⇨ THE WYLDLANDS

[ringleaders]

Who: Everyone pursuing the Huntsman.
When: Day 134 - Day 140
Where: The Wyldlands
What: Working as scouts from the Summer armies, the carnival makes a dangerous trek into the Wyldlands to find the Huntsman, defeat him, and save the Ringmaster from the Hunt. The day descriptions below are an outline, and details may change based on actions earlier in the week. Overall, though, it will keep the same general locations. You can make up encounters with Wylderkin at any time.
Warnings: Probably violence and gross Huntsman stuff.

HUNTING THE HUNTER↴ Upon first arriving in the Wyldlands, the carnival will find themselves in a scene much like the picture above - strange mountain ranges rise up around them, while thick forest cling to the land between. Every so often, giant silhouettes of Wyld Fae will fly overhead. Thankfully, the Summer Fae have picked an area with plenty of cover to hide in to begin their infiltration, and as the carnival is arriving via teleporation, there will be squadrons of Summerland and Summer Court Fae spreading out and concealing themselves within the trees. They will be following the carnival's trail as they move deeper into the Wyldlands, looking for their guidance to avoid the maw of the Hunt. The carnival Supervisors will be given several golden scrolls that unfurl into small light elementals. These will transmit information between the Summer armies and the carnival at speeds similar to sending a text message. They takes various forms, but most of them are abstract motes of light with wings and tails. When delivering messages, they take the form and voice of whoever gave the message, like a custom hologram that disappears immediately after finishing. After the carnival has been debriefed one more time, they will be sent off ahead to begin their scouting duties. Through a mixture of augury and expertise, the Summer Fae have narrowed down an area the Huntsman should be, as well as designated a general route that will mostly have ground cover. Who knows if it will stay that way, though, with how quickly the Wyldlands change. Much like in the Summer Court, time here is subjective - all sense of time varies between individuals, and the only solid way of knowing when a day is over is to have the light from the sky disappear. All time pieces will perform erratically while here. The carnival will still need to eat and rest, as well, which means that they will have to figure out the best times to set up camp. They have sufficient rations, at least. ► DAY 134: The carnival heads deeper into the forest on the first day of their scouting mission, told to head for a giant tree that they can see on the horizon. Apparently, this tree is a landmark that will remain consistent for the time being. Someone will have to check above the canopy every so often to keep everyone on target, which risks gaining the attention of flying Wyld Fae. There are plenty of Wylderkin around (lesser Wyld Fae that behave more like standard fantasy animals) but overall the journey through this section will not be hugely perilous, as long as they remain cautious and hidden. There will be a Megathread on this day, dealing with some optional and only mildly important Summer Court NPC interactions. ► DAY 135: Early during the next day of travelling, the forest will begin to fill with more and more magical fungi until giant shrooms have almost completely replaced the trees. At first they will seem innocuous, but as their presence becomes more inescapable, it will gradually become apparent than many of the mushrooms are poisonous to the touch - and eating them will be far worse! Those with empathetic connections to plants may be able to determine which are poisonous and which aren't, while some fungi may even have beneficial effects, if they get lucky enough to find and identify them. Generally speaking, though, there are few non-plant creatures around here, due to the fact that everything is toxic, including the swampy water that covers large sections of the ground. There will be no mod directed interactions during this period, besides handling general investigations. ► DAY 136: During the middle of this day, the carnival will finally reach the giant tree. On one hand, the plant-life has become relatively safe again. On the other, the giant tree is the lair of several neutral Wyld Fae who probably won't like the carnival's presence. On the other other hand, maybe those Wyld Fae might be willing to help or offer them directions? It's up to the group to decide if they want to attempt diplomacy, or to stealth past the tree and find their own way. There will be a Megathread on this day, based on however the team decides to handle it. ► DAY 137: Past the area surrounding the big tree, the lush foliage of the forest will begin degrading until nothing is left but dark naked trunks filled with glowing pods of various sizes. It's here that those with a connection to the Hunt will start to get a sense of the Huntsman's presence, and will be drawn in a vague direction. Unfortunately, this will also be their first major brush with the Hunt itself. Hunt patrols skirmish with neutral Wyld Fae in this forest, and the collateral damage of their warfare can be seen all over. The carnival will want to either map out a path through the trees that the fighting can be avoided for the sake of the Summer troops, or give them enough data to be able to handle the threat. How this portion goes will partly depend on the outcome of the previous day's Megathread. ► DAY 138: The forest will open up into the beginnings of a mountain range, with flowing water, luminescent plant life, and the occasional cluster of crystals sprouting from the earth. There are large parties of Hunt controlled Wyld Fae patrolling this area, and so making it through will require careful navigation. As the path becomes more and more mountainous, it will be possible to find routes that mostly avoid the patrols - this information will need to be communicated back to the Summer troops. There will be a Megathread here dealing with a Hunt patrol encounter. ► DAY 139: The mountains will continue to steepen, and the crystal formations will grow more huge and consistent. The air is always cloudy, and the air condition is bad, making it harder to breathe. Weather will become more and more unfavorable the higher into the mountains the carnival gets, with cold winds and lightning that frequently strikes the crystals and causes them to send out bursts of destructive energy. Paths will occasionally crumble. There is still a heavy Hunt presence, here, though they keep to safer trails - the best way to avoid them may indeed be taking the most dangerous routes. It's probably better than being mauled to death by beasts, though. Some distant mountain tops look like the might be volcanoes. There is almost no plant-life here, besides the most stubborn of brambles. By this point, the pull of the Huntsman has grown much stronger. ► DAY 140: The sky clears enough to show a deep red skyline. Barren cliffs are punctuated with rivers of lava, and paradoxically vibrant trees and foliage in erratic spurts. The those in the carnival with a connection to the Hunt will find themselves drawn to a valley in the center of the rocks, absolutely filled with Wyld Fae and other slaves gathered from around the multiverse. This will be the final encounter, and the carnival may have to trust in their Wyld Fae disguises to make it through. There will be multiple Megathreads here, detailing the encounter with the Huntsman and bringing this log to an end.

Comments

[whattaprick]

“We already know where she is,” Lambert answers, looking the bug ... thing over warily. “The Huntsman killed and took her with the Winter Queen’s help.”

[kingsroads]

"We think we know where she is," Strange clarifies. "Whether the Huntsman has her in the Wyldlands or not, none of us can say."

If he had to guess, he'd say that there was a good chance that she was still in the Wyldlands. But if the Huntsman's teaming up with the Winter Court and the Winter Queen wants the Ringmaster dead, there's still a chance that she might not be there. And there's something about the way that fae phrases the statement that makes Strange want to step in and clarify things or be pedantic for a moment.

"Do you know where she is?"

[npcarnival]

The Wyld Fae seems, in a word, 'confused.' It might have to do with one piece of information being given and then bring so swiftly retracted.

"What is the small ones offering?" She asks. "What are these?"

[starseedling]

Steven looks between Lambert and Strange, worry in his eyes, trying to think of what they can say to make this happens. He makes the decision to move forward and speak, while they have the chance.

"We're like you!" Steven says. "We're stuck between the Courts, and we're not really like either of them. We may not be as strong as you, but we all want the same thing: to be left alone!" He clenches his fists at his sized. "The Huntsman took something important from us, and he's probably doing the same thing to you... maybe we can help each other?"

[hippocarnival]

Yuya comes up beside Steven, a little in awe at the fae. "That's right! We want to put a stop to the Huntsman. He's done a lot of damage in the Wyldlands, hasn't he?"

This is absolutely banking on these Wyld fae having a problem with the Huntsman, specifically, but based on Lambert's words, and running along with Steven's plea--that's probably their best guess? It definitely isn't one of his hunters, anyway.

[npcarnival]

The fae stares at them for a while long, before leaping down off of the root and onto the ground right in front of them. She is very tall up close, despite appearing as an insect. Her sickles are nearly the side of Steven and Yuya themselves.

"How would such small ones do this?" She leans in close, looming over the boys with her claws and a mouth that seems to open a bit too wide. "Do you lie?"

[flashover]

Rin comes up behind Steven and Yuya, looking the bug-lady direct in her eyes.

"You shouldn't judge us based on our size, you know! We know what kind of tricks the Huntsman gets up to, and we have ways to counter that. I know it's weird for us to just roll on in here and interfere... but the Ringmaster-- the Great Beast, she's really important to us. She's saved our butts more times than I can remember, we owe it to her to beat that guy up!"

[hippocarnival]

"We're not lying." Yuya puts his hand to his chest. She's imposing, but he's refusing to feel fearful right now. He advocated for this, so he has to be determined to see it through. "We're not alone, we have help of people who also want to stop the Huntsman."

Yuya shifts on his feet, glancing to the others. It's probably better to admit this now than have it come as a surprise when they call the Summer Fae in, isn't it? "Some of them are from the Summer Court, but--we're not doing this for the Courts. We're doing this because we want to save someone important. Because the Huntsman has hurt enough people!"

[betheman]

Gongenzaka steps somewhat closer at this point, staying behind Steven and Yuuya. "Small, we may be," he begins, looking to the fae. Even he likely seems 'small' to her, after all. "However, we make up for our size with determination, and skill. As we have said; we do not lie in the slightest, about what we say to you."

[kingsroads]

"Besides, we've killed fae before," Strange points out, like it's entirely obvious. Might as well add the confirmed kill count to these talks about determination and others helping. Granted, one of those murders involved a Miracle and another involved a Creation boon, but what these fae don't know won't hurt them.

"Has the news about the Prince or the Mother of Invention reached the Wyldlands yet? We," said as he gestures to the carnival members as a whole, "helped murder them both."

[drrdrrdrr]

"Dude!" Amethyst hisses at Strange, alarmed. She is still a megaphone, though, so it comes out as an amplified stage whisper.

[whattaprick]

Yeah, Lambert's really got nothing to contribute to the points being raised here, save to step up by Steven and Yuya as well -- mostly to be in range to intervene if negotiations go south. His tail curls tensely behind him, and he glances briefly to the tree, just in case more Wyld Fae are intent on making an appearance.

He's pretty confident there are others here who could spirit away their would-be diplomats faster than he could, but he's ready to hurl himself forward and shapeshift if he must.

[chronosynthesis]

Syrlya doesn't step closer to the negotiations, but he does bring a hand to his mouth to call out from his position to the side. "Because they kidnapped and abused us, not because we are running around slaughtering fae!"

He has his doubts gossip travels to the Wyldlands like this, when some of it didn't even reach the Courts despite their tailing.

[starseedling]

Proudly advertising a kill count is perhaps the last thing that Steven is interested in endorsing, and his expression slips into one of impatience when Strange speaks. It's briefly, though - there are other things to focus on. He considers things for a moment, and then lifts his hand, cupping them before him.

With a familiar glow, crystalline vines grow around his fingers, forming into a blue rose that is alight with Miracle energy without being weaponized in the slightest. He lifts it up to show her.

"We've been through a lot," he explains. "And we've picked up some special skills along the way. I really think that if we work together, we can end the fight with the Huntsman for good!"

[kingsroads]

"They're Wyld," Strange quietly scoffs, as he looks over at...the Amethyst megaphone. Where are the eyes on that thing, this is hard to debate with. He's lowering his voice as well, despite having no idea where the heck her ears are either. "This talk about determination and help is nice, but from what I've gathered about Wyld Fae, results count as well."

He remembers the vague texts about the Wyld Fae he read in the Athenaeum. Considering how dog-eat-dog, gain control by being the strongest, all of this sounds, might as well have proof to go behind their claims.

Still, Steven using the Miracles is a good idea. So, with a murmured incantation, Strange does the same. He calls forth his shield spell, as a smaller replica of the Silver Mirror, also pulsing with Miracle energy, starts to grow out from the mirrors on his wrist.

[npcarnival]

The Wyld Fae seems to listen as they speak (or maybe she is just sizing up prey) but once Steven and Strange start showing off their magic her expression changes. She stares at Steven, and then Strange, and then Syrlya, and then Lambert and Ignatius as if something has just struck her.

She lifts her hind legs and starts creeping up the root backwards, like she doesn't want to turn her back on them. Once she is a distance away, her speed increases and she skitters up into the massive tree without another word.

The team has a moment alone, if they want to coordinate with each other.

[flashover]

Rin blinks as she crawls backwards up the tree.

"Uh... so... is that a good thing, do you think....?"

[atouts]

"We'll find out in a few minutes, I suspect," Childermass says, watching the Fae flee. At least, he takes it as fleeing, though it could just be all Wyld Fae are that rude. "Be prepared for the worst."

[betheman]

Having been watching where her focus was (it seemed wise, given the tension), it doesn't take a genius to figure what at least clicked in the fae's head.

"Auuh. ...I, the man Gongenzaka, believe she may have realized the particular source of some of our abilities just now..." Good thing? Bad thing? Who knows indeed.

[starseedling]

Steven frowns as she scuttles away, looking like he's listening to something. He lets the rose her grew go in a flash of hot-cold fire, wrapping his arms around himself instead.

"She's scared of us," he says.

[bananaspeedrider]

Clear Wing rumbles unintelligibly and Yugo frowns up at the tree.

"We're not about to get swarmed or something are we...?"

[flashover]

"Scared?!"

Rin glares at Strange and whaps him with his tail.

"You just had to tell her about all the murder, didn't you?"

[drrdrrdrr]

"Yeesh," mutters Amethyst, and she glows back into her usual form. It's reassuring to be a goofy inanimate object with eyes, but it's not going to be very useful if they've got a fight coming. "You think that's scared like she's gonna want to take us out first, Steven?"

[starseedling]

"Um..." he has to think about it. The nuance of certain emotions can be hard to be sure of. "She didn't feel... aggressive? Well, she kinda did before, but once she saw some of our magic it was like she was worried we were going to bully her instead of the other way around. She didn't want to be alone."

[kingsroads]

As Rin move to hit him with his tail, Strange moves his shield slightly to block the blow. Part of that whap hits him, but part of Rin's tail hits the mirror shield. Unlike Steven, he's still keeping his magic going and keeping his focus on the tree, waiting for something to happen.

"These are Wyld Fae. There's no organized structure like there is with the Courts. If you want to be on top, defeat the person already on top. And considering that's what we plan on doing, we might as well give them some proof that we can do so. Besides, Steven's right. She was scared of the Miracles, not any threats."

After all, she looked at Steven and Syrlya as well as him. Whether that's a good thing or not, Strange isn't so sure.