⇨ WISMUTH

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: S2:D6-D11
Where: Wismuth and the Carnival Grounds
What: The carnival enjoys a few days in Wismuth, a coastal city on this planet's version of the American east. However, there are a few things very unique about this version of the planet...
Warnings: The usual, wholesome fun.

PILLAR OF CREATION↴ Upon arriving, things in Wismuth will seem pretty peaceful. It's a massive city, with no shortage of things going on, but things like violent crime and homelessness are at an all time low. You can wander the streets without much scrutiny, presumed to just be tourists, and most people here come across as helpful and friendly. ► VIBRANCY: The main thing that sets this planet apart is its vibrancy - AKA, the raw creative energy its filled with, flowing from its status as a Pillar of Creation. There is no literal pillar, but Wismuth and its planet is a place where Creation's energy comes through strongest. As a result, everything here feels somehow more real, more intense in a way that's hard to put a finger on. Life is abundant, and its bleeds through in every sensation. ► ATTRACTIONS: There are plenty of things to see while going around the city. First and foremost, there is a lovely beach area bordering the ocean, and a number of tourist aimed attractions built around it. There are giant malls, movie theaters, live stage performances, museums and all kinds of other points of cultural interest. Anything you can do in a big city you can do here, but better. ► ALLOWANCES: The Ringmaster will be giving everyone a reasonable amount of local currency for a few days on the town. You can't make any massive acquisitions with it, but it's more than enough to eat out, see some shows, go to the beach, and whatever you like. You can feel free to pick up some casual supplies, like mundane clothing and souvenirs. There will be more given out later, after the performance week. ► PERFORMANCE: Performance week is starting early this time, after only a couple days of exploration. When the carnival has already been on vacation for a month, the Ringmaster figures they may as well get right to it, and then do more touring afterwards. Members of the local populace will find themselves in the carnival once performances begin, dazzled by the other worldly sights. Magic doesn't seem to exist here, despite the fact that it will flow easier for people bringing it from other worlds.

Comments

[espigeon]

Hmm. The coordination issues, with children and drunk people... Julien would feel better if he knew there was also a magic thing that keeps people from straying or falling into the animals' area, but he doesn't. All right, peace of mind is worth it.

"You can hang on to me," he tells the guests, turning his head almost owl-style so he can take in each one. "You'll be safe there. I'm not going to stray anywhere near the edge of the path." He is of course immediately surrounded and feels many of his feathers clasped and pulled kind of uncomfortably in anxious hands, and he suppresses a sigh.

Not everyone is simply afraid. The demonic wheel is awe-inspiring to several people, who watch with wide eyes and open mouths. But between the strangeness and hostility of the wheels, the sense of heat from one and cold from the other should it show, and the fact that there's no physical barrier between them and the viewing area, the guests are more reticent here, not as inclined to speak up. Julien gives it a go anyway.

"What do they eat? ...How? The other one's got mouths, does the fire one just burn things?"

Hesitantly, the less concerned guests make some pretty obvious observations about the creature or creatures and asks a few questions, like what happens when it rains if they migrate and 'when you say demon...'

[dontpokethat]

Well, Ginko could assure him that won't happen if he asked - more than anything, he's concerned about the risk of impaired judgment leading people to leave the path intentionally. But it doesn't occur to him to mention that part, and he figures Julien is just concerned about the guests' comfort - which is certainly nice of him.

Sure enough, it's not long before both wheels are rolling idly around the enclosure, apparently having lost interest in the guests beyond the occasional tilt and roll toward the path. Ginko looks away from them to answer the next set of questions.

"Both of them seem to take in energy through their effect on their surroundings; so the Ice Mouth doesn't actually use its mouth to eat, it just sucks the heat out of organic matter. Similarly, the Fire Eye burns up flammable materials as fuel." Hearing the guests' questions, he adds, "They really don't like rain, especially the Fire Eye - which is why there's a stone cave built into their enclosure. They usually stick to one pretty small territory, so migration isn't an issue."

And then there's the matter of what they are. Ginko gives a small nod, his expression more serious for a moment. "When we call these demons, we mean they'e a kind of malevolent spirit; there are all sorts of legends about how these came to be, whether they'e truly the spirits of evil people or simply something else entirely. But, since we can't know the truth for sure, we'll settle for what we have - that they're certainly supernatural in nature, and have the potential to be incredibly dangerous."

[espigeon]

The wheels trundling about at less urgent paces are weirder than when they're racing, maybe because their details are much more distinct, and because debris doesn't seem to stick to them and how they propel themselves and remain stable isn't immediately obvious. They are very clearly not of this world, while the dwarf wyrms are so much like familiar animals.

That the wheels don't like rain draws some smiles; it's a very normal, humanizing(?) touch for such strange creatures. Julien muses that Ginko seems very at home discussing these weirder aspects like energy consumption. "Is it a symbiotic relationship, maybe? Or uh, commensalist? If the fire wheel heats things up and the ice one eats heat."

There's a lot more murmuring with the next explanation. Julien flinches, a flicker of the inner eyelid and a motion of his head, as someone overbalances and pulls hard at the feathers they're clasping. He's a pigeon, those are loosely rooted. "Hey, careful, I need those."