THE SUBLIMINAL TRIBUNE

Thursday, October 13, 2022

Edition 59

NEAP-1 LIKELY TO HINDER HALLOWEEN PLANS

By: Porter

As NEAP-1 spreads uncontrollably, Halloween is already looking to be soured by the disease, with some officials considering cancelling plans altogether.

According to an internal memo obtained by the Subliminal Tribune, the Dimension Protection Force have been in talks considering cancelling certain Halloween celebrations in the dream world. Since Neapworm’s outbreak source has not yet been identified, it’s coming to the point where it’s gotten both out of control and too late into the month to say it’ll be over by Halloween.

The DDCP has the power to issue guidance and recommendations to the DPF about any shutdowns, lockdowns, cancellations, etc. in regards to a disease, which means that the DDCP can’t force anyone to shut down or cancel certain things. The DPF, however, can work along these recommendations and do that themselves.

Of course, though, the Council of the dream world has the ultimate authority to overrule any decisions made by the DPF, but it doesn’t look likely that they will. There have been rumours that the Council would order a complete shutdown of the dream world due to Neapworm, but in recent days, those rumours have died down after the DPF reassured everyone that the main wave of lockdowns would be in the America ward of the District.

“Some areas in the rural dream world have been placed until ‘shelter in place’ orders due to NEAP-1, but it’s a small amount of areas,” Director Ferekides of the DPF says, “The District is where the majority of cases are, so it’s logical most orders to stay at home are centralised there.”

Some people have been sceptical about whether or not Halloween is going to go as planned, with some deciding to stay at home for it while others may go on with it.

“Well, I’m too old to go trick or treating anyway,” a local witch tells me, “I’d rather make my own candy at home!”

“Halloween is meant to be spent indoors anyway,” a local doll person says, “Just stay up late watching horror movies like you’re supposed to. It’s a killer idea!”

“Why’s everyone afraid of some zombies for?” a local necromancer tells me, “If you ask me, this is a bunch of bananas and we should be out celebrating Halloween rightfully so! No amount of zombies could ever scare me or lock me in my house!!”

“Sick people or not, some of us got Halloween plans we’ve made since last year!” a local clown says, “We’re gonna go out and be scary clowns. When those zombies see us, they’ll go running in the opposite direction!”

Whatever happens, it looks like Halloween will get affected either way, but the extent of it is still unclear as Neapworm continues to spread.

DPF TAPS FAMILIAR AGENTS TO ASSIST DDCP IN INVESTIGATION

By: Roman

As Neapworm spreads, the DPF has already considered this to be a part of a highly unusual string of events, which have occurred all within the last few months or so.

Because of this, they have assigned two familiar agents who have been investigating these events to help assist the DDCP in their own investigation.

Hallucinate and M3-0W have been tapped to assist Ophelia in her investigation of Neapworm’s origins. The DPF hopes that if their theory about this being connected to a recent string of abnormal events in the dream world is true, then there would be evidence to try and finally point this back to a suspect.

“Boy, where do I even start! I mean, yeah, Neapworm is pretty scary stuff. I haven’t gotten infected myself, which is weird!” Nate says, “I’ve been told it’s something you eat or drink, but looks like I haven’t consumed the thing making everyone else sick, yet. I hope I remain fine!”

“It is nice to be back investigating the strange things in the dream world after a break,” M3-0W says, “We made a significant discovery last July, but have since not seen anything weird. Now a new disease comes along and it’s spreading wildly. It's enough to be called abnormal!”

“I welcome Nate and M3-0W on board to help assist me with my investigation of NEAP-1,” Ophelia of the DDCP states, “This is now our investigation and considering their track record with previous incidents this year, it’s a safe bet that we’re going to get somewhere with this case.”

At the time, Ophelia has set up a temporary camp in the Backrooms to quickly go to and from certain dimensions where she believes to find clues about the source of the outbreak. Nate and M3-0W have also been spotted alongside with her.

“The Backrooms is the quickest way to go to and from dimensions while also staying safe and isolated from the main dream world,” she states, “I believe that one of these dimensions holds the key to where the outbreak originated from, but we’ll be going one by one and trying to find clues.”

“It’s a familiar sight to be in the Backrooms,” Nate says, “But Figment here is happy to have visitors! They’ll help out if we need to open a portal somewhere.”

“I’m sure we’ll find a solid clue and evidence as to the origins of NEAP-1,” M3-0W tells me, “The answer likely lies somewhere in these portals.”

As to where they’ll go from here, Ophelia says that Nate may have an idea of where to go from here.

“Nate told me to give them some time to ‘think’ about where to go from here,” she says, “He’ll let me know where to go and who to talk to that could possibly help us. I trust that he’ll lead me in the right direction.”

For the latest information on NEAP-1, visit the DDCP or Subliminal Tribune’s website for more resources and updates.

Q/A: Ask Lucid

Dear Lucid, are you hiding something under your mask? 

By: Massie K.

Greetings Massie. As you may know, the main purpose of my mask is to try and prevent myself from speaking too much as it could put those around me in danger. If I speak too much, it may be evil, and it could hurt someone around me.

However, my mask also hides an unfortunate scar I have across my lip that I acquired many, many years ago. It was obtained after an intense fight with a wanted criminal when Nate and I were investigating a crime. I suppose I find the scar a bit embarrassing…

Dear Lucid, does everyone have to attend the Academy? 

By: Aka Demi

Greetings Aka. The Academy is the dream world’s go to institution for receiving some of the best education that there is around. It sounds quite prestigious, although, do not let its reputation deceive you into not enrolling. 

The Academy allows anyone with a clean record to attend and enroll in classes. They have classes for all age periods, whether it be children or grown adults. The campus has grown in the years that have gone by, which means that there is a section for children, teenagers, adults, etc. As you grow up, you will be put in more rigorous courses, depending on what you would like to learn.

To answer your question though, not everyone has to attend the Academy. There are smaller educational institutions around in the District that are smaller, but more convenient for those who do not wish to travel to the Asia ward to attend it. Before I applied to the DPF, I was a student for many years at the Academy. My work was renowned, but in recent years, they seem to have suppressed a lot of it.

Dear Lucid, do you think you’ll ever go see Almoral again? 

By: Missy Yu

Hello Missy. It is without a fact that I will indeed go see Almoral again at some point in time. I simply do not know when that time will be nor the circumstances of that visit, but one day we will see each other again in person.

Dear Lucid, can you bring back people from the dead in full body forms? 

By: Haffe Aly V.

Hello Haffe. Bringing back those who have already left this world is possible, but there are several forms to it. Sometimes you bring back their souls, like Almoral does, but doing so means that it is for a short amount of time. Sometimes you can bring them back in a bodily form where they are able to walk, talk, and do other things as if they were still alive in a normal body.

In this way, you need to have some sort of puppet body ready for the transfer between a soul and a body. Many times, this involves a literal puppet or marionette, which is the easiest way to accomplish it. If I recall correctly, Pietro Zamboli- the famed puppeteer in the dream world- was rumored to have had his lost friends revived as his puppets, but no one could truly verify that. Doing this method is not necessarily illegal, but most who die simply wish to rest and not come back in a full body being half alive.

Dear Lucid, what would dress up as for Halloween? 

By: Caus Toom

Greetings Caus. Hmm, I have not thought about what kind of costume I would dress myself up in for a holiday like All Hallows’ Eve. Dressing up in costumes seems to be a modern tradition, but if I would have had to dress up, I think I would go as a human. You know, paint my hair white, wear glasses along with a facemask, red shirt, black pants, red shoes- typical human attire. What? Do you not think that would be a good costume? I suppose you have seen more bizarre costumes…

Dear Lucid, what else do you think about Neapworm, and do you think there’s a cure for it? 

By: Dee. Zeese

Hello Dee. From the information I have gotten from Nate, I have some sort of an idea of how the parasite is behaving inside a person’s body, but do not take this as verified information; I am simply telling you what I think based on the intelligence.

The parasite attaches itself to the brain and then a person will slowly progress through the disease, becoming less conscious and unresponsive as the days go on. From there, a person begins to act aggressively and violently, but to understand this behavior, it is important to understand the different emotional chemicals in the brain.

It is likely that the parasite is feeding off of certain chemicals in the brain that cause positive feelings like happiness, pleasure, and make one feel good such as serotonin and dopamine. If that is the case, the one chemical that would remain in large amounts would be epinephrine, or adrenaline. This brain chemical is released upon feeling anger or high levels of stress. Since your brain does not have positive chemicals left to receive, it resorts to epinephrine, and causes you to become angry, aggressive, and likely violent.

Since the parasite is likely ingested, it may be that people are not only eating or drinking something with the parasite in it, but also consuming the product that has been tainted with high levels of epinephrine in it. This also means that the parasite was likely engineered somewhere in secret, and let out into the dream world on purpose to cause a shakedown in society.

While I do not know where it could be originating from, I do believe I know of a simple remedy that can cure and kill off the parasite within people without having to physically harm someone infected. However, I cannot be in the dream world to do it, but I do know someone who can help out. I have let Nate know what to do and where to go, but only time will tell as to whether or not this remedy will work. I calculate a 99.9996% chance of it succeeding, if I did my math correctly. Do not panic, though. I am sure your adventure ahead will be successful.

Upcoming Events:

Now- Halloween Party 2022 construction: Are we even sure there’s going to be a Halloween this year with everything that’s happening?

Now- New character: Ophelia started off in the DPF and made her way in the DDCP to now lead the response against Neapworm. She’s definitely an angel if you ask me.

October 20- Halloween Party 2022: The spookiest party of the year with a touch of zombies.

October 20- Almoral’s mansion rerun: It’s deja vu going back to this place as it was last year.

October 27- New story quest: Follow old and new friends along as they try to figure out what’s making everyone sick and try to find a cure for it!