【EVENT】 New Year's Wishful Dreaming

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Wishful Dreaming Event

On the Eve of the New Year, the city of Starsand is surprisingly quiet. For a place so eager to throw parties, you might think that the streets would be full of life. But instead, Starsand’s streets are quiet and it’s citizens shutting down shops early. In this city, the last night of the year is contemplative and quiet. Citizens might make their last shrine visits, but it’s uncommon to see them out past 11.

They say that it’s important to fall asleep before the New Year, because you want to treasure your first dream of the New Year. Supposedly it’s lucky and prophetic. If you write it down and remember it, that dream can even guide you to your greatest desire. And rumors are always good ideas in Starsand.

Sleep comes easy on this night. Characters will find themselves getting drowsy by 4am at the latest. When they do fall asleep, they fall into a deep and elaborate dream.

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OOC NOTES

The first dream of the New Year will show characters their wishes come true. They will get to enjoy the life they long for. But strangely, they may find other Fallen Stars wandering into their dreams. These encounters may shake them out of their dreamlike state and make them aware that the dream is just that: A dream. If the dreamer denies their dream or has doubts, then the dreamscape will fall apart into a nightmare before both dreamer and visitor wake up.

It is possible to have multiple dreams: Characters must wake between dreams, even if just briefly, then fall back asleep in order to change their dream. There can be multiple visitors before the dream ends for good.

On the morning of January 1st, all characters who had a dream will find a prismatic crystal clenched in the palm of their hands. The crystal will reflect the contents of their dream, so long as they hold the same wish. If they change wishes or lose faith, then the crystal will turn black and melt into Rumor goo.

NPC characters may reply to dreams with clues. Please indicate which characters you want to receive clues by putting a “*” in their toplevel title. You may request clues for up to 3 characters. Thank you for your help!

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Comments

[tapformana]

Then let's get you some gear, and we'll go!

[that's right

it's time for a SHOPPING MONTAGE as we try to get cute adventuring gear for rumor-chan]

[fallenwishingstar]

[In the middle of shopping, the shadowy girl pauses to admire her ability to touch some leather. Even if she cannot feel it, it's strange to be able to touch it.]

... It is a dream, but I still cannot feel anything. I don't know what it would be like to feel, so maybe I cannot imagine it.

How stupid.

[tapformana]

Hm... That's a problem. You can't feel things? I wonder if a healer could help with that.

[She holds up some cute leather armor to the girl, nodding as though she can envision it on her, like she's not just covered in shadow...]

[fallenwishingstar]

I don’t know if it can be healed. I’ve never been able to feel… I’m a spirit.

Well.

Maybe that means nothing to you. You don’t seem to remember.

[tapformana]

I'm a Spiritkin, too!

[That's clearly what she means, right?]

But that means I have a good idea for our first destination!

[fallenwishingstar]

You’re saying nonsense words is what you are.

What are you taking about?

[tapformana]

The City of Scholars, Forum! If we go there, maybe someone will know how to help you feel things!

[Tap hops into the air, hovering in place.]

[fallenwishingstar]

Scholars... Ah, I get it now.

[But she keeps her feet rooted in the ground.]

But they won't be able to help me. No one will. Even here, I... hoped that in a dream, I could feel 'human.'

I guess I've been betrayed again... How predictable. [...] I wonder if you're betraying yourself too?

[tapformana]

... What do you mean?

[fallenwishingstar]

You seem to accept this world as fact. I don't know for certain, but I wonder if it is not the world you dream of changing... but maybe yourself.

Are you truly the person that you present to me right now?

[tapformana]

[... changing herself? What does she...

... The world is already changing, whether she wants it to or not, isn't it? What can she do? What should...

Huh?]

Of course I am. There's no one who doesn't want to change at least a little... but that's fine, isn't it?

[fallenwishingstar]

It would depend on the change, certainly...

What strikes me as curious, I suppose, is what you dream of changing. No one dreams of their everyday life. That's boring... So did you change yourself or the world?

You're dreaming, by the way. This isn't real.

[tapformana]

[... She's dreaming, huh. Well, that tracks. Still, it's a nice dream, so why not enjoy it?

She returns to the ground.]

... Then, let me ask you a question.

What's the difference between yourself and the world?

[fallenwishingstar]

… That I was never truly a part of the world in which I lived.

I was an observer… an audience, watching as a show played before me.

But because I was so transfixed by the world of which I would never be a part, I never developed my own reality. Throwing it all away for another show isn’t very hard for me.

[tapformana]

... For a long time, I was the same. Ever since I was really little... When I was little, something happened, you see. And ever since then, I've been scared to ever go outside. I could never bear to be out of my room...

[She spreads her arms wide.]

But instead, I found another world. The game AO, it was a beautiful, wide world, with so many sparkling people I love...

But even so, I still wanted to go outside. To see the real world.

[fallenwishingstar]

And here you are, still in a false world.

Well.

I suppose this would be more comfortable for than that other city, wouldn't it? Does that world scare you as well?

[tapformana]

It does.

[But she says that with a smile, peacefully.]

But I think that other city is beautiful, as well.

[fallenwishingstar]

I see.

Well.

I'm here to help that city's enemy to destroy it. And you've been a great help as well.

[tapformana]

[She looks... sad, and disappointed, by this. But not angry.]

... Why do you want to do that?

[fallenwishingstar]

It's not exactly a matter of wanting it. More a consequence of what I wanted.

I wished to see hope one last time. In exchange, I would give that person a window to your dreams and weakness.

[tapformana]

[... Hm.

Tap simply reaches out, to take the girl's hands once more...

and pull her into a hug.]

[fallenwishingstar]

[And again, the Rumor feels like nothing. There is so heat, no pressure, no proof that Tap is actually holding anything more than air. Even the Rumor cannot feel anything from the hug.]

... It's pointless.

Spirits do not feel things like hugs.

[tapformana]

Even if that's the case, I think you deserve it anyway.

I won't let this be your last time seeing hope. I don't know what I can do, but I'll do everything I can.

Even if you can't feel it, you can still know it happened. Even if you can't feel it in your body, you can feel it in your heart.

[fallenwishingstar]

... It's too late.

[With surprising gentleness for someone who has otherwise been quite the ass, the Rumor pushes Tap back.]

I've traded all that I have for this chance. And even when I had the power to grant any wish of my own, I was too much a coward to face my own. I've given up on hope long ago.

[She shakes her head.] You shouldn't waste your time trying to save someone like me. There are still others in that city. Spirits who still believe in the power of wishes... and will be betrayed very soon.

[tapformana]

[Tap allows herself to be pushed back, but even so, doesn't seem to be willing to give up yet.]

There's no one who's a waste of time.

... Would you tell me more? Help us save everyone. That includes you.