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.

---

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

[aurabble]

...Wouldn't they just blow bubbles?

[At least she's convinced him to take this seriously. If there is another way, he'll consider taking it. Placing his sword back at his waist, he adopts a thinking pose.]

Okay, welp, can't hear them underwater. Come on, Mr. Turtle.

[Reaching to wrap his arms around the shell--the turtle is quite big--Jaune struggles to find a good way to pick it up.]

[catpiper]

[Turtle language is a mysterious thing and she's not looking forward to their future bubble conversation in the slightest. She has to work herself up to walk into the water, stopping when it reaches just below her knee, so sticking her head under the blow bubbles is out of the question. But she's nearby, ready to assist? Yeah. She's here. Spiritually, mostly. Good luck friend.

While he tries to pull Mr. Turtle up, she sticks her hands under the water to try talking to it in sign language? Hello, flower. Amazing. Surely it will understand that combination of words.

Except, it doesn't. Weh.]

Can you blow bubbles with your hands? Can we do that kind of thing?

[Please say it's possible.]

[aurabble]

What was that? [He frowns in confusion at the sign language, gently putting the turtle down this time.] I don't think so. But if I get down like this...

[Getting on his knees, he dunks his head halfway to blow bubbles underwater, almost immediately jumping back up and gagging.]

That-- That tastes so GROSS!!!

[catpiper]

[BOY

BOY

That's one way to scare the heck out of her. His mouth is the only thing that goes below water, but she understands the Horror about to come. She experimented with drinking this stuff during her initial arrival, before she understood the meaning of salt water, and one attempt was all it took. Never again. This poor guy?? He's just trying to talk with the rainbow treasures.

She takes the smallest step forward out of concern before realizing a) he's not dying and b) the water is heckin scary.]

It's bad you need-

[uhhhhh]

A bubble wand. You blow that underwater and you won't taste anything.

[That's #science]

[aurabble]

[So much regret. He's all for salt but not this much. It feels like someone piled the saltiest chicken nuggets up and covered them in table salt, taking all of the joy out of it. Water. He needs water.

He looks down. Crap.

Even though he's filled with the sinking despair and realization that salt isn't always a good thing and he may never see his precious chicken nuggets again, he doesn't want to scare this kind girl. So he puts on a brave face, smiling hopefully.]

That's true. Do you have one I can borrow?

[Please say you do, small wise turtle translating person.]

[catpiper]

[This is-

Well, not the most ridiculous thing she's ever done? In fact, she's clearly getting enjoyment from trying to communicate with this docile creature. They'll find a way. Teamwork makes the dream work and all that jazz.

She nods, hobbling back out of the cursed water to sift through her bag and pull out her recent birthday gift-a lovely lil bubble wand with the bubble juice necessary to create the display. Though she probably won't have it for long with the generous and messy way she soaks the wand, slowly wading her way back to Jaune so the film won't pop.]

You use this thing and they might understand.

[aurabble]

How did you get this? Did you already have it on you? [Jaune stares at the bubble wand with a mix of awe and nostalgia. When was the last time he just thought of blowing bubbles? He used to blow bubbles all the time with his sisters.]

Why don't you try it first? [It's hers, after all.]

[catpiper]

It was a birthday present. Chara gave me this fun thing.

[But try it first, she shall! It seems more efficient, in her dumb child brain, to try and blow the bubble underwater because they'll see it.

The problem being she's a) afraid of doing that and b) super afraid of doing that, so she's not gonna. Instead, she gently blows into the wand and watches the bubble float to the water's surface and-pop. By soulless friend.]

Did the turtle say anything? Did it see that?

[aurabble]

Oh, happy late birthday. Who's Chara?

[Watching the bubbles float by, he thinks hard about his life. Of all his life choices, being stranded on a multi-universal void blowing bubbles to talk to turtles was not how he imagined his life going.

The turtles don't talk back (shockingly), but Jaune leans toward the turtle thoughtfully.]

He saw it. Wha-- What's that? [Sticking his face close to the turtle's. He hopes it's not a grudge holding turtle that chooses to bite his face.] He said...he wishes he could blow bubbles like you and he wants to see more bubbles! And his name is Leonidas.

[catpiper]

They're someone that's very strong and kind. They protect people and know how to 'dab' and they can draw good gold stars.

[Which is all vital and important information to impart. A physical description? Nah. This is how this turtle translator will be able to tell that small child apart from the island crowd.

Which brings her to-once the realization hits that he can hear Leonida, her face lights up and a huge smile works its way across her face. Bubbles helped!! Even if she can't understand a thing that animal says. If she could be a little more courageous and shove her face against the water, she might hear the turtle's whisper too, but alas. It's not to be.]

You did it! Leonidas' heart reached you.

[And yes she can freaking oblige. There's a little more bubble juice on her wand and eagerly blows on it until nothing else comes out. There you go, turtle friend!!]