Event #5: Fractured Melody

[beautifuldreamermods]

There's never been an Excursion quite like this. Groups are usually kept small to keep things from getting too chaotic but today, practically every Dreamer in Yumemigaoka has assembled at the northern exit of the Slumbering City. The air is tense – apprehension and fear of the unknown and a whole host of other feelings that nobody quite dares express out loud just in case saying them makes them true. This is the Dream Sphere, after all.

Suffocating sunlight pours down from the sky and catches off the water as everyone wades their way down the tracks. Just at the point that the surroundings begin to fluctuate and the barriers of the dream are just shy of being breeched, Dreamer Ange takes point and turns to address the group.

"I get that this probably goes without saying but whether you're new or an old hand, this is not going to be like any of the Excursions we're used to going on. We don't know for sure how dangerous all this is going to be – all we know is that there's somebody in there who can't protect herself and she needs our help. Keep smart. Stick together – use a buddy system if you have to. Don't even let yourself be alone if you can help it. And anytime you think you're in real danger, head back to the other side and wake up. Understood?"

She waits for a noise of affirmation from the group before turning back around and taking a long, slow breath.

"Let's go."

Like heat haze mirages, the air around them ripples. Making way into a new dream is usually as easy as stepping from one room to another, but finally breaking through to this is more like tearing back a curtain that resisted you every step of the way. And most alarmingly of all is the feeling that settles over everyone when they first set foot in what's waiting beyond, a sort of dizzy hyper-lucidity like a false awakening. It passes quick, but it's unfamiliar... especially since it's a sensation that will be very familiar to some Dreamers...






Welcome to Beautiful Dreamer's very first Disturbance event! To recap from the monthly post, Disturbances are surreal and dangerous dreamscapes that draw directly on the struggles, fears and emotions of a single character, similar to the TV world dungeons in Persona 4 or the Heartscapes in Blue Reflection Second Light. They're unique among Outlying Locations in that they vanish once resolved and incubate extremely powerful enemies at their core who must be defeated to save the person at its heart – in this instance, the idol known as Mio Kasuga.

Using the descriptions in the log below, you may freely toplevel and have characters explore and investigate as you please! The descriptions given in this log are to give direction and progression to the events but please feel free to play around within the bounds of what's established as much as you like. Characters wishing to investigate and uncover additional hints and lore nuggets at the heart of the dungeon should indicate they are investigating in the comment header of their toplevel.

Since this is our first Disturbance event, things are relatively simple. To clear the event and prevent a negative outcome on the plot that will effect both the Dream Sphere and Yumemigaoka, characters must clear both the Mid-Tier and Boss Combat Encounters by the OOC deadline of September 30th.

FRACTURE MELODY

Upon entering the dream, all Dreamers will first find themselves standing in the paved courtyard of a grand concert hall built from shimmering white marble. It's an imposing structure – somehow, it looks more like a siege fort or a prison than anywhere you might want to go for an evening's entertainment. Despite the dark night sky above, the courtyard where they stand is well-illuminated with most of the lights crossing to center on a massive banner overhead announcing: "Mio Kasuga Live in Concert."

Well. At least you know you're definitely in the right place.

The air is charged with anticipation and a hint of nervousness – all around there's the bustle of excited voices and footsteps of people coming and going but it doesn't seem like there's anyone else at all in the courtyard apart from the Dreamers. And... the sound can't be coming from inside because there isn't a single window on the entire building you can see. Just one way in – a huge ornate door carved in thick, black stone that looks like the door to some sort of dungeon.

As if anticipating guests, it swings open.

Once inside, the Dreamers will be able to split up and explore as they like but for now... looks like there's only one way to go.

♫ Closed Communication – Blue Reflection: Second Light



!

LOBBY

Upon entering, the Dreamers find themselves in an opulent lobby, spacious and open with dizzyingly high ceilings and wraparound balconies that are perilously out of reach for even the most determined of Dreamers. Like the outside, the building's inner walls are crafted from white marble that seems to glow from within and crystal chandeliers hang from the ceiling, catching the light to send shimmers of rainbow light across the floor and walls. The white marble floor is polished to a mirror shine but whenever someone stops to try and peer down at their reflection, it will fracture and undulate beyond recognizability until they look away.

Along one wall, red velvet drapes cascade from floor to ceiling to frame the entrance to the main stage and all around, various side doors and hallways split off into different directions. Faceless shades – not Torments but not Figments, either – mill around the hall, giving it the appearance of a crowd. But if you pay attention, it becomes clear none of them are actually moving with any sort of purpose; they're randomly drifting here and there to give the illusion of movement and activity. It's clear that these faceless guests are just as much a fixture of the dream as the chandelier is.

It's oddly, eerily silent aside from the scratchy recordings of Pure Candy's songs playing over some unseen speakers. Even that meagre filler noise occasionally gives way to record scratching sounds and indiscernible babbling before lapsing back to the cheery, happy pop of Pure Candy.

That same unpleasant tension from outside is simmering under the surface but by all appearances, this lobby should serve as a safe zone for regrouping and resting as explorations continue.

!

MAIN STAGE

Ducking under the curtain and entering the main stage, the Dreamers find themselves amidst a sea of empty, crimson velvet theater seats dimly illuminated by the glow of the overhead crystal chandeliers high up on the ceiling. The rows and rows of seats are arranged in a semicircle around the stage, packed so closely together and to the stage itself that the whole thing feels remarkably claustrophobic.

The stage itself is a vast expanse of obsidian-black marble that captures and amplifies every hint of light, creating the illusion of a swirling galaxy beneath a Dreamer's feet. The effect is something like stepping on a glass floor at the top of an enormous tower; a horrible sense of spinning vertigo. An ebony grand piano stands at the center, its surface speckled with starry reflections both from the spotlights and the backdrop of the stage.

A huge, towering mosaic looms behind the stage, an intricate pattern of shattered mirrors and crystal fragments suspended in mid-air by invisible threads. Each fragment casts light in a slightly different hue with odd perspectives that subtly warp the reflection of anything inside them. Look long enough and you might see a flash of something – or somebody – else. Mio Kasuga as she's seen up on this stage, laughing, smiling, dancing, screaming, singing, crying, performing, laughing, laughing, laughing–

Oh. She isn't in there at all, actually. What were you looking at again?


⧖ HAZARD ALERT: If the Dreamers approach the grand ebony piano at the center of the stage, they will notice that the keys seem to play of their own accord, growing louder and sharper the closer they get. Ethereal notes that fill the air – pleasant at first but then the very pretty melody starts to turn discordant and ramps up in volume as each of those ear-splitting notes resonates with the obsidian stage beneath their feet, creating violent waves of sound that pulse through the main stage.

The hazard here lies in the piano's unpredictable melodies. The resonant waves of sound can cause the marble stage to vibrate and shift, making footing unstable. At times, the vibrations can become so intense that sections of the stage rise and fall like waves, creating gaps and uneven terrain. The Dreamers must time their movements carefully to avoid being thrown off balance or falling into these gaps, all while the hauntingly beautiful music of the piano plays on. Destroying the piano or otherwise putting distance between it and the Dreamer will stop the performance... at least temporarily.

⧖ HAZARD ALERT #2: As the Dreamers explore the seats, they notice a series of spotlights positioned around the perimeter, seemingly at random, each casting a brilliant beam of light. However, if they step into these beams, they realize that they cast long, elongated shadows that move independently of their actual positions.

When the Dreamers step into a spotlight's beam, their shadows take on a life of their own, seemingly pulling them in unexpected directions or shoving them around and tripping them. The only way to disperse them is to shatter the light that created it in the first place... but good luck even getting close when your own shadow is determined to pull your feet our from under you!

!

BACKSTAGE HALLWAY

Once they manage to find a way around the stage's hazards, the Dreamers will be able to make their way into the wings of the stage. Passing through a discreet side door, the Dreamers enter a dimly lit backstage hallway, a stark departure from the grandeur of the main stage. The walls are lined with peeling wallpaper that might have been a vibrant red once upon a time but time and neglect have faded it to a dull, muddy pink. Sconces are placed intermittently along the walls but the light they provide is dim and flickering and only really succeeds in casting eerie shadows that dance across the cracked and weathered floor.

Along the hallway, the walls are dotted with framed photographs that seem to be moments from Mio's life as if captured on film... but they seem oddly distorted, as if the feelings associated with them have caused them to warp and contort. As you progress further down the corridor and the walls narrow to a slightly anxiety inducing squeeze, you'll be able to follow their progression. Mio as a young child in the audience of a stage show, looking awed. Mio as a grade schooler at a piano with her brow furrowed in intense concentration. Mio as a middle schooler despondently watching a competition going on without her. Mio posting an envelope. Mio at some sort of audition. Mio on stage as the centre of Pure Candy–

The last frame has been pulverized by some terrible force, glass shattered and photo almost shredded to pieces. From there to the end of the corridor, every single remaining frame has been broken as if someone had struck it over and over again in the midst of a rage.

At the end of the corridor, in place of a door is... a full length mirror? How strange.


⧖ HAZARD ALERT: As the Dreamers approach the mirror stands in place of a door, they become aware of a menacing presence – the mirror seems to radiate an aura of anger and frustration, and the air itself crackles with malevolent energy. Once they draw close enough to see their reflection in the mirror, they'll get the shock of their lives once it starts moving all by itself! It seems like whatever lays beyond is protected by the presence in this mirror who is delighting in forcing them to play along. The presence can be appeased with a little game of 'follow the leader' in which Dreamers must perfectly follow their reflection's movements until the door swings open. A single failure, however, will have their reflection vanish altogether and they'll be forced to wait for another Dreamer to come along to take a second shot at the game.

Of course, there's always the brute force option... but shattering the glass will result in a whole swarm of Torments exploding out of the mirror and you'll be forced to battle your way through in the narrow corridor! Keep on your toes!

!

DRESSING ROOM

With the mirrors blocking the way crossed one way or another, the Dreamers emerge into what looks at first glance to be a regular dressing room – then with a blink, the oddness of the whole situation asserts itself. The room is divided almost perfectly in two with one side pristine and glamorous, white walls adorned with photographs of "Miomio" posing and beaming at the camera – moments of radiant success, her radiant smile and glittering costumes befitting an idol adored across the nation. A grand dressing table sits against the wall in this half of the room with expensive cosmetics and trinkets scattered across its surface – a sparkling tiara, remnants of glittering confetti, and a copy of Pure Candy's first ever album release. It all sits glittering prettily in the soft light from the chandelier above... but something about the scene feels plastic and hollow. Something about it is wrong.

The other half of the room is in stark contrast – dark, dingy and neglected. It feels dimmer, even though it's under the same light, as if struggling to hold back the shadows. The walls are papered with what was one probably a striking crimson velvet wallpaper but neglect and damage have left it torn and frayed, its rich color faded to a sombre, muted shade. The walls bear faded and torn posters, have ripped from the wall and while there's a second vanity on the other side, it's not in much better shape than anything else on this side of the room. The vanity mirror on this side is cracked and fragmented, reflecting a distorted image when the Dreamers peek into it and empty makeup containers and brushes are in disarray all over the table. It's dirty and dismal over here but... something about it feels more honest, too.

Initially, this appears to be a dead end. However, looking into the shattered mirror will reveal a door in the reflection that does not exist in the actual room. Nothing you can do will make it appear but touching the mirror will allow you to pass through into the reflection (though uh, getting up onto the dressing table is a little awkward...). Once you're in the reflection side of the room, the door can be opened and things start getting really bizarre from there...

There are no hazards here, but interfering with any of the trinkets on the pristine side of the room will spawn a particularly aggressive and surprisingly powerful Torment!

!

MIRROR MAZE

The Dreamers pass through Mio's dressing room and straight into madness. Behind the mirror room door, they will find themselves entering a gigantic labyrinth, a colossal glass structure impossibly suspended in an infinite expanse of darkness. Its transparent walls extend seemingly infinitely in all directions, creating an eerie sensation of being adrift in a sea of reflections. The glass is flawless and unblemished, but its cold, almost sterile quality stirs up an odd sense of isolation and disconnection.

Trying to find your way in this maze is like... well, a nightmare. Pathways snake and twist in every direction and mirrors reflect each other, creating infinite regressions and dead ends and leaving it more or less impossible to predict what lies around the next corner. It's like trying to navigate a gigantic kaleidoscope, with reflections multiplying and refracting in baffling ways.

While it is possible to navigate, Dreamers must do so carefully. Getting lost in this maze is incredibly easy, especially if you're alone, and once you've gotten turned around there's no reliable way to escape without waking up and returning – and who knows just how much time you'd lose by going the long way round like that? To make matters worse, the maze itself is absolutely festering with Torments. . . and one super pissed off Nightmare right at the heart of the maze!

Dreamers looking to challenge the Nightmare should check into the Mid-Tier Combat thread.

!

HEART CAGE

Somewhere deep within the maze is an unassuming looking door that when crossed through...

darkness awaits.

code

Comments

[i_peace]

Durability: 5 ➾ 4
Movement: 2 ➾ 3

There's a lot to take in at the moment and if he didn't feel outclassed before (which he did), he's definitely feeling it now. He flinches when the Melanchoria attacks even as the shield goes up but recovers from the surprise quickly enough. Just standing around won't help anyone and he's wasted enough time.

Tycoon dashes towards on of the legs without waiting to see what the others are doing. Chaosbringer will doubtlessly do more damage and draw more attention but something this large can't respond that quickly to attacks coming at different directions, right? With that in mind, he reforms his twin blades into single blade mode and launches an attack at the legs, trying to aim at where the crystals appear to be joined together.

[healthepast]

Durability: 7 -> 6
Movement: 2 -> 3

It's hard not to flinch at such an awful sound. But the shield makes a difference, and Guardian is certainly glad of it.

Guardian uses the opportunity Chaosbringer's shield provides to run around the side to try and get closer to Melanchoria, summoning a swirl of crystals around him. When he thinks he has a clear shot, he'll send the projectile crystals in an attempt to strike the core surrounding Mio.

"Mio! What is it you're afraid of? We can help!"

Why would she want to stay here, of all places?

[hgs]

Durability: 5 (+2) 🡲 6
Movement: 2 🡲 3

Cinnabar used nearly all of their mercury into shielding Zeke from the falling chandelier, leaving them without enough to protect themself from the spray of glass. They won't be able to remain on the sidelines of this fight. Unlike Chaosbringer, Cinnabar is neither strong nor fast... but their poisonous power is such a part of who they are that it acts almost as an extension of their body. They cover their feet with their remaining mercury, creating a frictionless surface that allows them to slide past Melanchoria's opening attack. They then rejoin the large puddle of mercury that's pooled around what broken remains of Mio's cage haven't been incorporated into the monstrous spider.

Calling upon their Mercury Manipulation power, Cinnabar creates tentacles of liquid silver that reach towards Melanchoria's legs. At their level they most likely won't have the brute strength to bring it down, but that's not their goal. Instead, the mercury seeks fine gaps and cracks in the glass and flows into them. Like in a thermometer, mercury expands with heat... so if a heat source is applied to the creature's legs, the mercury could weaken the glass. (Note: the mercury will not expand until someone heats it up)

"Chaosbringer, use electricity on the legs! And try not to breathe in the fumes..."

Cinnabar's worst fear - accidentally hurting another Dreamer with their abilities - seems inevitable here... but if they lose to Melanchoria and are sent back to the waking world, what happens to Mio? Will she be trapped inside her nightmares forever?

REMAINING DURABILITY | GUARDIAN: 5 | CHAOSBRINGER: 3.5

[beautifuldreamermods]

If their words reach Mio – if she's even still capable of hearing them at all – there's no response. Just another wordless howl of rage. The team's quick thinking prevents anyone from being struck by the first flurry of shards but a second one quickly follows – Tycoon and Cinnabar are safe for now but Guardian and Chaosbringer both take some damage.

Thankfully, though, their teamwork seems to be making some immediate headway. The core is dense and heavy so the direct attacks on it don't quite make any cracks yet but Tycoon's blow to the leg carves out a hefty chunk of glass and sends Melanchoria staggering.

In response, she howls once more and uses the momentum of her near fall to smash the rest of those legs down on the ground. A massive shockwave ripples out from the point of impact – Dreamers with Movement at 3 or below will be thrown back and must use one Movement their next turn to steady themselves.

[thezekeinator]

The blast of shards looks like it should absolutely shred Chaosbringer, but no sooner does it pass over him then he surges out of the cloud with no more than a couple scratches, downright ignoring the shockwave that follows. Sorry, giant round chandelier monster -- Zeke Genbu, BRINGER OF CHAOS!, is just too damn obnoxious to go down that easy! and has Movement 4

With a yell of "Stratospheric Thunder!", he runs his hand down the blade, swathing it in a blade of lightning that extends its length quite gratuitously, then whips it around and delivers a mighty overhand smash. Then he lifts the sword slightly, and sends another torrent of electricity surging outwards as if it were chained into a column. "Overlord Thunderbeeeeeeam!"

That last one has a dual purpose -- not just as an attack, but also to follow Cinnabar's plan and heat the mercury. Ignore the fume problem, he's going to!

But now might be a time for a strategic redeployment. So thinking, Zeke grabs for one of the legs, then scrambles up the monster with the startling alacrity of Mobility. This thing is going to eat every last drop of strength and skill he'd developed during months of hardcore Dream Sphere travel and battle!

[i_peace]

Tycoon was not expecting his attack to land, let alone do damage. He sees Melanchoria stagger and gets ready to jump out of the way but that plan is dashed when he's hit by the shockwave, sending him flying back instead. There's an 'oof!' as he hits the ground. Picking himself back up, he takes a second to collect himself before preparing to jump back in.

The Core looks too thick for simple attacks to go through; if Chaosbringer couldn't even scratch it then Tycoon's own attacks don't stand a chance.

Tightening his grip on his weapon, he dashes forward once again. He pays no attention to the mercury or the electricity, and instead uses the mercury as a find a crack in a different leg to attack.

[healthepast]

That shard stings, and to be thrown back on top of it. But Guardian is quick to be back on his feet. He looks at the core, noticing how little damage his attack made, frowning. Maybe he should undergo some training to strengthen his attacks, more. He's certainly envious of the others' advantages.

But there are other things he can do. After assessing the damage, he runs in again to get closer, this time to Chaosbringer (even if getting closer to Melanchoria is a part of that) to get better aim. He casts a healing spell to Chaosbringer. If it can give him even a slight advantage to Chaosbringer in making sure he stays stable, then it's enough, right?

He hopes it's enough.

[hgs]

With their boots still covered in slppery mercury, the shockwave sends Cinnabar sliding uncontrollably across the floor until they're able to dig their heels into a jagged crack in the marble. They really aren't suited to close-range fighting... but it gives them an idea as they dash back towards the action.

While Tycoon attacks Melanchoria's leg, Cinnabar pools mercury around the feet on the other side of the monster's body. The spike-tipped legs already look unstable as it bucks in an attempt to dislodge Chaosbringer... a misstep might even lead to a stumble.

Cinnabar comes to a stop near Guardian. As the team's Sentries, they need to be ready to protect the others... even though their recklessness makes that considerably more difficult.

REMAINING DURABILITY | TYCOON: 2.5 | GUARDIAN: 4 | CHAOSBRINGER: 3.5

[beautifuldreamermods]

Ribbons of mercury flow and seep into all the cracks and gaps in Melanchoria's legs - being made up of so many fragments, its not hard to find them. It sits there glittering until Chaosbringer's powerful blow forces the mercury to heat and expand – a terrible cracking noise rings out and once Tycoon lands a blow, one of the legs shatters in two!

There's no time to rest, though – those shattered fragments immediately turn on Tycoon and slice through the air to reach him, just like Melanchoria's first attack. He manages to block the worst of it but gets a nasty cut across his arm for his troubles and takes some damage.

His attack has done some good, though! Melanchoria lets out a horrible howl and goes skittering on its remaining legs, bucking and writhing the whole time to throw Chaosbringer off – but it doesn't succeed! Maybe the extra boost from Guardian's healing is giving him the strength to hang on?

Unfortunately, striking this solid blow has some consequences – the fumes from Cinnabar's mercury are starting to hang heavy in the air. As a result of breathing it in, all other Dreamers take one point of Durability damage... and unless they find a way to clear the air, they're at risk of taking more as the battle goes on!

[thezekeinator]

Heh! Stupid giant sphere thing!

Chaosbringer is in perfect position up here, as far as he's concerned. With ruthless focus, he condenses the full power of his Electricity into the edges and tip of his sword to augment his attacks -- then delivers two blows, one a massive slash, followed by a thrust intended to pierce right into this thing.

Well aware that his position is precarious, though, he drops low after that to shift his center of gravity and hold on against more of the creature's thrashing mayhem.

[i_peace]

He probably should have expected a counterattack from Melanchoria after he shattered the leg. The cut along his arm stings but it's not enough to stop him, he could still fight. Tycoon's grateful - if not entirely sure how - Melanchoria's legs didn't hit him while it was skittering around though...

One of it's legs is broken now with another heavily damaged. But they need to get at it's core somehow, right? If they could crack the centre-

Tycoon jumps up one of the intact legs, as high as he can go without climbing onto Melanchoria's back. He see's Chaosbringer's attack and goes with his own as well; he grips his sword with both hands and brings it down on a joint as close to the body as he dares. Learning from his last attack, he braces in anticipation of another counterattack.

[healthepast]

This is getting to be dangerous, with the mercury fumes hanging in the air. But he'll do his best to keep supporting.

Tycoon looks like he's hurting more. So Guardian casts healing on Tycoon to try and give him a little more stabilization. However, he knows that they're going to be suffering in the near future if something more can't be done.

Immediately afterwards, deciding to rely on the hope of strength to get them through, he dashes to one of Melanchoria's legs. He swings his staff as hard as he can into it, trying to aim for one of the joints as well.

He hopes, and prays, that everyone can bring this thing down before the fumes can take them down instead.

[hgs]

The others are too preoccupied to notice the effects of the mercury, but Cinnabar can see them squinting against the acrid metallic miasma in the air... the other Dreamers are strong, but even they can't fight poison.

Hurriedly Cinnabar resorbs the mercury from the air, trying to hold back their panic and guilt. Gentle heating might have worked, but electricity vaporizes the mercury. As effective as that technique was, they won't be able to use it again without putting the others at serious risk. But what else do they have? Unlike the others, they don't have a Sandglass weapon... or, more accurately, they've never managed to separate their weapon from the globs of mercury that surround it. They aren't worthy of being a Dreamer... they're as much a monster as Melanchoria herself.

Let monsters fight monsters, then. Cinnabar covers themself in mercury, creating crude, half-melted armor, then lunges directly at the bulk of Melanchoria's body. While Cinnabar lacks physical strength, the sheer mass of their liquid metal slams into the glass with all its weight.

[beautifuldreamermods]

The flurry of attacks do their job – with Tycoon and Guardian focusing on its legs, Melanchoria is unbalanced enough that it can't as easily toss Chaosbringer up and off its body. That unbalance combined with the combined forced of Cinnabar and Chaosbringer's attacks force Melanchoria's full weight down onto those already fragile legs... and they shatter, sending the jagged orb crashing down onto the floor.

For a moment, it seems as though things might be about to calm down. Seems like.

A horrible shriek ruptures the air. That same, furious scream that they all heard before but this time it's louder, shriller and there's no end to it. It bounces all around the room, echoing over and over until the din is absolutely unbearable. All Dreamers sacrifice one point of Movement next turn.

The glass that makes up the room begins to rattle ominously.

[thezekeinator]

Uh-oh. Zeke has a vision of glass shattering and spraying shards everywhere, and that is a vision he does not like in the least.

"Defenses!" he shouts, all the warning he has to offer before he leaps off Melanchoria, grabbing for Guardian and Tycoon to pull them closer before doing his best to shield them bodily.

No, he didn't forget Cinnabar. Cinnabar has protective armor. And Chaosbringer's not HUGE or anything, there's only so much a man can do even with a neat costume like his.

[i_peace]

The legs's elegant and spindly architecture doesn't really help Tycoon with trying to find purchase so not be thrown off...

Only for the legs to shatter and the orb that served as Melanchoria's body to go crashing down the next moment. Rather than being thrown from this height, Tycoon scrambles up to it's body. His ears are already ringing because of the crashing and shattered glass, but then the creature starts shrieking. Rattled as he is, Tycoon probably would have been too stunned to move if Chaosbringer hadn't grabbed his skinny ass him.

Snapping out of his stupor (but ears still ringing), he raises his sword to try and help Chaosbringer block whatever attack comes their way as best he can.

[healthepast]

The legs shatter, and Guardian breathes out in relief as things seem to become more quiet. Only for that to absolutely not be the truth at all. That sound is Godawful! And the glass rattling hitches his breath as his eyes go wide; how he wishes he had an ability to shield everyone. And for a moment he just... can't move. This looks bad, and he's terrified. For him and everybody else.

Chaosbringer acts accordingly, grabbing Guardian and Tycoon, and shielding them both. And Tycoon lends whatever strength he can, too.

Guardian's supposed to be an experienced Dreamer. But he hadn't thought to do anything like this. He's not even sure he could if he had.

Guardian's breathing is rapid, trying to force himself to focus. If nothing else, he absolutely cannot become deadweight right now. There'll be time for panic attacks and meltdowns later. Right. He has two people he can help right beside him right now.

He raises both hands, setting them on Tycoon and Chaosbringer to wherever he can reach, and casts healing on both of them. They're going to need all the hitpoints they can get before this continues.

[hgs]

Melanchoria's ear-splitting wail of pain forces Cinnabar to double over and cover their ears, but the sound seems to reverberate through their bones until they're not sure if it's them or the monster that's screaming. Finally, as they start to grow acclimated to the sound... it's joined by ominous cracking from the mirrored walls. If they were to all shatter at once, there would be no way to dodge the rain of glass shards.

The fallen body of the giant glass spider provides some cover, but not from all sides. At least Chaosbringer's quick thinking has left the Dreamers huddled together next to Melanchoria, with Cinnabar not far off. Cinnabar summons all the mercury they're capable of producing, including their own armor, and uses it to form a wall around themself and the others. Making the wall thick enough to stop large projectiles means that they don't have enough to form a full dome, but hopefully it's enough...

"Brace yourselves!"

[beautifuldreamermods]

Rather than dying out, Melanchoria's scream somehow just keeps going. You'd expect it to run out of air eventually but in the horrible way dream logic sometimes works against you. Cinnabar's shield does a little to dim some of the noise but just as feared, it's quickly joined by the sound of shattering glass. All at once, all of the mirrored windows shatter and begin raining shards down all around. None of them breeches Cinnabar's shield... which doesn't seem to have been the aim.

Instead, a deep groaning rises out from both the walls and under everyone's feet. Spiderweb cracks between to form on the all the surfaces off the room – it looks like Melanchoria's trying to bring the whole thing down on top of all of you!

[thezekeinator]

Good. No one is hurt. Bad, though -- Mio is still in that thing. And as much as he sympathizes with her problems and pain, this isn't the answer. What it IS, he doesn't know, but it isn't an answer.

Chaosbringer straightens up, holding a hand palm-out towards Tycooon. Right now, Gallium isn't doing the job, so... "Shining Justice: Power Driver!"

As he invokes the power, the gallium dissipates. He isn't sure what Tycoon would give him in replacement, but when a bicycle abruptly coalesces out of the dreamscape into solidity beside him... well, he wasn't expecting that.

"Huh." Chaosbringer scratches the back of his neck, then shrugs. "Okay. I can work with this. Watch my back, chums!"

Hopping onto the bike, Zeke plops his feet onto the pedals... then invokes Mobility, a power that affects any mode of movement. As his feet whir in hedgehog-like circles, the tire's rubber skids and squeals on the glass, before catching and sending him rocketing forwards -- just in time for him to draw his sword and charge down that stupid glass sphere like a jousting knight.

Yes, his plan is totally to burst out the far side of it, still on the bike, holding Mio.

[i_peace]

There's a lot happening all of a suddenly and Tycoon isn't sure where to focus (other than to say a quick 'thank you' to Guardian when he realizes that he's been healing them). What he wasn't expecting to follow that was to have Chaosbringer use Power Driver on him, nevermind having a bicycle appear afterwards. He's... Not quite sure what's happened or how it happened but there's more pressing matters at hand. Tycoon isn't about to question dream logic when it might help them get Mio out of here.

The body was already jagged to start with, with the successive attacks, the surface must have some cracks that they can take advantage of. Seeing what Chaosbringer intends to do, Tycoon splits his weapon into it's twin blade form before throwing one with all his strength at one of the cracks. Like a dart, maybe. Or a shuriken, more appropriately.

"We need to make sure we can get back to the door," he says, moving towards the door that they originally entered from . But he can't help but worry about the other Dreamers in the Distortion, not just them.

[healthepast]

Well... shit!

The room is going to come down, and Chaosbringer jumps again into action, faster than Guardian can think. Seeing him launch towards Mio, though. He wonders if he should...

If that ball stays in place, then this fight can only continue, right?

"...D... Dream Song!" he calls out in a shaky voice, casting the spell to try and shatter the material around Mio. And prays that it'll be enough for this battle to end, and for Chaosbringer to rescue her.

With that, he'll try to take Tycoon's hand as they run for the door; he'll grab Cinnabar's too, if they're close enough as they run by. And hopefully the landing will be enough to save them all.

[hgs]

"...I'll stay behind until Chaosbringer and Mio are safe."

It's tempting to run. Isn't (literally) running away what they always do? But this isn't just some awkward social situation or unpleasant obligation... for Mio at least, this could be her only chance to escape an eternity trapped in the Dream Sphere. Before Mio makes that choice, she should understand what it really means to be alone.

Cinnabar doesn't stop to consider why Chaosbringer is riding a bicycle - it barely cracks the top three absurd things Chaosbringer has done in the past 10 minutes. But if that bicycle hits one of the widening cracks in the ground, it's going to send him flying headfirst over the handlebars. They let their mercury cover as much of the floor as possible, filling in the gaps. In places where the broken floor is uneven, they create ramps to ensure a smooth ride. Liquid mercury can't hold a solid shape for very long, but at the speed Chaosbringer is moving, that's hardly a concern. Finally, they dash after Guardian and Tycoon. If the doorway starts to collapse, they want to be close enough to reinforce the escape route.

1/2 - TYCOON, GUARDIAN, CINNABAR

[beautifuldreamermods]

So! A lot of things are about to happen very quick, so let's try and keep things relatively organized!

For Tycoon, Guardian and Cinnabar: The former two's attacks at last manage to create a split in Melanchoria's glass shell and with Cinnabar clearing the way, Chaosbringer's got a clean shot straight in there! Nice!

Less nice is the fact that with Melanchoria's final scream still ringing out, the ballroom is still coming apart at the seams. Huge cracks form in the floor that have to be navigated around and even when they do make it back to the doorway, it's just in time for the archway to shatter and begin raining glass and debris down, at risk of blocking your path of escape.

Better think fast – you'll only have one turn's worth of time to do something about it!

CHAOSBRINGER

[beautifuldreamermods]

By all logic, Chaosbringer's plan should work exactly as he envisions it - with everyone doing their best to help, he should cleave straight through Melanchoria's glass and retrieve Mio.

The Dream Sphere does not run on logic.

The lance finds a crack in the glass, shatters it open and