⇨ 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

[npcarnival]

Nothing obvious, at least. The carvings seem mostly abstract, and though there could be some kind of meaning to it, it's nothing Peridot will automatically understand.

Fortunately, none of them have to do anything to make the row of upside-down pyramids floating along the room suddenly activate, beginning to move along like a conveyor belt. It wouldn't be hard to catch a ride.

[insidescoop]

"Oh?" Well! She didn't expect that. And she does cough a little more shamefully as Rhys continues, looking away. "Ah- W...well... ...I'm technically your Supervisor after all, I can't help but worry..." she mutters, keeping her voice down for a moment.

"Anyway... ...If you do want to help, I don't see why not- as long as we aren't using ketchup, that is. Just what have you been up to here anyway?"

[anti_nonsense]

"Knock yourself out," Rita says flatly, not mustering much of a show of enthusiasm. "If we're both working with glass, then we might as well share what we've learned with each other." Should be a decent enough front for when they're sharing other kinds of information, anyway.

"Speaking of which, learn anything interesting from the lectures and group activities?" Sounds like Tyki's been mingling with the locals. Rita tried that, a little... but socializing with strangers is enough of a pain without having to keep up a fake identity in the process.

[moonfang]

Hmmm. Kind of like the glyphs in the churches back in Eden?

Zangetsu slings his sword back, where it seems to adhere to his back somehow, freeing up his mouth. He looks at the conveyer belt of pyramid rocks. Despite his emotionless mask, he seems to be frowning.

"Everything about this tunnel is funneling us deeper in. There's either somethin' really important down here, or a trap."

He pauses.

"Probably both."

Regardless, guess who's moving forward? THIS FISH.

[soft_focus]

"Oh..." The bat pauses a moment, humming as she considers her words. Mostly when people mention mind reading, it's because she's mentioned reading feelings, and they've decided it's the same thing.

She sort of feels the need to make sure that suspicion never comes up here either. "...Umn, I can feel feelings, but I definitely can't read your mind, so you're definitely fine," she decides, nodding.

"...'Stuff' can be a lot of things though." Love at least is precise! But Stuff? That could be Anything.

[worldlyafflictions]

Hey now, information is critical to effective helping. Or in this case gauging what kind of approach or advice would even be applicable. Shima lets Strange tweak his unbranded ear with a huff, but drops the playfulness at that response.

"Still convinced nobody else has any good intentions toward him, huh. Ah well..."

Sets his head down on his paws, turning his nose away, feigning disinterest now.

"Maybe he doesn't remember it but I mentioned a couple times ta him back on the moon that the plan isn't ta keep his Heart forever. At least, that's not what the Ringmaster wants. Or maybe he gets it already and he just doesn't wanna look around himself since there's not really a trick to it or anything besides learning ta empathize with people enough not ta turn around and call the Summer Court down ta nuke us as soon as he's free. He does seem like the type ta think even entertaining a friendly thought about the Carnival is treason."

[stompadour]

Jasper snorts, which is a sound somewhere between her usual mouth-only dismissive huff and a horse noise. "If it's a trap then we'll fight our way through that too. We've come this far, I'm not giving up."

She doesn't jump yet, though, although she's poised to, with one hoof raised; she's obviously waiting to hear a verdict from Peridot and Syrlya.

[periphrasing]

Peridot is uncharacteristically silent, watching the conveyor belt with an unreadable expression. She's hesitant to vouch for any particular course of action; the only reason they're out here in the barrens at all is because she pushed for it, and she's getting an increasing sense of guilt around the fact that it's her fault that they're in this mess. Now she's afraid to urge one course of action over the other, on the chance that it will provoke ire from any of her teammates.

Turns out bossing people around in a low-stakes setting is a lot easier than actually leading! Haha!

Jasper's commentary pushes her into showing a bit more backbone at least. She really doesn't want to look weak in front of the other gem, so. She hops up on that thing next to Zan.

"I'm not giving up either," she says determinedly.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya watches the conveyor belt, finding that way too convenient with the combination of feral animals driving them in (who have conveniently stopped pursuing). He shifts on his feet, and then starts a new portal entrance where he stands before rising to the air again.

"We're probably being led somewhere, which means we need to be careful. Be aware of your surroundings, and--anyone with some sort of shield would be best to go first. I can deflect projectiles, but I can stop nothing running straight at us."

It's not his mission, but Syrlya doesn't want to stand idle to them all potentially dying by charging in without a plan because they don't want to give up. There's too many unknowns.

He flies forward either way, getting closer to Zangetsu and Peridot. He doesn't quite land yet, and instead follows through the air as long as he can get away with.

TALENT...

[soft_focus]

Reira was actually here with specific requests for Junk in mind, such as discarded flowers or leaves, or maybe some cloth scraps as well. She finds herself somewhat touchy about those in particular, actually- something about the silk makes her think a little more seriously about her Two Names, right now.

But as it is, she pushes that from mind when Yuuya catches her off guard with his own question.

"Eh? ....One of those?" she asks, blinking rapidly.

Most of the tea flowers are...well.

About as large as she is. She could probably literally take a Bath in one of the teapots.

[stompadour]

Jasper tosses her mane. "I don't have a shield, but I can take the brunt of whatever comes at us. I'll go in front."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya stops, considering Reira and her current size. Huh... hm.

"Maybe it's a bit big for you." Maybe that's an understatement. "You probably aren't drinking much of anything anyway, are you?"

Yuya hasn't felt hungry or thirsty since arriving, so he's been eating mostly out of comfort. Reira, though, seems too small for most of that to be an option.

[wild_magic]

He laughs a little and shakes his head.

"I don't know, but it sounds cool. I'd like to see."

[soft_focus]

"Um...I guess not," she admits, feeling a bit like she's missing out now. "...But I got a big grape and ate it," the girl adds. It was at least the size of her head. Quite amazing, really.

"...I could...maybe try it though, even if it's big..." she starts a little shyly. She doesn't want to miss it now!! Besides.

"Umnh...and, I wanted to ask if you had 'junk' things, for my stuff..."

[worldlyafflictions]

They're probably out of the cathedral at this point so there's not too tight a crowd of established Honorables around, thankfully. Still, they're supposed to be wild animals originally, mindless and nameless. It's lucky Shiemi's joyful trill alerts him to her presence before she says his name, though it prompts him to pretty much pounce on her the moment it leaves her beak in an attempt to distract from it if he isn't successful at cutting her off.

"--Oops! 'Scuse me, you're so bright I couldn't help it! Pesky wild instincts, ya know? We've never met before, right? I'd remember seeing a bird so green!"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's ready to dissuade her a little more, at least about taking it and trying on her own (maybe he can bring her some already steeped tea), but her question makes him pause briefly and he raises a brow... even if that's not totally clear on his face.

"Junk things... you mean like scraps, or just stuff I'm not using? What are you making?"

[mirrortide]

"If there was any sort of water around I could probably do something, but there isn't." Which means, Lapis is more or less useless. And... she doesn't really like that, all that much honestly.

[soft_focus]

"Things you don't want anymore," she answers, somewhat. She hobbles closer to the various things in Yuuya's work space, doing her best impression of a tiny mouse using crutches. "I'm going to make shadows with them! It's a special sculpture, made of lots of things that don't look like the shadow at all."

[amphibiopathic]

Even if animals supposedly don't each other in Eden, some instincts die hard. Eruka's not so absorbed in her work that she doesn't notice when someone else comes up behind her. Someone big (though, granted, it doesn't take much to be bigger than her). Remembering orders that they're not supposed to do anything to look out of place, she does her best to look casual when she turns around.

"Hello," she says, chipper as can be. She recognizes him as one of the new animals that came in with her, at least, but she's got no idea who this could be. As for what attracted Tyki in the first place, well, it might have something to do with the particular scent she's working on -- a vial that gives off the unmistakably clear, fresh fragrance of a crisp apple.

[kingsroads]

So people who went on the moon visit knew about the Heart? But Strange knew Childermass was on the moon, and yet Childermass didn't seem to know about the Heart during their conversation.

...of course, Childermass could be lying. Strange's feathers fluff up a bit at the mere thought of it. Considering his past history with Childermass keeping things from him, it wouldn't surprise him if that was the truth. Ass.

But no matter. It's not Shima's fault that this is still apparently a problem with Childermass. Time to focus on something else instead.

"Or perhaps he simply wants it back. If you had your magic or abilities removed, wouldn't you want them back no matter the cost?"

[moonfang]

"Jasper can go in front, and I'll take up the back. The rest of ya stay between us."

That seemed like a reasonable plan.

reintroductions

[exaomori]

Shima will have to be the one to approach Shura seeing as she's still fuming from the entire branding thing. It isn't the pain, it's the indignity of getting something burned into her skin at her sternum, right where Hachiro's seal was located. And this mark isn't even useful!

She took the branding and behaved like a good little lion, but she's going to be sulking and grouchy about the entire thing, which means she's going to find somewhere quiet to sleep off her mood. It's okay, she's a lion, she's supposed to sleep a lot! But seriously, she's not going to be too happy when she hears Shima's approach, snapping to attention and growling at whoever it is. Shima probably recognizes that expression, the same as the one she had on the train to Kyoto when she doled out the collective punishment.

"What! What is it?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's workspace is moderately disorganized, and there's lots of stray leaves and petals everywhere.

"A shadow sculpture?" Yuya leans over, curious. "You mean like shadow puppets? But, uh, I guess not moving?"

Sculptures don't move, he's pretty sure.

[npcarnival]

He's not sure that he can describe it in terms Yuya would understand, because he isn't sure that mortals feel the same things that fae do. The best he can think of is that it'd be like suddenly not having a mouth anymore, or not having eyes. It's an entire facet of your body's function, but then it's just gone.

But he thinks Yuya is thinking of hearts more literally than it is in this case. The heart he's talking about doesn't pump blood or anything like that.

[soft_focus]

"Shadow...puppets..?" This is one of those things she didn't get to learn about ever again, isn't it. "...I guess..?"

She toddles over to inspect all of the leaves and petals, briefly glancing at any fabrics he might have used before ignoring that. "Um. I don't know how shadow 'puppets' are made, so I don't know if it's the same."