[PUBLIC CHANNEL] RINGMASTER'S EIGHTH ADDRESS (D30)

[lordofthering]

[Around the start of the new performance week, the Ringmaster will light up everyone's radios with an important message. Or, rather, some important musing.]

Hello, this is the Ringmaster speaking. I say that for the benefit of any new arrivals - everyone else surely recognizes my voice, by now. The rest of this may leave you in the dust as it will be touching on some carnival history, but you can may questions if you want to get up to date.

So, I spent a lot of time thinking when the lot of you were busy with that Pillar drama. As most are aware, a couple months ago we went on a mission to retrieve an extremely powerful artifact called the Blue Rose, which we have been using to defend the carnival from faerie threats. Which, seems successful so far, given that Nightshade didn't dare enter the grounds the entire time we were there! A victory, indeed.

It got me thinking, though... the Blue Rose actually comes as a set. As I've explained to a few of you, the Blue Rose is an organism created by the first Queens of Arcadia. Only three artifacts of its kind exist, as far as I know, and I fairly sure that none of them are actually in faerie hands.

So, I thought... what if we were somehow able to get the other two? Not only would that be enough to ward off the Courts completely, it would go a long way to defending us against any of the other nonsense we come across! Perhaps we could even go back to business as usual, for a while...

Anyway, in an attempt to be more forthcoming, I am presenting this idea to you for general 'work shopping' purposes. I know that the Blue Rose was a big hassle to get, but we know so much more now than we did then! I think it's worth a second look.

Comments

[kingsroads]

Obviously we should get the other two! [ said as if it's the most obvious thing in the world and everyone else is a moron for thinking differently. ]

After all, better us than the other courts.

[lordofthering]

[She considers that for a moment, and you can practically hear the frown in her voice.]

...Well, now I'm not sure if I'm on the right track or not.

[pipers_son]

[Joker does not manage to contain his laughter or turn off his radio in time.]

[Sorry, Strange]

[kingsroads]

[ wow, thanks everybody. :| Strange just continues talking, though he can't hide the fact that he's a tiny bit affronted at that frown. ]

The servants from the Prince's manor know that we have the Blue Rose. None of the artifacts are in faerie hands now, but how long until the gossip gets out to other fae courts? The Blue Rose could hold up against Nightshade, but could it hold up against Nightshade with one of those artifacts? Or, even worse, the Rose Queen with one of those artifacts?

[lordofthering]

Likely not. Which is why I thought of it in the first place... if they know we have the Rose, then surely an arms race will follow.

But I'm sensing from the responses here that this is coming across as overly brazen.

[kingsroads]

I mean this in the kindest way possible, but it would be intensely easy for the Summer Court to know we have the Rose. If not gossip, then all the Court has to do is enthrall one of us and ask around until we reveal that information. And considering Nightshade was able to track us to Wismuth.... [ Strange trails off, but the implication is obvious: she'd probably be able to track them wherever they go next.

of course captain paranoia's pretty sure that they got tracked in the first place. Her showing up can't be a coincidence. ]

[lordofthering]

I'm almost certain they do know - I'm not denying that. After what happened with Steven...

If anything was going to announce its presence, it would be that.

[kingsroads]

[ he pauses for a moment. ]

It may be brazen or rash, but sometimes brazen actions are what's needed. And you're right: we should be the ones to have them.

[lordofthering]

I'm honestly not looking to create another mess for you to have to clean up. It just... seems that even trying to lay low accomplishes nothing. If I don't create trouble, something will bring it to my doorstep instead.

[kingsroads]

To be fair, a few of those messes were my fault.

And if you're resigned to the fact that we'll have trouble, we should at least enter it on our own terms.