⇨ 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

[whattaprick]

“When the Ringmaster asked me to become the Nightrider, I hadn’t even been here two weeks,” Lambert points out. “And that was only because she liked how I followed what she asked without complaining that much. By that standard, you’re the obvious choice. If you don’t like it, find someone else to train quick.”

[chronosynthesis]

"Why do I have to find someone else? If the standard is that low you could make it anyone in the carnival except Strange!"

He didn't have to find the replacement when he stepped down from the Pact!

[whattaprick]

“Because you’d bitch but you’re too responsible to do anything but take the job anyway.” Lambert doesn’t bat an eye. They both know it’s true!

“What do you have against it, anyway? You’d be good at it. You used to be a Commander. Shouldn’t this be easier?”

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya bristles, but it is true.

He looks off to the side stubbornly. "Leading isn't ever easy. But--I have no intention of extending my contract once it is over. If it is nothing more than a season after you leave, maybe two, would it not be better to promote someone who will be staying for much longer?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert shrugs. “We don’t even know what the Carnival’ll look like by then. Maybe we won’t be hiring new recruits. It’s just an idea, anyway. And it makes sense.”

Though he eyes Syrlya critically. “You already do most of the work. Why’s having the title to go with it different?”

[chronosynthesis]

"I..." Syrlya hesitates openly, his expression pensive and refusing to look at Lambert. He doesn't have a reasonable answer for why it would be different. He would hold himself to the responsibility anyway. It's just an aversion, but recognizing that doesn't make him more inclined to take it.

His shoulders sink a little. "I suppose it isn't."

[whattaprick]

Lambert looks at Syrlya -- really looks at him -- and quirks a brow, before thrusting the bottle of alcohol at him.

"Here, gimme that. I'm fucking hungry after all that talking." The Sylvari looks like he's the one who could suddenly use a drink, after all. The witcher isn't going to immediately prod just yet, half focused on getting some food into his stomach, half curious if Syrlya's going to volunteer what's evidently bothering him.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya snaps his attention back, looking bewildered at the bottle before slowly swapping it with the basket of snacks. He doesn't make any attempt to drink from it just yet, though.

"What has this on your mind right now, anyway? You still have 'months' left, don't you?"

[whattaprick]

Lambert raises a brow. Hey, don't make this about him, buddy.

"What if I decide I'm done with bossing people around after this and wanna spend the rest of my contract just relaxing, huh?" Fat chance of that, considering what a workaholic Childermass is, but he's certain he can try nagging the magician into taking a break once in a while.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya snorts. "Were it so easy. If you were constantly faced with it, could you really leave everyone to the responsibility of anyone else? Themselves? Especially if these dire straights do not let up."

Syrlya hasn't seen what not dire looks like in years. It sounds like a myth for people who don't have to keep that reality controlled. Or like, just people not chosen to fight for the world or who sign on for fairy carnivals.

i've rewritten this tag like 12 times because i keep closing out of this window accidentally

[whattaprick]

Lambert shrugs. "First thing you learn as a witcher is that no matter how much you try, you'll never be able to save everyone. Especially from themselves. But surviving this far was never just because of me."

If anything, Lambert feels like he spends a good chunk of time being rescued.

[chronosynthesis]

"No... but as a leader, your influence has still more to do with it than you give yourself credit for. It does not taking facing every threat personally to make that difference."

If anything, that's usually unideal for someone trying to lead everyone else through such trying times. That's why it was usually Trahearne overseeing everything while Syrlya handled the footwork, and when they weren't together for that...

Syrlya shakes his head.

[whattaprick]

Lambert snorts faintly, eying Syrlya speculatively. "Sounds like you've known a lot of leaders. You always nag them this hard too?"

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya lets a breath, just short of a laugh. "No, only you and... one other."

He folds his arms around the bottle loosely, his gaze drifting away from Lambert and over his shoulder. "You both put too little faith in yourselves and what you changed."