⇨ 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

[chronosynthesis]

"Understood." Syrlya finally disconnects from the edge of the group, moving closer inward. When he passes by Lambert he just offers him a firm, sympathetic pat on the shoulder. It's herding cats, man.

[anti_nonsense]

The scroll in Lambert's hands gets a curious look from Rita, but she's aware that the time to examine that magic in particular is pretty much any time other than now. With a nod, she turns and starts walking to the tree's entrance at a much more leisurely pace than Rin.

[betheman]

Well, if some are heading back, and others forward, then he will move forward. Gongenzaka nods- not only to those who are currently his 'superior', but to Yuuya as well. "I, the man Gongenzaka, shall join them as well- I shall contact one of you swiftly, if things sour," he adds more lowly, though his tone implies that he doesn't expect it to go drastically south.

But then again, when do they ever expect the worst. Oh well.

[whattaprick]

"Same to you," Lambert tells Childermass, and since the majority of the people presently assembled are either already in the tree or with their backs turned to them, he's going to risk reaching out to snag the magician's hand and press his lips lightly to his knuckles in a bit of ol'fashioned PDA.

[hippocarnival]

Yuya, of course, is already planning to go in and negotiate. He doesn't move from Steven's side, bt when Gongenzaka addresses him he offers him a smile and reaches for him arm.

"If they're inviting us to talk, then we'll show them how serious we are about this." They sure won't make a case by backing away at the last second. They're already facing potential death with the Huntsman, who means them even more harm.

[atouts]

Even if the majority aren't paying attention, it doesn't save Lambert from an offended look, feathers puffing up in irritation and everything. Sure, he tolerates it, though he's taking his hand back as soon as it seems reasonable to and hurrying off to the tree! He'll have to grouse at the witcher over it later...

[periphrasing]

Peridot takes Steven's hand with a grin, letting him hoist her up on to Lion's back. Assuming they don't take off before Lambert's outburst happens, she takes the time to snicker at him again because stars know he teases her enough, and also she's assuming she's far enough out of reach to avoid any physical retribution.

"Amethyst! We're one Shorty Squad member short!

[bananaspeedrider]

This seems like a job best left for the actual appointed diplomats. By now Yugo has already released his hold over the magic keeping his partner at full size- said card spirit alights back onto his shoulder.

"Might be better if I got back to the others staying behind."

Plus he won't necessarily have to miss much of how talking with the Wyld Fae goes thanks to a certain 'twin' connection.

[npcarnival]

All of those who enter will be welcomed into the Thunder Tree. 'Welcomed', in this case, mostly means that the dozen or Wyld Fae in there will refrain from mauling or eating you, at the behest of the Thunder Bird. The mantis fae from earlier will return to take a peek at all the new arrivals. Others, some of which are better at communicating, will come forward to discuss things in more detail.

They aren't exactly friendly, but they will spend the rest of the day making plans with the carnival diplomats. Who the carnival is are doesn't seem to matter much - they have access to powers of the Miracles, and with how wary these fae are of the Huntsman, they seem desperate to strike back and stop having to hide. Wyld Fae hate being the underdog.

Some of the more personable Wyld Fae will offer to let the 'small ones' stay in the tree during the night, but it is up to them whether or not they accept the offer. Regardless, the Wyld Fae, led by the Thunder Bird, will commit to joining the carnival on the rest of the quest, and potentially in trying to full some more of their still-free kin over to their side.

The next section of the journey will be made much easier by the Thunder Bird's brood, as they will be able to defend against Hunt attacks and skirmishes. By cooperating with them and the Summer armies, it will be possible to cut directly through the forest with only a few major fights, that the carnival members themselves will be mostly able to avoid. (Though you can make threads around the concept of close calls/almost getting mauled if you like.)

Upon Day 138, however, the larger presence of the Wyld Fae comrades will draw the attention of Hunting parties in the upcoming mountains. The next megathread will begin there.