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

[arcanepower]

[Holy shit. Belth is so startled that he cries out. He's never been more thankful to have Adra here, beside him.]

I-I've got it!

[He's been practicing for this. He nocks one arrow after another, firing them in fairly rapid succession. They find their marks in the center of the puppets' chests. As the remaining 'children' begin to recover, he reaches for some arrows he'd set aside, with their arrows tipped in paralyzing compound.]

Just a little more time--

[There's only two or three left now, and another blast of holy magic should take them out. He needs a moment if he's going to be the one to do it; it takes time to conjure a holy arrow with this weapon.]

[hymnals]

[ Adra's impressed--not that he'd come into this underestimating Belthazar in the least, of course. But he'd known the boy was a mage, and mages did not typically double as archers. He sweeps his hand, and another blast of searing, purifying magic bursts forth, burning the remaining 'children' down to a crisp.

Several boxes of chocolate hit the ground on the wichts' defeat, thumping softly as they strike the dirt. The wind picks up around them, swirling harsh and angry, and the playful scene before them shifts. Desolation rushes in as the seeming crowds fade away, as shadows draw up around them, peering and hissing.

Adra scowls, picking up a box, drawing out the map. ]

That was well done, Bel. Are you all right?

[ He runs his fingers over the map, his thoughts concerned with only one thing: protecting his son. ]

[arcanepower]

[Without a wealth of magic books to turn to, and wanting to understand the depths of his own abilities, he has been practicing nearly nonstop. The aches in his arms eventually became duller and duller, until he could fire his bow with ease. The hard part was the aiming. He'd never known where to aim, but there's no need to take an anatomy class when he can see the results right in front of him. It's like mana sense, but better, more crisp and refined, like opening a book and finding the important parts already highlighted.

He lowers his bow only when he's sure nothing else is going to pop out at them. As he relaxes somewhat, his shoulders sag. He was so scared. He doesn't want to tell Adra that, though.]

I-I'm fine. [... Of course his voice betrays him, god damn it, adolescence. He clears his throat.] Let's move on.

[Of course, he's going to pick up one of the scraps of wood first. That looks good for synthesis.]

[hymnals]

[ Yeah, Adra doesn't buy that for a hot second. He kneels down in front of Bel, hands on the boy's shoulders. ]

Hey. There's no need to rush. It's just you and me here, all right? If you get tired or upset, we can rest. We can breathe.

[ He touches Bel's forehead with the tip of his nose. ]

I'll protect you in here, okay? I swear to the Light.

[arcanepower]

[He huffs and almost doesn't meet Adra's eyes, but finds that he's pulled into them regardless. It's hard to avoid his father. His eyes flutter shut as Adra boops his forehead.]

I hesitated, [he says after a moment.] It was like-- like before. [Adra doesn't remember, he wouldn't.] I was fighting an orc, a dark shaman, and I froze up when I had the chance to kill him. He would have killed me, but you were there. That was how we met.

[Even now, his grip on his bow is trembling.]

Those were not people, and I could tell that with my abilities, but I still...

[hymnals]

[ Adra takes Bel's hand, squeezing it gently. He can't speak to this experience, of course; he hasn't had it yet. But he can imagine it well enough. ]

Belthazar. Feeling reluctance, or regret, when taking a life ... it's not a bad thing. So many people--in our world, and in this one--kill as though it means nothing. It doesn't. Every death is a world destroyed.

[ He kisses Bel's forehead. ]

You do well to remember that. And if you hesitate because of it ... well, that's why I'm here.

[ He stands up. He'd seen the bloody heart marked on the map, and he knows, with dread, that it's their final destination. Still clutching Bel's hand, he starts to walk. ]

Let's go.

[arcanepower]

[Every death is a world destroyed. Adra is right. He's absolutely right. Belthazar thinks of the people on the train, how their paths will no longer grow and twine with others, how the victims' families no longer have that love in their lives. Light, war is so awful.

Belth presses his lips into a thin line. He's never been more grateful for Adra's presence in Enprise, but at some point he has to also walk on his own two feet. He takes a deep breath.]

Thank you.

[They should go. He thinks he can hear more giggling nearby, so he squeezes Adra's hand. It becomes clear as they progress that there are dozens of stalls and rigged games, and they are, perhaps, meant to play them. This theory is validated by a vaguely man-shaped monster howling at Belthazar to try his luck at darts.

Belthazar ducks behind Adra's robes, obviously intimidated.]

[hymnals]

[ Adra curls his lip. He absolutely does not want to participate in any of this madness, but he wants to eschew actual battles as much as possible, too. So, fine. He'll play.

He steps up to the monstrous man, takes the eagerly proffered darts, and tries his luck.

His aim isn't bad. While no archer, he is a spellslinger, and that work does require some degree of precision--particularly for an offensive cast. Most of his darts hit the mark.

Enough so, at least, for the wailing barker to grab a giant, pink teddy bear from some ghoulishly stocked rack behind him and hurl at Adra with maximum strength. ]

--oof--

[ Adra's bowled over; lands on his knees in the dirt--and then, he starts laughing.

Uncontrollably.

Wildly.

Maniacally. ]

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar is about to comment on the prize being uglier than an orc's toenails, but then the gamerunner hurls it right into Adra with the strength of ten men. Poor Adra never had a chance. Belth cries out as his father falls.]

How dare you!

[Belthazar draws his bow and nocks a conjured arrow without blinking, and he sends it flying straight and true into the steun's face. It's awful, really, having to do that... but the nightmarish expression it wears certainly helps.]

Ann'da, are you--

[Belth glances back at Adrasteius to make sure he's okay. But he's... laughing. A lot. This, uh, this can't be good. The steun isn't done though, so it's up to Belthazar to put a stop to this teddy grenade-wielding madman.

He focuses and pulls the bowstring taut. An arrow glowing with holy power appears between his fingertips, its light reflected in the blood elf's eyes. This one he lets fly with due prejudice-- right into the steun's heart. The holy power contained therein seems to banish the evil spirit, leaving behind a few scraps of clothing and poorly-sewn stuffed animals.

Belth flies to Adra's side properly this time. Obviously he's under the effect of some kind of gas-- a brief glance with his Scan ability tells him this. He digs through his pack for something that can help. Would a swallow of sleeping potion help to calm him down? He doesn't want to make this place impossible for them both, just ease the symptoms. Or maybe he can dump a water spell on top of him? No, that might be too much...]

Um... I... I don't know how I can stop this. We may have to wait it out, to be safe.

[hymnals]

[ Adra can't even comfort his poor child; he's too busy nearly choking with laughter. He slaps his hand on the ground, his face reddening, his body convulsing. Oh, Light, it hurts. There's no way through it, either--no spell or potion or other anecdote. As Bel said, they just have to wait.

Five minutes isn't much time, but it stretches out when your body is determined to rip itself apart through debilitating laughter. By the end of it, Adra's flat on the dirt, gasping for breath. ]

You know, I always thought 'die laughing' was just a colorful phrase, but--

[ He gulps air as he struggles, weakly, back to his feet. ]

--I've just seen how it's actually possible. Light preserve me.

[ He staggers forward. Kicks at the teddy bear, for good measure. ]

Let's keep moving.

[arcanepower]

[Belthazar is there to offer some water when Adra is finally done. He knows more than anyone how fragile his father is, though Adra's taken great pains to hide it. Living with someone for a while clues them in on things, after all.]

Seems like an awful way to go out.

[He resumes his place at Adra's side. It becomes clear soon enough that the haunted house won't let them walk past; the roads are veritably clogged with sweets that may or may not be safe to eat. Belth's eyes glow blue briefly as he scans the roadblock just to be sure.]

You are not going to believe this, but this stuff is actually edible. [A pause.] It should restore our energy if we have some.