[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

[lordofthering]

Oh, he definitely did deserve it. He's dead now, and I consumed his essence, so justice was received.

The fact that I don't know we'll be the only ones is my main motivator to be completely honest. If multiple people are looking, I don't want to be the one that doesn't find it, if you catch my meaning.

[dirthena]

Figuratively or--

( does she want the answer to this? probably not. but she's going to ask anyway. )

I understand, yes. If they're all as powerful as you're implying, it's unlikely we'll be able to go after them without drawing attention to ourselves in the process. Do you have any plan for that? ( and because RM does not have enough meddling magic users already brought to her attention: ) And-- what can they do, exactly? If their only purpose was defense, I doubt as many people would be as eager to get their hands on them.

[lordofthering]

It varies, and the utilization of each is most likely broad. Each artifact is the primordial embodiment of a twin facet of fae magic. The Blue Rose is of flame and frost, and the other two are of sun and shade, and wood and rot.

The containers may be not what you'd expect, though. For instance, you wouldn't expect a flower to embody flame and frost, would you?

[dirthena]

I wouldn't, but I'm becoming used to the idea that nothing is what I think it should be, here.

( not said meanly, just as a fact of life. she pauses, trying to think this over with what she learned from strange. )

So the Courts and -- other Wyld Fae? -- want them because they express an aspect of fae magic their Court doesn't normally use. Or is it simply because they're so powerful? ( she's guessing about the other courts, but since RM did say that none of them were in fae hands, apparently they'd want them just as much as she, or-- ) Just a guess. I'm trying to catch up, although Strange has been most forthcoming. ( a shake of her head, which RM can't see over the radio but the thought is there ) Regardless, it's something worth looking into if we can go into it as prepared as possible. Studying the Blue Rose might help us understand what to look for, too.

[lordofthering]

Well, no. They aren't uncommon aspects, they represent the core of everything the Courts do. Growth, flame, light. Decay, frost, shadow. Those are the Courts. The artifacts simply embody both halves of each element.

They were created by the collaborative efforts of the first Summer and Winter Queens of Arcadia. No rivaling effort has been made since.

[dirthena]

Oh.

( she's silent for a moment, taking that in. )

And you want them here, instead of -- wherever they ended up. Unless the Summer and Winter Queens put them there in the first place? ( a sigh. ) I don't suppose there's a book on this, or anything.

( that would be a lot more productive than relying on questions, in her mind. )

[lordofthering]

The Queens that made them are long gone, anyway. That was back when the Courts started their big war with each other, which was probably around the same time the items got lost.

Appropriate, given that they were a symbol of unity.

[dirthena]

Very symbolic, yes. ( she says, dryly. ) Where do you suggest we start, if we were going to go after them? Or was that part of the general... workshopping you want to do?

[lordofthering]

I'm well aware that beginning to poke around may result in trouble following... so I wanted to ask for your opinions before proceeding beyond theoreticals. It would be impossible to have a more specific plan without knowing the item's location first. So far my only guess is that Heaven and Hell would have the most to gain from possessing them, given that they are approximately Arcadia's peers.

[dirthena]

If you think it's in the carnival's best interest, you'll have my support. ( although-- ) What sort of places are those?

( it's not her fault the religions of thedas don't have a true version of either!! )