September Intro: Knowledge is Hot Water on Wool

[lifeaftr_mods]

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.

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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!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

Chara | OTA

[achievementhunter]

At the mana pool

[Once upon a time, a skeleton gifted a child a book, its cover adorned with only a faded blossom in gold leaf that had been rubbed nearly away with use. There were penciled notes in the margins and on the back cover, the musings of another gardener from a different world and time.

A used, but well-loved book on cultivating flowers.

They had never told him- and perhaps, he had never seen it before the book was shoved in a bag and thrown under his bed, returned with other gifts that they had never had the chance to use; but they did read it, from cover to cover. Added in their own notes, observations from one, painfully brief year in which they had been free to enjoy gardening on their own terms, at their own pace.

So really, it's not much of a puzzle. They take one look at the inscription before plucking one of the narcissus flowers from it's stem, and dropping it into the pool. And near immediately, the pool begins to emit a swirling, green light.]

Well. Isn't that interesting?


On the Islets

[The only surprise, really, is that the Storyteller couldn't do better.

Chara is entirely unimpressed with the ruins that dot about the place- but they search them all anyway. Keen eyes find no new goods; nothing to take before other, curious figures begin to catch up, which only leaves those who are also wandering between land and poorly maintained bridges, many of which are not faces they recognize.

That isn't much of a surprise, either. To those who are new, they immediately offer a simple, yet effective question:]

I take it you have only recently awoken here, correct?

[And to the old:]

Have you noticed anything of value, yet?

on the islets; new

[tomodachi]

[Oh thank god, someone that is not an adult--]

Yeah, unfortunately.

[He head-tilts a little at Chara here, curious. Maybe a little too curious as he comes close enough to be invading personal space.]

So, who are you?

[achievementhunter]

[Well. Chara makes no comment, but his unfortunate pressing into their personal boundaries does have them taking one, polite step back.]

My name is Kidwun. I am also not from this world.

And you would be..?

[Invasive? Pushing his luck?]

At the mana pool

[shatteredlenses]

What's interesting?

[Despite listening closely to what the Storyteller had to say, Ignis is at a loss. During the previous weeks, he'd learned his way around the ruins and to the mana pool, but without his vision, he has no way to read the riddle. He also hasn't seen the new islands in the distance. At least he can smell the strong scent of flowers and hear the vaguely familiar voice. It's the voice of the strange child he and Prompto met in the dream world, isn't it? The one who was kind enough to offer them the bandages.]

There are more flowers here than before. I can smell them. Do you know what kind they are?

oh well hello again! c:

[achievementhunter]

[-This gentleman.

They had seen him around the place; the wounds on his face had healed somewhat, and from what they could tell from their own, distracting priorities, he was well cared for. This is perhaps the first time they've seen him without someone else nearby, if not more than one person.

Seems like those wounds have taken their toll, either way.]

Narcissus flowers. I wouldn't have thought they would grow in such a place, but there are variations in the species native to Mediterranean areas- tropics.

[Crouching down, they pick another, leaning over to lightly tap his hand with the plant.]

The flower has six petals. There are a variety of colors; yellow and white are the most dominant, though there are some purple blooms.

It appears throwing one into the mana pool causes a magical reaction of some kind. [A pause.] I take it someone has explained that feature to you already.

islets

[scourgingstars]

That does, in fact, appear to be the case. [Ardyn answered with what might almost have actually passed for a pleasant smile. Almost.] It's terribly startling, falling asleep in one place and waking up in quite another.

[achievementhunter]

[The wonderful thing, about a smile such as that, is that it tells Chara precisely where they stand, at this moment of time. It's a smile that's reflected back at him, on a face much younger. Perhaps, to anyone else, it might almost have actually passed for a pleasant smile.

Almost.]

I'm sure you'll adjust in time, sir.

islets

[jokeronace]

[Jamil has picked through the ruined buildings, though he's yet to find anything of value. Not a single bottle cap or bobby pin to be found. This is really not his day; he's so far from home, half his stuff is missing, his Pip-Boy doesn't work, and he's lost his dog.

When a child approaches him, he's reminded, idly, of the dream he had about that girl -- Buddy. If Hinata is here, then she might be here too. Which means they are now at two too many kids.

Granted, Buddy can hold her own. This new well-spoken child seems calmer, more experienced than he might expect any random child out of Freeside to be in this situation, too.

Jamil's never been too good with kids, but it's a good a time as any to start practicing.]

Just today. You been here a while?

[achievementhunter]

I'd hazard a guess at a month, give or take.

[If things worked like clockwork in a similar fashion to one castle in the mist, then these new arrivals were sound indication of how much time has passed.

At the least, most of them seem prepared to deal with such an environment. The more people proved capable of that, the more potential that someone here could be of use.]

That being said, these islands are new.

mana pool

[souris_keteer]

[Mickey jumps, clearly surprised.]

W-whoa! ... Is it supposed to do that, you think?

[achievementhunter]

I would assume so.

[They don't look particularly concerned; curious, though? Oh, there's plenty of that. Chara leans forwards, inspecting the light- but not touching.]

The real question is what it does...

Mana Pool

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet isn't very familiar with Greek mythology, but she's persistent and methodical, and has been carefully looking around ever since the Storyteller made such an interesting announcement.]

[She arrives at the mana pool just in time to see Chara's experiment with the flower.]

It certainly is an unconventional way of continuing a path, isn't it. I wonder where it leads to...

[achievementhunter]

[They look back at her, smiling politely.]

Well it certainly seems to beg one's curious approach, does it not?

Perhaps the simplest way to find out would be to go there.

mana pool

[builditstrong]

[Kid has been spending the last five minutes looking between the inscription and the pool. He's not an idiot. He knows the pool is magic. He knows the flowers led him here. He knows the message on the stone is some kind of riddle--like a trick to get the pool to do its magic.]

[The problem is, he can't read too well, especially not in whatever this script is. Even if he could, there's no Narcissus in his world, nor is he entirely sure what a water lily is, nor does he even realize that these flowers are known as narcissuses. So he's just kind of standing here, feeling stupid--not that that's anything new--when up walks a young child. They pretty much only glance at the inscription, then drop a flower into the water. It wakes up like some kind of eerie whirlpool.]

[He blinks at the child, then peers down into the water.]

Ya figgered it out that quick?

hey kid I heard you like kids so I put some kids with your kid so you can kid while you kid

[achievementhunter]

It's not too difficult, should you have the right information.

[A calm response; not boastful, or accusing, as they have been with some. He seems genuinely surprised- but not aggravated at their success where he had failed.

They have to give some credit where it's due.]

The inscription mentions a flower, then a man- Narcissus. These flowers that bloomed are known as narcissus, as well.

From what I can make of it, the story is that the man was looking at his reflection and drowned.

[Which is super cheerful, right?]

On the inlets.

[thisisourfuture]

[He had been inspecting a bridge. Nothing is guarding it like he had thought might be. Hinata jumps slightly when a voice comes from behind him. He turns his head but remains crouched.]

Yes. That's right.

[It would be best to start asking questions. He can't figure out just how they came to be here without investigating. Hinata turns back to going over the structure.]

I only know what I was told for now. I want to ask you a few things if that's alright.

[achievementhunter]

[He's...a curious one, isn't he? Unlike the others, there's a clear amount of suspicion in his actions- or perhaps just caution.

Which makes him one of very few they'd put money on surviving.]

Certainly. I would be happy to assist.

Mana Pool

[greatcleavage]

I feel like this puzzle relies on a common understanding of both myth and herbology that shouldn't have been assumed.

[Roy's comment is directed towards Chara, but not the bitterness -- though that might be a hard distinction to make, considering his scowl. Really, why would whoever came up with this just figure the cultural references had universal relevance?]

Think we ought to step in?

[achievementhunter]

I know nothing of myths, sir; but the flower is known as Narcissus, where I come from. A distinct advantage over yourself, for certain.

[It's hard to say if they agree, or if they're simply criticizing his lack of knowledge when it comes to flowers.

Both.]

It leads back to the main island; step in all you like.

gently.... tags in.... (Islets)

[tenthstreetbred]

[She's been going from islet to islet, exploring the broken ruins of what used to be homes. Other than that, there isn't much here other than what you take with you it seems. The influx of new people is a surprise though not a large one, due to the stories she's heard from other people about how these sorts of worlds "work".

The biggest surprise for Shepard, it seems, is seeing someone that she's gotten used to seeing only in dreams. The kid is practical in their speech, something that she's come to expect, and she shakes her head.]

Other than the broken houses, no. This place doesn't have as many resources as the main island does. The best it offers is a potential for shelter.

ah... come to me....

[achievementhunter]

I'd thought as much.

[And yet, they still seem somewhat frustrated with the confirmation. One thing, for a child of their nature to not find anything they would deem of use- another, for the more competent adults in this place to agree with them.

They don't allow it to get them down for long.]

It's good to see you are not simply a figment of my imagination, ma'am. [Said with a smile- polite, but hardly warm.]

[Islets}

[deranged_practicality]

Yes.

[Isabella didn't consider herself maternal, but the child was about Jake's age as nearly as she could tell, which did make her worry a bit.]

Are you alone here?

Ah, hi! c:

[achievementhunter]

[Her state of dress certainly should have forewarned them to this. In both that...and the manner of which she holds herself.

She reminds them of someone.]

I have my sibling with me, ma'am. And others who are willing to lend a helping hand, should the need arise.

fashionably late to the mana pool party

[catpiper]

['Interesting' isn't the word Ren would use. Scary, weird-rhose are more accurate. Kidwun's presence is the only reason she doesn't run away to hide behind a rock somewhere and she looks visibly nervous as she approaches.]

What's it doing?

mana pool

[decisivestab]

[Buddy is watching from a safe distance while the other child inspects the pool and does something with the things growing near it. She's never seen anyone else her age before, or close to it, and she waits to see what they'll do. Whether they're going to be hostile.]

[They seem more curious than dangerous. Buddy walks a little closer, to get a better look at the shining pool; she's curious, too.]

...Don't those usually do that?