Visions of Horror [EN, D13]

[Canary]

As you get closer to the Crater, the world warps more and more. Even your dreams are starting to become horrifying and distorted. All of your deepest desires, darkest fears, and secret regrets have been manifesting at night. The corrupted creatures and landscape seem to warp even the Realm of Dreams from here.

To focus in the next few days, you’re going to have to have focus. The hooded monk has been trying to help guide people how to calm themselves even in dreams. Perhaps now is the time to try and put that guidance, strange as it may seem, to work.

Location: The Camp

Participants: Everyone. The nightmares are affecting all characters. If an active character does not roll in this event, they will count as having failed for the purposes of Purity Points. This event does not prevent the character getting their full night’s rest.

Time: Early Night

Rules:
Smoke This, Trust Me: The characters may first acquire certain herbs that they must burn to affect their dreams. They can acquire these with either a Medicine (Herbalism)/Intelligence roll or a Hunting (Survival)/Perception roll, TN 15. They may make raises to gather additional plants, which they may give to other characters. They may continue without these plants, but having them yields a Free Raise that they may use on either of the two following rolls. Additional plants will not grant more Free Raises. They may acquire the plants any time during the day. If you gather plants in a different time slot, please link the thread here and say how many doses of the plants they have, and whom they gave them to or gained them from, if anyone.

Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: Characters must succeed at a Fear 2 roll to be able to confront their nightmares at all. They may add their Reputation rank to this roll as they would normally add Honor. A failure means that their terror overcomes them, leaving them at the mercy of their nightmares for the coming nights. They may not continue in this event.

Deep Breaths, It'll Be Okay: For the last part, characters focus and strengthen their minds in the face of the horrors before them, wresting control of their dreams from Jigoku itself. To do this, they must make a Meditation/Void roll at TN 20.

Results and Consequences:
If more than half of the active characters succeed at this event, they gain 10 Purity Points. If ¾ of the active characters succeed with at least 20 raises in total for all characters, they gain 20 Purity Points.
If less than half of the active characters succeed at this event, they lose 10 Purity Points. If ¾ of the characters fail this event, they lose 20 Purity Points.

[Nanzi]

Nanzi and Nanashi have a spirited debate about how cool Nanzi is. They come to the conclusion he is the cooliest.

It was a rather tough grading system. Then he goes to sleep.

OOC: Success no raises.

[Bayushi Umeno]

Umeno didn't need any herbs. She was brave. She faced the nightmare head on, defiantly, as if daring to make her cry again. They couldn't. Calming herself proved a bit more difficult, but she managed that as well.

--------------------
Fear roll w/ 3 raises = 31 (Success)
Meditation roll = 21 (Success)
Passed w/ 3 raises

[Jiyo Ayumu]

Ayumu was surprised by the intensity of the dream, even by the standards of what he had endured the previous days. For one split second, his brain thought it was actually real.

And then, then it was nothing more than a fever dream once again. A very powerful, distorted, aggressive fever dream. But a fever dream nonetheless.

And fever dreams? That's something he had a lot of experience dealing with.

----------------------

Three plants collected. As a default, that's one for him, one for Sora, and one for Kinyôbi (Sora's servant). But since Sora will probably collect some too, I guess we'll have extra to gift to others.
Fear successful (no Raise)
Roll succeeded with 1FR+4CR

[Nozomi]

She could feel the stain upon her soul. She stood there in a field, surrounded by piles upon piles of corpses, as far as the eye could see. Their eyes stared up at her sightlessly, accusingly. Their blood seeped out and into the ground, feeding a river from which fruit trees rose up, bearing a crop of gorgeous apples. The brightest, most luscious of red each of them, food for the people to eat. Yet, all of them dripped blood down from where they stood, each of them was the color of the dried, matted filth that surrounded her.

She looked down at her hands, and they were drenched in it. Gore covered her fingers, dribbling down in filthy entrails. Her tonfa at her sides were covered in the clumps of hair from those she had struck down. Her quiver was empty, arrows littering the dead. Why did she feel remorse to see them? Their death fed the Hikaru, a raid that was necessary, enemies who had gotten so close. And then, there was a rattle, a clatter. One of them rose, shifting in its tattered and broken armor to look at her with sightless eyes.

"What right do you have," it said through cracked teeth, its jaw hanging loosely from her blow. "To think you can set upon a new path? What right do you have to walk beside him. You, who are covered in blood, you who have the blood of the innocent on your hands. This is where you belong, among the eternal damned. A soul such as you should never have come. You cannot stand."

The clatter of more armor, the rise of still more. Faces she knew. Faces she felt she had failed. She couldn't face it. She couldn't bear them down. She cowered within herself and she could feel them clawing at her, demanding she join them until she woke in a tormented sweat.

========================

I'll edit to note the link for her successful Herbalism roll in thread. Otherwise, this one's a fail.

[Ryoshun Mai]

Mai was a champion of nightmares. They plagued her every night. These super nightmares weren't about to do her in. She settled down easily for her night of regularly planned bad dreams.

vp spent fear2 check, pass 25 forgot rep but didn't matter so yay

VP spent for ghost dot. 36 for the meditation

No raises but success.

Edit vp not BP I don't know why it does that

[Jiyo Sora]

Sora was used to grappling with unpleasant thoughts and visions, so, with a bit of help from Ayumu's herbal efforts, the nightmares didn't fuss him much.

That said, he didn't have much success in clearing his mind afterward.



[Sora failed to find a plant, good thing Ayumu had one to give him.
Fear 2 (TN: 15): thirty-fucking seven. At least the Free Raise landed.
Meditation/Void, TN 20: 19, Fortune of Dung, hear my cry ]

[Seidou Satone]

Satone tried to find the plants described, but came up with nothing. The nightmares did not seem to hold sway on her senses however, and when she meditated upon them, she felt a sense of calm come over her.

----------
Hunting: 8
Willpower: 27
Meditation: 26

[Inga]

Fluff will be posted at some point

D13 Event Hunting/Per for magic herbs 1 raise TN 20: 6d10o10k3 16 Failed

EN 13 Nightmares of hell Fear 2 TN 15: 3d10o10k3+1 16 Success

EN 13 Let's Think about it for a moment TN 20: 4d10o10k2 15 Failed

[Reo]

It isn't so much that Reo wants the dreams to stop, as much as the idea of controlling them appeals to him. Having an ample supply of mind expanding herbs doesn't hurt either, so he makes a point to gather extra. Reo had heard that he would need to conquer his fear. Yes, the dream from he night before was a bit haunting, but it paled compared to horror he lived every day. The dream started as normal, and what was familiar was less scary.

Now for the tricky part

It allegedly would take quite a bit of discipline to hone and focus your mind. Now, with extended time maybe there would be an easier chance, but under the gun, Reo found himself struggling.

"Come on. I want to see further. I know you want me to see further. I just have to do it...on my...own terms."

Maybe it was the desperation. Maybe it was stubbornness. But the dream morphed, and Reo managed to move toward the cave. The walls seemed to ripple, suddenly afraid of him as he was jolted from unconsciousness, but then slid back into dreamless sleep.

Visions of Horror, Gather Herbs: Medicine (Herbalism)/Intelligence, 2 raises TN 25: 7d10o10k4 21
(Rerolling ones replaces two 3's for 9s, giving a final score of 34. Pass with two extra doses of drugs)Fear Check, TN 15, Willpower + reputation bonus: 3d10o10+5 21 (pass)
Visions of Horror, Meditation/Void, VP spent, Free raise spent for +5 bonus: 3d10o10k2+5 33 (Pass...wait what?)

[Seppun Dawei]

Dawei had, earlier in the day, found enough herbs for himself and two others; he brings the lot with him, and is happy to hand them to persons yet to be determined. (Will edit to note recipients.) Buoyed by the success, he is able to shrug off the fear that threatens to grip him, but he is unable to compose his mind sufficiently to resume his inward peace.

(Hunting roll succeeded with two Raises. Provides Free Raise.
Fear Roll passed at 18
Meditation roll failed)

[Togashi Saruko]

Her instincts when facing her fears head on was always to run. Run away. Live another day. That was the monkey way...

... no, she was... someone more than just a monkey. It terrified her to the core, to be in one of her twisted stories again, where there was no happy ending in sight. When she had stepped into the dreamlands this time, she had found herself in the last tale of Hachirou, where in his old age he had faced a terrible wyrm of the northern reaches. But in this story, she was Hachirou's squire... and the wyrm was a dragon that she knew all too well.

And the dragon wanted to devour her.

NO! Using her powers as a spirit-walker, fighting her fears, Saruko found the will to assert her control for a moment over the dream. But a moment was enough for the dragon to be slain by Hachirou as the story went. The twisted forces of the dreamlands tried to persuade her into believing still that it was her own beloved dragon, but even in her state of mild fear, she now knew better.

"That's not him..." she breathed deeply as she reached up to find the necklace she wore, and her hand clasped tightly around it for comfort. "... He'd never hurt me. You can't make me believe otherwise anymore."

Maybe it was her imagination, but she was certain she could feel his presence now somehow through the dreamscape. He was with her. Always with her, watching and admiring her growth and resolve. She could do this on her own. He had taught her how, and she didn't need to lean on him for help. That's why they had their harmony - they understood eachother's strengths and weaknesses. And knew when to give a helping hand, and when to step back and let the other stand on their own.

"Thank you... beloved..." Saruko murmured, having found her balance.


-------------------------

Herbs gathered successfully Early Morning
D13 EN Visions of Horror. Willpower vs Fear 2. +1k1 Void. +3 Reputation. TN 15: 3d10o10+3 17
D13 EN Visions of Horror. Meditation/Void to calm down. +1k1 Void. FR for effect. 1 raise. TN 25: 6d10o10k4 44

All successes with effectively 2 raises!

[Ch’chit T’kkiri]

Black Moonset knew the Dream World as any Brave-Warrior-Who-Remembers does. Knew its dangers and its limitations. He traversed through the world... looking for answers to the root of these nightmares... and fearlessly confronted the demons who sought to win over his mind.


----
D13 Event Herbs VP: 5d10o10k4 48

D13 Event Fear, 2 Raises, TN 25 VP: 7d10o10k7 45

D13 Event Find Answers, Investigation, VP, FR +5: 5d10o10k4+5 21


Passed with 2 raises.

[Taochusu]

Taochusu didn't know a damn thing about all this stuff. Gathering plants was easy, not giving into fear was easy, but how in the hell does sitting quietly and sniffing burning plants while thinking about nothing in particular have any affect on nightmares? Surely he does not know.

----

viewtopic.php?f=68&t=768&p=14764#p14764 - Herbs gained

D13 EM, Hello Darkness, My Old Friend, Willpower, VP +1k1, Reputation +3, 1CR, TN 20: 4d10o10+3 52

D13 EM, Deep Breaths, It'll Be Okay, Meditation / Void, VP +1k1, Free Raise +5, TN 20: 3d10+5 16

Failed Meditation, 1 successful Raise

[Seppun Chisei]

Chisei was more than happy to take some herbs to help him to sleep. And to attempt to seize some control back from the nightmares that had plagued his sleep with their logical contradictions.

It worked. Finally, he understood who was scroll.

----------------------------------------

Find herbs, Med/int, 1CR, TN20: 5d10o10k4 31
1+1 herbs found
EN, fear roll, FR, CR, TN20,VP spent: 4d10o10k4+4 27
+2 raises
EN, meditation roll, VP spent, TN20: 6d10o10k4 30

Tally: Success, +3 raises

[Shinjo Koyama]

EN13. Magic Mushrooms Search. Hunting. VP. Highlander. WP for Perception. 3R.: 7d10o10k6+1 36

You wanted mushrooms? Go to Koyama. This Highlander knew all about the fantastic yeasts and where to find them. Hikaru art of getting inebriated and hallucinated all-in-one for battle and merriment was a time-honoured tradition that had better not die with the onset of kamidom.

[+3R effective, let's say I've done it early, so we can have threads if you want me to deal drugs to you.]

Tripping as high as the highest Seikitsu heights any highlander had ever climbed, Koyama plummeted into sleeping. There, his horrid nightmare returned like a belch after a jolt, but this time there was no whiff of novelty to it, no emotional ambush, so he just mauled his own fears into submission and instead had the most wonderful dreaming, with him and Shinjo making frenetic, acrobatic love on a back of a unicorn. Prophetic, kinky and postmodernistically intercontextual.

EN13. Hullo Darkness Me Auld Mukker. VP. 3R.: 6d10o10k6 48

[+3R effective, Fear up yer arses, inner demons!]

And even as he was supremely vulnerable to distraction in the aftermath of his wet dreaming filled with huffs and puffs, evil had no purchase upon his pure soul.

EN13. Aye keek at the breight side of life. VP. FR to Lower TN.: 5d10o10k4 52

[I dare GMs to spin something out of this magnificent introspection.]

[Success, netting 6 Raises to the pool.]

[Doji Kaze]

Kaze secures the herb=33
Fear check=15
Meditation=8

Kaze's will was equal to the task of facing his fears, but his ability to channel it was not. He lay gripped in fevered dreams of silent throngs of people, people speaking without words, all through the night.

[Wu]

The dragon was sitting legs crossed, lotus style. Has he closed his eyes he let the small flaming twig he held between his finger drop down into the simple copper bowl.

Soon the crakling of the dried herbs could be herd and the smoke it produced rose in the tent. The dragon's breathing was slow but deep and it did not take much time for his lungs to take in the narcotic.

Has his mind drifted into sleep, everything grew dark and cold.

He could sense his eyes being open but the only thing he could feel was a penetrating frost pierce through his bones and skin. It was not a clean dry chill, is was heavy...humid...hungry? He began feeling something viscous flowing slowly around his leg like a stagnant river.

It did not remain slow for long. All of a sudden the rive bubbled up and he was submerged in the substance and the cold was overpowering. His instincts kicked in and he was about to gasp for air but restrained himself at the last minute so as to not be drowned by this unfathomable liquid.

Regaining his mind, he focused himself and reached for the very ground he was sitting on. Slowly it began to shift, sending ripples all round him.

He rose as the ground rose. The viscious liquid frost was pushed away by the pike of solid rock Wu as now sitting on and the pike grew ever wider, ever taller. The pike was now part of a mountain side, a stone spear rising high enough to crack through the dark firmament.

Light came through and the darkness hissed and burned
.....
viewtopic.php?f=68&t=768&p=14906#p14906 Herbs +2 raises
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend, Fear 2, void, 1 FR from void to reduce TN to 10: 3d10k3 14 Fear pass 0 raises
Deep Breaths, It'll Be Okay, meditation, void, FR for herbs, FR for void, 1 CR, TN 25: 7d10o10k4 69 Meditation pass, 3 raises
Success with 5 raises

[Ninube]

Ninube looked for some herbs, but failed miserably. Luckily, her new Clanmate Reo had her back.

The dream comes back. The worse one. Fu Leng is wondering why this pathetic creature is here. Reiko is laughing at her. This time Ninube faces her fear with a courage she never knew she had.

She remembers Wu's teachings. She closes her eyes and clears her mind. Then she opened them again. Suddenly, Fu Leng turned into a giant spider. Reiko hopped on and held out her hand to Ninube. Ninube took and climbed aboard Fu Leng. Together they went into the sunset.

Ninube would not remember the dream or the nightmare even. But she knew when she woke up, that the nightmares were over.

Hunting failed (took one of Reo's extras)
Fear Success with 1 Raise
Meditation success

[Hantei Kinsen]

Folding some of Hantei's clothes to make the room tidy the way he enjoys before going to sleep, Kinsen notices something odd in one of his kimono sleeves. Was that the weed Shinsei mentioned about earlier on?

How interesting.

She was definitely affected by whatever they tried during the Stag Party previously. Yet, she wouldn't allow it go by unused. That would be sinful. Showing no fear of what Hantei would say, she takes a good hit.

As the dragons enfuse her mind, Kinsen looses all control of herself. The primal nature in her soul emerges, and she lounges over her husband with an insatiable hunger –– or lust.

Some people dreams are other's nightmares.

--
Smoke This, Trust Me: Hunting (Survival)/Perception TN 15: 3d10o10k2 15
Hello Darkness, My Old Friend: Fear 2 TN 20 (15 + 1 Raise): 4d10o10k4+5 40
Deep Breaths, It'll Be Okay: Meditation/Void TN 20 + VP for Skill + Free Raise: 4d10o10k3+5 16 Fail