⇨ Test Drive Meme: SPACE OLYMPICS

[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, Foreman, and Treasurer are currently open. Otherwise, we're pretty much down for anything, roles wise. CURRENT STOP↴ ⇨ THE SPACE OLYMPICS ⇦ Welcome to the Space Olympics! The year is 3022. This year's host is Zargon, which is only hosting because the four previous hosts all dropped out. Still, Zargon's put lot of time and money into developing a complex perfect for the Space Olympics. Floating above the planet's atmosphere is a large spaceship turned athletic arena, obviously named Olympic Spaceship. Stadiums are on every corner, there's swimming pools every other block, and a large racetrack surrounds the city. Of course, not much about this matters to newcomers visiting the carnival, besides the wide array of weird aliens visiting alongside them. ► DIVERSITY: If you've arrived at the carnival without being aware that it was a separate world from your own, the presence of dozens upon dozens of aliens visiting its grounds may clue you in. All the big names from classic science fiction are here, apparently for some kind of sporting event? Wookies, Vulcas, you name it. Apparently they are from some kind of alternate reality where all of these species both exist in the same universe and are inclined to have sports competitions with each other. The multiverse is wild, ain't it? ► WIN OR RIOT: Along with sports comes bravado, and with a lot of alien races intermingling for the sake of competition, blood can run a bit hot. Don't be surprised if some fight break out before different species while visiting the carnival round, and also don't be surprised if you get mixed up in it. The carnival has security but, y'know. It's a busy day. Recruits from this month will be signing on with the carnival between Day 30 and Day 37 on the season calendar. They can appear in the carnival at any point during those days, or the week following if time distortions happen. 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

TRYING TO...LEAF.... the link is to an image ref GON LOOKS VERY NOT ICON-LIKE

[betheman]

[Well, speaking of foxes...

This 'fox' isn't quite a fox. Rather, this 'fox' has traits of one up the top, but then the forelegs of a bear, the hindlegs of a massive horse, and a mane of leaves from head to tail, fierce antlers poking from his brow there. And as comical as he seems to others, he is also quite large-nine feet tall, in fact, and peering downward with rather large, innocently confused eyes. In other words, certainly nothing likely to appear 'comical' to Tigerstar. A crash of leaves brings more leaves, upon great, massive paws.

And well, with such size, why would he be at all threatened by a spitting cat!] Hmm?

[Gongenzaka's voice is a rumble, and yet he does not move even to defend against what scratches may come.] Intruder? [he questions.] Have you perhaps wandered in from your own realm then, sir?

[And it must be a sir, that much Gongenzaka is certain of. From the voice which he hears, it cannot be a child...though it is odd, certainly, to be speaking to what seems to be an ordinary cat. Ah, well-there are all sorts of realms after all, are there not?

And so Gongenzaka continues.] Perhaps we may speak about this, if you are willing? If anyone is intruding, it would most certainly be yourself...however, such matters are hardly a serious crime with that in mind...

[Certainly not with the Ringmaster's latest judgement, anyway.]

[catsatan]

[ What in StarClan is that thing. It smells like a twoleg. And a tree. And a horse. And a few other things Tigerstar has never smelled before. But, more importantly, it's very big and it's very close. Now, Tigerstar isn't one to be frightened away by most things - he wouldn't play chicken with a monster, of course, but he's certainly had some close calls without being scared off or even especially ruffled.

This, however, scared him. Maybe it was the loud noise of Gongenzaka's hooves shaking the ground under his paws. Maybe it was the baffling cocktail of smells that blew in on his tailwind. Or maybe it was just because he was, in fact, very big. Either way, it's enough to prompt Tigerstar into doing something he has not done in many moons.

He swipes at one of Gongenzaka's forepaws...and then runs away. His retreat is far from quiet, of course, but it's pretty hasty. Regardless, it would not be hard for a quadruped of Gongenzaka's size to catch up.

Tigerstar hardly registers that he understands what this creature is saying until he's a few meters away. ]

[betheman]

AUH- W-WAIT-!!

[There were enough normal cats about the carnival, that Gongenzaka could at least recognize...somewhat, what happened. A cat had scratched, admittedly drawing some glowing red blood (not that he paid it much mind), and bolted- which were...pretty good indicators of fear.

Suffice to say, he does not follow immediately, scratching the side of his cheek instead before sighing and sniffing at the air. Unfamiliar cat or no, it is still a unique scent, and so he follows until he is at a close enough distance that he can attempt speech.]

Sir! [He announces, sitting his lower half down for the moment. Perhaps that will be enough to prove peaceful intent-the rest of him, fierce as he appears, certainly lacks the tells of a violent stranger.] As I, the man Gongenzaka, stated...you walk upon Carnival grounds.

Neither myself, nor any other here I should believe, intend you harm... But if you could state your own name, it would assuredly make this a far easier conversation..!

[It's Gon-Speak for Introduce yourself.]

[catsatan]

[ Where is he? Tigerstar, being the tabby that he is, is at least a little naturally gifted at hiding in underbrush. That said, it may be a bit easy for Gongenzaka to hear the clumsy steps of a distressed feline trying to move around him. The furious feline screech that greets him as Tigerstar launches himself up at his (mostly) equine body, of course, is even harder to miss.

The enraged Clan cat would sink his long claws into this stranger's hide, given the chance. He just got TigerClan united, and by StarClan he is not about to let some weird horse...twoleg...tree...thing threaten that unity. ]

I will not share niceties with you, outsider!

[ It would seem that so far Gon's words are not getting through to him. How one calms down a furious talking feral cat, however, is another question entirely. ]

[betheman]

[Oiii Oiii...] If there are any between us who is an outsider, it would be yourself, if anything... This is assuredly no territory of yours, as much as you appear to have found an enterance to this place...

[He crosses his arms, raising a brow.] If you feel this is not the case then sir, I, the man Gongenzaka, ask you...prove it. Give reason that we would be standing in something rightfully yours.

[Go on, make his day.]

[catsatan]

[ Cat claws poke a bit at his back as Tigerstar climbs onto his back and...realizes he didn't have a plan of attack beyond this. He can't really bite anything up here. Instead he just glowers at Gongenzaka. ]

I was patrolling TigerClan territory, and this place is within our borders. [ He thinks. He's not entirely sure about this, of course, but this Theman Gongnenzaka hasn't really explained much yet. ] Where do you think we are? What is this "carnival"?

[betheman]

Aah, I see then... [Tigerstar will find that what his claws greet upon the back is layers and layers of maple leaves, as well as wisteria and cherry blossoms, the blend of scarlet and rose contrasting in what should be their correct season. And beneath those leaves...bark. Gongenzaka makes no move save to turn his upper body, and then his head, as much as it takes to face the feline.

And he can, despite natural limits of flexibility, do that. Arms still crossed, he explains.] You, member of Tigerclan, have indeed left your territory; and your very realm, for that matter. The Carnival exists on its own; at times it connects to other realms and lands in order to carry it's services there. Or, as is often the case... [He adds, inclining his head,] ....those of other realms who have personal need of it in some way, may find their own path to it.

I, the man Gongenzaka, should think you the latter-this is, after all, the first I have heard of a 'Tigerclan'.

[catsatan]

[Tigerstar sinks his claws further into the bark, in part to see if Gongenzaka shows any reaction at all and in part because he doesn't want to lose his grip as this weird horse...badger...twoleg thing turns and moves. Still, he does seem at least a little less hostile, though that admittedly isn't saying much for Tigerstar.]

...Then I need to return to TigerClan. Immediately. [He casts a sideways glance back into the woods before looking back to Gongenzaka with more seriousness.] ...Once I've seen whatever it is that I am supposed to see.

[betheman]

[Not even budging. But then again, the man's lost an arm before. It'll take more than increasingly deliberate clawing at a semi-armored area to get a reaction. With a brow raised, he does nod.] If you wish, I, the man Gongenzaka, could certainly show you the way into the Carnival itself-with how things are for ourselves, you would not be 'fined' for the act, [He admits. Which is...fortunate, as he doubts the Ringmaster has much patience for such contracts at the moment.]

More than likely, you will need to seek the 'Ringmaster', however. She is the one who is in charge of this realm, as well as any deals that many have sought her for.

[catsatan]

[Gongenzaka had his attention, now he has Tigerstar's interest.]

Deals? What kinds of deals? [Despite himself, he raises his tail and waves it about in blatant feline curiosity, his ears pricked forward. He isn't about to disclose it to this stranger, of course, but recently Tigerstar has been feeling he rather excels when it comes to striking deals and driving bargains.] Do you mean to tell me this Ringmaster would grant me something in such an exchange? [Power? Assistance for TigerClan? Perhaps even more...?

Carefully, slowly, he climbs higher on Gongenzaka's trail of greenery to get a closer look at him. With any luck, he won't misstep anywhere and take any embarrassing tumbles.] Is this why I've been brought here?

[betheman]

It would be more accurate to say it is why you have 'found yourself' here; those in need of something typically impossible are often those who find access to this realm after all.

[But, that said-he'll explain even if it'll be tossed out the window by an ROUS.]

The Ringmaster is capable of almost anything a being could ask for-assistance in battle, power...peace, healing...there are a great number of matters, which she offers in exchange for one thing-

Service to the carnival, for one single year and a day, [He explains-carefully moving to a more comfortable posture while the cat climbs. Just don't poke yourself on his horns, Tigerstar-]

[catsatan]

I see...

[Tigerstar considers this a while before he flicks his tail and jumps down to the ground - no doubt shaking a few petals around as he does. He moves deeper into the woods with confidence, though he isn't in any hurry. He even beckons with his tail.] Then I suppose I'd best not waste any time. Where is Ringmaster's den?

[His voice is calm, but he carries a bit more urgency in his tone now. This could be exactly what he needs to unite the Clans...]

[betheman]

Hmmmm... [Good question. He stands, scratching his chin.] Most typically, she would be found within her tent...it smells somewhat of ashes, due to her nature, [he mutters.] ...However, if she is not there, then I, the man Gongenzaka, would be unable to say without contacting her. It could well take seeking her out personally, if that were the case.

You will recognize her by her horns, as well as her human-appearance most of all, however-it is not her 'true' state, but it is certainly the one she takes most of all. [Probably because being a giant dragon is not very handy for running a carnival.]

[catsatan]

Human? [Tigerstar struggles to remember why that word sounds familiar. Didn't Sasha say it at one point?] Is that some twoleg thing?

[betheman]

Mnnnh... [A brief pause.] That would depend, I should think...upon what you determine 'twoleg' to mean. I, the man Gongenzaka, suspect they are terms that are one and the same in their source; for a human being is one who walks upon two legs, after all.

[catsatan]

Oh. Then she is a twoleg with horns. [He waves his tail.] That should be easy enough to spot.

[A quick cursory glance around the forest reminds Tigerstar that he doesn't actually know where he is, much as he thought he did when he came in. He doesn't know it, but he was probably patrolling in circles for a while.]

Which way is your camp, then?

[betheman]

Hmm? I, the man Gongenzaka, do not know if I should call it a 'camp', but...

The place where I, the man Gongenzaka presently reside, is the tent surrounded by trailers, [He begins, only to pause.] Mmm...as for what a trailer resembles... [Since. He has a feeling that word flew over the head.]

..I, the man Gongenzaka, should think it best to describe as a large box formed of tin; it is where most of those working here reside. I myself, am too large for them however! [He laughs warmly.]