October Intro: Louder than Sirens, Louder than Bells

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: OCTOBER

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: October 3rd
Where: Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

The Beach: For All the Rest
The shores of Ensō are far from the tranquil, almost idyllic tropical backdrop that they should be. And so it is that while you fish, or perhaps as you go about your daily business on the islets, the first thing you will note is the persistent sound hammering at the back of your skull.

A drumming.

And it's growing louder.

The source of the drumming will, like it or not, soon become apparent. At the fringes of the trees, wielding slings and hollow, wooden pistols, is a group of large and very displeased simians who have every intent of claiming this spot of beach - yes, traveler, this spot of beach you're standing on right now! - for their own, and by any means necessary.

And they certainly don't look interested in diplomacy.
If you came armed, you might be in luck, because this conflict will require your steady hand in its resolution. If you did not...well, you may be better suited to run, or risk capture at the hands of warriors skilled, cunning, and incredibly vicious. Laugh at their monkey business all you like; they are ingenious fighters and, what's more, they're just as good at killing as they are at capture.

For the uninitiated, this particular brand of chaos doesn't usually sweep across the entire island the way it has. But those who have been here for some time will recognize the monkeys in question, and might even recognize this for what it is: revenge.

Group I: The Squeakquel
Looks like your monkeying around last month has landed you and everyone else in a spot of trouble. The monkeys in question certainly weren't happy to be confronted with others on their lands, nor are they willing to share their territory. While you may have triumphed last time you confronted them, the apes have been planning their revenge in the meantime.

Some of you were unlucky enough to become targets. Overnight, a great deal of them silently invaded the islets. Their blow-dart guns are equipped with a fairly powerful sedative that is more than capable of knocking most living creatures out - and those that were immune were simply snatched up, gagged, and bundled away.

However, it seems that some of their prisoners didn't suit their purposes, for one way or another, and thus weren't retrieved with the intention of long-term capture. Which is why a number of you will awaken in regions of the island that you've already explored.

...the really, really dangerous ones.

Whether it's a Center of Gravity, a parade of centipuppies, a contingent of Lungblossoms, a Fustercluck, or something else entirely, one thing is certain: the monkeys wanted you out of their way.

So get ready to fight for your life.

Group II: Ape Escape
If you're not one of the slightly luckier newcomers that materializes on the shore, then you're one of the unlucky ones that's managed to materialize square in the middle of the jungle. Or rather, in the middle of one of the denser, more populated parts of the jungle. The abodes woven into the canopy are crude, built of mud and sticks, but they're nonetheless sturdy.

And, as an important note - they are also swarming with monkeys. Snarling, baying, armed monkeys. Perhaps they'd be more hostile toward an interloper...if you weren't already in a cage, along with several others.

Fortunately for the newbies, they've all got something the monkeys didn't anticipate, aside from the element of surprise. Most prisoners don't arrive with knapsacks full of newly-acquired gear, and it's a good thing, too - you may very well need it, and the help of the new arrivals, to escape this place. You could always wait for the cavalry to come, but are you really willing to take that risk?

Group III: Pot Luck
As for you, you terribly fortunate third group?

You'll find yourselves suspended in wooden cages as well, though this time, to the hot curtain of whitish steam clouding your vision. It smells an awful lot like smoke down there. An awful lot like something...burning? Unlike your fellows over in the second group, these cages aren't simply a means of containing you, no. These cages are currently hanging over what might be the largest cast iron cauldron you've ever seen. All of this is, of course, for one simple reason:

Some species of monkeys are carnivores.
The acrid scent of smoke is already hot and rancid in your nostrils; the pyre beneath you has been lit, and the hungry flames are beginning to boil the water below quite eagerly. We'd suggest you hurry up in freeing yourself and your fellows - being boiled alive is not a particularly pleasant way to go. At least the monkeys weren't expecting quite so many main courses so soon, which allows you the element of surprise.

---

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.

All new arrivals will awake with knapsacks with their names stitched to the front. The contents of said knapsacks can be found below!

---

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 )

Comments

mira | ota | here for your healing needs....... maybe

[encircling]

A
[ As much as she really would love to go somewhere absolutely safe, there's one thing on her mind. If she's in this situation, it stands to reason that there are others in as much trouble. There's no guarantee that they'll have someone to help them out, and she's not a fighter, but what she can do is heal.

So. If she sees someone's hurt, she'll go on over to them. ]

Do you need healing?

[ Her voice is firm, and while her face is missing a bit of its color, she's determined. ]

B
[ ... but the more people she heals, the more exhausted she gets. So she takes frequent rests, her breathing a little labored, before she walks more. Regardless of how many breaks she takes, though, she doesn't feel any better, and the more magic she uses... the worse she feels.

But she's still determined, and she asks the same question, though she sounds exhausted. ]

Are you hurt?

B

[shedgrace]

[The battle is perhaps winding down, or at least spreading out. Lunafreya has had a very long, very full day, and exhaustion would pull her down herself did she not feel so very much more alive than she had since she'd first called Titan's aid.

She moves across the beach much like Mira, checking on anyone who's stopped long enough to sit down, speaking to those who have yet not, but when she hears a voice she recognizes--when she sees how pale the girl looks--she changes course immediately and hurries to put gentle hands on Mira's arm and shoulder.]

I am not, I assure you. My friend, I beg of you, please take a moment to rest.

[encircling]

Lunafreya?

[ Tired as she is, she's relieved more than anything. It's dangerous out there, with all the monkeys, and she's so happy that Lunafreya hasn't been caught up in anything she couldn't handle. ]

Thank goodness you're okay. [ ... And then she takes in the request, and Mira looks a bit troubled. ] But there might be others who do need help.

[shedgrace]

One cannot attend to the needs of others whilst the cries of their own flesh go unheeded.

[Says Lunafreya Nox Fleuret, local healer and hypocrite. She moves the hand from Mira's arm to her forehead to check her for fever.]

You are weary. Please, sit. You'll be of no use to anyone should you push yourself to collapse, and I worry for your health.

[encircling]

I... well...

[ It has been a long day, and she's so tired in so many ways. Mira lets out a quiet sigh, and her shoulders slump. ]

... You're right. I'm sorry for worrying you.

[shedgrace]

It is in my nature to worry. I am a healer as well.

[Gently, she guides Mira to take a seat somewhere the lingering battle is unlikely to reach.]

Have you also just arrived?

[encircling]

[ She takes a seat and wraps her arms around herself. She's glad for the company, yes, but her mind and heart is with those who might still need help.

But maybe some conversation will help. Mira nods, looking at Lunafreya now. ]

I did. It's odd... before I woke, I had a strange dream. I'm assuming it's the same for you?

B

[forgetmenow]

They'll be alright.

[Absolutely not an answer to her question. Not directly, in any case.]

You want to help, to be useful, but you can't help if you wear yourself out.

You should really rest.

[encircling]

[ She's a little unnerved by how well he read her, but... she won't make a fuss. That's too much effort, right now.

(You'd think she'd have learned after Lunafreya scolded her. Not so. Cole's right: She wants to help more than anything, and she wants to find her place in a world completely unknown, for now.) ]

... You're right. It's habit, that's all. [ But she sits, looking around their surroundings. ] There's so much that I can be doing, but...

[forgetmenow]

"Can", maybe... But that's not the same as should.

There are others who can help. And the worst has passed, I think. It'll be fine.

[encircling]

[ She falls quiet at that.

She's never been particularly good at looking out for herself. That's how she'd gotten captured, after all--she'd tried to heal as many fallen as possible, when her village had been attacked. And she'd started running too late...

Shackles, cold on her wrists, biting into her skin. It's a miracle she's still alive, really. ]

... I suppose so. [ Her voice is quiet, distant, caught up in memories. ] And what will you do? Sit around and wait?

[ She doesn't sound very judgmental, at least. It's a sincere question. ]

[forgetmenow]

[Cole rubs his wrists slightly, absentmindedly, as he feels the memory. She feels faraway and that makes him faraway for a moment, before he remembers he should answer.]

If you want.

I'm here for the same reason as you. Helping people. And I wanted to help you, too.

[encircling]

[ The motion doesn't go unnoticed, and she's immediately wary. Her mother had told her long ago of those who could feel others' memories, emotions, who could peer into someone's mind and, if they were less than ethical, could use that to their advantage. To hurt, to use.

... yet at the same time, she doesn't get that feeling from him. Mira's still worried, though. Is she that much of an open book? ]

.... It's very admirable of you, to want to help a stranger. [ She folds her hands in her lap, not quite meeting his eyes. ] What is your name?

A

[greatcleavage]

[Roy is a very legitimate target for this question, considering the sheer number of bruises, scrapes, contusions, lacerations, and sundry injuries he's accumulated through repeated charges back into the fray to rescue others and clear the way.]

[Despite this -- well, he pauses to consider her question, then shakes his head.]

I'm still good. You should probably save it for someone who needs it more.

[encircling]

[ ... and she immediately looks skeptical. She's even reaching out, instinctively, to start healing, but she pulls back moments later. ]

... Are you sure? It looks like you've been injured quite a bit.

[greatcleavage]

I don't deny that. [Nor could he. His head alone looks like it's been beaned with coconuts for an hour straight, which thanks to the ape armaments is closer to literally true than he particularly likes.] But I'm pretty resilient. It's other people I'm worried about.

[encircling]

[ ... Hm. ]

But if you're so injured, can you really help people to the absolute best of your abilities?

[greatcleavage]

My capacity to aid others is presently undiminished, but...

[Roy sighs, shooting a glance back at the chaos and the cages that speaks of frustration and the vast depths of responsibility he feels.]

I'll be honest, I don't know the proper answer in this situation. Both taking or refusing healing could turn out to be incredible mistakes.

[encircling]

[ And for more than a few moments, she looks confused. ]

What makes you think accepting healing could be a mistake?

B

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis is glad when he finally makes his way to the edge of the encampment. Blind as he is, it's been a challenge made even more so by the fact he's herding a few Bludrocs that managed to escape their pen in the chaos and were at great risk of being killed.

Of course, he could have left them behind, but it would have been a terrible waste.

When the tired voice calls out to him, Ignis pauses, the Bludrocs milling around his feet. Carefully, he pushes them away with the toe of his shoe, grateful when he can hear them hesitantly following him as he makes his way closer to the voice.]

I'm not hurt, but you sure sound like you could use a bit of a pick me up. May I?

[His regenerative and moral lifting magic has nowhere the effect the mana pool would in restoring her, but it should help at least a little, enough to let her get to the pool easier anyway.]

[encircling]

[ She's a little surprised when someone calls out to her with an offer of help. Mira isn't sure that's something she'll get used to; back home, she had been the one to take care of people, what with Mother being the healer. The rare times someone had taken care of her, it had been her parents...

Her heart aches, and she swallows back the tears. ]

That's... very kind of you, sir. If it's no trouble...

[shatteredlenses]

It's never any trouble to aid those who have given so much to aid others.

[A gentle smile crosses his face as he raises one of his gloved hands so it's face up.]

Just relax and let the energy wash over you.

[Pulling the magic forward and then releasing it to wash over her is an easy task. Ignis has been lucky so far and he hasn't had to use much of his magic. Namely, because it seems several healers with stronger skills than his own have arrived recently. It's something he's rather grateful for as his skills have always been better suited for support, not as the sole healing source. That was the job of their stock of curatives.]

[encircling]

Oh, it's-- I didn't do that much.

[ She's embarrassed, but all the same, she relaxes as much as she can. It's a strange and new feeling; Mira has never been injured to the point where she needed her mother to heal her. She closes her eyes and takes in a deep breath, and it's far easier to even breathe now.

She opens her eyes. ]

Thank you. I feel much, much better.

[shatteredlenses]

It's funny how often I've said the same to my friends and they never quite believe me. Your exhaustion says you did plenty, my dear. We are all grateful for the assistance you've provided whether it be in large ways or small.

[Once the spell has run its course, Ignis lets his hand drop back to his side. As he does, one of the Bludrocs brushes passed him to gaze at her curiously. He can't tell exactly what the bird is doing because of his blindness, but that doesn't stop him from chuckling anyway.]

I honestly don't know how these birds survive in the wild. They don't seem to have much survival instinct and are quite curious. Either that, or I just ended up with an odd ball.

[encircling]

Ah-- [ Called out. She lets out a short, quiet laugh. ] You make a convincing point, I-- oh, hello!

[ She kneels down to peer curiously at the bird. It's so colorful, and she's reminded of a chicken. Wrapping her arms around her knees, she tilts her head up to look at Ignis. ]

They're very beautiful. You'd think that, with how brightly colored they are, they'd be very easy prey. It's not difficult to notice them, and effective camouflage with plumage like that would be nearly impossible... Do they really just follow you around?