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

[lissatrinall]

[ awwww mars. going around the bend on the path leads past a small tent, where a charming old woman rocks easily in her wicker chair, happily spitting apples on clean whittled sticks and dipping them into a pot of sticky sweet caramel. parents and children patiently wait their turns to purchase her crispy confections.

as they pass, an over excited child grabs his proclaiming "Sweet!" and takes too big of a bite, starting to choke. ]

[morethanasidekick]

[Oh dear lord. Kenzi doesn't do children or the Heimlich maneuver so with a look of horror and something close to jazz hands - she's going to be the least useful ever.]

Somebody hit the kid on the back! I'm like... 80 percent sure that's not child abuse.

[charismapotion]

[ He stopped beside Kenzi, his eyes going a bit wide.]

At least it's not just me.

[ Instead of rushing over to help... he looks to Bo and Lis'sa. He's a bit useless here.]

[succubestie]

[I think Lis'sa is actually back with the other two, but Bo has this shit, okay?

So she'll try to save this kid, pulling him into her arms and hitting him on the back, then trying to fish out the piece of candy with her fingers if that doesn't work (treat injury 14?)]

[lissatrinall]

[ the piece of candy goes flying out of his mouth when she smacks his back and he lets out a big cough but then straightens up, seeming fine.

a spot check of 18+ notices a bird on a branch above tilt its head at the display almost as if... approving??? weird. but then it flies away... ]

[succubestie]

[Well that's....odd. (spot 24)

Still, she's more focused on the kid right now.]

You alright?

[charismapotion]

[ (Spot 20) He was still looking to where the bird had just been, a brow arched. That's strange as hell.]

[lissatrinall]

[ the kid nods, wide-eyed, mutters a thank you and seems to notice something that excites him all over again.

striding down the main thoroughfare swathed in a heavy black hooded cloak, moleskin gloves, gray-black clothing, and high hard boots, a sinewy half-elf of corded muscle and bone travels. his long face looks haunted by loss, his sunken eyes not fixing on any who follow him or attempt to yell "Vaale!" to catch his attention. he stops, abruptly, just off the path, flourishes his cloak, and anyone watching him must make a will save (DC 15) or find themselves unable to look away or do anything but stare as he draws two shining silver blades out of nowhere. he begins blending graceful twirls and acrobatics with a dazzling display of unsurpassed swordmanship, much to the delight of the awed crowd. ]

[charismapotion]

[ Ohh snap, yep Mr. kid at heart totally crit failed, caught watching the blades. ] Dammmmn that takes some talent.

[succubestie]

[Will save 25 says she doesn't care all that much beyond it being kind of impressive.]

Come on, we should keep moving.

[They can't sit and watch side show acts and eat terrible pie all day.]

[morethanasidekick]

[Kenzi actually... gives no fucks about the sword juggling. She has a little experience with playing with pointy things and that rarely ends well for anyone. (WS 19. Also last time she played with knives, she stabbed three people. JS.)]

See, that's what you should have packed! One of those, kiddy harnesses that parents who can't afford nannies get. [Be proud Bobo. She resisted the ohhh shiny.]

[lissatrinall]

[ the dance concludes with a slow twirl that ends with Vaale sheathing his blades smoothly and striding away, heedless to the din of applause that erupts around him. ]

[charismapotion]

[ He was mostly still in awe of it, until he heard Kenzi's comment looking away from Vaale and back to kenzi.]

Sorry. [ rubbing the back of his hair he blushed a little.]

[lissatrinall]

[ as they continue up the path, they see a small encampment of wagons and tents resting near the entrance to an ice maze. in the center of this encampment sits a tremendous iron cage. inside paces a hulking dark-haired minotaur performing displays of strength for an unruly audience of carnival goers who gawk and jeer at the giant beast. children dare one another to pull the beast's mangy hair or pelt it with snowballs, hoping to elicit a fierce snarl from the terrible creature, which then sends the kids scattering. a brightly painted plaque bolted to the bars of the cage reads, "Mighty Gradzaal! The Monstrous Minotaur!"

beyond, two tall columns of hard-packed snow mark a gaping entrance into the ice maze. shimmering ice walls climb into a mammoth labyrinth of twisting frigid corridors. ]

[morethanasidekick]

Don't sweat it kiddo. You're cute enough to get away with it. [A beat.] And legal enough for me not to wind up on a registry for saying so.

[Clapping him on the back she continues to move with the others, coming to a gawking halt when they happen upon the 'Mighty Gradzaal' but it's not so much the Minotaur that has her looking horrified (Well. Kenzi horrified anyway) but the kids who seem intent on poking and prodding him.]

Hey! [No Kenzi, they didn't run away from your less than ferocious growl.] Next time! I'mma gonna pull your hair and see how you like it! [But she's gonna take credit for it anyway.]

See this - This is why people shouldn't be allowed to breed!

[succubestie]

[Bo's expression isn't exactly pleased, either. What the fuck.]

The creature clearly doesn't belong here, let alone locked up.

[That shit will probably go south at some point. Things like that didn't stay locked up forever, even without help.]

[charismapotion]

[ He actually chuckled a bit at Kenzi's words, and followed along close until he saw what they were looking at. A ting of sympathy went through him.]

How much trouble would we get in if we set it free?

[morethanasidekick]

Oh you know. On a scale of one to ten I'm thinking an eleven... [(Wis Nat 20.)] That said? We should totally do it anyway. [(Wis 9). A+ Logic from Kenzi.]

[succubestie]

[Meanwhile Bo is being an adult today I guess (wis nat 20).]

Not now. We don't know if that thing will go berserk and there are kids around. Maybe after the place is empty.

[charismapotion]

[ Mars stood looking at the creature a moment. Offering a sad smile to the creature.]

We'll be back for you.

[ he spoke low like he would to Venus, before looking back to the girls. To follow their lead.]

[morethanasidekick]

[Awww Mars. (SM 18). Kenzi kind of just wants to hug you right now.

And then she got a Will Save of 6 so, yep. Totally just going to walk up, give you an awkward side hug with her face smushed against you and then... let go.

Don't people randomly hug people all the time?!]

Lets keep moving before I change my mind and women and children be damned.

[charismapotion]

[ He gave an awkward smile at the hug, he did tense some but he eased up and offered her a light still uneasy smile afterwards. He's odd about being touched.]

Yeah, we should go. [ He rubbed at the back of his neck and moved to follow them.]

[lissatrinall]

[ across from the entrance to the ice maze, a trio of bizarre little gnomes furtively scurries about, struggling to lug tremendous blocks of ice onto a small field on the northern riverbank. the area is roped off and signs posted about read 'Do not enter!' as ice blocks are moved into rows, the strange creatures drape the blocks with blankets to obscure them from the public view, all the while shooing away fairgoers attempting to watch. a banner above the field reads: "Gruttlemugger's Traveling Ice Carving Contest! 100 dollars to the Grandest Chipper." ]

[morethanasidekick]

Dude. You should totally enter. [Yep this is to Bo so you know the next words out of her mouth are going to be classy.]

You wouldn't even have to carve anything. Just pop a button and stand next to it and call it Ice Cube Melting.

[succubestie]

I have a feeling that would take longer than we have time for.

[They're supposed to be investigating, not trying to win a hundred dollar bill.

Besides, they have Wynn's credit cards of awesome.]