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

[dreamposts]

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.

Comments

Hall of Mirrors

[senorita_perfecta]

(At first Isabela has no idea of what to expect when entering the hall of mirrors, assuming that it would be harmless fun. But upon entering it, things get very weirder as she passes by reflections of her getting increasingly distorted. She was expecting to see too much perfection as her worst nightmare reflected in those mirrors, but looking more like a hot mess than she wants to be did caught her more off guard than she wants to admit.

Not wanting to stare at them even longer, the currently nature nymph soon runs away from the mirrors, hoping to find the nearest exit and forget about all of this, until she runs past another lady (or was two identical ladies?) running as fast as she is and she would have almost bumped into her if she didn’t stop her momentum on time.)

Um hey. You’re running away from those mirrors as well?

[itstillhurt]

[Azula wasn't so much 'oblivious to the presence of another person' as 'perfectly willing to shove past another person if she got in her way-' but the other woman reacts first, stopping short of Azula's path, and her question- well, it prompts a reaction. She pauses and faces Isabela, keeping a mask of neutral skepticism on her face.]

I wasn't running.

[Okay, it was... briskly walking away from those mirrors, very quickly, so the distinction is probably academic, and even in her head that sounded extremely defensive. Ugh. This whole place has her thrown off her game.

Unfortunately, her composure is further undermined by her anxious glance at the mirrors behind her- was the reflection still following her? She couldn't even tell right now.]

[senorita_perfecta]

(Okay, so it was more like a much faster walking than running on Azula’s part? Isabela is probably going to take it as a probable yes, and though she too is just as creeped out by the presence of the reflections following after her too, she does her best not to freak out over enchanted reflections.

Her time with the magic mirrors during the dragon chaos the month before has taught her that mirrors can get enchanted for various purposes and she is beginning to suspect that the Master must have done something similar to these very mirrors she and Azula are dealing with.)

Ah okay, I see. The carnival sure does a great job enchanting these mirrors for today. It’s not everyday mirrors can make reflections to react to our every move.

(She then gestures at each mirrors with her now wooden claw like hand.)

By the way: Is this your first time being in this town?

[itstillhurt]

[She opts not to focus on the memories the mirror dredged up, the rage, the despair, the humiliation-

She's focusing, instead, on that oddly plant-like hand. That looks like more than a mere costume. She's noticed a lot of that here in this carnival, but it's fascinating to see it. It's quite realistic. And less personal.]

Mm. The enchantments are...

[Viscerally upsetting.]

Charming.

[And they say she can't be polite. Speaking of which-]

I'm afraid I am new here, yes. Is it always this... whimsical?

[senorita_perfecta]

Sometimes it can be whimsical, sometimes it can’t. There have been some times when we’re dealing with terrifying threats to the town and the dreamshifts we’re in.

For example: There was a group of dragons that went on a rampage on the town because a bunch of leprechauns had us taken their eggs and treasures for a faire. And some of us either got kidnapped or became dragon minions for a short time. I was one of the many who did captured by dragons.

[itstillhurt]

[... There were dragons here? There were leprechauns? What was a leprechaun? Some spirit nonsense, she assumed. Stupid ones, if they provoked the ire of a dragon.

If she's honest, that sort of violence and danger sounds a lot more appealing to her than being subjected to this place. She is, as a rule, not honest, so after sneaking another uncomfortable glance over her shoulder to make sure the reflection hasn't found her, she quirks an eyebrow at Isabela.]

Sounds like a pleasant place.

[senorita_perfecta]

Yeah, Reverein is for the most part very peaceful. It is a thriving town filled with life and a lot of dreamotion energy and there are loads of friendly locals and people from other worlds.

(Isabela then makes a quick glance to see if the reflections that were following her haven’t caught up with her right now.)

The town center has plenty of places within a walking distance that you don’t have to worry about going so far away to find supplies. And you got plenty of place to practice any dreamotion abilities you might have developed.

[itstillhurt]

[Azula's sarcastic tendencies aside, it sounded a lot better this time around. That does relax her incrementally. She'd adjusted to the last place she'd found herself, but it was never exactly comfortable.]

Well, I assume you eventually dealt with the dragon problem, so there must be some resourceful people around here.

[So resourceful that they could enchant a mirror to torment newcomers, for instance, though she keeps that little bit of judgment to herself.]

[senorita_perfecta]

Yeah, everything with the dragons has been resolved now. Not only we managed to mend amends with them, several of the leprechauns responsible for the theft were even handed over to them to deal with.

Oh yes, many of us have came up with many ways to return the stolen eggs and treasures to the dragons once we learn why they came to attack the town whether by sheer skill or dreamotion abilities or creating means to bring them back their eggs and stuff.

[itstillhurt]

It seems like it'd be easier to simply not meddle with the dragons in the first place.

[Isabela is... pleasant enough, and informative, which is far more important for Azula's needs. But everything about this still rubs her the wrong way, and she's not entirely over the reflection she saw back there.]

Listen, charming though the atmosphere in the creepy gallery of bad mirrors may be, I think perhaps we should focus on leaving before you tell me anything else about the town.

[senorita_perfecta]

Exactly, the dragons here don’t like having their eggs and treasures and loot stolen under their noses or be disturbed a lot.

(Of course, this hall is getting into Isa’s nerves that she could feel an itch to get out of here so badly. The mirrors have been giving her bad vibes even before she ran into Azula. Besides, both of them need to get out of there before their sanity will shatter faster than broken mirror shards.)

You’re right, this place is definitely creepier than I was hoping, not to mention the mirrors here can be a pain to deal with. Maybe we should ignore the mirrors as we head for the exit. That way, we won’t be staring at our reflections trying to follow us and they can’t follow us to the rest of the carnival too.

[itstillhurt]

[Oh, thank the spirits. She's not about to let it show, but she keeps... seeing things, from the corner of her eye. Flickers of movement, things that look too much like that reflection, things that disappear when she turns to look at them...

So she's only too happy to start walking out of the hall of mirrors again. Along the way, she keeps seeing flashes a reflection pursuing her through the mirrors, but any time she turns to look at it, it's gone again. Yeah, this was a little too unsettling for her liking. The other woman was right, she needed to just ignore it, but... she still doesn't speak until they emerge into the sunlight again. Once they do, she turns to address her new information source.]

That's better. If you're going to be telling me about this place, I'll need something to call you.

[senorita_perfecta]

(Thank the encanto that they finally got out of the cursed hall of mirrors at last after being in there for good knows how long.

Honestly, she is not going to miss that place very much even after the Master and his carnival will make their leave. She has enough experience with enchanted mirrors and cursed reflections to last her a while for the foreseeable future.)

Oh certainly, I will happy to introduce myself to you. My name is Isabela Madrigal, happy to make your acquaintance. What’s your name if I may ask?

[itstillhurt]

[Well, isn't she friendly and cheerful? Maybe too much so. Or maybe Azula's still just mildly unsettled from the mirrors.

Stop overthinking it, Azula.]

You may call me Azula.

[Yes, 'may.' Like she was doing Isabela a great favor by sharing her name.]

What is it you do, exactly? Are you always so... helpful?

[It's amazing how accusatory the word 'helpful' sounds, as if the very idea was suspicious to her.]

[senorita_perfecta]

(No seriously, Azula. A Madrigal is always obliged to help others and the community around even if they didn’t ask for it initially. It has been this way for 50 years in Colombia.

And Isabela has mostly outgrown her bitterness over not having any control of her life for most of her life. That is why she has been in a good mood most of the time: looking at you, dragons from last month.)

Well, my family has been doing out best to help out anyone for three generations: using our skills and gifts to aid the town we live in through various. I was mostly in charge of growing plants on a daily basis, although it can get very boring growing pretty flowers all the time.

[itstillhurt]

[Hmm. Altruism. Yes, she thinks rather not. Apparent selflessness, in her experience, just meant that whatever benefit somebody was really after wasn't immediately obvious.

Still, she will at least keep that thought to herself.]

It sounds like your family is quite dedicated and dutiful. How admirable.

[She certainly agrees with Isabela's thoughts on plants, though; being a gardener sounded so tedious as to be mind-numbing. There's a reason she left that sort of thing to peasants back home.]

[senorita_perfecta]

No, I’m not kidding. We’re all dedicated to help out our town in some form with our gifts without expecting anything in return, thought it can be hard to live up to the expectations from others and taking care of one’s needs.

I personally learned it the hard way because, even though I love helping and plants so much, I felt like I was being restrained with what I can do with my gift for a long time. Seriously, I couldn’t be allowed to experiment with it in years until a couple of months ago.

[itstillhurt]

[And she remains singularly unimpressed. That level of communal altruism sounded walking invitation for others to take advantage of them. Still, it's a new place and Isabela seems to be making an effort to be useful, so Azula's playing nice.

Well. Nice for Azula, anyway.

The smile becomes a touch more forced.]

I'm sure the community is very appreciative of your efforts whenever they... enjoy your... plants.

[...yeah, she's terrible at compliments, sorry Isabela.]

[senorita_perfecta]

Thanks. A lot of people do enjoy every plant I grow a lot, as long as how much effort I put into ensuring their well being. I consider a honor to do whatever I can to give the town a lot of greenery.

Speaking of which, I’m going to be opening a flower shop some time before the end of the month. Which is quite a big step for me, but I am taking a chance to sell to people plenty of plants and gardening tools so they can learn to grow things at their own pace and timing.