lostcarnival | ⇨ THE WYLDLANDS

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⇨ THE WYLDLANDS

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Rin still doesn't look super happy about it, with his arms crossed and snout in a near-snarl... but that's probably as good as it's going to get.

"Hrff.... that's ok with me, I guess... because it really is going to take us too long to get there this way..."

"Something like that..." Ignatius agrees, his eyes settled on Nightshade. The pixie shrugs her shoulders.

"That's fine by me," she says. "So, what do you say?" She's looking at the rest of the group, now.

Rita's been tense since the moment Nightshade appeared, her teeth and fists clenched. She looks to Ignatius, then back to Nightshade, and gives an exasperated sigh.

"Fine," she huffs. "I'm willing to try it, under those conditions."

Amethyst folds her cat arms. She really, really doesn't like this. But...

"If she tries anything..."

There is a sharp cough from Gongenzaka, an unspoken get on with it while he focuses on not only connecting/holding connection to the Ringmaster but also streaming the equivalent of Happy Thoughts Only.

Can they please just start on this path?

Lambert looks to Ignatius, not Nightshade, and nods simply, though he'll take a moment to untangle himself from Childermass and tug his golden light elemental scroll out.

"Better let Summer know," he offers, by way of explanation, before he rattles off the information briefly and succinctly -- that Nightshade has joined them as a guide, Ignatius staying with them as they look for the Ringmaster -- and directs it to one of the Summer generals.

That done, he settles back and listens to whatever deal Ignatius and Nightshade end up striking.

Sans growls very softly despite himself, clenching his fists hard and continuing to do his best to hold back the force of his own magic. He can't argue with anyone's logic, here - with a contract, it should be safe. It's just hard to push back those niggling memories of trauma in favour of making an at all rational decision.

He can't wait to be done with all of this and maybe go to fucking therapy or something.

"If we're taking a shortcut, that makes this the last stop," Sans says, glancing at Lambert as he finishes up, and at the rest of the group. "What's the plan if we can't get through to her?"

Meanwhile, Ignatius and Nightshade do their contract. It's really more of a vow - for Nightshade to promise her sincerity, while Ignatius makes sure she upholds it.

"I hereby swear to you, Lord Ignatius of Conflagration, that the path I suggest is safe to the best of my knowledge and is not intended to inflict harm upon you," Nightshade says, saying 'Conflagration' with just a little bit of venom.

Ignatius narrows his eyes.

"I accept your vow. Now, we should go, and quickly. We won't stay out of the fray for long."

Peridot is back on Lambert's shoulder again at this point, and turns her attention away from the fae towards Sans instead.

"I'm pretty certain that 'getting through to her' is our only option we have, aside from dying," she says grimly.

"That's the plan, we get through to her!" Papyrus agrees, frowning as he looks out and away. "She won't have forgotten us and the carnival all the way down, deep down... and whatever the Huntsman does, isn't as bad as the Void."

Appeals to friendship, with pressure from song and creation, worked out there. Surely it will again.

"But... maybe Ignatius could eat her this time, if it's too slow-going..?"

He doesn't know if the fire-and-ice fae is wild enough to have picked up that particular ability, Ignatius nevered offered it with the Mother of Invention... But saving her in return would be the time, if any.

"Excuse me?" Ignatius snaps, looking at Papyrus. That sounds like a no-go on the 'eating her' thing.

Everything is so tense, but then Papyrus suggests Ignatius trying to eat a giant dragon, and Sans can't help but crack up. He puts his hand to his head, wheezing quietly as he tries to wrap his head around what's about to happen.

"Okay. It's all or nothing, then. I get it," he says. "Hey, we've got plenty of experience with this kind of thing by now. We're practically experts."

As this conversation happens, an eruption happens among some gigantic Wyld Fae fighting nearby. As the explosion clears, one of them stumbles, falling backward - slowly but dangerously in the direction of the carnival party.

"Wonderful," Nightshade says, snapping her fingers. "We can carry on."

All at once, the ground will collapse beneath the various carnival members - they could theoretically try to dodge this, but it isn't actually to their benefit. The holes popping up lead straight to an underground tunnel, just as promised.

The ground shakes not long after they enter. Thankfully, it seems sturdy enough to stand the pressure of fae rumbling overhead. The tunnel ahead is alight with faintly glowing walls, covered in fine, shimmering crystals, like morning frost.

"It's amazing what you can accomplish by being simply overlooked," Nightshade says, immediately beginning to lead the way down the tunnel. It's big enough that it shouldn't be too much trouble for the larger people in the party, but it isn't exactly roomy either.

He has, maybe half a second to even realize the ground is collapsing- and barely manages to hold himself together enough to not only one, not instinctively try to run- but two, not give up the communication effort. The attempt certainly falters, but he grasps at it as frantically as he can while landing in an ungraceful heap. "Mngh..!"

Great.

Moving on then- he gives a look around the tunnel, but quickly stands and gives a nod to those around him- he's alright...and getting back to what he's hoping will work. There hasn't been any confirmation that he's successfully connected yet, obviously-

But that doesn't make the effort hopeless.

Zangetsu tumbles off of Gon's back as they fall, landing awkwardly nearby. He scrambles to get back on his noble steed.

"Christ. No broken bones or anything anywhere, right?" he asks of the rest of the team.

Syrlya's caught pieces of the conversation, but until there's confirmation that Nightshade has an easier way they'll follow, he's still focused on keeping an eye on their surroundings and path. Which means he's late to catch up and when he teleports back in place, and the ground has just crumbled and Syrlya has absolutely no footing.

There's a shrill hollar, dirt gently clouding into the air as Syrlya flickers back into view on the ground of the tunnel.

Edited 2019-02-14 05:36 (UTC)

They're falling? They're falling. Peridot is distracted by the increasingly intrusive sounds of clashing fae, AND she's sitting on Lambert's shoulder again, so. She doesn't notice the ground giving out, until they're all already on their way down.

Reaction already delayed, the gem squawks as the earth swallows them up, naturally assuming that this is not a part of the plan, and that some kind of vicious subterranean fae must be trying to trap them. She puffs out her fur and digs her claws into the witcher's shoulder, and frantically casts out with her metallokinesis for something to hold on to, anything to arrest their descent with. Fortunately, she is already perched on a significant source of metal...

So, this is how-- despite it not being a very long or particularly perilous fall-- Peridot and Lambert both wind up stopping very suddenly and late into the descent in mid-air, and remain hovering a few inches above the tunnel floor, suspended by a combination of Peridot's powers and Lambert's metal skeleton.

Still spooked, Peridot casts a round eyed stare around at their companions, trying to figure out what just happened.

Stopping very suddenly mid-air right up until the giant bird monster that Childermass had instinctively gone to in his own attempt to grab at Lambert lands on them. He hadn't taken into account that Peridot might be able to stop the tumble on her own. That's ultimately his own mistake but still about to be their problem, even if, as far as weight goes, he's really all only hollow bird bones and feathers here.

Yuya comes tumbling down like the others. He scrambles, lunging to try and grab the nearest person--and misses, instead careening forward and falling straight down on his face at the bottom on the tunnel.

He sputters, spitting dirt as he pushes himself up and starts wiping his face. "You could have warned us..."

Thankfully, Steven is riding on Lion, and Lion is a cat, so when they fall Lion just kind of tensely drops to the ground. He looks annoyed, but otherwise unruffled. Steven yelps, but it's short lived.

And there's pretty crystals up ahead! He can't say it makes it feel any less anxious, though. Both about the tunnel and what's on the other side of it. He pats Lion's shoulder, encouraging him to start heading along after Nightshade.

"Almost there," he breathes. "She... She didn't hurt us before. She could have, and she didn't."

This has gotta work.

Goddamn this is rattling - and abruptly falling through a hole when Nightshade is present isn't exactly helping him resist the urge to wolf out. His fingers and toes have grown long and jagged from his body's preemptive shifting, and while he can't gracefully enough with the aid of magic, he looks like he wants to bite Nightshade's head off. Just a little bit, though.

"I could have," Nightshade says to Yuya, gesturing vaguely for them to follow as she flits down the tunnel. "But it's all the same in the end, isn't it?"

Ignatius follows after her, looking defensive and skeptical. Provided everyone follows as indicated, the rumbling of nearby conflict will not penetrate the subterranean path - though Sans and Lambert will feel the influence of Hunt members slip near its boundaries, only to peel away again.

The air is crisp, increasingly cold as they follow the path. Childermass will recognize it as definitely 'wintry.' Yet, it feels like they are getting close, all the same.

As they travel, Gongenzaka will finally feel the brush of the same consciousness from before - the red winged one from the dream. The one that must be the Ringmaster. There is a vague sense of wariness there, and then some confusion. Yet, there is something blocking Gon from joining her more definitively.

Her presence is definitely ahead.

"She is ahead," Gongenzaka's voice will announce, though he visibly sounds concerned. "Something does not seem right however..."

Over the connection he does his best to convey familiarity and peacefulness- he is a friend. They know him, in fact- they are one to whom no harm is wished. Only safety, protection, and freedom.

He pushes, trying to better connect. Please- even if they cannot remember everything- they met once in a dream just recently!

Lambert doesn’t have much time to sputter over being yanked around by his bones (fun fact, flesh and organs still have their own momentum, so being pulled up short like that feels real weird) before he’s being barreled into by a much larger body with feathers. That gets an undignified squawk, though he won’t spend much effort putting himself to rights before they get back to business again.

Along the way, he’ll let the rest know when he senses the Hunt’s presence close, although every time they pull away again... it’s odd, to say the least. After that’s happened enough times, he’ll finally comment on it—

“Looks like they really can’t pick up on us,” he comments, wary. He’s still tense, trying not to focus too much on what they’re doing and their purpose in case it draws the Hunt’s attention. When Gongenzaka pipes up, though, it becomes impossible not to hone in on what he says.

“Doesn’t seem right how?” he presses. “Do you mean like a trap?”

Childermass is quick enough to shift back down to just a feathery man rather than a huge feathery beast, offering a quick, somewhat chagrined apology as he helps Lambert and Peridot both back up — or perhaps only Lambert, with a bat-shaped Peridot still attached.

There isn't much room to fuss, though, as they carry on after the fall. He does find himself slowing down some when he catches that cold, crisp feeling in the air, like a cold morning, the smell of snow.

"Does anyone else feel that? It's getting colder."

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i don't know if this is a shitpost either, but to break that mood

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