⇨ 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

[flashover]

"I don't think they carry any diseases," Rin says, still holding the bat. On Jimmy's suggestion, he shrugs and lets the critter go. It gleefully flutters over to the broom and continues to eat. "Not any kind of diseases they can give to us, anyway... Well, maybe me, since demons and all. But probably not anyone else." A few of the more timid bats flutter out and start chomping on the broom too.

Rin places the logs in the oven for the rest of the bats, then smiles apologetically. "I was just about to go ask the Ringmaster for something else to keep them in... So we can, like, actually use our oven."

[empty_vessel]

Once the rest of the bats move over to devour the broom, Jimmy tilts it away from his face. The non-eaten bristles are starting to catch, and the bats eat like they're starving.

"Maybe we could set up a smoker? It'd almost be a smokehouse, but if we can keep the bats in there, then we can just feed them whatever wood chips we need to flavor the meat... And if we're sure they can't transmit diseases to you, then there probably won't be a problem. Maybe set up some screens so they don't perch on the meat itself." Jimmy eyes off the bat-torch, and one of the bats looks back and squeaks at him.

[flashover]

Well hell, they probably are. There probably wasn't much to eat in Hell. It is hell after all. Why would it be any nicer for the wildlife than for the toasty souls of the damned?

"Oh, man... that's not a bad idea at all! Bat-smoked fish and ribs and all kinds of good stuff! I bet the Ringmaster won't say no to that. Hm..." Rin watches them, frowning thoughtfully. "They don't really make a lot of smoke, though... maybe we'd have to feed them wet wood chips? We should run some tests outside before we ask!"

[empty_vessel]

"I think we've got some leftover pork rib tips.... I'd need to check for sure, though. And see what kinds of wood we have available. My cousin tried smoking with pine one time, and the chicken ended up inedible. According to him it tasted like Pine-Sol smelled. I didn't have the guts to try it." Jimmy shudders at the memory.

"We should probably look into what kind of woods we're going to start smoking with, and see what we can get. I don't think we'll be able to get anything super specialized, but we could probably get in something simple like apple."