⇨ 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

[betheman]

"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!

[hippocarnival]

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?"

[betheman]

"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.

[hippocarnival]

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?"

[betheman]

"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...

[hippocarnival]

Yuya's familiar with flower teas, but he assumed tea leaves were just a stronger flavor. He doesn't exactly drink rose or lavender much. He squints his eyes as the mental image spins, because that's really distracting.

"I can find space. That's what this is is all for, right? There's lots of stuff in the buildings..." And Gongenzaka is out here in the water. Hm. "Can you even leave the water for very long?"

[betheman]

"Hn! I- ...Can do better than that," he chuckles, taking off to float in the air- it appears he can simply...swim there. His tentacles- one notably a bit wrapped up- simply drift around him. "So long as a full evening of rest is spent within the water, it is fine. Space, material... ...if you say we have space, then we can inspect that soon!" he determines, landing again.

The images have stopped spinning by the way. It's just a feeling of hope and success now.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya jerks up as Gongenzaka proceeds to just straight float in the air. "You can fly?!"

He whines just a little, just a little jealous. Where's his cool superpower to make being an animal easier? He can only carry so much in his mouth!

He bounces side to side. He's ready to go look now, but first. "We can go... but what happened to your, uh, tentacle?"

He expects an honest answer.

[betheman]

"A pecking accident." He may have been crashed into by a panicked raven.

Anyway. "It is not true flight," he adds, waving a bit. "For a demonstration..."

He launches upward, but only makes it so far before he ends up making the motions of someone leaping out of water- landing back 'within' the zone he has.

"It is likely a matter of making things 'easier'. I, th... ...I am not the only one here, who has need of that after all..!" he insists with a nod.

As it is. "...It is recovering quickly, Y-" Cough. "-Iori," he insists. "A benefit to my species..! Even without the arm, it would grow back in entirety within a month!" They don't have a month, but it would grow back.

[hippocarnival]

That's not a reassuring explanation when Gongenzaka has lost an arm, and Yuya's ears fold back as a cold fear washes over him. "You're not going to lose your arm!"

It's been a few days, he's already hurt accident or not. It doesn't fill Yuya with confidence. With him close enough now, Yuya leans over and pushes Gon with his nose. "Grab your sea grass so we can go."

[betheman]

"AUH-" Hurriedly, images of vines come to mind. It's like the vines it's like the vines!! Not his limbs!!

"I-It will be fine!! I assure you, do not fear..! It is...not the same as if you were to lose yours!!" he tries, coughing. Right, well. He is easily nudged in the air, moving decidedly lower the closer to actual water he is. He gets toward the rock to grab his sea-grasses, delicately tapping it to check again before gathering everything.

"Saah, all is in order! Let us go."

[hippocarnival]

They're under a weird animal spell, so he's not going to assume what injuries are going to look like when they turn back. He tries to step back down that fear, but there's still a strong desire for Gongenzaka to be more careful.

He sticks by his side as they walk. Eden, luckily, doesn't take long to maneuver--it's only so big, and basically everywhere is open to cross through. When they pass through the gardens, Yuya occasionally stops to try and pull a flower free, carrying it in his mouth. It's building up to be a messy bouquet between his teeth.

[betheman]

Suffice to say, Gongenzaka notices the flower-picking as they go. Occasionally he actually flashes the image of one to catch Yuuya's eye- that one's good in teas, as is that one, or that one...

Though...

"Yyy...Iofi," he asks, staring. "...Would you perhaps like some assistance with those?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya looks up at Gongenzaka just as he's about to pick another, mouth way too full of flowers.

"... Mmph." Yeah, this is really hard to do without anything else to actually grip with while he walks. If only his fox tail was as dexterous as his fae one.

He tilts his head up, loosening his clenching teeth so Gon can pull them free.

[betheman]

Later, he might actually suggest trying to see if his tail Could be prehensile. They're in magic animal land, where they shouldn't have thumbs after all.

As it is, one tentacle easily coils around the bunch, another going the extra mile to make sure nothing's bleeding its essences all over the other thing. "Hm. Perhaps, you should pass what you pick to me, from here..."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya turns his head to spit out some leaves once Gon takes the flowers. "Okay... that's a good idea."

Gon's got more arms after all, all of them usable while walking. "I think... I probably need fresh tea leaves, right? So they'll wrap around the flower." So they probably need to find an herb garden, too, or just where someone's planted tea plants.

[betheman]

The image flashes to the sea-grasses; and how they don't look dried out, but they're not entirely fresh- certainly not fresh enough to be as damp as fresh picked flowers and leaves.

"Auh, I should think so," he claims along with that however. "Hnn...in terms of forming the shape however, they will need to be flattened, potentially...so that you can weave or sew the leaves into proper form."

[hippocarnival]

Yuya blinks rapidly when the image occurs, having forgotten for a moment that Gongenzaka's still sharing thoughts with him. They've been doing it so much, he's gotten used to the quieter background feelings and begin to tune it out.

"Yeah... so we need fresh ones." Like fresh flowers. He looks up at Gon, and although it's harder to come across on his face there's a sense of contentment. Wherever this urge came from, sitting down to be artsy really doesn't sound bad. "I met one of the Chosen Honorables. Her name's Kerubi, so if we make a really good one I'm going to show her."

[betheman]

"Chosen? ...You mean to say 'Kerubi' is considered more skilled among those here then?" Gongenzaka asks, blinking. He keeps adjusting things as necessary, nodding. "...Hn! I see... ...In that case, we shall have to work to make 'a good one'," he decides. "If you speak of another by name already, then I...kh..." Dammit, he was doing so well. "...Then, I should think you intending to create a friendship..."

Good on you, Yuuya. Good on you.

"Hnn... ...though, this has me wondering, if perhaps each of the Architects has a 'chosen' Honorable...assuming it is such a venerated matter..."

[hippocarnival]

"Eh... I guess? Of course I'm going to user her name." He also figures she'll know what Lilith and the Twelve find exceptional, so he'd rather show her his crafts to get an idea how far he has to go.

It's not like Yuya's ever said no to friends, though. "Yeah. I didn't hear much about it, but Saraqael asks for her help, and she's met Lilith. I mean, properly met them and made stuff they liked." Not just a brief glimpse or greeting, that was his understanding.

"I don't know if every Architect has someone like that, but Honorables that are really special are closer to them."

[betheman]

"Aaauh, because you know them," he reiterates, snorting. As is the case- Yuuya simply does not say no to friends.

All of these names are making him think about what little he knows however, and he sighs. "Hnn... I, t... ...I truly do need to determine who it is that the Architect behind my name was..not to mention, their specialty..." This news about Lilith is a bit surprising however.

"Hmm. So more than simply being brought here, you mean then? How incredible..." The phrasing perhaps, is in case of any other listeners...the feeling conveyed through spirit however, is curiosity, and intrigue. Something about what they heard of Lilith didn't make the idea of her liking stuff very plausible.

He finds himself wondering- "...Hnn...I wonder, if perhaps meeting them in spirit rather than person..."

-and cuts himself off there. "Nhh..." From the shameful mental choke, he's recalled just how likely that would get him in deep fucking shit.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya barely holds back a cringe externally, because being frequently being on the receiving end means he knows exactly why that could go wrong.

Luckily, Gongenzaka picks up on it first. "Yeah, they probably wouldn't appreciate that." To say the least about what Gon could accidentally spill about who he really is. "They don't have a lot of time to just... talk, I don't think. It's better to ask the other Honorables stuff."

[betheman]

"Aaauh. Nor would anyone, I fear," he adds- for indeed, he'd considered it as a method for...well. Anyone at all. Unfortunately just going out and figuratively shaking hands with souls is just a Bad Idea.

"...I, t... ...I shall simply have to work on my speech, then," he mutters, huffing as he holds the various herbs in his tentacles.

[hippocarnival]

"You'll do fine," and Yuya says that partly because he believes it, aand partly because they have to. He remembers the last time they couldn't play along.

He lifts his head, sniffing as he navigates deeper into the garden. Luckily he knows what tea smells like, so if he can just...

"There it is!" He twists and bounces between a couple bushes to follow the scent.

[betheman]

As does he- it went poorly indeed, and is certainly a very, Very strong encouraging factor.

As it is, he swims along after the fox, somehow managing to do so without actually losing the plants. "Hm! Good- we should lay some of these out to flatten soon..."