Raffles & Giveaways

Saturday

Kara has a hunch that maybe the Sleepwalker tundra who lost his family is the creator of the Nightmare King. It would be quite easy, she thinks, for an evil figment to manipulate a grieving dragon and to offer him all sorts of empty promises.
She doesn't think it's likely they could convince the King to leave his creator, though there's no harm in trying to reason before they all start in on a pitched battle. Could they possibly get through to the tundra instead and wake him up, get him to realise what he's doing? She's sure it isn't deliberate; the poor dragon is just dreaming, he can't have any idea that his creation is out to conquer all of Sornieth! If the Creator abandons his dream (nightmare) surely that would defeat the Nightmare King without them having to fight?

She can't ask Lightbulb's opinion while they're all rushing after him through the shadow crazed city. And then it's too late, they arrive at the top of the skyscraper and the King is there! A fae like herself, his wings stretching and distorting with groping, nightmare hands of shadow. And she was right! There at his feet lies the sleeping tundra they escaped after the forest.

Kara makes a connection... she recalls the painting of the family hanging in the kitchen, a tundra and spiral - and their fae son. She had thought it strange at the time, wondering whether the child was adopted, or had some magic worked on him to change his breed. Now, she wonders if the son was ever fae at all, or if the picture and the Nightmare King's form and the confused memories of the Sleepwalker are all part of the same obfuscation.

Although he is a figment, like them, Kara doesn't feel much empathy with the fae king (or anyone); she doesn't think she would be much good at either fighting or trying to convince their enemy. She determines that while the others distract the Nightmare, talking to him, she will instead go to the Tundra and try to wake him.

(My travel went bad, I couldn’t post on time, sorry.) [b]Friday:[/b] [quote name=Lullaby] "Go now, get to safety! Find Lightbulb!" [/quote] Morus runs. Lullaby wouldn’t tell them to run if he and Mortemer needed the help. They need to find Lightbulb. Yes yes. He’ll be quick. He follows Pandora out of the tunnel, trying not to trip anyone. They get out of the tunnel, and as everyone catches their breath he sees a bright light. [quote name="DismasYves" date="2025-08-09 00:33:06"]A small figment is in a cage, glowing so brightly it almost hurts your eyes. In the general vicinity are several nightmares that look a bit like crows, all cringing away from the light. And beside the cage itself is an odd figment, its wings drenched in the same shadowy stuff you've seen before on the Tundra Sleepwalker. You wonder if this is the Daydreamer that was mentioned before. It seems to be annoyed and attacks the cage, the sound of metal clanging throughout the area. It tries to reach out for the handle of the cage as if to carry it away, but the light sizzles on its skin and it pulls away with a sharp movement. It turns its gaze on the crow nightmares and they form a circle as though guarding the cage. Then it turns and flies away, presumably going to heal or try and find a different way to move the cage.[/quote] Morus sees a vending machine. He moves over to it. It is full of fun and lovely things. The spool of spider-silk is tempting, but then he sees the fan. Mother of pearl ribs, framing embroidered silk panels. He buys it, examining it to distract himself from his fretting while he listens to Geminga’s plan. “Oh, I have shiny things! I have rocks!” [b]Saturday:[/b] Morus is glad that Lightbulb is free. The news about the Nightmare King is…good? Because maybe they [i]can[/i] convince him to stop. He is willing to go along with Charodei’s plan.

(Day 7: Part 2) [url=http://flightrising.com/main.php?dragon=103604263][img]http://flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/1036043/103604263.png[/img][/url] [b][i]It was supposed to be a warm summer day. The Father stared at the places were his Wife and Son used to be, his claws twitching, his stare black, the flow of tears long gone, to where only dried tracks on his facial fur remained. This House of Love, Sadness, Laughter, Anger, and Time Is No Longer A Home. It's just an Empty Hollow, Now. It's So Cold. I'm Sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm So Sor-[/i][/b] Filigree snaps out of it. A memory, bleeding into the dream, grief heavy like lead. Slowly, they look up to the Nightmare King, their peers approaching, pleading that he didn't have to do this, but they were poised for if he lashes out. Upon hearing [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/50165128]Charodei[/url]'s plan, they share their own set of nods. Ziphei and The Empress (@Grandmore), though. The intention minutely written upon her faces gave them a sense of dread. [i]They are going to do something stupid.[/i] A voice faintly whispered in the back of the Pearlcatcher's mind. But what if it wasn't stupid? What if it [i]was[/i] the right stratagem? They inhaled deeply, quietly sighing out their breath. Mercy. If Not....then it was War. [s][i]I'm Sorry, Koren. Please don't do this.[/i][/s] Filigree stepped forward. "I am aware that You may not exactly be [i]Him[/i], one for one, yet....do you think that in your own memories, your father didn't care about you, when he threw you to the dark?" The Pearlcatcher looks to the ground, staring at the fine details continuing to half-mumble mournfully...even if, again, their expression didn't give much indication. "it's unfair, born only from a place of pain...It must have been agonizing too, seeing the emotionless face of his, and by extent, your very own, parent....the one you thought you could trust the most.....in the final moments that you saw him. And you were likely still dealing with the death of your mother, too...." They look back up, sad eyes staring directly into the Nightmare King's own, feathery ears tilted downwards, as if wilting. "What your father did.... Clearly, still deeply haunts him. He hates himself for what he has done, hates that he can never go back...what would he think if he saw what you are doing to this beautiful, wonderful place that brims with potential...with Hope." "Please stop this, and give peace to your dad, for His sake, and Your Own...most of us Don't Want to fight you, either."

She's unsure of her own move, really, as she watches the others discuss, and then take action. It feels almost as though the others know something, something that she missed, in all this time...

She observes, for a while, at least until the words of the others finally click.

This figment, this Nightmare King.... must be an image of the son that the dreamer lost, and now, he lies, frozen in time, trapped in grief.

This needs to end. She's unsure, really, that she's equipped as well as the others to attempt to reason.

While the others talk, she approaches the Sleepwalker. There is only one way to end this, and so she heads to the source.

Focusing, a stream of prismatic threads pour out from Pandora's body, tugging and pulling on the Tundra. She attempts to awaken him, drawing out his consciousness.

For the nightmare to end, the Sleepwalker must become lucid.

--

I may have gone a little out of the box

[columns][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/94520153][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/350/945202/94520153_350.png[/img][/url] [nextcol] ----- [center][size=5][b][color=#EB7997]Elysium[/color][/b][/size][/center] [center][url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/94520153][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/945202/94520153.png[/img][/url][/center] [center][size=4][i][b][color=#EB7997]Recordings of past events.[/color][/b][/i][/size] I. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/3#post_59367290]Sunday[/url] II. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/5#post_59371935]Monday[/url] III. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/6#post_59376464]Tuesday[/url] IV. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/8#post_59383024]Wednesday[/url] V. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/9#post_59387077]Thursday[/url] VI. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/forums/raf/3429778/11#post_59393814]Friday[/url] [b]> VII. Saturday <[/b] ----- [/center][/columns] ----- [center][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiR7vFhZmPc]> Music <[/url][/center] ----- She’s not surprised to find out the King’s entity, the image was enough proof to ease away the surprise. Yet, she never expected this either, or more accurately, she had hoped that the poor soul wouldn’t suffer an ending that is similar to that of his father, in one way or another. It's a huge risk, with lives as a stake. Elysium isn't unaware of this. She has witnessed miseries, downfalls, the stories where dread was so unfathomable that one could only believe after witnessing it firsthand. But she also witnessed miracles, dreams, and pain turned to peace. As a memory archivist, she has seen enough lives to know that no wounds were ever worth abandoning hope. She turns to the group with a decision made. [i]“Let’s talk to him, or at the very least, try to. Things are not beyond salvation, I believe he will hear us out if we manage to be convincing enough. I’m sure his actions are driven by desperation; we are his only chance.”[/i] With that, she turns to the King. Her voice, soft as a breeze, yet clear as crystals. [i]“I know that life wasn’t fair to you, but this isn’t the end. Help is here; there are options now. Your fate is yet to be determined. Let him free, for neither of you deserves to withstand this any longer.”[/i]

I am shaking as I look up at the towering shadow snake. I look back at Mortemer and Lullaby for some sort of assurance. They nod at eachother, formulating a plan without speaking.
Lullaby quietly sneaks back and calls out to she shadow, which causes it to charge. During it's charge it's left open and Mortemer deflects her blow with a deft strike right behind the head.

With a loud hiss and crash it tumbles over onto the side of the tracks.

But i'm just a kid.. even if i were to escape what chances did i have against a nightmare king? for a moment, fear paralyzes me, my glow flickers dimly as i look down at my vibrant claws.

surely i can do something.

I look up to where the fight is occuring. Lullaby's voices manifest as a pale blue mist ready to attack. Mortemer starts speaking 'plant' again as vines tangle and grow around the nightmare.

I CAN help out. I start drawing something on the ground-- First a box and then lines going through the box vertically.. Next I draw a circle and tap it with my paw-claws. A nice rock forms within my claws. Perfect!

The rock lands with a nice *clunk* on the snout of the snake, prompting it to turn and direct its attacks in my directions. When it charges I slam the ground with the square with all my power and--

The nightmare runs straight into a cage. It lashes against the bars of the cage for a few moments before hissing something at me.

Mortemer and Lullaby seem worried-- and then impressed at my show. and we quickly head out down the tunnel before the magic of my cage fades.
Lullaby seems both proud and disappointed in me-- by the fact I had stayed behind despite Lullaby's orders and the fact I was able to trap the shadow. I get scolded at least twice by different voices. Oops.

Mortemer gives me a small smiles. Like a thank you, but also forgiveness. Like I had grown from my previous plant-creature eating escapades.
I'm not sure what to think about that. Have I really grown that much over the course of our adventure?

I don't get the chance to dwell on it for too long before we emerge from the tunnel into a sprawling yet dark city. The buildings aren't made of brick, as far as you can tell, but the shadows seep in every corner like the grout keeping a building together.
A veil of rain covers the city, but upon closer inspection the rain is pooling out of the cracks and ground and into the sky, like a video in reverse.

Somewhere down deeper in the city a soft light glows. It's warmth inviting despite the cold rain. We investigate slowly, making sure to not draw any attention in this unfamiliar area.

Somewhere along the line we pass by a vending machine where the last customer seems to have been very unlucky. Whatever it is they tried to order seems to have been stuck... right above the retrieval area. Lullaby notices me looking longingly at the item and shakes his head. "please don't shake it."
"Nahhh don't worry!" I say before sticking my whole head down the retrieval flap and grabbing the item with my teeth. I get stuck for a moment before tugging myself back and falling backwards a bit, holding my prize in my mouth. A pack of Sornieth TCG cards.. how lucky! It seems the machine delivered karma upon the scalpers and left it's prize for my taking.


Theres a small figment in the cage, flickering dimly. We see an odd, shadow-y figment flying away from the cage. Around the cage theres a circle of crow nightmares.

Crows like shiny things, right? and idea formulates in my head.

@Aetherskyes Your descriptions of places are very picturesque, I imagine like a Ghibli film. And LOL you're good I'm counting responses up until end of today (feel free to post just a handful of sentences to get that participation in and come back if you want to write more later) Also Lullaby scolding with multiple voices is so funny XD

@Fledhyris I love that Kara befriended a crow, I was hoping someone would ^u^
A secret third option? Perhaps... I'll include it in the ending :)

@Bobtail Moral support figurines is so real XD merch! And Lightbulb definitely has been here a while... he's made himself quite comfortable since his powers keep him from being too hurt by the nightmares at least.

@HillHouse Lockpicking with the scissors, such a genius idea! And you're not the only one who wants to wake up the Tundra...

@Taccs Oof your saturday post hit me right in the feels. Very touching and it made me feel things inside.... :D

@Everywhere Writing on a treadmill? Impressive! Also wowww Elysium's style of fighting is so cool, seriously. I love the second and third paragraphs in your saturday post, they have this sort of nice flow to them.

@ChaoticFriendzy Hmm the conflict between the two endings is interesting, we'll see how things end up!

@FeralRookie I think Charodei has a good approach here! I'll be putting up the ending posts soon so I'm excited to see the responses.

@Grandmore Ooh the collaboration between Ziphei and Charodei is exciting, perfect contingency plan.

@Seaserpent2 I like this idea of yours, showing him up front the experience that he's causing... with the insight from the secret dream in the tunnel, you've got a good insight on the situation!

@HallowedHorror Very touching speech and the art is gorgeous as usual, you captured the creepy look of Koren very well!

@Wildclaw101 Mm shiny things, can't be a proper D&D campaign without some shinies XD

@pinglist-34554 @pinglist-34555 I'll be closing submissions for the Sunday-Saturday posts (all posts prior to this one/those that count for participation) by noon FR time tomorrow (the 12th). If you missed a day and don't want to go back to make the lore work, feel free to post a reply to this ending post and that will count as a makeup day :) This is also the call for ticket check, if I missed a post you made please let me know with a [b]link[/b] to that post! Thank you for participating in my event! I feel like we had a great turnout and I loved hearing everyone's spins on their own dragons and what their figment powers/counterparts would be like. [center] [size=7][b][font = fantasy]The End[/font][/b][/size] ----- [/center] [size=4][b]TALK TO HIM/WAKE THE TUNDRA:[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/31655880][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/316559/31655880.png[/img][/url] As you talk to the Nightmare King, the environment around you warps and distorts. Suddenly, you are on a small island surrounded by an ocean. A few palm trees wave in the salt-soaked breeze, providing meagre protection from the sun above. In the middle of the sand lies a hospital cot, as if two dreams are blurring into one. For the few figments that tried to sneak past and wake the Tundra, you see instead a white hospital room with a cot, but there is no roof overhead. Instead, the scent of salt-water and the sound of waves echoes through the room. This dream is unusual, for in it the Sleepwalker's eyes are open. He is sitting by the cot that the Nightmare King is now lying in, stroking his head. It doesn't look like he sees the party, but as he begins to speak to his son his voice is loud enough that you can overhead every word. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/31039306][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/310394/31039306.png[/img][/url] [quote=Ramiel] [size=4]"This is a good dream. You're here and happy, the weather is warm, when I step outside it's just like that beach house your mother and I always wanted to buy one day. I like it here, I don't have to worry. But... I know this is only a dream. I'm sorry I couldn't do a thing to save you in the real world. I know all three of us were ill, but it was so painful, watching you two grow sicker and sicker as I got better. Even though you're right here in front of me, I miss you both dearly." He reaches down and hugs the Nightmare King gently, giving him a kiss on the forehead. The Nightmare King blinks up at him. "I love you, my son. Thank you for being here. It made me very happy, and I hope I can see you and your mother in my dreams again. This... is a good dream. But... I think it's time I wake up." [/quote] (Skip to ENDING!) ----- [size=4][b]PREPARE TO FIGHT[/b] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/31655880][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/316559/31655880.png[/img][/url] As you prepare to fight, the Nightmare King sees you readying yourself and the scenery around you distorts. Caught off-balance, you find yourself on an island, the wind howling around you as you fight for purchase against the rocks that cover the shore. The sky is stormy and the waves are dangerously high. Overhead, the Nightmare King stretches his wings out and darkness stretches from the tips, whipping around like tendrils of an octopus. As they reach for you, Lightbulb's body glows white-hot, and the shadows recoil as though in pain. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91646619][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/916467/91646619p.png[/img][/url] [quote=Lightbulb] [size=4]"I'll cover you, go for it!" [/quote] [size=4]You rush over and attack as one. With each step, the dream blurs more and more. You cycle through an empty hospital hallway, a cobblestone road through a small town, the kitchen dream from before... things seem to blend in on each other the closer you get to the Nightmare King. Some of his attacks manage to get through Lightbulb's defense; the shadows are stinging hot, like a pan fresh from the stove, but leave no burns behind. With numbers on your side you slowly wear him down, and as he gets weaker he starts to lose his form. As he flickers in and out, you see the visage of the Tundra from before underneath. Running in to deal the final blow, you strike and as you do the Nightmare King dissolves into shadows and closes his eyes, defeated. The Tundra drifts to the ground, still asleep. Suddenly, the island starts to shake. Lightning strikes the edges of the beach and thunder rumbles overhead. Cracks appear in the sky; the dream is falling apart. Then—! (Skip to ENDING!) ----- [size=4][b]ENDING[/b] The dream fades away and you all feel a sensation as if you were falling. For a moment everything goes dark. The next thing you know, you're at a train station similar to the one from before, except the tracks are much nicer and well-maintained. All around you, dragons are waking up from their slumber. Several seem familiar; you recognize them from the station in Somnia. They seem confused but unharmed. No one seems to see you or any of the other figments. On a bench near you, the Tundra opens his eyes. It looks like he's been crying in his sleep. But the way he glances at the sun above and takes a deep breath in, it looks like he's going to be okay. As he stands up and begins to head home, a flickering light against a wall catches your attention. The Director's silhouette is being projected from some unknown place. [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/102661529][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/1026616/102661529.png[/img][/url] [quote=The Director] [size=4]"Congratulations, you've restored the balance between light and darkness. Every figment in the world thanks you for your service. You have done an outstanding job. Please accept this gift as a token of appreciation." From the wall, small packages wrapped in canvas cloth appear in pools of shadow and drop to the floor. Each has a tag with a name on it.[/quote] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/91511229][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/portraits/915113/91511229p.png[/img][/url] [url=https://www1.flightrising.com/dragon/102345859][img]https://www1.flightrising.com/rendern/coliseum/portraits/1023459/102345859.png[/img][/url] [size=4]Lullaby and Mortemer say their farewells, Lullaby in a soft, feminine voice and Mortemer with a silent nod and wave. The two walk into the wall, disappearing into a portal of shadows to presumably return and report to the Director. The flickering slows before stopping and the lighting on the wall returns to normal. It seems this is the end of your journey. But who knows what might happen next? You look around the group of figments you've met. Several of them have already opened their gifts from the Director. You open yours and... (Event table time!) ----- [size=4][b]EVENT TABLE (optional!)[/b] For a bonus challenge, [url=https://www.google.com/search?si=ACC90ny192iaUSuwhFDqk_RapbdvYmQjJvNYqP5lSln20YE8eY8e5r3Hea98mqzPN9pMRpmYC2QJwpPcgKrRCj0VURFc4HbmwBboVPXUM6nUpIAl2AU7u8GaW-lRlJ-cV4FZm8nWatstH-jZHZTf9YDzrzV7EuPPEHxXH3VBaeS8IdWrCNIc8BVurNZbkKVu15c2tkkegD6zOot33kjqHfjwtTFRYIPamGZe_-iaKq0lPS5Px8gt9ftjUUunK24t7s61j7gkWB1zrUYwyg4HDhjIrU8IKcMZs0uRBDMwRWLtaVrp-HfQaue3lm_LRg-sAd3OHVFnPgeTimc0mmoRwS_x-o5g7BWdAHavxD_lJ61l6Aj8_sy42RCrAVXRQFL7fnbuqe2pE0EZXEJIpour5KYAhvWvtzDliTzXMzgd7zKKwHaO3NMxo32Eb674blNiPcylghBMVgW2EpRe8Rc2kTjAh3Ez3NnBDkYsAoQSjB4BDK0l84566qQpuB-1vnxfzfAVTpn33NQF63bV1e97bBuh5ACV8EPu8P5WP3SXee6E_Vk626o8EqTcXd7NGjlZuYJ13f7upI6K2YwtLTEkH5w9Wr4yQGUUI7tunQfKdcLh567V8XmqbMx9_6IR72vAEFrfD02djNUmpwL6hKcBclRuJH17RT_bwnt7ZZt1fae7cHtQasU8oW5T4wyMNNHzPYHK2kEuhLvx4gcWmfikrh3CdCiF4mSIcAt0tRwJx39LhQgjGh-8MYRPwanxxk41a-6XHFPOiOK3o5vcnVR74gLqFHai-eakEyDxdmuRaqC4YdTLu1fWjEHK8PBZKLgOYjIHMFzMMXA4Z0wvFSABRvaGk6cQ2ytasTUAH6azCycLpJ5pRVFtt7t3BBej3utqAL958FNPTH2D&hl=en-US&shndl=21&shem=vslcca&source=sh%2Fx%2Ffbx%2Fm1%2F1&kgs=dbf15ef8833ecfa6]roll a 4-sided die[/url] and use the day's event table to determine what random event takes place! [LIST=1] [*][size=4]The gift contains something valuable but rare... you wonder where exactly the Director got this from? Perhaps your next adventure might lead you to track down its origins... [*][size=4]The gift contains something that when you touch it, you feel a surge of power. It seems like the Director foresees more adventure in your future, and is equipping you well for it. What kind of adventure might you have in mind? [*][size=4]The gift contains something odd and unusual... what even is this? As you examine it, you feel a faint tugging in your gut, leading in one direction. It seems something is calling to you... maybe even something from your past. [*][size=4]The gift contains something tailored personally to you. It seems like fate is giving you a break for now... time to relax and take some time off. [/list]