⇨ THE SUMMERLANDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone!
When: Day 119 - Day 126
Where: The Summerlands
What: Ignatius and Gild portal everyone to the Summerlands, with hopes of appealing to the Summer Maiden for help. Meanwhile, the carnival gets the chance to relax in luxury as only tentatively welcome guests. Here is the location write up from the last time the carnival visited. Since then, of course, some things have changed.
Warnings: Nothing in particular.

THE SUN RISES↴ After taking the time to rest, Ignatius and Gild will be able to pool together their energy to portal the carnival (and the airship) to the Summerlands. Those still in Polaris will be left to their own devices for the moment as Gild intends to ask for the Summerlands aid in relocating them, hopefully as soon as possible. With the effort the carnival put into sorting things out in there, however, they should be fine on their own for a little while, at least. They will arrive in the flowery fields at the base of the mountains, and soon the Summer Fae will notice their presence. Since the last time they visited, however, the atmosphere has changed. ► YOUR ARRIVAL: As the Summer Fae discover the group's arrival, it will quickly become apparent that there is a tension present that wasn't there any of the other times the carnival has visited. The Summer Maiden comes to greet the group personally, with an entourage of armed Summer Fae. They are not at all aggressive unless provoked, but there is clearly a wariness that is new. They seem uncertain about Ignatius being here, and while Gild will be able to do a lot of the talking and smooth things over, the Summer Maiden will deflect having a serious conversation about affairs until the carnival has taken time to 'rest.' It's more likely that the Maiden needs a moment to think over this new information before dealing with it. ► SUMMER CITY: After the Summer Fae become aware of everyone's presence, and the initial uncertainties are accommodated, they will invite you into their city. There are stairs that lead up the sides of the mountains, but thankfully there are also magical means of getting up there as well. The Summer Fae will be willing to help workers with the injured as needed, offering herbal remedies and healing magic to those that want it. You'll also be invited to join them for dinner, but it feels like more of a formality, and no one is obligated to take them up on it. ► SUMMER PEOPLE: The fae here will do their best to entertain these new visitors - but it doesn't seem that much happens here besides day after day of peaceful meditation and relaxation. It is not uncommon to see Summer Fae spent days doing exactly the same thing, whether that be enjoying the weather, listening to music, or dancing - the day and night periods may be similar to earth, but when you don't need rest it can all blur together just the same. Some of the fae work on feats of agriculture or craftsmanship, and while there is no particularly need to work in this place, they take pride in the fact that they do. ► FAMILIAR FACES: One very different thing about the Summerlands this go around is that there appears to be a small settlement built at the base of the mountains, filled entirely with the former residents of the Manor. Alyss and Reyna will explain that they set up a place to live down there with the Summer Fae's help, and that the fae seems to be trying to remain hands off except when they are needed. The Manor folk overall seem to be doing well, though there is some tension regarding their place in the Summerlands - they are clearly seen as refugees, and while the Summer Fae do their best to help them, the arrival of the carnival and the request for even more help with refugee aid seems to be making things awkward. ► OF THINGS TO COME: The Summer Maiden will remain distant for the first few days, but according to Gild and based on personal observation, it will seem that the news that the Ringmaster has been taken and the idea that even more desperate mortals are requesting to come here are putting her at significant ill ease. She's not rude or dismissive, but she seems reluctant to address the situation head on, though she has said that she will hold a meeting with the carnival later in the week to discuss everything in more detail. None of them seem particularly angry or resentful, but they seem to regard the carnival as an ill portent of things to come.

Comments

[starseedling]

"Oooh!" Steven says, mostly wowed by the pretty fabric. He takes a little longer to process the actual shape of the outfit. he's worn stuff kind of like this for performances, but generally less revealing. "This looks like a dancing costume! The bangles probably make noises when you move so it can enhance your performance."

"You can't really use it for anything practical, though. But you could wear it here, for fun?" Come on Peridot, you can do it.

[periphrasing]

"A dancing costume?" Peridot repeats, nose crinkling. Sure doesn't sound like her cup of tea, but. Hmm. She clutches the fabric in her hands, contemplating for a moment.

"...Nah," she says abruptly, letting it go so that it sways gently on it's hanger. "I think being constantly followed by the sounds of jangling metal would become extremely irritating very quickly."

[starseedling]

"I guess," Steven says, in a way that implies he disagrees but that's totally fine. He looks around for a few moments and then grabs something else.

"What about this?" he asks, eagerly. He grabs the skirt of the fabric and swishes it around, showing off the way it glitters. "It's purple, sparkly, and it kind of has a star on it!" He looks at the shoulder piece, a little confused. "And some kind of... hat?"

[periphrasing]

"Hm." Peridot strokes her chin thoughtfully. She seems to be giving this one some serious consideration?

After a moment she levitates the neck piece down, examines it... and then puts it on the peak of her triangle hair like a little crown.

"How do I look?"

[starseedling]

This honestly makes way more instinctive sense to him than wearing it on the shoulders, so he's all about her interpretation. He grins and reaches out, adjusting it a little so it sits a bit more naturally instead of being totally aloft on her hair.

"That's so cute!" he says. "When it lines up with your gem, it's like it makes a little grown!"

[periphrasing]

Peridot snickers and swishes her tail delightedly. "Forget the rest of the outfit, I'll just take this," she declares, puffing her chest out the way she imagines that royalty might.

She's pretty serious about just taking that part too, because after she holds that pose for a second she turns and starts browsing other stuff with the 'crown' still perched on her head.