Junna Hoshimi ⭐ 星見 純那 (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
thestarknows) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
yumemigaoka2025-02-18 05:17 pm
thestarknows) wrote in yumemigaoka2025-02-18 05:17 pm
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EVENT #10: AND MERELY PLAYERS
- By now, entering a Disturbance is familiar. That isn't a good thing -- the way that it takes that extra effort, like pushing your hand through molasses; like a wavering mirage that almost pushes back against your gaze. It's a sign of someone in distress.
But after entering the Slumbering City, the Dreamers have made their way into this newest Disturbance. And then, they've pushed onward... and everyone finds themselves on a long path through darkness, lit only by stage lights.
Welcome to Junna Hoshimi's Disturbance event! To recap from previous events and 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, Junna Hoshimi.
Using the descriptions in the log below, you may freely top level 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 top level. Pinging Tex on Discord may also help in case his emails and notifications act up.
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 March 3rd.
SUNSET BOULEVARD
- Upon entering the dream, all Dreamers will first find themselves walking down a long path through darkness, lit only by stoplights. In the way of a dream, though, at its end, it turns into the front of Promised Morning Academy at sunset.
The building is lit up by sunset, with weather that suggests it is spring. It seems almost pleasant... but there is a buzz of tension in the air. It should be the time that people have left for the day, but there are lights on inside the school. There are murmurs, stressed and worried, but wordless. Sunset -- the time people should have left and gone home, but are still working -- never seems to end.
In that light, it isn't such a pleasant image. Still, this is a place where Dreamers can return to, to rest, coordinate, and take a breather before exploring further.
The way forward is the double doors, leading into the school. They are larger than they should be, more imposing that the ones in real life, and heavier to push open.
!SCHOOL DAZE
Upon entering, the Dreamers find themselves in a warped, endless version of Promised Morning's first floor. The hallway stretches out east-to-west, but there is a subtle curve to it. And if someone walks the full length of the hallway, it loops back around, leaving them trapped.
The Dreamers aren't alone here. There are shadowy figures, like silhouettes, wearing the uniforms of Promised Morning. Each are carrying large stacks of paper.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: If someone touches them, they seem to fuzz and not quite feel real. But each of them will put stacks of paper that are quite real into an unwitting Dreamer's hands. So many papers, in fact, that a Dreamer could be literally weighed down by them.
After escaping the shadowy students, Dreamers can pass countless class rooms and clubrooms. Each of them has a locked door. It might feel hopeless, until a freight elevator is found at the end. There is a large, blinking red light and one button. The only way to progress is to go down.
The Dreamers aren't alone here. There are shadowy figures, like silhouettes, wearing the uniforms of Promised Morning. Each are carrying large stacks of paper.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: If someone touches them, they seem to fuzz and not quite feel real. But each of them will put stacks of paper that are quite real into an unwitting Dreamer's hands. So many papers, in fact, that a Dreamer could be literally weighed down by them.
After escaping the shadowy students, Dreamers can pass countless class rooms and clubrooms. Each of them has a locked door. It might feel hopeless, until a freight elevator is found at the end. There is a large, blinking red light and one button. The only way to progress is to go down.
!THE ONLY WAY DOWN
The freight elevator is not a comfortable ride down. The floor is made of steel, patterned to give some grip. There are no buttons to control it. Once the down button is pressed, all a Dreamer can do is ride it down to the bottom. And the railing on each side is woefully inadequate from a safety perspective: it's only a three foot high steel bar.
Which means, from the darkness, something can jump onto it.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Torments begin to leap from the shadows, onto the 12 by 12 foot elevator platform. The Torments, initially, are only a Shadowy outline... but they respond to the Dreamers on the platform. A Dreamer with an idol theme finds them looking like crazed fans; a Dreamer with a sword finds ones carrying axes; a Dreamer with a ninja motif finds their foes include ones carrying katanas. The Torments are easily dispatched, but they keep coming in waves -- until the elevator reaches the bottom.
When it does, there is a ding. The door opens... revealing a hallway.
Which means, from the darkness, something can jump onto it.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Torments begin to leap from the shadows, onto the 12 by 12 foot elevator platform. The Torments, initially, are only a Shadowy outline... but they respond to the Dreamers on the platform. A Dreamer with an idol theme finds them looking like crazed fans; a Dreamer with a sword finds ones carrying axes; a Dreamer with a ninja motif finds their foes include ones carrying katanas. The Torments are easily dispatched, but they keep coming in waves -- until the elevator reaches the bottom.
When it does, there is a ding. The door opens... revealing a hallway.
!BEHIND THE SCENES FEATURETTE
The elevator lets out in a darkly lit hallway. Just a short distance away is a large set of double doors, underneath a sign that declares it to be the "MAIN STAGE." And yet, try as someone might, that door will not open. It seems that the only way to get onto the main stage is through hard work.
The hallway connects to many others. There are more hallways in this backstage area than any real theater could ever have. And there are doorways here, too, and each has a poster next to it, depicting a play or a movie. There isn't another door that clearly leads to the main stage... which means Dreamers will need to search the rooms.
The poster outside of each room gives an idea of its contents. Inside, there are people hard at work. Like before, in the school level, they are shadowy silhouettes of students. The shadowy students are engaged in some work based on the movie or play poster outside.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #1: In this room, four silhouettes are hurriedly building props and backgrounds for a play. Wooden cut-outs of trees and houses that need to be built; organizing a closet full of costumes; painting details onto paper backdrops of a sky and a town. The work isn't done, and the silhouettes are in a panic about this. Dreamers who enter the room have tools pushed into their hands to help -- until the work is finished. If the Dreamers try to leave, they begin to screech and scream, and eventually attack with shadowed claws. The work will never stop, though. The props need to be put out of their sight or the silhouettes defeated.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #2: Only one silhouette is inside here. A high school student, by the look of her. She cannot speak, but she mimics going through a play by herself. When Dreamers enter, she thrusts a script to them. Then, she tries to get them to act out Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The silhouette wants to play the part of Caesar. If they act it out, the silhouette will want to do it again. She can either be defeated in a fight, or made to play another role, which will stop the performance.
Once the Dreamers have time to thoroughly search the room with the silhouette that wishes to portray Caesar. There is a poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck, a movie that came out in April, on the wall. The other materials in here strictly apply to Julius Caesar, with posters of past performances and props related to it.
Pulling down the poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck reveals a door. Opening it leads to a hallway, dark, but with the bright lights of a main stage up ahead.
The hallway connects to many others. There are more hallways in this backstage area than any real theater could ever have. And there are doorways here, too, and each has a poster next to it, depicting a play or a movie. There isn't another door that clearly leads to the main stage... which means Dreamers will need to search the rooms.
The poster outside of each room gives an idea of its contents. Inside, there are people hard at work. Like before, in the school level, they are shadowy silhouettes of students. The shadowy students are engaged in some work based on the movie or play poster outside.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #1: In this room, four silhouettes are hurriedly building props and backgrounds for a play. Wooden cut-outs of trees and houses that need to be built; organizing a closet full of costumes; painting details onto paper backdrops of a sky and a town. The work isn't done, and the silhouettes are in a panic about this. Dreamers who enter the room have tools pushed into their hands to help -- until the work is finished. If the Dreamers try to leave, they begin to screech and scream, and eventually attack with shadowed claws. The work will never stop, though. The props need to be put out of their sight or the silhouettes defeated.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT #2: Only one silhouette is inside here. A high school student, by the look of her. She cannot speak, but she mimics going through a play by herself. When Dreamers enter, she thrusts a script to them. Then, she tries to get them to act out Act 3, Scene 1 of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. The silhouette wants to play the part of Caesar. If they act it out, the silhouette will want to do it again. She can either be defeated in a fight, or made to play another role, which will stop the performance.
Once the Dreamers have time to thoroughly search the room with the silhouette that wishes to portray Caesar. There is a poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck, a movie that came out in April, on the wall. The other materials in here strictly apply to Julius Caesar, with posters of past performances and props related to it.
Pulling down the poster of Yonezawa's Last Paycheck reveals a door. Opening it leads to a hallway, dark, but with the bright lights of a main stage up ahead.
!TO SHINE ON THE MAIN STAGE
The doorway leads onward, until the Dreamers emerge onto the main stage. It is a massive, circular stage, but there is a raised circular platform at the center. Rich red curtains have fallen entirely across the elevated platform and hide whatever is behind. One set of steep stairs leads up to it.
But, it couldn't be as simple as approaching the stairs.
First, a bright stage light shines down, and falls into the audience. The chairs there are empty. There is only one living thing there, though it is not a person. It is a massive giraffe, with brilliant green eyes, a pink ribbon, and and a disaffected expression.
The giraffe bellows in a baritone, masculine voice: "To be a Dreamer is to be a performer! To struggle endlessly! To be a light that shines upon the people! I... UNDERSTAND!"
All around the stage, props and stage equipment rises up. Wooden walls, stairwells, and platforms create a maze. Each Dreamer is locked within them, separated from their fellows by a maze of different theater settings: from cut-outs of castle walls, Western towns, modern cities, cut-outs of trees, and backdrops of stars and nebulae.
Up high, though, a four point golden star lowers. The stage light vanishes from the giraffe. The golden star shines brilliantly -- and then at its center, a giant eye blinks, and opens to look down. This is a powerful Nightmare, though it is far out of reach.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Navigating the maze -- whether while fighting the Star Nightmare or not -- is a complex matter. First, a powerful orchestral soundtrack fires up (accompanying vocals optional). Stairs and platforms rise up, to provide backdrops ranging from historical dramas to science fiction. These include pyrotechnics and water effects -- which can dazzle, though they can't hurt. Stage lights shine down and blind, sometimes at inopportune moments. Getting to the center of the stage requires navigating through these rising and lowering themed platforms.
But, additionally, the Star Nightmare causes illusions. Sometimes, Dreamers who encounter each other will see one another as powerful Torment, illusions altering their perceptions of each other and their attacks. They can fight each in the midst of the maze, but if they realize that they're fighting a friend, it will stop.
If you need a visual, this fight from Revue Starlight gives an idea of the shenanigans at work:
Dreamers caught here are also able to battle against the Star Nightmare as a Mid-Boss Encounter.
At the end of the maze are stairs, which lead up to the central platform. The stairs are long and steep, and the curtains have yet to rise. But now, the only way to go is up.
But, it couldn't be as simple as approaching the stairs.
First, a bright stage light shines down, and falls into the audience. The chairs there are empty. There is only one living thing there, though it is not a person. It is a massive giraffe, with brilliant green eyes, a pink ribbon, and and a disaffected expression.
The giraffe bellows in a baritone, masculine voice: "To be a Dreamer is to be a performer! To struggle endlessly! To be a light that shines upon the people! I... UNDERSTAND!"
All around the stage, props and stage equipment rises up. Wooden walls, stairwells, and platforms create a maze. Each Dreamer is locked within them, separated from their fellows by a maze of different theater settings: from cut-outs of castle walls, Western towns, modern cities, cut-outs of trees, and backdrops of stars and nebulae.
Up high, though, a four point golden star lowers. The stage light vanishes from the giraffe. The golden star shines brilliantly -- and then at its center, a giant eye blinks, and opens to look down. This is a powerful Nightmare, though it is far out of reach.
⧖ HAZARD ALERT: Navigating the maze -- whether while fighting the Star Nightmare or not -- is a complex matter. First, a powerful orchestral soundtrack fires up (accompanying vocals optional). Stairs and platforms rise up, to provide backdrops ranging from historical dramas to science fiction. These include pyrotechnics and water effects -- which can dazzle, though they can't hurt. Stage lights shine down and blind, sometimes at inopportune moments. Getting to the center of the stage requires navigating through these rising and lowering themed platforms.
But, additionally, the Star Nightmare causes illusions. Sometimes, Dreamers who encounter each other will see one another as powerful Torment, illusions altering their perceptions of each other and their attacks. They can fight each in the midst of the maze, but if they realize that they're fighting a friend, it will stop.
If you need a visual, this fight from Revue Starlight gives an idea of the shenanigans at work:
Dreamers caught here are also able to battle against the Star Nightmare as a Mid-Boss Encounter.
At the end of the maze are stairs, which lead up to the central platform. The stairs are long and steep, and the curtains have yet to rise. But now, the only way to go is up.
!POSITION ZERO
Those who find their way through the maze and make their way up to the stairs come to where the red curtains are. Once the first Dreamers reach them, the left up. The circular platform has Junna standing at the center, raising a hand up to shield her eyes.
Because every stage light here is shining directly onto her, which blinds her from seeing them. From up here, those stage lights can almost be reached.
They keep shining on Junna, as an elevator platform begins to lower her downward -- as an elevator. The stage lights all turn away, and shine down onto the Dreamers. They threaten to blind them.
Not everyone can go down after Junna. But it might be best to say some final remarks -- especially as Torments are beginning to move up the stairs. Those who descend will need to be protected.
And those who jump down after Junna hear a deep baritone voice bellow up, from below: "I UNDERSTAND."
Because every stage light here is shining directly onto her, which blinds her from seeing them. From up here, those stage lights can almost be reached.
They keep shining on Junna, as an elevator platform begins to lower her downward -- as an elevator. The stage lights all turn away, and shine down onto the Dreamers. They threaten to blind them.
Not everyone can go down after Junna. But it might be best to say some final remarks -- especially as Torments are beginning to move up the stairs. Those who descend will need to be protected.
And those who jump down after Junna hear a deep baritone voice bellow up, from below: "I UNDERSTAND."
no subject
[his ears are drooping as he mumbles]
I don't know... [he moves the materials in his arms a bit, enough to free one hand to point at a haphazard pile of what looks like fake flowers bushes] I was helping to put together some of the plants that they're using? But it feels like they disappear whenever you stop paying attention to them.
no subject
So the young girl bites her lower lip, thinking really hard about this one. ]
Then maybe we aren't meant to actually put anything together.
[ Right? If Tycoon has been trying - and Prisma at least trusts him enough to know he really must have been, if he's saying that - then there must be something else going on here. ]
There must be a different exit..!
no subject
Maybe... But they'll start screaming and attacking if you try to avoid doing any work too. [now that Prisma's brought it up... Tycoon had been too flustered to really look around]
Here- [he passes here a small, partly built prop] -If you want to look around without them putting more work on you, maybe if you act like you're helping me...
[if Prisma keeps coming back Tycoon, who is working on props, maybe the silhouettes won't foist more work on her. It's hard to search for things when you're a doormat getting hounded to help out. Fighting is a last resort? Or maybe Tycoon is just too non-confrontational]
no subject
[ For a second she's quiet.
Because Prisma doesn't really want to suggest this either. Especially when she isn't sure she can handle the threat. But that would only be a problem if she was here alone, right? Tycoon is here too, so.. ]
Can't we just.. get rid of them?
[ WHY THE OMINOUS MAFIA-STYLE WORDING, PRISMA.. At least she doesn't seem to mean it in any ominous or malicious way, since the girl looks relatively nervous as she's suggesting it. She's even whispering it to him, like she's worried the silhouettes will overhear it. ]
no subject
...
...
Ah!
[even his ears perk up, like he hadn't thought about it... Actually, considering this is Keiwa, he probably isn't faking his realization. Maybe he didn't consider it because he'd been entirely too flustered by the amount of work that had suddenly been forced into his arms, his distress made worse whenever the Torments started to scream.
He is, after all, a shy tanuki that doesn't really know how to say 'no' to people]
That's true! We could just fight them...! [then his attention turns to her, surprised] Will you be okay with that?
no subject
.. right?
There's no time to ask about it though. Not when they have to get out of this situation and get Junna. So Prisma quickly nods. ]
You don't have to worry about me. I'm-- I'm brave now!
[ As if that's just.. something you can suddenly become.. Maybe don't think about it too hard, Tycoon. ]
I promise I won't weigh you down!
no subject
[he looks at the shadows around them, ears pressed against his head momentarily, before turning his attention back to the younger Dreamer]
When they notice we're not going to make any more props, they'll start screaming and attacking. [maybe that's what had startled him each time he tries to escape. But speaking of fighting...] Ah, where did it...?
[... Tycoon looks around the floor carefully before spotting a familiar weapon on the ground, near where he'd been originally accosted. He dropped his weapon in surprise?
... He might have dropped Bujin in his surprise]
... [he takes a breath and then exhales slowly, adjusting the grip on the materials in his arms carefully] Okay. Let me know when you're ready.
no subject
Prisma may not fully be realizing what Tycoon is looking around for in this moment, or what he is thinking about. But even the young girl can tell that something is up here.
It means that she's quiet for a moment while he's looking, but after he says that last part, she can't help but whisper in concern at him: ]
Is everything alright?
[ Tycoon, she absolutely cannot be ready for this until she's 100% sure everything is okay!! ]
no subject
[... no, he has a hard time lying to anyone, let alone Prisma]
I dropped my Sandglass when they gave me this stuff to work on... [he's keeping his eye on said weapon at the moment and, thankfully, it looks like the shadows can't disturb it. On the other hand, he'll still need to get past them to reach it in the first place.
He sounds calmer than usual, but it's probably because all his focus is directed at keeping track of his weapon and how he can get to it as soon as possible. 'Locked in', if you will]
It's weird... No, it's something to worry about after I get it back. [he looks at Prisma briefly, to make sure she's okay] You have ranged attacks, right, Prisma-chan? It shouldn't take too long, but I'll try to stay out of your way.
no subject
It is a scary idea, but what else is she supposed to do? She can't just let them be trapped here forever. She'll.. have to be brave. ]
Okay. [ She sucks in a deep breath, trying to hide the fact that her legs are shaking a little bit. ] My attacks are drawn towards Torments, so you don't have to worry about accidentally getting hit by me..
[ Which means Tycoon should just be able to move as quickly as he can! ]
Just try to make sure to avoid the shadows, since they can still hurt you. [ Another deeep breath. Oh gosh, she's so stressed, but Prisma has also committed herself to this now. ] Let me know when you're ready.
no subject
[he follows her example at taking a breath before letting it out with a little laugh because that had been what he'd said just earlier. It's nice to be on the same page]
Okay. [he adjusts his grip one last time before bracing himself] Ready...
Go!
[since he's the poor sap that had a bunch of unfinished props thrust upon him, Tycoon tossing all that aside winds up drawing the shadows' initial attention to him. Then it's just a matter of getting his weapon and making sure they don't try to attack Prisma while she's providing cover fire... He slips through the shadows attacking him like the ninja his appearance mimics and retrieves his sword with a (admittedly unnecessarily flashy) cartwheel. It does draw the Shadows' attention away from where Prisma is at least?]
no subject
So the moment she notices him moving, the girl does what she can to provide backup. Maybe her attacks can at least distract the shadows from being in time to be able to attack him, she thinks - if they're just slow enough, maybe Tycoon can get past..
As the pink balls of energy hit the shadows, she yells out: ]
Leave him alone, you bunch of bullies!
[ Tycoon is now the poor bullied kid, apparently.. ]
no subject
Considering he usually has to hit even basic Torments a few times with his normal weapon, the boost that this katana form gives him is on full display. Why he didn't do this to start with though... Well, Illya knows Keiwa's
a bit ofa pushover. Maybe it's the frantic energy in the room or the fact that the shadows resemble students that makes it so that he wants to help. He takes another swing, this time bisecting another Torment that's trying to grab him, before turning to where he last saw Prisma]Head towards the door!
[Tycoon could use his shukuchi to slip through the gap between Torments, but that would probably cause them to turn their attention to Prisma instead. Which would be irresponsible of him but, more importantly, the homing quality of the attacks does help keep the Torments distracted enough that he could more easily finish them off. His attacks could still be blocked after all; Prisma's orbs hitting the Torments while missing Tycoon means that he gets the opening he needs to take them out.
All in all, it's shaping up to be a successful combo!]
no subject
[ And Prisma is actually doing as she's saying too. Right after calling out like that, she's already starting to run on through the space as well as she can, heading in the direction of the door. The shadows seem mostly focused on Tycoon in the moment, but the few that are in her path are easy enough for Prisma to either shove aside or take out with her own attacks.
Apparently she doesn't want Tycoon to be left to fend for himself though. Maybe it's because of her earlier bullied kid comment, but Prisma's tiny intense guy familiar appears next to Tycoon - starting to bite and gnaw on the ankles of the shadows that get a little too close to Tycoon.
He's helping! ]
no subject
... Eh?
[and then he spots the Little Guy (currently being swung around by a Shadow trying to kick him off). Tycoon stares for a couple of seconds - it's an odd sight, he simply cannot help himself - before snapping back to attention to block an attack from another Shadow. It's a lot easier to land hits when your opponents are distracted by both projectiles and an anklebiter, apparently! Mini-zerker is doing a Good Job!!
And with the two of them plus the extra familiar on their side, the numbers even out enough that they're able to make it out the door back into... The backstage hallway?]
... [Tycoon is catching his breath as he sheathes Bujin before turning to look at Prisma] Um... Just now. That small-ish... Person? Um...
[he can't think of any way to ask this without it being awkward, oh no-]
no subject
[ Sorry, Tycoon. Apparently Prisma doesn't quite get what you're trying to ask, perhaps forcing you to say the awkward thing all the same..
Except Tycoon has a savior. Just this once. Right before the door slams closed behind them, there's a little thing slipping through the crack of the door to run laps around Tycoon's ankles - the little guy that helped save him just now. ]
no subject
[there's a slightly awkward gag bit in the works here... Luckily for both of them, they don't have to worry about it this time as Tycoon yelps when he notices something coming for his ankles]
Ah!? [... Oh wait, no, it's not attacking him, it's only doing laps. Crisis averted! Though he still looks a little confused but less awkward now that he doesn't have to try and figure out what to call this thing-] Um... This little guy.
[Tycoon, that's not even that awkward]
Between your attacks and his, it was pretty easy to cut through everything. [a laugh] Maybe I ought to be saying 'thank you'.
no subject
[ She really is talking about her little summon like it's a dog, despite it being very much human-shaped.. Prisma bends down to pick it up, but even as she's holding the tiny guy with both her arms, he's still wrestling like a madman to try and escape Prisma's grip, wildly swinging his little sword. ]
Oh, come on, that's not very nice to Tycoon..! [ Or to her, considering it's her grip that he seems to be trying to breaking out of.. ] He's just being grateful towards you since you helped him out! Be nice..!
no subject
It's okay, I understand. This is our first meeting and we were just in a fight so he's probably still feeling energetic.
[Nice Guy Tycoon...]
... It feels a little weird talking about him like this... Does he even have a name yet? Or is it a new ability...?
no subject
I.. I don't know. I mean, it kind of feels awkward giving him a name when he's just a little guy, right..? He should just tell me his name!
[ And the summon does open his mouth, as if to do just that--
--except all that comes out of the weird guy's mouth is just loud sounds that almost sound like someone gargling and screaming at the same time. It's a good thing that it's just a little guy, because it suggests that sound might have been deafening if it was larger.. ]
no subject
... Well, it is your magic...
Maybe he'll be able to give us a name when the two of you get stronger. How about a nickname instead? [a pause, then he turns his attention to the angry boi in Prisma's arms] What do you think?
[Tycoon, why are you so nice...]