⇨ TEST DRIVE MEME: WISMUTH

[ringleaders]

WELCOME TO THE SHOW!↴ Or, more specifically, Lost Carnival's 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 (and should) read the full premise here. Reserves and Applications are currently OPEN. Recruits can be either willing or tricked this month. You can apply as a newcomer or as a "veteran" character who has been in the carnival for up to three years. In the case of veteran characters, you will need to come up with an explanation of why they haven't been around the carnival recently. TDM threads can be used as game canon after the fact if both characters are accepted, the players agree to it, and it makes any sense contextually. If you are interested in additional IC and OOC plot responsibilities, consider applying for a Supervisor position. Head Cook and Treasurer are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise. CURRENT STOP↴ ⇨ WISMUTH ⇦ Wismuth is a large coastal city on the east shore of what would usually be the United States. The world it's part of is an Earth variant, meaning that while some aspects may be different, overall it will contain a similar look and feel to Earth many are accustomed to, including some overlapping celebrities, corporations, and technologies. Its most notable feature is that this planet is a part of what is called a 'Pillar of Creation' - a focal point of Creation's energies in the multiverse. The effects of this feature are the only aspect of the setting that will be relevant for this testdrive, as recruits will be entirely within the carnival as opposed to out in the city. ► VIBRANCY OF CREATION: The immediate effects of this trait are that everything in Wismuth, and in the carnival because of its connection to Wismuth, is filled with an unusual sort of vibrancy - colours seem brighter, sounds seems to resonate more deeply, and all other physical sensations will strike visitors as oddly intense, including their own emotions. It's a subtle effect rather than anything that will be overtly disorientating, but it's almost as if everything is more "real" here than it is anywhere else. Obviously, the locals, whom are mostly just ordinary looking humans, have had plenty of time to grow accustomed to this. On the bright side, as a tourist, you have the opportunity to experiment with this sensation as a form of recreation. Recruits from this month will be signing on with the carnival between Day 8 and Day 11 on the season calendar. 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. 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 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. ► TUNNEL OF "LOVE": A brand new attraction in the carnival, the Tunnel of Love is mostly what you'd expect from such a ride - two people sit in a boat together which journeys through some glitter filled caves, complete with mood music. Unfortunately, there is also something else in there with you... in the form a moody kraken living in the waters, who has very particular opinions about shipping, and may either stubbornly interfere with any attempted intimacy, or may politely encourage it. Or they may just generally be a dick if they're in no mood for either. The Ringmaster insists it is a romance expert. ► 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. ► 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. ► 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! ► DUNK TANK: Sometimes acting like a dick will earn you the gentle reprimand of being sent to work in the Dunk Tank for the afternoon - you know that game where people throw balls at a target, and if they hit it you get dropped into the water? It's like that, only sometimes there are daunting (but harmless) critters in the water, or some other strange magical affects to spice things up. Hopefully, the visitors will have bad aim. ► 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

Ezio Auditore da Firenze | Assassin's Creed II | Newcomer

[beneful]

A. From a Certain Point of View...

It's been said before-- often by the young man himself-- that Ezio Auditore is one of the fastest climbers in all of Firenze. Even before his training as an Assassin, the great city's numerous towers and cathedrals posed little challenge to him, and he grew up knowing Firenze's rooftops nearly as well as it's streets. It's hard for him to even imagine a structure that he could not climb.

Then again, Ezio Auditore has also never encountered the likes of a ferris wheel before.

When traveling somewhere new, it's second nature for him to seek out the highest vantage point that he can in order to get a better idea of the lay of the land. The massive circular structure is easily one of the tallest things here, and thus had immediately drawn his attention. Standing at the base of it, though, all he can do is boggle at it. Such a gigantic object maintaining motion like that... it turns and turns, as wheels tend to do, but this one seems to be doing that without the likes of water or wind to power it. If only Leonardo were here to see this; he'd likely wet himself with excitement.

"So... It is for entertainment, then?" the assassin asks the nearest person, bemused.

Alternatively, a few minutes later, you may find yourself actually on the ride in the same car as this hooded weirdo. He's a bit restless once the thing starts moving, but otherwise he's basically silent up until the compartment reaches the highest point on the wheel. When the ride pauses for a bit to allow the patrons to enjoy the view, he stirs.

"Bene. This should be high enough..."

Annnnd now the hooded weirdo is trying to climb out of the compartment and up onto the roof of it.

B. Trying to Leaf (Coco Strikes Back)

"Cazzo!"

That's the sound an Italian Assassin makes when he very narrowly avoids being crushed by the vicious blows of a gigantic murderous palm tree.

Ezio had tired of the otherworldly charms of the carnival in due time, and had thought to make his exit from this place back through the woods. As it turns out, this was the worst possible route he could have taken, unaware as he was that he would be treading right through the lair of the infamous Coco. A deft dodge-roll had taken him out of the path of a full-force wood hammer attack from the exeggutor (the impact of which blows dirt and moss and twigs up into the air from a crater centered exactly where he was standing just moments before), and at first he assumes he just evaded a regular old falling tree.

It's when the Pokemon lifts it's head-- or several heads, as it were, numerous sets of eyes all glittering with malice-- that Ezio realizes that there is something much more sinister afoot here.

"What kind of devilry is this!?" he exclaims incredulously, exasperatedly, to no one in particular. Like, that sure is a gigantic walking tree with multiple faces!! And-- is he seeing things? Is that a tail? He's had more than he can take of this bizarre fever dream of a carnival. He draws the blade at his hip and takes up a combat stance, ready to attack.

If someone could stop him before he tries to skewer the Ringmaster's pet, that would be real nice.

a!

[primadovea]

Congrats Ezio. You are being judged to hell and back by a thirteen year old girl.

Mint had been sitting calmly in the ferris wheel, watching it as it rises. As Ezio starts to climb out of the compartment, she realizes that the calm's just about going to end and it's going to end faster than she expected.

"It's only stopping for a short time, you're going to fall if you climb out!"

Well, he's probably going to fall anyway, but that's neither here nor there.

[beneful]

Ezio pauses with one foot already up on the top of the compartment door and, facing away from Mint, lets out a rather put upon huff and rolls his eyes. Alright, so perhaps attempting this stunt with civilians present hadn't been his brightest idea, but ALSO, to be fair, he's still not entirely convinced that this whole situation isn't just some sort of insane dream.

He has no desire to cause distress to a young lady, though, so...

"Then what would you have me do instead, signorina," he inquires, taking his seat once more, arms crossed expectantly.

[primadovea]

"Sit and wait," Mint responds, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. What else would he do? This idiot's going to get himself killed if he plans on climbing or jumping the ferris wheel.

"What are you planning on doing anyway? The wheel will start moving again soon."

[beneful]

"I merely wish to get a clearer view of the surrounding area. It is a simple feat, one that would take but a few seconds."

Okay maybe he's a little bit annoyed? He doesn't want to be rude, but also: No one tells Ezio Auditore what he can and cannot climb. "Trust me, I have completed far more difficult climbs than this one."

HAVE YOU EVER TRIED TO CLIMB THE DUOMO, MINT? FROM THE INSIDE? BECAUSE HE HAS. IT SUCKED.

[primadovea]

No one tells Ezio Auditore what he can and cannot climb, well guess what, this tiny little thirteen year old is. Mint gives Ezio a look that's entirely disbelieving. Uh huh. Sure you can climb this thing. She doesn't believe it in the slightest.

"Have you ever completed those climbs on a moving object?"

She don't think so, buddy, and is forcing as much weight as possible behind her judgemental teenage stare.

A

[sunflowerfields]

"Young man!" A voice calls out from the ground below. "You get back in that car this instant!"

Hinawa stands down there, hands on her hips, in full Mom Mode.

[beneful]

To be fair, Ezio is pretty accustomed to having people shouting at him to get down from things, and if he stopped climbing on shit every single time that happened, he'd never get anything done. At least Hinawa isn't throwing rocks or shooting arrows at him.

"Forgive me, signora! This will take but a moment," he calls back down to her, and continues to climb, utterly disregarding the scolding tone she's taking with him.

[espigeon]

"Don't! The Ringmaster loves that thing!" A big blue-and-white blur streaks through the air and caroms feet-first off the trunk, shoving the exeggutor hard enough to make its top sway and its legs and feet shuffle so it keeps its balance. Julien flips in the air and with a few confident wingbeats circles Coco at a dizzying speed, keeping close enough to be sure of keeping its attention. "Please don't piss her off. Just go, I can distract it!"

He's quite confident of his ability to avoid being hurt by the big tree monster. Yes, it's surprisingly fast, but he's faster and extremely agile. The range of its... hammer... nut... heads is easy for him to track and to his eye it telegraphs its swings with tension down low near its base.

Of course, Julien hasn't been to Alola and doesn't know that Coco, while more a physical fighter, still knows some ranged attacks.

[beneful]

It's a testament to the kind of day Ezio is having that a giant talking pigeon somehow is not the strangest thing he has seen in the last few hours. However, that doesn't mean it fails to grab his attention. He has to pause and blink a few times to make sure that, yeah, he is definitely not seeing things.

He doesn't have to be told to run twice, though. Ezio is no coward, but he's also no monster slayer. The assassin swears under his breath again, and then takes off into the trees.

[espigeon]

Coco can't hurt him, and while humans would certainly be hurt if he pounced on them at any speed at all, humans aren't thirty-foot dragon trees. He doesn't close in to hang on and peck it, he doesn't pull back to dive at it at a higher speed, he doesn't strike it with his wings - how much any of that could hurt Coco he's not sure at all isn't something he's sure of. (Probably a lot. He has a type advantage.) Julien is only aiming to distract the creature, and at that, he's succeeding. RM should excuse a shove.

Coco has zero such compunctions and after a minute or so of wild swinging, with the swordsman out of sight, it goes still and a sphere of light, bright and hot as summer sun at midday, starts to collect above its leaves. Time to go, Julien decides, he thinks that person is safe now and he doesn't know what that is but it looks bad. He banks and wings away, up and out of the tree cover, getting on a trajectory that will have him skimming the canopy and dodging the occasional taller-than-normal tree, getting increasingly distant but still in Coco's sights when Solar Beam finishes charging.

He does still form backwards-facing spectral eyes to see what it's doing, and starts to dodge, but he doesn't know what's happening and underestimates both the speed and the size of the beam that obliterates the part of the canopy between him and Coco and clips him real good. The move goes by Pokemon physics and does not horribly injure him or even hurt as much as it should considering the vaporized foliage. Instead Julien's sent tumbling upwards, too shocked to cry out, into the wide blue sky.

He'll recover and come back down and go looking for the guy he saw in case he doesn't know to go back to the Carnival's clearing, but not right away.

a

[genice]

Victor had only decided on taking a ride on the ferris wheel to see exactly what things looked like around the carnival from a higher vantage point. It's usually relaxing, not fast paced and kind as a moment both above and away from the sounds of the carnival itself, and decidedly less strange than most the people he's now working with.

He'd flashed a smile at Ezio when they'd both been directed to share the same car, but otherwise not attempted to engage him in conversation. For all he'd seemed restless, Victor didn't choose to break their silence, finding it companionable enough as it was. He'd have happily continued on in mutually equitable silence if Ezio hadn't then had the bad taste to attempt to exit the car once they're on top of the wheel: the moment Victor's been waiting for in order to get his own good eyeful.

Victor moves with the car, partly rocked into a half fall as he attempts to catch hold of Ezio and haul him back toward the seats. With his present luck, that might be right back into himself, but really, it's better than having the man go right out of the whole thing. "Please sit down," he says almost cheerfully through gritted teeth and narrowed eyes. "This ride has a no exit policy until you're back down on the platform."