⇨ WISMUTH

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: S2:D6-D11
Where: Wismuth and the Carnival Grounds
What: The carnival enjoys a few days in Wismuth, a coastal city on this planet's version of the American east. However, there are a few things very unique about this version of the planet...
Warnings: The usual, wholesome fun.

PILLAR OF CREATION↴ Upon arriving, things in Wismuth will seem pretty peaceful. It's a massive city, with no shortage of things going on, but things like violent crime and homelessness are at an all time low. You can wander the streets without much scrutiny, presumed to just be tourists, and most people here come across as helpful and friendly. ► VIBRANCY: The main thing that sets this planet apart is its vibrancy - AKA, the raw creative energy its filled with, flowing from its status as a Pillar of Creation. There is no literal pillar, but Wismuth and its planet is a place where Creation's energy comes through strongest. As a result, everything here feels somehow more real, more intense in a way that's hard to put a finger on. Life is abundant, and its bleeds through in every sensation. ► ATTRACTIONS: There are plenty of things to see while going around the city. First and foremost, there is a lovely beach area bordering the ocean, and a number of tourist aimed attractions built around it. There are giant malls, movie theaters, live stage performances, museums and all kinds of other points of cultural interest. Anything you can do in a big city you can do here, but better. ► ALLOWANCES: The Ringmaster will be giving everyone a reasonable amount of local currency for a few days on the town. You can't make any massive acquisitions with it, but it's more than enough to eat out, see some shows, go to the beach, and whatever you like. You can feel free to pick up some casual supplies, like mundane clothing and souvenirs. There will be more given out later, after the performance week. ► PERFORMANCE: Performance week is starting early this time, after only a couple days of exploration. When the carnival has already been on vacation for a month, the Ringmaster figures they may as well get right to it, and then do more touring afterwards. Members of the local populace will find themselves in the carnival once performances begin, dazzled by the other worldly sights. Magic doesn't seem to exist here, despite the fact that it will flow easier for people bringing it from other worlds.

Comments

library!

[kingsroads]

Strange has commandeered an entire table. He's got far too many books on the table and yet he's looking for more. There's between ten to twenty books on Strange's table that fit into three categories: history books (usually pre1850s), slightly woo-woo books about magic and magical history, and fairy tales. The fairy tales and books about magic outnumber the history texts, which is why Strange has gotten up from his seat to borrow a few more books.

As Gold looks through one of his books, Strange bends over slightly to look at the spine. Good. A history book, that looks like it has potential, he'll want to borrow that.

"May I borrow that book when you're finished?" he bluntly asks Gold, not really caring that the man's already reading it. "I'm sitting at the table over there," he says, gesturing to the giant mess of a library table he's created.

[magicsprice]

Gold lifts his attention from the book in his hands to Strange. His eyes follow the gesture and an amused expression replaces the impassive one he'd been wearing previously. "Of course."

He moved to head on over toward the table with its pile of books and since the book had been already slowly losing his interest, sets the book down on the table with the others before poking through those on the table.

Noting the fairy tales, he chuckled, though the humor might sound a little mocking than amused. "I doubt the fairy tales here are any more truthful than they've been elsewhere."

[kingsroads]

"Then it's a good thing I don't care if they're truthful or not," Strange responds, with a little raise of an eyebrow. "I simply want to see what they are. The ones I'm used to are a little bit different."

After all, fairy tales from a world where magic and faeries do exist are going to be a smidge different than those from a world where it doesn't exist, just by default. This is academic curiosity as well as nosiness on Strange's part.

[magicsprice]

"Ah. Point taken." Though now that it's raised, he has to admit even if only to himself that he's a little curious as to how such tales would be told in a world such as this. If they're just as insulting as some he's read or if by chance they actually make a lick of sense.

Thus Strange will just have to excuse him as he continues to poke through the books, pulling one such volume of fairy tales from the pile to flip through it.

"So do you believe they can be true or is it all just stories to you?" There's curiosity in the older man's voice, as he poses the question.

[kingsroads]

"Just because something's a story doesn't mean it can't be true." Though Strange knows he's being a pedant as a second or so later, he clarifies and gives Gold an actual answer.

"I believe they can be true. I've seen and lived through too much to outright dismiss the notion that all fairy tales are false. The main question, of course, is which are the most true."

Red cloaks and bears eating porridge are probably tales just to entertain children. But the darker ones, stories of faeries and fiends and things stealing babies from cradles, those are the ones that Strange would put more faith in than others.

[magicsprice]

He wouldn't discount red cloaks just yet, especially given he's created a red cloak for a werewolf before. Though he'd agree bears eating porridge sounds ridiculous unless those bears were starving.

"Quite so. At least you're experienced enough to believe in their being true. I've known people who like to outright dismiss anything that doesn't fit with their world view of things."

Excuse him while he makes a small noise of derision a few moments after that response and tosses the book he'd picked out back to the table. He'll never really understand just how people manage to so thoroughly mangle the tale that bears his name.

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but smile lightly at Gold's noise of derision. He feels the same, buddy. What's the point of dismissing things when the world was so beautiful and bizarre that things possibly could be true? Especially, what's the point of dismissing those things when one is in faerie or stuck in a worlds-traveling carnival?

"A sign of a limited mindset," Strange agrees, with a little nod. "There's no use clinging to outdated concepts like 'what you expect' or 'the laws of nature'. Everything can be bent and changed somewhat, so why are people so surprised when things are bent and changed?"

Says the person who decided to forcibly change the magical nature of his world without really asking anybody first. Strange has a different opinion on this than a lot of other people would.