History of the Carnival of Masks
Carnival, or as is traditionally known, The Carnival of Masks, is an ancient festival with roots in the Vir Sidus Empire and the worship of the ancient God of Revels and the harvest which is the winter’s bounty. With the popularity of the festival production rates, of such things as wine and mead, rose in anticipation of the week long celebration of life. Year by year it grew in popularity, year by year the wealth of the Empire grew.
Despite the pagan roots the festival survived into the age of the One Faith as a time where rank held no meaning and commoner and noble alike could mingle behind masks without judgement. As attitudes changed, the festival fell out of favour, most believe this was because of the then High Priest Aldus the Prudent, a most devout man and later a saint. It was all but forgotten save by the al’Sylenthar who kept at least part of the tradition alive through their decadent Masques.
(Note: You must read the information below to attend. As this event is meant to be ‘Staff hands off’ vacation, we won’t be entertaining requests during the time of Carnival besides new player apps. Instead of working, we’ll be out there RPing with you! With that, all you can and need to know is written and tabbed below.)
However when Four Corners was founded and the Council sought a festival to draw people to their new city state, Carnival was suggested and revived. After all, what better way to celebrate the spirit of the Four Corners than a festival where all peoples were equal. Much debauchery is to be had, wine and mead flow freely for the five festival days, and is something that is looked forward to the entire year. This is especially true for the peasantry whose work at harvest is what makes it all possible. With the level of sin the festival provides, the faith tried to turn it’s nose up at it, but for all their cynics preaching it could not be stopped; the faith knew it, and relented.
The Faith, to celebrate the Saints Dannel, Tiadora and Martina; took this festival and turned it into a holy week about renewal and washing clean of yearly sins. The lesser of these sins are deceit, sloth, wrath, gluttony, and hubris, many of which the festival itself exposes and encourages; the greater, cruelty, avarice, imprudence, and fear.
With the overturning of ideals about the once pagan festival, the faith fully embraced it and have added two days of fasting after such a gathering, encouraging people to reaffirm their faith in the One. With that divine embracement and endorsement of neutrality, the festival can be held anywhere so long as it is where the chosen Master or Mistress of Carnival lives. Such locations, for two weeks time, are deemed neutral by the church so that people from far and wide can attend. Still, for the sake of ease, most choose to hold it in Four Corners as that is where it survived for so many years after its disfavor — and the free city-state allows the chosen individual to run it there anytime, as it is good for business, of course.
With all things there comes a purpose, and as always, Carnival is meant for peoples to mingle as equals and share in the year’s bountiful harvest. To celebrate a job well done with the poor and to have one final to-do for the nobility, all of them equal behind their masks of lacquer and gold. Above all, to wash away your sins and become closer to the One.
Days of Carnival and Fasting
- Carnival
- Day 1: Day of Ceremony
- Day 2: Water
- Day 3: Air
- Day 4: Grounding
- Day 5: Fire
- Fasting: Repentance
- Fasting: Warrior
The Carnival of Masks is an old and storied tradition, one that is looked forward to every year. Not a noble worth their salt would miss it, and is the premiere event with as much mystery and to-do as an unsolved crime.
Trestles of food and drink are set up all along the main street of the city, and are resupplied throughout Carnival by servants in white domino masks. With that preparation done by the midday hour, the Master/Mistress of Carnival will call the Nobility to them, ringing a hand bell up and down the main street shouting, “Carnival is about to commence.”
Once assembled in the city’s center, the Master/Mistress will ask all to don their masks, reminding folks of the scavenger hunt/Treasure Hunt and it’s rules and traditions. He cracks open two truly tremendous casks of wine, one that is to be brought to the poorer quarter of the city, the other to be drank by nobility present. If there is a fountain, per tradition, the cistern waters would be redirected so that the cask of wine can be dumped into it to service the noble in fine fashion — this is something that would be done all week and is rather expensive, unless one uses cheap wine.
A toast is said and is different every year, some are funny with witty rhymes of lust and longing or other debaucheries; some are serious and speak of war and famine, but most are somewhere in-between. All such toasts are not too long in length and fairly light in nature; however most would remember the time a bishop was the Master of Carnival, how he droned on, preaching the faith too hard before the week is out and fasting begins is entirely taboo.
With masks on, toast given, and noble cask emptied, musicians will strike up a merry tune as the nobility work together to carry the other huge cask to the poorer sector of the city. This is traditionally called ‘The Gift of Merriment, the Reward of Hard Work;” it is those lower classes that make the festival possible, after all, and they deserve to be thanked grandly.
Once this is done, nobility will walk (or dance and sing) their way back to the city center where all of the nobility will be instructed to drink, eat, and be merry.
The second day of Carnival, most commonly known as ‘The Day of Water,’ is traditionally spent on barges or gondolas in the canals or rivers nearest to the heart of the city the festival is being held.
The barges, often ran by the poorer class, are decorated for the event, sometimes even painted in bright and garish colors that can be seen on them for the rest of the year. These barges tend to sit up to 4 individuals as well as the oarsman, and are not as large as their river counterparts.
The gondolas, also ran by the poorer class, are left their traditional colors but often have lovely velvet cushions for the nobility to sit on, and a smartly colored canopy to keep the sun off their heads. These small boats tend to hold two individuals plus the poleman. Often this is used as an opportunity for romantic encounters, and during Carnival, climbing into a gondola with another masked person is considered risque… but it is Carnival, and this sort of thing is rampant and expected.
While the seating may be limited, it is not uncommon for nobles to have conversations back and forth with each other across the water between vessels as they can ride side by side down the canals and rivers.
(OOC: There's a game in the Games Tabs that is supposed to be used this day. Feel free to used it!)
The 3rd day, or ‘The Day of Air,’ finds nobility and commoners alike crafting lanterns made of parchment, yet some have them made before Carnival and bring them from home. Supplies to do this are often left at Inns around the city and it is not too uncommon to find masked nobility sitting around drinking and talking while making them. Secrets from the past year, or wishes for the next one, are written inside the cylindrical lantern.
When night falls, the Master/Mistress of Carnival gathers nobles and peasantry alike at the banks of a water source; typically this is the ocean, though, where no ocean can be reached, a lake or river can be substituted.
Torches stick out of the ground everywhere, with buckets of thin sticks used for lighting candles at their base. With the coming of nightfall all are lit and the people are assembled either on land or by boat. The Master/Mistress of ceremonies will then light and release their lantern over the water, signalling to all the others to do the same.
It is quite a sight, thousands of lanterns taking off into the night, when that is done the lowest of peasantry goes back to their designated locations and the nobility, faith, and commoners brave enough, socialize. Food and drink are everywhere, and music and dance can be had too.
On day four of Carnival, known as ‘The Day of Grounding,’ nobility will be getting ready for, and socializing about, the night’s festivities: The masqued ball. Traditionally, this event is held outside or under large canvas tents if there is inclement weather. The theme of the ball will be announced via city crier on or before midday, and is a highly anticipated event by nobles and commoners alike — some of whom save up all year or gather bits and pieces of random objects so they will be prepared to attend.
Not knowing what you need to be dressed as sends most of nobility into a frenzy trying to piece together a costume before the ball. However, the theme always has to do with the world outside of palace walls. Be it the animals, elements, land; or even an homage to the roots of Carnival, by using the many gods and goddesses that were said to protect the lands, the theme is sure to excite all.
Nobility and commoners have been known to get together in Inns with their things and trade pieces with each other to make a complete costume. Though jewels and jewelry are added later, the sharing of thread, bits of fur, pieces of decorations are all common for men and women to do for this day of Carnival. Though generally the men drink, the women or servants sew, but they all gossip and share in the revelry.
The ball itself is like any other, decorated to display the theme that was chosen, though sometimes The Master/Mistress of Carnival will add games to the traditional dance of such an occasion.
The fifth, and last, day of Carnival, also known as ‘The Day of Fire,’ is a day of excess. Many a brawl has occurred on this day as nobility (and peasantry) try to eat and drink their fill before it comes to an end.
Though end it must and it shall; however, it is always done with splendor. At nightfall, the nobility gather where Carnival began; an effigy had been moved in and erected throughout the day, the effigy itself is different every year. Some Mistresses or Masters of Carnival make the wooden effigy in the likeness of animals, some of the more faithful make it the likeness of a Many god, or the One; no matter what the likeness is, it is burned at true darkness; midnight.
Before the effigy is set alight, the Master/Mistress of Carnival will say a closing speech, announce the winner of the scavenger hunt if there is one to be had, and thank all for attending Carnival and, finally, set the effigy alight. Once done, the Master/Mistress of Carnival will remove the mask they are wearing and toss it into the fire starting the noble and common procession where they all do the same.
The symbology of such an act is undeniable, it is the casting away of sin and revealing your true face once more. Though most bring a spare mask to burn in the fires instead of the more expensive ones they had been wearing all week, it is customary to toss at least one mask in.
The rest of the night is spent drinking and dancing and eating your fill, for at dawn you will start your two day fast, where no food but bread or fish may pass your lips, no drink but water or watered wine.
It is often noted that before the midnight festivities a number of attendees show up later than most, though few know why. Still they get lost in the crowds and, eventually, cast their masks into the fire with all the rest — those in the Order of the Vigilant know this night as the night they gather at a secret place to share their knowledge of the past year's events and get new orders from those higher up on the 'Vigilant food chain.'
Confession is held throughout the first fasting day, also known as ‘The Day of Repentance,’ though commoners must wait for midday or evening mass to do so, nobility usually does this in the morning or the midday mixed-mass. Upon leaving the Cathedral nobles by tradition hand small coinage out, in large quantities, to the many needy hands of the poor that line the main street of the city.
No food but bread or fish, nor drink but water or watered wine might be consumed over these two days, as fasting is an integral part of cleansing one’s body and soul.
For knights who wish to reaffirm their vows of knighthood; at dusk, they will go to the Cathedral after evening mass and hold vigil in overnight in contemplation and prayer. Knights are not required to do this, unless they want to or are a part of a faith-based knightly order; the Templars and the Reliant all must hold vigil and renew their vows to the Faith, but many of the more devout knights gladly do this as well.
The highest local priest will go at dawn to hear the knights say their vows, also known as ‘The Day of the Warrior,’ it is a private affair closed to everyone but the knights themselves. It is an honorable thing to do, even if it isn’t the most comfortable. They leave the Cathedral without much ceremony and go with the priest to the nearest water source to join the rest of the nobility for the last part of the holiday; which is to get “Washed Clean.”
To be ‘Washed Clean’ is to be absolved of one’s sins. This is traditional, and everyone must do it if they’re still in the city — or hide in the Inn until most of the nobles come back as some of the Many faithful do. After the Day of Repentance, everyone goes down to the water in nothing but a shift and a heavy robe. At an hour past dawn, the priest and noble knights join them. At commencement, all hand their warm robes to a servant and are taken into the water, shift and all. This is done by either the priest himself, or one of his subordinates; they are then dunked into the water and washed clean of the last year of sins before gratefully stepping out of the cold water to take back their robes.
Once the task is done, he will say a short prayer over the shivering masses of nobles on the bank. Prayer for the next year to be just as bountiful as the current, and that they all have a glorious year walking in the light of the One.
So ends Carnival and the fasting that follows, the next day all may resume eating and drinking as normal, though some of the more devout fast the entirety of the next week as well. After the cleanse, some nobility go back to their homelands others stick around. It should be noted, that the neutrality of the location, if it isn’t neutral regularly, ends the following Sunday before all will be forced to disperse.
Games
The tabs in this section are for extra games that are commonly seen and set up around Carnival. Feel free to use any of these to RP with and entertain yourselves on top of the traditionally scheduled celebrations. Feel free to submit others via request under the plot category, Staff will consider them, if they fit, we’ll add them.
Water Ring Toss
Gondolas and barges alike are fitted with short poles at their fors and nets extended and turned upward around them to catch wooden rings tossed from boat to boat. The game is quite simple, one boat tosses at a time, each team having their own color, one person from each vessel the color blue, one person from each vessel the color red.
For each turn they toss three rings each of both colors from a single boat, if there are four on each boat, then four people on one team four on the other (two on each boat per team)and so on so long as it's an even number. The team that gets the most rings on the pole by the end wins. However, the prize for winning is agreed upon by the parties, but of course it can be anything (usually not of great value.)
((Rolls are not necessary, you can just decide what team wins and make sure the roleplay reflects that, but if you feel you want to, here are the Values of Success for rolls using +roll throw .
Embarassing Failure: Your ring flies over the pole and over the nets and into the water.
Failure: You miss by a long shot, but the nets catch it (unless you don't want them to catch it).
Success: You miss, but it was very close and the nets catch it.
Good Success: You make it onto the ring, but barely as it wobbles about and looks like it's about to spin off.
Great Success: You make it on to the ring, with little trouble, it doesn't wobble but it might look like it will miss.
Amazing Success: You make it dead on, it doesn't even touch the pole as it slides on and stacks neatly at the bottom.))
Tiger and Hounds:
One person is selected to be the tiger, while up to six others are chosen to be the hounds, and one is chosen to be the Lamb, who wears bells tied about their wrists and ankles. Tiger is blindfolded while Hounds stand around him in a circle, with Lamb among them. The tiger must try to find the lamb by sound alone, while the hounds do all they can to distract and confuse him.
Three times, the tiger may ask the others in the game ‘will you let me eat you?’ and in response, the lamb must jump, while the Hounds shout to try and cover that sound and confound the Tiger. The game ends by the Tiger grabbing whoever he thinks is the Lamb. He gets three tries. If the Lamb evades him till the end, whoever the Tiger last grabbed erroneously may ask Tiger for some small amusing thing, whether it is a kiss or a gold coin or a flask of their houses’ finest vintage; something the Tiger can spare, but perhaps might not want to give.
If Tiger finds Lamb by the end of the game, he wins and may ask for the same thing, and it has to be given in good spirits (it is exceedingly bad form to ask for something that one knows the loser cannot afford, and likewise considered cowardly to refuse a reasonable or playful reward).
Dog’s Skull:
This game is played with the use of a carved wooden dog skull, usually painted bright, merry colours, and five people to a team. The object of the game is to put the dog’s skull on the opposing team’s goal, which is a ribboned short spear thrust into the ground on either side of the field.
On each team there is a player with a blunt dagger, called the Quick: they are the only person allowed to pick up and carry the dog skull in their hands. They start on either side of a 2’ circle in which the wooden skull is placed, and when the game begins they rush to grab it.
The other players may be armed with blunt weapons, but no shields; they may smack or push the dog’s skull along the ground with their weapons, but no parts of their bodies may touch the skull in order to move it. Their job is to defend their Quick from the other team’s players so that the skull can be placed on the goal.
A player may be ‘killed’ by a blow, and must lay down on the ground as long as the player who ‘killed’ them keeps the point of their blunted weapon on their body; as soon as it is removed they may stand back up and rejoin the game. It is fair game to attack the Quick, who has only a dagger to defend themselves with, and steal the skull from them so as to propel it back towards the desired goal; that is why the other members of the Quick’s team must balance fighting one another with attempts to steal the skull and propel it across the field awkwardly with their weapons. The game is won as soon as the dog skull ends up on one pole or the other.
The moving score per round will be like this:
Fighter move: 1 space
Quick move: 2 spaces
Total needed to reach the goal: 10 spaces
Keep track of which direction the skull is going in!
Once you have the skull in possession, you must declare oocly ‘I am moving the skull!’ and ‘pass’ in combat. Any round spent moving the skull must be ‘passed’ in combat.
Taking any blow to the Hands causes Fighters to drop the skull.
Taking more than a ‘light’ blow causes Fighters to ‘drop’ the skull.
Taking any blow causes the Quick to drop the skull.
Only the Quick may move the ball with their hands!
Once ‘killed’, a player who is dead must stay down on the ground as long as the player who killed them keeps the tip of their weapon on their chest. Once it is removed they may get up and return to play.
‘Beon and Frida’ or ‘Two Gates’:
In this game, couples take turns at standing in the center of a ring, circled by other players.. The couple (playing Beon and Frida) allow their friends to blindfold them and spin them around till they’re dizzy. The goal of Beon and Frida is to find one another within the ring and clasp their hands together while their friends try to confuse them or help them with shouted guidance.
Two other players, the Tricksters (of the same genders as Beon and Frida) are also in the ring, and they stand nearby, ready to play as decoys for the blindfolded couple. Beon and Frida may both move freely about, trying to find one another, while the Tricksters are stationary, only able to catch at hands offered to them. If Beon and Frida find one another successfully, they still have to get through one of two ‘gates’. If either has clasped hands with one of the Tricksters, the Trickster will attempt to lead them through their assigned gate.
The game is won if Beon and Frida find one another and go through a gate together hand in hand. Only the people standing around them in a ring may speak, and they may not directly say whether they’ve got their ‘lover’ or one of the Trickster players. Often the Tricksters wink and encourage the onlookers with their antics and play at naughtiness with their blindfolded partner, (though naturally if they get too fresh they risk the suspicion of the blindfolded, who can let go of their hand at any time and try to find their lover, usually to the loud derision and laughter of their friends).
IC: Rules and Traditions
- Cover
- Mistress/Master of Carnival
- Pre-Carnival
- Forms of Address
- Scavenger Hunt-Not Being Done This Year
- Charms-Not Being Done This Year
- Weapons
- Masks & Costumes
Someone from high society or position is always chosen to host the event, and it is their coin that must be spent to put it on. This person is called the Master or Mistress of Carnival. The traditions may be set, and they are always adhered to, but on occasion a particularly wealthy individual may add to the daily party activities.
Depending on wealth and station, the Mistress/Master of Carnival may add extra events for one or all of the days of Carnival. They are responsible for, and run exclusively, the first and fifth days major events. The position could boost or bust a person’s reputation depending on its success. However, it can be noted that nobility is notoriously hard to please.
The Master/Mistress of Carnival, once chosen to host it, must find six individuals to help them for the week. The tasking is not all that hard, nor too taxing, but it is considered a high compliment to be chosen as a ‘Carnival Charm Barrer’ and is usually rewarded with a gift after the festivities are complete. Those chosen are expected to have the quality of discretion and not give away their secret tasking. They are handed, either in person or by missive, one of the following charms to bare: Mug (of ale), Bow, Sword, Scroll, Silver Cross (of dipped or solid silver), or a Shield.
The lords and ladies of the West are mutually invited to a location, usually Four Corners, to take part in the festivities that precede the two fasting days designated for the One. For five fun-filled days, they all wear masks, referring to each other as my lord or lady — because how does one stand on ceremony when everyone wears a mask? You don’t!
It would be considered bad form if you reprimand someone for such a greeting, unless you’re a particular prude for courtesy, as you can’t expect anyone to know who you are. Demasking to prove your status with intent to correct is equally poor form, besides, you might find you’re speaking to someone who outranks you. Wouldn’t that be embarrassing?
As per tradition, the Master/Mistress of Carnival will announce a scavenger hunt on the first day of Carnival. It is customary to have six individuals be bearers of the six charms. This game is one that most nobles and commoners enjoy greatly, as you must suss out who could be the Charm Bearers, which is infinitely hard when everyone wears masks.
Traditionally the Charm Bearers are mum on the matter of having the Charms at all, it is a big secret that must be kept from everyone, even those closest to the person, as the Master/Mistress is expecting them to not spoil the fun.
If they do tell anyone, and word gets out because they’re blabbing their mouth about it, then the Master/Mistress can strip the honor from them. This position in Carnival is considered an honor, and all who get a charm from the Bearer will know they’ve been honored as well.
However, there are a few phrases that every noble knows, and is traditional for the event. Its purpose is to inquire about the charm the person may or may not hold, if a noble thinks they’ve found one they will ask the noble with all pomp and ceremony: "Do you have need to repent, my lady/my lord?"
If the answer whispered in your ear is: "Nothing for your ears, my lord/lad,." which is customary, then they do not have the charm. But if the answer whispered in your ear is: "Why, this <charm name>, of course," they do, and must relinquish their charm by sliding it into your palm for the price of a kiss to the cheek and your full name whispered in their ear in return, title and all — even if the Charm Bearer knows who you are under the mask, traditions must be followed, as they need to write down your full name for the game.
All of this is done discreetly, and the one recieving the charm doesn't give the bearer away, either, as that is exceedingly poor form and can get you disqualified from the game.
However, if you do not do all of these things exactly as mentioned above, you will not be given the charm, it’s tradition!
Everyone who wishes to take part in the scavenger hunt wears a leather braided cord throughout Carnival on their wrist. Depending on the person who is hosting the event — and their wealth — the charms are made of either, wood, pewter, glass, steel, gold or silver. The charms are, Mug (of ale), Bow, Sword, Scroll, Silver Cross (which has to be solid silver or silver dipped), and a Shield; and can be hooked into the the braided cord with a pewter ring that is pinched closed to secure it in place.
As sometimes these charms can be quite valuable, it is seen as bad form to steal another’s charms; though it is not entirely unheard of, and the Master/Mistress of Carnival has the right to disqualify thiefs if that is his/her pleasure. However, if you did not earn the charm from a Charm Bearer, you can't win anyway, as your name will not be on their list. Also, it doesn't disqualify one to lose charms either due to thievery or just simply losing them, as the Charm Bearers write down the names of the participants they give the charm too — not to mention, some give their Carnival Charms away as lovers tokens to be remembered by, entirely scandalous, but not uncommon.
Weapons and armor are never allowed on the streets during Carnival, it is a strictly enforced rule and can find a person being sent away for the day, or on more severe cases the entire festival, the choice is up to the City Guard. Instead, nobles leave all but their blunted dinner knives in their place of residence for the duration of Carnival.
The only one’s allowed to bear arms are those enforcing the rules, the city guard — or its equivalent — on duty remains unmasked driving home their soul purpose. They are found everywhere during Carnival, and are given final authority when it comes to the banishment of anyone from the festival no matter the duration. They may overlook a fist fight or a brawl at an Inn or in the streets; however, if things get too out of hand they will stop it and see party-goers to their rooms for the duration of the day.
Masks at Carnival are essential and must be worn at all times outside of your rooms, the only peoples that aren’t supposed to wear them are the City Guard so that they are easy to spot if things turn sour. They can be as beautiful or as ugly as you wish them to be, as sweet or as evil. The purpose of the mask is to show what kind of person you are, some of the more devout individuals take this ideal very seriously and will often have a mask to match their sins.
Masks are traditionally burned at the end of Carnival, though given that some people wear a different one every day of the festival they are only expected to burn one. On that last day, some people even bring a lesser, extra mask to toss into the flames, as some of these masks are decadent and worth quite a bit of coin, so much so that their owners do not wish to part with them — others wish to keep them for sentimentality purposes, to remember the event.
Costumes are not a requirement for Carnival though many still partake in the wonder and beauty that can often come from such costumes. Glittering with gold and silver stitching, feathers, glass, and gemstones, these outfits are a sight to behold — and are also worth a goodly bit of money.
The peasantry doesn’t usually wear costumes, instead, they prefer to spend what little extra coin the allot for the event on the quality of their masks and will often make a lesser mask to give to the fires on the day before fasting begins.
OOC: Notes & Rules
- Cover
- Staff Message
- Master/Mistress of Carnival
- Acquiring Charms-Not Being Done This Year
- Charm Bearers-Not Being Done This Year
- Weapons and Fighting
- Event Logs
Hello, Players,
This week is meant to be a break for you, the player, as much as it is a break for us, the Staff. Generally, we won’t be running anything during this entire week. If we do, it will usually be small NPC stuff or Staff TP related. We will, however, still be doing apps for new players. If you want an alt for this event, do get it in a good week before the start of this event, as we won’t approve it during.
There will be no death or murder, attempted or otherwise, or anything other than brawls going on by any of the PCs unless Staff asks a PC to do it, if you do, it will be retconned. If we are made to ‘come down from above’ to do this on what is supposed to be a ‘Staff Hands Off’ event, you may see your character sent out of Carnival all together.
Hence why all the information and rules are here in massive detail for you all to follow on your own. There should be no question to any of it at all, not on theme, not on rules; no “I didn’t know” or feelings of being blindsided if you fail to heed the rules so plainly spelled out for you — consider this as you would policies, as these are the policies for this yearly TP. We’re serious about this, it’s a faith-based event that involves individuals from all around, let’s act like it.
So please, as your only friendly reminder, make sure what you’re doing is fun for everyone not just yourself. That is not to say we don’t want you sticking to sheet, please do; but know your character is aware that this is one of those occasions to not act like a fool, because they can and will get kicked out — not to mention, we also don’t want to clean up your messes when we’re trying to have fun too.
With that, consider this a fun reason for all of us to be together. Get out there, RP, drag friends and foes from other kingdoms out for roleplay. ENJOY IT! That is what we, as staff, intend to do. It’s our vacation, and we are excited to get our own alts out there and roleplay as well.
Let’s have fun, get drunk, dance, sing songs, and just be all together merry with one another!
Cheers,
~Staff
Your job is to follow the traditions of The Carnival of Masks. There are scenes you must set for, however, but some of them do not require more than that; while others, like the opening and closing of Carnival, do need to be ran a little bit as you’ll note in the description of the days.
Once chosen, if you accept the appointment and your character would ICly, you need to open a +request. Submit it exactly like this for a Master of Carnival: +request/add Plot/Master of Carnival=Placeholder Job for all things Master of Carnival related.
If your character has considerable wealth and likes to make shows of said wealth, then you can opt to spend some of it to add to the traditions, if you’d like, for that year’s Carnival. It isn’t required, the only things that are, are what is listed above as traditions. However, adding to does not mean you can take away what is already tradition, that must still remain at the chosen day’s core; but you can make whatever games you wish to supplement that.
If you are chosen for the Master or Mistress of Carnival, do get with staff prior to its start to get approval for whatever additional games, prizes, and things you wish to play or do throughout any of the five days. Also, think of and add to your open job the prizes for the scavenger hunt, 3 for places 1-3, so you can get approval on that, too. (Scavenger hunt is replaced by Treasure Hunt this year and may be replaced permanently)
Your Charm Bearers will not be known ICly or OOCly by anyone but yourself, the bearer, and Staff. To choose them, page them individually, if they read the OOC Notes and agree to the requirements of the role, then you can have your character send a missive via @mail, but DO NOT post it to the wiki. Once you have all of them chosen, then you can post the list of bearers to your open +job. The winners of the scavenger hunt will be revealed after the masks are burned and everyone’s identities are laid bare. What fun! The rules of the charms and their bearers are in another tab.
Choose one of your alts to do this game, just one. The charms for the scavenger hunt must be gotten in scenes that have been posted to the wiki, not in memoirs, not in private scenes that aren’t to be posted. Just scenes. You have to do and say the required things necessary to receive the charm.
If you do all the fun and cheeky back and forth sayings and whispers, but refuse to give a full name, or give a false one; you either won’t be given a charm or you can’t win the game at all as the game ends after the masks come off and are burned. Your true identity has to match the name you have given to the Charm Bearer to receive a prize, of which three are given out.
The job of the Charm Bearer is no small thing, you must be willing to do at least one social scene (with a group of people) daily throughout the week, or many small scenes with a single person or a small group. If you are chosen, no one will know you are besides the Master/Mistress of Carnival, and Staff. For the fun of it all, none of the Charm Bearers will be named on the wiki in any form, not even in scenes if you're clever enough, as you have to whisper the phrase that tells the person you have a charm. This is a big secret IC and OOC. Lastly, you must (ICly and OOCly) keep a record of all those you gave a charm to. First and last name.
As noted above: It is ICly known that traditionally it is a big secret that must be kept from everyone, even those closest to you, as the Master/Mistress is expecting you to not spoil the fun. If you do tell anyone, and word gets out because they’re blabbing their mouth about it, then the Master/Mistress can strip the honor from you. This is considered an honor, and all who get a charm from you will know you’ve been honored as well.
Absolutely NO WEAPONS OR ARMOR outside your room during Carnival. If you have a weapon you will be punished accordingly by Staff ICly and OOCly.
As stated in the ‘Staff Message’ tab which you all should have read, if you haven’t go do that now: No death, murder, or attempted murder will happen during this event unless Staff decide to do so for other plot purposes. No PC should go out on their own and try to do any of these things unless directed to by staff — don’t even ask, the answer is going to be no. We can’t have a neutral event if people aren’t going to be neutral and abide the rules and tradition of the events itself.
The city guards are there for you to use to stop a nasty fist fight from getting any nastier. Yes, they’re NPCs but they’re not stupid and neither are you! If you do let it get too out of hand, do pose them in to break it up and send people to their rooms.
Moral of this tab: Don’t make Staff step in and do any of this stuff because we’re supposed to be off duty and enjoying ourselves too, or you will either get sent out of the Carnival for the day via escort and forced to stay in your rooms without visitors, or get sent out of the festivities all together for the inconvenience — more than likely, the latter. Play fair, guys so we don’t have to be meanies.
(carnival emrys event gisela guillaume julieta log marguerite philippe shirlyn siada thomas yves)
(alejander carnival event gisela log philippe shirlyn stellan thomas yves)