ringleaders: (Default)
Lost Carnival Mods ([personal profile] ringleaders) wrote in [community profile] livinglot2017-10-28 03:48 pm
Entry tags:

⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: HEARTSTONE MANOR

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!

CHECK OUT THIS MONTH'S FOURTH WALL EVENT!
MORE INFORMATION BENEATH THE CUT.


In the meantime, this is an opportunity to try out your characters in the setting before you apply, or to put together samples for characters you've never played before. There are going to be options for both new arrivals and veteran characters. Before we get started, let's lay down some details:
  • You can (and should) read the full premise here.
  • Reserves and Applications are currently OPEN.
  • You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. In the case of veteran characters, you will need to come up with an explanation of why they haven't been around the carnival recently.
  • TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted, the players agree to it, and it makes any sense contextually.
  • If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Head Cook, Treasurer, and Doctor are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise.

NEW RECRUITS

You gotta start somewhere, right? These prompts are for characters who are arriving in the carnival for the first time, and who are destined to sign a contract. How they go about that is up to you, but in the meantime they can enjoy the sights and sounds of something truly out of this world. Will you become her most recent hire?

ADMISSION FEES: After crossing into the carnival's realm and passing through the trees, most visitors will find themselves at the front gate - though not all choose to enter that way. If they enter legitimately, however, they will have to pass by a clerk who will trade admission and tickets for various attractions and rides in exchange for "anything of value." What is of value may seem highly subjective, and so some may struggle to produce payment at first, though in actuality the carnival will take anything from mundane currency to items of purely sentimental value.

MIRROR MAZE: The mirror maze is a big attraction in the carnival, and stretches much further on the inside than it looks like it will on the outside. It's hard to get through, and what's more, after you've been in there for a while your reflections will start gaining a mind of their own - mostly in order to taunt and distract you with personal information. They don't know everything you know, but they know more than they should, and their mind games can be pretty hit or miss.

GAMER'S CIRCLE: Almost all of the game booths are organized in a large ring around the Cookhouse, called Gamer's Circle. Your can play just about any carnival game you can imagine here, for a variety of prizes sometimes traditional, exotic, or outright magical. Dart tossing? Got it. That game with the water guns? Got it. Most of these booths are currently manned by humanoid spirits who look like they are made of smoke. If they can trick you into earning debt, they will.

TUNNEL OF "LOVE": A brand new attraction in the carnival, the Tunnel of Love is mostly what you'd expect from such a ride - two people sit in a boat together which journeys through some glitter filled caves, complete with mood music. Unfortunately, there is also something else in there with you... in the form a moody kraken living in the waters, who has very particular opinions about shipping, and may either stubbornly interfere with any attempted intimacy, or may politely encourage it. Or they may just generally be a dick if they're in no mood for either. The Ringmaster insists it is a romance expert.

TRYING TO LEAF: No matter where you came from, you seemingly emerged from a forest. Obviously, to get back home you should be able to go back in the same direction, right? It turns out you can't. Worse, trying too hard to get through the wood will result in you getting lost, or turned back to the carnival. The trees here are not normal, and are varying levels of alien, including things like trees with glowing fruit or orange flowers that constantly burn like candles.

WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to make a starter with your character experiencing their first theoretical change? Go for it!

VETERAN WORKERS

These prompts are tailored to the carnival's existing employees, the veterans. Odds are they've been here from somewhere between a few months and three years already, and know their way around the block. For them, this is just business as usual - and depending on their attitude towards their job, they may or may not contribute to a few people accidentally getting themselves a contract. Whatever you do, though, don't warn visitors away from the carnival - the ringmaster hates losing business like that.

DO YOUR WORK: This one's pretty simple - just have your character doing whatever you'd like to have their job be! There is a big list of ideas over here, and you could use this to try things out with a character you intend to be a new arrival, as well.

BREAK TIME: Whatever you were doing, it's break time! It's time for you to relax however you see fit. Do you enjoy some of the carnival attractions yourself, or is that old by now? Do you hang out in the Cookhouse to get a snack? Do you take a nap? Yolo, baby!

DUNK TANK: Sometimes acting like a dick will earn you the gentle reprimand of being sent to work in the Dunk Tank for the afternoon - you know that game where people throw balls at a target, and if they hit it you get dropped into the water? It's like that, only sometimes there are daunting (but harmless) critters in the water, or some other strange magical affects to spice things up. Hopefully, the visitors will have bad aim.

WILD CARD: Anything else you can imagine in this setting! There are a lot of possibilities and you're free to explore them. Check out the rest of the game info or the locations page for additional inspiration. Want to do a performance? Hang out in the Backyard? Choose whatever appeals!
auramatic: (or was it the song?)

[personal profile] auramatic 2017-11-07 07:02 am (UTC)(link)
Fairies. Right.

[ a pause. ]

We don't have those on Cybertron. What are they, exactly?
anti_nonsense: (Too bad.)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-07 07:59 am (UTC)(link)
No... [She furrows her brow as she tries to understand what he's saying. A realm of magic and spirits, accessible through dreaming? That sounds kind of absurd, but... also, pretty interesting. If he's telling the truth, it may even relevant to her research... but first, she should clear things up.]

This isn't the Fade. It's a realm of magic, sure, but... of fae magic, not spirit magic.
hurtcomfort: (listening to things)

[personal profile] hurtcomfort 2017-11-07 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
I believe so, [ Cole explains, as he casts his glance back to the carnival. ] At least, it is where I am needed.

[ It's hard to see where he's needed most. But Cole can tell that he's definitely needed here, so might as well embrace that fact and stay. That's helping. That's filling his purpose. Which really, for Cole is the best thing that could possibly happen. ]
anti_nonsense: (That's the logical outcome.)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-07 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
We don't really have them where I'm from either, but...

[Well... she might as well try to describe them, based on what she's observed here.]

They're magical beings with extraordinary power. They take a lot of forms, most of them humanoid. The majority are cruel and deceptive, but they never lie.
auramatic: (to help you put on a smilin face)

[personal profile] auramatic 2017-11-08 04:50 am (UTC)(link)
Deceptive, but they never lie?

[ drift raises a not-eyebrow at that, mostly in bemusement. ]

And...those are the creatures running this place?
whatthefork: (pic#11839952)

[personal profile] whatthefork 2017-11-08 05:03 am (UTC)(link)
The tunnel of love is the domain of handsy jerkoffs wearing too much Axe. Hard pass.

[ the games sound sort of appealing, in a weird nostalgia way. but first eleanor has...some questions. ]

Hey, uh, bear with me on this line of inquiry, but -- are you dead, by any chance?
anti_nonsense: (Deal with it. B|)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-08 06:20 am (UTC)(link)
Exactly. You always have to read between the lines, consider what they're not saying... it's annoying.

[Rita scoffs. She's not exactly fond of fae.]

The one running this place isn't malicious like most, but I wouldn't exactly trust her, either.
kingsroads: (your sea beacons suck)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2017-11-08 02:15 pm (UTC)(link)
If I am, no one's told me about it.

[ yep, he is 100% answering that dead question sincerely and not judging or questioning Eleanor's motives in asking. of course that's a normal question, why wouldn't you think so? ]
lonesomewanderer: (that doesn't sound right but ok)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-08 04:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[ A slight frown as he takes another look at those strange people running the booths. The magic here felt different, off in a way he could not quite describe. If it was another brand entirely then that would explain it. ]

Fae? They do not appear dissimilar to spirits. What is the name of this realm? [ Because they had to be somewhere. ]
lonesomewanderer: (idk my bff cole)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-08 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He nods, understanding that distinction. As if Cole could resist following his true nature. Truth be told, it was pleasant seeing one of the very few familiar faces that would not immediately scorn him, no matter how well deserved it would have been. ]

What do I need to know of this place? [ Because it's different here. He and Cole were coming from the same realm of understanding and he trusts the spirit to tell him what's important. ]
anti_nonsense: (look it's a convenient distraction)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-08 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know if it has a proper name. Everyone just calls it 'the carnival.'

[She follows his gaze to the smoke-people... and shrugs.] Not sure what those guys are, either. They could be spirits. They seem... alive, in a way, not like elementals or other conjured constructs. The fae have a lot of ways of populating their realms with servants.
lonesomewanderer: (it is huge)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-08 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Servants? [ Definitely not spirits then and while he has seen some take on elemental affinities, he would not label them as constructs. That begs the question though-- ]

Is that why they have brought us here? Made their realm approachable?
anti_nonsense: (Not my problem.)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-08 09:48 pm (UTC)(link)
[Is it...? The truth is that Rita doesn't understand at all why the Ringmaster runs this whole stupid carnival in the first place.]

Well... partly, I guess. The Ringmaster -- that's the fae in charge here -- opens this place up to visitors on a pretty regular basis. It's possible to come here, take in the entertainment, and leave... but that's not how it goes for everyone.

Some people end up employed by the Ringmaster instead, either because they came into debt while visiting, or because they made an agreement with her.
atouts: (039; five of pentacles)

[personal profile] atouts 2017-11-09 02:01 am (UTC)(link)
[ Yeah, that's what he figures, but hey, who's he to try and stop her? ]

If you say so. [ He'll reply as simply as that, though not without raising his eyebrows at her first. ] So just how are you going to manage this one, then? I'm curious to see.
Edited 2017-11-09 02:01 (UTC)
atouts: (014; tempérance)

mirror maze

[personal profile] atouts 2017-11-09 02:10 am (UTC)(link)
It would seem they disagree with you, sir.

[ Because 'spirits' are just as good a way to describe the independent illusions haunting the mirrors as anything else, so Childermass won't correct or argue on that point. He, himself, isn't exactly all that visible in here, either, having appeared in place between mirrors that hadn't really been there before, leaning oh so casually against the side of one, arms idly folded across his chest.

He's definitely one of the more normal-looking workers, the only real visible change the black feather sideburns drawn down his jawline. With those and how pale he is, at least he matches how black and white his clothing is, but it sure doesn't help much with standing out in a place like this.

Anyway, assuming he gets Solas' attention, he'll tilt his head a little to one side and raise his eyebrows, a curious look.
]

Having trouble finding the exit?
hurtcomfort: (okay let's try MURDER)

[personal profile] hurtcomfort 2017-11-09 04:57 am (UTC)(link)
I don't know as much as I should. But the Ringmaster's in charge. They call her a faerie. [ Cole doesn't know what that means, something obvious in the tone of his voice. ]

She's powerful. She binds those who serve her. But the bindings feel...loose. Impermanent. Not like those who would bind someone at home.

[ It's odd. But there's nothing about this current situation that worries Cole to the extent that the thought of being bound by Corypheus does. ]
lonesomewanderer: (it is huge)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-10 12:37 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sir. That is a form of address he hasn't heard in a long time. At the sound of something other than howling, his eyes narrow and he scowls as he scans the surrounding mirrors and--

Another human with strange features like he's met earlier. More and more this place makes little sense. A realm of fae magic instead of spirit, he would have his work cut out learning the intricacies of it all. ]


I was, [ he admits and gestures toward Childermass. ] Though I have the impression you are standing before it. I did not anticipate this much enchantment in a maze.

[ And for it to be labeled an 'attraction' of 'entertainment.' ]
lonesomewanderer: (no one missed me but that's ok)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-10 04:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ringmaster, what an appropriate alias given the setting. He seems to be focusing on a point in the distance as if studying it while he listens before nodding. ]

I feel as if I was brought here for a purpose. I suppose I will not learn it until I meet this Ringmaster then. [ With any luck, fae were similar to the spirits he knew. Meeting the Ringmaster would come later when he had a chance to wander more of this place and learn of it. ] Thank you for stopping to aid a hapless wanderer.
lonesomewanderer: (sitting and not chatting)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-10 04:21 pm (UTC)(link)
A faerie? That is not a word I have heard to describe anything of magic. [ And it was clear that there was magic seeping from this place, he could feel it pouring from all corners. Whatever a 'faerie' was, it was tied with it.

He watches Cole's face closely as he asks his next questions, ]


Do you know how these bindings are created? And how they can be broken?
unwantedgirl: (Oh um!)

Chise Hatori | The Ancient Magus Bride | New Arrival

[personal profile] unwantedgirl 2017-11-10 04:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[Front Gates]

[Chise frowned gently as she stood before the gates, staring at the clerk that had just informed her what admission was like. To enter one had to give something of value. If that wasn't the most Fae thing that Chise had heard before, she wasn't sure what was.

She had half a mind to turn around and leave, unable to shake the feeling that this just wasn't going to end well but a much larger part of her was curious.

What was this place? Did Elias know about it's existence? Was anyone that she knew here?

A soft sigh escaped her as she came to her design and she reached into the pocket of her jacket to pull out the crystal rose she had created when she first met Angelica. She smooth a thumb over one of the leaves before holding it out, focusing on the clerk again.]


Will this be enough?

[This was such a bad idea.]


[Gamer's Circle]

[This place was definitely a haven for Fae creatures. Chise could feel it in the air when she first approached the gates but now that she was inside? Seeing all of the odd creatures and changed individuals wandering about was definitely all the proof she needed.

The young girl ended up wandering through all the stalls of games, pausing here and there to watch some other patrons try their luck and politely declining whenever one of the attendants tried to get her to play.

She may have willingly come into this circus but she wasn't going to play a game with a Fae creature.

Her wandering brought Chise to a booth that had close to a fifty bottles set out and a basket of rings for people to try their luck at. It was amusing to watch others try and she lingered close, hands tucked behind her back as she watched people try over and over again.

What prize were they even trying to get?]



[Wildcard.]
hurtcomfort: (how many sad icons can I have)

[personal profile] hurtcomfort 2017-11-10 05:55 pm (UTC)(link)
I don't know what it is either. [ Which he's certain Solas knows already. But Cole might as well say what's on his mind. What are fae, we just don't know. At the talk of bindings though, an odd little expression comes on Cole's face. ]

The bindings are...odd. She leaves a limit. [ A fact which honestly baffles and astounds Cole at the same time. ] And others think she honors it.

[ He just doesn't understand that. Why would someone only put a time limit on a binding? If you could force someone to serve you, why would it only be for so long? Why not force them for all eternity? ]

She lets me be me.

[ which again, is downright odd. ]
lonesomewanderer: (let's go slap fight this out)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-10 06:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Solas had assumed, but he nods at the confirmation. So they would both be learning more about this as time went on. Hopefully, he would discern more when he met this 'Ringmaster.' ]

Temporary servitude? For what gain? [ Because if the woman could promise him what he wanted... The temptation was there and he wonders if that's what triggered the appearance of the Carnival in the first place. ]

And what does she require those who are bound to her to do?
hurtcomfort: (okay let's try MURDER)

[personal profile] hurtcomfort 2017-11-10 06:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Some are careless. The others make deals. [ And that opens up a new line of thought in Cole's mind. Solas isn't careless. Solas wouldn't be tricked or trapped, gambling his service away on a game. Solas is better than that. Which means that Solas might have come here with a purpose.

So that second question, the what does she require those to do, that is ignored for a moment as Cole stares at Solas, as if staring will somehow help him find an answer.
]

We sealed the sky. [ and then you left. ] What do you want?
anti_nonsense: (wait lemme see that)

[personal profile] anti_nonsense 2017-11-10 06:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[A purpose? All right, weirdo. Rita's not going to stop him... actually no wait, she might stop him briefly.]

Wait. What's your deal? You sure seem familiar with spirits.

[It's rare to see someone talk about them in such a concrete way, like he's seen and interacted with them plenty of times before.]
lonesomewanderer: (that's what i thought)

[personal profile] lonesomewanderer 2017-11-10 07:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He notices that willful ignoring. So it's his turn to answer questions. He lets out a small sigh. This is Cole and he deserved answers or at least, what he little he could give. It's not as if his desire is possible without the help of an outsider. ]

You remember the elvhen artifact that Corypheus wielded? [ The one that broke and shattered to pieces and delayed his plans? ] I would have it restored.

[ And in his hands, ready to be used to tear down the Veil as he had planned. ]

Page 5 of 8