⇨ 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

[sunflowerfields]

Startled? Definitely. Hinawa lets out a yelp and pulls back in surprise, not expecting someone to invade her personal space so suddenly. When he mentions tears, she hurriedly wipes at her face and is unnerved to find blood on her fingers.

"I'm- I'm fine." She stammers. "Well, no, that's not true. I'm not sure if I can get the hang of this."

[pipers_son]

Laughing a little as she jolts back, Joker eases up as well. It was just meant for one purpose; he doesn’t have any reason to invade her space much more. “Yeah, well, I don’t think any of us are fine,” he admits. “Whether gettin’ a handle on this sorta vague nonsense or otherwise.” Or both, he has to admit. “Any idea what’s givin’ ya trouble?”

[sunflowerfields]

Hinawa stares at the ground.

"I just... I can't concentrate," She sighs. "I try to take a deep breath, and it makes me remember that I don't breathe. And that reminds me that I don't have a heartbeat anymore."

And it starts a long chain of negative thinking that always ends up with how am I supposed to face my family like this?

[pipers_son]

Yeah.... Yeah, he can understand that. To a lesser degree, he's understood it for a while now. The consideration for his antlers, the new sensations from his wings as they stretched - for days, months, they'd made him twitchy and wonder about his own humanity in the carnival.

And to not breathe or feel a heart? All the more serious.

"Then let's try somethin' else," he suggests, and his fingers tap rapid-fire along his knee as he hastily thinks of a solution. "Alright- ya can still feel things, right? Like, with yer hands."

[sunflowerfields]

"Hmm?" That's an odd question, but she was willing to try anything at this point. "I, well..."

She reaches down and grasps her skirt in her hands, feeling the worn cotton. Then the rough tree stump.

"Well, yes, I suppose I can." As soon as she says that, a cool breeze stirs, and she feels goosebumps forming on her arms.

[pipers_son]

Patiently, he waits, watching as she touches one thing after another. His wings ruffle in the soft breeze, and he smiles a little.

"They mighta taken a lot of things from us, but some things haven't changed yet. Focus on what ya can do."

[sunflowerfields]

What could she do?

She couldn't breathe, but she could still feel. She couldn't eat, but she could smell. She could still care for others, unlike the vampires who threw her and the others into a death trap.

"They were so cruel, and violent," Hinawa muses. "But I don't feel that way, at all. I don't think any of us do."

[pipers_son]

Well… He wonders how true that is for himself. But for Hinawa, he doesn’t have any doubt, and he pats her shoulder with a soft smile. “That’s right. Yer a mother, ain’t ya? Things like them, they’ve long forgotten what it’s like ta be kind enough ta bring somethin’ inta the world and really care for ‘em. So don’t forget everything yer still capable of, Hinawa.”

[sunflowerfields]

Even if Joker doesn't believe in himself, Hinawa certainly does, especially after those words. She never expected him to be so compassionate.

"Joker, that's... very thoughtful of you." She returns the smile. "I think I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."

[pipers_son]

Just a wink to her, playful as always. “It’s what happens when yer the oldest brother~. Ya learn a thing or two! Anyway, I’ll leave ya to it.” Stretching out his arm, he groans a little. “I think I need ta stretch my wings before I can think of anythin’ myself!”