DUNGEON ♛ LIEFSTE CARNAVAL

[boardmaster]

LIEFSTE CARNAVAL
20 JULY (DELPHINE) 2016

The Heroes chosen for this dungeon may reach Petrosian by any means they choose (by Airy with passports, by foot, by train, etc.) but they must travel to the area under suspicion by a smaller train, sponsored by VIPs; from there, they will take the fifteen mile, bumpy ride from the quaint town station to an open valley downstream. As you’re jostled around in your seat, a cheery announcement informs you that this train ride was sponsored by the illustrious Ryder, who felt it was necessary to express his gratitude to the Heroes and their admirable efforts that just barely saved his life last month. How thoughtful of him.

As the train chugs to a stop, beyond the forest and behind our Heroes, endless fields of gold seem to stretch out as far as the eye can see. What was once rich green grass has been painted yellow by the sweltering heat and clear summer sky. Few trees offer shelter from the sun, but most Heroes will have to provide their own shade as they wait for Secretary Verdoni and Ryder’s quick debriefing.

	Verdoni [ he looks so done with Ryder, but he has a job to do ] Every year, this field serves as the site of the famous Liefste Carnaval. For obvious reasons, we do not usually spend money to send our forces here, and if anyone would like to convince me otherwise, I shall have them entertain their fellow rapscallions at St. Amant.
	Ryder [ coughs ]
	Verdoni [ shut up ] However, due to financial constraints and missing people reports in the area, the carnival was canceled. And yet it is here. We have reason to believe that the reports of missing individuals tie into this carnival. Furthermore, our researchers say there is an abnormal amount of mana activity in the area. Given your previous experience with those, I don’t believe I need to elaborate any further. Your job is to investigate the carnival, find the truth behind it, and retrieve the dungeon core. As for your transportation, we’ve arranged a—
	Ryder Thank you, Secretary. Heroes. Out of gratitude for your heroic rescue, the least I could do was provide some incentive to fetch me a souvenir. This train, the Big Red, was built by one of Gammon’s finest mechanics. I had it shipped here under great expense so that you could enjoy the luxury of Gammon. I hope you Heroes are fortunate enough to visit my land soon. [ and as an afterthought: ] Ah, and rescue those people. Of course. By the way, this weather is absolutely dreadful. My skin was never this dry back in Cochrane. Guard A, Guard B, set up camp. We don’t want to faint from the heat later, do we?
	Verdoni [ why is this guy even here ] To answer the question on everyone’s minds: yes, there is a point to collecting these dungeon cores. Apart from restoring natural order to the land, we have reason to believe the dungeon cores may hold the key to finding a way home for you Heroes... Once we have proper confirmation, I will soon be able to make a formal announcement. Secondly, yes, Commander Lisbrand is still recovering from the Noir attack. We are hoping that she’ll be well enough to join us soon. For now, we do what we can.

Basic info on the dungeon can be found here. Dungeon mechanics can be found here. All OOC questions about the event may be directed to the thread below.

ONE ♙
Welcome to the Liefste Carnaval! Don’t be shy, come on in!

There’s nothing of note when you approach the carnival’s entrance. The hustle and bustle of any other fun-filled festival can be heard from the outside, complete with excited shouts and distant music. The smell of popcorn and other saccharine treats waft over and make your mouth water…

Before you satisfy your cravings, you should get a ticket. You’ll be greeted by a vaguely humanoid ticket seller entirely covered in confetti and pieces of torn tickets, with a rattling breath as if it caught a cold. It doesn’t speak and merely points to a sign that says 500 colle per person! What? Not everything comes for free. An item of similar value will also suffice.

If you refuse to pay and shoulder your way past it, you’ll find yourself shoved onto your back, face to face with the ticket seller himself. The bits of paper on its face rustle before it shuffles back over to the stand. Try again and you’ll find yourself getting further and further away from the entrance as a minor curse begins to settle upon you. You may come up with your own curse (e.g. loss of voice, speaking in gibberish). Thankfully, the curse doesn’t last long, but the message should be clear: pay for your ticket.

Once you have acquired your ticket, you are free to enter the carnival at your leisure. Should you turn around to ask the ticket seller for more information, it will vanish into thin air, leaving nothing but a small heap of confetti.

Walk past the first booth; a gaggle of happy children with balloons approach you with boxes of welcoming gifts. Though you might want to remember what all children are taught: don’t take candy from strangers.

MONSTER ♟ Wicht
Weak against Fire, Holy	Strong against None	Immune to Dark
A demon possessing a wooden puppet painted and carved in the form of a happy child with rosy cheeks. It offers BOXES OF CHOCOLATE to unsuspecting victims. Be warned: the chocolate will give you CHILLS AND MALAISE, and eating it will prompt fellow Wichts to link their hands together and circle around you as they chant RING AROUND THE ROSIE. This is not an innocent game, but a spell that accelerates the progression of the disease inside you, manifesting in RASHES, FEVER, SNEEZING AND COUGHING. The Wichts have no sympathy to spare; they’ll keep chanting ‘til you all fall down! Don’t feel like chocolate today? Oh, the Wichts insist. As they shove their boxes at you, their giggles turn into maniacal laughter. Their cherubic features melt into something sharper, harder, and you barely have time to react before they try to rip your heart out with their SHARP CLAWS. Catching Wichts is not easy. They use the wind magic of their BALLOONS to fly out of harm’s way, and the more mischievous ones will inhale the helium inside to release BANSHEE-LIKE SCREAMS that will stun and knock your party back. You can eliminate these demons by any means, but defeating these wooden puppets with HOLY MAGIC will banish the demonic spirit inside them, rendering them lifeless with the angelic features they originally had. These Petrosian-style puppets show really good craftsmanship! DROPS: Colorful Balloons, Gift Boxes, Petrosian Puppets, Wicht Claws, Mana-infused Wood

Suddenly, the cheerful and festive atmosphere vanishes. A flag flutters against a strong, abrupt gust of wind. Shadows seem to whisper and point and watch with gleaming, uncountable eyes. The paths are deserted and what was a vibrant place full of life is now anything but.


TWO ♙
In the chocolate box of the first Wicht you defeat, you will find a hand-drawn map of the carnival. It is extremely detailed and meticulously labeled with every ride, shop, and sideshow. Does this cartographer have a perfectionist streak? There’s a crudely-painted red heart circling one attraction in particular: the tunnel of love. But from the way the color dried, you’re starting to think that’s not paint…

Before you reach the tunnel of love, you have to pass through game stalls and the haunted house. Move quickly; those familiar Wicht giggles are approaching and they will not take no for an answer. Hide behind stalls or large crates to avoid them. Perhaps Rooks or Illusion Queens can cover the party’s tracks!

If you choose to hide behind stalls and crates, a cold draft might hit your back, send a shiver down your spine and make you whirl around to confront—no one. But you could have sworn you saw a shadow in the corner of your eye… Before you can think, something too close for comfort bursts into hysterical laughter, attracting the attention of the Wichts and forcing you to abandon your shelter.

However, Wichts can’t touch you if you join in the fun, and the carnival offers a variety of games to play, from dime pitch games to shooting galleries. A man next to a strongman game might even holler at you to step right up and test your strength. Neither firearms, ammo or hammers will be provided, but you’re Heroes, right? Improvise! Win, and you’ll be greeted by...

MONSTER ♟ Steun
Weak against Holy	Strong against Dark	Immune to None
Carnival staff manning the stalls with smiles that will haunt your nightmares. People who win their games infuriate them! Their weapon of choice depends on where you find them. Food vendors will be eager to hurl BOILING OIL or throw an entire GRILL at your face, while those at the shooting galleries might come at you with FIREARMS—real ones! But sometimes, a bullet won’t kill you. Instead, it will make you smell like cotton candy. It will also cast CHARM MAGIC on you, making your party members fall in love with you. Only strong willpower can break the spell… or you know, a good, old-fashioned kiss. Staff members may also toss stuffed toys at you, but these cute and cuddly things aren’t a gift of goodwill. They’re enchanted grenades that explode into heart-shaped confetti and release a gas that will make you LAUGH UNCONTROLLABLY for a good five minutes. DROPS: Assorted Guns and Bullets, Carnival Food Items, Stuffed Toys, Carnival Staff Jacket

Glad that’s over! Unfortunately, this doesn’t seem to be the last area you needed to traverse. Checking the map again reveals that the haunted house is up next. But that shouldn’t be a big deal; you can usually avoid those by simply walking past, right?

Wrong. As you enter the area, you’ll soon realize that the roads around the house are clogged up by cotton candy and popcorn which might serve as convenient snacks to replenish your mana. The only free path leads to the front door.


THREE ♙
The floorboards creak as your party enters the haunted house. A flash of lightning preceding a crack of thunder reveals a large, arachnid leg. Clicking noises of pincers are the only warnings Heroes get before your party is grabbed and hauled upwards, one by one. Tough strings like silk trap your bodies in a tight cocoon that dangles from the ceiling. Resistance is futile, as struggling will damage your clothes. Don’t worry about flashing anyone; the spider is more than happy to cover your bare areas with more form-hugging strings. The spider silk seems to be enchanted, since captured Heroes cannot escape on their own. You must help them to proceed!

As the spider works on hauling its prey upwards, the others must rescue their comrade before it’s too late! Unfortunately, your entrance has awoken a sudden rush of monsters, and the blood and drool they’re spewing make it hard to believe they’re in costume. Hobbling and groaning zombies, scarecrows and half molten blobs or something in between are eager to have you for dinner themselves. The enemies themselves are not particularly dangerous; it’s their sheer number and the furniture they’ve knocked over which make this fight a pain in the neck. Kick and bat and suplex your way through the enemy ranks until you reach the rickety stairs.

Climbing with care, you finally make your way to the second floor. There is a spider lurking in a corner...

MONSTER ♟ Heer Spinnekop
Weak against Water	Strong against Earth, Wind	Immune to Lightning
“I must say, that was very rude of you. No one has ever turned down an invitation to my tea parties.” A calm and chipper tea-sipping, monocle-wearing SPIDER too big to fit through the front door. The wealthy Lord Spinnekop studied in Gammon for a time and the accent has stuck with him ever since. Despite his manners, he isn’t too pleased to have his snack stolen from under its nose. What’s he going to dunk in his tea cup now? So he’ll try to trap the Heroes once more with his SILK THREADS, please and thank you. His threads will wrap around you in patterns that bind and appeal to the senses. “Ooh, could you do that again? It makes my spinneret tingle!” For some reason, LIGHTNING MAGIC doesn’t work against the monstrous spider. But continue to refuse him and he’ll splash piping hot Gammonian Breakfast tea at your face… or shirt. Let’s hope you didn’t wear something thin and white. As the battle goes on, he’ll crawl from corner to corner, and soon, you’ll notice a method to his madness: he’s been weaving a HUGE, STICKY WEB for you all! “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. I’ll wash you down—after I chew and swallow!” Heroes he likes, he’ll trap in his web and eat. Heroes he doesn’t? He’ll toss them in a giant KETTLE of water he’s been boiling in the kitchen! How does Heroic tea sound? However, chatting with the spider (and boy, does he love to chat) will reveal that despite growing up in the lowlands of Petrosian and living in rainy Gammon, he detests water. WATER MAGIC might just wash the spider out! DROPS: Fancy Tea Set, Top Hat, Monocle, Gentleman’s Gloves, Silk Threads

You’ve had it with this @#$%ing spider in this @#%$ing haunted house! Goodbye and good riddance. The doors upstairs seem to lead to nowhere so you’ll have to climb through the open hatch in the ceiling to exit. On the roof, you can finally survey the entire dungeon, but don’t linger for too long. Otherwise, you’ll be compelled to jump off the roof!

Hope you’re not afraid of heights, because the only way to advance to the tunnel of love is by jumping from roof to roof.


FOUR ♙
Finally, the infamous tunnel of love rests before you in all its glittery, pink glory. Rose petals coat the sign and flower chains hang from the tunnel ceiling. Echoes of sensual moans can be heard from the outside, but there’s no turning back. Once you’ve secured yourself a swan boat, you’re in for quite the joyride. The dulcet tones of a romantic serenade give you something else to focus on other than the disturbingly intimate shadows on the walls, but even the music stops every now and then to amplify the voices further in.

Then all of a sudden, the water of the tunnel starts flowing in the other direction. Due to the shape of the boat, Heroes get doused in cold water, and that’s the least of your problems. More Steuns will come out of the woodwork and take potshots at the Heroes with their guns. Talk about wet and wild! The tunnel’s heart-shaped props might also come to life and attempt to drown Heroes. Why not? It’s not like couples ever want to leave.

After several merry minutes, the water will be drained out completely. Who doesn’t enjoy being stranded in the middle of enemy territory? As you walk down the tunnel, there’s a point that diverges into several paths. Following the path that smells like roses will appear to put you on the right track, but leads to a dead end. Looking around, you’ll find a raised, heart-shaped platform with graffiti that says, NOW DO IT! ❤

That’s awfully specific. Considering where you are, you probably meet the riddle with mild surprise. Maybe if you try to kiss someone, you’ll be able to advance! But actually, if you wait long enough, a simple hug might yet suffice.

Once the riddle has been satisfied, the wall opens to reveal the inside of a circus tent. Vacant bleachers surround the stage, and though they are empty, deafening cheers seem to come from people filling the seats. Without warning, all the lights go out, save for a single spotlight...

BOSS ♟ Y. U. Lyon the Spelleider and his Circus
Weak against None	Strong against Fire	Immune to Dark, Status Effects
“Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Welcome to the best show in the world! I’ve travelled the seven seas, so I should know.” An outstanding and prolific RINGMASTER who recently fell out of the limelight. After some soul searching, Ser Lyon’s back with a bigger and better show that’ll knock everyone’s socks off! Eat your heart out, Cirque du Etoile. As the leader of this circus, he has the fully loyalty of his performers—and pets. With a crack of his whip, he summons large, maned LIONS that growl as they bare their sharp, white fangs. They attack the Heroes on his orders. Don’t let the large felines jump through those flaming hoops, as these will ENGULF THEM IN FIRE, too! Use WATER to put the flames out. ”Such teamwork… Geluk and I were the same. Why am I thinking about him at a time like this? For our next act…!” Should you defeat his precious lions, he will send out his beloved CIRCUS PERFORMERS: acrobats that can kick your butt, contortionists that can bend themselves twice over as they lock you in a CHOKEHOLD, unicycle-riding jugglers waiting for the right moment to toss you a KNIFE or MOLOTOV COCKTAIL, and tightrope walkers ready to DROP DEADLY SPEARS onto unsuspecting Heroes. You might even get tackled by the occasional cannonball man and GET LAUNCHED OUT OF THE TENT with him! Circus performers of all kinds will try to steal the show, and your imagination’s the limit. Unlike the ringmaster, these people are WEAK TO STATUS EFFECTS. ”He told me to meet him during the Festivale de la Ceinturonne, but I had a show that night. I couldn’t abandon my circus! That was years ago… I haven’t heard from him since. I wonder what would have happened… if I had gone to see him… If I had gone to see him…!” Although his stars are gone, the show must go on. As the drum rolls, the lone Ser Lyon reaches inside his mouth to pull out a sharp SWORD with a flourish. How long has that been in there? Not important. Forget about admiring his top-notch swordsmanship, too—he’s here to kill! Even as you keep your distance, you can’t escape him when he strikes you with his WHIP and singes your skin with his FIRE-BREATHING SKILLS. From time to time, he pulls MAGICAL BIRDS out of his coat to distract Heroes. They will disappear the moment you strike them. ”Bravo, bravo. The circus is my life, but… your teamwork has reminded me of something far more important. Still… we put on a good show, didn’t we?” Before his last breath, he pulls a lovespur out of thin air. It was his closest friend’s favorite magic trick. A DUNGEON CORE rises from his chest, and he ends the show with an elegant bow and a smile. DROPS: Ringmaster Staff, Ringmaster Coat, Lion Mane, Juggling Balls, Sword, Hoop, Balance Pole, Torches

Once Y. U. Lyon the Spelleider and his lackeys have been defeated, the phantom cheering cuts off. The bleachers are suddenly occupied by the missing Petrosians, exhausted and confused as to how they ended up here. The dungeon magic appears to have compelled them to act the way they did. Reassure them, help them down from the bleachers and make absolutely sure you leave no one behind.

Soon, the carnival gates open. The show is over and it’s time for everyone to go home.


FIVE ♙
Once you step out of the gates, there’s a flash of light and a final pop of confetti. The next time you blink, you’ll find yourself in a campsite. It seems like Ryder kept his word and set up a rest stop for everyone exiting the dungeon. You’re back in one piece and the area seems to be back to normal as well. Relieved murmurs spring up from the rescued Petrosians who are quick to thank the Heroes profusely before they are whisked away by Blanc’s medics for a check-up.

Verdoni Good work, Heroes. What you do with the dungeon cores is your business alone, but all efforts to assist us in assessing them will be appreciated. That includes providing us with said dungeon cores, of course. I will report our findings as soon as we can. Thank you.

As he leaves, he catches the sight of Ryder and clicks his tongue. That Gammonian is making good use of his human footrest again. Some things never change.

Now that Heroes have left the dungeon, they are free to do whatever they want to. Rest in the tents? Fill your rumbling tummies? Treat injuries? It’s up to them!

Comments

OOC DUNGEON QUESTIONS

[boardmaster]

Please direct all OOC questions about this dungeon here.

[soulshift]

Is defeating the Wicht enough to get rid of the disease? Also, additionally how effective is King healing towards it?

Team Please Talk More (Shin-Ah, Sync, One)

[twosidedsword]

[No really who put this team together...]

Puppets!

[twosidedsword]

[Shin-Ah...isn't sure what to do with these chocolates. Normally he might just eat them but as of right now he has a feeling that would be a bad idea. Call it a hunch. Already this entire situation is strange from the need to pay to get in (he did without thinking about it) to how creepy everything is. And now he has a box of chocolates that look appealing but he's pretty sure he shouldn't consume.

So he looks at his teammates then looks back at them. The fact that he's not eating doesn't seem to be what he's supposed to do though. The creatures are certainly drawing closer to him because of it and he unsheathes his sword.

This does not look good.]

Team Sibling Complexes(??)

[geneolgian]

One

[geneolgian]

[ It's bad enough that they had to pay their way in despite, you know, being sent to rescue these people, but this whole setup is creepy and sketchy in so many ways. What else adds to the sketch factor of this situation? The fact that some random child is offering them sweets. Yew knows exactly how dangerous ingesting random sweets can be. He is not touching those with a 10 foot pole.

That's right.

He remembers him. Angelo fuckboy OVO Pannetone. ]

Nope. Nuh-uh. No thanks. I'm not falling for it this time!

[ The Wichts are quite insistent, but so is he, which might result in a confrontation very soon. ]

team fam (adra + bel)

[hymnals]

[ Fuck this running. They're only at the gate, and already Adra feels like this is the Darkmoon Carnival on hell steroids. He stands before the ticketmaster, arms folded over his chest, scowl dark on his face. He doesn't want to fight--if it's an option not to, he's always going to take it--but the price is exorbitant. Highway goddamn robbery.

But he's fishing out the colle, anyway. ]

I've got you, Belthazar. Don't worry about it.

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

[arcanepower]

[The Darkmoon Carnival is a pleasant dream compared to this. Belthazar's only been there once, but there's a reason he didn't go back. Anyway, he watches the exchange with wide eyes, glancing from the ... strange ticketmaster to his father, and back again. His grip tightens on the handle of his feathery bow.]

... I have the money. I can pay you back later, when we're out.

[He puts on a brave face and tries not to stare overlong at the gatekeeper.]

Hopefully this doesn't take long.

Team RBY (Nobunaga, Mikleo, Bishamonten)

[ateaist]

Arrival; I can't believe Crosscheck hides its dungeons behind paywalls

[ateaist]

[Well, this is....unexpected. The last dungeon she'd attended started off with scaling vertical surfaces using a cool grappling hook.

This, however...is this guy really asking for money for tickets? And at such a high price?

...Nobunaga turns to both of her companions, grinning with an obvious tinge of nervousness.]

...so who wants to cover me?

[She has the money, she just doesn't want to pay.]

Team "good luck you're gonna need it" (Syrlya, Lavi, Gilbert Nightray)

[chronosynthesis]

[GOOOOOOOOOD LUCK]

Arrival

[chronosynthesis]

[It's his first dungeon, so he expected a few hiccups as he tried to wrap his head around their small group task.

He just didn't expect it this quickly.] Five... hundred colle? [Or something of equal value.

He quickly pats his pockets down, as if something is going to mysteriously appear to cover the expense.] Ah, that's so much!

Team Purity (Allen, Sion, Lux)

[likethelight]

AKA do we have enough holy/light damage here? ✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* Sparkle on, friends.✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:*

Arrival

[likethelight]

[ Let's skip past the fact that as they approach the carnaval Allen has a somewhat... squirmy look about him. Even if he hasn't said anything about the fact it is a circus, though as he's sure Lux knows, well... she's probably been eyeing him a little given how they met, and his gaze has been set decidedly set somewhere over there away from both her and Sion. If they've asked him about it? Nope.

(Of course it's a place like this.)

He'll take the point though if he's given half a chance, even as a darker sort of atmosphere seems to push down on them the moment they cross over the entrance threshold onto the grounds. Stale popcorn and the smell of foods fried in oil long gone sour before they've been ground into the dirt.

(It's so nostalgic Allen's stiffened a little from it. Unhappy little pings radiating off his posture.)

But when their little party is stopped by what is clearly not a man as much as he is one... Allen is terribly sorry. It's probably a little rude.

But his last fuck has elusively flown the coop much sooner than anticipated. ]

Pardon? [ It's oh so flatly said. He wants how much? ]

Team I'm Not Naming It Minato (Yukari, Kaede)

[long_live_the_queen]

One

[long_live_the_queen]

...seriously.

[Kaede had just reawakened recently to the sound of a music box, with a depressing new vacancy in her life where a person should have been. She was already in a foul mood and this new bullshit wasn't helping her any. At all. How the hell was she supposed to distract herself this way?

Of course Kaede just rudely shoved right by the ticket seller and-

-ended up flat on her ass, bowled over before she got the chance to catch herself.]

What the fuck-

[And very vocally displeased with this. At least she can still talk, though!]

Team Useless Virgins (Hinata, Sakura #2, Takumi)

[passtave]

arrival

[passtave]

[ So this is the next dungeon. As Sakura stands in front of the entrance, she can't help but think that this place doesn't look very much like a dungeon at all. She can even hear the happy shouts of people, and can smell something delicious and inviting coming from inside. Shouldn't a dungeon seem more ominous than this?

Then again, who knows what's inside? At least she has Hinata and her big brother, two people that make her feel a lot more comfortable about this whole situation than she would be otherwise. Hinata is her friend—he's also a Rook now, which means he's a lot more suited to fighting than she is. As for her brother, Takumi is one of the strongest people she knows. He might be a Pawn, but there's no way he would lose to something like this.

She really lucked out, didn't she? ]

Um... [ She glances back and forth between Takumi and Hinata. Do they even know each other? ] H-Have you met yet?

Team Shounen Disaster (Noel, Naruto, Shinn)

[bulletic]

One

[bulletic]

[The past couple of days have been weird for Noel, what with waking up from coma and such. But she doesn't have much time to dwell on that, as the Heroes are sent to investigate another dungeon and the only thing certain about those is that one has to expect the unexpected while there. And with the place taking the form of a carnival it's bound to be full of surprises...

Having to pay entry fee might be one of them, even though it probably shouldn't be, all things considered.]

O-Oh! That's right... I'm sorry, if you could please wait a moment...

[Somehow, Noel manages to take it all in stride, which is probably a testament to her naivety. The girl looks through her pockets, finally pulling out a small purse and placing the payment in the creepy ticket seller's hand with a small nod.]

Robin Hood Squad (Robin Hood sold separately) - Gaius, Briggid, Kaito

[carptricks]

[BECAUSE WHO NEEDS TEAMS WHEN YOU CAN BE A SQUAD]

four. BOSS FAITO, GET

[carptricks]

[we have conquered many perils in order to get here!! some of which include, but are not limited to: chocolate betrayal, angry game booth workers, gentlemanly spiders and creepy rides through the ~tunnel of love~. two of us probably had to hug it out to even get to this point, too. Kaito, for one, has remnants of spider web stuck in his hair. he is also soaking wet, slightly bruised, bleeding from a few small cuts and highly irritated.]

[especially when the lights in the circus tent go out, and a spotlight flickers into existence, focused on the flashy ringleader of this whole mess]

Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls! Welcome to the best show in the world! I’ve traveled the seven seas, so I should know.

[being a performer himself, Kaito stares]

[and stares]

[and then proceeds to cup both hands around his mouth and call out]

Yeah right! You wish! I've seen tons of performers who blow your little three-ring circus way outta the water! If you're really gonna brag about bein' the best show in the world, then you'd better make sure you have the talent to back it up, pal!

[kaito plz don't antagonize the dungeon boss]

TEAM TWO GIRLS, ONE CUCK (Gilgamesh, Caren, Aisha)

[babbylon]

[Theme parks? Gilgamesh loved theme parks! Especially when he was in charge of them. But in this case, the ticketmaster doesn't seem too willing to let him pass... he's trying to push and shove his way in to no effect. Of course, he has plenty of money, he just hasn't deemed this attraction worthy of his patronage yet.

So naturally, Gilgamesh looks to his two newly appointed sugar mamas for assistance, instructing them thus:]

We must pay a fee before we are permitted entry.

[Glances at Aisha...

Glances at Caren...

You are going to buy him a ticket, right?]

[herplaceinthesun]

They're making us pay for this?

[Aisha pouts, then slowly turns her head toward Gilgamesh. She's on to you, King of Heroes.]

You're making us pay for this? That's not how you treat a lady!

[King of Cheapskates too, apparently.

Aisha looks in her bag and frowns, it's a mess in there. There are piles and piles of things that get dumped out before she finds the colle for the three of them, holding it out to the ticketmaster. Unlike someone around here, she isn't going to everyone hanging.]

Here ya go...

Team Drunks (Jiroutachi and Shunsui)

[sakeplz]

[Well it looks like it's just them! Luckily they're both quite strong and they already work well as a team. This means they stand a good chance of beating this dungeon. Jiroutachi is certainly ready, hair pin in his hair, sword already unsheathed...

Humming, he looks at the box of chocolates he's been given (he didn't mind paying the fee at all!)]

It's hard to tell if I should eat these are not! They look tasty but dungeons are so unreliable!

[He's pointedly continually dancing away from the silly things that keep trying to claw at him.]

Best team ever, especially for this dungeon

[sugegasa]

Hmmm, might want to be a bit careful!

[Not that he was terribly worried. Jirou was the sort of man who liked to try new things, and Shunsui had to give him credit for that!

Still, he was a bit uneasy in this atmosphere. His sword was also at the ready as they walked, and while Jirou was adept at dancing away from the things trying to impede his progress as well as his ability to enjoy the confection he'd purchased, Shunsui's blade was a bit busier. It seemed several of the things had gotten the idea to tag team him!

Which was fairly smart on their parts, he had to admit.

Still...]

Might I trouble you for a moment? I can fend them off, but it'd be a bit easier with some help. Then we can go exploring at a bit more leisurely pace!

[Because wasn't that what it was all about?]

TEAM EATS

[fuhrinkaed]

[For Teyud, Susan, Ed, and Ag/kito!]

1

[fuhrinkaed]

[When Ed tries greeting the ticket seller (Hey, gotta' be nice to the dungeon denizens) and it points to the sign, he tilts his head to the side in confusion.]

Ahh... huh. I guess that makes sense, we're supposed to be seeing a whole carnival and checking out the rides... [He's pulling out his wallet, sorting out 500 colle without even thinking twice about it.]

[He's taking things in stride, at least?]

--Hey guys, you should get tickets too I think. This seems like it might be fun!

Team Papa Son And Daughter (Lord Light, Souji, Maki)

[cutiepanther]

[ This should go well. ]

one; Time To Buy Your Scouting Ticket!

[cutiepanther]

[ Maki is ready. She hadn't felt as ready for this as she had with the fight on the train, or even the dungeon before it. No, today she felt like she would do her best. Her mana was full stocked, her usual bag over her shoulder filled with magic potions and spare ammo. She's even taken to carrying a light short sword with her in a scabbard at her waist.

There's one minor problem she finds as she winds up staggering back from the strange creature at the gates. ]

I-I forgot to bring any money with me...

[ So she turns to her partners, Souji and Lord Light, with a distressed look that seems to be asking for help.

It's been a long ride to the fair grounds. They've been briefed by those in charge, and headed to the gate of the carnival. It's hot, but there's music playing, and the sounds of rides and kids screaming (happily) fill the air. Honestly it feels like something completely strange is happening here, that snaps Maki out of her current predicament. ]

W-Wait a second, isn't something completely wrong here?!

Team RUN AWAAAY ...slowly! (Meliora, Tyrnen, Rory)

[moreasleep]

[This is why leg day is important, guys.]

One

[moreasleep]

[Fucking unbelievable. Not even in the dungeon proper yet and he had to pay. That money was enough for nearly two weeks' worth of produce. He paid the humanoid ticket creature but not without making it obvious that he resented this.

Soon, the packs of children were out and they all went straight for Rory. They swarmed at his feet, eager to shower him with gift boxes. Despite their adorable faces and generous presents, he looked disgusted and tried to back away from them.]

I don't want it! Leave!

TEAM NO SCRUBS

[armorial]

this is definitely not a good idea

I. ARRIVAL AND CHOCOLATE HORRORS

[armorial]

[ Saber finds herself stuck between two pretty important people in her life. Of course they're important in different ways, but there are some wrinkles that needed to be ironed out. It wasn't her plan to have them confront and console, but the atmosphere feels extremely thick. The purpose of bringing them with her is... well, she hoped to help both of them and this setup is convenient for her. She has no words right now and only looks over to the ticket seller that eyes them with this glassy look. it's unsettling, but she decides to take initiative and buy the tickets for all three of them. She is a seasoned veteran!! Look at all this colle!

Rin and Archer will be left behind to their own devices as she does that. Feel free to either bicker and argue or follow after her silently like good children. ]

Team ARCHERS, Inc.

[sealeted]

[Or, 'Archer & Archer & Sniper' if you wanted to split hairs.]

entrance

[hoasen]

[She had always wondered why the dungeons came about, but this one took to a whole new level. The last one was about a myth, but this here is about a cancelled carnival? What does it even mean?

Either way, here she is, standing with Hakuno and Archer, and they need to enter. Vietnam's the only ranked member in this team, but she's pretty sure that they teamed her up with these two new unranked allies was because she's a Rook. She can easily guard them.

Meanwhile...]

They want us to pay? [She looks over to her comrades.] I will handle it.

[And makes way for her wallet.]

TEAM SUPER SMASH BROS (Setsuna, Shinji, Bolin)

[sediments]

it's time to bond, shinji

READY SET GO

[sediments]

[ This isn't anything like the last dungeon that they'd had to tackle, and Bolin's just regarding the entire area with a grimace and an expression that shows extreme reluctance. Towers and monsters he can handle just fine, but creepy, haunted looking carnivals with paper-faced gatekeepers. It's not like he's cowering as much as he is making the strategic decision to hover close to Setsuna, at least until he spots the gates wandering closer out of sheer curiosity and— ]

Uh, we have to pay to get in?

[ That's weird? They didn't have to pay last time. What does a creepy demon-like creature even have need for money!

Regardless, it's an unexpected turn for normal (despite everything else) that gets him to relax, and he briefly turns to shrug at the other two before forking over the cash for his ticket. ]

Teamage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Kain, Makoto, Paracelsus

[ordealer]

...look, it may make no sense but I might've wanted to use this pun since the first dungeon.

1 would think that their bosses would be nice enough to pay for them...

[ordealer]

[But no. As he stared at the sign he felt distinctly ripped off - if this turned out to be a reoccurring thing he'd have to have words with their superiors about the topic of giving them a budget for expenses like this. Pastries and alcohol, sure, they could pay for that themselves, but this was work.]

Do you think it's too late to go back and have them pay for us? [He'll...likely shove past the ticket seller in a moment but it deserves a moment of snark.]

Team Long Hair (Kojirou, Irisviel, Vivienne)

[hiryugaeshi]

CHOCO BABBIES

[hiryugaeshi]

[ What sequence of events has led to this? Why are they dealing with weird puppet babies hoisting chocolates on them? ]

I'm afraid I don't much enjoy candy. How do you ladies feel about them? They are rather insistent.

[ Keeping babies at arms length is rather strange, but what else is he to do here? ]

Team Bad Otome Route (Lapis, Luna, Karakurenai)

[oneirism]

[Pray for the group that has Lapis as their primary fighter.]

Entrance

[oneirism]

[They haven't even gotten in yet and already Lapis is Done With This. Her lineface is even flatter than usual and she looks about five seconds from booting the ticket seller in it's paper-y face.

Plus she isn't sure if either Luna or Karakurenai even have that much money - sure she can pay for them to get in, but she would prefer not to waste her money here.]

... I could probably jump over the entrance, but I'm not sure if I'm strong enough to carry both of you.

Team Royals and a Noble ( Corrin, Subaki, Laurent and Damen )

[dragonspawn]

A Little Love Goes a Long Way
Let the magic begin... below!

admission | but at what cost

[verisimilitudes]

[Laurent knows why he is here. It isn't a matter of trust, or even participation- it's necessity. Secretary Verdoni is, as he's heard, a relatively common face, but less common is the promise of a means to return home. It's bait, he thinks. The precise wording he'd used in his announcement had not escaped his notice.

The dungeon cores may hold the key to finding a way home for you.

Yes, it's very nicely ordered and inspires some measure of confidence. But Laurent cannot help but wonder what other purpose the cores serve. He has known no government to place a theoretical hope for the good a few above a nation's interest. To rub salt in the wound, it seems they're expected to pay a fee on order to perform this service. Incredible.

He's waiting for the rest of their party, however ill-fated they may be-
and in the kaleidoscope of lights at the carnival's entrance Laurent's hair is lit up like a halo. Standing alone and only slightly to one side, he should be easy enough to spot.]

Team Primary Colors (Aigis, Minato, Apollo)

[seventhgen]

[Aigis has taken a dose of her transformation potion before going into the dungeon. Wow, her usual gatling gun is really heavy when she's not a robot... so she's traded it out for the rifle attachment on her Eurydice Drive.]

Part One

[seventhgen]

[Oh, those chocolates look really good. Shouldn't we try some?]

Team Wuvi (Wukong, Kavi)

[topkong]

[ Frankly, Wukong can't trust Ryder--- it's not in his blood to really place his faith in anyone with his sort of glamorous and arrogant behavior, but the fact that Verdoni seems to exhibit a lack of patience for him too does temper Wukong's overall feelings. Something about his attitude just makes the monkey smile a little, the sarcasm and the seriousness in his tone does that sort of thing for him.

But anyway! Wukong's going to be the gentleman of this two man group, quickly putting his colle in for the train going as well as the entrance fee. After all, for all Kavi does for him (and vice versa), they should be happy to pay for each other's things once in a while? Jobs have been kind, after all, and having stored up a bit even after purchasing his house was a very Smart Idea.

When the gang of children approach with the box of chocolates, looking so innocent and sweet... leave it to Wukong to feel paranoid. ]

Uh... you know, I might have to pass. Sorry, kids. I love chocolate, but now's not the time.

[ The debriefing that they received earlier is echoing in the back of his mind. Abnormal mana? Carnival that just pops up even though it was cancelled?... ech. ]

[umberly]

[ Usually, Kavi would be all for accepting chocolate from kids (Looks like someone didn't pay attention to life lessons 101) just to see their faces light up but considering the warnings they were given and the general atmosphere of this carnival... It puts Kavi on edge, makes every hair on his neck stand and keep a watchful eye out for everything out of the ordinary.

This reminds him of home. And home wasn't a pleasant place. ]

Maybe next time, yeah? Once we're done exploring, we'll come back and accept your presents, how does that sound?

[ Apparently, not very tempting at all. Because the happy noises change in pitch, the soft faces change into something more angular and suddenly, there are claws raking at them both. With a curse, Kavi jumps back and drags Wukong with him to avoid the attack. ]

Of course. Couldn't have been a normal carnival, could it?!