61. II. THE RULES OF The Carnival
Sixty One
II. THE RULES OF The Carnival
Etched in bone above the entrance arch, in a language you feel rather than read.
III. STRUCTURE & SPACES
The Main Tent (Performance Stage)
· Stage rotates by blood type.
· The crowd appears faceless, draped in shadow.
· Madame Noire is always center — never seen entering, only appearing.
The Backstage
· Where the carnies sleep (if they do).
· Haunted dressing rooms, cracked mirrors that whisper secrets.
· The Escapist’s quarters are always locked… except when she visits.
The Sideshow Row
· Marionettist’s puppet graveyard.
· Mirror Maiden’s corridor of glass — all showing possible deaths.
· A bone carousel that spins when someone lies.
Madame Noire’s Tent
· Tutu mannequins made from old flesh.
· A hidden music box that plays her lullaby from her mortal days.
· Blood on the floor, never fresh, never dry.
The Ring of Chains
· Elias’s act space. Rusted metal, swinging cages, barbed wire threads.
· The only place he feels honest.
IV. THE CROWD
· They’re not human. Never were.
· Shadows in masks, frozen smiles, empty hands that clap in unison.
· When they love something, they cry blood.
· When they hate something… it disappears from the world entirely.
· Some say they’re the souls of past performers who failed.
V. THE PERFORMERS’ BARGAINS
Each carnies traded something to join:
· Madame Noire: Gave her soul for eternal adoration. Didn’t read the fine print.
· Escapist: Didn’t make a deal The Carnival chose him. He’s a wildcard.
· Marionettist: Traded his heartbeat for control.
· Mirror Maiden: Looked into the wrong mirror and never got out.
· Twins: Were born conjoined, sold for freak show fame. Killed the man who owned them. The Carnival took over.
· Fire breather: Burned down a church as a child. Carnival raised him in flame.
VI. EMOTIONAL RULES OF THE TENT
The tent is sentient. It feeds on emotion — especially:
· Fear = fuel
· Lust = heat
· Grief = control
· Love = chaos