March Adventure: Swim with the Current and Float Away

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: AI'TUOH

Who: Anyone who feels brave...or particularly lawful
What: A city worth exploring, and a people worth meeting
When: March 10th and onward
Where: Ai'tuoh
Warnings: The themes you might associate with strict punishment and rule-based dystopias will abound, along with nonconsensual drugging/sedation for those found guilty in the streets. Otherwise, mark as needed!

The Overview: Ai'tuoh
The dawn of the 10th will see the appearance of the promised island on the horizon. The smooth, even planes of city walls rear across the expanse of sandy beach, but beyond that, no particular discerning characteristics can be immediately glean. That same morning, characters will awaken from a brief dream, wherein the Storyteller will advise that the new island accessible via mana pool - and they suggest, with some trepidation, that you do not make the location of said mana pool on the new land immediately obvious to the natives. It's clear that something has put them on edge, though they've yet to say what.

Welcome, adventurers, to the island of Ai'tuoh.

Our City, Our Rules
Ai'tuoh is home to a sprawling city, built of smooth, sandy stone. Its architecture is simple, precise, and uniform, valuing utility above all else - function to the exclusion of form. The homogeneity of the people of Ai'tuoh extends beyond the similar, monochrome spectrum of their apparel. Despite the gradations of skin color and the subtle shifts in the shades of their hair - all falling within established limits, of course - they all appear to be more or less human. But most striking of all is the stern warning emblazoned across the city's gates. It translates as follows:

May those who violate our law be cleansed in the Standing Water.

The Unerring Law of the people of Ai'tuoh can be found in the library, which contains little besides some five hundred copies of the same dispassionate lists of various laws, most of which you've probably already broken by the time you've entered.

If you plan on stopping by, we'd recommend taking the time to explore the docks first - those that frequent that particular area are rather more forthcoming to travelers. You might find someone sympathetic to your plight, willing to offer some helpful hints.

Holding Cells: Awaiting Your Trial
Those unlucky enough to be caught by the concealed militia taskforce of the city will be sedated on sight of their violation, and will wake in a small, smooth-stoned room. There are no windows, and only one door - and it won't be opening under your duress. The holding cell into which you've been deposited is beyond barebones; while clean and uniform, it lacks even the basic commodities of a bed and bucket. It seems that there's no need to plan for keeping prisoners in the long term. No one drops by to visit, and no one addresses you if they pass through. Your only company is in your cellmates, who you might be able to hear through the walls, provided you raise your voice over the soft, buzzing hum that permeates the air; a magical suppression field, to ensure that those with particular talents cannot exert them to break the law's hold.

The barracks are sorted into clusters of several buildings, each with variety of cells hidden in secluded pockets. To contrast the uniformity of the city itself, there is no such order here; the buildings are designed to be difficult to break into, and even harder to orient oneself in.

Those who are being kept in holding until their cleansing will not be in complete isolation forever. There are a number of militia who patrol the prison areas to ensure peace is being kept...and some might even be open to conversation.

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For OOC information about Ai'tuoh and the city's laws, please see our recent OOC information post!

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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!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[aftrnpc]

[He is noisy. And an eyesore. She regards him uncertainly, biting her lip. She finds herself discomforted by his miserable tears; the people of Ai'tuoh, when awaiting their cleansing, are often at peace with their fate and thus quite stoic. This is new to her.]

You may not, [she replies stiffly.]

[finethanks]

[He's beautiful? Love him and let this cross-culture romance blossom? Or just squint at him as he coughs more, either is fine.]

How cruel... Even when the tears threaten to carry away my very soul and fill the confines of this prison, you refuse something so simple? [Dramatic.] At the very least, is there something like tea? A hot cup of tea would calm me and warm me up quickly, so please, if you could deliver it here.

[aftrnpc]

[Even if his clothing were appropriate, it is obvious to her that he would have found himself in this cell regardless. His manner of speech is gaudy to nearly vulgar proportions. She wonders what sort of lawless dystopia he must hail from, that he is so shamelessly undisciplined.]

Tea is impure. Infusing the Water with plants grown from dirt is nothing short of sacrilege.

[finethanks]

...Then I would gladly march through the gates of hell.

[He coughs again, his whole body hunching slightly with the ache he feels. He's still crying, too.]

Do you have water, at least? My mouth is incredibly dry.

[aftrnpc]

Have patience. The Water will see to you soon enough.

[It's possible she is misunderstanding his request.]

[finethanks]

What exactly does that mean, anyway? It's not as if you mean to bring me a glass of water to drink, so I'm wondering what this "water" is to you.

[aftrnpc]

[Her lip stiffens even more, apparently drawing offense from something he said.]

The Water is holy gift. It keeps us pure from the filth brought on by lies and deceit. It is sacred. You should address it with respect.

[finethanks]

Respect is something that should be earned, Guard-chan.

[She hasn't given a name, so this is her name now.] Though I'll speak politely about it as with anyone else. The Water... is it a god that you worship? Rather than educating us, we were thrown in here immediately.

[aftrnpc]

My designation, [she says sharply,] is 41916. If you are to speak to me -- and you should not -- you will address me as such.

The Water is not a god. Gods are false. There is only the truth, and those who would seek to dirty the mind with lies. The Water allows us to see. Thus, it is sacred.

[She seems to quite adamantly ignore the manner of her prisoner's initiation into their cultural beliefs.]