⇨ 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

[pipers_son]

Well, if yer makin' me feel so special, I suppose I'll take that little bit a honor for myself.

[Being... well, sometimes a gentleman, a little bit, he doesn't mention the whole smoke thing. Instead, he just nabs some tiny little hand nets from the gamekeeper. A few pointlessly flashy fingers tricks later, and he holds one out to Lancer from between his digits.]

So, how should we compete, eh? First ta get a fish, or gettin' a bunch of fish?

[yellbrush]

Not like you do.

[ ...something is not right.

she approaches ilyas, her steps slow and methodical. the mirror he's staring in is growing stronger in intensity - as expected. but ilyas himself... ]

What do you see?

[ her fingers twitch by her side, the muscles through her arms tense and ready. she doesn't feel a demon inside him, and he doesn't feel like a demon, but there's something she can't quite recognize.

she hates it. ]

[starpact]

So my friend here, he noticed that-- [ it's this point that ilyas turns enough to see the friend in question attempting to avoid notice.

nice try. he reaches out to try and grab jajo by the arm before he slides off any further. ] It seems like you might've given me a faulty set of rings? [ this is for the attendant, of course. ] Maybe you mixed them up with a different booth?

[ he looks at jajo again. back up, please. ]

[rescuee]

[ Jajo doesn't even notice the grab on his arm at first, until he looks to float a step further away and finds resistance. He looks down, then back, then instantly guilty.

The wisp, meanwhile, is just staring silently at them. Probably. It's honestly a little hard to tell where it' staring, but it certainly isn't responding.

Awkwardly: ] I... may have been mistaken.

[starpact]

Myself?

[ it's not a lie, but the lack of confidence in his response is sure to be telling. he looks back at variss, and is surprised to see she's much closer than he remembered; that had to have been recent. ]

I don't think-- it's that relevant to getting out of here. [ :);; ]

[starpact]

Oh? [ that,

was not back up. ilyas deflates a bit, less sure of his ability to clear up this obvious misunderstanding. there's a solution here, though... ]

Maybe you should try it after all? Since you seem to be a better judge of the sizes than me-- [ in that jajo made a determination at all, and ilyas has no way to confirm himself. not without crawling over counter, anyway. he taps him on the shoulder with the ring. ] Perhaps your aim is better, too?

[yellbrush]

[ he's nervous - faltering, like a wounded deer trying to stand. she could find the truth so easily, she thinks for a moment, and that's all the motivation she needs to stop that line of thought completely.

she shakes her head and easily leaps back to her starting point. ]

You're right. It isn't.

[ she falls back into her initial pace, moving quickly along with one hand against the mirrors. and then, because whether he is a threat or not he is at least interesting, she moves to offer one last piece of advice: ]

Have you paid for the ride already?

[starpact]

Ah? [ that's a subject change he wasn't expecting. he blanks out for a full second trying to process her question (ride? really?), and it takes him another one to figure out the answer.

which is to say... ] Well, I paid at the front? [ he didn't figure there was more to it than that, at least, not at this part. ]

[rescuee]

[ Jajo looks like taking the ring is absolutely the last thing he wants to do in this life, but that's exactly what he does. It would be rude to turn it away. ]

I could give it a shot. I doubt if I'll be any good, though.

[ ...But on the other hand, he probably doesn't actually have to be good. He's eyeballing distances again, and his arms, after all, are really long. Moving slowly and methodically he reaches out his arm, extending it to its full length. There is about half a foot left between his hand and the nearest bottle. He gives the ring a gentle toss. It lands on the mouth of it, teeters gently, and tips off. He sighs deeply. ]

I must have been off.

[starpact]

[ hm. ]

If you do say so...

[ hmmm. ]

My apologies for the confusion. [ he gives the wisp attendant a small dip of a bow, the very picture of contriteness. with a more deliberate look at jajo, he adds: ] It seems that neither of us are as good at this as we thought.

[rescuee]

Well, it's about time we were away, so...

[ This might be a little forward, but he absolutely sets a hand on Ilyas's shoulder to steer him firmly away from the booth. It's hard to argue with a shepherding along like this. Apologies can be made later. Come on little guy, let's go. ]

[starpact]

[ there's a brief moment where he considers protesting, having not yet won anything, but in the end ilyas allows himself to be driven away from the booth. fine. there are more around here, anyway.

oh, but: ] I don't think I ever caught your name? [ he peers up (ugh) at jajo as they walk, unconsciously frowning at the difference in size. ]

[pipers_son]

[The good news is that this one goes through a balloon, from a combination of Joker helping to aim and possibly the excitable energy coming from Gottlieb. Still, wow, that sure was a noise, and Joker pulls back with an amused smile.]

Are ya alright there, sir?

[pipers_son]

Ya don’t say, sir.

[Coffee poured and whatever sugar or cream he wants available, Joker takes a seat himself.]

Mind if I ask where? The Carnival tends ta visit its fair share of places.

[rescuee]

[ Jajo drops his hand again once they're a few steps away, satisfied that the man can walk himself. He glances down, a little tight around the edges, not completely over being dragged into an accusation just yet. ]

Jatuarnada Joadiarnadata. [ And you know what, he doesn't offer the nickname that he usually gives everyone he introduces himself to. This guy can have the long, awful name. ] And yours?

[pipers_son]

[While he should probably be more concerned, Joker’s pace behind the Doctor is a lot more relaxed although he makes sure to keep up. He cups his hand around his mouth.]

Ain’t we near the trailers? Maybe Ginko and Tanny got some mint!

[pipers_son]

Then prove it.

[Another shameless grin.]

I mean- s’gonna be a bit of a hard act, up here, but ya can sing, can’t ya? And ya can do that anywhere. So go on, impress me.

[pipers_son]

[Although he doesn’t know how much the gesture will get through, Joker spreads his fingers innocently.]

Just work, for a year and a day. And, of course, followin’ the rules of the carnival- no killin’ kin, no stealin’ from the carnival, and always keep yer deals. Simple, innit?

I'm game for continuing the thread too!

[pipers_son]

Listen… The way out of the carnival’s woods is always changin’. The only way ta find out which path ta take is back in the carnival. There’s a certain tent that ya have ta look into and the way out is written inside.

[Things that are a blatant lie: that. However, no one would tell from Joker’s expression. He talks about it all as simple as anything, even rolling his shoulders up in a shrug.]

It’s a trick most people don’t catch onto, so they don't leave the carnival… But I don’t have any interest in bein’ skewered with a sword, or havin’ anyone I work with have ta deal with that either.

[starpact]

That's-- [ <:);;;;;;; ] -- quite the name.

[ was that too rude? god, he hopes not. he clears his throat. ]

Knight Sachairin, at your service-- though uh, the title isn't strictly necessary. [ i mean, if you go by something that long, maybe you think everyone else does too? ilyas doesn't know for sure, but he's not about to assume; best to cover his bases. he finishes off with a small flourish of a salute. ] Pleased to make your acquaintance.

[veinglory]

[When Joker pulls back, Gottlieb will wobble a bit, but eventually finds his footing. He shakes his head like a dog shaking off water before looking to the balloons in confusion.]

... oh. I got it? I really got it? Will wonders never cease!

[He claps his hands together.]

How many more?

[yellbrush]

[ yes, ride. listen, she's been picking up the parlance around here. she knows what a carnival is. this is DEFINITELY a ride. ]

Good. [ left, right, through the center. ] Don't accept any gifts you might be offered. Nothing is free. Do you understand?

[atouts]

You've had a lot of time on your hands, haven't you?

[ Well-read and making her own clothing? Probably some gentleman's incredibly bored daughter, if he had to make a guess. Still, the question doesn't sound at all judgmental. It's more a comment, as though not expecting and answer, which might be true. He doesn't actually wait for one before answering her own.

He frowns some at the crowd, then gives the lights and people she's waving towards a glance and, unsurprisingly, a continued frown. ]

No. I have never seen nor read about anything like this before. I had expected something much different...

[starpact]

Is that not the definition of a gift?

[ he focuses his gaze on the ground ahead of him. it constrains his view to be mostly of felbrush's feet, which isn't the greatest, but better than the alternatives. ]

A bit of a deception, if you intended to be paid for it for it all along. [ but that's just like, his opinion, man. ]

[yellbrush]

I intend nothing. [ she audibly scoffs. ] Do you think me the type to offer gifts?

[ she makes her way through the mirrors, the light of the outside world slowly trickling into her senses. they are close. ]

But there will be others.