3. Litch colored by Embi-lamb (unmutated) Points for this Nightmare will be tallied from October 15-21. 4. Kirin colored by nepsah (mutations: double ears) Points for this Nightmare will be tallied from October 22-31.
Opens: October 15th Closes: October 31st, 11:59 PM PST
After last year's catastrophe, the Academy has been going to great lengths to ensure that everyone attending the Haunted Hallows celebration has a good, safe time. The freshlings are being taken on a closely supervised trick or treat outing, while every junior, freshling, and Academy graduate in Below has been invited to a Masquerade Ball. Masks required!
The Ball is ornately decorated with tulle hanging from the ceiling, fairy lights (possibly crafted from magic) abound, gold filigree tablecloths and beautiful bouquets placed everywhere. A live orchestral quintet plays jaunty dance tunes on a spotlit stage at the front of the hall. The hall is guarded by volunteers from the surrounding area, who were all vetted by the academy and confirmed as being capable fighters. And of course, no Academy event would be complete without a myriad of familiars, trinkets, and food set out to grab for free.
Who will you meet tonight that will change your life? With a mask to hide your face from the world, who knows who you could be talking to? Take a risk and try to approach someone new!
How to play:
This is a Junior/Senior-only ORP! Looking for somewhere to roleplay your Freshling? Check out this thread! Every day you are allowed to roll for each of your Nightmares to receive prizes! You also can end up with a familiar or plushie, if you're lucky. However, you must RP your character receiving their prize, or doing something in the festival when you roll. It's suggested that while you can roll for every Nightmare you have, you only roll for the amount of responses you can handle! You can keep rolls in one post, or in individual posts. Roll a 20-sided die per Nightmare you're including in the ORP! See the guide below to determine what you'll earn. Rolling not only gets your Nightmare a candy/trinket, but also points! Tally your three highest rolls you receive each day. The person with the most points each week will be able to take a Nightmare home with them (which are pictured above). However, only three of your rolls a day can be added to your tally. If you roll six Nightmares, only three of those will be tallied. Points reset at the beginning of each week. Please keep a list at the bottom of your posts for us to easily manage how many points you have! You must write how many points you have earned that day, and how many points Failure to do so will mean you aren't included for the chance to win one of the two Nightmares. Do not delete posts. We will disqualify you from the chance to win the Nightmares if you do! If you mess up on a roll or forget to roll, please just note that in your post and make a new one (or however many you need until you roll correctly). You may RP quests! If you lack a Nightmare you are allowed to RP an approved quest within this game! If you have more than one quest, you are permitted three quests to play in this game. While most of the characters will receive prizes through trick-or-treating, you are encouraged to create creative situations if you grow bored of your character receiving a prize through the standard trick-or-treating! Only take one prize per roll!
Rolling Guide: Each roll gets you a different prize! Some rolls just get you an RP prompt, which you may choose to follow if you wish.
New prizes may be periodically added throughout the month, so be sure to keep an eye out!
If you rolled a 1:
This part of the room is particularly dim. You worry maybe there are floating brains up there - but then one wafts down and boops you. Nope, it's just a rammykin!
If you rolled a 2:
A junior sits at a booth near the quintet, beaming proudly under their mask. These plushies light up when you squeeze their belly! The junior designed them specifically to give out at this Ball.
If you rolled a 3:
Some of these nezubats were sleeping in the rafters, but they've come down to dance! They're swooping under skirts and perching on shoulders like the lil rascals they are.
If you rolled a 4:
Someone slips a flitterat plush into your arms. It's rather large and a bit difficult to handle. And the fabric it's made out of... you can't help but describe it in your mind as anything but sneaky.
If you rolled a 5:
You bump - literally! - into someone who smells like cotton candy and looks a little bit familiar. They turn, wink at you, and disappear into the crowd. Whoa.
If you rolled a 6:
A junior in what appears to be a hand-me-down, bright yellow tuxedo hands one of these out to you. You feel tentative to drink it, and it's a little warm through the glass bottle.
If you rolled a 7:
If you have a Brown Potion: You decide to drink the potion. For the next 2 days (irl), your character speaks entirely in Pig Latin. You may only drink each potion you have once.
If you do not have a Brown Potion: You see a fortune telling tent and decide to enter it. The person inside offers you a free riding.
If you rolled a 8:
You approach a large tin barrel, where everyone is bobbing for apples, or at least trying to without removing their masks! Someone in a mask - probably a volunteer for the event - tries to convince you to have a go at it.
If you rolled a 9:
You see a stranger with the coolest mask. Find someone who is not currently interacting with someone else and give them a compliment!
If you rolled a 10:
These skyfish plushies are just piled up on a table near some candy apples. They're super soft!
If you rolled a 11:
There's an empty table piled high with these cute nezubat plushies. They're small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
If you rolled a 12:
There's a distinct candy-colored theme to these familiars. They're excited to get to know you!
If you rolled a 13:
A junior sits at a booth near the quintet, beaming proudly under their mask. These plushies light up when you squeeze their belly! The junior designed them specifically to give out at this Ball.
If you rolled a 14:
Something about these familiars is unnerving. You can't help but feel you say one of them float through a table - but it was probably just a trick of the light.
If you rolled a 15:
If you have an Orange Potion: You decide to drink the potion. For the next 2 days (irl), your character glows from their eyes and mouth.
If you do not have an Orange Potion: You overhear from somebody that there's a pumpka patch outside where you can pet baby pumpkas. Yaaaas!
If you rolled a 16:
These familiars smell like candy corn. Mmmm...
If you rolled a 17:
These familiars are clinging to you as if something has scared them. Almost as if they've seen a ghost!
If you rolled a 18:
A junior in what appears to be a hand-me-down, bright yellow tuxedo hands one of these out to you. You feel tentative to drink it, and it's a little warm through the glass bottle.
If you rolled a 19:
If you have a Rainbow Potion: You decide to drink the potion. For the next 2 days (irl), your character is filled with a surprising amount of energy - like they just drank thirteen cups of coffee. When they come down from the high, they won't crash.
If you do not have a Rainbow Potion: Someone taps on your shoulder and whispers something completely inaudible into your ear before disappearing into the crowd. What was that?!
If you rolled a 20:
You feel the urge to ask a stranger to dance. Find someone who is not currently interacting with someone else and ask them for a waltz!
Vega: 5 You bump - literally! - into someone who smells like cotton candy and looks a little bit familiar. They turn, wink at you, and disappear into the crowd. Whoa.
Hey, this was just a dance. A dance like any other. Right? Right. Never mind that Vega had put in a lot of hours trying to sew his own dress. Worth it though. The slit might have been a little too high above the knees, but the fabric hit his hips and chest in the right places, and he loved the satin wrap. His hair was done up in an ornate bun, and he had a mask of red and gold feathers. This was fun! Who was he going to see that he knew? Would he recognize people in their masks and costumes? As he was mulling this over, his mask slipped slightly, and he stumbled as he walked to fix it, bumping into someone. He looked quickly. "Ah, I'm s-..." The person had run off already. "...sorry... Wait, was that Enomu?" He thought about it a moment. No... the baneko he'd met likely would have made a scathing remark or something. He also couldn't see the loner coming to something like this. Of course it would be nice to see his other friends sometime. He'd spent a lot of time since this summer with Leto, and he was learning sign pretty well now! He was still really slow though. Ah, he thought about this absently as he walked among the other dancers.
No familiars or items yet
Nashira: 8 You approach a large tin barrel, where everyone is bobbing for apples, or at least trying to without removing their masks! Someone in a mask - probably a volunteer for the event - tries to convince you to have a go at it.
Why did she come to this? She didn't know. Nashira liked being around others, but she did not interact well. And it wasn't like she was really in much of a costume. She was dressed as a belly dancer, gold coins hanging around her hips and ankles... though this wasn't too different from normal. She did wear a veil over her face, though it wasn't as though you couldn't see who she was under it. But Nashira didn't care. She was along the outskirts of the festivities when she spotted a bobbing for apples game. Uh oh. The person running it tried waving her over. No. No thanks. Nashira didn't want to dunk her face in a vat of spit-water.
No familiars or items yet
Charon: 19 If you do not have a Rainbow Potion: Someone taps on your shoulder and whispers something completely inaudible into your ear before disappearing into the crowd. What was that?!
Alright! This was more like it. A dance! A chance to meet people, maybe chat up a cute girl or 4, get some phone numbers. Charon had on a simple tux and a black velvet mask. He hadn't actually realized it was a masquerade ball, so he had to grab one of the masks provided at the front tables. As he was walking, about to tap someone on the shoulder for a dance, he felt a hand on his shoulder, and someone said something... but when he turned back around, whoever it was had blended back into the crowd. What did they say? Something about sharks in a vat of pudding? He'd likely never know.
No familiars or trinkets yet
Onyx: 17 zombie cat These familiars are clinging to you as if something has scared them. Almost as if they've seen a ghost!
He might as well! Onyx was telling himself that he might as well go to this dance. Neither his brother nor lover had really expressed much interest in going when he brought it up, so he left it at that and came alone. The tall Chimera was wearing a generic super hero costume, since it was the only thing the store still had left in his size. Next year, he would shop a little sooner. He had the pointed nezubat hood over his eyes to hide his face like everyone else. As he was walking towards the refreshments, there was a horrible yowl, and sudden pain in his leg as a strangely colored vespercat dug it's claws into his leg. It wasn't being vicious, no. The thing looked afraid. He managed to get the cat off his leg, but didn't have the heart to shoo it away. Welp... he hoped his brother was ok with the familiar.
Yuta: 3 Some of these nezubats were sleeping in the rafters, but they've come down to dance! They're swooping under skirts and perching on shoulders like the lil rascals they are.
Yuta felt a little out of place without Yuka around, but he had dressed himself up in his finest dancing outfit to attend this ball. Yuta had a mask with golden ribbons dangling down the sides, and as he walked through the party, a bat suddenly swooped down and grabbed one of the ribbons, and pulled his mask off. Laughing, Yuta caught the bat before it could get too far. He got his mask back, and apparently a new friend.
Sesha: 18 bottle trinket A junior in what appears to be a hand-me-down, bright yellow tuxedo hands one of these out to you. You feel tentative to drink it, and it's a little warm through the glass bottle.
Finding a mask to cover 6 eyes was pretty much impossible. So instead of a mask, the naga hybrid wore a helmet. He was in a costume, dress armor from a recent video game. It was pretty flashy and decorative. No one really commented on the fact that it was from a game. He was glad though, because he really didn't want to explain it. As he was heading towards the refreshments, a junior stopped him and handed him a bottle. What service! But... the bottle was pretty warm... and honestly, at these events one never really... knew what you were getting into... right? He decided not to drink.
Laurentia: 6 bottle trinket A junior in what appears to be a hand-me-down, bright yellow tuxedo hands one of these out to you. You feel tentative to drink it, and it's a little warm through the glass bottle.
She was SO READY for this. Lau had been pretty excited about this ball. It was a masquerade! She had found a lovely black satin shirt and some fantastic black boots. She knew exactly what she was going to do. A pair of black riding pants and a wide brimmed hat completed the look. After tying a black mask on, she was totally ready! AH! She was like the heroic legend, Zorro! She was looking around, wondering if Obi was here or not, and a junior started walking her way. She was about to tell them that she wasn't interested, and was waiting for her fiance... AH! Fiance, that word still made her blush. But before she said anything, the kid handed her a bottle and walked off. Well that was... unexpected. Should she drink it? Maybe not...
Nicolae: 19 If you do not have a Rainbow Potion: Someone taps on your shoulder and whispers something completely inaudible into your ear before disappearing into the crowd. What was that?!
Nicolae was telling himself he was here to chaperone the dance, but really, he wanted to dress in his finest silks and jewelry. He was a little sleepy, but he felt just so dang PRETTY that he would stay up for this dance. Were there any other cherubs about to talk to? As he was looking around, trying to bounce up and look around the crowd, someone snuck up behind him and whispered something to him. What... what was that? Wait, who was that? There were so many people here... they couldn't have been talking to him...
No familiars or trinkets yet
Nora: 3 bat familiar Some of these nezubats were sleeping in the rafters, but they've come down to dance! They're swooping under skirts and perching on shoulders like the lil rascals they are.
Nora had put on her best dress. She felt like a princess when she wore it. It was frilly and lacy, with silk roses at the hip. She wore a lovely mask with flowers and lace that went up into her hair. She was having fun dancing among the other guests that she hadn't noticed when she moved into a dimly lit part of the ballroom. It wasn't until a nezubat swooped down and flew between her ankles, flipping her skirt behind her. She gave a startled shriek as the bat dove at her again, this time flying past her knees. What a naughty thing!
Miwako: 18 bottle trinket A junior in what appears to be a hand-me-down, bright yellow tuxedo hands one of these out to you. You feel tentative to drink it, and it's a little warm through the glass bottle.
She wasn't sure why she had come. Miwako was dressed in a delicate hanfu, wispy lace with silk trim draped over her slender form. She had flowers in her hair, and a half mask that covered one of her three eyes. The mask was silver with red roses painted along the outer edge. She was nervous, and had to keep her tails close to her body. She was standing against a wall, watching everyone dance when someone came by and handed her a bottle. She was... distracted by what the child wore. That was... an odd choice of dress...
Atropos: 17 zombie pumpkin These familiars are clinging to you as if something has scared them. Almost as if they've seen a ghost!
This was delightful! Atropos wore a white gown with golden leaves embroidered at the hem, and along her bust. Her mask was copper and orange, like her leaves. This was a lot of fun! She was moving through the room easily, dancing with people for a few moments, before moving onto another body. She was having so much fun that she almost missed the pumpka that shrieked and ran under her dress. What...? What was this? She lifted the hem of her skirt up to look at the pumpka. It looked terrified. She smiled and leaned down to pick up the poor little thing.
Bowie: 17 zombie jellyfish These familiars are clinging to you as if something has scared them. Almost as if they've seen a ghost!
This was totally worth it! Bowie was glad to close up shop early to come to this. He wore tight, form fitting white pants and a white and silver shirt with gold accents on the collar. This was great! He was happy to dance, though he was looking for a particular imp. As he was looking around, he ran into the tendrils of a small jellyfish. He blinked as the thing seemed to pull itself against Bowie, and... was it shaking? The poor thing. "Hey there little dude, no worries. Stick with me. Whatever's scaring you can't hurt ya with me here."
Aleanette spun about, the blush coloured dress she'd picked for the night billowing out about her as she did. The glitter made in the material caught the lights, sparkling with her every move just as the mask situated on her face did. It was simple, elegant and a shade of pink that complimented her dress perfectly. She'd curled her hair and pinned back half of it with an array of flowers and after hours of debating, she had settled on a pair of ballet flats that matched. She planned on dancing after all! Her eyes lit up as she entered the decorated room. It was beautiful and the music that bounced off the walls had her bouncing on her toes in glee. She was nervous as she walked deeper into the ballroom but that quickly dissipated as mint coloured fennekit wound its way about her legs. With a giggle, she bent to coo at the animal in an attempt to get it to let her pet it.
Syblia smiled as they watched their adopted sister stoop to play with a fennekit almost immediately after they walked through the doors. It was nice to see her so excited about a social event when normally she would be off on her own somewhere, painting whatever came to mind. Their hands smoothed over the soft grey slacks they'd picked for the night, having paired it with a simple white shirt and a mask that was just enough to shroud their eyes in the same heather grey, they felt comfortable enough to venture deeper into the room. A small squeak to their left caught their attention and as curiosity washed over them, they turned to face as small flitterat the colours of candy corn stood on its hind legs to wave its paws at them. Smiling, they reached out a hand to it, delighted when it hopped right on into their palm to skitter up their arm and perch on their shoulder like a tiny sentinel.
Juliette had always felt more comfortable behind a mask. It felt freeing as it allowed her to feel less stare at. Though masquerades were not often, Juliette was always happy to don her trusted friend. Though she felt calmer, she still couldn't help but choose to wear a mostly full-coverage ball gown.
Upon stumbling across the junior's plushie table, Juliette found herself being practically forced to take one. They were all rather... aggresive looking. The junior looked so proud, though, it was hard to say "no". Resigning to her fate, Juliette picked out the one with the space-themed fabric. "Thank you," she said.
x x x x
Dara was never one to shy away from attention, so she loved her barely-there mask. She wasn't here to hide her face. She was here to party, make new friends, and forget the stress of nursing classes! She twirled in her awesome ballete-inspired dress while making her way through the crowd.
That is, until she stumbled across a brightly colored fennekit. It was so cute that Dara just had to dip down to pet them. "Hello, sweetie," she said in a tender tone. "Aren't you precious?" The fennekit seemed to enjoy the attenion, mewing softly with delight.
x x
Eirian hadn't felt like themselves ever since the events of last year. They still had nightmares about it. Their initial plan for the anniversary was to stay in and ignore it while hanging around the house with their parents... But then those three had heard about this masquerade being held at the Academy (the epicenter of the damn event!!) and thought this would be a good way to help with the trauma. They even bought Eirian a beautiful mask. That was it, they had to go.
Once at the ball, Eirian tried hard to forget their problems. Soon after arriving, though, someone tapped on their shoulder and then disappeared into the crowd. Eirian couldn't help but feel worried that they had somehow seen the evidence of their disease. They double-checked that their suit covered most of the white veins before continuing forward. Eirian was not going to return home so soon. Their parents would only fret.
x x x
Going to a masquerade ball at his alma mater was not exactly the thing Frederick wanted to do, but it was the only thing to do. He didn't have any friends to hang with and he couldn't spend the night holed up in his room. His roommate had seen to that. So he had picked out a last minute mask and outfit to go with before arriving at the ballroom.
Frederick wasn't in the room long before a junior appeared and practically forced a potion into his hands. He stared down at the orange concotion, not really sure what to do with it. Isn't taking food from strangers bad?
x x x
Arthur was really interested when he heard the news of the Academy hosting a masquerade. An avid fan of literature and music, this wall all right up his alley. He was wearing a jester-style mask, bells included, with a simple suit. Arthur couldn't help but laugh as he heard his bells jingle with every step into the room.
Arthur moved with the crowd and somehow ended up finding himself at a fortune teller's booth. He smiled to himself before ducking in. This was all in good fun, after all.
x x x
Seren had picked his mask because it made him laugh. The long nose was just too ridiculous.
Soon after arriving, Seren came across a apple bobbing contest. He had to laugh at the idea of doing so with his mask. He gave it a whirl but the nose of his mask kept his mouth much too far away. "If only I had a longer tongue," Seren joked.
Aurora arrived at the ball it was so beautiful and she was wearing a long black gown and wearing a mask that was detailed in silver. She had only just arrived when she was given a rainbow potion bottle. Well, that was curious before she had a chance to ask the junior in the well worn yellow tux had disappeared into the crowd she figured they were off to give the potion to others attending the ball. Aurora went out to the dance floor she didn't mind dancing by herself she had a great deal of experience living and dancing alone.
Soree Mih arrived at the ball wearing a short pink dress and a pink and green mask over her face, this was going to be fun though for her others might know her voice since she was a love radio talk show host. Oh well maybe she could change her voice a little so she could pretend to be someone else tonight and just be a normal imp. Soree was heading out to the dance floor when she thought she saw a familiar floating. When she looked at the familiar they looked like a normal? Fennekit well this was a nice surprise. She picked them up and went to dance with her new friend.
Arachnne Little was wearing a dark blue dress and a black mask that looked like a blue and black butterfly on her face, she had long been looking forward to this ball. A chance to go out as not Arachnne the shy librarian instead tonight she would be an elegant beautiful hallowed demon. She would pretend to be brave and bold tonight. She was about to head out onto the dance floor when she felt a flitterrat land on her shoulder. She smiled taking it as a good sign that tonight would be Arachnne's night to shine and maybe even love would shine on her.
Ferreor was nervous he was always nervous hiding behind his mask of red and black only did so much to help his feeling since he didn't like wearing a tux. He had this one from his old life as an elven Nobel a life he had left behind and didn't like. Ferreor liked cleaning and cooking for others. Which to his family was shameful. That was why Ferreor had left his family and started over in the below. He went to the snack table to try to breath he was so nervous about this but Ferreor was also lonely he wanted to meet someone. He picked up the plushie and held it to his chest snuggling the toy breathing deeply.
Aeon had gone with a starry theme with her sparkly silver dress and her silver mask with it's silver stars on it, she was a little nervous getting back out into the dating pool but her kids were growing up and the agreement she had made with their other mother was just that. Thought Aeon had sometimes hoped that it would become something more. Aeon spotted the table with the junior sitting at it she smiled at the junior and thanked them many times for the beautiful plushie Aeon snuggled the gorgeous plushie to her chest and went to see what else was going on.
Yunia wasn't so sure about this going to a ball her, she was a guard for a mall she was a nobody, not that she was much of a somebody in her village. Yunia hadn't been sure about coming here and she wasn't sure about this. She pulled at her purple dress in a nervous fashion and then fussed with her black and purple mask. Then she looked down at the junior in the worn yellow tux handing her a brown potion. She smiled a little and thanked them for the item. Then she went to sit down and gather her wits.
Amethyst Mist was excited she was wearing a long black dress and a mask with swirls of purple and blue, she had broken up with her boyfriend and was on the hunt for something new in her life. She wasn't sure what she was looking for but she wasn't expecting the familiar to cling to her frightened. "Aww it's alright don't worry you can dance with me and it will all be alright," Ame said to the frightened pumpkin familiar. She did wonder if they had seen themselves in a mirror they did look rather spooky after all. She smiled a little maybe she should cover the mirrors at her dorm.
Abha was wearing a black tux that she rented so it didn't fit her perfectly not that she cared about that sort of thing anyway, she was wearing a simple black mask as well. She hurried out onto the dance floor and bumped into someone who seemed familiar smelling of cotton candy but when Abha turned to apologize for bumping into whoever it was they disappeared quickly into the crowd curious. Abha shrugged hoping they weren't angry with her whoever they were. Abha went out onto the dance floor and starting dancing this was a party after all and she wasn't planning to let it go to waste.
Natsumi was wearing a green dress that fell to her knees and had vines and flowers on it and her mask was a matching affair. She smiled at the figure who invited her to play bobbing for apples, Natsumi wasn't afraid of getting her dress or mask wet she would have fun. She made a few attempts but she failed to get one of the apples she smiled and thanked those at the bobbing for apples game. She took a towel she had been offered and used it to dry herself off as best she could. Then she went out of the dance floor to dance and let that dry her the rest of the way.
Litheria looked curiously at the junior in the yellow tux who gave her the orange potion she wanted to ask them so many questions since Lith wanted to study medical potions, so she was curious about all sorts of charms enchantments potions and all of their effects. Lith wasn't really thinking about the dress she was wearing or her mask they were both a simple shade of green. Her mind buzzed with thoughts of what was in the potion bottle and what it would do. She hoped she would find out before haunted hallows ended. She smiled and went to sit down and watch the other dancers.
