{ 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

[helluvaboss]

[Blitz flinches a bit, but doesn't yank himself away - he's preoccupied with getting his panic attack under control. Hearing that Loona would be fine, but also, she was here--]

Moxxie and Millie too? Hell. Okay. Okay. The gang's good at keeping things together.

[He could trust his employees not to screw up without him - they were reliable, even Loona, in her own way. Since his anxiety was settling down, he pat at Stolas' hand on his shoulder awkwardly.]

Shit. Okay. Uh, I'm good.

[noctuagoetia]

[The flinch and the awkward pats made Stolas painfully aware of what he was doing. The image of Blitzø pulling away at the touch of his hand flashed in his mind and the Goetia promptly pulled his hands away. He was unsure of where they stood with one another since for him... he arrived right after the blow out with Stella. Not the most pleasant memory he wants to think about right now. Stolas knew how he felt, but as for Blitzø? The answer terrified him. And with his grimoire being as useful as a doorstop, there was nothing tethering the imp to him. Not that if it was functional that it would be much use here...

Stolas sighed softly with sadness in his eyes, his face still unveiled as he reached up to rub the feathers on the back of his neck.]

Sorry.... I am probably the last person you want to see right now.... But I promise you, I will find a way to get us back home.

[helluvaboss]

[Blitz' face screws into a frown at Stolas' tone and words - he'd give anything right about now to not be having this conversation. And he didn't want to tell Stolas that no, he didn't disbelieve that, he didn't think of Stolas as 'the last person' he wants to see - it's just this, this conversation, this shitty corner he always gets backed into.

Kicking the dirt to the side, frustrated, Blitz didn't meet Stolas' gaze. His heart was pounding, anxiety spiking hard, something about this was just intimidating and it pissed him off.]

Knock it off. You're not helpless.

[noctuagoetia]

[Oh... Oh no. He knew that look. Did he say something wrong? Good job, Stolas. You haven't seen him in months and you instantly start things off on the wrong foot. His beak opened to say something but the words caught in his throat. After all this time, Blitzø was actually here. So much time to stew in his thoughts. There was so much he wanted to say. That he missed him. That he regrets some of his actions in the past. That even though this situation was fucked, he was happy to see him. That he...

Afraid to expose his heart, those thoughts were placed back under lock and key. The stiff silence passed for a moment longer as the prince took a tiny step back to give the imp some space.]

No... you're right. [Stolas spoke softly, reaching back up to conceal his face again behind the mask.] I was just trying to reassure you that if it is within my powers, I will get you home.

[helluvaboss]

That's better.

[Blitz' tail is swishing, full of anxious energy. The tension between them was suffocating, even if Blitz was fully aware that he was the one responsible for making the air feel tense. With a cracked smile, and a hand on his hip, he pulled up the facade of sardonic humor again.]

You're a fuckin' big-name demon prince, with a whole palace and minions and shit, you don't get to talk about yourself like you're a chump without the book.

[noctuagoetia]

[But he was though. If not for the book, he would not possess the abilities that he had, his sole purpose, his reason for being was wrapped up between those pages. There wouldn't be a reason for the imp to stumble back into his life. It was his sense of duty that caged the Goetia to his fate. His life... wasn't as charming as one might think. Sure from the outside looking in, he had money, status and B.I.T.C.H. 'smoking hot' wife, but it didn't come with one thing. Freedom of choice.

If you want to call a handful of servents 'minions', then Stolas guessed it was the truth. But that palace was cold and lonely, whose only light came in the form of his daughter. The prince was glad that he lowered the mask, afraid what emotions his face betrayed.]

Blitz... I don't know what you imagine my life to be like but I assure you it's not as glamorous as you might think. [Lord, he really didn't want to open this can of worms. Letting out a heavy sigh, the owl perked up to his full stature.] I really do mean what I said. My powers aren't as they were back in Hell. I am not implying I am weak, just... dulled.

[With his limited magic he was still able to wield... It could have been easily him held up in bed suffering from the Radio Demon's rampage, if not for his strategic thinking.]

[helluvaboss]

I'm not talking about your privileges, you're not just some accessory for the spell book-- ah, fuck it.

[Grabbing a fistful of Stolas' cloak, he attempted to march them further into the carnival, towards a food stand.]

[noctuagoetia]

[Cue record scratch in the prince's brain. Excuse me, what? But before Stolas could ask what Blitzø meant by that, the imp already had him by the feathers of his cloak. The garment jerked the overgrown owl to follow after the smaller hellborn, letting out a shocked hoot as he did. Stolas didn't put up any resistance as he allowed Blitzø to whisk him away. The Dark One be damned, how easily the imp could get the Goetia's heart to pound against his ribs. Was it getting hot under his mask? It was certainly getting hot.]

Wh-where are we going, Blitz?

[helluvaboss]

[Blitz dragged the owl a few stalls down, stopping at one with some different candies going on. Where, where... ah hah! He grabbed at a small glass filled with some kind of crumbles and gummy worms, and practically shoved it into Stolas' hands.]

Eat some dirt.

[He snickers. He thought the snack's gimmick was pretty funny!]

You're thinking too hard.

[noctuagoetia]

[Stolas’ eyes fluttered as he stared down at the tiny dessert that was shoved into his talons. The bright colors of the gummy worms stuck comically out from the brown cookie crumbles. This. Blitzø dragged him over here for this?

It started out small, but the Goetia's shoulders began to tremble as he snorted softly. Steadily the tremors grew until the owl was doubled over in a fit of rousing hooting laughter, bringing tears to his eyes. Man, Stolas hadn't laughed this good since he's arrived and he reached up to pull the mask up to wipe the dampness from his cheeks.

Slowly, the giggle fit faded to leave behind a gentle smile and Stolas leveled a fond gaze at the imp. Dammit.]

I've missed you, Blitz.

[helluvaboss]

[There's that beak-y face he knows. Blitz grinned, sticking his tongue out. Good, better, he could work with this much better.]

It's a party. And not the ritzy one that's only good for crashing. So have fun!

[noctuagoetia]

[Stolas continued to clutch at the small cup in his hands with that dorky grin on his face. Here he was again, playing the fool... So much for all the tough talk with Dante about not letting himself get swept away so easily. Not even ten minutes into their reunion and the owl was already back to where he was before he left. But... look at that face.

Blitzø was right about one thing, it was a festival. Though there was a lot more going on than he may realize. However, there would be time to explain more later. For now... the prince wanted this moment. Even if it was all just a beautiful lie. Let him have it.

Lowering a claw, the Goetia toyed at the imp's shirt collar.]

A costume party. Looks like you didn't get the memo. Where is your holiday spirit, Blitz?

[helluvaboss]

[Good, better - neither of them needed to have a huge emotional breakdown in the middle of a carnival.]

Yeah? I could do the vampire shtick again, I know you love that.

[He smirked and leaned into the toying, taking in Stolas' fancy plague doctor vibe.]

Or maybe I'll be sick for doc to take care of.

[noctuagoetia]

[The owl's feather ruffled at the thought of the imp dressing up as another vampire. Oh yes... he liked that very much. Those fangs and the... biting. Damn. Stolas was trying to be on his best behavior but Blitzø insisted on flipping his switches.

Bending at the hips, the prince brought his face closer to hum in thr imp's ear, the claw hooking itself around the shirts hem.]

You want to my a plague victim, Bliz~? Riddled with painful buboes and your long slender fingers coiled black from gangrene as your body ravaged by trembling chills because your body is so hot?

[Stolas: Making the Bubonic Plague sound sexy.]

[helluvaboss]

Only if doc gives me special treatment. Gotta balance the humors huh? Maybe do a little blood letting, just a few little cuts, eh?

[Drawing a 'hooked' claw along Stolas' jaw, ruffling those feathers juuuuust right.]

You'll make me feel all better with a little bit of pain, right, doc?

[noctuagoetia]

[The owl's feathers shivered audibly as the imp stroked him the right way, letting out a shuttering moan.]

I think that could be arranged~

[Fuck him. There went the last shred of his sanity. Blame it on the two months apart, but the Halloween Carnival was the last thing on his mind right now. Things like 'where they stood' or 'what did all this mean' got shoved back into the void. All his mind was full of was knocking everything off the food stall and having it out right there. If only his portals worked properly he could have created one that lead them back to his treehouse. But as it was, he could only make small jumps... Before the voices of reason could regain control, Stolas found himself moving to kiss Blitzø.]

[helluvaboss]

[Oh! Yeah, sure, this was happening now. Blitz smooched back, his teeth clacking against beak. This was much, much easier than fretting about their problems. He could handle that conversation later. Definitely.]

Three months without me? Bet you're starving. I bet you aren't even gonna make it to whatever little roost you've got now, are ya?

[noctuagoetia]

[Oh Satan, he really wasn't. The Goetia's knees had already been reduced to jelly.]

Oh my ffff-uck~ I want you to drag me to the nearest dark corner, tear off every shred of clothing, and stuff me like full with your big dick like a fucking scarecrow~

[helluvaboss]

Alright, but let's make sure no one hears you hooting, noisy bird.

[He'll step aside to grab a candied apple off the stand and sliding back with it, spinning it on its stick in some comedic parody of 'tantalizing'.]

We'll gag you with something nice and sweet.

[Aaaaand off they'd go, to sneak off and make a very dark, quiet corner far less family-friendly.]