⇨ 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

[atouts]

"If there is one thing in life that the entirety of the carnival is incapable of doing, Mr. Strange, it is being silent," Childermass sasses him right the fuck back. Don't stay with him, man, he could go all day and, yeh, he is looking directly at Strange when he says that.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya's been mostly quiet with those like Lambert making the points he would have brought up anyway, and it's not turning into a diplomatic disaster. He starts to nod in agreement with Childermass. "It would be best if there is a meeting, to send a proper delega--"

And then he does a double take. Wait, was that his name? "I--don't believe the Rose Queen will have any ability to manipulate me like Steven, if that is your concern."

He folds his arms. "As I was saying, if we do consider appealing to the Summer Court, it should be compromised of a few who will help smooth negotiations alongside the Summer Maiden and Ignatius. Our other option is to pursue the Ringmaster directly first, which may force the Summer Court's hand regardless."

And they may be less sympathetic after they incite even more tension on their own.

[kingsroads]

Strange gives Syrlya a look like he's a goddamn moron.

"Syrlya, you're a plant person who has bits of the Rose growing from your arm. If the Rose Queen was able to manipulate Steven to control the Rose from afar, then course she'd be able to manipulate you. You're staying in the carnival."

That's all he's saying about this, as he blatantly looks away from Syrlya and turns his attention back to Childermass, Lambert, and anyone else who's talking.

[whattaprick]

"To be honest, I don't think she'd be interested in manipulating Syrlya as much as she's interested in ripping out the bits that are her Rose and turning the rest of you into Rose fertilizer," Lambert chimes in. "She's a little clingy.

"And those aren't necessarily our only options." Just ... probably the most feasible ones. The witcher offers an elaborate shrug. "We could try looking for the third Miracle. It's still out there. And if it can think, maybe it can be reasoned with."

Instead of just unilaterally fucking people over.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya doesn't even look at Strange when he speaks up.

"Perhaps, but we have no leads on where the Red Beast even is. I spoke to a fae that was around at the time the Summer Court still held the Blue Rose, and it was little more than myth even then."

[starseedling]

Steven says his pieces, and people immediately start talking about how he can't afford the risk, how he can't be trusted with going on such a mission when the Rose Queen is a factor. The distress on his face is obvious. It's exactly what he was hoping to subvert.

"I want to go, too!" he says, more loudly, now that people are talking. He obviously wants to be heard. "I know it's dangerous, but... if I could face her there, then..." He trails off, feeling a little silly. It's an emotional need more than anything.

"I just want to be able to speak for myself," he says.

[whattaprick]

"And what would you say if you could?" Lambert asks.

That's really less directed at just Steven specifically, though. He's looking between Ignatius and the Summer Queen, frowning.

"Assuming we could stop her from just using your bond to shut you up from the start."

[anti_nonsense]

Rita sighs, leaning back in her seat as she regards Steven’s objection. “As much as I’d us all to get a few words in, we have to consider what happened last time we saw an Elysium. If the Count could abruptly drop all protections at the Rose Queen’s request, who’s to say the Summer Queen won’t do the same?”

[npcarnival]

"There are ways to get around that," Ignatius says, looking at Rita. "The Count's Elysium was fast and unorderly. Normally, a formal contract would be made between parties to establish the time and circumstances of the meeting's ending. It's also possible for more than one fae to hold Elysium... so it's possible the Summer Maiden and Queen could both lead it, simultaneously."

He shrugs a shoulder. "The Count's was a bad example, really. All he did was throw it together and wait for us to wander in. We participated because we didn't fear him as a singular enemy. If he dropped his protections, we would simply leave."

[starseedling]

"I don't want to talk to her," Steven says, his shoulders sinking along with his spirits. He looks away from Lambert. "I just want to talk... despite her."

[whattaprick]

Ignatius's words, at least, provide some clarity about the relative safety of this option. Lambert nods at the fae, acknowledging the information, before continuing on.

"Then that still leaves us with the same problem to figure out," Lambert responds. "What exactly are we asking the Summer Queen for? What are we bringing to her, and what are we willing to give up for what we want?"

He looks at the Summer Maiden. "What happens to the Summerlands, if you go to the Summer Court? Is everyone here defenseless? Or can you move this realm like the Ringmaster moved the Carnival?"

[lmpatientdefense]

"At least part of that's easy. Best case scenario, some kind of alliance, to deal with Winter's whole threat, what with kidnapping and torturing one of their own."

She glances sidelong at Ignatius. Everything she's heard from him and his sister implies that maybe his heart isn't in being with the Summer Court anymore... but that presumably wasn't true before he got double-kidnapped. Summer would think he's one of theirs, if loyalty means anything.

"And playing with iron's a big no-no with you guys, right? It'd be interesting to know if the Summer Queen knows that Winter's been experimenting. Even if the Mother is a deniable asset, at this point."

[npcarnival]

"It sounds like you are asking me to mend relations between the Summerlands and the Summer Court," the Maiden says, glancing at Beau and then at Lambert. "In which case, there would be nothing to give up. The very idea of paying the Summer Court for their service is contrary to the notion of having them take responsibility."

"I am not, and have never been, willing to compromise with regards to the treatment of mortal species and the disadvantaged fae. What would you consider an acceptable price for their cooperation?"

"The Summerlands will be fine in my absence," she adds. "Logistics are not my largest concern."

[whattaprick]

"What's acceptable? Nothing," Lambert shrugs. "Because if it were just up to me, I'd rather not be trying to convince the Summer Court of anything. I’d rather take my chances taking sneaking into the Wyldlands. A small force with a bit of help staying hidden might be able to learn something an army can't.”

And he looks to the rest of the room.

"But it's not just up to me. If talking--" he grimaces just saying the word. "--our way out of this is what people want to try first, then fine. ‘Work with us, it’s your best shot at survival’ is the best I got, but that’s why I’m no diplomat.”

[chronosynthesis]

"The mortal species and disadvantaged fae that you are concerned about have been and will continue to suffer while you and your people to remain uninvolved."

Syrlya leans over a little, to better regard the Summer Maiden. There's no malice in his expression, though he's fighting off a sense of weariness. "My concern is retrieving the Ringmaster. But as far as what that would mean for your people to help, I believe all of you--"

He gestures around the room, mainly referencing the Summerlands Fae. "Have you decide what is more important to you. Your own lives and safety, or those whose suffering you claim to be sympathetic to."