View source for Recurring Dream - What The Thunder Said

{{Echobazaar}}
=Recurring Dream - What The Thunder Said=
__FORCETOC__
This is one of the recurring dreams you can have from opportunity cards in Echo Bazaar. If you don't want it spoiled, don't read any further! Otherwise, this documents the progress of the dream and effects you may receive/suffer.

"What the Thunder Said" is the newest of various dreams players can get in Echo Bazaar, and its creation means that there's now a dream series for each major section of [http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/18993 T.S. Eliot's "The Waste Land."]. 

It is described as "Dreams about the sky.".

==Red-bordered cards==

These cards will be automatically played if you have the action points available. They require no choices and have no chance of "failure", so what you see is what you get. The number in brackets is the level of dream which unlocks the opportunity.

===A dream about the mist===

You are walking through a forest. The air is cold and dry, laden with the scent of pine. You reach the edge of the woods just as a light rain begins to fall. Mist gathers fast; you can no longer even see the trees. You stop walking. A delicate thread of ice snakes down your spine and you shiver. This is a place with a long memory.

* Nightmares +
* Shadowy +
* Melancholy +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +


===A dream about stormy weather (1)===

You dream that you are walking through a forest. Mist is snaking through the trees towards you, and it is growing very cold. Fat raindrops start to fall. Something moves in the forest ahead. You press on. There is a rumble of thunder, far away.

* Nightmares +
* Shadowy +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +


===A dream about a clifftop (2)===

The forest ends abruptly at a precipice. Fog boils, far below. Grey drizzle fills the world. You walk along the edge of the ridge, until you come upon a knot of people: harmless-looking folk. But you turn your back on them, and head back to the treeline. The wind is whispering to you, telling you you need to disappear back into the dark green forest.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +


===A dream about a gathering===

You dream that you are standing on a clifftop, surrounded by a now-familiar gathering of people. They are murmuring softly, and paying no attention to you. The weather is getting worse; wind threatens to knock you over, rain spits in your face, and there's a constant, ominous roll of thunder. You strain to catch some of what the group is saying, but individual words dissolve into the sounds of the wind and rain. They, on the other hand, are almost intelligible. 'It's behind the mirror,' says the wind. 'In-the-window-in-the-window,' patters the rain in your ear. 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +


===A dream about a cave (4)===

You dream that you are in a damp, dark space. The walls are clammy; you can feel greasy rock when you stretch out your hand. It is smoky in here, and the only light is flickering red firelight. Gradually, you get used to the dimness. There is snow on your boots, and melting in puddles around you. But you are safe. Aren't you? A distant rumble. Rocks begin to fall from the cavern roof.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said

=== A dream about a lonely clifftop (8)===

You dream you are back on the windswept clifftop. It's familiar, now. It's raining so heavily you can barely see at all. There is no sign of the little knot of people, and the wind is shouting at you and forcing you to turn your back on it. You stumble; when you look up, you are not quite alone. A young girl, blindfolded and lost, is here. You look down at your hands. You are holding a stone knife. 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +

===A dream about a storm in a garden (9)===

You dream you are in a garden, an achingly familiar one. Some things are in the same old places - flower-beds, paths. Some have moved. But what is really different this time is the weather. The sky is dark and the air has a rotten, orange hue, so thick you could be behind glass. As you walk, the ground starts to shake; cracks spread across pavements and flowerbeds. You reach the fountain you love just in time to see it topple and smash. You stop dead, right on the edge of a yawning gap that wasn't there a moment ago. You look down into a gaping abyss. Red fire flows far below. 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +

===A dream about a desert (10)===

You dream you are standing alone in a desert. There is nothing here. Nothing but dry, ochre dust in every direction. Hot thirst scratching your throat, nagging. Suddenly the sky splits. You are drenched, instantly, by a wall of heavy, warm rain. The dust drinks it in, turns to mud. Green shoots begin to erupt from the earth, growing so rapidly, twisting towards the sky, leaves unfurling like umbrellas. In seconds, you find yourself in a jungle, the air stifling you like a damp blanket. A tremendous thunderclap deafens you and sends you scrambling through the vines, which reach for you like hands and twine around your limbs. 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +

===A dream about a stone knife (12)===

You dream you are standing on the clifftop, in the grip of the storm. The blindfolded girl is with you. You stand together a little way from the knot of people. A hooded figure detaches itself from the murmuring group. It is holding a stone knife, sharp as ravenglass. The people follow in single file, and form a graceful circle around you. Their murmuring grows and sweetens into a gentle, tuneful chant, and you can finally make out some of the words. They insinuate themselves into your ears and twine around and around your mind. The wind takes pity on you, and cuts through the snarl of language with a cold, sharp, 'North!' 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +

=== A dream about a sacrifice (13) ===

You dream you are standing in a group of people, advancing together towards the edge of a cliff. Grey mist swirls around you in rags. The sky is so saturated with rain now that you could almost be underwater. You are robed and hooded, and you are chanting words that you don't understand. Thunder growls, tells you that you are at the giving of a gift.

You are blindfolded on a windy clifftop. You know you wouldn't be able to see much if you weren't, anyway. Your hair is plastered to your head, rain running underneath the silk around your eyes. Spongy grass and sharp stones underfoot. You step forward. You think of the stone knife. Then you feel many hands at your back. They push you over the edge.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +

===A dream about thunder (?)===

You dream you are back on the stormy clifftop. The chanting group is at your back; in front of you, the barefoot blindfolded girl is holding her hands out, but standing still. A tall man steps forward and leads her to the edge of the cliff. Nothing else moves. Thunder rolls and crashes. Everyone is waiting for something to happen. The circle closes in. Suddenly, you are at the centre of it, moving with the rest.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +


===A dream about a dark, cold place (16)===

You dream you are high above a city, swaddled in wet, black fog. You are not blindfolded any more. You can see all the lights of the city far below, spread out and twinkling like a sky of red stars. The river winding in a path of blackness across it.

The wind caresses you, so, so softly, and whispers secrets in your ears. You have some knowledge, now. But this is not knowledge you want. The lights below shift; they form violent letters that etch themselves onto your mind. Thunder speaks to you. 'The Correspondence,' it says.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Cryptic Clue + 30

=== A dream about a fleet of ships (17) ===

You dream you are watching the shore. You have a bird's-eye view, hanging in the air. Below there is a tall cliff, reaching down to a sea. Above, the heavy green blur of the treeline gives way to a narrow strip of grass. There stands a small group of watchers, huddled close together.

The sky is clear and the air is soft. You watch as a fleet sets sail across the pale sea. Words fill the air around you, whispering to you, filling the sails of the ships and sending them scudding towards the sunrise.

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Cryptic Clue + 35

==White-bordered cards==

===A dream about a familiar face (3)===

You are standing on a clifftop, wind and rain stinging your face. You are closer to the little knot of people now; you can see some of their faces. One of them looks up and calls out, 'Oh, it's you!' Have you met? 

====No. You do not know anyone.====

You have never seen any of these people before.

'''Have you ever felt so alone before?'''

The wind gusts past your ear, and whispers, 'No friends here. No friends anywhere. Lonely. Friendless. Alo-o-one...' Does it have to rub it in quite so much?

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Melancholy +

====You recognise the young Comtessa====

Oh. You thought you had seen the last of her. But you owe it to her to find out what she wants. (Unlocked with a Finder of Heiresses 1)

''' 'It's in the North.' '''

The Comtessa's huge green eyes stare past you, into the middle distance. Poor girl - has she lost her mind completely? 'North,' she says. 'North. It's in the North.' One trembling finger points out to sea. 

* Recurring Dream - What The Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Watchful +

====You know that old soldier.====

He's wearing a strange-looking robe, but that is definitely the Regretful Soldier. (Unlocked with Acquaintance: Regretful Soldier 1) 

''' 'Dead men. Dead men everywhere.' '''

You go to greet the Regretful Soldier with a smile, but he ignores your outstretched hand and starts babbling about dead men. Dead men? You cannot see any dead men. Perhaps's he's talking figuratively? Brr. It's getting cold. 

* Recurring Dream - What The Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Dangerous +

====A familiar, paint-splattered figure====

You spot the familiar, stooping form of the Repentant Forger. What can he be doing here? (Unlocked with Acquaintance: a Repentant Forger 1)

''''She's red-handed. Caught red-handed.''''

The Repentant Forger waves his paint-palette at you, and points accusingly with his brush. 'She's red-handed!' he keeps crying. 'Red! Hands of red!' You back away from the wildness in his eyes.

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Persuasive +

====A musical friend====

There. Tapping her foot with characteristic impatience is your acquaintance, the Sardonic Music-Hall Singer.

(To unlock, you need Acquaintance: Sardonic Music-Hall Singer)

===A dream about a rockfall===

You dream that you are trapped in a cave, in the kind of silence that only follows extremely loud noises. A rockfall has blocked the entrance, but you could still go further into the cave. You don't know what lurks there, but it can't be anything you'd want to know about. It seems to be breathing.

====Face your fears====

Go deeper into the cave. It is your only chance of finding a way out.

'''Labyrinthine twists and turns...'''

..and cold black terror. You find yourself endlessly clambering through narrow, red-lit passageways, tearing your skin and clothes on jagged rocks. Whatever is crouching here, in the dark, knows you are here and is not pleased. Your worst moment comes when you hear a long, slow intake of breath, right behind you. But it gives you the impetus to rush towards a chink of light. Your heartbeat is frantic and you are soaked in sweat. As you reach safety, a voice whispers softly in your ear. 'It is still there,' it says. 

* Nightmares +
* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Dangerous +

====Curl up into a little ball====

So you might die here, trapped and alone? Fair enough. That's still better than facing whatever's lurking in this cave.

'''As the embers fade to nothing...'''

..you begin to regret your choice. But not for long. Soon, it is too cold to think about anything except your own shivering; soon after that, you have passed through the other side into drowsy peace. Your last thought is how odd it is to fall asleep in a dream.

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Watchful +

===A dream about shelter (7)===

You dream you are wandering the docks, in the late afternoon. A storm gathers; light rain begins to fall. The clouds above the Unterzee are thick, heavy and grey, like black sheep's-wool. Thunder rumbles, though you saw no lightning. You should not stay out in this. 

====Take shelter in the Pale Horse====

A grim, unappetising prospect, this tavern, but better than the freezing rain.

'''A warm welcome?'''

The door opens with a creak, and you struggle to close it against gusts of wind. All conversation dies; there's only the crackling of the fire and the ticking of a clock. You can feel your eyes rolling. Not this again. You sigh and prepare to talk nicely with the locals.

You order a large brandy. As the landlord hands it to you, you catch sight of your reflection in the mirror behind the bar. That is strange. Behind your ghost-white face, dark green foliage drips and stirs. No one else seems to have noticed anything odd at all.

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Dangerous +


====Take shelter in a heap of nets====

That pile of discarded fishing-nets may be slimy and stinky, there may be rats or spiders - but burrowing under them is still a more appealing prospect than a Wolfstack tavern.

'''Try to get comfortable.'''

The stench of fish is strong, but the nets at least hold some warmth, and you resolve to wait out the storm. As you shift to get comfortable, your hand lands on something hot and furry... A rat! You shudder. It looks up at you with something like pity in its little eyes. 'The king is still there,' it says. 'Still there.' 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Dangerous +

===A dream about a storm-tossed clifftop (11)===

You dream you are standing again on the clifftop. This time, the little group and the blindfolded girl are there with you. Thunder rolls and grumbles continually, and the rain falls in stinging sheets. The people are murmuring wordlessly, but the thunder is shaped into words that tell of their indifference and subtle malice. 

====Stand with the girl====

The poor thing is all alone here. You can't just look on.

'''A bony little hand, light as a feather'''

You go over to the girl's side and take her hand, which she is holding helplessly out, searching for support. She trembles, clasping your hand tightly. Her lips move; you have to lean close to catch the word carried on the softest breath. 'North...' 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Steadfast +
* Magnanimous +

====Stand with the group====

If something bad is going to happen, you would far rather stay in the background.

'''It's not your place to interfere'''

Whatever is happening here, it is following an ancient ritual. It would be foolish to try to disrupt it before you even know what it is. You stand a little away from the group of people and try to hear what they are saying. But their words are swallowed by the rumble of thunder. A cat's voice, clear as a bell, in your ear. 'If I were you,' it says, 'I would think about what you might see in the mirrors. Hmm?'

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Heartles +

=== A dream about an earthquake (12) ===

You dream you are in a crowded town square. You recognise the place - you are deep in the heart of the Forgotten Quarter. But the buildings are whole, and the streets are full of colour and noise. You should not be here. People walk past without seeing you. Urchins race by without even attempting to pick your pocket. You spread out your hands, but you can't catch anyone. Cats see you, of course, but they merely ignore you. The ground is shaking as you stand there; the rumbling grows, and buildings start shaking apart. You realise the blindfolded girl is with you. Stones are crashing down around you, now. You need to find shelter. 

====Leave the girl behind====

The square is still full of people, even if they can't see you. One of them will look after her. You need to save yourself.

====Drag the girl with you====

What kind of person would you be if you just left her?

'''The ground swallows you up'''

You grasp the poor girl's hand and pull her towards the apparent safety of a garden, dodging bits of falling masonry as you run. But as you skirt an ornamental rosebed, the ground simply opens up in front of you. You're running; you don't stand a chance, and neither does the blindfolded girl, who is still clutching your hand as you fall. 'Will we find the Trapped King?' she asks. 'Is this Parabola?' 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Magnanimous +

=== A dream about a violent gale (13) ===

You dream you are back on the lonely clifftop. The world is still a wall of grey water. But you can hear that far below, a foamy grey sea crashes onto wicked sharp rocks. No doubt in your mind that the rocks are grey, too. The wind rises and rises until its whispering has turned to a shrieking in your ear that you can't ignore. You have to try to understand it.

====Listen hard. Concentrate.====

If you can just tune your ear in the right way, you can make something out...

(A matter of luck: it could go either way.)

'''That burns.''' (Unlucky)

You close your eyes and listen, opening your ears to the wind. But the words have barely begun to form when a crack of thunder splits the air in two. You reel, deafened, and lose any idea of what the wind is saying. 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Wounds +

'''So that's what the wind is trying to tell you.''' (Fortunate)

You close your eyes and focus on the wind, so high-pitched it sometimes goes beyond your hearing. But then - you catch it. Words swim into shape, forming right behind your eyes. 'They clash. They hate. They strike.' Who? The wind is not telling that, but it does whisper some lesser secrets. 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Cryptic Secret + 10

'''Rare secrets''' (Rare success)

You close your eyes and focus on the wind, so high-pitched it sometimes goes beyond your hearing. But then - you catch it. Words swim into shape, forming right behind your eyes. 'They clash. They hate. They strike. Masters. They use us in their war.' Which Masters? You are close to finding something out, here, but a cat's voice in your ear sends the wind spinning out of it. 'Yes,'it says. 'Foolish thing. Came to it. Why? Parabola. No point asking me. I'm just a cat.' 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +
* Appalling Secret + 3

===A dream about appeasement (15) ===

You dream you are walking in a familiar garden. Each pebble on the path is dear to you, each blade of grass. Sunlight slants in long fingers from between dark grey clouds. The air is fresh and clean. You are wordless, for now; aware, angry, vague and demanding.

You walk over to the edge of the abyss, by the toppled fountain. Look down. A cat's voice, telling you to step forward. A tug of bat-claws, holding you back.

====Step into the abyss====

What have you got to lose?

'''So peaceful, now.'''

You are safe. Comfortable, warm, safe. This is a well-appointed parlour with a cheerful fire and a cosy chair. A black cat sleeps on the hearthrug, curled tight and neat. You step over it, to look in the mirror above the mantelpiece, but there's not much to see in this light. Not even yourself. The cat opens one green eye. 'Oh, Parabola, then?' it asks. 'Rather you than me.' It goes back to sleep. 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +

====Turn back====

You are dreaming, not honey-mazed.

'''Running for your life'''

There's an angry presence behind you, catching up with you fast as smoke. Wisps of grey fog, snatching at your clothes. Thunderclaps cracking the air, voicing rage and frustration. Heart pounding, nausea in your throat, rain stinging like needles. You slip in the mud, land heavy on your knees - and turn to face the sky. There's nothing else to do. 

* Recurring Dream - What the Thunder Said +
* Nightmares +