⇨ 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

[dorkypantsuit]

He looks to her, the statement breaking him away from his memories and thoughts of home. It's such a confusing philosophy to him.

"Why?" he asks, knowing there must have been some reason for it, even if it wasn't a particularly good one.

[forkedroad]

"Magicians have more power and more control the more they're part of the universe; less a being of their own ego, and more detached from that as part of a collective," Annabelle explains, while unattractively pinkying her ear. It sounds like she's reciting. "Things like heartbreak, grief, greed, lust... all of those things can result in instability and weakness in magic, but it's difficult to let those go because of the natural needs and wants we have as people."

She shrugs. "That's why the young gifted need guidance; the emotional instability can make things difficult for their growth as magicians. I've lived alone with my mentor for almost half my life, so these are things that came with his teachings. In part."

A lot of them were her own natural feelings since forever, as well.

[dorkypantsuit]

He laughs, looking away when she's finished her story.

"Instability, huh?"

He knew all to well the effect his own emotional instability had on his psionics. He'd been trained, and punished, until he could control them the way others wanted him too. His smiling still, but it's a cynical expression.

"What a bunch of bullshit."

[forkedroad]

"Potentially," Annabelle laughs, surprised by his response—but she seems delighted. With both of her hands, she folds her hair behind her ears. "Sure. We're all from different worlds, and it seems magic and similar things all have different rules therein. But it's true in my world."

[dorkypantsuit]

He shrugs. She has a point, but he finds it hard to believe anyone can enjoy a life without desire or any other emotion like it.

"Have you ever experience those things? Heartbreak, greed, lust?"

[forkedroad]

Annabelle tilts her head, and slowly, she smiles in a way that looks increasingly mischievous and pleased.

"Not yet," she answers.

[dorkypantsuit]

He laughs at the look on her face, before looking away again.

"Well once you do you let me know which philosophy you prefer."

[forkedroad]

"You'll be the first person I'll report to, then," she says with a bouncy, playful nod. She laughs a little, looking at the surface of the lake again; she strays when his eyes stray, but not consciously. "I'm eager to test my constitution against those types of falling-outs."

[dorkypantsuit]

He breathes out another small laugh.

"Can't say I ever met someone eager to fall-out before."

[forkedroad]

"I'm sure I'll hate it when it happens, of course. But that's the type of thing people grow and learn from, isn't it? And I figure the only true way to move past those things is to first experience them, not to avoid them," Annabelle explains.

"There's a lot I don't know. It bothers me."

[dorkypantsuit]

He nods. He can understand her sentiment, even if it is unusual.

"I hope you're able to then."

He doesn't really know what her situation is, but if she wanted new experiences the carnival was the best place to be. He sighs.

"I'm sorry you had to be here for this."