ringleaders: (Default)
Lost Carnival Mods ([personal profile] ringleaders) wrote in [community profile] lostcarnival2018-07-08 06:50 pm

⇨ EDEN

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.
steadydollypegs: (012)

B

[personal profile] steadydollypegs 2018-07-28 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Doll had taken the branding alright, despite the mounting anxiety as the animals examined her and discussed where would be best. She's become so small, after all, any of these creatures could probably crush her on accident. But they're careful, and that eases some of her concern right up until she gets a hot iron brand in the center of her breast. A lot of distressed sound came out of her after that, and she definitely took her time puffing up and shaking the water all over her. What an ordeal...

The pain was still around later on, even as they started to turn in for the night. The water had helped before, so Doll finds a bath set out seemingly for the smaller bird folks and sits miserably in it. It would be so much better if she had someone to sit in the bath with, she thinks to herself, puffing up her feathers and shaking again. Tamaki could have been a beautiful little blue bird with her and they could have just tucked themselves together... it would have been nice.

She turns the side of her head with her remaining eye towards the door when Joker comes in, and immediately hops onto the edge of the bath and flies to land below him. "Y'can say that again... Why're we even here again, Joker?"
fourthscribe: (I like them!)

[personal profile] fourthscribe 2018-07-28 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Joker, please. She lets out a brief deer-bark of laughter before containing herself, having to lower her head while she pulls her composure back together.

"A--a pleasure to meet you, Pesagni," she finally manages through stifled laughter, following his colorful feathered butt back out of the studio. "My name is Radueri."
dontpokethat: so as long as i dont look at anything i dont have to believe anything (you have to 'see it to believe it')

[personal profile] dontpokethat 2018-07-28 10:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"Right? Dunno for sure what I was expecting to be walking into, but this wasn't it."

And it's... pretty ominous. In addition to being painful! Fun.

"Guess we'll find out. ...Once we're cooled down, anyway." And, you know, no longer horribly blistered.
spaghettimonster: (I WOULD NEVER KID)

[personal profile] spaghettimonster 2018-07-29 01:18 am (UTC)(link)
"It's true," Papyrus says a little solemnly, nodding but not giving away whether he was counter-joking or taking the comment at face value. Either way, it would surely piss off the Ringmaster, so they better keep it to the land of jokes.

But why talk about the possibility of death when there's so much happier things to talk about, like 'Yehudi's new name and path in life?

"I suppose I could travel to the edges of Eden, and... 'admire' those barren areas nobody likes to talk about." The few real Honorables he's overheard mentioning them, at all, did so in hushed whispers and shushed each other when they noticed him nearby.
exaomori: (🐍 4)

[personal profile] exaomori 2018-07-29 02:21 am (UTC)(link)
It'd be so easy to rest her big paw on his little head and just shove his face down and rub it in the dirt. So easy. It might even make her ego feel just a bit better. But then she would probably offend Shima, and he probably hadn't meant much by bringing it up.

"That's clever of you, gettin' it put there. And it ain't like anyone's gonna bite your ear off here." Well, not so long as he kept his mouth shut. "Find your feet yet, or you still explorin'?"

She should find Rin and Yukio, she knows she should. But right now she's still too sulky to handle any potential problems from those two."
dressedtothe: (Default)

[personal profile] dressedtothe 2018-07-29 03:02 am (UTC)(link)
He misses being able to hold hands and hug Rita...

"I think I'll be fine."

He's hardly been in contact with Sans or Papyrus, mostly having been seen with Rita. Having seen other large animals in Eden with smaller ones, it seemed like a good excuse to stick with her. But if she's going to make herself scarce...

"I'll contact Lambert." He's also a cat of sorts. It wouldn't look too weird if he just swapped cats, right? "See if we can get an art project going that just happens to give us a good view of the cathedral so we can keep an eye on things."
worldlyafflictions: (ch040pg17p5)

[personal profile] worldlyafflictions 2018-07-29 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
"Almost wish someone would, except it'd still hurt!" He's gotta get a little whining in.

"Still lots ta see and plenty of beasts ta talk to though, so who knows what types I'll run into. Not ta say I'm planning ta look for trouble." Which of course means he totally is. But look, that's his job now, he's gotta.
exaomori: (🐍 34)

[personal profile] exaomori 2018-07-29 03:54 am (UTC)(link)
"Nyaa, maybe you should be lookin' for trouble." Another flick of her tail--she needed to get that under control. "Trouble's the kind of thing that finds you when you aren't lookin', after all~. Somethin' as small as you ought to be careful. Even if we're supposed ta be gettin' along doesn't mean everyone's good at playin' nice."

She actually means it. It's a weird way of saying be careful, but it's there. Kinda.
prazerbutterfly: (trust me)

[personal profile] prazerbutterfly 2018-07-29 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
He rolls the vial against the digits of his paw. Don't ask him how he's doing that, he's not going to explain his power right now.

No, he has a feeling that ingesting this is likely a bad idea. It was similar to in scent but he has no idea what it is made of. At least he'll step away to the side to give her a little more space, "Yes, but mine isn't anything all that special. It's just glasswork." And light refraction through glass.
bananaspeedrider: (workin)

[personal profile] bananaspeedrider 2018-07-29 06:02 am (UTC)(link)
"Well I did say I never saw or heard of a snake like you before." The response is honest and almost rolls off perfectly in Yugo's usual cadence.

"Guess you could glide if you're that light."
worldlyafflictions: (ch088pg07p1)

[personal profile] worldlyafflictions 2018-07-29 07:58 am (UTC)(link)
Shima can at least tell Shura seems to assume responsibility for things despite her own reluctance so he knows she's being a little soft on him against her own judgement. But that's what he finds funny (and CHARMING) about her.

"Ehehe, don't worry, I'm great at taking care of myself either way. But I'm just gonna go around ta show off a bit. Seems like I picked up something fun--look."

He pats a patch of grass with his paw and it turns bright red.
insidescoop: (MMMMMM...)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2018-07-29 05:37 pm (UTC)(link)
"Just because you've never seen something doesn't mean you start nosing them around!! Personal space exists, yu- You know!!" Honestly!!

"But yes, I can glide," she huffs, filling herself out again.
insidescoop: credit - alpha-graphics @ lj (Yeeeeeheheh)

[personal profile] insidescoop 2018-07-29 06:33 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well if I go slow and gentle it's going to hurt worse when they come out! It has to be quick, like.... ...Like a snake bite!" She almost said booster shot.

Almost.
drrdrrdrr: (Default)

[personal profile] drrdrrdrr 2018-07-29 09:06 pm (UTC)(link)
Amethyst snorts with laughter. "Uhhuh," she says, scratching an ear with her hind paw. "I guess they are, huh. What's that mean I should call you, Gravel or somethin'?"
periphrasing: (???? um)

[personal profile] periphrasing 2018-07-29 09:53 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well now that would be EXTREMELY rude," Peridot replies, genuinely offended. She'll have you know that 'gravel' is a very derogatory name to call someone in gem terms, Amethyst.
drrdrrdrr: (Default)

[personal profile] drrdrrdrr 2018-07-29 10:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Amethyst takes a moment to consider this. "Haha, man, I guess it would be, huh?" she laughs. "Is there anything grey you can be that isn't rude?"
atouts: (004)

[personal profile] atouts 2018-07-30 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
Strange is all too right about that. His efforts earn him a snort of dog breath in the face and then Childermass is pulling himself back up to stand properly. That was probably a laugh but who even knows with this guy.

"I'll have to pass for today," he inevitably says, "But maybe another time." Unlikely. "Graceful or not, I may still trip on you. You are rather scrawny, after all."
starseedling: (eating a single dorito)

[personal profile] starseedling 2018-07-30 01:01 am (UTC)(link)
"What did you tell them?" he asks, not because he hasn't already gotten the gist, but because he wants to know the specifics. He figures they might matter when it comes to resolving the problem.

"Did they find out she was involved anyway?" There isn't much judgment in his voice. There's a good chance he'd try to lie for Lapis's sake, too.
pipers_son: (iconography) (Bought two parrots for us.)

the internet cut out right as I posted this tag

[personal profile] pipers_son 2018-07-30 01:05 am (UTC)(link)
The possibility of death and all that misery it entails really is best left off for a different venue, or at least artists who fit the bill in looking positively gloomy. You know, like Childermass, or something. Definitely not Joker, in all his multi-colored glory.

Then again, the Barrens is hardly any better, and Joker cocks his head sharply to the side. "Now now," he says, feigning a blithe tone, "you'll want ta be careful there. Looks like a real scary place even ta be close ta!" Especially if he's caught, or suspected of anything. "One shouldn't suffer for their art or anythin'. If ya do go, maybe ya should take a buddy?"

Half advice, half an offer.
periphrasing: (And I feel sorry for you.)

[personal profile] periphrasing 2018-07-30 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
"Strange did. Recently. Yesterday." She pauses to sigh before answering his first question. "I told them that I was the one who saw Nightshade. I figured that so long as they knew there was a possibility that Nightshade was lurking around somewhere, it didn't really matter who it was that saw her. Especially since Lapis had learned by that point that making a deal with another fae was a terrible idea, so there was no longer any risk of her turning traitor."

Her expression darkens.

"...And then Ignatius showed up in the library asking for her, and made it an issue again."
starseedling: (we can't all be neurotypical karen)

[personal profile] starseedling 2018-07-30 01:41 am (UTC)(link)
"Did... Lapis actually agree to it?" Steven asks, sounding stunned. He'd been assuming it never got that far, and the idea that it might have chills him.
spaghettimonster: (CATBLASTER SURPRISE)

oh i hate when that happens

[personal profile] spaghettimonster 2018-07-30 01:44 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh no! The last thing I want is anything... needlessly scary." Like unwanted attention, or suspicion, or the risk of getting booted out. Sure, the Ringmaster's out there somewhere, but it's a big world.

He looks out and away, as if to see the Barrens through all the buildings and greenery, and bites his lip a little - then winces, and opens his mouth again. "Maybe... I'll travel, but in worlds of the mind. Weaving words and spinning tales, and all that. Stories are art, right?"
periphrasing: (Oh no OH NO NO NO NO)

[personal profile] periphrasing 2018-07-30 02:09 am (UTC)(link)
"Of course she didn't!" Peridot says urgently, looking alarmed. "She said she didn't get to that point and I believe her. But Ignatius was still looking for her, and he asked a huge group of people about her, so... it directed suspicion at her. I wound up asking Ignatius about it directly-- with the Ringmaster's permission, of course-- and he said that Nightshade told him that there was someone among our number who was interested in defecting. It all still lines up with what Lapis told me: Nightshade told her that she could put her in touch with a more powerful summer fae who could make a contract with her to help, and Ignatius corroborated that."
kingsroads: (just sort of huffy and taken aback)

[personal profile] kingsroads 2018-07-30 02:13 am (UTC)(link)
And now it's Strange's turn to have his feathers literally ruffle. Scrawny? How on earth is he scrawny?

"I'll have you know, I'm the proper size for a bird of my kind!" At least, he thinks he is. Strange honestly doesn't know the average size of a raven, just that he thinks he's about average size. "You're the scrawny one. Look at those legs!"

Said as he reaches over to try and nudge one of Childermass's paws with his beak. Borzois are weird horse dogs, Childermass, you're the scrawny one.
starseedling: (when butter is too hard to spread)

[personal profile] starseedling 2018-07-30 02:17 am (UTC)(link)
"But... she went along with it enough that Ignatius was going to offer her something," Steven says, his shoulders sinking. "Yeah... I guess I can see why they'd be mad."