new zealand ♔ when lies turn into truth i sacrificed for you | you say that i'm frozen

[lissatrinall]

♬ where i can never be - gary numan

WHO || Lis'sa, Kenzi, Bo, Klaus, Rebekah, Mars[Closed]
WHAT || The Knights investigate a mysterious carnival that may be linked to some magical winter weather
WHERE || New Zealand
WHEN || August 11th [forwarddated]
HOW || Actionspam. Single thread, don't worry about maintaining tagging order.

Strange winds have blown in, bringing on an unusually chill winter in New Zealand. The ground crunches underfoot with snow, the days growing shoter and stars holding court in the darkness reigning above. An unnatural cold permeates the town, and the river's jubilant voice is frozen under the ice. Birds abandon their nests for warmer climes, their songs silenced by winter's grim embrace. But the frozen riverbank now hosts a shimmering respite from the gloomy cold in the form of garish tents, joyful shouts, and sumptuous smells. Vaale's Carnival has come to town.

Gaiety and laughter cut through the cold wind, and even the sky-shy sun peeks its face from around the gathering winter clouds. Children squeal with delight and gasp in awe at the sights, sounds, and smells of Vaale's Carnival. The Titan's Wheel creaks and groans as a burly lumberjack tests his might wit a hefty spin, a family rushes giggling into the sprawling ice maze to the north, and dozens of happy skaters flit about the rinks atop the frozen river. Carnival dolls are handed to wide-eyed townspeople as prizes and a menagerie of freakish creatures and glowing lights beckons the curious. Garish skirts and scanty veils call others to a different breed of voyeurism altogether. Treats and wonders abound for young and old to enjoy, and for a time, the harsh winter is forgotten in joyful revelry. There's nothing to indicate any sinister going on whatsoever, as the group surveys the happy smiles of the crowd.

* Please make a list of all items your character is carrying in an entry in their journal before tagging into this post! They are free to have requisitioned any equipment or weapons they desire beforehand.

Comments

[asuma]

Well, I suppose that settles that.

[Like it ain't no thang, even if Klaus' smug little smile seems to say "proud of u, gurl."]

Let's move on to the next event then, shall we?

[lissatrinall]

[ yeah, the guy's buddies back away quickly, turning their attention to their beers so as not to be identified with this mess. lis'sa tries and fails to suppress a little smile as rebekah turns back to them, and she even looks openly grateful. ]

Perhaps for the best. [ just beyond the pavilion where jacks swill ale like gasping fish sits a pair of nondescript tents. the closest one emanates the soft rhythmic music of shakes, clay drums, and tingling bells. in front, a cross-armed orc stands at the tent's entrance with a look of fierce determination. ]

[easily]

[Rebekah is still beaming rather proudly -- taking care of that scumbag has put her in an excellent mood.]

Should we see if he'll let us in? [She means the orc -- it could be something important.]

[asuma]

There's only one way to find out. Though something tells me he might be more swayed by the two of you than he would if I were to have a go at it. [Because, let's face it, they were both lookers ok. And most men were inclined to do favors for pretty girls than they were for one another.]

[lissatrinall]

[ lis'sa doesn't look too pleased at the idea of exercising feminine wiles on that guy, but she sucks it up and heads forward, along with rebekah. as they approach, the orc guard nods at them and demands 20 dollars from each of them.

lis'sa frowns. ] How do we know what's inside is worth the price?

[ "This here's Bloodeye's peepshow, see. You want in, ya gotta pay full price! Ain't none finer in all the country, that I promise," he leers. ]

[easily]

[Rebekah steps in because while Lis'sa might not want to ue her feminine wiles she has no problem doing so. Men are going to objectify them either way, might as well get something out of it

Which is why she looks up at him and gives a very convincing look of disappointment as she tries to convince him to just let them in. [charisma: 18] ]

We don't have very much money, are you sure you can't just make an exception for us? I'd really, really appreciate it.

[asuma]

[Klaus is just waiting in the fucking wings so he can swoop in whenever these girls decide to make the magic happen.]

[lissatrinall]

[ the orc looks over her with an open leer, considering it. finally he pulls back the curtain and gestures for them to go in.

"Don't go tellin' anybody," he growls. ]

[easily]

[Rebekah smirks proudly and strolls in. You're welcome, guys.]

[lissatrinall]

[ inside the tent, a crowd of slack-jawed jeering men hovers before an apple-box stage throwing money at four pleasantly curvaceous exotic dancers. the dancers perform their sensuous gyrations to the erotic rhythms of a pair of olive-skinned musicians.

posted at the foot of the stage, four ugly orcs slap away the hands of the eager crowd as they bellow, "No touchin'!"

lis'sa surveys the scene with pursed lips, staring at the dancers for a long moment before casting a judgmental stare at the patrons. please make listen checks! ]

[asuma]

[Klaus only rolled a 12 so he's likely oblivious as to anything beyond the wolf whistles and cat calls as he tries to ride on their coattails and stroll in after they've been granted entrance into this shady-ass establishment.]

[lissatrinall]

[ the guard stops him.

"Whoa, whoa. I didn't say you could come in." ]

[asuma]

[This bitch.]

I'm with them.

[lissatrinall]

[ "You pay." he glowers down at klaus, obviously unmoved by his amazing argument. ]

[asuma]

[Klaus' 18 will save is all that stops him from attempting to shove his hand into the guard's chest so that he can rip his heart out. But he fishes a twenty from his wallet and holds it out for him ... only to "accidentally" drop it if/when the guard goes to reach for it.]

How clumsy of me.

[lissatrinall]

[ the guard just stares down at it, challengingly.

"Pick it up." ]

[asuma]

Sorry, mate. Bad back.

[He ain't picking up shit but he will attempt to stroll inside again.]

[lissatrinall]

[ the guard growls menacingly but lets him pass. :| and innn they go. listen checks please! ]

[asuma]

[Klaus waltzes in like he owns the place after having endured the doorman's bullshit with no bloodshed. He really does deserve a medal for being so well-behaved.

And he still had that Listen: 12 from earlier--I don't think I get to re-roll.]

[lissatrinall]

[ even that is enough to hear the sounds of violent shouting coming from behind the peep show. lis'sa somehow still manages to not hear it, too busy looking across the faces of the patrons inside with disgust. ]

[asuma]

[I'm guessing the peep show itself is pretty standard fare, but he's still going to take a look around despite hearing the commotion (spot 22). Regardless of whether or not anything manages to pique his interest, he'll step up beside Lis'sa before too long. He's still surveying the room even as he addresses her.]

Sorry to keep you waiting, love. Do you think it worth looking into that racket backstage?

[lissatrinall]

Maybe. Rebekah, why don't you stay out here, and keep anyone from following us? [ smooth like butter ] Come on.

[ in the shadows behind the tent, a young red-haired woman sits crying and holding the side of her face in pain. removing her hand, she reveals a bruise already forming on her milk-white cheek. a short half-orc with blood red eyes looms over her, a snarl on his ugly face. he wears a simple red overcoat adorned with gold and ivory buttons over mithral chainmail, and carries an ornate greatsword on his back. ]

[asuma]

[Klaus strolls up casually, though he's not exactly rushing to assist the battered woman sitting on the floor. Instead, he opts to play the part of clueless patron, though he isn't going above and beyond to sell as much (read: he's not even trying, he's just sticking his nose where it probably doesn't belong). He doesn't seem fazed in the slightest by the scene unfolding before them.]

It seems my associate and I managed to get ourselves a bit turned around back there. I do hope we aren't interrupting anything too important here.

[lissatrinall]

[ lis'sa maintains an impassive face as she watches the scene, but her eyes linger on the girl as klaus addresses the half-orc. he turns to face them, drawing up to his full height and sticking out his chest.

"Only business. Stage is back that way." ]

[asuma]

My, you are an intimidating lot, aren't you?

[Half orcs for days, but Klaus appears no more intimidated than he did when interacting with the half-orc posted at the entrance.]

Perhaps we might be able to assist with this business of yours, which seems to have caused your female associate here to crumple to the floor in tears, hm?

[Calling a bitch out basically. And if that weren't a big enough slap in the face, Klaus appears to be waiting a response from said female, not half-orc-sama.]