⇨ HOME AGAIN

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone!
When: Day 68 - Day 72
Where: Carnival grounds.
What: Everyone makes it back to the carnival after their adventure in hell. The Ringmaster makes a new lake to celebrate, apparently.
Warnings: A notable absence of torture.

TO HELL AND BACK↴ The rescuers and the liberated captives will emerge from the portal like bats out of hell. Much like their previous return, this arrival will be met with a flurry of medical activity as everyone gets their injuries seen to, particularly those that had been held prisoner within Morningstar's hell fortress. It will still be night when they arrive, and the rest of Day 68 will be clouded over completely, for the benefit of the new vampires as they get settled in. After the immediate panic is dealt with, the Ringmaster will disappear into the forest until the morning of Day 69. It will be raining off and on during her absence. ► RECOVERY: Unlike the last time, the Ringmaster will be supplying the carnival workers with some healing potions from her private hoard, given that most of the healers are already wounded or spent. Damage caused by iron poisoning will not be cured by healing magic or healing items though, unfortunately, and those who have spent a lot of time in contact with iron will take at least a week to fully recover. However, regular healing remedies like bandages and herbs may help speed things along if the patient is suited to them. ► A BRAND NEW LAKE: On the morning of Day 69, the Ringmaster will return the forest to announce that she's built a new lake into the carnival grounds, only a short trail's distance from the backyard. Unlike most of the forest, this area won't just lead you in circles when explored, meaning that it can actually be modified and developed as the workers see fit. The water is always clean and just the right temperature for swimming, though it gets a bit cooler the deeper you swim. At the far side of the lake, there is a warm, stone pathway leading up the side of the mountain, that will eventually take you to some bangin' hot springs. Brought to you mostly because the Ringmaster doesn't know how to say sorry with actual words. At least it gives you something to play with while you try to shake off the trauma. ► FRUITS OF VICTORY: On Day 70, all the workers who came to hell for the rescue mission will be given a gift from the Ringmaster. Each of them will receive a bright green, glowing seed, about the size of your thumbnail. She will tell you that, when planted, the seeds will swiftly grow into a small citrus tree, which will grow fruits with regenerative properties. More details about these plants will be written up in a separate post, but for now your characters can ogle them and decide if they are going to plant them or not. ► TAKE ME TO CHURCH: Staring on Day 71, the Ringmaster will be starting to work on removing the vampirism from those infected with it, which apparently involves a lot of... meditation? She will take the newbie vampires out into a shady area of the forest and encourage them to look inside themselves and attempt to separate themselves spiritually from their demonic beasts. How well you character masters her teachings over time will determine whether or not she is ultimately capable of stripping out your demon soul and returning you to life. Of course, not all demons are made equal, and some will be more difficult to separate than others...

Comments

day 68

[dontpokethat]

When he sees the state Zecora's in, Ginko's ears swivel down and back involuntarily. He'd heard that the Supervisors in particular had been through some serious shit when the vampires took them, but it's different actually seeing the results.

"Zecora, are you sure you shouldn't be lying down right now?"

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Zecora chuckled, a low and raspy and wet sound not like her usual gentle warmth.

"My jaw may have a hole,
But I'm more wounded in soul.
Let me see my friends
Have come to no bad ends."

[dontpokethat]

Ginko's frown deepens, and he reaches up to rub at the back of his neck for a moment. "...Guess that's fair. Just-- don't push yourself too hard, alright? And if you need help with any treatments, just let me know."

Time to FRET.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"I will take care.
I won't ruffle a hair
Of for or mane
No matter the gain."

That might be a bit of an exaggeration, but what Zecora really needed to salve her soul was to make sure everyone else was all right, one way or the other.

[dontpokethat]

"Not sure I believe that."

But, when it comes down to it, Ginko knows better than to try to argue Zecora out of checking on everyone.

"Make sure to rest when you're done, too, okay?"

Ginko who is the doctor here.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

Well, he might be right to not believe it, but she wouldn't exert herself unnecessarily. She knew the limits of her own strength.

Zecora chuckled at his admonition. "After this if you seek
Me I'll be asleep for a week."

Exaggeration again. At the very least she had to brew a potion to counteract nightmares first...

[dontpokethat]

He snorts and gives a small smile, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "Sounds like a plan to me. Guess I'll see you in a week, then."

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"And what about you," Zecora asked, peering up at him with a thoughtful frown, "are you well?
Do you have any complaints to tell?"

For all that everypony worried about her, well -- she wasn't about to blind herself to what THEY might be going through.

[dontpokethat]

"Not really. Or, well... I guess I'm still kind of shaky, since I, uh, did get bitten. But I wasn't turned, and Steven helped with the bite. It could be a lot worse."

Which is why he's got no intention of leaving anyone with the impression that they need to be worrying about him instead of themselves.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"That is good to hear.
I had cause to fear."

To put it mildly. Zecora's own torture had, after all, been isolation -- locked away from everypony, so that she had no idea how they were doing. Her own mind invented greater atrocities to be wrought on them than anything the vampires and demons could have themselves done.

"I truly yearn
For normal days to return."

[dontpokethat]

"I'm sure they will. Just going to take some time for things to settle down."

Of course, even then, there's no erasing what had happened. Even if all those turned are cured successfully, everyone will still be left with the memories of what had happened.

But at least a semblance of normalcy - or as close as they can get around here - should help.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"No doubt I will feel
Better when I heal," Zecora said, with supreme understatement. Though really, the whole carnival needed to slide a little closer back to everyday normalcy (or lack thereof) for her to really feel satisfied once again.

[dontpokethat]

“That’s for sure.” He gives a quiet laugh. “And that’s why the sooner you can get to resting, the better.”

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"I vow not to delay
My rest later today," Zecora said, lifting one hoof to solemnize her words. The gesture left her a little shaky, but willpower sufficed to keep her upright till she dropped her leg back down again.

[dontpokethat]

"Good. And I shouldn't delay you any more, either. I'll see you later, alright? ...Let me know if you need help treating any injuries."

With all the extra work he makes for her, it's the least he can do to help out when he can.

[zebrarhyme_everytime]

"Stop by if you have the time," Zecora said, nodding her acknowledgment.
"I'd like the chance to share a rhyme."