[Can anything get worse than the attack already is?

The answer is a resounding Yes. (And that's BEFORE everything else, for that matter.)

When Carly comes onto the radio- public radio on that note, for while she would rather not distress everyone further, it's something everyone should probably know- her voice is tense. Low, and flat, and stiff, as it has been in the past when handling something relatively unpleasant...or when causing it, for that matter.

Which is never a good sign.]

...Herbert is dead, [Is what she starts with, not that there is much else to say.] ...I have what's...left of him, [She says, sounding remarkably calm outside the clear hesitation as she chooses her words.

There goes one of their medical staff, for the time being though.]

Alright, we got any priests here? Tanyuu says we need one.

[There’s a lot more he could say here, like the fact that they’re specifically looking for a Shinto priest, and that they need one so Reira can experience a proper shichi-go-san festival, and that he suggested that maybe it didn’t really matter since it’s all symbolic anyway, and Tanyuu didn’t seem to like that suggestion.

But none of that has occurred to him, so here we are.]

[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.

((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.

[He really didn't want this to happen, but...]

I think it's time we start keeping a list of those who's disappeared, been taken, or is otherwise indisposed.

I'll start.

Lauren has been buried in the ground, somewhere, and Steven Universe has been taken by the Rose Queen.

[He says all of this blankly, matter of factly, and there's only the sound of a shaky breath at the very end.]

'evening, Carnival!

Since we'll want ta help each other out while we're out here in the stacks, 'n since not all of us have been here years or however long you vets have been hanging in there, why don't ya introduce yourselves before ya read off anything interesting ya've found? Seems like a good time ta get ta know each other, right~?

I'll start!

Shima Renzou, reporting! And rright nnoowww.. [A pause and there's a shuffling of loose papers, possibly being rolled on or swum through.] I've found the biggest mountain of old newspaper clippings I've ever seen. Do Fae have newspapers? Ah, some of it might be poems--let's see...

"A few young sages one bright day..."

'Sages' is promising, right?

"Disputed, doth an old tale say,
Which is the prettiest part of women:"

Oooh...

"Some said the cheeks, and some the eyes,
And so they sought the beauteous Lais,
And asked her to award the prize.
The lady said, perhaps displeased,
These thoughts I cannot understand.

"If you could have them where you pleased,
I wonder where you'd put your hand?
'Twould be, you would see,
On their..."

...Oops, ehehe! I can't say that out loud ♥


((ooc: Mingle! This post is for sharing readings with everyone--dumb stuff, little plot stuff, 'anonymous' CR-related stuff to accidentally embarrass people in the carnival if you've found something on them, whatever your character might put on the air. Thread jumping encouraged! Shima will respond to anyone to who addresses him directly, feel free to show up just to roll your eyes at him.))

I'll assume no one made my obligatory bring a buddy announcement while I wasn't here, so this is that warning.


Didya miss me?

[LABOR CHANNEL]

Mandatory check-in, whether I know you or not.

If anybody's been slacking tell me and I'll work out a proper punishment.

[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.

[Without bothering to announce himself, Herbert just starts speaking over the radio. His voice is, at least, pretty distinctive, soft and measured and nasal. Probably recognisable as the guy on the first cure announcement.

Who needs names anyway, right? The information is most important.]

The cure for the venom has been completed. For those with the symptom of petrification the procedure is, twofold: a single dose transdermally applied medication as well as a medicinal beverage—those not demonstrating petrification need only ingest the latter. The transdermal medication is formulated in the shape of a solid sphere that will dissolve and subsequently effervesce to distribute itself in water--ideally for use in one of the various, lunar spas for a period of no less than 8 minutes. I…would advise drinking the beverage either after or at least 6 hours before the bath or else, make certain you are supervised…

[Dammit, Lambert. There is so much alcohol in that half of the cure.]

I will be at the small cabin just to the left of the entrance for, those who want to collect their medication—someone will deliver it otherwise. I am, additionally staying on the radio to answer any questions you may have.


[ooc: The cure is here! It's... a weird herbal alcoholic beverage (THANKS, LAMBERT) and uh. Basically the Ectoplasm jelly bath bomb from LUSH. Please call Herbert out on accidentally inventing the bath bomb. The bomb is purple and segmented on the outside and smells of citrus. Once it's been put in water it oozes diluted bright green slime with magic sparkles in it. It glows slightly. The slime permeates the stone and gradually turns it back to flesh. The drink tastes like drinking a herb garden and alcohol. It rejuvenates you from the poison effects and also you'll get drunk. Sorry, kids. Medieval Poland.]

So...seems there's quite a bit I've missed. Would anyone care to fill me in?

Ah, right. Tanyuu Karibusa, make up artist, for any newcomers that don't know me. I've been back in my homeworld for a while, but I didn't realize how long I'd been gone here. Something of a problem with inter-realm travel.