Dream Dragon

Consenquences
[X] 130
----

The place this time was a forest after a fire. Ashes and cinders littered the ground. It crunched and stuck uncomfortably on the body. There was a faint heat that radiated from the environment, and the black spider legs rising up into a glowing red sky. There was a bit of symbolism here this time in the dragons opinion.

"Understand that everything you do in my realm is within my sight." The dream-catcher's voice ground out. "Understand that I could care less what you do. This is a contest of ability. Nothing more, nothing less. Eventually one of you will simply become stronger than the others. I expect this."

The dragon shifted uneasily as the words continued. His rivals were shifting as well and looking over each other.

"You will likely eventually fight." The dream-catcher laughed harshly. "I might even see you die in your real world. I care not. Do what I ask, and I do not care what blood you spill. Now, your tribute."

Shaking himself, the dragon exhaled sharply. The gossamer ignited in the air and flew up into the foreboding red skyline. Up and up it went and swirled around. The lowest one this time was obvious. The one made of fire and nightmares had a paltry amount.

"As expected." The rain started to come down as the dream-catcher spoke, and the one of fire screamed in pain.

It wasn't a short scream either. It was something that a dying person would make. It made the dragon shudder and cringe back. The downpour continued for a moment and the scream grew louder still. Then the rain cut off and there was silence.

"Your plan was good." The dream-catcher sounded almost motherly now. It made the dragon shiver. "Your desire vast. One of your rivals however objected to it. Learn from it, or wallow in futile hate." With this the dream-catcher's legs slammed down around the dragon.

The gods had existed long ago. Magic had flourished in her memory. Things of wonder had been visible in the land beyond the dreams. Things that inspired such beautiful glories in the dreams.

The key word was had.

This... Modern day was placid. So many people and so few glorious things. It seemed as if humanity had expanded in nothing but size. It had grown fat around the middle.

There was still wonder though. The glorious moon landing had spawned so many interesting things. It was just a pity that it had become generic afterwards. Boring. Trite. The consequence of exploring borders and then that knowledge going to everyone in an instant.

Perhaps it was he becoming old and seeing the past idealized. If so, then her heavy weight along the world was a good thing. Time to change things radically and see what would happen. Burn away that sense of nostalgia and see the world again.

So, how would she do that though? She could shake the fabric of the world, but that was almost predictable. Like throwing a ball and expecting it to go in a different direction. Well, technically that could happen in a dream, but it wouldn't be a surprise to her.

She needed something out of context. Completely new to throw around. There were precious few things that would fit that criteria.

She could weave something. A son or daughter perhaps. Let them do what they would. It wouldn't be hard. They would just be part of her. Boring, and almost predictable She'd almost expect them to follow in her footsteps exactly.

No, no. If she was going to weave something new she was going to be sure it was completely new.

The answer had come to her suddenly really. As she was watching a dream form in the realm. What would the dreamers think if they knew what lurked outside their head?

Such a delicious thought. She had done it before, plucked a mortal out of their dream and watched them scream and cry. She just had either slain them or put them back afterwards. Usually the ones that woke from her touch had nightmares later.

What if she plucked them from their dream and then gave them more?

With that idea the rest came together quickly. She selected eight mortals. Each ones unique in the dream. Well, as unique as they could be with so many dreamers. Then she wove forms for them out of their dreams.

A dragon form from dreams of dragons.

A moth from sounds of beating wings.

A man from the feel of fists on a bag.

An atom, formed from fond childhood memories.

A maw from hunger and greed.

A fire from regular nightmares.

A thing of chaos and candy from one who never grew up.

And something made without wonder, but ambition instead.

They were introductory forms for each of her new 'disciples.' She would teach them and see what ripples they made. It was a marvelous idea in her opinion.

Her first lesson then would be to stuff their sleeping minds into the new forms. Let them realize the reality of their situation. Nothing mind breaking at the beginning. She needed them sane... For the moment. So see them stumble around in what they think to be a new dream, and then slowly bring them into the truth of the world.

Or at least the truth that she knew. She was an old and ancient thing, but there were things out there older and more powerful than her. They cared little for the world, but she imagined that they knew truths that would blow her mind. Such was the way of the world.


"Ahh, I don't regret my path." The dream-catcher sighed gently. "I'd suggest you try to do the same."

John woke up with a start then and nearly fell out of bed.
----
You have 30 Gossamer
You have 28 days until the next tribute.

Daytime Action
[] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[] Watch the Monitors (Talk with Harold)
[] Play Ball with Scott


Evening Action
[] Hit the local library
[] Hit the local cafe
[] Hit the local bar
[] Go home (Use night action twice)
[] Socialize with someone

Night Action
[] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
[] Hunt for your rivals
[] Look for something new
[] Visit the dream city and do ____


Write in actions are acceptable.

Dream-catcher Reward. Pick one.
[] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
[] Grafting session and a new draconic ability. (Will give dreams of gemstones)
[] +1 Wonder.
 
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[] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
This makes us a straight-up wizard.

[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
 
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[X] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[X] Socialize with someone
[X] Visit the dream city and do Theater

[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
 
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This makes us a straight-up wizard.

[X] *Special, Halloween Action. Takes up Evening slot too*
[X] Visit the dream city and do Theater

[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )

Edit: Oh, right, actions, we need to do those, too.
it also costs tribute gossamer and doesn't advance our ability to contest the others unless we plan to straight up murder them in the real world ... where we can already turn into a dragon

[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.
 
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[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
 
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[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )

I'd prefer to go with one of the other options for the reward, but when I think about it it's actually more important... and not because it makes us a wizard.

Right now, we've just been warned that we may come under attack in the real world. And whilst we do have the wards to defend ourselves... it's probably good if we have an ability to defend ourselves if attacked without any weapons/defences outside a warded area. This reward gives us that. As it can do things like summon a gun to shoot the attack with or something in an emergency.
 
[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.
 
@Academia Nut are we able to revisit the Angel's Vault? Also, what about visiting a hospital to collect/flavor gossamer there?
Right now, we've just been warned that we may come under attack in the real world. And whilst we do have the wards to defend ourselves... it's probably good if we have an ability to defend ourselves if attacked without any weapons/defences outside a warded area. This reward gives us that. As it can do things like summon a gun to shoot the attack with or something in an emergency.
We can turn into a dragon via Waking Dream
 
Daytime Action
[X] Play Ball with Scott
Evening Action
[X] Go home (Use night action twice)

Night Action
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (7)
[X] Look for something new

[X] +1 Wonder.
 
[X] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[X] Socialize with someone
[X] Visit the dream city and do Theater

[X] Ability that effects the real world (Gossamer Construct: Creates a temporary construction out of gossamer. Can be anything that fits within a sphere of meters times wonder. These constructs behave as real items, but a hit that would damage them destroys the entire construct. They burn away in the morning light as well. Costs 10 gossamer. )
 
With this update I think we can safely say that our rivals do not hunt like we do.

I suspect they each have a life that holds them back. Something that John here lacks.
 
[X] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[X] Go home
-[X] Visit the dream city and do theater
[X] Hunt for Gossamer 6
Maximum gossamer. Who needs socialization anyway, we can build our hoard NOW.
Speaking of which, I kind of wanted to get gemstones, but oh well.
[X] +1 Wonder
Waffling between grafting session and wonder, but graft is unlikely to win. Wonder gives us a couple small buffs across the board relating to draconic abilities, and more importantly, when the dream-catcher is gone we can't get more of it, and I don't quite like the idea of fragile constructs. The whole point of picking this
[] Ability that effects the real world. (Sleeping Sanctuary: Sleepers in a particular 'warded' area are safe from harm. While there is a sleeper there, the area is extremely durable as well.)
was to protect us in the real world. We just need to fall asleep and we're fine.
 
[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.
 
[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.
 
[X] +1 Wonder.
[X] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[X] Go home
-[X] Visit the dream city and do theater
[X] Hunt for Gossamer 6

It should be obvious by now that Wonder is a valuable stat that effects many things. Having a gossamer-costing construct that burns away in the daylight is rather useless.
Dream of Wonder cus gemstones.
Theater cus theater.
Gossamer cus...
 
[X] +1 Wonder.
[X] Nap and use Dream of Wonder
[X] Go home
-[X] Visit the dream city and do theater
[X] Hunt for Gossamer 6
 
[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.0
[X] Hit the local library
[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.

Because wonder influences or caps a few of our other abilities.
 
Muse
[X] Patrol the campus. (You're a security guard for the local college. Your contract doesn't really need you to patrol, but it gets you out of the place.)

Holidays were all fun and games until you had to clean up afterwards. That's what John had to conclude after seeing what was needed the week after the party. There were streamers everywhere still, and fake cobwebs in awkward places. Worse was probably the candy wrappers everywhere. The combination made the formerly pristine looking campus a bit less pleasant.

More than a few times John encountered Margret running from place to place. The woman looked rather haggard, and he had heard her shriek every now and again. Apparently being tasked with setting the thing up also included having her tear it down. She probably had bitten off more than she could chew.

John ended up being dragged into a few clean up parts. Nothing large really. Mostly carrying trash bags along his way. He could have refused, but seeing a woman near tears was apparently a good motivation. Margret really needed to work on pacing herself.

Admittedly John probably did too. He was huffing and puffing by the end every time. He really needed to watch his physical fitness. The bags hadn't been that heavy.

[X] Hit the local library

"Hi! John was it?" The chirp made John blink as he looked around. It took a bit for him to place the face.

"Lola, right?" John replied back once he did.

The girl bounced and smiled. "Yep! Pleased to meet ya again! Hitting the library?"

John nodded and motioned to the stairs up and to the entrance of the place. "I am. What about you?"

"Need to brush up on my anatomy again." Lola sighed and then started up the stairs, John following. "The books are best for that."

"You have to review that a lot huh?" John hopped a few steps to catch up.

"Like you wouldn't believe." Lola grumbled. "Doesn't help that I'm barely keeping up."

"Ow." John opened up the door for Lola and followed her in. "Hope you manage it."

"Me too! So what are you in here for?" Lola asked as they moved up to the second floor.

"Drawing books mostly. I like finding good inspiration from various arts." John explained quietly.

"Ohh, nice. Do you follow any artists?" Lola asked curiously.

John chuckled and shook his head. "No, not really. I mean I've looked at the famous artists, but a lot of it's not what I like. I prefer vivid colors and fantastic scenarios rather than abstract stuff."

"So no Picasso." Lola nodded seriously.

"No Picasso." John chuckled again.

With that the conversation switched to various things John had checked out. He actually showed off a few of his favorite types. His current favorite ones were mostly watercolors.

[X] Hunt for Gossamer (Specify a number from 1-7. 1 easy, 7 hardest)
-[X] 5
[X] +1 Wonder.

Pickings were slim this week. The dragon soared through the dream realm and found very little to hunt and eat. Sometimes it was like that. Even if he could cover a lot of territory, that didn't mean he was always going to be extremely successful.

It took almost the entire week before he managed to hunt down something that was edible. A lovely little wind-chime in this case.

Made up of tinkling metal bells and a pair of wings, it took a moment for the dragon to verify what it was. A muse. Inspiration given form. They were actually fairly beneficial in the dream realm. Though admittedly they were pretty weak too, so they didn't last long.

Now, he had a choice here. He could either eat the thing, or 'shear' it and take some gossamer for his own. The bounty would be rather pathetic for one this size, but it would be something.

[] Shear 15 Gossamer
[] Slay 30 Gossamer
[] Write in
*This will happen for all muses when you find them.
 
@Lost Star

Do we have any idea what kind of muse this might be? Or are muses just a general inspiring force and don't have specializations.

Also, would it be possible to lead/take a muse to someone we know to help inspire them?
 
[X] Shear 15 Gossamer

Don't hurt the musical birb. Imagine if we could breed a stable population of these guys somehow; like that nightmare totem, but not screwing everybody in the general vicinity over.
 
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