WE WERE DREAMING, WAITING FOR NIGHT.
» THE PARK — INTRODUCTORY NOTES
When District 3 opens up, subtle and silent at first, the most noticeable area is the large park. A mixture of open picnic fields and heavily wooded trails, the park offers an escape from the cityscapes for those who seek an oasis amongst nature. Benches and light posts dot the twisting paths, offering a moment's rest to anyone traversing the park for a leisurely stroll or running for… exercise. Unlike its smaller cousin to the south, this park is devoid of statues or monuments, instead more of a tribute to nature and the pursuit of its company. There are, however, several small playgrounds spread around the outer edges for anyone who seeks some playtime with their inner child.
Speaking of your inner child, should you venture to the southern half of the park, you'll find a small carnival that appears to be abandoned. The rides and stalls all appear to be in decent condition despite lying still and silent; if you choose to hop the fence, you'll find that the cables running haphazardly over the grass are connected but powerless. No amount of effort to turn on the rides nor break into the games will prove fruitful, but the park at large has posters stapled to trees here and there advertising the opening of the fun fair very, very soon.
For those who are brave enough to leave the paved walkways to venture deeper into nature, you may find hidden gems—a quiet pond covered in lilypads with a small dock to sit on and dip your feet into the green waters; a romantic pair of swings atop a small knoll overlooking a creek; a shortcut through the trees where even your footsteps are muted by the leaves and dappled sunlight barely reaches your face through the trees above. Here and there you'll find the woods open up to a secluded meadow where the grass is tall and the wildflowers grow thick.
You may also find yourself imagining things just out of reach, like shadowy figures darting from bush to bush, predatory in nature. The phantom call of a crow may echo through the forest's canopy though, like the rest of the city, there is no wildlife to be seen nor heard otherwise. Was that the shout of a woman in the distance, or the cry of a fox? The longer time stretches on, the harder you'll find it is to make your way back out of the treeline, and the trees stretch far above to block out any hope of navigating back to the familiar buildings of the surrounding city. You might want to call for help—if you get find service for your device, that is.
The new park is a permanent location that is open to residents 24/7 as there are no fences nor gates. It's larger than the one new City Hall and has more potential for exploring as well as different features from its cousin. For those that are familiar, it will evoke thoughts of New York's Central Park with its mixture of open areas contrasting with thick woods. Paved walkways, freshwater ponds, picnic areas, and a couple of playgrounds can all be found throughout the park. Along with these, residents may stumble upon other natural and man-made areas such as rocky outcrops, unmarked trails, bicycle paths, fountains, and other things typically found in large urban parks—minus the wildlife. It can be a romantic setting as easily as it can be a horrific one depending on the time of day as well as the company that you keep.
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THEN THE HEAT BROKE, THE NIGHT WAS CLEAR.
» THE FAIR — RIDES & ATTRACTIONS
At 6:00 PM City time on September 19th, the numerous light bulbs of the fun fair burst into blinding color simultaneously, lighting up the darkening sky as loud carnival music slowly churns to life from unseen speakers. The rides all spring into motion, operating on a strict schedule that will allow carnival-goers the time to get on the ride as well as stumble back off after they've had their fun. No one is running the rides that you can see, though they all have the typical podium with an array of buttons that could be used to start and stop the machinery that creaks and groans with age. If you'd like to see what it's like working as a rider operator, you're more than welcome—just make sure you're not making everyone sick.
Due to the fair's small size, the rides are all fairly tame in size and speed. There's a merry-go-round with brightly painted horses to ride along with a handful of mermaids, sculpted hair permanently billowing in the wind. One section at the edge is dedicated to a massive stationary head, evocative of a ventriloquist's dummy, with its mouth gaping open for riders to sit inside, perched on the tongue-shaped bench. For the braver riders, a few other unnerving steeds await, such as a lion with blood dripping from its teeth and claws, a zebra with eight legs, an uncomfortably hairy tarantula, and a gray-skinned creature with its eyeless head split open into a massive mess of razor-sharp teeth. Though the merry-go-round spins at a leisurely pace, staying on if for too long is likely to induce a strange sense of dizziness even after disembarking and attempting to walk it off. The repetitive groan of the pipe organ rings in your ears, hardly helping your disorientation at all though you seek a quiet place to recuperate.
Further along in the fair is a low building comprised of little more than a laminate floor, metal grating roof, and bright red railing that encloses all sides. Strewn about inside are bumper cars, big enough for two if you want to squish in together with a friend, but lacking seatbelts. As you run to find a car you like, you can hear the electricity begin to hum through the roof and spark with the bent antennae of each car as their motors awaken. Loud rock music drowns out the sound of squealing wheels as the drivers begin the arduous task of steering the bumper cars into each other. It's all fun and games at first, but it's easy for a little competition to turn into a grudge match.
The last ride looks like a large metal bowl with steep sides painted dark blue and covered with stars, plantes, galaxies, and a comically simplistic spaceship. The archway standing just in front of the ride's entrance calls it "THE GRAVI-ATOR" with a disclaimer in small print about holding on tightly to personal belongings once on the ride. Stepping into the door cut out in one side, you'll find there are no straps nor seats—everyone should find themselves a comfortable place to lean, preferably in one of the spots that has padding on the walls, because soon the ride will begin to spin and everyone will be pinned down by centrifugal force.
Though they may not be as thrilling as the mechanical rides, there are a few tamer attractions for those seeking a break from the bright lights and loud sounds of the carnival. A hall of mirrors stands to one side of the area, a gaping clown mouth serving as the entrance to the dark building. The laughter and screams from outside are quickly muffled as atmospheric music plays lowly while you try to navigate through a maze of mirrors, many of which distort your appearance. You may see flashes of people that you don't remember seeing come inside, oddly shaped and shadowy where the corners of two mirrors meet. Did you feel someone brush up against you? No, impossible in such tight corridors, but you should probably hurry along to the exit.
There is also, of course, a tunnel of love, though it is a cheap imitation of one. Rather than sitting in a romantic gondola, those interested in going through will do so on foot—a rather daunting task considering that you'll be in the dark once you walk through the heart-shaped door and through the musty red curtains. Still, there's enough time to steal a kiss, or grasp blindly for a hand to hold if you're scared of the dark. Has your lover always had such cold, rough hands? It might be soothing in the muggy warmth you find inside, or maybe it's reason enough to find the way out on your own.
Located in the southern half of the large park is a small fun fair that will open to the public the evening of September 19 with operating hours from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM City time. Before opening, none of the rides or games will be operational; however, there will be fliers advertising its opening all around the city on billboards and telephone poles, and adventurous characters are able to hop the fence and explore if they so desire. However, they will not be able to turn on any of the rides or games, and will not be able to break into the rides or booths under any circumstances.
Upon opening, there will be a number of rides running themselves on a schedule that allows people time to get on, have some fun, and then get back off again. Though there's something unsettling about the music they play, or maybe how shaky they feel, there's no apparent danger anywhere. Residents are encouraged to enjoy themselves with a group of friends, or maybe a date, and experience all that the fun fair has to offer! The fair will not be open forever, though; its gates will close permanently at 11:00 PM on September 30 and all traces will disappear that night to leave a large, open field behind in the park.
This is a good, ol' fashioned carnival designed to bring together groups of people for thrills and fun. Though there are no overt game mechanics at play, we encourage everyone to get creative and add their own flair to this month's event. If you have any questions about player plots you'd like to run, please revisit the Events & Interactions section of the F.A.Q. and drop us a comment on the mod contact for any additional questions.
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IT SEEMED AN HONOR TO HAVE A MOUTH.
» THE FUN — GAMES & FOOD
The majority of the fair is occupied by stalls full of fair games, their walls and awnings decorated in various themes to match. The shooting gallery is a scene from the American West, cowboys astride horses with a background of cacti and orange rocky mesas. The targets themselves are a variety of desert animals: vultures flying from the roof, lizards skittering along the ground, and coyotes chasing rabbits throughout the middle. A handful of rifles are waiting along the half wall in front, chained and bolted to the wooden surface to keep them from getting carried off, and an array of hats hang above them as prizes displayed for winners. There are the typical cowboy hats, then some pink and green ones, some multi-colored jester hats, and a few that look like uncomfortably realistic rubber masks of faces twisted into horrifying expressions.
The next stall over is as different as can be imagined with psychedelic rainbows, glow-in-the-dark smiley faces, and paint splotches covering all surfaces. Inside is a grid of brightly colored balloons that rain silver glitter once they're popped. Cups of plastic darts lie in wait for those who wish to try their luck to pop five balloons in a row, though the observant will notice there are only four darts per cup. The sides are lined with prizes ranging from sticky fingers, slide whistles, and bouncy balls to an assortment of blow-up weapons such swords, hammers, maces, and frying pans.
Another quintessential carnival game is ring toss, set up in an extra large stall with three open sides for groups to play together if they wish. The bottles are all uniform in size, shape, and their clear color, but if you get a good look at a few, some appear to have items floating inside of them, suspended in glowing liquid. Above, massive stuffed animals hang from every possible section of the ceiling. None of them look quite right, though, such as the smiling bear with an extra row of teeth or the goose with two heads at the end of one floppy neck. The dog is pretty cute, but it's missing an arm and a leg in a way that appears intentional, and that cat has its eyes sewn shut.
Of course, no fair would be complete without food. There are plenty of stalls ready to serve, much like the restaurants in the city, where residents are welcome to swing by for some greasy grub. Corn dogs, fries, funnel cake, pizza, shaved ice, and fried junk food are all easy to find around the carnival. Spread amongst the stalls are popcorn machines playing cheerful music, carts with towering racks of bagged cotton candy, and poles planted in the ground with rainbow lollipops and candied apples sprouting from them. In one corner of the fair where the biggest concentration of food stalls can be found, there is an area of tables with umbrellas for anyone to sit and eat. Food at the fair adheres to it's own unique reset cycle and can be found replenished every evening at 6:00PM just in time for opening.
Despite the potential for danger from the shooting gallery and balloon dart games, both are designed to be as harmless as possible—the bullets are rubber, and the darts are made of plastic. While they will still leave a bruise, there shouldn't be risk of blood loss. The shooting gallery guns are chained in place, unable to be stolen. Removing the darts from their stall will result in thiefs walking in a tight circle that always brings them back in hopes the darts will be restored to their rightful place.
Though the food and games are free, the prizes are not—anyone who attempts to steal prizes without winning the games first will find themselves misplacing their items before leaving the carnival. If residents become aware of this phenomenon and try extra hard to focus on not losing their stolen prize, it will nevertheless slip from their hands and be lost—though a keen eye might see it back in its rightful place at the game stall. If you have the right temperament, this could become a game in and of itself!
Additionally, if there are any fair games or foods that have not been explicitly mentioned above, players are welcome to assume they can be found. Nothing as extravagant as a theme park or amusement park will be present as all of the stalls are designed to be mobile—this is a traveling carnival, after all. Similarly, players are welcome to design their own brand of unsettling game prizes as long as none of them can be used as an actual weapon or to otherwise harm fellow fair-goers.
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WILDCARD.
The city is by no means small, and there are plenty of things for you to see. There's no rush in exploring, so feel free to take your time looking around and peering into various nooks and crannies and alleyways—and don't worry, you're not very likely to find anything peering back.
If none of the above prompts appeal, feel free to check out the Locations and Maps pages and write your own freestyle prompt using one or many of the available locations.
This month's event headers come from "Midsummer" by Louise Gluck.
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citylogs2023-09-19 09:00 pm
Dorian Storm 🎶 Critical Role: ExU
2. Fun and Music
3. Games and food
4. Ice cream parlor
[wildcard: Ping me at
2!
He pauses at the jovial tune of a lute. This is an instrument that strikes a spark of familiarity. Squatting down and making himself comfortable, the daemon stays until the end of the other man's set. It is out of place between haunted houses and screaming metal death traps (rides), but it is welcome. The musician himself is not too shabby, either. If Rokurou had money he might have tossed some. Maybe. Gald is tight when you're a wanted criminal on the run.
It's a shame when the music finally comes to an end. He makes no moves to stand or leave the area as others meander away. ]
You're pretty good. How long have you been playing for?
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[Now that he's being directly addressed, he gives another bow and a wide smile. Oh, it feels good! Ever since arriving here, everything was so 'off key', if you ask this musician. But entertaining people, playing them cheerful tunes, and getting compliments here and there- it briefly takes him home. He doesn't need money, him picking up this profession was never about it.]
A few years. Professionally, at least. I've been on the road for the past year before... well. [He gestures at the carnival, but he means the city in general. He was supposed to be on an airship with Orym and Fearne, but Fearne is already here so it's just very confusing.]
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[ From what he has gleaned, it sounds as though almost everyone present had no intention on coming to this nameless city. Another oddity amongst all the oddities. But there is no point on dwelling when there are no means for answers.
Leaning forward, he observes the instrument. The man seems to be in a good mood, so Rokurou feels bold enough to ask, ]
Can you show me how to play a few notes? I've always liked music but it wasn't practiced in my clan. Only swordsmen, you see.
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[The last part was muttered more to himself than the other man. His mind briefly wanders off to Orym; Fearne is here, as he is, and he wonders if Orym would set off without them. Or if he'll show up here because they are here. The investigation was important, and their trip to Marquet and Jrusar.
But he snaps out of his thoughts fast because it is a question he's been asking himself ever since he got here.]
Oh, of course! I'm not sure how good of a teacher I am, however. [He slips his lute off and offers it to be picked up.]
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So he holds it in his hands like a newborn baby and looks at the other man. ]
So do you just … pluck strings randomly? Until it sounds good?
[ That can’t be it, right? ]
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Here, however, he IS being more careful with it, and very grateful when others are too.]
Well! Only if I try to compose a new song. Specific songs have their own melody.
2
So when Eddie hears Dorian's slightly more upbeat song, he's easily lured in like one of the children to the pied piper. While it might not be Eddie's usual cup of tea, it's certainly preferable to the eerie, discordant sounds that he's been putting up with so far, and by the end, he maybe even happens to be tapping his foot and tapping his hand against his leg along to the beat. )
It was an honor to be played for! ( Eddie responds cheerfully, giving him a round of applause. ) So, that's a lute, huh? I've seen pictures of them, but never one up close.
no subject
It feels good.]
Yes! [He plucks a few strings, making a short, upbeat tune.] I know how to play flute as well.
Would you like to give it a go? [He slides it off of his persona and offers it- if he could give Fearne his flute and not get angry for her basically stealing it, he can give the guy a lute to try out.]
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This is why Eddie is very cautious about taking it from Dorian, gently cradling it in his arms for a moment to look at it before holding it, similar to how he holds his acoustic guitar and gives it a quick strum just to hear the sound. )
Wow, this is fucking awesome. ( It sounds slightly different from the acoustic, partially because it's tuned differently, but the tone when the strings are plucked is also different. ) More strings than I'm used to. My guitars have six strings, but I've seen the double-strung ones. How long have you been playing?
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He's very appreciative of how carefully his instrument is being handled. He does go over to tip Eddie's hand up a little so he's holding it properly, at a good angle.]
It's wonderful to hear about other instruments- did you find this guitar of yours here?
Oh, me? I've known to play lute since I was a child, but I only recently took it up as a profession. I'm a bard, you know. [He looks both proud and bashful at that.] A traveling bard.
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Oh, my sweetheart? No, no, she's from back home. I had to save up a lot of money for her. I have an acoustic one, too; she was my mom's.
( He leans in closer as Dorian speaks about being a bard, his eyes widening. He hasn't met anyone quite like Dorian, but between the unique appearance and the way he speaks, the lute, and the fact that he's a bard, it's like he stepped right out of the page from one of his friend's character sheets. )
A bard! My friends always said if I were in a, you know, a medieval-type world, I'd be a bard. I always pretended to be a rogue, though. Oh, and there were a couple of times I'd be a druid.
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Are they really that expensive? [He doesn't remember how much is own lute was, mostly because his mother got it for him, but it shouldn't be that bad, if it's available all over (
believes the rich kid).] I didn't expect that...[And he especially didn't expect such enthusiasm for his 'job' as a bard. The guy sure knows a lot of things from his world, especially that there are druids.]
You'd pretend to be a rogue? You aren't one? [Trying to process.]
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He barks out a laugh at Dorian's disbelief. ) It's funny, you know, music is always seen as this bohemian thing that the poets and dreamers, you know, the so-called common folk partake in, and yet instruments cost a fucking arm and a leg. It doesn't make any sense.
( He shakes his head with a sigh. His world is full of inconsistencies like that. His poor uncle works his ass off at the power plant but makes less than Mr. Holloway at the paper. Before he can launch himself into a new rant, though, Dorian's question takes him by surprise. Does he really come off as a rogue? Or perhaps Dorian has never met anyone who pretended to be an adventurer. There is amusement in Eddie's eyes as he replies. )
No, no. I'm probably closer to a bard if anything. I do not know how to stealth at all. Though, I can lockpick, so there is that.
another for 2 if u don't mind!!!
What cinches it is the fact that despite looking about their surroundings, he remains in that same position for the entirety of Dorian's performance. Occasionally, he taps his foot. In truth, Kim's rather enchanted by it; he's always had a deep affection for music, and while this isn't his favoured genre, it's lovely, an artifact of history long forgotten save for perhaps something fundamental in human beings to be roused by song. When they make eye contact as Dorian thanks his adoring crowd - as big or as small as it may be - Kim startles a little, as though bashful to have been caught watching, but it's enough for him to approach with a small smile. When he speaks, his voice is deep but surprisingly soft, with a heavy French accent. ]
Thank you for playing. You're very good.
[ Much better than that racket that's droning in the background. ]
We certainly could have used your skills a few months back.
:)
But getting the recognition and appreciation for it goes a long way to build up his confidence (which can stand on glass legs at times). He lights up like a lightbulb at the compliment, cheeks a bit rosy.]
Thank you very much! I practice a lot.
[He blinks a couple of times,]
A few months back? What happened?
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When I first arrived, the city was... smaller than it is now. Many of the areas open to us were closed off. Part of that meant that there wasn't a lick of music to be had -- no stores selling recordings, no music played in the shops, not a radio to be found. It was downright eerie. This - [ he gestures towards Dorian and his instrument ] - is a welcome sight.
[ While they do have some recordings here and there now, after all, none of it is very good. He prefers Dorian's playing, truth be told. ]
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But he does get a bit of an explanation, and that makes a lot of sense. It's very quiet outside of this carnival, and the music here is just obnoxious.]
Well, thank you-! I will do my best to keep composing and playing. To be fair, it's still eerie to me, especially the buildings with those apartments. [He shudders at the thought.]
Would you like another song? [He looks more than happy to play another upbeat tune.]
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I wouldn't say no to another song. But first, perhaps, your name? [ He holds out a gloved hand for Dorian to shake. ] Mine is Kim Kitsuragi. It's nice to meet you.
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Oh! Dorian Storm, [He accepts the offered hand with a wide smile,] Pleasure to meet you.
So! A new song then for my new friend! [He gives a little bow, takes a step back and starts a new, catchy tune.]
the hold that baldurs gate has had on me..... NOW SEEPING INTO MY DWRP!!!
And once Dorian is finished, he even applauds -- quietly, politely, but not disingenuously. ]
Very nice, [ he says, nodding approvingly. ] Don't let me keep you from performing a full set, of course, but -- this is what you do for a living, is it? You're a musician?
[ Without his full band, unless he's a solo troubadour. Back where Kim is from, the likes of Dorian would have a difficult time finding an audience in this genre, but he's certain others are from places more amenable to this sort of sound. It's difficult for a society to go back when they've already sprinted past disco and reveled in rock and roll, of course. ]
:D
Oh, yes- but-! It's not really needed here. [Almost everything he needs to survive in general is free here so there's no need to hustle for money.] I do it because I love music and performing. And I love seeing others enjoy what I play.
I am what people back home call a bard. I am not sure how much that counts here. [Especially when his bardic magic is nonexistent here.]
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[ Or does it? Kim doesn't know the accuracy of his knowledge, admittedly gathered through film and the shoddy fairs that people of that proclivity put on, a fantastical spin on a historical period. But it's all Kim has to go off of, so he'll stick with it. ]
The title of bard, I mean. We have it back home as well, but it's not in current use. It's used more to describe a historical position, well before my time. Your style of music is considered quite niche, where I'm from.
[ Not at all a bad thing. Kim's own tastes are off the beaten path. ]
From my understanding, a bard is a traveling musician.