⇨ The Tourist Trap: WEEK 4 PT2

[ringleaders]

Who: Anyone and everyone!
When: October 31st, 2017 HALLOWEEN!
Where: The Count of Crow's Underground Realm
What: The displaced carnival members break into the Count of Crow's underground fortress, in the hope of taking control of the ritual and maybe saving Childermass's life.
Warnings: Violence, ritual blood letting, other stuff.

DAYS OF WINTER PT2↴ The night of hallow's eve has come, and there's no more time for waiting. As Portland begins enjoying the festivities of the night, you are tasked with something darker - you must find the Count's realm within Portland's underground tunnels, and fight off those that would stop you. The ritual will be starting soon, and once it's finished the very nature of this reality will be in the Winter Court's hands... the only choice is to intervene.

Comments

[kingsroads]

There's another person arriving. Jonathan Strange follows behind Nightshade and Ignatius, a human amazingly out of place considering he's with two fae. There's a blank expression on his face as he looks around the scene, taking in the angels, the carnival members, and far too many unconscious dudes.

"It should be easy for us," he simply says, as he walks right up to Nightshade, staying oddly close. Yeah, he's not leaving her side. "The Nightrider's unconscious."

[bananaspeedrider]

Tense drama aside since Yugo's not really good at those, the arrival of Summer Court gets his head turning too.

... And he's not familiar with any of them so the guardian is just ready to smite whoever he needs to smite before the pendant is found.

"Don't count on it!"

[anti_nonsense]

The feeling of a new presence in the vicinity makes the hairs on Rita's neck stand on end, and she turns sharply, eyes wide with terror. "Ignatius..." The name practically comes out in a whisper, but those around her might hear.

It's the Summer Court. The ones who defeated Rita and her friends a little over a week ago. And the fae lord who'd kept her prisoner for years, raising her as a tool for magic...

No... was that really her? With all the new memories flooding in, it's almost difficult to keep her own identity straight. Still... Rita can't forget him, or the things he's done. Eyes fixed on Ignatius, Rita slowly steps to the side, inching closer to where Steven and the two injured are. If the Summer Court's here, they might be planning on taking back their catalyst... or taking out the Winter's catalyst while he's vulnerable. She can't let that happen.

And Strange, that... damned, stupid, traitor! Of course he's here, at the worst possible time, and on the worst possible side.

[tacosgay]

Taako has no idea who any of these people are, but he can definitely sense that this scene just got really, really bad. Shit, and it's way too late for him to beat a retreat, too. Guess he's just going to have to see this through.

"Yo, I have no idea what's going on, but this shit looks pretty bleak," says Garyl, and Taako inclines his head, mentally preparing to cast another shield if the need arises.

"Yeah, uh... what's going on, exactly?"

[periphrasing]

Up until now, Peridot has been huddling at Steven's side, drearily watching Damien set up the ritual space, to worried about her friends to get involved in the spat with Foster.

The arrival of these newcomers more than gets her attention, though. She struggles to her feet, skin crawling. She's got a bad feeling about this.

"Yeah who the heck ARE you guys?"

[starseedling]

Steven has gone still, glancing at Rita hurriedly, but that's it. She knows how bad this is. As Peridot gets up to yell, Steven hastily tries to grab her hand, as if pulling her back from a ledge. The fear he'd temporarily put behind rises up again.

"That's... It's the Summer Fae, Peridot. Ignatius and Nightshade... They're some of the ones that imprisoned me, and Rita, and dad, and... oh no..."

He's freezing up again. He thought he was passed this. He doesn't know what to do.

"Mr Strange attacked me in the castle..."

[hippocarnival]

"They're the Summer Court!" He hopes that gives them enough sense of urgency, because it's about to be another fight for sure--even if the angels don't have the pendant, they're in their way.

He ducks near Damien, then stands up to peer at who arrived. When he spots Strange he lets out a gasp and his expression twists with betrayal and shame.

"We have to stop them!"

[puddingemote]

The people in the room are getting scarier by the minute, and unfortunately, he's remember just how scared of monsters he is. Tamaki can't help but let himself drift to the back of the group, staying well out of range of any direct attacks.

But when his eyes light on Strange, Tamaki's eyes light up in understanding, and his experience from earlier in the castle makes sense.

"Mer-" He cuts himself off, shaking his head. "Strange. He's being controlled by something. By those guys."

[otoko]

Gongenzaka sets a hand on Yuuya's shoulder, shaking his head. "What you need to do is stay back-you and Yuugo are the one's everyone's hopes now lie on-allow us to handle this!" He adds, and with his wings spread, he readies the chains on his hands. He can't really...charge into battle like this, but he WILL provide some defense as best he can.

[npcarnival]

Pru hears what Tamaki says, turning to look in the direction of the approaching fae. So the man with them is under their control? It stands to reason. She frowns, her eyes narrowing, trying to decide how to act - before suddenly spinning around, with her weapon in the form of a bow and arrow once again.

Swiftly, she fires two shot - one into each of the crow sisters that Sans has been corralling. They won't have time to focus on that, right now. Like Foster, they are knocked unconscious, not dead. Hopefully someone will be able to help them in the end.

Then, only a beat later, she's spun back around, and sent an arrow flying straight towards Strange.

[bananaspeedrider]

"Oh come on...!" because why wouldn't Yugo complain about being ordered to stay back out of the fight. "I can still help there too...!"

A huff from an ally that's totally been here that whole time, Reina, this guardian angel's charge.

"Sure you can, but leave this to the people that won't blow this for everyone if the worst happens."

[kingsroads]

The problem here is that thanks to all the fire magic flung around, there's plenty of water and plenty of puddles underfoot--and Strange is standing right in one of those puddles. As the arrow flies towards him, Strange's eyes widen and, almost instantly, he vanishes into the puddle, before reappearing from a different puddle, seconds later, a few feet away.

She tried to shoot him! Strange doesn't say anything but glares in Pru's direction. Muttering under his breath, he starts the magic: a fireball hovers ominously above his hand. But before he does anything, he looks over to Nightshade.

"May I?" he asks.

[npcarnival]

"Oooh!" Nightshade squeals, clapping her hands together. It won't be anything compared to Ignatius's fire magic, but still. "Please do!"

Between that and the water trick, this is like the first time he's been useful, ever. Nightshade is thrilled about it.

[moonfang]

Oop, shit is happening again. Zangetsu recovers (more or less) from his hissy fit and stands, once again taking his fully angelic form. It was slower, and somewhat ungainly due to how long it was, but he couldn't deny it had some extra "oomph" that it looked like he might need.

"Summer court made it to the party huh? Too bad you weren't invited."

Pru takes her shot, and then there's fireballs. All this temperature change is going to give him a headcold. With his physical blade drawn, he's ready to knock any fireballs shot toward the ritual site into next week. Batter's up.

[kingsroads]

Oh wonderful! Nightshade's pleased with him, this is like the best day ever. Strange just looks so besotted for a moment before spinning around and launching the fireball in Pru's direction.

[npcarnival]

Well. That didn't work. However, Pru will be perfectly happy to let Zangetsu go to bat for her here - she has other stuff to be doing. For instance, they are essentially stuck here with no sign of the pendant. These fae could easily kill them all off in a way of attrition before the Count of Crows ever comes back. This has taken a turn for the worst.

"Oh, God," she says more softly, momentarily shaken. "I wish you could help us, now."

[npcarnival]

"WHERE ARE YOU?!" Ignatius yells into the air, his fists clenched furiously. His aura is thick with impatience at the moment, and he still feels little need to focus on the assembled creatures before them. Nightshade can deal with that for now, as far as he's concerned. He's looking for someone else.

"Count of Crows, I challenge you to martial combat for the claim of this courtyard! Show yourself!"

[npcarnival]

Nightshade rolls her eyes, crossing her arms impatiently.

"I have no idea what you're actually hoping to accomplish," she said. "All the Queen wants back is her blood kin, and without her here, having the pendant or the ritual space accomplishes nothing!"

Nevermind how annoying it is that the Rose Queen has refused to show up, after all of this. Sure, their powers are weaker here because of the Winter presence, but still...

[moonfang]

WHAP. Hope you can dodge your own fireballs, Strange, because Zangetsu is lobbing them right back, using his sword like a weird baseball bat.

.... Though he has to admit, he likes Ignatius' style. Reminds him of someone. Someone with a pineapple-shaped hairdo. Let the fae fight it out -- they could pull a Winter Court and snatch the pendant away while they're distracted.

[kingsroads]

Zangetsu, it's like you didn't just see him teleport. Strange vanishes into the puddle he's currently standing in only to reappear via the first puddle, the one next to Nightshade a moment or two later. The fireball careens off into the distance, smashing into some part of the Count's castle.

Whatever. If they destroy some of the bird's realm, so be it. He loiters behind Nightshade, remaining quiet and calm, letting her do the talking but ready to jump into action if needed.

[npcarnival]

"... Because I'd really prefer if my human didn't end up being killed, if possible," Nightshade goes on, conversationally. "He's... sort of cute once you break him in." She nibbles at her claw tip coyly.

Maybe that's what his wife saw in him. Hah!

[npcarnival]

Ignatius doesn't think it's funny, apparently, because he turns to thrust a finger in her direction, scowling.

"I'll remind you once, bug," he snarls. "Your Queen is not mine. If you wish to return to grovelling so badly, you are free to make your retreat."

Then, he turns back to the ritual area, and starts to approach again, the fire burning around him beginning to intensify.

[hippocarnival]

As worrying as Nightshade and a brainwashed Strange are (oh God, they have to save him) Ignatius seems like the most immediate threat. Carly's fire may be providing some sort of barrier, but is it enough for the Fae?

He looks up at Damien. "You know a lot about casting, right?! Is there any way to scry the pendant? Summon it?"

Could they summon the Count?

[npcarnival]

Damien has been running around the ritual circle, trying to get things set up, this whole time - it didn't matter if they were all about to get torched, if they did get an opportunity, he was the one in charge of being ready. Yuuya gets his attention, though, and he looks at the kid with a concerned frown, trying to think of what he can do.

His shoulders raise in a moment of helplessness. It's a fae of shadow... concealing stuff is pretty much the Count's bag. He doesn't know if anybody would be able to scry something hidden on his person... but...

Welp. He's got one plan. Let's give it a go.

"Uhhh... hhhey!" he says, rushing out to the front of the ritual circle to yell and wave at the approaching fae. "You better watch yourself! If you keep hurling shit as us, then I swear I'll disband this whole ritual, and then we'll all be fucked!"

He manages to sounds pretty sincere, despite the suddenness of his decision. He's running the ritual, now, and he can end it, too.

[npcarnival]

"Um... can he actually do that?" Nightshade asks after a moment, sounding genuinely unsure. As for Ignatius's threat, her face wrinkles in distaste, but she doesn't comment.