lostcarnival | ⇨ EPILOGUE

Entry tags:

!event,
@the end

⇨ EPILOGUE

Who: Anyone who's ever been in the game before!
When: Day 143 and for the rest of time.
Where: The Ringmaster's Realm.
What: It's a time of reunions and also a time for goodbyes - for now, but probably not forever. This is the final official log for Lost Carnival, and it's potentially open to anybody who's played in the game. Thanks for everything!
Warnings: Is it safe? It's probably safe.

THE EVER AFTER↴

It's done. The Huntsman is gone and the Winter Queen has been cured of her self-inflicted condition. It will take time, but if things proceed well, it seems like they could end up with a sympathetic party in the Winter Throne. At the very least, guilt is a hell of a drug when it comes to getting someone's ear on important matters.

The damage that has been done is not something that can easily be fixed. Lives have been ruined or lost completely, and emotional wounds can last a lifetime. Yet, for the first time in eons there is a bold hope for the future - a hope for change in ways the Courts never knew they could.

There is so much to do in the aftermath that it will be years before any of it has been truly seen through. In the immediate hours and days following, however, the Ringmaster will be focused on seeing to the needs of her carnival. Or, at least, what was her carnival. She isn't sure what it is now. She'll probably always think of them as her family, even if they don't return the sentiment. Things are different now, are they not? They are no longer her followers, but the friends and peers she had always wished for in her previous life.

After they have finished their business in the Winter Court, she will bring them all back to the remains of her realm. They need time to rest, and time to think. As she begins the reconstruction of her world, she has a few announcements to make.

Firstly - all lingering contracts for those present are now considered paid. She will fulfill their wishes to the best of her ability regardless of how many days would have been left. Of course, it will take her a bit of time since they are all happening at once, but she'll be going down the list! All other contracts will be fulfilled or cancelled depending on individual situations, and whether or a person's connection to the carnival was still active. Otherwise they've probably been reset and their contract cancelled anyway.

Secondarily - she is unsure of the future of the carnival itself. With how much there is to do, she doesn't feel that she can simply run away again, no matter how easy that would be in comparison. Being one of the Miracles puts her in a unique position of power, and this time, she wants to do right by it. Her and Ignatius have some ideas, but it will probably be a while before they come to fruition. However, she will rebuilding her realm in a new shape, and everyone is welcome to stay there as long as they want. Alternatively, she will help them travel to wherever in the multiverse they'd like to go instead, and they will retain easy passage back to her realm whenever they wish to travel there. In the future they can probably even learn to world travel on their own!

Thirdly - she is going to be inviting back people who still had open contracts so that everyone can catch up and make decisions about going home. Not all of them will show up in this time, but she wanted to give them the opportunity. So, if friends or family went home but haven't been reset, they may possibly be arriving at the new Ringmaster realm to catch up. Otherwise, their contracts will be considered paid and they can stay at home. This mean, previously dropped characters can reappear in the realm to visit and get some closure.

As a final helpful gift, those who became Miracles will be able to edit the reality of the realm to their liking while she works on it. So, if you want to hang out and build some things, you are free to design and magically construct your own spaces like high-res Minecraft.

And that's only the beginning.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Beyond the personal lives of the carnival, a lot of things have changed. The stuff beneath this top level will be covering the near and potential future of various places and people they have touched, along with the future plans of characters like the Ringmaster. The content will describe things as they flow over the next few months, but the ramifications of the carnival's actions will stretch into the eons.

If you want to comment or interact with some of these concepts, feel free to comment to each top level or ask questions, even if it is just stating how your character would be involved in it.

In the days and months following the Winter Queen's rebirth, the Summer Court will be going through its own transitions. United by the shared victory over the Huntsman, the Summer Maiden has agreed to rejoin the larger Summer Court, but not without conditions. Over the coming months and years, plans are put into place for the Summer Maiden to finally ascend to the Summer Throne, and for the Summer Queen to take her much needed retirement.

There is a culture clash between the returning Summerlands Fae and the old faithfuls that remained int he Court, but both the Maiden and the Queen desire to make amends. It will be an uphill battle to convince the older fae to change their ways regarding colonies and the treatment of mortals and even other fae, but with the Summer Maiden solidly in line for the throne and the current Queen's cooperation, it is only a matter of time.

The years that follow will require a lot of growth, but will also be a time of relative peace, especially with the help of certain mediating parties.

The Winter Queen has awoken to find herself in quite the predicament. With the old Queen's power removed and locked away, she is once again herself, but her position on the throne after years of insanity is precarious and she no longer has the strength to command with sheer power. Thankfully, the Ringmaster is willing to support her in coming months, they will be seeking out the Winter Crone, who should be able to help them transfer the remains of the old Winter Queen to her.

Distrust among the Winter Court is heavy, and it will take a long time before anything is very secure again. However, the Summer Maiden will be extending a supporting hand to her old lover, and with time, trust may bloom again. But not before the Winter Queen spends a lot of time making up for her mistakes.

With the help of outside parties, the Winter Queen will be starting an initiative to seek out and welcome back Winter Fae that had previously been banished of chased off during the insurgence but it will be a hard sell for obvious reasons.

It's a difficult situation, and given Winter's cutthroat culture, it will take careful attention to ensure that the Court can heal and grow into something better than it was before.

Several weeks after the Huntsman's defeat and after a lot of discussion with Ignatius, the Summer Maiden, and the Winter Queen, a new mediating party will be introduced to the Courts - with the Ringmaster as its helm.

All of those interested in coming will see the birth of the Equinox Court, an organization meant to represent a middle point between Summer and Winter, and to mediate disputes and other complications. It's also meant to stand for the needs of the Wyld Fae and other previously unrepresented species - including former mortals like most of the carnival! It has become clear that the Courts will never be able to move forward to better things while in such competition, and the Equinox Court is intended to unite them in favour of a better universe.

While the Equinox Court is intended to be run by council, it is intended to be guided by three leaders - the Spring Regent, the Wyld Regent, and the Autumn Regent. The first as a leader with connections to the Summer Court, the middle with connections to the Wyld Fae, and the third with connections to Winter.

To begin, Ignatius will be appointed the role of Spring Regent, while the Ringmaster will be the Wyld Regent. A major problem for the future? The fact that they have absolutely no idea who an appropriate Autumn Regent could be. The hunt for one begins immediately, but given the Winter Court tendency towards treachery... well. It's going to take a while.

The Ringmaster will consider all carnival members members of the Equinox Court - but only if they wish to be. As Miracles of the balance, they have a special role in the magical world, and even if they spend most of their time at home, she will be offering the chance to take part in Court activities when necessary. She'd really like it if they did, but she can respect if they choose to live their life without Fae nonsense, too.

The Ringmaster's realm will serve as the headquarters of the Equinox Court, at least at the beginning. You will all forever be welcome to consider it your home.

During all of this, the Summerland enacted a mission to retrieve the remaining prisoners of Polaris. It will take a long time to sort all of them out, and to give them a chance to heal from what was done to them, but they have a bit of practice with this sort of thing by now. Over time, the Summer Maiden will be organizing a plan to bring refugees from Polaris and the Manor to now homes and planet of their choosing, once they decide to go. Until then, of course, they will be permitted to remain for as long as they want, with some of the Summer Fae remaining to act as caretakers and healers.

Of course, now the refugees can move into the city proper, now that the fae no longer need it. It will act as a home and magical halfway house to all changelings and other lost souls that need aid to find safety again. Maybe, over time, those that remain will form their own communities. Maybe they will finds homes elsewhere. Most importantly, the choice will be theirs.

In the new land the Ringmaster found for them, the resident of New Eden are thriving. Still blessed with enough angelic power to support themselves, but not using so much that they require anyone else's help for subsistence, they are carving out a new society for themselves in an exciting new world.

They are peaceful towards the worlds current residents, and continue to feed themselves without needing to kill. The trees that they brought with them, that once sprouted from the Silver Mirror, have taken root and provide them with the enlightening essence they need.

The remains of the Thirteen have made amends among themselves in favour of leading their people towards a new way of living. Those that saved them from Lilith's clutches will always be welcome.

The Caravan continues its journey across the multiverse, and remains closely tied with the Ringmaster. At the very least, you will continue to have a few very adamant changelings allies in their ranks, finally freed from the horrors of their pasts.

He stays, (intermittent with going home for Reasons), and makes himself a creepy New England suburban house, like, plonked somewhere in the Ringmaster's realm, looking completely out of place. He's honestly kind of an awful Equinox member, considering its intended role. Herbert is bad at communication, let alone mediation.

He just practices his new magic until he eventually manages to bring Dan Cain there as his changeling somehow, and then it's just indefinite creepy experiments and trying to research fae anatomy interspersed with Court Business, whatever it is.

Yuya does eventually return to his own world, contracts paid, after a few weeks to recover and make plans with all of his friends, the Ringmaster and Ignatius included, to stay in touch. He'll take the reborn soul of Zarc when the Ringmaster handles Reira's contract, and prepare himself for a very long conversation with his parents about... adoption...

He visits often to keep in touch with friends and offer help where he can. He doesn't have the raw power everyone else chose, but he still has the perspective of a mortal and as he gets older a better handle of diplomacy. Sometimes, he might put on small one-man shows for members of the Court and relive a little of the carnival's origins.

So many sons are joining the Sakaki family household, it's great.

Syrlya only stays about a week before taking his leave. He thanks the Ringmaster for the reprieve, says his goodbyes, and sees himself back to Tyria so that he can take his new knowledge and power to affect some real change.

From there, he's almost unheard of for years unless someone visits his home specifically. He ends up busy stabilizing the world, both magically and politically. It takes up all his time to see through the safety and peace so many of his friends has given their lives for, and he can't let it go in vain. He keeps the news of his power to a limited few.

It's only when he's sure he can leave it behind for a while that he returns, looking very much like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. A few years isn't much time for most people, certainly not enough to have complete control of his new miracle abilities. He comes back to take the time to really learn, and master them, and maybe properly learn more about the Fae along the way as he figures out his supposed place as someone just as powerful now.

[The First Weeks]

The weeks following, Yuya stays with the Ringmaster and the rest of the carnival as they figure out their new direction. For the first time in months, he can really take it easy knowing things at home and among the Fae will be taken care of... and he’ll do his part for it. He can’t stay, but the Ringmaster promises easy passage to return, and Yuya knows he’ll be returning often. Going home doesn’t mean he has to leave all of this behind.

For many of his friends, when there’s a moment, he goes to sit next to them. Offer them a snack, and a smile, and look forward to a better future for all of them.

He also has a lot of things to collect for the journey home, and a baby.

[6 Years]

And Yuya holds to his word of visiting often, though in the past couple years the frequency has slipped a little. He’s getting older, he has more responsibilities at home, but he’d never forget what’s beyond his quieter mortal life (only thankfully quieter, now).

But it’s been half a year since his last visit, and he turned twenty not long ago. Aside from getting a little taller, more adult in appearance, he wears his hair in the same messy cut and his fashion sense hasn’t improved any with mismatched jewelry and an awful tie-dye shirt. And a silver band on his left ring finger.

As soon as he sees a familiar face, he perks up and makes a beeline for them with an excited grin. His closest friends will also be greeted with outstretched arms, so be prepared for a hug.

[Wildcard]

And any time after he leaves, and following after, he visits often. He wants to know how his friends are, wants to tell them how his life is going whether it's been six months, two years, or more.

[The First Days]

Syrlya is already preparing to leave, after his talk with the Ringmaster.

He doesn’t have much to recover, thankfully. No pets, few possessions. Tyria still needs him, and he thinks he finally has what he needs to save it. He doesn’t want to waste more time, especially when the carnival hasn’t been completely full of good memories. Tyria isn’t either, though, so that much he can’t quite hold against the Ringmaster.

Despite it, he doesn’t spend those few days alone. He hasn’t been one for celebrations for a while, but not knowing how long he’ll be saying goodbye to these faces he revels in their company for the few days they have, sharing gratitude and farewells with comrades he’s grown fond of.

[5 Years]

And then, for the first time, Syrlya is back. Physically, largely unchanged—that’s the nature of his people after all, likely immortal from the start. But his back is straighter than when he left, his shoulders less tense. It’s as easy as she said, using the portal device to return.

He doesn’t get all that far before he stops, struck by how much has actually changed. And the whispers that it’s a Court now?

“I see much has happened here as well,” he lets out a breath, before making his way to the center of the realm. If he’s going to be here a while yet, he’d better get familiar.

[Wildcard]

While Syrlya doesn't return to the Court for some time, that doesn't mean others can't get a little help coming to visit him in Tyria. It's a lush, vibrant, magic-filled world if one overlooks the apocalyptic dragons. He's working on that--and maybe you can meet his dragon daughter.

Reira is rather alarmed when her contract is suddenly just over, but she's more than thrilled to be handing a baby Zarc to Yuuya to hold. What do you mean this makes things complicated Yuuya this is great, this is So Great.

Initially when she's told she can go home she's...well, confused, and then understanding because she's not That dumb, she knows everyone figures their homeworlds are 'Home'. She just got used to thinking of her trailer as home is all.

Even if the trailer doesn't exist any more. There's no doubt at least a day or so of pouting about because she doesn't want to leave, she likes everyone here and etc etc etc and then finally someone points out that there's going to be a great big portal she can use to just come back here when she wants.

And negotiations with the 7 year old go a lot easier from there. While she'll always consider certain members of the group her family, the fact remains that she sort of still has a brother in her world. ~~Himika and Leo are just, not parents, they don't deserve the title, it's decided~~ Not to mention she should probably be around when they explain the Zarc thing.

So Reira takes all of her things (including a Lorge Bird) and moves back home...Mostly. She'll eventually end up in a weird visitation type set up- weekdays (unless something Big like a Cool Party and Not a Fight because Reira is still a kiddo) are for school, and home world. Weekends...are for Ringmaster's Realm, and seeing how everyone's doing! ~~and time with BetterMom and BetterDad,~~ Field trips to other worlds Probably Happen. Maybe she'll get a pokemon, idk. ~~let reira pokemon~~

Over time she'd probably be able to do more around the place since she'd be growing up, but realistically that's way down the line. ~~She definitely eventually gets one of those wood rot folks to immortal her up tho bc fuck leaving all of this, she's in it until the end just like you lot~~

DEFINITELY A THING THOUGH: those rock patches are definitely phasing out later on, they throw her whole design off man.

Gongenzaka intends to return to his world with Yuuya- but, much like Yuuya, takes a number of weeks within the Ringmaster's realm and related in order to help out with settling things over. He comes back fairly often at first- almost every day if he can help it- and definitely catches events such as the establishment of the court...but after a while these visits fade to a more casual extent, helping alongside Yuuya and the others or visiting with the friends they made.

He ends up building up a place to live with Yuuya in the realm nonetheless however- it starts out somewhat simple (reflecting how the tents and trailers were earlier on), moving to a more obviously temporary deal (when visits become a matter of just Visiting or lending a hand), and then....to a somewhat more permanent one, when it feels like the home there is more of a home than the one in their world! Whoops.

His undead pets- eventually made Not Undead when he figures out how- are typically spotted at the place. Thanks guys.

Carly didn't expect to never have to contract to stay forever. But here she is! After a lovely date with the Ringmaster (Who knows what happens there), it's time to get settled into things. If she hasn't already.

Naturally, Carly and Yuusei both end up making a little corner of the realm for themselves, but they also resolve to go home and spend a good portion of time in their world for at least as long as is 'necessary'. Carly ends up spending more time in the Ringmaster's Realm than Yuusei does, but over all they both come by often enough to catch noted events in the FaeZone. It's tricky to pretend to be a different version of yourself, but she pulls it off!

And also brings back some weird androids. It's fine, they're fine, don't think about it. She probably also gets married. Over all Carly is probably making clothes for So Many People still, and getting over attached to everything, and just doing her Best. Because she loves everything and everyone.

After everything, Carly finally gets a chance to find Moss- find Moss and apologize for stuff she said, tearfully wish her the best, probably give her a nice little hairpin or something...She's sort of been sitting on this since before Eden so!

YEAH.

Mostly she's just really glad Moss can be rid of the noise in her head.

Unsurprisingly, Lambert's dedication to the Court is mostly dictated by how much time Childermass spends there. He's there often enough to have taken up the Ringmaster's offer to basically edit the realm to give himself and the magician a fairly sweet manor to hole up in, overlooking the sea and eventually cozily furnished with whatever they bring back from traipsing through realms. He misses the training yard, so he's going to make one of those too, though given the absurd amount of power everyone's got now it's probably going to be a breeze to get past what he constructs. He'll take tips from any fae around -- it'll be good to have a big place to practice new powers without blowing up anything else.

Primarily, he'll be interested in supporting the Ringmaster as best as he can during the transition, as well as juggling the difficulty of his partner having two fairly occupying jobs and not feeling like he's dead weight etc, since he's absolutely shitty at politics. It'll probably have a few rough spots here and there, as with any situation where you're trying to negotiate how your life interlinks with anyone else's.

To the extent that the Equinox Court needs a military force or similar, patrol borders and eliminate threats, he'll make himself available. He'll also come if any of his friends ask him to, but for the most part he'll be bouncing between England and the Equinox Court for as long as that's a thing, so he won't be too hard to find.

Edited 2019-03-09 07:23 (UTC)

[THE AFTERMATH - Prompts in bold]

In the immediate aftermath of their encounter with the Winter Queen, there is much to do. Certainly, with the target of his contract technically fulfilled, he's free to go. And when Yuuya and Reira's own are filled, the allowance is more there than ever. But both before and after thar point, he feels there is more necessary to do. Absolutely, he will return home before a year has passed. That much, he's certain of. But in the first number of weeks, Gongenzaka remains 'on site'.

Just in case. It's a choice thar reaps many benefits. For starters, there is room and guidance for miracle practice- something Gongenzaka takes full advantage of. The canid chimera can be seen not only meditating upon bodies of water spawned by others, but even just running his hands over the larger of undead creatures given to him as 'thanks' from someone long ago. 'Jii-Chou' could use some fixing up after all...and if he can, he wants to learn how. Studying with others is thus far from out of the question.

But there is more to do than just that- and quite importantly Gongenzaka needs somewhere to sleep during the tim he's there. So after a bit of asking around and advice, he eventually gets to work on that...Though 'Home' is...admittedly looking rather like he took the inside of Yuuya's old trailer and shoved it through the old 'giants' tent. Maybe he needs more ideas.

He'll certainly explore plenty of the realm as others add their parts after all.

[Wild Card - The sky is the limit; if you have prompts for the first few months of the aftermath, go ahead and comment!]

[SIX YEARS LATER - Prompts in Bold]

In six years, much has changed. Gongenzaka, almost impossibly, even grew. That's how much change occurred. There are still things that have not quite been broken to those of his homeworld- magic alone is plenty. Immortality? He almost wonders if his parents even need to fret over that. But six years pass, and Gongenzaka comes into the Ringmaster's realm looking exceptionally pleased. Perhaps he's caught at the gate- trotting in with his wings neatly folded into curtains of wisteria and grasses, long tail swishing barely above the ground. If he was tall before, he towers now. He had already been made nine foot by simple virtue of his legs being swapped for a bears body. Now, after growing from 5'8'' to 6'4'' under human glamor and shape, that's gone up to a little over 10 foot in the chimeric base state. It seems only a little bit else otherwise needed to change though- wood-metal and flesh arms cross over a chest that remains just as brick-like as six years back- but his hair is more gently braided back into the mane of plants, and his canid face seems sharper now. Sharper and, well, softer thanks to the whiskering nearer to the nose.

He still wears those sashes though- and his piercings, it seems, are still in place as well. And those t-shirts. And-

"Ahaaa! Yes- Yes, I, the man Gongenzaka am back...Down! Down, Ji-chou..!"

And at the 'House' (which these days is at least simplified into a spacious, but absolutely more visitation focused tent given he still spends more time in his world), Gongenzaka is greeted by an over eager and bird-like creature, the now 'alive' and former raven looking far less broken and awkward despite no longer being a raven at all. "Ahahaaa...I was here only a few days ago, please..!"

"Aaaah, but she missed you of course," purrs Marishi- her own form onlt barely changed since Gongenzaka first ascended. "Let her have her fun, mmn?"

Life for Gongenzaka it seems" has gone well. Both in the multiverse...

And back in his world. In Maiami, Japan, Gongenzaka has yet to take over his dojo- a fact that no doubt contributes to the time he has for the court at present. But more importantly for those greeting him in his world...he does not use a glamor, now.

Rather, he uses shapeshifting. Gongenzaka here truly Is six four, albeit seemingly taller thanks to iron geta. He wears his sash and headband with pride, and the pompadour he once had has been simplified- while the front certainly bunches much like it, much of his hair can be seen braided down his back. T-shirts, and slacks- the expected fashion for Gongenzaka, accompanied by the piercings that about gave his father a heart attack years back.

His mother, less so apparently.

But he waves in visitors to his world with pride, Suzu the granbull glamored into the appearance of a large mastiff at the end of a leash. "Ahaa! You made it, I see!" He greets eagerly. And perhaps this is a surprise visit. Or...

Perhaps, the reason you've come is because of the ring that glistens on his finger when he waves...

[Wild Card - Got ideas for things 6 years from the end- or even anywhere between then and one year after? Comment here (but don't forget a date!)]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 10

⇨ EPILOGUE

⇨ THE AFTERMATH

THE SUMMER COURT

THE WINTER COURT

THE EQUINOX COURT

THE REFUGEES

NEW EDEN

WORLDWALKER CARAVAN

Herbert West Epilogue

no subject

no subject

no subject

Yuya Sakaki

Immediate Aftermath

Years To Come

Syrlya

Immediate Aftermath

Years To Come

no subject

no subject

no subject

MOSS, BABY,

Lambert, After

GONGENZAKA

IMMEDIATE

THE FUTURE - 1 - 6 YEARS