Page 60 of The Opening Act is Death (The Carnival of The Damned)

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