[PUBLIC CHANNEL] RINGMASTER'S ELEVENTH ADDRESS (D72)

[lordofthering]

[The radios will glow green as the Ringmaster begins a broadcast.]

Welcome back to the carnival, everyone. Things may look the same as before, but I assure you, there is no stone that has been left unturned or tree that hasn't been uprooted. We'll have no more stalkers from here on out.

There are a few things of relevance that I have to tell you about. Firstly, Ignatius is no longer in the moon. Instead, he's been relocated to a small island in the middle of the lake. He can't leave it, and you aren't allowed to visit it without my permission. If you do, and he wounds you, you can consider it your own fault.

In a related matter, I've decided to invest my magical energies into granting each of you a ressurection egg, as we clearly can't anticipate any peaceful resolutions from this. If you don't know what that means, it's essentially a ritual spell I'll need your help in completing - once it's done, it will bring you back to life if you happen to perish, but only once. Also, you will have to be in the egg long enough to regrow and hatch. This is no small favour on my part, and it won't work unless your soul can make it back to the egg.

Thirdly, after calling in several favours, I think the location of Eden is almost within view. A few allies will be joining us over the next week and giving us more information. Until then, carry on about your business, as there are some new things you'll have to get used to.

We're going to be organizing the Supervisor guided departments differently from now on. I have explained the details to the Supervisors, and they can fill you in on what will be expected of you. There will not be only six categories: Militia, Acquisitions, Engineering, Management, Administration, and Medical.

Supervisors, feel free to sound off with what group you are leading and what it is for.

Comments

[lordofthering]

So you're really banking on this whole 'being his slave a year from now' thing, are you?

[She is somewhat offended by your reasoning, pal.]

[kingsroads]

Ideally, I'd like to renegotiate the agreement or find a way to break it. But I know I'm not powerful enough to break this magic on my own. And considering he was tortured, eaten, regurgitated, then trapped on an island, I'm not entirely certain Ignatius would be amenable to losing the one asset he has at the moment. [ grumble grumble grumble. Strange also thinks that RM straight up just puked up Iggy, he hasn't learned of the egg bit yet. ]

If you have any better ideas, I'll happily listen to them. [ but he's got a feeling RM doesn't really HAVE any better ideas. ]

[lordofthering]

Maybe we should put off having you visit him.

[kingsroads]

[ okay that is not the better idea Strange was thinking of. ]

With all due respect, I think that's a terrible idea. You said yourself that you hoped he'd see something different about us. I do as well, which is another reason why I want to visit.

[lordofthering]

Strange, you make yourself sound like you are practically already in his pocket. Blind adoration isn't the reality check he needs.

[kingsroads]

I don't adore him.

[lordofthering]

It's odd how you seem to bear him no resentment what so ever for what happened. Can you really blame us for being concerned about his hold on your mind?

[kingsroads]

He didn't torture me, take away my True Name, root me to the ground, turn my limbs into crystal or whatever the hell happened to Steven, curse me, kill me, turn me into an animal and then kill me, or shove me in a tree for however long.

[ it is obvious that Strange is pretty much counting off on his fingers as he talks. ]

I'm angry that he enthralled me, make no mistake about that. But the person in that whole encounter that I resent the most is myself.

[lordofthering]

Why?

[That's her genuine question. Why is he the one at fault more than Ignatius, the one who inflicted the choice on him?]

[kingsroads]

Because it would have been better all around if someone else accepted his agreement instead!

[ which he yells, knowing full well that he's going to get more yelling in return. ]

[lordofthering]

Again, why?

[kingsroads]

When Ignatius made that offer, I panicked. I thought he'd be as terrible as the rest of the fae. I knew that if I could survive Nightshade and the curse from my world, I could survive whatever he threw at me. Now that I know him better, I'm certain there were a few others in our group who could have survived their stay with him.

Aside from that, I fought in the peninsula and am one of the strongest magicians in the carnival. If he was to get a soldier, it would be better if he had one less capable.

Finally, I'm certain the main reason Lambert did what he did was because I was the one kidnapped.

[ tl;dr because EGOTISM. ]

[lordofthering]

Alright.

But that doesn't change that something unpleasant would happen to whoever volunteered. Perhaps you were a more inconvenient pick for the carnival to lose, but morally that is meaningless. It doesn't change that someone was going to suffer, and it doesn't change what Ignatius did.

I don't even know why I'm having to argue this with you! I know already that Ignatius isn't particularly bad when it comes to True Fae! It's your presumptions about the relationship you have that's baffling.

[kingsroads]

Then let him challenge these presumptions himself! If I do adore him, which I don't, then wouldn't I believe it more if he were the one to tell me I was wrong?

[hippocarnival]

You said it was fine to ask the Summer Maiden for help if you don't find any other way. You don't think she's strong enough?

[Sure he'll blast that compromise on the radio. He's not hearing this quitter talk!]

[kingsroads]

I don't know if she'd enter into all this in the first place!

[ Strange is trying reeeeal hard not to sulk or yell right at the moment. ]

[hippocarnival]

It's a favor. I'm not going to ask her to get involved in the carnival, just protect you when you go home!

[kingsroads]

And as I told you, use it to protect yourself instead. You told me about your agreement, remember? If you don't want that to happen, protect yourself.

[ unlike Yuya, Strange is a biiiit more hesitant about putting Yuya and his issues on blast. ]

[hippocarnival]

If something happens to me, I'll come back and it won't be with another Fae after me. [Probably? Maybe.] If you're already thinking the worst will happen, then why won't you just let us help?

[kingsroads]

Because something shouldn't happen to you in the first place. And may I say, having been through dying, do not rely on coming back as a valid strategy even with an egg.

[ one, all your friends will yell at you for it. two, the resurrection process is kind of weird. ]

[hippocarnival]

Well, something's already happened to you. And I want to help because you're my friend, I care about being able to go back to home and be happy with your wife!

[Isn't that enough?!]

[kingsroads]

Far too many things have already happened to me, most of which...most of which were my fault. I don't want you to waste this potential favor, which we still don't know the specifics of, on me when I still have other problems preventing me from going back home.

[hippocarnival]

What other problems? The Ringmaster can help with your curse, too. [He sounds expectant. If there's more than that, he wants to hear it.]

If you don't want to waste it, then do everything you can to take care of yourself so you make it out of all this. That's all I want.

[kingsroads]

Well, it might be Nightshade. Both Steven and I were taken by the Summer Court, Steven taken by one of the people he's warded against. I've no idea if the Starlight's ward is still in place—and it's not like Childermass or I can head down to the Summerlands and ask her ourselves.

[hippocarnival]

But we know the cost of that now. Did you see Nightshade when you were with Ignatius? [That's actually a similar concern for Steven, but one to worry about later.]

Don't you think, if it was for your safety, the Ringmaster could get us to the Summerlands? Even just for that?