Jonathan Strange (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
kingsroads) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
limacharlie2017-10-31 12:27 pm
kingsroads) wrote in limacharlie2017-10-31 12:27 pm
Entry tags:
day 177, midmorning, post surprise skeleton visitor
[ set on whatever channel they've got set up that's just "people who aren't kidnapped"
holy shit guys, it's a plot infodump. The radio clicks on to Strange, who sounds very tired, possibly because the amount of sleep he's gotten over the past week is somewhere in the vicinity of jack-shit. ]
For all our new employees, welcome to the carnival. You were rescued from the manor of a fae known as "the Prince." He has previously kidnapped some of our number and warped their minds so they believe they serve him. Some have been rescued, some are still imprisoned alongside more of your fellow employees.
Previously, we were expected to simply behave and play along as he and the Ringmaster attempted negotiations. The reason why he's changed his strategy so quickly is that some of our number managed to steal an important artifact of the Prince's. I believe he still has some of the artifact's power stored in a battery of some kind, but I'm afraid I don't know the specifics. [ fill us in on that, Childerteam + Rooftop Adventure, Strange was under a magical mindwhammy for that part of the plot ]
Along with warping their minds, the Prince has poisonous magic of some sort. He also has transfiguration magic: some of the animals from the Hunt were servants and some of the animals prowling the islands are undoubtedly servants as well. Most worryingly, he has the power to take someone's true name—something which we believe happened to Papyrus's brother. Taking a true name essentially robs someone of their identity, their very essence of self. [ though the words are clinical, Strange's tone relays the fact that this is Bad News. ] We don't know of any way to retrieve one's true name except from the Prince himself.
The remaining members of the carnival are held prisoner inside the Prince's fortress. There's some sort of ward around the fortress that blocks radio communication and, most annoyingly, my scrying. There aren't any specific entrances to the fortress itself. It is alive as well, and can respond to the servants. Likewise, the Prince is an earth elemental which means that he's strongest at this sort of defensive outlasting.
[ and then Strange finally takes a breath and takes a sip of water. ]
I think it's obvious that charging at the castle head-first and recklessly won't work. We need a plan and we need to come up with one quickly. The Ringmaster suggested the idea of a challenge, challenging the Prince with a game that he thinks he can win though we know we can win. Alternatively, we did manage to rescue most of our number in Hell through a stealth operation. Something like that could be attempted again. [ yeah, that's right, they went to hell, sorry to drop THAT bombshell on you, newbies. ] I don't think I need to tell you how risky either of those options are but if you have any suggestions, now is the time to tell us.
( ooc: feel free to use this post for threadjacking/brainstorming/asking questions/catching your characters up on the plot/whatever! )
holy shit guys, it's a plot infodump. The radio clicks on to Strange, who sounds very tired, possibly because the amount of sleep he's gotten over the past week is somewhere in the vicinity of jack-shit. ]
For all our new employees, welcome to the carnival. You were rescued from the manor of a fae known as "the Prince." He has previously kidnapped some of our number and warped their minds so they believe they serve him. Some have been rescued, some are still imprisoned alongside more of your fellow employees.
Previously, we were expected to simply behave and play along as he and the Ringmaster attempted negotiations. The reason why he's changed his strategy so quickly is that some of our number managed to steal an important artifact of the Prince's. I believe he still has some of the artifact's power stored in a battery of some kind, but I'm afraid I don't know the specifics. [ fill us in on that, Childerteam + Rooftop Adventure, Strange was under a magical mindwhammy for that part of the plot ]
Along with warping their minds, the Prince has poisonous magic of some sort. He also has transfiguration magic: some of the animals from the Hunt were servants and some of the animals prowling the islands are undoubtedly servants as well. Most worryingly, he has the power to take someone's true name—something which we believe happened to Papyrus's brother. Taking a true name essentially robs someone of their identity, their very essence of self. [ though the words are clinical, Strange's tone relays the fact that this is Bad News. ] We don't know of any way to retrieve one's true name except from the Prince himself.
The remaining members of the carnival are held prisoner inside the Prince's fortress. There's some sort of ward around the fortress that blocks radio communication and, most annoyingly, my scrying. There aren't any specific entrances to the fortress itself. It is alive as well, and can respond to the servants. Likewise, the Prince is an earth elemental which means that he's strongest at this sort of defensive outlasting.
[ and then Strange finally takes a breath and takes a sip of water. ]
I think it's obvious that charging at the castle head-first and recklessly won't work. We need a plan and we need to come up with one quickly. The Ringmaster suggested the idea of a challenge, challenging the Prince with a game that he thinks he can win though we know we can win. Alternatively, we did manage to rescue most of our number in Hell through a stealth operation. Something like that could be attempted again. [ yeah, that's right, they went to hell, sorry to drop THAT bombshell on you, newbies. ] I don't think I need to tell you how risky either of those options are but if you have any suggestions, now is the time to tell us.
( ooc: feel free to use this post for threadjacking/brainstorming/asking questions/catching your characters up on the plot/whatever! )
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[Because he's going to take a long nap/possible sleep. He knows something like this will take a bit longer.] But I want in whether it is directly at the prince or rescuing prisoners the hard way.
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I'll tell you myself if we come up with anything, Mister Mykk.
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There's a pause between Strange's response given he has to think for a moment.]
...I am capable of battle when it comes directly towards his Highness but I am not sure just how easily it would be for him to guide me back under his influence. My ability is useful in both cases but one lies a greater risk.
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We've some of the Prince's servants and some wounded at the carnival. Whatever we do, someone will need to stay behind and help those. If you wish, that can be your task.
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I'll not sit around guarding others while that pathetic beast has any of ours captured. He's not allowed to take anyone else and yet he very well can, Mister Strange.
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[ though, come to think of it... ]
If this is still too sore a subject then feel free to change it, but is there anything of use you might have learned while trapped in the manor?
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[It's a trade off of sorts for having brought up some sensitive information.]
If we plan on sneaking in... the tunnels of the servants would be possibly a good or bad idea. When I was in them there was always someone wandering about. On the night of my capture I accidentally found one and while I did not pursue them I found my exit back where I came from was not the same direction but a hallway instead.
Servants seemed to be able to wander in and out of secret exits at will. I was not allowed access to everything as they were wary of me but it was easier when I was a servant. There is a suit of armor just about everywhere. The kitchen was full of staff during the ball but I saw barely any security.
The problem is when the ground started shaking things almost seemed to change. The layout might be different now.
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[ there's a pause before Strange just tiredly responds with, ] And, thank you. For the apology about Arabella, that is.
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I even tried to escape through the floor and wasn't on the next level down. I was just somewhere else. [He might try to hold onto someone if he does end up going through walls again to see if he himself can cheat.
It's as close as an apology he is going to get given Tyki only slightly feels bad about what he said. He wasn't exactly in control of himself.]
So she is your wife. Lady Arabella is quite beautiful but we can talk later on how you managed to get such a fine catch, Mister Strange.
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Somewhere else? I'm assuming you don't mean a basement or something like that?
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No. It felt like I was just somewhere else instead of the basement that might've been under the floor I was in. It was dark, disgusting, smelled of old and poison. Almost like a sewer but worse. There were monsters crawling everywhere like a dungeon you might hear about in stories.
Former servants turned far too beastly as was explained to me by Cobweb. She had her name taken from her too.
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Out of curiosity, what did Cobweb look like?
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She is an elegant lady, Mister Strange. I do hope that if you meet her you treat her with respect. Lady Cobweb is tall with four arms caught between being humanoid and spider. Her face is quite beautiful amidst the spider like appendages and she has long flowing silks coming from her thorax.
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By 'retrieve', you mean they're here at the carnival? I'd offer to search for them if they weren't.
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Yes, I took it upon myself to at least find them. They are with the others at the portal or near it. I had thought to call upon you and your spying abilities. [Intentionally not using the word 'scrying'.] But Princess compared to the others is rather easy to find and they were with her. I got lucky.
Though Princess does have a habit of running off when she's hungry. I do adore her determination.
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We'll see what happens. Though, I suspect plans won't be underway for at least another hour or so. Enjoy your nap, Mister Mykk.
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