lifeaftr | October Intro: Louder than Sirens, Louder than Bells

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[It's really a good thing Ouse's capable of keeping a calm expression no matter what, because a spider-lady is definitely far outside the realm of normal here, even among the weird monkeys and meeting some troll-guy and everything else.

Her body stiffens in alarm and her eyes widen, but she keeps her mouth firmly closed to process the scene. Muffet's voice is comforting, yes, but Ouse herself knows how deceptive such a thing can be.

...Still, she shouldn't be so quick to distrust. Not in circumstances like this when she should rely on who she can.]

I... would appreciate the help. I am sorry, but in my current state I really am no help, Miss...? [She trails off, hoping to prompt for a name]

[She curtsies politely, giving Ouse a friendly smile.]

Miss Muffet. It's a pleasure to meet you, circumstance aside.

May I ask what the problem is, specifically? I have some healing ability, if you're injured.

[Ouse bows at the curtsy, not knowing the gesture but recognizing it as sharing the same purpose as her bow.] Pleased to meet you as well. I am Kurosawa Ouse.

[She hesitates, just slightly, and glances down at herself.] ...I have no shoes, currently, and my bridal kimono makes movement difficult. It was made for slow, careful movements, not running from... monkeys.

[Or running in general, really.]

I stepped on something sharp just a moment ago, I'm afraid... [So her foot is bleeding some. A pause and she asks, curious:] Healing ability...?

[Muffet sees her injured foot and winces sympathetically.]

Were we in less chaotic circumstances, I'd offer to weave you some slippers to wear, but I'm afraid we haven't the time at the moment. Still, I could at least heal your injury and carry you further away from the fighting, where you'll be less at risk.

Green magic, where I come from, is the magic of shielding and healing. I'm not as skilled as some, but I can certainly manage smaller wounds.

[She's a bit skeptical on how this girl...spider-- Spider-girl?-- could carry her, but then again: Spider-girl. What did Ouse know about her strength?] I would appreciate that very much, if it's not too much trouble.

[She tilts her head curiously] Are there other kinds of color magic?

Ah, it's least I can do- we've all been tossed into this without warning, the only sensible thing to do is to help where we can.

[Lots of insects and arachnids can carry things much larger than themselves- apparently, Muffet is one of them. She nods in confirmation at the question.]

Yes, as far as I know there are seven colors. Orange magic is for movement, for example, while cyan is for stillness.

[She holds out one hand for Ouse to touch, her fingertips wreathed in a soft glow of green light. The color seems deep and oddly peaceful, gentle.]

If I may?

How fascinating... It must be nice, to be able to learn such magic.

[She wouldn't really call the feeling she has envy or anything, but it'd be neat to learn magic, she thinks. Her own abilities might constitute magic to some of the villagers near-by and those who would visit the mountain, but she knew that it wasn't. An ability was different. Somehow.

Ouse reaches out and takes the offered hand gently, watching the green glow with open curiosity.] Is there anything I must do?

All of my people have some magical ability, back at home, though some rare humans do as well.

[When they touch, Ouse will feel a soothing sensation spread through her, a feeling of life and health being nurtured, and the injury on her foot will repair itself- along with any other small wounds she may have.]

That should be enough by itself, I think. How do you feel?

[She's surprised to say the least, but pleasantly so. It's not a feeling she's experienced in a long time--but then, her whole world had revolved around death since long before her own.]

I...Feel amazing, honestly. This is truly an extraordinary gift you have. I can't help but feel a little envious. [She smiles warmly]

Thank you, truly. I will have to find some way to repay you.

[Muffet smiles happily, withdrawing her hand as Ouse finishes healing.]

Ah, that's very kind of you- although I'm not nearly as skilled with green magic as some, to tell the truth. Still, I'm happy to do what I can. After all, we're all lost here together, for the moment. It seems only sensible to try and help each other survive.

October Intro: Louder than Sirens, Louder than Bells

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