lostcarnival | ⇨ EDEN

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⇨ 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

"MHN-!?" Oh.

It takes more than a moment or two to actually realize who he sees- his vision is rather frankly odd. The one visible pupil dilates and widens a few times in fact, before the cephalopod visibly relaxes. "Auhhh...Y-You must forgive me, y...'Iori'," he coughs, making the odd motion with one tentacle. Fortunately his seeming accent flows the slipped 'y' into 'Io' quite well...

That said. "I, th...I..."

...Another cough.

"...It is no matter- naturally, I am certain you would not attempt to sabotage the drying process..!"

"I'm not going to take your stuff." Yuya looks around to make sure they're alone before leaning in closer. He knows exactly what he almost slipped up on. "Are you having a hard time not... uh, doing that?"

It's so hard to be specific, but hopefully Gongenzaka still understands what he means.

"I, t-" And yet another cough, as the octopus starts flooding a rather brilliant and awkward red. "...I know you would not...'Iori'," he mutters, blinking slowly. "...Vision is... ...surprisingly different, however..."

There is a pause, and he continues.

"...I... ... ...I see you best when focusing upon the colour 'orange'..." One Colour at a time SUUUUUUCKS-! As it is.

"....It is important that I- ...That it is managed, after all."

So that's a big fat yes on difficulties.

Orange...? Yeah, Yuya won't even ask.

"Maybe you should, uh, talk less." That sounds terrible but if Gon's speech quirk is this badly ingrained... not that he doesn't have to be careful about names too, but Gon would definitely say his own name way more.

"What are you going to do with all these?" He waves a paw over the seaweed.

You're a fox, Yuuya. What. Colour. Are you.

As it is- as uncomfortably as he appears to curl and shrink on himself, he appears to agree. ...Though he does answer. "...Do you recall the handmade gifts from 'before'?" he asks, careful to leave out any dates and such. "...It is that. I- ...I shall be making those sorts of things," he huffs, nodding.

Though 'nodding' appears more like bobbing, in his case.

"I remember." He never got one, but he never really asked either. Still, that fills in enough for Yuya to follow along.

"I'm supposed to... make teas, or something." He's still figuring out where he's supposed to take that. He's got the inspiration, but it's not quite as intuitive when he's never done it before. "Does having a lot of arms make it easier?"

"Teas..?" That...seems somewhat odd, certainly. "...Do you have any idea perhaps of...how to empower that, or enhance it..?" They each are free to use One Thing. He himself feels safe just using his usual spirit-related nonsense, so that's probably what he's 'Got'. "...Having multiple arms may assist, certainly," he continues, somehow managing a shrug, "But, with many arms, come many tasks to further master, and understand...it is certainly nothing 'easy', but nothing to worry for, either! It is a welcome challenge!"

"Uh... I can make people feel calmer inside a room?" That's it, that's the best he's got. Yuya didn't learn magic for the art of it, he learned it to protect his friends and that's what it's good for. Still, he'll figure out something. Yuya's not one to give up in the face of a struggling imagination.

He leans in closer, lowering his voice to keep the conversation private. "Have you heard anything yet about Lilith? Or... you know."

"Auh...area of effect then..." He ponders, closing his eyes. "...Perhaps something to imbue within the teas..? Or perhaps it could allow others to easily enjoy the tea..."

While he ponders it, he grimaces and stiffens. "...You recall, perhaps, your earlier statement about...my speech?" He doesn't really...trust himself to ask. Let alone appear as anything other than a stuttering mess, right now.

"You might've overheard something." He's not presuming how they're gonna find information. Although that leads to another question. "Have you been staying by yourself this whole time?"

The stuttering is a problem, obviously, but he's not sure how he feels about Gon potentially isolating himself because he's struggling to talk without giving himself away. Maybe they should have talked to the Ringmaster about it before, but it was all kind of rushed.

The answer to both seems to be...No and No?

"Mnh...truthfully, what they seem to mutter about is how odd we are, more than anything...I, t... I..." Cough cough, he'll carry on, "...Frankly, their focus on Lilith within earshot has not been more than to wonder why we did not arrive with her. Beyond this, they as well have kept to themselves... ....I feel there may be a typical adjustment period. A moment to prove our worth, before one can be especially close, yes?"

Yuya briefly folds his ears back. "We don't have a lot of time for that... so we have to prove ourselves quickly, right?"

Now that they're actually here, this seems a lot more daunting with how little they're starting with. They can't spend months, or years here right? But Yuya's not under the impression they'll match anyone who's been doing this for literal decades.

"The Twelve notice people who are really good at creating, and they have to know the most. I wish we could just ask..." This subterfuge isn't his thing.

"Indeed, we do not- though..." He pauses, thinking about where they are a moment before continuing. "...Listen close- many have sensitive hearing, and this is a sensitive matter, after all," he mutters, narrowing his squishy eyes. "One would think proving ourselves is the easiest way-" he continues just as quietly as his request for Yuuya to come near with his ears. "Indeed, for some of us, our experience with particular abilities shall make that easy. But realistically we cannot all do so. I..."

There is a pause, and he grimaces as best he can. "...I have no illusions of such success myself; do not stop working toward it. However, I feel my efforts should perhaps be focused on learning about those who have gotten near. To focus on perhaps being able to ask through that. Understand?"

If they can find a way around the matter of proving themselves artistically, or even a way to sneak about more, this will probably go much easier. But at the moment, the easiest work around seems to just be...well.

Making some friends, if anything. "To prove ourselves is one thing- to come to understand those here, even without that proof- that may be most important."

Of course, that brings him to the...next bit.

Gongenzaka coughs. "I... ...I- I shall attempt to reach out to those in the pools, at some point... ...I feel it may be best to allow the events of our branding to pass somewhat first however," he adds, inflating his mantle briefly as his own mark shines. Those reactions did Not help with rumors after all. "...Perhaps I- ...NNnnh... ...I should resign myself to this 'stutter'..."

Yuya wrinkles his nose with slight offense, but creeps closer to the shore, but he's not wading out into the water to talk. Normally he'd pep Gongenzaka up, and encourage him to give it his all and he'll do fine. But they aren't really here for crafting, so...

"I wasn't going to stop talking to people. But that is really important to them, and it'll be strange if we're not as interested in divine clarity, won't it?" Especially with said rumors. Yuya's gaze flicks to Gon's mark. "Does it still hurt?"

That's fine Yuuya, he can Leave the water, and will. Anyway. "Simply take care not to lose yourself," he warns, actually taking on a prickly texture for a moment. "...no matter how one looks to this... ...where we are now has a rather...Firm set of beliefs," he coughs.

It's the politest way he can think to say 'Cult-like'. It's very cult like Yuuya, they were just marked with brands, ok. "...It hurts less- sleeping within the water has certainly helped," he adds, nodding. "I, th... I have admittedly spend most of the morning gathering materials; it is difficult not to think of 'creating', at the moment." He speaks this point with a raised 'brow'- implying some emphasis on that cult point, perhaps.

"It's from the Flames of Inspiration--uh, that's what they branded us with. I've been feeling the same way, but it's not making me forget myself." That feverence is exactly why Yuya thinks they should play along.

"I think we'll get them to talk more if we take it seriously. Maybe make things together?" With people more their skill level, probably, which Gon and Yuya happen to be.

"Hnnn..." Gongenzaka looks as though he may have some thoughts about that- the theory that they won't get lost in it, or anything.

However the idea of working together with his friend- having an excuse to be with his friend, more like- is far too tempting to pass up. He thus nods.

"Aah, we could! If you intend to fashion teas, perhaps I- t.. Perhaps some assistance with the weaving could be offered," he coughs, muttering something about this stutter issue.

Yuya perks up, rising a little. "Yeah, that'd be great!" If they have talents that mesh together well, that's even better, right? He knows they have a job, but having an excuse to just be with Gongenzaka without having to worry sounds nice.

"How much longer do they have to dry?"

"Hnnn..." He squints at his seagrasses, peering closely. "...Perhaps another half hour or so... ...until then, perhaps we can discuss what teas you intend to work with?" He glances side to side again- though the motion is tricky to catch, with how his body even works- and adds, "....Given which of us as the 'experience', of course?"

He's referring to himself, but any listeners in should hopefully assume Yuuya is the one. Actually...

"...I- ...I have an idea, actually... ...Something we've been doing more regularly," he adds, cocking his head.

Are you up for waking soul chatter?

That would be the other benefit to working with Gongenzaka. Yuya shrugs--or tries to, anyway. "Flowering teas, maybe? But I didn't think much about the type. It'd probably better to make different ones anyway, right?"

But then Gongenzaka recommends another idea entirely, and Yuya tilts his head. "More regularly--oh! Okay, I got it. Go ahead." He nods, and that's about all he can do since it's ac once sided initiation.

"Indeed! So...I- ...I shall listen, while you share ideas for calming teas... ...Flowering teas, those shall certainly be tricky, but..."

But no more questioning that, from his end. Instead he focuses- tentacles sprawling out a bit as he reaches out. A few images of various herbs appear- hopefully Yuuya can recognize some, but these are Gongenzaka's initial tea suggestions!

Yuya recognizes... most of them, he's pretty sure? Yuya drinks tea, he doesn't read all the ingredients.

He mostly looks initially confused, partly for mysterious herbs and partly for figuring out how to communicate that without words.

"They will be, but they're more interesting to look at, right?" Pursuing beauty and divine clarity and all that. "What are, uh--do the sea plants taste like anything?"

"It varies," he answers easily, managing to maintain connection despite the aloud- speech. "Certain kelps will retain the salt water, or freshwater taste, if you are not careful...other plants are 'grassy', one could say...

There is a mental focus on herbal teas- but also splashes of colours. "If you are to make flowers, I- t...I suppose that perhaps, having a 'neutral' flavor plant to help with shapes, could be useful..." Balancing the flavors will be key- but so will making the flower look neat. So they'll need colour.

That does help--all of their practice is paying off. Still, iit's making it quickly clear despite the inspiration Yuya's a little out of his element.

"Yeah, I don't want them all to taste like saltwater..." Or any of them, because saltwater tea sounds awful. "It's hard to guess how it's gonna taste. I don't eat a lot of flowers. The tea leaves overpower most of it, don't they?"

"I, t....Should think that would depend," he replies, sending images of particular tea boxes.

Flowers can be herbal tea sources too! They still have flavors...it all just varies. "Perhaps experimentation would be in order? Assuming of course, you have a particular space to begin..."

The images of various teas and herbs...are spinning a bit, as if showing themselves off...

this poor man, a humble mess,

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