lifeaftr | March Adventure: Swim with the Current and Float Away

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.

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

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

It is very good to "have dreams", isn't it~?

[ Maybe he's been underestimating Shinobu, shortsighted by the feeling of wanting to keep him kept out of harm's way. Though he has to wonder if Shinobu isn't also overestimating him just a bit too much as well. There's a difference between being a strong idol and being, well, strong. Kanata isn't sure if he's the latter just yet. ]

But Shinobu is "already" the greatest ninja that I know.. ♪ [ And also the only ninja he knows. Pulling his hand back from Shinobu's head, he can't help but give a small laugh at the sudden change in his tune, true as it is. ]

Ehehe. Yes, yes.. We must use our "sneakiest" steps. [ He sidesteps with a little wobble, making way for Shinobu to take the lead. ] Please "guide" me with your secret technique, Ninja-sensei..~

[Though the request had been granted, it was not without fault. Shinobu, so used to the comfort of staying under everyone's wings, may come to find being in the front-lines is harder, and scarier, than he once thought. All would come with time... Right now, Shinobu Sengoku has entirely checked out of orbit with Kanata's own sneak attack.

The greatest ninja he knows! The greatest! Ninja! He! Knows!]

Aha!

[And the finishing blow. For the inexperienced and youthful Shinobu to be deemed ~Ninja-sensei~ by the boy he's looked up to all this time... It's really just too much.

Without any change in expression, the emotional dam he has tried so hard to keep upright is obliterated with four syllables, and tears stream almost violently down his cheeks.]

...Sh---Shi-------Sh-Sh-Shinkai-dono, please g-g-g-give me... one moment...!!

[Breathe, you banana! Turned away from his sea-loving senior, Shinobu mentally recites the ninja's oath in attempt to stable his emotions, soaking his sleeves in the process beyond repair.]

---O~kay! [He turns back quickly, nose still red and cheeks as puffy as ever, but with a big smile and a can-do expression.] Shinkai-dono, because we do not wish to be seen by outside eyes, we must stay low to the ground while we move, see? [Thrusting himself to the ground, Shinobu begins to show off his Ultimate Sneaky Crawl Technique number 4.] Sneak, sneak, sneak... Shoooo... Through the underbelly of society does the ninja crawl...

[ This is more along the lines what he expected, the onslaught of tears that come without so much as a sniffle to precede them. He's a crybaby, just like Chiaki, and that triggers nothing but a gentle smile to spread across Kanata's features. He can wait patiently for his junior to compose himself, relatively speaking, while wrestling back the urge to pet his head again.

As Shinobu faces him again, Kanata feels that warm bud of pride blossom in his chest at the sight of his earnest ( but tear-swollen ) expression. ]

Yes, yes..~ [ He gives a slow nod of understanding, dropping to his hands and knees with equally paced movements. Following Shinobu's lead, he crawls after him and repeats in a sing-song: ] Sneak, "sneak", sneak.. ♪ Crawling, crawling... Just like "ninja isopods" on the ocean floor...~

March Adventure: Swim with the Current and Float Away

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