April Intro: The Flower Ripens in its Place

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: APRIL

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

A9: Sow the Seed
Unbeknownst to new arrivals, the archipelago of LifeAftr has recently seen the appearance of a new island, as chosen via voting - and they have been unceremoniously placed there instead of upon Ensō, where most newcomers would typically appear. It's probably for the best that the island of Ziziphus is so outwardly peaceful. There are worse places to find yourself, all things considered. The mana pool glimmers with a greenish light, the stone ring containing that peculiar fluid set firmly into the earth. The surrounding land fits neatly into that general aesthetic: rippling fields stirred by the occasional crisp breeze alternate between amber-golden and rich, verdant green in coloration, and irregular patches of color signify the presence of a great deal of flowers of all sorts.

It's a peaceful scene.

We're sure you're all about to make it go horribly wrong.

B9: Reap the Harvest
For the unluckier, or the more adventurous, something far less tranquil awaits. Perhaps you woke up on this particular map square instead, or you saw fit to journey a little farther, just to see what might happen. In any case, you'll quickly discover that this may not have been the best idea, when an ordinary grassy mound abruptly detaches itself from the ground, hauls itself upright on bristling legs, and starts scuttling near.

SPINDLANKS have now been unlocked in the bestiary.
What might initially appear to be a leafy hillock will very quickly prove to be something far more...mobile, if you get close enough. That clump of grass and red ferns will abruptly hoist itself up on six vine-like tendrils, crawling for its prey like a very large, mossy spider. While it's fully capable of swiping at its foes with its massive, leafy arms, the spindlank's favored method of dispatching its prey is simply to scuttle forth until it's positioned directly above you and drop down. If its weight does not crush you and choking on the clods of earth doesn't smother you, don't worry; the spindlank intends to eat you alive with a set of fleshy jaws set deep in its center, buried somewhere in its underbelly.

For despite their appearance, spindlanks are very much carnivorous. Their size can vary from anywhere between six and ten feet tall when their appendages unfurl entirely. They are, in essence, very large plants, and thus can be easily dealt with, if you can burn them.

Just try not to get overwhelmed.

---

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

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

kravitz | ota/will match format!

[deathfindsaway]

i. [arrival, a9] warm blood, underneath my skin; warm blood, my heart is pumping

[He wakes up on a cliffside, air fresh and wind balmy. To any other person, this would be a wonderful scene- there's no danger, lovely weather, a calming place for a nap.

For Kravitz, this is panic zone alpha.

The first problem is he wakes up- for someone who hasn't slept in quite a period of time, and certainly not unwillingly in even longer, the fact he fell asleep without remembering it is enough to send him reeling. The second problem is that he wakes up choking, having rolled flat onto his face. This is only a problem if you haven't needed to breathe in roughly a thousand years- not a problem most people have, but one he is certainly experiencing. Instantly, he sits up, hands finding themselves to his chest and arms to feel for damage. His suit is intact- and blissfully devoid of grass stains- but the wrongness persists. His chest rises and falls with breath. A heartbeat, a pulse he can feel, surges through his neck and down his arms. He can feel the world just a little more acutely than his construct, and he's groggy from sleep.

Most people might not be so startled at being alive. But Kravitz... well, the grim reaper doesn't just live. This must be some sort of dream, he thinks. A very, very realistic dream.

A cursory search reveals a number of items nearby- a backpack with his name, containing a few items he's never seen before. A few items he does know, which get tucked into his jacket pocket-- odd he can't dispel the book, but there's room for it in the pack. Standing and picking up his scythe, he surveys the landscape for a moment before remembering where he was before, and concentrating back on the Astral Plane. He has work still to do. So he stands, slashes the scythe in front of him, and...

Absolutely nothing happens.

It's possible you see him from afar, just sort of whacking the air aimlessly. It's possible you hear him, whenever he gets to the point where he just starts to yell to no one in particular our of pure frustration. And finally, after about ten minutes of all that, he just sits down again, crossing his legs and putting his face in his hands.

This is the start of quite a number of long, long days.]

ii. [a bit later, b9] let down my guard tonight, i just don't care anymore

[After a very small mental breakdown, it's time to get moving. It didn't take long for Kravitz to wander into a nearby area, travelling towards the center of the island, and even less long to draw his weapon as a big, grassy creature begins to arrive. Thankfully, he has some range on it, and swipes immediately at one of the creature's legs, sending it stumbling to compensate. Unfortunately, it's not much happy with that, and swings around, slamming one of it's nondamaged appendages directly into his chest and knocking him back a few feet.

He's not used to taking attacks so strongly, and not in a body that actually takes damage, so he goes down hard, skidding on his back. He summons his scythe back to him without a thought- thank goodness, it still does that-- but he could possibly use a hand here as he pulls himself off the ground, readying himself for round 2.]

[ooc: Krav has a permissions post over here helping to detail some of his abilities and magic; would love if you could check it out before tagging just in case! Thanks yo.]

Arrival A9

[want_to_belong]

This was the island that Prompto wanted to appear in the first place, and he was thankful upon arrival that he didn't spot an army of cactuars or malboros. A good island. For once. Though he didn't have much on him to carry things back at the moment, he still planned on grabbing what goodies he could to take home to Iggy. He jogged about scouting the island.

It was then that he saw it. Reaper!, was the immediate thought that popped into his head. His heart jumped, his hand went to his waist and he dropped into a ready stance. After a second of watching the thing swing its scythe around he noticed something odd. It had hair? He didn't think he'd ever seen a reaper that still had hair...

Guarded, he inched closer to get a better look. It was also daylight, and daemons didn't usually stick around for that. What was it then? A new monster that inhabited this island? It kind of looked like a person, but lots of daemons had humanish forms.

"Hey," he called out from behind cautiously. His hand hovered over the hilt of his gun just in case. "You okay over there?"

b9

[hyperlit]

[A crimson-and-blue blur smears into violet as the Drifter darts forward, their hard light blade igniting with a waspish hum. They've only vaguely registered the secondary presence beside the hulking, plantlike creature; the beast is their priority, and it shows.]

[A bright blaze of cerulean severs one of the thing's legs from its body, further unbalancing it. They skid to a halt across the grass, nearly slipping over the smoothness of rippling field. As swiftly as it materialized, their blade has vanished beneath the folds of their cloak again.]

[They're readying for the creature's next move, but more importantly, darting a swift, dark-eyed look in the stranger's direction. Is he all right?]

a9

[yourattention]

[Connor's minding his own business nearby, having a picnic because in his mind that's what you do in an open field that's framed with trees. When Kravitz starts yelling in frustration, though, Connor pauses what he's doing and calls out:]

Big mood, scythe guy!

[The other thing you do in an open field that's framed with trees, of course, is talk and take in the view. If the view is of some dude clearly doing some weird scythe shit, whatever. Not even in the top ten weird things he's seen here.]

ii. HI DEAD BOY

[proficienciesouttheass]

[ As the creature possibly prepares to strike Kravitz again, a sound ecoes from behind it - a good few feet away, a very large dog snarls and barks loudly at the monster, teeth bared. It runs a few feet closer, then a few more feet in a curve around it. It seems to be trying to drive the creature away from the downed reaper.

As this scene plays out, there's some rustling sounds coming Kravitz's left, and a hand is held out to help him.

Ain't no way he ain't gonna recognize those sideburns.]

Need a hand?

[ Stupid. ]

A9

[mamaterasu]

[Well, this is quite the sight to see - and just goes to show that her first impressions and sense have been shot through to heck and back. Ammy feels the prickle at her senses almost immediately, the bristle of the fur on her back and neck, ears up and out as she heads curiously toward the source of this powerful, dark aura. It's the tingling sensation of death, given form, and she's wary as she stalks closer, hunkered down amongst the long grass and overgrown weeds. It's a habit she's yet to full break - expecting the worst from what she feels tug at her sixth sense.

Of course, this world is proving that she needs to reassess how to, erm...react to these feelings. So often even the so-called "Dark Forces" are less wicked than they are simply that - beings born from the darkness and shade. As she bears witness to this..........spectacle, her head lifts a bit from the grass and her head tilts to one side slowly, her shoulders and body language melting away from defensive and paranoid to perplexed and greatly amused.

You doing alright there, buddy?]

B9

[solperierat]

[Kravitz won't have long to wait on some assistance, as a red blur of a monster comes diving in from above. He's got weight enough behind him to make the thing buckle temporarily, and a hawk-sized blaze of fire comes swooping in behind the winged minotaur in a swooping strike, leaving a blazing fire where it's talons hit.]

Come on, you sack of mulch! Let's fuckin' go!!

[...okay, did Ed even realize there was someone here in need of saving?]

ARRIVALLLLLLLLL

[thejaw]

[The loud shouting is aggravating to Brian, who can do without obtrusive noises even at the best of times. His patience runs thinner these days than it once did, and he isn't subtle in the way he pulls off his mask just to glare tiredly at Kravitz from nearby.

His other hand is shoved into his hoodie pocket, and there's a sling of sorts hanging heavy over one of his shoulders. It's purring.]

I!

[tenthstreetbred]

[Shepard is once again roaming the newest island given to them all by the Storyteller. It's interesting how the fantastical can become routine but that seems to just be her life for the past three or four years now. At least this island is quiet. And not the quiet of citizens trying to keep their heads down and hide from the law but the quiet of nothing quite being here. Other than plants.

It's calming all in all. But clearly it's not calming for everyone, as Shepard climbs up the cliff to look out over the landscape herself and sees quite a handsome man losing his goddamned mind with a scythe.]

Hey there. You new?

[She's not surprised at all that this is happening.]

The Liberator | OTA | Will match format!

[exbarathris]

Arrival: Grassy lands

She awakens, after the strangest dreams, in the deep green of a grassy field. Rubbing her forehead, she sits up, staring at a vast expanse of more plant life in one place than she's ever seen, with trees - not little scrubby ones, but huge and verdant - in the distance past the rolling hills.

And yet, she should be dead, shouldn't she? Casting her gaze about, pupils narrowed to tiny pinpricks in the bright light, she calls out with her mind, an image of the field where she is. She waits a moment, but it's quiet, with no reply of anyone else's location.

Spying her spear lying in the grass nearby, she picks it up, and finding the pack alongside, spends a good few minutes going through the contents. The pack and stitching alone is strange, but some of the contents... Maybe you find her examining the first aid kit's packaged bandages, or rubbing the mystery white powder in the salt container between her fingers. Every so often she glances up, top of her head visible above the grass waving in the ocean breeze, and looks around again; the blank and slightly mystified stare of a person in a strange and brave new world.



Later: Forest

Seeking shelter from the brightness of the midday sunlight, The Liberator stalks through the forest, oblivious to the crunch of a twig or dead leaf underfoot. Her huge eyes swivel, taking in everything around her, listening... just not to the audible, but for any minds, large or small. The trees are huge compared to the scraggly, thin ones she's seen before she arrived in this strange place. The thought occurs to her that she might even have a better view from above, and that maybe, with trees this large, one could even climb them. Holding the shaft of her spear between her teeth and digging her claws into the bark, she scrambles up into the branches. It's a bit different than climbing metal scaffolding or rocky cliff faces, but certainly not any more treacherous.

Her brown and green clothing is surprisingly good camouflage, but the rustle of leaves or creak of branches may well give her away in the trees or on the ground as she slowly picks her way through the forest, cautiously observing and looking for any sign of of animal life to track.

forest!

[lightlessfuture]

The Knight is always on the lookout for danger, but especially now, in unexplored territory. Despite that, the Liberator will probably sense their small, focused mind before she sees them; they're small, and even their monochromatic look blends in more with the darkness of the underbrush in which they've chosen to cautiously explore.

Their thoughts are streamlined, concentrated on a singular point of looking for anything particularly dangerous. It may be amusing when they finally spot the Liberator and the focus scatters in several directions at once as they stare and try to evaluate whether she's a threat or not. The glint of light on metal indicates they've drawn their weapon.

They're cautious, but they're not hostile. Yet, at least.

arrival

[hyperlit]

Perhaps they are merely drawn to those who look sufficiently different, compared to those they have come to regard as the norm - human, or seeming as such, with their bald skin but for the patches of hair on their heads, devoid of scales or fur or feathers or all else. So few seem to deviate from that standard.

And so it is that she stands out, with her skin bone-bleached-white and her eyes wide and green.

They stand out too, in their own way: skin of vibrant cobalt, and eyes dark as ink. They lift one hand, and wave, too far away for text-based communication.

And they have learned from experience that it is not necessarily wise to open that avenue of communication without some warning.

tim wright | b9 | ota | i'll match your formatting

[postictal]

It takes about thirty seconds of contact with a spindlank for Tim to decide he doesn't like it, and wants it gone.

He's gotten better at fighting with fire, since January. Not actively, not out of any genuine desire to go back to his roots in arson, because the scent of smoke curling away from brick, peeling paint and warming glass, is too fixed in his mind for the splash of rubbing alcohol to be anything but another reminder of what he is and what he's not.

There's a hatchet hanging from one of the loops of his knapsack, but he doesn't wrench it out just yet. Instead, there's the spatter of liquid across the grass, the sharp, acidic tang of alcohol.

And then the undeniable click and hiss of a sparking lighter.

Right before one of the spindlank's legs goes up in a curtain of flame.

It's not February's fireworks, but it's effective; the fire chews through the spindlank easily, withering the red-and-green foliage into clusters of blackened husks in a matter of moments. He slips the lighter into his pocket, deftly unhooking the hatchet from its loop as he circles the smoldering , dying thing in preparation to deal a few final blows in case it feels like trying to snag him in its death throes.

Each motion is precise enough to suggest it to be practiced, even familiar on some level.

He'll never be the best in a fight, particularly here. But he's learned to hold his own.

[savedbyasong]

It had taken him a little while to build up the confidence to go very far. His leg was still stiff and sore but he had rested enough and there was a new island to explore. He hadn't wanted to stay home any longer. At first he had stayed in sight of the mana pool but curiosity had taken him further and further away.

Of course he had known it would be dangerous. No place was actually safe and he wasn't even surprised when a mound of grass stood up and began walking. Weird giant grass spiders.

He has his knife, he's not stupid enough to go anywhere unarmed and fighting monsters is something he is trained in. Trained in but of course, he forgot again, he is in his old body, weak and useless, injured as well. He should probably run.

But he is not alone, he sees Tim and instead moves towards him. Because you don't leave friends to fight monsters alone. There's a click and a spark and the grass spider thing goes up in flames. Turns out Tim is a talented monster fighter.

"Are you alright, Tim?"

damianos | ota | will match

[dedamastai]

i'm a knot but i'm never alone [open]

[The arrival of a new island generally meant newcomers, as far as Damen was concerned. Ai'tuoh had been a bit of an outlier in that respect, but the civilization on that island had been a bit of an outlier too. Regardless he's here, scanning the fields for newcomers and ready to welcome them to - well. Ziziphus, of course, but also Ensō. He might not be a king here, but the instinct is the same regardless: to take care of others.]

don't say it's all been lost [closed to laurent&prompto]

[There was some argument about the horses - Damen reasoned that they could carry whatever they potentially found back on horse, which led to another round of "packhorse vs riding horse," but then Chuck decided for them by following after into the mana pool so. It wasn't like Damen was going to send her back - much like Laurent, when Chuck decided to do something, it was better to just let her do it.]

Well. Should we get started?

the loose ends will make knots [wildcard]

[Throw whatever at me or hit me up on plurk/disco to plot something out. I am a very flexible person.]

[want_to_belong]

Normally Prompto would seek out a bro to go on an adventure, but Noctis had disappeared again and he didn't want to drag Iggy into an unknown area. That meant finding a new crew to tag along with, and it just so happened that Damen and Laurent were going. So. That worked.

Pepped up for the day, he was already jogging off ahead to take a look around.

"Don't see a ton of food or anything, but we should find something around here! All I see are plants."

A welcome reprieve from the last island. Prompto was visually excited about it. "I hope we find peppers!"

With that, he took a snapshot of the place. He was learning to document the areas in order to help.

Keith | Will match format.

[thermalwind]

Manapool [A9].
[A lone shadow peels away from the others at the manapool. Keith moves as quietly as he can, knife drawn in case he runs into trouble. There's no telling what they'll run into and after the last island he has no desire to meet it without a blade in hand. He stops to scan the rolling grass with eyes flicking left and right. He won't swing unless he has to.

But so far this area seems for the most part a good place to establish a small camp. He glances back at the pool that glints green in the sunlight. A ring of stones surrounds it for purposes unknown. Possibly to contain it. He decides to leave it alone as he circles the parameter of the area.

High overhead his phoenix, Ember soars. He'd decided to bring the bird with him when he realized the two pronged assault could aid him in getting intell back to the group. He catches movement out of the corner of his eye and jerks back, looking towards the source.]

Hey! See anything out there?

Plant monsters? Plant monsters. [B9]

[With the manapool secure and a camp struck for later, Keith strikes out away from the others. With just him and his bird, he takes his time scanning about for what the island has to offer. He has decided on being a self appointed scout. Still he almost doesn't see the creature until he's almost upon it.

It blends in well with the grass around it. Too well. Keith leaps back as dirt drips down from the suddenly upright shambling plant. He dances back while purple light washes over his knife reshaping it into a sword. He whistles, short and shrill. Ember plunges straight down in a killing dive and ignites.

As he tosses his sword to his left hand and draws his clear, glass-like knife with his right she strikes full on against the upper part of the plant beast.]

Camp [A9, sunset]

[Keith emerges from the tall grass and jerks his hood back, the mask over his face fading away. He unslings his pack from his shoulders on his way over to the small fire pit he dug earlier in the day. The sun is setting. He could go back to Enso through the portal. But he's reluctant to leave.

He drops his pack with a sigh. Time to get a fire going. He sits down, crossing his legs under him and flicks his knife. If anyone approaches he'll look up from his work and raise his eyebrows.] What are you standing around for? Come on over, fire will be going in a minute. No sense in you being cold.

Wildcard
[Got an idea? Hit up this journal!Or hit skyheron.]

camp

[raygunner]

[ It always, always strikes him just how kind people are. And really, it's foolish for them to be so; even though they're all stuck in this world, they're virtually strangers. There's no reason for them to be nice to so many people.

... Still. ]

Thank you. That's very kind of you.

myia ( ota ) will match format

[flyfisher]

I. ARRIVAL

This is completely unfair.

Myia fully prepared and readied herself and Emet and potentially a third person (who could have known they'd have four?) all they would need to ditch Bugtown and the City for its surrounding flora, imposing trees and living brush. And she did it. The duffel bags full of what canned foods, clothes, and last ditch efforts she could pile into one container remained in the completely unreachable attic for years, and they finally served her well when they left.

She didn't prepare for the situation, she prepared for the inevitability. She was stifled in Bugtown. Stifled! And how bad could the plants outside have really been?

(Bad. Really bad. But the other harvesters ended up the biggest threat.)

And she still, in all her paranoia, never once thought to prepare for being spirited away to an island in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by completely strange looking people.

Why are all these people so ugly, anyway?!?

Myia finds the knapsack with her name printed on it. At least she's not completely without supplies, but she'll need to kill one of these losers for food at some point.

That's beside the point, though. If she's got one, that means there's more. So Myia sets off to sneak around as much as she can through the tall grass and hills, searching for another person's knapsack to double up with. More people means more things for her, potentially. If she finds one, she can also be caught red-handed, pulling objects out to stuff into her own bag.

I. SPINDLANKS

Myia is going to find that venus flytrap boy and tell him his friends are absolutely awful.

That's the first thought that goes through her mind as the grass below her suddenly shudders and rises, taking her along with it into the air as it stretches three, four, six, nine feet into the air. Myia instantly starts shrieking, clutching onto the grass on its head for dear life.

She fumbles a hand into a pocket of her shorts to try and grab her dagger, but the thing is shaking this way and that, trying to dislodge the fruit fly infestation from its head.

So instead, Myia just starts kneeing it in the soil. She's got a pretty powerful kick on her, some may be surprised to hear.

(Some, like Carmine, know all too well about Myia's powerful kicks. Let's just say this isn't the first plant to give her a hard time.)

Dirt shakes free from the Spindlank's mass with each kick of her segmented legs, but it just continues freaking out as much as she is.

Maybe she could use a hand.

spindlanks!

[postictal]

She doesn't get a hand so much as she gets the reek of alcohol and the sound of liquid splashing over vegetation, mere seconds before the spindlank goes up in a whoosh of flame. Tim stoppers the bottle of rubbing alcohol and lets it clunk dully at his feet before pivoting on one heel, hatchet in hand, to take the plantlike legs out from under the creature's bulk.

He doesn't recognize the...bug lady? and he's not exactly sure that he should, but he doubts it'll matter much in the long run. She's clearly a new arrival, which means she could probably do with some help.

"Move!" he shouts over the roar of fire. "Fire's gonna spread fast!"

Hinata Hajime | Will match format.

[thisisourfuture]

1 Arrival [A9]

[The Manapool catches the light of the sun and sends little bits of light about it. He'd have found it beautiful once. After falling into The Water...it's a reminder that the pools are safe. He turns to it briefly and looks away over the rolling glass and seemingly peaceful surroundings.

A nagging feeling tells him that this place might be deceptive or that just might be the evidence of living on these islands screaming at him to beware. Hard to say. Hinata slides his pack off his shoulders and drops it down to check back over his supplies. He'd brought what he needs to collect seeds, harvest plants, and to tend to anyone who needs patched up.

He'll have to actually tell stories again soon. He'd had a hard time forming words for them after the siege on Chol. But he'd given himself enough time to deal with that. He is pulling an axe free of his pack and checking the edge whenever anyone comes upon him. Or if you're lucky he's going back over his medical supplies.]

2 Them plant things. [B9]

[Having ventured out this far it was probably inevitable he ran into trouble. It's become pretty routine to him to find it at some point. Travel to new places, have to kill something. Probably not what Gundam had in mind when he told him in that garishly bright fun house to fight for his life.

Or maybe it was. As he is thrown back by the force of a plant monster slamming down, he decides he'll never know. He stumbles and rights himself, swinging the axe at a leg and feeling the meaty thunk as metal meets sturdy plant. It's not his best swing. It isn't his worse, ether.

The creature isn't as fast to make its next swing.]

Wildcard

[Got an idea? Hit me with it.]

A9

[savedbyasong]

[Shion is hesitant, very hesitant about this new island. After everything that had happened he had spent a long time not venturing far from the shack he and Aster lived in.

But this new island had plants, Shion knew plants. Shion could be useful here. He's determined to do better, to be better this time. The bruises are almost faded from his face and though his leg hurts he can walk.

This place is beautiful. It's probably not real but it is beautiful none the less. He spots the man who is looking through what seems to be medical supplies and waves. He recognises him, but only from story tellings. He doesn't know his name.] Hello!

Jaune | OTA & Will match format

[aurabble]

A9: nice while it lasted

[At least this illusion is less terrifying than the previous one.

He's only just learned of them, but he knows how deceivingly real they can be. But this is a lot of effort to go to be convincing, he thinks to himself as he rummages through the knapsack with his name on it.

Maybe this isn't an illusion. Maybe it's a dream. Dreams can feel like they last a while when they only last a few seconds or minutes, right? Telling himself that doesn't do much to settle the racing feeling in his chest. There are other people here, but no one he recognizes. He always had a decent imagination.

It's so calm and peaceful here...

Time to ruin it.]

HEEEEEEEEYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! REN, NORA, RUBY?! ANYONE HERE?!

B9

[When it becomes increasingly clear that no one he knows is here, and it starts feeling more vivid than any dream should, Jaune reaches the conclusion that maybe exploring is the best option. It will help keep his mind off things, for now, and keep the shock at bay as long as he can continue to keep himself distracted.

If this isn't a dream, then he needs to learn about his surroundings. And if it is (it is, right?) then no harm done.

He approaches you, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.]

Maybe there's something over there?

[He nods in the next area's direction.]

A9

[mamaterasu]

[The response Jaune gets will certainly not be one he expects. Unless he was expecting a guttural, screechy, canine howl to be his response. Ammy had actually been napping in a particularly cozy patch of grass, letting the sunshine warm her fur when she heard the holler that breaks the outwardly peaceful serenity of the new island. However, she doesn't get mad, or even a bit frustrated her tranquil nap was ruined. Oh no, she's actually going to respond as any good canine would do.

Immediately, her ears fold back and her head lifts, nose pointed upward. Though the grass is as high in some parts as Jaune's knees, all he has to do is follow his ears, because the noise that comes after his call is just as loud - if not louder - than he is being right now.]

Wwwrrr....OOOUUUUUUUU...AAAOOOOO!!!

mira | original | ota | will match format!

[encircling]

one; a9, arrival
[ It's a beautiful place.

Mira's already suspicious.

She's glad she can travel to and from her house, at least, to check on Anise and replenish her stock of arrows when she needs to. So far, thankfully, she hasn't had to shoot anything. Still, she's taking stock of her surroundings with slightly narrowed eyes. This is what she wanted, but she's anxious, waiting for something to jump out and attack.

... Well. She won't say no to a bit of company, at least, as she walks around the area, looking for anything helpful. ]

two; c7
[ And things were going so well. Mira hears it before she sees it, and what she sees is nothing short of horrifying. The rolling mass of flora and oh, god, are those body parts utterly terrifies her. But she's quick to jump into action, and whoever's nearby-- ]

Run, quickly! I can provide a path of ice for you to move quicker on, if you need it!

three; a9
[ For a couple of days, she's gone. After the disaster that was the fustercluck, Mira decided it would be good to see if she could scrounge up some food. Unluckily... she had run into trouble, and there'd been no one to help her.

Stupid, when she thinks about it. Half-blind, she somehow manages to make it to the mana pool. She takes a seat, breathing hard, and she raises shaking hands to her eyes--

Only to pull them away. It seems this, she can't heal. Or maybe she's afraid of making it worse. ]

Idiot.

2!

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight certainly comprehends the words, but they make a few motions at her, apparently shooing her off or telling her to run away first or something, before they draw their sword and start running right at the monster instead.

Running, yes. Running away? Never. They're gonna fight it.

This might be comical or concerning coming from someone who's the size of a toddler at most. ]

Shiro | Voltron | OTA | will match

[propugnator]

[ A9: GOOD MORNING. ]

( it feels like a dream.

not like the dreams shiro usually has—full of pain and terror—but peaceful in a way that he's wholly unused to. the sky above is a beautiful bright blue, full of fluffy clouds, and the air feels so clean. how long had it been since he had been anywhere like this? he doesn't remember. underneath him, there is nothing but green wild grass and patches of colourful flowers. it almost feels like he's back on earth, finally home after ages of space travel, but shiro isn't foolish enough to believe such a thing.

voltron wasn't done with him yet.

there was no way he was back on earth, so—

where was he?

of course, the first thing that he does is swipe his helmet out of the grass and attempt to contact the other paladins, but it's useless. all he can hear is a faint static and the inside is still a little damp. the question is: from what? he doesn't recall being anywhere wet. actually, he doesn't remember much of anything after clashing with zarkon. not that it should matter. water had never compromised the function of his armour before.

that's where shiro can be found, crouched down underneath the shade of a tree as he attempts to prepare emergency triage on his helmet before he sets off to survey the area. )

[ B9: IT'S ALWAYS HOSTILE. ]

( in a strange way, there's a bit of comfort in seeing a massive creature rise out of the ground. shiro had visited more worlds than he could remember the names of and it wasn't that unusual for them to possess all sorts of dangerous (or gigantic) wildlife. that was the thing about space travel—it's dangerous. the type of danger, however, was just sometimes pretty straightforward. creatures? now, that's straightforward. shiro could handle creatures. creatures could be slain.

this one is no exception. the fight between them is short enough, resulting in the creature getting sliced apart by his arm-turned-energy blade. it makes an impressive noise as it crumbles to the ground, displacing dirt around it. just as shiro as about inspect the corpse, searching for any kind of clues he can get a hold of, another one appears from behind him.

while it doesn't take him from surprise, shiro still isn't able to fully dodge the sweeping vine that smashes into him. it's all he can do to minimise the damage.

hopefully, it doesn't send him flying right it someone unlucky enough to be nearby. )

A9

[lightlessfuture]

( While Shiro is intently checking his equipment, the Knight wanders over, curious about this tall stranger. Not because Shiro is particularly special to their senses, but because he's wearing armor that looks enough like a bug shell of some kind to interest them.

Even his helmet looks vaguely shell-like, though why he's checking inside it, they're not entirely sure. These shell-less people sure are mysterious! Maybe he's looking for cracks or damage. They can help with that.

They walk right up without any hesitation, since Shiro doesn't seem hostile and they're reasonably certain they can handle any change of situation. If Shiro isn't paying attention to his surroundings, the first indication he'll get of his new company is the Knight reaching up from their clearly impressive height of like two feet to give the helmet a curious touch. ]

Takane Shijou | The iDOLM@STER | ota (will match format)

[sorewatopsecret]

B8 | Day: Your Mother was a Hamster and Your Father Smelt of Elderberries
[If anyone were to head up northward after escaping the clutches of vine-spiders and mushroom-backed toads, they will find a nice view of a sandy white beach bordering a grassy plain. Numerous elderberry bushes populate this area, and unless you eat the berries raw, there is nothing that can kill you within this area.

Despite the peaceful scenery, it's slightly ruined by a bizarre happening in this area. There is a silver-haired girl with a shovel, digging in a circle around a single bush, and from the looks of it, she has been at it for a while. As she pauses to wipe the sweat from her brow, she blinks, and suddenly looks towards you. Yes, you. She raises up a hand in greeting.]

My most sincerest of apologies, but I don't suppose you could substitute for me as I grant myself a moment's reprieve? Unfortunately, I have currently have nothing to give in exchange for your troubles, so it is quite all right if you cannot...

C9: Aloe-ha
[Yet another square that's not filled with things that can quickly kill you.

If one listens carefully, they can hear the faint voice of a young woman. Spooky! Is it a ghost? Nope. On closer investigation, if anyone wishes to follow that voice, they would eventually catch sight of the back of a silver-haired girl standing before an aloe plant roughly her height. From what it looks like, she has been speaking for quite a while, nodding in affirmation from time to time.]

... Your kind have been of quite great assistance to my fellow associates. It is of my most sincere of wishes that you grow exponentially, and continue to bless us with your mercy and aid. Now, I do wonder if one of you would not be so terribly opposed to relocating yourself to our island home...?

[Yes. She is indeed talking to the aloe, and not to anyone through her stone.]

B8 | Night: Like Some Kind of Reality TV Show (Locked to Kanata, Shinobu, and Ritsu)

[Rather than call it a day and go home through the mana pool, Takane and Kanata were very insistent on setting up camp on this square on account of it being 1) very safe, and 2) they believed that it was a good place for them to appreciate their own individual fixations, one anticipating how the night sky will look and the other being delighted with sleeping so close to the ocean.

With a small campfire being set, this little group of quirky idols have settled into their very ill-thought out camp, each of them doing their own thing.]

B8

[lightlessfuture]

[ Oh, it's the nice person they met when they were camping out with the Jormun! They remember her. They're pleased to see she's all right.

Although she does seem to be having some trouble with...whatever she's doing. The Knight has no real experience with plants, but they're perfectly at home with physical exertion, so they nod vigorously to indicate they're ready to help.

...They stare contemplatively at the shovel for a moment before deciding it's too unwieldy to handle. They attack the problem head-on, as they do most things, by starting to dig into the dirt at the base of the bush, busily shifting earth like they'd seen Takane doing just moments before.

It definitely looks faster than using a shovel, but you probably want to tell them what they're supposed to be doing with this bush before they start making tunnels or something. ]

Exploring (closed to Connor and Aster)

[savedbyasong]

7th April into 8th April

Shion is quite excited. It's nice to feel excited after the numbness that had overtaken him after what had happened on Ai'Tuoh. This island was not without dangers, he had discovered that already and to be honest he wasn't expecting it not to be. Everywhere was dangerous. But this island had what was promised, plants. Potential food and medicine. Plants were things that Shion knew. He could be useful here in a way that he usually... wasn't.

They are as prepared as they can be and they know now to try and avoid the spider plants. Or set them on fire. Aster has seen Shion like this before of course though not since arriving here, enthused eyes shining as he found things he recognised, or things he didn't. Plants are really exciting.

New islands were a bit like new floors in the Tower had been Shion figured. Go into them expecting some parts to be absolutely awful but also... there was always a sense of adventure. So he was smiling despite the remnants of bruises on his face from last months misadventures. His shoulder and his leg slowed him down a little but he was determined to keep up and to do better.

[attheclocktower]

Honestly... seeing Shion this happy, this excited.. it was like balm on her heart. It would be a lie to say that what happened last month wasn't still a source of worry for her. But seeing him like this... it reminded her that no matter what, there could still be happiness in these sorts of places.

So she's smiling herself. Trailing behind him a bit, but still close enough that she can keep an eye out, in case he gets into trouble or his injuries start bothering him. Though she did trust him at least to keep an eye out on his own - he'd lived through the Tower too, after all.

goro akechi | ota, will match format

[raygunner]

b8
[ Akechi doesn't stick around much at the first area, near the mana pool. No, he has a mission in mind. This island should be rich with resources, and he plans on finding as much as he possibly can. Who knows when this one will disappear, too?

Luckily, he strikes gold... or berries. Akechi gathers as much of them as he can into a little pouch made from tightly woven fibers. Maybe lend a hand? Or ask nicely if you can have a few? ]

b9
[ And soon, after Akechi has gathered enough berries, he travels south again. All seems to be going well until... Oh, he's suddenly yelling, because there's a spindlank trying to wreck his whole shop.

Rest in pieces, you little shit.

> Help? ]

[attheclocktower]

[ Well, that yelling is pretty noticeable, especially with how otherwise serene this island can be. She'd come here, both out of continued interest about the new island, and also having heard, vaguely, that new people seemed to be arriving. It fit the timing at least.

So that also means she's not too far and can sprint over.

Those long long viney legs spindlanks have? Make excellent targets. It has too many for her to really knock it over easily, but by landing a solid Keyblade strike on one or two she can unbalance it a bit. Certainly it'll give it a few moments distraction. ]

Muffet | OTA

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Like many people first setting foot on this island, Muffet has the misfortune of running into a spindlank.]

[Unlike most people, her reaction to it was... somewhat unorthodox.]

[But really, her back was quite literally against the wall when it happened to try and catch her, she had perfectly good purple magic to hand, and it didn't seem like it ought to be that different from riding her usual dear pet...]

[Honestly, scrambling up on top of the thing before it could grab her and figuring out how to steer it was really perfectly reasonable in context. Mostly. Sort of. It certainly wasn't the worst plan, at least.]

[And it made travel so much faster.]

[So that's why, just about anywhere around this place, you may be treated to the sight of a spider lady riding an extremely confused plantbeast in one direction or another, waving cheerfully at you from her perch on its' back and tugging firmly on the glowing purple reins of her magic if it tries to change course to eat you.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ Muffet is one of the first people they met on this island, and certainly one of the nicer ones. (Though, really, everyone has been nice.) So of course, regardless of the strange circumstances, they're going to wave back, holding their sword up in the air so it flashes in the sunlight. A little signal.

She seems to have everything under control, but traveling the island at such a speed looks entertaining! So without much prompting, the knight attempts to keep up with Muffet and her new friend (?), a blur of black and white leaping through the trees and grass.

They're having to try hard to keep up the pace, but they seem to be having fun. Or, at the least, the impression of fun. ]

Ginko | A9 | OTA

[onegreeneye]

Ginko knows better than to expect this place to remain as peaceful as it first appears. But that doesn’t mean he can’t appreciate it in the moment.

Being himself, “appreciating” it mostly means picking around in the grass, checking for any patches of vegetation that might stand out as potentially being something useful… and, failing that, just sitting down in the field. With the sun down, he sets his protective hat and poncho on the ground next to him.

To some who have been living around here for a while, this big furry rock man sitting serenely in the grass, staring up at the night sky, might not even be anything new. To newcomers… well, hopefully his white fur will make him visible enough that they notice him before getting close enough to be too startled.

(( OOC: Hit me up on this account or omixgirl10 if you want to figure out a different starter! ))