[PUBLIC CHANNEL] Day 11

[npcarnival]

[ The first one to speak is the Ringmaster, sounding a bit guarded and reluctant, like she's not sure if she wants to deliver this message or not. ]

We have... a visitor at the carnival today, who is asking us for assistance. She comes from a group called the Star Guardians, who I've aided in the past, which is why I'm been sought out this time. They have this entire 'saving the universe' style gig going on.

It can be an enormous hassle, however, and I feel like we've had a few too many disasters as of late. So... I'm going to leave this up to you. You can help her as she asks, or you can stay in the safety of the carnival. I won't force your hand, either way. Just know that whatever she asks you to do will be dangerous, even if it's for a good cause.

Here. I'll let her explain herself.

[ The public channel of the radio clicks off and then on again, but there’s a few seconds' pause before anyone starts speaking. The young woman’s voice that comes across the radio won’t be familiar to anyone at the Carnival, but her voice is clear, with only the barest hint of a waver to it. ]

My name is Noa Minette. I’m from this world — from Wismuth — and I’m speaking to you now because I have something to ask you.

[ She takes a breath. ]

Wismuth needs your help. ...I need your help. [ She makes the more honest correction half a beat later, sounding a little more subdued, before she finds the strength in her voice again. ]

I’m a Star Guardian. The Ringmaster said she hadn’t met one in quite a while, and we usually come as a team, but here, it’s just me.

If you’ve seen the posters around the city, you know that CY-Ren is going to be holding a concert. No matter what happens, I have to stop that concert from happening. If not… [ She hesitates. ] I don’t think it’s going to be something this world can recover from. I don’t know exactly what she has planned, but I know it’s something Void's never tried before.

I can’t face CY-Ren, not on my own. I don’t expect people to help without knowing what they’re getting into, so I’ll try to answer what I can.

Comments

[npcarnival]

I realize that now. [ She sounds embarrassed. ] But I do have a life outside being a Guardian.

[npcarnival]

I don't know how many there are, and I don't know how many have been lost. But I suppose it must have happened before, or people wouldn't know the effects...

[anti_nonsense]

Hmph... [It definitely sounds like Rita's judging her, but in the end...]

Sounds like you're pretty much hopeless, so I guess I can lend a hand. I do a lot of the backstage work here, so I know how it all works. If I can run a show from behind the scenes, I can sure as hell sabotage one.

Or I could just blow up the stage, if that's easier.

[atouts]

[ Meh, like something being dangerous has ever stopped these people from bumbling straight into it. ]

I have a way of getting around. [ He doesn't say outright because he's a cagey bastard. ] In and out, unseen, assuming no one decides to get too loud.

[pipers_son]

...Yeah, I think I missed that particular stop.

[Mostly, as far as Joker can tell, they go to other worlds and fuck around or fuck up.]

whoops very late tag-in

[pullingamiko]

Wait, this lady's gonna try to... take over the world or whatever with a concert?

[Yep, that's her first reaction.]

What kinda stuff can she do?

[sworntothesword]

I'll help too!

We're stronger as a team!

[stompadour]

[Jasper sounds a little impatient and annoyed at this not having been taken as volunteering.]

So I'll fight her, if it gets to be a fight.

THIS IS SUPER LATE BC I DIDN'T EVEN SEE THIS

[tacosgay]

[It's not Taako's first time fighting a void... and he knows exactly how pointless trying is. But he's also intimately familiar with the feeling of not having any other choice.

He's a little more serious than he usually is when he radios in.]

What, exactly, is this Void like? What's its goal?

[criticallyfucked]

And that doesn't scare you? To be so close to obselecence? To futility? That you can't even see how many steps you are from that end?

.... nevermind. You don't know.

Otherwise you wouldn't be begging from strangers, right?

.....

How confident are you that they'll even be the help you need?

[scientificist]

That sounds like something you should have led with if true--reality depends on stopping a concert.

[reflash]

It's not, but I'm sure we'll be able to come up with something that can help. [He says, reassuringly.


before he gets pulled into some kind of dumbass "write fake bomb threats to the festival organizers" scheme.]

casually remembers to throw this in at the last minute

[fourthscribe]

I...am not sure I can help directly, but if you need any help with distractions or helping any injured, I can lend a hand there.

[npcarnival]

Destruction. Entropy.

[ She stumbles a little over the last word, like it's not a concept she's particularly used to saying out loud. ]

It's the force opposed to Creation ... but I don't know if I could say I know what it's like. It only acts through people... so all I can see is what it does to them.

[npcarnival]

That's just as helpful. [ Noa's quick to reassure. ] It sounds like we have more than enough people who have plans to, um, sabotage the performance, so...

[npcarnival]

It does sound a little ridiculous, doesn't it? But ... she has been more active over the past few months. And I think this concert is going to be broadcast, so...

[ Yeah, world domination: maybe possible. ]

She can charm people to become more hateful and call up monsters with her music. She might be able to do more, but that's as much as I know for sure.

[npcarnival]

That sounds like it would be useful, then. [ If she sounds audibly relieved, that's because ... she is! ]

Would it help to create a distraction somewhere else?

[tacosgay]

... so, uh, what does it do to them?

[Oh, boy. He's not excited to hear her response.]

[moonfang]

The best way ta do it would be to take out the whole city's power, in my opinion! [that seems like overkill...] Then there's no chance of anythin' happenin'.

[pullingamiko]

Ooooh. Yeah, that'd be a problem.

[You think, Miko?]

Why aren't there more Star Guardians around to help you out with that? --Also, what is a Star Guardian, are you like... superheroes?

[npcarnival]

It makes them act strangely. Like they're more hateful, if that makes sense.

They don't seem to remember it afterwards.