⇨ 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

[otoko]

Th-THAT IS NOT WHAT WAS MEANT BY SMALL..!! I, the man Gongenzaka, only mean that we haven't known each other long, and-!!

[Ahhhh whatever back to the other topic.] Hmnn...the closest to summons that would have been in my own realm would be Duel Monsters...to hear that you could actually summon Demons for your own bidding...

[He frowns.] ...I, the man Gongenzaka, am unsurprised to hear it taxing.

[perverses]

Ah ha, okay, okay, I get it.

[ Man, it's too hard not to laugh at Gon a little more, but, hey, at least it's friendly laughter? This guy... ]

And yeah. I'm getting better at it, but keeping one summoned and fighting my way through with him for an entire day? I used to pass out just from summoning him for, like, thirty minutes. So I'm more surprised I haven't been out for a whole week...

[ But! Enough about demons. He eyes Gon (with three, three eyes, ah ha ha) a tiny bit more closely, curious. ]

So, what's the bloodsucker verdict? You still among the dead?

[betheman]

[See this frown. This frown is heavy enough to answer with SARCASM. Here he was interested in your demon shenanigans!]

Shall I, the man Gongenzaka answer directly, or give you a report of your blood vitals.

[So that's....a yes. He sighs however, shaking his head.] It has not been long-the Ringmaster appears to be making preparations for a cure...

[perverses]

[ But demon shenanigans are so dull! Though they would be, if you're someone who has to look at demons more or less every single day, huh? ]

Well, I dunno, maybe you could tell me if my blood still smells gross if you're really offering. [ He goes on to say, grinning in the face of Gon, of all people, actually being sarcastic. ] But all right, I guess that makes sense. A cure for being undead probably wouldn't take just one day, huh?

[otoko]

Hmnn!! You can decide the answer for yourself, in that case... [He's not going to even check for that scent!!!

Now then. Gongenzaka nods grimly, though he looks more sheepish than anything thanks to Shima's own seeming amusement.] Ah...unfortunately so. I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot even speak for how long it will take once we know how it works...

[Fortunately for Gon, it'll go pretty quick though. MEDITATION!]

[perverses]

Huh, and what happens if it doesn't work at all? Like, there's got to be somethin' out there the Ringmaster can't handle...

[ Could be undeath. Who knows. ]

[betheman]

[That...is admittedly something he hasn't considered. Gongenzaka goes deathly silent at the thought, and even the glow in his eyes seems to dim. The idea of being like this permanently...the idea of returning home like this for that matter, is devastating-no, even unthinkable. While Koel has certainly already offered feeding resources HERE...

...Well.]

...If that is the case...

...Then I, the man Gongenzaka, may be forced to ask a great favor of her instead.

[perverses]

A favor? [ Shima squints, not really sure what Gon is getting at there. That much is pretty obvious when he asks about it, anyway. ] Uh, like what?

[otoko]

....I, the man Gongenzaka, could not bear to bring vampirism into my own world. Therefore...

[He grimaces, and turns away.] ...It would be best, in that case, if the Ringmaster could find some way for those of my own realm to fail to miss my presence...

[perverses]

To fail to miss your... [ Wait, wait, wait, what? If Shima wasn't sitting straight and upright before, he is now. Goofing aside, that sounds really serious! ] C'mon, you can't really mean that, Gon. You could probably manage as a vampire there, too!

[betheman]

IT IS NOT A MATTER OF MANAGEMENT! [he roars, ears flat and held back.] To bring such a struggle there to begin with-to a world that never had magic to begin with, would be UNFORGIVABLE!

You yourself, have seen what is possible of this-you yourself should realize just what risk, no matter how small, can create!

And I, the man Gongenzaka, refuse to bring such a thing to the world that I swore to protect...

I, the man Gongenzaka, cannot do that.

[perverses]

Man, you're being way too depressing right now... [ Shima grumbles, much quieter in response to all the roaring. So loud! ] It's not like you would go around making more vampires, right? Not your style.

[otoko]

It is not about making more.

It is about risking what could occur of I lost control of myself.

[SHIMA HE TORE SOME HEADS AND HANDS OFF OF NEONATES BACK THERE.]

[perverses]

Oh. That. [ YEAH. THAT. ] I guess that would be really bad if no one's prepared for it.

[ Look, he deals with demons and shit all the time. Something going wild and trying to kill him is sadly normal. ]

[otoko]

Aah. 'That'.

[BIT OF A PICKLE.] ...My world is one where magic is not even something to consider. If I, the man Gongenzaka, were to lose control there... ...there would be little to stop the consequences, particularly with a glamor in place.

[They would, quite literally, not 'entirely' see him coming.]