genessia | PLAYER EVENT: GENESSIA CARNIVAL

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PLAYER EVENT: GENESSIA CARNIVAL

Genessia Carnival

The week of the carnival has arrived! With the combined effort of paid workers, volunteers, Azura, and those Azura decided were going to help her (Looking at you Fam), the setup has gone without a hitch. Those who come by the large park in Genessia City during the morning and afternoon of the 16th will see the carnival in various stages of completion. It isn't the sun starts to set and the sky begins to burn the colors of pink and orange with a topping of blue that the lights on the carnival tents and other structures come to life.

THE CARNIVAL IS ON.

It's clear that the carnival takes up almost all of the park; it's setup done so that the rides, attractions, booths and other assorted portions of the carnival are setup around ponds and lakes and take advantage of paths in the park. At the entrance are a myriad of food stalls, while the bigger rides are further in the back. In between are smaller attractions like games, but more importantly this is where all of the booths for the residents are set up. Several rows deep, the offerings here are wildly different and each engaging in its own way. Lastly, the larger attractions of the Carnival are organized in the large central portion of the carnival where a large area has been cleared and sectioned off in 4 large rectangles to house each with plenty of room.

Carnival Fare

Food And Drink - There are so many smells that sometimes your nose might be confused. From the scent of roasting meat, to the smell of sugary sweet cotton candy, the myriad of scents mingle throughout the whole carnival. There's an entire section of picnic tables for carnival goers to take a load off and eat their fill. The admission ticket even paid for complimentary drinks! However, there are plenty of stalls that are offering much more interesting options, including alcohol (for adults only!). Food ranges in price of course, and unfortunately there are a few stalls that might be overpricing their food...
Rides and Attractions - The carnival isn't complete without classic carnival rides. There's a ferris wheel, teacups, several different merry-go-rounds, as well as a SUPER ROMANTIC Tunnel of Love. For the more adventurous there's even a few smaller sized roller coasters as well as an interesting looking magically powered water slide that's powered by a couple of local wizards and a "Doctor". One of the most popular rides seems to be the bumper cars, where each car has the chance to change shape on impact. Lastly for those who are brave enough there's a 2 story haunted house of mirrors full of jump scares and atmospheric music.
Games and Stalls - THIS is where all of those stalls that were signed up for are. Of course, they make up the bulk of stalls, though the ones that are food oriented border the area mentioned earlier. Other booths such as shooting ranges, pingpong ball toss, fortune tellers, toy building booths and even a couple of booths where you can fish up your own little fish pet are here. Careful though, some of these booths are lowkey ripoffs, since they were largely built by volunteers. Should you get scammed it's wise to try and find security rather than handle it yourselves.

Main Attractions

Randomized Plays - These plays are held nightly, but they're not your traditional plays. Participants are chosen from the audience who paid admission! On top of that, the roles are randomly assigned. You never really know what you're going to get, so in the end the plays come out a lot like improv. They're also largely hilarious, unintentionally or otherwise as often the two plays wind up intermingled! Once, Rumtumtugger wound up playing the part of Belle, while Gaston had to do a solo song all on his own... In the end, it'll be up to you what role your character plays, but it's never quite what's expected. Behind the scenes must be a riot no matter what!
Obstacle Course - One attraction at the center of the carnival seems to weave around the other three, and out into the grounds itself. It's a complicated series of obstacles, from a pit of inky, oily water, to slippery bridges and swinging portions that need to be dodged. Portions of the course are even quite vertical, offering a strenuous climb as part of the challenge. This course is not for the faint of heart, and many will find themselves having to give up halfway through, or even being disqualified by being knocked out of the course. Those who choose to work together might make it farther but in the end only one can win. Be prepared for betrayal if you take that route...
Eating Competition - There's not just one eating competition during the week of the carnival. Instead, several are held throughout the week. Hotdogs are first, followed by pancakes, then burgers. After that, towards the final three days of the carnival the bigger competitions start.
- Hotdogs - how many can you eat in 5 minutes?
- Pancakes - how many can you eat in 5 minutes?
- Burgers - how many can you eat in 8 minutes?
- Whole Chickens - You have 3, can you eat them all in 12 minutes?
- Whole Turkey - You have an entire turkey, how much can you eat in 10 minutes?
- 6 Tier Chocolate Cake - Finish the whole cake to win. (Hour Time Limit)
Those who have supernatural abilities are given an extra challenge to make things fair. For those who eat themselves sick there is a medical tent nearby, and of course plenty of room for a crowd of spectators.
Jousting Competition - The colorful, campy and overall cheesy look of this jousting competition almost looks like a childish version of the competition. However, the prizes are real. Instead of the prize for the winning "knight" the winner of each match will be able to earn a fair sum of redbills! It's enough to cover the entry fee paid for the competition and then a couple hundred on top of that. Each participant chooses their weapon, but they all have different strange additional abilities depending on their color...
- Yellow - sparkles on impact
- Red - screams upon impact
- Green - slimes whatever it hits
- Blue - freezes what it touches for 3 seconds
For this competition special abilities beyond that of a normal human are dampened by special units hidden in the ring. Disabling them would of course, wind up in the participant being disqualified.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Anastasia still accepts him. He has a very good reason, after all.

Her circlet is still worn proudly, but after one incident, she takes better care that it isn't too exposed. She Will still nibble away at the treat carefully, though.]

A shooting gallery? Sure! I hope they have a lot of cute plushie prizes~

They usually do. The trick is figuring out how the game is rigged. A lot of the time they'll give you a pellet gun with a crooked barrel, for example. Or a cork gun that isn't strong enough to reach.

[Not that he can't fudge either of those, if it turns out the range is being dishonest.

It's a fairly short walk from the food stalls to the games, almost certainly by design. The way they've integrated everything into the existing structure of the park is kind of impressive, to be honest.]

Hmm. I do see a few plushies in there, but most of the prizes seem to be vouchers for carnival stuff. What would you like me to try and aim for?

[Vouchers for carnival stuff? What kind-]

Plushies, please~

[That was a fast answer. No girl can ever have too many stuffed animals on her bed.]

[Food and rides, mostly. But that's the answer he expected anyway. He nods, and steps up to the counter.

The gun he's offered is a light pellet gun - he inspects it to make sure it's not crooked, taking note as he does that the barrel isn't rifled. Not that it matters terribly in something this light, but still.]

How many shots do I need to hit for the plushies?

Five inside the red ring for the small ones, ten for the big ones. It's a quarter redbill a shot.

[Soma nods, and retrieves a five note from the wallet he's keeping inside his sleeve pocket.] This should be plenty for two of them, I think.

[The attendant gives him a wary look. Five bills gives him twenty shots - either he's very confident, or he's aiming for the small ones. Maybe one of each, if he's relatively decent, but nobody's won two big ones on a fiver yet.]

[Anastasia quietly stood at his side, watching him with a twinkle in her eyes. The gesture alone makes her happy and winning a stuffed animal or two is happiness she can hug any day.

She wonders what he'll win? She already has a panda, a bear, a surfing Pikachu and a tiger plushie waiting for her on her bed at home.]

I believe in you, Soma~

[True to the barker's predictions, Soma's first couple shots are off the mark. He's really trying not to cheat, here, and it would be so easy to rely on Armalaic Sniper to hit the bullseye every time. But he's not a terrible shot all on his own - after those first two shots, he doesn't miss a single one. The barker's jaw slowly drops as he watches.]

Wh-where did you learn to shoot like that?

You wouldn't believe me if I told you. So let's say my father taught me and leave it there, shall we?

[Definitely a lie. His father was gone before Soma was old enough to use a gun, and anyway, he wouldn't have had access to one in Japan.]

Which ones would you like, Anya? I think we qualify for one of each size? [The attendant nods, thankful internally that this strange man isn't putting down the two quarters it would take to earn him the double large prize. These are pretty decent quality animals, and he's been relying on the average carnival-goer's terrible aim to turn a profit.]

[Anastasia softly claps. Happy Anya is happy.
With a smile just as bright and pretty, she points at the brightly colored bunny.]

I want that one~

Just the one? I mean, I won't complain, but you scored enough points for a small one to go with it. ...Tell you what. [The barker steps away to dig in the small storage room behind the shooting gallery, and returns with another bunny - this one smaller than the first, but patterned similarly.]

These two came as a set. I split them because I didn't think anyone was going to earn enough to get them both - til your friend proved me wrong.

A mama bunny and a baby bunny~

[Anastasia looks at them gleefully, glancing at Soma appreciatively and looking to the barker.]

Can I really have them?

They're yours, miss. Fair and square. [He gives her the buns and a big smile, and then gives Soma a smaller smile and a 'move along' look. And it's no wonder, because there's a queue forming behind him. Seeing a winner always makes other people want to try their luck.]

Thank you. C'mon, Anya, let's move along and let this gentleman go on with his business.

[Unfortunately, Soma's funnel cake is now about as hard as a brick, and no longer edible by his standards. He discards it in a nearby bin, and ponders their options.] What would you like to try next?

[Anya's funnel cake was in the same predicament. She had no choice but to discard it as well so she can carry-hold her bun-buns in a hug.]

Want to go on any of the rides? I wouldn't mind the ferris wheel.

The ferris wheel would be fine. But I don't think we should hit the coasters, especially not after eating.

[He leads the way, but stops at a stall before they get there.] Two small cups, please. I'll have strawberry - what flavor do you want, Anya? [Shaved ice, the perfect treat for a warm carnival day.]

Roller coasters are scary too.

[Shaved ice! A good way for her to stay cool and not get sick from hot or warm weather.]

I'll have strawberry as well.

A little, yeah. [Not as scary as the average face eating demon, of course. But why split hairs?]

Two strawberry cups, coming up. [The man steps back to a block of ice - an actual block of ice - and sets to work with a sharp knife. Where it touches the block the blade frosts over almost instantly, and a faint field of what looks like heat haze can just barely be seen around it.]

That's an interesting effect. Magic or technology?

What, this? Magic. I don't trust that technology stuff. A wizard over in Fayren cooked up the charm for me. Anything I put in here freezes and stays frozen as long as it's in the field.

[Even if she is wearing the circlet, her instincts make her back away from the heat.]

Amazing... I wish my magic had utility uses.

[Yeah, even if she tries to control her magic, she still runs the risk of it backfiring in a nasty magical blast.]

Who said anything about it having to be yours, little lady? I haven't got a pinch of magic of my own. This thing runs on something like a battery.

[Soma hmm's thoughtfully.] At the shop, we carry things like this. Not specifically like this, but... stored spells. Artifacts and focii, wands, staves... Have you ever tried using something like that, Anya?

If I can get 'em working, anyone can.

Ah... Mister Caine was going to give me something like a focii, but he never arrived. I guess something else came up...

Sorry, I forget most people don't speak Latin. The singular is 'focus', Anya. Remind me later, and I'll let you try one of the basic ones to see whether they'll conflict with your magic or not.

Order up! Two small strawberries, as requested. [The attendant puts two small paper cups full of strawberry flavored ice on the counter.] That'll be two redbills.

[Soma pays up and collects the cups, then frowns slightly.] I don't suppose you've got a bag back there? Gonna be kind of awkward to carry her plushies and eat this at the same time.

[He reaches under the counter and, after searching for a second, comes up with a plastic shopping bag. It's clean and empty.] Brought my syrups over in this. It should do the job well enough.

[But soft, huggable bun-buns... More hugs later.
Anastasia holds her stuffed animals so Soma can hold it open for her, then she can drop them in.

Once her hands are free, she can collect her shaved ice.]

This looks good. Thank you~

Yer welcome, lass. Take care not to get any on that lovely robe.

[Soma does the thing, and they move on toward the ferris wheel. There isn't a huge line yet - they got here fairly early, after all - but there's enough of one to finish their treat while they wait. Finally, it's their turn to step aboard.]

This is a pretty big wheel, for a carnival this size. I'm kind of impressed.

[She is extra careful not to stain her kimono. She knows a lot of work went into making it.

As they settle in the ferris wheel car, across from Soma, she sighs contentedly.]

It's been a good few years since I rode one of these.

Same here. I think the last time, I was... about twelve? Mina and her grandfather took me to the carnival. I wasn't the healthiest person, back then - I stayed sick more or less all the time. Just getting me there was a bit of a production, to be honest - we had to go at night, and we had to stop and rest pretty often. I'm not sure which of us needed breaks more often - me or grandpa Hakuba.

[He looks out the side window and sighs.] I kind of miss home, sometimes. There were good times, even back then. But I've been happier since I came here than I ever was there.

So like me, you were confined to home for one reason or another. With very few friends.

I miss home as well. Maybe not the war, but everything before it. I made so many wonderful new friends, you especially. I got to experience so many new things. At long last, I didn't have to be "Princess Anastasia" or just some weapon at the God-Queen's service. I'm just an ordinary girl.

[She scoots a little closer to the window for a better view, but her attention remains on Soma.]

What is it that made you happier here?

Friends that aren't afraid of me. You have no idea how hard it was, once I learned... what I am, to know that everyone was avoiding me, or wanted me to sign on with their crusade. I love my friends, I really do, but there's only so many monsters one person can vanquish before you start wondering whether you're the bigger monster.

[He sighs again. That almost certainly wasn't the answer she wanted, and he knows it.] The biggest thing, though, is getting to do stuff like this - without worrying that some cult is going to show up and try to steal away or kill everything and everyone dear to me.

[It isn't, but it's still something. Not the best something, but aomething.]

To wake up every day, knowing you will see your friends again and be with them. Every day, not having to wield magic or weapons to fight for any Goddess-given reason, but just pick up a cup of shaved ice and share with someone special.

That's happiness, isn't it?

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