[OOC] ~~~The Harlequin's Shadow ~~~ A Supernatural Circus

[Trinais]

I would at least like to approve another person before going in. I'll make a character based off of what's made, but will take a back seat to act as GM.

[shaitarn]

I was thinking of putting my acrobatic twins in this, but don't want to tread on anyone's toes. I did think about making them a telepathic act instead, but had trouble thinking of any offensive powers they could have.

[RainbowReindeer]

I was thinking of putting my acrobatic twins in this, but don't want to tread on anyone's toes. I did think about making them a telepathic act instead, but had trouble thinking of any offensive powers they could have.

@shaitarn

I don't mind if you make acrobatic twins! The more the better. :^)

[Rex Piratum]

Name: Ari Lahayer
Sex: Male Date
Inducted: September, 2006
Role: Animal Tamer

Description

Offensive Powers:

-Binding: the ability to stop any and prevent any and all movement from one of the harlequins minions, binding it to a specific space in a specific location, Ari is only really able to bind one creature at a time as it takes up much concentration.

-Animal Ken: If one of the harlequin's minions takes the form of a beast or is beast-like (i.e. dragons, chimeras, minotaurs) Ari has the ability to calm it down, making it easier to banish or fight.

-Animal Companions: It's the animals that really make the act and every good Lion Tamer knows that. Ari is never without an animal by his side and they can help in various ways, especially when it comes to fighting the Harlequin's minions.

The Current Animals the Circus keeps for Ari's act are:
3 Lions
2 Bears
1 Gorilla
1 Tiger

Biography:

The one thing that had always fascinated Steve Irwin was animals, the beauty, found even in the most dangerous of creatures, was amazing, he married a woman who thought and felt the same as he did, and life was good for a Husband, conversationalist, world renowned "Crocodile Hunter", but still Steve could feel his death approaching, in the way that those so connected to the earth often do. In his dream one October night he was visited by a strange being, who offered him a deal, give up his fame,and live forever protecting this planet and the creatures on it that he loved so much, it was a hard decision to make, but Steve made it.

So, on the night of his death, The Keeper took him and remade him, giving him a new form and in order to keep his sanity, because the world needed him to not go running back to his wife and daughter, taking his memories as well. As a result, Ari remembers very little about his life before the circus, but he doesn't overly care though, he takes life one day, one act, one hour at a time, and has an absolute ball doing it.

Other: The only other really odd thing about Ari is that he is almost always accompanied by an animal of some kind, these animals tend to be tame, bears trailing behind him, tigers purring at his side, that kind of thing

Audition:

You work the everyday, the 9-5 isn't just your lifestyle, it IS your life; work, home, bed, repeat, work, home, bed, repeat, work, home, bed, repeat. So imagine your excitement then when you encounter a poster, a flyer for the Cirque of Sorrows, a circus like your grandfather used to talk about; Acrobats who could fly, Magical Magicians, and animals that came up to you and could rip your nose right off your face if it weren't for the skilled handlers who worked with them. So you go, you're there and the show's about to start, you start thinking about how maybe you forgot to...oh look there he is now, The Lion Tamer. As he comes out, dressed in nothing but some loose fitting baggy pants, his raven hair hanging in his face, he smiles at the crowd and you can see that his eyes are a strange hue that speaks to something inside you on a primal level. He began circling a large animal, some sort of feline form, the wild eyes clearly sizing up the man, the muscles tensing, the crouched hunting stance, and the man didn't see it. He was busy embracing and addressing the crowd, his arms wide spread, facing away from the animal, it was as if he were photosynthesizing off of the crowd's adulation. The beast licked its chops, leaned back on its haunches, and pounced. The man still didn't see it, and the ferocity and hunger apparent in the eyes of the striped feline spoke of nothing but murder most feral. the claws inches from his face, the man spun, but he was too late, the claws and fangs awaited his.....wait, the tiger faltered? It was licking the palm of The Man? What had happened, the large predatory animal was acting like nothing but a trained house cat, but...but.....

"Now ladies and gentlemen, Let us get to the real event eh?" With a chuckle from him and the crowd, the performer turned his eyes from his spectators and walked back and forth in front of the audience, you noticed that the Tiger followed his every movement. You couldn't help but think that the tiger, despite acting like a trained house cat, had lost none of it's primality, and you knew that this was indeed the real deal. You look back up at The Animal Tamer as he gestures to something with his other hand and suddenly a curtain is ripped off of a very large cage and inside, snarling with the ferocity of a prehistoric titan, was the largest Gorilla you had ever seen, it wasn't Hollywood sized, but it was definitely bigger and angrier than any seen at the zoo when you went with your 2.5 kids. Something inside yourself felt very small as the beast beat its chest and roared at the crowd, it's eyes filled with nothing but animal rage, The man stepped over to the cage and quickly slid the lock into the unlocked position, you sat back, suddenly feeling very cynical that this wasn't a trained animal, hell, he had practically let the man open the....ouch that must have hurt, you think to yourself as the gorilla rips from the cage and flings the man aside like a rag doll, leaping its way toward the crowd, freedom and rage swelling in its eyes as everybody under the tent began to make for the exits and you yourself, feeling the cold embrace of reality suddenly grip every iota of your being in a paralytic grasp. The ape was gaining, it was heading right for you, it could clearly smell your fear, and suddenly it was upon you, pinning you to the ground, roaring in your face, about to devour your nose, and probably other parts of you as well, this was it for you, the final goodbye, torn apart by a giant gorilla.

"ENOUGH!!!!!" The shout was more animal than human, and in a very primal part of yourself you froze, unable or unwilling to do anything else, but you saw as well that the gorilla froze, seeming to almost be immobile, it turned around and faced the wild-eyed man, the rage still coming off of the large monkey in almost mist-like waves. The two locked eyes and you could tell that a battle of wills was going on, and at the end, The gorilla hung its head and walked back into the cage from whence it had come. The crowd made their way back to their seats, the man took his place in front of them, and bowed. The crowd went wild, applause from every direction and the Lion tamer just ate it up, closing his eyes and holding his hands out as if to embrace the crowd. As the Animal Tamer walked off the stage, you thought to yourself that your instincts had been right, this truly was one of the real ones.

[Fumari]

((I'm sorry if the bios/auditions suck. I'm in a rut and trying my best to work through it. :/ ))

Name: Barlow “Barry” Foster “the Strongest Man Alive”

Sex: Male

Description:

My Hider

Date Inducted: Became a part of the circus at the age of 23, sometime during the early 1800s.

Role: Strong Man

Offensive Power:
- Gravitational control: Barlow is able to affect the weight or the gravity acting on any object that he touches. He can make cars as light as leaves and pebbles as heavy as trucks. He has to be able to touch the object in order to change its weight, and again in order to change it back. The time it takes to properly change an objects weight can vary between 5 to 10 seconds, depending on how large it is, and requires physical contact for as long as it takes. His heaviest limit is about 10 tons, or anything that won’t harm the circus’ stadium. His lightest limit is helium, which yes, can allow objects to float (slowly though).
- Minor self-defense: Barlow has never been a heavy set man, and only knows the bare basics of how to defend himself. His talents lie in his speed and ability to work with whatever he has at hand. He’s clever, and good under pressure, making up for his lack of actual physical strength.

Biography: Barlow was a con artist and a petty thief before he joined the circus, working the streets of London since the age of 10. He’d never remembered much before then; he thinks he had a pair of half decent parents, but because of how short they were on cash, they must have simply abandoned him some time or another. The streets around that time were rough, and the only real reason he managed to survive for so long was because he was lucky and clever.

The day that the circus came rushing into town was a quiet one, so it’s no surprise that Barlow was one to catch the small wisps of rumors that were being spread about the keeper; rumors that he could grant you anything and everything you’d ever want, all in return for a little bit of servitude. It sounded like an easy scheme, even in Barlow’s careful ears. He’d never been one to follow rumors, but after hearing enough about the circus and its Keeper, he decided to go and check it out for himself.

In all truth, Barlow fully intended to swindle the Keeper out of as much as he could, but the moment he met that man, he knew that even he wasn’t clever enough to pull wool over that man’s eyes. What he offered was a real as Barlow had hoped though, but the price was just as the rumors said: servitude. Loyalty. At least, the last part is what it sounded like in Barlow’s head, and for a man who spent his life tricking others, loyalty was all he had. It was a steep price, but something in Barlow seemed to agree that it was a fair trade. It was only a joke when he demanded to be the circus’ strong man, and he thinks it’s even funnier now that he actually got the position. The irony is probably what he loves most about performing.

Other: a few facts-
- His favorite things are money, black coffee, fools, and polka music.
- Rumors around the circus say he’ll do almost anything for cash.
- He’s as straight as a hool-la-hoop and twice as fun. C;
- Has a pet cockatiel named Roger. Smart little fella.
- He’s taken Faris under his wing. Considers him his “apprentice”.

Audition:

My Hider

“And next up, we have quite the treat for you, folks. Welcome to the stage, Barry, the Strongest Man Alive, and his lovely assistants for the night, Bo and Jun.” the announcer spouted to the crowds excitedly, and quickly, people began to cheer. As if finally egged forward, a thin bearded man began to step into the spotlight. He wore a bright red tunic that clung tightly to his frame, hung off of one shoulder and decorated at his waist by a thick leather belt. He wasn’t scrawny, no, but he lacked the obnoxious pounds of muscle that so many in the crowd had expected from a strong man. He’d have looked like your average Joe, if not for the large stand of weights that he carried at his side like some mundane tout bag. Metal sounds clanked with each of his steps, loudly, now that the crowd’s cheering had died down. On his other arm sat his assistants for tonight’s show: a pair of sister acrobats, each balanced lightly on his outstretched arm.

It took him maybe two seconds to stride to the middle of the spotlight, where he hastily dropped his weight stand, and then- a bit more kindly- dropped his two assistants. Each of the girls fell onto their tiny feet and scuttled around to flank the taller man. All three bowed with smiles on their faces, and promptly began their performance.

Barlow moved first, turning towards his weight stand and plucked one of the longer barbells from its place on the iron frame. The iron weight should easily have weighed over 600 lbs, but he spun it in his wrist like a lightweight baton while he walked back over to his assistance. He eventually stopped his twisting wrists and let the barbell rest in his palms, now parallel to the stage floor. Bo and Jun both smiled up at the crowds while they stepped closer to the ends of the barbell and quickly spun themselves into sitting positions on the metal bar. As if the additional weight meant little in his hands, Barlow waited for the girls’ expected nods before quickly swinging the bar above his head, one handed. Either twin quickly fell back, their knees looped around the bar, and swung. The crowds quickly broke into an amazed applause, and at the same time, the girls began to adjust their positioning on the now raised bar. Bo moved first, swinging herself to the ground just as Barlow let her end of the bar fall into his palm. Jun let herself swing along with the movement before grabbing the end of the barbell just as it reached its peak, promptly stopping herself in a steady handstand at the top of the barbell that Barlow now balanced vertically. Once again, the crowds roared, simply dazed with the steady strength and balance involved in the display. Finally, Barlow opened a hand to the remaining twin, allowing her to step into his hand and for him to thrust her into the air, where her sister was now right-side up and waiting for her to join. She landed just at the edge of the weight, hands clasping to her sisters for balance, before both settled like statues at the top of the weight. Barlow smirked, and then promptly turned himself around, handing the barbell off behind his back to his other palm, where it then rested steadily.

The crowds gave one final cheer, clapping hands and voices filling the tent and sounding for the end of their short performance. Both of the twins quickly let go of the other and flipped to the ground, landing beside Barlow just before he turned to set the weight back down. Upon turning back to the crowds, all three bowed with smiles; the girls fell much deeper than Barlow, emphasizing who the main performer was.

~ ~ ~

Name: Faris “Bird Feet” Jenkins

Sex: Male

Description:

My Hider

Date Inducted: Early 1920s. He was about 15.

Role: Clown/animal act.

Offensive Power:
- Faris has some pretty sharp senses and reflexes and has a heightened sense of balance. He’s fast, quiet, and follows directions well. Pretty darn ruthless to boot, and won’t hesitate to take an opening when he finds one. He’s best when used as support.
- He’s got some damn sharp bird feet, which yes, can grab and hold small objects.
- He’s never had any sort of formal combat training, and isn’t very familiar with weapons, but he’ll work with what he has. Give him a stick, and he’ll beat a man with it. Give him a gun, and he’ll probably beat the man all the same with it. He only really knows how to hit things.
- His birds: when Faris was inducted into the circus, he had a pair of kiwi birds in his possession, who low and behold, received a small share of power as well. Aside from being a bit more intelligent, his little birds can grow to about the size of ostriches. In their larger forms, they sport some pretty gnarly teeth and talons, and can haul quite a bit of weight. They take their commands directly from Faris, and only Faris.

My Hider

Biography: When Faris found the circus, he was only about 15 years old, scrawny as a twig and locked up in a metal cage. At the time, he belonged to a small freak show outside of New York, and was considered one of their top attractions: Bird boy; the boy hatched from an egg. None of it was really true, but no one seemed to question it because of his feet. It was only a slight mutation that resulted in very long, scaly, avian like toes, which he was told were the reason his parents sold him to the freak show in the first place. The ringmaster always thought that the fact upset the boy, but in truth, it didn’t bother him in the slightest; he couldn’t remember what a parent was, let alone what his were like.

Because of that circus blowing through town, people weren’t visiting the freak show as often. Apparently, people had been losing interest in the show for a while now, and with the option of an actual circus on the board, stopped coming all together. The ringleader was livid, and partially blamed his freaks for not being exciting enough. That night, he yanked all the freaks out of their cages and attempted to rally together some sort of mob in an attempt to chase off the rival circus. Maybe five minutes into his “moral building” speech and every freak in the building turned on him. They gored, gutted, and chopped him up as much as they pleased before finally stringing him up an old flag pole. Finally free, a lot of the freaks meandered off in their own direction, mostly to hide, some off to look for distant family.

Faris didn’t run off though, and instead sought out The Keeper. In return for his servitude and the end of his newly found freedom, all that Faris asked in return was a chance to travel with the circus and see the world. He decided to become a clown because he was tired of being a spectacle of horror, and instead wanted to make others laugh and smile.

Other: a few facts:
- Faris’ little kiwi birds were a part of the animal exhibit at the freak show. He brought them along on a whim. Their names are Dodger (the white one) and Roger (the brown one).
- Will often pester the other members of the circus whenever he’s bored or needs help.
- Likes polka music and dancing. He’s taught his birds a few dances as well.
- Don’t make comments about his feet. It bothers him.
- He’s a sneaky little bastard, and enjoys eavesdropping on others outside their tents.
- Really likes Barlow’s pet bird.

Audition:

My Hider

“Now, while we quickly switch acts, I present for your enjoyment and pleasure, our very own parade of clowns!!” the announcer spouted happily, and soon after, clowns began to storm the stage. They pooled under the spotlight like a multi-colored storm of oversized shoes and frills, all waddling along to their own pace, some tripping over others, and some tripping over themselves. People smiled from the stands, and children laughed and pointed as the colorfully dressed clowns paraded around the circular stage. At the very rear was Faris, dressed in a checkered, red and white jumper and a pair of oversized red boots. He waddled ahead of a pair of giant kiwi birds, smiling and waving at the crowds like the rest of the clowns did. Every few steps he took came with an odd little hop, until eventually, he tripped over one of his own shoes. The little blonde clown took a quick dip towards the floor before he tucked inward and rolled back to his feet, promptly taking another step and tripping again. This time, he landed flat on the floor. Behind him, his kiwis quickly hopped over him and continued forward without him. The crowds chuckled at the display, and watched with entertained eyes as the little clown quickly popped back up and now began to chase after his run-away kiwis.

“A whole rainbow of trouble they are. Another round of applause for our Parade of Clowns.” He announcers voice broke through the laughter, calling the crowd into one final roar before allowing the clowns to exit and the next performance to begin.

[Trinais]

@Rex Piratum and @Fumari, both approved.

I'll set up a "Ringmaster" CS and we can begin soon!

[agentmanatee]

I'll try to get a character up today but I'm super sick... and exams are happening... I still really want to be a part of this though

[NyanCaxx]

@Rex Piratum
Lions and Tigers and Bears, oh my!

[Trinais]

@agentmanatee Life Happens!

In all honesty, I'm going to be working most of the weekend- noon to 9 tomorrow and 11 to 6 Sunday, so I'm going to say we'll get going on Sunday evening.

[RainbowReindeer]

I'll try to get a character up today but I'm super sick... and exams are happening... I still really want to be a part of this though

@agentmanatee

This.

Also having slight trouble thinking of an offensive ability

[Trinais]

This.

Also having slight trouble thinking of an offensive ability

@RainbowReindeer

Weapon masters, maybe? Could also snatch a Naruto power if you make them Ninja Acrobats :3

[Onarax]

Sorry about the delay, school year is wrapping up so I've been a bit busy.

I'll try and have something soon.

[Orior]

My illusionist/magician will be up very soon!

[AtomicNut]

Still accepting people?

[Trinais]

Still accepting people?

@AtomicNut

If you'd like to post a CS here, feel free. I'd rather have a few too many than a few too few players.

[AtomicNut]

<Snipped quote by AtomicNut>

If you'd like to post a CS here, feel free. I'd rather have a few too many than a few too few players.

@Trinais

I'd like to ask before if it would be okay for the character in question to not be human in first place, and joined the circus to avoid being hunted down like the rest of his kin to extinction... and whose number would most likely be Snake Charmer (or Fire Eater).

[Trinais]

In that case@AtomicNut, PM me the details before posting the CS and we can work something out :)

[Orior]

This is actually a character I made/used a while ago but didn't get to flourish.
She begins kinda early in the Italian Renaissance, but I can change that if need be.
EDIT; Hmm... It seems she's quiet visually similar to the character Charlotte - my fault, I though she had pink hair. Imma find some new pics. :p

Name:
Calista Kritikous

Sex:
Female

Description:
Calista's appearance changes with her whim. Her powers give her the option to appear as she pleases. Centuries of heavy magic use has altered her once natural appearance. Now, the sorceress has baby blue and periwinkle hair and icy eyes, as well as pointed ears and sharp, angular features. It is not often she will walk around as another, but she is always identified by her large top hat, adorned with a working clock. Typically, she dresses semi-formally in robes or vests and skirts, with an overcoat in the winter, but she is not unfamiliar with modern dress and will occasional wear working jeans. Later in the evening, for the more adult crowd, she will only wear a leotard with her overcoat.

Reference Pictures

Plain


Dressed - Night (her coat does not have that obnoxious collar)


Staff

Date Inducted: 1400s

Role: Illusionist / Magician / Grand Showman / Special Effects 'Technician'

Offensive Power:

• Phantasmagoria: Calista traps an opponent in a frightfully real illusion of all senses. As long as the opponent recognizes the illusion, any and all effects of it physically manifest on the opponent. One must look past the illusion to overcome it, but many do not have the mental willpower.
• Witchcraft: A magic user of much experience, Calista can spin cantrips and hexes of different types of strengths.
• Moderate Martial Abilities: Armed with her cunning, hyper vigilance, resourcefulness, and weighted staff, Calista knows how to protect herself in a fight. She's been at this for some time now.

Biography:
In her previous life, Calista was a scholar working in a great library in Knossos, an ancient Grecian city. She spent her days rewriting manuscripts, translating texts, and studying topics such as culture, science, and mathematics. She met many people in her sponsored travels and saw a great many things. She met aboriginals in their lesser developed regions, and different societies in Europe as advanced or even further so than her own. She was, and still is, a very worldly woman. She had always been a curious, inquisitive person, eager for knowledge and experience. She has a certain unquenchable zest for life.

However, despite how forward Greece was in the fight for female rights, Calista had a life against the grain. Her colleagues never respected her work, she was never taken seriously, and was often passed over for a male counterpart, even if she was more qualified. Although most were amused by her pursuits, some misogynistic men were violent and threatening toward her, especially when she challenged their intelligence. They undermined her, sabotaged her work, and spread nasty lies and rumors around about her in their profession's social setting. She became suspicious about those around her trying to harm her, and developed paranoia because of it. To this day, she is extremely distrustful.

In the 1400s her home city of Knossos was destroyed by raging fires. She was in Europe at the time, in France, and learned of the city's destruction second hand almost a month later, and she was devastated. She lost family, friends, and all of her research. Depressed and lost, she wandered the countryside for a few years aimlessly. In her travels, she came across the traveling circus. For the few days the carnival had stayed in the same town as her, she frequented its shows and attractions, finding them a fun distraction from her troubles. Before the circus moved on, the Keeper had met the girl and saw her intelligence, and offered her a place within the festivities. He tried her out as an assistant at first, but eventually brought her completely into the circle.

Calista was given the power of witchcraft because she was well learned enough to understand the arcane language as well as the intricacies of the art in general. She took to it quite warmly, and became quite proficient in its use.

Other:

• She is a very paranoid person. She is always friendly and cordial, but she is not particularly close with many other members of the show.
• Having been here so long, Calista is not only a vital part of many shows as a performer, she also runs effects for other acts as well (though not with any electronic means).
• She does not take kindly to intrusions on her privacy or personal space.
• Calista will not hesitate to use magic on her coworkers thanks to her untrustworthy nature. However, she will rarely start physical confrontation.
• She can speak many different languages fluently.

Audition:

In Time Unallotted to Other Actions

A cacophony surrounded Calista; the shrieks and screams of children both excited and terrified, the ringing lullabies that chimed from the myriad games and vendors sprawled across a barren field, and uncountable voices risen in an incredible harmony of discord that added to the allure of such grand revelry. As the witch daintily pranced, to the awe of the train of youth behind her, flowers materialized around her, drifting lazily to land in the children's hair and outstretched hands, turning to fluttering butterflies as they connected and flickered away, the colors of their wings dancing in the light. She waved her staff, more for a visual effect than a conjuring one, twirling and raising it high, and a shower of petals swarmed around her party with an easy grace. Feet dangling just a few inches from the ground, Calista smiled and laughed along with both the the enthusiastic children and their pleased parents, pulling random flowers from just out of their view, petals velvety soft and emitting a cloud of wonderfully floral scent, before melting away down their hands and into the grass below. As she weaved her way between the throngs passing through the carnival, visitors left and joined her company. They never stayed long, her intrigue lost once viewed up close, but they came none the less - such an obvious show of magic attracted mortals quite easily.

Past her gleaming smile and fanciful motions laid a restless glance that flickered from face to beaming face; taking in the sight of both the spectators and the silently strained countenances of the other workers around her. With her eyes she plied their smiles from their face, searching fervently for that hidden pernicious intent that lurked waiting for her. In the gloom, shadows draped over carts and stands mockingly, sitting still and malevolent out of sight. Calista never let her gaze linger for too long on their amorphous shape, in fear that suspicion would grip her tight enough to force action. It would never be more than illuminating the area, incorporating its brightening into her choreography, though she preferred not to do so. Whether it was because better judgement dictated that there was most likely nothing there, or the stifling fear of what might lie in wait crippled her so profoundly she fled the sight of the shadow, she knew not, nor cared to.

Her audience was new every few minutes, which was how Calista preferred to perform among the multitude of spectators that raged inside the carnival's grounds. It kept her from focusing her mental interrogations on a single entity, saving them from bone-chilling glances that searched every recess she could access.

[shaitarn]

I've been thinking, and would it be possible for me to create a fire mage type for this?

[Fumari]

@shaitarn A fire dancer/performer could fit that, maybe? Performance style is pretty diverse too, so it'd be fun.