⇨ 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

Gottlieb Albrecht | OC | Newbie

[veinglory]

GAMER'S CIRCLE

[Somewhere, in the midst of all the booths, a plump figure in a powdered wig and clothing a few centuries out of date is standing with a look of pure awe on its face.]

"... ooh! This is so very exciting! Which one should I -- ah! Is that a toy banana with a silly wig? How whimsical!"

[He is simply overwhelmed about which way to go, his hands clasped in front of him as his wide eyes take in all the bright lights and crazy sounds. It's quite clear he's never seen anything quite like it, but he is certainly enjoying himself.]

[pipers_son]

[Anachronistic folks isn't really an unknown to Joker- especially because he's come to realize that in some ways that means he's an anachronism himself after all he's seen. Still, with recent events, something about the excited little thing gets his attention and he stops his wandering to grin down at him.]

Need help choosin' where ta start, my good sir?

[veinglory]

[When Gottlieb looks up at Joker, his face lights up even more. He admires the other's fantastical attire with a pleased clap of his hands.]

Oh ho ho! It is quite the quandary! Do you have any suggestions, good sir?

[The fact Joker is kind of handsome certainly doesn't hurt his enthusiasm. He might be blushing the tiniest bit. Not that it's easy to tell with the rouge.]

[pipers_son]

[Well, that kind of reaction could be faked, but it seems genuine enough and the chap seems mostly harmless, so Joker brightens up his grin a little more. Really, it’s almost deplorably roguish. ]

Well, me, sir, I’m always fond of the throwin’ games myself! [A playful wink.] Got a good aim?

[veinglory]

[Harmless should be Gottlieb's middle name. The wink makes him give a joyful little squeal of a sound. Someone's easily swayed by a pretty face.]

Ah, I don't know! I certainly could give it a try! I feel a sudden burst of confidence!

[pipers_son]

[Woe to poor Gottlieb, because boy has Joker heard that kind of delighted squeal before, and he knows exactly how to respond to it. Making sure to keep his head up so that no one gets bashed in with antlers, he sweeps into a low bow.]

Well, that ain’t a problem at all. Joker, at yer service, and it’d be my honor ta give ya a few pointers if it’d please ya.

[veinglory]

[Oh, this guy's got his number, alright. He nods energetically to the offer, giving a little bow of his own in return. It's only proper, right?]

By all means! This is so exciting!

[He points at the banana wearing the Rastafarian hat eagerly.]

That is the colorful fellow I had my eye on! Do you think it would be very difficult for a novice such as myself to obtain?

[pipers_son]

[The things they put up at these stalls, he swears. Then again, he recalls the ones at his own troupe selling tiny ceramic monstrosities, so, you know. Stones, glass houses, et cetera. Straightening up, he taps his chin thoughtfully.]

Well now, I think we have a good chance between us~!

[Waggling his fingers at the person managing the stall, he picks up one of the darts. Balloon popping game, huh?]

Ever do darts?

[veinglory]

[There's a small spark in his eyes of recognition at the dart, quickly turning to slight confusion when he looks over at the balloons.]

Ah! They have a board of sorts at the tavern in town where they play a game with those. I think the first one they put in was around 1925 if I'm not mistaken? It was quite popular when they first got it! All the local gentlemen had to show off to each other, but they were quite inebriated. It was a bit of a mess when the owner got hit in the leg, and -- oh, I am prattling on. I have seen them, yes, but not with balloons!

[If one has ever wondered what a vampire being very conflicted about a bloody dart wound looks like, they would witness it in the way his face scrunches up slightly.]

... is it safe?

[pipers_son]

[Actual genuine enjoyment is written across Joker’s face as he listens to the tale, chuckling when it’s all said and done with. 1925, huh? If it’s anything like his world, then that’s a bit later, but you can never tell in this place. At the question, he grins encouragingly.]

No need ta worry, this place is safe as safe can be, and that means with the games too. Wouldn’t want any of our handsome patrons such as yourself gettin’ hurt, would we now?

[veinglory]

[If the dashing, rogue-like charms of the man could be considered what got the hook in his mouth, the compliment was what brought the 'fish' onto the boat. Hesitation melts away from Gottlieb's expression as he gives a confident nod and his eyes half-lid.]

You certainly have a way with words, sir. I feel totally safe in your assuredly skilled hands. If you would be so kind as to give a demonstration?

[pipers_son]

Sir, I’m only tellin’ the truth as I see it, on my honor~.

[Joker is probably going to hell for this, but what else is new]

I’d be glad ta show a little of how things work! Ha, then it’s like I’m bein’ paid ta play around, isn’t it?

[When he winks this time, however, it’s not to Gottlieb but after he’s turned around with his back to him and he’s grinning at the game attendant. This is something he used to do a fair bit, back before he got the station he has now, and he still does it now and again… like right now. It helps that Joker has a naturally good aim for these kind of things. The dart sails through the air nice and true, and pierces through the balloon with a sharp pop!]

Ta da~. Just have ta pop a few more balloons, and yer prize is all yers.

[Of course, he has to pay for the opportunity too, but… Joker will see if he remembers that little fact for himself.]

[veinglory]

[Unfortunately, a delirious cloud of both thrill and enchantment is clogging up Gottlieb's brain. He was never especially great with money to begin with, and for the past couple centuries all he's had to remember is how much his favorite drink is at the tavern. It's a recipe for one heaping disaster cake.]

Oooh! Here we go!

[As is his aim. That poor dart goes right to the ground in the booth.]

-- oopsie! Have to put more pepper in the next one, yes?

[pipers_son]

A bit more spice definitely never hurt! But here, if ya don’t mind-

[He really doesn’t need to push things… He knows. But Joker still does it, ducking behind Gottlieb and sliding his arm forward to help him aim.]

Just like this, and I’m sure you’ll get the next one~.

[veinglory]

[Whatever Joker says after his arm slides up is lost in the sound of Gottlieb's heart pounding in his ears. The shrill squeak that comes out of him next has to be some kind of vampire thing because it's not a sound any human has ever made. Also, is he going cross-eyed?]

Ah... ahahaha!

[Some part of his brain still manages to function well enough to say 'Uh weren't we supposed to do something involving the arm and the wrist? Better do that!' And so it does!]

[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?

[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?

[pipers_son]

Well, ya certainly threw it with enough force, I’d say!

[Clearly he needs to be flustered all the time and then he’ll get them. Straightening up, Joker chuckles.]

I believe it’s six, sir, so just five more times, and you’ll be all set~. If ya keep up what ya did just now, should have yer prize in no time~.