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

[shatteredlenses]

I'm well, despite appearances that may suggest to the contrary.

[As he speaks, Ignis sends a dagger flying with pinpoint accuracy toward a monkey who makes the mistake of being a little too vocal as it closes in on the pair. In a flash of blue and a crack of crystals, the dagger appears back in Ignis' hand seconds after burying itself deep into the now dead monkey. This would probably be impressive enough for someone who can see, but when Ignis tilts his head in the man's direction, the scars over his eyes make it clear that he can't see anything.]

Are you in need of any healing yourself?

[jinglejangle]

[Now how do you get scars like that?]

You seem to be holdin' things down very well, don't see what's contrary 'bout that.

[Asking would be rude - and it's not like it's holding it down. The throw is impressive, and the flash and crystals are even more of an oddity than a blind man who's aim is unerring. Is it hardlight? Or something else?

His money is on "something else" but that's a category so large and varied it doesn't count for much.]

Aw, you don't gotta worry 'bout me. Jus' a little disoriented from all this.

[His ribs throb in protest, but it's a trivial pain. There are others, like that fella with the sword he ran into, that need it more. Bruised or broken ribs aren't anything he hasn't experienced before.

The waking up in a cage about to be murdered by intelligent primates? That's new, and he's trying his best to not dwell on what the actual fuck that means about anything.]

[shatteredlenses]

[Now isn't that the million gil question? Ask again after December and he just might be able to answer. As it is, McCree's comment draws a soft snort from Ignis.]

I've been lucky so far. These creatures don't have enough common sense to remain quiet when they attack. Were they smarter, I would be in a lot more trouble.

[He's come a long way since was brought here right after being blinded, but Ignis is the last person who's going to overestimate the skill he's regained. This throw hit, but that's no guarantee the next will.]

And if I insist I will worry nonetheless, will your answer stay the same? We have no idea how much longer this fighting will last, but after such an aggressive attack we have no choice but to deal with the threat in kind. The chance for rest and recovery must be taken whenever it presents itself.

[jinglejangle]

[Curiouser and curiouser. He's more than willing to bide his time when there's a mystery to solve.]

They ain't the smartest monkey's I've run into, that's for sure.

[Though Winston insisted he wasn't a monkey. He was a scientist.]

Ah- it ain't nothin'. Had a bit of a rough landin' gettin' outta the cage, but 's not exactly like we've got much time to rest up.

[There's two monkeys that seem intent to prove his point, which Ignis can surely hear. McCree's aim with a knife isn't nearly as well as his aim with a gun, but it still sinks into one of the ape's arm. It gives him enough time to unholster his gun. Line it up. In a second, they're done.

Two more bullets gone.]

[shatteredlenses]

It seems that you have me beaten on two accounts when it comes to our opponents then. You actually know what monkeys are and you've dealt with them before.

[What he wouldn't give for a good old voretooth pack right now. At least he knows how they fight.

Ignis is about to comment that casting a spell doesn't take more than an instant when the shots ring out. Ah, another gunslinger. It's a shame Prompto isn't around. Hopefully, his blonde friend is doing all right.]

I'm certain you've already figured this out, but save your bullets if you can. They don't exactly grow on trees around here.

[As Ignis speaks, he pulls his magic to the surface allowing it to pool under his skin for just a moment before releasing it to wash over McCree. It's just a brief regenerative and moral boost, but every little bit helps.]

If you happen to find some bullet laden trees, though, do let me know. I have a friend who will be quite grateful for such a harvest.

[jinglejangle]

Well, I've only ever dealt with one monkey before, personally, and he weren't anythin' like these.

[And only very briefly. A gorilla crashing to Earth in a rocket the gorilla built himself was cause for attention, and Winston proved himself a valuable asset.

Though not one McCree could say he knew well. Or ever fought against. He might not be the sharpest tool in the shed, but he's not stupid.]

Bullet trees would cause a hell of a racket, don't ya think? Could probably hear 'em from a mile away. [Joking on the battlefield is McCree's specialty, and everything about his tone up 'til now reeks of someone who's not taking things too seriously - or seriously at all.

But his next question is filled with concern.]

Y'got any idea if they're safe?

[It would be easy for someone to get swept up in this chaos, and McCree is almost certain not everyone who's been taken captive will make it out alive. If Ignis is confident his friends will be safe, it's not going to be a worry he's going to push. The man seems competent, and like generally attracts like, so it wouldn't be a stretch to assume Ignis' friends are just as capable in a fight. But, still. There's danger all around them and nobody is immortal.

The healing is - well, it's almost like biotics. He doesn't see the telltale yellow glow of a biotic field, but the feeling reminds him of that. It's a curious thing, biotic tech without the tech.

He'll have to ask Ignis about it, later. When there's actually time to appreciate the explanation.]

[shatteredlenses]

I'm afraid to ask if that is a good or a bad thing considering our current predicament.

[Though he recognizes all worlds are different, Ignis can't help but assume it's a bad thing. Of course, his only experience with monkeys has been these guys, so it's hard for him to imagine them as anything but frustratingly rage inducing.]

Well, that depends completely on if there are silencer trees around to quiet the clamor.

[Ignis.

Despite having a rather serious nature, Ignis is will known for his own odd brand of battlefield humor. Much to his teammates dismay.]

I haven't the foggiest idea, I'm afraid. I haven't run into any of them yet, and I'm certain it's too much to ask that the monkeys let Noctis sleep through all this.

[For a moment, concern eclipses the levity in Ignis' voice before the tone evens out into something more neutral. He believes in them, but at the same time he worries for them. It's just who he is.]

They aren't without their own fighting skill, though, and unlike me they possess all their senses. Unless they do something extremely foolish, they should be fine.

[Says the blind man fighting through a camp of monkeys by himself.]

[jinglejangle]

I'd go with bad. Winston was a hell of a lot more reasonable than these sorts.

[The most frustrating thing about him was how awkward the gorilla was. Granted, it's not like a talking, hyper-intelligent gorilla from the moon has a lot of common ground with anyone.]

If anyone could sleep through this I'd be mighty impressed - though that'd probably count as somethin' extremely foolish.

[Which wouldn't make sleeping through the cacophony of monkey screams and combat any less impressive. It's just a bad idea, is all.]

Well, if you got any sort of...frame of reference for what they're goin' to be like asides from one's a gunslinger, I'll see if I can send 'em your way. Two's better'n one and all that.

[There's not much McCree would be able to help with if Ignis comes up with some vague description of their voices because...he doesn't even know how he'd be able to distinguish them, but. It's not like there's no reason not to offer to help after Ignis bothered patching him up.]

[shatteredlenses]

Winston.

[Ignis says the name as if he can't believe a creature like this could even have have a name let alone such a reasonable one, but then again, if McCree's words are true, he is more reasonable than those they are facing. Not that it would be hard to be so.]

Oh, you would not believe the foolish and dangerous things Noctis manages to sleep through. I pray that one day I will be able to break him of the habit, but if he's made it this far without me managing it...

[Right, perhaps not a lot of hope left on that one.]

Noctis has short, dark hair and blue eyes. If he's fighting instead of napping in a corner somewhere, he will most likely be fighting with a rather large sword. Prompto has blue-violet eyes and blonde, spiky hair. He's the aforementioned gunslinger. Both are 20 years old if age is something you're good at guessing.

[Fortunately, since the blindness is a new thing, he can provide descriptions that are actually useful.]

[jinglejangle]

That's the name he told me.

[You don't gotta be rude about it. Though it's not exactly a reaction that's surprising - when McCree first met him things didn't go nearly as calmly as he would pretend they did in the future.]

He's a growin' boy. Sometimes you just gotta let them make their own mistakes until they learn to not fuck up so much.

[Except he's apparently...not a boy. Why Ignis would be taking care of someone who can't be all that much younger than him is a mystery - are they brothers?

Still, the descriptions are useful. McCree doesn't expect there's many black-haired men with large swords or blonde gunslingers running around in monkey town.]

Might not be my strongest suit, but I reckon you've painted a decent enough picture even little ol' me could pick them out in a crowd.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis huffs under his breath. The sound is good-natured, though.]

Now you sound like Gladio. I suppose next you will tell me I spoil him, which I do not. There are just some things that are easier for me to handle than they are for him.

[Ignis, you spoil him. Just fess up. You spoil him even more than a blood brother would.]

I appreciate you looking for them for me. Even if I couldn't describe them that well, if you found a pair of 20-somethings looking for the blind man, it would likely be them. I'm the only one on the island to my knowledge.