⇨ 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

[prazerbutterfly]

"Thing is, I didn't undergo a single experiment myself and I made it to Delta through aggressively hard work. They didn't pick us uniquely for Delta. They seemed to pick and choose through experimentation... by asking and waiting for volunteers. Of course, some were more special than others and forced if they really wanted information."

He sneers gently at his question about the mother, continuing just to emphasize on that, "Exactly. She wanted to see how our bodies would react. No one actually had to undergo the trials. Anything they experienced was of their own will and choice. I believe that is what the Mother wanted most of all. She wanted to see what we would do."

But to better answer his question, he scratches upwards near the back of his head towards the pieces of implant left, "Mmm, we didn't exactly get one on one time with her. Even though I think I might've enjoyed asking her a few things."

[kingsroads]

Strange nods. He remembers how Steven was downright forced into one of the trials. If they stayed there any longer, it wouldn't surprise him if others were forced into that position. He continues listening as Tyki continues to explain. And Strange can't help but frown a little as Tyki talks about how they didn't really get any time with her.

"She was positively barbaric, a complete idiot for focusing too much on that technology, and I'm glad she's dead...but I can see your point. Our chances to talk with the fae are rare. Any sort of information we could get from her about magic, society, or what have you would have been useful."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Technology and magic are the future. In this world and the next, and the next. Whether we like it or not. Even the Earl at home uses that sort of thing. He's likely my best bet at removing this implant all together." As Shimmer did give him the option of taking it out but there would be a hole and wires still left inside.

"I imagine I might've gotten more time with her as I climbed the ranks naturally, had my body replaced, and gotten more comfortable with the place as time went on. Us Deltas, we were treated rather well. Cozy room, snacks, comfortable places to spend points with no real consequences for not climbing the ranks. We just had to do what we were told, that's all."

[kingsroads]

"I'm a little jealous," Strange muses. There's a pause before he continues, smile shifting to a little frown.

"You know, the only reason I was reckless enough to be demoted to Theta was that I thought there wasn't any chance of upward mobility. The Mother of Invention would always need me as nobody else was touched by the Silver Mirror. But if she could have just swapped my consciousness out and placed me somewhere else...it makes the whole thing even more pointless than it already was."

Lambert may think differently but with hindsight, Strange honestly can't see how his vent escapades were useful in any way, shape, or form. Deltas would have maps. They'd be able to search for Ignatius and then he could have snuck in and saved the man. He should have waited.

[prazerbutterfly]

"You say that and yet all of us ended up with little tiny pieces and reflections of our inner selves. You're just the only one that Silver Mirror infected like a parasite but you have to admit you left yourself wide open like a public invitation, Jonathan."

He leans to the side, resting his chin into his open palm and his elbow to his knee, the more casual look instead of his excitable one bleeding into his features, "You just wanted the attention~"

He winks, "I am the natural choice though. I'm not your common pen and quill noble, nor am I shy of hard work to get what I want. I over exceeded expectations which most could not do given their lack of muscle, powers, or motivation. Whatever it took, was that not what I said? Even if it worked me to death."

"No, not pointless. She gained precious information. It less about obtaining any artifacts, you understand, and more about how it worked on your bodies. How you reacted to it. If you weren't in that body, what worth would it be?" he says through a curt sneer, "Besides, not all were meant to climb. Not all could ever stomach what we saw.

[kingsroads]

Strange can't help but raise an eyebrow at Tyki's response. "If you're implying that I could not stand whatever 'horrors' you saw, you know less of me than I thought."

Though he doesn't actually physically do air quotes, the tone is in his voice. This is partly Strange having a high opinion of himself and his tolerance for certain things, partly him honestly believing that Tyki's talking this up and trying to haze him a bit. After all, he's already seen so much in the carnival and so much in his world. Of course he could stomach it.

"Still, I suppose it doesn't matter in the end. What happened has happened."

[prazerbutterfly]

"Says the one that has yet to meet the wonderful spider ladies from the Manor. They are here, you know," he muses, having spent quite a bit of time with them already in their new home of a cave. Even Princess was looking well.

"You're not all talk, but a bit of your words are. That's why you're fun, Jonathan~♥ I would love to show you something horrifying one day."

"Souls and magic are an interesting combination the Mother of Invention used no doubt when infusing us with these implants and giving Beta and higher new bodies. It's not a strange concept though nor one I am new to it. At home I'm use to seeing creatures like that."

[kingsroads]

Strange's attention shifts a little when Tyki mentions the spider ladies from the Manor. "They're here?" Which would make sense, of course they'd be here, L'Sann the bicorn lady was here so of course Tyki's spider friends would be here as well.

"In that case, what are we doign sitting around here talking? You've got to introduce me to them, Tyki, we can talk more about souls on the way there."