⇨ POLARIS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Days 102 - 109
Where: Polaris
What: With the Ringmaster kidnapped and the rest of the carnival imprisoned, characters find themselves at the mercy of a Winter Fae called the Mother of Invention.
Warnings: Graphic experimentation in places.

TRIALS & TRIBULATION↴ After a day of cleansing and processing, where all the belongings and attire of their old lives are stripped away and replaced with something newer and more form fitting, the former members of the carnival will find themselves let loose into the Farm for the first time. A sizable green area, filled with orchards growing inorganic looking fruits and field ready for tending, the Farm is where they will be spending their days for the forseeable future. Food and drink are no longer needed, and so every day is an endless cycle of work. Technicians are seen only when necessary, and when being taken from your place of work to your lonesome cells at night. Every day, there are new postings on the "Production Board", where various dire sound scientific trials ask for subjects. The majority won't be forced, at least not yet, but the system is at work to push its participants to the brink and force their hand. After all, volunteers make the best subjects. ► PRODUCTIVITY: As explained elsewhere, characters will be forced to compete to attain enough Productivity Point to be considered Satisfactory. There are literally not enough points to go around for everyone to attain this, which means that at least some people will be deemed "Below Expectations" by the end of the first four-day cycle. What this means has yet to be discovered, but the Technicians have grimly warned against it. Productivity involves many tasks, including orchard picking, tilling, planting, harvesting, watering, maintenance, and more. Any task you can think of that would take place on a plantation is applicable here. Beyond that, the Production Board awaits you, offering precious Productivity Points in exchange for your cooperation. How you become Satisfactory is up to you, but it's every person for themselves. Only one person can turn in the credit for harvesting or preparing fields, and while you can certainly try to help others by letting them take credit for your work, it's a sure fire way to fall behind the herd, especially if you are already in a low Classification. Fruits and fields will miraculously grow overnight, and will be ready for a new day when you are. You've been told not to eat anything you harvest, but right now you aren't hungry anyway. ► POLARIS BY NIGHT: During the night, you are left alone to your thoughts and maybe an annoying roommate. Solo or in pairs, the entire night will be spent in small sleep pods, as shown on the locations post. Is it possible to sneak out? It doesn't seem like it is, but who is to say? The real question is if you want to dare to try. There is one hour of rest before and after seven hours of darkness. Even if you don't usually have to sleep, you'll find yourself oddly weary and inclined to rest. Supernaturally, almost. ► PARTICIPATION: Sometimes participation in experimental trials is manditory, sometimes it isn't. You are free to handwave your character having been pulled aside for minor examinations, such as blood tests or aura scans. Each time, you will be pulled into a separate part of the station and analyzed by a Technician and heavily automated machinery. Anymore more complex than basic check-up level tests will be posted about in a section called "TRIALS" in the body of the post below.

Comments

[kingsroads]

He didn't tell her about that before? Whoops. Strange's tone of voice is very matter of fact but a little wary, as if he expects Rita to yell at him any moment.

"My veins, organs, and some of my bones are covered in a thin mirrored coating. I don't know the extent of what's covered, but underneath the skin of my legs, face, and arms are covered in that coating."

Strange pauses for a moment before he realizes, "On the bright side, this means you can't punch me anymore!"

[anti_nonsense]

Yeah, no, that's screwed up. Rita just stares with a look that's equal parts perplexed and horrified. Not that her internal organs are looking all that normal right now, but still, what the hell.

"I knew we should have gotten you out of there sooner..." she mumbles, once she seems to find her voice again. She can't even bring herself to comment on that bit about her punching.

"So... what the hell does that mean? There's glass in there? You bang your elbow, and it'll just... shatter?"

[kingsroads]

"There's mirrors in there," Strange clarifies. This is apparently enough to be a point of contention despite the fact that mirrors are glass. "And it'll take more of an impact than banging my elbow. My mirrors have shattered when I was shot by an arrow, bit by a wolf, and punched in the nose."

And probably will end up breaking at some other point in the near future because that's what happens when you're a glass cannon.

"I can remove the broken pieces by turning into smoke. However, that won't stop any, erm, piercing of certain organs when they break in the first place."

Knock him hard enough and it's internal bleeding city.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita grimaces, apparently picturing the puncturing of said organs. "You've got to be kidding me..." she hisses, then adds in a firmer tone, "Tell me you're going to think twice before throwing yourself into another battle."

Did he know about this back in Shabon, when they were fighting all those Wyld Fae? Is he stupid?

"...Anyway, I'll keep that request of yours in mind," she finally agrees, though she still looks entirely displeased about the situation.

[kingsroads]

He did know about it back in Shabon when they were fighting all those Wyld Fae. But, at least in Strange's mind, that didn't matter. What did people expect him to do, just sit back and not fight? Yeah right.

"Thank you," Strange responds, with a little nod. No comment on the thinking twice before throwing himself into another battle thing because come on. It's Strange. He's not going to. And besides, even if he did think twice, the likelihood that he could get through this place without having to fight someone or fight something seems to be next to nothing.

"I can't think of anything else to talk about," Strange admits. "Just...keep trying to reach Ignatius. You've got the best chance of doing so out of all of us."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita holds a hand over her chest, looking unsure at that. She's barely had time to process the experience of having her heart carved out of her chest, and yet she has to try and keep her focus on how to use that to her advantage... It's a situation so bizarre that on some level, it doesn't even feel real.

"Yeah," is all she says, rising to her feet. She picks up the watering can, seemingly intending on bringing it back to where it came from. "I'll try."

[kingsroads]

As soon as Strange spots that unsure smile, Strange tries to give her a reassuring one of his own. It's a bit mean to try and convince Rita to do something that she may or may not even be able to do in the first place, not even a day after she got her heart removed...but well, there we go. This situation sucks all around.

"Trying is all we can do," he says, giving Rita a little nod. "And no matter what, I'm certain you'll do your best."

Strange rises to his feet as well, stretching slightly as he does.