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

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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 )

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[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.]

[ 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...

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.]

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.

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.

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?

[Yep, called out, but thankfully, Ignis doesn't push the point. He's too used to being on the receiving end to do so.]

From what I've been told, they usually are found near the water or in the jungle. I suppose the bright colors blend in a little better with flowers and plants than they do with the sand.

[He smiles looking down toward where he can feel the others brushing passed his ankles.]

I herded these guys out of the camp in while the fighting was going on, so think they are just grateful that it's quieter around me than where they were. Considering they are reliable egg layers, I'm content to let them follow me. It will make throwing something together for breakfast much easier in the long run.

Again, you make an excellent point. And they must trust you, to have followed you this far.

[ Mira considers the bird for another second before reaching out to it. Mostly, she just wants to pet it, but she also doesn't want to startle it.

And then he says that, and Mira frowns a little. It has been on her mind. ]

Is it very difficult to gather food here?

If it helps any, I've trained all my life to make good points. It's nice to see this place isn't making me rusty.

[Ignis carefully settles down onto the ground, and once the Bludrocs realize the person they've all but imprinted on isn't going anywhere, they as one start crowding Mira's hand for pettings.]

So far, food hasn't been too hard to find. I think it's been to our advantage that we have several experienced cooks to help stretch what we have. I am concerned that this won't last with how quickly new people keep arriving, but that is a worry we will just have to deal with when the time comes.

If anything, I believe it will keep sharpening your skills.

[ She allows herself a little smile, both at the man and the birds. ]

... I'll have to do my part, then, and my best to assist with food. It's no good to keep food for oneself in any situation, but especially in a place like this...

[ She trails off and falls quiet, before she seems to remember herself. ]

I'm sorry, I forgot to introduce myself--I'm Mira.

That's all right. Battle makes it easy to forget such pleasantries. My name is Ignis.

[He gives her a small smile and a nod of his head as he introduces himself.]

In situations like these, one has to find the line between selflessness and selfishness. Give too little and we all suffer; give too much and we cannot aid those who we wish to protect. This is especially true for those who are healers. We are selfless by nature, but if we do not take proper care of ourselves, we can't take proper care of others.

[This is something Ignis is working on himself, so he knows for a fact it's much easier said than done.]

[ Oh, there is a name she recognizes. ]

Ah-- Lunafreya told me about you. I suppose it was only a matter of time before we crossed paths, but I expected later rather than sooner. It's a pleasure to meet you, Ignis.

[ For a moment, then, she's quiet, considering his words. ]

... I'll keep that in mind as best I can. Taking care of myself has never been one of my strong suits.

Nor is it one of mine.

[Ignis makes a vague gesture toward the scars on his face, but almost immediately thereafter shifts the topic away from himself.]

Lady Lunafreya made it safely to the island then? Astrals, she deserved a better greeting than this.

[Bloody hell, she's the Oracle! If she woke up in one of those cages, he's going to go back and personally kill each and every one of those monkeys all over again!]

Was she well when you parted ways?

[ ... oh. Well. She won't press the subject, but she does feel for him. He seems nice enough, she wonders...

... Another time, if ever. ]

She was, thankfully. [ There might be a slight touch of fondness there that's more than a touch. Mira clears her throat. ] I don't believe she was caught up in all of this, at the very least, and I'm grateful for that.

Edited 2017-11-02 05:37 (UTC)

Indeed. I as well.

[He does notice the fondness, but it doesn't strike him as odd. Lady Lunafreya deserves fondness and so much more for all she's done for others during her very difficult life. It makes Ignis happy to hear such fondness from those who are here already.]

Likely she will do her best to aid those who have already escaped the fighting. Perhaps once we've rested a bit more, we can go looking for her? Working herself into exhaustion is something she's as good at as we are, I imagine. If she won't look out for herself, someone must.

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October Intro: Louder than Sirens, Louder than Bells

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