Sleep Paralysis

[Saber Sloth]

Sep 2023

Sleep Paralysis

It started slowly, nearly unnoticed, beyond a passing mention in the news. People die all the time, in their sleep or otherwise. It only started slowly, however. Time passed, as its wont, and more deaths were reported. Age, health, vocation, heritage, there was nearly nothing in common, occasionally someone matching another on one of the categories died, but it seemed more coincidental than a pattern. The only thing linking these desperate people together was that each and every one died in their sleep.

It doesn't take much footwork to discover that there's no obvious signs of trauma, and the weirdness and lack of answers have people talking, one tabloid picks it up and starts running a story about a real life Freddy Krueger. Though the article talks about means and opportunities and new methods of death, only touching briefly upon magic, but doesn't go deep into the actuality and things that haunt the Skein. They can't - they have no clue, but it's enough to get the Lost's mind's whirling.

Those with a passing familiarity with Oneiromancy and the dangers, know that there are things that can hunt, consume and kill, roving dream to dream.

Eventually the whirling of possibility becomes a certainty. More people have died, closer, and closer together. Caffeine sales are through the roof, more and more people are trying not to sleep.

Whoever - whatever this is, thinks it can't be caught, or maybe, maybe it's too well fed to care.

In a quiet room within the Spring Tavern, the Lost gather together to walk the Skien, they needed to discover just who, or what had been seeping into mortal Dreams and killing them. They needed to discover how whomever it was had evaded Changeling scrutiny long enough to wrack up a very notable body count. They need to discover and stop whomever- whatever the culprit is before they take their well fed might to bare against the Freehold, or travel further afield, disappearing into the depths of the Skein, waiting to close it's jaws around the unsuspecting....

Alrighty Folks, new plot!

Now! Onto the Oneiromancy! We are in a Hollow, so y'all need to get to Dreaming. You will need to spend 1 Glamour, and I need an Extended Wits + Composure+ Wyrd + Equipment (things that might help with falling to sleep, that would get +1 to a +3 total depending on what you want to use, if you have questions ask in the OOC).

Since y'all are just going to your own dreams to start with, you will need 8 successes! When you get that please narrate yourself in your own dream!

However you don't need to start with showing up and then dropping off into dreamland, if you want to talk for a few posts and decide a game plan that's okay too!

And Ori I'll allow Sera to use the Plunge for this, since you're going into your own dreams to start with, but if you do it this way it'll be easier for Sera to get knocked out of the dream should something happen.

Orianna Seraphina Sonnie Wu Abyssalstar Vincent Black ragnarokxg Jasper Lionell

[Sonnie Wu]

Sonnie arrived in the Tavern, carrying her gear and a few other things. She was dressed comfortably, in grey sweat pants and a black t-shirt, something she could easily sleep in. Under one arm was a pillow and blanket. After gazing about the Hollow for a moment, the Beast made her way up to the sky bed, one of the Tavern's more cozy features. Setting her bag down, she hummed as she arranged the blanket and pillow on the dangling furniture.

Oneiromancy. She had a little experience with it, having delved into her own dreams on numerous occasions, and even a couple times with Titania for some oddball adventures. Still, she was no expert, not like...

Don't bring up Rhodes. We don't want to drag Sera down.

The Claviger shook her head as she finished arranging her bedding, making space for two so Sera could use it, also. Then she went back to the bar to find something to munch on.

Health 8/8, Glamour 9/9, Willpower 4/4

Hedgespun staff (+2 DMG), Hedgespun boots (+2 SPD), Hedgespun coin pendant (+2 DEF), 3 throwing knives (concealed), goblin fruit (2 dream-a-drupes and 1 coupnettle tea), smartphone, messenger bag, bottled water, plastic keychain of a cartoon cloud, pillow, blanket.

[Seraphina]

While the increase in coffee sales had been welcome to the Nix, the reason behind them wasn’t.

People weren’t supposed to die in their sleep. Well, it happened, medically, there were reasons. But it didn’t sit right with her. Not with her knowledge of the Dreamscape, something was going on.

And it was up to her, and whoever else was looking into it to, well, try and fix it.

Arriving at the Tavern in comfortable pajamas, she spotted Sonnie, “Hey, good to see you. You heard about the deaths?” setting a pillow and blanket down.

[Vincent Black]

Vincent arrived with some comfortable clothes on, a pair of sleep pants and loose-fitting t-shirt, as well as a mat, a blanket and pillow. As he walked in, he gave a nod to the two others "Hey girls, good to see the both of you. Not sure how this is going to fare, but we have to find whoever or whatever is responsible before it becomes an even bigger problem."

Vincent set up his sleep area and lay down and said, "What do you think we will find once we get in there Seraphina? Is there anything we should expect or are we going in mostly blind?"

[Sonnie Wu]

"Yeah, I did!" The Steepscrambler nodded, "I figured you'd want to go sniffing around, in case it's fae-related, and what kind of Claviger would I be if I let my Queen go meet Freddy Krueger without me?" Brave last words, perhaps. Ahem. Anyway...

Sonnie patted the sky bed. "Room for you. Only the best for my bestie!"

She turned as Vincent arrived, and she gave a short wave to the Courtless. "Yo! Along for the ride, eh? Cool cool cool."

[Seraphina]

Grabbing a bottle of water from her bag, she takes a sip and raises a hand to Vincent.

Sounded like he and maybe everyone else, thought she was an expert in these things. And maybe, in some way, she is. But she didn’t have the amount of knowledge and practice Rhodes had. Still, she wasn’t a novice either.

“Uh, hard to say. I don’t know what we are dealing with. Is this another Lost’s work, is someone like us going into mortal’s Dreams and killing them? It’s possible. Or is it one of Them? Again, possible. Could also be some sort of Dream poison that is somehow being spread around.” A shake of her head, “I don’t know. Once we get in, our first step is to find whatever or whoever is causing this. And it could very well come down to a fight.” Had either of them trained for it?

“Do either of you know oneiromachy? Or Dream Battle.” Her guess, no. But she does remember Sonnie getting to try it years ago with Rhodes as a teacher.

Laughing, “You know me so well. And I like to think we make a good team against baddies. Hell, I even managed to not lose my arm!” a wink and smirk. “Awesome! Brought my own blanket in case.” Last time she was in the sky bed she was in agony over being a chew toy for some Briar Wolfs. This time would be better.

[Vincent Black]

"I have been in dreams before but never had to fight in any of them. I am hoping my skills would somewhat transfer to there."

Vincent took out a thermos from his backpack and took a chug out of it.

"Don't ask why but coffee usually helps me sleep better."

[Sonnie Wu]

"Yeah, I know a bit. But experience is the best teacher, as they say." Sonnie shrugged and smiled. Then she blinked and tilted her head to one side. "Oh, the haunted house! Yeah, that was... that was something else. Hopefully this won't be a trap like that. I'm happy to never have to fight Jason Vorhees again."

"Well," She looked around, "Unless anyone else is coming, I suppose we should get to it."

Kicking off her shoes, Sonnie hopped into the sky bed and spent a minute or so fidgeting around to make herself comfortable. She yawned, "Nighty night!"

The simian Beast had, long ago, in the depths of the Screaming Jungle, learned to go to sleep quickly. Catching rest whenever she could manage it was necessary for survival there. Though, there was one thing she needed. She took out her phone, flipped to a Spotify playlist, put in some earbuds, and let random music play softly in her ears.

One thing she couldn't sleep in was total silence. She needed some sort of white noise. In fact, she hated silence in any circumstances. Another 'gift' of the Screaming Jungle. In that place, silence meant death was coming.

6 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-27 19:58:23	[01] Sonnie Wu rolls 12 to Dreaming: Wits 4 + Comp 2 + Wyrd 3 + Equip 3 (10 Again)	8, 2, 2, 6, 5, 4, 10, 7, 1, 9, 8, 4, 10, 9	6 successes

7 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-27 19:58:23	[02] Sonnie Wu rolls 12 to Dreaming: Wits 4 + Comp 2 + Wyrd 3 + Equip 3 (10 Again)	10, 7, 1, 10, 3, 9, 9, 2, 8, 8, 4, 1, 3, 9	7 successes

-----------

Sonnie Wu's dreamscape. It could vary, depending on her mood. Often, it was a huge treehouse. Sometimes, it was a mall food court. Occasionally a video arcade or movie theater. This time, however, it was a martial arts studio. Not too dissimilar to the one she worked at.

Tatami mats everywhere. Martial arts weapons on wall displays. Sliding doors with those paper windows. Well lit.

Sonnie, looking down at herself, saw she was dressed in a silk yī-fu, a traditional kung fu uniform. Hers was gold and black and had the image of a monkey on the left breast. Her simian toes felt the woven mats under her bare feet.

She was alone. It was quiet here, and she didn't like that. There should be noise. The sound of martial artists practicing, sparring. This unknown dojo also was weirdly large. There were hallways and closed doors all over the place, and the Beast had no idea where any of them lead.

"Huh," she said, looking about idly, "Neat."

[Seraphina]

“Body memory could help you with combat should it come up.” Though depending on their opponent, it might not. Too many unknowns to really know right now.

Nodding to Sonnie, “This is true.” Experience would always be the best teacher in these situations. A bitter chuckle, “Yeah, I’d rather avoid another night like that.” For multiple reasons. “If anyone else is coming I’m sure they can catch up with us.”

Taking a last sip of water, Sera heads to the sky bed as well, “See you guys inside.” And begins adjusting her blanket, making sure she was comfortable. Also making sure she wasn’t too close to the edge in case she gets knocked out of the Dream. It was always a rough and rude wake-up, best not fall out of the bed too.

20 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[07] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	4, 2, 4, 3, 5, 4, 4, 2, 3, 2, 2	failure
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[06] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	5, 1, 9, 6, 4, 6, 1, 2, 7, 4, 7	1 success
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[05] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	4, 2, 3, 1, 10, 4, 1, 10, 7, 10, 1, 4, 10, 7, 7	4 successes
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[04] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	6, 8, 9, 4, 5, 9, 2, 10, 8, 3, 8, 6	6 successes
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[03] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	10, 6, 7, 1, 6, 2, 7, 7, 3, 3, 3, 3	1 success
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[02] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	2, 5, 7, 8, 1, 7, 9, 2, 5, 5, 7	2 successes
2023-09-28 09:31:34	[01] Seraphina rolls 11 to Sleep?(Wits+Comp+Wyrd)+1 comfy blankets (10 Again)	1, 7, 9, 7, 4, 10, 10, 5, 9, 10, 10, 1, 5, 7, 6	6 successes

It didn’t take her as long as she was expecting before she found herself on the beach in her own Dreamscape. The waves of the ocean gently rolling over her feet, the bioluminescent jellyfish dancing along the shore.

She wore a black dress with an oversized hood, the dress allowing the cracks that ran over her body to be more visible. Each pulsing with a soft glow.

[Vincent Black]

Vincent laid down on his mat and got under his blanket. "See you on the other side." He closed his eyes and begun to meditate as he does every night before falling asleep. Closing his eyes and slowing his breathing he allowed himself to fall into his slumber.

10 successes

Date	Action	Roll	Result
2023-09-28 10:50:18	[03] Vincent Black rolls 10 to Dreaming (Wits2 + Comp3 + Wyrd3 + Equip2) (10 Again)	8, 8, 3, 7, 5, 5, 4, 8, 5, 8	4 successes
2023-09-28 10:50:18	[02] Vincent Black rolls 10 to Dreaming (Wits2 + Comp3 + Wyrd3 + Equip2) (10 Again)	8, 1, 5, 3, 6, 1, 3, 7, 8, 3	2 successes
2023-09-28 10:50:18	[01] Vincent Black rolls 10 to Dreaming (Wits2 + Comp3 + Wyrd3 + Equip2) (10 Again)	1, 4, 9, 4, 3, 9, 4, 10, 8, 2, 4	4 successes

Vincent felt himself drift into the slumber and before he knew it, he was back in the forest, his forest. He was prepared for this, but it did not change his uneasiness at the objective ahead. He was wearing a black button-up shirt, jeans and boots. It was not what he normally wore but it would be good enough.

"Now to find the ladies."

Please ignore the roll with one dice, the site reloaded and posted a roll for some reasaon.