lostcarnival | ⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

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⇨ THE ATHENAEUM

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 47 - Day 58 ish
Where: The Athenaeum
What: The carnival arrives at book world. First week, they'll be performing for magical manifestations of book characters. Second week, it's time to hunt (for books, in the library.) Around Day 58 some stuff will occur.
Warnings: Reading is mandatory.

FAERIE TALES↴

Though the carnival will be performing for its guests in the first week, they are welcome to search the Athenaeum while they are off duty during that time. The manifestations of story characters will be out in full force during performance week, with animals, people, objects, and even locations growing out from various tales. Most are distracting at worst, and will be curious to check out the carnival. Some, however, can be as dangerous as they were in their stories of origin. You know what to do.

► IT'S TIME TO ROLEPLAY: The best way to deal with book ghosts is to follow their narrative to its logical conclusion - turn the tables, work the story so it ends in your favour! Naturalistic and narratively satisfying plotting will have the manifestations following your lead. However, push too hard and introduce too many plot holes, inconsistencies, or illogical plot twists, and they will reject your reality utterly, becoming quite aggressive in the process. You can also use your natural abilities and powers to fight them in a traditional sense, but in the Ringmaster's experience, it's best to fight reality benders by bending reality right back at them. If you aren't careful, it's possible to be dragged fully into a story's reality, and then things get really messed up.

► IT'S ALSO TIME TO READ: The carnival came here for a purpose, and that purpose is to research. Specifically, the Ringmaster is looking for information on the Queen's Miracles - the set of ancient fae artifacts that the Blue Rose is one of. The carnival needs these artifacts to defend itself, but nobody knows where they've been for thousands of years. That's what the books are for. However, nothing is stopping you from pursuing knowledge for personal reasons. The halls are open to your perusal, and only your heart can guide you to the book you truly seek. Check the plot post to see what's allowed, and sign up to find plot info or other important game information below.

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[ Strange nods as Syrlya gestures to him. However, his bright mood that he had earlier is pretty much soured. If this ends a certain way, then what can they do? Just go along with the story until the end? Play their part as pieces?

He's not so sure he likes that. But what else can he do? ]

We'll do the best we can, [ Strange responds, turning his attention towards the green Sylvari. ] And best of luck trying to save Ysvelta.

[The knight nods, relieved, and gestures them forward as he leads to the Nightmare camp. Syrlya hangs back a moment, reaching for Strange if he tries to go ahead before waving his hand to hide them under invisibility.

After a moment of deliberation, he just shoves the book at Strange.] Here, hold this. I need my hands free to use my blade.

[ And a book is shoved at him. Strange looks at the book, then looks at Syrlya with a 'what the hell am I supposed to do with this' sort of expression. ]

Some of my magic requires both hands as well, [ he points out. But it's whining for the sake of whining: Strange knows that given the circumstances, it would be easier for Strange to bullshit one-handed magic that it would be for Syrlya to bullshit one-handed swordplay.

And so, at least for the moment, Strange holds the book at his side. ]

[Syrlya only rolls his eyes in response before gesturing Strange to follow him into the camp. They're lagging a little behind the spirits, but it doesn't matter when they're invisible to everyone.

They'll be undisturbed getting into the entrance, and it's immediately clear the Nightmare Court is nothing like the Grove. The structures are dark, thorny and harsh and rotten to touch and see. The Sylvari themselves look the same, if in more sinister dress and armor. It's unwelcoming, uncomfortable, and cold. Around the edges are cages of thorns, dried with blood and with spirits of the miserable and broken cowering in them. Also, there's a lot of dog-sized spiders.

Syrlya keeps his head high, but the disgust as he looks at the scene is still evident. He remembersthe path, though, even without following book Syrlya as the Courtier spirits whisper while they pass.

It's up a ramp that curves around a wall, obscuring the end from view.]

[ He follows Syrlya but obviously lets him lead the way. The Nightmare Court is a place of sick fascination for Strange. Everything here looks dark and rotted, but it still has some of that level of wonder that he's never seen before. This is a disgusting, unwelcoming place. But it's a disgusting, unwelcoming place that he's never seen before, and Strange wants to take in as much as he can.

Though, the dried blood on the cages of thorns and the huge fuckoff spiders do make him wince. Briefly, Strange wonders when huge spiders became a thing. The Manor had them, the Space Olympics had a few, he's pretty certain that the game in the Mainframe had them as well...his world better be spider-free when they return, Strange doesn't want to deal with that.

He follows Syrlya up the ramp, taking care to stay close while still examining this place as much as possible. ]

[Staying close is ideal, and as long as he does Syrlya doesn't speak up. Even as a spiritual recreation, disrupting the Nightmare Court is... unideal. Nevermind that they're doing exactly that anyway.

As they reach the end of the ramp, the knight is already approaching Ysvelta, a Sylvari of wispy leaves and ocean blue hues. He rushes forward to embrace her in a surge of excitement.] My beloved Ysvelta! Thank the Pale Tree, you're all right. Quickly, come with me. We have to get out of here!

[Ysvelta looks at him with an expression full of love, yet distant... and then shakes her head.] No, Tiachren. I cannot go with you.

[The book Syrlya is standing a respectful distance from them, but that declaration causes him to double take and he looks just as surprised as Tiachren. What? What?

It's only more baffling when Ysvelta takes a step back, holding her hand out to Tiachren.] Come, take my hand, and we will both stay. We will thrive in the garden of Nightmare.

[ Is she enthralled? She has to be enthralled, why else would she want to stay in this place? If she's enthralled, Strange knows he can break it...he just needs to get close enough to see the magic and cast his spell.

Strange leaves Syrlya's side, taking a few steps closer towards Ysvelta, staring straight at her in an attempt to use his third eye and spot any ambient magic around her. At least in the moment, he's forgotten about the fact that they're in a book and it's no use trying to change what happened. All he wants to do is make this right. ]

[Strange will certainly find magic on Ysvelta... and Tiachren, and book Syrlya, and literally everything around them. Because they're just in the scene of a magic book, and not actually present in reality. Unfortunately, his third eye isn't going to be terribly useful for discovering what's wrong with an illusion.

Syrlya tenses as Strange starts forward, but stops himself from surging forward with him and instead turns to look down the ramp briefly. For the moment, Strange is at least still under stealth--presuming he doesn't act out too combatively.

Tiachren continues to look pleading at Ysvelta, taking her hands while the book Syrlya stares on in growing horror.] These people are evil. You aren't one of them. Return to the Grove with me, and put this all behind you!

[But Ysvelta only shakes her head and pulls her hands away.] I cannot, love. The Nightmare Court has shown me the truth. Ventari's Tablet is false; the Pale Tree is lying to us. Don't you understand?

[ Strange can't help but frown as he sees magic everywhere. This is ridiculous, he was only looking at her and....oh wait, they're in a magic book right now. Shit. There goes that plan.

Strange remains where he is, tense and ready to act, as he listens to Tiachren and Ysvelta talk. And then they're going to get to something Strange doesn't recognize. He takes a few steps back towards Syrlya, frowning still, as he asks, ]

What's Ventari's Tablet?

[ Obviously it's important. But he doesn't know how important. ]

[Syrlya makes a motion to shush Strange, because his veil does not make them inaudible to others... but it's too late.

Ysvelta looks over Tiachren's shoulder, right at them, eyes narrowed.] Who is there? You brought others, Tiachren?

[Book Syrlya looks mortified at them, while Tiachren tries to assuage her.] No! My Love, please, return with me--

[He tries to grab her, but she pulls away.] You will not take me back! If you love me, Taichren, then meet me where our hearts began! You remember the place.

[And with that Ysvelta raises her hand, and magic that certainly looks like Syrlya's builds up by her hand. Ah, she's going to teleport away.

Syrlya doesn't step toward her. He steps back, already turning to the ramp and drawing his blade.] By the Mother, Strange--!

[ His bad. In his defense, he had no idea that Syrlya's veil didn't muffle sound as well as sight and never really thought to ask. ]

How was I supposed to know? [ Strange hisses, giving everyone a bit of an incredulous expression. Obviously this is not his fault despite the fact that it kind of is. Syrlya doesn't step towards Ysvelta but Strange does. Finally there's some magic he recognizes: unfortunately, it's the same sort of teleportation magic Syrlya uses.

Well, if Syrlya's not going to stop her, Strange is. He won't be able to reach her in time via smoke form, but maybe if he distracts her with his magic then she'll lose her concentration. With his free hand, Strange gestures in Ysvelta's direction and mutters a quick incantation. The ground near her feet starts to pull apart and fissure, like tiny little earthquakes. ]

[Well, the fissure is unexpected and Ysvelta stumbles back and trips over her feet, falling over.

But the reason Syrlya turns back to the ramp is because he knows what's coming--more Courtiers, drawn in by the noise and investigating. The stealth on both of them drops immediately, leaving the whole gaggle in full view.] What's going on up--

[The first Courtier doesn't get a chance to finish speaking before Syrlya runs them through the midsection.] We have to go!

[ Ha, victory! Strange looks briefly smug of himself as Ysvelta falls over...before he hears the sound of one of the Courtiers arriving and Syrlya stabbing him. Well. Change of plans. Because as much as Strange wants to help Ysvelta and Tiachren, he knows that it wouldn't be good if the real Syrlya were to die or be injured here. ]

Grab her! [ Strange calls out to Tiachren and book-Syrlya. The story's already changed as is, who's to say they can't change it for the better? Strange does an about face and gestures to the feet of the Courtiers. The fissures that were near Ysvelta's feet move through the ground, around Syrlya, but aiming towards the feet of the various Courtiers. ]

[Well, it's wholly unexpected but of course Tiachren is rushing for his love. book Syrlya looks conflicted between them, a deer in headlights expression on his face, until there's enough sounds of struggle that he rushes to Tiachren's aid.

Syrlya yanks his blade free. As Strange disrupts the ground beneath the Courtier's feet, Syrlya waves his hand and one of those purple clocks appears under their feet, with a print of some winged bug. Whatever it is, it causes the Courtiers to howl in pain, crumpling and falling over each other.]

We will have to fight our way out, to--[Syrlya cuts off as he ducks a fireball whizzing dangerously by his head. At the bottom of the visible ramp is a tall Sylvari, glaringly bright orange with two daggers in hand. Another Elementalist.]

[ That's a fireball. Strange spots the fireball whizzing close to Syrlya's head and then just takes off running towards it. Obviously, let's not get the plant person set on fire: Strange is viewing this as a problem that he's got to solve over Syrlya.

But the fact remains that there's still a few Courtiers standing...hopefully Syrlya can keep him alive while he attempts ranged combat. ]

Can you give me cover? [ Strange yells, as he casts a fireball to throw in the direction of the Elementalist. ] I can cast a storm, that might help.

[The fireball bursts into an explosion of smoke as it reaches the Elementalist, making it difficult to see the damage. Syrlya, however, knows better than ti underestimate them.

Syrlya looks to Strange and holds his hand out, and around Strange appears a sizable purple bubble. It'll reflect the Courtier's projectiles no problem, byt nothing will stop them from walking in.

That, Syrlya thinks, is what he needs to cover. So once the bubble is formed, Syrlya rushes out of it and down the ramp.] Do not hold back, Strange!

[There's no room for mercy here. As the first few Courtiers attempt to orient themselves, Syrlya thrusts his blade again, striking one at the vulnerable neck and trying to wrestle their sword from them.

And there's the commotion behind them as well.] Ysvelta, no! Come back!

[Unfortunately, neither Syrlya nor Tiachren are equipped to stop her short of physically knocking her out. Damn Mesmers.]

Edited 2018-05-09 18:50 (UTC)

[ He's putting faith in book Syrlya and Tiachren to take care of Ysvelta. Because as soon as the bubble's formed, Strange shifts his attention entirely. His hands are pointed towards the sky as he starts muttering a weather incantation.

It only takes a few seconds for things to start changing. The sky grows darker, the wind starts to pick up, and it starts to rain and thunder. Strange is centering the storm around the Elementalist, near the bottom of the ramp: the full force of the driving rain, wind, and lighting is around his being while the rest of the Courtiers (and also Syrlya and Strange, whoops) still get some of the wind and rain, though not as intense.

The downside to this is that all of Strange's focus and attention is on keeping the storm going strong and relatively small. He's not paying attention to the rest of the Courtiers, either Syrlya, Tiachren, or Ysvelta. ]

[The storm, at least, forces the Elementalist to move to avoid the lightning strikes. It won't completely stop the fire, but it creates more interim between him launching fireballs that makes it a little easier for Syrlya to hold out.

This had been a terrifying moment when Syrlya had first experienced it. He was young, untested, and it'd be the first time he actually had to kill another person--even a Courtier. He can't experience that kind of tenderness now, though, and his fight with the Courtiers is efficient and brutal.

The book spirits of Syrlya and Tiachren come up from behind, flanking Strange's sides. Tiachren is a first to charge down, lending aid to the fight. Book Syrlya hesitates, his grip on his blade reluctant as he turns to Strange.]

[ Strange is concentrating, keeping the storm going while he tries to awkwardly shift things with one hand so that the book's covered by his coat. After all, he's getting a little wet also. The lightning continues to focus near the Elementalist, trying to keep the man off his toes.

And then, there's book-Syrlya, next to him. Strange looks over and notices that hesitation. Right. He's still so young. It's possible that this is the first time he's actually seen combat. Strange stops casting for a moment, putting all his energy into just maintaining the wind and the rain to drive back the Courtiers. ]

If you don't want to fight, then don't. Find another way to help.

[ And that's really all the advice Strange can offer at the moment as he feels the spell slipping. He starts murmuring the spell again, as a gust of wind pushes towards a group of Courtiers. ]

[Book Syrlya's gaze is downcast, for a moment, then shakes his head.] No, this is my responsibility. I will not leave you to fight this battle for me.

[Noble intentions are easy for the book to recreate, given the subject. So the spirit takes his blade and heads down to meet with the real Syrlya and Tiachren. There is an obvious difference in skill, the spirit having a mediocre control of his magic and swing. Tiachren is much more adept, but Syrlya himself is much more direct.

Strange probably won't have any issues in the back, under the feedback bubble. He's turning the battle enough to easily disadvantage the Courtiers, and none of them are yet getting up to try and come at him directly. Some arrows and a fireball are tossed his way, but they rebound back through the bubble exactly the direction they came.

But in a few seconds, Syrlya disappears from the crowd in a wave of his magic, around the corner to deal with the Elementalist and the lagging cronies directly.]

[ As long as it's needed, Strange will keep the storm going. Rain continues to pour down on everyone. It's plastering Strange's hair to his face, but that's not stopping or slowing down the magic or the storm. It's a pretty good distraction and, considering that he's trying his hardest to place the lightning near the Courtiers, occasionally it incapacitates or picks off one of them.

Strange looks up and...hmm. Syrlya's gone. Probably invisible, so he's not too worried at the moment. He holds off on the lightning for a little bit, sending some gusts of wind instead. At least if that hits him, it would be easier to recover from. ]

[The wind does make it harder for scrawny Mesmers to stay on their feet, and book Syrlya nearly falls into a Courtier's blade. Not quite, though.

The presence of the Courtiers is easing, at least. There were only a couple dozen in the encampment, after all. And seeing their numbers fall, the Elementalist is suddenly much less restrained about setting everything on fire to get to them.

The feedback bubble around Strange disappears, suddenly, leaving him vulnerable. A long jet of fire spews outward and mercilessly cuts through a staggering Courtier to try and reach the spirits. They both scramble out of the way quickly.]

[ Strange can't really do much about the bubble vanishing. After all, it's hard to tell where real-Syrlya is, partly due to the chaos, partly due to the storm. As the jet of fire spews towards the spirits, it comes close to Strange as well. He panics, concentrates, and puffs into a plume of purple smoke. The book he was holding falls to the floor as the jet of fire passes through where Strange's head would have been.

The spell falters a bit as the storm lets up. After all, Strange can't cast while he's in smoke form. He quickly solidifies again a moment or so later, once the fire's passed. With one hand, Strange bends down to pick up the book while the other hand gets pointed towards the sky again. He's muttering under his breath, trying to get the spell back under his control. The storm continues but now it's mostly rain over wind and lightning.

Which, considering that Elementalist over there keeps trying to set everything on fire, might not be so bad. ]

[It does dampen some of the damage, at least, and Syrlya's preventing the Elementalist from being able to cast any large, slow abilities.

There's another burst of fire as their fight turns back around the bend. It's hard to tell who's getting the upper hand--Syrlya may be pushing the fight around, but he's really on the defensive having to phase through and avoid flames and strikes from daggers. Both spirits run to help immediately, perhaps because this point in the narrative they would have been facing him. Syrlya and Strange fill in someone else's role, who was quick and subtle.

So with the other three distracted, one of the few Courtiers left lets them try and combat the Elementalist, while they charge at Strange with a sword. Think quick.]

[ Oh shit. Strange only has one hand free, so he's not as quick a dodger as he would like: he tries to twist out of the way butthe sword hits him in the side. He winces as he drops the book, as the hand that was at the book goes to his side. He's already bleeding so fuck it, Strange turns to smoke.

He moves himself towards the Courtiers' heads, trying to get around their noses and mouths, hopefully disabling or disorienting them. Strange's smoke form is dangerous if inhaled, but he's got to stay around their heads for a while before the effects of the poison set in. ]

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