⇨ EDEN PT. 3

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: End of Day 88, on to Day 89
Where: Eden
What: The carnival breaks into two groups, as one entertains the Architect Samyaza at her festival, and the other assaults the Cathedral through a secret passageway with the intent of claiming the Silver Mirror and liberating those imprisoned.
Warnings: Ritual sacrifices.

IN GOD'S HANDS↴ Only those left in Eden and remaining undetected will be able to come to Samyaza's festival, which is an increasingly small group. It's also a dangerous proposition - there's no way to know what Samyaza has in store for her visitors, only that she apparently wants to interact with them before allowing the other Architects to act. It could work as an excellent distraction, drawing the eyes of the Architects towards the festival instead of towards the Cathedral while the attempt to claim the Mirror is taking place. For those that arrive in Samyaza's gardens, they are beautiful and well prepared, and music of otherworldly perfection flows through them. Tables are arranged with amazing works of art as their centerpieces, while the trees themselves are made into dazzling displays of color with an effect that seems to turn their leaves into pure light. Samyaza will be presiding, a hare that looks like she's made of something ephemeral, like wind of pure colour. She invites you in kindly, saying that before she speaks, she will honour you with a song... ► THE SET UP: For the first hour or so, the festival will be nothing but celebration. There are other Honorables there, but not as many as usual - the main event are you and the other new arrivals. After the hour mark, Samyaza will perform her song. Until then, threads can be made focusing on the pre-song mingling and planning. Will you listen when she sings? ► THE TWIST: There will be more happening at the festival than Samyaza plans. While she is comfortable waiting to act, other Architects are less patient. ON HOLY GROUND↴ With carnival members (and Ignatius) in enemy hands, there's no more time for hestitation. Based on the information given to her by various carnies, the Ringmaster will meet with the Furies and declare her intent to attack the Cathedral's underground during Samyaza's festival on the evening of Day 88. The Furies will agree, saying that those they have on the inside will use their influence to ensure there are as few Architects and Scholars are blocking their way as possible, but they must all still expect a fight. Furies from the base in the barrens will be coming along with this raid group, using what information they have to speed transit through the underground tunnels. They only ask two things - that after the Mirror is collected, it be used to save the lives of Hasma and the other captured Furies, before being used to repair the mind of the Serpent herself. ► THE SET UP: The Ringmaster will lead the way into the secret ruins that Childermass and the other found - the main difference is that she will smash right through the cracked wall defending the depths of the Cathedral, clearing the path entirely with her now serpentine body. Her plan is this - to draw the attention of the Architects to the surface by taking on the appearance if the Serpent, while carnival members and assisting Furies search the tunnels below to find the Mirror and the captives. ► THE TWIST: The people captured by the Twelve and imprisoned in the garden (AKA characters on the TDM) will be found, but the carnival members won't be. At least, not in the same place as the other captives. A megathread will go up for the group that goes to capture the Mirror, but you are free to NPC and thread confrontations will Scholars that are protecting the underground prison and the chambers where the Twelve held their meetings. Please report any Scholars that are killed or seriously harmed to the mods. Lambert will be leading the part of the group heading towards the Mirror, while Sans will head the group searching the tunnels for captives. Now is the time to let loose and use all your powers. It's probably best to keep your disguise to catch people off guard, but it is no longer necessary. New characters will be directed to post here once accepted.

Comments

[soft_focus]

Reira does not merely go to listen to Samyaza- she goes to the partt and waits eagerly for it. She has not been ignorant to absolutely everything around her- being empathetic to anyone in range means she has more than caught the growing panic in other carnival members, the anxiety and unease from other honorables.

But Reira wants badly for Samyaza to have good intentions, and what Reira wants she defends desperately. So despite the unease from her fellows she greets the party with nothing but excitement, grins, and even adoration.

Samyaza is the one who gave her a name after all, a name from her heart and soul according to others, a name that can therefore only mean something good and dear. To see that the hare so immediately reflects two of the four affinities in her heart on top of that only endears Reira to her presence and voice more; and she comes as close to the stage and Samyaza herself as she can possibly be allowed. It feels fated, she thinks- that she be granted a form overseen by the hare.

She opens her heart and ears to the song and to the Hare in such a way that only the most trusted would be allowed, and she listens.

[npcarnival]

The first part is the same to all who listen: once they've opened their heart to the song, they'll begin to feel a will within them, a shapeless intent that still comes across like words. It's almost like they're the lyrics of the song, even though they know that they don't understand what Samyaza is singing on a more literal level.

You are no longer safe in Eden, she says. I have heard of your need for aid.

Not 100% sure how Samyaza chatter is meant to work lmk if I gotta edit stufd

[soft_focus]

Well of course we aren't.

Is what she casually thinks, feels, and keeps herself from speaking. It feels all too obvious that they aren't safe. Most of them got scared or 'found out', and in that moment fled...

Or, sort of fled. We'll definitely leave Eden soon, she thinks. But...not before helping them, she is sure. And she wonders, muttering in tune aloud-

"....Are you...helping..?" Are you helping the Furies and the Others?

The characters don't really know how it works, either, lol.

[npcarnival]

I need you to come with me.

The message seems to react to Reira's thoughts, messages delivered by intent.

My companions will not wait much longer to attack. I have bought enough time to steal you away, but not much more.

FAIR, LAUGHS

[soft_focus]

Reira's reaction is one of immediate wonder- elation, relief, and a multitude of feelings that bubble into a beaming smile on her face...already nodding. And why, of course! She knew she had to be nice. She just needs to know...

Can...Do fly with you now?

"...How..?" How are they being stolen away?? She hopes it involves flying at least.

[npcarnival]

Gather the others of your kind, and then slip away to find the others.

For the briefest moment, Samyaza's eyes meet Reira's.

I'll cover your tracks.

[soft_focus]

Hmmm. HmmmMMMmm. Bit of an issue with that.

Most are gone. They're quite...out of there already, in that sense. As for who few are still around....

She smiles.

...I know someone who can get them all right now. From Everywhere...

She definitely knows. She made a code and everything, and nods to herself with the thought.

She'll get Strange. ...After that...we just leave for where the others are? No looking back?

[npcarnival]

Those that left will be safe with the Furies - but if they haven't come to my gathering, it may be too late, the song says. Now it is you that needs to escape.

Reira will begin to get a sense of a path behind a waterfall nearby that could lead them away - the song communicates it with every note. That's the way to go.

[scientificist]

"What are you saying?" asks Herbert as quietly as he can manage, crouching down by Reira. She's just...standing there, a tiny bat mumbling to itself and baring its little bat fangs and bobbing up and down. This is suspicious.

and now it's bear time I guess

[soft_focus]

Reira's answer was a big smile and a moment to turn to Herbert to say 'Follow me'.

And then it wasn't.

Because then the shadows came.

[scientificist]

"What?" hisses Herbert, initially assuming this is still part of the performance. And then Samyaza stops singing.