livinglot | ⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ 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...

Edited 2016-09-30 20:03 (UTC)

[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!

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.

Edited (fixing html) 2016-09-30 20:29 (UTC)

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.

Azeroth? No, I haven't been there yet. The Balmorra, that other planet... Uh...

[ She trails off. Maybe better not to babble about everywhere she's been when she's just meeting someone new. Her head spins a little as she tries to digest all the unfamiliar terms being thrown her way. Bronze Dragonflight? Burning Legion? Huh? ]

I... Haven't heard of any of those. Just the Galra Empire. And I guess that makes us new friends? Great! New friends are good.

[ Right? Somehow Pidge doesn't look quite convinced. ]

Really, I'm trying to find my other friends. We got separated.

Well, I have not heard of those, either, so...[Balmorra? Galra? Nope and nope. Still. There's a decisive lack of animosity, so that's good.]

Oh, no, we should find your friends. It would not do to be separated here, I do not think. Perhaps they have gone back to the carnival?

I was by myself, so at least I do not have that worry! So, tell me who we are looking for! Are they all humans like you?

[And then, Jou stops a moment.] Oh, forgive me! I am Jou Shan Aleflower, Pandaren monk. Pleased to meet you! [At that, she gives a small bow.]

Ah, well, four of them are humans. The other two are Alteans! There's me, Shiro, Lance, Keith, and Hunk. And then Pincess Allura and Coran are the Alteans.

[ Pidge rattles off her friends' names, then rubs her chin. ]

I haven't been able to get them on the radio or seen them around here, though, so I don't think they're actually here at the carnival...

[ At the introduction, Pidge hurriedly imitates the bow. ]

I'm Pidge Gunderson. I'm, uh. A Paladin.

Edited (Fixing html) 2016-09-30 21:35 (UTC)

I do not know Altean. Do they look different from you? [Genuinely curious, and not meaning to be offensive, there. There are enough differences in people from Azeroth, after all, and with the way things are going, Jou now knows enough to not assume that any human might know 'Draenei' or 'Tauren' at this point, without a description given.]

[And at 'Paladin', Jou's expression brightens.] Ah, very good! So if there is trouble, you are no stranger to battle. Although, I would hope there is not trouble. Or more trouble, I suppose.

Uh, kinda! I know the princess can change her size and skin-tone, but usually she has pointed ears, dark skin, white hair--she's hard to miss.

[ Pidge grins. ] So I guess not that much different. And uh, nope! Not a stranger to battle. I mean. I guess not. I've been in a few fights, but it's still kinda terrifying, you know?

Oh, I see! Sort of like an elf--that should not be easy to miss, I think, then. I shall keep an eye out!

[And Jou laughs at Pidge's next comment, though it's merry laughter.] I should think, that if we ever get that cocky, it is not a good thing! Fear is not always a good friend, but it lets us know when we should not be getting in over our heads, no? By Yu'lon's whiskers, I do know! I certainly don't prefer to get into a fight. I'd rather have a pile of dumplings and a nice light brew to go with them!

[Which probably explains the chubbiness, but she is a panda, too. Not known for being skinny, they aren't...]

[ Pidge smiles. The strange panda woman is friendly and warm and it makes her feel a little more relaxed. ]

Dumplings sound pretty good to me, too. And tea... tea sounds nice.

[ They're talking about tea, right? ]

[luckily they can be, because Jou does that too. Not that there's a drinking age on Azeroth...]

I make my own. Tea, beer...dumplings. They're from a family recipe, my dumplings! Best on five farmsteads, if not all of the Wandering Isle!

[Admittedly Jou is a little biased...]

[ Pidge doesn't really have the taste for beer, sadly. ]

Whoa, really? That's pretty neat. I've never been a great cook myself. Must be nice to be able to whip up your own food pretty easily.

Eh, you are young! [Jou. Jou, you only have a couple years on Pidge, please! And not having a taste for beer is not a crime to the Pandaren, luckily.] There is plenty of time to pick it up as a hobby, if you like!

Though if we are trying to go home, it is a shame I could not show you a few things! All I have are snacks that I brought with me, not supplies for actual cooking.

I mean, I'm sure I'll have plenty of time eventually. I've just been really busy with... other stuff.

[ Like trying to save the universe. ]

Oh, well, I dunno if my home and your home are really the same...

That is my point! I cannot just...walk down to your corner of the Twisting Nether and be all "hello hello, may I speak to Pidge? I want to teach cooking!"

Though I would, if I could. And even I cannot devote my time to cooking or brewing, when I am there. There are many other things to do, I am afraid...

[Because when she's home, trying to fight off the demon invasion of her homeworld is top priority...]

Twsiting Nether? What's the Twisting Nether?

[ Sounds pretty fascinating if you ask Pidge! There's more to find out here. ]

Same thing back home fro me. Too much to do. Friends to find, universe to save. All that stuff.

⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME #1

Trying to leaf

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