lifeaftr | September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

Entry tags:

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Ignis can't help but wrinkle his nose as he runs into the strong smell of blood for the second time since he's taken to wandering the beach. Much like before, he can hear someone moving around nearby, but before he can ask if they are all right, they call out to him instead. Of course, it doesn't take much for Ignis to realize the person has either not looked at him or at least not looked closely.

Asking a very obviously blind man to find you something is the best way to not find whatever it is you're looking for.]

I'm certain gathering wood for a fire won't be too difficult, but I'm afraid I'm ill suited for such a task. Perhaps there is another way I can be of assistance?

[Maridian assumes nothing. After all, demon hunters don't have eyes, and they get along just fine. Actually, these days, Mar's more surprised by someone blind who CAN'T get along just fine...]

Hmm. How good are you at deboning shark fillets, then? If I got some help with that we might actually eat before it gets dark.

[Talk to him after 10 years in the World of Ruin fighting daemons, and he'll be at that level. Now, Ignis is just happy he doesn't stumble over his feet every time he tries to go from point A to point B.]

I've deboned quite a few fish in my day, but never a shark. I don't suppose they will be too different. Just larger. I certainly hope you plan to do more to it than just throw it over a fire, though. That would be quite a waste.

Well, this particular type of shark tends to have a problem of oozing a fairly nasty chemical over its meat, so we're going to need to fillet quickly and then probably do a salt-water wash to draw it out. Ideally I'd want to give it a quick marinade after that, but I happen to be short a wine bottle, a lemon, and a spice rack. [To judge by his tone of voice, this lack is a personal affront.] So I'm looking at an external sear followed by a slow bake, if anyone can actually get a fire going around here.

[Though after a moment, he adds on a much brighter note:] But I do have salt, and by the Light, I can make it work with salt!

[Ignis steps closer, the expression on his scarred face suddenly brightening.]

Praise the Six, you really are a chef! You're not just acting like it.

[Goodness, it sounds like he's spent the last month surrounded by heathens who have no idea how to peel a potato let alone what a marinade is.

Probably because he has.]

It's a shame we must do this so quickly because of the chemical. If we could transport it back to the ruins, I have a month's worth of supplies we could sweeten the pot with.

Damn straight. [The paladin perks up at the mention of supplies, audibly as well as visually. For many reasons.] Supplies in ruins? There's two of my favorite things in one incredible package! Here I was worried about all these people going hungry, but we can get some proper fishing going and eat properly once we get settled in.

We do have some fishing going on courtesy of a friend of mine, but he is only one person and the catch of one person isn't going to feed everyone.

[Though, they will need to make more fishing poles if more people are going to fish. Not everyone is lucky enough to have their favorite rod stored in a special space they can call it from at will like Noctis does.]

I've been doing my very best to make sure everyone has enough to keep them going. It's not anything fancy, but there is a lot one can do with just a few supplies, creativity, and experience. Fortunately, my friends have been good about getting me the things they can. They know what I can do with them.

[He's gloating just a little. Don't mind him.]

Fear no more! I've got a fishing pole, a lot of experience in cooking with minimal supplies in strange new worlds, and the willingness to get it done. With two chefs on board, this crowd is as good as fed for all their time here!

[Confidence and bravado practically radiate from him, and why shouldn't they? This is a challenge he revels in -- a true one, not to be dispatched with sword and spell, but to be approached with care and the utmost of conviction!]

Wonderful! Should you run into a young man by the name of Noctis, that is my friend. I'm sure he would enjoy a chance to talk fishing with you.

[Or at least enjoy having someone to have a friendly little fishing competition with.]

We've been fortunate enough to salvage several pots so far, though we are short on utensils.

[Speaking of utensils, Ignis finally steps forward, hand outstretched for the knife Maridian is using so he can set to work on the shark and let his fellow cook look to the fire.]

I don't suppose your knowledge includes ways of making some, does it?

Conveniently, I found a set of pots in a knapsack here when I came to. [Mar casually reverses the knife to offer it over -- maybe too casually, but he's wearing armor, so the blade just clanks against metal instead of slicing open skin. After a second, comprehension catches up with him and he leans in slightly to tap the grip against Ignis's hand.] Inconveniently, I'm a jewelcrafter by trade. Not so much skill at creating wooden or metal tools. Now, give me a shot at an ore vein and a little time and I can make this whole crew fabulous, but -- and this is just a hunch I have -- that may be a lower priority than many other things I could be doing.

My thanks.

[Ignis takes the knife, carefully running gloved fingers over it to familiarize himself with it before he sets to work. He appreciates the tap Mar gave him. Assistance given without him having to ask for it makes the help so much easier for his pride to accept.]

Appearing fabulous has never been a very high priority for me even in the best of times. I fear you're right it will be a low one now, but I suspect we will find a way to put your skills to use soon enough. If nothing else, such work requires a steady hand and an eye for detail, both of which will come in handy as we create more things to make our lives here easier.

True, and as soon as one of these sharks or a random tiger or something drops a breastplate or some weapon of ultimate power that just cries out to have a faceted ruby crammed in one of its sockets, it'll be my time to shine!

[He's totally serious. Cheerful and optimistic, but totally serious.]

Of course I also have some small skill in absorbing hits intended for others and whacking enemies with a big sword, too. So I'm not totally useless outside of a stack of gems. Mostly useless, as history has proven, but not totally!

They do tend to pick up the oddest things now and again, don't they?

[What the bloody hell is a tiger? Well, if it's like a shark Ignis guesses it might drop items like many of the monsters and animals on his world do.

The mention of 'hitting things with a big sword' does get Ignis' attention, even as he works on breaking down the shark. He moves a little slower than he would like, but the cuts are still quite precise all in all.]

You use a greatsword then? A good friend of mine from home uses them as his weapon of choice.

For when I want to do some harm, but my real skill is lifting a shield and standing fast between the allies I'm protecting and the danger that wants to overcome us. Go back to any of my greatest victories, and that's what you'll find me doing.

[Well, except for that one battle where his plan had involved 'immediately drinking the mad scientist's mysterious chemicals'. That one really shouldn't have worked out as well as it did.]

[Mar, chefs do a lot in the name of cooking, but drinking mystery cocktails made by mad scientists really shouldn't be one of them...]

It's truly a shame out of my traveling group Gladio is the one who isn't here.

[A fond look crosses his face.]

I suspect you and he would get along. His official title literally is 'Shield' and it's a duty he takes the utmost pride in excelling at.

[That was in the name of raiding, not cooking! And it worked out really well somehow!]

Oh, that IS a shame! The nastiest fiends always take two of us working in tandem, after all. [For some reason which shall not be discussed, right?] You're used to a group then, I take it?

[Yep. Fortunately, Ignis is all too happy to be distracted by talking about his friends.]

Indeed. I usually travel with three others who are about my age. The two who are here are the younger of our group--my charge and his best friend. Gladio is the elder of our group and has apparently decided to take his time coming here.

[It still strikes Ignis as odd that three of them are here and one is not, but perhaps that will change at some point. They could certainly use Gladio's survival training right now even if they are managing to make due on their own.]

I miss those days. [The paladin heaves a wistful sigh that makes him seem, briefly, older than he acts. (He's well past a century, but as an elf, no one can actually say he's older than he LOOKS.] But there's no one I can think of that I'd want here, so it's a moot point.

None at all?

[That seems like an odd answer considering how wistful Mar is about his past adventuring.]

Not even if this place cares little about if one is living or dead when they bring them here?

Oh, plenty of them were dead already. Undeath is a real pervasive issue on Azeroth, after all. But I never lost anyone on my watch -- never!

[Mar takes this as a particular point of pride, because his job has always been to stand between friend and foe and keep the latter from the former. (Usually metaphorically, admittedly, but that's beside the point.)]

Most of them have just retired and gone on to other things, and if that makes them happier, better for them.

[Undeath is a real pervasive issue... Well, that doesn't sound very promising. It's certainly not something Ignis is very clear on how to respond to, especially with how Mar just brushes it off.

Well, perhaps it is best to focus on the part he does know how to respond to.]

I do understand that. Those who spend most of their lives fighting earn their rest when they get to it. It wouldn't be very kind to drag them away from it.

[Undeath is something he lives with every day. Literally, since his sister suffers that particular affliction.]

[Ignis's comment earns a laugh, but not an amused one. Because undeath is pretty much literally dragging those who spent their lifetime fighting back from their rest into the fray once more.] And an unwilling combatant isn't much good on the field. Then again, sometimes the field is the worst place for the willing to be too.

Yes, I will certainly not argue that.

[But he's stumbled into more serious ground than he meant to and they still have a shark to finish preparing, so Ignis does his best to refocus them on happier topics.]

How do our prospects for getting a fire started look? This first batch should be ready for a washing here soon.

I've got some small materials prepared. Not much, but I don't see much on the islets to begin with.

[It is perhaps to Maridian's credit that he makes no jokes whatsoever about Ignis's ability to see things on the islets.]

[Look Maridian, either you make the jokes of Ignis will. There's really no reason to hold back.]

All right then, this stack is ready if you would like to go to work on them. We'll make a feast out of this yet!

September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

Sushi?

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)

(no subject)