(PrP TDoEW) Dreaming of Ethan Walsh

[Ram]

Simple was good. “Sounds good,” he said, though he felt a bit guilty that he wasn’t really having to do anything himself “Agreed.”

Ram felt something in the air between him and Seraphina… knot? Tie? He couldn’t describe it exactly. Just the feeling of deep connection. Deeper than most mortals would ever know. For a few moments it was stronger than the world and just as quickly it faded. They were pledged.

Ram gave a deep breath and smiled.

“Nothing left to do but sleep,” he said and skooched closer to the hearth fire.

It felt a bit awkward to just… try and go asleep, but that’s what needed to happen. The Ogre used his arm as a pillow and started working on getting his breath deeper and slower.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 19:45:28	[01] Ram rolls 4 to Comp+Wits (Curse)	4, 8, 9, 1	2 successes

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 19:45:28	[02] Ram rolls 4 to Comp+Wits (Curse)	7, 1, 6, 9	1 success

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 19:45:28	[03] Ram rolls 4 to Comp+Wits (Curse)	2, 6, 8, 2	1 success

Dream

The Funderland tunnel’s steep stairs extended and twisted down into darkness. Menacing spiderwebs stretched across the way to the Hedge gate. The lights flickered and hummed like angry lightning bugs. The walls here looked like they belonged to a cavern and wet mud with flecks of rust crusted the floor. The sound of heavy steps can be heard coming down towards the landing where the arch stood, overgrown with spiny vines reaching toward the burning sigil in it's keystone.

Go ahead and rp getting settled and roll meditation Composure+Wits+equipment (4 suxx) to enter your own dream. (Feel free to describe)

After that, you’ll spend one glamour and roll Wits+Wyrd+Empathy to open a dream gate into Ram’s dream.

Dream intensity 2.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 19:48:30	Ram rolls 5 to Wits+Resolve (10 Again)	5, 5, 3, 3, 9	1 success

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 20:07:12	Ram rolls 1 to memory dream 9 again (10 Again)	9	1 success

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 20:07:46	Ram rolls 1 to memory dream 9 again (9 Again)	2	failure

[James Turner]

John chuckled as Sera joked about Rhodes being stubborn, he knew it was true but he also knew he couldn't say anything either which made it all the funnier to the Darkling. Followed by a dip of his head when she thanked him his attention slowly shifting to the rest of the group.


Hearing Circe's noisemaker idea was a good one unless there were small furry creatures about and perhaps one much larger one. His imagination ran with that for a second and he smiled to himself enjoying that diversion. "I think you'd ask me if I was feeling well if I disagreed. More security isn't bad. When I stayed in sketchier places I put bubble wrap beneath the window."


"You're being more than accommodating by lending us your space, it's a tavern not an Inn space will be all we need." He offered with a friendly smile, looking back over everyone making sure they were all ok, eyes lingering over Cassandra for a second longer than anyone else. The pledge wrapping up as everyone got ready for sleep.

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 21:20:52	James Turner rolls 7 to Sleep? (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	10, 9, 4, 4, 4, 4, 1, 5	2 successes

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 21:21:22	James Turner rolls 7 to Sleep? (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	8, 8, 3, 1, 9, 2, 9	4 successes

Glad that Cassandra had brought extras having forgotten his own, not needing much he curled up in a ball putting his headphones in as he focused on his breathing and the music letting it slowly fade into the background until he was asleep in his own dream. It was his favorite dive bar, one where he could sit by the window, smoke, and read a book. It would have been a nice dream too. There was the temptation to make a detour. Duty called though and he focused on the exit and conjured forth the door.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-03-31 21:27:24	James Turner rolls 10 to Dreamgate (Wits + Wyrd + Empathy) (10 Again)	2, 2, 3, 4, 10, 10, 10, 5, 3, 5, 7, 10, 2, 10, 4	5 successes

James pushed through the door, he didn't have the knowledge the Dread Lord had in navigating the skein but James knew emotion, connection. Ram being in such close proximity helped most of all as he sifted through the skein and appeared back in, no, underneath Funderland. He had to choose to Manifest or not, he chose to Manifest so others would have the option not to. His feet touching down on the floor as he looked around and waited for the others.

[Gerrit]

Being Lost was funny sometimes. You could hardly know someone and next thing you do is bind your fate to theirs and allow them to enter your dreams. Not that he expected Seraphina to have a single mean bone in her body, but seeing it like this he understood her point in establishing a measure of security. With the Pledge struck and the hospitality granted, they could move to hopefully find some closure.

At the Hollow, Gerrit just sat took of his jacket, sat on the ground and draped the windbreaker over his legs. He leaned against the wall across the exit to be able to react quickly in case anything went south. Since he didn't want to connect this plan with comfort or relaxation that's all he really needed to settle down and get to it. A bruised hand searched for the wicker twigs in his pocket and the Ogre closed his eyes.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 01:04:43	[01] Gerrit rolls 6 to go to sleep (Wits 3 + Comp 3 | curse)	3, 3, 1, 8, 5, 6	1 success

3 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 01:04:43	[02] Gerrit rolls 6 to go to sleep (Wits 3 + Comp 3 | curse)	5, 8, 3, 10, 9, 3	3 successes

It didn't take long before Gerrit drifted off to sleep and found himself in the familiar surroundings of his childhood bedroom - or rather: the version of this bedroom that established itself over the past year. Most of it was true to his memory, but when he looked out of this window he didn't see a grimy alley, but a dark and twisting forest. An invisible fire cast its light across the walls, ever burning but most of the time not posing any danger - this fire was part of him, uncaring whether it destroyed or nourished.

He slid out of the small bed and his clothes changed to what he was wearing tonight the moment his feet touched the ground. This is the part where I hear someone. As much as the forest and the fire, this has also been a constant part of that particular dream. The voice and its message was always different - most of the time it was his wife, sometimes his father, and recently Vivian has joined the recurring cast of guests in his sleep.
Sometimes the voice belonged to a hollow wicker man - a poor fellow forever trapped on a clearing deep inside the forest. It called to the Stonebones to share it's wisdom, strange accusations or other things concerning Gerrit's new nature. Although he hadn't known him at all, Ethan was still guiding the Ogre in a way.

This time, there was no voice. He sat there for a moment, dumbfounded by the break in routine but then it came to him: this time was different, this time he had to call out to his friend. They needed to meet to see what has happened to them during their first patrol. Gerrit was no oneiromancer, but the fae part of him took over as he got up and walked to the bedroom door. "Ram? Ram!"

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 01:17:48	Gerrit rolls 7 to open a dream gate (Wits 3 + Wyrd 2 + Empathy 2) (10 Again)	5, 5, 7, 5, 8, 2, 6	1 success

The door opened not to his old living room, but to the darkness of a tunnel. The tunnel of Funderland. Was it this threatening in real life, or did the Render's mind add it's colour to it? Either way, Gerrit chose to stay incorporeal to not threaten the integrity of the dream. He noticed John already being there and relaxed a bit - this at least was a sign that he didn't get lost and found the right way to Ram's dream.
Now he just had to wait and watch.

[Cassandra Reeding]

Cassandra sets herself up with a fleece blanket and pillow, a necklace around her neck with a pendant that gives off the scent of lavender. It is just strong enough for her to breathe in, but not enough to travel for others to smell. She settles herself in, closing eyes to focus on sleep. It takes her some time to do so as nagging whispers of insecurities flood her mind, intrusive thoughts of embarrassing moments and feelings of inadequacy. Amongst all of those thoughts, she finds a small ray of warmth. A sweet, fuzziness that allows her to just... dream. And so she does.

Go to Sleep

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 17:06:42	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Go to Sleep (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	4, 4, 10, 6, 4	1 success

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 17:06:58	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Go to Sleep (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	4, 7, 2, 7	failure

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 17:07:17	Cassandra Reeding rolls 4 to Go to Sleep (Wits + Comp) (10 Again)	9, 10, 10, 9, 4, 4	4 successes

She finds herself sitting on her sofa in Baltimore with a book in her hands and a knitted blanket wrapped around her shoulders. Outside the rain falls, a gentle, arrhythmic pitter patter of droplets dripping upon the wall of windows behind her. A steaming cup of jasmine tea sits upon the coffee table in front of her, the cup set on a proper saucer. There is an odd warmth to the house that she doesn't remember there ever truly being, but it is nice. It is the kind of nice that makes you want to stay and forget about the troubles of the world. And yet, as warm and comforting as the dream is, she can't help but feel that something is missing. Something else should be there.

A wisp of coffee and smoke in the air.

No, she can't stay. She has work to do, so she stands and sets her book and blanket down upon the sofa, stretching a little before she makes her way to the door. There is a small smile, a realization of at least one nice thing before she moves through the gate, looking to find herself in Ram's dream. She hadn't done much work like this, navigating to another's dream, but at least he was nearby. It made it easier.

Dream Gate

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-01 17:09:32	Cassandra Reeding rolls 5 to Dream Gate (Wits + Wyrd + Empathy) (10 Again)	7, 2, 9, 2, 5	1 success

She found herself then in the tunnels of Funderland. Yes, to the Hedge Gate where it all began. When she finds John already waiting there, a smile comes to her face, one at least she could play off as being toward both him and Gerrit. A gather of her courtmates. So, she settled down with them, waiting for the others.

[Circe]

"Tally ho then," Circe jokes as they head for the tavern. After a little detour. It was amazing how helpful the clerk was when she explained the purchases were for a prank. Also a pillow. Sadly, Circe didn't have time to rig a gun.

The Summer Queen lends the Spring Queen her muscles for moving the tables. Then as the others start to nod off, "Fer ya Ram, I'll be a second. Ya know, if ya gave me more time, I could've rigged a shotgun." Opening the door would get loud regardless. As for the elf? She threw down a small throw pillow before hunkering down on the floor.

1 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 06:59:24	[01] Circe rolls 6 to Got sleep little blueberry (10 Again)	9, 4, 7, 6, 6, 6	1 success

2 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 06:59:24	[02] Circe rolls 6 to Got sleep little blueberry (10 Again)	6, 8, 9, 2, 7, 6	2 successes

3 success

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 06:59:24	[03] Circe rolls 6 to Got sleep little blueberry (10 Again)	10, 1, 10, 7, 5, 5, 10, 1, 7	3 successes

And her she was in her dreams. A warehouse. Full of boxes of stuff. And a black painted speedboat in a internal dock? Great, she was dreaming of work. There was some radio somewhere playing Shoop too. Well why not. Door? Ah, door there!

Rattle rattle.

Locked? Well, Circe could open that. She just got something from the boxes to help her. Circe handles the door lock and proceeds through. Now, where are her buddies?

2 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 07:00:39	Circe rolls 6 to Wits + Wyrd + Empathy (10 Again)	1, 10, 7, 3, 7, 7, 8	2 successes

Circe was in Funderland, for she recognized the room. It was where they'd gone down into the tunnels. So she storms up to the tunnel door and kicks it open. Circe continues to be subtle, "Yoohoo! Where are you!" The Summer is moving in to try and find them, certain that the ONLY door in the room was the right door.

[Seraphina]

A nod as he spoke of the Tavern not being an Inn. Which was true. But that didn’t mean she couldn’t have the items on hand in case. This wasn’t the first time the Tavern was used for such a thing, and it probably wouldn’t be the last.

Sleep was always a problem for her. The Nix not wanting to face her nightmares, but knowing they were there, waiting for her. Thankfully, in the Hedge, she was able to enter into a safe spot, her spot, where she felt safe. But seemed sleep wasn’t as problem when she had a task to do, someone to help, and it came fairly easily this time.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 09:46:57	Seraphina rolls 6 to Fall Asleep(Wits+Comp) (10 Again)	10, 2, 3, 8, 8, 8, 4	4 successes

The vast ocean stretches out in front of her, but it wasn’t a peaceful scene. The waves were turbulent, slamming against the beach as storm clouds darkened the sky. A deep sigh, seemed the stress she was placing on herself was affecting this place. But there were still hints of happiness, red flowers on the beach, a dress maker dummy off to the side. The beginnings of a wedding dress on it. The wind from the incoming storm making the fabric dance.

A shake of her head, she had to find the Gate, had to find Ram’s Dream. As she walked the beach and looked, the waves and storm made it difficult. Any shapes she saw quickly distorted and hidden from her. Seriously?! She didn’t have time for this! And walked faster, more determined to not let her own problems prevent her from helping.

failure

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 09:48:48	Seraphina rolls 10 to Dream Gate(Wits+Emp+Wyrd)(+1Empathy Pledge) (10 Again)	4, 4, 1, 5, 6, 3, 1, 7, 5, 5	failure

Finally, she see’s it, and wasn’t sure how she missed it. But quickly moves to the door and steps into it.

4 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-02 09:49:05	Seraphina rolls 10 to Dream Gate(Wits+Emp+Wyrd)(+1Empathy Pledge) (10 Again)	5, 7, 6, 6, 8, 9, 10, 7, 7, 10, 5, 5	4 successes

Into…the tunnels? It had been a while since she had been down there herself, but these were the tunnels. The Nix had Manifested, and appeared in a white dress made of a gauze like material, but still covering things. Her translucent hands standing out more. And when she moves, the dress reveals her legs were also translucent. Long hair was in a braid down her back.

Nods were given to those there, her expression somber. She considered this to be a serious task.

[Ram]

The sound of steps increased. A steady march coming down the stairs. And was that… gladiator music?

With that thought in mind, the Ogre in spartan regalia appeared coming down the stairs, footfalls echoing in the tunnel.

And then things… froze. Well, not exactly froze but it seemed like Ram disconnected from the surroundings and looked directly to the viewer, manifested or not. The music shifted to something out of Ferris Bueller

“Sooooo, welcome to my dream.” Render said awkwardly, in contrast to the heroic figure he’d cut just a few seconds ago “I’m going to try and make as few changes to the dream as I can. Let things play out how they happened. If you want to talk so no one can hear you, just ‘look at the camera’. I mean. There’s no actual camera. More like, in plays when people talk to the audience. Do that. And not no one, I mean the people in the dream. The memory. Whatever. Does that make sense?” He shrugged a bit.

“Anyway,” Ram clicked his tongue “This is where the patrol began.”

Gladiator music started up again and the Ogre finished descending the stairs.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=...AAAAAdAAAAABAD

Several figures appear alongside those that have manifested. Yet at the same time, they had been there first.

“Greetings Gerrit.” A Stonebones nods in acknowledgement. It’s in the shape of Jameson but his mantle infuses the character making them almost black and white with contrast. The real Gerrit can feel a pull towards himself. Like they’re connected and with little effort he could change his own behavior. Not manifest exactly, but a way to make dream Gerrit more accurate.

“Cassandra, radiant as ever.” The Polychromatic felt the same melding of souls as her counterpart appeared (having always been there) onto the scene in a gust of wind. The Winter sun reflected off her skin, cold and bright and powerful.

“John, glad you could make it for this patrol.” Dream… stuttered. Like it could feel something was wrong. Like the Darkling was an intruder. A liar. John hadn’t been there! Yet he had made his entrance so skillfully. The feeling faded as Ram’s mind accepted the Whisperwisp into the scene like he’d always been there. Not like…

“Circe and Seraphina, I knew you were wanting to come along.” The dreaming Lost can feel an instinctual rage swelling. They didn’t belong. Not here and not like this. There was something that felt like a breath. Then the image of Ram moved on.

“And nice to meet you Walsh.” The wickerman stood ‘behind’ everyone else. The man’s features were… indistinct. You could look at him. See him. Yet you would be hard pressed to describe the washed out memory Ram held of the Wizened. Thin. Wooden. Those stuck out. There was even an indescribable Autumnness despite him not having a mantle. This Ethan reeked of fear. little else.

“We all know each other and what we can do,” Did they? “So let’s get started!”

The Ram stepped forward and place his hand on the archway to knock on the runed door.

“We’re coming in,” he told the door, his voice carrying the sounds of raging battle. He gave a friendly wink at Gerrit as the Render preempted the man’s knock; distant cannon fire echoing each time the door was struck.

Freezing air blasts through the tunnel as the door shatters apart. Within, the Lost see a landscape of ice and snow. Great, branching icicles extend from the ground towards the sky as snow falls to the ground.

Gerrit and Cassandra can change their dream counterparts behavior and manifest (and break the fourth wall) through them. Full control need a dream change.

John gets a free dream change for entering so seamlessly.

[James Turner]

He looked to Ram as he established some of the groundwork of the dream. Recreating the memory like they were walking through it like actors on a set. So many pieces out of place thus far to see how it affected things. For once his natural invisibility, the fact he faded into the background of most situations working in his favor for once. Giving Ram, who was now in character because he wasn't looking at the camera? That was going to take some getting used to, he'd been so used to lucid dreaming of late that he'd have to hold back some. "Happy to Help."


He looked around to everyone as they arrived and then nodded to Ram as he was greeted. Eyes drifting over the blurry outline of Ethan. John had not a perfect memory but one that had been sharpened through practice and training he didn't make any overt or grand changes, what he did instead was Clarify Ethan's image, bringing it into sharper focus, making it more clear. Hopefully that could offset some of the disturbances to the dream itself.

5 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-03 12:32:44	James Turner rolls 6 to Recall? (Int + comp) (10 Again)	6, 10, 10, 7, 9, 1, 8, 10, 6	5 successes

Then things had begun in earnest. He wasn't sure what was going to happen and the door revealed a hedgescape unlike the one he was used to, one that made him wished he'd focused on the more physical manifestations of his court for once. But he was ready, willing, and able to help but he'd follow Sera's lead here at least until there was danger then he'd do everything he could to protect the group.

John Rolled to Recall Ethan, helping to make him at least look and sound more like he's supposed to. I'll use that for my free change if that's copacetic.

[Gerrit]

It took Gerrit a few moments to come to terms with the differences between his own dreams and Ram's - and an extra moment to get used to seeing a version of himself in the dream. He stayed close to his double but didn't dare to manifest completely. He didn't want to get in the way of experienced oneiromancers or change Ram's memory of the events, after all.

With every person appearing Gerrit grew a bit more anxious. Would Seraphina's, John's and Circe's presence change things for the worse? Would Ethan's absence be a problem? Even after the Wizened grew clearer and sharper, Gerrit knew it was just a memory.

We are in capable hands. A firm thought calmed down the Ogre's mind. John and Seraphina would guide them and watch out for them - there was no need to worry from the get go. For now Gerrit would just follow the dream-Stonebones and watch. He knew that the worst was still to come.

[Circe]

Anger is an emotion close to the heart of all who march under Summer's banner. So Circe recognizes the signs of it from Ram. Yeah, that could be trouble.


Oh, she and Seraphina weren't there for the real thing? Circe adjusts the chin strap of her current outfit as she leans over to be shoulder to shoulder with Seraphina. The elf whispers to the siren, "I think we should be quiet fer this. Shame," she pats the assault rifle, "I always wanted ta use one of these. But we don't want ta break the memory with inaccuracy. Events, not shooting. This scope is awesome."


Circe pouts at the thought yet follows as she simply tries to observe as much as she can.

Perception 1

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2021-04-03 22:03:55	Circe rolls 6 to Perception (10 Again)	8, 6, 2, 7, 5, 7	1 success

ooc I Forgot to include the link to Circe's very IC outfit in the last post