The Game at Carousel: A Horror Movie LitRPG

The only thing we knew that needed to be done was to check out the informational display about the founding of Carousel that was supposed to be somewhere in the town square. We had been given a new space on the red wallpaper for Leads and, while I still wasn’t certain of what we were up against, I was glad to have direction.

Even with all the excitement and joy surrounding us, knowing that something was coming created a palpable sense of dread. I could only imagine that people who showed up here without knowing anything would probably be having a good time at that moment, albeit a confused one. Having not been forced to become aware of the red wallpaper or being told that Carousel was a cosmic trap would make this experience a lot better.

Dina was the first to discover the displays in the town square containing various information about Carousel. They were mostly collages of pictures and newspaper clippings on cardboard. Soon we found our way over to them and were eagerly trying to find any relevant information. They looked like they were a step up from a history report that someone might have done in junior high. They were informative but not exhaustive.

We found the display that gave information about the founding of Carousel and quickly started to read over it. I smiled as I read because the articles on the display board and the pictures that were featured reminded me of how this exact same thing was done in movies. When using newspaper clippings to give information, there were always convenient titles and evocative pictures, and all we saw from most of the newspaper clippings were the first few lines.

The Founding of Carousel

August 5, 1922

The Haunted History of the Geist Family

Bartholomew Geist Acquires Bankrupt Township

April 12, 1922

In a move that has stirred both curiosity and skepticism among industry onlookers, the enigmatic film and theater producer Bartholomew Geist has secured ownership of a recently bankrupted and abandoned community. The acquisition, brokered by the reclusive and astute financier Silas Dyrkon, represents a significant expansion of Geist’s diverse and somewhat arcane business interests.

Geist Seeks Partnership for Local Revival

June 5, 1924

Bartholomew Geist announced today his intentions to revive the lifeless agricultural, industrial, and tourism sectors of his newly acquired property, now dubbed ‘Carousel,’ with the aid of investors. “It takes a village to raise a town,” Geist mused...

The next article was folded over so that only the title and first few lines could be read. I quickly unfolded it to read the rest of the story.

Carousel: Home of the Stars?

April 3, 1934

The Geist family, increasingly known for their contributions to the film business, are proceeding with their extensive project to convert sections of Carousel into permanent film sets, aiming to bolster their film production endeavors and instill a culture and history that will

(fold)

drive tourism. However, this initiative has faced criticism from local residents, who are concerned about the quality and safety of the construction. Many of these structures have been deemed substandard and unsafe for public accessibility.

A particularly stark example of these issues is the recently attempted public swimming pool, which was installed with such significant flaws that it remains unused. The issue has underscored the broader problem of hasty construction throughout the town.

The most notable case highlighting these concerns is the Rapid Falls Tenements, located in the northern district of Carousel. These buildings, although aesthetically pleasing and designed to emulate the dense urban districts of major cities for films set in such locations, have been colloquially labeled ‘The Prettiest Slums in the World’ by locals. Residents report that the buildings suffer from such poor craftsmanship that it seems “the last coat of paint is the only thing holding these things up,” indicating a potentially hazardous lack of structural integrity. This sentiment underscores a growing dissatisfaction among the populace with the Geist family’s ambitious cinematic projects, raising questions about the balance between artistic creation and community safety.

Cherise Geist’s Asylum: A Charitable Sanctuary or Set Piece?

October 10, 1964

Cherise Geist, eldest granddaughter to Carousel’s founder Bartholomew Geist, has initiated the construction of a state-of-the-art asylum. While lauded for her charitable efforts, local historian Marty McKay quipped, “Sure, it’s for charity, but don’t be surprised if it doubles as a set for their next big flick, and a tax write-off for the Geist family.” McKay added, “The socialite is known for her love of drinking and dancing. Perhaps this is a way to rehabilitate her image...

Miss Carousel Crown Goes to a Geist

August 6, 1972

The crown of the first annual Miss Carousel Pageant was awarded yesterday to none other than a member of the founding family, Miss Lillian Geist. The Pageant, held at the Carousel 50th Anniversary Celebration, was meant to celebrate the vitality of the community....

Flames Engulf Geist Factory

January 1, 1984

In a regrettable turn of events, a blaze engulfed a key manufacturing facility belonging to the Geist family late last evening. Official reports confirm there were no injuries or fatalities associated with the incident. Prompt action by local fire services, alerted by a vigilant young resident who has been dubbed a ‘Guardian Angel’ by employees, who first spotted the conflagration, prevented any potential harm to the factory workers, who were unaware of the escalating danger until the arrival of emergency personnel.

The affected factory, an early industrial endeavor established by Bartholomew Geist, has been a cornerstone in the Geist family’s diverse business operations. Bensen Geist, the current CEO of Geist Industries, was present during the incident and has publicly committed to reconstructing the facility. His statement assured the community that the rebuilding efforts would serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth, stating, “We will emerge from the ashes with a vision renewed for the future of Carousel.”

The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, with further details to be disclosed as they become available. The Geist family has pledged full cooperation with the authorities to ascertain the origin of the blaze and to implement measures to prevent future incidents.

Tragedy Strikes on the Set of Geists’ Latest Fright Feature

February 18, 1984

In what can only be described as life imitating art, a chilling accident occurred during the filming of Bartholomew Geist’s latest horror venture, resulting in 4 fatalities, including Carlyle Geist, celebrated actor and presenter. Details are forthcoming. After a string of failures, Geist Productions was relying on their latest film to turn things around. That hope has been frustrated by these events. While the...

Mystery Shrouds Geist Manor Blaze

April 10, 1984

The ancestral home of the Geist family fell to a baffling inferno last evening. Fire officials are left scratching their heads at the odd patterns of the blaze, with Chief Inspector Harrow noting, “The blaze hollowed out the main structure while leaving both one wing and several corridors completely untouched.” The fire started during an unnamed social event. Guests and Geists alike attempted to escape the smoke and flame. Harrow noted that all the Geist family members present were engulfed.

I read each of the articles twice. There was just enough information there to start piecing together a timeline of Carousel’s alleged history. Unfortunately, the most important parts were the parts that weren’t in the articles. Those with the details we would have to discover on our own.

The Geists had basically been eradicated 40 years prior. At that moment, there were too many possibilities for where the story was going. I needed to keep my mind open. The worst thing that I could do was decide that this was some sort of curse or grudge and only look for evidence of those things.

After we had read the information and discussed it a little, I noticed that the Lead instructing us to find the informational display had disappeared from the red wallpaper. Instead, new sub headings had been added under the Lead “Vetting the Founder’s Tale”. These new subheadings instructed us to look for information about the Geist family and its demise.

“So, this is basically like a video game?” Isaac asked. “With quests and all that?”

“We’ll see if you still want to call it a video game in a few days,” Antoine said.

In a way, it was like a video game. The Tutorial was about to start, after all.

After that, we meandered around the town square and looked at the various booths that had been set up. Cassie and Isaac were specifically interested in finding a booth that the hospital was running. They seemed to hope that their brother would be there. I didn't want to dash their hopes so I didn't say anything. I expected that once we found it, it would likely be some sort of health awareness propaganda combined with some sort of carnival game or scary movie prop. That would be in fitting with the rest of the booths.

We didn’t find it. What we found was a display of cardboard cutouts of figures from Geist horror movies. There was also a wall filled with old vintage movie posters. I scanned over them repeatedly, as if subconsciously expecting to recognize one of them, but I never did. That was Carousel, though. Everything was familiar but different.

The sight of all the alternate reality horror film posters had been much more interesting to me than it was to my friends. Soon, I could feel them starting to pull away, drawn toward other parts of the celebration preparations. I took one last look at the line of vintage movie posters and rejoined them.

“Where to?” I asked. Sickening anticipation was building. This place felt normal, or at least as normal as the average Halloween fair. It didn’t feel foreboding, not in the way I was expecting. These people seemed happy. It was too normal. I felt like Carousel was teasing us.

No one had an answer. Like me, they were taken in by the sights, sounds, and smells of a town in the throes of a celebration.

In the distance, the Barker continued selling people on the virtues of the various carnival rides. “See the scares from a hundred feet up!” he boasted of the drop ride. “Let the world blend into a sea of swirling colors,” he said of the ride that spun so fast that the passengers could defy gravity and crawl along the padded walls.

“Shouldn’t there be a carousel in Carousel?” Isaac asked. “I don’t see one anywhere.”

Antoine and I made eye contact and smirked. How many times had we asked that same question?

“Let's just take our time,” Antoine said, “The story will come to us.”

He said that like it was a good thing.

“I'm not looking forward to that part,” I said, as a clown walked across the street selling balloons. Despite its spooky clown makeup, it was just an ordinary NPC. If anything was going to be a monster, it would have been the clown.

It was at that moment; I glanced down the street and saw a man in a fancy suit. He wore a red sash that said the word “Mayor” in golden letters and a hat to match his suit. His gray mustache was intricately manicured. A chill went down my spine.

I got the attention of my friends and directed them in the direction I was looking. They were just as disturbed to see him as I was, with the exception of Isaac and Cassie, who did not know what the big deal was.

“Oh my god,” Kimberly said. “He’s coming this way.”

We had heard references to the mayor here and there, but we had never actually seen him. We knew he was involved in the Throughline from the writings in the Atlas, but to what extent, we couldn’t be sure.

Curiously, on the red wallpaper, his name was Mayor Roderick Gray. To my great surprise, he was a level 3 NPC, just like most of the people we had seen so far. I had expected an ultimate antagonist or similar. It was still possible that he was the bad guy being disguised by the narrative and powerful tropes, but I could not be certain.

He got closer. Behind him, an entourage of yes-men and security personnel walked. He waved at the families participating in the festivities and said, “Welcome to Carousel!” to everyone who made eye contact.

As he walked toward us, I scanned for Omens. Still, there were none. Soon enough, he was upon us. He was practically right next to us on the sidewalk. He turned, looked right at each of us, smiled warmly, and said, “Welcome to Carousel, the town where movies come to life!”

Then he and his followers walked across the street toward a booth about civic engagement. He never looked back.

“Seems like a nice guy,” Bobby said nonchalantly.

Somehow that was even more unnerving.

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