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apocalypsehowcomm2021-08-25 09:07 am
- !event,
- !npc,
- aelwyn abernant (d20 fantasy high),
- bucky barnes (mcu),
- kate cordello (original),
- martin blackwood (tma),
- mercy graves (original),
- zz_andrew jaeger (original),
- zz_gil arroyo (prodigal son),
- zz_harrier du bois (disco elysium),
- zz_jeff calhoun (original),
- zz_keith (voltron),
- zz_malcolm bright (prodigal son),
- zz_meredith idlewild (original),
- zz_porco galliard (attack on titan),
- zz_satoru gojou (jujutsu kaisen),
- zz_stephen strange (mcu),
- zz_takashi shirogane (voltron),
- zz_thackery binx (hocus pocus),
- zz_tim drake (dc comics),
- zz_toji fushiguro (jujutsu kaisen),
- zz_wanda maximoff (mcu)
Event - Circus, Circus
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
(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.
- 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.
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[ harry makes an audible wow, owen wilson style, as he marvels at the laser gloves and the lightshow on the ground. he can think of a certain dj pumping his fist in a nightclub that would be obsessed with sort of equipment. ]
Big city! Good for you. [ he pockets a hand into his coat, smiling. ] What did you think of this town? Did you like staying here?
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Seems like quite the lengthy detour before Boston. [she looks over at harry for some of that Detective Confidence] You must not have a very tight schedule.
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Fenix is the big boss. He says go to Gloucester, we go to Gloucester. I'm getting paid, so no skin off my nose if we miss dates. Can't say I've had much of a chance to get out to see the rest of the town. I'm more interested in Boston. I heard you have that... castle or whatever. The one with the inventor guy. But I checked the website and it's closed. Major bummer there.
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ENCYCLOPEDIA [Impossible: Failure] - You have never heard of any place called Boston. Not surprising, you haven't really dedicated any time yet to learn the geography of this new reality you are in. You can't rely on women on boats to give you all the information you need, not here.
CONCEPTUALIZATION [Easy: Success] - But wait! You *do* know who lives in castles. Monarchs. ]
We have a king? An inventor king? [ a king who invents thing and doesn't snort cocaine all day? he looks at wanda, as if she has all the answers to the world at large. ] Did you know we live under a monarchy here?
[ wait, wait, focus. he looks back at roderick. ]
What's in Boston, besides this show you're off to?
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Probably not a king. [muttered, but the next she speaks up.] Where are you guys from anyway? [she points at the two of them] Harry and I aren't from America, so we don't really know much about Boston.
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Okay... So, like... Boston's great? It's got a crazy cool music scene. I'm from Wichita, originally. Penny's from... somewhere in Canada? Ontario, I think. Pyre, we picked up in Milwaukee a while ago. No idea where Fenix is from, but he started the tour in Maine somewhere, I think? The rest of the crew's from all over.
Also, there's not, like... you both know there's not actually a king, right? It's just some fancy-ass haunted castle some crazy inventor guy built?
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SUGGESTION [Medium: Success] - That tapping gesture? He thinks you are insane. You are very quickly losing the thread here. Is this "where they are from" stuff important? Is the crazy inventor important? Don't give him a reason to cut this short.
INLAND EMPIRE [Godly: Success] - There is something off about him. You don't know what, but you get the impression there is more to him than what meets the eye. The laser hands aren't the off-thing, you think, but let's go there. Crack him open. ]
I'll be honest, Roderick. I don't know much about reality, where I am, or what I'm doing. But you? You know what you're doing. That laser act is extremely well-coordinated, and very cool. So cool, I can't help but wonder... is there more to you than meets the eye?
[ then he looks to wanda, taps her shoulder lightly to get her attention, and wiggles his fingers in the same way she did when she demonstrated her magic. he hopes she picks up on his wavelength. ]
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when harry taps her shoulder, it takes wanda a moment to catch on—the wiggling of fingers, the way he looks at her. i thought you promised to keep it on the down low? but suppose this is a circus and sometimes circumstances allow for a little of something special.
good thing she's done her fair share of inflicting terror recently, for summoning forward a small spark of red magic to dance between and around her fingers is as easy as breathing. she doesn't really say anything — just allows this to be an extra for harry's line of questioning, until wanda closes her hand into a fist and the red disappears.]
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Probably should be asking you that, huh? You two got your own act? Fenix is the one who hires people, not me.
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She's the act, I'm but a court jester. [ he sniffs and adjusts his tie. ] Did what she do not surprise you at all?
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[she pockets her hands. what she did is hardly impressive.]
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But the eyes and senses... now those can deceive. I know a little something about that.
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CONCEPTUALIZATION [Challenging: Success] - The man is a live performer, an artist of stagecraft. The greatest talent of a seasoned showman is to capture you into their reality, even if for a short time. To convince you that the impossible is possible. ]
And how do you deceive?
[ his eyes glance at the lasers, narrowing. is there more to them than just technical equipment? ]
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whether it's really magic or just a trick, wanda can imagine how it may pre-emptively prepare for something.]
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[Roderick scoffs.]
You want to know, you join the circus and work your way up, same as I did. And in the meantime, go enjoy what's left of the sights. Take in the Fun House. That's the best place here outside my act.
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[ he is not going to step anywhere near that damn place again after that near-death experience he had, thanks. ]
[ SUGGESTION [Medium: Success] - Asking directly will get you nowhere, brother. Nor will 'please'. Is there another angle you may not be considering? He's trying to distance himself because he knows you're onto something. What if we took him up on the offer? ]
Actually, humor me for a moment: how do I join? What's the criteria? Wanda and I would make excellent performers!
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she pinches harry's arm, even if it may not be very effective through his jacket.]
The Fun House was pretty fun, except for what came after. It really messed with what I was seeing. [takes a page out of black widow's book in being open to offer info about herself.] I thought I saw people I care about who are no longer alive. [a pause] I bet it was the mirrors.
[okay, but she's not saying no to the idea of joining.]
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But you get the Fun House, huh? [He's smirking at Wanda and sways just a little closer to her as he shifts.] You got to the center. A real winner. We only picked up that little beauty in the center a few months ago. It's sweet you thinking you saw people you know, isn't it?
[He seems to be more laughing at her than genuinely commenting on anything good in seeing the dead.]
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[ roderick won't get much closer than he has, as harry sharply sets a hand on his shoulder and gives it a squeeze. it's a tight one, a warning. he will take insults to the face all day, but he won't tolerate it toward others. especially not wanda. ]
You know, I think we're good here. Thanks for your time, Rod. [ he smiles, mean and tight. ] Don't swing those laser hands around too much. Wouldn't want to get the light in your eyes and damage your eyes. Would be a real shame.
[ HALF-LIGHT [Easy: Success] - Do it. Grab one of those hands and slam it in his face. Give him a *real* good show.
VOLITION [Formidable: Success] - Temporary satisfaction based on aggression will only hollow you out. Move on. He isn't worth it anyway. ]
[ then he lets go of the shoulder and takes Wanda's wrist, squeezing it light to reassure. ]
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—but, instead, harry takes over and keeps the man at a distance; wraps his hand around her wrist in a reassuring way as they start to walk away.
wanda says nothing to roderick, looks away from him as immediately as harry's hand grounds her to the now.] I could have handled him myself. [squeeze some angry red into his head, make him regret laughing at her expense. she feels like an angry child, breathing out carefully to ease the tension from her shoulders. it's telling, at least, the way she holds instead to harry's hand with her own. she feels a little shaken up.
it is a short pause that they need to take for wanda to get her head on straight. pyre is just up ahead, free of any interested 'fans' at the feat he managed tonight.
wanda would like harry to take on with his usual questioning, but she thinks maybe they should start off with the right foot.]
Pyre, right? [she pulls out a marker and a flyer from a pocket, presenting it to the performer, a smile on her face.] Could I get an autograph?
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Hell yes, you can! How'd you like the show?
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he's about to open his mouth after wanda- ]
[ AUTHORITY [Formidable: Success] - Hold it. Before we proceed, a word of advice: let her steer this conversation.
(Really? Don't you normally tell me to take charge, or to pull my gun out to make a scene? By the way I left that at my apartment because I don't trust you with it.)
AUTHORITY - Don't trust *me*? You do remember I'm *you*, right? In any case, let her take charge. Can you see the spark in her eyes? She has an idea. Let her execute on it. Don't open your mouth to talk in circles. Now, you may proceed. ]
The show was amazing! Especially that finale you gave. Way better than anything Roderick could do.
[ friendship ended with roderick, now pyre is their best friend. ]
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there is a frivolous accent to her words, more akin to younger women, and visible physical excitement in the way she clasps her hands and sways on the balls of her feet.]
Seriously! My uncle [points at harry, this is all spontaneous] and I are huge fans of circus performances — we never missed a single night — and just when we thought it couldn't go out with a bang — there you were!
There's no way you'd let us in on your secret, is there? Oh, [she points at the poster] could you sign it to Wanda?
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[Pyre boggles at this declaration, looking like he's been given a huge Christmas present but also like he's afraid that Christmas present is going to grow fangs and bite him. His eyes dart to the door of the tent as if expecting said Roderick to be lurking there.
But there's a poster to sign, and adoring fans! He gets back on task, bracing the poster on a nearby box and signing it TO WANDA FROM PYRE in big, loopy letters he scrawls out slowly and precisely.]
Oh, a magician never tells! But I can let you in on one thing: fire. We use lots and lots of fire.
[He grins as though he's said something worth saying.]
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DRAMA [Easy: Success] - Sire, do not let the fair maiden down! Go along, play it up! For this scene of the show, you are now Uncle Harry. Oh, I do wish we had time to make up a backstory and motivation, but for now improvise. ]
Yes, yes, Wanda and I both agree! [ he puts a hand on her shoulder, a comforting gesture to help sell the act. ] We thought Roderick was great all the other nights, but tonight? You absolutely *lit up* the circus and stole the show. Tell me, did we just witness your debut or were they just saving the best for last?
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