Carnies and Kidz

Name	Role	Personality & Traits	Narrative Hook
Jake	Enforcer	Big, quiet, and intimidating. Rarely speaks. His glare alone makes kids back down.	May be swayed by a memory of childhood kindness—he once helped a lost kid.
Milos	Instigator	Jack’s cousin. Smirks constantly, loves twisted dares. Clever and cruel.	Secretly afraid of the carnival—his bravado masks deep anxiety.
Tuck	Paranoid	Twitchy and nervous. Always scanning for threats.	May crack under pressure and reveal secrets about Jack’s plans.
Rizzo	Loudmouth	Obnoxious and theatrical. Tries to act tough but folds fast.	Desperate for approval—can be bribed with praise or attention.
Vex	Lurker	Mysterious and quiet. Seems to know things no one else does.	May be a double agent—working for King Carny or trying to sabotage Jack.
Snipe	Schemer	Fast-talking and slippery. Good at manipulation.	Will betray anyone if it benefits him—players can exploit this.
Deke	Loyalist	Jack’s childhood friend. Follows orders but has a conscience.	Might turn on Jack if he sees real harm coming to the kids.
Lark	Artist	Strange and dreamy. Draws creepy sketches of the carnival and its freaks.	His drawings may predict future events or reveal hidden truths.

Name	Age	Personality & Traits
Maya	5	Shy and quiet, clutches a stuffed bunny. Hums lullabies when scared. Sees things others don’t—like flickering shadows and whispering mirrors.
Leo	6	Energetic and impulsive, always running ahead. Thinks the carnival is a game. Laughs at danger, but cries when alone.
Nina	7	Curious and clever, asks endless questions. Carries a notebook and tries to map the carnival. Her guesses are often eerily accurate.
Jace	8	Protective older sibling to Maya. Brave but cautious. Always scanning for exits and threats. Distrusts adults.
Talia	9	Artistic and dreamy, draws creepy carnival scenes. Her sketches sometimes come true. She may be unknowingly shaping the carnival’s reality.
Owen	10	Skeptical and sarcastic. Doesn’t believe in curses—until he starts hearing voices. Keeps a flashlight and a snarky attitude.
Zara	11	Bossy and strategic. Tries to organize the kids like a team. Found a walkie-talkie and uses it to issue commands.
Malik	12	Quiet and observant. Notices patterns others miss. Keeps a journal of strange events and freak behaviors.
Ellie	13	Empathetic and brave. Comforts the younger kids. Has a strange connection to the freaks—some seem to recognize her.
Ravi	15	Lone wolf type. Resourceful and skeptical. Doesn’t trust anyone but keeps saving others anyway. May have a personal vendetta against King Carny.

Name	Type	Description
Grinner	Clown	Wide-mouthed clown with too many teeth. Laughs at failure and whispers lies on how to win.
Shrieker	Clown	Tiny loudmouth clown. Wise-crackin’ jerk who heckles players and throws tantrums when ignored.
Frosty Flame	Carny	Dual-faced booth runner—one icy blue, one fiery red. Speaks in riddles and sweats or shivers based on puzzle progress.
Masky Max	Carny	Mask-swapping carny who speaks in rhymes. Each mask reveals a different mood or secret.
Splatter Sam	Carny	Dart booth operator with a stained apron. Grins as players pop organ-shaped balloons filled with syrup and screams.
Sparky Sue	Carny	Jittery shock booth attendant with frizzled hair. Giggles as voltage rises and players twitch.
Gurgleface	Carny	Water gun booth host with bulging cheeks and a gurgling laugh. Taunts players as they fill the belly balloon.
Madame Muzzle	Carny	Silent fortune teller with stitched lips. Her thoughts echo in players’ minds during riddle trials.
Pounder Pete	Carny	Butcher-aproned strength tester. Records scores and mutters “Meat remembers” as players punch the twitching bag.
King Carny	Boss	The cursed ringmaster. Can’t be harmed until the souls of his freaks are soothed. His laugh echoes through the midway.