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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Startled, but having encountered a few of these stories by now, Shima double checks that no one else is in the room with him before he presses himself to the wall and peeks around the door frame to try to get a better view of what's going on out on the balcony, considering to himself in the meantime whether or not he should just try to walk out there as part of the story or see if it'll play out on its own if he doesn't get involved.]

[There is indeed no one else in the room- which will either bode extremely well if he's caught, or extremely poorly. Getting out may be tricky, given that it'll involve opening a door however.

Down below, best as he'll be able to see, the box has been closed. Various seals are being applied- strips of paper dyed with characters in red and black alike, barely audible muttering going on as each one is placed by the robed ones below. It seems harmless enough-

...Other than the fact that the box occasionally sparks. That's probably not very harmless.

Nothing else seems to g o on in this scene however. It's as though someone vital is missing, and will remain missing for a while.]

[He waits a few moments longer just to be sure, but it soon becomes obvious that the story is waiting on an entrance, so after another moment to decide how to approach this, he squares his shoulders and strides out onto the balcony, stopping a couple steps back from the Queen.]

Sorry for the wait, Your Highness.

[The Queen turns, but not immediately. She has a somewhat sickening smile, small- but one which seems to imply at least some sort of care for the one before her. She's about to make it clear as to why.] Aaaah, my dear Prince, [She greets.] You are just in time- come, [she gestures, stepping toward him before turning back to the balcony to allow him access.] See what I have found, what we shall use against our greatest enemy.

A present?

[If this is gonna end up as some kind of demon possession thing... well, it wouldn't surprise him, probably. He walks over to the railing though, looking down at the box and the figures below.]

[The woman chuckles- the laugh carrying only a ghost of warmth in its otherwise chilling tone.] Oh, my dear, you are so... Skilled when it comes to feigning ignorance...no, [She explains, pointing toward the box. A strange form of 'media blend' seems to be striking the scene- various cords, actual cables, are now being tacked upon it beneath each 'seal', with the cables in turn connected to ground poles that look a little too much like machines of some sort.]

I have found us the perfect weapon; a living puppet.

[Well that's Alarming. But she provided a bit of acting direction there, since it sounds to him like his character's ignorance is actually less feigned than she'd like, for her to put it so delicately. He'll need a better feel of what's going on before he can try to nudge the story into letting him out.]

Oh... So. how is that gonna help us, 'mother'?

[Between the fact that the Prince is at least pretending to be ignorant, and the fact that this is a surprise of sorts, Shima has a strong advantage indeed- if only the Prince's actual counterpart could see this.

As it is. The box remains in place, as the Queen explains- torches, meanwhile, are being lit at the strange poles while their screens flicker 'on'.] The Lion who thought to set his dragon upon us will never be able to match what cannot be defeated, my Prince. What we have below exists only to take orders. It carries them out flawlessly, without question... But more than that, [she purrs, and with the flames, the wires shine red until they reach the box- which quickly becomes engulfed in flames.]

Because of their emptiness, I can simply fill their head with whatever we want...

[The box continues to burn with her words, the wood beginning to blacken.]

[Shima has, at this point in his life, watched quite a few Bad People conduct a good number of Bad Experiments, and this story has a lot of that feeling in it. But that also means he's used to chillin' and keeping an eye on things without freaking out. Though not without commentary.]

Sounds like you'd wanna be careful what ya choose then. Something usually tends ta go wrong when it comes ta treating living things as something programmable.

[Unfortunately, where the 'Prince' in reality knew to keep his mouth shut, Shima might not have done great there. The Queen regards him with a narrowed eye.] ...Should I have reason to doubt your loyalties? ...You were the one who brought us to war against the Lion for his crimes, after all... [She reminds him, turning her eye below. The wood is finally crumbling, as is the fire. The bits of story however, seemingly affected by Shima's words, seem to wobble, trying to jolt back to the form of the library briefly.

They quickly manage to settle however, and the wood and flames crumble. Beneath, now bound by the cords, sits a seeming child. Her head is bowed- hidden by distance, hair, and shadow- and she seems otherwise motionless.]

This is the weapon we have been looking for, my Prince- This will be vital for our win..!

No, of course not, 'mother', those crimes should be punished.

[He glances down at the small figure, more put out by the story than particularly disturbed--it's a story, after all, and nothing to do with him. It looks like the bounds of the story will break easily enough if he goes completely off script, as well, so he's willing to see this out a little longer.]

What will you teach it?

[The Queen relaxes immediately, unsettling smile back upon her face.] Wonderful, [She sighs, tapping her chin as she looks over her 'doll'.] I know this was a surprise, but I had put so much work into finding something...'useful' for you after all, [She adds.]

...I have already taught it- just now, as you saw. Everything necessary to prove this decision true, in upcoming challenges, [The Queen declares.] I shall send it through three tasks, and judge from there.

[There is a pause, and she looks back to Shima.] ...You will be watching, I hope?

[He bows respectfully, an affirmative.]

I'm sure I'll learn a lot.

Excellent, [the woman sighs again, and this time when the scene wavers it does not stop itself. Nor does it seem to waver in quite the same way- instead it is as if things were being blown away by a gentle breeze, first removing the scene below the balcony, and then the balcony itself.

Shima now appears to stand alone- there is a river ahead, vast and deep, but he isn't close enough to properly see the water. The multitude of fish leaping in and out are enough to keep anyone away as it is.

Tall grasses surround him, and a voice echoes in the air; recognizably the Queen's.]

'Cross this river, and do so without allowing even one drop upon your form. I give you the day.'

[Oh Boy.]

[Oops, Shima hopes he didn't switch characters or something, being the Prince seems like less trouble than being the Puppet...

He makes his way carefully toward the river anyway, keeping low to the grass and eyeing all the fish.]

[Sadly, he Definitely switched characters.

Before Shima properly reaches the bank, a chuckle comes from behind. Hidden by the grass, a charismatic voice speaks-]

Aaah. Interested in the fish, are we? You don't look like a fisherman, little thing~

[Winces and turns, suspicious, trying to get a look at whoever that is now.]

I'm trying ta get across, I think.

Are you now? [The voice becomes clearer as a large fox- larger than Shima, certainly- steps forward. Its eyes are narrowed almost artistically into slits, and its fur is silver.] Across those rapids? That seems rather impossible, doesn't it? [It chuckles.]

[A Byakko?]

What's crazier is doing it without getting wet...

[He looks at the river again.. He could probably do it with Yamantaka's help, but he doesn't know why the fox is here.]

Ahh! Is that what she has you doing, that Queen? [It could well be a Byakko, if not for the lack of scarf and markings- actually, it looks very much like a scaled up REAL fox, beyond the face...

Which is strange. Evidently the fox is here for some reason or another, as he moves to pass and inspect the river before trotting around Shima again.] How interesting! Such things are surely impossible for a mere human! But I will gladly help you, small thing; if only you agree to help me with one task, [He adds, grinning eerily.] If you wouldn't mind?

That just seems like adding more work on me... What do ya want me ta do?

Simply come with me to the Lion's realm- that will be all I ask, and nothing more, [The fox replies charmingly.] In exchange...I will give you this.

[From his tail, he produces what could be a crystal ball- just far enough that Shima can't properly look to it.] It will help you to pass this challenge- and indeed, the rest of the Queen's tests.

Won't a trip like that be dangerous? [Isn't this puppet supposed to be a weapon to fight the Lion's people or whatever?]

War, [The fox replies calmly,] Is always dangerous. ...But that's all the more reason that one shouldn't go alone, neh? One favor- and this will be yours, [He repeats, dancing it along his tail.]

...A little hope to fill your heart, wouldn't you say?

...If we're just gonna take a look I guess it doesn't hurt anything, [Shima finally agrees, after a moment's thought.]

⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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guess that's that for the thread >A>