lostcarnival | ⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 47 - Day 58 ish
Where: The Athenaeum
What: The carnival arrives at book world. First week, they'll be performing for magical manifestations of book characters. Second week, it's time to hunt (for books, in the library.) Around Day 58 some stuff will occur.
Warnings: Reading is mandatory.

FAERIE TALES↴

Though the carnival will be performing for its guests in the first week, they are welcome to search the Athenaeum while they are off duty during that time. The manifestations of story characters will be out in full force during performance week, with animals, people, objects, and even locations growing out from various tales. Most are distracting at worst, and will be curious to check out the carnival. Some, however, can be as dangerous as they were in their stories of origin. You know what to do.

► IT'S TIME TO ROLEPLAY: The best way to deal with book ghosts is to follow their narrative to its logical conclusion - turn the tables, work the story so it ends in your favour! Naturalistic and narratively satisfying plotting will have the manifestations following your lead. However, push too hard and introduce too many plot holes, inconsistencies, or illogical plot twists, and they will reject your reality utterly, becoming quite aggressive in the process. You can also use your natural abilities and powers to fight them in a traditional sense, but in the Ringmaster's experience, it's best to fight reality benders by bending reality right back at them. If you aren't careful, it's possible to be dragged fully into a story's reality, and then things get really messed up.

► IT'S ALSO TIME TO READ: The carnival came here for a purpose, and that purpose is to research. Specifically, the Ringmaster is looking for information on the Queen's Miracles - the set of ancient fae artifacts that the Blue Rose is one of. The carnival needs these artifacts to defend itself, but nobody knows where they've been for thousands of years. That's what the books are for. However, nothing is stopping you from pursuing knowledge for personal reasons. The halls are open to your perusal, and only your heart can guide you to the book you truly seek. Check the plot post to see what's allowed, and sign up to find plot info or other important game information below.

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[Yuya forces his gaze away fromn the grinning demon to squint at the title.] 'The Magister's Eyeglass'.

[Which doesn't explain the the demon, whose head continues to rotate as Yuya looks back up. He's about to question the spirit directly, when it suddenly points at Gongenzaka.]

For disturbing me, I put a curse on you! If you want me to remove it, then bring me the Magister's Eyeglass hidden in the spiral tower in the forest!

--You what?! [Except... Gongenzaka won't actually feel any different. But the demon says there's a curse, it's probably not a lie?]

For dist- [Hold on a minute!! He stiffens, looking from it to the spirit.] I, the man Gongenzaka, did not even speak to you until now-!

[Actually, going back a moment-] .........Curse?

...Just what have you cursed me with..? [He isn't. Sure that he can believe it, feeling no different, but if they say so???]

[It was probably random. Regardless, the demon is snickering devilishly and apparently pleased with his 'work'.] From now on, you will transform into a terrible great beast during the day, only regaining your true form when the sun sets!

[At least, that's the script from the book. There's just an obvious issue with that curse.

Yuya looks back and forth between the book demon and Gongenzaka.]

So... you'll get rid of it as long as we get you that eyeglass, right? [At least he's been through one of these before. They could just run, but the illusion of the forest really prevents them from telling which way is a shelf and a hallway... and they don't know there isn't a real curse.]

................

[Ah, so it is. He glances to the book, and to the demon, before crossing his arms.] ...Aah, with no catch, no doubt? [So he questions, but internally he can't help but wonder how he would appear to be any other terrible great beast, given his current state.

What would happen, would he just become human at night?!]

[The demon spreads its hands wide.] No catch at all.

[Yuya looks incredulously at the book. And then Gongenzaka again, like he's expecting him to change into something even more monstrous before his very eyes.] Okay, fine, we'll go find it if you'll lift your curse.

Good. [And with that, the demon seems to twist out of shape and disappear... probably just deeper into the forest, but it's a spirit. It can probably do what it wants.]

... Do you feel any different? [They can start with gauging Gongenzaka's state before actually pursing this eyeglass.]

Hmmmnnn... [Is he suspicious? Yes. Is he about to cheat the book and check the end? ...No.

He does, however, sputter as he realizes what Yuuya is constantly glancing at him for.] AUH- D- Did you truly believe that I would become a 'terrible beast' then..!?

[~~Granted, he's sort of a beast now...~~]

Maybe? They're magic books, so maybe they really can curse people!

[This isn't the kind of thing you take chances on! Especially if the curse ends up even worse than it sounds.] You don't look any different, but... let's go find the eyeglass anyway, otherwise this book isn't going to leave us alone.

Edited 2018-04-27 00:48 (UTC)

MNH-! Th...That is certainly true... [Oh great. Now he's nervous.] In a place such as this, how are we to even know just what time of the day it is then... [he wonders, already looking toward the path and nodding to get a move on.]

...Well. I, the man Gongenzaka, suppose you are correct..! If we are to cast this from our shoulders, we must finish the tale..!

[Yuya nods once.] Let's go now.

[He puts his hand briefly on Gon's arm to encourage him forward before... honestly just randomly picking one of the paths ahead. That would be an awful idea if this was a real forest, but it's not, so regardless which direction they go the routes all seem to lead to the same place: a stump where a little anthropomorphic bunny in a ratty dress is sitting on top of a tree stump, crying.

Yuya pauses for a moment before approaching. Weirdness aside, she obviously needs help.] Hey, are you okay?

[The bunny shakes her head.] No, not at all. A wicked demon cursed me so all of my carrots turn rotten, unless I get him a magic eyeglass!

Hmm! [Off they go then-and if the forest itself didn't indicate they were within a book, the rabbit certainly did. Not particularly surprised by its appearance all the same, he follows Yuuya's lead, listening quietly.

...cursed, huh... He frowns.] Hmnnnn...it would appear this demon has a penchant for irritating curses then...

[Not to mention-] ...As well as a fondness for this eyeglass; do you perhaps know of what this eyeglass is for, miss?

[She shakes her head once more.] No... but it belonged to the magician that lived in the tower, so it must be powerful. But I'm not brave enough to go there on my own...

[Yuya leans over a bit, closer to her level and smiles.] He has us looking for the same thing... so why don't we work together? If we both retrieve the eyeglass, we can convince him to lift both curses.

[The bunny looks surprised at this, sniffling.] R-really? You'd do that?

Hmm! It is the least we can do, when we are on this quest ourselves! [Gongenzaka observes, finding it relatively easy to settle into the story at least. Of course, that is partly helped by his own attitude toward the 'demon'...] ...not to mention, if it is such a being, there is no doubt that we will have to retrieve it in the same moment, in order to have both curses removed...

[Something something 'well they did it first so i'll break their curse', and he certainly couldn't just stand by as book things suffered.]

[Yuya's not sure it's really going to be this easy, but he definitely believes in trying.] Yeah! It's better if we work together.

[The bunny smiles and nods, hopping from the tree stump. Yuya flashes Gongenzaka a grin, and they continue onward.] So this tower is just ahead, right?

Mm, but nobody besides the magician has ever been inside of it. If the eyeglass is anywhere, it's probably at the top!

Mnn! Naturally, if you need a lift, miss, I, the man Gongenzaka, shall be happy to oblige.

[Unsurprisingly, the very way Gongenzaka speaks is working for the setting. As they carry on, Gongenzaka looks ahead, ears perked for anything that could come upon them. After all, it's a fetch-quest tale, and none of those have ever been without hurdles.] Hmm...no doubt simply climbing the tower from the outside would be... ....'ill advised'...

[He can't really say it wouldn't be allowed at all, without breaking a few fourth walls there-]

Oh, would you do that? You're so sweet. [The bunny will gladly take Gon's lift, letting her keep up with them easier.

Yuya, meanwhile, snickers.] Were you thinking of walking up it? You know, that might work.

[That's the idea, isn't it? To take control of this story. Yuya is not against spidermaning up the wall.]

Auh-! It is only proper, after all..!! [Now then, he'll lift her on and let her sit comfy on the leaves...

...And turn to face Yuuya again as they carry on, ears flicking back.] Mnnn...indeed, it came to mind...however, given our circumstance, I, the man Gongenzaka, am hesitant to think so directly...

...A tale such as this would not expect such a motion, after all.

Did you read ahead? [Yuya raises a brow. The bunny stays silent, because this conversation just took a turn to 'confusing' for her.] Walking up a wall isn't normal, that's not thinking directly at all!

[Well, it's not thinking directly when you don't live in a fairy carnival. All the rules get a little weird, there.

Anyway, as they continue down the forest they'll find a badger in overalls, sitting in front of a bush and looking awfully forlorn. True to the script (or at least, what's in his head as a script), Yuya goes to approach.]

Mnh- C-Certainly not..! [he protests.] I, the man Gongenzaka, have not read the tale at all..!

...it is merely that...my own 'immediate thought' does not seem very...beneficial, [he mutters, practically pouting a bit. As it is, he'll wait for the badger and Yuuya to have their conversation.]

[Yuya can question Gongenzaka about that later, but for now they have another friend to acquire.] Hey, what's wrong?

[The badger sighs.] That wretched demon cursed me so all my burrows fill with mud! He says he won't lift it unless he gets the magician's eyeglass.

[Yuya grins wide.] Well, that's what we're going to get. If you help us, he can lift your curse too!

It's not use. The demon's a trickster, and he'll find any reason not to break the curse after he gets the eyeglass!

Hmn! Such appears to be the trend! [Gongenzaka huffs, finding himself somehow thinking of a certain red-headed menace from home.

But as it is.] If that is the case, then we shall simply need to keep the eyeglass until we are able to guarantee his word; in the meantime, it would be wise to move as one.

[No doubt the rabbit is waving to the badger from her ride, to that end.]

[Yuya nods. The badger doesn't look convinced, but...] You're not going to get rid of that curse by sitting here, are you?

Oh, all right! But I don't expect anything good out of this. [He grumbles, but gets up to join them on their quest. Yuya, pleased, gestures them all forward to continue on.

He quickly falls in step beside Gongenzaka, though.] It sounds like he's tricked a lot of people before.

[Ahhh. He has to shake his own head as the badger joins, continuing along at Yuuya's side.] Aah, so it would seem. More than likely, we will be forced to trick the 'trickster', if he is as they say...

[Yuya rubs his chin, humming thoughtfully.] Maybe it'd help if we knew what was so special about the eyeglass. We just know who owned it and it's probably magic, right?

[In the distance, they can probably see the tower coming into view between the trees.] Maybe we can challenge him to a game--uh. [His expression withers.] Not a hurtful game.

Aaah, perhaps.

I, the man Gongenzaka, would almost wonder if we're being 'fooled' into a heist, [he mutters, not feeling themselves truly 'fooled' at all suffice to say.] A non-harmful game should be easy enough however! ...If we know of where it will take place, at least...

[There's the tower after all. So.] Hmmm.

...We should perhaps make certain no one is inside, first...

I think that's going to be on us to figure out. [Yuya kind of misses just solving problems like these with his dueling.

He looks up as they approach the base of the tower. It's white, thin, covered in ivy with a few small windows and a door. Otherwise, it's pretty unassuming. Yuya decides to check for anyone living inside it like any reasonable person would: approaching the door and knocking.] Hello?

[Nothing happens for a minute. And then two. So Yuya just tries to open it.

It's unlocked.] Hellooo? It's dark in here.

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when ur first thoughts are now just weird to everyone-

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