first entry ⊗ mutton man (backdated)

[flamekthunder]

Sender: Eustace (and Nier)
To: Everyone
Subject: Regarding the Mutton Man from the Dream Board


Attention everyone,

If you've looked through the recent Dream Board, you may have seen a quest regarding an entity referring to itself as the "Mutton Man" and is involved with slaughtering sheep and harming others. Nier and I have encountered a similar figure in the recent dreamscape during Halloween, the one the tapirs are calling a "dreamshift." It appeared around the witch's hut and we weren't able to determine if it was related to what happened that night or not. It was a formidable adversary, capable of inhuman speed, strength, and defense. We were able to destroy it, but the similarities are concerning.

Regardless if it was brought in from the dreamscape or something separate, take extreme caution when engaging with it.

[The handwriting quickly shifts from the straightforward, neat handwriting to WHAT'S NIER'S HANDWRITING LIKE LMAO]

The "Mutton Man" wasn't messing around and he's dangerous! Please be careful if you see him. I don't want anyone to get hurt. Eustace is right when he says the Mutton Man's really strong. Somehow we managed to fend him off, but I don't think it's over. The Mutton Man said so himself!!

[It can't be seen, but Eustace is side-eying Nier who just rudely barged in.]

As Nier said, its final words along with its disturbing rhyme were "This isn't over" and "Everything has an ending." Whether it's the ravings of an insane creature or a warning has yet to be determined. Given what Soldier: 76 stated in his recent entry regarding the Erasers and the Story Eater, however, I am beginning to wonder if they might be related. When it was destroyed, it turned into paper and black ink. If you fight and manage to damage the one here, take note of what kind of injuries it sustains.

[Nier pauses for a moment because he's going to say something that sounds absolutely ridiculous.]

The Mutton Man left behind something after we destroyed it! You might not believe me, but it was a moon cake! Please don't ask me why it was a moon cake. I'm just saying what I saw. [Here have a brilliant illustration by Nier:]



[And then there's another beautiful illustration that appears soon after (also by Nier).]



...That was supposed to be Nier's attempt at the Mutton Man, but it looked more like this: [Have Eustace's attempt.]



[And that's how the message ends because at this point Eustace is probably criticizing Nier as they argue how the Mutton Man looked like.]

[ooc: Do you know the Mutton Man—anyway, joint post with Eustace and Nier! Nier's writing is in blue, and yes we doodled those crying. Eustace is default font and Nier is the blue. Both are available for responses! As indicated, this post is backdated a couple of days to be earlier in the week.]

Comments

Sender: Jude

[spryite]

Are the both of you okay? No injuries? And did the paper and ink linger, after it was defeated?

[flamekthunder]

We sustained little injury in the dreamscape and returned unharmed.

The paper disappeared, but the ink remained.

[spryite]

That's good to hear. Could the ink have been salvaged, possibly? Though I don't suppose that dreamscape is still accessible now, from the sound of it?

[flamekthunder]

Unfortunately none of it carried over when we left the dreamscape, and you are correct. We can no longer access it and it seems unclear as to how we all entered it to begin with.

However, I can say that the ink was similar to other traces that were within the dreamscape. Whether it's from the same source or others similar to it is unclear, however.

[spryite]

Can you still try describing it? Is there a significant difference between entering one willingly, like the practice ones the tapirs have set up, and being dragged into one without warning?

So we may start finding traces of that here, too. Things could get dangerous. Is fighting it the only known way of repelling it, so far?

[flamekthunder]

[...Hmmm.]

From at least what I remember, the experience of entering the dreamscape didn't feel so different. However, the way it happened was unusual. I wasn't even sleeping when I was pulled into it. I'm not sure what caused it, but I was at home maintaining my weapon and the next thing I knew I was in the dreamscape. However, I think the lights flicker before everything went dark...that's all I remember before "waking" into the dream and everyone had costumes or completely different forms to fit into the dream world.

As for fighting, if it's an Eraser then from what I've heard then it is the only way.

[spryite]

Whatever the cause, it was sudden, indiscriminate, and dragged just about everyone into the dreamshift. Is that essentially what happened?

That's worrisome, not everyone knows how to fight. Erasers don't sound very common at least, how would you rate the Mutton Man's movement speed? Would he be easy to run away from at a distance?

[flamekthunder]

Correct.

Its movements were fast enough that it could dodge my shots and cover distances within moments. If he were to give chase, it's more likely it would catch them. It's not a foe an average person would be able to escape from.

I'm of the opinion that our own skills alone won't be enough. Dreamotion energy may give us an advantage, and it would be worth developing for anyone. Even if not for offensive combat, then for defensive to allow them a better chance to escape from threats.

[spryite]

That really contextualizes the many recent entries asking about dreamotion practice. Everyone wants to be better prepared, the next time a dreamshift like that happens again here.

That's bad, there must be something we can do to help non-combatants protect themselves in case of such encounters, or better avoid them altogether. Dreamotion application for supportive and defensive purposes may not be the first thing that everyone may think of using it for, but I do agree that there should be a lot of possibilities we could explore if we brainstorm and share what worked for us in our respective home worlds. It'd be all ideas we could build off of.

[flamekthunder]

Agreed. I admit I'm not the most imaginative compared to others, but even I can understand that there are a lot of applications that could be created and used with it.

At the very least, it does seem that many of us are at least familiar with magic in some form, so if there are those who know defensive or supportive abilities, there may be a way to adapt it to dreamotion.

[spryite]

There's so much to look into... Thank you for the ideas, but I should save that for later and focus on my current topic of research. About the "Mutton Man" Eraser, you said he dropped a mooncake after? Do you guys still have it?

[flamekthunder]

Unfortunately no. I did pick it up to investigate with the other things back at the witch's house, but it did not return with me.

[spryite]

As in it was prevented from leaving the dreamshift with you? That's an interesting tidbit in and of itself. Why a mooncake? Were you able to find out anything more about it?

[silentends]

I have some minor injuries but it's nothing serious. As long as I rest I'll be okay.

Thank you for your concern! You seem really nice.

[spryite]

Can you please describe your injuries in more detail, if you don't mind? Any way they may have felt different from regular cuts and bruises you may have suffered from ordinary sources before you woke up in this world? I'd like to ask if you were prepared with means of healing just in case too, but it sounded like you two had things under control. My concerns are also normal for anyone with a medical background, so don't mention it. I'm just wary, after it's been mentioned that Noctaeres can possess people. This "Mutton Man" may sound like an Eraser, but I don't think we know enough about what they're capable of just yet to let our guard down.

[silentends]

It's nothing. Just fatigue and they roughed me up a bit. Nothing more than a scratch or two.

Try not to worry so much. Wait. You have a medical background? Can you make medicine?

[ It seems like he has intrest in that part more than anything else tbh.]

[spryite]

Alright. Please rest up and make sure you eat well.

I do have some knowledge of it mainly from books I've read back in my world, but I don't think much of that would be useful or applicable outside of it, unfortunately. I can still hear you out and try to see what I can do, though. What are you looking to treat?

[silentends]

Thanks, I'll manage somehow.

I was hoping you might be able to come up with medicine that could help with pain. Would it be too much to ask for?

[spryite]

Don't hesitate to write again, if you somehow feel under the weather or sustain worse injuries. There must be other healers here too, we'd be happy to help.

Pain relief is commonly sought for treatment, but the cause for it can be tricky. What kind of pain is it, and from where? Can you describe it in more detail?

[silentends]

Thank you for offering.

Do you have anything for chest pains? It's not for me I need it for someone else.

[spryite]

Anytime, it's the least that we can do for each other in this situation.

Back in my world, there's a plant called the Heart Herb that's very effective in aromatherapy for pain treatment. It's probably a long shot, but have you heard of anything like that before? It looks a bit like this.

[Followed by a rather detailed pen drawing of an herb with heart-shaped leaves. Since it's a Talesthing, probably not hm...]

[silentends]

No, but I've heard of something similar. We just called them medicinal herbs where I'm from. I think it might be a little different though.

Did you make that drawing?

[spryite]

Definitely different. Then as for a less specific remedy, do you know the cause of that chest pain? Physical injury, or illness? Does it feel swollen and inflamed, or more stiff and strained? Any issue with breathing, too?

Yes and no, actually. I've sketched it before, but this time I just imagined how I remember it, from both my notes and my memory of seeing it up close. This looks better than how I normally draw, I think.

[silentends]

Definitely chest pains and a cough. I want to be clear about something because the medicine isn't for me.

The image turned out nice. There were a lot of details in the picture.

[spryite]

Cough, too? Hot baths and drinks like ginger tea are worth a shot, in terms of home remedies. Turmeric and clove are spices that can help too, and you can incorporate both in curry. The patient you're referring to isn't in Songerein, are they?

[For better or worse, Jude's picking up on the vagueness, and imagines Nier may have already consulted healers who've been around before him if whoever these inquiries are for actually is here. Still, may as well ask for confirmation?]

Thanks, I've been told I have a good memory. Maybe I should practise if that was also thanks to dreamotion, learning to accurately project pictures in your head onto the journal could come in handy.