THE GRAND BALL↴
Heartstone Manor is a giant, spooky castle floating in the middle of a twilight filled void. It is the home of a Wyld Fae calling himself The Prince - and despite his name, he is a bestial creature crammed into a gentleman's clothing, completely obsessed with replicating the ideals of old timey human society, much like the 1800's. The Prince and his many servants all dress in a manner appropriate to to the 1500's - 1800's, and decorum and beauty are held sacred above all else. All the workers of the carnival are currently staying there, in the hope of enabling a successful diplomatic venture between the Ringmaster and the Prince. The Grand Ball is being thrown by the Prince to honour these guests, but his manner of doing this is going to come as a bit of a surprise.
THE RULES↴
- Powers are all partially nerfed for 4th Wallers. They can be used in small to moderate ways for the sake of RP and narrative flavour, but 4th Wallers shouldn’t generally be using any powers in a super disruptive manner. No using powers for fighting with NPCs (yet), causing general chaos, or otherwise making your character a burden to the Prince. If they try, they’ll find themselves unable to do so.
- Your character isn’t sure how they got here but they think they’re okay with it. Your character won’t remember how they were captured by the Prince at the start of the ball. They’re just kind of here and in formal wear, and something tells them it’s probably fine to just enjoy the ball. They are wrong.
- In-game characters won’t initially remember how they all ended up at the ball either thanks to a temporary amnesia effect, but they will be able to be concerned about the fact that other people (possibly people they know) have shown up, and the fact that those other people are probably the Prince’s captives. Weren’t they doing something else at the castle before this, though? It’s hard to remember. This is all very confusing.
- 4th Wall character who aren’t apping in were possibly never the real deal in the first place. There are a mixture of genuine captives and spooky replications created with magic – this is to provide some flexibility regarding 4th wall character’s states in game, as well to allow more than one of each character to be played. If there are multiple people playing the same character, then whichever one has an app accepted will have been the real one.
- No doubles of in game characters. (Taken list here.) No AUs, no CRAUs, and nothing else besides characters that have full source canons or are original characters/fandom OCs with no bearing on the canon plot. If you tag in with a character who breaks these rules we reserve the right to remove them.
THE SETUP: 4TH WALLERS↴
- With incredibly foggy memories of their recent past, your character will find themselves at a grand ballroom dance, filled with a mixture of normal humans and odd looking humanoids that have strange features like wings, horns, tails, fur, and the like. They have vague memories of being dressed for the occasion, but are not sure by who or why. Most disturbingly, they will find that, at first at least, they don’t really care about the details. It seems like a pleasant event, doesn’t it? Why not enjoy it.
- This effect is definitely some kind of mind control, so you can feel free to have your characters be a bit confused and conflicted about it. Ultimately, they have been charmed to participate in the dance, so they will feel like riding the wave is the best thing to do even if that wouldn’t normally be their cup of tea. If your character has resistances to some forms of mind control, they are still overruled in this circumstance.
- They may discover people they recognize (castmates) or even duplicates of themselves (somehow?), and these can all be treated as canonly occurring and played out as such. This event is canon for Lost Carnival, so it should be played seriously and respectfully – not that silly shenanigans aren’t also bound to happen.
- All characters are required to dress in formal attire appropriate to a period area – specifically anywhere from the 1500s to 1800s. The Prince prefers if people are heteronormative in their clothing choices, but if you want you can probably get away with your ladies wearing suits or men wearing dresses as long as they look presentable otherwise.
THE SETUP: MANOR GUESTS↴
- You find yourself at the Grand Ball without really remembering how you got here. The last few days are a foggy blur, and though you can remember some of the important stuff you were dealing with, it will feel less important right at the start. Of course, as the night goes on, memories of how the carnival reached this event will become more and more clear – as well as the inevitable worry and stress that comes with it.
- For most people, there will have absolutely no memory of anything that happened after the morning of Day 175. Did the boating trip ever happen? Possibly not. Even as the night progresses, they will still have no recollection of how most of Day 175 went, which is probably disturbing. The Mod has contacted those that are exceptions to this privately to tell them what they will remember.
- The people lost to the Manor’s security earlier in the week will be here too, but not as guests. In fact, all of them will be dressed in the black attire of a Heartstone Manor servant and will seem pretty okay with that fact. There are parts of them that look changed – and their dispositions are definitely one of them. How else could they possibly be working for the Prince now?
- Updates to the event situation will be posted down in this section below. People can react to these posts as the circumstances change, and may new top levels based on them. It is possible to try to sneak away from the ball, but Manor Security will be trying to hunt you down. There is no mandatory outcome planed to this event, so character decisions can and will have a major effect in where the plot goes from here.
THE ACCOMODATIONS↴
- MUSIC AND DANCING: There will be music playing the whole night, and most of it is so good you feel practically compelled to dance to it. It's possible to resist, but why would you want to do that, you party pooper?
- FOOD AND DRINK: There are circle tables set up with fine silverware, and upon sitting down you will soon have a waiter come back to ask for an order. You can request basically any European cusine and it will be made for you. You will also be given drinks, most of which are alcohol, no matter your age. Fae don't care about children.
- BALCONY STARGAZING: There are balconies that are connected to the ballroom in multiple locations that you can step out onto to get some fresh air. You'll see the courtyard of the Manor down below you, but everything beyond that is black, as if the castle is floating within a twilight void. (Because it is.) One small change is that there are stars out tonight, probably added to the sky for the occasion.
- ALL NIGHT LONG: The ball will go on far into the early morning. Or, at least, until everyone fucks it up.
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lostcarnival2017-10-13 06:00 pm
Herbert West | Re-Animator | 4th Wall
Herbert is unknowingly aggravating a waiter at the moment, by leaning on one of the circle tables for support with one hand, but not yet sitting down. He looks a little bit lost and dismayed: eyes wide, brows furrowed gently, mouth slightly agape. The suit he is wearing (although there's no hat, he's inside!) is not his suit, even if he was dressed in it. He can tell. The pockets are empty except for a silk handkerchief, and he knows this because he keeps anxiously patting at his pockets with a free hand.
The waiter finally reaches their limit and darts over to push a sherry into his hand--interrupting it from its endless pocket searching--before speeding away again to look to less confusing dinner guests. Herbert looks down at his hand, almost looking startled, and then slowly lifts the drink to his lips. He's not usually...he doesn't, but, it feels like it's probably best to blend in, to. Enjoy himself? Herbert didn't think this was the sort of thing he tended to enjoy, but it's been necessary to pretend to be part of the foolish masses before. This is probably one of those times. The fog in his head seems to agree.
"Excuse me," he says, stepping up towards the nearest guest with some sort of non-human aspect. "Excuse me!" The corners of his mouth twitch up into what is technically a smile. "I could not help but notice you've, had some fairly extensive surgery--it appears to be. Functional." He gestures a hand at the part in question. "I would be very interested to know the name of your surgeon!"
They tried to make me go to rehab and I hit them with a shovel
Much later into the night, Herbert ends up on one of the balconies, intermittently leaning on the railing with his forearms and gazing intently out at the black, and whirling around to look back into the ball. He looks a bit anxious by this point, if also slightly drunk, eyes a bit glazed, one hand occasionally raking through his hair.
"Do events--do balls? Generally last forever?" He asks this to the next person to join him on the balcony, eyes wide and earnest. "I feel as if I may have never not been here, which is impossible, of course, but perhaps it's not, perhaps I am being close minded in my analysis--I'm missing something." Reaching into his inner jacket pocket, he pulls out a silk handkerchief and gives it a look of dismay.
SCREAMS WITH JOY first option plz
that I still have not updated the reference image with"Surgeon?" she repeats uncertainly, brow furrowed. "IIIII have no idea what you're talking about."
oh my gosh what an exciting reaction
"It's. Clearly a costume party, I've determined that little but that doesn't account for your hands or the--tail. I've never seen such effective prostheses--medical or otherwise--it would take a whole team on standby. No, you've had surgery to some extent--to what I can't tell--but possibly implants? Injections? How much of your look is makeup and how much your flesh--" Herbert comes to a stop as he remembers he's trying to 'make nice'. To. Schmooze? He tries to cover his pause and make up for everything by quickly saying (in a somewhat strangled voice, mind you), "--it's very good! Very. Striking!" The smile, such as it is, returns. Someone should really tell him so he can practise in a mirror.
no subject
"I think you must be confused," Peridot assures him, in a tone that's only slightly condescending. "I'm a gem. An inorganic humanoid lifeform? I don't even possess the requisite flesh necessary for someone to do perform 'surgery' on."
no subject
"A girl I spoke to previously had a, passing fancy of extraterrestrials--whimsical, yes but still plausible in this circumstance. Are you verifying that theory?"
WHOOPS I thought i hit this back yesterday!
Too bad she's about to beef her chance at a good first impression by making dumb, flippant jokes.
"That's correct. Although I will point out that technically speaking, we're all aliens here at this castle," she says with a bit of a snicker.
It's not even a joke, really, but she certainly thinks she's being funny.
no subject
He really wants to ask about the other part, though.
"Do you mean this isn't Earth?"
no subject
At his question, Peridot just laughs. "Ptchuh... I don't know what YOUR version of Earth is like, but in the universe I'm from, Earth doesn't have any areas with giant castles floating around in an infinite void," she supplies. And then adds, after a pause: "At least, not that I'm aware of..."
It's not like she knows EVERYTHING THERE IS TO KNOW about Earth yet.
no subject
Is that where they are? He thought he saw stars out of the windows. Everything tonight seems to be determined to stretch the very limits of his credulity. He's almost thankful for the cloud in his brain for forcing him to be calm when he otherwise might not be.
"On my version of Earth there is no proof of sentient extraterrestrial life, or manipulation of multipurpose...'magical' forces let alone gravity defying castles so you'll excuse me for attempting, to determine the framework of the next improbable occurrence!"
no subject
"You get used to it eventually. You have to. Too many things that defy the laws of physics and rational logic."
no subject
"I am beginning to suspect that, yes...... is this the 'carnival'? Is it always like...this?" At least there will be new things to learn, an entirely different scientific field that affects the other branches in unexpected ways.
Hit him with a shovel
A man with fluffy white hair happens to be leaning on the balcony next to him.
"Ah, the good ones do. Though of course there should be breaks for celebrations of notable events." Honestly, who wouldn't want to perform the same dances to the same music over and over for eternity? Kidnapped mortals should really be more grateful.
He looks over his shoulder, watching for the host. "Although, I could understand a little impatience with this particular venture. It seems to lack a certain something."
now where does the Prince keep his shovels...
The man has probably made a joke. Herbert's ball experience is limited to just this one, but it can't be normal, things being like this.
"I think there's too much," he admits, but looks over his own shoulder jerkily before turning back to stare at the man. "What are you looking for?"
no subject
"I was looking for our host. Perhaps I might suggest an amusing diversion- today happens to be an anniversary of an event very dear to me, I only just remembered. I wonder if the master of the house keeps straw dummies about."
no subject
"A diversion sounds ideal. One of your 'notable events'?" He's interested if it will get him out of his own head, distract him from what feels like Hill oozing through it again. "If he does, I doubt they're kept in the ballroom."
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"And yes, quite historical, commemorating an event not three hundred years ago, a triumph.
How inconvenient. I suppose straw effigies are not strictly speaking necessary."
no subject
[cw: child murder]
"It is the anniversary of my triumph over my wicked enemies, those who had tormented me for...oh, it is not important. The important thing is that I celebrate it at my manor with a triumphal procession of flags and coats of arms, followed by music and the ceremonial dumping of straw figures over the side of my balcony to commemorate the occasion I threw the children of my enemies down to their deaths. It is quite a spectacle. I celebrate it every time I happen to remember.
Since there are no straw dummies, perhaps plates would serve. Or do you think our host would be put out?"
no subject
"I know nothing really concrete about the host but I suspect as long as we continue to. Enjoy. Ourselves. At this ball he won't have much to say about it."