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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!


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neverwither: (Srs Chloe)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-04 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
"It does," she easily agrees with a slight nod. "Flesh-and-bloodless vapid masks abound there... It reminds me a little of the people in the city." Not that Chloe particularly wants to refer to anyone as 'vapid' but since it's a direct quote, it seems as though it could be allowed to slide. All those smiles and flapper attitudes had grown somewhat disconcerting. Or maybe it's just that everything is somewhat disconcerting.

Her own gaze drifts back to the stick figure, assessing it once again. "It looks like something an offering might be made to..." she muses. What sort of offering, she has no idea. It might not even be the case at all. "Or perhaps the locals wanted to try and startle a Traveler or two." The last part is said with a smile because it's much more preferable to downplay rather than dwell on the creepiness.

"Do you need supplies? I'd be happy to go with you," she offers.
everlastingchains: (Creating life with his own hands)

[personal profile] everlastingchains 2021-05-05 01:55 am (UTC)(link)
"Precisely." Victor is actually a little elated that she could draw that same conclusion he had. The town and those citizens made him uneasy. It keeps him from really truly exploring and learning all he can of the many modern creations his time could only dream of. "They seem almost like dolls. It's unsettling."

Just as unsettling as that figure and what it might be for. "Unless Travelers are meant to be the offering." He only draws that hypothesis because he's seen terrible magics at work and there's always some sort of sacrifice. Blood has to be spilled all the times he's seen or encountered it. He much prefers science to it all. But science can't explain why they are in this place.

He turns away from it and gives a small nod. "I do actually need some supplies. I'm hoping to at least find the means to replace my medical bag and it's contents. And a journal and writing implements. I'm certain you might need some items as well?" He isn't going to mention clothing because Victor is trying hard to get over the fact that his version of proper fashion has obviously changed between his time and many other people's now.
neverwither: (Default)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-05 05:36 pm (UTC)(link)
To prevent any flicker of expression from being seen, Chloe looks down as she nods. Dolls. Yes. That's a good way of putting it. It brings home the irony of her describing anyone as as flesh-and-bloodless mask. Making herself look up, she attempts to find some sort of explanation. "Perhaps we're all a little like that. We seem to be players on someone else's stage." But who - or what - that's the question. And why? Or maybe it would be best not to know.

Ah. Yes. It's not entirely surprising that such a conclusion is drawn. But it's all so... sinister. Though spiriting away outsiders for sacrificial purposes makes an awful logical sense. No doubt it would be assumed by those at home that they'd vanished without a trace. Assuming their absence exists at home at all. It's all countered with a quiet sort of cheer once again. "Then we'll just have to make sure we play by the rules, hmm?" Because that will always save you, won't it? Being good. Behaving as you should.

"Are you a doctor?" she asks and as the conversation turns towards more normal topics, she gives an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself. I'm Chloe. And you?"
everlastingchains: (5)

[personal profile] everlastingchains 2021-05-07 06:14 pm (UTC)(link)
It is indeed logical though Victor doesn't really enjoy the idea of being someone else's plaything. He isn't certain he'd be all that good of a sacrifice either. "We might very well be, but we've not seen the play-write or been given the script. This isn't Shakespeare certainly. This is more like something from one of the bawdy houses. Some dreadful little horror to delight and chill the masses." His tone is dismissive. He's not a fan of those sorts of plays.

"The rules. When we discover what those rules are." Because he doesn't have those either. "But it seems that here, it's look but don't touch. Too bad. I'd love a closer look. But perhaps it's better to get supplies before delving too much more deeply."

He does appreciate the steering of topics. He is yet to realize the sort of connotations that his name invokes. "Yes. I am a doctor where I am from. I'm Victor. Victor Frankenstein. I'm pleased to meet you, Chloe."
neverwither: (A happy curious girl)

[personal profile] neverwither 2021-05-07 07:36 pm (UTC)(link)
“I suppose it wouldn’t be as entertaining if we all knew our lines.” Being a part of some cosmic game is a marginally more comforting thought that being a sacrifice. Chloe glances around them, as if an audience lurking in the shadows might suddenly reveal themselves.

“Maybe that’s just part of it all? If it seemed simple to get any sort of answers, we might not be so keen to seek them.” There’s a small shrug from her, unsure if her thoughts are starting to venture too far. She can’t quite tell if she’s reading into things far too much or not enough. But her mind can’t help churning.

Ever polite, the only expression that registers on Chloe’s face is another smile. “Delighted to meet you, Victor. Let’s see if we can find the things you’re looking for, shall we? And perhaps you could tell me about what field of medicine you’re in?” All steering of topics aside, she’s genuinely interested.