OPENING NARRATIVE

 

Our story begins in Lumen, a mid-sized kingdom nestled within a crescent mountain range that faces the open sea. With protection from the Eclipse Mountains on the western border and the Aegean Sea to the east, Lumen has always been an isolated, but self-sufficient land, and a common place for sailors, merchants, and other sea travelers to find rest and entertainment before continuing their journeys. 

 

Reigning the Kingdom of Lumen is the De Lune family, what was once a family of three, now a mere prince and his advisor. The Prince, Duo Ambrose de Lune, is just about to turn 21, finally of age to officially lead Lumen as its King. Up until this point, Lumen has been run by an elected group of officials, largely led by his advisor, Celeste Evermore. Celeste is of fey origin and a powerful magic user, and has served as a loyal and intelligent mentor for the orphaned Prince for years. 

 

Even from a young age, the Prince has shown a vibrant love of magic, though proving utterly incapable of wielding any of his own - even under Celeste's tutelage. Despite this, the prince finds continuous amazement in his advisor's feats and the menagerie of citizens and travelers that reside and pass through his kingdom. 

 

Tonight is a very special night in Lumen, and the citizens and travelers are abuzz with the announcement shared only just this morning. Celeste Evermore has planned a never-before-experienced magical event in honor of the Prince's birthday, coronation, and love of magic - something Celeste has dubbed the Stardust Evening Circus. 

 

You have also been invited, and now, as the sun dips behind the Eclipse Ridge, you stand among a plethora of people, all waiting behind a towering set of silver gates, its ornate and twisting adornments shimmering in the last light of day. 

 

The attendees seem a most eclectic group, races and classes of every walk of life, but all wait in anticipation as the sun disappears. As the sky blackens and the stars appear to watch overhead, the silver gates shiver to life and swing open in a slow arc.  

 

A figure stands within the open gates, midnight robes obscuring their form and providing a stark contrast to their long star-white hair. Their veiled face is backlit by a hood of feathers, gray and black but flecked by an iridescent hue that can be seen in the flickers of blue torchlight on either side of the gate. They lift a delicate hand to the crowd, and no more is needed for a hush to pass over the soon-to-be-guests. 

 

“Welcome,” they say, in a smooth, pleasant voice. It sounds as though they are right next to you, despite the crowd of people here. “I am so pleased to see so many of you here to celebrate with us.” They gesture behind them, and the crowd strains to see through the darkness. “I will have you know, I take great pride in what I’ve been able to create for the Prince and you all to enjoy today.” 

 

“Before we invite you all in, I’d like to introduce our Guest of Honor.” They gesture to their right, where a new person emerges from the darkness. This one is a young man, tall, but not quite as tall as his advisor. “I present Prince Duo Ambrose de Lune, soon-to-be Highness of Lumen.” The Prince smiles openly to the crowd, who receives him with an excited applause. 

 

You notice that the Prince and his advisor are a stark contrast in appearance. The Prince, though his hair is the same midnight black of Celeste’s robes, wears all white with gold accents that match his advisor. A deep navy cloak hangs off of one shoulder, a mural of the sun at his shoulder, its rays blending into the night sky that makes up the bottom. There’s clear excitement in his dark eyes, and he seems to rock ever so slightly on his feet. 

 

“We hope you enjoy this evening, my Prince. You and the rest of our citizens. It will surely be an evening to remember!” 

 

There are a few rules that Celeste tells the crowd:

 

1. First and foremost of course, to respect the Prince and be mindful of his station regardless of the festivities that they would be enjoying together. (The Prince seems to twist his lip at this, but says nothing.) 

 

1. Everyone is to be greeted by a Seer at the entrance. The Royal Guard will be stationed there as well to be aware of any and all visitors to the Stardust Circus. 

 

1. Tents are not labeled on purpose. The circus is meant to provide a feeling of risk and adventure, but within a safe environment. 

 

The crowd begins to be separated into lines for the 5 Seers at the entrance. 

 

The Seers are of varying height and build, but all share the same pale eyes and crystal blue irises. Black charcoal is smeared across their faces as well, the residue fading on either side into various styles of slate gray hair. They raise a hand to each visitor, palm up, requesting to see their hand before offering a set of overturned cards to choose from. 

 

Once each guest receives their Souvenir and a fresh sense of excitement, they approach the gates and are gestured inside by the Guard. 

 

Darkness folds around you as you cross the threshold. It’s quick - a hint longer than the blink of an eye, and, then, you’re in the circus. 

 

Tents and stands cover the expanse of space such that you can’t see how big the circus is from the entrance. They’re all white and black and navy, with celestial adornments like stars, moons, and suns patterning the fabrics or tops of poles. There are hints of silver and pale gold that glint in your peripherals nearly everywhere you turn. 

 

Just outside the circus, it had been dark enough to see the stars, but, in here, the stars are absolutely brilliant. There seems to be hundreds more, all feeling impossibly close to the tents and guests. It feels almost a different plane of existence altogether. 

 

After the initial awe of the celestial circus, it’s easy to notice the three stands closest to where you ended up. Unlike the tents, these stands are labeled - minigames. One has a dart board with silver and gold tipped darts lining the player table. Another boasted a tall ruler of sorts with numbered markings and a silver bell at the top. And the last had a set of overturned, and beautifully adorned cups, the stand owner rolling a pale gold ball along their fingers. 

 

All that is left to do is determine where to start…