#circus de la khaos part 3

[calamitousrpgarchive]

Take your seats folks for the S H O W is about to begin, let the Circus E N T E R T A I N you one and all...

The lanterns suddenly dim, the inside of the Big Top darkens, the only visible light streams in from the centre and barely allows sight of the person either side of the next; even those with enhanced vision struggle to determine what’s in the D A R K N E S S around them. Only driven to attention by the beams that swarm the middle; music roars to life, a mechanical twist of cogs that scratch together like an out of time clock...

It begins. Comes in gentle flushes as magnificent silks erupt from the back entrance, manipulates the shape of a D R A G O N with such magical realism it could be mistaken for R E A L and it moves with such grace, obscured figures beneath the covers of the excessive false manifestation, travels the length of the small arena, breaks the fourth walls to flurry along the pathway between ringside and the first row grandstands. 

A B A N G erupts, a single figure appears, a striped cane between clasped hands as the man stands in dead silence. Almost statue-like to the audience who watch with curious eyes to what is to come. A top hat, tipped downwards, head bowed under it; face hidden by clothing; a ringmaster that commands the room - despite the way he stands dead still. There’s a hum of voices whispering; wondering aloud if this is the man responsible for it all; Khaos in the F L E S H, but it’s quiet, bar the movements of the silk dancers that distract watchful eyes; strange shocks to peripheries. 

And the figure doesn’t move. 

From the rear of the ringmaster, a stream of bodies emerge, extravagant feathered tails; peacocks waving ribbons; they dance - match the calm pace of the dragon that amounts a growing number of hungry eyes. High above, a clatter of metal snaps every head upwards, trapeze artists thrown from bars as the business of the room intensifies. 

Though nothing B E Y O N D what hasn’t been done before, no?

The show remains like that, hold for a few more beats - present, a lion; a typical act that puts its handler close to headless; it’s truly just that; a  C I R C U S.

And the audience begin to grow restless - the immortals hungry for blood; for the promised performances that dragged them there; it becomes obvious in the room too...

The first person stands to leave - and like a trigger, the voice snaps to attention; comes from the centre of the ring:

K H A O S

Am I not E N T E R T A I N I N G you? Is my Circus not to your liking; too M U N D A N E for you to E N J O Y? Pity. 

You can’t say I really didn’t T R Y to be a good host to you all; that I wasn’t K I N D to provide my services. Let me introduce the T R U E awaited K H A O S shall I? 

Thank me later, 

If you’re still alive, of course...

It’s instant. The snap of broken chains; the S C R E A M that tears through the Big Top like a banshee freshly released from a cage; though this is pained; A G O N I S E D in its manner. Something heavy drops from the roof of the Big Top; a body H A N G S almost still. An unrecognisable face is choking on their own blood, iron clasped around their throat, a wish wash of rusted chains tight on the individual; unbreakable. The sight is ghastly, the body mauled by harsh claws, the only indication that under the mass of dried crimson is something alive is the way the spasms of muscle fight to breathe beneath the weight of chains that bind them there.

And for those with impeccable vision and know their ranks; the vampires K N O W that there hangs their O V E R L O R D; strung up for all to see by the circus as thought that is an event. it’s delayed, the hiss of questioning; the way the body writhes to escape the clutches of metal. Khaos isn’t done:

Still here? Why, thank you - have I finally gained your undivided attention? Does the OVERLORD have such an affect on you; don’t they look pretty now? 

The panic is late, the dragon that’s been dancing circles around the ringside ignites; a demon’s fire sparking it to life, catches those in the first row of Grandstand Two and the Ringside - now it truly looks alive; an impossible beast marked to carry death. There’s more screaming. Where Demon Fire lights up the wooden slats of the seating, the ones scorched by flames shriek and howl; cave under burnt wood. 

There’s a S I C K E N I N G sound of bones crunching from above, the trapeze artists suddenly replaced by grotesque creatures; demons in their true forms and human bound skin sheds and drops down below; heavy thumps of guts splattering to the ground to leave mutilated piles; a stench that’s foul comes with it.

The head of the ringmaster jerks upwards, a mask where features should be; pale like a ghost, holeless and with the impression that KHAOS cannot see; that beneath the darkness of the metal cast face there is no potential to witness his own oncoming K A R N A G E. 

Because that comes in the form of something resembling G U N F I R E, certainly sounds similar, the peacock dancers throwing spherical cannisters into the audience; paired with E X P LO S I O N S that shake the room; small metal shards pepper unsuspecting guests and that panic that’s been withheld..

Kicks in...

Everyone grapples to their feet; a free for all of sirvivors that haven’t been singed, bulleted or reduced to ash... some in pieces; limbless and crawling along grasslands... stepped on by careless immortals; stamped on by even less sympathetic monsters...

F I N A L L Y, Khaos adds, The S H O W has begun; I promised you K H A O S... 

HERE IT IS.

The dragon; now fully resembling a magical entity sits below the strung Overlord, coaxes a real awful scream for their voicebox as flames engulf the body, reduce the choking to a gargle untill nothing but a blackened and withered form remains; a S A C R I F I C E to the Circus...

And everyone in the Ringside seating can’t escape it fast enough; a wave of heat expels from the form with enough force to send all off their feet and stumbling to recompose their senses; those still alive; unharmed fighting to get to the exit. 

But it’s gone; the walls of the tent proven impossible to break - knives, guns evaporating on its touch and where the magic binding everyone in the room distracts them, still dodging Khaos’ showman who have intent to make them the G R A N D  D I S P L A Y, begin to crowd and just as a few guests direct their attention to the ringmaster himself.

He vanishes in smoke; that darkness sweeping the room in a flash and suddenly; the harshness of rough wild magic scratches claws at the skin of all within; and when lights return to the chaotic mass of moving bodies... they are no longer in a recognisable big top...

It’s a M A Z E; tracks underneath them, steel and stone walls haphazard and staggering the mass into smaller, unplanned groups that must dare to E S C A P E the new route they’ve been contained in; or at least, T R A P P E D and forced to navigate a dark pit. Khaos’ voice thrums one final twisted introduction:

Welcome to the G H O S T  M A Z E, last one to the exit is M I N E. 

Run quickly sweet creatures, for I like to keep my promises and I want you to see all the R E A L things within these walls that you’ll never have seen before...

Try not to die now will you...

                                     Easier said than done...

                                                            Because I want to look you in the eyes first...

Within the M A Z E 

it is built from nightmares; pulled from vivid thoughts of those confined within its walls and made  R E A L by imagination. The deepest, darkest monstrosities that creature fear lives inside as G H O S T S of the maze, haunting the thick stone and striking pain into those who manifested them. Accompanied by T R A P S that are designed for the strongest of immortals, there’s a sudden need to work as a team; as a unit with the ones who would deem to be unlikely allies

For if you’re left alone with your fears... driven to insanity by them and S T U C K in a loop that your mind can’t free itself from.. well then you better hope you die before Khaos catches you...

NOTE: This is the main conclusion of the Circus De La Khaos event, the final part of 3.5 comes to close the event done, but until then, your characters must survive their darkest of nightmare; face their demons and stare them in the eye whilst they attempt to navigate through a concrete maze with both allies and foe...

Are you going to try risk it alone, leave old enemies behind? Find an unlikely companion? You choose. This part of the event will conclude Monday 3rd August, Midnight. 

Keep in mind, if your character was seated in a detrimental hit zone; they might be nursing some serious injuries too... that’s without ordinary enemies playing fatal parts...

Good luck Crooked Souls...

                                                  Dare I say...

                                                                                 You might need it...

[calamitousrpgarchive]

The Carnival of Karnage has arrived; the Circus of Khaos that invite all (with a ticket, of course.) to attend what will be a S P E C T A C L E. 

With the unexpected arrival of the Master of Khaos and his Circus in The Haven, heads turn; whip sideways to try catch a glimpse of what is hidden behind curtains; shrouded by grand tents than hide all its newcomers behind fabrics. It stirs unease amongst the neutral ground - the presence unannounced and as uninvited as it is, some wish to burn it to the ground; unwelcome to put up such entertainment in a place where peace is as shaky as the walls of the Berserker’s Bar. It’s G R A N D and not without attention calling for it to open its doors to the public; all its whispers; the rumours spreading amongst the creatures that it harbours the worst kind of  M O N S T E R S, one that rival the beasts of old. 

There’s the sound of sirens; it’s deafening, even to those who do not have the enhanced abilities to pick it up from every crevasse of The Haven. It rips through the expanse, alerts all the residents to something and shortly, the echo of the Master of Khaos himself rings loud: Roll up, roll up, one and all, for I, Khaos, invite you all bearing tickets to the S H O W, come see The Spectre’s, The Harrowing and be witness to a main event that will be once in a L I F E T I M E, for all the immortals; it’ll be the first and L A S T you will ever see, for it is a W O N D E R. 

Come for a night of karnage and khaos, I promise it’ll be a night to remember; but it waits for no one, stroke of midnight, hand in your ticket at the entrance and admire H I S T O R Y in the making; aeternum memoriae.

A fizzle of static signals the ending; mixed feelings spread amongst those who hear the call. An I N V I T A T I O N that most do not want to miss; even the eldest of creatures stay curious of what new marvels are behind the ribbon. The bustle of movement resumes in the neutral ground, loud talks of who’s been invited - a personal ticket sent to those worthy of Khaos’ performances, signed by the monster himself and eagerly waiting for the show to B E G I N...

Grand Opening | 29th July, 2130 Doors open: Midnight Main Event: The Witching Hour (3:00am)

Carnival Games | Open from Midnight

Blood Hammer - Try your luck at the strength test, slam the hammer down, watch the ballot rocket up the stretch of what seems like it has no end; swallowed in the fog of the sky, the only way you know you’ve hit the bell is when blood spills from above and drenches you in crimson. A vampire’s favourite game.  Hook a Stomach - As it sounds, you know they float in water right? Bloat to a grotesque and unsightly mass that bob in the water; stuffed with an assortment of grisly prizes - even some of what they last ate, the wolves love it there; what a feast.  Smoke Out - Meant for the dead, a survival of the fittest that works like a lockbox; trapped in a cube as it gradually fills with toxic fumes even the most powerful are broken by; tortures the player inside until they scream defeat - if you last five minutes, you’ll win a demon’s deal; no soul needed. Dare you risk it? Wheel of Fortune - Cost: A tooth; ripped from your mouth and given as an offering to the Keeper and if they accept the freshly torn tooth, you will get a chance to spin the wheel. [This will be dropped in PD 1.5. and you will get to submit to the main for a chance to spin the wheel. Get your teeth at the ready - we’re serious.] Blade Spinner - How goods your aim? Throw a knife at a board as it spins; we promise its a volunteer strapped to it; ignore the screaming, it’s excitement. If you miss, you get cut - if you hit, you get another throw... see where we’re going here? If they ... pass over... K H A O S will personally reward you...

Have F U N Crooked Dwellers...

                                    K H A O S sends his regards,

                                                                             He’ll see you S O O N...

NOTE: The Circus De La Khaos event will begin from Tuesday 28th July, 23:00GMT (18:00CST) and will run through til Thursday 29th July, 18:00GMT (13:00CST) During this time you may post and write event related starters and reply to event based opens! 

Ticket holders may enter, socialise on the neutral ground and indulge in the Pre-Main event games that are run by a myriad of the Khaos Circus team; careful though, some aren’t as straightforward as they seem...

Please be aware, this is only Part 1 of the Circus De La Khaos event!