did not go by that name. Are there any other distinguishing features?

[ After a brief pause, he thinks to add— ]

Something recognizable from a distance, ideally.

shadowbloom

[quantumnomad]

[ Ben's not usually a lucid dreamer, hell, he doesn't get to dream at all very often. sometimes he gets a night or two in a leap but usually he's either too tired to dream at all or the dreams are shapeless stress.

etraya has gifted him with a more regular sleep schedule, though. unfortunately, he mostly gets nightmares and they're not very coherent; bits and pieces of different lives, him always in a hurry to fix something, save someone, prevent some disaster.

the whirlwind stops in a city, there's been an earthquake. Ben's leading people down the street, away from the crumbling buildings. he spots Dream standing by a hotel's entrance, way too close to be safe from falling debris. ]

HEY! Hey! Come on, it's not safe!

[ he runs over to him, reaching for his wrist to pull him away. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ Ben might take his wrist, but for a skinny guy Dream sure seems strong, the pulling on his arm having no affect at all in making him move from the entrance. the only thing it does seem to do is make Dream focus on him, head tilted with a calm contemplative expression that seems wildly out of place in the disaster happening around them. ]

I assure you that I am quite safe, Ben Song.

[quantumnomad]

[ Ben freezes and the world seems to freeze around them too, but Ben doesn't notice that. He looks down at the man's wrist to make sure he's really touching him. ]

How do— [ the world starts moving again, cars honking, sirens in the background. a window cracks somewhere above them and Ben moves to try to shelter the stranger from the falling glass. ] Move first, questions later. Come on.

[ he tugs him again, more insistently this time. ]

arrival

[untalented]

[It was the tone of voice that befitted a king.

Waver Velvet, a skinny young sapling of a man who was still waiting on one last growth spurt, looked up from his tea (strong, black, with a splash of milk-- a proper builder's tea, one that was appreciated by any London native) and regarded the stranger with tired eyes. He had been searching for answers as well and, spooked by the bots, was ultimately left with the tea, the window overlooking the rain, and the darkness in his own mind as company.

He teetered between remaining steadfast to his orders and having hope, or falling into frustration and oblivion at the futility of the task that laid before him. At least here, he had a puzzle that he could potentially do something useful about.

Hopefully.

Setting down his cuppa, he turned to level his gaze on the tall man with a sigh.]

Sure. I'll see what I can do,

[He said heavily, glancing the stranger up and down. The quiet confidence in the man's carriage was notable, and called to his mind the recollections of a young woman who bore the burden of the crown and became a legendary king. ]

But, I'm pretty sure that we're in the same boat, and anything I do won't be as much help as you're looking for.

[hypnagothic]

I saw no boats here.

[ that, too, is said confidently. clearly not one for obvious colloquialisms. the long, black robes he's wearing probably only lends to the kingly stature as the boy looks him over, though the effect might be a little dampened by the t-shirt, jeans, and boots that peek through the opening of said robes. ]

I seek to find my companion, though I am uncertain if she arrived as I did. A woman of pale complexion with dark hair. Vanessa Ives.

[untalented]

[No... kings deserved to dress in casual wear, too. His own king, Iskandar himself, would have been proud to see that he wasn't the only one who had adjusted to the popular fashion of the times.]

It's just an expression. We're having similar problems, that's all.

[A shrug. Waver cast the stranger a sympathetic smile.]

I also left someone behind, but he's probably in an airport. I think.

...I haven't met anyone here called Vanessa yet. I'm sorry.

arrival

[nonvoting]

[ although he's too well-trained to give it away, the sudden (or what feels like sudden) appearance of a man at his shoulder does in fact surprise tseng. an impressive feat, really, and one that certainly piques his interest in the other man—unusual for people to be so quiet on the approach, even more unusual for tseng not to clock them regardless.

still, his only tell is a lifted eyebrow, as he turns to more fully face the newcomer, hands tucked politely behind his back. ]

Perhaps I can.

[ it's a perfectly polite acquiesence, polished smooth. whether or not tseng will actually be able to provide any assistance sort of remains to be seen, but he has at least been around for a few weeks. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ were he the sort of being to show appreciation for it, he might commend this mortal for such a measured response. it's not often that people aren't startled by him, whether he intends it or not. as it is, he just continues with his request. ]

I seek to find my companion, though I am uncertain if she arrived as I did. A woman of pale complexion with dark hair. Vanessa Ives.

[nonvoting]

[ tseng thinks for a second. there have been a number of people who came and went from his awareness over the last weeks since his arrival, but there is one among them who stands out as possibly matching this man's description. ]

Would she have been wearing a long dress, high collared?

[ they never did speak—but tseng has a good mind for faces, at least. ]

shadowbloom | (cw: a lot of death stuff, it's a nightmare)

[skaikru]

( in the real world, clarke griffin had finally fallen asleep after a solid 48 hours of trying to either puzzle out the finer workings of aurora, the meaning behind doubles running around wearing the faces of some current inhabitants, or sketching doodles of the various new animals she'd seen walking etraya's surface in the past day. she foregoes her bed, arms folded across the provided desk in her cookie-cutter apartment, with a steady amount of ink smudging along her skin as she begins to sweat in sleep-based duress.

in her dream, they're in a throne room. and she sits in the gnarled backed chair at the top of the steps, spine straight with discomfort and eyes fixed blanky ahead at a procession of people lining the red strip that leads to her feet. or, more accurately, the procession of bodies. some are burnt down to skeletons yet somehow manage to toddle up to stare with ash filled, empty ocular cavities; their lower jaws fall open an inch or two in silent accusations and screams before they peel off and climb the spiral staircase into the floor above. into the wings, where hundreds of souls hover and pin her in place with their judgement.

some of the dead are still whole, but their skin is pickled with radiation burns that crack and ooze when they move. they range from preschool age children to the withered elderly, and they can speak. i sheltered your people or i just wanted to see the surface; just once, one time would have been enough or none of us were innocent, but it hurts and please, i'm burning. some of the bodies are charred by the after effects of a missile impact. they are missing limbs, or cut through with shrapnel, or look like they've been partially crushed with debris. a few are smeared with dirt from being buried alive, and one or two are so completely covered in blood it's difficult to discern how they died. they accuse her in all the same fashion: you knew. you could have saved us, you knew and you did nothing.

she meets all of their gazes. tries to apologize time and time again, only for her voice to crack and rasp with the overuse of i'm sorry. maybe for the best. after everything, what does that really mean to the dead anyways?

dream slips in right at the very end of the lengthy court session — it really is a whole lot of self-flagellating guilt to cram into a 90 minute catnap — but when the final burn victim ascends the stairs that just leaves the two of them on the main level. above her is too daunting, so really there's nowhere else to look but directly at him. and with an air of resignation this dream clarke, with her murder boots on and a mix of dirt and blood under her fingernails, asks: )

...So what did I do to you?

[hypnagothic]

[ the bodies and blood and charred viscera don't seem to affect this guy at all, walking slowly along the edges of the room as if he were walking through his own throne room, or perhaps as if he were strolling through a park for all that the scene fazed him. he ascends the stairs for a better vantage to see the scene laid out just as the last victim throws its accusation at her, coolly meeting her resigned criticism of self. ]

To me, lady? Only shown me what it foremost in your mind.

[skaikru]

( even suspended between sleep and wakefulness, reality blurred by constantly compounding guilt and a deep desire to go back to important locations, there's the vague sense that something is wrong in this moment. she hasn't quite clocked that she's dreaming, but even just comparing this new figure to the procession that had preceded him highlights the difference. the list of people she'd managed to kill without marking bodily injuries is considerably smaller, and this man doesn't fit.

the stone faced mask of dissociation cracks for a moment and clarke's brow furrows severely. her mouth draws tight, and she straightens against the back of the throne chair, tucks her chin down almost protectively because this dream is nothing new, but now the script has slipped out of her control. diplomatically but with no air of command, politely but regarding him like she expects a lunge at any second: )

...sorry, who are you?

wildcard } the winds of heaven mix for ever with a sweet emotion;

[matermali]

[ Vanessa has sought refuge in an apartment that bears an uncanny resemblance to Sir Malcolm's London estate. Until the rain subsides, or she hopes it may, she plans to stay inside. She has always loved storms, of course, but something in the misty air gives her cause to avoid it. If she can’t trust her senses, then she’ll have to admit how truly lost she is.

Again.

Within the apartment, the blood scorpion has already been marked on the inside of the door, keeping out anyone (else) who isn't entirely human – one hopes. Already she can feel something different in her since arriving, something more...complete, but that doesn't mean her protection is full-proof. Even in London, Evil's torment had managed to still creep through the cracks. Even this safe haven she has made is nothing more than a prettied up corner of a cage. Likely to subdue her, but all it's done is anger her.

Yet she has still clung to it. The Eight of Swords mocks her.

Seated inside, she is intently focused on the spread before her on the polished floor. Before pulling the next card, a sudden sensation overwhelms her, so familiar and yet alien in the power of it. It’s just beyond the walls of her claimed sanctuary. Beyond the door. The feeling is stronger than anything she's ever experienced, and she nearly moves to grasp her ruby pendant and call a name. ...But by now she expects a trap at every turn. Already the magic has been toyed with. How else might they have tarnished her connections? She could be summoning one more demon into her space.

With a trembling hand, she turns over the next card, revealing the Two of Cups. The knowing hits her like a thunderbolt, and she is on her feet before conscious thought can guide her. With her heart in her throat, she bolts towards the door, propelled by an irresistible force.

The door creaks open, and she sees him standing there in the street, the rain cascading down his ethereal form. Or, around it, more like. Unlike him, she is drenched as soon as she sprints outside, her boots splashing through the puddles. If it’s a trap, it’s worked all too well. Reason seems to vanish as soon as her heart is unbound with hope.

Both arms fling around him in a fierce embrace, the rain mingling with the tears streaming down her face. Hope is as painful as it is sweet. ]

[hypnagothic]

[ the mark she placed upon her door was sufficient enough in its warding off non-humans that Dream couldn't actually enter if he wanted to, but even with her powers mostly returned, it wasn't quite enough to completely mask her presence behind it from him, even though she knew how to wield such magicks better than other witches. it's enough to catch his attention, enough to cause him to move and materialize into the dark and rainy evening just in front of the place.

then she opens the door.

he doesn't move except to raise his arms with her already moving, running toward him, and he catches her solidly, uncaring of and unaffected by the wet around them and on her. he returns the embrace fiercely, tucking her head under his chin while he gives a low whisper near her ear. ]

Vanessa.

[matermali]

[ To hear her name, to hear his voice, that should be enough to ease any doubts. But already so much has changed. Whether this is an entirely new city filled with lies, or it is some strange new iteration in different dressing, enough has changed that she struggles to trust her senses as much as she wants to.

She must, she must, or she has nothing. ]

Are you real?

[ A question she has been forced to ask too often in her life, and rarely was there a straight answer. There's his scent, easily missed by most for the subtlety of it. Few are allowed so close. It's as though she were back on the beach, moments after a thunderstorm. Sand and static.

Could they mimic that? Could she imagine him?

It only has her grip tighten. ]

Arrival

[michiho]

[There's something about Dream that sets off alarm bells in her head; it's like an itching sensation in her stomach that tells her that he's not one to be too close with. It's not a feeling of 'death' and it's not a feeling like Yakishi, just... different.

She jumps when he addresses her, looking briefly like she might skitter away before she reigns it in. Her brow furrows a bit, head tilting in question]

Uh, I...Sure? I can definitely try! What do you need...?

[hypnagothic]

[ perhaps different yet familiar? maybe like something she's experienced before, something like a dream she used to have ...

he remains still while she startles though, his expression impassive while she gathers her courage. ]

I seek to find my companion, though I am uncertain if she arrived as I did. A woman of pale complexion with dark hair. Vanessa Ives.

[michiho]

[While the description could match a couple people, the name doesn't sound familiar. She thinks for a moment before slowly shaking her head]

No, sorry, I don't think so. She might not be here yet. [And then, boldly curious:] Is she your girlfriend or something?

Arrival

[levelshift]

[There's a skinny white-haired kid with a fancy metal crutch examining the digital map near the hospital's entrance. Having just arrived here himself, he's trying to get a better idea of the lay of the land, though from the scowl on his face he isn't happy about it.

The scowl doesn't fade at all, and when he glances over he narrows his eyes, a little suspicious. All of this is unfamiliar, so someone asking for assistance is sketchy in his mind. The tone this guy is using isn't helping, either.]

With what?

[hypnagothic]

[ it usually never helps when Morpheus meets someone new, oh well. but he approaches this new guy with no hesitation, stopping soon enough to still leave an acceptable distance between them. ]

I seek to find my companion, though I am uncertain if she arrived as I did. A woman of pale complexion with dark hair. Vanessa Ives.

[levelshift]

Never heard of her.

[The space is appreciated, at least.]

Someone told me only he thought only one person is picked from each universe, but he wasn't totally sure that's true. You could try asking that AI if anyone named that was brought here, or -- [He digs around in his back pocket and pulls out the earpiece.] -- ask on this piece of shit.