lostcarnival | ⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

Entry tags:

⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 3

Who: Anyone, anywhere in Portland.
When: October 15st - 22th, 2017
Where: Still in Portland
What: As all sides of the struggle gradually become informed, and the awareness of outsiders begins to spread, Portland faces a critical question - what should be done with them? And who gets to decide?
Warnings: Individually marked!

THE WOLVES AMONG US↴

► WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS: It's fairly common knowledge that October is a special month - Halloween has always been an excitable time in the supernatural community, because its during this month that the magical energies of Earth seem to disproportionately swell in power. This peeks on the 31st, and has every year for as long as anyone can remember. The holiday of Halloween is a byproduct of this, because the magical phenomenon has gone on for ages past. It's also a pretty common time for wizards to attempt bullshit shenanigans, and also when the Severing first came into effect.

► TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL: Towards the end of the week, Prudence Jaeger will be asking her angelic contacts for a pretty huge favour - she wants them to help her and some of her associates break into the Circle stronghold that the visiting Council members are staying at. It seems that they have some kind of macguffin item that will be needed to crack the barrier cutting off the Earth from the cosmos - and, to that end, allow the angels and mysterious outsiders to return to wherever they call home.

► THE PATH TO HELL: Perhaps unsurprisingly, Team Heaven isn't the only group to clue into the fact that the Circle has what they need. On the same night that the angels go in, so will Anath's army, as the arch demon finally arrives in the city just in time to join the party. Whether the angels and demons fight each other all the way or cooperate to achieve a mutual goal is up to them.

► WITH GOOD INTENTIONS: The Circle and Torchlight aren't all bad, okay? It's entirely possible that they are just acting in the best interest of humanity - unfortunately, that has resulted in them being pretty massive pricks recently, and now the payback for that is arriving on their doorstep. If you're a member of the Circle, you may or may not realize that anything is coming in time for you to prepare. (That will depend on your threads up to the end of the week.) However, once the fight starts, you'll be charge with defending the Councillors whether you like it or not, and Torchlight is getting pulled in as an unexpected ally to ensure their safety as well. Are you going to heed their call? Or is it time to split from the pack?

► BLOOD OF ICE AND FIRE: It's been made no secret that the Rose Queen isn't the only fae trying to pull back her lost changelings - now the Winter Court appears to be doing it, as well. More than a handful of changelings have gone missing over the last couple weeks, lost to both the thorns and agents of the Count. Whatever they're doing, it's also in competition with each other - Winter and Summer will be biting at each other's heels far more than normal, to the degree that it becomes clear they must have some competing objective in mind. Unfortunately for everyone else, that objective happens to conflict with the desires of just about everyone else. Fae are, by nature, opportunists.

- ✪ -
These are the major conflicts that will be coming to a head towards the end of Week 3. In the meantime, your actions will decide how certain elements are set up, and what the likelihood of success is for each group.

Dice rolling handily won the opinion poll where we asked for the preferred method of conflict resolution, so that will be coming into effect a bit later on to determine who actually wins and loses, with advantages based on the choices made.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yuya! Pleasure to hear from you! [ Strange, in contrast, sounds like he's had better days. He sounds a little bit woozy despite the fact that he's desperately trying to push past it and give off the impression that everything is PERFECTLY FINE, no need to worry about him in the slightest. ]

Glad to hear the spell worked. Though, what else do you want to talk about?

[Huh, he sounds exhausted... if it wasn't kind of urgent, Yuya would leave it for later. But the memories have only gotten more intense and now they have someone in trouble.]

It's about my memories. You said it might mean I'm not really from here? I... think you're right.

And I have some questions about fairies. How much do you know about them?

[ There's a biiiiiit of a pause before Strange answers. ]

It'd be better if we had this conversation in person. It's easier to ward against eavesdropping spells that way.

[ he knows a fair amount about fairies. ]

Yeah, sure. [That's fair, and they're both conversations Yuya doesn't want anyone eavesdropping on.] I'm free right now--where can I meet you?

I can take my lunch break now so I'm free as well. There's a small park downtown, near some of the government buildings--and before you ask, none of the roses are there. We'll meet there.

[ Public enough that it makes sense as a meeting spot, but private enough that Strange can toss up wards and things like that without having anybody trying to barge in on their conversation. ]

I think I know which one it is. I'll be there soon. Bye! [And with that he hangs up.

He makes it to the park quickly, smiling and waving at Strange as he approaches.] Hi, Mr. Strange. I didn't ask, but how are you?

[ Strange looks as bad as he sounded on the phone. He's obviously functional enough to be walking around and complain about certain things but he's a slightly sickly shade of pale, the bags under his eyes have worsened, and his hair's a bit of a mess. ]

Could be better--I've come down with something. [ this is a lie. He's been starting to experiment with poisons and herbs in hopes of increasing his magic. Unfortunately, the most it's gotten him so far is sleepless nights and head pains. ] I don't think it's contagious though. Just viral. Still, I doubt you want to hear me go on and on about my state of health.

[ As he talks, Strange starts gesturing, casting cantrips and spells to prevent people from listening in via magic or otherwise. ]

Ask away.

Should you even be at work right now...? [He looks a lot worse off than 'just coming down with something'.

Well, its not like Yuya can tell him what to do.] Okay. I'll start with the Fae.

[It's the most pressing, and his answers for the memories might be disappointingly vague anyway. But he should be subtle about it, because it's Rita and because it's dangerous. So he takes a moment to worry over his lip and decide how to phrase it.]

Uh. Let's say someone, hypothetically, wanted to get into the realm of a Fae. A really powerful Fae. Like the Rose Queen, and then get out. How would they do that?

[Nailed it.]

[ It's odd: a wry smile plays on Strange's lips at that question. He knows someone who got in and out of the realm of the Rose Queen before. Is it just a coincidence that Yuya's asking about something that he helped with a few weeks ago, or is this something more? ]

Your best bet for that would be to find a warlock or a changeling familiar with the realm. They'd know the best ways to slip in without being noticed. The real problem would be distracting the fae in question. If it's a lesser fae, a mage focused in summoning could summon her and distract the fae while going in and out happens. If it's a greater fae like the Rose Queen or the Count of Crows, summoning is straight out. You'd have to find another way to distract them.

There's no spell that anyone can just... will themselves into the Fae realm? [All right, that would probably be too easy. But Yuya can hope. Maybe he can find a changeling more familiar with the realm than Rita, if only for the back up.]

How does someone get out of the realm once they're in? Is there a gate, or something?

If there was, I'd have discovered it by now. Besides, what the Rose Queen has now isn't a proper fae realm. Like the angels and demons, the fae were trapped here with the Severing happened.

[ There's a pause while Strange mulls things over. He likes Yuya. The kid's smart, he asks the right questions, and he views Strange and his magic with respect. But asking about this, about going into the Rose Queen's court in a matter that Strange is pretty sure isn't hypothetical...that's worrying.

But what could he do to stop Yuya in the first place? ]

Talking in hypotheticals is safe, but if you do come up with any solid plans, it would be a good idea not to tell me the details. After all, I can't report on what I don't know. But I can honestly say I've no idea how someone gets out of the Rose Queen's court. Her warlocks can willingly enter and leave and some changelings have escaped, but I don't know how they actually do that.

[Yuya doesn't know what else to call it. Another dimension? That doesn't seem right, either...

He nods along with Strange's explanation. It's a little disappointing Strange doesn't know more, but he expected this probably wouldn't be easy. And he knows he won't be able to stop Rita from going after Axel. He has to help her find a safer way.]

Yeah, I--huh? [He blinks rapidly, furrowing his brow.] What do you mean, you can't report what you don't know?

[ Strange pauses for a moment, thinking things over. There's really no good way to address this. He knows Yuya's been trying to help out the changelings which really, good for him, everybody needs a hobby. But it also means that he's not going to take this well at ALL.

So, with a sigh, Strange just starts bracing himself for so much arguing. ]

I've decided to throw my lot in with the Rose Queen and the Summer Court. I'll try not to betray you all but obviously, I can't make any promises.

[ It's said in a very calm tone, as if Strange is expecting Yuya to flip out about this. But really, what else could he do? The Severing needed to be removed. The Summer Court was the most helpful in telling him how it was done and, at least in Strange's mind, the most likely to get the damn thing accomplished in the first place. ]

[Yuya leans back, taken aback. It's obvious very quickly on his face that no, he doesn't take that terribly well.] What? Why? I haven't seen her do anything but hurt and take people for the past few weeks!

[In the back of his head, he remembers Rita's disgust with Strange. Was this why? But what is he even gaining?]

She's hurting changelings, not people. They're especially not people in the eye of the Rose Queen. [ And, based on Strange's slightly dismissive tone of voice, they're kind of not people in his eyes as well.

But as for Yuya's question, Strange continues to try and keep the calm tone going, mostly because he doesn't want to get into a fight in the middle of a public park. Muffling spells can only do so much if the party's visibly yelling. ]

She's the most powerful being in Portland and the only one who even has a chance of telling us how to remove the Severing. Besides, don't you want to know what's wrong with your memories and how to fix them to begin with?

[Yuya stares, wide eyed. He doesn't understand how Strange can just say that. There's tons of changelings in Portland--he's met them, hasn't he? They weren't that different.]

I don't care how she sees them, or you! They're people! [He glowers.] And I--I don't want my memories back if people have to get hurt for them. That's not right!

People are going to get hurt no matter what, [ Strange responds with a scowl, as his expression narrows. ] If it's not the Summer Court doing the hurting, then it's the Circle or the demons. There's no way people are getting out of this unscathed.

[ That much was obvious to Strange, what with the Circle harassing people at the same time as the demons harassed others. He...still has no idea what the demons want, but they obviously want something. ]

[That's... true, but he still hates hearing it.] That doesn't mean we should just ignore it! If that's how they're going to do things, then we can find our own way.

[He hasn't the slightest idea how to do it, but he hates the idea of aligning himself with someone whose goals and actions he can't agree with.] You're a really good magician, aren't you? Why do you need the Summer Court?

[ Because he's not a really good magician, he's a damn liar who's been passing off fae info as something he discovered on his own. And Strange is just going to keep on lying. ]

I don't need them. I'm allying with them because again, they're the people who're most likely be the ones to actually fix this.

[Yuya's face contorts into a disgust that's almost childlike, like it's the first time his simple morality has been challenged. Because it's true, if they don't belong then it needs to be fixed, but why like this? Why are they the best option?

It isn't the first time, though. He remembers this feeling, but the recipient was much younger, much colder. He also thought, whoever got hurt, it was justified for the 'greater good'.

Slowly Yuya starts to deflate with a sullen expression.]

... Help me. [His tone is tight.] It doesn't have to be directly. I just need a--someone to contact, a book, a direction, something that'll work! If it is true we shouldn't be here... there's someone I still have to do something for first.

[Rita might be one of them, but he won't leave Axel behind either.] I won't tell anyone what you said.

[ There's a pause while Strange mulls things over. The main problem here is that he really likes Yuya. The kid's got fire. That drive to push ahead and get things done and damn the consequences is something Strange admires and slightly envies. Besides, what's one changeling in the grand scheme of things? The one the Rose Queen needs isn't even in there to begin with.

He sighs as if this is such a major inconvenience but, in the end, Strange relinquishes. Hopefully this is vague enough to not count as a betrayal of Nightshade's trust. After all, he's not telling Yuya how to do anything, he's just pointing him in a direction. ]

Obviously the getting in is the easy part. But as for getting out...people have done it but again, I don't know specifically how. A warlock named Greg Demayo. Two weres, Foster and Amethyst Van Denend. There's a demon and an angel as well, though I don't know their names. Talk to any of them about the rescue mission to retrieve Amethyst and the angel. Feel free to mention my name if they ask where you heard about them escaping her realm but don't mention my current allegiance.

[ Lord knows Greg certainly wouldn't want to help should Yuya mention that Strange's taking up the Rose Queen's cause. ]

[Greg... Yuya knows Greg, although he hasn't really seen him since all this chaos started. But he's also not sure Greg will respond well in general to Yuya looking for ways to break into the Rose Queen's lair. That probably qualifies as "too dangerous".

Maybe he'll let Rita talk to him.

Still, that gives him what he needed--someone with experience and knowledge to help.]

... Thanks. I won't tell anyone who you're working for.

[He turns to leave--and stops, glancing back over his shoulder after a moment.]

Do you... know of any fae that runs a carnival?

[If that doesn't sound even remotely related, it's because it isn't--but he feels like, once he leaves, he can't ask Strange anything else until this is resolved. They're already testing loyalties now.]

[ Strange is about to scoff that no, of course he doesn't, why would he know any fae that run a carnival to begin with...before he pauses. That concept is damn familiar for some reason.

His face goes through a spectrum of emotions, disdain going to outright confusion. Why is that familiar? Certainly none of the Portland fae run a carnival. It's possible he read about it somewhere, but this is Yuya he's talking with. The likelihood that the kid and he had read the same texts was slim to none. ]

I don't think so? But the-- [ Nope, gotta take a pause while Strange has a small coughing fit. ] But the concept sounds oddly familiar. Do you know of any fae that do so?

[ Obviously, this is weirding him out. ]

I think so. [Despite the mood a wry, crooked smile starts to pull at Yuya's lips. Everything about Yuya's knowledge and memories lately has been "I think". It's such a jumbled mess now he's having a hard time keeping track whether the running coast side is Portland or somewhere else, or who he knows, where he knows them...

He has to find it funny, because being so unsure of who he's been all his life is just unsettling.]

She agreed to help save someone important to me. But I don't remember her name.

[ That also sounds familiar. The idea of doing something desperate to save someone important to him plays in the back of Strange's mind like a familiar song. But who? And why? And why does this still sound so familiar?

Strange still looks confused, but he tries to play off the confusion with a little joke, in an attempt to try and make it seem like this entire conversation isn't weirding him out. ]

I'd warn you against joining a fae carnival, but it's a bit like the pot calling the kettle black now, isn't it.

[ says the person who willingly joined up with the Rose Queen's court. ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject