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.

daemonise: (121)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-15 03:05 am (UTC)(link)
[This poor man tending to the booth is just trying to do his job, and there are people who were waiting in line now slowly stepping away from it as they hear what Velvet has to say. Not that she cares—she's not invested in this man or this booth at all, but she is very invested in making Magilou squirm.

Why isn't there a game like that???]


And how are you going to do that? Who knows...

[As she slowly picks up one of the rings to nonchalantly inspect it.]

Maybe that's why the other witches were melted.
perfalmost: (yeep!)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-16 12:50 am (UTC)(link)
[It feels like that's a game right now. One that Velvet is very much winning. It's not fair!

She gasps as the ring is lifted.]


Tinkervelv, don't you dare throw at that ring! We can do this, you and me against the world of unfair witch games! You're going to make melt with worry is what will happen...!
daemonise: (203)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-18 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
[She lifts the ring, but not at the witch hats lined up but at... Magilou... and closes one eye as she swings it up and then down, and then up and then down, as if she's taking aim...

...

......]


Hold still. You're moving too much.
perfalmost: (tired)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-18 01:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[Once she realizes what she's doing, she gasps even more dramatically, and she starts tugging on her hat and moving back.]

Of- of course I am! I'm not a target!! This isn't a game, Tink- Velvet!

[She starts wriggling around to make herself a tougher target.]

Such anti-witchery from my most-tolerated ally! I'll file a complaint about this shameless betrayal!
daemonise: (194)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-21 03:49 am (UTC)(link)
[Actually, this game seems much more challenging than throwing rings at a bunch of idle hats. Velvet swings her arm with the ring in hand, taking aim, and just as she looks like she's about to let go of it and give it a real good, hard toss...

She twirls it around her finger instead, looking rather pleased with herself for the briefest moments before she puts on a more serious, dire expression.]


A complaint to who?
perfalmost: (deflated)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-21 08:06 pm (UTC)(link)
[Magilou will keep on practically dancing around, just ti be safe! She'll be the most challenging target she can be!]

I'll take this all the way to the top! The biggest bosses we ever-

[She then pauses and slumps her shoulders in defeat.]

Oh right. We're our own bosses, masters of our destinies and all that. So I guess I'd just be complaining to you. ...But I'll be very persistent about it! [No one can annoy quite like Magilou can!]
daemonise: (aImXkVE)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-22 04:51 pm (UTC)(link)
[...

Damn it.

Velvet does grit her teeth a little beneath her very, very dry expression. Magilou totally played her. It's true—if there is anyone who can annoy Velvet and be very persistent about it, it's her. Which is why she wraps her fist around the ring to stop the spinning.]


I'll just say no.

[But the booth attendant has very different plans for them, and he waves his hand at both Velvet and Magilou, and in his most irritated voice, he demands their attention.

"Excuse me! If you're going to play, then play! There's a lineup of others who are waiting!"]
Edited 2022-11-22 16:51 (UTC)
perfalmost: (presenting!)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-22 10:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[Magilou could keep on going be with pestering Velvet and trying ro keep the ring at bay, but they're interrupted by the attendant's interjection. She grins while dramatically gesturing with her arm.]

Oh no! What have we done?! Through our innocent, absolutely hilarious shenanigans, we've inadvertently held up this fine witch-oppressing business! Whatever shall we do, Velvet?! The ring's in your court!
daemonise: (213)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-23 05:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[She is so, so tempted to just toss the ring at Magilou when she least expects it, and to see if she can actually land a hit, but as she glances back over her shoulder at the kids waiting in line to play, she decides that... maybe it's better they just get out of here.

So, with a glance at Magilou and then at the hats, Velvet gives the ring a single, easy toss and—]


What!?

[The ring knocks off the tip of it and flies in a whole other direction, and she jabs a finger at her target.]

I saw that hat move!
perfalmost: (standard)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-25 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
[She had let her guard down while she was talking to Velvet, so she's relieved that Velvet's actually playing the game instead!

And she's amused as she watches the ring bounce off. She knows a hustle when she sees one, and she cracks a smile. She then speaks with an exaggerated shrug.]


I dunno, Velvet. It looks pretty stationary to me...!
daemonise: (090)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-25 03:47 pm (UTC)(link)
No, it isn't!

[Velvet shoots Magilou That Glare, as if to silently demand her help on this one, before she's turning it on the booth attendant. She doesn't like being hustled or tricked, and this feels like a trick, and through the corner of her eye, she sees the top of the hat twitch and wiggle that she immediately points at it again. There might have even been a little cackle from beneath it.]

See!?

[SHE'S NOT CRAZY!!! And when she bristles, glitter flies off her.]

You try then, Magilou.
perfalmost: (got it!)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-25 05:05 pm (UTC)(link)
[She blinks as the glitter comes off of Velvet, raising a hand to swat some out of the air and resisting the urge to comment on it while she tries to refute Velvet.]

Me? But- but I don't want to throw you off, you look like you're on the verge of striking the big prize! Just give it another try. Plus, y'know, I can't raise a ring against my fellow witchy hats, tacky as they may be!

[And she doesn't want to submit herself to the hustle yet, not until she can figure out a strategy to out-hustle the game...!]
daemonise: (194)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-26 05:00 pm (UTC)(link)
[Velvet grumbles something under her breath about finding something else to wring, but she whips around back to the game, spraying Magilou with more glitter as her hair whirls over her shoulder.

She picks up another ring and, after a hard stare at the booth attendant, who is innocently looking anywhere but at her, Velvet aims for a different hat. She throws it, and...

It lands!]


Hmph. That's bet—

[And then the hat flings the ring from itself and hurls it right at Magilou.]
perfalmost: (witchadile tears)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-27 12:42 am (UTC)(link)
[She ends up nearly swallowing the latest blast of glitter! In any case, she watches carefully as Velvet sends the ring into action. But before she can make any kind of snarky comment, the ring comes right at her!]

Ack!!

[She ducks down to avoid getting beamed in the face! ...But it does end up landing atop one of her hat's tops. Magilou gasps as she realizes this.]

Oh no! I've been ringed! This, this is a hat-astrophe! Oh, what a world! [She makes overdramatic swooning motions and mimes melting away.]
daemonise: (oMQ3hLz)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-27 06:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's not sure who to blame or whirl around to with a threat first: the hat, or the booth attendant, but as soon as she sees that ring land on top of the hat...

...

....

Velvet folds her arms and tips her head, looking between all of them.]


I think that at least deserves a prize for landing.

[As for who actually won it, that's all a technicality, and just as the man opens his mouth to say as much, he promptly shuts it a moment later and sighs. "Alright, fine. Just pick one and get outta here."]
perfalmost: (deflated)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-27 11:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[While Velvet talks with the attendant, Magilou flails around in the background while trying to get the ring off of her hat, while screaming some more.

But once the attendant finishes speaking, Magilou speaks up with a sulk from near Velvet.]


Ooh, I want that teddy bear wearing the witch's hat! I'll call him Bienfu 2!
daemonise: (124)

we can prob start wrapping! 💗

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-28 06:01 pm (UTC)(link)
[The attendant practically chucks the stuffed bear at Magilou, narrowly missing Velvet, but she doesn't flinch as it goes whizzing past her head. She'd stare daggers at him if it weren't for the kids who are already stepping up to play, so she just whirls around on her heel and wanders back to Magilou.]

Careful. It could be cursed. Maybe it'll come to life and start talking just like Bienfu.

[Please, god, no.]
perfalmost: (evil)

Fine by me! 💗

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-28 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
[Magilou catches the plush like it's a baseball! She grins proudly as she brandishes it. And in response to Velvet, she holds the doll up over her face and speaks in an eerily accurate impression of Bienfu.]

'You say that like it's a bad thing! Don't you miss me already, Miss Velvet? Biiiieeeennn!!'
daemonise: (148)

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-11-30 05:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[She's just going to... lean back and away, as if the plush has disgusting Bienfu cooties.]

... I'll tear that thing's head off before we even get out of here if you don't turn that voice off.

[She's escaped Bienfu for now, please do not bring it back...!!!]

Let's go, before another one of them tries to pull us in. I'm done with the games anyway.
perfalmost: (super cheer)

[personal profile] perfalmost 2022-11-30 05:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Grinning, she pulls the doll back and tucks it away.]

Time to take five, Bienfu 2! Your life depends on it!

[Magilou gives a shrug.]

Fine, I guess that's enough fun for one day. [For some definition of 'fun'.] Plus, you have to get nice and rested for our next show!
daemonise: (025)

wrapping! 🎀

[personal profile] daemonise 2022-12-02 04:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Next show?

[She looks absolutely taken aback that Magilou would even assume such a thing.]

Not interested.

[And off she goes, leaving her behind regardless of whether or not she'll follow, but Velvet suspects...

Magilou will surely find a way to drag her into it one way or another when the time comes.]