D5, Nightrunner Channel

[whattaprick]

[ The nightrunner channel comes to life in the mid-afternoon. ]

This is Nightrider Lambert. We'll be making a stop at a new world tomorrow. For some of you, it'll be the first time, so if you've got any questions now's the time to get them out of the way.

Keep a lookout for trouble and tell me or another nightrunner if you can't get ahold of me. You're not on a leash, but I'd better hear from you at least once a day, even if it's just to tell me there's nothing to report.

We also got a warning that we might need to watch for any sign of other fae. A lot of you won't know what that looks or feels like, so Strange will fill you in.

[ And he lapses into silence for Strange to take it away. ]

If you aren't magically sensitive then I'm terribly sorry, but you might not be able to tell fae magic apart from other magic in the first place. For those of you who are, the thing that I've always associated with fae magic is the sheer power behind it. Even a faerie artifact can radiate more power than your average magic user and certain spells can linger long after the enchanter dies. It's also...simple, in a way? Carnival magic is a bit of a hodge-podge, a combination of all sorts of magics from different worlds. Fae magic is more pure and...primordial, perhaps. [ Strange is 100% not certain about that word choice! ]

Though, at least with the Portland fae we've encountered, they weren't too good at making certain things fit their surroundings. Mysterious berries, a large gathering of birds, roses springing up out of nowhere...if you see something that looks out of place, take a picture and ask someone about it before you decide to metaphorically poke it with a stick.

[ And Lambert will tack on: ]

One person screwing up is all it takes to land us all in a load of shit. So if you see someone doing something that could be a problem? Stop them. Be ready for anything.

Comments

[anti_nonsense]

[Hi team, here's Rita, using this channel for the first time since enlisting as a mercenary.]

A warning about fae? Can't you be more specific?

[kingsroads]

If you want any information on the specific fae we're concerned about, simply ask and I'll explain the best I can. Most of our worries lie with the Summer Court but honestly, it would be just the carnival's luck to run into a flock of birds or a sudden winter storm.

[chronosynthesis]

Understood. Are we expecting our next stop to be in the realm of any fae again?

[That sure will make picking out fae influence harder or easier, in all honesty.]

[whattaprick]

No, but we know we aren't the only ones with the ability to travel between worlds. And its been pointed out that threats to the Carnival have used the worlds we visit to get to us before.

[whattaprick]

The message the Acquisitioner got from the Summerlands was just as vague.

'Consider the rose, and consider a time when you have tasted its thorns before. These flowers are alike in more than Name.''

[anti_nonsense]

[There's a pause as she processes that.]

So the warning came from the Summerlands... [That's one question answered, though the rest is awfully cryptic.]

They mean the rose from the manor...?

[whattaprick]

He seems pretty convinced of that. [ However, he's less convinced the threat to look out for is solely from the outside. ] Without seeing the letter for myself, we'll have to take his word for it.

It's the most straightforward interpretation, but straightforward isn't exactly what the fae are known for being. [ Although... ] You were a changeling too, weren't you? Can you remember anything that might be related to this?

[whattaprick]

Right. It could also be a fae we've never met before.

[anti_nonsense]

No... not off the top of my head. The other me was a lot more familiar with Ignatius than with the Rose Queen, anyway.

But I remember what their magic was like. If we encounter any trace of them, I'm sure I'd be able to identify it.

[whattaprick]

Could you identify fae magic that doesn't belong to one we've met? Or if someone was in thrall to one?

[dressedtothe]

What's the Summer Court? Or... any court, really.

[kingsroads]

[ And Strange sighs at that. He knows Lambert's right, but...urrrrrgh ]

I sincerely hope not. We've got enough fae trouble as is!

[kingsroads]

Fae can usually be divided along three lines: the Summer Court, the Winter Court, and the Wyld Fae. The Summer Court and Winter Court rule over most of the fae and the people in charge of those courts help make decisions for Arcadia as a whole. [ Strange, 9S doesn't know what Arcadia is, stop using jargon. ]

Wyld fae are fae that have renounced the court system and go off to do their own thing. Both the Prince and the Ringmaster are Wyld Fae.

[anti_nonsense]

I'd be able to identify that it is fae magic, at least. Could probably tell if it's Summer or Winter related, too.

As for a brainwashing situation... I haven't had much opportunity to test it out, but probably, yes. The closer the target is, and the less interference, the better my chances are of clearly making out the signs of enchantment. That magic analysis technique I showed you can be used to confirm, too.

[whattaprick]

Would it help you to see someone being controlled? It won't look the same as fae magic, but maybe there'd be similarities. I can probably get one of the others to play along.

[anti_nonsense]

[There's an audible ugh, because gross, mind control magic is the worst... but...]

If you can get someone to go along with it... sure. [Her tone is reluctant as all hell.] It's true that observing such techniques will make it easier to identify similar spells down the road.

[stillwinningthehardway]

Oh, good.

And we can't get a warning that has specifics in it because it's more fun if we figure it out ourselves, I guess?

[kingsroads]

These sort of things are usually esoteric to begin with. 'Consider the rose,' 'the rain shall make a door for me', 'beware of Greeks bearing gifts', and so on and so forth. Besides, there might be something that restricts the warning from being specific.

[whattaprick]

9S can do it. It looks like he's got a way of undoing it so he doesn't stay under long, either.

[ So Rita will find it useful, probably. ]

[stillwinningthehardway]

If you say so. I never really picked the classes about prophecies, so... Well, I like thinking the future is mutable anyway.

[whattaprick]

Not a possibility we can afford to dismiss.

[eclipsingblade]

..I can guess the answer already, but do either of you know if faeries can see souls. Outside their bodies.

[dressedtothe]

What? Oh, come on! Does it have to be me?

[dressedtothe]

[Nope, he sure doesn't know what Arcadia is.]

What's Arcadia? Is it a place or a collective?

[kingsroads]

Perhaps? They can certainly see souls inside one's body and remove a sliver of soul from one's body, so if your soul was outside your body for whatever odd reason, I imagine they could see it.

[ sorry Zangetsu, you fuuuuucked. ]