Anybody ever had a dream about dyin'? But it feels so real that it's less like a dream and more like... a memory? An' it's not you dyin', it's somebody else, but yer seein' it like it's you.

[That is so specific Doll. Surely nobody has had this same experience. There's some awkward tense air before she continues.]

Normally I don' dream much, but this was right unsett'lin. Couldn' sleep much after.

She said I'm supposed to be patrol... So if you're in charge of patrol let me know what I should actually be doing.

[You know, besides setting up a tent, because that's not going to happen. The voice has a slight lisp, the speaker unknown as he doesn't bother to introduce himself.]

Also, why are we here?

Hello! I'm one of the newest members to recently join the carnival but because of... um, recent excitment I never got the chance to introduce myself to everyone. My name is Shiemi Moriyama and I'm from the same world as Rin and Yuki-chan if you're familiar with them.

I'm also the carnival's newest nurse so if you ever need medical assistance then let me know, I'll do my absolute best.

( somewhere in the background there is a noted 'Nee Nee' sound. )

Oh! I can also help with providing different types of plant life that you might need or might be more familiar with since we're surrounded by so much unknown. My familiar, Nee-chan, is a greenman-- a type of demon that can summon plants from his body. My family runs actually runs an apothecary back home and I'm training to take it over so I can also help with greenery questions or problems you might have.

[Honestly, it isn't his fault he doesn't have hammer space or fancy magic to use for hiding stuff. Tyki didn't have to suggest he should contribute some other way like he had something to make up for when the topic of assuring the rest of the Carnival that the situation was under control came up; any one of them could have done that! But in the end there wasn't a graceful way to weasel out of it, so here Shima is, sighing and clicking his radio on to the public channel once they'd made it back to camp and had some rest.

The aggressive cheer in his voice poorly disguises the put upon tone to his announcement.]

Mooorning everybody~

Shima again. I'm sure some of ya've been wondering what's been up with that fae that our last team captured 'n got the Ringmaster ta eat. Well, good news, she's fine now 'n the eating was temporary.

Iggy-san is doing less hot, but he's alive 'n we've got him inside, uh... I guess it was a beach moon? Not sure how that works. But yeah, for whatever reason, since I fit the Ringmaster's criteria for a person suitable ta bring along for a chat with him, here's a first hand account that his powers have been stripped and he's successfully contained 'n not leaving the Carnival for a while.

Take a sigh of relief, or brace yourselves. Whichever!

This is late, but... I wanted to apologize to the people I put in danger with my reckless behavior.

At the library I acted without thought. I don't know the details of what happened afterwards, but some of it was probably my fault.


I'm sorry.

If you haven’t been approached already, I’m letting you know now: we’ve got a couple of people asking about being let on the nightrunners. I told them they’d need to convince you, not me. You know what we do, you know the risks, and you know what I ask for — if they come to you, let me know how they do.

Also, I’ve banned Strange from going out on preliminary scouting or any mission with a more than average chance of running into the fae. Unless I or the Ringmaster specifically say otherwise, that stays. He can whine about it as much as he wants, but if you see him violating that order, I want you to tell me that too.

So uhhhhh…! I guess we’re camping! I’ve been camping before a few times, so if anyone needs help setting up a tent or building a fire, you can always ask me!

Umm… what else…. [there’s a shuffling of papers. In has a bunch of stuff he wanted to go over, so he made notes!] Oh! As for food and supplies, I took what I could from the cookhouse and brought it with me. I set up a tent that’s just for food and cookware and stuff. You can borrow pans and pots and utensils or whatever, but be sure to bring them back! We have some little charcoal grills and some grill pans for over the fires, but no ovens or toasters or anything. Nosh will be around to keep an eye on the food — she’s a little intimidating, but she won’t hurt anyone!

… Ah, and unless someone in the carnival has some ice magic, we’re gonna be eating a lot of canned food, dried stuff, and wild berries. Maybe those horned rabbits? Kuro said he saw some in the woods. If someone can make us some ice, great! Otherwise… we’re gonna have a big barbecue tonight to use these hotdogs I brought!

Last thing! I brought all the Hellbats with me so they wouldn’t be in the Ringmaster’s way! I thought it might be nice to let people uh… “borrow” them. They do what I tell them to, and they are great for starting fires or, like, being little heaters. So if you want one or two for your campsite, ask me that too! There’s more than enough of them for everyone. [he whispers conspiratorially into the walkie] I think they’re breeding, actually… It seems like every week there’s one or two more… And even I’M not that bad at math.

((OOC: Since Ginko and Tanyuu are both going to be talking in here, Ginko’s voice is indicated in green and Tanyuu’s is purple for readability.

For more details on the plot, please look at the OOC post!))

Hey, guys. Sorry to interrupt the camping trip, but we’ve got something of a problem.

You might have noticed some odd-looking flowers popping up around our campsites; those aren’t native to this world. They’re a type of mushi that have found their way here.

[And now that Ginko has a semi-captive audience--] Specifically, they’re kaoriyoroboki; these mushi blur the lines between people’s minds while they sleep, allowing them to experience and share each other’s dreams. Their presence allows people to sleep more peacefully, as well, which some of you may have noticed.

Unfortunately, long-term exposure to kaoriyoroboki while you sleep will cause the borders between your minds to blur more and more, until your identities and memories start bleeding together irreparably. Tanyuu and I are working on keeping that from happening, but the mushi purge isn’t quite ready yet.

[No one can see it, but rest assured that Tanyuu is shaking her head fondly at GInko’s rambling. Her brother...] It shouldn’t take more than a few days to gather everything we need, but in the meantime try to avoid napping too much. Symptoms usually only start appearing after a week or so, but let us know if you start to feel confused or misremember things.

[Everyone listed will receive this message at the same time on Day 68, on an unknown frequency. They'll be able to hear each other responding, because they'll all magically be on the same channel. The screens glow green.]

Hello Peridot, Amethyst, Tyki, Shima, and, of course, Childermass... In my efforts to set things right, I require some diplomatic help. Or, at least, moral support. It's to do with the whole Ignatius... situation.

I need your presence at the carnival's second moon. I will provide a ride. If you wonder why I chose you, specifically, it's because I feel like I can trust you to maintain a neutral discussion, and to respect my desire to handle Ignatius humanely.

I'll meet you at a portal in the campgrounds in about a half hour. Plus ones will not be admitted. If you don't want to come, let me know immediately.

[ There's a bit of a pause before Strange starts talking, as if he's not entirely certain what he's going to say. He sounds a bit tired, but awake enough to hold a conversation. ]

For those of you who didn't already know, I'm not dead anymore. [ pause. ] Which, I suppose, is obvious as I'm talking to the radio, but the point stands.

I'd like to speak directly to the Ringmaster, Syrlya, and Zangetsu, if possible. As for everybody else, can you please fill me in on what happened from the time I left with Ignatius to now? Don't spare any details, this will be written down for posterity's sake.

[ fun fact: Strange has ABSOLUTELY ZERO CLUE about the various levels of trainwreck that the fae party in the library + rescue missions + torture session were. ]

Finally, odd question, but did anyone bring any flameproof fabric?