songerein | { haunted carnival | test drive #08

Entry tags:

{ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh, yes, that's right.

[ He'd nearly forgotten in his surprise at seeing a familiar face, yet now his appetite urgently reminds him. ]

I know this may sound like a strange request to make of a Cavalry Captain, but have you any experience capturing spiders?

Capturing.. spiders?

[ what a thing to ask. kaeya looks stumped. ]

I suppose I've caught a few in cups to put outside, before. Why?

[ Well, that's a start... ]

I seem to have developed a sudden craving for them, but before I can cook them, I'll need to catch them in a satisfying enough quantity to make a meal out of.

[ He says all this very straightforward. He doesn't find anything weird about eating spiders, and it has nothing to do with the strange effects of the food he ate, even if it's a bit more intense now than it usually would be. ]

[ shut the front door ]

.. a meal?

[ what the actual fuck. kaeya's just going to run under the assumption that this is strange dream logic. or if, in fact, the tapirs were telling the truth and this is real, that albedo must be under the influence of some of that strange food. ]

Surely there are much better things to eat, here.

[ Yeah, okay, sure Kaeya, that's the reason, he is definitely not just like this... ]

Perhaps, but when a craving strikes, there's little to be done but answer the call. I can't say that I'm weak to them often, but maybe the spiders of Dragonspine have made me more susceptible to temptation.

[ This ain't his first gourmet spider rodeo. ]

[ okay fine just trample all over his helpful logic, then. albedo is just This Way, apparently. kaeya winces visibly, his furry ears pressing back against his head. so lifelike! ]

So you're telling me this is a normal thing, for you. All of this delicious food around you, and you're after spiders..

[ a heavy sigh. ]

Well, the heart wants what the heart wants. I'll help.

[ So lifelike!! The movement of his ears almost reminds him of Sucrose, even if Kaeya is about the most un-Sucrose-like person that Albedo has ever met. ]

I appreciate your willingness. I realize it's an odd request, but if you're willing to try some after I prepare them, you might just understand.

[ ...Or maybe not, but especially now, he's convinced he can get anyone on the spider train. ]

Let's see if we can't find some trees particularly abundant in webs.

[ he could be like.. having a drink right now. or relaxing with some good food and attractive company. or both. except now he's going to be hunting spiders.. ]

Hey, I never said I'd try them myself!

[ he wasn't volunteering!! but with a sigh, he starts off toward the treeline.. ]

[ It's all about perspective, Kaeya. Are you saying this isn't relaxing with good food and attractive company?? Rude.

Albedo is quick to follow suit, though he looks rather puzzled at Kaeya's remark. ]

You aren't interested? I know they lack widespread appeal, but it's all in the preparation.

[ Don't knock it until you've tried it... ]

[ attractive company, sure, but relaxing and good food?? questionable?? ]

You're surprised I'm not interested?

[ kaeya knows that albedo lives quite literally under a rock, but he has to know that spiders are like, one of the least appealing things to eat, right?? ]

I'll consider giving it a chance, but that's the best I can offer. Or perhaps we can make a trade.

[ Look.............spending most of your time on Dragonspine does things to a man. Sometimes you decide trying to cook and eat a spider is a good idea, and then decide it actually was. ]

A trade? What did you have in mind?

[ He doesn't have any mora on him, and it likely wouldn't be of any value here, anyway. ]

[ thankfully, it isn't mora that kaeya is after! ]

I'll give it one bite, if you'll enjoy a few drinks with me afterwards, hmm?

[ this seems perfectly fair to him. ]

Hmm...

[ He takes longer to consider this than he probably should. It's less that he won't want to stop eating spiders, but more that going for drinks will require him to be...social. Not exactly his strength, or preference.

But then again, it'd be impolite to refuse, wouldn't it? Especially since Kaeya is technically a coworker, and it's not as though Albedo has the convenient excuse of the Alchemists' Guild to slip out of situations like this here. ]

I could be amenable to that arrangement, yes, though you may have to indulge me in sharing what you've learned of this world.

[ He's very curious!! ]

[ kaeya clocks that hesitation, and guesses well as to why it's there. he can't claim to know albedo incredibly well, but he does know enough about him to be able to read that he's not entirely sociable.

not that he's unkind. far from it. he's always come off as gentle, and warm, but he sequesters himself up on dragonspine, for gods' sakes, that's not something you do if you want to be around a lot of people. hmm. he can find a way to make this work. kaeya is pliable. he smiles. ]

Excellent! Then we have a deal. Though I have to say I doubt I know much more than you..

[ oh look they made it to the creepy woods ]

[ Though someone as good with people as Kaeya no doubt caught on to his hesitation, he doesn't bring it up, which Albedo appreciates. It's not personal, after all. Socializing is just rarely a priority of his...though he's gotten a bit better about descending from his snowy abode more often these days.

A bit.

Anyway, now that they have reached the Spooky Trees(tm), Albedo approaches one that looks particular spiderific and peers up into its branches. ]

Now, the question is, how best to catch them...they move fast when startled, but perhaps if we were quick enough we could shake them loose from the branches and catch them as they fall.

[ What a horrifying idea. ]

Ah. That certainly doesn't sound nightmare inducing, or anything!

[ this little freak!! kaeya steps up beside him, squinting with one eye up into the tree's boughs, where he can just make out something dark skittering.. he's not necessarily arachnophobic or anything, but that doesn't mean he wants it to rain spiders on his head?? ]

Let's try something else.

[ kaeya lifts one hand, his vision glinting as ice sprouts from his hand, forming something of a shelf over his head; he's able to shape it into something vaguely bowl-like, though very cold, and kind of sharp. ]

Will this do?

[ COWARD.....let the spiders fall in your hair...

But ah, that's a rather ingenious application of Cryo, Albedo nods enthusiastically - or, you know, enthusiastically for Albedo, anyway. He starts for the tree, reach for its lower branches. ]

Perfect. Using that to collect our bounty, this should only take a few moments.

[ Hoisting himself further up into the tree, he begins to just. Vigorously shake the branches. SPIDERS AWAY. ]

[ NO?? HE WILL NOT?? kaeya can handle a spider or two, but he doesn't want like ten of them crawling all over him??

this all begins to feel very real, however, once albedo starts climbing the tree. kaeya had thought for a little while that perhaps he was simply joking around, that he would pull out of this at the last second, but then, when has he known albedo to be the joking type?

the spiders are coming..

kaeya hisses his displeasure as the buggies begin to rain down, clinking into the bowl. one misses, landing near to kaeya's foot, and he kicks it away quickly. ]

You should know that this is among the weirdest things I have ever done.

[ He is deadly serious...sorry, Kaeya.

Once he's satisfied with the number of spiders that have filled the bowl, Albedo hops down from the tree, brushing some spiders from his hair, before reaching for a bag at his side so he can begin scooping spideys out of the bowl before they can scurry away...and onto Kaeya. ]

Given the tales that surround you, I'll take that as a compliment.

[ ...This is far from the weirdest thing Albedo has ever done. Such is the life of a researcher... ]

[ look at him just casually brushing spiders from his hair?? he's such a little freak??

once kaeya's skin is done crawling, he might find this all very endearing, actually. albedo produces a bag, and begins to just.. casually scoop handfuls of spiders into it, like this is no big deal. albedo has nerves of steel..

he laughs, trying not to sound nervous. it doesn't work!! ]

I can't help but wonder just what you might've heard.

[ oops. a spider escapes, and crawls over kaeya's knuckles. with a yelp, he drops the bowl. ]

[ He doesn't have nerves of steel, he just isn't a guppy! Or he was never around other kids to get unsettled about spiders in the first place...they're just fuzzy little guys??? What is the big deal.

Albedo is able to scoop most of the hapless spiders into the bag before Kaeya drops the bowl, his yelp prompting a lift of the brows from the alchemist. A few scatter into the grass, but it's just as well - they have plenty to cook up now. He ties off the bag so none of those little fuckers can escape. ]

Would you perhaps rather I forgot what I heard?

[ Kaeya is free to interpret that as referring to the yelp just now or the various rumors about the Cavalry Captain that have reached even Albedo's ears. (It's all Timaeus. He's the gossip in the guild.) ]

[ wow kaeya isn't a guppy, you're just a little freak, albedo!! those fuzzy little guys have way too many legs, and they're small and they skitter where you can't see them.. they crawl over your laptop when you're in bed!! ]

.. if you wouldn't mind, yes.

[ about the yelp, thank you. the gossip, however.. he's a bit curious about that!! but for now.. ]

What next?

[ What next indeed... ]

Now, we should return to the festival. I saw some stalls with the appropriate herbs and dressings, as well as fire pits we can smoke them over. That is, if you're still up for trying them. You should see the fruits of your labors realized.

[ If so, it's time for a spider cooking montage! Terrible. ]

[ euygh.. ]

.. I did agree to it. I'm a man of my word.

[ most of the time. when it's convenient. it certainly isn't convenient now, but he can't have albedo thinking he's a guppy!! he'll man up and try the spiders. banishing the ice bowl into a shatter of snowflakes, kaeya strides away, gesturing. ]

Come on, then. Let's get it done.

[ spider cooking.. montage.. fantastic.. ]

[ Some very spooky music accompanies this montage.

But soon enough they have gathered the needed herbs, found a suitable fire pit, and smoked the spiders to Albedo's specifications. It does smell pretty good, but that's more thanks to the cardamom and lemongrass than the spiders.

Plucking one of the spider-leaf balls (this is what I picture it as, anyway) from the stick hanging over the fire, Albedo sets it on a plate and hands it to Kaeya. ]

Alright. This one is all yours, Captain.

[ With just the tiniest bit of cheek. He can tell Kaeya isn't exactly looking forward to this, but Albedo is impressed that he's going through with it regardless. ]

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