Event - Circus, Circus

[apocalypsehowmods]

↬ Main Navigation

Circus, Circus

➥ By the Pricking of My Thumb

(cw: wax, potential compulsion and fighting)

The train pulls into the railyard at noon under a bright blue sky. The engine is a bright red with orange and yellow flames painted along the sides. The first carriage after that is pitch black with similar flames and a logo for the Fenix Down Extravaganza. It's a stylized red phoenix head in a circle of orange and yellow, the name of the circus painted across the top and bottom, mirroring the curve of the circle. A line of carriages stretch out after that, painted all different colors, but each maintaining the motif of flames down the sides and each bearing the company logo.

Excitement comes to the railyard. The circus is in town for a one-week stint before they continue their journey north. People in colorful costumes--clowns, 'fire fairies' covered in drips of candle wax, and those in animal masks--paper the town with advertisements. You might even find yourself conscripted to help with putting up the fliers and posters if you look idle. A stack of posters is placed in your hands. A $100 bill set atop seems to be your incentives to do something more than just toss them in the bin. There's a frantic energy both about the performers and the people in town. You might even find yourself strangely caught up in it. You want to help spread the word, to ensure the posters reach every part of town. Everyone else who's been conscripted, as well? You can do it better, faster. You need to be faster. You need to claim the space for your own before it's lost to someone else.

There hasn't been a circus come to Gloucester in decades, and it's the Fenix Down Extravaganza! They're renowned for their pyrotechnics and laser lights shows. Surely the enthusiasm for all that is just… catching.

The tents and booths are set up in vacant fields to the west of town, and there's one curious addition, as well. There's a railroad car that's been seemingly pulled away from the railyard somehow. No one sees it being moved, but it's out in the vacant field, and some might recognize it as the old, dilapidated thing that had been hidden in the railyard, the charred husk filled with old posters. It looms, in the field, almost seeming to smoke where it sits. It's quickly cleaned and restored over the course of the day the circus is setting up, though, and it seems to have been turned into the ticket booth for the front of the circus, complete with a new bright red paint job.

➥ Something Wicked This Way Comes

(cw: large-scale vehicular collision, industrial disaster, fire, harm to animals)

It's not a single person who can claim credit for the find, but many people all together. Hours have been poured into researching the mysterious midnight train crash that had rocked people from their beds almost a week ago. Finally, something is found. Stitched together from local newspaper clippings from around Cape Ann, a story emerges, identifying a derailment in the city of Gloucester back in 1921. More than a dozen workers had died in the railyard and there were fires beyond that in the town. The train itself had had only a few people aboard, performers for the Smoke and Mirrors Acting Troupe, along with animals used in their performances. The stories seem to be tucked away a few pages from the front of the newspapers, which are dominated by stories about skyrocketing unemployment following the Great War and the return home for the troops.

All of the stories seem to end with the same sentiment: It could have been so much worse. If the train had derailed further north in one of the more populated cities, where it had been scheduled to arrive the next morning after the crash? It could have been hundreds, maybe even thousands dead.

The information, whomever has found it, is enough. ADI calls a staff meeting. Ghostly circus train derailments just before another circus rolls into town? That's not a coincidence. Everyone who's willing is purchased a ticket for entrance to the Fenix Down Extravaganza, and every person is assigned a partner to join them. Don't lose track. There will be no kidnappings this time. ADI is determined to keep their people as safe as they can be while investigating. Maybe have a chat with your new companion(s).

Those who misbehaved during the last event's Sticky Wicket prompt and were caught with either an opened box or found to have injuries related to the artifacts inside the boxes will be assigned an additional person to their group. A mentor to keep them on the right track this time. And also to narc on them if they mess up again. Better behave, partner.

➥ Send In the Clowns

(cw: reference to cannibalism, fire, pain, mild body horror)

There's a light and excited atmosphere about the circus once a body makes it through the long queue out front. The sweet and sticky scent of fried and sugary foods permeates the air along with barbecues and the ever-present smell of ash. Fire would seem to be the main attraction for the Fenix Down Extravaganza. Fire dancers, fire jugglers, people swallowing fiery swords, and walking over beds of hot coals. There are sideshow attractions and games to see before heading into the big top. Notably, there are no animals or signs of animals at the circus save for a small contingent of goats that are set up as a petting zoo, and a sideshow with a reptile exhibit along with a 'snakeman.' Otherwise known as a performer decorated with shiny sticker scales who provides interesting 'snake facts' to anyone who happens by.

The Food
The food is typical carnival garbage. A little overpriced, but still decent and provided in excess of what people should reasonably eat in one sitting, especially for things like the cotton candy and funnel cake. There is some decent grilled food available, and those who go snooping will find that the food prep within each of the little booths is acceptable for what it all seems to be. There is one booth characters might notice that has 'long-pig' on the menu. Or does it? Check again, and it's not there. It seems to be selling hotdogs, though. Just ordinary hotdogs. Care to bite into one?

The Games
Your standard rigged carnival games: the ring toss, the ladder climb, the baseball and milk jugs. Spend more money for bigger prizes! But you're risking losing it all, as well. There are a few unique games, as well, though. One is called 'The Floor Is Lava,' and participants must make their way around a strange obstacle course that's up on balance beams. If you slip and go down, it's just grass of course. But for a moment, for a split second, you can feel the heat and agony as the lava engulfs your body. You're fine, though, of course! It's just a game, after all. Even if you might feel a bit… singed after that. Another game someone might find tucked away in an obscure corner is 'Liar, Liar,' which involves throwing beanbags at targets. Each target lights a match that helps to burn a string leading toward a cartoonish figure in polka dot boxers. The goal is to get the fire to touch the boxers before a timer runs out. When the fire hits the boxers, there's an uncomfortably realistic shriek. But it's probably fine.

The Sideshows and Exhibits
Fire is the overriding theme at the side shows with fire dancers and jugglers being the most prominent amongst the tents. Attendants for the tents all wear full (and varied) animal heads obscuring their faces; though, if someone is rude enough to rip off their masks, they'll just find disgruntled employees who would like that back now. The more notable sideshow acts include:

• The Twisted Twisters - A pair of contortionists who maneuver bowls filled with flames while they shift around. They're very affable, joking with each other as they work.
  
• Flammie the Magnificent - A magician who's open about his use of smoke and mirrors, as well as making objects appear in a burst of flame. He's a purposefully goofy magician aimed at younger kids.
  
• Asbestos Mike - A man who juggles burning coals. His hands are… unfortunate to look at. But he doesn't seem to mind and claims to have no working nerve endings. He's extremely calm about… everything.

➥ Lost & Found

(cw: child endangerment/distressed parent with missing child, disorientation, hallucination)

And then, of course, there are the 'experiences.' They're not rides per se. Those are hard to pack up on a train, but they're exhibits to pass through with a particular theme toward interaction or ogling. There's a small wax museum with decently-crafted models of a few famous individuals. And then there's the Fun House. It's a mirror maze inside that seems to stretch on far larger than the small space it's set up in should allow. For those who make it to the center of the maze, they'll find a dark room with a single mirror in it. This, unlike the rest of the mirrors in the Fun House, isn't one that distorts your form. It's simply a standard mirror. There's also a corridor of mirror beyond it that leads to a quick escape from the Fun House for those lucky winners who make it there.

Said 'winners' will find that everything seems to be perfectly normal when they step out onto the bustling circus grounds. But is that- Ah, that's someone they wanted to talk to. Or maybe it's someone who looks suspicious. Just someone they want to follow. There is a figure and it's someone they want to follow. If they do so, they'll quickly lose said figure in the crowd, only to spot them a ways on a few moments later. Pursuing this figure will result in the winner being run around the circus grounds, never quite able to catch up. If they stop their pursuit, they will find themselves somewhere that they have not seen before. There may be a sense of disorientation as they try to get their bearings.

For those who don't enter the Fun House or come out as winners, they might notice someone--a parent--frantically looking about some other time. The parent comes up to them, asks if they've seen their child, before hurrying off to try to find an employee for help. Their little one was just there. They just came out of the Fun House and now… now they can't find their child! Employees will be only too happy to help, but non-employees might be quicker on the draw to locate the missing child. They're always found in a random place, seemingly unharmed but confused and frightened as they search for their parent, claiming they saw said parent going just over there, or over here. Still, you've reunited a family! No harm, no foul, right? Kids go wandering all the time. Parents really ought to keep a closer watch.

➥ The Ringmaster

(cw: fire, pain, immolation, screaming)

"Please be advised the following show contains flashing lights, sudden loud noises, and fire. Anyone who may have difficulty with these, please make your way to the exit. Our employees will provide refunds for anyone who may have challenges due to these effects." A full two minutes pass to allow those who need to leave time to do so. And then…

"Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, and everyone in between, put your hands together for the one, the only, Fenix Down!" The words sound over the PA system in the tent just before roaring calliope music picks up and the man himself practically dances to the center of the ring in the main tent. Fenix is a remarkably short Caucasian man with dark hair, brown eyes, and a suit that looks like it's on fire, all orange, red, and yellow licks of color across the fabric. His bright yellow tophat features the company's phoenix logo on it, and he nearly loses the thing as he dashes around the ring, grinning like a madman and eliciting cheers from the audience as he raises his arms for them to shout.

"Are you ready, my friends, for the brightest, the grandest, the most extravagant show you have ever seen?" Thunderous cheers from the audience. "I am Fenix Down, and this is my extravaganza!"

The show plays out with two main acts with smaller ones in between. The main acts are introduced by Fenix in turn:

• "Penny, the dancing flame!" is firedancer with an elaborate show involving a flaming whip and multiple other performers in horse heads acting as her 'animal companions' for the show.
  
• "And Roderick, the man with laser hands!" is a young man in large, dark glasses who conducts a laser lights and pyrotechnics production from a DJ-style turntable as rock music plays and performers dance and tumble around the ring.

On the final night, there is a change to the performance, though. "And now, my friends, my dear friends, we have a special treat, a new main act to premier: Pyre, the burning man!" Those who are witness to this will see a young man enter the ring. He's sweating and a bit on the heavy side. He also looks… frightened. Frightened and exhilarated. He waves to the crowd as a circle of pipes is raised from a stage in the center of the ring. Pyre sets himself in the middle and lifts his hand. Liquid sprays from the pipes and for those who are close enough, they will likely recognize the scent of gasoline.

"I will be reborn and rise as the phoenix!" Pyre declares before striking a match. His whole body catches immediately in flames and there are horrified gasps and screams from the crowd. Those who might try to interfere are asked to hold on, hold on, just wait by employees. There's nothing to do for young Pyre, anyway. The flames burn rapidly until he collapses on the stage. Fenix makes the first subtle movement he has ever made for anyone who has watched his other performances. A small snap of his fingers, half-covered by one hand. The fire snuffs itself out immediately.

"Now, ladies and gentlemen, I know that seems frightening, but just watch," Fenix calls. "Like a phoenix, we rise!" As he says this, Pyre picks himself up. His clothes hang in a charred mess about his form, but his flesh… it seems to have knit itself back together. He is whole, and proceeds to give the audience a double-thumbs up. Relieved guests erupt in applause for this… very strange and rather harrowing final act.

After each performance for the night, the main acts and Fenix are available to take photos, sign autographs, and generally schmooze with the public for a little while. They each have a small tent so that you can have a moment of privacy with your favorite act, if you'd like. If anyone is looking for answers, particularly, these are the top of the hierarchy and might prove the most fruitful to speak to. They're also the only people in the circus that seem to have supernatural energy about them, for those who might have such senses to notice that.

➥ Mod Notes

• GENERAL - Players are welcome to play NPCs for themselves when they are needed in a thread. If you need more information on general behavior for these types of NPCs, please feel free to ask! In general, the information provided in the prompt should be sufficient and you're welcome to make up any details beyond that for your specific scene. For this event, the only NPCs that should not be controlled by players for threading are: Fenix Down and the Main Acts in The Ringmaster prompt. These NPCs will be played by mods and available for interaction.
  
  
• BY THE PRICKING OF MY THUMB (25-26 August) - Characters may accept fliers to put up a maximum of three times (that's $300). Not everyone will feel the compulsion to put up the fliers, but if you need incentive for your character to take action, they can do so. The fliers are ordinary adverts with dates, hours, location, and pricing for the circus. Characters can wander around some of the set-up for the circus, but they'll be shooed away if they linger too long with a request to leave for their safety. Circus personnel doing the set-up are not interested in talking. They'll ignore characters or threaten to call the police for harassment if characters persist in bothering them while they're trying to set things up. Those who attempt to mind-control the workers or otherwise compel them for information will quickly discover that these are genuinely just ordinary people who are doing all the set-up. And they would really like to do their job because they do not have enough time.
  
  
• SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES (25-27 August) - Players are free to OOCly select their ADI-assigned partner. Those who misbehaved during the Sticky Wicket prompt (and there was evidence of that misbehavior) will find themselves saddled with a mentor, either as their partner or in addition to their partner. This mentor (if they're a PC) should be someone who DID behave in that prompt or who has not made themselves a problem for ADI up to this point. Partners are not required to stick together or with their mentors for the duration of the event. This is just an opportunity to get some new CR (or strengthen existing CR)! And maybe butt heads while you slip away from each other while investigating. Mentors will be expected to be somewhat responsible for their charges, though, if you would like to play with that dynamic.
  
  
• SEND IN THE CLOWNS (26 August - 2 September) - Regular employees and sideshow acts have no particular information to provide about anything sinister going on at the circus. As far as they know, the work is grueling sometimes given the quick set-up/break-down and schedule, but they're paid very well and even have benefits! They're pretty protective of their employer, as a result, and aren't going to willingly trash-talk him or the circus beyond some standard grumbling about the extra work going into this as Gloucester wasn't originally on their tour schedule.
  
  
• LOST & FOUND (26 August - 2 September) - Employees will be generally helpful in these situations, using walkie-talkies to try to find missing children. They won't be fast, though. Parents will be uniformly distressed, then grateful to anyone who might assist in locating their children. Children will be wholly unharmed, wherever they are found, but frightened, confused and disoriented. Characters who end up as 'winners' in the Fun House will need several minutes to get their bearings back after following their hallucinations. If they try to return to the Fun House, they won't seem to be able to find the center of the maze anymore, and the mirror maze will appear to be wholly ordinary and the correct size for the space it's in.
  
  
• THE RINGMASTER (26 August - 2 September) - Characters who would leap in to assist Pyre will be waylaid by staff just long enough for him to stir and complete his act to show that he is, indeed, alive and seemingly fine. Those who still try to interrupt will be escorted out by security. Characters will have the chance to speak to Fenix, Penny, Roderick, and Pyre during this prompt. The first four will be available for the full week the circus is in town. Pyre will be available the final night. Characters may interrogate one NPC each. Each NPC will have different information they may be able to provide.

↬ Main Navigation

Comments

NPC Interactions

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Please respond below if you would like to interact with an NPC. Characters are limited to interrogating one NPC each. If you are interrogating in pairs, the pair may interrogate two NPCs. Please place the name of the NPC you would like to interact with in the subject line of your top-level. It is assumed that interactions are taking place in a small, semi-private tent following the main act shows for the evening.

Available NPCs for this event are:

• Fenix Down, the Ringmaster
  
• Penny, the Dancing Flame
  
• Roderick, the Man with the Laser Hands
  
• Pyre, the Phoenix

Fenix Down

[120vision]

When the show is over, Gojo presses his way through the crowd and tries to talk to the man with the most energy - Fenix. He greets him with an eager wave and presses close.

"What a show you've put on here," he says. "Care to explain why you're so eager to terrorize?"

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Fenix just offers Gojou a confused grin when he enters the little tent. "Terrorize? Friend, my friend! Were you not delighted? My circus brings excitement, not terror."

fenix down

[sorser]

[Stephen ducks through the flap of the tent, one of the promotional circus fliers grasped in a hand. The reason why becomes clear enough: he approaches Fenix with a thin, acquiescing grin, and offers him the colorful poster.]

Fenix, right? Big fan after everything I’ve seen.

[One’s mileage may vary regarding how true that is, but that’s neither here nor there.]

Could I get an autograph?

Re: fenix down

[apocalypsehownpcs]

[Fenix grins right back.]

Of course, of course! Let's see here now... [He pulls out a red sharpie from a cup sitting on a table in the tent and reaches for the poster to lay it out.]

And who's the handsome buck I'm making it out to, hmm?

Penny

[ployboy]

[He's not looking all rundown at the moment- it's only the second day. But his hair's looking kind of a mess and it's only kind of on accident. Anyway. Penny.

It's Tim's turn to duck into that tent, and he hesitates first before flashing the woman a smile.]

It's my first time coming to the Extravaganza, but I've been following you guys for ages. [--not in a creepy way, and Tim looks torn between clarifying and carrying on. He carries on in rushed, boyish enthusiasm.] The acts were even better in person! How do you do it?

[apocalypsehownpcs]

[If Penny is put off by Tim's confession about his interest in the circus, she doesn't look like it. Instead, she gives him something of a smirk, head tilted to the side.]

That's very sweet of you to say. And it's mostly practice, really. Dedication. Burning the midnight oil, so to speak.

[Even though her expression isn't exactly soft, it is warm.]

Pyre, the Phoenix

[bloodalwaystells]

Jaeger takes a few moments after the show just to catch his breath and get his bearings, before he decides that he needs to give his full attention to doing something about what he just witnessed. If it's just a show, that's all well and good, but the sense of something other is too much to ignore.

His first, strongest impulse is to check on the "victim" of the spectacle. He's not the most reassuring presence, big and grim and hiding his scars under long sleeves and a high collar, but that doesn't change the fact that he wants to try. So he approaches Pyre's tent with a confident stride and quiet demeanor.

"That was quite a performance tonight. Do you do that every finale?"

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Pyre is grinning from ear to ear when Jaeger comes in; he's shaking a little as though coming down from an adrenaline high and seems like he's constantly on the verge of a suppressed fit of giggles. He lets out a joyful little huff of disagreement as he shakes his head.

"No, no. Tonight was special. I was trying something...new."

Here he does giggle, though he tamps it down quickly enough. "Did you enjoy the show?"

Pyre

[guildmastermind]

Shiroe is interested in the tale from the phoenix reborn himself, waiting in the semi-private tent with notebook and quill pen at the ready, ink bottle sitting on the top of his satchel. Well, at least he's put away his cloak and staff, so he looks normal-ish, just mildly pretentious.

"Part of me wants to ask how you pulled off that act, but I'm sure that's not something you'll just tell anyone."

[apocalypsehownpcs]

"Are you here with the newspaper?" asks Pyre excitedly, eying the notebook and...quill pen. He tilts his head at that, but smiles nonetheless. "And yeah, it's, uh, a magician never tells. But that was pretty cool, right?"

He seems to remember after he's said it that he is a cool circus performer, and looks briefly embarrassed before adding, "We strive to, uh, bring new and exciting acts to the public. Things you won't have seen before."

Pyre

[aelwyn_aberration]

[Aelwyn, after watching the show, is fast to try and track the man who was set alight.]

You. [Her tone isn't shaky or fearful at all, despite the fact she's very obviously confused.] You're...

You're not human. What are you?

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Not human?

[He bursts into a fit of nervous giggles. Or excited giggles? He's very giggly either way.]

What makes you say that?

roderick & pyre (harry+wanda)

[horrifictie]

[ ooc: tag order is harry -> wanda -> npcs if that works out! ]

[ harry goes every evening to the show at the end. it's all the same act, but he greatly enjoys it either way. the clowns in this circus deeply unsettle him, but this flashy light show of amazing feats is more his speed. there's a temptation in him to do drugs and stone out while watching, but he doesn't know where one acquires drugs in this area (...yet.)

then, on the last night, a man lights himself on fire only to come out ok. it's wild, illogical, and insane. he loves it. he doesn't rush to help as some may, if only because he finds himself frozen by the situation. there's also a strange hunch, communicated in his brain of holes, that everything will turn out alright. him and wanda, new friends bonded over homecooked meals, watch together and have questions during the crowded autograph session.

then he spots him: roderick, the man with the laser hands. yes, this is the guy to question, he can feel it. ]

Hey man! That was a really rocking show. I've seen every performance and let me say: you never disappoint.

[carmesi]

[when it came down to walking over to get some autographs, there was an insistence that this would be the best time to go and ask questions—especially after that performance. however, while wanda's eyes follow after pyre, thinking that that is who they're definitely making a beeline for, harry opens his mouth to greet...

roderick.

she shoots harry a confused look. suppose they are doing this.]

Yeah, the music was great.

[her enthusiasm is not really there the same way it is for harry.]

fenix!

[marmoron]

[ unlike some of the others who may have swung by the tents, keith doesn't look especially thrilled. turns out watching a man roast alive has done nothing good for keith's mood. no smiles, no pretense of getting anything signed. just straight to the point. ]

Strange place to be debuting a big final act like that. Town's pretty small. Doesn't draw a lot of eyes or press attention. [ a beat. ] So. You have a connection to Gloucester or something? What's with the special treatment?

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Oh, I like to make sure our final acts are pressure tested in smaller venues before we open them up to too big an audience.

[Fenix offers a wide smile, skating over the rest of Keith's questions.]

Did you enjoy the show, young man?

Penny

[bossyboiler]

Miss Penny? That was an amazing performance. I hope you don't mind but I wanted to tell you that myself before you guys leave. I've never seen a fire whip before.

[ It isn't a lie but it's not quite the truth either! ]

[apocalypsehownpcs]

Of course I don't mind.

[Penny's smile is just this side of cocky, though she does look pleased at the praise.]

We're always glad to hear that we've put on a good show. Introducing people to something new is just the icing on the cake.

Fenix Down

[eyeknowyou]

[Elias had watched the show, unflinching. Oh, it was a spectacle, and the people around him seemed utterly transfixed – then horrified – then elated, like typical circus patrons. He, however, kept looking for skin that melted like wax before it was remolded again, the telltale signs of specific cults and the like.

The circus always did have such a strange cast that they tended to pick up. It seemed it didn’t matter what reality he was in; it was the same across them all.

After the show, he found the ringmaster, refusing to talk to anyone less; managers often needed to talk to other managers in order to get things done. When he found Fenix Down, he smiled, keeping his hands to himself Just In Case.]

Interesting performance. I dare say that finale scared half the audience from what I saw. Rather impressive.

[apocalypsehownpcs]

[Fenix grinned and tipped his top hat at that.]

A little scare really makes it for the end there, my boy. [Fenix appeared to be no older than his mid-30s.] I love a good sense of anticipation, don't you?

Fenix

[11calls]

[Alex is pulling out all of her journalist vibes with this. She may not actually have her press pass around her neck or anything, but she's still going to act like it. Giving the man an easy smile, Alex pulls out her recorder and holds it loosely in her hand.]

Mr. Down, do you mind if I ask you a few questions for a podcast I'm working on putting together?

[She's putting it together very slowly, more likely to have it be something she does at home, but Alex is still telling the truth.]

Fenix

[cacophonish]

"Got any advice for someone thinking about running away to join the circus?"

It's a joke. Sort of. Kind of. Underneath the casual delivery, there's a seed of longing there. Not for the circus life, exactly, but for the freedom. They're working with magic; they've got to be. And here, they can cast freely, perform for crowds, literally burn a man, and pass it off as smoke and mirrors.

Of course, he's not as into the fire theme running through the entire circus. (The fun house mirror, now, that's another story.) But the strange magic... It's all he can think about in the wake of Pyre's performance. So why not get career advice from the man who probably arranged the grand finale?

(Because Pyre sure as hell didn't. Awesome as the spectacle was, the dude himself was, like, amateur hour.)

Fenix Down

[the_archivist]

[Jon is hardly one to hold back when it comes to asking questions. He's never had much regard for his own safety when it comes to that, which is why he marches down after that little display to talk to the Ringmaster.

He regards the man extremely warily, gaze flicking over him, searching for ball joints, hints of plastic or wax. Expects to smell sawdust and formaldehyde in the air.]

That was quite the performance.

NPC Interactions - Closed for New Tag-ins

[apocalypsehownpcs]