A New Year, A New Me, A Whole New World
Dec. 30th, 2025 04:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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seasonsrpgWHO: Count Melodymania, Max, and You.
WHAT: The side plot for Melodymania and Max, an internal power struggle made external
WHEN: January 1st - January 6th
WHERE: All over Ellipsa
WARNINGS: Body horror, themes of existential crisis, violence, attempted murder, NPC death, and trauma exploration
Freedom. Sweet sweet freedom. Though that freedom is not yet permanent. That troublesome abomination will find a way to crawl his way back into control if he doesn't secure this coup quickly. He has days to act but he's had decades to plan this. Years upon years of biding his time, watching, learning, and watching for his chance. Ellipsa has provided all he has needed for this. Rinku and her beautiful XROSS∞BEAT was a sensational catalyst for his abilities to spread across this world within the barrier. Of course, the sacrifice of her soul was a price he was all too willing to pay. The musical influence would spread and settle over everyone. A world turned into a living musical and that was just Act 1.
This dreadful play he's planned has four more acts before everything it ends with his victory and Maximillian's permanent removal. It was time to start Act 2. Count Melodymania is giddy with the anticipation. This will be a show for all to remember. For all of January 1st, Melodymania is exploring Nightwake. He walks the streets, taking in sights, sounds, and songs. He is ecstatic to finally be in control again. He soaks up the musical energy spreading through the city. Locals and Otherworlder's alive are all susceptible to the musical energy he's spiked this world with.
With some preparation and enjoying his time out completed, it was time for Act 2. This act would introduce the damsel in distress and end his life before even the intermission! The source of Max's incredible will and the one person who would drive him to claw back control from Melodymania; Esme. Esme had to die. Yes, coming back in three days was a thing in this world. It would be temporary at best but that didn't mean Melodymania couldn't capitalize on the torment and guilt of a painful death. He would make Esme suffer to his last breath. Just like Cole would in the final act of his dreadful play.
Finding Esme isn't difficult. The pull of the heart remains, despite Max being buried down below in his carnal womb. The pull of love is greater than any compass and soon Melodymania spots the little Lost. Soft fur, softer eyes, and an irritating talent for not dying. Striking fast from a shadow and slicing his throat would be the quickest and simplest way to get this done. Yet that was never his style nor was it within the realm of the rules of his title. He is Count Melodymania after all. Song and dance were part of his very being and even he is drawn in by the musical energy he's unleashed upon this world. Time for the act to begin with quite the song.
A song that starts to play all around Esme as Melodymania's voice rings out before he slides out of the shadows, singing at Esme.
It's not easy having yourself a good time~
Esme isn't dead but how things turned out was even better than he had planned. That was why Melodymania loved his domain and title so much! Life being a musical means there will be improvisation, a pivot of songs and dance and themes as the stage players surprise him! Max is weakening inside him, which leaves the next stage, digestion. Melodymania makes his way back to Stormreach, to the home of Max and Esme. It is domain he has claim over because Max does too. Domain is important. If this entire world is to become his Arcadia, he needs a throne from which to rule it from. That is where domain comes in handy.
As Melodymania steps through the threshold of the house, wood and metal warps and twists. The house breaks apart as it folds in on itself. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the plumbing and wiring, tile, and furniture all obey his new design. The walls splinter to pull the bed out of the bedroom. The bed cracks as the frame and mattress are folded. Melodymania sits upon the new large chair as the wood warps under it. He is raised up as everything the cozy home once was is changed into a massive throne atop an archway. Wood and metal crack and splinter to form sharp shapes all along the massive arch. Every door in the house merges together to form one massive door that wires wrap around the frame and edges to suspend in the middle of the arch.
The throne, arch, and door finish moving. As Melodymania's eyes close, the massive warmed door opens. There is nothing on the other side but within the door, one can see a concrete staircase leading down into somewhere dark. There are shimmering lights down inside the liminal space Melodymania has opened up. the sound of music flows up the stairs.
This is the Gate of Horn. Entering will allow those who go in to venture into Max's soul scape. The staircase ends with what is a subway station before them. Though it looks like space was carved into the station to open it up for more room. There is an old fashioned train sitting on the tracks behind the bar. Yep, there is a bar. And the singing is coming from people on a makeshift stage performing in the little club. There are people in here too, strange figures of varying shapes and forms. A panda bear standing on all fours, a table of what look to be monks wearing blindfolds, a bartender who is made out of computer chips and old keyboards, and many more. There are archways and walkways a plenty to explore deeper in too; pathways each named after the four cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West. Finally a room is labeled throne room with two big body guards standing outside it. They glare anyone who approaches and will inform them the King of Corruption is not seeing visitors right now. He's out.
Do you chat up the guests, the bartender, the singer as she goes on break? Or do you simply go exploring on your own?
Near the end of the dreadful play, the songs and dancing hasn't stopped out in the real world. Yet inside the soul scape, things are not going well. The spreading corruption and influence of Melodymania is seen everywhere. Positive memories are being devoured and sinking into the darkness of his ambitions. Those exploring the paths and memories all find their way down into the deeper depths of Max's soul. Here lies the Contagion. White goo clings to surfaces, it drips from the ceilings, and crawls up the walls. The cracked floors and ground has the white goo bubble up from between the broken gaps. The landscapes start to our into one another and stop making any logical sense.
A graveyard but it has walls of a church and the ceiling of a beautiful lobby of some building. Parts of the floor and ground are separating with long strands of contagion trying to hold it all together. Yet the more it breaks here, the more strained those strings are. They are liable to break if this keeps happening. Nearing the end of this path stands a knight in armor. His sword is held before him, blade down, standing tall. He will be the one to greet all who make it this far.
"Max is just beyond. Before I allow you to pass, state your intentions. I will allow none who side with the Other to pass. Speak quickly. There is not a lot of time."
The end is nigh. Yet this play does not end as the original author intended. After all, musicals have happy endings. Well, most of them do. Some are bittersweet. Some are even sad. But so often, the villain receives their just desserts. This is one such ending. Cast out of Max, Melodymania lands upon the cold and frozen snow outside the Gate of Horn. He is beaten but not finished. Not yet. Though someone awaits him, armed with iron, and ready to put an end to this fiend's vile plans. Once and for all.
Melodymania looks up slowly, green eyes glaring up at Cole with grinding teeth.
"You...you have always been a thorn in my side. A sour note in my songs. The fucking key on my piano I can't seem to fix or the string that keeps breaking on my violin!" He pushes himself up to his knees with great effort.
"You vile little mortal. Failure of a would-be hero. Always too late. Always too weak. Isn't that right, Cole?"
WHAT: The side plot for Melodymania and Max, an internal power struggle made external
WHEN: January 1st - January 6th
WHERE: All over Ellipsa
WARNINGS: Body horror, themes of existential crisis, violence, attempted murder, NPC death, and trauma exploration
Act 1: Rise the Curtain [January 1st, Open]
Freedom. Sweet sweet freedom. Though that freedom is not yet permanent. That troublesome abomination will find a way to crawl his way back into control if he doesn't secure this coup quickly. He has days to act but he's had decades to plan this. Years upon years of biding his time, watching, learning, and watching for his chance. Ellipsa has provided all he has needed for this. Rinku and her beautiful XROSS∞BEAT was a sensational catalyst for his abilities to spread across this world within the barrier. Of course, the sacrifice of her soul was a price he was all too willing to pay. The musical influence would spread and settle over everyone. A world turned into a living musical and that was just Act 1.
This dreadful play he's planned has four more acts before everything it ends with his victory and Maximillian's permanent removal. It was time to start Act 2. Count Melodymania is giddy with the anticipation. This will be a show for all to remember. For all of January 1st, Melodymania is exploring Nightwake. He walks the streets, taking in sights, sounds, and songs. He is ecstatic to finally be in control again. He soaks up the musical energy spreading through the city. Locals and Otherworlder's alive are all susceptible to the musical energy he's spiked this world with.
Act 2: Ambition is the death of Love [January 2nd, Locked to Esme and Macaque]
With some preparation and enjoying his time out completed, it was time for Act 2. This act would introduce the damsel in distress and end his life before even the intermission! The source of Max's incredible will and the one person who would drive him to claw back control from Melodymania; Esme. Esme had to die. Yes, coming back in three days was a thing in this world. It would be temporary at best but that didn't mean Melodymania couldn't capitalize on the torment and guilt of a painful death. He would make Esme suffer to his last breath. Just like Cole would in the final act of his dreadful play.
Finding Esme isn't difficult. The pull of the heart remains, despite Max being buried down below in his carnal womb. The pull of love is greater than any compass and soon Melodymania spots the little Lost. Soft fur, softer eyes, and an irritating talent for not dying. Striking fast from a shadow and slicing his throat would be the quickest and simplest way to get this done. Yet that was never his style nor was it within the realm of the rules of his title. He is Count Melodymania after all. Song and dance were part of his very being and even he is drawn in by the musical energy he's unleashed upon this world. Time for the act to begin with quite the song.
A song that starts to play all around Esme as Melodymania's voice rings out before he slides out of the shadows, singing at Esme.
It's not easy having yourself a good time~
Act 3: The Gate of Horn [January 3rd - January 5th, Open]
Esme isn't dead but how things turned out was even better than he had planned. That was why Melodymania loved his domain and title so much! Life being a musical means there will be improvisation, a pivot of songs and dance and themes as the stage players surprise him! Max is weakening inside him, which leaves the next stage, digestion. Melodymania makes his way back to Stormreach, to the home of Max and Esme. It is domain he has claim over because Max does too. Domain is important. If this entire world is to become his Arcadia, he needs a throne from which to rule it from. That is where domain comes in handy.
As Melodymania steps through the threshold of the house, wood and metal warps and twists. The house breaks apart as it folds in on itself. The floor, the walls, the ceiling, the plumbing and wiring, tile, and furniture all obey his new design. The walls splinter to pull the bed out of the bedroom. The bed cracks as the frame and mattress are folded. Melodymania sits upon the new large chair as the wood warps under it. He is raised up as everything the cozy home once was is changed into a massive throne atop an archway. Wood and metal crack and splinter to form sharp shapes all along the massive arch. Every door in the house merges together to form one massive door that wires wrap around the frame and edges to suspend in the middle of the arch.
The throne, arch, and door finish moving. As Melodymania's eyes close, the massive warmed door opens. There is nothing on the other side but within the door, one can see a concrete staircase leading down into somewhere dark. There are shimmering lights down inside the liminal space Melodymania has opened up. the sound of music flows up the stairs.
This is the Gate of Horn. Entering will allow those who go in to venture into Max's soul scape. The staircase ends with what is a subway station before them. Though it looks like space was carved into the station to open it up for more room. There is an old fashioned train sitting on the tracks behind the bar. Yep, there is a bar. And the singing is coming from people on a makeshift stage performing in the little club. There are people in here too, strange figures of varying shapes and forms. A panda bear standing on all fours, a table of what look to be monks wearing blindfolds, a bartender who is made out of computer chips and old keyboards, and many more. There are archways and walkways a plenty to explore deeper in too; pathways each named after the four cardinal directions of North, South, East, and West. Finally a room is labeled throne room with two big body guards standing outside it. They glare anyone who approaches and will inform them the King of Corruption is not seeing visitors right now. He's out.
Do you chat up the guests, the bartender, the singer as she goes on break? Or do you simply go exploring on your own?
Act 4: The King of Corruption [January 5th evening, Open]
Near the end of the dreadful play, the songs and dancing hasn't stopped out in the real world. Yet inside the soul scape, things are not going well. The spreading corruption and influence of Melodymania is seen everywhere. Positive memories are being devoured and sinking into the darkness of his ambitions. Those exploring the paths and memories all find their way down into the deeper depths of Max's soul. Here lies the Contagion. White goo clings to surfaces, it drips from the ceilings, and crawls up the walls. The cracked floors and ground has the white goo bubble up from between the broken gaps. The landscapes start to our into one another and stop making any logical sense.
A graveyard but it has walls of a church and the ceiling of a beautiful lobby of some building. Parts of the floor and ground are separating with long strands of contagion trying to hold it all together. Yet the more it breaks here, the more strained those strings are. They are liable to break if this keeps happening. Nearing the end of this path stands a knight in armor. His sword is held before him, blade down, standing tall. He will be the one to greet all who make it this far.
"Max is just beyond. Before I allow you to pass, state your intentions. I will allow none who side with the Other to pass. Speak quickly. There is not a lot of time."
Act 5: The End of Music [January 6th midnight, Locked to Cole and reactions.]
The end is nigh. Yet this play does not end as the original author intended. After all, musicals have happy endings. Well, most of them do. Some are bittersweet. Some are even sad. But so often, the villain receives their just desserts. This is one such ending. Cast out of Max, Melodymania lands upon the cold and frozen snow outside the Gate of Horn. He is beaten but not finished. Not yet. Though someone awaits him, armed with iron, and ready to put an end to this fiend's vile plans. Once and for all.
Melodymania looks up slowly, green eyes glaring up at Cole with grinding teeth.
"You...you have always been a thorn in my side. A sour note in my songs. The fucking key on my piano I can't seem to fix or the string that keeps breaking on my violin!" He pushes himself up to his knees with great effort.
"You vile little mortal. Failure of a would-be hero. Always too late. Always too weak. Isn't that right, Cole?"
