[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

[hurtcomfort]

[ 'I need your help' and almost INSTANTLY Cole responds, despite his ambivalence towards the network. ]

What can I do?

[pipers_son]

So I guess I shouldn't invite her ta the carnival...

[Which is what he'd been planning to do if he could just find a little more information.]

[scientificist]

Not a fan of her music I take it.

[His tone shifts, speaking more generally.]

Is this, artists' feud really a constructive use of our time?

[hippocarnival]

The Void? [He remembers those posters and her music... she's not just some pop star? ] What's going to happen if there's a concert?

[textsfromhotland]

It k-kinda sounds like there'd be more involved that sabotaging the s-stage equipment...

[shearmadness]

[It's the Ringmaster announcing that it will be dangerous that gets Nui's attention. She came back at a tame time, and while that was good for getting settled back in, Nui gets bored easily.

Besides that, if something bad happens to this cute world, then that's one less world Nui can make her mark on as a designer. She doesn't care about saving it for altruistic reasons, but all of these people are potentially models of her clothing. So she chimes in.]

Sounds fun! Sign me up.

[betheman]

Auh....Stop CY-Ren..?

What is it, exactly, that she intends to do? Do you mean to say an attack is being planned with it as cover...?

[HE FEELS CERTAIN DETAILS COULD BE HELPFUL HERE]

[everybodypanic]

Wait, there's Star Guardians here too?!

[npcarnival]

[ She sounds a little surprised at such a direct response, but her reply comes quickly, as she's clearly thought about this. ]

Finding a way inside the venue would be a good place to start. Tickets have been sold out for months, so going in the front door isn't really an option.

[ At least not for someone without more money to kick around. ]

[reflash]

Why would the concert be dangerous?

[npcarnival]

Probably not. [ She does, at least, manage to sound like she has a sense of humor about the whole thing, despite her own worries. ]

Besides, CY-Ren isn't the easiest person to get to in Wismuth. You'd have to get through her entourage first...

[hurtcomfort]

I can get in. [ ROGUE CLASS, BABY. ] I'll try to stop the concert then. How do you do that?

[pipers_son]

Ah, I'll have ta keep an eye out for different talent~.

[He'll keep joking up until everything goes to shit again. And considering how he acted while in stone prison, even then, if only so he doesn't get depressed.]

So does that mean ya know where she is?

[npcarnival]

Her songs aren't half-bad, when they're not pulling creatures from the Void.

[ She sounds cheerfully determined. This is more in line with the reaction she was expecting. ]

I wouldn't be asking this if reality didn't depend on it.

/jacks

[pipers_son]

Now, I can't say that this is exactly what this CY-Ren lass is up ta...

But, ta my recollection, the carnival did stop at a world where music was its own sorta magic. Could do all sortsa things.

...On the other hand, ha, could just be because it's easier ta do things ta a lot of people at a fancy thing like a performance.

[dirthena]

( lavellan's certain this void doesn't resemble the one from her world, but even still-- )

How does the Void normally go about doing... whatever it does, if what CY-Ren is doing is so unusual?

[npcarnival]

[ The second question is easier to answer than the first, so she'll go with that first. ]

I don't exactly know. We received a warning from Creation, but it wasn't very specific.

[ She sounds apologetic about that. And now the hard part, where she takes a breath: ]

The Void is the power opposed to Creation. It's ... nothingness. Nonexistence. It wants the end of everything.

[hippocarnival]

I've never heard of those things before. [He sways it a little helplessly. She sounds genuine about being help, however. And the Ringmaster is trusting her, so would she lie...?]

So CY-Ren's part of void and wants to destroy everything, and she'll use her concert to do it? How do we help?

[npcarnival]

It might. [ She can't lie about that. ]

But if it comes down to a fight, I'll confront her directly myself. [ She pauses. ] I'm just not sure that's enough to stop whatever she's planning.

[anti_nonsense]

Why come to us? Is there some reason you can't get your usual team to come help, if this is such a big deal?

[criticallyfucked]

....Void?

[Foster sounds... guarded, possibly because of the Ringmaster's presence, but it was the Ringmaster's voice that merited his attention to begin with.]

I mean--you don't want my help. So don't, haha, don't worry about that! I'm just... ah, the Ringmaster has helped you before?

[npcarnival]

Not exactly. [ She sounds thoughtful. ] I know as much as anyone else does about where she spends her time -- she has a penthouse in the city and she's usually at her recording studio, and of course she's been busy promoting her concert.

[npcarnival]

[ It's a more flippant response than she expected, but hey, another volunteer! ]

Thank you for being willing to help.

[pipers_son]

S'what I heard too... [Don't ask how, he was just snooping around, eavesdropping, charming people, it's fine.] So. I assume ya got some sort of plan for when ya get enough people?

[Because he really doesn't doubt that people in the carnival will jump at the chance. He knows them.]

[dressedtothe]

A concert... That's a performance that occurs on a stage, right? I could probably shut off the power being supplied to the stage. Will that solve the problem?