Sandbox / Character Development Thread Worlds Fair

World's Fair

A stall can...

• Be suited for any level of commitment. Stalls can be created as incidental plot devices, such as obtaining food or reminding a character of something, and quickly forgotten about, or they can be run by characters that explicitly belong to a certain writer or writers, or anything in between. Writers are under absolutely no obligation to control any stall that they contribute beyond the original purpose that they brought it to serve.
  • If you make up a nondescript stand that's selling pizza for the purpose of having your attendee character buy some and leave, the stall has served its purpose. You're free to never write for or mention it again, and it's fine if it disappears into the ether because nobody else had their characters visit that particular pizza stand or another writer brings a more detailed pizza vendor that's explicitly different from the one you brought. Alternatively, you and any other writer are free to decide later to flesh out that same stand whether by retconning it into being larger, changing the NPC running the stand into a writer-controlled one, or any other change you can think of.
  • Of course, if you bring a stall representing something from your work such as a character's business or a faction that plays some role in your setting or plot for the sake of developing the characters and/or that faction, you have to be mindful of the commitment. The characters and/or the the faction they're promoting should be written for with reasonable depth and care.
• Be at the fair for any reason, in-story or out. A stall could have the more traditional aims of selling something or promoting a faction or organization, such as a government, business, guild, culture, political party, club, school, or anything else you can think of. You can add a stall for the sake of fleshing out a force in your work, developing the characters running the stall, steering the thoughts and/or conversations of non-stall-running characters in a certain direction, simply giving other people's characters something to interact with, or any combination of the above.
• Offer any service, attraction, and/or product. Food (any sort), weaponry, apparel, animals (to sell, see and/or pet), amusements, art, psychic readings, tools, advancements in any field (with demonstrations?), healing/first aid, anything you can think of, at all. And don't be afraid to let any of it make a mess so long as you don't disrupt large parts of the setting or any groups of characters whose writers would prefer to stay unmolested.
• Come from anywhere. Our world, your work's world, or another place entirely that you made up on a whim. Brought a character who can't eat or doesn't like any of the food that's currently at the fair? You could give them a good day by making up a stall selling one of their favorite delicacies, let your character and the stall-running character exchange a few words, and let the stall fade away if you so wish.

If you choose to run a stall of your own, create an entry for it in one of the three folders below, depending on which category you think it would fit the most. Its heading should contain its name (such as the faction it's representing), your troper handle, and whether it's active (you're currently available to write for it) or inactive (you're unavailable and can't write for it). Below it should be a description of what a passerby will see as they look at your stall.

Any stall with a writer's name on it cannot be controlled by anyone else without that writer's explicit permission. Furthermore, if a writer finds that they're too busy to continue controlling a stall with their name on it, they can write the stall closing up or (if the stall has attracted characters) the stall can become unexpectedly crowded with NPC attendees, convincing characters to leave and come back when it's less busy.

Locations

Entertainment Hall

Dueling Ring (Shared, NPC-run, Permanent)

Here in this inground, wood-floored, two-person ring, anyone in the mood for an honorable scuffle can gather an opponent and fight it out without having to worry (too much) about accidentally harming spectators, who sit safely in the wooden bleachers behind a short wall.

House of Horrors (Elfhunter) [Inactive]

A ramshackle building made of wood and stone, though if one would look closely they would notice it was made without a single nail or ounce of mortar. A small hallway from the entrance leads left into the first room of four, each large enough to hold all the creepy statues, paintings and other paraphernalia, while leaving a cramped walking space. With the windows sealed up and only the one entrance, the insides are pitch black, the torches handed out to entrants being their only source of light.

A man in pre-Gregorian era clothing stands at the entrance, and is the only visible attendant. Although running a place this big seems tough for one man, he won't give you the opportunity to complain.

Rufus's "Ask Me to Do Anything" Stall (Ryuhza) [Closed]

A somewhat suspect looking stall that consists of a public bench (cleverly disguised with a large tablecloth) and a small table with a self-described "merging of man and beast" lizard person sitting atop it, offering to do anything (within decent reason) that a fairgoer demands, and utilizing a pay-what-you-want model for the resulting performance. It has had surprisingly little success thus far.

Ejra Demori's Fantastical Emporium (SolipSchism) [See Note]^note Please PM SolipSchism or post in the Discussion if you'd like to visit the stall, as he is only skimming posts from characters that aren't already interacting with him.

Unbelievable Spells And Enchantments To Amaze And Astound!

Buy One Get One Free On All Nonpermanent Spells! Inquire Within!

A small tent that probably ought to be in the Market Hall, but the proprietor doesn't seem like the type to rely on more than a token amount of logic most of the time. Packed with ceiling-to-floor and wall-to-wall shelves covered with trinkets, it looks like a knick-knack shop or antique toy store, but each item is a spell—that is, a person with sufficient innate magical talent will be able to channel that power through them to cast specific spells, most of which are suited for combat. He has quite a respectable selection of spells that don't require any innate magical ability, too.^note The general idea of "spells" as magical trinkets is taken from the pre-revision Magic: The Gathering novels, and all of his spells are actual cards in the game.

Madame voSudir's Ship of Marvels (nrjxll)

A small (~150 meters) sea-green spaceship resting alongside the edge of the hall, it consists of two hemispheres joined together, with bright red holographic text on the larger hemisphere flashing its name in different languages. A pair of hovering disks of similar appearance are outside, with one reciting a carnival-style sales pitch.

Details of the interior will follow once (or if) someone goes inside.

Showcase Hall

Martian Dynamics (Night)

A small whitish prefabricated building with an area out front under a raised tarp showing various bits advanced technology that seemed to be parts of larger and more complex machines. There are a couple of obvious exceptions; a mid-sized construction machine of some sort with a bubble canopy and a five-meter-long gun designed for something with much bigger hands than a human. A square flag flies above the building, divided in half horizontally: a distinctive rust or dirt red below and black with white speckles above; the Southern Cross if one looked close. The tarp and the building both have a large "MD" logo that faded from the same red to a sky-blue.

A half-dozen people in sky blue vests or overalls attend the area, along with one African-looking man in a dark blue suit. All of them seem to be a few inches over normal height.

Drs. Tsaadlo and Whittaker (Tera Chimera) (Inactive)

A scientific booth and poster, it largely displays technical and biological information and has a title of "Physiological Effects of Full and Half-Merged Transfiguration". Even for the layman, it is relatively easy to see that it examines the effects of magical transfiguration on a body, ranging from biochemical changes to organ rearrangement. Included on the poster are two pictures: one of a Nobel prize — for Physiology or Medicine, if one looks closely at it — and one of a rubber chicken hunched over an egg atop a stand that says "Ig Nobel Prize". Two scientists are sitting at the booth, one a freckled, sandy-haired human wearing a nametag that reads "Myles Whittaker", the other a seven-foot-plus green-scaled, blue-striped humanoid dragon known as a chimera whose nametag says "Richard Tsaadlo".

Western Amalgamated Tent (Killer Clowns)

A large white tent, run by two of Western Amalgamated's level-headed employees, Dr. Mary Xiong and Olara Veneris. They are grilling and providing, for free (with a per-customer limit), sushi rolls of varying authenticity and vegan hot dogs and burgers. Also available if necessary are some medical supplies; Xiong has basic first aid training, while Veneris is an experienced medic. Though Western Amalgamated is primarily an agricultural biotechnology company, they're not actively seeking to sell anything. Their main goals are patching up any previous disagreements they were involved in, learning about the others who have found their way here, and leaving others with a good opinion of the company so agents wearing its uniform can find allies. Any deals they make or artifacts they obtain are just an added bonus.

Market Hall

Food Court (Permanent)

On the western side of the Market Hall are the various and sundry food vendors of the Worlds' Fair. A vast expanse of chairs and tiny, freely movable tables has been placed close by for attendees' dining pleasure.

Youkai Showcase (Yomegami) [Inactive]

A small stall run by Mahiro Inoue and his daughter Nagako. It mostly consists of a few shelves with a black awning over the top of it all. On display are the finest works the youkai can offer, or so Mahiro would have one believe. Among other things, there are fine silks, jewelry, and whatever else Mahiro could get his hands on that he felt would make a good impression to outsiders. In lieu of conventional payment Mahiro accepts trades if he finds the item being offered to be of interest to him.

Nagako is often not present as she's usually wandering around to see what else the fair has to offer. If she is present, she has a small sub-shop of her own, where she sells live stag beetles as pets. Most are small miyama-kuwagata beetles, although she has a few oo-kuwagata as well that are considerably more expensive.

Rare and Mystical Artifacts from Across the Seven Spiral Arms by Tevarian T'jok (Sonzai) [Inactive]

A medium sized booth, filled to the brim with a wide variety of antiques, gadgets, and artifacts. They look as though they are from an impressive variety of planets, species, and civilizations throughout time. Tevarian is always inside the booth (Intro/Description Here), and is more than willing to answer any question about the objects on display, what he might have in stock, or what's recommended. These artifacts range from the mundane to the fantastic, and may have the power to solve or cause many problems, depending upon how they're used. There's also a '50% Off Sale' sign on the table, but there aren't any prices marked on any items. Of course, any actual prices, in cash or trade, are all certainly negotiable.

Nhesvrasila, Inc. (Tera Chimera)

Based more than a bit on paranoia, this tent proclaims that it sells products for protection against magic. A large wall and several display cases packed with goods back this up; for the most part, they strongly resemble normal self-defense products: stun guns, Mace, collapsible batons, that sort of thing. However, there are a few objects that stand out a bit, such as something that resembles a cross between a fanny pack and an odometer. A certificate in the middle of the back wall indicates that it has been accredited by the Bureau for Arcane Control. It is manned by a short, yellow humanoid dragon, whose nametag reads "Shane Keridan".

Fellow And Neighbour's Make Your Own PInt-Automat (m8e Inactive)

A 1x4x9 meter perfectly black box towers on the back end of the stall. Out of it runs bunches of tubes, hoses, cables and whatnots into a vending machine at the front of the stall. Next to the machine stands a standard stall table with brochures, various promotional merchandise and whatever such a stall might need.

Two bearded men in t-shirts just as black as the tower and the vending machine work the stall, showing how the machine works, giving away brochures/promotional materials and make sure the machine works by pouring themself another pint when their last one is empty.

Outdoors Areas

Courtyard (Permanent)

Located outside the covered walkways that connect the three buildings of the fair, this grassy area offers plenty of benches and seating around its fountain and trees that should offer a welcome relief from the constant noise and crowds of the fair. It's also a short walk from the Market Hall's food court, should anyone decide that they wish to dine in some fresh air.

The Cloud Gate Hotel (NPC-run, Permanent)

Known for its love of sky-themed decor and curved mirror ornamentation in homage to its namesake, this elegant, glitzy establishment has flung its doors wide open for the fair. Its rooms have been dressed and grouped to fit as many budgets as possible while still providing top-notch service, whether a family or group of friends on a budget or a representative of a powerful force of the world. Cheaper rooms have been placed on the lower floors, with more expensive ones ascending in price, features, and offerings with the floor number.

Characters

Active Troper Characters

• Selina (Blackfire667): A twenty-something woman, an ambitious sorceress, and a keen shopper on the lookout for magic and/or items of interest. Intro.
• Tamara (Blackfire667): A good-natured young girl of roughly nine years of age. Eager for some adventure and fun, and here with her older sister, Selina.
• Mary Xiong (Killer Clowns): One of Western Amalgamated's specialists in the aquacultural projects that made the food at her stall possible. Will almost certainly be present at the stall barring disaster.
• Olara Veneris (Killer Clowns): A Maurosian-born medic employed by Western Amalgamated, mostly in case of disaster.
• Maurosian Auxiliaries (Killer Clowns): No more than a half-dozen semi-expendable Western Amalgamated henchmen and a priest-commander, mixed into the crowd near their stall to deal with threats.
• Suela (Killer Clowns): A Yoth noblewoman and philosopher. At this point in her timeline, she hasn't yet founded her eponymous religion.
• Ghiln (nrjxll): A young, female, tech-savvy member of an alien species called the qrtxians ( reptilian greys).
• Kel Yuzgalan (nrjxll): A mercenary from a vaguely avian, three-legged alien species called the shvuim, wearing silver Powered Armor.
• Reyondh 'Rey' Agavhi (nrjxll): A female alien mercenary from a humanoid, green-skinned species called the orl.
• Krott voSudir (nrjxll): A female orl who runs the Ship of Marvels traveling attraction. Prefers to go by "Madame voSudir".
• Hazzer (nrjxll): Krott voSudir's AI assistant. Operates three hovering disk-shaped drones. Due to prejudice against AIs in its setting, it pretends to be a basic automated program.
• Somlan Erris (SolipSchism): A mischievous young mage from the kingdom of Rashae, here to assist Karl Emmesin (below). Obnoxious and snarky, but ultimately well-intentioned.
• Karl Emmesin (SolipSchism): A deliberate Expy of Malcolm Tucker in nearly all aspects, including physical appearance. He is the Rashaean Vizier, the King's right-hand man, and is here on the King's orders.
• Ejra Demori (SolipSchism): An eccentric old blue-red mage from a place called Vaatz, he is the proprietor of Ejra Demori's Fantastical Emporium. A friendly and slightly pushy salesman, eager for customers to try his wares out before buying anything.
• Masum/Aeron (SolipSchism): A mage from Rashae, accompanied by invisible demons. Don't let his mild demeanor fool you—he's Faux Affably Evil, which is pretty understandable when you're possessed by three universe-eating demons.
• Nioba Agavis (Strix Obscuro): A Vyzobian Liberatrix (basically, a Knight Templar.) Mostly hoping for a peaceful outing, but fully expects to end up fighting someone.
• Lihiri Kinra (Strix Obscuro): A Zinji Avatar of Suffering - thankfully disinclined to actually create suffering - and Nioba's constant companion. Came to Worlds' Fair to explore and perhaps to convince Nioba to relax.
• Nazerno (Strix Obscuro): A bigoted old Azikathi bounty hunter, sent to capture Lihiri and kill Nioba.
• Dimi (Strix Obscuro): A Zinji Furor, and Nazerno's slave.
• Jidra (Strix Obscuro): The Head of Foreign Projects for the Azikathi Empire, currently attempting to capture Lihiri and kill Nioba, Nazerno, and Dimi.
• Bes (@Strix Obscuro): An Avatar of Carnage, sent to help Jidra carry out her plans.
• Marion Rakivata (Tera Chimera): A chimera with money to burn and a low tolerance for annoyance.

Inactive Troper Characters

• Iris Dirchovic of Halstant (Crystal Glacia): A millennia-old retired Atonari servant looking for a break from her usual activity of political activism and military management, hoping to meet some interesting people and maybe help them. Not that she won't attempt to pick apart a government given the chance.
  • Mijo: Iris's impulsive young bodyguard-wyvern, who was sent with her for training purposes without her knowledge. He's usually perched on her shoulder and has antimagical venom, titanium fang, claw, and talon replacements, and a long forked tongue that can taste for magic, body temperature, scent, and other such things.
• Samson Thane (Darkblood Carnagefang): A rather upbeat individual, despite their choice of dark clothing.
• Adelphos (Elfhunter): A traveler interested in learning about foreign sources of power, and acquiring them if the situation allows. He's secretly the builder and owner of the House of Horrors. He'll be wandering around the fair, often seeming to be in more than one place at a time.
• Lyra Leison-Lestel (Flowing Cotton): A young woman with black straight hair and dark green eyes. Has an air of casual elegance to her. Creates some of the glassware in the showcase.
• Leo Leison-Lestel (Flowing Cotton): A passionate boy with a knack for exploration and adventures. Black hair, dark blue eyes. Abandons the stall in favor of the fair immediately after the former opens.
• Aida Lena-Aventa (Flowing Cotton): A short girl with a reserved and quiet nature. Has black hair that appears red under the right lighting, and dark red eyes.
• Makoto Miyamoto (Inceptiond): A very businesslike monster slayer, in combat gear for some reason.
• Amanita (Killer Clowns): The goddess of swamps, decay, and rebirth. She takes the form of an old crone from a fairy tale, and lack of worship has somewhat damaged her lucidity.
• Nore ul'Alitoth (Killer Clowns): An Uelane ambassador of sorts. Her people couldn't be bothered to set up a stall, so she intends to instead wander the fair seeing what else is out there.
• Solin ul'Oriyith (Killer Clowns): Nore's quiet, cynical, and efficient bodyguard, occasionally notices things she misses.
  • Aspect of Pride (Killer Clowns): A small but cunning fragment of the Eyes and Teeth, presently dormant and locked in Solin's club (unbeknownst to both he and Nore). Will only be released in emergencies.
• Alice Winters (Killer Clowns): A small, unsettling woman of forty. Employee of Western Amalgamated and master of anti-magic. It's possible to mistake her for a child at a distance, but up close she Looks Like Cesare and hints of her age are visible. Don't try reading her mind.
• Zin Vek (Killer Clowns): A man with only recently-revealed facial tattoos, carrying a large backpack, clearly terrified of something.
• Vakaza Agents (Killer Clowns): Various expendable agents of the Alosian Liberation Army, a militarist terrorist organization of bitter ex-soldiers.
• Akira Michi (Masterof Chaos): A young Japanese man who's traveling. Wasn't originally planning on arriving to the fair, but since it looked interesting, he figured he dropped by and check it out.
• A mysterious being in black robes (nrjxll): Details unknown at present.
• Inspector D. Eeflorn (nrjxll): A green-furred chimpanzee-like alien detective, wearing a suit with an unusual cut and a trilby hat.
• J.R. Genkon (nrjxll): A short, dark-skinned, somewhat jittery man who is acting as a representative for something called the Corinarch Empire.
• Raoul Quintana (nrjxll): Eeflorn's junior partner, a slightly-overweight Spanish man wearing the same style of suit.
• Rufus/Joseph T. Weller (Ryuhza): A young, weary lizard-man, looking for a way home. Spent some time operating a makeshift fair stall of his own, under the pseudonym "Rufus".
• Harsha Nath (Shinobhi): A young wizard and holder of a dragon named Vajra from Nagaloka. He was dragged along to this fair by his fiancee, Harika, so that they could "bond," despite knowing each other for about ten years prior.
• Harika Kanaswara (Shinobhi): Another young wizard and Harsha's fiancee. Also holds a dragon named Pala. She dragged Harsha along because she felt like Harsha needed to have some fun once in a while.
• Hvpvdqia (Sonzai): Strange and mysterious weather spirit. Her motivation and goals are a mystery, possibly even to herself.
• Ila Locera (Sonzai): Artificial person, who looks like a 20-year old human female with butterfly wings on her back, which she uses to fly and hover around the fair, in apparent defiance of the Square-Cube Law. (Although she is actually much lighter than she looks.)
• Iono Tetranix (Sonzai): Mystery woman from somewhere... whose true nature is still unknown.
• Tevarian T'jok (Sonzai): Traveling trader alien who is selling exotic devices and artifacts from across the galaxy. He always wears an environment suit due to the differences in atmospheres and gravity from his home world.
• Zhi Xing Ying (Sonzai): Ancient Qin Master of elemental martial arts. And asking tough questions.
• Sotto Stimme (Strix Obscuro): A shady Vardalgari merchant who has set up the Vardalgari Exports booth.
• Mahiro Inoue (Yomegami): A wealthy nukekubi merchant from the Youkai Capital. Usually specializes in selling "curiosities," but here his offerings are mostly meant to represent Youkai culture as a whole.
• Nagako Inoue (Yomegami): Mahiro's daughter, who he brought along to teach the tricks of his trade. Is very fond of bugs, but is fairly outgoing in general.