⇨ SHOW'S OVER

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone who DIDN’T get caught up in CY-Ren’s music, D13-D14.
When: D13-D15
Where: Wismuth, the Carnival
What: Recovering, taking stock, and trying to figure out where to go from here.
Warnings: ? ? ?

FALLEN STARS↴ ► AFTERMATH: After the culmination of the confrontation between Noa and CY-Ren — as much as it can be called one, since it ends with the Guardian being flung off the stage — the arena returns to darkness. After a few seconds of silence, the backup lighting sputters on, but instead of music a loudspeaker begins to blare loudly: ATTENTION, FANTASIA FESTIVAL ATTENDANTS. DUE TO AN EMERGENCY, WE WILL BE EVACUATING THE VENUE. PLEASE FOLLOW STAFF DIRECTIONS AND PROCEED TO THE NEAREST EXIT. THANK YOU. The pleasant, automated woman’s voice begins to play on loop as the concertgoers, snapped out of their trance, look at each other in confusion. The Void creatures that had come out at CY-Ren’s command are nowhere to be seen now, and neither is the singer herself. Wismuth police officers, though they look as uncertain and dazed as half the audience seems to be, break up the crowd and directing them to file out of the Fantasia Festival’s exits. It’s easy enough for Carnival members to slip away, though as they go through the crowd they’ll hear the festivalgoers discussing anything but the sight of Guardian and Harbinger in combat, much less people being dragged into shadows… “Right in the middle of CY-Ren’s set, too! Aren’t they supposed to check the wiring on these things?” “I paid to go to a concert, not a fire drill! I’d better get a refund!” “They didn’t have to shut the whole place down—" In the chaos and flow of people, it’ll be hard for Carnival workers to keep track of each other, but one thing is clear: they can’t stay here. ► HOME AGAIN, HOME AGAIN: The would-be saboteurs and those who’ve stayed behind have a chance to meet up again once they get back to the Carnival’s grounds. However, what exactly happened back there is unclear — and the one who might have answers is still unconscious from her brief altercation with the Harbinger. Still, there’s no shortage of things to do: after all, once they get back, it’s obvious there are more than a few missing faces. ► HEADLINES: Anyone who ventures to Wismuth in the days after the festival will find something peculiar: all news about the incident at the festival has been written off as a freak fire from some faulty wiring or a potential incendiary device, which reporters say police are ‘investigating the cause of’ and which some of the more sensational news sites are already having a field day with (based on rumors and hearsay the venue may have received a bomb threat). Most entertainment sites and social media coverage of the event only include blurry clips with captions like ‘tmw you fucked up the only vid you have of cy-ren’s concert 😭fml' and generally agree that it's a pity she never got past a second song.

Comments

Day 14

[chronosynthesis]

Just like he promised, if much later, Syrlya is going to approach Noa while she's still in the carnival for a series of questions. He'll assure that aside from needing to recuse the missing carnival members, he's like to help her too, but obviously they need to work together (and she kind of owes them but he doesn't say it in those words).

First: He'll inquire about the nature of the Guardians and Harbingers. They seem to be the tangible 'conflict' between creation and void, and if she has any insight on their history or how their abilities function, he'd like to know.

Second: If pillars have been lost that means Guardians have failed, but what about permanently defeated Harbingers? Can creation tell her anything about that, how it happened or what it took?

[npcarnival]

It's fairly obvious that Noa feels a sense of personal responsibility for events turning out as they have, and she's eager to help in any way she can, though it's equally obvious she's not really someone used to operating on anything like an organized plan. Between Noa and Con, they'll explain that most of what they know comes from the fact that Con is imbued with a little bit of creation as her familiar, so he has some knowledge built into him, but little else. He can't speak about other world's experiences, only Wismuth -- someone like the Ringmaster may know more as someone who actually travels between worlds.

There is not much history to share -- Con only has a sense that this conflict, or some form of it, has been happening pretty much since reality was a thing. For Wismuth specifically, the conflict is recent; CY-Ren and Noa are the first Harbingers and Guardians to manifest here, perhaps because Void has only begun targeting it recently. He'll explain that Harbingers and Guardians draw their power from a similar source -- a strong desire or passion, called a 'Spark' -- that manifests part of their soul externally, and which they can then use as weapons. If Syr would like, they can demonstrate!

As to the second question, Constantine will say that Creation doesn't really 'speak' in words that can be understood, and they've never defeated a Harbinger before. But a Harbinger draws power from a Spark that is inverted, passion bent to destroy rather than create. Truly defeating a Harbinger would mean somehow undoing that process -- of purifying a Harbinger of the influence of the void.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya would love a demonstration! The more they know, the better. He'll make mental note to ask the Ringmaster about some of this later, but first he wants to learn what he can from those directly involved in the issue.

This spark is magic they only access when chosen by creation or void? He'll ask if there's a way to undo that connection, like severing the power that gives them the ability to cause such large scale damage.

As well as any suggestions how one might 'purify' a harbinger. Rituals, spells, etc.

[npcarnival]

To sever a Guardian or Harbinger completely from their power, Constantine says, you'd probably have to find a way to sever them from their soul. He's unaware of any other method to block access to powers beyond that -- it's not concentrated in an external object.

As for purifying it, neither of them can offer much. However, Con will say, Harbingers are usually corrupted unwillingly, powerful emotions and motivations twisted to fit the Void's purpose. Turning that purpose back to preserving life rather than causing destruction could be part of that somehow -- he knows it's possible, he just can't offer practical implementation.

Noa will demonstrate her transformation for Syrlya -- as her spark pours from her chest, and she ends up with a costume change. It's all super magical and pretty cool; Noa looks happier and more confident just being in costume. Constantine transforms into light armor, though when Noa raises her hand he reforms into a long, golden ribbon.

[chronosynthesis]

He's not going to verbally mention all of the awful 'murder and soul severing' solutions that might be running in his head, right now, but he's totally thinking about them.

Syrlya can't identify the particular magic, he just knows there's lots of it. He's a little more interested in the nature of Constantine, then, but seeing the way that her soul basically creates this entire transformation is fascinating. Also, potentially helpful since the same happens to CY-Ren.

Knowing, at least, that it's possible is hopeful--it means the void isn't as 'undefeatable' as it seems. But he does have one big question about their abilities: does Noa's, from creation, prevent her from engaging in a certain amount of destruction? If a Harbinger can be turned from the void, can Guardians be turned from creation?

[npcarnival]

Yes, Constantine says, simply. The Void could corrupt a Guardian. But as to the matter of whether Noa can engage in destruction or not...

Noa flushes. That seems, she explains, to be mostly due to her own limits, not Creation's. While she can fight through dance and the various implements Con can turn into, enough to weaken the monsters and brainwashed people she's faced to let them remember who they are, her powers still tend to defense and restraint.

[chronosynthesis]

At least her powers aren't in danger of turning on her over a moral dispute, though. It's not a lot of information, but it all gives him a much better perspective to be working with.

He'll ask her if there's anything else important about creation and void, or CY-Ren and her abilities, that she can think of before he goes.

[npcarnival]

Noa will take a moment to think, and says reluctantly, he should consider the possibility that the kidnappees may be brainwashed. She's been able to break people out of her influence in the past, but she's also never known CY-Ren to just take people like this before -- so whatever she's planning, it must be something unusual.