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.

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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.

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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

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. ]

[sorewatopsecret]

[What luck! It's that adorable creature from before. Likewise, Takane is also happy to see them well.]

Ufufu... I am grateful, little one.

[The thought of him using the shovel did occur to her to be a point of concern that's a totally different knight, but it seems that they solved the issue for themselves. She'll just set her shovel aside and seat herself near the outer border of the tilled earth circle, watching the Knight work very diligently. She's impressed!]

Dear me, you certainly are efficient... Do care not to damage the roots of the bush, however. I am planning to re-plant it on Enso, so that we may enjoy the many gifts that it may bless us with. I believe a friend of mine would benefit greatly from it, as well...

[lightlessfuture]

[ They stop in the middle of their furious digging to pay attention to the new instructions they've been given. Re-planting, re-rooting...this must be that 'gardening' thing they've heard people talk about.

They've seen a few gardens in their time, but they have a different word for it. Still, it's the same principle.

They start digging around the roots, careful not to harm them. When they've dug out a small crater around the bush, they stop for a little break.

They indicate the bush, and then tap their face and tilt their head. They're probably asking if the berries are edible; they've certainly never seen them before. ]

[sorewatopsecret]

[Wow, Takane is impressed by their efficiency! Once they stop for a break, she lets out an impressed "Oh~" and gives a light applause. Good job, you! You deserve that break. Having adequately rested enough, so she thinks, she'll stand up to take over.

She catches their gestures as she steps past them.]

Oh, the elderberries? [She'll provide a bit of trivia as she drops herself into the crater, deciding to use her hands to brush away more soil from the bush's roots, trying to gently loosen it out from its spot.] They are, somewhat. They are toxic in their natural state, but if prepared properly, they can help alleviate some illnesses. They also make an excellent tea. I believe a friend of mine would benefit greatly from it, as well as everyone else.