⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: HEARTSTONE MANOR

[ringleaders]

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!

Comments

[lonesomewanderer]

[ 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.' ]

[atouts]

Let's just say the Ringmaster doesn't know quite when to quit when making these things.

[ Or maybe she does know exactly when considering how often some poor fool or another will break a mirror. Whoever this is seems more sensible than that.

Good for him.

In any case, he says that with a slight shrug and then gives short glance back over his shoulder. ]

Though this? Not the exit. Only an alcove. [ Which is true. If Solas would look past the man in black and white, he'll find a space with no mirror, but then nothing but wall behind it. He steps out of it after saying that, though, pushing away from the mirror he's leaning against to join him out in the hall.

This puts him in view of those same haunted mirrors, only they don't quite reflect him. Not exactly. They show an outline, at best. A shadow. ] But I can show you the way out, if you would like.

[lonesomewanderer]

[ Had he been waiting there, watching him? Somehow Solas had failed to notice him sooner. That combined with the man's odd appearance has him asking-- ]

Human or fae?

[ The latter would be of far more interest to him than the former though he's already seen at least one human with an abnormal appearance. Had the woman had a reflection? How much was a side effect of being surrounded by so much strange magic?

Either way, he's interested in a way out and he gestures for the other man to lead the way. ] That would be appreciated. I have spent enough of my time chasing shadows.

[atouts]

[ Well, that particular question earns a snort, but the only answer Solas gets is a simple— ]

I wonder. [ And nothing more than that. For whatever reason, he doesn't seem inclined to answer it, but he will nod in reply to waving him on ahead and move to do just that, turning down the hall and walking away through the mirrors. The shadows follow him, not entirely unlike the howls that had plagued Solas. ] The way out is really just remembering to take a left in the right spot.

[lonesomewanderer]

[ He makes a small sound that is both annoyed yet understanding of the vagueness. It was the same sort of answers he often gave to questions and would give to many if asked.

He nods at the explanation, watching the shadows as he follows Childermass. ] The enchantments here change depending on who navigates the maze?

[ And somehow knew more about him than he cared for them too or were playing off the wolf pelt that adorned his armor. ]

[atouts]

You know, most people never think to ask me about magic in a literal magical mirror maze.

[ Which is probably why Childermass hasn't pulled a vanishing act of his own on his idle check-up to see just who the maze was having a go at this time. Anyway, he takes a left, into a shorter hall, then another, though he keeps an easy pace so not to leave Solas behind. ]

But that's about right. It's different for everyone. Sometimes the mirrors are fairly abstract about it. [ He waves towards his own reflection, though it doesn't bother him much... until the shadows within burst into a flock of crows that scatter out of view across the mirrors almost immediately after he gestures towards them. At that, he frowns. ] But they're only ever looking for a reaction.

[lonesomewanderer]

[ The fact that no one has thought to ask much makes him wonder how many who stumble upon this Carnival realize just what they have walked into. This could quickly become a cruel trick.

He keeps pace with Childermass easily though his focus is on the mirrors around them. Shadows and crows. Symbols that might have meaning once he learns more about the other man. Lurking in one behind them, a strange black wolf with six red eyes appears to be stalking them, hunting. It's an image Solas pointedly ignores. ]

You speak as if they are sentient. Brought to have minds of their own by fae magic? [ If so he had a greater need to learn more about fae magic. ] Much of what they do seems to be for their own enjoyment.

[atouts]

Ultimately, only the Ringmaster knows for sure, but I've always gotten the sense that they do as they please. [ And much of it is to their own enjoyment, although as far as that goes-- ] I suppose it's just that boring being in a mirror.

[ And he says that with a shrug after glancing back at Solas. The wolf is noted, but what that means, Childermass can't even being to imagine. Sometimes the reflections show more than they should... Other times, they're just being pests. ]

They don't mean any harm by it, though, even if some of our guests do decide to throw a punch or two at them from time to time.

[lonesomewanderer]

As magic often does, [ he remarks with an air of familiarity. Enchanted to this degree or possessed, Solas could imagine what that would do given enough time and power. Another glance at the mirrors and he wonders if he'll be here long enough to study the magic himself. ]

Unlike others I have met, I prefer not to immediately destroy what I do not understand.

[ Just everything else in his path, no big deal. ]