⇨ 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

[dontpokethat]

Ginko would personally be inclined to be a little more generous with regards to the Summer Maiden's situation, but, y'know, maybe that's just him. The fact does remain, though, that convincing her will probably be tough.

"Right... going around in search of somewhere suitable seems like a lot to ask of them, too." He lets out a breath, and... well, reaches for where he'd normally have a box of cigarettes tucked in a pocket, but. No pockets, and no cigarettes. Whoops. He settles for pulling uncomfortably at his clothes. "Which leaves the diplomatic option."

With this group. Hilarious.

[kingsroads]

Strange looks nonplussed at the idea of the diplomatic option. He simply shrugs.

"I'd be good at diplomacy." He's had a discussion about this before and that's firmly set in Strange's mind as something he can do. "Hell, probably better at it than most. It's other people who I'd be worried about."

Not naming names, or anything like that (but Strange looks like he kind of wants to name names).

[dontpokethat]

Hm. Admittedly, he doesn't know Strange super well, but... he's not sure he buys the diplomacy thing? Just, not totally convinced.

He is, however, absolutely right that some people around here probably shouldn't be involved in diplomatic talks. Ginko laughs, and it's... honestly, it sounds like a little bit of a Fear Laugh. "Yeah, it... seems like the carnival's general populace doesn't exactly specialize in talking things through."

Like, shit, they can't even talk through their own personal problems without it turning into a whole big thing. The idea of this group trying to work around fae politics is terrifying and he... hates that it might be their best option.

[kingsroads]

"Based on all of our experiences, it seems like the solutions to problems are either 'make friends with it' or 'stab it to death.' At least with the former, there's less chance of something trying to murder us than the latter."

Strange is visibly nonchalant about the idea of murder. It sucks. It reeeally sucks. But he can't deny how effective stabbing things to death has been, especially when dealing with the Prince and the Mother of Invention.

[dontpokethat]

"Seems about right." Maybe they should try to figure out more than two strategies at some point, but... so far, that's about what they've got. And, as necessary as it may be at times, Ginko is still really not a fan of the murder option, and it shows on his face.

"Maybe we'll learn something new here. Or, just... get through to the Summer Maiden through sheer force of will." He smiles weakly. It's not like the stabbing part is gonna be any help here, so, uh.

[kingsroads]

Strange isn't entirely sure about getting to her through force of will. He gives Ginko a little frown before shaking his head slightly.

"So we should hope we learn something new here. Because aside from Ignatius and Gilded Mark, I doubt either of us can get through to her."

[dontpokethat]

"Sounds about right." This whole thing is just... agonizing. Ginko lets out a breath and glances away, taking another look at their surrounding. "...We'll find out, one way or another. In the meantime, I guess all we can do is... plan for the worst and hope for the best, huh?"

If he's honest, that second part is tough right now.