⇨ 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

[stillwinningthehardway]

"I know," Scout says, trying not to sigh. "It wasn't your fault, you know. Vampirism messes with your head. I was friends with some people who fought them, I've heard the stories."

[sunflowerfields]

"I heard stories, too, but I never thought I'd ever see a vampire, let alone..." Well, you know. "The ringmaster says she can cure us. I hope she's right."

[stillwinningthehardway]

"Back where they come from, I'd guess no. Here? Come on. What in the worlds is impossible here?" Plenty of things, honestly. Even the Ringmaster doesn't have the power to bring Scout's Order back. She can just give Scout something to stave off the deaths. "I'm sure she can fix you. Are you out here as part of that?"

[sunflowerfields]

Hinawa nods. "The Ringmaster told us to look inside ourselves. It's some kind of meditation. Seems different from the magic I've seen so far."

She smiles a little at Scout's observation. "You know, I'd never even seen magic before I came here, either."

[stillwinningthehardway]

Whether Scout had been unfamiliar with magic before is up to your definition of magic. She wouldn't have called it that at the time, probably. "It's certainly mind-expanding, being here."

"Well, I could help you. I've been meditating since before I could walk," Scout offers.

[sunflowerfields]

Hinawa hesitates. It seems selfish to ask a favor of someone she tried to harm. At the same time, the sooner she can get rid of this, the sooner she won't have to worry about potentially hurting Scout again.

"Ah, that's kind of you. If you have any tips, I'm all ears."

[stillwinningthehardway]

"Did she teach you the counting thing? Counting out breaths is always big - and even if you don't have to breathe right now you're obviously doing it to talk," Scout says, decisively.