lostcarnival | ⇨ EDEN PT. 4 (FINALE)

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⇨ EDEN PT. 4 (FINALE)

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!

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"Aauh," he replies, assuming that the final emotion was indeed missed. One fleeting, panicked realization of something that could never be said again, a hurried warmth and closeness that conveyed the strength of their bond.

And then he'd been gone.

"...My fear, and my confusion... To save me is one thing, Yuuya," he insists. "...To inflict those feelings upon your very soul however...That was truly unforgivable on my part..!"

The depth of Gongenzaka's implications have certainly been missed, but hearing him talk like himself about it brings a softer smile to Yuya's face and he shakes his head.

"I told you before, didn't I? I want you to rely on me, even about things like that... because I want to be strong enough to support you when you need it. And if it weren't for that, I wouldn't have known I needed to save you to begin with."

Or at least, not until it truly was too late. And look at the damage Gongenzaka's sustained, even from as much as this?

His gaze drifts down, to where he knows the hole is beneath the blanket.

Gongenzaka isn't dumb, Yuuya.

"...You are worried about something still," he observes. "...Something that is not whatever battle is occurring outside, I should note." His ears flick back, and he frowns.

"Yuuya... ...What is wrong?"

Yuya is worried. They still don't know what it is, and he won't bring his gaze back up now that Gongenzaka's called him out. His whole expression freezes.

"... Your heart is gone."

wat

"..............................." Gongenzaka's ears draw back entirely this time. "......................no.....it is not..?"

He can hear his own hearbeat...it's still there...

Yuya looks up at that, suddenly alarmed that Gongenzaka hasn't noticed. His eyes widen and everything stops within him for a second.

And then he shifts back, pulling his arm free from under Gongenzaka's to grab the blanket, pull it down, and then press his fingers to the smooth surface inside the hole in his chest. It's autonomous, he doesn't even think about what he's doing to show Gon what's happened to him.

For a moment Gongenzaka is simply confused.

Then his eyes look down to where Yuuya's hands are...Definitely not just on his chest. No that's in his chest, and he can feel it, except it feels more like...stone? Maybe?

It takes a full second or so before it sinks in enough to panic. "NHHH- H-HAUHH!? Wh..."

So thanks for that bomb, Yuuya. "What happened..!?" He knows what that hole is- or at least, what it looks like anyway. And that's not possible.

"I-I don't know!" Gon's panic only makes Yuya panic more, and he jerks his and away and quickly reels back to sit up on the bed and away from Gongenzaka. "We found you like that, after they took you and locked you up in some prison! There were copies of you, too, and they tried to stop us..."

He hasn't seen anyone else rescued yet, so maybe it's because of that? Was this going to be permanent? Yuya doesn't have any of the answers to give to Gon, and his expression looks just as lost. "It was just... gone, when we got you out."

"A-Auuh...Copies?! The most I, the man Gongenzaka, even recall seeing is a series of mirrors...and prior that, Bezaliel certainly seemed to be doing...something..."

He frowns, and lays back down as he tries to calm himself. Calm himself, and remember. "...I, the man Gongenzaka... ...recall last, being upon a pillar of shadow...however, Bezaliel began to cry for Lilith, and in that moment the shadows covered my form entirely... ...it was cold. ...Cold, and dark, but that was all..."

Gongenzaka swallows. "...It is all that I, the man Gongenzaka, can recall before passing out however... But there was certainly no hole before that point..."

Yuya forces his gaze away as Gongenzaka settles back down and explains what happened from his side of things. But he reminds himself that's not a good way to support him, when he's probably hurt by this so much more than Yuya, so he forces himself to look back at Gongenzaka and grabs his hand, the one that wasn't lost, in both of his again.

"When we get back to the carnival..." When, not if. "Let's ask the Ringmaster. We'll find out what it is and what to do about it. I won't leave it like this if it's hurting you, okay?"

"Mhn..." Part of him wishes to point out that Herbert obviously would have said something if it was...harmful.

But then again Herbert might just find it neat, and not be saying anything. Who knows. He sighs.

"Hahhh...a...agreed. It certainly doesn't hurt, but..." He tentatively pokes a finger inward, before frowning. "...It is certainly unnerving... I, the man Gongenzaka, wonder if this is how Zangetsu feels..."

"... I think he was wondering that too." Yuya turns to look at the door, as if he expects him to show up right then. But no--he must still be out helping people. Yuya knows he should, too, and that Gongenzaka is probably safe here in the temple. But...

Absently he squeezes Gon's hand, still staring at the door pensively.

Edited 2018-08-17 05:36 (UTC)

Ah, yes. This place... Gongenzaka looks around, frowning. "Auh...come to think, is this not the healing temple of Eden? ...Just what has happened, that we are here now..?"

Says the one who, in his feeble moments, patched the image of this place to them as a destination,

Yuya blinks rapidly, turning back to Gongenzaka. "Everyone at the party... Lilith trapped all of you like that. We tried to find you in the prison, but... we were too late. Uh, the Ringmaster got the mirror and she's fighting Lilith right now while we save everyone. I don't know if you're the first, or just the most injured?"

Given the kidnapping and iron torture and all that. If anyone else is as bad, it's probably Yugo and Yuusei.

"All of us?" Hrmm. Gongenzaka furrows his brows. "..At the very least, I, the man Gongenzaka, recall there were four pillars... Yuusei, and Yuugo, I believe were there. ...But as for everyone else at the party..."

He shakes his head. "I cannot say that I can remember exactly who was there..."

Yuya can think of at least one other person who was attending the party: Reira. Aside from needing to find Yugo, she's out there too, and there's a spike of worry in his chest as he considers that she's probably still in trouble, possibly being hurt.

"We're going to save everyone," he insists. "I'm--I'll find Yugo and Reira, and everyone else!"

Not Gon, though. He needs to stay here and rest.

"Auh-" The fact that this didn't occur to him is a testament to the rest he still needs. Despite this, he sits up- aiming to move nearer to the entrance.

"If that is the case," he declares, "Then I, the man Gongenzaka, shall stand guard in case of attack..."

"Wh--" Yuya leans back as Gongenzaka starts to get back, briefly surprised. But honestly, he shouldn't be.

"No!" Yuya releases Gon's hand to grab his shoulders and push insistently, as if he has the strength to force Gon back against the bed. He's more hoping that the intent makes Gongenzaka agree. "We don't even know what they even did to you yet, you need to rest!"

Gongenzaka stiffens, blustering a little as Yuuya insists. "Auh- I- I, the man Gongenzaka, am hardly going out to battle, Yuuya!! I am simply repaying the debt of their care!! This building after all, will no doubt be targetted!!"

"And someone else can take care of that," he counters sourly, his fingers digging in a little as he sits up on one knee and leans over to use his weight to push more insistently. "You're still hurt. You still need to recover. You need to stay in bed!"

"Yuuya." Gongenzaka scowls. "Just as you woild refuse if one were to keep you from helping the others...so too must I, the man Gongenzaka, do as I am able here!!"

"It's not just anyone asking you!" It's him, which he implies more than he says, as if that should make a difference in how Gongenzaka takes it. And it should, shouldn't it? Yuya's concern should have weight?

"You've already been hurt, and I'm worried. If something else happens to you, I--" He stops, unable to quite get the rest of the words out of his mouth. There's a flicker of regret on his face as he continues to push against Gongenzaka... to no actual avail. He's really too steadfast.

Yuya's elbows buckle in defeat and he topples forward until his collar hits Gongenzaka and he glowers at the pillow from over his shoulder.

"I don't want you to push yourself into something worse. We don't even know what that hole is doing to you, so you shouldn't be the one fighting right now."

Edited 2018-08-17 22:47 (UTC)

"Mnh-!" And the fact is it does make a difference. Gongenzaka might not be pushed back, but he does at least seem to lean backward, turning away with shame. Indeed after all he has no idea what this hole has done, what anything has done- being in that mirrored prism, being shackled with iron so long...

"...Yuuya," he finally says quietly. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, am not leaving this building... ...but if we are attacked, can you truly tell me that I, the man Gongenzaka, will be unable to avoid the conflict that rises within here in turn? ...I..."

He lowers himself, to meet Yuuya's eyes more properly. "...I, the man Gongenzaka, will continue to rest- but for the sake of those in here, I cannot remain idle if someone approaches with ill intent."

Yuya shifts back a little when he feels Gongenzaka move, meeting his gaze. He'd rather believe there won't be an issue here at all, or at least that they'd have someone who wasn't just on the brink of death. If it wasn't Reira out there, who he feels responsible for, he'd do it himself. But...

Yuya worries over his lip briefly. "... As long as you'll stay in bed until something happens, and--you let people who aren't hurt deal with it first?"

Yuya's making demands, he knows, but he doesn't care right now.

"Hmn!" There's no argument to that. Gongenzaka simply nods, firmly. "All I, the man Gongenzaka, am up for at the moment is to ask if I can have a cot placed nearer to the entry! I, the man Gongenzaka, can ask Marishi to keep watch from there!"

And beyond that, it's quite easy to agree to let people deal with it first while forgetting one's own habits. That is hardly the point though. Gongenzaka moves to pull his friend into a hug, not thinking of the hole across his chest. "...I shall remain safe, Yuuya. That...is a promise."

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