Dear readers, Daiyu Tang here. I’ve returned safely from a terrifying experience that would put some of the gangbangers in Hathian to shame.
You may remember that back in 2022 I was delighted to be asked to preview the Hathian Haunt, a superb construct of scares, tricks and terrifying ghoulies for Halloween. I’m delighted to say that in early 2023 the ‘Unknown’ appear to have at least equalled the Haunt in terms of staging and artifice and done it all before Halloween; more scares for more of the year. Most of you will love that!
The teaser ads that went up round town were the catalyst for the me to reach out to the PFE and then once permission was granted head into the bayou along with our cameraman and see what could be seen. We arrived before the carnival was open to the general public and despite some limitations on what we could shoot came away with a pretty good understanding (and some photos maybe we shouldn’t have taken?).
Some staff were not yet hired (as auditions as at 25/05/23 remain ongoing) but overall there was more than enough atmosphere to get blood pumping and your reporter to wish she’d not drunk ANYTHING for 24 hours.
For readers of a nervous disposition, this article contains clowns… and worse.
Arriving at the carnival
Well readers, this isn’t the Hathian Carnival 2021 or 2020! You can see the type of Carnival those were HERE and spoiler alert, they were fairground rides with a family friendly pitch that perhaps is more ‘normal’ for Hathian? Sure crimes happen there, but people go for entertainment, not to potentially wet themselves.
With the Floating Extravaganza stating it’s for adults 18 and older, you can perhaps already see the difference (if the giant clown didn’t give it away in the picture above!). Even the 2018 Carnival in Hathian, setup down near the beach with perhaps a few similar attractions seems in no way like what the Unknown have setup. They have truly mixed terror with carnival and you know what they say right? We all float down here… So without further ado, let’s go and float with them as we take a brief tour…
Taking a look around
Guided through the carnival, we were allowed to stop and take photos at particular areas. We saw a number of animals in cages which explained the noises some residents had been reporting out in the bayou. It has to be said that the conditions of the animals did not look great and whether keeping bears, tigers, lions and the like in small wagons is right doesn’t seem to cross ‘the Unknowns’ moral compass. “They are what they are” they say. “It has always been thus.”
After viewing the animals we were moved onto a ‘main attraction’ (but not the only one). It appeared to be a swimming pool containing alligators with raised seating at the back for spectators and a central ‘dunk’ tank for performers to be placed in to perhaps have to escape from or so. Our minders just smiled when we asked what the full routine was. I’d come and see this part for sure.
Our minders next suggested that we take part in one of their sideshow events.
Honestly I am glad I lived to regret this!
I was strapped onto a wheel, that span on some kind of motor. They kept it slow for me and then with a rather wicked smile they showed me knives that could be used to throw at the board. I was really glad that I’d brought our cameraman along as he was a complete trooper and refused to actually throw knives at me. Some of them probably would… (looking at you here CU Gossip Girl).
Once I was released and caught my breath there were a number of other areas they they showed us. These included a tarot and mystical voodoo type of area and various other stalls, games (e.g. test your might) and places to get some food (if you dare).
I felt at this stage that I had a pretty good idea of what the Carnival was about and that it was both beautiful in a macabre way, but also deadly (in a possibly dead type of dead way). It was hard to know, perhaps I am just not cut out for these things… Hathian has given me enough horrors, but this one was blurring my reality and really creeped me out. Maybe thus if we assume it’s just a carnival, then they’ve really excelled themselves – it’s terrifying and could be terrifyingly good fun with friends.
Finally, I was shown the stage area where we were told live music will open the event and with acts also coming during the event. I was impressed with the sound system, although with all the wood around and rather… interesting construction methods, I do worry about visitor numbers.
Shooting a few photos without our minders
Readers, I wouldn’t be doing my job properly if I didn’t throw the tail for a little and snap a few photos on my phone. Apologies if they’re a bit blurred, there was fog, it was dark and well… these people wear masks and are scary. Plus as you can see from the photos below, there does appear to be quite a few… odd things… things that don’t quite look fake? It’s Hathian readers… bad things happen, but I was finding it hard to distinguish fantasy from reality and after the knife throwing ‘test’ I was so scared that perhaps what I saw in these photos was just more great stagecraft, acting and props… or maybe not. Will you dare to meet the unknown to find out yourself?
((Taxis via SURL from the 3rd June 2023 are HERE / for IC or OOCLY questions contact @PFECD or Camden Fabers in world. The carnival opens from the 3rd of June 2023 and is scheduled to run through to later in the year))
