⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 138 - Day 152
Where: The Summerlands
What: The Ringmaster brings the carnival to the Summerlands immediately after being freed from Portland so that everyone can take a fucking nap. Her included.
Warnings: Individually marked! Most likely discussion of torture and trauma in here.

DAYS OF SUMMER↴ You made it! And things are back to normal... more or less. Upon waking, you will be greeted with a clear blue sky and gentle breeze – the carnival has found itself situated between a pair of mountain peaks, with great fields of flowers extending in the distance. In the other direction, you’ll see mountain-top cities and tall waterfalls accenting vast swaths of forest. Some of you will already know this place. It’s the Summerlands. You game here once to rest in safety nearly a year ago, and now you’ve come to rest once again. ► WAKING UP: Shortly after the carnival arrives, the Ringmaster will send out a somewhat cryptic radio message - but her immediate location won't be clear. Whatever items you had on your person at the time the Severing was broken will still be on your person, including whatever clothing. All of the animals and pets of the carnival will have returned to the grounds as well, though they are currently free from their designated living spaces. Things in the carnival will appeared to have naturally aged a month, as if the carnival was been sitting here empty and waiting while everyone was in Portland. The lawn needs mowing. ► SUMMER CITY: After the Summer Fae become aware of everyone's presence, they will welcome you into their city. There are stairs that lead up the sides of the mountains, but thankfully there are also magical means of getting up there as well. The Summer Fae will be willing to help workers with the injured as needed, offering herbal remedies and healing magic to those that want it. You'll also be invited to join them for dinner, but they will not be particularly offended if they are turned down, for now. ► SUMMER PEOPLE: The fae here will mostly enjoy the company of any carnival members that offer it - it doesn't seem that much happens here besides day after day of peaceful meditation and relaxation. It is not uncommon to see Summer Fae spent days doing exactly the same thing, whether that be enjoying the weather, listening to music, or dancing - the day and night periods may be similar to earth, but when you don't need rest it can all blur together just the same. Some of the fae work on feats of agriculture or craftsmanship, and while there is no particularly need to work in this place, they take pride in the fact that they do. ► NEW ARRIVALS: Though the Ringmaster will not be offering much guidance for the first week or so, eventually the carnival will begin running for a few small performance sessions, off and on, as a thank you to their fae hosts. The carnival will also be open to receiving new arrivals during that period, and so there will likely be some newbies to train and get orientated as well.

Comments

[kingsroads]

It isn't hard to see where the concern comes from at all. Especially since it's coming from Rita, who was one of the people the fae screwed over back in Portland. And, considering the way that Strange's expression just shifts to a small frown, it's obvious he agrees with the objectively terrible idea part.

"No modern magician's worked with the fae to the extent that magicians of old did. We didn't know how badly it could go." Which, at least in Strange's mind, is a terrible excuse. They're faeries, the dangers should be evident just on their nature alone.

"When I return to my world, things will be different. Unfortunately, I still have to deal with a particular member of the fae, but after that I plan to leave them alone." If Strange didn't learn his lesson from summoning Frost to the carnival, he certainly learned it due to the actions of his other self in Portland.

[anti_nonsense]

"If you can even walk away from that..." she grumbles, seemingly unconvinced. Dealing with the fae never seems to be that simple. It's probably no use telling him that now, though.

"Right, well, back to the Raven King..." Since that's the topic that aligns closer to Rita's interests... "You said he introduced magic to England, and took it away when he left. How is that even possible? I mean... what is he, anyway? Is he human?" It seems that magic in Strange's world works in a way that's fundamentally different from how Rita understands it. It's a little hard to wrap her head around it.

[kingsroads]

There's nothing but awe and admiration in Strange's voice as he talks. It's obvious that whatever anyone else says, he admires the hell out of the Raven King.

"He is human, but he was raised in faerie. He calls himself John Uskglass--I can only assume that's his actual name. When he was a young adult, fifteen or so if my memory's correct, he returned from faerie to England where he ruled in the north for over three hundred years. That's when magic started to flourish."

It doesn't really answer a few of Rita's questions: how it's possible, why the magic is tied to the Raven King, and so on and so forth. But truth be told, Strange doesn't know those answers in the first place. Might as well tell Rita what he actually knows and hope that he'll be able to answer the questions that spring from that.

[anti_nonsense]

A human raised in faerie... Could that be something like a changeling...? Rita wonders. It would suggest a connection between English magic and faerie magic, too...

"Th... three hundred years? But he's still human? So... what, his magic extended his life that much?" Is that even possible? It's common to find that sort of thing in fiction, but in practice, not so much.

[kingsroads]

"I assume so? I've never met the man, so all I have to go on are a few books that are hundreds of years old, secondhand accounts of secondhand accounts, and legends passed down from parent to child."

Still, Strange is taking Rita's surprise and shock in stride. Of course a normal human could live for over three hundred years, that's just how it happened. There's a perfectly logical explanation for it somewhere...Strange just doesn't have said perfectly logical explanation yet.

[anti_nonsense]

That strikes Rita as odd. "He ruled for three hundred years, but nobody bothered making any proper records about him? How long ago was this?" Not only that, but he was the one to bring magic into the world... wouldn't that make him a significant historical figure, by any measure? There has to be better sources of information than what Strange listed...

[kingsroads]

"Well he did rule a few hundred years ago." Which explains some things right there. "And I'm certain plenty of people made proper records about him. It's finding those records that's the annoying part. There's exceedingly few books about magic in England--and what books there are have all been bought up already."

And once again the conversation turns back to the fact that Gilbert Norrell is a goddamn book hoarder.

Strange can't help but get a bit defensive, frowning slightly as if he's somehow got to defend the Raven King from Rita's inquiries. "I do have a book about the Raven King, however. Perhaps you'd want to read that one first before you read my book?"

[anti_nonsense]

Bought up...? Ah. That does make sense, with what both Strange and Childermass have told her. How can one person keep so much knowledge to himself? It does a disservice to society and academia as a whole.

He suggests another book, and Rita's eyes light up with interest. There's more? "That would give some useful context, I'd think," she eagerly agrees. Not only that, but Rita hasn't had anything new to read for a while. Critical as she may be, there's a part of her that can't wait to start diving into something she's never read before.

[kingsroads]

"Well, back to my trailer it seems!" Strange responds, with a small little laugh. And then, assuming that Rita will follow him, Strange starts back in that direction. After all, that's where the book is, so that's logically where they're going next.

"The book is a children's book, but I don't mean to patronize you by suggesting it. It's one of my favorites--partly for sentimental value, partly because it's the most concise explanation around."

[anti_nonsense]

There's no reason not to follow, so Rita's right there behind him.

"A children's book? Really?" She's giving him a flat look. If not for his immediate explanation, Rita probably would have taken offense. She sighs. "Guess I'll take what I can get... Should be a more valuable read than the average book of fairy tales... I hope." Rita doesn't read much fiction, much less stories meant for children her age and younger.

[kingsroads]

Strange responds to Rita's flat look with a defensive one of his own. What? It's a good book! It does the job! And it's certainly more useful than a book of fairy tales, thank you very much.

"Of course it's a more valuable read," he grumbles, as if Rita's somehow personally offended him by disparaging his choice of book. "The Raven King is history not bedtime stories or fables. Besides, my world has faeries to begin with. Half of our fairy tales probably actually happened!"

[anti_nonsense]

History? She'll see about that... but there's no point in criticizing a book she hasn't read yet, and Rita doesn't want to offend him to the point that he could just rescind the offer. With a sigh, she relents. "All right, all right, I'll keep that in mind while I'm reading it. I promise."

The same kind of goes for the last book she was reading, anyway. The ancient religions and folklore of Terca Lumireis... some of it may have been inspired by the Entelexia. When people encounter things they don't understand, their stories of those experiences can be colored by preconceptions and beliefs, and become embellished further with each retelling. The same thing probably happens in a lot of human societies.

[kingsroads]

Fortunately, they didn't go far from Strange's trailer so there they are again, back at the trailer. He holds the door open for Rita as they enter before Strange goes back to that makeshift bookshelf and pulls out a second book. It's a lot smaller than his book, with a mustard yellow cover. Embossed on the cover is the title: A Child's History of the Raven King.

"I'm afraid that my book was written under the assumption that the reader would have a working knowledge of the Raven King--I go into some detail, but my intended audience would have known of the king's deeds already. At least with this, it should provide some context."

And he offers the second book for Rita to take.

[anti_nonsense]

Rita takes it, looks over the cover, and tucks it under her arm. "Good. You'll have them back soon. I intend to start on this right away." Partly because she's bored and doesn't have anything better to read, and partly because she could really use the distraction. So really, this came at a good time.

"I'll come see you after I've finished them." And if there's nothing else, she'll turn and make her way out of the trailer (and get her wings snagged in the doorway and have to stop to free them, but shut up you didn't see that).

[kingsroads]

And Strange remains in the trailer, giving Rita a little nod as she departs...and badly repressing the urge to laugh as she gets her wings caught. Thankfully, he doesn't actually laugh, but he instead makes this slightly undignified noise that's straight up someone trying their hardest not to laugh.

Don't worry, he'll fall on his face sometime in the next few days trying to work out his new smoke powers, Rita can make fun of him then.