lostcarnival | ⇨ THE HUNT

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⇨ THE HUNT

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 173, the Afternoon
Where: Heartstone Manor Courtyard
What: Everyone goes into the forest with arrows, swords, and horses and is told to hunt and the kill the biggest beast they can find. Best kills win a prize! Or, if you'd rather not, you can wander around the forest and pretend to hunt instead.
Warnings: Violence and ethical quandaries.

BEASTS OF BURDEN↴

Come the day of the Hunt, everyone will be brought to the courtyard forest and provided with arrows, bows, and blades as requested. Magic and other weaponry can be used to hunt, but it is suggested by the Prince that the best kill is the one done in a gentlemanly manner, which probably means he will be most impressed by those using the tools provided.

The "Best Kill" will be determined from a mixture or whatever beast the Prince decides is best, and the method in which it was killed. The less damage done to the body the better - tearing the body apart will receive poor grades.

The corpses are not yours to eat or keep, and all must be returned to the Prince at the end of the day for judgment.

The servants are especially nervous, tense, and solemn today, and unless they have no choice, most of them will be trying to give the courtyard a wide berth. Those that have to serve will have stony expressions, or at best will be trying to put on a cheerful face.

If casually asked why they are upset, most of them will say something vague about the Hunt making them nervous, and how dangerous it is to participate.

OOC: Those who make top levels will have a chance to be randomly selected for a couple particular plot events, so be prepared for that.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Ughhh. Why'd she have to go and say that? Worst thing is that he knows she honestly probably legitimately would go and investigate herself, if she weren't being so manipulative!

He doesn't want her to disappear like Tyki and Reira.

"Don't. Please." You know it's serious when he's using that word. 9S finishes tying off his visor. "At least two of our members are missing and we don't know where they are."

Rita's stare softens at 9S's plea. Sounds like she hit a nerve... which was at least partly intentional, so she can't be too surprised. If he's willing to talk now, then she can probably ease off the pressure. At least, for now.

"Missing?" she echoes, glancing to the path ahead of them, then back to 9S. "Who? What happened?"

"Tyki. Reira. Julien. ...The Warden. All gone in the night."

It's too many people. Even worse for one of the supervisors to be missing. How the heck are they supposed to explain this to the rest of the Carnival. Or the Ringmaster? Her negotiations are already going badly, according to Strange.

"Either they were taken from their rooms or the Prince takes rule breaking way too seriously. I heard Tyki was looking around at night when he went missing, so I think it's to do with breaking curfew. The other three disappeared last night. I didn't see them at all while I was out there, so they might've already been gone by the time I left my room."

9S grips his reins a little more tightly. So many people missing just on one night... Syr and himself were either stealthy enough to avoid detection, or incredibly lucky to not run into security. Maybe both.

Edited 2017-10-12 09:28 (UTC)

Rita's eyes widen as the gravity of the situation sets in. Four people missing... Fortunately, she isn't very close to those named. If she was, she'd probably be doing something very reckless right about now.

The jostling movement of her horse forces her to turn her body around and hold on tightly to the reins. It takes a moment to find her words. "Why isn't anyone saying anything?" Four people are gone, and save for some vague chattering in an unknown language, no one's said a thing over the radio. No one relaying anything in person, either. "We should be doing something, not playing around with games and tea parties."

"No one's saying anything because people here aren't good at following orders!"

If he sounds a bit terse, that's because he is. It's frustrating knowing that the humans he so admired and adored are also so bad at reading a situation. Maybe 2B was on to something with her constant reminders that emotions are prohibited...

...But emotions are part of what makes humans so interesting.

However, the sheer volatility of the Carnival members under pressure is... they're endangering themselves. And it's not like they're androids; they only have one life! Why aren't they able to better take care of it!?

"The people who disappeared are all people who were out at night, right?" He doesn't know enough about fae to know exactly how much power rules have, but, "People break the rules, they get taken."

9S rubs at his face, irritated.

"It's hard enough trying to find the missing people without more getting in trouble."

Three! In one night!! One of them being a supervisor!!! Who had even told them to stick to the rules!!!! 9S is seriously unimpressed right now.

This is the most distressed Rita's seen 9S to date. There's a part of her that remains fascinated at the notion that this is an automaton, a being made with artificial intelligence, expressing genuine frustration in such a human way.

That said, she doesn't exactly share his sentiment.

"Can you blame them? Nobody likes blindly following orders, especially if the ones giving them are nutcases or morons." The fae, Ringmaster included, would fall into the former. Most of the carnival, Rita would argue, are the latter.

"Besides, you're one to talk," she adds, looking away from the path ahead to glance at him. "You broke curfew too, didn't you?" So clearly, there are some rule-breakers who didn't get taken.

It stings. To hear the lack of faith Rita has in the chain of command. Sure, he's had his doubts about the Commander, but even then... The Ringmaster and the supervisors gave them all the warnings, so is it really their fault for everything going wrong when people mess it up?

9S moves on, rolling his eyes, though she won't be able to see it when his eyes are covered by his visor. He hasn't really picked a direction for his horse to go towards, just letting the animal go wherever.

"Well, yeah, but I didn't get caught." Big difference between him and Syr and everyone who got taken. "I'm a Scanner, scouting's my job. I sense life around me, so I can tell when anyone's approaching. And I was partnered with someone who has stealth magic."

So is it really any surprise they made it through the night successfully?

"We know how to keep a low profile."

The same can't be said for everyone else.

"Uh-huh," Rita murmurs, not sounding entirely satisfied. Oh well. Arguing about who should or shouldn't be going out doesn't seem like a productive use of time. The fact is that he got through undetected, and she'll leave it at that. Maybe the others were careless in comparison. Not like they can know for sure right now.

More importantly... "So, did you and that partner of yours find anything?" She's guessing he accomplished more than just getting out and back without being caught.

There isn't anyone in their vicinity, so 9S says, "Pod, replay Memory 0172 from point 0257 at one and half speed." Don't have time to view everything in normal speed, after all.

< Commencing playback >

Like when he'd shared video of Strange's magic performance to Rita, the pod projects video over a holographic screen.

There's a view of the night servants, all of whom have a few animal features, albeit none with wings or tail. However, there is one servant girl who's clearly struggling, pausing and kneeling over in pain, only assisted by a man with antlers and deer feet. From the point in the memory 9S has chosen, the deer man soon scoops the girl up in his arms and carries her towards one of the stone walls, rapping on the stone with his knuckles. It splits apart, revealing a secret passage that the deer man carries the girl down through before it closes behind him, leaving the rest of the servants to shoot each other concerned and frightened looks before they return to their work. The video ends there.

"I wasn't there to see it, but that girl has an injury to her tailbone. Maybe from something being cut off."

"So that's where you were before now," Rita muses, glancing at the pod before giving the recording her full attention.

As she watches, a look of disgust crosses her face. Her own tail, concealed under her skirt, tenses and curls in sympathy. "Never saw those servants around. Looks like he keeps them out of sight," she says with a scoff. A severed tail... did the Prince do that? Or did she? Whatever it was, there's no doubt that the Prince is to blame.

"I should've known he'd be like this. He's fae, after all." Rita utters the word fae with about as much derision as 9S would use in the word machine.

Pod 153 hadn't actually been with him during the night prowling -- it's too conspicuous, even with magic -- but Rita doesn't have to know that.

While she's watching the playback, 9S is still keeping watch, frowning as something enters the edge of his sensors. "Yeah. They probably only come out at night... or if they're, say, cooks, they're not allowed to leave the kitchens at all."

He has no idea what the big deal with fae is, but they just have to deal with the hand they have, don't they?

He turns his head in the direction of the lifeform he's picking up. "We're approaching something... or someone. Check it out?"

There's more that Rita wants to ask about - probably enough to fill the whole day, if she were given the chance - but when 9S notices something nearby, she decides to set that aside for now. She wouldn't want some servant overhearing their conversation, or something.

Rita nods, then pulls the reins to steer her horse in the direction 9S indicated. "Just one?" she asks as she accelerates. If it were another hunter, there'd be at least two signals, wouldn't there?

Which means... it might be one of their potential targets. Rita pulls her bow out from its place on her back, keeping it handy for when some creature might come into view. While many of the others at the carnival may be uncomfortable with the idea of hunting, Rita is evidently prepared to follow through with it.

9S is a much better rider without having to deal with saddles and reins. Wild moose don't come with riding equipment, after all. But since he has to be gentlemanly about this hunt, apparently he's not allowed to do that. He commands his horse to keep pace with Rita's.

"Yeah, just the one. No idea what it is though, so we're gonna have to get closer."

Maybe it's a giant boar? If it is, that'll be easy to take down!

"Alright, it should be in the clearing up ahead."

A clearing... all right. There's probably no hope of them making a quiet approach on their horses, so they might as well charge in and try to take it down fast, whatever it is.

This could be her chance... Follow the rules. Make a big kill. Maybe that could pave the way to a personal meeting with the Prince... and if that doesn't work, then Rita might have to start doing things her way. She can't keep this up forever, after all.

The moment Rita's horse breaks through the thick foliage, into the clearing, a horselike creature comes into view, with snow-white fur and a pair of horns protruding from its head. It looks at them, ears twitching in alarm. "A uniceros?" Rita wonders as she reaches for an arrow, but in that instant, the bicorn takes off towards the edge of the clearing. However, just as it's about to slip away into the brush, an eruption of fire bursts in its path, forcing it back.

Rita, having opted to use magic instead of attempting to take the shot, holds out an empty palm. If she can use magic to keep it from escaping, then maybe they can take it down smoothly. "Don't let it get away!" she shouts to 9S.

A what?

Doesn't matter, they're here to hunt. When Rita cuts off the bicorn's escape with fire, 9S spurs his horse forwards, right hand raised.

"I'm on it!"

As the bicorn turns to gallop in another direction, a ring forms around his wrist and there's a noticeable distortion around him before he throws his sword in a spinning arc at its legs, hoping to destroy the creature's mobility. It would've worked, too, if it weren't for...

"Oh come on! It can dematerialise!?"

...the creature turning into fog.

Rita readies her bow, aims and... watches the target vanish before her eyes. Her horse comes to a stop where the fog lingers, stomping its feet, seemingly unsure of whether to proceed or not.

Rita, too, isn't sure what to do here. She turns to 9S and calls out to him. "Can you still see it with your sensors?"

Way ahead of you, Rita. "I'm on it!" he says, turning his head.

Damn, this thing moves fast! But it's no match for a Scanner like him!

9S points to their left, where the trees grow closer together as if forming a narrow path, before spurring his horse forward into a gallop.

"That way!"

Gripping the reins while still awkwardly holding her bow in one hand, Rita urges her horse to follow, and soon they're in pursuit. The thick trees prevent them from getting beside or ahead of 9S, forcing them into single file.

Up ahead, the mist seems to grow thicker farther down the narrow path. Could that be where the beast is...? As her horse's movements stabilize, Rita pulls up her bow once more, readying an arrow and waiting to see if the creature will reappear in their line of sight. She's pretty sure she'd be able to shoot it without hitting 9S by accident. Very sure.

Sure enough, the creature does reappear. In fact, it's charging towards 9S, head lowered, horns pointing forwards. 9S' horse twists, trying to turn and avoid the oncoming traffic. But there's nowhere to run, boxed in by trees.

A trap!? He didn't think an animal would be smart enough to think of something like that!

"Rita, look out!" he yells as he throws himself off his horse in a hurry. And not a moment too soon; 9S lands heavily onto the ground, rolling to lessen the impact, right before the bicorn's horns pierce his horse's side.

Following close behind, Rita's horse only has a second to react. With a distressed cry, it rears up suddenly, throwing Rita off the saddle. She lets out a surprised and indignant shriek as it does.

Fortunately, her instincts kick in and her wings spread out and flap, propelling her back while keeping her from tumbling. She lands on her feet and immediately starts running forward, pushing herself past the horses, bow drawn...

The moment the bicorn is in her sight, she fires an arrow. It flies straight at its target... but the bicorn vanishes once again into the fog, leaving the arrow to soar on through, landing deep in the brush. The fog then rapidly grows thinner; the bicorn is already retreating.

"9S! You okay?" Rita puts her bow away for now and rushes to check on him and his horse. Seeing the latter's wound, she recoils.

9S quickly scrambles to his feet, hoping to possibly catch the bicorn again. But it's taken the opportunity to flee, the creature rapidly disppearing from the range of his sensors. Damn!

"I'm fine." It wasn't even a long fall! Sure enough, he doesn't seem any worse off, just covered in grass and dirt. Somewhere along the way, his sword had gone flying and buried itself point down in the dirt nearby. With a raise of his hand, Cruel Oath returns to his back.

His horse, on the other hand... yeah, he's not doing too well. The creature's collapsed on his side, a large gaping hole through the base of the horse's neck and shoulder, wheezing in obvious pain. 9S crouches down by the horse, placing a hand on his muzzle, trying to give it some comfort.

"This doesn't look good, huh? Is there any way to save him?"

Rita looks over the injury, her face slightly pale as she studies it. "It's not a guarantee or anything... but I can try to cauterize the wound, keep it from bleeding out." Of course, if the internal damage is too severe, it won't matter... but it's either try that and hope the horse recovers, or give him a merciful death now.

There's no time for hesitation. "I'll try it," she decides, holding her hands over the wound and conjuring flames precisely along it. The horse kicks his legs, shuddering and gasping in pain as magic sears his flesh. Rita steps back when she's finished, looking over the burnt and scarred area with uncertainty. The bleeding's stopped, but she caused the horse even greater pain and there's no telling if he'll pull through. It's hard to feel too happy about the situation.

9S watches Rita get to work in silence.

The smell of sizzling flesh reaches his olfactory sensors, and he winces.

"...It looks like he's still badly hurt."

He doesn't know enough of organic life to make a judgement on whether the horse will pull through or not; usually he's trying to kill these hoofed beasts, not save them. Would the Prince be upset if he stripped the horse of its hide? It's not like he needs it any more, right...?

"Should I end it?" Put the poor thing out of his misery.

End it...?

"I don’t know." It’s the most honest answer she can give. "If there’s a chance he’ll recover, even if it’s slim, then..."

But Rita knows it’s a lot to hope for. If they leave the horse like this, he could get eaten alive by a predator. He could lie here in pain until he starves. Or he could get found by someone, brought back to the stables, given proper treatment... or would he? "No... even if he survives, the Prince might not bother helping him..."

If there's anything she knows about the Prince, it's that he has little compassion and plenty of vanity. If the horse returned in this state, would he allow him to be treated? If he was treated, would the Prince deign to keep a scarred, injured horse among his steeds?

It's a pity, but it's looking more and more like keeping the horse alive will simply cause him to suffer more. 9S crouches down and reaches over to give the horse a pat on the muzzle, hoping that somehow, the horse will feel a bit better. The horse does press his muzzle into 9S' hand and snorts, but 9S doesn't know what that's supposed to mean; he doesn't speak horse.

9S rises to his feet and backs away, sword pulled from his back and hovering at his hand, wrist encircled with light. "Stand back, Rita."

He's done this before, when a moose he'd been riding had been shot down by one of the machine lifeforms. Usually the machines leave the creatures alone, but apparently the presense of an android had been enough to spur them into action. It had been better than letting the creature suffer. ...Plus, the parts could be used by androids.

Raising his hand, 9S' sword flies up. Putting his entire body into the action, 9S slams the blade into the horse's skull, metal tearing through flesh and bone and brain. The horse twitches and goes still in an instant.

The deed is done.

⇨ THE HUNT

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Pretend I said four instead of two missing last tag

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i legit forgot all about her wings