THE GUARDIAN
In the pitch black, at the center stage, a large tree which was an entanglement of trees into one, was placed without anyone’s notice or sound. Drums began to play while the tree is engulfed into a new kind of fire that burned green, silhouetting a figure in a Pegan-like ritual attire. A crown of antlers and bones adorning the top of the head while wrapped in robes topped with what looked to be thorned vines and torn cloth flowed with their movements.
(Cifer - You can feel that this tree is alive. This tree is almost More than alive, thrumming with large sources of arcana flowing through it and resonating out and beyond but when the fire was ignited that immediately quickly began dissipating. Louder than the music and the drums screams of pain erupted as the flames too light from a voice too young.)
The darkness seemed to almost warp and bend as something shot out from the flames and melded into the dark of the night, followed by another, the second of which had a wisping trail of the green flames like a dark comet.
The shaman before the fire continued their song and dance, shaping the fire into people, animals, monsters and things in between as the simulated night seemed to tremble in the comet’s wake. As the two rocketing beings collide, a large burst of the fire. The screeching sizzled out as the comet made its way though the fading green light, pathfinding it’s way to the next one correlating in time and cadence of both the narrative and the song. One by one each of the flying targets were tracked down and burned away into the night. The flying figure lapped a ring of fire that burst away when they took off, doing dark.
For most of the crowds, that comet seemed to have disappeared into the night as the main stage performance burned brighter and more dramatic with each thrust of the arm and sway of the crowned head.
At your balcony, there wasn’t warning as a shockwave of the blast hit the seating area where the groups of you sat but your party took the hardest brunt of force. The infrastructure groaned under the impact, although temporary, was still rather sturdy.
Looking out before you was darker than before, the roaring green flames now no longer visible as a large silhouetted figure blocked your eyeline. Heavy metal clad over a heavy metal body stood in your view, wings plated in its metal scales and spread, chest heaving as a dark and twisting wood-like designed helm. The tactical high heels of the armor twisted and shaped into mock talons that you can see gripped onto the balcony’s edge, holding the figure still while they stared down at your party.
(pause for interaction- doesn’t say much until helm is off)
* Seraphina yelps and leans back and away, but so does Guenevere as the flickering flames of their burning hair seemed to almost be drawn towards, pulled to the lantern in his his hands.
* In the balcony over where The Golden Girls sat, you’ll here a audible gasp (from Toni) one of their voices shout-whispered “Minthansi!?” and someone else quickly whisper-shouting back “Ssshhh! Sit down! The performance isn’t over yet and we’re still recording.
* Maria and Toni then have a quick whispered discussion away from where the cameras are set up
(he doesn’t say much until his helmet is taken off)
Taking off his helmet, you’ll see a very recognizable face. While they have their differences, Caine’s eyes are more turquoise while this person’s had a hint more of an icy blue. The straight silver locks of Caine’s was curled just enough more noticeably on the man in armor looking through the party now. But other than those notes and Caine’s lack of having wings or a tail, they truly could have been identical, from their make to the pattern the scales made up their body and flaked across their face and the faceted geometric shape of their horns. He seemed confused for a moment as the clicking of a doll winding up heard behind you.
“Beazuzu~” You hear the ringmaster’s voice coo “He is my personal guest. He’ll be on the balcony a couple over~”
The performer flushed, a bit embarrassed but placed a hand across his chest and gave a respectful but quick bow to the doll. “Thank you Ringmaster” he said quick, only muttering “Enjoy the performance” over his shoulder while quickly walking along banister to banister, reaching the one in the center where he stepped off and entered the seating room.
(Pause for if anyone wants to say anything or do anything)
After a long moment in the Ringleader's personal guest balcony, there was another booming burst as the troupe member rocketed out, barely in time before the singer upon the stage reached the ending of her tale as he crashed down, the bonfire roaring up and encircling the dragon inside, thanks to the addition to the reaching branches of the new split tree while the fires burned out.
THE PRIMA DONNA
With the relaxing silence, the soft notes of stringed instruments such as violins and harps began to sooth through the air while the darkness began to fade. With the first notes escaping the lips of a woman who stood center stage, the light and area around seemed to almost shimmer. The dark and imposing clouds seemed to resign to the elements, their gentle tears caught the breaking light.
Her slow descent down the stairs was held by the jeweled water drops that fell from the sky, forming in harmony with the notes and pace of her song. The translucent stairs reflected and refracted the golden light of the setting sun casting a kaleidoscope of colors and rainbows through the air evoking a sense of awe. Dressed in a flowing gown, like it was made of the moonlight itself, contrasted the sun, pronouncing her grace and commanding elegance in the song she poured her heart into.
(Wisdom save for the strength of love for someone they feel, they also have the choice to fail the save too)
With each note the staircase extended further, floating mid air and sometimes splashed into existence by faint shapes of two dancing swans weaving through the light and rain, followed by blooming flowers and shimmering doves. The stairs slowly failed to form further below but rather within the same place as the spiraling staircase began to rise back into the clouds, and so did the water. The rain fell upwards, rising into the sky with the steps and notes of the orchestra that, contributed to the melody her voice never drowned under but was only complimented by as her voice and talent carried this performance.
The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.
As the song began to reach up, a luminous climax as the lowest stair, raised a decent way over the platform, the last golden rays of the sun pierced bright in harmony with the setting song. A figure in the familiar black mourning attire of the ringleader's dolls stepped entered but was clearly neither her in height nor was doll-like in movement.
The singer took one last leap of faith, the black figure reached up to take her hand in theirs, and gently guided her with a gentle twirl before setting her back down. The silhouette wrapped an arm around her waist, as she smiled back to them warmly, resting a hand on the chest before turning back to the audience.
GRAND FINALE
The two acrobats will also join the stage, spider carrying Valkyrie; Allone carrying Curdenway. Last but not least to join the stage, the winds came together and swirled in Gennali, behind her, Matthew who stayed behind poorly attempting to hide behind both the djinn and the staff but failing.
With the crescendo of the music of the symphony turned into the fanfare, the Soprano spoke up, not in song but to finish the speech that Frostine had started in the beginning. “Everyone here at the circus is family and we are all eager to meet each and every one of you while welcoming you all to our home. Enough words said, I would like to introduce you all to The Grand Elysium Carnival!” She smiled with the silhouette's hand in hers, they in unison took a bow that the rest of the troupe followed.
-
For those with the sight to see past the material and into the arcane, you would see something truly supremely magical in the distance. Rising over the horizon stood up a massive projection of the Ringleader. One set of arms folded calmly in front of her torso as is she always stands while the next set of arms, slide upwards having one hand run its fingers through her hair, the other sliding up from her leg to her upper waist. The third and last set of arms first arch downwards before rounding out to above her head as a ballet performer is known for. As the last set of arms reach above her head, she turned her palms towards the sky, changing the nature of the skyline. In the darkest of nights, the way the night sky and the stars almost seep down into the atmosphere has been the natural order of any place, no matter where, but as the ringmaster’s projection shaped and stood, hands raised, she pushed back the night sky. The sky shaped to resist, in the dark the shape of a large hand pressing back down against the projection, but it wasn't enough and a little too late. Standing at full stature, a large boom rippled across not just the sky but reverberated through the world shaking the sky and ground.
-
The crowd had cheered for the performers and by the grand display that was presented now turned into a silent murmur as a unanimous message appeared on their devices. “Connection error. Battery at 100%”
(Please write this down on your character sheets as a resource management)
-
Next to the party, you would notice that some light has burnt out. Turning to the two phoenix in the viewing box, both their hair had been snuffed out. While they both seemed fine, their golden fire no longer covered Guenevere’s long black mane or Seraphina’s almost platinum, light blonde waves. Between the two, only Guenevere muttered under her breathe “well I’ll be damned” as Seraphina tried casting some healing to see if that will bring back her fire.
-
Displeasure began to ripple through the crowd, confused turned to defensiveness, then into accusations and some outrage and all chaos began to break loose.
Center in the masses was the first explosion of a mystic aura, a starry area that more in the crowd began followed the first example. For those made by the mother of night herself, they climbed these starry domains, reaching for the sky before falling and sliding back down their pathways.
The first to initiate the attempts to reach the sky was a familiar face that’s been haunting the party.
Orion had not wasted a moment in her ascent, not towards the sky but to where the troupe members stood on the balcony.
Lumine stepped back away from the edge while the person in all black held on to her, stepping between the two ladies.
Gennalie on the other hand, feigned innocence, walking backwards until he fell off the platform to the dismay of Matthew who was also completely dodged from trying to stop the wind bearer.
Gennali in descent made a direct trajectory to where Orion raced up but not alone, flanked by multiple proficient yakuza members. The winds began picking up the pace as Gennali streaked faster, lighting sparking as the friction in the air began heating up. Rubbing his hands together, added more to the tension of lightning brewing brighter and hotter the closer to each other they got.
Just as the two were about face to face, Gennali stretched out his arms and clapped his hands together right in front of Orion’s face, igniting a massive fireball.
The flames roared and rolled over each other, smoking out any sign of the two within. The sound of a horse screamed and echoed from the point midair, the flames congealed into the blazing skull as the flames sizzled out of the eyes.
The winds blew away the rest of the smoke and clouds to reveal Reigh on her bike quickly descending. Beneath the bike was Orion who was grabbing at the hot metal beneath to try and pry herself from out under the bike as they both were falling too fast. Reigh Revved the engines and burning the rubber against Orion who didn’t quit trying to fight back against the heavy burning metal pushing her down. With her fighting spirit in mind, Reigh stood up off the bike and pushed the handlebars down further. Drawing one leg back, the second one kicked into the pedal of the bike, giving it a quick spin kick. The hell bike hit Orion directly against the head in a swift motion and by the time it was fixated back under Reigh, Orion was out cold. She was grabbed by the back of her shirt and pulled over the back of the bike. Reigh only revved again in a different gear this time as flames shot out the front and the two of them seemingly disappeared into the flames.
That wasn’t the only chaos that was happening but most of which was subdued by the many, many masked and cloaked figures and their volleys into the crowd. No blood was spilled but many were hit and immediately rendered unconscious, so their only real danger was really the turmoil of the masses.
- (perception checks over 20)
On a not-so-distant rooftop, the form of the Ringleader you know stood. Taller above the natural height but unnervingly still. There wasn't just a still calmness but a hint of a cold rage as she stared down as the people swarming, pushing, shoving; some even rioting, while being subdued. She simply turned and walked away, out of sight after that.
-
Hearing the ticking of springs winding up, identical to the viewing boxes next to you as you’ll hear through the voice box inside the doll. “Please make your way back to the dormitories. You will have an escort to make sure you make it back, safe and sound.”