lifeaftr | January Intro: I Know the Winter's Getting Colder

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January Intro: I Know the Winter's Getting Colder

INTRO LOG: JANUARY

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: January 5th and onward
Where: Chol and surrounding waters
Warnings: Mark as needed!

The Overview: New Lands
New arrivals will not be waking in the typical hub of activity; instead, they will find themselves coming to on the small island of Chol. While the island's fringes are little more than an unforgiving spread of craggy, canyon-like rock and coastal cliffs, the island dips down to form a fertile divot of edenic woodland in its center. The people living there will even be helpful and polite to you, should you inquire after them.

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!

Icebreaker: This is the Winter of Our Youth
Unless you're someone with a fondness for the cold, you'll undoubtedly be waking with more than a slight chill in your bones. The appearance of the island of Chol has signaled a coming event of great import in LifeAftr, and unfortunately, the signs of that event's approach have already been set in motion. The temperature has begun to drop as the sun's rays begin to die, faster and faster, leading to an impressive cold snap in the ocean waters - particularly those surrounding Chol.

It is for that reason that you won't be waking on Chol, per se. Instead, you'll be waking on a thick crust of ice that's mantled itself over the ocean waters, freezing solid enough to bear your weight...for the most part.

The ice won't hold forever; it isn't meant to. If you happen to be particularly vivacious in your waking, or especially active in general, thick cracks will start to spiderweb out from underneath those impacts with low, warning chunks and wrenches of fracturing ice. Better hurry to land soon, unless you care to take a little dip into those freezing cold ocean waters.

Mainland: When We Pick Over the Past
Should you make it to the land of Chol, braving the iced-over waters surrounding its craggy shores, you'll encounter something at least as startling - the people who have elected to set up a rudimentary encampment upon its lands. While a bit on the scalier side, the Jormun are nonetheless allied to you land-dwellers, and will welcome you to the island.

Most will be preoccupied with preparations for an approaching siege, but many will comment idly that the cold is a sign of the coming battle. Some may point you to their leader, known to most as Munin, but others will venture hospitality based on the actions of those land-dwellers that came before you, who were successful in allying themselves to this sea-dwelling people.

Those who might have braved the cold a little too fiercely will quickly be offered some rather rough blankets - perhaps more on par with burlap sacks in terms of texture - as well as a hot brew that the Jormun call brrkshavak. Heated to a boil just prior to being served, the drink will be more than adequate in warming your weary bones, though it bodes mentioning that it is both scalding hot and made with a fleshy kind of undersea herb that is akin to crushed chili pepper in taste.

It'll warm you up, all right.

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 )

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A: Waking Up Cold

[ They didn't really expect to wake up at all, but life works in mysterious ways. They're small enough that even if they thrashed, they probably wouldn't cause much of a disruption on the ice.

As it is, they roll over and stare in bafflement at a clear sky. This is not Hallownest. This is not even underground.

They take stock of their surroundings and get to their feet; they heft their new knapsack onto their back and begin to trudge to shore.

People also waking up on the ice, or looking out to the frozen sea, may see a small, roughly squarish mass approaching. The size of their burdens far outstrips the Knight themselves. ]

B: oh geez don't fall in

[ If you're having trouble out on the ice, the Knight is here to help as best they can!

They can pull a surprising amount of weight for their small size, but it's more likely that they'll just try to hurry you along and pick up your burdens. There's only so much one bug can do. ]

C: Getting Warm

[ They're not much of a good conversationalist (or able to carry a conversation at all), but they can mime well enough and listen enough to figure things out. The Knight drifts close to other people's conversations to try and gain more understanding, a tiny monochrome figure in a more colourful world, and is easily noticeable.

Just don't expect them to talk in response to any question you might have of them. It's not like they have a mouth to speak, after all.

Sometimes, if you look cold enough, they'll instead be silently offering a blanket or holding up a cup of whatever the Jormuns are serving. They seem very insistent that you take whatever they're holding, too. ]

[In all likelihood, the Knight will see Muffet before she sees them, just based on their relative sizes. But she'll catch notice of them soon enough, as she's carefully scanning the area for new arrivals in need of help as she walks lightly over the ice.]

[She doesn't seem surprised to see such a small creature carrying the knapsack that indicates a castaway- if anything, it makes her feel a bit fond towards them, as they remind her of her smaller relatives. She smiles at them in greeting, the expression friendly and gentle despite the sharpness of her fangs.]

Hello, little one. I take it you've only just woken up here...?

[ They stare at Muffet for a long moment, and there's the impression that if they were capable of it, they would have blinked in confusion. (While they can certainly bear the cold, it's not making them quick on the uptake).

After a moment to process this question, they nod, and heft the knapsack further up on their back. They're trying really hard to balance it properly.

They can't seem to talk (or don't want to?), but they stick out a little nub of a hand in what's clearly meant to be a greeting and maybe also a handshake, a sort of hybrid 'nice to meet you here i am' gesture. They seem to have manners, at least. ]

[ A ]

[ Isette isn't exactly a stranger to waking up cold. She doesn't always have the luxury of firewood or coal, so some nights she just curls up under her cloak and a blanket and calls it a night. Waking up on literal ice, though, that's new.

It takes her a few moments to get her bearings. She's on... open water. Well, frozen open water. Nothing like where she was used to. Her pack was here, but... so was another one. With her name on it. Nice. And she wasn't with her usual set of companions. Not nice. ]

By the moon and stars, what's going on? [ She picks up what she's got. This is all very. Well. Something. But she'll figure it out once she's on actual land. Maybe she can make a fire, then start to wrap her head around this all. She begins moving, but also keeping an eye out for anybody else - or any unseen dangers. ]

[ B ]

Noooo! [ Isette's cry isn't loud, more. Quiet and pathetic. She's picking herself up off of the ice, and her pack - the new one, the bigger one - is lying about five feet away. The pack is surrounded by cracks in the ice, a testament to its rough landing.

To anybody who had been paying attention nearby, the girl had tripped. And fallen. And flung her pack as she fell.

To those only paying attention now, this girl is searching through a second, smaller pack - desperate to find something she can use to pull the other pack back to her without having to tread on that cracked, cracking ice. ]

Useless - useless! All of this is useless...

[ C ]

[ And on Chol itself! Isette didn't go very far inland - just to a spot where a rock outcropping blocked most of the wind. She's taken a seat on the ground and has her new pack open, its contents spread on the ground in front of her. She seems to have already sorted them.

In one pile; a canister, a coil of rope, a hatchet, and a toothbrush - sitting on top of the canister, she's not going to let it touch the ground. In the other pile; a jug that seems to be full of something, a mysterious pendant shaped like a tear drop, and bulb-shaped plant-bulb of unknown origin.

She's frowning at these items and muttering to herself under hear breath. ] Okay, now where did these all come from? What's the purpose of these ones...?

[ Character notes: Isette is a young adult, but very short and somewhat malnourished so she tends to get mistaken for a kid. She's dressed in a black robe, albeit one with a lot of patches sewn over holes, and blue and brown wool clothes underneath. They're definitely not modern make. But by material they should be a bit warmer than usual, though not winter gear. ]

Edited 2018-01-05 02:36 (UTC)

[Even having prepared for it, Muffet isn't thrilled by the sudden arrival of freezing weather- if it weren't for her nice, warm capelet she'd be distinctly unhappy by now.]

[But needs must, and by now she's started to catch on to the suspiciously regular timing of their waves of new arrivals. Sure enough, heading over to Chol to speak with the Jormun some more reveals a number of new faces.]

[Seeing as she doubts most of them came prepared for this chill, she gathers up a few supplies and sets out to greet and guide who she can find, walking carefully over the ice. Among the supplies- and bless the Storyteller for their choice of gifts- is her jug of warm wassail. Anyone who wants a warm drink but isn't quite as fond of spicy food as the Jormun are is welcome to have some.]

[My goodness, the temperature really is dropping, isn't it? It's a bit alarming - almost like being back in Ishgard all over again. Which, for someone born and raised in a desert, is none too pleasant. She should eat, get her supplies together, and get to work on some warmer clothes. Maybe see if anybody else needs anything (though that's almost a given, seeing the outfits some people are wearing!)

Of course though, by midafternoon, she finds out that new arrivals are here, and the more pressing need takes over.

She can be found near the mana pool later in the day, waving and calling out to passers-by.]

Hello everyone, I've got scarves! Please, feel free to take one, I've got plenty.

[She steps towards anybody nearby, trying to make eye contact. It's an old salesman's trick - if they make eye contact, they've acknowledged you, and you're that much harder to ignore or refuse.]

I can make anything else you might need, too!

[[ooc; everyone gets a free scarf. EVERYONE. E V E R Y O N E. Note that they're undyed, and mostly made of cotton, wool, or coconut fibers.]]

Edited 2018-01-05 02:38 (UTC)

[ it. is. cold. Holy moly, it's cold-- and while that whole island seemed like a strange and foggy dream, it shares two resemblances so far to the world he's in now.

First, it's on an island...surrounded by water. There is so much water. It's beautiful-- but still really cold, and...his little friend is here. Otus remembers that tiny Friend shaped being as one who helped remove the thorns that ailed him...in whatever powerful dream he just had.

A harsh wind blows, and his cloak is pulled more around himself. Thick and dense, it acts as a good shield against the blowing wind. The feathers on his forehead billow in the direction of the gales that surround them. It's too windy to fly, and even fully clothed, it's way too brisk.

Being near his friend, for now, is okay, and he sort of stands awkwardly nearby, cloak pulled around his torso. Long time, no see, little frand. A soft whistle helps him announce that he's here, but he's not sure if he should expect to be remembered or not. It was a dream, after all. ]

[Muffet looks pleased with their manners and extends one of her own hands to shake theirs gently but briskly.]

A pleasure to meet you, circumstances aside. Would you care for some help getting somewhere warmer? This cold came on terribly quickly for us all.

[ The knight assesses the situation at hand and walks over to Isette with purpose.

They put their own pack down - it won't be useful here - and give Isette's hand a reassuring pat. In their own way, they're trying to tell her that it's fine.

Then they run out over the cracked ice, which barely shifts under the little bug's miniscule weight, and begin to drag the knapsack off the danger zone. They wouldn't dare to lift it and carry it - more pressure could cause it to go right through - but they can certainly pull large weights without much trouble. ]

[They are notable in many ways, it is true. Notable in their size and scope, and the way their face is covered...unless that is their face?]

[All told, they look more like the beings of the Drifter's own world than most creatures here. The change is a welcome one. The Drifter adjusts the cloth mangle around the lower half of their face, shaking their head in polite refusal for the blanket. The companion sprite at their shoulder whizzes around to project a faint line of text, slightly blocky and tinted pink, but nonetheless readable:]

not cold
you?

[ "A dream is endless, but a Kingdom is not. The power to wake this world from its slumber... you only need to reach out and take it."

Dreams have power. The Knight has walked in dreams before, though none as populated as the desert island. But they're not so surprised to see a person they'd helped here.

They stick out a little hand in something between a handshake and a hello, looking up at Otus. Though they seem no more talkative here than they were in that shared dream, they seem just as friendly. ]

A: AWAKENING.

[ Ox breathes out hard as he awakes, feeling the bite of the cold first. His eyes open as he looks around confused at his surroundings. This isn't what he had expected, but it also is not unexpected. Lying on his side, he can pick up the sound of something beneath the cold ground and realizes that he's actually on ice. ]

Well. [ The first thing to do is to pick up the knapsack that has his name on it. It would appear this is of some importance. He takes a peek inside to see what is present: nuts, hammer, tin pots, rubbing alcohol, some sort of jug filled with an unknown liquid and a pendant that has some unnatural glow to it. His lips press together in thought before he slings it over his shoulder. ]

First, it is best to reach land. [ He is bewildered; he is dumbfounded, but standing around will not get him anywhere. The sound of water just beneath the ice indicates that it could very well break -- so leaving is for the best. But he stops as he notice someone having issues.

Stepping forward, he holds his hand out: ] It is very dangerous to stay here. Please allow me to escort you to land. Are you too frozen, perhaps? [ The implication being that even if he, too, feels the cold that he would still be willing to carry them to shore. ]

B: SHARE A DRINK

It is surprisingly cold. I had not expected snow. [ The dry tone which he speaks almost makes it sounds like he expected to arrive in this place at all. Again, that is hardly the case, but he cannot do anything about the tone of his voice. Ox feels the chill down to his bones, bringing an ache to his fingers.

He's grateful for the rough blankets offered. In return, he feels a debt owed and intends to fight in the siege mentioned. But that will be some time -- and it is best to tend to one's body before the battle begins. Digging through the sack, he locates the jug of unknown liquid. He's surprised that it still feels warm, and somehow, he's a little more inclined to try it over what the Jormun is offering.

Not because he does not trust the Jormun, but because what is being offered appears to be scalding hot and meant to be eaten at that burning temperature. No, thank you. He decides instead to locate a glass to pour some of the unknown liquid into. A pause as he holds up the jug. ]

I cannot say that this is safe or not, but I intend to take all responsibility if it turns out to be poison. Either way, it appears a lot less burning than what is being offered. So, I'll offer what I have to you, too.

C: WILDCARD

[ These don't work? Throw anything you like at me. ]

[ They've seen a few strange devices in their time - the bugs of Hallownest built wondrous mechanisms - but nothing like that. It flies, and so fast! It reminds them of some of the smaller creatures they'd seen in their adventures underground.

They shake their head, to show they've understood the words - but they're more obviously distracted by the sprite. They're still childishly curious enough to reach out to try and touch the projection, and clearly startled when their hand goes right through. ]

(a)

[ it took some time to gather his bearings enough to move off of the water. Not sure where this is. It's cold, and blustery-- and the nip that the chill brings bites him on his nose and his rosy cheeks. Asio isn't here, and neither are Geddy and Alphonse. Maybe they were separated? Being alone...is hard. It's evident that he's struggling with something, before he starts moving closer inland.

There was always a soft breeze back in Vellie. Cool temperatures are something he's definitely used to. With his arms pulling the brown cloak across his torso, Otus moves mindlessly toward wherever the most sound is coming from. His eyes settle on a fading sun in the distance-- is the sun just setting, or is it...?

He very nearly trips over his knapsack, name etched into the side lovingly. Curiosity gripping him, the small owl flips top flap up and then looks about worriedly.

Is....is this mine? He plays with the flap nervously. What if there's someone else named Otus, and this is his????

B-better just wait and see....y-yeah. That's a good plan. Let's do that. ]

(b)

[ those who didn't catch Otus on the icy shores would likely have seen him in the air, if they happened to look up.

He flies! He flies! His cloak, which had settled so evenly while walking, has turned into a large set of wings, and with ease, allows him to carry things and move items around for the Jormun. Large barrels, pots of brrkshavak, whatever they need help carrying! Otus is a very good carrier, after all, and would never break anything.

While holding a somewhat large barrel, he tries to set it down gently, but sends it downwards with a little more extra force than he implied. The barrel comes apart delicately, and Otus finds himself staring at it!! Somewhat helplessly!! I-it's broken!! Asio would yell at him, and tell him to just leave the matter to Asio, and...

...Otus lands with a soft sigh, trying to pull the barrel to it's upright position. It would be heavy for most, but...he seems to lift it with relative ease. Trying to fit a busted panel of wood back on it.

Please fit back on.

Please fit back on. ]

Edited 2018-01-05 02:51 (UTC)

Ah-! [ As the knight gives her hand a pat, Isette takes notice. A monster? Wait, they seem to be- ] Wait!

[People do tend to find their chosen means of communication...odd, to say in the least. The Drifter regards their efforts to brush through it without umbrage - by now, they are used to that sort of reception.]

HUD
not physical

[YES THESE ARE ALL GOOD WORDS TO SAY TO A BUG PERSON THAT DOES NOT KNOW WHAT A HUD IS]

[ They look at the ice, then the knapsack, and then at Muffet; they tilt their head in obvious thought.

They're pretty sure they can get to shore on their own, but they're not sure how to communicate that. But then again, it's impolite to refuse....

Eventually, they give Muffet a nod, slowly. Though she's clearly a spider, she hasn't tried to eat or attack them yet, so it's probably fine to trust her. ]

[ But they're already gone. Well, to get her pack. They seem to be smart about it - dragging rather than picking it up. A good move. They know what they're doing.

Once they're back, with her pack in tow, Isette gives them a reassuring smile. ] I was worried for a second there, but you have a pretty good idea what you're doing, huh?

[ they extend a hand, and Otus' eyes light up a bit!! He's certainly not easy to read. Maybe he remembers? But not wanting to be rude, Otus reaches down a little and returns the handshake!! Because who on earth refuses nice gestures like that?

In one movement, he lowers himself down to his knees, examining the little creature in full, now. Tall horns. A small cloak? Looks like something that may have tried to come after him back home, but here, he can't see any sort of evil. Or feel anything bad. They...they shook hands. This is a good bug. ]

[A violet streak of swift-moving light is currently darting Otus's way.]

[It's not light at all, really: it's just a very speedy Drifter, chaining their dashes with enough cautious timing to ensure the ice does not crack beneath their feather-light steps. When they skid to a halt, however, the thick crust groans at the slight impact as it kicks up a spray of frosted white snowflakes.]

[They don't waste time with words, just yet, but simply point to the shore. We need to move, and quickly.]

[ They understand what 'not physical' means, at least, so they get the idea. It can't be touched.

But the being in front of them seems to not talk either; they've never really seen that before, not from those who aren't like them.

They puzzle over how best to ask the question. But if they're being communicated with in text, then perhaps more text is best.

They settle for scrawling on the ground, then pointing. Everything they have is still drying off.

have no voice ? ]

Edited 2018-01-05 02:58 (UTC)

[ They're used to size differentials, so this isn't out of the ordinary for them. The handshake being returned is certainly nice, too.

They take the opportunity to examine Otus in turn, curious about this strange creature who is so much bigger than them. They remember that his cloak could change, like theirs can; but he could fly, where they could not.

After a moment, they mime shivering, pulling their cloak around themselves, and then point to Otus. They are not cold, but perhaps Otus is? ]

[ wh-wh-wh--

The ice skids, and little snowflakes fly into the air. He'd seen pictures of snow, and been cold before...but nothing this heavy. The mysterious figure in front of them is cloaked in red, and looks...

...kind of like a ninja. He'd read about them in books. They point to the shore, and Otus follows their finger to their destination, looking slightly apprehensive about the whole gosh darn thing. Like...who are you?? Why are you so cool?? Who gave you permission?? They seem to know what they're doing, though. Otus flaps his cloak into wings and lifts himself up off the stressed out ice. It's chilly. There is a chill. But it's better than...well, whatever alternative waits.

He waits for the Drifter to move first-- just in case the ninja needs help moving!! Don't leave people behind. That's how people get hurt. ]

( 1 ) entirely too familiar (open for anyone!)

❰ almost before she's conscious, clementine knows she's lying on ice. like a nightmare that seeped into reality, chilling her through her dirty blue jacket and all the way down to her bones. a shudder creeps down her spine, less from the cold than from the memory of what happened last time she trusted a layer of ice to bear weight. she may be smaller than luke was, but clem's acutely aware of how quickly someone can fall through the ice and be swept away by the frigid water underneath.

it has her sitting up, all residual grogginess gone in favor of figuring out the most careful possible exit strategy. which is honestly enough to deal with by herself - but she isn't alone.

in any other scenario she'd have drawn her gun, but this particular situation feels fragile enough without it, so instead she's calling out to the stranger.

if they're on the ice with her, she says: ❱ Don't move! If you fall through, you're dead.

❰ if they're on the shore, especially if they seem keen on trying to rescue her somehow, she calls: ❱ Don't come out here! I don't know how thin the ice is.

( 2 ) a heartfelt reunion (for wade wilson)

❰ it's been almost two and a half years since lee died, and everything any adult has ever told her about death or losing people was complete-... she could say it: complete shit. it doesn't get easier after a while, not even a long while. it kind of seems like it hurts less, but then you realize that you just... feel less. the next time she really felt that much was when that stupid girl shot omid, and now?

now she doesn't know where kenny is. where aj is. she doesn't know where she is. she doesn't know if it even matters where - it's not like they had a real destination. not a physical one. maybe a time one, the milestone in a series of milestone you're hoping to survive. like, right now her destination is tomorrow morning. to be alive until then.

this isn't what lee would've wanted.

Her hand slips into her pocket for the picture, but she can't pull it out. It's almost like she doesn't want him to see her like this, even if it is just a picture.

but beside the picture sits something much more solid, plastic. heavy. her brow knits, and she seizes the object, pulling it out into the open. it was her walkie-talkie. that's... this is impossible. god, she hadn't seen this thing since -

since haven.

it hits her like a load of bricks. she remembers haven. she remembers her old bunk, she remembers yaocorp, she remembers wade and jesse and-...

she never remembers any of this, back in the snow and the woods. back where she came from. it's like it falls out of her head or something, but then she comes back and so does everything else. does that mean she's back? is this... haven? impossible. it's so cold here. icy and frigid, just like the ass-end ohio woods she fell asleep in. but back in ohio, she hasn't seen this walkie in years.

pressing her lips to a line, she twists the dial to ON and presses the talk button once, just to see if the thing's still got batteries. it lets out a quick burst of static. still alive.

so clem lifts it to her mouth, and a little warily she asks: ❱

Is anyone there?

[Someone...someone else?]

[Someone else.]

[Someone like them. Someone who cannot speak, for one reason or another. Not someone who can speak with hands, the way Tibia can - but someone who can see them speak, and it would be cruel to consider that a blessing, but...]

[It would be cruel. They do not pursue the thought, and instead answer.]

none
you?

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Page 1 of 65

January Intro: I Know the Winter's Getting Colder

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A

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Isette

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FREE SCARVES

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B

c!

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ox | juuni taisen

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Otus | Owlboy

1/2

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a!!

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clementine | 5th | closed + open

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