⇨ 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

a bird on the verge of a panic attack (it's Strange) | ota

[kingsroads]

day 79, evening
Strange has so much explaining to do. Because there's no hiding the fact that Ignatius is here as well and that Strange very publicly freaked out a little when Ignatius almost died and that he doesn't really know how many people know he's supposed to be watching over Ignatius to begin with.

But in Strange's mind, if anyone wants to come fuss at him, then they can find him themselves. He's going to try to keep his mind off of things and calm his nerves (because hoo boy is he tense and wound up right now) by pretending to be a typical bird and building himself a nest. Strange is flying around the various communal dwellings and outside of said dwellings, picking up anything remotely stick-like. And in the rafters of one of the dwellings, he's making himself a half-assed nest.

day 80, all over
It has been barely over a day and Strange wants to go home. He lost Ignatius. Yes, technically Ignatius left of his own free will and there wasn't anything Strange could do about it considering that nobody expected the metal branding, they're supposed to blend in and keep a low profile, and he was most likely going to be kicked out of the healing tent, but he lost Ignatius. And it's not like he can scry for him because they don't have fucking names yet! How the hell is he going to explain that?! Strange isn't a good liar, he knows he's not a good liar, why is he in stupid aquisitions and on this stupid mission to begin with?

Worst of all is the crushing feeling that he let the Ringmaster down somehow and the even more crushing feeling that because of this, no one's going to trust him with anything again. So, Strange has taken it upon himself to go try and find Ignatius. There's a raven flying all through Eden, methodically scanning the streets and looking around the area. Occasionally, Strange lands and chats with some of the other residents, asking them about the situation, because subtlety be damned, he really needs to find this skink.

Strange is frantically trying to suppress his panic attack and train his will to make it look like he's got everything under control when he really, really doesn't. Add in the fact that he's not all that good at bird to begin with on top of being a distracted flier and it's a disastrous combination that means Strange occasionally has some problems flying.

So surprise, random carnival member. You've got a distraught looking raven hurtling right towards your face.

DAY 80...

[betheman]

What's red and pink and squishy all over? ...An octopus, apparently. An Octopus in the air. As there is no water in various areas of the Garden, it appears the aquatic sorts are at least somewhat airborne, with Gongenzaka in particular casually swimming along as if he were in the sea itself. Gongenzaka isn't the largest octopus by far however- which makes it more than easy to crash into him. Realistically, when the raven comes plowing toward him it likely takes him along with for a good bit- he's barely two feet long, with 3/4 of that being entirely Arm.

How far a 'good bit' can go however, depends on how well Strange can continue hurtling along when a number of hastily raised tentacles are abruptly tangling around the raven for dear life. "HH-HHAAUUUH..!!" Gongenzaka isn't enjoying the fact that he's been tackled, suffice to say.

"Wh-Who- ...What is the meaning of this..!?" Now, 'who' will be...rather tricky given they've yet to have names, so best make sure no one's listening but...

Well, that's hardly the important thing to focus on. It's probably best to focus on getting the octopus off.

[kingsroads]

Strange makes a really unpleasant yakking noise as Gongenzaka's tentacles tangle around him: one of those things got him by the throat. He doesn't know who the octopus is, just that they're now both tangled up and Strange doesn't like this one bit.

"Let go of me!" Strange complains, as he tries to fly away from the octopus. Considering that they're an entangled mess, this mostly means that Gongenzaka gets a wing to the face. Without really thinking about it, he delivers a swift peck to one of the tentacles near his wings. He's operating on instinct right now and that instinct is get the hell out of here.

[betheman]

Interestingly, that really doesn't help. At all. With a screaming yelp, most of the tentacles- including, weirdly, the one that's been near pecked in half Thanks Strange- simply tighten their individual grip. Which fortunately doesn't actually constrict anything- it just feels really weird, like having a bunch of odd cups pulling at each spot.

In any case, Gongenzaka is quite panicked. "NAUH-!! ATTACKING IS CERTAINLY NOT MAKING IT ANY EASIER TO DO JUST THAT, ST...SIR..!!" Well at least that confirms he knows the guy, but-

Well, with some focus at least he's trying to loosen most of the tentacles, but the one that's been pecked is just not having it. Fun fact Strange, most of those things can move on their own. And will.

[kingsroads]

As there's more yelling, Strange is able to piece out that oh, the octopus is Gongenzaka. Strange opens his beak, about to say something else, but then the suckers are tightening on him. Not good. Strange attempts to fly away yet again, flapping his wings as he tries to wriggle out of Gon's grip.

Considering that pecking the tentacle only made it grip more, there's no more pecking. However, he's still got feet, which are flailing in an awkward manner as Strange further tries to remove himself from this situation from a shitty anime that he's found himself in.

[betheman]

Focus- Focus, he can do this... As long as they're on the ground, he can put more attention on actually getting every single stupid muscle in these arms to relax, releasing the tension, the suction, and so on until various tentacles are coming off.

Erm, speaking of tentacles coming off, the pecked one almost does- he has to be quite careful with it, and if octopuses can grimace, he's doing it. "Aaaauuhhh... it would appear you have done...quite some damage, though it is no doubt somewhat deserved..." he adds, deflating.

He did, after all, presumably almost half strangle the guy. And that sucks. "Just what has you travelling in such a manner as it is..!?" he questions, gingerly trying to keep the damage to the one tentacle from growing worse.

Day 80

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya happens to be a bird that's still roughly in the same size range as Strange. That would make full body collision bad enough, let alone a full body collision in the air.

Which is probably how this occurs, while Syrlya is trying to get used to flying and Strange is frantically searching and there's a wrong turn taken and suddenly Syrlya's whole orientation is thrown off and he's flapping his wings wildly to try and get ahold of himself while plummeting.

At least they're not that high off the ground.

[kingsroads]

Thunk, bird slams into bird in the middle of the air.

Strange is also flapping his wings wildly while trying not to fall. He isn't able to catch an air current and start flying again, but he does an awkward little tuck and roll thing as he hits the ground. It mitigates some of the damage, but he can feel from the impact he's going to be a bruised birdy later this evening.

Hopping back to his feet, Strange looks over at Syrlya. And without even asking if he's okay or apologizing for hitting him in the first place, Strange asks, "Have you seen a skink around here?"

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya hits the ground, his wings flapping wildly before he rolls over and rights himself. His feathers are puffed out as he sways to his feet and turns to Strange, as incredulous as a bird can be.

"Th--excuse you!" He tucks his wings in close, tone full of irritation. Then he pauses. "No. What happened to the skink?"

[kingsroads]

Oh, this is Syrlya! Well that's good, maybe Syrlya can help. Or, maybe Syrlya can yell at him. Strange isn't entirely sure how this conversation will go but honestly? He needs all the help he can get.

Strange bounces from foot to foot with nervous energy. "What happened is I can't find him," he admits, lowering his voice slightly. And man, is Strange worried about this. "He was in the healing tent, but he's not there now and I don't know where he is."

[chronosynthesis]

"Oh, wonderful." He doesn't even sound disbelieving even though his expression gets as shocked as a bird can get. Who thought bringing him was a good idea anyway?

"Did they say what happened to him? If he was recovered enough to run off on his own? Or..." He waves a wing vaguely. "They were shocked we were taking the branding so poorly."

80

[periphrasing]

Well, on the bright side of things: This is just the person Peridot was looking for!

On the not so bright side, this is not how she intended to go about locating him. The raccoon ducks at the last second and flattens her body against the pave-stones, and the raven goes zooming just past her and hits the pavement instead.

"Strange!?" Peridot yelps without thinking, and has to immediately course correct: "What I mean is-- Strange, to see a bird so terrible at flying!" Grumbling and mentally slapping herself on the wrist for almost blowing her cover, she hurries over on all fours and pokes a paw at the bird. "Yeesh. Are you okay?"

[kingsroads]

Strange is just going to lay on the pavement for a moment. Because ouch. Is he going to have a bird concussion? Because he's honestly a bit worried about bird concussions. That one really hurt. He's just...not going to get up for the moment.

But then Peridot comes over and pokes him and okay, Strange has to at least acknowledge her. So he rolls over and gives Peridot this big ol'slightly panicked look that plainly says 'I am a few decisions away from running myself ragged and would like some sympathy.' Which normally, Strange would try and pull himself together a bit more. But this is Peridot. They got drunk and yelled at Creation together, he feels more comfortable being a wreck around her.

"No," he grumbles. He's not even trying to hide the fact that he feels completely awful about losing Ignatius. "I had one job and I've already messed it up." He's just going to chill on the pavement for a moment.

[periphrasing]

Already messed it up? Strange was in charge of watching Ignatius, so that means--

Peridot swears under her breath, picks the raven up in her little raccoon paws, and wobbles away from the crash site to find somewhere that they are less likely to be overheard in. She finds a shady tree to sit under and plops the bird down in front of her, and crouches on all four to look him directly in the eyes.

"It's Ignatius, isn't it. Is he still hospitalized?"

[kingsroads]

Strange doesn't really put up a fight as Peridot picks him up and carries him away from where he ate pavement. He makes a little cooing noise that he didn't know he could make, but that's about it. When she plops him down in front of her, Strange gets to his feet and awkwardly starts shaking out his wings, making certain nothing's broken.

Her question gives him pause as that panicked look spreads back on his face. Strange shakes his head. "He's missing. I tried to scry for him once or twice, but it didn't tell me anything." And he looks over at Peridot with a worried expression. "I should have found a way to stay in the healing temple! If I was there, this might not have happened."

[periphrasing]

Peridot can only gape at him while he explains, and by the time he's done, she's just pressing at her eyes with her forepaws, ears flattened anxiously.

"Okay. Okay! This is bad! Just-- Walk me through exactly what happened. Maybe I can try to help you search," she says, making a serious effort to keep calm.

OPs choice, timeline wise

[worldlyafflictions]

It was hard to miss the commotion that'd happened during the anointment or who was likely involved, and Shima has been looking for an opportunity since then to find that raven and catch up a little on what all happened there. Strange is at least not too difficult to identify, whether that's from panicked nerves if Shima manages to catch him early on or his usual disproportionate self-assuredness (if he's feeling better enough for that after securing Ignatius), Shima just hopes he hasn't caught him at a bad time.

"Ooi, ya came in with the new batch recently, didn't ya? Me too!"

Shima tilts his head to show the fresh brand on his ear. He kind of doesn't expect Strange to remember who he is despite repeated exposure, even if he weren't a tanuki at the moment...

[kingsroads]

It's so much easier to remember who someone is when they're human and not when they're fluffy with paws. Even as a bird, Strange somehow manages to give off the impression of 'oh fuck, I know this guy, what's his name again.' Still, he's got plenty of experience bullshitting his way through situations, so that's getting put to use. Since he can't really smile (no lips), Strange makes a happy little chirping noise of acknowledgement.

Thankfully for Shima, this is a bit after Strange secured Ignatius and he's backed off of his panic attack. And he hasn't caught him at a bad time at all. Strange had been scouring the city, trying to find good, relatively secluded places so he could do some creepy scrying in peace. He doesn't mind interrupting that for conversation. Strange turns around a little and shows Shima his wing. The brand is placed a bit higher up, on whatever the birdy equivalent of the upper arm would be.

"I am. I've only arrived a few days ago. They've called me Zophi," he explains. "What about you?"

[worldlyafflictions]

"They tell me it's Rachi." He'll pat the ground once and leave a pink paw print in the dirt in case Strange needs any help identifying him.

Since Strange was already on the search for secluded places, it's convenient that Shima's also scouting for hiding spots. He nods to him to follow before he trots off in a seemingly random direction in the gardens. Taking to the air is certainly a good way to canvas for quiet spots but there's plenty of things to hide under too, so he's gonna point them toward and older art installation that people have lost interest in but hasn't been dismantled yet to poke under for a bit of cover.

"Ya seem much calmer, things worked out with your friend?"

[kingsroads]

The voice is familiar but the pink helps give it away. Oh. This is Shima. Well, that's good. He thinks Shima's alright, if a little annoying. He doesn't really have a reason not to chat with Shima so Strange follows him, flying over towards the art installation.

"They have," Strange admits. With hindsight, he realizes that his behavior when Ignatius was missing was...not ideal. But in Strange's defense, Igs had gone from 'almost dying' to 'missing in action' just in the span of twelve or so hours, that's a perfectly valid reason to freak out. "I'll admit, it was touch and go for a bit, but things should be back to normal."

He hopes.

[worldlyafflictions]

At the very least even if he's annoying, Shima's mostly relaxed and friendly toward Strange, when he isn't complaining about something.

"Haha, well normal seems ta be stretching it, but I get what ya mean. Ya really did get a chance ta talk ta him after all, huh? You two getting along?"

He crawls into the piece, the inside of it hollow and spacious enough for a few animals their size to hang out comfortably though it clearly isn't meant to be viewed from the inside. Light filters in through the material it's made of, showing the seams that can't be seen from outside.

day 80, im sorry

[mirrortide]

It's unfortunate that he's hurtling right towards Lapis' face. That's where there's jaws and teeth. Which are promptly opened, so that if he doesn't manage to deviate from his course, he'll end up right inside Lapis' awful bear mouth.

Thankfully, should that happen, she wont cronch his little birdy bones, but she probably won't let him go right away either! She's awful. She also isn't too fond of him, either.

[kingsroads]

This is slobbery and awful and Strange hates this. Thankfully, he has a beak and talons. Strange digs his talons right into whatever part of mouth he can get, as he aims a peck as hard as he can muster right on the back of Lapis's nastyass bear tongue.

He's kind of hoping she bleeds.

[mirrortide]

It's awful? She'll probably bleed, but it's not the worst thing she's experienced, and too bad for him that Lapis has an unfortunately high pain tolerance as it is.

So she just. Aggressively starts shaking her head, rattling him too and fro until she just lets go mid swing. Have fun flying covered in bear slobber and blood!

What a way to find out that blood tastes awful.

[kingsroads]

Strange just continues to peck and dig his talons in and continue to be an annoyance until Lapis lets go of him. As he tumbles out of her mouth, he catches a breeze and tries to fly up to the nearest, tallest, awful shitheel of a bear can't reach me, perch he can find.

"You aren't supposed to eat other animals." 'You idiot' isn't outright said, but it's heavily implied.