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

Well. Strange just had an illuminating conversation with Ignatius. And he told Childermass before coming here that he'd keep him up to date on everything, and so Strange shall do just that. His mood's also calmed down slightly from the utter panic attack that it was for all of the previous day. Granted, he's still nervous and tense because most of the information he's gotten has been shades of 'terrible', but Strange is at least a more capable bird now than before.

He's been flying around Eden (because flying is awesome, and Strange loves it) before he spots Childermass. Strange catches a gust of wind down towards where the dog is doing his artwork and executes a solid three point landing right on Childermass's head.

And then, because it's his turn to be an asshole bird, he lightly nips Childermass on the ear. "I've found something of use." But Strange is briefly distracted as he looks at the wall. "Though hmm! That's new!"

Being on the other end of the asshole bird spectrum is new and, unsurprisingly, unwelcome. Childermass now as a raven on his head and it takes every ounce of willpower to tamp down on the urge to shake Strange off or even take a snap at him. Considering how long his legs are in this form, he figures he could snag a big bird like that out of the air before it could get too far.

But that isn't happening. At least, that isn't happening yet, but we'll see. He does, however, wrinkle his nose and pull a paw down along the wall. It's currently a mural of dogs racing through snow, somewhat stylized by the use of shadows and, with a motion, he has every single drawing turn to stare at Strange. Looks like someone's gotten the hang of this really fast.

"Well? What is it? I'm not a perch, you know."

Yes, yes, the wall is interesting, but what was that about finding something?

Right, that's rather creepy the way the shadow dogs look at him like that. He tilts his head a bit as if to get a better look at the shadow dogs before going back to the matter at hand. And sorry buddy, Strange continues to use Childermass as a perch. This time, he leans in slightly towards the dog's ears and whispers some gossip.

"There's a magical cavern somewhere where they take either prisoners or people of interest. I don't know where it is because apparently, someone casts a sleeping spell on you before you enter. The leaders were there and they were talking about the Mirror."

No comment about how Strange got that information. He'll tell Childermass if asked, but the whole Ignatius situation is another potential can of worms.

That may be a bad topic to be overheard discussing but pausing to listen only makes it that much more obvious that "Pravu" is being distracted. He'll give a snort and put the dogs back to looking the way they were before, then begins on a new one, very casually.

"What did they say about it?" He asks as he draws out more shadowy lines, dropping his own voice to match Strange's own whisper.

It definitely is a bad topic to be overheard discussing. But Strange can't really think of any other way to actually bring the matter up without it being super suspicious. So, this slightly suspicious way of doing things it is.

"I don't know," Strange admits. "The person who told me about this was our skink friend. When I pressed, I think he tried to convince me to go for the Mirror myself. I turned him down, he changed the conversation." It's said in a very matter of fact tone. Strange isn't trying to take any credit or boost himself up for actually thinking things over and not letting himself be convinced by Ignatius, he's just telling it like it is.

"I wonder if he would change his tune if we decided to eat him again," Childermass mutters. Of course it would be 'our skink friend'. He knows damn well who that is. "What of the cave? Where was it? Or did he leave that part out, too?"

"He left it out. I've got a feeling he won't tell us the specifics, not unless we offer something in return." And Strange's tone of voice plainly states that he thinks it's a bad idea. Jonathan Strange: walking proof as to why you think things over before making bargains with the fae.

Strange shifts slightly, moving so that he's a bit away from Childermass's ear. Now that he's gotten the important information out of the way, he think it's safer to just talk in circles around everything else. Besides, this way he can hang out more on Childermass's back, as Strange burrows into his fur slightly like he's using Childermass as a pillow.

"He's desperate."

"Of course he is," Childermass says with a snort. He resists the urge to shake his head and dislodge Strange. Ravens are a bit large for this, honestly... "But if he's going to be that way, we'll just take a look around ourselves. I've no interest in working with someone that demanding."

"And I've no interest in putting him in a position where he'll be at risk or hurt again," Strange responds. Ignatius is his responsibility and is under the carnival's protection. In Strange's mind, that means they don't put him in dangerous situations or even situations where they don't know what the danger is. Skink almost died once, after all.

"Though, I'm afraid you'll have to take a look around yourself. I...might have overreacted when our friend went missing." He fuckin panicked. "If I'm to do anything, it would seem far too suspicious. Besides, I've someone to monitor."

Thankfully Childermass passed the hell out and didn't even have to deal with Strange freaking out. One headache saved. That does bring them to this new problem, however, that Strange might be someone to be wary of. He wrinkles his nose at how a shadow he's drawing out into a leg lays, moves it, shifting how the entire drawing settles on the wall without much effort.

"Well, I've been meaning to stretch my legs anyhow," he replies. He actually means wings, but you know. "Give me a few days, though. I'm up and about but I don't want to push it."

Iron poisoning sucks, man.

Iron poisoning does indeed suck. And Strange has enough sense to realize that Mr. Faeblooded over here is probably in worse shape than a lot of the carnival. Since Childermass can't really see his head, he makes a little croaking noise of affirmation: a few days works for Strange.

"I wouldn't want you to push yourself. Take as much time as you need."

"Hopefully not too much," Childermass says with a quiet snort. He pushes away from the wall on that note, putting all four paws on the ground and turning away. Just like that, he dismisses every single shadow, the flattened construct of sorts evaporating into thin air and taking the drawings with it.

"That's enough of that..." He's going to wander off, bird on head and all. "Have you been up to anything else or just that?"

Strange continues to hang out on Childermass's head. This is nice. He might be rethinking his previous stance against animal transformations, being a bird is much more fun than being a cat ever was.

"Most of what I've been doing is trying to find him," Strange admits. "But sometimes inspiration strikes. You have your shadow work, I have dancing."

Yep, actual birdy dancing. Strange's tone of voice is a bit incredulous, like he can't believe that's the talent he's picked up. But it is, and he's doing it, and he's not a half bad dancer despite the fact that bird limbs don't really work that way.

Dogs just don't have the range of expressions that Childermass feels the need to use right now, with an answer like that. Dancing. Strange, as a raven, has a talent for dancing?

"No," he doesn't believe it and even stops to look up, which is absolutely useless, seeing how Strange is on his damn head. "That can't be true. You're making that up."

Strange makes a low, chittering sort of noise, like what might pass for the raven equivalent of a laugh or a chuckle. He didn't believe it either, not at first. But after actually giving into the inspiration and the thoughts lingering in the back of his head, Strange has accepted the fact that he's a dancing bird now, this is his life.

"Care for a demonstration?" Strange continues. He doesn't seem offended by the fact that Childermass doesn't believe it, mostly because Strange thinks a dancing bird is dumb as hell as well. And yet, here we are.

Well, Childermass already knows he'll regret saying yes and that he'll also regret saying no. With someone like Strange, there's no real option of just saying nothing at all and carrying on, either. That means that, ultimately, he takes the road of what's most incriminating to bring up again much, much later.

Which is to say, "If you must. I admit I'm curious to see how a raven, of all birds, can dance."

"They dance badly," Strange responds, as he flits off of Childermass's head. He lands a few feet in front of the dog before bending his wings in a pose reminiscent of a waltz. And so, Strange does a weird little bird dance. He's on the ground for the first thirty seconds or so, moving his wings and feet in a bizarre interpretation of the waltz by someone who doesn't have fingers or elbows.

But after that thirty seconds, Strange launches himself into the air and starts a series of aerial acrobatics. They're still all vaguely dance-line in form, but it's obvious that at least for this part, Strange isn't thinking too much about the form or concept of things: he's just inspired by whatever music he's got playing in his head.

The weird bird dance lasts for another minute or so before Strange lands on the ground and takes a bow. His expression is a bit confused, in the 'wow I did not expect myself to do that' sort of way he gets whenever he bullshits a new spell.

And for his part, Childermass doesn't decide to just leave when Strange launches himself into the air. That's right, he'll actually watch, even though it's fairly perplexing from his own point of view. He supposes that can count as dancing but he's hardly an expert on that kind of thing. Then Strange is landing and bowing and all he gets is a dog staring blankly at him. Like, he could probably clap with paws, but why would he?

"That was..." What's a good word? "Interesting."

Not at all a lie.

"You don't have to sugar coat your words," Strange remarks. Birds can't smile but the tone of his voice plainly tells Childermass that Strange would be giving the other magician his ironic little smile if he actually had lips. "It's odd."

There's no way around it: bird dancing is weird by default. Limbs don't bend that way! Still, Strange is taking all of this fairly well, much better than he'd take it if someone criticized his magic or his other talents.

"Maybe only to you and me," Childermass says, shrug as evident in his voice as he can possibly make it without, you know, actually shrugging. "Could be that's how birds are meant to dance in Eden. I wouldn't know, would I? I'm only a dog."

Yes, only a dog, no experience flying whatsoever over here.

"Flying looks a bit like dancing anyway, doesn't it? Just in the air."

No experience flying at all, nope, not for Childermass.

"That is a good way of thinking about it," Strange admits, with a little nod. Flying like dancing? Maybe! He hasn't really thought of it that way before, probably because he hasn't flown before this week. "Though I wouldn't know either. I haven't found myself a partner yet—and don't worry, I won't ask you."

Partly because Childermass is far too big compared to Strange, partly because Childermass is Childermass.

"And why not?" Childermass knows exactly why not but it's an easy place to poke fun at the entire situation. "Don't I look graceful enough for it?"

At which point he streeeeetches out those super long wolfhound legs before him, making a mockery of a low doggy bow of sorts in Strange's direction. Surely a borzoi could dance. The fact that the borzoi is indeed Childermass means he absolutely won't, but whatever.

"Or maybe..." And rather than drawing himself back up, he flops down to lay on the ground. "You're just waiting for a prettier bird to flap along?"

If Childermass is going to give him shit, Strange is going to give him shit in return. He makes a noise in the back of his throat, like the bird equivalent of laughing, before he shakes his head slightly.

"I thought you wouldn't be interested. But since I might be wrong, would you care to dance with me?"

And it's Strange's turn to do a low little raven bow (more like a nod of his head) before he offers Childermass a wing. Yeah, he's pretty certain that Childermass won't take him up on his offer, but you never know.

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."

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.

⇨ EDEN

shadow arts, late day 81

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