November Intro: Red Sun Rises Like an Early Warning

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: NOVEMBER

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

The New Arrivals: Hold My Hand
When you wake, it will be to the lapping of waves, frothed with foam...pulling at your hair, your skin, your clothing. The sand is soft and wet beneath you, but it's several inches submerged. And the longer you stay here, the more obvious it will be that the water level of the ocean ringing this strip of island has begun to to rise, and not merely because the tide has started to come in.

And what's more? You can tell that something else about this entire situation is horribly, horribly wrong.

Perhaps you've lost some special power. Perhaps some piece of your memory is freshly and disconcertingly blank. Perhaps you've just discovered that one of your senses is missing, or that you've been rendered unable to speak, or you've been struck by a debilitating fatigue. Not only are you stranded in some unfamiliar place, stuck on a rapidly flooding beach, but you aren't even doing it in full possession of all your faculties.
For those who agreed to put themselves at a disadvantage for a stranger, these are your consequences. If you're unclear as to the handicap your character has been assigned, if any, please check your initial acceptance notice!

All new arrivals will additionally awake with knapsacks, their names stitched to the front. The contents of said knapsacks can also be found in your acceptance notices!

For All: It's a Long Way Down
The water isn't a problem for the newest arrivals, either. It seems that the waters all over Ensō have started to rise, slowly at first, and then with a steadily increasing rate. At first, you might be forgiven for assuming the tide must simply be unusually high, or maybe that the island's begun to sink. But the longer it endures, the more obvious it becomes that neither is the case.

The water has begun to rise. Something is wrong with the island itself, or the being living on it, and now there is nothing preventing the water's inexorable approach as it steadily washes over and over the mainland. In fact, if you listen closely, you might even be able to hear a peculiar sound tearing over the cold rush of the coastal wind; something akin to a desolate wailing.

Either get to high ground - and quickly - or find out what's causing this. But either way, we suggest you hurry...because there are a great deal of newly arrived, very disoriented folk on the beach that could really, really use your help.

---

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.

---

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

[onemanstrash]

hold my hand

[Even after he wakes to the sound of water lapping over him, Keaton doesn't move far. He remains sat in the sand, water coming in close as he squints out at the ocean. This place looks nothing like any location in Nohr, or what he knows of Hoshido. And last he checked? Mount Garou didn't have a beach... But that's an interesting thought.

Keaton rarely has moments of deep thought, though he might argue otherwise. Though true enough in this moment he's stuck on something. Why was Mount Garou important again? It nags at him, like it's an answer to a question he 100% knows the answer to. His ears flick up and down as he tries organising his thoughts... Only for a particularly strong wave to come into shore, splashing his face with water that stings his eyes and tickles his nose.]

Gah! Yeah, okay, just soak the guy while he's thinking why don't you...

[He scrambles to his feet and glares at the water, as though that wave was intentionally aimed at him so he would move. Not that he moves far. Once he's out of the water Keaton sits himself back down further up the shore, sand sticking to his clothes and his tail which lazily wags behind him. In frustration he voices his thoughts out loud to himself, as though that might help an answer come to him.]

Ugh, the only thing I can think of is kitsune. But that's wrong, saying that is wrong. No way am I one of those...

[They're far too neat and tidy. Unlike him, a proud and strong... Whatever he is.]

*hops in here* :>

[esper_magic]

[ ooc: Trashwoof! :D Did you want the Test Drive thread to be in-game canon? ]

[ Terra had risen early for a change - or perhaps it's because of that wailing sound over the wind that unsettled her enough to wake her up. The important thing here, is that she was awake, on edge and slowly approaching the beach, a bit hesitantly, her gaze repeatedly going to the water - until she spots a person anyway. A person with a tail, but still a person. ]

Hello? Are you all right...?

[onemanstrash]

(Oh yeah, lets make it canon!)

[Is he all right? Where to start.]

I've no idea where I am or how I got here. That big old rabbit didn't know either, which doesn't really make me feel better. They mentioned something about crystals or sigils or... Wow, my dreams and memories are messed up.

[It's getting hard keeping track of everything really. It looks like he's going to keep complaining as he turns slightly, catching sight of Terra... Which causes his tail to start wagging a little faster.]

Really messed up. Are you, uh... Terra?

[esper_magic]

[ Dreams and memories messed up. Ha ha, she wrote the BOOK on it, man. Though he at least didn't have it as bad as hers - he still had them, they were just a jumble. Terra's hadn't returned yet. ]

Rabbit? [ What's a rabbit.. oh! He meant the Storyteller. Right. Awww at tail a wagging. ]

That's right, you remember. [ She smiled a little. ] Good. And.. you're Keaton. .. [ Although his memories weren't a jumble when she first met him ... ]

[onemanstrash]

Yeah, you remember me too! That's great?!

[There's a little uncertainty there, mostly because their first meeting felt more like a dream than anything. And yet here they are... Oh whatever.]

I'm kinda hung up on a few fiddly details, like how we first met-- But who cares, it's just good meeting someone who's on the same page as me here! [He pushes himself to his feet, tail helping to brush the sand from his clothes as it wags away.] But yeah, rabbit. Big guy. You could probably live off a rabbit that big for a week.

[Just saying. The Storyteller might taste good!]

sorry guy we have a no touching policy here

[achievementhunter]

And what, pray tell, is so terrible about kitsunes?

[Not that Chara has any idea what those are. As it stands, they catch the tail-end of his self-narrating, inhuman enough to earn some curiosity, even now. The child staring at him may as well be a drowned rat, at this point; soaked to the bone, they're not only freezing cold-- there's sand everywhere.

This is the literal opposite of a good time, and yet, there's a half man, half dog, sitting in the sand. Talking to himself.

Amazing.]

[onemanstrash]

They're not terrible. But the guy I know? He's crazy about keeping himself totally dust and dirt free, it's kinda weird.

[That said Keaton shivers, either from his wet, cold clothes or from thinking about keeping himself clean. It's hard to say what's the cause really.

He ends up looking over, noticing the child standing nearby. Someone else might be concerned to see someone so young drenched like that. Instead Keaton grins, his tail brushing up a little sand as it begins to wag faster.]

See, you've got the right idea! You must be loving all this sand, looking like that.

[His clothes and tail are sandy enough as is, but seeing Chara makes him want to go take a roll on the beach.]

[achievementhunter]

[So he really is a dog person. Whilst he talks, their eyes stray down to his tail, flicking through the sand in the clearest indication of friendliness they know. What a shame- they're partial to canines.

So it looks like they can add yet another person to their short-term responsibility list.]

Personally, I think the kitsune has the right idea.

[Hot water may be well and truly out of their reach, but a bar of soap? Not even remotely.]

[onemanstrash]

[That reply kills the momentum in his tail pretty quick.]

Really? You look like that and side with the kitsune? I guess there really is no accounting for taste.

[There's a sigh at that, but it's not the first time his odd likes have gone unappreciated. This is nothing new.]

Anyway, I guess now isn't the time for that. Do you want a hand splashing around in the water? Might help you look a little less gritty, since that isn't your thing and all.

[You know, the steadily rising water he's not been paying a lot of mind to. Taking some responsibility for a dirty looking child is more important after all.]

[thisisourfuture]

I'd be more concerned about the water. [A brown-haired, tall young man with miss matched eyes comes out of the forest, his pack slung over one shoulder.]

It has been rising from the moment we woke up. We...don't actually know how high it's going to get.

[Hinata scowls out at the ocean. Had they messed up? Or is this a symptom of an even deeper problem? They know so little and he wants desperately to ask Storyteller himself. He jerks out of his thoughts.]

Oh! I heard the islets beyond the island are safe. I can take you there.

[onemanstrash]

[Keaton stares at the man, lifting an eyebrow which remains raised throughout most of that explanation.]

Seriously, the water is more concerning? [... Do humans. Not know about water and the ocean or something.] Okay, so here's the thing. The tide comes in and the water goes up, but then later it all goes out again. And when it goes back out again, man. That is a great time to find some new treasures.

[... Actually, that's some positive thinking he really needed right now. He gives Hinata a smile.] Hey thanks, now I've got something to look forward to later! [What was that about islets and being safe?]

[thisisourfuture]

[He isn't going to ask on the thought process there. The water is still rising, steadily eating up sand. Hinata points to it. His tone has a faint edge of stress to it. He can't hide that even if he tries.]

I'm not talking about a natural shift of the tides. The water level is rising, we're dealing with a flood. No one knows what the cause is.

[He semi-bets on the wind but being bias won't solve the issue. He shakes his head and shifts his pack so both straps are secure.] Did you find a pack when you woke up? We all got one when we first woke here. We think they're being left to help us.

[onemanstrash]

[He follows where Hinata is pointing... Yeah okay, so the water is visibly rising. But that could still be the tide right?!]

Does anyone really know how the tide does its thing?

[But okay, this guy seems genuinely stressed. Keaton gets to his feet and makes sure to lift the pack he arrived with so it can be seen.]

I've got this, yeah. It's just full of boring stuff though. I went through it and it has none of the great stuff I'd carry about usually.

[souris_keteer]

You all right there, buddy?

[NGL, Mickey is relieved to see something he's... somewhat familiar with. Still not quite the type of guy you'd see in his kingdom, but it's pretty darn close. He approaches with a friendly smile.]

I take it you just got here?

[onemanstrash]

[Buddy? Pfft, Keaton clicks his tongue at that... Though his tail starts wagging noticeably faster from hearing the word alone.]

Oh, I dunno. Just feels like my head is doing flips it's so all over the place. First there's some weird dream, I can't remember some stuff I really should know, and-- [Now he turns to actual get a look at whoever is talking to him and oh goodness what is this creature.] I think I can talk to animals now. Huh!

[Well. That's a good thing maybe?! He watches Mickey curiously, tail still wagging away. Say something else mouse buddy, he's all ears... Really, his ears perk up and swivel slightly just to make sure he's really hearing this creature talk.]

[souris_keteer]

[Mickey's definitely noticing that tail wag, and... awwww, this older man is adorable. He can't help but think of Pluto.]

Uh, actually, I'm the same as you! I just look different, is all. If you've never been able to talk to animals before, you haven't started now.

[catpiper]

[While he's standing there playing Kitsune Or Not, Ren is behind him and eyeing his wagging tail with a few theories of her own. None of them are dog related and if she opened her mouth to offer the few ideas she had for his situation, he might disagree with her feline related assumptions.

It's hard to believe he's not a cat. She's met another person on the island who occasionally sported ears and a tail too. Maybe they're related? There's a clear difference between their appearance though and it's one she can't ignore. Not totally feline, but-]

Kitsunes are small. You're big.

[At least.......they can agree there??]

[onemanstrash]

Well... Yeah, that's true. I'm taller than any kitsune when they transform.

[Granted they are on all fours. If he could remember wolfskin transform then he would be far bigger. Sadly all it does is make his head hurt trying to remember.

He turns around to see Ren now, ears perking up inquisitively as he looks her over.]

Do you know if there's anything else like kitsune? Maybe any creatures that are less... Clean. Yeah, more rugged creatures than that. [There we go, rugged definitely sounds more like him. Or so he would like to think.]

[catpiper]

[Transform?

She's going to ask about that in a second. When she's not maneuvering away from the steadily rising tide or distracted by 'name that animal' questions.

Animal questions being the most important area to focus on right now, though she takes a step back to keep any ocean water from touching her.]

A tigershark?

[Not really like a kitsune, but it's on her mind right now.]

A wrestle cat?

[Luna's pokemon sounds rugged.]

Mickey?

[He's a tough mouse.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Speaking of magical creatures...]

I'm willing to take your word for that, dearie- but why don't you come and try to figure out the rest of it all on dry land?

[The voice that calls out to him is light and friendly, sounding amused without being mocking- and quite clearly coming from the neatly-dressed spider lady standing further up the beach.]

[onemanstrash]

[Okay maybe he could do to deeply ponder himself somewhere a little more dry. With a sigh he pushes himself up to his feet and then turns to find the source of the voice...

Which turns out to be coming from a spider.

A giant. Talking. Spider. A well dressed spider who looks a tad too clean sure, but hey, there has to be some downside to meeting a walking talking spider.

Keaton just ends up balking at Muffet, eyes wide as though he can't believe what he's even seeing right now.]

Are you talking to me giant spider buddy?!

[If his tail could wag any faster then it would fall off at this point.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet giggles quietly at the sight of him, somewhat reassured by the feeling that even strange dog monsters from foreign lands are still dog monsters at heart.]

As it happens, yes- we seem to have quite a few newcomers today, so I thought I'd see if anyone needed a bit of assistance.

[jinglejangle]

Y'don't look much like a fox.

[Admittedly, McCree is no expert on foxes, but he has learned a little bit about Japanese folklore. Kind of came with the territory when you started working with a guy who's family had an ancient tradition of spiritual dragon companions.

Granted, most of McCree's knowledge on other folklore and even the Shimada's deal came from reading up after getting curious. Genji wasn't exactly keen to talk about much of anything just yet.

Though as for what this new stranger is, he has new clue. Looks kind of like a really half-assed furry.]

Though I think you might got bigger problems than that.

[Like the water that doesn't seem like it's going to stop any time soon. Why this has all started, he doesn't know.

After what happened in the caves, he doesn't want to know. He's been here for all of a month and he is already so tired of all of these unsolved mysteries.]

[onemanstrash]

Thanks, I guess. I don't feel much like one either. They're the only thing coming to me right now though...

[It's possible that it's because kitsune can transform. That almost seems somewhat familiar. But does that mean he can transform too? Try as he might, all Keaton gets for his attempts at remembering is one big blank.

He turns his head to look at McCree and... Huh. That sure is an outfit. There's nothing in all of Nohr and Hoshido that can really compare. It honestly looks almost a little cool to Keaton, though he's not going to admit that now.]

What's a bigger problem than this... Is it that I've gone and lost all my treasures? Now all I've got is this.

[Keaton lifts up the nag he arrived with, shaking it a little to let the contents jingle around inside. Losing his treasures is a pretty big problem... Maybe not quite as big as the water coming in, but hey.]

[jinglejangle]

There's a lot a animals and species out there in the world that ain't just mythical fox spirits, though I wouldn't call myself a biologist.

[And, yes, okay, McCree hasn't seen a man with a fluffy tail and fuzzy ears before this very moment, so he doesn't exactly know what's going on here.

It's definitely odd and strange you wouldn't know what you are, but this place seems to have a funny way of messing with people. Whether that's all intentional or not remains to be seen.

His money is currently on "both".]

Most folks don't seem to come in with much, so I'm 'fraid you probably won't be gettin' none of your treasures back any time soon.

[Though treasure wouldn't do much in a place like this. Granted, when McCree thinks treasure he's thinking of it...very literally. Gold, gems, the whole kit and caboodle.

Also the biggest problem is definitely survival, but he's not about to go and question a furry's priorities.]