lostcarnival | ⇨ SAY UNCLE

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⇨ SAY UNCLE

Who: Everyone who isn't in jail!
When: Day 175, 11:30PM onward.
Where: The Realm that used to contain Heartstone Manor.
What: Team carnival has gotten what they came for, but in the meantime they have lost what they came with. With his ace in the hole gone, the Prince is tearing apart the Heartstone Manor and reshaping it into an impregnable fortress to lock away his new most precious commodities - the Ringmaster's captured followers. Welcome to a hostage situation, this could take a while.
Warnings: Violence, and etc.

AFTER THE BALL↴

Around 11:30PM is when everything starts changing - and for most in Heartstone Manor, the triggers will have remained unseen. In the ongoing thunderstorm it was easy to miss, and the Prince losing control over his realm only occured before a small group of workers intent on saving the carnival from a terrible fate. An ancient High Fae artifact called the Blue Rose was stolen from the Prince, and in reaction he is being forced to abandon his plans of controlling the Ringmaster, instead trying to hide away in his realm for the purposes of saving his own skin.

His main bartering chip? The workers that he's been capturing up to this point. He knows that, unlike himself, the Ringmaster cares about mortals, and especially about the ones who follow her. He's willing to bet that she won't allow them to die for the sake of her own convenience, and he's right. Now that the Blue Rose is the carnival's, she's intent to take back what was stolen from her, as well as the lives of all the servants that the Prince has been stealing away for eons. By whatever means necessary.

► SPLIT THE EARTH: Characters all across the Manor will be treated with initial tremours that will soon escalate into a full-fledged earthquake, capable of collapsing buildings and rending the earth. The cause of this is simple: the Prince is using his powers of elemental earth to reshape his realm into something more suited to protect him. Specifically, he is changing what was a manor house into a fortress meant to defend, and allowing the rest to collapse into ruin. The Manor is still nothing but a castle floating in a void - as the earth breaks apart, it will be nothing but an endless freefall between the floating chunks of debris. Over the next twelve house that earthen debris will be reshaping and solidifying into a new layout, but having to be there while it happens is one hell of a ride!

► BREAK THE ILLUSION: It's as the world starts shaking that the last of the Prince's spell over the minds of his guests will begin to fade away. However, it may wear off more slowly than is helpful in an emergency earthquake situation. The ballroom trance may linger even as lives are threatened, and it will take a pointed effort to make sure that everyone gets out of the Manor's collapse safely. At the same time, the illusionary guests will begin to fade and disappear. The ones that remain are the ones that are real, but it may be a bit painful to realize which ones were simply a lie to begin with.

► SAVE WHO YOU CAN: Despite being knocked out by a surprisingly massive blast from the Prince's magic crystal, the Ringmaster will manage to gather herself up eventually. When she does, the last of the storm will finally come to an end. She'll be doing what she can to try to gather up both servants of the Prince and all of her workers, but it'll be impossible to get to all of them first. A large portion of the servants have undoubtedly been stolen away by the Prince into his newly built fortress, but with the effort of carnival members new and old, they can still save as many as possible. Of course, those held in the Prince's most secure prisons will remain out of reach... for now.

► WAKE THE SUN: As the worst of the earthquakes stop and the new islands of floating land begin to settle, the clouds from the thunderstorm will finally pass, as the Ringmaster seems to summon up a sun to light the realm for the first time since the carnival's arrival. In reality it's sometime in the early, early morning by the Manor's schedule, but whatever! It's easier to not die when the sun is out, don't you think? The Prince's security and gargoyle soldiers are still out and about, and they're clearly interested in capturing as many hostages as possible.

► SIGN A CONTRACT: This is when the Ringmaster will be taking those that were summoned to the Prince's ball aside to offer them contracts in order to free them from the Prince's influence. She'll do her best to explain that the only way to wipe out his control is to take on a new 'master', but they can take some time to think about it if necessary. The truth is, of course, that until they officially sign onto the Ringmaster's camp, there will still be the chance that the Prince will be able to control them.

► WALK THE RUINS: One Day 176 things will have settled completely, with the land now forming a massive fortress on the far side of several large floating islands. The ruins of the old buildings will scatter those islands, forming towers that will swiftly gain small colonies of gargoyles, ready to swoop down and attack carnival members. Further complicating matters is the fact that the rending of the landscape has resulted in bursting open the underground prisons that the Prince had been keeping his most bestial servants, which mean all kinds of mortals long since twisted into the forms of giant spiders, scorpions, monstrous beasts, and other terrifying creatures will now be running amock on the islands, desperate for food. Try not to hold it against them - they didn't ask to be this way.

► REGROUP: While the Ringmaster doesn't want everyone to just run back home (if they do that, the Prince will undoubtedly make them unable to enter again, or at least take over the landscape more fully) she will manage to open a portal back to the carnival in the afternoon of Day 176, formed between two freshly grown trees. This means that carnival members will be able to fetch new clothing, supplies, weapons, and whatever they need to prepare for the battle ahead. Right now, the chaos is still unfolding, but the battle to save the Prince's captives is still ahead.

[OOC: Gargoyles and transformed servants from the underbelly can be NPC'd from this point onward. Gargoyles are the Prince's most deadly servants made of extremely durable rock and bearing scorpion tails with venom that can turn bodies into stone. They want to grab anyone they can, trap them, and then fly them off to the Prince's dungeons as collateral. Don't let them!

Transformed servants are the beasts who were freed from the underground prison they were left in to rot. They are servants that were transformed into monsters by the Prince, and most of them have been driven insane with bestial hunger from months and years of starvation and atmospheric poison. The Ringmaster is interested in helping them, to see if there is way they can be changed back, so if you have the heart nonlethal methods are most appreciated.]

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Yuya tilts his head back to look up at her with a sheepish expression. Because it's true, he was too swept up in his panic and desire to save her, too, he forgot to be careful for himself.

"Yeah, I'm okay." He smiles a bit, carefully straightening himself up and stepping sideways away from the hole. "I think I remember the way out."

Edited 2017-10-25 23:25 (UTC)

“Hopefully we won’t hit any more holes...” Yuzu said, nodding. “Lead the way.”

Yuya snorts, a little more color returning to his face, though his eyes are still sore. He pulls, gently, to lead her down the stairs. He's still urgent, but at a less breakneck pace as He keeps an eye on the ceiling.

He pauses for a moment at the base while the ground rumbles, before heading for a now cracked open door that leads outside the building.

"I didn't see Reira in the ballroom, so maybe she left with the other servants? The Prince has her working for him."

He says the last part with a bit of disgust, hos nose wrinkling.

“I wouldn’t be surprised - she was completely adamant in working with him. She said she was now with him...” Yuzu said, shaking her head. “He did something to her and I want to make him pay for it!”

"She's scared." He knows he's forcing her, terrified her, he just doesn't know how or what. Maybe in the chaos, he can convince her the Prince no longer has control?

He squeezes Yuzu's arm absently. "I'm definitely going to save her. And Gongenzaka, and Yugo too! We're not going to leave anyone from the carnival with him."

They just need an actual plan.

"I know we will..." Yuzu said, returning the squeeze and smiling at Yuya. "Maybe we can find someone who can help..."

Maybe they will-but what happens next will be too quick for them to decide on getting any help. There's a flash of something in black at the end of the hall they're in-a flash that becomes something solid, as the figure in black freezes.

And turns.

...And stares for all of half a second before stiffening to turn the other way-

Reira.

"Yeah." Yuya smiles much more strongly. He's still worried, but Yuzu's still here. Together they won't let their friends down.

He looks like he's about to say something else, but then he catches something out the corner of his eye. He leans over, and even from the distance he can recognize her.

"Reira!" He releases Yuzu and rushes towards her. She's still here, the Prince is out of sight. This is his moment to save her.

"Reira?! Reira!" Yuzu called out, following after Yuya. What luck! But, they had to do this before she ran!

NNNNOPE.

She's already running-and with barely more than a grunt she's doing a good job of it too. The dishes no longer matter-in her hands is just the edge of her dress, held just enough to keep from tripping as she bolts. No words to be spoken-only footsteps along the ground, as she charges off and ignores what-

And who-

She may pass.

Said person she passes is Jonathan Strange, who had gotten separated from everyone in the confusion of the manor breaking apart and, hearing voices, decided to investigate. Though once he hears Yuya and Yuzu call out Reira's name, he springs into action. She's one of the kidnapped people: he's sure as hell not letting her get away.

Reira's running towards his end of the hallway so he's got a bit of an advantage on time. Still, it doesn't take that long. Just a quick gesture towards Reira and a mutter of words under his breath causes earthen hand springs from the ground, moving towards Reira as it attempts to grab her ankle.

She's running away! Who could have predicted this!

Strange move faster than Yuya does, as he gapes wordlessly and points at Reira as he comes into Yuya's line of sight. Strange is a magician and he doesn't know all of what that entails, but it's got to be something that can help, right?

Not that he stops pursuing Reira, and as the ground reaches for her ankle Yuya hurried his sprinting to try and get just passed her--so he can try and block her exit.

Someone else trying to get Reira? But it looks like Yuya's busy trying to get Reira as she's running away, so Strange is probably one of the group. Right now, she needs to stop Reira before she can escape.

With Yuya trying to block her way out, Yuuz's going to reach for her collar to hold her back.

About three different things end up happening, almost all at once, and it Really doesn't help her at all. First, something grabs her ankle. With a shout, and a gasp of absolute terror, Reira shouts, falling forward. Being blocked is easy-Yuuya stands before her, and unless caught in his arms, she falls to the ground.

And then Yuzu has her by the collar, lifting her up. "L...LET GO OF ME..!" she screams, a wash of fear flooding her as her manipulated thoughts shout for her to get away. She can't let herself get caught, she has to go back, she has to return to the Prince, orders were orders! "LET GO OF ME..!" she yells, tugging at both the hand around her ankle and the grip upon her dress.

"Certainly not," Strange responds, looking far too smug for a grown man that's magically restraining a seven year old. His face is still a little red and puffy but for the first time since the illusions started to fall, Strange looks more like his normal self.

The earthen hand holds tight around Reira's ankle as Strange turns to give Yuya and...the other girl a nod of acknowledgement. She looks vaguely familiar, probably someone from the carnival, but Strange can't place name to face at the moment.

"I'm afraid, Miss Akaba, we'll be taking you back to the Ringmaster."

Yuya's visibly relieved when it works... until she starts screaming. Yuya springs to action immediately, dropping to his knees in front of her to put his hands on her shoulders in an attempt to calm her down.

"Reira! Reira, it's okay. You're okay, the Prince isn't going to get to you anymore!" But even Yuya realizes this is a futile effort to calm her while she's restrained. He looks little guilty for scaring her, looking over his shoulder at Strange.

"Where's the Ringmaster?"

"Reira, Reira, it's us! We're here to take you back. Away from the Prince and everything else!" Yuzu said. "You can trust us, I swear!"

She's going to use her other arm to wrap around Reira before releasing her collar to use both arms to hold her.

This, if anything, makes it worse. Yuzu will be able to feel it-the girl's breath picking up, while her eyes impossibly widen before Yuuya's own. Her hands pull at Yuzu's arms, practically clawing at them as tears begin to gather, and her voice grows frantic.

"L-LET ME GO..!!! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME..!! ....I'M NOT HERS ANYMORE, LET ME GO..!! YOU CAN'T!"

They can't-they can't, it'll be the worst, her thoughts insist. (But why? There is no answer why, she doesn't need one right? There was never an answer other than death before, and clearly that can be the answer here. But wasn't the Prince the stronger? The more frightening? Perhaps he would be the one to kill her then, and not the Ringmaster. It would have to end in death. It would have to, have to, HAVE TO-!)

"L....LET GO!!!"

Strange has no idea how to deal with kids. All he knows is that Reira's yelling, Yuya's yelling, Yuzu's yelling, and he needs to find a way to try and keep Reira from yelling and get her back to the Ringmaster (wherever she is).

At least the other two are keeping a tight hold on Reira. This kid isn't going anywhere.

"The Ringmaster's not here, I know that much. Do either of you have any way to...I don't know, calm Reira down?"

Because a plan's brewing in Strange's mind but he's honestly up for any suggestions Yuya or Yuzu might have. After all, they know Reira better.

"I..." Yuya's expression falls when he stares at Strange because no, he doesn't really have a way to calm her down. Gongenzaka called what was going on a poison, so he's not even sure she's in her right mind right now.

He turns back to Reira as she struggles harder in Yuzu's grip. He starts to shush her under his breath, reaching to wipe away any tears that fall as he gently strokes her hair.

"Reira, please, listen to me. Please, you trust me don't you? I said I'd keep you safe and I will. Whatever the Prince did, he can't hurt you anymore, so please listen to me!"

He's got nothing.

Yuzu gasps as she feels Reira grabbing at her arms, practically clawing at her to get free. She can feel the weight on her arms loosen as the struggle tears off her Duel Disk, dropping at Yuya's feet.

"Reira, please... listen... aaah!" she said, yelping in pain as Reira continued to struggle. What was wrong with her?!

She's far from calming down. If anything she's getting worse "L...LET ME GO..!" she shouts-and a far more dangerous thought slips in. If she can't get away, and not getting away means she'll die, then there's really only one solution.

An impossible one, but her mind just isn't cluing into that one, instead causing her to drop her voice to a fairly unnerving growl. "I'll.... I'll destroy you..! Let me go!!! I'll destroy...All of you..!!"

She's not doing a very good job of it, but she's definitely pulling harder, and probably leaving a few red marks on Yuzu's arms.

That's it. Somebody has to do something and it's going to be him. "Hold her steady and try not to breathe," Strange advises Yuya and Yuzu. A moment later, Strange turns entirely into dark purple smoke. A smell of sickly sweetness emanates from the smoke as well.

The smoke trails upwards, hovering mid-air around Reira's head. It happens fast: about thirty seconds or so of direct inhalation of the smoke causes dizziness, wooziness, and feelings like one will pass out. Of course...Strange has only tested this aspect of his smoke form on adults. Who knows how it'll work on a child.

Yuya flinches visibly, a chill going down his back as he has to fight the urge to muffle Reira when she starts threatening them.

He sucks in a breath even when Strange directs him not to, looking back up at the man shortly after the smoke starts to surround Reira.

"What are you doing?" It's not that he doesn't trust Strange, but he still expects an explanation.

"D...Destroy us?!" Yuzu's a little horrified at that. Just what would possess Reira to say such a thing?! This wasn't the stoic little girl at the tournament or the one who wanted her to be her big sister!

Was this something the Prince did? Something that happened before?

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fuckin run kids-

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