polymods: (Default)
polymods ([personal profile] polymods) wrote in [community profile] polylogs2021-05-01 03:00 pm

Destination: Carcosa

POLYMYTHOS: CARCOSA

Carcosa


Ⅰ. THE TEMPLE
You can read all about your character's arrival in the game lore.
The island's harbour is full of other ships, although not a single one of them seems to actually have a human being aboard. (You could certainly try to steal one, but doing so is an exercise in futility - you will find that even if you set off into the ocean you will wind up right back in the harbour again after spending a few hours lost in the fog.) Beyond the harbour is a glittering city of glass and gold. Curving arches and sharp geometric lines are the hallmarks of the architecture - an art deco paradise that whispers of decadence and hope for the future.

The people who crowd the streets wear suits and hats, drop-waist dresses and furs. Their faces are all blank smiles. It's the roaring twenties, darling, why do you look so concerned?

If it is your first experience of the Endless Isles, you have access to the High Temple. Should you wish, you may also seek out the island's own temple as well, which is located inside the city, in a district mostly forgotten by the residents. Don’t worry - your feet will carry you there.

The building is not large, and it is old and neglected. It has a domed ceiling, with panels of glass crisscrossed with metal painted gold curving upward. Whatever fine pattern may have formed there is lost to time; the glass at the centerpoint of the dome is gone, letting in the smell of the sea.

There are rooms equipped with beds spreading out like a spiderweb from the middle of the building. The temple proper is of course in the exact center, below the broken dome. In the middle of this circular room you will find dead branches gathered together to make a vaguely humanoid shape. This crude figure has been haphazardly painted yellow. A slab of concrete sits in front of it. There is not much to explore here; it is very quiet.

Either temple is a good place to simply rest, or meet some of your fellow Travelers. The High Temple of course has the Temple Chef and its usual Guardians, Flock, and Lantern.

The Island Temple has its own Guardians, which are small, pale humanoids with perfectly blank faces and small antlers like young deer. They will leave you alone unless you try to meddle with the central room. Doing so will result in one of them approaching you, and you will find yourself falling unconscious on the floor.



Ⅱ. THE MASQUERADE
Through happenstance, you find yourself in an enormous ballroom. Low couches are dotted everywhere, and a live band plays somewhere at the end of the massive space. A long bar takes up one side of the room, bottles sparkling under the light cast from the many cut-glass chandeliers hanging overhead. Champagne flows freely, and the scent of gin pervades the air.

All of the attendees are wearing masks.

You're dressed for the occasion, of course - you will find yourself wearing something reminiscent of 1920s America, with a small yellow sigil of some sort pinned to your breast. Ask any of the guests about it and they will tell you, "ah, it's a secret." You too, of course, are wearing a mask. You did not pick this mask, but if you look in the mirror hung over the bar you will find that it nonetheless hints at some aspect of your personality.

Which would be all well and good, except that you can't take the bloody thing off.

Moving around the ballroom, you will discover that a few other people also have the yellow sigil pinned to their clothing. It probably shouldn't surprise you that these people are all other Travelers, equally unable to take their mask off.

No, you can't unmask until you share something with your new-found friend: a secret. A REAL one, the sort you'd never speak aloud.

Of course, you can choose not to share. If you choose that route, however, you'll find that the mask is fusing with your skin. Leave it on past midnight when the cries of "UNMASK! UNMASK!" begin, and it will simply become your new face for the duration of the month.



Ⅲ. THE PLAY
Maybe parties aren't your style. No fear, there's plenty more to do and see in such a wondrous city. There's a theatre - the Meliora Grand as a matter of fact - and perhaps you're just the sort of person who would like to take in the arts.

The theatre has plush seats, and fabulous electric sconces lining the wall. Once you take your seat you'll find yourself looking at the stage, where a blood-red velvet curtain hangs. The theatre doesn't seem to fill up - indeed, it really seems that there's only you and one or two other people there. Curious.


The lights go down and the curtain is drawn open, revealing... well. Not much.

There are two chairs on the stage, a table between them. On the table lays a pallid face: a mask. Just a mask. Why not go on up and take a closer look?

Should you choose to touch the mask, you will feel a deep urge to speak to whoever else is in the theatre. You will, in fact, feel the desire to act out some sort of emotional trauma with them. Perhaps they suddenly look like your mother, your father, a lover who left you. Why don't you tell them how you really feel?

Naturally, you can both just sit in awkward silence instead. You'll be waiting until the morning to be let out, if that's the case.



Ⅳ. LOST CARCOSA
CW: the undead.
You find yourself walking along the beach at night. Along the shore the cloud-waves break, and black stars rise above you.

You can't quite pinpoint when you realise you are no longer alone. Maybe there is only one other person on the beach with you, or perhaps a few; you move as one down the expanse of sand until you realise there is something laying up ahead of you.

There is a heap of yellow cloth there, dry and tattered with age. It smells faintly of spices. Nestled among it is a jewel-encrusted human skull. Its empty sockets compel you to sit down in the cool, bone-white sand, to sit and speak to those around you about loss.

Everyone has lost something important to them. A person, a thing, a place, an aspect of the self. Something that's gone and you're never getting back. The skull grins endlessly, endlessly, encouraging you to speak about something you may not have laid to rest.

You can resist this compulsion. Maybe you were never good at sharing. Refuse the skull's silent request and you may continue down along the beach, or perhaps head back the way you came. As you walk, however, you will notice that there is a fog rolling in. It comes in off the sea/sky, obscuring the beach until you can barely see.

It's a terribly handy cover for the corpses that are shambling out of the surf. Wet, bloated, with eyes that glow a dim gold, they head for you silently. They wish to drag you back with them, into the depths. Better hope you can outrun or outfight them.

Bonus: What's that? You want a Carcosa playlist? You've got it, babes!


Network · Logs · OOC · Memes · Plurk

omertae: (• i've got a new story now)

masquerade~

[personal profile] omertae 2021-05-06 11:26 am (UTC)(link)
[ All things considered, Angelo doesn't mind his mask, burnished gold and unmistakably demonic in shape. It covers most of his face, leaving only the still-sullen tilt to his mouth and his deep-set eyes visible. Sure, it's stuck to his face for the foreseeable future, but it doesn't take a genius to work out that everyone's masks reflect them somehow. It's almost flattering.

At the bar, he's ordered himself something that looks like it might be a brandy, one hand fitted into the pocket of his trousers while he waits. Her question just about surprises him, until he takes in her mask. It's undeniably ugly. Angelo doesn't think he'd want that on his face either. ]


Have you tried pulling really fucking hard?
omertae: (• they believe us in who we are)

masquerade —

[personal profile] omertae 2021-05-06 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
Angelo's own mask provides the same benefits – there's nothing obscuring his mouth, which makes drinking easy. All told, Angelo really doesn't mind it. If it's meant to unsettle him, to know there's something demonic inside him that the mask is trying to broadcast to the world, then it's not working. He's grateful for it, really: it's a wordless warning, of a sort.

They reach for the same glass, the last one on a tray as it's passing by. Booker gets to it first, and Angelo's eyes narrow, squinting at him, taking in him and the mask he's wearing as if he can interpret a personality through it, as he slides both hands back into his pockets.

"What is that, vodka?" It's clear, whatever it is. Angelo wrinkles his nose. "You can have it."
neverwither: (Curious Chloe)

03. The Play

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-06 11:35 am (UTC)(link)
It's the stillness that draws Chloe to the same place. That and the hopeful promise of being able to get lost in a play and away from her own thoughts. Not to mention it would be interesting, and potentially useful, to learn more about the culture of the place.

As she enters, she sees a woman heading for the stage. Curious. It’s not out of the realm of possibility for it to be part of the performance but surely there would be more in attendance if this was a scheduled show? But really, why would she think that anything would run as it should?

Hovering in the aisle, she watches as the scene continues to unfold. Glances around her to see if there’s anyone else in any of the seats. Whatever is transpiring, it doesn’t seem to be for the enjoyment of a tangible audience.

Carefully approaching the stage, Chloe sits herself on the edge of it as she doesn’t want to crowd the woman. “Are you alright?” she asks gently.
omertae: (• don't need no advice)

masquerade —

[personal profile] omertae 2021-05-06 11:42 am (UTC)(link)
[ At first he thinks they have the same mask, or one similar enough in shape that he's intrigued by her from across the room. But upon closer inspection, closer together at the bar, Angelo realises that it's her hair making the shape of horns, her hair or simply the shape of her skull. Angelo's own horns are a product of his mask, burnished gold and unmistakably demonic, but after the initial panic of not being able to get the thing off his face, he's come to quite like it.

She's taking off her shoes. For some reason it makes him think of Victoria at their wedding, the way she'd put her hand on his chest while she lifted a leg to unfasten the strap of her shoe. It's a weird flash of memory, sudden and then gone, tactile with little context. ]


Need a hand?

[ He's not sure where the question came from. He's not really the type to offer assistance, but he's said it now. Maybe he can sidestep his way into asking about the horns. ]
neverwither: (It’ll be alright (or I could be sneaky))

The Temple

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-06 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Despite her misgivings, Chloe has been milling around the temple. It’s somewhere she can observe the others who seem to have been brought to the island and collect herself without all the hustle and bustle of the city proper. Any port in a storm, as the saying goes.

Hearing the refusal of the rations, the blonde smiles a little to herself. Even in the unknown chaos they find themselves in, there’s still the kindness of strangers. If the band of Travelers can’t rely on each other a little bit, who can they?

In the spirit of paying it forward, Chloe collects a set of rations that she doesn’t need. Going up to the man, she holds out the supplies with a small smile. “Here. As one good turn deserves another.”
neverwither: (Shy Chloe)

The Masquerade

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-06 01:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Chloe looks down at herself through the eye holes of her mask as if to check that she’s still sporting the same symbol. Doesn’t seem to be going anywhere yet. “Oh. Yes. It looks like we’re part of the same secret society.” No pun intended.

“I haven’t had much luck in figuring out exactly what it’s supposed to be, though…” Other than the fact that everyone wearing the contraption on their wrist appears to wear the symbol as well. Being marked out in such a way doesn’t exactly sit well with Chloe, but at least there doesn’t seem to be any more rhyme or reason to it than them all being ‘Travelers’.

“How about you? Any thoughts on this pinnacle of high fashion?” Chloe is all warm tones, but there’s a genuine curiosity about whether anything has been discovered or any hypotheses that may have been made. Two heads are better than one, after all.
neverwither: (Curious Chloe)

II. The Masquerade

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-06 01:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Knocked by someone, Chloe assumes one of the other guests has gotten a little too enthusiastic with their dancing. Ready to say it’s no problem at all, please don’t worry and then go about her party business, she turns towards said someone. Only instead of finding someone with careless footing, she finds a woman flailing as she tries to wrench off the mask.

In a bid to stop it without distressing the woman more, Chloe gently puts a hand on her arm. Even though her own mask probably doesn’t help matters much. ]
I’m not sure if that’s such a good idea…

[ The masks don’t show any signs of budging but who knows? The poor woman could end up seriously hurting herself. ] I know this is… Well, to say ‘unusual’ would be an understatement but I’m sure that we could figure out something together?
suckonthis: (daddy stuck you in a groundhog's day)

[personal profile] suckonthis 2021-05-06 01:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Would you like to clarify on that 'not Earth' bit?

[ He almost sounds confused by the idea, but he's... well, here, so Ryo really should anticipate some weird shit. ]

A different planet? An alternate plane?
unkindled_madness: (unimpressed)

[personal profile] unkindled_madness 2021-05-06 01:50 pm (UTC)(link)
[He is unimpressed by her finger-waggling.]

I suppose a timer is more likely than ghosts, even at this level of technology.

[...he actually does believe in ghosts, he just doesn't think they're very common.

He walks to the side of the stage, because if it
is on a timer, some part of the mechanism should be visible... but he's not seeing one yet.]
cryptsleeper: (arrogantpire)

[personal profile] cryptsleeper 2021-05-06 01:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Silence again, but at least the reason is clear. An additional corpse lumbers towards Alucard, the bloating mixed with seaweed that trails off of outstretched arms and corpse smell hanging heavy in the air. The word unpleasant is far too light a descriptor, and with heightened dhampir senses, the stench is overwhelming.

So it can probably be forgiven that this particular body gets a rougher go of it, starting with a rushing head start that sees Alucard become a blur that disappears. Where he was, the corpse stumbles, and in that moment, Alucard appears behind the thing. Uses the forward momentum it already has to place a firm kick to the back and send the thing crashing onto the sand.

Only then does Loki get a response, still terse and focused on only the matter at hand. ]


Given I said retreat, light to cut through this fog and towards the city itself would be preferred.
suckonthis: (i'm out of starch for my collar)

[personal profile] suckonthis 2021-05-06 01:56 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He is holier than thou, but that doesn't mean he shouldn't be punched in the gut. Hell, a fight might make this party more fun; it's certainly a dance that Ryo's familiarized himself with in the past few months. Simon' s distaste for his fellow blond is palpable; Ryo just doesn't seem to care much for the poor second first impression. He counters the turn of Simon's mouth (disgust, hm?) with a pleasant smile. It's doesn't meet his eyes, but it rarely does anyway. ]

Most of us want to get home. I don't think you're going to manage it alone, so yes. Connections.

[ Oh, but there is a hint of impatience at the last comment. With a final sip he smoothly puts the half-empty glass on the tray of some poor server that had cycled around. Fine, Simon. Have it your way, even if it's at the price of Ryo's continued shitty ego being on display. ]

I'm doing fine, actually. I'm just pitying your social skills.

[ POT CALLING KETTLE, RYO. ]

I'm not trying to step on your toes. If I wanted to do that I'd ask you to dance.
medeiun: ɪᴍᴀᴋᴇʀᴘɪᴄᴏɴs (pic#14876274)

III. Lost Carcosa.

[personal profile] medeiun 2021-05-06 03:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The beach calls to Maleficent too — someplace that stands apart from the sharp golden angles of the city, away from its manmade sleekness and perfection. As much as she can appreciate a grandiose appearance (she certainly knows how to make one of her own, with all the leather and whatnot), for her such things are a mask, a protection. When she removes her leather headpiece and lets her long hair free, lets herself look like a fae creature, she feels a breath of relief as she steps towards the waves and breathes in the salt of it.

She'd passed the strange arrangement once already, the spread of ancient things: cloth, spices, the skull of some unknown entity. Maleficent did not care at all for what feelings it stirred in her; she'd made her way past it without closer examination. Yet now, as she's heading back up the beach, she sees a young woman sat before it.

The dark fairy pauses, her red mouth tightening. It is not her business to interfere with; the girl has made her own decision, and yet.... she seems to be human. Perhaps not strong enough to resist the skull's call, or perhaps willing to and not knowing what dangers that ancient magics could hold.

Maleficent draws closer, a tall and sweeping figure, horned and winged, the features of her inhumanly sharp. The girl says something — 'Madi would've loved it here' — and the older woman stares, hesitant, before she speaks in her cool voice. ]


It is not wise to share yourself with it. [ The skull, she means, her hard eyes gazing down to stare at its empty sockets. ]
shapeshistory: <user name=bungalows> (Chanel)

[personal profile] shapeshistory 2021-05-06 03:38 pm (UTC)(link)
Both. Neither. A warning. [ That's his going theory, anyway, and he brings a hand up to adjust the fox mask. It's uncomfortable, or at least getting to be, but he doesn't think too much of it. The thrill of the party, and all that. ]

Marking Travelers to blame a whole group if anything goes wrong. [ Or maybe his first comment was accurate--maybe it's just a simple little mingle where you can talk to other travelers and spot them by their little pins. Jack takes a rather large sip of his champagne. ]

This place is already a fucking mess, what's a little more mystery?
shapeshistory: <user name=bungalows> (Armani)

[personal profile] shapeshistory 2021-05-06 04:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ The bag is taken from him, and what follows is Jack meeting Anne's look about his clothes with a look of his own. His nose turns up, his teeth bared-- it's a cross between a slightly annoyed grimace and a wince of understanding: 'I know, I know, it's an unspeakable crime, I'm well aware.'

It's a small thing, one of those natural moments that pass between them that lasts fractions of a second: little glances, little looks. They can carry entire conversations like this. for now, though? Boats. He has some supplies in the bag full of loot--not much, but he's going by the size of the boat on their arrival. Not meant for long journeys, which means if they go the way they came, they should have a decent shot of getting somewhere. Jack doesn't quite care much--anywhere that isn't this place, so long as it's with Anne. Anywhere where he doesn't feel forced or trapped. ]


Excellent.

[ He's already heading in the direction Anne motioned to. ]

What we do next will depend on where we land. [ It's mostly out loud for himself: he knows Anne trusts him. ] It's a matter of getting there safely.
everlastingchains: (Default)

[personal profile] everlastingchains 2021-05-06 04:34 pm (UTC)(link)
I just had a follow up question that occured to me.

The skull. Is it actually bone or is it some other sort of material, ie stone or wood made to look like bone?

How are the jewels placed. On top of bone or imbedded into the bone?
medeiun: ᴛʜᴇ ʜᴏʟʟᴏᴡᴇᴅ ᴀʀᴛɪsᴛs (pic#14784891)

[personal profile] medeiun 2021-05-06 04:40 pm (UTC)(link)
The slight gesture is returned with a tip of her own head: a sign of her respect, once more reflected back to the vampire. His remark earns a lift of an eyebrow; whatever he alludes to sounds.... unpleasant, and once again she is wondering just what sorts of evils he has been witness to in his long years.

"I must admit, my own experience with such matters is lacking." She casts an eye around the room, taking in the chattering attendees, the sweeping movement of dancing bodies, the pitch of laughter. Turning her head back to him, she gives a more quiet smile. "I am quite out of my element, here."

And so his offer of something to drink is met with a thoughtful pause. "Do they smell... safe, to you?" Her own senses are sharp, but fae abilities can be thwarted. Perhaps his senses can detect something hers cannot, and she frowns softly; Maleficent is... hesitant to drink what is offered here. Suspicious.
fissure: little-luna @ hollow-art (Default)

[personal profile] fissure 2021-05-06 05:15 pm (UTC)(link)
Ah, pre-law. Now he remembers. Kyle is the altruistic sadist. How could he have forgotten?

"You're not wrong," Prior points out. All of Kyle's points are cogently expressed: they can't go back, and he does seem sheltered. But then again, it takes one to know one, Prior's quick to think because he's not exactly innocent of the coddling himself.

"I find passion like you're talking about is reserved for those with either the luxury to have only one point of focus, or the curse of obsession." They either don't need to worry about failure or can't see any other option.

"It's too young to decide, although if you'd asked my perspective five years ago, I wouldn't have agreed with myself now."
kyley_b: (RL_KB_14)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-05-06 05:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Hurrying up the beach, glancing behind him as they do so, Kyle starts to laugh. It's mostly out of relief, but he's quite sure it makes him look like a lunatic.

"I haven't seen zombies in forever," he manages to gasp out.
kyley_b: (RL_KB_06)

[personal profile] kyley_b 2021-05-06 05:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Yeah. I'm really lucky," Kyle concedes. "I mean, I got scholarships, but my folks sure don't let me starve or anything."

He digs idly in the sand, finding a broken shell to toy with. "What would you have said five years ago?"
extrasensory_problems: (up_smile)

[personal profile] extrasensory_problems 2021-05-06 05:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Carter smiles and then joins in laughing with Kyle, relief flooding his system.

"I'm just glad it wasn't another weird spider baby." He says and then pauses to take off his other shoe, might as well be barefoot on both feet.

"But really, when have you seen zombies before?"
shove: (haven't lost my fight.)

[personal profile] shove 2021-05-06 06:13 pm (UTC)(link)
But you are really old. A lot less--( hold on, he's gotta look over to bruce again. eye him for a moment. ) built. Jesus, can't believe I got to meet you in your prime.
what_fourth_wall: (oh shit)

[personal profile] what_fourth_wall 2021-05-06 06:31 pm (UTC)(link)
"Do not fuck with a redhead, damn..." Deadpool just kind of watches Kyle in a little bit of impressed awe. "No wonder Carrot Top survived all the hate for all these years. Dude is savage."

Would it be too much to notice that one of the zombies is wearing a Kenny name tag? Would that be too much reality warping around Deadpool to suit his love of fun connections and references? It would be fun to do the "OH MY GOD, THEY KILLED KENNY" to Kyle of all people. If he knew this was Kyle.

Oh well. It probably would be too much. And the fact that he stopped to grab Wade by the shoulder gave him pause in fucking with the guy. That was...nice. For no reason. Deadpool had to have thoroughly scared this poor guy with his manic too knowing kind of psychotic bullshit, but the guy still paused to make sure he made it out okay? Huh.

So..he doesn't. If there's a Kenny name tag, it goes unnoticed. He turns and runs with Kyle, stabbing a zombie through the eye with his stump and dragging it along with them until the head pops off.

"But where too?!? I know this island doesn't want me dead, because I've tried, but how do we escape this?!?"
fissure: little-luna @ hollow-art (4)

[personal profile] fissure 2021-05-06 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Prior reaches out and grabs the cigarette butt snuffed by time, plucking it from between the skull's teeth and discarding it off into the surf.

"You couldn't help but ask," Prior notes, a thin smirk twitching the edge of his mouth. Why is he at all surprised? "But I think I'd say something like..." He draws in a long breath and sits up straight, nose lifted higher than normal. "'Statistics be damned and follow your heart,' or some bullocks like that. What I'd've really meant was 'follow your cock, Billy, while you've still got the chance.'"
quire: (considering)

[personal profile] quire 2021-05-06 07:44 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hm. Weird," he mumbles, both thoughtful and suspicious as he files that info away somewhere like he's collecting details about this place until he can shape them into something. "Not the insulin, but like... this place obviously knows a shitton about us. And at least sort of isn't interested in killing us. But also they're not so advanced or benevolent that they'd cure you. Or like. At least figure out how to administer insulin without a jab."

He shrugs when he's not sure anyone cares but him.

"Beer's good. But if I'm going to drink I want something higher octane. I don't suppose they did a lot of Jägerbombs in the roaring twenties though... How old are you? Like twenty two?"
darkdetective: (Default)

[personal profile] darkdetective 2021-05-06 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
That question requires a little reference on your end, Jordan. Time is relative.

[ what are you talking about, hal. bruce was has looked 45 since he was 14 years old. ]

The year is 2027 on my Earth, if that helps.
Edited 2021-05-06 20:09 (UTC)