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

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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 )

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...Oh. [And for a long time, that was all Ardyn really said. For once he was oddly grateful to not have a working heart that would've betrayed how he actually felt about that statement.]

[Part of him wanted to laugh and lash out, oh, so this is how you're finally rid of me, but the desert had already dulled the sharper edges to him.]

[Unfortunately, it didn't stop him thinking it.]

[Ah yes, isn't that silence telling? Ignis' arms tighten around Ardyn as much as he can.]

What did I just tell you to remember, beloved monster? Your thoughts are loud in the silence.

You're being foolish again. And you're wasting your time with me.

It's my time to waste. Not that I consider spending time with you a waste.

[He reaches out with a gentle grip to tilt Ardyn's head in his direction.]

This changes nothing between us. It complicates it, but things were already complicated to begin with. I love you and I always will.

You shouldn't. I wish you didn't, for your own safety.

Your objection is noted and ignored. If I did nothing that put my safety at risk, then I would get nothing done.

[He leans froward to press a gentle kiss to Ardyn's lips.]

There are things worth the risk and you are one of them.

...I'm not.

[He said that softly, leaning his forehead against Ignis' as the words left him.]

I don't want you hurt for a lost cause, how many times must I insist upon this?

However many times it is, I will always insist upon the opposite.

[Ignis laughs sadly, shaking his head without pulling away.]

I've already given so much for a king who many would say I was bound to without choice; let me now give as much as I wish to a king of my own choosing.

I'm not a king. I never was, and you know that. Noctis deserves that loyalty far more than I ever have.

Titles mean little. You were the one out there giving your heart and soul for your people. That makes you more of a king than many who have carried the title officially.

[His voice drops to a whisper, though it is no less intense for its drop in volume.]

Please, for once, believe me.

...I'm sorry. [Ardyn ran a gentle hand through Ignis' hair, trailing it down to brush against his face with an answer of a light kiss.]

I don't know that I can.

[It hurts to hear those words. Oh, Ignis doesn't blame Ardyn for saying them since he knows the redhead really believes them, but he wants so much for Ardyn to have just one thing. One thing that he can think back to with happiness. One thing that's his to hold onto. One thing he can trust.]

You'll try? If nothing else, can you try?

It won't accomplish anything. Surely you understand that. I don't think you would lie to me, yet that doesn't mean you'll truly hold to what you say.

[He tried to at least answer with a smile, halfhearted and tired though it was.]

But I...want to at least make an attempt.

[Ignis draws in a breath as if he is going to insist once more he will hold true to all he says, but then stops, causing a soft, hitching sound to be the only thing that escapes his throat. It must be the power of this side of the island that is doing it--bringing his emotional need to hold onto hope into balance with his logical realistic view--because he can't actually say it. He knows it would just be asking the world to prove him wrong and given an invitation like that, Ignis has no doubt it will.]

It will be enough. I will accept whatever you can give to me and cherish it. I know you are doing your best.

Don't--please, don't cry for my sake. [He pulled Ignis closer, into a gentle but secure hug.] I'm sorry. This is all I can do, little flame.

Why shouldn't I? When was the last time someone cried for you? Who's wished for your happiness since everything went to bloody hell?

[Ignis' voice shakes and he buries his head against Ardyn's shoulder, willing back the tears that threaten again.]

I know you're doing your best, but that doesn't mean I can't help but be upset or angry because the world and fate have made finding happiness so hard for you.

I've caused more than enough tears in my lifetime. Even upset as you are...would you not smile for me instead, for this brief time we have together?

[There is only silence in response to Ardyn's request for several seconds and then Ignis laughs weakly, pulling away from the redhead's shoulder and bumping up his sunglasses so that he can run a hand over his eyes.]

You do so like asking me to do challenging things for you. It would be so much easier to smile if our time like this wasn't always so limited, but I will try.

[And he does smile then, it's small and uncertain, but it's there.]

Much better.

[He leaned in for another kiss; might as well see if he could give the pair of them a more substantial reason to smile.]

Limited or not...my company is yours for as long as you choose to share it.

[Now how can he hope to resist that? The way he melts into that kiss, smiling widening as he does, Ignis is definitely going to have to add 'Ardyn initiated kisses' to his weakness list.

Oh darn.

When they finally part, Ignis is all but purring in contentment. It looks like Ardyn's plan worked like a charm. In fact, Ignis takes a hold of Ardyn's hands and gently pulls the redhead to his feet as he rises.]

Come help me make sure these silly mosslings make it to the river? They won't do well on this side at all. Who knows? If one knocks me over, you might even get the chance to come to my rescue.

[Ardyn laughed quietly--sincere despite some deep exhaustion to it--and pressed another gentle kiss to the back of Ignis' hand.]

For you? Why, I would brave any sunlight and mount a dramatic rescue from any living mossballs.

My hero!

[Ignis laughs, gently tugging him along.]

Hopefully, it won't come to all that, but you probably recall just how much they enjoy using me as a springboard.

[And, it wouldn't be a completely terrible thing to be knocked over right into Ardyn's arms, now would it?]

Oh, you poor suffering thing. Very well, I will simply have to protect you from such a dangerous menace.

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

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