[Mari is whistling a jaunty little tune, which lasts a few seconds before she actually speaks.]

Oh, hey! Okay, so, those of you who have guns back home and don't like them... you can just ignore me! Tune to another channel, or whatever. But if you do like guns, or don't actually know anything about them: let's talk!

I wanna get some practise in before the big day, because while we lucked out and the competition guns don't have any iron in them, they're also some kind of space laser nonsense, and that's not really a thing where I'm from, you know?

[Well. It's... kind of a thing? The Fifth Angel required an experimental positron rifle... as well as the entire power grid of Japan. So it's not really the same.]

So who's down? I know I'm not the only one who knows how to shoot, and if you never have, now's your chance to try!

.... but don't hold me responsible if you shoot your foot off, okay?

This is…Herbert West: a contributor to the recent cure as you may recall as well as…your new Doctor. [He pauses to let that sink in, sounding really smug about it.] The Medical Team is still, small but as more experienced members join it has become more…evident that we do not have the resources we need to properly, treat the Carnival staff.

Namely: up to date medical documentation on you all—now, I made do before with what I had, during the process of constructing the cure but those involved may recall being asked various questions, questions which would have been unnecessary had the previous department been keeping your notes on file. Perhaps medical files aren’t required by, magical zebras but they are required by. Me. It is considerably easier for everyone when all previous knowledge doesn’t leave with the former physician—I’m sure you can agree. [He’s trying his best to sound congenial, definitely, but it mostly comes off as stilted as usual…maybe it counts that he’s trying?]

Today and tomorrow, myself and Mr Okumura will be available to perform physical examinations; any additional medical history you can provide is, welcome, and if you would prefer to attend on an alternate date, contact me to arrange a time.

[And then because so many people here are damned word weasels:] I have to insist all of you show up. Even if you’re healthy. Especially, if you’re healthy to give us an idea of your baseline state but we will, of course, treat any issues you have. Understand, it’s for the good of the Carnival and everyone’s…future well-being.


[ooc: Make sure to help me out by posting anything you think of to the med tent info post. Also, Herbert is almost literally always in the med tent during daytime hours but let us know if you have an ooc preference for checkups.]

This is Peridot: Your engineer and number-one gem speaking, interrupting your usual afternoon radio chatter with an urgent matter of utmost importance. SO LISTEN UP!

[She’ll pause briefly to give people more time to actually turn their radios up and listen properly, because she is actually dedicated to making sure that the whole carnival is on the same page with this.]

A-hem. Thank you. Now as some of you may already know, a small group of dedicated carnival members-- including yours truly—have been coordinating an effort to try and create a possible antidote to the venom of a certain detestable fae. You know the one. The clod that we were all EXTREMELY glad to see get his comeuppance at the hands of our great and wonderful Ringmaster.

Anyway. The Prince may be gone now, but unfortunately, his cruddy venom is still affecting a large percentage of the carnival staff. Worse yet-- through no fault of any of its founding members-- the original antidote team has made very little progress on manufacturing a cure. [Muttering:] Personally, I blame the fact that most of the people who would have been better suited to this work were also counted among those that were missing, but I digress! We did what we could with what we had, okay?!

[Mari is only kind of interrupting this time, but she’s a little more forceful than usual--and a little more animated than this really warrants. She’s just excited about having a new project.]

We've identified the basic problem: that the venom is affecting the soul of its victims and not just their bodies. Physical cures alone aren't going to cut it. We're gonna need magic, medicine, and metaphysical prowess, especially when it comes to souls and soul energy.

And while we can't make you do anything, not helping would be kind of an asshole thing to do right now.

The kind of asshole thing we’ll definitely remember.

[Somewhere off in the background, you can hear Peridot muttering:] Nyeh?

[Promise, threat, same thing.]

The good news is, we do have a new doctor to introduce! He's kind of our only doctor, really. But no one's died under his care yet, sooooo that's probably a good sign.

...take it away, doctor.

[There is a pause because Herbert is giving Mari an incredibly unimpressed look. But, like, fair, he guesses.]

My name is Herbert West, this… carnival’s new medic and as someone previously held captive by this ‘Prince’ I’ve only recently had the opportunity to begin my research into this unique affliction. I have education and previous experience in various forms of medicine and chemistry, especially in regards to specific aspects of pathology—however, I have never encountered… [He’s so reluctant. He is the MOST reluctant.] …what is referred to here as magic. Therefore, any help from those knowledgeable in that particular field and how it might interact with biomedical science, as well as any individuals who may have encountered artificially induced fossilisation in any form previously would be ideal.

Additionally, if you have been affected by the venom and you have yet to visit the medical tent I must insist you do so as soon as possible! My--our development of the cure depends upon data, and we cannot be aware of all the variables without access to each patient. As long as everyone cooperates we should be able to solve this in fairly short order.

Right, so. There you have it. We’ll turn the ‘floor’ over to the other workers who will be heading up some of the other research teams now, but the bottom line here is: We’re all gonna work together, come up with a cure to fix everyone, and it’s GONNA BE GREAT!

[ There are a lot of things people need to do right now: help the Prince's servants get resettled, get started on figuring out who can work on a cure for the petrification, deal with the trauma of dying in a hopefully healthy and non-self-destructive way, show the new people the ropes of what the Carnival has to work with.

Instead, in the morning of the second day since the Prince was defeated, anyone on the radio gets this: ]

So, I've been wondering.

[ The Nightrider's voice, for those who recognize it, has definitely been better. It's a low, hoarse rasp, and the pause at the end is not just for effect, but to actually catch his breath. ]

Just how old is everyone here, anyway? Here, I'll start. I'm ... pretty sure I'm almost sixty. [ A beat. ] ... Maybe.

[ Why did anyone let this man have his radio back again? ]

[ ooc; Lambert's flat on his back in the medical tent for this, feel free to bug him in person and threadjack each other at will. ]

[Hinawa immediately threw her complementary mirror on the ground and stomped off back to the carnival upon hearing what the last 'challenge' would be. She doesn't know or care who might be paying attention to the radios, she just wants to yell into the ether more than anything.]

This is barbaric! How can anyone agree to this!? They're going to die!

We've chased the target into the Ringmaster's tent, following it into the hole!

Get someone at the top of the ladder, I want a guard at the portal!

No, guards!

[This little fucker is fast and whatever it wants, if it leaves the Carnival grounds, it's game over.]

[Just one day before they leave Atlantis, all Nightrunners will be astounded (or not) to have their walkie talkies light up for an actual message from their 'elusive' supervisor.]

This is Mari Makinami, Nightrider Illustrious!

Effective immediately, all Nightrunners and employees under my jurisdiction are required to complete and submit a five-page report, minimum, to me within one week of arrival at each new location.

Failure to comply with these orders will be met with punishment and a new requirement of TEN pages, to be completed and submitted to my mailbox before we leave said location.

And--

Uggggggh. Okay, no. You know what? I tried!

But I can't keep that tone up. It's just... ugggggh.

I'm absolutely serious about this, though.

Including the part about punishment.

[There's a second of dead air, to let that sink in..]

This is important, we need intel.

I can't be everywhere at once, and neither can the Ring Master. Probably. As far as I know. She's kind of hard to "get," okay? Even for me.

Either way, we don't exactly have the Dead Sea Scrolls here. If we there's something we need to know--which is EVERYTHING, by the way!--we've gotta do the legwork ourselves.

Besides, I do also have some goodies to hand out. At my discretion.

...so look forward to that!

Okay? Okay.

You have your orders, guys.

Mari out!

[OOC: I do not really expect anyone to write out 5 pages of observations about each new location. BUT. If you go the extra mile and, say, leave a summary of what those notes entail or what they're written like in her mailbox or deliver them to her personally, you'll get an IC reward.]

Hello~

This is your Night Rider Illustrious speaking!

I know you've all figured out how to swim by now, right? Yes? Hope so!

But I know some of you want a shot at that sweet loot Tamatoa's got.

And that's fine with me, but I gotta stipulate two things:

Number one: don't die! I hear he can get pretty crabby, lol!

And two, I expect a full report on that thing when you return!

That's all, Mari out!