{ dream notes: #23 - july 1, 2023 }

[dreamkeepers]

DREAM NOTES #23: JULY 1, 2023

We're really hitting summer now! GOOD LUCK TO NEW APPLICANTS and stay cool everyone!

CALENDAR

The Official Calendar has been updated. Here is our current schedule for the month:

7/01: Apps open

7/03: Final apps due, begin processing apps

7/04~5: Player Intro, Open Log, Cr Meme

7/29-31: Activity Check

8/01: New Mod Notes, Plot With Me Meme

8/05: EMP/ATP

8/11: Event/TDM (dates can change)

8/25: Reserves Open

8/29-31: Activity Check

DREAM TREND: This month's dream trends may involve any of the following themes: traveling, "dream vacation" or "dream location, relaxing.

WEATHER: It is getting hooooooooot as the summer season kicks in, with high temperatures but low humidity, thank goodness. There are occasional showers and storms that bring in cool rains. The weather at the beach is crystal clear, so enjoy it!

OTHER NOTES: Nothing extra to note, enjoy the normal month for once after a while! Except the one day when Azula turns noctaere and there are a lot of storms.

IT'S SONGEREIN BEACH EPISODE! So nothing too crazy happening there… Really. Next month will be the eve of our second year anniversary (wooOoOooOOah). Who knows what we'll do…

Most everything from the distortions, including Hyrule, from last month will have been settled and no longer in effect! That said, if you liked the idea of other canon world distortions happening in game, let us know! Or just suggest it in the Player Plot/Event Submission post! We'll be happy to incorporate it, be it a TDM month or app month when we can.

Speaking of player plots, as highlighted last month, Azula will be having her noctaere moment later this month and the OOC details can be found here. We haven't received any others yet, but we're sure there are some on the horizon… where's the therapist again

ACTIVITY CHECK RESULTS

Congratulations to everyone who commented on our Activity Check! The following characters were removed from the game:

Sanji | chefalier
Sleeping Beauty | ibarahime
Ichimonji Norimune | kikuichi
Childe | monoceroscaeli
Alphen | refire
Phantom | removal
Yuri Hyuga | rudehero
Aether | startraveler
Chalcedony Akerman | virtues

If anyone was swept because they missed AC, you can reapply in the next cycle. Just fair warning, we will notice if this happens more than once and we may not allow immediate reapplication the next time.

This puts our player population to 63/90, which means our new player reserve/apps slots are at a maximum 27.

RESERVE UPDATE

Apparently we've been following different rules than what was stated in the actual pages which have caused confusion among players, so we're rectifying it!

Reserves will be required for application.

This is to help keep up with the app cap, and that was what we were working with since…Song's inception, however, both the Reserves and the Application pages contradicted that or didn't state it clearly despite the wording being in the Application Rules on the Game Info and whenever we make the plurk announcements. This has also been the first time we've had this confusion and we're all feeling like we're in a fever dream about it, so we're making it clear now!

We apologize for the confusion this caused to all applicants and hopefully we've gotten all mentions of this on our pages. On the application form, the "RESERVED OR NOT" portion of the subject line has been changed to "RESERVED OR CHALLENGE" since otherwise we'd just remove it altogether.

If you happen to spot a place we missed, let us know!

WORLD UPDATES

Be it new NPCs, creatures, places, or some other discovery or creation, the world of Songerein continues to grow! For official lists and information, refer to the World Directory and Bestiary. So here are a few things as a result of the Dream Board and other submissions:

Bestiary:

• Noise take the form of animals or mythical creatures with tattoo-like patterns in place of various body parts. A number of them remain scattered throughout Songerein after appearing during the battle against the Story Eater. They target people with low willpower, playing on their negative emotions, similar to nightmare energy. When affected, the negative emotions are more pronounced and can only dissipate when the Noise influencing them is destroyed. Can be found hanging around Reverein and the outskirts of the wildlands.
  

Places:

• The Wild Harvest serves various western and eastern style earth-based street food dishes. A special menu is rotated every month.
  
  

  Summer Dreams: A sweet and refreshing frozen, fruity drink for the summer that can be made with a variety of fruits, including emoji fruit, upon request. The drink is infused with dreamotion and seems to evoke positive emotion a feeling of nostalgia. It also seems to maintain the perfect slushy texture throughout, no matter how warm the weather is to melt it.
  
  Kebabs: A variety of meats including pork, chicken, fish, and more are available alongside onions, peppers and various vegetables to be grilled however you like. Skewers are provided, but if the do-it-yourself style is not one you enjoy, feel free to ask the staff!
  
  Rei-shabu: A cold salad made with thinly-sliced meat and various greens such as lettuce, carrots, onions. Served with an Eastern style dressing made with soy sauce, rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, sesame seeds, sugar, and pepper.
  
  Sea-salt Parfait: Layers of ice cream decorated with berries, jelly, and white chocolate to create a mermaid's-eye view of life under the sparkling sea.

  
  Customers are invited to show off their cooking prowess this month by using our ingredients to make lunch or dinner for the staff and any volunteer judges! Inquire or sign up with the staff for your chance to win some cool Wild Harvest-themed cutlery. Enjoy the summer!
  
  Thank you to everyone who helped lend a hand with our much-needed repairs over the last few weeks.
  
  
• Though still finishing up the process of rebuilding, At Day's End Bar and Winery is very much open for business, and has expanded its offerings:
  

  Divine Retribution: A concoction of lemons, apples, clove and orange blossom, with both rosé and non-alcoholic grape juice varieties. Fragrant, sweet, and refreshing.
  Dew of the Ether: Champagne, except it's not from the Champagne region of France, so it's just sparkling white wine. Sweeter than "modern" Champagnes, with notes of almond, peach and toast.
  Pastoral Vista: A red wine with forward notes of dark fruits and accents of pepper, wood smoke, and baking spices. Great to pair with savory pastries and rich cheeses.

  
  In addition, certain remarks have encouraged the owner to UP THE COZINESS. Warm-colored crystalline lights have now been added to the decor, along with several cushioned chairs both inside and outside on a new patio. With the addition of a bit of dreamotion, minor air conditioning and cooling mist is also available for those trying to beat the summer heat.
  

BEACH EPISODE

It's been no secret—July is our "beach episode" month and everyone will be heading out to the beach! The log will go up on Wednesday, July 5 after apps have been processed, however the IC timeline will have it set during the weekend with continued access throughout the month. So basically, aside from the initial "opener," characters can utilize the event prompts whenever they feel like it. Now let's get to the fun stuff!

Dreamsortium. A certain group calling themselves the Dreamsortium has busied themselves for the past few months in building a resort by the shores of the ocean, and they are now happy to announce its grand opening that all are invited to! …Perhaps a little too happy because there's a peculiar little fellow that is going around town frequently announcing the following while passing out brochures: "Citizens! Coming soon, the newest and most unique resort destination in all of Songerein! Brought to you by the Dreamsortium!" In any case, the first night is free, but… There is a small catch for such a service. They could still use some "help" around the area. Oh don't worry, it's safe! …They just might have, ah. Stirred up a few things.

Resort Amenities. Everyone will have a room to stay in, but there are also camping options for those who might want to stay outdoors. A number of dining options are also available, but there are outdoor kitchens and grills that are available for guests who would like to prepare their own food. They just need to bring their ingredients and perhaps share a few recipes? Spas and massages are also provided for those who wish to relax further.

Animal Control. Unfortunately the construction agitated and displaced a few of the local creatures in the area, and while most have just moved on, others are less willing to leave their original habitats. Some are making it work, while others are hostile. Perhaps creating a newer, better habitat will make them more willing? Or figure out ways to coexist. Just beware of the giant "crabs" that live by the coves. They are far away from the coves, but for some reason they keep creeping close and are very hostile…

BEEEAAAACH. Giant beach to play in. 'Nuff said. In all seriousness there will be some of the same activities from last year (snorkeling, giant turtle water rides, games, etc), and mostly whatever people want! We're open for suggestions if someone wants us to throw an official prompt on the log, otherwise players are free to create an open prompt for people to use. Swimsuits can be bought at the resort, and towels, beach chairs, and umbrellas can also be rented for those who can't bring anything of their own.

Player Shop Prompts. Once again we are open for any player shop prompt submissions who may want to put up a stall on the beach for the log! Completely optional. The deadline is Tuesday, July 4th to ensure the log goes up on time.

But wait, THERE'S MORE!! In addition to fun beach shenanigans, there's another surprise waiting for those who visit the beach. That will be spoiled right here because we have to talk about it.

Atlantis: The Mysterious Underwater City. During the resort's construction, the Dreamsortium encountered a group of merfolk who had inquired about their purpose and made contracts to not interfere with their people who live deep in the ocean. As a show of goodwill, the merfolk will allow people to visit their city. They are also rather CURIOUS about the going ons that happened the other month. A strange hurricane storm, the large sea creatures that attacked a very strange ship... Because of the past events, the merfolk will be a bit wary towards certain individuals (coughPercygroupcough), but they will otherwise be amicable.

Mermay–oh that passed. Those who decide to visit Atlantis will only be able to do so while transformed as some kind of merfolk OR aquatic creature. They will be provided with a special potion to take and the result can be either a) based on the character or b) completely random. Whichever is most fun for the player because who cares about our character's feelings– All of their abilities will be adapted to work underwater, and they can gain new underwater abilities, including the ability to conjure a weapon via dreamotion.

Beware the Sirens. Unlike their friendlier counterpart, there are sirens and other hostile fae that dwell in the ocean depths that don't take too kindly to the visitors. They are also quite upset because their treasured chest of bananas was broken into. Bananas are hard to come by down in the ocean! Stray too far from the safety of Atlantis or drift too deep into the shadows and they may appear to either harass or downright attack. Their songs are not as effective while someone is in merfolk/aquatic creature form, but they do have some effect to at least try and lure them for attention. Those who are afflicted with nightmares or have more nightmare energy will also be more susceptible. Maybe there will be…a special guest appearance.

Temple of Saudade and Hiraeth. An ancient temple that is partially submerged just outside of Atlantis and there is an indiscernible melody or song that can be heard faintly throughout the temple. The merfolk are still excavating it to find what all is within it, but it's a difficult endeavor due to the effects of the temple. It has a large amount of dreamotion energy and there are certain areas where people can become trapped in an illusory vision of a memory or unrealized dream with a very strong emotional tie to the individual. This will make the individual more emotionally reactive and must be calmed and talked out of their illusion. If the emotion is strong enough, whatever the character is seeing or wishing to be real will form.

Thieves. There are some suspicious individuals (pirates) that appear around Atlantis trying to steal various treasures and items from the city and from the temple. Try to stop and catch them–but even if they are caught, they somehow escape. There is always an odd "click" and "buzz" sound before they disappear in black smoke that has a hint of nightmare energy in them…

And that should be it! We may request some thread submissions regarding the Atlantis section, but this is otherwise one of our more lighthearted events, especially since it'll be after applications have been processed. If you have any questions or concerns, let us know!

DREAM BOARD

How the Dream Board works:

• This is all optional, the quests are just extra content for players and while they can sometimes relate to upcoming or current events, they're just kind of "filler" stuff. Some will be set out in Songerein proper while others may involve dreams.
  
• The Dream Board can be found at the Plaza and quests will automatically appear on it like a bulletin board. Some will also appear in the journals. Anyone can accept them and rewards automatically generated upon completion of the task. It's a dream world, it's full of magic, it just knows.
  
• Quests can be done as many times as a character would do them and rewards will be delivered to the character upon completion.
  
• If you have any questions, comment to the designated subthread.

ID	QUEST	REWARD
701	Roly Poly Ghosts. Peculiar round spirits have emerged around town. Their mischievous intentions centred on stealthily stalking unsuspecting individuals. It’s reported that you might catch the faint sounds of rolling approaching from behind, yet if you swiftly turn to them or direct your gaze toward them, these spirits freeze in their tracks, feigning stillness. To ward them off, seek refuge within a cardboard box or conceal yourself by hiding in a bush, as this seems to make them lose interest. Take this old-fashioned camera provided for the purpose of capturing their ethereal essence in a photograph to banish them from sight altogether.	A crystal keychain and a fun picture souvenir
702	Fungi Explosion. An eruption of vibrant and diverse fungi has bloomed, sprinkled in random patches everywhere. These kaleidoscopic mushrooms showcase an array of enchanting shapes and hues. Please gather them for scientific research purposes, but exercise caution when handling them. Consuming these mushrooms without proper caution may result in peculiar effects such as weightlessness or dizziness or the ability to hear colours.	A basket of weird mushrooms, the ability to float for a short period of time
703	Sharknado. Mysterious rumblings emanating from the depths of the ocean have captured the attention of the locals, disrupting their fishing endeavours. As boats venture out to collect their daily catch, they find themselves in an eerie silence, with no fish biting their lines before these rumbling episodes. Try to investigate the issue in the water and report back. (The fish are coming together in random waves to try and fight off any nearby boats. They’re forming into strange tornados of fish in the shape of sharks.)	A fishing rod and a free lunch of fish and chips
704	Jelly Fish Music. Floating jellyfish have arrived on the beach. But instead of in the water, they’re floating in the air. Their translucent bodies radiate a soft glow, and with each gentle tap, they emit a delightful and melodic tune, as if playing a musical instrument. Use a bug net to collect a few and create a song with them. Anyone who can create the perfect summer song will get a prize! Just don’t get stung…	A bucket of jellyfish-flavoured ice cream or a pet jellyfish
705	Broken A/C. The gnomes have been diligently working to install cooling systems called "Aircool" to run off the electric grid, however the systems keep breaking down, especially when exposed to heat caused by dreamotion. To help fix the units, the gnomes need special ice crystals dropped by various ice monsters found within the ice caverns in the dragon island mountains. Collect as many as possible to help keep the town cool!	A colder house and free maintenance for the rest of the summer
706	You Be the Chef. Available for sign ups once a week. With their ingredients and stock recovering at last from the damage from the battle, the staff at the Harvest have set up various spices, herbs, vegetables, and even colorful bottles of sauce near the open grill station. All bottles are labeled, some homemade, and they are meant to complement the various meats available. The entire garden is open to you! Create your own dish within one hour for the staff and other interested volunteer judges to try for lunch or dinner, and you'll receive a score. [OOC: Whether this is threaded out or not, if you are interested, you may submit dishes here.] Reward: Highest scorer will have their dish included in the Harvest's menu with full credit. In addition, they will receive a special wooden ladle engraved with the Wild Harvest's logo, along with a similarly-engraved cutlery set consisting of a knife, fork, and spoon. Others will still receive a bouquet made of flowers plucked from the ever-blossoming grove as a thank-you for participating (volunteer judges, too).	(in the main blurb)

END NOTES

BEACH EPISODE. After everything the characters have been through, a vacation is definitely well earned. Second anniversary is soon.

If you have any questions, be sure to comment to the designated thread here!

Comments

Wild Harvest

[judicialassistant]

Stall submission!

There is nothing unusual about the Wild Harvest's stall, and at a glance, it is exactly as you'd expect. There are are flowers for the taking, set decoratively inside a vase beside a stack of fliers for any new dreamers who don't know about the establishment yet. A list of names that seems to be a sign-up for something called You Be the Chef also sits in front of whichever staff member may be running the booth, and if asked, they'll happily speak about the contest.

There is a grill set up with sticks of freshly grilled kebabs, also for the taking to sample, and nearby, a wooden-looking slide of sorts has been set up. Those who have visited the Harvest in recent weeks will know this is for the nagashi somen, or flowing noodles, for anyone who'd like to "catch" them. Chopsticks are provided, as well as the complementary dipping sauce.

In addition, as a dessert, there is also a station set up with cups of shaved ice for passersby to create their own Summer Dreams. Various toppings, condensed milk, slices of fruit and fruity syrups are provided. Even emoji-fruit with positive emotions are used! And if patrons are unable to infuse their sample with their own positive dreamotion, the staff is more than happy to assist.