lifeaftr | August Intro: You Think...You Wink...You Do A Double Blink...

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August Intro: You Think...You Wink...You Do A Double Blink...

INTRO LOG: AUGUST

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

Part I: Get Wrekt
You rouse to a splash of sea salt drying on your skin. A haze of glass-white sand glitters in your vision, dappled by lush palms and thick, curling foliage that disappears into a jungle of deep jade. From behind, crackling wood and sawing rope groan from a mangled life raft ran ashore. A petering wash of tide over pebbled sand fills your ears as you struggle to gain your bearings in a vast portrait of tropical color…

No...no, no, that’s not precisely how this story starts.

Why don't we start over?

You rouse to a splash of sea salt, spraying across yourself and the wooden floor beneath you as it breaks across the edge of the platform. The light as it dances across the sea is blinding, dappling white spots across your vision as you slowly come back to consciousness and realize that - this is not where you last remember being.

The middle of the ocean is likely not a place most recall being at all. As you struggle to fully comprehend the new scenario in which you have found yourself, three things become quickly apparent. The raft you find yourself upon barely constitutes as something that should float, never mind a boat. In the distance, perhaps a few hours away at most, a large island beckons to you, a wide strip of beach surrounded by cliffs making it very clear where the most fortuitous of directions shall be.

Lastly, of course, you’re not alone. Hopefully your new companion(s) are just as keen to get ashore before nightfall as you, or voyaging together will not be the most positive experience. At your side you will find a knapsack, one to every member of your raft party, and upon inspecting its contents, you will discover any rewards you may have accrued - as well as a few other items to give you a fighting chance.

A note to those who participated in the Test Drive Meme: 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: Choose Your Own Adventure

By fortune (or misfortune, as it were), you eventually find your feet meeting sand, blessed shore to stagger upon as you shake off your newly found sea-legs. There are those that may find this place familiar, as though it appeared in a dream, though the expanse of shore certainly seems larger. The beach stretches off into the distance on both sides, curving around sharp ridges and cliffs, mist obscuring the view the farther along it goes.

So here you are. You’ve found land. Company. Supplies. The sun is now beginning to trek rather low upon the horizon…spending the night outside in such an unfamiliar land is unappealing at best and outright dangerous at the worst.

There is one silver lining in the midst of this mess. Directly ahead, the beach curves up a gentle slope until it meets forest, some manner of building visible through the trees. Further exploration of this area will reveal a dilapidated building of sorts; the architecture is indiscernible to even the most skilled eye. Despite looking as if it has seen better days, there are areas that offer some form of shelter...and who knows what else. Just because it appears uninhabited doesn’t mean you won’t wind up pleasantly, or unpleasantly, surprised.

So what shall you do from here, traveller? There is land to be explored, strangers to meet, friends to reunite with. Supplies to inspect and plenty of questions in need of being said aloud. Choose your path, make haste, and above all else: survive. And whatever you will, take heart.

Your story is about to begin anew.

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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[That's an easy answer. The Drifter slips one of the green vials from the folds of their cloak. The medical cross emblazoned across its front is a clear indication of what it's for - not that they're of the mind that they'll need it.]

[They've fired guns before.]

[But in case he needs further proof, they add in a long block of text:]

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[well, the tube with a cross on it is a comfort, honestly...at least they've got a way to heal themselves (he's assuming, anyway.) It's the thumbs up that does it, though, and Newt laughs at the projection, relaxing.]

Alright. Just be careful, yeah? [and yep, handing over that coconut gun.]

[A careful, organized study of the contours and ridges of the thing - he's right in that it's far heavier and more cannon-like than anything else they've fired - and the Drifter positions the weapon carefully, lining up a shot so it aims at once of the trees jutting out from the jungled backdrop.]

[Ready, aim - ]

[With an almost comical fwoomp, it issues a blast that sends the chunk of driftwood spinning haphazardly across the expanse of sand, skidding to a halt several feet short of the intended target.]

Holy shit! [it's a yelp as the driftwood goes flying, and Newt jumps about half a foot in the air] Did you see that?! That was awesome! [HOLD ON HE'S REALLY EXCITED] I mean, not the best projectile, but with the right one, that could be pretty effective!

[Not the most ideal projectile, no. The Drifter examines the stunted arc with the sort of eye that might suggest a tut of disapproval.]

needs something rounder.
more aerodynamic.

Rounder? [Newt glances back towards his stuff--before he grins, widely] How about a coconut?

[A coconut. They'd not considered that to start with - partially because they hadn't put together what, precisely, those round, hairy-looking fruits actually were.]

[A moment's contemplation, and the Drifter nods.]

let's try it.

Hell yeah! [HOLY SHIT NEWT'S REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS and he jogs back to his stuff, reaching down to swip up the coconut--almost fumbling it in his excitement, but managing to get a firmer hold on it with a squawk and some fancy not-juggling--before he runs back over] Here--turn the barrel towards me and I'll load it in--

[Newt's excitement is palpable, but the Drifter is patient as ever as they lay the thing flat so there's no danger of firing on him.]

[Once it's in, they aim for the same target as before and open fire with far more success.]

[The coconut smashes into the tree trunk with a cannon-like impact and accuracy, sending chips of wood flying.]

[You got a hell of a weapon here, Newt.]

[Newt can't help but let out a loud 'whoop!' as the coconut slams into the tree trunk, shattering the wood (and the coconut.)] Yes! Did you see that?! That was awesome! [He glances to the Drifter, before back towards the tree] Not that I'm up for wasting any more potential food because we definitely need to eat, but maybe if there's an excess, that could definitely be handy.

[yep fully turning to eye the thing, now] How the hell does it work, though? There's no sort of propulsion mechanism.

[Newt's excitability is contagious. The Drifter is far from expressive, but a small face blips up on their HUD all the same in a soft glow of pink.]

c:

[They offer it back to him - it is his, after all - for his study.]

sturdy
why does it matter?

Because if I know how it works, I might be able to make more. [he accepts the gun back, turning it over in his hands.] Though carving this barrel alone would be a giant pain.

[Hm. The Drifter considers that for a moment with a cocked head before rummaging through their pack - emerging with a hefty knife a few moments later. It had been among their belongings for reasons rather beyond them. They are already well-equipped when it comes to weaponry, after all.]

would this work
?

[Newt blinks at that, eyes widening behind his glasses] Uh...holy shit, dude, yeah that would totally do it. [he eyes the thing in their hand with a mix of curiosity and wariness--not because of them, but because he's pretty sure he'd cut his arm off if he tried to use it] Though I gotta tell ya, I have absolutely no idea how to use that or how to correctly carve a barrel like this so the projectile would fire well. I could guess and do experiments and stuff but...that's more for after we're more settled. We've got slightly bigger fish to fry at the moment. Like food and shelter and clean water.

[That is fair. The Drifter regards the blade solemnly for a moment longer before sliding it back into their pack. Hopefully the Sickle will not drip all over the metal and rust it prematurely, but they really didn't set out to take very sincere care of either weapon.]

then we start with those.

[The simple foundations. Clear, concise, and to the point.]

Definitely. As long as we've got those taken care of, we can at least survive, which is something. Better than dying out here, anyway. I'll give a hard pass on that. Super not fun, would not recommend, that kinda thing. [He wrinkles his nose] I'm gonna let my stuff dry first and then see if I can find some sort of shelter. What was your plan?

[That is an adequate plan, they decide upon quiet reflection.]

map area.
discern dangers.

[A pause. Their dark eyes blink once as they glance in the direction of his belongings. He does have a gun, but...]

defense?

Yeah, good idea. The sooner we know more about the shape of this place, the better. [he blinks, though, at that last part] Defense? I mean, yeah, that's definitely something to think about. Mostly because who the heck knows what's on this island that'll want to eat us. But hopefully once we've got shelter down, it'll be more defensible.

[he doesn't quite realize they're talking about Newt's own personal defensive abilities]

and you?

[They meant in the more specific sense - the fact that he's not quite picked up on their meaning, however, stirs at them in a twinge of familiarity.]

self-defense?

Self-defense? [Newt blinks, once, before he shrugs] I've got my butterfly knife and that beam katana, though how well it's gonna work after that sea water, I dunno. But I'll be fine. [the corner of his mouth quicks a little wryly.] I've been through worse.

[That is...less than satisfying. He admits fully to not being particularly well-armed, indicating that he should require their protection. They cannot very well leave him to it if there is even that incremental risk.]

you are sure?

['Cause they're not.]

[Is he sure? Newt blinks at that query, and part of him feels a little bit prickly about it--] Hey, listen, dude, I didn't get these scars from living in a cushioned bouncy-house the past couple of years-ish. [he rubs at one of the scars on his cheek with his thumb. But...] ...I'm gonna head up to whatever-that-is-[he points to the shape of the temple on the edge of the jungle] once my stuff is dry, sooooo...if you, uh, wanted to join me there, I definitely wouldn't say no.

[Overstepped.]

[He took offense to the question. Even if it is...they must remind themself that it is better if he is offended than physically injured. If he takes affront to the suggestion, it means he is still alive and uninjured to do so.]

[He carries no weapons.]

ok

[A compromise they can accept.]

[Newt's face splits into a grin at the agreement, seemingly having missed any doubt that may've crossed the Drifter's mind] Awesome! Give me like...an hour or so? Ish? Then I'll totally meet you over there.

[A smile is nonetheless a good indication of his cooperation. Whether or not they smile in turn is vague - particularly given the fact that their mouth is covered. But they do indicate their agreement quite succinctly:]

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ohnehalfte - 2017-09-13 21:45 (UTC) - Expand

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