⇨ ATLANTIS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: The morning of D44 and onward.
Where: The ocean realm of Atlantis.
What: The carnival abruptly arrives at an underwater realm, and everyone is transfigured into merpeople just as suddenly.
Warnings: Body horror, I guess.

THE CITY OF ATLANTIS↴ The visit starts without much warning, but at least there is a full week of free time before performances start. In the meantime, your characters will be given ample opportunity to adjust their acts for an underwater audience, get used to their new fishy appendages, or just spend the whole time enjoying the sights and sounds of Atlantis city. King Triton will not be immediately seen, but it's possible to gain an audience with him if you get in contact with the ambassadors of the kingdom. Just, make sure that you're not wasting his time. He's a lot less patient with nonsense than the Ringmaster is. ► FISH FRIDAY: You fell asleep, whether or not that's something you usually do, and the next morning you wake up as one of the merfolk. A few last additions may grow in after you're awake, but for the most part everyone will have a method of swimming and a method of breathing underwater transfigured into them upon waking. Don't worry about your belongings - everything is waterproofed, and technology will work the same underwater as it does above it. That doesn't mean there won't be plenty to get used to, though. ► GREAT BLUE YONDER: The ocean realm where Atlantis resides is enormous, and the depths seem to be unending. Despite the fact that there doesn't seem to be any surface, sun glimmers all the way down to the ocean floor. Atlanteans use creatures like whales and dolphins as rides and beasts of burden, and they can be seen swimming in and out of the city as constantly as roadways filed with cars in earth civilization. Beyond that, there's everything you would expect to see on the ocean floor here - huge reefs of coral, both familiar and exotic, enormous ocean plants, deep ocean trenches, and all kinds of weird critters living in them. There are a mix of mythical and standard ocean creatures, and are likely a combined populations of many oceans worth of beings. ► THE ATLANTEAN MARKET: The Atlantean market (aka the "merket") is a long trench between rows of buildings in the middle of the city, lit with bio-luminescent plants and rocks, and filled with all kinds of weird mer stuff that you can buy. There are a great many individual booths, mostly with hand crafted wares and objects that have been salvaged from various sunken ships. The Ringmaster has already traded a large number of goods to the merfolk here, and has taken the profit to award each worker with 100 Atlantean Gold to spend as they please. One gold is worth roughly five USA dollars, for a comparison of how much that is. There is a top level set up below in which characters can make their purchases, and you can also handwave the purchase of random common, necessary items (food, drink, etc) at your convenience. ► TREASURE HUNTING: Right now, the only major salvage areas are a few left over sunken ships that have mostly been picked over by the merfolk. However, you are welcome to head over to them and explore, and see if fortune smiles on you when it comes to finding anything that hasn't been taken yet. The current options are three similar looking brigantine that all probably came from the same world. Merfolk do not seem to consider them to be anything extraordinary, though magical items and gold have allegedly been found within them. Whether or not anything is left, is the real question. ► LIMELIGHTING: Merfolk are curious and generally socially forward, as a species. This mean that they find the carnival's workers to be a fascinating novelty, and also are unafraid to make that fascination obvious. Given the opportunity, merfolk will demand your character's attention for bombardments of questions and for general socializing, especially if they are particularly unusual for some reason. Don't be surprised if you get invited to stay at total stranger's houses, or dragged off to a merfolk bar to surprise party with their friends. They'll let you say no, reluctantly, but they will also be pleased as punch to get up in your gill. It's also possible to make some money, this way, if you're willing to do street performances, or are willing to sell your "skills" in a more private environment. Yes, there are opportunities to become a fish hooker if you are so inclined. Merfolk may also offer money to take you as arm candy to various public events, escort style. They don't consider this to be a particularly socially inappropriate thing to do, either. You can ask general questions about this setting over on the event post. There are top levels below for buying Atlantean merch, and also for making dolla dolla, if your character is inclined to try.

Comments

great blue yonder

[pipers_son]

Joker isn't particularly sure how he got dragged along Strange's little adventure, especially since he was just going off on a wonder himself, but he won't complain. Instead, he just watches the magician with a small grin, amused at his excitement.

Ah, to be young and visiting different worlds.

With the speed Strange is going, there's not really any time to answer his questions until the very last, which he laughs a little at. "I can tell it's pink, I got eyes, don't I?"

[kingsroads]

"I know," Strange can't help but respond, with a little laugh, as he swims over to the pink thing. It's an outgrowth of coral, shockingly pink, that Strange peers at and looks over as if examining the thing for the first time. "But even in Italy, I rarely saw anything that shade of color to begin with!"

He's having a grand time. His enthusiasm is downright palpable as Strange looks over to Joker, giving the other man a wide grin. Yes, this world is certainly much better than that rubbish Matrix on they were at before. Even if there wasn't that kidnapping bit it would be much better than the Matrix (Strange still hasn't gotten over his dislike of cars). But here, in this world...it was certainly something else.

[pipers_son]

“Then yer gonna really enjoy this place.” Scuttling over- sometimes it’s easier to use his shrimp legs than to bother with using his whole body to swim through the water- he lazily leans against the coral with his hand rapping along it. “I’ve had folks who’ve been in the circus before who’ve talked about animals like those ya find in the oceans, and who changed inta them. Some of the colors, ha! It’d make any artist jealous.”

But that’s half the fun, isn’t it?

[kingsroads]

He's listening intently as Joker continues talking. All these animals, all these sights...he can say with certainty that he'd never expected to see something like this in his lifetime.

"I don't think I'd enjoy changing into one of them," Strange mused, smiling still. "I've had a rough enough time without legs, if I didn't have arms either, things might get a bit chaotic."

As if to prove his point, Strange wiggles his fins a bit. He's not the best at swimming, but he can at least get places.

[pipers_son]

“Well, not the whole package,” Joker admits with a dry grin. “More bits and pieces, like anythin’ else. Although if ya annoy the Ringmaster, well, no tellin’ what she’ll turn ya inta.” Case in point, Sherlock. Actually- “She even turned Sans, our Warden, inta a cat once. Although I think that was before he was the Warden.”

It’s probably impressive to people that Sans was, at one point, even worse than he is now, but it’s true.

“Although that reminds me, don’t be surprised if ya end up bringin’ a little bit of Atlantis with ya once we’ve moved on, so ta speak.” He wiggles some of his own shrimp legs in return to demonstrate what he means. “Sometimes that happens, in the really magical places. Nothin’ too big, usually, but ya never know.”

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but grin a little at that. "I met a man who she turned into a lizard. Her transformation magic...well, it puts mine to shame. I tried my hardest but I couldn't undo the spell. Hopefully the poor chap's back to being a human now."

Even after all this time, he still hasn't put together that his little lizard friend was Sherlock. But about bringing something home...Strange can't help but raise an eyebrow. He's got a good idea about what Joker means by 'bringing a bit of Atlantis.' As long as he regains his legs though, Strange has a feeling he'll be able to adapt.

"I assume you mean a little bit of Atlantis that isn't the trinkets I bought at the merket?" he dryly responds, grin still on his face.

[pipers_son]

“Well, I wouldn’t say he’s human...” Joker flicks his tail, laughing. But then again, he supposes that’s a philosophical talk for another time, and one he’s probably not qualified to have. So long as he’s still himself, that’s more important to him than what humanity means. He’s seen too much to be certain of the definition.

Besides, best just focus on the physical aspects of the changes, and he nods. “Oh, definitely somethin’ different than what ya might buy. It’ll be hard ta say until we leave, but… Scales, or eyes, or gills- things like that. Could come away with any of that, although I doubt the full tail.”

[kingsroads]

"Good," Strange says, relief obvious in his voice. "I'd be a useless magician if I kept the tail while the Carnival lost the water." Though it's obvious that not everybody has tails...Strange can't help but look at Joker's weird little shrimp legs with a frown. That's a bit weird! He's managed swimming fairly well himself, but how did one swim with a large amount of tiny little legs?

"How many of those do you have in the first place?" he asked, out of sheer curiosity, as he nodded towards Joker's feet.

[pipers_son]

“Ya say that, but I think I’ve known folks who’ve managed.” Ah, the benefits of being in the carnival for a while- or, at least, the carnival when it’s been full and thriving with workers instead of pulling itself back up onto its feet. The amount of different changes that have shown up is stunning, really, and the intense changes have always been particularly notable.

Glancing down at himself, he gives a small kick of his many legs. “Oh, these? Not particularly sure- s’not somethin’ I took the time ta investigate. Not more than a dozen, I should think.”

[kingsroads]

"You'll have to point me in the direction of them," Strange remarks, with a wry little smile. "I'm afraid the majority of the people I know here are newcomers--why is that, by the way? You'd think that a carnival would have more in the ways of laborers."

He's not saying it, but Strange knows why the majority of the people here are newcomers: the gossip train kept rolling and Childermass told Strange what Psionic had told him about the vampires...which is admittedly, not that much. Hence, his gently asking Joker for more information.

"I suppose you're lucky that we set up camp in a place where not many residents have feet to begin with," he teases, shaking his head slightly. "Imagine how many pairs of shoes you would need!"

[pipers_son]

“Ha! Don’t make me think of it.” Joker gives a shake of his head. “My wardrobe is already a mess as it is, I can only imagine havin’ ta deal with so many pairs of shoes.” Hell, he’s already going barefoot most of the time while he’s in the carnival as it is. Shoes- and other good clothes- are for work days. However, when it’s not that? Well, he knows the carnival well enough by now to be fine with things. Besides, isn’t this what wings are for?

Letting himself be carried along by the tide, floating lazily, Joker shifts back to Strange’s other question- and it’s honestly not a coincidence that he was kind of putting it off for a moment there. “And yeah, we had plenty once, but, y’know-” He shrugs. “Things happen, and folks’ contracts ran out. We actually just got off of a break, ha, which is why the Ringmaster was so interested in havin’ more people work here. It’s not the most impressive turn out, with how some groups don’t have enough folks, but…. Y’know how it is.”

[kingsroads]

"I've heard rumors about those things happening." Strange's tone of voice is deliberately calm and level, as if he's trying to talk like oh, this is just a normal thing, nothing to worry about and no madness here...though he can't hide the utter curiosity that's poking through. Those things that happened might be dangerous, but there's no sign that Strange thinks that knowledge is off limits.

"Some of which involve vampires? Those were creatures thought to be mythical back on my world."

[pipers_son]

Well. So it looks like that cat is out of the bag.

Joker doesn’t let his mask budge at that, however. He was good at hiding things and lying before he came to the carnival. Now that he’s had a couple of years and (mostly) repaired a betrayed heart, he’s only managed to get a bit better. He just clicks is tongue.

“Ah. I didn’t think there would be a lotta people still left around here that’d like ta talk about that.” Almost apologetically, he tilts his head down. “Sore subject and all, y’know. Anyway, as ya mighta guessed, here’s a lotta things that we’d put in fairy tales but that you’ll probably run inta plenty if ya stick around in the carnival.” A roll of his shoulders. “Vampires just happened ta be one of ‘em, and the carnival had a run of bad luck. Shook folks up.”

[kingsroads]

"Whether they like to talk about it or not, it's easier to find out these things than most people realize," Strange simply explains. It's especially easy with the combination of magically creeping on a meeting, alcohol, and gossippy magicians.

It's at this point that Strange realizes this might be a bit harder than expected. Joker's got a way of telling you something while dancing around the truth—something Strange admires but also drives him batty.

"I understand if you don't want to talk about it. But for my safety as well as the carnival's, I'd like to hear more about what the vampires were like."

[pipers_son]

For a second, he wants to say that it's really none of Strange's business. All anyone has to do, as far as Joker is concerned, is just stay safe, not do anything stupid, and listen when the Ringmaster says not to do something. It's on the tip of his tongue too, shows perhaps a little bit in the exasperated fondness in his stare.... but then he comes to a pause.

Ah. Right.

"Yer under Mari, too, ain't ya?" he asks slowly, expression shifting into quiet realization as his body shifts against the coral he's come to rest against.

[kingsroads]

"I am," Strange explains, with a small nod. "I work as a mercenary as well as a magician."

Something that it's obvious Strange has mixed feelings about—it's as plain to see as the resigned expression on his face. Thankfully, he hasn't had to juggle his role of mercenary and gentleman yet, but he knows it'll happen soon. He's a gentleman and gentlemen don't kill...but what about the undead? Do they even count as people to begin with? And does it count as killing if it's already dead?

"So again, I'd like to know more about the vampires. The legends of my world are a bit varied on what vampires can do as well as how to kill them in the first place."

[pipers_son]

At the confirmation, Joker can only heave out a sigh. Well, there, it’s a little different. He’d like to not talk about the whole blasted mess, but sometimes, well. Sometimes people really do need to know about the dirty things. If it were any other department, literally anywhere else, well, he’d stick to his guns, dance around the subject, and make a casual excuse to get them away from the whole messy subject.

But the Nightriders….

Clicking his tongue, he lets his head loll to the side. “So ya just want ta know about the race, then? Nothin’ else?”

[kingsroads]

Strange does want to know more. About the sigil, about why there was a fight to begin with, about why he's just learning about the vampires now and not when he first signed on.

But he knows that the more he throws at Joker, the less likely he is to actually learn anything. And besides, Childermass is getting information about the sigil. He'll have to trust the other man and focus solely on the task at hand now.

"At this time. Inevitably I'll have more questions for you later, but for now? I just want to know about the vampires." Technically true.

c....annibalism.... mention???? DO VAMPIRES COUNT....

[pipers_son]

Well... It's clear to Joker that out of all the supervisors, Mari is the least likely to talk about that whole disastrous event- maybe moreso than Sans or himself. That'd be fine, usually, because it's not in his nature to try and muscle in on how the others run their parts of the carnival... But this is important.

Especially considering.... recent event.

So, with a resigned sigh, he just full out splays himself across the coral, arm propped up by some particular branches. "Well, ya got the usual bits... Blood drinkin', y'know. Pretty strong, pretty fast, both more than a human... Just attackin' 'em doesn't do much good, I can, uh-" A wry grin flickers across his face. "I can tell ya that from personal experience. Take off the head, take out the heart.... or just set the whole bloody monster ablaze." His legs click against coral as he thinks. "And... Hypnosis. Mind control. That sorta thing." His expression contorts into a grimace. "Not pleasant. Anyway, I think that's all I remember of the blasted things."

A pause.

"Oh and they taste like pork." And he flashes a wide grin that makes it hard to tell if he's fucking around or not.

thanks for that, buddy.

[kingsroads]

Strange takes all the information to heart, committing it to memory. After all, he needs to actually remember this. This is important information, he needs to write it down and tell Childermass this information in case it slips out of his head during a fit of madness. Still, blood drinking, stronger than normal...these are to be expected. That's good. It's the hypnotism that worries Strange—he has no magic to defend against that sort of thing.

But eating? Tasting like pork? Strange has no idea whether Joker's serious or not, so the safest option is to reply with something equally flippant.

"Well, if you set them on fire, it takes less time to cook later," Strange remarks, with a wry little smirk. And almost instantly, he feels a little bit sick. Oh God he feels horrible joking about this, let's change the subject.

"With regards to the hypnotism...how precisely does one get unhypnotized?"

[pipers_son]

And this is why we don’t play shitlord chicken with Joker, Strange.

Still, while there’s a snort of a laugh, Joker lets him change the subject easily enough. Shrugging, he says, “Couldn’t tell ya. It happened ta one of the daredevils that worked under me, and all I could do was take something heavy ta the back of their head and then tied ‘em up before I ran off ta take care of everythin’ else that was happenin’. By the time I checked back, well, the vampires were gone, and I don’t know if that had anythin’ ta do with it or not.”

[kingsroads]

"It's a pity we don't have someone hypnotized here," Strange can't help but muse, with a small frown as he things things over. "The magic of the mind...well, I'll be the first to admit that it isn't my forte, but I can think of a few spells that might help in removing hypnotism."

Strange doesn't realize that he's essentially asking for a guinea pig to practice this sort of magic on. Whoops.

[pipers_son]

“Ya could always ask the Ringmaster about it,” Joker offers casually. Sure, that sort of thing usually comes at a price, but, well… Strange is already here, of his own accord as far as Joker can tell. Besides, it’s arguably the safer option than letting Strange do things on his own. Arguably.

“And even if not her, well… Most of the supervisors were here for that. There’s probably someone who’s more familiar with that kinda thing.”

[kingsroads]

"Are you trying to shunt me off on someone else?" Strange teases, entirely aware that there's a good chance Joker's trying to do exactly that. After all, he can only take so many nosy questions from madmen about vampires for so long.

Still, he's at least found out how to kill them and what they can do. That should be information enough for Childermass.

[pipers_son]

“The insult!” Joker drawls with his hand daintily pressed to his chest, not sounding insulted at all. It’s probably enough to make people wonder if he ever is. “I’m just sayin’, I ain’t knowledgeable in this sorta thing. I’m just a humble stage manager tryin’ ta pay off my debts~.”

And it’s not… entirely wrong, either. For a good chunk of his time at the carnival, Joker has been trying to keep his head down and just work. However, recent events have shown that’s not good enough…. But that’s far from the sort of thing you tell your employees.

For now he pushes himself off of the coral. “Anyway, try not ta bring this up with Mari, alright? Folks don’t have good memories of that little event, and it’s best not ta pick at scabs, if ya understand me.”