⇨ 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

Jou Shan Aleflower | World of Warcraft OC | Newbie

[mistweaver]

Admission Fees

[The Pandaren's face is scrunched up in thought. It isn't as if her species doesn't love a good haggling session anyway--it's almost like food to them, although food will always, always come first.

She's come down to a firm decision; either a cask of brew, or her dumpling recipe, but it's the former that Jou Shan seems more willing to give up. After all, both are from a long, prestigious line, full of Pandaren tradition--there's a reason why her family's name is 'Aleflower', after all...]

I promise you, either way you are getting a good deal, here!


Trying to leaf

[Although the Broken Isles are known for their odd fauna, as well--from the gloomy trees of Stormheim, to the crimson-and-black nightmare corruption of Val'sharah, Jou thought she was aware of all the strange permutations of their greenery. Now, she's not so sure...]

I could have sworn I just came from that direction. But that does not look like Suramar...

Admission Fees

[no_secret_ingredient]

[Now Po was no master haggler, but he could see someone getting grifted. Dumplings or brew. Man, what a toughie.

Sidling up beside Jou, he cleared his throat.] Hey, I dunno what you're trying to pull but a cooks work is their life mister! Now why don't you just take this, and we'll be square.

[And he put down a Tigress Action Figure and a limited edition Monkey to boot.]

Go on miss, the Dragon Warrior's got this.

[mistweaver]

[She should be used to other pandas, but considering this is a new place, and she'd thought she was handling it just fine, well...]

But--

[She pauses a bit, yes, to take a good look at what this gentleman is offering in the stead of her FINE BREW and--well, okay, she IS happy to not have to give up the family dumpling recipe, if Jou Shan were to be perfectly honest.]

These are very good toys! Are you certain you want to part with them? Brew, I can always make more of...

[Dragon Warrior. Huh. Never heard of him. But she won't actually say that...]

[no_secret_ingredient]

Naw, I got this. Like I said, the Dragon Warrior doesn't leave anyone hanging.

[Po grinned as he tipped up his hat to look at Jou Shan.] They're just action figures. I've given up several already in the last few months.

Although that Monkey one is limited edition... aw well! Dad would have my head if I let someone give up their family recipes.

[mistweaver]

Oh, the brew is just a sample! Besides, I always make it different, really. It depends on what I have on hand, as they say. [Well, the orcs do, at least. Jou shrugged at that, and grinned.]

Really, the dumplings are the same, but it's the spicing, you know. If your father is a cook, though, of course you do!

Though these action figures, I have not seen much like them. Though I suppose there are similar where I am from. [Yeah but Jou, they're like...Thrall and Garrosh and other Horde leader action figures, you've never seen one of you.] They are very well crafted!

[no_secret_ingredient]

Oh that's cool! I've never been much of a drinker myself but it's pretty cool when someone who knows how to make a good brew comes around.

[Nodding, Po grinned a little.] My dad's noodle folk. So he makes the best secret noodle soup around.

They're handpainted, but they're really pretty cool. The Fearsome Five are fan favorites of the people in the Valley.

Trying to leaf

[sweatysometimes]

[ Pidge hadn't been expecting to hear another voice so close to her! She jumps, startled by the seemingly magical appearance of Jou Shan. She speaks before she turns to look, one hand running through her hair. ]

That's what I was just saying--I keep heading in what should be the right direction but I keep ending up back at the carn--

[ She's cut off by stunned silence as she gets an eyeful of the talking panda. She's seen aliens and what-not, but something so familiar acting in such an abnormal way takes her by surprise. ]

Ah. Um. The carnival...

[mistweaver]

[And Jou is a little weirded out by a human--since usually they're Alliance, and she's not, a little animosity is a given. Towards her, not from the Pandaren's direction. She's friendly until she gets a good reason not to be...]

As do I! And I did not think we were lost!

Perhaps it wants us to stay? Though I cannot think of why. The Darkmoon Faire never acted like this!

[sweatysometimes]

I've never heard of the Darkmoon Faire.

[ Pidge admits that with a little shrug and rests a hand on her hip, glancing around at the bizarre trees. She shades her eyes for a moment. Sighs. ]

No, I have a pretty good sense of direction. I know which direction I'm going, not turning left or right and I'm just ending up here.

[ Her boyish voice raises a little in annoyance, then she shakes her head. ]

There's gotta be a logical explanation for this.

[mistweaver]

The Darkmoon Faire? It is a carnival somewhat like this, on the world I am from--Azeroth. But clearly, we are no longer there. Though I am not certain you were there in the first place!

[The Pandaren's brow furrows, though her voice remains cheerful and optimistic.] And yes, I understand. You are not alone in that, my new friend.

Though what the logical explanation might be, I do not know. I seem to be displaced in space, not in time, so it cannot be the Bronze Dragonflight. And this does not seem so dangerous as to be a world that the Burning Legion has been to.

Trying to leaf!

[stormcalling]

[Enter one tall Draenei who also happens to be lost! Valamia catches sight of the pandaren and there was instant relief in knowing that she wasn't the only one who had wandered off the face of Azeroth.

She flicks her tail up and wraps it around her hip as she approaches.]

It may be the trickery of a very bored mage.

[mistweaver]

They never did this at the Darkmoon Faire, though! Aren't they as bored there, would you not think??

[Ah, a Draenei! There's probably going to be no trouble there--the Draenei had always struck Jou as a sensible people, even if she had allied with the Huojin and not the Tushui. She wasn't planning on any trouble. Well, any more than they were already in...]

There are not trees like this in Suramar...or anywhere else on Azeroth, either. I am very confused.

[stormcalling]

I'm not sure. I am not aware how these worlds do their...carnivals.

[She may be old, she may know a lot of things. That does not give her any ability to understand azeroth carnivals or interdimensional ones either.]

Strong enough magic could pull us off Azeroth if they truly wanted. It would explain why I can't get teleport back.

[mistweaver]

That makes sense. It would explain why I cannot, either. Hn. [Not that Jou isn't upset about this turn of events, but having a tantrum would do no one any good.]

I wonder what "making the best of a bad situation" would be, in this case?

admission fees

[babbylon]

[Gilgamesh, lingering on the sidelines of this affair, just waggles his eyebrows suggestively... and starts subtly inching towards said cask of brew, clearly meaning to swipe it.]

Ah, but a "good" deal isn't really sufficient, is it? Especially considering the once in a lifetime opportunity you've stumbled upon.

[mistweaver]

I have heard that before! [The Pandaren laughs, and hands over her cask to the fellow taking admission--though hey, there's certainly a way that Gilgamesh can get that beer--there's always a need for quality control, right? If he outranks a mere ticket taker, well then. Done deal! It's really a decent brew, dark and malty with a rich roasted flavor, if one appreciates such things.]

They say that all the time at the Darkmoon Faire. And while this place certainly is interesting so far, I do not know if I would call it a 'once in a lifetime' opportunity. Yet. I do think it ranks the Darkmoon Faire, though. I have never seen trees like that, not even in Suramar...

[Jou Shan is, at least, very willing to give the benefit of the doubt.]

[babbylon]

[Of course there's a way. Just who does she think he is, some random peon?]

Hand that to me at once.

[In this case, Gilgamesh outranks the attendant, so they hand over the admission willingly—though the flash of fear fleeting across their face speaks volumes to his reputation. Gilgamesh hefts the cask over his shoulder and then tells her in terms so strict there lies no room for disagreement:]

Outdrink me, and you may pass. Fail, and you are banished from this place.

[Gilgamesh has no power to do so, of course, but it seems he'll make things very difficult for her in that case.]

[mistweaver]

[Jou has NO clue who or what she's dealing with, here. But this is very clearly the first Pandaren he's run into, as well, so...

She eyes him, and then the cask on his shoulder, and laughs merrily. Prooobably...not what he was expecting, really.]

A drinking contest! I like that! But that is hardly enough beer in there for one person, let alone a contest! And you look like a healthy drinker, too!

Clearly we need to find more beer. But I am game!

[Still might regret this later, but if she's drunk, she probably won't care quite so much.]

admission fees

[atouts]

Where you may be getting the short end of the bargain regardless.

[ Childermass has an inkling of what this place is, hence why he's here at all, though it's taken him a few minutes to find his voice when finding himself waiting in line with a talking bear. A talking bear... person? Woman? He's not entirely sure and he imagines there's no polite way to even ask that. Well, he'd expected some oddity, but this is a bit much, even for him.

Still, he does find the will to interrupt as she haggles with the clerk, at some point. Just a little. ]

[mistweaver]

Not from my food, good sir! From...whatever this place is, though? For me? Perhaps!

[And yet, it seems like her (yes, by the voice, definitely a she!) demeanor is easygoing enough that the fellow could ask her his questions, and she'd give him a serious answer.]

You seem disenfranchised, sir. Are you all right? [She might try helping haggle him in, if it seems like he needs a hand...]

[atouts]

Do I? [ He's a ragged-looking sort of man, coat considerably re-patched, and he does, overall, a bit shabby. So maybe he shouldn't be surprised she would ask. ] Ah, I suppose I must seem so. I am fine, though. Thank you.

[ Shabby-looking, yes. Unable to make his own way into the carnival, not so much. ]

And from this place, I meant. You had it right the second time. Do you know where here is?

[ Though Childermass won't warn her outright (the clerk's already giving him a look for this much). To be fair, he's not even completely sure himself beyond "probably Faerie". ]

[mistweaver]

You are welcome. [She gives him a small bow, then, before proceeding on to answer his question of her.] I do not, sir. It calls to mind a carnival where I am from, though. The Darkmoon Faire. And so I thought it was...well. Even that faire is not entirely harmless, but harmless enough, I supposed.

[Elves they have on Azeroth. Fae, not so much, though there are any number of powerful and capricious beings--most of whom the Pandaren hasn't had much truck with.]

Leaving - I am so so so sorry for this

[1halfofawhole]

Hey! Get back here old man! Don't you try to leave me back there. I already told you I wasn't going to be the entry fee!!

[ And here comes a streak of red Chinese silk and black hair though the young man screeches to a halt only moments later. Stops and stares. And stares some more, head tilting just a little. ]

....Sorry...wrong panda. Have you see a panda around here. About so tall. Real fat. Real lazy.

[ He then totally waits for a sign to come out of nowhere. Because that's how this works for him. ]

I am mostly canon blind but NOT SORRY

[mistweaver]

[Jou Shan watches all of this with a somewhat startled look on her face. How can a person be an entry fee? Then again, humans are strange. And she certainly would not put it past a Mogu to try to use a sentient being as the entry fee to this strange place...]

I was trying to leave...but no, the only Pandaren I have seen is me.

Though if you needed, I could help you look?

[1halfofawhole]

[ Stare.


Staaaaaaaaare.

There is no sign. The panda had talked.

It takes a moment for him to deal with that disconnect. Was she cursed too? Could the old man talk this entire time? Was he just a lazy ass that wrote on signs? Too many questions and it made his head hurt, so he's going to just go with it. ]

Oh... Well, I'd appreciate that. The Old Man sort of dumped me here and went off to enjoy all the food and stuff. I thought you were him and that you were going to leave me behind there like an ass. [ Because all pandas look alike from behind, though his panda usually doesn't wear cloths so that should have been his first indication ] So I really want to look for him so I can kick his ass. He might not be a panda though. Might be an old dude. Wears glasses. Bald. Sort of big. Goes by Genma.

If you help me, I can try to help you too. You're trying to get out of this forest, right?