⇨ EDEN

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 79 - Day 85
Where: Eden
What: Everyone arrives in Eden with their new animals forms - unfortunately, the welcoming party is a bit more intense than expected, with a ritual called 'The Anointment.' Better get this place figured out before anything gets any crazier.
Warnings: Hopefully no ritual sacrifice!

FLAME OF INSPIRATION↴ So it begins. After everyone has been given their new animal form and have had about an hour to readjust to it, the Ringmaster begins the infiltration. You don't see a lot of the specifics of the magic - all you know is that Pru's sword, the Hand of God, is somehow involved. It alone can tear through the wardings of Eden's realm, and once that entrance is made, the teleportation is instant. Everyone will find themselves in an open grassland overlooking a dense forest, with buildings and lights poking up out of the leaves. Behind you, there is a darker place - the barrens, the Ringmaster has explained. It's were the Outcasts are sent after they're banished. You are scattered across the area as if you've been dropped in with nothing. You've been given specific instructions - act as if you have no memory besides the vague life of being an animal. None of you know each other. You don't know how you got here, you've just been suddenly found yourself enlightened. Hopefully feigning ignorance will be what the residents are expecting, as what information the Ringmaster could find suggests it should be. Before the beasts of Eden come to claim you, you'll see the Ringmaster once last time, in the form of a giant serpent. With a nod of her head, she slithers away towards the barrens - she'll be in touch. ► THE WELCOMING: It's not long until you're discovered. The first to find you is a pigeon, who seems rather surprised. She'll ask the first few new arrivals she sees a couple questions - 'did you just get here?' 'did you meet the great Lilith?' Regardless of your answers, she'll hurriedly say she's going to go get help, and will fly away back into the forest. A short while later, an entire welcoming party of different animals will have come to greet you, sweeping out to find every straggler and explaining that you are the newest of the chosen. After they are sure that nobody is being left behind, they will invite you into Eden. ► THE GARDEN: Eden is a beautiful place. Every street, every structure, is surrounded by flowers and vibrant plant life - every bit as idyllic as its mythos would imply. The architecture is ambitious and creative, as if the residents have been perfecting the art for thousands of years, which they almost certainly have. There is the sweet smell of perfumes and incense on the other animals are you are led into the city. This is your home now, the locals will explain. You have been chosen by the Creator to serve Her cause. You will become one of the Honorable, one of Her artisans working towards the Divine Clarity. But first, of course, you must be sanctified. ► THE ANOINTMENT: On that first night, everyone is brought to a vast cathedral, covered in unknowable writings in a shining script. You are brought in through several gorgeous hallways lit with shining crystals and blue flame torches, only to emerge in a great hall built around a circular, sparkling pool of water. There are several braziers around its circumference blazing with fire, with sets of tools hanging out of them, like iron pokers. All of the new arrivals are gathered into the grand hall, and scriptures are read in the background that you can't really make out the specifics of. You will all be made to stand around the outside of the pool, and the local animals will gently explain to you what needs to be done. To become a new Honorable, you must be Anointed with the Flame of Inspiration - that is, they are going to brand you with the metal pokers they have heating up. If you go along with it, they will burn the mark into a highly visible part of your person (they have smaller brands for smaller animals), and then cool it off in the pool of water, where you are encouraged to bask until you are comfortable again. There are obviously a couple concerns with this. The biggest one is that it's sketchy as hell. The second one is that the brand is definitely made of medium grade iron. While the painful difference it makes won't be super obvious from the outside, long-term veterans and those with superlative fae qualities will find it very uncomfortable, and it will blister for a fair while afterward, which is seen as unusual. If your character refuses, or tries to get around it somehow, please explain in reply to the post down below. ► THE DAYS AFTER: After everyone is branded (or isn't, as the case may be), you'll be given the opportunity to dry off and head back into town. All of the fancy structures here are communal, they will explain, and you can choose wherever you'd like to sleep. There are a few buildings that are mostly empty that newbies seem welcome to hole up in, though the locals assure everyone they will be nearby in case they need help. In the days that follow, everyone will be welcome to explore Eden and find their bearings, and begin to discover what gifts the Anointment has bestowed on them. Whether or not you were good at a creative pursuit before, you will find yourself filled with inspiration for something - any artistic talent will do. It's like a creative talent will have been born in you overnight, or like an existing talent of yours has been boosted to near perfection. This effect will last as long as the characters are in Eden unless you are told otherwise. You won't feel the need to eat, but there is breakfast available, if you'd like it. The locals are very courteous, though they seem a bit confused. Something about your entry seems to strike them as different than usual.

Comments

[chronosynthesis]

Those sound like people he doesn't want to tangle with. How would he identify them if they do come, and are they usually kept out of Eden?

[npcarnival]

They have some lofty explanations that mostly amount to 'git gud' - the way to be counted among the best is to be the best, and to be the most equipped to rewrite the world.

A few notable Scholars are Kerubi of Saraqael, Rizo of Bezaliel, Harah of Chazaquiel, and Satqi of Shamshel.

There are a bunch of others but ain't nobody got time to sit around all day listing names!

[npcarnival]

They mostly hide in the Barrens as far as anybody knows, along with all the... well. It's gruesome stuff. No need to dwell on it so soon.

[npcarnival]

Saraqael's talent is illusion and the beauty of the sky and water. Essentially, effects caused by the bouncing of light, as it were. That's why he's the king of the moon, because he made it.

[chronosynthesis]

That dreary looking land past the edges of the city, right...? He saw it while flying.

When that's confirmed, he'll thank the macaw for being honest before settling in for the lecture.

[periphrasing]

Illusions, huh. So does he put on shows or stuff every that people can come and watch and appreciate? Or is he so talented that he can somehow set up illusions and leave them as installations for people to view without him even being present.

[npcarnival]

He can make illusions so good that THEY ARE REAL.

Like the moon, and the rippling waters, and the sunset! You can see all those things any time.

[periphrasing]

...Is there anyone around who has seen him actively make these things?

She is kind of suspicious that this is horseshit but obviously she's not going to say that or imply it. If they ask why she needs to know this, she'll just say she's curious about his process and since she can't talk to the guy directly...

[npcarnival]

The other Architects, presumably. It's not like the Honorables were out and about before the sky existed.

[anti_nonsense]

Scholars! Rita's eyes light up at the title, despite it probably not being what she's used to.

Where can she meet these Scholars? Or even just one of them?

[anti_nonsense]

Rita tries a sip, then winces, realizing her new cat-like tongue is more sensitive to heat than she expected. She waits a little, tries to blow on it, then finally gets a proper drink of the tea.

"It's not bad," she says simply.

"...Found anything interesting since coming here?" she'll go on to ask after a moment. It doesn't seem like anyone could overhear their conversation, but she'll try to keep her voice down.

After

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya, at least, isn't a stranger to infiltration himself. He's kept a bit of distance from the newcomers who made a scene--not to ignore them, in case they endanger themselves, but at least to keep suspicion off himself. If they all get caught, this is going to be a complete bust. They have to take care.

Scout's someone he's not worried about messing this up. If she's uncharacteristic, he doesn't react, because they're all a lot different than who they really are.

"Shamsi. What about yourself?"

[whattaprick]

Interesting! Lambert will take a look at those later, and probably be shocked to find himself appreciating art for the first time in his life.

One thing he’ll specifically ask after is Shamshel, his Architect. What talent are they known for? Do they keep the company of the other Architects mainly, or are there opportunities to meet them? Does anyone have a sense of what they’re actually like? He’s not just interested in the answers but also whatever he can pick up from body languages/hesitations etc. If he gets the impression it’s considered weird to ask after the Architects that way, he’ll drop the subject quickly.

Since there’s only so far talking can take them, he’ll enlist Steven for help. Specifically, he’ll ask Steven to keep his empathy feelers out for any Honorables who aren’t with the Carnival who may be experiencing negative emotion or are otherwise distressed. The hope is that if the new arrivals can provide aid/use to at least a couple of Honorables, they’ll be able to gain more of a foot in the door.

DAY 80/82

[betheman]

1) On Day 80, a crash with Strange results in a tentacle being half pecked off. How does the Healers Temple handle that kind of injury?

If asked, he honestly replies that he was struck as the result of an awkward crash with an over excited bird.

2) During the evening after all of this, on Day 82 specifically he takes a scan of the area using his soul tracking- partly this is to see if anyone is missing. He only reaches and connects with those he recognizes- but does anyone else out there sense someone doing this?

And- are there noted abnormalities in some signatures?

a day or two after that--

[moonfang]

As it turns out, when everyone is a super special talented genius, no one is. The exhilaration of suddenly being really awesome at playing guitar (and various other instruments, as it turns out) wears off after a day or so of being pretty much ignored. Art for art's sake, they say. Pffft. Maybe for painters, or sculptors, or animals not performing.

So like so many others, he slinks back to Gadreel's temple, senses on high alert with the intent to find information. Gossip, more information about the dolphin, any talk of the Mirror or Lilith herself... Under the pretense of admiring the beauty of the place and seeking inspiration for songs.

early day 82, talented

[kingsroads]

He's inspired to dance. It's really awkward to dance on the ground when you're a bird. So, Strange had been doing some fun loops and twists and turns in the air to try and find a way to express his feelings through something birds are best at: flying. It's while he's doing his aerial acrobatics that he spots Yuya. Strange flies to the ground, tilts his head slightly at the question, then realizes oh, this is Yuya!

Well that's good! He's got something he wants to tell Yuya anyway! Though first...what the hell are those?

"I don't see why not," Strange responds. At the least, whatever it is, he dismantle it somewhat to put in his half-assed attempt at blending in via a bird nest. "I'm Zophi now, by the way. And what exactly are those?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya watches Strange out the corner of his eye as he flies around, so he's not so surprised when he lands. Once he realizes it's Strange, his ears perk up and he leans over the table.

"Hey! I'm Iofi now." He pulls back so he can move around the table to Strange's side. "And they're flowering teas! They bloom when you brew them... That one's lavender, I think."

He gestures to the closest bundle. Admittedly, he's made so many he's lost track of which one is which.

Sans ("Umab" the Scarab) | OTA

[osteothropy]

► UMAB'S DELIVERY SERVICE (DAY 80-84)
Sans has always been good at getting around, and being in Eden has made it no different. Publicly laying claim to the talent of teleportation, Sans can be found in places all over Eden despite his diminutive size.

Given the lack of radios, though, he's decided to put this opportunity to use. Four times a day, Sans will be making a circuit through all of the Supervisors, as well as anyone else who requests they be added to the list. Once in the morning, once at noon, once around supper, and once at midnight. He'll carry any letters given he's picked up along with him, and get them delivered. Alternatively, he'll give each person on the list a change to read it an then move on to the next.

You are free to assume Sans is circuiting information for you through Day 80 to Day 84. If course, if you want to stop him to talk, you can do that here!

► WRITER'S BLOCK (DAY 80-84)
Sometimes inspiration is more of a curse than a blessing.

Sans hasn't been very comfortable with creating things seriously for at least a decade, and not even the Flame of Inspiration can change that. He feels the urge to write, but the rest of his mind completely opposed. Not even the necessity of his cover makes him want to do it, and the fact that it's so emotionally difficult to get going is having a depressing effect on his mood.

He can be found in the giant library at various times in the day, scuttling across paper in a way that seems to produce words with his feet like a type writer. Of course, most of what he writes ends up stamped out with more ink or outright destroyed. When the occasional Honorable offers to read any of it out of pity, he casually refuses.

If you come up to talk to him, he will pause as soon as given the excuse. He'd rather be doing basically anything else right now.

[periphrasing]

She'd kind of been thinking that Lillith made those things, she says. She feels kind of silly about that now.

Anyway, what she's hearing is that none of the Architects have any RECENTLY created works that constitute literal exhibits, like what some of the other animals she's seen have, that she can go and bask in. To view their work is to just try and appreciate the very fabric of Eden itself. Is that correct?

[hippocarnival]

"Yeah! You know a lot about flowers?" Yuya doesn't, but making flowering tea is definitely resulting in him learning about it. He didn't even know Marigolds were edible before.

He wonders if this is going to be permanent fixation of his, briefly, but he won't mention it. It's not a time to suspiciously question what's going on.

[scientificist]

If the heirs are prepared to take over, does that mean the only way to...achieve what is expected of you is to create the same kind of art as the Architects? To create the same kind of art as your Architect specifically? What do Shamshel and Satqi do, for their art?

[hippocarnival]

"It's all interesting!" He chirps, even though they're alone. But then he slides around the table to Rita's side, lowering his head and his voice for privacy. "But I met one of the Chosen, who're really close to the Architects. It seems like they don't talk with all the honorables very much--just a few that are so good at making things that they ask for help with their projects. She said the best way to get to talk to them is to make impressive things."

Thus what Yuya's been trying. They're Lilith's trusted people after all.

delivery!

[anti_nonsense]

"Letters, huh..."

Here's Rita (or Puri), contemplating this plan Sans just described to her. She's in what looks like a small, cozy workshop for glassmaking, where she's already set up shop and started testing out her newfound skill. Her early creations, most of them cat-shaped sculptures, can be found sitting around the room.

A small smirk tugs at her lips. "I might have something that can help with that, actually."

With that, she takes a small bead from a pile of discarded glass junk, pauses to infuse it with knowledge, then sets it out in front of Sans, gesturing for him to touch it. If he does, the bead will communicate her message directly into his mind, describing to him the ability she just used: the power to imbue knowledge into an object for others to learn just by touching it. It could be a way to discreetly share messages with taboo elements.

[osteothropy]

He touches it with one of his little legs, and when the information translates, his beetle wings pop out for a second in surprise. He pulls his leg away from the bead.

"Well, shit," he says. "How'd you figure out how to do that?"

He's assuming she hasn't always had this, because he presumably would have heard of it before. He's genuinely fascinating by the magic behind it, and his appreciation is clear in his voice.

[drrdrrdrr]

Amethyst thinks she's tough enough to be able to deal with this NO PROBLEM! unfortunately she has been in the Carnival for years and I rolled a 1, so she yells real loud, digs her claws into whoever's closest, and passes out! WHOOPS