dreamposts: (Default)
dreamposts ([personal profile] dreamposts) wrote in [community profile] songerein2022-10-15 05:21 pm

{ haunted carnival | test drive #08 - october 2022 }




HAUNTED CARNIVAL


Full details on everything can be found here, but an important reminder that this event log doubles as our Test Drive Meme and information can be found in this section.

This means any outside characters participating in the log are canonly logged as appearing in Songerein in October and will remain in Songerein from the IC date of October 25 through 31 (this log is forward dated to the 25th). However, outside characters can only thread within this log, so for those seriously considering the game, you are welcome to use non-festival prompts for your toplevels. Anyone who apps in and is accepted will have their character count October as their first time in the game without any disruption, so all content will carry over. Those who do not apply will disappear which should not seem too unusual as people randomly disappear already, however players in game can choose to retcon and pretend a character was never there to begin with if it would be easier; or even think their presence was just a dream.

IMPORTANT! All outside characters MUST have "TDM" in their subject line, even if you might not app. This will help people differentiate those who are already in the game and those who are not.

TDM threads are required for samples. Refer to the Game Info for general information and feel free to toss any questions here. Reserves will open Tuesday, October 25th and Applications will open on November 1st. Our application cycles are bi-monthly so the next cycle after won't be until January.

TDM Toplevel Link Directory (click to view; updated 10/28)
American McGee's Alice - Alice Liddell
Avatar: The Last Airbender - Azula
BlazBlue - Noel Vermillion
Case Study of Vanitas - Vanitas
Dangan Ronpa - Chiaki Nanami
Devil May Cry - Lady
Final Fantasy VII - Cloud Strife
Genshin Impact - Albedo
Genshin Impact - Eula Lawrence
Genshin Impact - Kaeya
Genshin Impact - Razor
Great Ace Attorney - Ryunosuke Naruhodo
Helluva Boss - Blitzø
Helluva Boss - Octavia
Jujutsu Kaisen - Fushiguro Megumi
Kaze Hikaru - Okita Souji
Library of Ruina - Angela
Mikagura School Suite - Yuto Akama
My Hero Academia - Bakugo Katsuki
Octopath Traveler - Ophilia
Original Character - Kate Galloway (Jigoku CRAU)
Original Character - Marie Daenthelm
Original Character - Pauline Bonheur
Persona 3 - Ken Amada
Promare - Lio Fotia
Shadow Hearts: Covenant - Yuri Hyuga
Tales of Berseria - Magilou
Tales of Berseria - Rokurou Rangetsu
Tales of Berseria - Velvet Crowe
Tales of Hearts - Chalcedony Akerman
Tales of Hearts - Hisui Hearts (Aefenglom CRAU)
Tales of the Rays - Baldr
Touken Ranbu - Hizen Tadahiro
Touken Ranbu - Ichimonji Norimune
Transformers IDW - Soundwave
Your Wings and Mine - Shealtiel






I. CARNIVAL FUN



The moment a guest enters the carnival grounds, there is a high chance (read: optional) they will find themselves changed in some way to fit the spooky, haunted atmosphere. Instead of just wearing a vampire costume, the character will actually turn into one. Of course, how much of a transformation varies between complete to partial changes. It should be noted that this is only a cosmetic and ability change—no matter what someone changes into, they won't have any personality changes…unless one of the carnival attendants cast a small enchantment to make it so. Of course this is by chance as well (read: optional).

A. Haunted Food. While there is some standard fare carnival food around, the Haunted Carnival has some unique items with even more interesting effects:
Caramel Apples: Tart green apples dipped in caramel and decorated with chocolate to look like they’re covered in spiders and spider webs. Eating one of these will have the dreamer feeling crafty and industrious, just like spiders themselves often are. Also, the idea of eating bugs (or even other spiders?!) suddenly seems strangely appealing…
Cherry Blood Popcorn: Popcorn drenched in cherry syrup and decorated with candy bones. The combination of sugar and dreamotion energy leaves the eater feeling giddy and cheerful, somewhat in contrast to the gruesome appearance of the treat itself.
Funnel "Brain" Cakes: Funnel cakes colored to look like brains when served. Comes in regular or zombie brain varieties. Eating one makes you feel lethargic and hungry, like the only thing that matters is your next snack fix, but you’re not willing to do much more than shamble toward it.
Mummies in a Blanket: Small hot dogs wrapped in biscuit dough and decorated to look like mummies. After eating this, you may or may not want to wrap yourself into a blanket and take a nap—ideally somewhere dark and spooky.


B. FUN AND GAMES. Mixed in with the food vendors are several booths advertising a variety of carnival games, including but not limited to the ones below.. The prizes you win may or may not be cursed. Best of luck!
NERF Gun Shooting Gallery: Use dreamotion to shoot foam darts from a gun at various ghostly and ghouly targets lined up on a platform. Advanced players may want to try their hand at making the guns shoot other objects. Water? Fire? Glitter bombs? The only limit is one’s imagination.
Ring Toss: A series of witch hats are lined up, and the objective is to toss rings on the hats for points. Did something just peek up from under one of the hats? It’s probably nothing to worry about.
Potion Bottles: A variation of the milk bottles game wherein you throw balls to knock over flasks and beakers filled with strangely-colored liquid. In most cases, the spilled potion is totally harmless. Once in a while, however, it may have some interesting effects on the player and/or the booth itself.
Slime Pit: There’s a giant pit of slime with a sign next to it: prizes within for those willing to get a bit messy! Said prizes range from giant candy bars to random silly toys to skeletal limbs…? Oh that belongs to the skeleton having fun in the pit, they might want it back.



II. ATTRACTIONS



A. Hall of Mirrors. A classic maze of mirrors that are usually filled with special effects to make one's reflection look distorted. In the beginning the distortions are more humorous, making one look super skinny or extremely curvy. However, the deeper one goes, the reflections begin to look a bit…strange. The mirrors begin to reflect the "worst" side of an individual, but in a more embarrassing manner. When they first wake up in the morning, having a bad hair day, dressed poorly, being lazy on the couch—mostly benign things that would be embarrassing to show others. But there are some that may reveal one's darker self they wish to hide from others and are forced to face—especially when the reflections will step out and follow the original until the end of the maze. They won't do anything, just follow silently like a shadow, but even that may be taxing for anyone, especially if others see. The reflection must either be pushed back into an empty mirror, or it will disappear on its own when exiting the building.

B. Wild Carousel. The creatures on this carousel are not just colorful painted steeds but are more frightening in nature and looking more undead than living. Skeletal horses, direwolves, fanged deer with bloody horns. What makes this ride truly terrifying, however, is that the creatures are alive, restrained only by the pole stuck through them. But there are times when they manage to break free, causing havoc as they run through the park. The only good news is they don't attack, instead aiming for the carnival food as if hungry. Either hang on or help capture them back!

C. Cirque du Souleil. Near the center of the carnival is a large circus tent, and it boasts a variety of shows that are death defying, terrorific, and guaranteed to make everyone scream in fright and awe. The usual acts are available to see: acrobatics, musical performances, theatrical skits, and using ghostly steeds to ride through the large arena. But what makes this circus unique is that all the performers are capable of separating their soul from their physical body, similar to astral projecting or dreamwalking outside of dreams and being visible to all. And now they're asking for volunteer pairs to either participate in a more simple act such as an acrobatic stunt on the swings or tight rope…or eat a special candy that will allow them to have an out of body experience via dreamwalking outside. The only "flaw" is their dreamwalking form will tend to float up to the top of the tent, so their partner who hasn't eaten the candy has to tether them via dreamotion to get through some simple obstacles. No worries, the professionals will help return the soul if they get lost.

D. Spinning Bumper Cups. A combination of the classic bumper cars and spinning cups rides, this attraction has its riders in skull shaped bumper cars that will randomly spin. Riders have the ability to fire off "pumpkin bombs" at the others, which will splatter pumpkin goop to slow down their car. It will also make the car spin for a few rotations. Dreamotion will also help boost the speed, stabilize a spinning car faster, and make the pumpkin bombs more explosive. Just be careful—the barrier around the arena is made of bones and therefore quite brittle. It's not unusual to see a car spin out and lose control driving through the carnival grounds. Stop the runaway car and bring it back! Or shoot people with pumpkin bombs.

E. Ferris Wheel. Ah, the ferris wheel, a gentle ride that elevates one high in the air to allow them to see the sights below, in this case the entire carnival grounds and the surrounding areas like the bordering forests, the Observatory, and the edge of Reverein. However, as with everything in this carnival, the ride is not always so gentle. There are times when the entire ride accelerates to a faster pace, causing the (fortunately) enclosed cabins to rock dangerously as it rotates around. There are times when it keeps going, not letting anyone off until three rotations. And then there are times when the top half of the cabin disappears, exposing the riders to the cooler winds. Fortunately handle bars will appear they can hold onto, but no seat belts. Enjoy the view?

F. Other Rides. There are plenty of rides and attractions at the carnival, too many to list all of them here. A roller coaster, tower drop, gravitron, bungee jumps, pendulum ship—whatever one might think exists, it's there in all its twisted nightmare glory. One thing they all have in common is the more fear and thrill and screams generated, the faster they go. Just hope the ride doesn't stall and get stuck…



III. HAUNTING CLUES



Although the main purpose for these prompts is to find the clues, anyone is free to use them for general use and not focus on getting the clue. For those who do participate, we'll be asking for thread during our Activity Check! Those who are TDMing regardless of application can also have their threads counted by commenting to this thread and following the directions.

#1. Haunted Dollhouse. There is a special building called the Haunted Dollhouse. It's similar to a haunted house, however this attraction is filled with moving porcelain dolls that will try to scare and chase those who enter (it's quite likely some members of the newly added Porcelain Town have volunteered to help). Sometimes, those who enter are cursed into a doll and are now vulnerable. They are also not always able to move on their own will. This is not great as sometimes the dolls kind of…malfunction and will actually become aggressive. The weapons they wield are also not props, so that's a problem. However, they are small and can only inflict minor wounds and can be easily taken out.

The main clue here is "Villains!' I shrieked. 'Dissemble no more! I admit the deed! Tear up the planks! Here, here! It is the beating of his hideous heart!" To help both those who have turned into dolls as well as get the clue, everyone has to find the right place where some candied hearts are hidden. Fortunately the "blood trail" (it's raspberry syrup) will help lead them to the right place.

#2. Abandoned House. A little away from the main attractions there is a run down house surrounded by trees…and a lot of ravens. A raven with red eyes will guide those who dare or wish to face a lost loved one to the house. Inside it's just filled with faceless busts and empty paintings, but soon they are filled with the images of those lost ones. It could be a person, pet, thing, but they are there, just staring. Only the eyes and mouths move, and what the person hears are their insecurities and fears related to how they lost whatever they see. Anyone else will either see the original blanks or their own personalized images.

The main clue is "And the Raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting // On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door // Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning // Shall be lifted – nevermore". To get out of this house, they have to first look for the bust that has the red eyed raven on it. This will be tricky as there will be many ravens with different colored eyes. Once they do, there will be a small picture frame. They must manifest one or more of the images they are seeing and capture it into the frame. This is simply done by waving it like a net, but the manifestation can move around. This can be as easy or difficult as a player wants, and how affected the character is from what they see and hear can also be a factor. The more affected they are, the easier it is to manifest but difficult to capture. The less affected, it will be more difficult to manifest as they have to tap into that raw fear, but will be easier to capture.

#3. Hay Bale Maze. Just outside of the circus tent is a large hay bale maze with the hay…looking as if it's seen much better days. It's filled with spooks that like to jump scare maze goers or bodiless limbs that reach out to grab, but aside from that it's harmless. Except for one particular figure.

The main clue is "Who dares?" he demanded hoarsely of the courtiers who stood near him --"who dares insult us with this blasphemous mockery? Seize him and unmask him --that we may know whom we have to hang at sunrise, from the battlements!" There is a red clad figure wearing a skull mask. He will randomly bust through the hay walls and engage maze goers into a fight. Those who are incapable will flee in terror while the figure will chase, which will be a pretty good clue as to where he is. Once engaged, any weapon and dreamotion can be used at their disposal and the challenge is to just simply best him in a fight (not to the death). Striking the figure even once will earn a victory and the skull mask will be granted.

#4. Musical Catacombs. For a bit more lighthearted fun, there is an underground catacombs that is filled with tombs. Some of them have actual skeletons and ghosts sleeping in them, but they won't harm anyone if bothered. Just be a bit cranky, maybe throw a bone. At someone's head. Down here it's quite lively, filled with music, dancing, and a lot of alcohol. Minors will only get sparkling juice.

The main clue is "'Ha! ha! ha! — he! he! he! — a very good joke, indeed — an excellent jest. We will have many a rich laugh about it at the palazzo — he! he! he! — over our wine — he! he! he!' // 'The Amontillado!' I said." One of the games is a dancing game where the tombs will light up a certain color and participants have to properly hit the correct corresponding floor panel (basically a music rhythm/DDR themed game). Should they make a perfect score, one of the tombs will open and have a crusty wine bottle in it. It has competitor and co-op mode.

pactmarshal: (i'm listenin :))

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I suppose so.

[ He stares at it and turns it over in his hands. The look of confusion on his face is evident. How on earth is this supposed to help seal the Story Eater? He doubts it's even still good to consume. ]

Here. [ He hands the bottle to Anya. ] As a token of my gratitude, you take the clue.

[ Also because he has no idea what to do with it. ]
starshower: (temp 028)

[personal profile] starshower 2022-11-04 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
[If anything, his wiggling only wedges him further in, and Tifa isn't sure what to think or feel about the situation either, which is why she just watches his legs and makes a face at the weird feeling of having something shoved right into her chest........

Until Eustace's suffocated voice calls out to her.]


Oh! Er, right...!

[Her face is redder than her lips as she reaches down to pull him out, and she can feel the judgemental stares of both the dogs resting on her, and she pauses to click her tongue at them.]

Don't give me that.

[Alright, but should she pull him out by the leg? Or the cape? Or maybe she should reach in and just wrap her hand around his body. He's really wedged in there, so that might be the safest, least painful way?

Slowly, her hand reaches down, but there's a pause as a pair of chatty dolls come out of one of the rooms and into the hallway just as Tifa's shoved her hand into her bust, and the two of them stop their conversation about "work work work" and stare as they wander past, shooting her a scrutinizing look as well. She can hear them whispering something about "I didn't know there were those kinds of dolls in here" before they continue walking. She feels the rising urge to turn around and tell them that NO, THIS IS HER CURSED HUSBAND AND IT WAS AN ACCIDENT, but she figures that will do her less good than she thinks.

But now she's all flushed and flustered as her fingers curl around Eustace's small felt body and she very gently, very slowly puuuuuuuuuuuuuulls him until his head pops and wobbles free, and cradles him close and protectively to her, and so that she can look him over. She fixes his cape, straightens his hair and his clothes, and sighs with relief.]


....... Maybe it's just better that I carry you, yeah?

[Meanwhile, Idris and Aerona are still scolding him.]
Edited 2022-11-04 14:37 (UTC)
pactmarshal: (focus 4)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 02:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh! That's a surprise. He was expecting fire dreamotion, like a lot of the powers the other adolescents he knew had, but this isn't a bad thing at all.

If Mei's going for the hit, then he'll do what he can to support her. With a flick of his scepter, pillars of sand and bone writhe out from the ground--two on either side of Mei, and one behind the figure in red, just in case he decides to run away. As they reach their full height, the white glow of a barrier envelops Mei. It won't make her any stronger or faster, but it will absorb any attack directed towards her if the figure decides to counter. ]
pactmarshal: (hehe :))

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 03:28 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you, Eustace.

[ Trahearne gives a small, sincere smile in turn. Genuinely. Though there is a sense of agitation about him, lingering from the words that, admittedly, will continue to haunt him for the days to come, they still made it through. And they got their clue (does he have to turn this in...?).

He places a firm hand on Eustace's shoulder. ]


I could not have done this without you. You're a good friend.
flamekthunder: (ϟ 118)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2022-11-04 03:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[Twitching.

So much twitching.

He just wants out! AND HE CAN HEAR ALL THE VOICES so once he pops out he just glares at the dogs' withering looks. Does it really look like he wanted to do that??? He has common decency towards his wife!! Yeah sure sometimes when they're being intimate BUT THAT'S DIFFERENT.

But he just sighs and chooses to ignore them when he ends up facing her. Tifa straightening and adjusting his tussled self is kind of cute.... Ah, no—]


Yes.

[He doesn't want another mishap thanks.




AND THEN AFTER A PAUSE.]


You know I didn't do that on purpose, right?

[Tifa's thoughts matter most here okay he doesn't want to be misunderstood!!!]
lestray: (messing with)

[personal profile] lestray 2022-11-04 03:37 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks! [She's proud that she can appear intelligent at least!] I've always been pretty sharp when it comes to thinkin' on me feet. I just got a lot more to learn to make it as a detective!

[And to show up that Sholmes! She shoots out some more yarn to help him out.]

Right, that's sometin' to be careful alright. You're a doll so you'll be weak to it too. Watch wot you do wiv your fire now, I don't wanna end up puttin' ya out now! [It's not like she's worried about him or anything!]
perfalmost: (presenting!)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-04 03:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Hope's overrated. And it comes second to sensational, soul-soaring showmanship!

[She then gestures grandly as the candy takes effect, separating Shirou's dream self from his body and sending him up into the air!]

Behold, as my assistant soars to new heights! His spirits have never been higher!
starshower: (temp 057)

[personal profile] starshower 2022-11-04 03:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[She lowers her nose to bump it against his tiny little shoulder, and Tifa turns her back to the dogs. Their stares are annoying!!! Her voice lowers to a whisper.]

I do. Was just a little surprised it happened is all. [And even if it wasn't an accident, she wouldn't have minded too much.] But try not to move too much, okay? I've got you.

[There's a gentle little pat on top of his head before she's snapping her gaze around to Idris and Aerona, who turn their own away to act as though they weren't watching.]

Have you two found anything yet?

[Asked pointedly, because yes, she knows you were both staring.]
perfalmost: (torment!)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-04 03:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[Her grin just grows more wicked as he sets sail! Ah, he's doing well. They have the audience hooked!]

What can I say? You're all over the place! [She gives an exaggerated shrug of her arms.]

I've heard that people are jumping out of their skin to perform with the great witch Magilou, but this is ridiculous! Whatever are we going to do with you?
pactmarshal: (i wish i could've done more)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 03:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Trahearne's expression eases into a smile in turn, and he shakes his head. ]

Not at all. I confess, between looking for clues, I've not been doing much.

[ He feels...obligated to be here, for some reason. ]

On the contrary, I hope I've not taken too much of yours. I know I have a tendency to carry on in conversation.

[ Like he is now. ]
grandduchess_anya: (Happy)

[personal profile] grandduchess_anya 2022-11-04 04:04 pm (UTC)(link)
(Anya hasn’t gotten any experience with drinking wine that often, but she is definitely determined to ensure that the bottle doesn’t break on her watch. So she gladly accepts the offer to carry the bottle in her arms, Pooka wagging his tail as he stares at the Amontillado with wide eyes.)

Thank you Trahaerne. I will look after this and make sure to deliver it to the Master or any of his people as safely as possible.

Arf, arf!
hearthwarming: (044)

[personal profile] hearthwarming 2022-11-04 04:23 pm (UTC)(link)
... So you do!

[ UNSURE if he is being cheeky. he probably is. but she will try to pinch him harder anyway. ]

How about now?
pactmarshal: (patiently waiting)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 04:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The feeling is mutual--Trahearne would sit here for hours (proverbially) poking and prodding until he sated his curiosity. Perhaps it's a good thing they're not allowed to sit in this cabin until the ends of time (or are they?). ]

I'm twenty-six. [ He smiles, a hint of irony beneath his expression. So many of the people he'd known and worked with remembered a world without sylvari. ]

I suppose all peoples are young at some point. There must have been a first human, a first homunculus. Perhaps one day, as the decades and centuries pass, it will be hard to imagine a world in which there was a first.

[ And he quietly hopes they survive that long.

And he also quietly sidesteps part of that question. ]
pactmarshal: (proud of u but far away)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah, "his nature." Yes. Trahearne will, in time, inform Chalcedony that he is a plant, but will have to make sure to reassure him that he does not in fact keep spiders among his leaves.

That will come later. ]


That's perfectly fair. [ Trahearne beckons with his head as he starts walking towards the exit. ] So tell me, why did you decide to be a knight?

[ Chalcedony looks young, but what does he know. ]
pactmarshal: (lore dumping)

[personal profile] pactmarshal 2022-11-04 04:53 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Trahearne chuckles. The smell of fried dough and sweets fill the air--they're getting close to the food. And thus, the wine. ]

I'm afraid I've not heard of Mondstadt. But it's good to know, should that ever come up.

[ Lie or no, he doesn't know any better. So he takes it as-is.

Trahearne leads them past a row of food stalls, around a corner, and lo and behold--a small handful of stalls selling beer, wine, and other insidious dreamotion-infused cocktails. He glances back at Kaeya and gestures forward. ]


Here we are.
startraveler: (really angry huff)

[personal profile] startraveler 2022-11-04 06:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Even so... don't forget that we're in a place were dreams are basically reality.

[It's just that kind of world. Surely, Aether's fear is not completely unfounded! And yet that was not the first time that kind of panic took hold of him, but Childe is not going to find out about that. Aether closes his eyes and lets go of the bar. It doesn't seem like the cabin will disappear more than it already has and even if it does, he thinks he can manage.]

But maybe you should think this through. Maybe I really am not as worth of your time as you think.

[But then why would Childe still save him in a moment of weakness? Why would he let go of a challenge in favour of following Aether? Why did he look so concerned about him?

Just what really is going on between the two of them?]
flamekthunder: (ϟ 194)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2022-11-04 06:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Just another sigh as he has mixed feelings about how she's patting his head and treating him. He really feels so small..........

Idris and Aerona just pretend to be innocent before putting their noses to the ground and running forward. It takes a bit, but eventually Aerona picks up a sweet scent from behind a door and barks. She doesn't know if it's the hearts, but there is definitely candy!!]
starshower: (temp 203)

[personal profile] starshower 2022-11-04 06:28 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well, at least this is better than trying to walk around on his own...!

Tifa keeps him held close as she follows behind the pair, cradling him carefully with both hands as they walk. It reminds her a little of the night she carried his puppy form back in the forests outside of Camelot with how small he is, only this time he's an angry looking doll rather than a cute wolf pup.

She comes up to the door and reaches for the handle... but she pauses and glances down at Eustace...]


Maybe I should put you somewhere? ... Just in case.

[Someplace safe that isn't in her hands, because who knows what's waiting beyond the door!?]
locumstudentesquire: (confused chibi)

[personal profile] locumstudentesquire 2022-11-04 07:03 pm (UTC)(link)
[Yeah, he's not quite so convinced it'll be that easy, but. If that's what they need to do to get back to normal... No point in standing around nay-saying.]

Right. Well... You're the Inspector. Any idea whereabouts we should start?
sos_pilot: by <user name=noimpulsecontrol> (we'll just glide starry-eyed)

[personal profile] sos_pilot 2022-11-04 07:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Ahhh, the chosen hero specialty. Can't go wrong with good ol' light.
flamekthunder: (ϟ 144)

[personal profile] flamekthunder 2022-11-04 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
...Hm.

[She had a fair point. While there hasn't been anything truly threatening, Tifa has more of a "fight" then "flight" instinct. But where could he go? Her chest......??? No that's stupid—

Aerona suddenly barks and looks up at them excitedly. And maybe mischievously.

"I'll do it! I'll hold, Daddy!!"]


...Oi.

[HE'S NOT SURE IF CAN TRUST.]