lostcarnival | ⇨ EDEN

Entry tags:

⇨ 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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Once Strange is free from Gon, he takes a few deep breaths before looking over at the other octopus...and his damaged tentacle. Whoops. His bad.

"The healers should be able to patch that up," he chimes in. Strange is looking pretty guilty, though. He didn't think it was that bad—though he's only had a day and a half to be a bird, he doesn't know his own birdy strength. "Just don't tell them that I caused it."

Because he's already in deep shit with the healing tent, let's try not to be further in deep shit. As for Gon's question...how best to phrase it in a way where anybody eavesdropping might not be suspicious. "There's someone close—" Oh wait, they're supposed to have just arrived, change that. "There's someone I need to find."

"Auh, healers?" He supposes there had to be some here, but- "....you are already on their bad side, then..." he mutters, narrowing his eyes. The suspicion quickly fades when Strange carries on- and listening as the other corrects himself, finds it well within his power to offer some help.

After all, who's to say energy manipulation can't cover most of the spells he's learning. He's fine. "Searching for someone, you say?" Gongenzaka repeats, sounding fairly optimistic. "Perhaps I, th- ...Kgnhm..." he coughs, carrying on. "Perhaps I could be of some assistance..? If they have...what you would consider a unique enough spirit, I could track them down..."

Though it's far easier if he knows who he's searching for...

"I think their spirit would be fairly unique," Strange admits. What with being pretty much the only True Fae here and all that. Though he's got no idea how much whatever spell the Ringmaster cast on them would muddle Ignatius's inherent fae-ness...whatever. There's no harm in trying.

"He arrived with the rest of us new arrivals, so he doesn't have a name yet," Strange explains, carefully choosing his words. "He's the skink."

Does that help? Maybe? Strange doesn't know.

"Hmm! That may help... ...unfortunately, I, t...I doubt," he coughs, grimacing best he can, "...that 'animal' factors in quite as well...perhaps his ability, if we knew, but..." Ah. Well, he shakes that off, and pauses, closing his eyes.

"One single moment...I... ...Shall focus," he continues, apparently having some issues with this whole speaking differently deal. He's doing his best though!

And then Strange waits. And waits. He's been waiting for a good thirty seconds, doing a little awkward 'hop back and forth on your feet' sort of nervous raven dance before he asks Gon.

"Have you found anything yet?"

Patience is a virtue that Strange doesn't have.

Congrats, you're being flicked with a tentacle.

"It is not an 'on or off' matter, sir," he grumbles lowly. "I- am peering over the spirits of everyone within this land, as far as I can reach. Feeling their energies, and what makes them unique."

And with quite the frown... "....hmn."

That's not a good sound.

"....For the most part....I believe everyone from 'our arrival' is here, somewhere, but..."

That's a big but.

Almost instantly, Strange starts to work himself back up into a panic attack. He doesn't know what Gon actually found, but his reluctance to say things and Gon drawing out the matter isn't a good sign.

"Well go on!" he snaps. "Actually tell me the bad news."

He's going to swipe you again. It's not much at his size, but he will swipe you-

In fact, while looking Strange dead in the eye, the bird might feel something poking at His soul. It's a bit of a message he could say- or at least the image of Gongenzaka proper absolutely scowling. There's no words, but the meaning is there.

TRY to calm down, before you get EVERYONE here caught, Strange-

It's banished as quickly as it comes- and Gongenzaka The Octopus is speaking again.

"Everyone except for one is accounted for. Either they have been taken elsewhere, or they have cloaked themselves somehow. I, t... ...I cannot say for certain."

Strange has zero to no experience with soul contact. So, like an idiot, he looks around, expecting someone else to be there. His attention is turned right back to Gongenzaka when he starts talking...aaaaand great. This is not what he wanted to hear.

Strange almost instantly looks a little jittery and a little nervous. Either option is possible: Ignatius might have his Heart removed, but Strange thinks he can still do a little magic. Or hell, maybe one of the animals here knows a cloaking spell? What matters is that he still doesn't have any leads and he has no idea what to do next.

"Wonderful!" Strange grumbles, in a tone of voice that implies this isn't wonderful at all, this is close to panic. "What the hell am I supposed to do now?!"

"You calm yourself, for starters," he insists, doing his best to impose a bit of that idea across some soul connection. It's tricky- being this close DOES make it much easier to maintain that kind of broadcast alongside actual speech, but he has to drop it just as fast.

"Panic begets only irrational action, and chaos- in order to recover what must be recovered, one must be calm- able to plan, and prepare, and then act," he insists, voice low and quiet. "Or do you feel that in all situations where others have gone missing, that rushing about has solved anything in due time?"

"This is different than other situations," Strange hisses, trying to keep his voice low. After all, they are in a public place and who knows just who's eavesdropping.

"The other times people went missing, they weren't under my care. He is my responsibility so of course I'm going to find him as quickly as I can."

It's an all out hiss contest now- "And that makes it 'fine', then? No. Your actions right now have already resulted in my injury, and the likely attentions of half of Eden- Act Calm. Plan for your search to be quiet, careful, and precise- that will be far more effective!" he adds, voice little more than a whisper.

...And, he adds.

"...I, t.. ...I can keep searching at intervals. ...And contact you, as I did earlier," like, two minutes earlier, "If something comes forward...alright?"

You're going to have to spell this out because Strange just gives Gongenzaka a look that's pure 'I don't know what you're smoking.' Contact him earlier? What exactly is he talking about?

"This is our first time talking here," Strange points out, like it's the most obvious thing in the world. "But I would appreciate it if you continue searching." An awkward pause before Strange realizes he needs to add in, "Thank you. And I'm sorry about the arm business."

He can honestly say he didn't know ravens could peck that hard or octopuses were that breakable to begin with.

He'll spell it out by reaching out with the soul magic again then- before that bird can fly off, he'd hope.

Rather than responding to him with words, he uses that connection; a sensation of appreciation for the apology- the feeling of dedication, and honor, with the brief image of a dog sniffing the ground in the way they would for a searching party.

And only after letting that sink in does he break the contact and speak. "...It is quite alright, I, t... I am certain that there is somewhere to have it looked over... ...you do understand what I meant by contact now, I should hope?" he adds more quietly, frowning somewhat.

He really hopes he doesn't have to say, out loud, that he is poking everyone's souls like a radio. It's weird.

What the hell. Strange finally realizes what Gon's doing and what he means by contacting him. And he's got mixed feelings about all that!

"Don't do that," he grumbles, giving Gon a little apprehensive look. His feathers are literally ruffled, mostly because he's got no idea if that thing is one way or not. Strange isn't a private person, but the idea of someone reaching into him, contacting him like that, and possibly seeing who knows what isn't comforting in the slightest.

"At least, don't do that unless you have to."

"Considering it limits how I, ...How I can speak, and how the other can reply for that matter, it is specifically for emergencies and discretion," he curtly replies. He also seems quite unaffected by Strange's upset.

Possibly because he has at least once heard about Mirrors being a Risk, or something. Anyway.

"Regardless- If I have to, you shall know," he adds. One has to admit- it's difficult to 'overhear' a soul talk.

"Good," Strange responds, apparently mollified by the fact that Gongenzaka's bizarre soul reading is only for emergencies. He still doesn't like it, but at least with this, he'll find a way to live with it.

"Now if you'll excuse me, I've a skink to find."

The octopus gives a curt nod. "Aah, best of fortune to you then. I- ...I myself...must find for myself some medical aid..."

To the healer's tent with him....

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

⇨ EDEN

DAY 80...

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

naturally he gets to fail if he tries now but H e y

gon can teach him how to chill tf out instead

`have u heard about Meditation`

no subject

'ones missing' :'D

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject