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Dream On

A Strange New World

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The word is hypnagogia. A brief period, usually only lasting a few minutes, where the mind exists in that strange, liminal space between waking and sleeping. Dreamlike thoughts begin to enter the mind as it breaks down the constraints of logic we use in waking life, but the mind is not yet fully asleep and therefore partially cognizant of these thoughts and images. It is in this moment, as you ready yourself for what should be a perfectly normal night of sleep, that it dawns upon you that something feels... off. It's difficult to describe in what way; almost like the realization of having forgotten something at home the moment you arrive at your destination, or the moment before a car crash when you realize the collision is inevitable. Your next impulse would be to bolt upright, jerk yourself awake, anything to keep from stepping off the ledge and dropping off into the void of sleep. But the realization comes a moment too late, and reality fades to black.

Hazily, you wake to find yourself, and your bed, in a room that is not yours. Black tile floors and black ceilings, and floor to ceiling arches on all sides but one. The view from these open-air windows is impeccable--- a mountain in the distance, a lush forest surrounding it, all miles and miles away and washed in color by a pink sunset sky. Lazy clouds crawl and amble across the vast horizon. The room you are in is so high up that some of these clouds even pass through the space.

On the windowless wall, there stands a floor-to-ceiling stone double door, carved with an eye that is inlaid with some manner of deep blue lacquer. And at the foot of your bed, a large black envelope is neatly placed. Inside, there are answers.

This place is called the Dreamscape, the letter helpfully explains in periwinkle ink handwritten in a lavish font on black paper. It is a nexus, connecting a plethora of dreaming minds from across the multiverse, designed to connect you with others and show you a good time. The dream is also specially controlled, allowing you to experience an indefinite amount of time inside the dream in the space of a single night's sleep. Your only task is to create and maintain "meaningful connections" with your fellow dreamers, which will be observed and rewarded with a special currency. You will be provided with a home inside a cloud, and an enchanted star pendant to allow for easy communication. It all seems a bit too good to be true, especially paired with the lack of mention as to how long you will be here. The letter is signed by someone who calls themself the Outsider. Whatever that means.

The final paragraph instructs you to go somewhere called the "Torn Oak" if you have any further questions, and to proceed through the stone door when you are ready to begin your adventure. The door is heavy, and will close behind you when you exit, then vanish with a sense of finality as you are left standing in an ethereal, colorful world full of wonders to explore.

Let's get you started.

Living in a Dream

The Dreamscape is full of interesting places to explore, but the first place you might want to check out is your home, which is inside one of the fluffy Nimbus Clouds floating above the dreamy landscape. Accessed via what appears to be a disembodied escalator connected to an invisible path, you will be able to detect which cloud is yours via intuition. As you pass through the outer layer of vapor, you'll enter a sort of pocket dimension that is perfectly suited to your needs and can be manipulated by your imagination.

However, your control over this dream stops at the edge of your Nimbus Cloud. That is, unless you purchase a Wish. Priced by the size of the request, Wishes can be used to acquire anything from personal items and gear, pets, trinkets, vehicles, buildings, and even entire small towns. Many of the existing areas in the Dreamscape were Wishes made by fellow dreamers, and you're fully encouraged to use the fruits of your efforts in the Dreamscape to personalize it. The trick? Getting your hands on some of the Dreamscape's unique currency.

Light as a Feather

The coveted feather is the product of your interactions with other dreamers and the connections you form with them. They will appear on your person (typically in pockets) or in your Nimbus Cloud each time you form a connection with another person that holds meaning for both of you. Feathers can be used to purchase goods from shops in various locations, as well as to purchase Wishes. There are a few parameters on what kinds of bonds or shared moments will earn you feathers, and how many, so check out the handy reference guide over at the Wishing Center for more information. You can also submit Wishes for approval there.

Wishes can be grand or small or anywhere in between, allowing you to acquire personal items from your own world, permanently modify the Dreamscape overall with amenities and activities, and nearly anything else your imagination can conjure. You can even pay a little extra for an Emergency Wish to be used anytime.

A Nightmare is Brewing

At first glance, the Dreamscape appears to be a utopia. The Outsider, despite their unusual appearance and curious motives, is a jolly and generous master of ceremonies, if not a bit bumbling at times. The Dreamscape itself is vibrant and full of delightful attractions, night life, and natural wonders. The other dreamers generally seem happy. But as you spend more time here, you begin to hear rumors of an "incident" a few months back, followed by a "reboot" to clear things up, and a number of other apparent mishaps that the Outsider intends. Not to worry, though, of course. The Outsider has everything under control again.

Those who look closely, though, may find trouble lurking in plain sight. Asking the right questions to fellow dreamers or the Outsider themself may confirm some suspicions, as much as the Outsider is loathe for you to think they might be losing the reins on this place. But don't be afraid to be nosy, keep your eyes open, and form as many bonds as you can--- they may be your best chance at getting through what dreams may come.

The End of a Dream

Generally speaking, there is no way to wake yourself up from the dream intentionally, and the Outsider will be extremely reluctant to allow their chosen dreamers to leave, even upon request, and will dodge such questions as much as they can get away with. However, as with any game, there may be both IC and OOC reasons why someone might need to leave. If necessary, a character may vanish from the dream and return to their waking world the morning after they entered the Dreamscape, no worse for wear but groggier than usual. This may be a voluntary release on the Outsider's part because someone ends up not being a good fit for the Dreamscape long term, or it may be by accident, if a dreamer's consciousness slips from its fragile dreaming state.

However, it is not impossible to return to the Dreamscape at a later time, should you wish to rejoin or use one of these exit strategies as a method of canon-updating. How much memory of their previous dream they retain is up to the player.

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