⇨ 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

[wild_magic]

Susan watches, his tail flicking as she takes off. He jumps down from branch to branch as she goes, and once she lands he runs over to her excitedly.

"You did it!"

[wild_magic]

He looks curiously at the feathers on the floor, looking to Joker to discern whether he really used his own feathers or not, but then he's distracted by them having to go up and he's definitely okay with climbing and he follows Joker up the pillar, easily scaling it as this form is just built for climbing (something he rather likes).

Once they've gotten up, he looks over the feathers before looking to the building, and then he looks to Joker again excitedly.

"It's really cool! How long did it take to make that?" Any roughness is totally overlooked; it's not like he knows anything about art in the first place.

[whattaprick]

“Hm,” Lambert says, non-committally, sizing Rita’s ‘art’ up. He doesn’t exactly get it, but he supposes he doesn’t need to.

“You’ve come a long way, considering the time you’ve had this,” he comments. He has indeed seen more than a few of her beads by now, and there’s no doubt it’s effective, but...

“You ever consider collaborating with someone? Not that you aren’t doing a good job, but everything around us is something the Twelve made, isn’t it?” He cocks his head. “Not a lot of the older Honorables are interested in working with us, so maybe we should stick together.”

[anti_nonsense]

Rita's ears tilt slightly, as she seems to be thinking about what to make of that offer.

"Sure. I wouldn't mind giving it a try," she agrees after a moment. It seems like a good excuse for them to meet up more frequently, so naturally, there's no reason to refuse. "...What kind of stuff do you make, anyway?"

It's hard to imagine Lambert being much of an artist.

[whattaprick]

“Well, you’ll have the time to practice,” Lambert shrugs. “Since that’s the sort of thing we’re supposed to do now. Creating.”

Lambert just digs his claws in harder, intent on his work. Of all the things about Eden the Ringmaster could have warned them about this would definitely have been nice to know! Especially the branded with iron part! His own ear is still blistering and inflamed, and it keeps flicking irritably. Pushing himself to his feet, he leaves more carved flowers behind, and shakes himself out.

“If you’re thirsty, you’re going to have to get up,” he tells Childermass, tail curling lazily.

[prazerbutterfly]

Some people are just really bad at lying or really good at seeming suspicious. Not everyone in carnival was some sort of conman, thief, murderer, or saboteur.

He nods again at her excitement and tries not to appear all that thrilled himself, "Right, right. Just come find me, even if I'm sleeping, before it starts."

[hippocarnival]

He'll return with a small, shallow saucer, being the best he can find that isn't a full sized mug. It seems a lot easier for her to be able to actually drink from at her size.

he sets it down beside the teapot. "Careful--here, I'll pour you some."

[soft_focus]

No cups at all!!! Well that's just terrible. Reira clambers her way around the pot a bit before simply dropping with a 'flump', inspecting the dish. "....You only have thus huh..." she hums, keeping most emotions off her face.

It's not very impressive, but Okay......

[soft_focus]

There is so much truth to those thoughts, and it's astounding they aren't all dead yet.

Then again that's why they all have eggs now. As it is, Reira nods eagerly. "Ok! I'll do that!"

And after a moment... "Thank you!"

[chronosynthesis]

"Illusions." Non-descriptive, easy to bullshit, already something he's extremely capable in. He knows what she can do, already, but it's good to know what she's being open about as part of her cover.

He spreads his wing in a gesture aside. "I was going to take a walk around, to become more familiar with Eden. Would you care to join me?"

[soft_focus]

So she did! She can't really bounce properly, but she's doing her best attempt at it in the excitement too. "Y-Yeah..!! I flew..!!" she cheers, before falling somewhat on her forelimbs. "I just need to practice doing it now, I guess...or maybe learn to start flying from the ground..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya raises a brow before grabbing the top to pour the tea into the saucer. "It'll be easier for you to drink that way, right? There wasn't anything small enough for your hands."

That would have to be smaller than thimble sized. Maybe there's smaller dishware somewhere else, but Yuya wasn't about to go on an excursion for it.

[soft_focus]

"Mnh...I guess so. It sort of feels like when you're feeding....something else," she mutters, realizing a bit too late that 'pets' is a weird term to use here. Still, she waits for the tea.

[pipers_son]

"Not gonna be gentle, either!" he says, head tossed back as he laughs. Sometimes, it's so refreshing when Carly just goes right for things, no dilly-dallying. "I thought objects of art were supposed ta be handled delicately?"

[blushfully]

( sorry for the lateness of this! lightning striking your house is no fun when it fries your phone lines.

Shiemi does miss being able to smile but she hopes it comes across in her motions. One day, hopefully soon, she'll get the hang of all this and not come off utterly embarrassing trying to get all of her emotions across in a small bird body.

"Well... it's more like they listen in a way that helps me work with them like thread or fabric instead of just like plants." She hums. "Like I say I need them to be strong to hold everything together and they become stronger!"

yikes! Glad you're alright at least ;w;

[soft_focus]

For what it's worth, Reira really does try to understand what Shiemi means. The plants are told to do...little things, she determines, and that helps somehow...or...

"Ahh...but then, you still have to do all the sewing, or make sheets of fabric..?" she asks, doing her best. Or maybe it's just really big leaves...

[prazerbutterfly]

Ugh, don't remind him about the eggs. He's not bothered but Tyki knows where those come from. In general, he'd rather just not die or think about it at all.

Sure thing, kiddo. But he doesn't mouth those words. Instead he just nods again a few times and turns to head back to where he was. There's always time for pleasantries later.

[whattaprick]

“Easier to show you,” Lambert says, easily. “You got a piece of wood or rock around here you’re not using?”

If it’s hard for Rita to believe, it’s certainly even harder for Lambert.

[amphibiopathic]

“It’s my, erm, talent. Making scents, I mean,” Eruka says weakly. “I can always make more.”

Tyki will sadly be disappointed if he attempts to consume the apple scented liquid, since the flavor in no way lives up to the scent, but...

“You got one too, didn’t you? At the branding, I mean.”

[pipers_son]

"I think the idea is that we're not supposed ta die at all, actually," Joker muses, mildly amused that the joke went over Papyrus' head. Or maybe that's also part of the joke. Who can even tell, sometimes? "It'd be rather impressive if I could break the rule on that by curiosity alone."

Also it'd probably piss off the Ringmaster because what the hell, but hey.

At the announcement of the name, Joker makes a funny little bird noise in the back of his throat. "Oooh, Yehudi. Sounds fancy. Like ya should be travelin', or somethin'. Although I suppose there's only so many places ya could travel, here."

[anti_nonsense]

"This is a glass workshop..." Rita reminds him, rolling her eyes. Why would they have...

...oh, but maybe...

Even as she seems to dismiss the question, her gaze wanders around the room and settles on a covered pile near a shelf. "But... maybe you can check under that sheet. There's not much, but I think there were a few pieces meant to be used for stands and frames under there." Whoever used this place before Rita might have planned to use it to make a few windows, or something.

[worldlyafflictions]

He'll be glad she hasn't outright fled and hurry them along to somewhere out of the way, setting up in the groomed grass of a spacious garden area behind a few big stacks of paper the Honorables have left lying around with all their other art supplies, to hide so they can talk while they pretend to do 'art'.

"Hahh, ya sure startled me. It seems like ya already realized, but we gotta be careful about knowing too much." He has to be careful himself about his reflex to add 'Moriyama-san'.

"But my heart feels a little more healed now, even if my ear still hurts! You're an angel like always! Ya doing okay yourself?" He pulls down a paper and starts idly fiddling with his new Talent as they talk, color magically bleeding onto the sheet from where his paw touches it.

[worldlyafflictions]

"No way, black can be really subtle!"

He gives it another try though, and it looks much more black this time! He was totally thinking about subtle black colors though so if Childermass holds his claws up in the light he might notice that there's almost a sheen in there of reds and purples and greens, not unlike a certain black fire.

[worldlyafflictions]

"C'mon, the lines are fine, right? How about this?"

Leave it to someone who's never really done art before to just go messing around with someone else's work without permission. He pats one of her pages with a paw and the colors shift--it's... desaturated now! With pops of pink here and there since that's the color she demanded.

[atouts]

"If you could," Childermass agrees, "I wouldn't turn the help away."

If that's the excuse Joker wants to run with for pestering a dog, so be it. It's as good as any other. That said, he watches curiously as the peacock struts up to the wall with the feather. Childermass tilts his head to the other side, then wrinkles his nose.

"Though a feather might be too solid to get at what you're talking about."