[Day 5 : Public Channel ]

[motivenotfound]

This is Peridot: Your engineer and number-one gem speaking, interrupting your usual afternoon radio chatter with an urgent matter of utmost importance. SO LISTEN UP!

[She’ll pause briefly to give people more time to actually turn their radios up and listen properly, because she is actually dedicated to making sure that the whole carnival is on the same page with this.]

A-hem. Thank you. Now as some of you may already know, a small group of dedicated carnival members-- including yours truly—have been coordinating an effort to try and create a possible antidote to the venom of a certain detestable fae. You know the one. The clod that we were all EXTREMELY glad to see get his comeuppance at the hands of our great and wonderful Ringmaster.

Anyway. The Prince may be gone now, but unfortunately, his cruddy venom is still affecting a large percentage of the carnival staff. Worse yet-- through no fault of any of its founding members-- the original antidote team has made very little progress on manufacturing a cure. [Muttering:] Personally, I blame the fact that most of the people who would have been better suited to this work were also counted among those that were missing, but I digress! We did what we could with what we had, okay?!

[Mari is only kind of interrupting this time, but she’s a little more forceful than usual--and a little more animated than this really warrants. She’s just excited about having a new project.]

We've identified the basic problem: that the venom is affecting the soul of its victims and not just their bodies. Physical cures alone aren't going to cut it. We're gonna need magic, medicine, and metaphysical prowess, especially when it comes to souls and soul energy.

And while we can't make you do anything, not helping would be kind of an asshole thing to do right now.

The kind of asshole thing we’ll definitely remember.

[Somewhere off in the background, you can hear Peridot muttering:] Nyeh?

[Promise, threat, same thing.]

The good news is, we do have a new doctor to introduce! He's kind of our only doctor, really. But no one's died under his care yet, sooooo that's probably a good sign.

...take it away, doctor.

[There is a pause because Herbert is giving Mari an incredibly unimpressed look. But, like, fair, he guesses.]

My name is Herbert West, this… carnival’s new medic and as someone previously held captive by this ‘Prince’ I’ve only recently had the opportunity to begin my research into this unique affliction. I have education and previous experience in various forms of medicine and chemistry, especially in regards to specific aspects of pathology—however, I have never encountered… [He’s so reluctant. He is the MOST reluctant.] …what is referred to here as magic. Therefore, any help from those knowledgeable in that particular field and how it might interact with biomedical science, as well as any individuals who may have encountered artificially induced fossilisation in any form previously would be ideal.

Additionally, if you have been affected by the venom and you have yet to visit the medical tent I must insist you do so as soon as possible! My--our development of the cure depends upon data, and we cannot be aware of all the variables without access to each patient. As long as everyone cooperates we should be able to solve this in fairly short order.

Right, so. There you have it. We’ll turn the ‘floor’ over to the other workers who will be heading up some of the other research teams now, but the bottom line here is: We’re all gonna work together, come up with a cure to fix everyone, and it’s GONNA BE GREAT!

Comments

[otoko]

Hmmmnn....if it is data which you require, I, the man Gongenzaka, can at least offer myself as more than my state as fellow 'poisoned'...

I, the man Gongenzaka, am able to...'feel', to an extent, the souls of others. More typically, this is for tracking matters, but...

...this ability has also proven useful in detecting damages to the soul as well. In particular, it is how I, the man Gongenzaka, was able to tell that Sans and those with me in the Prince's clutches, were so terribly affected by it...

HERBS 🌿 AND POTIONS ⚗️? SIGN UP HERE

[whattaprick]

[ As the radio post goes on, Lambert mentally resigns himself to being a statue forever. Until now, he’s just been impatiently waiting for his chance to chime in, because surprising no one? These nerds talk a lot.

Once it finally seems like he can speak up, he does so, keeping his piece brief and to the point. ]

This is Nightrider Lambert. If you know your way around herbs, potions, or alchemy, come find me. If you still have any of the phoenix fruit or seeds the Ringmaster gave us, or you’re handy at any kind of magic that can make plants grow faster, I want to talk to you too. I’ll be down by the lake.

Radio Response

[mylastchance]

I can help with that.

[whattaprick]

Lauren, right? Which part?

[ Susan had mentioned he was a druid, but that doesn't tell Lambert much. Still, he's not going to complain about another set of hands. ]

TEAM MAGIC, THIS IS YOUR JAM

[kingsroads]

[ what's the best thing to add to a lot of talking, EVEN MORE TALKING. ]

As many of you know already, I am Jonathan Strange, magician and mercenary for the carnival. Miss Rita Mordio and I will be helping out on the magical end of things. I’ve a few ideas already, there's a spell of disenchantment that I've almost perfected, so perhaps—

[ In the background, Rita yells at him to get on with it. ]

Well anyway, if you're good at magic, seek either me or Miss Mordio out and we'll combine our talents.

Foster, seeking Strange out in person.

[criticallyfucked]

[Foster less 'seeks Strange out' and more 'ambushes him by waiting around the corner from his trailer door.'

He doesn't even greet him or bother to explain--he just stands there, eyes bright and bared chest... obviously petrified.]

Use me.

[kingsroads]

[ See, Strange had been going back to his trailer to get some tea for Rita. So when there's Foster RIGHT THE HELL OUT OF NOWHERE, it's safe to say he's not expecting it. ]

Jesus Christ! [ and then there's a pause before oh, wait Foster said something. ]

Well, if you wish. [ Strange, entirely unaware of 75% of whatever Foster Drama is happening at the time, continues talking. ] I know you've your necromancy, but do you have any other disciplines you're particularly skilled at?

[anti_nonsense]

[Rita's in the same room as Strange, talking to him, but her voice can be heard clearly through his receiver. She sounds a lot better than she has in the past few days, but her attitude's... the same as usual.]

I'm sure with enough heads working on this, we'll be able to come up with something better than some creepy kissing magic.

[Something fact-based and reliable, where everyone gets to keep their dignity.]

[kingsroads]

[ peanut gallery's gotta chime in with, ] It's not creepy.

[ it's so creepy. ]

[wild_magic]

You mean like... Healing magic, and stuff? Or just all magic?

[anti_nonsense]

Healing magic, transformation magic, disenchanting, magic analysis... to name a few specialties that could come in handy.

[eclipsingblade]

Isn't the green antelope guy a doctor?

[scientificist]

Unofficially.

[eclipsingblade]

So not a doctor. Good to know.

[motivenotfound]

Ginko is more what you'd call 'alternative medicine.'

And he's an animal keeper, technically. He might still be useful here, though.

I'll have to dig him up out of his hay bales and see if he has anything. Good thinking, mystery voice!

[scientificist]

He is often in the medical tent, in fact, already working toward the cure. He's an animal keeper? What a waste.

[This didn't need to be over the radio but is anyway because Herbert is a dick?]

[eclipsingblade]

'Alternative medicine animal keeper' usually translates to 'vet for a zoo'. ... Uh, I hope he can help.

SCIENCE! CHEMISTRY! THE ONE OFFICIAL GUY IN MEDICAL TEAM!

[scientificist]

I will, usually be in the medical tent or trailer number 16 if anyone with a scientific bent is prepared to. Contribute their efforts.

As for the infected, I need whomever is willing to undergo a, most likely, minimally invasive incisional biopsy to contact me immediately.

[anti_nonsense]

Herbert, was it? [Rita's tone is almost amicable; she doesn't seem to recognize his voice yet.]

Chemistry's a specialty of mine, along with magic. I'll try paying a visit to the medical tent soon. Maybe we can collaborate on something.

...Should probably go in for a checkup, anyway. [Yeah, she's been putting that off.]

[scientificist]

Herbert, yes. .......Rita. [Because apparently they're immediately doing first names, that's fine, even if she sounds really young? It's fine.]

You certainly should--as both an afflicted party and someone with relevant specialisations you should have come to the medical tent immediately...no matter. "Soon" will simply have to do.

[wild_magic]

What's an "incisional biopsy"? [Because he definitely wants to help, but at the same time, he doesn't want to just volunteer for something that he doesn't know what it is.]

[scientificist]

In this case I'd be taking a sample of newly infected tissue from whichever infection site would be least traumatic.

[otoko]

Hmn....

[Somehow, Gongenzaka understands All of this.] ...Considering my physical build, I, the man Gongenzaka, would be willing... ....however, I will need to perhaps explain where Not to cut, given differences from human shapes.

[gon no]

[textsfromhotland]

[The venom is affecting the soul of its victims and not just their bodies

She needs to say something. She has to say something. She can't just pretend she didn't hear that. The problem is she really doesn't want to say something.

It takes her a minute to work up the courage to make some kind of vocalization.]

U-uhhh um.

T-this is Alphys. I um. Uhhhh. I kind of... have some... experience... with w-w-w-working with, umm... souls...

[whattaprick]

[ Not that this is his wheelhouse at all, but he's just gonna butt in anyway. ]

That includes fixing them, right?