⇨ EDEN PT. 4 (FINALE)

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 89
Where: Eden
What: The Mirror is taken by the carnival, and several people from the carnival have been taken by Lilith. As Eden's Architects take sides, the battle for Eden's future is set to reach its conclusion.
Warnings: Violence.

INFINITE↴ When the Silver Mirror is taken, the war truly begins. Lilith had seen fit to take her time, gloating over the enemies she perceived as being no challenge to her power - only to sense the moment that the Ringmaster claimed the Silver Mirror and took the skies in challenge. The Ringmaster has taken on her half beast form, black scaled, winged, and horned, and wielding the Silver Mirror as some kind of shield. Only moments ago, she used it to blast a whole clear through the cathedral. Lilith, realizing her mistake, has swept up the darkness created by Bezaliel and begun using it as a weapon against the Ringmaster. She has six silver wings that reflect light like mirrors, as well as strange, geometric horns. Ostensibly, part of the Silver Mirror's magic has been taken into herself, which means that even though the Ringmaster has the Mirror, Lilith still has control over it. She scatters the prisms containing her prisoners across Eden while she counters her foe, drawing on their strength to aid her. Two godlike beings clash in the sky above you. On the ground, a war begins. What do you do? ► FAE VS NEPHALEM: While all of this is going on, the Ringmaster and Lilith are essentially fighting over the Silver Mirror in the sky. It is all very cyclical and unending, and just as outrageous looking as it sounds. They both currently have some degree of hold over the Mirror right now, which means the advantage is wildly vacillating between the two of them. You probably don't want to directly interfere with this, but who knows? Maybe you'd got something really cunning up your sleeve. ► EDEN'S ARCHITECTS: In the aftermath of the Silver Mirror being taken, the Architects of Eden are being forced to choose sides. At first glance, it would appear that Saraqael (wolf), Samyaza (hare), Araqiel (stag), Penemue (raven), and Armaros (spider) have chosen to fight with the Furies of Eden in an attempt to cast Lilith out for good. Bezaliel (bear), Shamshel (tiger), Azazel (crocodile), Chazaqiel (eagle), and Baraqel (stingray) have, alternatively, chosen to defend Lilith, and are attempting to convince as many Honorables to follow in their path as possible. Gadreel (dolphin) and Kakabel (axolotl) seem to be uncomfortably remaining neutral for the moment and seeing how things play out. Not all Honorables or Scholars have followed the choice of their Architect. Many have been pulled one way or the other regardless of their kind, and are generally being accepted into the fight on their claimed side. You can NPC conflicts with random Honorables, but not the Architects. To interact with those guys, you need to do an investigation. ► PRISM BREAK: All of the carnival members that attended Samyaza's garden party (except Herbert) have been captured by Lilith after falling prey to a trap set by Bezaliel. Each of them has been trapped inside mirrored prisms that are now scattered around hard to access areas of Eden, defended by both Honorables supporting their maker and by mirror eyed dopplegangers. The infinite reflections of the characters inside the prisms are being fed on by Lilith, and she is tearing out as many of those reflections as necessary to do her bidding in the meantime. Each reflection is functionally a magical clone with no true will of its own, but will be able to fully mimic the emotions and powers of the characters they're taken from. They serve Lilith above all. Each reflection spawned from a prism take a fraction of their host's spiritual energy with them, meaning the more clones that are spawned, the weaker the real version will become. The more powerful a character is, the more energy each reflection takes to make - so if you have a character with lots of powers, they will probably have something like 1-4 dopplegangers spawned, while characters with few or no powers will be going completely quantity over quality and spawn potentially dozens of mirror clones. Clones shatter and vanish when destroyed, though the prisms will keep spawning new ones until the captive is set free. Captives, it's your job to NPC these clones. Captives will have no idea what's going on outside of their prism besides the abstract idea that these reflections are being harvested from them, and that's bad. The mirror clones will be attempting to protect the source prisms from disruption, as well as generally trying to destroy all enemies. NOTE: all captives will have returned to their natural forms by now (IE are no longer animals) and their clones will reflect this. Those missing "darkness shards" from their chest will also have had those returned. ► EDEN'S FURY: The Furies of Eden are striking back against Lilith at last, and it turns out a lot more of them have lingering rebellious ideas than previously though. Those that take up the cause of the Furies will be fighting on the carnival's side, so you are free to NPC some allied Honorables as well. You can also use the Investigations section to interact with named rebels, if you want, or to get an idea of what they are generally doing. Another potential avenue of investigation is trying to get the Serpent out here, as she'd be undoubtedly a powerful ally if cured of her curse. You might need it. Now that they know of the fae, the Honorables and Lilith-supporting Architects have no qualms using iron again you! They will be utilizing iron in all possible weaponry. ► NEW, CONFUSED, OR BOTH: Did you just get here? Did you fall behind and now you're terribly lost? Don't sweat it - let your character be as confused as you are. Take the opportunity to make top levels asking other characters what's going on in-game, or check out the original setting info post to catch up. The short version is this: the carnival wanted to steal a powerful artifact called the Silver Mirror from Lilith, which was stashed in her realm called Eden. They did just that, and now Lilith is back and she's pissed!

Comments

[whattaprick]

"Apologize later," Lambert snaps, close to heel. Panic's rising in his gut -- a largely unfamiliar sensation, to be certain -- but over that, training is kicking in, forcing him to think about the situation as a series of objectives.

Childermass is conscious and mostly stable. They could attempt to stabilize the injury here, but they have nothing that would avail him in the long term, and he'd still bleed to death before they ever got him to a medic.

There's another option -- a more brutal one -- but one that Lambert's mind shies away from as soon as he's considers it. It's possible Syrlya might be willing to do it, but he can't, won't waste one resurrection when Childermass might need it for a death Lambert can't prevent.

"There's a temple, where they took Honorables to heal after the branding. We'll take him there," he tells Syrlya abruptly, teeth bared. Either there will be better supplies there than what they can manage to procure, or Lambert will threaten one of the medics into helping. "Can your spell conceal a dragon?"

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya uses his weight to leverage Childermass', and it's going. He slows to almost a stop, though, and he looks over his shoulder at Lambert.

"What do you mean, a--" Oh. He gives Lambert a once-over quickly. "Yes, concealing you won't be any trouble. That will be faster."

[atouts]

Meanwhile, Childermass has dropped back into silence, although his eyes are still open enough that it's clear he hasn't passed out. He's biting back any pained noises he might make as Syrlya moves him further, jaw set and face drawn in a grimace. When Syrlya stops again, it's almost a relief. He can't even focus enough to tell Lambert that's a dumb idea. Somehow. What's a dragon tramping across Eden going to do? Is it faster? What if it's a cat-sized dragon?

[whattaprick]

If they crash, it's someone's problem for never giving his boyfriend real flying lessons.

Lambert takes a few steps back, it's the work of a moment to pull on his magic and summon forth the spell he needs. In the blink of an eye, its a golden dragon standing in front of Syrlya. Imposing enough, though he's never actually taken it for a test flight. With any luck, he won't have to go far.

"Get on, and hold him steady," he tells Syrlya grimly. Whether it's by portal or by manhandling, he'll do his best to assist, using his head and tail as support to bodily lift Childermass as necessary until they're firmly seated on his back.

[chronosynthesis]

If he had more faith in Childermass' ability to remain conscious, he might try the portal. As it is, he worries if he lets go that'll be the end of his focus.

So Syrlya moves him over, as quickly but carefully as he can, to heavy him onto Lambert's back--probably hanging limply. Syrlya hauls himself up right behind Childermass and waves a hand to put them all under stealth before putting a firm hand on his arm and torso as he sits back to try and anchor his weight.

"All right, go."

[atouts]

Childermass is only growing more unresponsive by this time, mostly content to play the role of a sack of potatoes right now, slung over the dragon's back. If anything, he's focusing more on keeping his eyes shut tight lest the upcoming motion make him ill or, if even not that, at least staying awake.

[whattaprick]

It's a good call, because getting airborne is ... bumpy, to say the least. There's no gentle way to take off from the ground when you're an adult dragon, and the most Lambert's ever done is jump and glide, not proper flight.

But desperate times, as it turns out, lend equally desperate feats of athletic ability that Lambert didn't realize he had in himself. A few wingbeats is all it takes to clear the treeline -- not high enough to run into the fight overhead, but uncomfortably close -- and then Lambert is barreling to their destination. Muscles roll and flex under Syrlya and Childermass during their slightly wobbly initial take-off, but the flight stabilizes as Lambert finds his confidence.

A few unfortunate airborne Honorables are essentially run over by the invisible dragon as he steamrollers through the air, beelining for the location of the healing temple.

It's faster than going on the ground would be, and though the landing's as gentle as Lambert can make it, it leaves something to be desired. Still, it lands them as close to the courtyard as Lambert can get.

"We need to get him inside," he rumbles. No disguising that, but then, why should he? Transporting Childermass may prove it's own challenges, though, but one step at a time!

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya keeps Childermass as steady as he can against Lambert, which is at least enough to make sure he doesn't go tumbling off even if it doesn't make for a much more pleasant experience.

Once Lambert lands in the courtyard, Syrlya moves to slide right off of him. "I'll get a medic, stay here."

Because, he assumes, the actual medics will probably have stretchers or some other manner of carrying the injured that's more effective. So he wastes no time poking his head into the temple.

"Hello? We have someone who needs medical attention immediately!"

[scientificist]

There are absolutely stretchers but unfortunately for the group outside, the medic population is currently a cat and a goose. The perils of an entirely volunteer medic force and also when everyone is busy fighting.

"Syrlya!" Herbert announces before galloping over. "Is it iron injuries again?" He peers past his legs at the empty courtyard outside. "Who is it, who's, 'we'?"

[atouts]

It'll be up to Lambert or Syrlya to answer that. Childermass is a little busy bleeding to death on a dragon. Even consciousness is a tentative thing at this point, injuries not doing all that well under all that jostling of flight.

[whattaprick]

At the sound of a familiar voice, Lambert rumbles, though all he'll do is lower himself as close to the ground as he can manage. Childermass is a dead weight resting between his wings, and it's terrifying.

"West," he snarls, in lieu of introduction -- his voice should be enough of an identifier. "They hurt Childermass with iron. Help him."

[chronosynthesis]

Herbert is... still a cat. And they have a goose. That poses a little problem.

At Herbert's initial confusion Syrlya drops the veil on Lambert and Childermass, revealing a huge dragon and a naked and dying Acquisitioner. Lambert speaks up before he can, so Syrlya nods in agreement.

"He needs to be tended immediately--is it really just the two of you?"

[scientificist]

"Yes," says Herbert and carefully hoists himself onto his hind paws, trying to get a better look at Childermass, "the rest of the local team is, occasional volunteers only and a, good portion of my team was kidnapped. Do you have to be a dragon, Lambert? I've dealt with similar injuries to his already but I would prefer him inside for the, required surgery."

Lowering back down again, he runs off to awkwardly start pushing over one of the larger stretchers in his mouth, doing his best to keep the whole thing in front of him. It's been designed to attach to animals when necessary but Herbert is still much too small to carry Childermass.

[whattaprick]

It looks pretty gnarly. Or, depending on perspective, like an exciting challenge.

“It’s ether dragon or a cat,” Lambert rumbles. He didn’t have much of a chance to ask the Ringmaster to take it off.

Though he may have a possible alternative to simply slinging Childermass off his back, now that they know the temple’s friendly territory. He looks dubiously at the stretcher West is struggling with, then at Syrlya.

“Can a portal bring him directly inside? Wherever West needs him.” Not a maneuver he imagines Syrlya has tried often, but... which one is less likely to jostle Childermass’s organs out of his body?

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya moves to help Herbert maneuver the stretcher, being taller and having actual hands. At least something is better than trying to carry him.

"I--yes, I suppose I could." He'd have to get an arm around him to move him through, but it would be easier if Childermass was conscious enough to pass through the portal himself. "Is he still awake?"

[atouts]

He's really not. Sorry, Syrlya.

[scientificist]

"It's at least a larger cat," Herbert retorts, dropping the stretcher from his mouth to talk, now that they're apparently going to try and bypass it? "He may as well stay on the ground for now, I guess, until I've dealt with the worst of his injuries. He doesn't need to get under the, crystals after all. If you can, bring him closer to my supplies--is he clawed open on both sides? If so, I may require one of you to stay in order to manoeuvre him..."

[whattaprick]

The crystals? Lambert has no idea what Herbert is talking about, but he'll crane his head over his back, nudging at Childermass gently.

"He's out cold. I can take some of his weight, if you steady him." That's to Syrlya. As for Herbert's inquiry--

"Only his left. I think he was caught while shape-shifted... he was still a dog the last time I saw him. Iron must break the enchantment." A frown. If Herbert had some iron, he could turn himself human again. Naked human, but at least he'd have his paws.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya nods, basically dropping the stretcher to maneuver around Herbert and into the healing temple. Supplies, supplies...

He comes out after a moment, having placed the start of the portal on the ground not far from the medical supplies. He moves to Lambert's side, magic swirling under his feet to complete the portal, and then he moves to pull Childermass from Lambert's back as gently as he can. He starts to teeter a little at the weight.