⇨ 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

[periphrasing]

1. Fighting? Isn't fighting forbidden here? Why would the animals closest to reaching nirvana or w/e be tempted to engage in conflict?
2. Peridot calls bullshit. HOW CAN SOMEONE BE KING OF THE MOON...? The moon's just a BIG THING in the sky!
3. OK that's legit she says (though she doesn't really believe that in her heart, bc this reminds her way too much of the diamonds and their courts). She just thought it was kind of weird, bc an organizational structure like that seems sort of counterproductive to what she's learned so far about the creative process.

[npcarnival]

1. Hurting each other yes, arguing no....? Creating perfection doesn't require being perfect. Strong opinions are a mark of the inspired.

2. Well it's a ball of light in the sky, more specifically. So why can't he be the king of it?

3. They scoff at her, saying what would she know about the creative process when she is only like a day old?

[npcarnival]

Well... Rogzi is, like, Bezaliel's right hand man? Man Bezaliel is one of the Twelve.

Rogzi just kind of breaks up disruptive behavior for everyone.

Harah is the owl that is in charge of the library.

What kind of authority figure is he looking for? A priest?

[npcarnival]

She's sitting pretty high up and makes no move to come down and speak with him. So instead she just stares at him from a distance as he tries to get her attention, being totally unhelpful. She tilts her head, swishing her tail.

[hippocarnival]

Well... okay. If she won't come down, what if he tries and comes up? Any foothold he can find to climb or... something.

No response is a little discouraging, but he'll speak louder and explain he's new and he wants to meet other honorables and hear more about their mission and the twelve, if that'll make her more inclined to open up?

[chronosynthesis]

Maybe? He won't pretend to be sure, but if the Twelve are usually too busy then is there anyone else who kind of leads the honorables to finding divine clarity in their stead? He's new to this whole enlightenment thing, obviously, so he's not sure how much of this is a concentrated effort.

[npcarnival]

It's apparently hard to get up there if you can't fly. But that's fine, because after watching Yuya try to get up for a while, she move to jump off.

"I'm sure you would," she says, and lands on a bridge of light like the aurora borealis and starts walking on it, through the air, as if its solid. She moves at a very leisurely pace.

[psionichax0r]

Are the priests (or whatever they call spiritual leaders) available afterwards if people have questions about what they heard? Or is it more of a formalized ritual where the walk in and out and that's the only time you see them?

[hippocarnival]

Yuya gapes at the bridge for a second before changing direction to follow her, running under the bridge and looking up at her. There's an obvious difference of temperament here, so he dials it back a bit but he's still earnest when he speaks.

"Since you're really good at making things, and Saraquel asks you for help, I thought you'd know the most... sorry, do you get a lot of--us who ask you the same stuff?"

[psionichax0r]

Yes, he would absolutely love to ask Harah. Where is he?

[flashover]

Rin will ask that his brand be placed on his left wing at the wrist. It takes two applications to the same spot to really get it to stick, and it does bubble a little. Rin tries his best not to scream and cry, but tears certainly well up in his eyes!

[anti_nonsense]

"I won't get in the way," Rita will insist, and before they can insist back, she'll ask, "What is that?"

She's been gazing at those crystals with a look of wonder since they came in, and the one over Ignatius now has her attention, though she does the Honorables the courtesy of giving them and their patient space while she admires it.

[scientificist]

How did the Architects reach their status, he asks as a follow-up. Is it that they were here the longest or were they born with a talent for leadership? Has anyone ever known someone to become an Architect?

after the naming ceremony!

[moonfang]

Zangetsu would ask around with a toothy smile on his face the FOLLOWING STUFF, just of any Honorables he happens to swim past.

1. He wants to know more about the dolphin architect. What is their name? What is their special talent?
2. Specifically to other predator honorables; it's totally weird not to eat, right??
3. So do animals ever die around here? What happens to them when they die? This question will be phrased in a very childish way, appropriate for an animal who has just discovered the concept of self and soul. Do you just... stop being one day?
4. HE HAS AN IDEA FOR A MUSICAL INSTRUMENT HE NEEDS IT BUILT TODAY also where is the nearest saltwater, the pond he found isn't covering it.

[scientificist]

Herbert asks the healers if they were inspired to be healers or if anyone can learn to help out in this way. That's why he's actually here: to creep on their processes.

ETA: He then actually comes back the next day and asks to help out anyway. He has x-ray vision and can see injuries like that. He's useful!

[insidescoop]

Post-Naming Ceremony, Carly asks the first Honorable she sees if the naming/sorting/etc means she has to sleep anywhere specific- or if it's fine to just stick to where she's been thus far.

In the surrounding days, she also keeps track of how most of the honorables act around her- especially when it seems she's not looking or paying attention. Just how ARE they acting around her, when she's simply minding her own business?

More importantly-

Does anyone wear clothes? Jewelry? (And if not, what do Honorables focused on Fashion do with their work?) Relating to that, she asks about any who work in that field- she'll claim she's seeking advice, and guidance.

[kingsroads]

While Rita and Herbert do shit like 'ask smart questions', Strange is way too worried about Ignatius to be of any use! He's flying around, accidentally getting in people's faces, visibly worrying about Ignatius, and generally being a slightly panicky pain in the neck to everybody involved (including Rita and Herbert).

He's mostly reassuring Ignatius that hey, everything will be fine, he had no idea that would happen in the first place, you're a tough skink and you'll get through this! and all sorts of other things that will inevitably make Rita 50x more suspicious of him.

exploration

[kingsroads]

Strange is still a bundle of nerves and worries. And he's a bundle of nerves and worries with someone who he's supposed to look after almost dead. He had gotten booted out of the healing tent and was on his way back to the healing tent, when inspiration decided to strike at the worst possible moment. Combine that with Strange's scatter brained tendencies and this means that poor Ignatius is forgotten for a moment as Strange grapples with this overwhelming urge to practice dancing.

He's humming a song to himself as he practices. Unfortunately, birds are really awkward dancers on land and Strange isn't sure enough in his flying ability to practice some aerial maneuvers. He doesn't even notice himself when he smacks into Tyki...but he does recognize that voice.

"Oh!" Strange exclaims, as he gets to his feet and flies over to Tyki to try and perch on his back. "I've been looking for you!"

Because scatter-brained Strange straight up forgot to tell Tyki something interesting before the carnival left for Eden.

[fourthscribe]

Guess who has been here for going on three years and is going to super get fucked up by this!! Tanyuu, to her benefit, does not make any more fuss than would be expected for someone about to be poked with hot iron, but after the brand is applied she very nearly passes out. She does her best to feign a normal reaction, but she definitely spends a good long while laying in the water to hide her shakiness from the pain.

[prazerbutterfly]

Ugh, it's too peaceful but he'll play along. It just makes it easier to mingle with everyone in general.

3) Yeah, he'll ask them and when they try to brush him off, he'll allow it if he can't press them for exactly reasons why other than the concern for their general health, he'll let it go.

REIRA AKABA | OTA

[soft_focus]

[EVENING 79 | THE FIRES OF INSPIRATION]

The Honorable who handles her branding is gentle. Initially they fuss a bit over just where to brand. It's clear to them that the new Honorable about to be granted the 'Fires of Inspriation' is young at heart, younger than typical, and that sort of thing never goes well with pain. She's watched many of the others receive their marks- through grit teeth, through screams, through cries, all of it the stuff of bad dreams and small nightmares certainly.

But Reira hobbles- her wings more like crutches, her legs not wanting to move any proper direction- straight for the pool, right for the spot in front of the Honorable, and gets ready. It's clear to them that the brand can't go on the wings- they fold up too greatly while on the ground, and no one would ever see. Perhaps the ears, but that would be especially small and-

And politely the Honorable decides to ask just where would be alright from a small list of choices, perhaps taking in a deep and long breath when the answer is 'back'.

The brand is applied, and Reira doesn't even flinch. It isn't until the iron is removed, and the girl is looking back to the Honorable to look them over- spotting a similar mark upon themselves, much to their relief- that she even allows herself to sniffle, asking about where they go now, and if it always hurt.

Anyone watching is probably wondering if the Honorable is going to just melt or disolve into little tears, the way they gently handle the tiny bat and console them before helping them into the pool to recover.

'We'll help you out once you're cooled down, so that you can find your way to the communal homes, alright?' they assure her, and for the time being Reira is to simply cling to the edge of the pool with her odd thumbs while her back soaks.

It's hard for her to see, from here. She peeks out and about at everyone else, speaking only when someone is near.

"...mnh...a..." It's hard to ask things you know the answer to, but... "...are you ok..."

[LATE EVENING 79 | In the Communal Dwellings]

In the housing building she's at, darkness has only begun to settle in. It is unnerving, to see so much, so different, right now. She is tiny, and small, and even things the size of cats are enormous in her eyes- let alone such beings as wolves, or bears, and beyond.

But Reira sniffs, and fumbles in the darkness, nested in some fabrics and things and peering about the area with wide eyes. "H'llo..?" She doesn't 'know' anyone here. Not technically, and perhaps even not really- she doesn't know who else went into this building after all, and she can't see.

But she swears her voice returns to her, practically painting a picture of what is where in the room. "..Who's there..?" she manages eventually, her squeaking still ringing in her ears.

[DAY 80 | Learning to Bat]

In the morning, breakfast is a welcome distraction. Indeed, food doesn't seem to be a huge deal here- she's not hungry, not at all- but the taste is a good distraction, and her teeth shear into a grape almost as large as her head with ease.

Unfortunately she cannot walk and eat, so she's long since finished the fruit by the time she makes her way outward.

Walking is a pain. Eventually it looks a bit like someone trying to hop with crutches- arms forward, propelling the rest of her along, her legs barely moving while on and off the ground. But walking can't be the only thing she does. She knows it can't be, and yet for all that she's sure the others have some vauge idea of how to be animals, she doesn't know how to fly AT ALL.

If she'd given that more thought, it'd make sense. She's far too young to be doing anything other than clinging to a mother bat if in the wild. But this isn't the wild, and the late morning of Day 80 Reira can be seen slowly trying to climb up some taller-than-she surface in some vain attempt to try and launch off to learn flight.

"Mngh...nghh... U-umn..!" With trouble, comes asking for help. "Um...can you get me up to the next branch..?" Reira calls out, her voice just as squeaky as one would expect of her size.

[DAY 81 | Names & Art]

"Phannnnu...Phaaaanu...Phhhhhanu..." Reira repeats her new name a few times to try and get it to sound right on her tongue, hopping each step of the way in the same manner she has for the last little bit with her wings. It's a more extreme hop this time however- as she cannot simply vault and swing her legs forward, what with them clutching a few scrap materials tightly with her feet.

Reira moves with dedication- perhaps even mild obsession? It would be rather early to call it that, but she's gathering for herself a significant pile of 'junk', beside which she's gotten some kindly Honorable to leave a card that reads: 'Phanu's Materials'.

If that is to be her name, she must grow as used to it as she has Reira. And surely, that can't be hard. As it is, she adds her scrap to the pile, before slowly disecting the junk to try and stack it in various ways. Even with how miniscule each part is, it appears the task is quite difficult. Two inches doesn't lend much to creating eye-catching pieces, and she needs to make up for that as best she can.

Somehow.

So whether it's the humming mutterings of her own 'name', or even the curious...state of her pile, a pile whose shadow she keeps glancing at, don't mind her, please.

Or maybe do, and ask how long she's been out here.

[WILDCARD | Got another idea? Hit me up with whatever you got!]

[npcarnival]

At some point Ignatius civilly asks Strange to shut up. He's being embarrassing.

[kingsroads]

Strange is very thankful that ravens can't blush as he shuts the hell up. Still lingering and getting in everyone's way, tho.

[scientificist]

If Strange gets close enough to him, Herbert is going to bat at him in the cat version of GET A HOLD OF YOURSELF, MAN.

childermass aka pravu aka hey look at that dog, ota

[atouts]

sick as a dog; late day 79-day 80, post-anointment

Much to the horror of the Honorables, Childermass passes out at the very end of his branding (which ends up being on his left shoulder in his dog form, burning away black fur and blistering angrily under the iron). It's less a surprise to Childermass himself, knowing full well this would go poorly for him and yet he managed to hold still, stoic until the very end when they had to fish a fainted borzoi out of the water.

He isn't out cold for terribly long, however, waking up to the pain is entirely regrettable. It doesn't kill him like it did the full-blooded-fae-turned-skink in their midst, but it leaves his limbs feeling heavy, his movements sluggish, as if ill, and it's all he can do to stagger his way to the nearest building of the town and pass out again, only this time on purpose, to sleep.

There are times when he will be awake, if indifferent to actually getting up and doing anything. Since he's picked a previously empty building left open for the new arrivals, chances are high he's not in there alone and he'll end up watching the other "animals" from the carnival, eyes open and tracking them but head still resting on his forepaws.

shadow arts (ninjas not included); after day 80

He does recover, however, just in time for inspiration to strike. Childermass finds this annoying because he has better things to do and yet here we are. Seeing how it's expected in this society, he will at least give it a try, to see what he can manage with his shadow constructs, and as it turns out, he can manage... quite a bit. Funny how once you get started, it's hard to stop.

In this case, he's figured out how to use the shadows like ink or paint. Rather than sculptures of shadow, which he could easily do if he wanted, he's flattened the constructions out a blank wall. Where doesn't matter, just that it's blank and won't be hit full on by the sun for a few hours yet. He's up on his hind legs, forepaws braced against the wall, dragging shadows into place as if drawing on a grander scale. What he can reach, he sketches out himself, filling the rest out by will alone, lines spreading out and settling into place like little dark vines.

Feel free to stop by and try to figure out what the heck he's even making this time or, even better, ask why he's wasting his time at all. He's a supervisor. Doesn't he have better things to be doing?