A downloadable soundtrack

[This is a submission for OST Composing Jam 8]

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/albitrary/sets/one-night-only-ost-composing-jam-8?si=fd1c...

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*** The exclusive V.R. game "Summer Nights" is finally open to the public... but only for one night!

Coming 6:00P.M. EST on Saturday, July 28, 2029...

Do you have what it takes to brave the unknown? To embrace your destiny and make your dreams reality?

Join the millions of players that already have. ***

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Track 1: One Night Only

We’re so close. Just a few hours to go.

You wait anxiously, fiddling with the remote and flipping through the channels. A news report catches your attention:

“What if you could be anyone you wanted to be? What if your wildest dreams, your heart’s desires, and everything else you’ve ever wanted were all at your fingertips?

Players of the virtual reality phenomenon “Summer Nights” claim that they have all of this and more. This Saturday at 6p.m. EST, the previously-by-invitation only servers will be opening its doors to everyone, but only for one night. A lucky few players will be able to obtain an in-game item that unlocks the game for them permanently.

This news comes as a strange follow-up to the developer’s last press release regarding the game’s ever-rising death tolls, now unquestionably the most fatal videogame of all time. Is this a desperate attempt to avert the public’s eyes?”

You turn the TV off and put down the remote, laying down on the couch to face the cat that is sleeping on the other end of it. “I don’t care about any of that, Mr. Catcat,” you say aloud as the cat sleepily opens its eyes. “This is the night we’ve been waiting for, and nothing is going to stop us now!”

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Track 2: Wild Unknown

You weren’t sure what to expect as you left the tutorial area. A sparsely wooded area with a dilapidated, paved road stretching into the horizon was certainly not it. Considering how some folks had been waiting years for an invite, you would have expected to see more players out of the gate. Maybe everyone starts away from each other? Regardless, you can see the vague outlines of buildings in the distance. You strap on your meager starting equipment and begin the journey into the unknown, your eyes anxiously searching for anything – or anyone – that could be hiding along the road ahead.

After a few minutes of traveling, you see a figure on the horizon. Your mind races with the possibilities as they approach. Is this a real person or an NPC? Are they an enemy or a friend? Whoever they are, they are quickly walking – no, running towards you.

You stop suddenly as the figure falls to the ground. It’s hard to tell from the distance, but you’re pretty certain you can see blood on the ground. You turn from the road with haste only to see another figure slowly approaching to your right. This one isn’t running, but walking slowly in your direction, cradling a bat and an annoying smirk on his face. You’re already close enough to determine that he is not the kind of guy you want to see any closer. As you back away and turn around, you quickly realize he is not alone.

You start to run.

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Track 3: We’re Not Playing Around Here

Heading down a path that veers off of the main road, you run straight ahead, ignoring the shouting coming from behind.

“Hey, where ya going?”

“Look at ‘em run!”

“Hold up a minute!”

“We just wanna talk!”

“Is that a new skin?”

Before long, you find yourself surrounded. You slow to walking speed, looking all around for a way through as you are slowly enclosed by a gang of some sort. You assume as such from their adornment of scars, chunks of makeshift metal armor, spikes, stabby things, etc. As you turn behind you, you find yourself face-to-face with an older man who appears to be in charge.

“How’s it going, bud? First day? You need some help with your new game?”

“No thanks, I don’t want to play with you.” You move to walk around him but are stopped as he grabs your shoulder, shoving you back to the ground in front of him. You get up quickly and meet his gaze

“We’re not playing around here.” His eyes are filled with murderous intent as he raises a spiked mace above his head with a thunderous battlecry.

“I don’t have time for this!” You complain aloud as you effortlessly dodge his laughably slow swing as well as the ensuing attacks from his companions. “I have to find my one true love, and I know it isn’t any of you!”

Regardless, you don’t seem to have a choice but to deal with this seemingly endless wave of ruffians, who are currently dealing with a pretty mixed bag of emotions. Some are confused or angry as to why they can’t hit you, some are still laughing at the proclamation of your quest, and a couple of them have grown bored of fighting entirely and seem to be playing a game on their phones or something.

You continue to move forward, slowly dodging, rolling and parrying your way down a gauntlet of thugs. “Can we just call this, already? You idiots don’t even know that I’m a Dark Souls speedrunner!”

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Track 4: Resting Place

After what must have been hours of grueling, frame-perfect dodging, you realize that the ruffians have all stopped pursuing you. They have all stopped at the end of a trail, silently watching you as you continue on your path. Kind of odd, but you certainly aren’t going to argue with them. It’s getting dark. You’ve already wasted so much time, and you’ve only got one night to find your true love. You descend into the ancient ruins of the valley below, still chasing outlines of buildings in the distance. Wait, did that building just move? Oh, great.

The ruins are quiet and mysterious; teeming with life but none of it sentient and most of it being various forms of greenery. Aside from the howl of the wind, a strange thudding of the ground and the occasional bird, this valley is silent; perhaps honoring the ancient civilization that once lived here. The ground thuds louder and shakes harder as you slowly approach the walking-buiilding-thing. As a general rule, you tend to avoid moving objects that are building-sized, but it happens to be the only way forward.

Eventually, you come across an oddly placed merchant in the doorway of ancient destroyed building. Finally, a merchant! In exchange for some coin that you picked up from those unsavory types earlier, he points out a shortcut through the mountain to reach the city beyond. Looks like we don’t have to deal with the walking building after all! As you exit the valley, you wonder if the merchant has gotten used to the persistent mini-quakes, or if the NPC is even aware that they are happening.

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Track 5: Big City Lights

Finally, you’ve reached the city. It’s fully night now, but the sights and noises of the night are nowhere to be found - blocked out completely by an overwhelmingly vast array of lights and sounds. The city is a stark contrast from the quiet reverence of the valley - the nightlife is both flourishing and all-encompassing. There are people everywhere you look, in every corner and filling every street.

You’ve never seen this many people before. It’s too much. It wasn’t an issue with that large group of people that was trying to murder you, but this is different. You’re going to have to interact with them, talk with them. You’ve spent years alone in your tiny apartment with only your tiny cat to keep you company. Somehow, you must now find your way through this auditory nightmare to find the place where your one true love is waiting for you. You know this would be hard, but it’s why you’re here. After a deep breath, you walk onto the main street; looking for any kind of sign to point you in the right direction.

As you walk through the crowds, a cool summer night’s breeze comes down the street. You begin to feel relaxed, blending in seamlessly with the crowd, each in search of their own goal. This isn’t so bad after all. This actually feels… nice. A strange feeling, for sure, but a welcome one. Before you know it, you’ve suddenly found your destination, as if your feet already knew where to go. You open the door to the arcade and head inside.

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Track 6: Arcadia, Arcade of Light

As you take the first steps inside, you can feel the pressure building again. The spell that the city streets had on you is wearing off. Why is it louder and brighter here than it was outside?

This is too much. It’s almost midnight. You’re never going to find your true love.

They said they would be waiting for you at your favorite game - Dark Souls 6: Hardcore Co-Op Special Edition. You’ve dreamed of this moment for years - the only person that understands you, that truly “gets” you. You have a chance to finally meet them in real life… well, real-enough life. You think back to the all of the online conversations that you had with them. Your one true love, xX_Rosecrusher6963_Xx. what will they be wearing? What will they look like? Wait, what DO they look like, have you ever even seen a picture of them? Do you even know how old they are? “I probably should have asked these questions at some point,” you think aloud, sighing. Awkwardly, you shout to the heavens, “Oh Rosecrusher6963 my love, where could you possibly be!?”

“Oh, hey! You made it!”

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