There’s a saying that life flashes before your eyes before you die. Who’s to say that light hasn’t always been a brilliant, skillfully crafted production? Like with all performances, there’s a crew (or rather several of them), toiling behind the scenes!Hustling like a well oiled machine, those who have died ambitionless are granted a position on the stage.Out of the many shoes to try on, perhaps one day they might find something that’d fit just right. But until then, the spotlight will be shining, as always.- Pranze

✦ Our Beloved "Home"

The Sonopticon is a place where performances are held to create visions for people who are about to die.These visions will consist of things that have occurred in the client’s life, and it’s the troupe’s duty to ensure this performance will bring closure for that client and prevent them from becoming a restless spirit.Members of the troupe arise from the souls of people who have previously died without realizing a purpose for their life, and in exchange for their efforts, they may be granted a second chance at life.

The Performer

Pranze

♔ about

“If you conquer the stage, you conquer the world. Tis’ just what showbiz is all about!”If you’ll allow for a little more of a personal introduction, my name is Pranze! Head of my troupe as well as the Sonopticon!Being the head of the Sonopticon means having to run the coordination of schedules between different troupes, some general logistics, among other things.Some might think of it as quite grim. “Making shows for those who’ve passed? What for? It won’t bring them back to life.”But I’d argue otherwise. Let’s give them a worthy sendoff, a dazzling final chapter to their story.

Columns of Fortified Straw

The architect, seated upon a throne of accomplishments, was tasked with crafting a grand monument for the town square.“Surely nothing lies beyond your reach,” declared the king.Draft upon draft was drawn, yet none were fit to be actualized. Papers littered the desk until one draft caught the architect’s eye.This was it.But worse than a dull idea, it was unfeasible. Too much gold would be required, and concerns would follow. Human creativity, however, knows no bounds. A workaround was possible: the monument would gleam as promised, while its innards were ballasted with straw.

The Writer

Yula

✒ about

“An old friend told me that here, showmanship is everything. It doesn’t matter the skeletons you have in your closet, as long as you can capture the heart of the audience, that’s what you’ll be regarded as.”And so, that’s why I’ll continue to grip my pen with precision.I’ve been doing this for as long as I remember, but I know every story will have to come to an end soon.I'm the writer. It's relatively self-explanatory considering what we do.

The Craftman's Medium

A craftsman’s hands hold an endless power. Power that can be shaped to the heart’s desire“Why not try your hand at wood or ceramic?” the townspeople asked.No, no! The craftsman feared the finality of such mediums. A misplaced sleight of hand could forever alter the sculpture!And so wax sculpture upon wax sculpture was created, the craftsman’s collection grew.On a particular summer, the craftsman ventured to visit their peers a town across. In their haste, the door was left a crack open. Hot air was let in and heat permeated in the house across weeks.

The Detective

Muneca

⌕ about

“Everyone lives for something, but when it comes time to admit it, they clam up! Ends up giving me more work on my plate, hmph.”A detective’s job is a challenging one, but at the least it’ll be far, far from dull! We get clients every week, and they’re all so different.So much variety, but all phonies. Everyone’s got their monsters under their bed which they pretend aren’t there.But it isn’t my job to pry, or wait... it actually is!Got my trusty glass and key and that’s all I need to get things done, hehe.

A Knight in Stand-in Armor

A valiant warrior is nothing without their effort. After all, a pristine sword is surely nothing in the hands of a rookie.But effort can fall short. After the knight returned from a failed battle, evaluations were in order. Technique after technique was refined, yet failure lingered at the edge of every drill.And when the eyes cannot look up anymore, they will look to the side.The knight’s colleagues bathed in the finest armor. The pristine glint swayed the eyes of the knight. Utilizing their position, the most esteemed blacksmiths were called upon.Armor was forged in the only image the knight knew fit: plates from the steadfast, mail from the swift, reinforcements where champions once bore their scars.

The Seamster

Roan

✂ about

“I hope we can chase our dreams someday.”Sounds cheesy doesn’t it? It’s a beautifully saccharine thing to say to anyone, but what sets people apart is their will to make that dream a reality.So! I’ll tailor the costumes as ornate as they need to be. If failure strikes, it just means I’ll need to go back to the drawing board.Being the seamster is a fascinating job, sometimes it challenges me, sometimes it barely gives me any work that needs to be done.But I’ll take things as they come.

A Lone Shoe Upon a Staircase

An adventurer’s tools are half their journey, but the cold hand of nature makes exceptions for no one.The sole of the voyager’s left shoe peeled apart with each weighted step, and eventually had to be left behind. Fortunately, they stumbled upon a stone tower and entered with excitement.“Some tools perhaps lie at the very top,” the voyager thought, despite the worsening aches.With a bag filled with tools, a makeshift covering for the foot was fashioned.As each attempt of an imitation was made, each eventually failed. The bag was now empty and there was only one thing left to do.Once more, with a bag, a makeshift covering for the foot was fashioned.

The Magician

Ave

⋆ about

“Just ‘cause you’ve been here longer doesn’t mean you can’t listen to what I say!!!”I was thrown a wrench when I first got here. Such a crass item for a title I thought was going to be so cool…But first impressions can be kind of crooked sometimes. The curve was tough but after learning the ropes, who’s to say I don’t enjoy this job?I can’t wait for the next client!!! I don’t care about the sob story, just gimme all the fun things I need to do!

The Blinded Jester

A jester is no fool, for a fool lives aimlessly while the jester’s burlesque is deliberate.But such discrepancies can only be discerned from within. In practice, whether one is determined a fool or a jester, is by the audience.And so the beloved jester refined the craft carefully. Each stumble was timed, each jest calculated. Laughter raised the jester closer to the throne, granting finer halls and a softer bed.Being cradled by the liege’s favor, however, came heavier costumes, sharper jokes, longer performances. The audience responded most when the falls slowed, when recovery took effort.This, the jester reasoned, was refinement of the craft.Bruises were concealed beneath color and cloth. Bells continued to ring on schedule, and never was there a moment of silence on the stage.