lifeaftr | September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

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September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

INTRO LOG: SEPTEMBER

Who: Everyone!
What: The Storyteller makes use of their first offering, and new souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: September 2nd
Where: Ensō...and surrounding lands
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Part I: New Arrivals
You probably didn’t last fall asleep on the warm spit of white sand that you find yourself, but nonetheless, that is where you awaken. There’s the hush of waves lapping up against the edges of the beach and the soft chill of a coastal breeze stirring at your surroundings, but the place is, all things considered, quite peaceful. The sun is merciless as it reflects across the glittering spread of seawater that surrounds you on three sides.

Three sides.

You’re on an island, if a rather small one. It can’t be much more than a mile across at the height of its length, and what’s more, it’s dotted with small, straggling outcrops of stone buildings that look as though they may have once been used for shelter of some sort or another, now weather beaten and wind-blasted. If you peer into the distance, it will rapidly become clear that you are on one small islet of a grouping of five. Battered bridges of wood-and-rope swing precariously between each one, joining them in a rough circle.

What’s more is that you aren't alone. You'll find that you have one or two companions waking on the islet alongside you, and each will discover a knapsack with their name stitched to the front, containing a paltry number of items, along with any rewards you may have accrued. There's probably a way off these islets, and a means of accessing the shadowy lump of a mainland that rears up in the distance, maybe two miles across the stretch of sea...but what is it?

We do recommend treading carefully, and not simply embarking on a poorly-advised mission to swim all the way there. A school of tiger-sharks have begun to stir up the waters surrounding the islets, hungry for fresh meat. They are at least edible - if you can succeed in taking one down, that is. If you do not, don’t worry: at least you have shelter. Very dilapidated, ruined, half-crumbled shelter that will hardly serve as protection against wind and rain, but surely that's better than no shelter at all, right?

As a final note to those who participated in the Test Drive Meme, bear in mind that those threads, if all parties involved would like, can be game canon in the form of dream-like memories involving a place very much like this one, though the layout is considerably different.

Part II: Old Souls
A floral, faintly bitter tang rings about the air of the ruined temple this morning. As you rise, you may find a familiar scene: a rabbit with snow-white fur, crouched nearby a dilapidated pillar, thumping their foot impatiently. They look to you, or perhaps they are addressing the room as a whole when they say:

"Ah. Finally. First, I must thank you for fulfilling your end of our transaction - your stories have done their job. Thus, it is time for me to fulfill mine. I've arranged something for you all. I’m aware that in many worlds there is a poor association with following white rabbits, so perhaps you would find the flowered path more enticing." The Storyteller shifts their gray tome from one paw to the other, giving a great leap across the fallen pillar. "Now, what I am about to grant you…there are procedures, of course. You must follow the instructions to begin with. And then, well - you need a place to go. You needn’t even need a name, specifically. The power will know. Simply be sure to tell it."

The rabbit sniffs and flicks an ear. "Just remember what I ask: no bathing, please. For all's sake."

And then they bound off into the darkness, disappearing just before the shadows engulf them wholly.

Indeed, where the dust-trodden ground gives way to grass, a sparse growth of white flowers have blossomed, winding wildly through the growth and leading around the temple’s exterior.

Those who find fit to follow the Storyteller's suggestion will find, first, that the path of flowers leads them to an outcropping of stone that overlooks the great cove formed by Ensō’s landmass. In the distance, just short of the ocean’s horizon, a white scatter of islets sit in the blue-jade waters. Those certainly hadn’t been there before, had they? Intrepid explorers, be patient: the path of flowers doesn't end here. In fact, it veers off cleanly in the direction of the mana pool behind the Storyteller's ruins.

Upon arriving at the pool, characters will find that the narcissus flowers have bloomed in full and prolific splendor around its edges, filling the humid air with a thick scent of bitter hay and honey. Upon a great slab of stone rising from the edge of the pool, a strange limerick seems to have been engraved:

A flower once loved above all,
The hubris of his mirror-thrall.
Were he water-lily!
Yet fate wet and pithy,
Narcissus, what a fate to befall.
No other instructions appear to have been left other than this cryptic rhyme. Should characters solve this riddle, however, they will find themselves engulfed in a flash of blinding white light, given the briefest sensation of falling…

Followed by the familiar vision of Ensō looming in the distance. Quite far out, in fact. Their surroundings have dramatically shifted from a lush jungle to an almost barren island, surrounded on its sides by four nearly identical islets. It would appear that any characters who use the mana pool have been randomly transported to one of the five islets appeared overnight. Other than a nearly identical mana pool lapping at their feet, it would seem that - aside from weather-worn, dilapidated shacks and shelters - these islands don’t have much on them at all.

Except, perhaps, new faces.

Feeling a tad adrift? Make sure to check the Locations Page, which has details regarding the starting areas and a handy map for those who feel better with a bird's eye view!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

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[Back before he was blinded, Ignis would have been able to cover a lot more ground before he needed to rest, but that isn't the case now. Exploring even a short distance wears him out, especially when he is alone and has to be extra aware of his surroundings. That is why, only an hour or two after he starts exploring, Ignis has found the mana pool again and settled down to rest. The sounds are soothing, calming, and he is just about to doze off when he hears footsteps approaching. Turning his head in the direction of the sound, he smiles at the approaching person.]

Greetings. Fine day for a little exploring, isn't it? Have you found anything interesting yet?

[He doesn't recognize the footsteps, but he hardly has had time to learn all the footsteps of those on the island, just those he's been around the most. Hopefully, the person won't be upset he doesn't call them by name.]

[ There is hesitation to the steps when Ignis greets them. Hesitation and a little wariness to the voice as well - but she doesn't know Ignis is blind. She doesn't even know this iGnis is the Iggy that Prompto had told her about, fancy that! Still, despite the initial caution, she does speak politely, a little shy. ]

I... I guess it is, yes. It's warm and ... not raining, at least. [ She shook her head, not realizing he couldn't see the gesture. ]

I haven't found anything very interesting, though. Before here, I mean. There's a strange slab with some sort of poem written on it, but it doesn't make any sense to me.

[ That and the flowers was the most interesting thing she saw so far. She liked the flowers more though. ]

It seems the Storyteller has a fondness for poems and limericks. I suppose that is only fitting.

[Ignis listens closely as she speaks, not only focusing in on where is she more, but also picking up on her shyness.]

I'm afraid I can't read what the poem says, but I've been told it's a clue to how the mana pools work to transport us from one place to the other. Since I'm here and not over on the larger island anymore, I would say it works rather well.

[Why can't he read the poem? The first thing that comes to mind may be some kind of language barrier, but if she takes a moment to look more closely at his face, she will notice the scars around his eyes that his sunglasses can't fully hide. It doesn't take a doctor to guess that someone with scars that bad is very likely blind.]

[ The big white fluffy animal? That must be who he means. ]

A limerick? Is that what it is?

[ Wait - he can't read it? Is he illiterate? She studied him more curiously. So far what he's said matched up with what she's heard from a few other people - using the mana pool to move from one place to another. But there was something else that caught her attention about the man. Could he not...see? ]

That... that is what some other people I've come across have said too.

[ She hesitates a little- if he /was/ blind there was a chance that he was the person Prompto talked about. ]

Um... if you can't read the poem.. does that mean you can't..see..?

[Yes, the big white, fluffy animal. Apparently, the Storyteller is a rabbit, not that Ignis knows what one of those is.]

Ah, my apologies. A limerick is just a specific type of poem. There are many different types defined by meter, rhyming scheme and the like.

[~~All right, Mr. English Major.~~

Ignis nods, expression growing gentle when he picks up on her pause.]

It's all right. I won't get angry if you mention it.

[As he speaks, Ignis slips the sunglasses from his face so she can see the full extent of his scars for a moment.]

As unfortunate as it is, I'm quite blind. It happened shortly before I was brought here.

[ She's heard of...variations of the term rabbit. Leafy Bunny, and such. But they didn't quite look like... uh. Storyteller. Obviously. ]

Ohhh! I see. [ Kind of. She peers at the poem again, a little more thoughtfully. Though the topic of his blindness - not to mention seeing the damage to his face made her flinch a little. Not in revulsion mind, just in comprehending just how much that had to have -hurt-. ]

I'm... I'm sorry to hear that. [ Another pause, and even though he said he wouldn't get angry, she was still hesitant to ask. ]

How... did it happen?

[ He was perfectly free to now answer that though, because something else occurs to her. ]

Oh..! You wouldn't....would your name be ah... [ CRAP what was the name Prompto told her? Frowning a bit to herself, she tried the feel of a few names quietly. She KNOWS it's an 'Ig' name. ]

I..ggin.., no.. Igo..n... [ It SOUNDED almost right. Almost. OH! Oh wait, she has it! ]

Iggy?

Edited 2017-09-05 18:00 (UTC)

[It hurt a great deal. In fact, much of his memory of what exactly happened is clouded due to pain and shock. Not that Ignis really has any intention of talking about specifics with anyone. It's all too fresh.

He slides his sunglasses back on knowing that even the most kindhearted person wouldn't want to look at such an ugly mess for long and then speaks.]

It was a small sacrifice for the greater good. The Empire may have taken my vision, but they didn't stop us from achieving our goal. That is all that matters.

[A curious look crosses Ignis' face when she suddenly seems to recognize him. Once she gets the name out, he nods.]

My name is Ignis. 'Iggy' is one of the nicknames my friends have given me. Have you met Noctis or Prompto then?

[ She wouldn't press of course - because something else caught her attention. Empire. There was a slight noise from her, and she unconsciously took a step backwards. The Empire did that to him? Oh no - did SHE do that? ... no, that... that couldn't be right. He would have recognized her, ... he wouldn't be faking that would he? ]

[ Okay she... actually couldn't bring herself to say anything on that matter. Or even to ask. Or even to think there might be more than one kind of Empire - 100 years in the future *cough*. There's certainly a change to her behavior at that point though he might just think it's because of seeing those nasty scars. How intuitive are ya Iggy? ]

O-oh, I ...I see. I met Prompto a little while ago, when I was... asleep? I think.. but I was awake at the same time. [ In a dream, in other words. ]

I've come to call it the 'Dream World' for lack of a better term. It seems we can move back and forth between it and here, though not generally at our own control. I was there again as well for a short time, so that would make two visits for both Prompto and me.

[Ignis isn't sure what he said that caused her reaction, but he certainly doesn't miss that small noise or her step back. Concern crosses his face.]

Is something wrong, my dear? It sounds as if I've upset you somehow.

[ 'Dream world' worked for her, frankly. It made the most sense, at least. She was torn now - he's been so nice up till now, what if she told him she was from the Empire? Well... formerly from the Empire. He would be angry wouldn't he? At the very least, hate her.

Lying isn't an option. She just doesn't have a deceitful bone in her body. Still it takes her a ridiculously long time to work up her nerve to say -something-. ]

No, it... it isn't your fault.

But... you...must be angry with them. People from the Empire. Do you hate them...?

[ Basic emotions she had a pretty good understanding of. Sort of. She's never felt hatred or anger, at least, but she knew the concepts. Emotions and Free Will is HARD, Ignis. ]

[At first, Ignis doesn't know how to answer her. Emotions are hard whether it is because one has never felt them before or because one is more comfortable shoving them into a box and dealing with them 'later' should later ever come.

It takes several long moments, but Ignis finally takes a deep breath and gives her the most honest answer he can.]

I can't say I hate the people of the Empire as a whole, because so many of the normal people are victims just like me. So many lands have been conquered by force; so many people have watched their families killed and their homes destroyed.

[Could he have hated Nyx if his friend had not been able to flee Galahd as it had fallen to the Empire? Could he hate the hero who had taught him so much and then had given his life to protect the Oracle if he had been forced to assimilate into the Empire's populace instead?

No, no he couldn't.]

There are people I hate. The Emperor himself. The Chancellor. They are the ones who hold the power, and they pull the strings that rip everyone apart. I reserve my hate for them for they are the ones who truly deserve it.

[ It was a very good response, nonetheless. One that certainly satisfied her curiosity on that regard. She appreciated his honesty. ... but because he answered her with honesty, she felt she ought to answer him with honesty too. She ought to fess up too. Even if she wasn't responsible for hurting him, personally, she was still responsible for destroying people's homes and families. As much as she would like to run away from that thought. ]

... I....see.

[ Since he was clearly talking about the same Empire she knew of. The Emperor, the Chancellor- they did hold the power, she supposed. And they definitely pulled her strings to make her do as they commanded, taking lives and livelihoods with no care for anyone or anything else. She was just as much to blame. Maybe if she were "normal" they wouldn't have used her. ... of course this was all information she had heard from Arvis himself - what little he could tell her before she had to escape anyway. Hm...... was he still alive? ]

[ She was silent for a long moment, the awkward pause longer as the Behemoth in the Room just decided to put his hooves up on the coffee table and make himself comfortable for a while. Should she fess up after all? She wanted to, but ... ]

... are you certain we... haven't met before...?

[~~Rude, Gladio! Get your feet off that coffee table this instant! Err...wait, wrong behemoth.~~

The longer the silence stretches, the more frustrated Ignis becomes, not that he shows it. He's certain if he could see her, he would be able to pin down just what about their current topic is upsetting her so, but he can't and there are so many upsetting things related to the Empire.

Holding back a sigh, he does the only thing he can do at the moment. He answers her question.]

Without seeing you, it's impossible to say with certainty we have never met. I know I have never heard your voice before. Would you mind describing yourself to me?

[He's learning to 'see' with his hands, but they've just met, and Ignis hardly feels like it would be appropriate for him to request a chance to feel her face.]

[ ~~Yeah, it's like he thinks he can do whatever he wants! GOSH.~~ Oh ... right, the blindness. She'd actually managed to forget that rather quickly- good thing he couldn't see the awkward look on her face at that. Though if she knew he felt frustrated, she would have apologized for her awkward silences.

She exhaled softly when he confirms he never heard her voice before. There was a good chance she never encountered him then - not personally anyway. ]

Describe myself...? Um. [ She takes a second to try to take stock of her own appearance. She could describe her hair and clothes fine, but her face -- Oh wait, the mana pool, of course! She padded over to the pool, leaning over to peer into it. ]

I... have green hair..blue eyes and.. and I'm wearing clothes - pink and red? [ She glanced over to Ignis, then edged back a respectable distance. ]

Does.. that sound familiar to you?

[Ignis listens as she stumbles over giving a description of herself. It's odd. Most people don't need so much time to figure out what to say. Hair color. Eye color. Clothes. It's an easy answer, so why is she so hesitant?

Her question is answered both with words and a shake of Ignis' head.]

Not in the slightest, my darling. Green hair isn't exactly common where I'm from, so I'm quite certain I would remember meeting someone with it.

Why are you so worried about us having possibly met before? Has the Empire hurt or used you as well?

[ She was just full of awkward silences today. ]

I was.... I was told I was an officer of the Empire. But I don't remember any of it. An old man who found me told me that they were controlling me with something called a Slave Crown.

The only thing I'm sure of is my name. I can't remember anything else ..but the old man said that my memories would come back, in time.

[In all honesty, Ignis knows he should be focusing on the fact she just admitted to being an Imperial Officer. Instead, though, he finds himself fixating on the words 'Slave Crown.' Only the Empire would be so despicable as to name something that stripped away a person's free will a 'crown.'

For a moment, Ignis fights the urge to be sick as his mind supplies him with the unwelcome image of Noctis having something like that forced onto him, of the self-satisfied smirk that Ardyn would wear should something so horrible come to pass.

Astrals, he has to stop thinking about this before he really is sick.]

The Empire has a way of taking whatever it wants. If that is done by force, most of the time it's all the better. Should this old man's words be true, you are just as much a victim of their cruelty as anyone you may have been forced to hurt.

I also have missing memories, though not to the extremes you do. The mind often works to protect us from traumatic memories until we are strong enough to handle them. Perhaps this is the case with you as well.

[ She's even more quiet while Ignis is contemplating her words. Maybe she anticipates him to change his tune with her admitting she was an officer of the Empire. To her surprise, he doesn't. It's ..kind of a relief, and she silently exhales, relaxing a little.

Problem is she doesn't know if the old man was telling her the truth. She assumed he was, because she tended to naturally believe what people told her, but.. ]

That...might be the case. My head hurts often, when I try thinking about it... but I'm not sure I want to remember, anyway.

Did you lose your memories from ..what happened?

Yes, and it hurts me as well when I try too hard to remember.

[Ignis' voice is suddenly softer as his head unconsciously tilts downward. It makes him feel vulnerable not remembering and he hates it.]

It's frustrating. I want to know what happened. I've always lived my life without ambiguity, and yet, deep down there is part of me that knows I may regret removing this bit of ambiguity from my life. Still, I want to know. I cannot imagine knowing as little about myself as you know about yourself. I think I would go mad.

... [ It was so .. so strange that she's admitted so much to this man. More than anyone else here, even. She didn't know why, either. She shifted, this time to sit near him, splaying her fingers against her knees thoughtfully as she considered her words.

Sure she SAID she didn't want to remember, but.. that wasn't -entirely- true. She was just... ]

I... wouldn't know the first thing about what it feels like to go mad. [ She exhaled a short huff of air. ]

You're braver than I am. I don't..know who I am ...or anything, and that..frightens me. But... I think finding out frightens me far..far more. I ..think I understand being frustrated over not knowing too, though. There are things people know here that ..seems common knowledge to everyone. Except me. [ It was embarrassing, and galling and she hated it. ]

There is no need to label one of us braver than the other. Even the smallest scraps of bravery are better than having none at all.

[As he hears her settled onto the ground near him, Ignis raises his head to give her a small smile.]

Fear only becomes a bad thing when it stops you from acting or learning. I see bits and pieces in my nightmares, and even if I can't remember them upon waking, I still fear knowing the full picture those pieces form. Leaving those pieces scattered, though, means I'm allowing the Empire to have control over me. I cannot allow that. I won't allow it.

[Ignis reaches his hand in her direction, a clear offer of support should she choose to take it.]

You're alone right now and facing such unknown about yourself makes it easy to let the fear overwhelm you, but there is no shame in asking for help or accepting it. I would be honored to be allow to aid you in your quest.

[His previous small smile grows now into something warm and welcoming.]

My friends always tell me I know far too much. I'll be happy to share as much of that knowledge with you as you want no matter how common you may feel such questions may be.

Edited (Typo!) 2017-09-26 07:00 (UTC)

[ It was probably a good thing he was unable to see, since the face she made at that was a bit skeptical. Still, she does take his words to heart, mentally shivering a little. She was the same way - seeing snatches of a memory but never enough to fully grasp it when she woke. She uneasily rubbed her arm at his words, glancing over to him when she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. He was... offering his hand?

Surprise made her hesitate. Why would he offer to help her when he knew she had fought for the Empire...? Even if it was under the influence of the Slave Crown, there was a chance she did so willingly at one time...

Still, she was trusting, too trusting in some ways, and she felt strangely at ease talking with him. He didn't have to, but he's offering that help and she ...knew she would be foolish to turn it away. So after that slight pause, she reached over to place her hand in his. And though he can't see the smile that accompanies it, he can probably hear the warmth in her voice, banishing her cautiousness. It was such a huge relief. She wasn't sure his friends would feel the same way about her being a former officer of the Empire, but at least he didn't hate her. ]

I.. I don't know what to say. [ That was huge for her. ]

Thank you, .. I... I'm really grateful for that, Ignis.

You are very welcome.

[Ignis runs his thumb across the back of her hand soothingly, before lifting it so he can press a gentle, chaste kiss against the back. She may worry about what his friends will think of her, but he has no doubt they will see her just as he has.]

Whatever troubles beset us back home and no matter how alone we may be there, here we are not alone. We face the same troubles and we hope for the chance to sort through the pain we carry so that we can return home stronger.

[ Oh! She.. didn't expect that. She blinks in surprise, first at the soothing brush of his thumb and then that light kiss on her hand. Her head was still spinning that he had offered to help her, but she was smiling all the same. Part of her does wonder if something was expected of her though. To make such an offer of someone who could have been an enemy.. she was just 'lucky' to have been a different place from them when things went down or -she- might have been... ]

I'm beginning to understand that. [ With luck the day they do go home she'll be able to take the lessons she's learned here ~~even if she won't see them again, all the sadness~~ and be stronger for it. ]

I should.. probably get going. [ She felt like she could stay and chat for a while, even if they didn't say anything. He had a strangely soothing presence. ]

But I hope I'll get to talk to you again.

Edited (Bleh Html tags) 2017-09-30 14:24 (UTC)

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September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

At the Mana Pool

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WELP n.n

Yep...there's that nasty old 'E' word.

It was going to pop up eventually~!

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