⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

[ringleaders]

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!↴ Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's first test drive meme! 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 read the full premise here. Reserves open October 5th at 12:01AM EST. Applications open October 7th at 12:01AM EST. You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted and the players agree to it. If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Supervisor applications will start being processed a few days after apps open, and will be selected on a competitive basis. If you want a supervisor position, it is best to submit your application as close to the beginning of the application cycle as possible. If you don't get chosen for your desired supervisor position, you will be given time to rework your application to be a regular veteran, or to apply for a supervisor position that is not yet taken. Lost Carnival could use some additional moderation assistance! If you are interested, please let us know here. 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. Visitors to the carnival comes from many different worlds today, as the ringmaster casts out her recruitment lures. 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 (pictured above) 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. ► 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. ► NOT YOUR WHEELHOUSE (NEW): Sometimes, even magical ferris wheels get stuck. The carnival's particular wheel is enchanted to create a particular out of this world experience - as you pass along the top, you feel as if they are so close to the sky that you can interact with the stars like baubles hanging above your head. Of course, the novelty probably wears off when the wheel is broken and you've been stuck enjoying the light show with some stranger for the last half hour. How are you going to pass the time? ► 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. ► WILL O' WISPS: The ringmaster's will o' wisps have gotten free, and she's asked that everyone keep and eye out and help her reclaim them regardless of their official jobs. Wisps are small creatures that burn both hot and cold and comes in a few different variations of the same basic theme. Handling them physically (or psionically, or magically, for that matter) is difficult due to their near intangible nature. Touching and being around them can result in confusion and a sensation similar to being comfortably drunk. ► 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! ► RIDDLE GAME: For a bit of fun, the ringmaster has left a variety of locked chests around the worker areas of the carnival, each with instructions and a riddle written on their lids. The chest will accept three guesses from each worker before refusing to respond to them any further. If you guess the right answer, the chest will open and you will be rewarded with some manner of fun magical knick knack. If you've run out of guesses, maybe you can conspire with someone else and promise to split the prize? ► 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

[missionfail]

[There are immediately sparks flying between Jasper's hands again as she's startled by the shadow. That's not the sort of magic she's been learning at all.]

The heck is that?

[And does she need to kill it? She'd love to test her spells out on a real opponent.]

[fortuneglass]

[WHYTHIS-

The shadow doesn't seem too concerned; Carly can handle herself. Probably. Maybe. She won't die, he knows that much.

Carly herself is far from calm about the sparks at Jasper's hands however, having seen what they can do-she throws her own hands in front of her in a motion of defense, shaking her head rapidly.] It's just Aslla Piscu!! It's fine, really, he just uses my shadow sometimes-

She prefers it to using her body, I'm told.

P-Please don't fight!!

Susan | OC | Newbie

[wild_magic]

gamer's circle
[Susan has lived a somewhat sheltered life, and so the sights of the carnival all catch his eye - even the ones that wouldn't be surprising to someone from a world like his. The boy is running from place to place, excitedly looking at the people around, until he sees the games in front of him. He's never seen any of these before, and so he can't help but run from game to game, watching others play and trying to decide what to do. It's hard, though, when he wants to do all of it...

And so that's what he eventually ends up doing. If he could, he would play all of the games at once, but instead he ends up going between them, back and forth, trying to make sure he doesn't miss anything. Some games he's good at, but most he's bad at, but he doesn't even care. He's having fun and winning little trinkets to take home to his brother, what more could he want?]

ferris wheel
Woah...

[Susan has never seen something like this, before - his cloak and simple tunic probably giving that fact away just as much as the look of awe on his face as he looks up at the ferris wheel. He has no idea what this thing even is or could be, but it looks amazing and he can't stop looking up at it - not even noticing if he's in people's way or not.]

Mirror Maze

[dragonsattendant]

At first, there's no response.

Then, a red-eyed girl with a ponytail and a... beak(?) comes around the corner, looking kind of guilty.

"I'm sorry... I was just trying to find my way out. I wasn't trying to alarm anyone, honest!"

[dorkypantsuit]

Sounds like you need practice.

[cuckooed]

"Good behavior." She wryly looks away and towards Ginko. "Or performing well in the big top. Maybe I do spoil the animals here, but sometimes, I just can't help it."

[wild_magic]

Well... I wasn't really trying to blow them up. Only hit them. But sometimes explosions happen, too.

[rescuee]

[ He's no expert in ways that games can be rigged, but even Jajo can think of a few ways a coin toss could go terribly, consistently wrong. He considers it thoughtfully, with his head cocked and the tufted tip of his tail swaying. ]

My cell. Does it still count as fine if it'd be useless to anyone else here, do you think?

[ It would be rude turn down someone's game, no matter how bad an idea it sounds, but maybe he can talk his way out of it by only presenting undesirable things. That should work, right? ]

[starseedling]

Oh ho! That's why you look all magic, right? I'm on to you! Does everyone who works here look like that?

[Like, it's pretty obvious, and he hasn't even seen anyone turn into a bird. This is more than just costuming, and an afternoon here makes that obvious. He doesn't actually dwell on it too long, though. He acts like it's basically normal, in fact, even though it's not actually - not even for him. He talks like him spotting it is a bit of clever detective work, all the same.

Okay but he's gotta look at these prizes. He'd been playing at this booth before, but he hadn't gotten enough balloons to get any of the top row items... but wait, there had been one he wanted, hadn't there?]

Oh, I remember! I was trying to get that one, but I ran out of darts!

[He points up at the top of the booth - there's a fairly large stuffed animal lounging over the shelves, in the form of a canary yellow lion.]

It's like if Lion was a sunflower...

[dragonsattendant]

[ If Yuugi was expecting a boost from a child around half his height, I don't know what to tell him. But Medli will tell him this: ]

Um... Do you need me to... stand on your shoulders or something like that? I'd like to be of help, but...

[drrdrrdrr]

[Okay, the bristling is occurring full on; her hair is standing up a little, Miyazaki style.]

Hey, I'm not the one who has a problem with that!

[sunflowerfields]

Oh... oh dear. It was getting harder to believe this was some kind of elaborate illusion. Hinawa hesitates at first, but Yukine's smile puts her at ease. It doesn't matter what kind of bizarre trappings there are, she's a sweet girl who wants to help!

"All right, let's go." She smiles, and tries her hardest not to be afraid.

[fragileandsoft]

All right! Shooting for the big prize.

[ Greg picks out his darts based more on color theming than theoretical luckiness. Who needs luck when you have skills? ...Well, luck would still be good then. But! Skills help a lot. ]

Okay, Carly. Let's see if your darts are as fast as your fancy bird speed.

[ The shadowy game runner, somehow managing to look entirely unenthused without a face, rings the bell. Let the darts fly! ]

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst blinks, and then a huge delighted grin spreads across her face.

"You got it, P-dot," she says, leaning her face on both hands. "And obviously I gotta stay here to do my job in case one of these guys starts something again."

[respired]

[ He makes a vague, irritated gesture to the east. ]

That way. If you've found a new path, I'm eager to take it.

[ The man puts him in mind of a draenei, but the details don't quite shake out--no tentacles, for one thing. He seems affable enough. A little wary, perhaps, but that was wise. Koltira feels liable to punch something if he doesn't escape this mirror maze soon. ]

[sunflowerfields]

"Oh my goodness!" Hinawa can feel her face turning red. Good thing it's dark in here. "And here I thought someone was playing a trick on me! What's your name, dear?"

[fortuneglass]

AH! [Well aren't you ON THE BALL, little sir! The marks on her body practically glow (and probably do), and the bird preens.] That's exactly right~! Everyone who works here looks different, but we all look really magical, I think!

[The darts all in order, she watches the two continue their exchange, silently making note of the prize goal. Like a sunflower...] It really does look like one... [she mutters, before jumping back into the mindset of the challenge.] Right!!

I bet they're even FASTER than my fancy bird speed! Double fast! [She insists, turning to her spot. The bell rings-AND THE DARTS WILL FLY!

Lucky dart first! ('AHH!! A MISS!?') ...UNLUCKY DART NEXT! ('IT MISSED AGAIN!!')

She's still got plenty, don't count her out yet!]

[babbylon]

[Bluntly:]

If it is so useless to me, I shall not accept it. Do better.

[starseedling]

[Steven watches and pumps his fists appreciatively.]

Whoooo! Go dad, go!

[respired]

[ As a blood elf, Koltira's sensitive to magic of any kind. But even if he were nothing more than a human, Alexstrasza's overwhelming presence would be hard to mistake. She radiates vitality; she burns and shimmers with it, so much so that Koltira aches to look at for her too long.

So he doesn't.

He glances away, his jaw clenched, his posture suddenly rigid. ]

Dragonqueen. How bold, for these people to hold you here.

[rescuee]

Good to know. [ He nods, and gestures a little behind and right of himself. ] And we can rule out that way, too. That leaves us with two directions.

[ He offers a smile, cheerful and polite. ]

Would you like to do the honors and make the choice?

[rescuee]

[ Well good, at least he gets to keep his cell. He'll need that, whenever he gets home again. He makes another show of patting down a few more pockets. ]

I don't see any readers, so I don't think you'd be able to spend anything of my credits here... That doesn't leave much, I'm afraid.

[ So he's off the hook, go on and say it. ]

[respired]

[ Koltira glowers up at him--been a while since he's had to do that--and ultimately just starts walking. ]

This way, then.

[ He tries to keep his gaze averted as he moves, but the reflections continue to shift and whisper, and it's clear that he's becoming increasingly agitated. His fingers flex against the hilt of his greatsword. ]

LEAF....also oh my gosh I've never seen someone run Medli she's my fave from WW,,,

[fortuneglass]

[It's very strange, but if Medli managed to even end up with one foot in that gate without payment, it counts as some sort of debt. If she hasn't saddled herself with a debt though, then there's obviously some other problem keeping her from leaving.

...Certainly nothing Carly would know about, but for now Carly herself isn't very concerned with leaving. Currently in the form of a pigeon sized hummingbird, she's too busy flitting about through the woods right now, answering the girl even if she wasn't necessarily the one being questioned. Up she goes to join you!

Another bird person?? Oh, how lovely!] You're looking past the trees? [Carly repeats, tiny eyes blinking as rapidly as her wings beat to hover.] The forest doesn't let anyone who isn't supposed to leave, out! It makes it pretty easy to find the carnival again, don't worry~ [she sings, quite impressively missing the point of what Medli was asking about.] If you're lost, just keep going, and you should find your way back to the carnival!

[rescuee]

[ Jajo turns to follow his new company — and crashes his shoulder straight into what he was really sure was an empty doorway. The entirety of the mirror cracks and shatters around his shoulder, metal under the cloth of his shirt, and he springs back — into another mirror. He pulls back from it more carefully, but of course the damage is already done. That one's cracked too, leaving Jajo standing in the middle of the very narrow-to-him corridor, surrounded by broken slivers and looking supremely guilty.

It sounds like a good time for an awkward cough. ]

Sorry... I'm... sure they expect some of that. It's a lot of mirrors.