May Intro: We're Going Down, Down

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: MAY

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: May 4th and onward
Where: Ensō...and above
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Floating Islet: And Sugar, We're Going Down Swinging
While new arrivals may generally be expected at this time of the month, one factor that has continuously failed to maintain consistency is their point of arrival. And indeed, it appears that this month has once again exceeded even the Storyteller's expectations as to where arrivals may take their first steps on this world. Those who were with us in February will most certainly remember the floating islands hovering far, far above the mainland. While they currently remain inaccessible, they are still steadily floating overhead, shifting appearance as if made of the clouds themselves. And so while waking up on top of the world may be a surprise, at the very least new arrivals will have a bird's eye view of Ensō to enjoy for a time...until they take notice of a rather sinking sensation.

In fact, that sensation would be the island itself, starting to sink out of the sky.

So that's nice.

On a crash course for the ground at F6, the Storyteller will eventually slow the island's progress to the ground below, though a rather profound impact is, simply put, inevitable. Characters with the ability of flight will find the island skimming low enough to reach on their own. Others may wish to utilize their resourcefulness to find an alternate means down.

Or, perhaps, you'll simply deal with whatever awaits you at the crash site.

F6 and Beyond: In An Earlier Round
Thankfully, the Storyteller's intervention will ensure that no one still on the not-so-floating island upon impact will escape with minor injuries at worst, the island itself crumbling to pieces and taking down more than a few thick trees. The pieces of the island will very quickly begin to blacken, crumbling underfoot as the floating island turns to dust. Anyone still aboard may wish to make a very quick departure.

The ripples of this impact, however, are far more significant than two pieces of land bumping up against one another.

Previously, visitors to the floating islands may have experienced some...oddities, during their time above the clouds. For the next few days, these oddities will spread across Ensō itself, leading to some rather awkward scenarios:

[ ♆ ] Some may find their weapons are... behaving oddly, though all are still functional. Weapons, in this instance, may also include fisticuffs, if the intent is to use your fists as a weapon.

[ ♆ ] Equally as irritating are those who find themselves coming down with a severe case of NPCitus: periods of time in which they find themselves incapable of saying more than one or two lines of the same, repetitive dialogue.

[ ♆ ] Equal parts nostalgic and irritating for some are the instances of lag (walking forwards, only to find oneself back where they started), Swimmer's Ear (incapable of movement unless swimming through the air), and clipping (suddenly stuck halfway through the nearest rock are all common, regrettable side-effects).

[ ♆ ] Other unfortunate side-effects may also transpire, as varied and wild as one's imagination.

Though many of these may be hindering or even dangerous in the right situations, they are, for the most part, passive. The Storyteller will assure anyone who asks that these oddities will disappear in the next few days.

You are free to create or utilize glitches you are particularly fond of, though keep in mind that any potential content warnings should be mentioned in your toplevel! You may peruse some of the past glitches here, or create your own along those lines! And a special thanks to our local Donn-mun, Jake (venesection), for the first glitch on the list!

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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

Nari Nishitani | OTA

[everylittlesecret]

A-nd we're going down
[It's one thing to be talked to by rabbit about dreams, it's another to wake up and realize you're not drunk enough to have dreamt that. And that this isn't space. Sure feels like an anti-gravity elevator failing though with whatever island Nari is on... falling. At least a year of being trapped in various situations keep her from screaming on the way down. If you're falling with her, good luck on the way down!

And the landing is a lot less rough than she thought it would be. Still stunned, the ginger will be sitting not too far from where her she did bounce onto her ass in the end with a frantic galaxy print pigeon flitting around.]

Worst. Ride. Ever.

B-ecause why not glitch dramatically
[Motives were hell. This somehow was worse. Anytime Nari meets someone, the moment they look away, she’s suddenly in a different spot when looking back. It’s not intentional. Very annoying since she’s not a fan of being yanked around by anything.]

No. I’m not Shadow. I ain’t moving on my own.

[She wishes she could move this fast sometimes.]


Wildcard!
[Want something unique? Don't mind if it involves a pigeon and/or someone who needs to be kept in your line of sight unless you want a creepy factor.]

b

[hyperlit]

[This is not a good day for anyone, it seems. The Drifter is familiar with the concept of such things; they'd seen what the floating of islands were capable of, though they were shrewd enough to ensure they were not subject to the nightly crawl of those afflictions. It seems personal skill does not have any bearing on that here.]

[The worst of it may have faded, but they're still caught off guard by the spontaneous manifestation of someone who most definitely was not there before.]

[The sword at their side materializes in a blur of bright blue out of instinct - slightly brighter than the cobalt of the thin slice of their skin and significantly more luminous - as they stare at her with unblinking and undisguised apprehension, apparently braced for hostility.]

[everylittlesecret]

[Whoa! A sword just like some of her friends could summon! Though she raises her hands to show she was unarmed because this isn't Airlocked. She might die for real and that's not okay at this time.]

Not gonna attack! Sorry, buddy, it's just this place fucking with physics. [Almost like a game glitch... already this place is driving Nari a little batty. Ah well.] Just warning ya. Might happen again. I ain't warping when you look away on purpose.

[hyperlit]

[Death shmeath. It happens.]

[Regardless, her gesture is clearly a placating one: hands up, palms out. That is practically universal. Slowly, the Drifter lets the blade disperse back into nothing, and replaces it back within the folds of their cloak. They continue to regard her with a mix of apprehension and curiosity, dark eyes bright.]

[They do not speak. You'll have to forgive them; they're quite incapable of it. Instead, a hovering tool the rough size of a soda can issues a translucent HUD, pale pink, and sends out a line of text:]

new?

[everylittlesecret]

[Noctis and Pyrrha would love a sword like that. Yet now wasn't the time for twenty questions about how and where to get a sword like that.]

Yep. Just fell from the sky quite literally.

[Which is weird.]

[hyperlit]

[You pick it off dead people, mostly. Sad but true.]

[The Drifter tips their head back to study the sky, then the crash site of the recently fallen island, and the impact it’s left cratered into Ensō‘s landscape. Then back to her.]

floating island?

A

[exbarathris]

[The Liberator has been watching the skies with wide eyes. The sound of islands crashing into the ground and trees toppling is just barely loud enough for her to hear, and a definite cause of concern. And was there... someone on that one?

She runs to the crash site, visibly concerned upon finding someone not far from the crumbling blackened remaining chunks of floating island. There's no words, but a faint feeling of concern emanating from her as she comes right up to Nari, kneeling down and clearly intent on checking her for injuries.]

[everylittlesecret]

[The Liberator might be wanting to check for injuries, but Nari is now perking up because this is clearly not a human that's approached her! And that means having to hold back the twenty or more questions she's suddenly wanting to ask.

Reassurance that she's not mortally injured would suffice for the moment.]

I'm okay. Really. Just bruised to hell and back most likely. I ain't ever fallen off an island before, so not being dead is, like, a huge accomplishment already.

[exbarathris]

[By now, The Liberator is well used to people and their mouth-flapping 'talking', and replies in her own way -- a telepathically projected mental image of a person, rather generic in form, walking. Alongside that, the feeling of concern takes on a quizzical note, her feelings projected as much as imagery. Can she walk?

Rising from her crouch, she offers a hand, offering to help Nari up.]

[everylittlesecret]

[THAT IS QUITE A WAY TO COMMUNICATE and Nari recoils slightly. This reminded her of the VR in her space "prison". A moment goes by before she lets herself calm down enough to let herself be helped up.]

So... no talking from you. That is not something I've come across just yet, and I've met so many different aliens.

[exbarathris]

[No need to recoil! She offers a friendly smile... which does include sharp little teeth, admittedly. After helping pull Nari to her feet and the 'talking' comment, she makes one hand into a little 'mouth, pantomiming mouth-flapping like you would for someone who is particularly chatty, then shrugs pleasantly.

She's met a variety of people here as well, and offers up a few mental visuals of the islands' inhabitants, short and tall, some with pointy ears, a bone-like mask, or blue or black skin.]

a

[journalname]

Excuse me, but are you alright?

[This is definitely an ENORMOUS GIANT MONSTER WITH HORNS who seems to be making rounds to check in on everybody that's clambered out of the flying-islands-wreckage. He's wearing a pink sweater that says MR. DAD GUY on the front in hand-knit letters, incongruous with the grand sweep of the purple cape behind him, clasped with something that looks like real gold at his neck..]

I have some healing magic, if you need it.

[everylittlesecret]

[Look, giant monster with horns is somehow a welcome sight. Especially since he's clearly being polte and genuine in his wanting to check if she was okay. Nari reads what's on the sweater and now wants one for the dad-types in her life.]

Just bruised. I think. Nothing feels broken, but hey, magic would be totes okay to use. As long as it doesn't wear you out too much?

[journalname]

[He smiles and crouches down by her.]

It is no trouble! My stamina is not quite what it was - you will likely find it is the same for you, if you have any magic. Some effect of the islands, perhaps. But I have not used a great deal of magic recently.

[He holds up a hand, lighting it with a green flame, but doesn't immediately reach out to her.]

Is it alright if I touch you? I can also send it towards you, if you would prefer.

[everylittlesecret]

Already noticed that. Woulda caught myself with wind, but, like, it ain't working. That coulda saved me from pains and aches.

[Whoa. WHOA. THAT LOOKS SO COOL]

As a medic, I say do what is easier and makes the power work more effectively.

[journalname]

You are a medic? That will be useful!

[He reaches out to touch her shoulder, slow enough that she could move if she wanted. It glows green for a second, and despite the appearance of the flames, there's a sort of minty-fresh sensation. Your HP is replenished!]

Magic can be very helpful at times, but I fear I do not have much medical knowledge to fall back on, without it. Certainly not much about humans, and it is mostly humans here.

A

[covertizer]

[ It is literally raining women. Hallelujah? Even if Nari had been screaming all the way down to earth with a bump, the slew of people falling from the sky would have drawn Akira's attention one way or another.

He just happens to be nearby when Nari hits the ground, so it only takes a quick jog to get to where she and her uniquely coloured feather friend are... well... resting isn't the right word. ]

I dunno. I'd give it a solid 10/10.

[ But for real. ]

Are you injured?

[everylittlesecret]

[Nari looks up and blinks a few times. This was the Akira guy from Airlocked... but from her weird dream(?), this one probably wasn't the one from the mutual murdertime space fun place. Kipsie settles down on her head and coos softly at this newcomer. Seems the bird recognizes him, too, but protecting her human is a little more important than a proper greeting.]

Pretty sure I'm just bruised to hell and back like a peach. Got a weird summon thing that can help with that?

[Persona. The term is Persona. Does this one have one of those too?]

[covertizer]

[ That. Is the most interesting bird he's seen in a long time. But... it's difficult to pay attention to that when she makes that particular request. ]

That's a pretty specific request. Looking for something in particular?

[ How do you know about summoning Personas, lady-with-the-Futaba-hair? ]

[everylittlesecret]

[Galaxy pigeons are very smart birbs who like Queen's songs. But yes. The request.]

Got one that can heal?

[Because someone just like you died on TV, and he had these Persona things.]

[covertizer]

... Only if you're willing to drag my unconscious body across the island to a mana pool afterwards.

[ And, well. He doesn't know Nari, ergo does not trust her to do that. So she might be shit out of luck on the healing front. ]

A

[youfoundher]

[He's still alive.

That's bewildering in of itself. Flat on his Barry, Barry stares up at the sky for the second time today. It's a bit further away, this time; dotted with clouds and floating land masses that for the life of him, he can't bring himself to be all that curious over.

He's about ready to focus on ground-level, for a bit, yeah- though upon hearing that familiar voice, he does push himself upright, exhaling roughly as muscles he wasn't aware he had protest the action. Too old for this, way too old.]

Hey. Long time, no see. [Making his way over, he offers a hand- pretty sure that if he crouches down, he's not standing up again for a good hour or two.] You okay?

[everylittlesecret]

[Oh! Someone familiar! That is somehow real... unless the dream was real and now Nari is wondering if she somehow got stuck in another VR pod without her knowing. The dirt under her feels real enough, though, but with how advanced Nina had made the last place, this could be... Nope. Not thinking about that. This place is real and her mind is just being weird.

She takes the offered hand and stands, wincing a bit.]

Been a hell of a lot better... I'm bruised in places I never wanted to be bruised in... [At least there's nothing broken.] You? Got anything a doctor-in-training can help with?

[youfoundher]

[He's really trying not to think about it. If anything, all the signs are beginning to veer towards some kind of over-eccentric limbo- and he really doesn't have the time to be dead, right now.]

Pounding headache, but that's less physical and more- [He gestures at their surroundings.] Everything else. Got any theories about what the hell is happening, here?

[everylittlesecret]

Well... I can tell ya for a fact we're alive. [Death is something she has managed to avoid quite a few times somehow. Which is still surprising on a daily basis.]

Whatever is going on here I can tell is already affecting what I can do. An ability of mine has been shut off, but the others feel like they might be intact. So something is governing this island that might be capable of nerfing us. To what extent? I don't know. But I hate it. So your headache might have something to do with that or you are currently in the precipice between a breakdown or shock. Who knows till it happens.

[Someone gets chatty when nervous.]