lostcarnival | ⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Strange can't help but smile a little at that. They needed him on the battlefield and he didn't like killing people, huh. Aside from age, that makes even more sense why the Ringmaster would have them room together. ]

It seems we're birds of a feather. Back in England, they needed me on the battlefield as well--and likewise, I also don't enjoy killing people.

[ Which is odd. Strange doesn't look like a soldier in the slightest. In fact, changes aside, he looks like a skinny gangly nerd who dresses in a manner vaguely 1800s. ]

[Strange is actually the perfect picture of an exorcist in Shiro's world, as they're all huge fukken nerds who spend too much time reading books and talking to demons and not enough time 'being outside'. For a moment Shiro considers if they're more alike than he initially thought, but he decides to ask for clarification rather than just assuming.]

Oh? Don't tell me you're also a priest-slash-medical-professional.

[ Just swap 'demons' for 'faeries' and yeah, that kind of fits him to a T. At Shiro's question, Strange laughs a bright cheerful laugh, before he shakes his head. ]

Alas, I'm a magician-slash-soldier. I fought in the peninsula back in my world and I serve as a mercenary here.

[ He says the word 'magician' like of course it's a profession that makes sense, why wouldn't someone be a magician. ]

[Of course, it all makes perfect sense. No objections whatsoever.

Well okay it does take Shiro a moment to process it all, because they don't call them 'magicians' in his world. But people like Strange, they do exist. Different terms, same job, that kinda thing.]

Oh, so you're a magician, huh?

[At that, he grins.]

Show me what you can do, and I'll show you a trick or two in exchange.

With pleasure!

[ And Strange matches Shiro's grin with one of his own. Though, what to do...being inside limits Strange's magic more than he would like. Most of his magic involves manipulating the elements to achieve what he wants, or traveling through reflections.

Still, breezes can be conjured wherever. And among the papers scattered on the table-turned-desk, there is one that Strange had torn up in a fit of annoyance earlier. Walking around to the other side of the table, Strange stands put for a moment. Placing one hand over the ground, Strange mutters an incantation under his breath. With his other hand, he sweeps the torn shreds of paper off of the table.

Out of nowhere, a breeze picks the papers up. The torn shreds of paper dance in the wind, swooping over and under the table in a way that air doesn't naturally move. And Strange can't help it--with a flick of his wrist, the shreds of paper fly towards Shiro. They circle around Shiro, going in a spiral pattern around his body from his chest to his head. ]

Of course, I can do more. But I wouldn't want to destroy the trailer!

[Shiro looks positively amazed as he watches the paper dance around him. Not that he hasn't seen such magic before, but it's very rare that it can be done with the flick of a wrist. Magic in his world usually requires chanting, intricate summoning circles, or both. To be able to do it in an instant is something very few humans would ever be capable of.

Then again, Strange might not be a human at all. There's always that possibility.

When Strange speaks up, though, Shiro's attention is drawn back to him. That's right, this is an exchange, isn't it?]

Then likewise, I'll be careful.

[He'll go ahead and grab one of those torn shreds of paper out of the air and draw a strange-looking circle on it. Then he will set it on the table.]

Oi, Kuro, it's time to come out and play.

[And he waits.

And waits.

And waits.

And then he frowns.]

Huh. That's odd, that usually works.

[Though if Strange is listening closely, he'll be able to hear the sound of something pawing at the front door.]

[ It's a feedback loop. As Shiro looks amazed, Strange can't help but look even more smug and even prouder than he did before. This is why he does magic, after all. The joy, the excitement on people's faces. Of course, he initially started doing it for one person in particular, but as Arabella isn't here, he can make do.

Though that smug expression soon swaps into curiosity as he watches Shiro cast his spell. A circle of some kind? Obviously the symbol means something. Strange is about to ask what it is when Shiro casts the spell. He can tell the spell is cast, and he can point out a feeling that he'll later realize is the feeling of exorcist magic...though he's having trouble identifying the specific effects of the spell.

Which is weird. But then again, nothing's seemed to happen. ]

I think it did work, [ Strange tentatively offers, rubbing his scalp slightly as if that'll help him piece out the magic easier. ] But I've no idea what it was supposed to do in the first place.

[ And what the devil is that noise at the door? ]

It was supposed to-

[Shiro stops abruptly in his explanation, because whatever is outside just started yowling rather loudly. To most people it would just sound like a cat yowling, though if Strange can understand what demons are saying then the voice is actually saying 'Shiroooooo! I'm here!'

Shiro can't actually understand the words, but he recognizes the sound, so his frown drops into a scowl.]

That little shit!

[Then he stomps over to the door and throws it open, revealing a cat with horns and two tails. It is the right size to be a cat, but the extra features are a big clue that it's not a normal cat.

This must be what Shiro was trying to summon, because he is scolding it.]

Inside next time, Kuro! Inside! You have to go to where the circle is!

[And then his attention goes back to Strange as Kuro walks into the room like he owns the place. He might be a weird cat, but he's still a cat.]

Anyway, this is who I was trying to call here. This is Kuro, he's my familiar.

[ Alas, Strange also can't understand demon. However, he's got some experience with cats and can definitely place that as a 'pay attention to meeeee' sort of yowl.

As the man and cat start to fuss at each other, Strange can't help but grin. As always, cats will do what they want, and it seems this cat is no exception. ]

I must confess, I've no idea what a familiar actually does. I've managed to summon a faerie, but not a familiar. I assume he helps with your magic somewhat?

[ otherwise, what else could the cat do? ]

⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

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