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

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"Because they glow, why wouldn't you go out to see that? It's beautiful!" and he liked beautiful things. "But, as you can see, I'm not going near the water. The beach should be safe enough," though, under different situations he wouldn't have tried to be alone. Or perhaps, a part of him was waiting to see if he would have stayed that way.

Oh well, things happen for a reason.

It feels like they’re having two different conversations. Keith looks back at the water. It’s true the beach is safer than the water. Yet. “The night creatures are still out there. Even the beach isn’t entirely safe. You...have a weapon to defend yourself, right”

Judging by the look of him he highly doubts it. A year ago he’d have justified why he came out into the dark. He feels no need to justify himself now. “They are incredible. ...It looks like a lot moving lanterns.”

Komaeda couldn't help but look a bit blankly, as if Keith had asked the most ridiculous question. "Weapon? To defend myself? No. I have a utility kit, but it should be fine. I've never needed to defend myself," he chuckled mildly. "I hope you don't have to though...."

He grew quiet and then a look of alarm started to cross his face.

"You probably shouldn't stay near me. The combination of such an incredible sight and being here will definitely be bad for you."

"Wha-" A centipuppy launches itself out of nowhere knocking him flat and sending his sword skittering away. His face stings with pain before he can get an arm thrust up between himself and the creature.

If he'd been a hair slower it would have gotten a bite out of his face. He narrows his eyes as he forces his strength against it. This is a standstill. He has to change the game. He forces his kneels up and slams it into the critter.

It's knocked back as he rolls onto his knees and frees his knife, using the momentum of his roll the fling it. The glass-like blade sinks into its forehead but he's already moving, retrieving his sword and darts preternaturally fast over the sand. He trips but as he goes down he turns it into a slide, ripping it open with his falling speed.

At least its just one. "Everything on this island that's out to have a meal is bad for us." Keith wheezes as he checks his ankles and sits up, using a cloth from his pouch to clean his blade. "You okay?"

It startled Komaeda, as much as anything like that suddenly happening would startle a person. Though, he settled down far too quickly for a life or death situation. It was as if he had nothing to worry about, in fact everything around him seemed to have gotten hit by a spray, everything but him.

"Ah... I'm sorry, but I'm glad you're so skilled! That meant nothing else had to come by that's bigger, or, something falling from the sky, or a wave out to sea...."

Keith wipes blood from the cuts on his face and unpacks a small kit. "What are you sorry for? It isn't like you sent it after me." Or...had he? He stills then discards that thought.

No.

A wave crashes over him and he glares at the sea, pushing his dark hair out of his eyes. "It's fine." He repeats as he washes his wounds and tends to them with the ease of practice.

Edited 2018-06-08 19:22 (UTC)

"Because that was definitely my fault, being around you for too long. I think I've gotten a little too comfortable," he had almost forgotten how bad it could be for others....

"But one definitely glad you didn't die!" It was like maybe he had a chance to make friends? No, that was a dangerous thought.

He spreads the bandages over the tended cuts with a more pronounced furrow to his eyebrows. "I really don't get how you could have affected any of this. We still don't know how Bliss's death affected the balance of the islands."

Keith puts his kit back into his belt pouch. "It could have more implications than we're aware of."

"Luck, simple as that," but he wasn't going to explain it better. "It's always because of luck."

Keith stares. "And I'll be fine. Your luck or whatever it is can't take me out. And we can't stay dead here anyway." He leans back to crack his back and glances at the lights in the water. "...Maybe we'll get to see them up close soon."

"You say that..." it had yet to really start, but, perhaps it would be okay? After all. Nothing particularly good has happened.

"The best thing to do with wild animals is observe from a distance. We could get a little closer every so often, but you don't want to scare them."

"No, I mean this kind of migration only happens in breeding seasons. Right?" He looks out at the lights again. He can tell they're turtles. His violet eyes stay on them. It's so serene and peaceful he could almost fall asleep. But he needs to stay alert. Keith sets one hand beside himself, propping himself up.

"Turtles need the beach to lay their eggs. I wouldn't get close to them. The beach would be theirs." He looks down at the sand by his feet. "And...there's been enough damage to these islands already." His voice had gone soft with the faint echoes of grief. Rapsho.

Rapsho who didn't want to remember.

"I suppose we'll find out if they still glow out of the water, but, if they do I feel like that's a rather poor survival adaptation. If they don't, we won't really be able to see them," unless they walked over to them.

"Something tells me they don't." Maybe. Hard to say with this place. "I mean...phoenix go to sleep at night. It would make some sense if they don't glow on land." Keith pulls his lamp up near himself. "And the glowing water we got for the black out at a time frame before it went out."

In short, there's a logic to everything.

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

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