Monthly Post & CR Meme #24: Heat Abnormal

[beautifuldreamermods]

MONTHLY POST

Happy April, Dreamers! I don't have a TON to yammer on about this month except for a little heads up that I will be away on vacation for the first two-ish weeks of May and thus the May schedule will be a bit different! The monthly post will go up a few days early and May's TDM will be a repost of the previous year's TDM. More specific info regarding the May event dates will also be on that month's post.

Other than that, no major OOC updates! But there IS a Disturbance this month, so you might wanna scroll down and catch up on that...

EVENT INFO & TIMELINE

You all knew this was coming.............. Once again, it's time to dive back into the Dream Sphere and rescue one of their own from a Disturbance!

As a recap for those just joining us since our last event: Disturbances are surreal dreamscapes draw directly on the struggles, fears and emotions of a single character, similar to the TV world dungeons in Persona 4 or the Heartscapes in Blue Reflection Second Light. These large-scale dungeons will tie into the overarching plot of the game as we progress and must be tackled in order to prevent a negative outcome on both the Dream Sphere and Yumemigaoka itself. Scary stuff!

In addition, Disturbances are unique among other Outlying Locations in that they vanish once resolved and incubate extremely powerful enemies at their core who must be defeated to save the person at its heart. This where BD's turn based mechanics come in! Disturbance boss battles are where our Boss Tier Combat system finally enters the picture and will require signups beforehand to help keep things organized. In this Disturbance, participants are capped at four Dreamers with at least one Experienced Dreamer with a Signature Move. We will also be prioritizing folks who were not picked or otherwise did not participate in the first dungeon's boss combat. Slots are otherwise open to as many Novices who would like to give things a try!

Sign up with the form below – just fill it out and reply to the signups toplevel. If our signups exceed our number of slots, characters will be selected via RNG. Please be aware that if you are selected, you will be expected to be active and present during the event to ensure things can conclude!

Signups will close on April 12th.

Boss Combat Signups:
<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Contact:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Archetype:</b> <b>Powers:</b> <B>Anything Else?:</b>



!

EVENT TIMELINE

⧖ April 2nd: A meteor shower will fall over Yumemigaoka on the night of April 2nd going into the 3rd, filling the sky with falling stars.

⧖ April 10th: While traveling to work on the morning of the 10th, Ai is attacked at the train station by an enraged fan and witnesses report seeing her vanish from the scene in a way consistent with a Dreamer crossing over to the Dream Sphere. Almost immediately, a series of earthquakes shakes Koubai Ward and is followed shortly after by the DU publicly confirming to all Dreamers that they have confirmed the presence of a Disturbance manifestation and that Ai is confirmed to be the cause. With no way of breaching it until it fully manifests, the DU warns that all Dreamers should be prepared to enter the Dream Sphere to dive in once it is fully stable.

⧖ April 14th: The Disturbance log will go up.

⧖ April 28th: The OOC deadline for Ai's rescue from the Dream Sphere.


CR Planning Form:
<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Contact:</b> <b>Introduction:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Canon:</b> <b>About:</b> (Give us a quick outline of your character! Think of this as a brief introduction to get everyone on the same page.) <b>Short Term & Long Term Plans:</b> (If you have any, of course! You can also use this section to pitch the general shape of The Vibes you're shooting for in your arc and see if anyone else can help you brainstorm it.) <b>Desired CR:</B> (This is the big one! If you're looking for particular CR, pitch it here!) <B>Anything Else?:</b> i fully expect this to be meme central but i'm adding it anyway

WORLD UPDATES

April kicks off with cool mornings and mild afternoons, the perfect weather for enjoying the tail end of cherry blossom season... assuming the typhoon didn’t ruin the trees, at least. Fortunately, Yumemigaoka bounces back fast and as the sakura fade, other flowers burst onto the scene and spring is officially sprung across the city. With gentle breezes and mostly clear skies, it's the perfect time to enjoy the city, especially starting from around the 14th - the temperature jumps to a summery high for a few days but thankfully, doesn't overstay its welcome. By the 21st, things settle back down into more normal April temperatures for the rest of the month. The humidity creeps up a little and the scattered showers become a little more frequent as the upcoming rainy season looms on the horizon.

Over in the Dream Sphere, spring hasn't just sprung - it's practically exploded. Flowers spill across the landscape, growing in impossible abundance with bioluminescent wildflowers overtaking every surface. Even the Slumbering City isn’t spared; vines creep along buildings, and bridges are draped in surreal, shifting blossoms that change colors with the wind. But that mid-month heatwave? Yeah, it’s hitting the Dream Sphere too. The Abandoned Dojo and Twinkle Keep in particular experience a sudden temperature surge and even the chillier parts of the Dream Sphere end up feeling a little balmy this month.

And then there’s Fury Peak. Apparently, it didn’t get the memo that last month's eruptions were killing the vibe because it’s still acting up. As well as the constant eruptions, the smoke in the air now seems a permanent fixture of the dream and unpredictable storms seem to develop out of nowhere. Some Dreamers report strange, otherworldly howls echoing through the jagged peaks, the source of which remains unknown.



!

WORLD EVENTS

!★! All Month: The DU will continue to see increased calls and attempts at correspondence from media outlets wanting the scoop on Dreamer Ai-Doll - in some cases this may also result in Dreamers publicly known to associate with her being approached on the street while going about their days. This sees a dramatic uptick following the attack and Ai's disappearance into the Dream Sphere.

⧖ April 1st: April Fool's! As a prank, some chuckster has replaced all the pens in the DU office with... crayons, apparently. God knows how they did this without being caught but everyone's writing utensils will be back where they belong come April 2nd. ... is now really the time for this?!

⧖ April 6th - 10th: Matsuba World Market has a flash sale going on! All their seasonal groceries are half off to clear stock for next season's goodies, so be sure to swoop in and get while the getting's good!

⧖ April 7th - 10th: Following the end of graduation season and the release of a bunch of new students into the adult world, the DU will be sponsoring a job fair hosted at the Asagi Public Library, aimed specifically at Dreamers who are new to the job market and who are looking to get their foot in the door somewhere that accommodates Dreamers. Various companies and organizations within Yumemigaoka will be participating with a focus on flexi-time and WFH schedules to accommodate the occasionally messy schedule of an active Dreamer.

⧖ April 11th: Yumemigaoka Cultural Museum announces a new exhibit expected to open in the next two months, titled 'Tales from the Dreaming.' The exhibit will be focusing on the history and culture of Dreamers through art, media and written histories donated by Dreamers all around the world. Dreamers from Yumemigaoka itself will also be invited to consider contributing!

⧖ April 14th: Kokuhaku Tea officially switches over to their spring and summer menu, bringing back the beloved seasonal teas and changing over some of the sweets and snacks.

⧖ April 18th: A popular sportswear brand from elsewhere in Japan, O.V.E.R, has announced their plans to open an indoor, year-round sport centre in Asagi sometime in the next year or so. While it sure sounds fun, the general vibe among Asagi residents is that the however many months of construction noise is so not going to be worth it.

⧖ April 22nd - May 22nd: Hikawa Shrine announces that they'll be temporarily closing to the public to repair damage to the shrine's roof and exterior caused by heavy rain earlier this month. Make sure to give them lots of support when they re-open!

⧖ April 29th - May 5th: It's Golden Week! Students are free from school, as are most people who work in private sectors though, tragically, the heroes working retail and customer service will still be expected to work. Businesses around the city will be holding sales and promotions to capitalize on the holiday - in particular, Meteor Bowling Alley will be open for extended hours, Oozora Curry is going to start selling its legendarily delicious Golden Curry and Matsuba World Market and Tsubaki Department Store will have special offers and events.

⧖ April 29th - May 5th: Since it's Golden Week, Moon Bunny Market is holding a stamp rally! Each participating store in the market will have a stamp they're handing out, and if a participant is able to collect all the stamps at each store then they'll get some edible goodies from the market itself and a discount coupon to spend at any store they like. The rally lasts all of Golden Week, so take your time to hit everyone up!

AC RESULTS

Activity for March and April is due at the end of this month so don't forget to submit it once you've got it!

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Comments

NEW CHARACTER INTRODUCTIONS

[beautifuldreamermods]

Please only post here if your character entered the game in the most recent app round!

The Crimson Fallen Angel, Crow | Dreamer CrimsonZ

[crimsonballade]

Player Name: Jeff
Contact: trepan
Introduction: Hi I'm Jeff! You know me. If you don't, you will (threat).

Character Name: Crow (just Crow. Like Madonna.)
Canon: Show By Rock!!

About: Your local chuuni wannabe rock star, Crow's an edgy boy with a short temper and is needlessly dramatic...always. Despite being Like That, however, he's not a bad kid (just ask him how proud he is of his parents' dairy farm!).

He's a recently awakened Dreamer, and on a quest to find his rock idol in the dream sphere after his mysterious disappearance!

He's also planning to become the #1 musician in Yumemigaoka, if not the whole of Japan. He's...working on it. In between part-time work at the music store.

Short Term & Long Term Plans: He is truly just here to vibe, but since he's new to being a dreamer I'd love to integrate him into the DU, have him get to know people, get into fights...

Desired CR: Give me anything and everything. He could do with a good rival, though. This does not have to be reciprocal. It's probably funnier if it's not.

Anything Else?:

[greaterspeed]

Can't believe this is a hedgehog with a long tail what is this loser DOING--

I missed your TDM post because I was frantically tagging canonmates as regular Sonic but. the thing. we should do the thing. somehow.

[crimsonballade]

WE SHOULD!!!! I need Nikki to piss him off soooooo bad

[lonelyrollingstar]

I really enjoyed our TDM thread and look forward to more of Ouji and Crow hanging out! NEWLY AWAKENED DREAMER BUDDIES!!

[crimsonballade]

PLEASE....i meant to ask do you wanna keep the TDM canon or no? I think it could be cute...he's got a little soft spot for Ouji...

[lonelyrollingstar]

Absolutely down with keeping it canon!!! ✨ let’s goooo!!

[traceofeffort]

Late and I forgot to tag him on the TDM, but! He can't be the #1 musician in Yumemigaoka, Ai is here! He can't be the #2 either, Lisa's pretty sure that's Sam! But she'll fight Crow over third seat. Before that she'll need to swing into the music shop for new bass strings, I expect. She's, uh, not allowed to get in any more fights though, she's booked up.

[crimsonballade]

THEY CAN DUKE IT OUT OVER THIRD PLACE....when Lisa's schedule allows her to. He'll wait patietly (He has never been patient in his life). I'm sorry Lisa but if you reveal yourself as a bassist in his vicinity you WILL be asked to join his band (he is the only member as of yet)

[traceofeffort]

Lisa: [walks into DU with gig bag]
Crow: Our eyes met! That means you have to join my band!
Lisa: I thought that was for Pokémon battles?

...but yes, it'll be great. Then again she really does need an excuse to practice more, so. She may not join his band right away and/or ever, but she'll absolutely jam sometimes.

[thestarknows]

WE'LL NEED TO DO A THING Junna will be a bit of a mess this month...

[crimsonballade]

God. Poor Junna. Going through it and then suddenly you've got to deal with this fuckin' guy

[thestarknows]

Ahaha. She'll cope. Somehow. Maybe??

Ko Tenjin 🌟 Dreamer Refract

[exaltruistic]

Player Name: vandal
Contact: PM, discord @ vandalisto
Introduction: hi i'm vandal. :) he/they/ey/it pronouns, 2D boys music series enthusiast. good to meet you!

Character Name: ko tenjin
Canon: handead anthem

About: full info is here, but my elevator pitch: a man-made god with a wealth of secrets! he has a cult following of sorts in fukuoka as an experienced dreamer; doesn't like to let people close, and works as a psychologist on the side. secret passion for books, succulents, and EDM with heavy beats. :)

Short Term & Long Term Plans:

🌟 short term: get him some CR! he'll be back in yumemigaoka after a while in fukuoka and might be kicking around the dreamer union as well. he likes to spend his time being busy and out, so he can really be spotted just all over the place.

🌟 long term: getting CR that can get close to him and, like, get past his weird walls. maybe even learn his secrets ... ?! maybe getting him to face his status as a "god" with how very human he really is, whether that's in the waking world or the dream sphere.

Desired CR:

🌟 fellow bookworms/amateur botanists!
🌟 someone he can go therapist mode on!
🌟 people to see through his facade!
🌟 someone he can brat at!
🌟 someone who he can get into a friendship with where they'll tell one another to sleep and/or eat because they forget!
🌟 pretty much any!

Anything Else?: he's canonically tone-deaf btw

[tworo]

Turo is a man-made Dream Figment who was created from and is currently impersonating an experienced Dreamer! It's always interested in meeting actual experienced Dreamers that it can try and learn from!

Bruno is also an experienced Dreamer who likes talking to other adults in the Dream Sphere sometimes! He has a lot of issues! Don't worry about the psychological implications of his Dreamer self being a giant shadow monster!

[exaltruistic]

turoooo! wow what cool lore omg. very interested in CR w turo :0 !!

and bruno too! i'm vaguely familiar w/both turo and bruno in their respective canons; i think they could get along well w/ko. :>

[tworo]

ooooh, thanks! Bruno's a lot easier to meet than Turo, on average, just because he exists in the waking world as well! but Turo is getting out there more and at least sort of thinking about telling more people about the whole Lore, so!

[traceofeffort]

Lisa both might enjoy meeting him and is going to be a headache for him! She's really bad with plants - she's been taking care of a single orchid for a year and a half now and accused Amane of sabotaging it with a decorated pot - plays the electric bass and is picking up singing, and is an absolute emotional mess. She's also been a Dreamer for a couple years now and has Seen Some Things, which feeds back into being a mess, sob. But when she gets passionate about something she can't be stopped for anything short of her girlfriend pulling her back, so.

[exaltruistic]

yayyyy! fun headache <3 ko's actually kind of bad at botany too which is why he prefers the easier plants like cacti, but he's determined LMAO. ko is tone deaf in canon + overcomes that with a lot of coaching and hard work; maybe they can explore music together haha. she sounds so cute

Shinjiro Aragaki | Dreamer Castor

[cookingasshole]

Player Name: Tex
Contact: I'm on the Discord!
Introduction: Hi, I'm Tex! I added a second character this month. I enjoy JRPGs and anime -- I've still been doing Persona 5 Royal and been watching the new Ranma -- though I've also been binging Wheel of Time lately. Sigh. Also, I have return to office this month; it shouldn't affect my tags too much.

Character Name: Shinjiro Aragaki
Canon: Persona 3

About: Shinjiro Aragaki, a.k.a. Dreamer Castor, is a Dreamer who was around three years ago. He was involved in a fight against a Nightmare in October 2022, and he went berserk... which resulted in not taking down the Nightmare. A woman caught by the Nightmare lost all of her memories, including those of her child. After that, wracked by guilt, Shinjiro took off and hitchhiked around Japan until this year. Now he's back... because he heard about these Disturbances. He is grumpy, aloof, and distant -- and scared of his own abilities as a Dreamer. He isn't with the DU, but he is starting to keep an eye on things... while being conflicted about how involved he should really be.

Short Term & Long Term Plans: In the short-term, Shinjiro is going to be snooping around Dreamer business and keeping an eye on things in the Dream Sphere. He isn't sure how involved he wants to be; he might need a nudge to get involved sometimes, but he has a protective streak a mile wide. How involved he gets in Ai's Disturbance depends if people he knew are involved.

He also will be hanging around Yumemigaoka. Shinjiro is basically homeless; he has a few friends and acquaintances and rotates whose couch he crashes on. He does, occasionally, camp out in the park. He can be found there sometimes!

In the medium-term, I want him to end up back with the Dreamer Union and living there. He will also be cooking more then... but it'll take a bit to get there, I think.

In the long-term... well, fair warning: he meets a sad ending. Stay tuned! (But also so you're aware, he has an expiration date.)

Desired CR: I really wanna work out who he knew! So: if your character was involved in Dreamer business in 2021 and 2022, Shinjiro might have known them! If you want them to have met him, been involved with the mission where he went berserk, or anything else, hit me up!

He also needs people to look after. He's a natural senpai, not that he'd ever admit it. He also needs people to clash with -- he's gruff and he has a temper, and someone to push those buttons is great.

Also, hitting him in the guilt about failing to protect someone is always welcome.

Anything Else?:

[predecir]

Bruno has also spent a good deal of time being basically homeless, and still sort of is unless you count "secretly living in a rat-hole in the DU basement" as "a home". They could maybe meet because of that? Or maybe they did meet already, since Bruno was living rough in Yumemigaoka for a little while before getting his DU crashpad?

[cookingasshole]

Oh ho, I like that! They could have bumped into each other while looking for places to stay, occasionally helped the other out, and that sort of thing?

[predecir]

Yeah, that sounds fun! Bruno would try to look out for him and all, since he's just a kid! (22 is definitely a kid to him.)

[cookingasshole]

Aw! Shinjiro would claim he doesn't need looking out for.

This isn't, strictly, true.

[predecir]

Awwwww! He's gotta! He's a weird uncle with no niblings!