June Intro: Let's Sea How Far We've Come

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: JUNE

Who: Everyone!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr as the island of Ziziphus begins to crumble
When: June 4th and onward
Where: Ziziphus and Ensō...and Monsun
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Ziziphus: At The Start Of The End Of The World
Since Bliss's destruction, the extensive root network they've threaded throughout every inch of the island of Ziziphus has begun to crumble. June 4th marks the beginning of the inevitable collapse of the island as it starts to sink into the sea...coincidentally coinciding with the arrival of LifeAftr's newest adventurers. Between the dead trees surrounding Bliss's empty husk, great cracks in the earth start to widen, the dead god's absent root system leaving vast gaps underground which simply cannot support the life above. It almost sounds like thunder rupturing from the ground itself, wild tremors preceding each vicious boom until gaping chasms lay between venturing parties and the safety of the mana pool - only water waits below, for those unlucky enough to lose their footing.

And if the immense pull of mile wide chunks of landmass sinking beneath the waves isn't enough to suck you down, the heavy rain of debris from Ziziphus's rapidly destabilizing edges will certainly help. Want to avoid a watery grave? What you need to do is simple:

Escape.

Sorry, newbies. If you showed up on Ziziphus, you're in for a very athletic entrance to LifeAftr.

Monsun: Just Like Every Other Morning Before
Adventurers aren't the only creatures on Ziziphus attempting to outrun its collapse. Creatures great and small, from the largest spindlank to the smallest tigerlily will be heading south in an attempt to escape the worst of the quakes. Unlike offshore adventurers, however, these poor creatures don't have a mana pool waiting for them to escape through. Their extinction, it seems, is imminent.

Unless you have something to say about it.

Already exhausted from their attempts to get through to and then actively dispose of their fellow god, the Storyteller will break their traditional manner of communication to announce a potential solution to this problem with a single broadcast to the Stones of Far Speech in a strained, weary tone:

"The mana pools on Monsun are now open. If you are willing, save what you can."

True to their word, characters will discover that the island of Monsun will be accessible once more for a short period of time. From prey to predator, obstruction to catastrophe - multiple species of flora and fauna can still be preserved, should you choose to do so.

Be wary of the psychological effects of both sides of the island. Those who are new to our setting and wish to explore, the island of Monsun has a peculiar side effect to its stark divide: the eastern half is rich in resources, but brings out the very worst of you, while the western half is a tumultuous wasteland that accentuates your best qualities. More information on said island can be found on its entry on the Locations page, or its introductory info post.

Due to these efforts, the Storyteller will not be available for contact from the 4th to the 18th of June. Item Requests will also be unavailable at this time. They will, however, make a rather strained announcement to ensure all are aware that access to both Ziziphus and Monsun will cease on June 10th.

Ensō: I Wonder What It Means If It's Gone
The native fauna of Ziziphus aren't the only ones on the move, it seems. Those who wander the shores of Ensō will be delighted to witness the appearance of creatures akin to both turtles and dugongs drifting through the waters, gravitating around the island's eastern coast, rapidly gaining in numbers over the following days.

Kaleidoshells have been unlocked in the bestiary!

With spring close to ending in the archipelago, these peaceful creatures are looking to make good use of their natural nesting areas; hope you're open to sharing the beach for a little while. While a few braver individuals will make their way to the shores between C4 and D1 to begin digging nests, the vast majority won't be coming to shore quite yet.

They do, however, make a very fine sight around the waters of Ensō, especially in the evening. Luminescent, their rainbow patterns glow underwater, drifting mood lights for the increasingly warmer evening breeze.

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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

Muffet | OTA

[prettypurpleparlor]

Ziziphus

Over here, grab on!

[It might feel a little reckless to grab the line of glowing purple light that was just tossed over to you by an unfamiliar spider lady, if you're a new arrival... but it's probably more reckless to just stay where you are, judging by how the ground is cracking and crumbling beneath your feet, and at least she seems to know what she's doing.]

[With the aid of her purple magic, Muffet moves nimbly from place to place on the vanishing land, trying her best to save anyone in need of help.]


Monsun

Terribly sorry, look out, coming through please...

[If you're anywhere on Monsun's desert half, you may hear these very polite calls for you to get the fuck out of the way.]

[Listening to these and moving aside would be a very good idea, as a quick look will reveal a spider lady who has all six of her hands full carefully herding a large collection of various oddly floral-looking creatures out of the mana pool and onto the sands. It seems to be mostly a large-ish herd of some kind of strange wooden deer, but there's also very literal tigerlilies, leafy owls, flowery sheep, and even the occasional spindlank. She's spent some time transplanting various useful plants from their disappearing home into Enso or her garden, now it's their turn.]

[Muffet's made it a mission to save as much of vanishing Ziziphus' unique wildlife as she can, and she's doing her best to get them all to a place of safety... hopefully without accidentally trampling anybody in the process.]

moonsun

[meredream]

[Well that sure is...something.

Has the Hunter seen human-sized spiders before? Yes. He's also been killed by them too. But this marks the first time he's seen a human-sized spider that A) wore clothing, B) spoke (and rather politely too) and C) didn't seem interested in attacking him but leading a number of creatures to safety.

It's strangely off-putting but the Hunter heeds Muffet's warning and moves far out of the way that he doesn't get trampled. He'd rather not get stomped to death again, thank you. But it's not going to stop him from following along either. Call it an inexhaustible curiosity.]

...do you need help?

Re: moonsun

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She gives him a pleasant smile as she heads past, wrangling the arboreal herd towards the river.]

I think I've just about got them in order, but I appreciate the offer. Forgive me, but I don't believe we've been introduced?

[meredream]

[It's still strange despite the friendly smile, but there's also no reason for the Hunter to consider Muffet a threat. Besides he has met one friendly creature back in Yharnam. Perhaps it's more of the same.

He shakes his head.]

I arrived a little while ago. I am a Hunter. Who are you?

[What is probably rude, not to mention has an obvious answer.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Having managed to get the creatures moving in the proper direction on their own momentum for the time being, she turns to the Hunter and gives him a polite little curtsy.]

My name is Muffet, it's a pleasure to meet you. Is 'Hunter' title or profession to you, if you don't mind my asking?

[She doesn't mind either way, it just seems like a good way to ask what to call him.]

Monsun

[shatteredlenses]

[Much like Muffet, Ignis is doing everything he can to move resources from Ziziphus. Despite being a bit more focused on plants than animals, it's not long before he realizes there has to be a way to get the animals from the mana pool and down toward the river without putting both animals, people, and the tent--which has once more returned to the site of the mana pool--in danger of being trampled.

He's not builder like Gladio, but a few days in Muffet will likely notice some railings going up, a chute of sorts, meant to help direct the animals along a path away from the mana pool, around the tent, and down to the river. It's not perfect--Ignis is pretty sure it will only take a kick or two from an out of control spindlank to take a side down--but it's something, something he wastes little time directing Muffet and her herd toward when he hears them appear through the mana pool once more.]

Muffet, send them this way if you please!

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet smiles brightly at the sight of him and his preparations, catching on quickly. She calls out to him:]

Clever thinking, dearie, thank you for the help.

[Via sheer stubbornness and liberal application of purple magic, she manages to herd the creatures into the makeshift pen in relatively short order, only briefly having to pause in order to glare an unruly spindlank into submission.]

Yes, no one's overjoyed about this, but it's for your own good- now sit down.

[The spindlank sits down in the sand with a heavy, vaguely resentful thud. Realizing that she might be misinterpreted by someone who can't see the context, she turns to Ignis and clarifies.]

Ah- not you, dearie, you're doing perfectly well.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis can't help but chuckle at her response.]

I appreciate the clarification. You would hardly be the first to order me to sit down and get some rest.

[One would think he didn't know how to take care of himself or when to take breaks... Oh wait!

He turns his face in the direction of the animals, listening as they mill around, expression concerned.]

I hope they will be all right. This isn't exactly the same environment they had back on Ziziphus, even taking into account the forested nature of the land across the river.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Well, if you'd like to take the opportunity, I certainly wouldn't stop you...

[She doesn't think he will, but stranger things have happened.]

I do worry about that, yes. Hopefully enough of them will adapt to form a stable population. With any luck, Balance and Imbalance might give them a bit of assistance- I'll ask them about it, should I get the chance.

ziziphus!

[deathfindsaway]

[Well, that's-- not what he was expecting, actually. Less the spider that takes him by surprise, but more the purple beam, seeing as he was coming over there to rescue her. But he's feeling his footing go down, so he grabs on, grateful not to have to use another portal.]

I sure hope you know what you're doing!

[Even if he gets dropped, he can figure it out.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[The thread of light retracts quickly at a gesture from Muffet, reeling him in and whisking him off the crumbling ground onto marginally sturdier footing.]

I do try.

[A quick glance down will reveal a small web of similar purple strands beneath their feet, holding things just a little bit more together for a moment or two so that Muffet can buy herself more time to move around here. Still, she doubts that other people are going to find it as comfortable to walk around on a spider's web as she does.]

Things seem a bit more solid over this way, although I doubt that will last.

[deathfindsaway]

[Thankfully, he's not unused to his feet leaving the ground, so he regains his composure quickly once he's got something solid beneath him. Or well, mostly solid. As good as he's going to get, he thinks.]

The more we move over one path, the more we'll lose it. It's hard to say what will stay longer.

[... Wait a minute. He remembers something, all of a sudden, and speaks before he has time to talk himself out of it.]

No offence, but you wouldn't happen to be a resident 'baked goods spider', would you?

[He absolutely uses airquotes on that one with his fingers.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

My, it seems my reputation precedes me- I do hope it's not a bad one.

[She manages to pull off a quick little curtsy without ever actually pausing or slowing down.]

Miss Muffet, at your service. May I ask your name, sir?

monsun

[onegreeneye]

[Ginko has been doing his best to transplant the animals, as well - it really would be a shame to lose such unusual organisms to this catastrophe - but he definitely hasn't been so efficient about it.

He moves out of the way in a hurry, but he does stay nearby, giving a low, impressed whistle as he looks over the herd she's amassed.] Looks like you're going to be saving half the island on your own at this rate.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Why thank you- though I'm quite certain that everyone's efforts are going to be important by the time we're done.

[She looks thoughtfully at him as she passes by on her way towards the river. He looks vaguely familiar, she's probably seen him in passing at the Storytellings, but she can't recall having any conversations with him.]

I don't believe we've been introduced before...?

[onegreeneye]

I'm sure - but it's always good to see when someone's managing to have some extra impact.

[He follows along for the time being, though he keeps a respectful distance from her and the animals. He doesn't want to screw up her efforts here, but he does want to be able to help if some of the animals make a break for it or something.]

I don't think we have. Name's Ginko.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She gives him a polite little curtsy, managing to pull off the brief motion without pausing too long in her work.]

My name is Muffet. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance more properly.

[One of the spindlanks slows down briefly, as if it's considering whether or not Ginko might be food. Muffet gives it a sharp look and makes a warning gesture with one hand, and it decides to keep moving.]

Monsun

[youfoundher]

[After everything that had happened, Barry had come to the executive decision that never stepping foot on Ziziphus again was- well, it was probably the way to go. Nothing about that place had been right, nothing was... normal. Natural. There was another god on this island, a few people had said. Balance.

He intended to see them for himself, just to make sure the rabbit wasn't the only reasonably okay god in this world.

Of course, he hadn't precisely counted on Ziziphus coming to him. Turning at Muffet's polite call, he freezes, slack-jawed, at the sight of her leading a veritable menagerie out of the manapool.

What the fuck.]

I-shit. Right. Sorry. [He'll... do his best, to get the hell out of dodge? Hovering anxiously at the sidelines, unsure as to what he can do to uh, help.]

You-- want a hand? [Sure, she's already got six, but even then that's- that's a lot to be handling alone.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

No need to apologize, dearie.

[She wrangles the herd in the direction of the river and the forested side of things, doing her best to ensure nothing tries to trample this poor man.]

You're welcome to help if you'd like, but I think I've got things going fairly smoothly for now.

[youfoundher]

Well- I might just... walk with you, then. [Or the closest approximation of walking with her when he's a good 15 feet away, scarcely avoiding being trampled. At least all the creatures seem very...passive? Placidly following along with no signs of struggle.

It's actually kind of weird.]

Are they sedated or something?

[prettypurpleparlor]

Please, feel free.

[She doesn't mind the company, honestly, it's nice to have someone to talk to.]

Oh no, not at all. I think it's just the momentum of the thing- most of them are herd animals, so if you get one of them running along in one direction the rest start to follow out of habit. The real trick was getting them to start going in the direction I wanted in the first place.

Monsun

[proficienciesouttheass]

Huh--

[ Magnus quickly steps out of the way, tugging Johann, at his side, with him, watching as the myriad of florafauna step on through.

Preservation efforts seem to be going pretty good, even in their rushed schedule. He was just heading back, himself, but it looks like Muffet's doing a great job of it by herself.]

Awesome. [He watches as the deer gallop on into the desert...]

[prettypurpleparlor]

They are quite lovely creatures, aren't they.

[Muffet smiles happily as the Ziziphian creatures cross the river into the more forested area, heading for the region more like their home environment.]

[proficienciesouttheass]

Yeah, they're pretty cool. [ Sidenote: Magnus is terrified to think about how Merle feels about the whole crumbling island flora creatures. The thought vaguely crosses his mind and he immediately shoves it out of his consciousness.

He lets go of Johann, who rushes a couple of steps and perks up to watch the last of the creatures run off, ears raised.]

How many herds left? Can't be that many left, right?

[prettypurpleparlor]

On the island as a whole, I can't be certain, but this is the last of the ones I'd found.

[Has she been just... doing this all morning? Maybe. You can't prove anything. You're not her mom, she doesn't have to take breaks.]