lifeaftr | December Intro: Don't Come Home for Christmas

INTRO LOG: DECEMBER

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: December 3rd and onward
Where: Monsun
Warnings: Mark as needed!

The Overview: Uncharted Waters
Stay alert, new adventurers; instead of the white-sand beaches of Enso, you will instead be coming to on one of two sides of the relatively uncharted lands of Monsun. Most of the information regarding this peculiar land can be found in the informational post linked, but as a quick-and-dirty rundown: Monsun's western side is a hot wasteland of a desert prone of disasters and mishaps, but will affect your character's emotional and psychological state in a positive sense, while its eastern side is a verdant forest filled with endless resources...as well as a tendency to bring out the absolute worst of your character.

To start with, all new arrivals will be showing up in one of two squares that characters uncovered last month! We are leaving it up to player discretion as to which side of the island your character arrives on, but bear in mind the psychological repercussions!

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

Monsun, C4: These Are Your Good Years
You wake to the hot sun steaming overhead, rapidly drying your clothes and belongings, waterlogged from washing upon this desolate shore. The heatwaves shimmer at your vision, distorting your view of the horizon. But if you really squint, it looks like there might be something dark green fringing that pipecleaner skyline, like a lush woodland awaits you on the other side of this desert nightmare. A mirage, maybe?

Whatever it is, you don't get very long to contemplate it. Beneath your feet, the ground has begun to shake as a many-headed horror erupts from the earth. Great streams of pale sand slough from its dry, scaly hide as multiple horned heads unfurl in a hissing inflorescence. The creature's eyes are all pale as grubs; it is quite blind. But that does not mean it cannot smell you.

Boasting both a thick hide and a chitinous coat of sandy-colored scales that blends them perfectly with their surroundings, Sand Hydras sleep several feet under the sand until they sense the vibrations of potential prey aboveground. While they are significantly smaller than their mythological counterparts - they can only span eight to twelve feet in length - Sand Hydras are cunning creatures nonetheless with a number of heads that can vary from one to as high as ten. Their weakness, on the other hand, is simple: water burns them like acid. It seems they may flourish only in any moisture-poor environment.

Assuming your character lasts that long, remember: as physically destructive as Monsun's west may be, your character's most admirable traits will be amplified to their fullest potential by the twenty-four hour mark.

Monsun, D3: Before You Bury Yourself Alive
Those waking on the eastern side of the island, on the other hand, will face a far more pleasing tableau. The temperature is perfect, the sun shines modestly through the canopy of deciduous greenery above your head, and the air is thick and sweet with the smell of fresh fruit.

That's right - within minutes of their arrival, your character will discover several plants laden with fresh wild blackberries.

Should that temptation arrest their attention, should they be vulnerable to the foibles of greed or hoarding or paranoia, your character may very well wish to keep this treat to themself. Or...perhaps not. Perhaps they'd much rather search out a fight, or try to steal someone else's supplies, or embark on a poorly-advised mission to swim out into Monsun's surrounding waters.

For that is, after all, the catch: as physically soothing as Monsun's east may be, your character's most hateful traits will be amplified to their fullest potential by the twenty-four hour mark.

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You're welcome. You can keep it, by the way; I have enough.

[ She gestures to the containers at her hip--they're made of tightly woven leaves. ]

I'm Mira. It's a pleasure to meet you, Elise.

Really? Are you sure?

[But she'll take it. And thank her lucky stars that she met such a nice person right away.]

You're really nice, Mira. Thank you so much! I was worried after I had that weird dream except maybe it wasn't a weird dream 'cause I woke up here...

[A pause in her rambles.]

Well, I mean it was weird. Just... maybe not a dream. Anyway, I was worried before but now I think maybe I'll be okay.

[Optimism!]

Of course I am.

[ She has her magic, too; if she runs out of water, she can always melt down a bit of her ice. And despite the heat, she finds herself smiling. ]

You're welcome, Elise. You had a strange dream? Before I woke up on the other island, I had a strange dream, too, where I spoke with someone who later woke up here, too. I think it's the world itself.

[ She really is very optimistic, and Mira finds herself admiring Elise for it. ]

I sure did. There was a big bunny rabbit and a fire and the bunny said he was a god and that he wanted people to tell him stories and...

[She trails off as the rest of what Mira said sinks in.]

What other island?

Oh, the Storyteller. Yes, all they told you was true.

[ She nods. ]

Usually, people arrive on Enso. It's much more... comfortable, for the most part, than this island.

[The brightness falls away from her expression. The rabbit was telling the truth? But that means...]

So... I can't go home....

[Not really a question, more of a sad observation.]

[ Oh. Mira bites her lip lightly--the way Elise's face just falls breaks her heart. ]

No... I'm sorry, Elise. You can't, not until your story here is completed.

[ She pauses, though. ]

Until then, though... if you'd like, I can keep an eye on you and make sure you're alright while you're here.

[When she sees her sadness echoed on Mira's face Elise makes an effort to smile again. It's a little forced, and doesn't reach her eyes, but she's trying. She doesn't want to make people sad.]

It's okay. I'll just have to make sure it's a really good story.

[Gotta stay positive. Things'll work out.

As far as the offer.... Elise is torn between not wanting to cause her new friend any trouble and not wanting to be alone.]

Um... you don't have to. But maybe just for a while? Until I get used to everything?

I'm certain you will.

[ Ah-- At Elise's smile, Mira tries for one, too. It works, and she hopes it's at least a little reassuring. ]

I don't mind at all. These islands can be a bit dangerous, and I know having someone who knows them better is helpful. So... until we go over to Enso, would you like to explore a little?

[That brings some of the cheer back to her eyes. Exploring new places is always exciting.]

Sure! That sounds fun! What kind of stuff is on this island? Are there animals? Or flowers? Or buried treasure?

[Totally something you could find on a mysterious island, right?]

Hm... I haven't been to the other side, but right now, all I've found here is desert.

[ She thinks for a moment. ]

But maybe there is buried treasure. It's a very large desert, after all.

If it's that big then there must be treasure somewhere.

[Yeah that logic makes sense. Or maybe it just gives her something to be enthusiastic about.]

We should look for it!

I think so, too. It'll be a hot quest, so let me know when you run out of water, okay?

[ Hmm. Mira puts a hand to her chin, thinking once more. ]

We might have to dig with our hands, is the only thing... I don't have any tools with me.

Got it!

[No tools though. That's a good point.]

I don't have anything either. Unless I use my staff. Buuut I should probably be careful with that. In case I need it later.

[Breaking it while trying to use it as a shovel is definitely a bad idea.]

December Intro: Don't Come Home for Christmas

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