⇨ EDEN PT. 2

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 86 - Day 88
Where: Eden
What: The Furies of Eden have been found and have agreed to ally with the carnival to achieve their mutual goals. Meanwhile, tensions in the city only get thicker. How much longer until everyone's cover is blown for good?
Warnings: Increasingly high chances of ritual sacrifices.

FRUIT OF KNOWLEDGE↴ Progresses has been made, but obstacles are approaching. As various characters fall under suspicion for their unusual natures the threat of backlash from the community of Honorables and Architects grows imminent. Several carnival members have fled to the Barrens, allying with the Furies of Eden, a rebel group bent on defying Lilith and taking Eden for themselves. Meanwhile, those still in the city are left with the aftermath. Information is still being cycled between the two groups, via various super powers and delivery methods. Sans has been freed from the control of his Architect and has left to find the rebels, but his delivery service is still being used to disperse information. You can assume to have been told about anything on this spreadsheet that's been addressed to the entire mailing list. ► TENSIONS GROW: As the days go on, the attitude of long term residents have only grown more suspicious and hostile. Several members of the new arrivals have gone missing, and it seems as if the locals are starting to suspect these absences are intentional rather than accidental. Some of the most ornery of them will say things that suggest that they think they've run off to join the heretics, but they will be hushed by those near them. However, no immediately violence is being imposed on people from the carnival's entry group. Not that you've seen, anyway. ► SAMYAZA'S INVITATION: Displeased by the atmosphere being created by all this distrust, Samyaza the Hare, Architect of Festivities and Music, has invited all of the remaining new arrivals to an exclusive garden party of hers. Everyone who is still in the city will be invited to attend, along with some choice members of the native population. The actual party will be happening on Day 88. Attendance is strongly recommended by the other Honorables. The nature of this even will depend on what occurs before it, and will be covered in more detail later in the log. The invitations go out on Day 86. ► HERESY UNVEILED: On the evening of Day 86, the city of Eden is alight with controversy - a band of Furies have been found! Hasma of Araqiel (the horse featured in Missing posters last week) has been caught within city borders, along with two Honorables of Eden who had been secretly colluding with her. The three condemned Furies have been bound and chained in cages in a public areas of the city, awaiting trial and punishment. It's a similar tone to criminals being locked in stockades for the civilians to mock, though the initial city mood seems more uncomfortable and nervous than angry. There is a horse, squirrel, and border collie currently imprisoned. ► RINGMASTER'S RETURN: On Day 87, the Ringmaster will be returning from her investigation. Specifically, she'll be arriving at the doorstep of the Furies in the Barrens, and will be entering to visit her associates within. Apparently, she's been spending all this time searching the barrens for entrances into the core of Eden, as well as trying to communicate with the Serpent. Neither have yielded major successes, however. Carnival members at the Furies base can ask interact with her through investigations.

Comments

[kingsroads]

1 & 2: gotcha for both!

After a solid few hours of scrying, Strange is going to seek out Ignatius. He'll explain that some of the carnival members went out to go explore the Barrens: a few of them haven't returned. The way Strange sees it, there are two options they can take. Option A: stay in the woods, where Ignatius was for the past few days, and continue to hide out there. Option B: make their way to the Barrens and hope that the missing carnival members actually found the rebel base and weren't eaten by a giant snake.

There are pros and cons for each choice which he'll happily detail should Ignatius ask. Strange is obviously torn between the two choices which is why he's asking for Ignatius's input. Does Ignatius have a preference?

[npcarnival]

Ignatius would prefer going to the barrens, mostly because he's bored of hiding in the forest and doesn't suspect it will last forever.

[kingsroads]

Then, assuming Ignatius is okay with the timing, on the evening of day 86, Strange and Igs are going to make a break for the barrens.

Strange is going to insist that he fly while carrying Ignatius because that way they'll cover more ground faster. He has no fucking clue where he's going, but he's keeping his Third Eye up all the time to try and spot any signs of magic (since he knows something was blocking his scrying earlier). Considering that his Third Eye also involves part of Strange being set on fire, this also means he's obvious as shit in the night sky but them's the breaks.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius is like, why, I can fly without you? You know, the whole turning into smoke thing?

[kingsroads]

Well yes but Strange can't be smoke for long distances himself so he thought it was the same with Ignatius.

Strange seems intensely embarrassed about all of this.

[npcarnival]

That's because you're not a fae, he says. At any rate, he will follow alongside in smoke form unless Strange pesters him into being carried.

[kingsroads]

Following along works for Strange! But the carrying option is there if like, Iggy rolls a two or something like that.

Off to the dice plurk barrens! How does the journey go?

[npcarnival]

They don't find anything immediately, though there are some spots that seem a bit more magical than others. There are big tunnel holes all over the place, and that's mostly where the magic seems to thicken, but only a little. There are also multiple entrances, to this effect.

It seems like it has otherwise gone fine until the two of them land for whatever reason, perhaps to investigate one of the holes.

It's at this point that they'll heal a voice that is weirdly familiar - to Strange, it's the voice of Arabella. To Ignatius, it's someone else. The exact words will vary depending on the character whose voice it is, but either way, something about it will make you compelled to listen. They are asking for your attention.

(They rolled a 20 on this, so keep that in mind.)

[kingsroads]

On the one hand, he's had to deal with illusion-Arabella a lot during his stay in the carnival. On the other hand, Strange has a one-track mind that's always planted towards his wife.

"Stay put," he'll tell Ignatius. "There's something here."

Veeeery tentatively, he walks over towards where he thinks Arabella's voice is coming from, muttering a spell-breaking incantation under his breath as he does so. He doesn't exactly know what magic (if anything) he's breaking so who knows if the spell-breaking actually works. But he's just going to be a little cautious while he goes right up to investigate the thing.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius says that he hears something too, and will trail after Strange regardless of what he says, despite the fact that he sounds equally suspicious. Fae are very accustomed to their own bullshit, after all.

They'll find a little mockingbird, sitting on a rock. They're the one that's speaking, yet at the same time... something supernatural makes the two of them feel as if those words hold the same weight as the mystery person they have the voice of.

"Please, don't go any further," they say.

[kingsroads]

Strange doesn't go any further. He's still a bit on fire because of his Third Eye but fuck it, people already know they're missing and they're already suspicious as heck. This bird probably saw Ignatius floating around as smoke as well.

He's supposed to be taking responsibility so he's the one taking charge here, staring at the mockingbird partly to look at the magic, partly as an intimidation attempt.

"Why shouldn't we?"

[npcarnival]

"Because," they begin.

And then a giant fucking vulture appears out of nowhere and sticks its talons into both of them, its claws seeming to generate a paralyzing electric charge. So, basically, getting tasered by a giant bird.

[kingsroads]

He did not see that coming. Strange remains conscious as the electricity courses through his body, but it certainly did a number on him.

Strange is pretty pissed off at this entire series of events, so the flames of his Third Eye are burning brighter and stronger than before. He doesn't say anything to the birds: he just tries to move closer towards Ignatius (despite the vulture's talons) while murmuring a spell under his breath. He can do this, he's a soldier, he's got to keep Ignatius safe.

Normally the fireball would be conjured in his hands. However, birds don't have hands, so it's conjured in a space between his wings before the fireball launches itself in the vulture's direction.

[npcarnival]

The fireball shoots upwards, but mostly just sears the top of the vulture's wing, who screeching in response. Another surge of electricity goes through their talons, trying to put Strange down indefinitely.

This is about the time that Ignatius lights up like superheated metal, his flesh becoming intolerable to the touch. The vulture flaps its wings in shock, tossing the lizard away, where Ignatius lands in the sand, searing the dirt where he stands.

Electricity isn't so different from fire, he thinks. Child's play.

"Uh oh," says the mocking bird, who flies up into the air. Meanwhile, another two birds appear out of nowhere - a hawk and a magpie.

Ignatius throws himself back at the vulture, his entire body serving as a fireball as he beams it right in the chest, knocking it onto its back, feathers burning.

[kingsroads]

The electricity courses through his body again. Thankfully, Ignatius frees himself and knocks the vulture back which knocks Strange back as well. He doesn't move from where he's lying, mostly because he's not entirely sure if he can.

He knows he's about to pass out. So, a quick, last minute change of plans. Strange calls forth a gust of wind. The wind shoots around the dirt, kicking up an impressive cloud of sand and dust. He's trying to maintain this wind for as long as possible, hoping it's enough to provide cover for Ignatius to escape: Strange is pretty certain he's going down, but if he can keep Ignatius safe and Ignatius can get away from these birds that Strange is pretty sure are trying to kill them, that's what matters.

"Run! And that's an order!"

Strange is pretty certain Ignatius wouldn't listen to him in the first place, but maybe this'll impart just how much Strange thinks it's a good idea for Ignatius to get the hell away from these birds.

[npcarnival]

Ignatius is getting ready for another attack when he get a blast of sand in the face, practically enough to bury him at this size. And then Strange ordering him to run? Is this wizard fucking kidding him??

"You cheeky bastard," Ignatius yells back at him, but there's too much going on. The last thing Strange will feel is the freshly revealed hawk swooping down to grab him in its talons.

The rest of the conflict will remain a mystery. At least for now.