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

[shatteredlenses]

Marvelous! I'd hoped that someone besides me had a chance to move some of them. I'm saving seeds as well just in case we have another shift in weather as extreme as the one we had when the sun died.

[They can plan and plan and plan, but the one thing they will never be able to control is the weather, so they have to do their best to work around it.]

Will you be bringing another group of animals over today? Once we see this group to safety, I can head back to the islets and gather everything.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Quite sensible. There's always something going on, angels know...

[They do as much as they can. The rest, they just have to hope that they're adaptable enough to deal with.]

This was the last of the herds that I'd collected, once I get them all properly across the river I should be done for the day.

[shatteredlenses]

Ah...

[That makes things a little more difficult, but Ignis hardly skips a beat.]

The chute and railings should make things a little easier. If you will be all right on your own, I'll run over and grab what I need now. I would hate to make your day any longer than it already has been.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Fortunately, I don't think I'll need to cross the river myself to accomplish it- given enough momentum, they seem quite willing to head in the right direction without any more of my help.

[Muffet has absolutely no intention of visiting the Bad Side of Monsun, thanks. She's good here.]

I'm perfectly fine by myself, but I appreciate the concern- and you're certainly not making my day feel any longer, what with offering a perfectly nice conversation.

[shatteredlenses]

I'm glad to hear that. On both counts. I'll run back over to the islet now, and when I get back we can talk for as long as you like.

[He's probably long overdue for a break anyway, and Storyteller knows he's not going to take one unless he has a reason to. Conversation with do nicely for that reason.]

We can either call this wrapped here, or skip to them taking a break to discuss Ardyn Things.

[prettypurpleparlor]

That sounds like an excellent plan to me, dearie. I'm certain we'll have much to discuss.

[Muffet could probably use a break, too, even if she won't admit it.]

He could REALLY use someone besides the Bros to talk to about Ardyn. Lets go with B! :-)

[shatteredlenses]

[If there was a law against working too hard, they would both be in jail so fast! ...and that still wouldn't stop them.

About 30 minutes later, Ignis returns to Monsun carrying a small woven basket full of food for the God Fish. He is also balancing two smaller containers on top of the basket. Once holds a few sweets for Muffet and another holds a young apricot tree, barely peeking its head above the dirt. If she would like more, she can always stop by his place. This little one was just the easiest for him to transport.]

I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[They would work hard on their plan to get out of jail.]

[Muffet takes the bundles with a grateful smile, having just wrapped up her work. Pun not intended.]

Not at all, your timing was excellent. If you'd like to sit and talk for a bit, there's a rather nice shady spot behind a rock that's just a bit to your left, there...

[shatteredlenses]

This way?

[Ignis pauses for the confirmation and then makes his way to the shade to sit, waiting for Muffet to settle as well before speaking again.]

Sometimes, it's nice to stop for a few moments. I should probably do it more often.

[He chuckles softly at that, knowing full well he won't even if he should.]

I hope this mess with Bliss wasn't too hard on you.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[MUffet gives a quiet little laugh, knowing they're both the type to give that particular advice to others and then ignore it themselves.]

No, not in any personal sense- I was terribly worried for my friends, of course, but I myself was largely overlooked by the poor mad thing.

[She feels sympathy for Bliss, or at least pity, the same way one does for a rabid dog. Yes, they were a great and frightening danger, but she can't help but feel they did at least as much damage to themself as they did to anyone else.]

And yourself?

[shatteredlenses]

I'm glad to hear it.

[So many he knows weren't so lucky. Including one very special friend they have in common.]

Bliss created no dream for me, but that may be because I was too busy trying to pull others free of theirs.

[Of course, that means Ignis didn't just experience being part of one dream, but many.]

I...don't much like being the bad guy. Even when necessary.

[He remembers far too well Dagger's anger, Prompto's pained tone, and most of all, Ardyn's pleas.]

I think that's what I hate the most about what Bliss did. They made me hurt people I care about.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She bows her head for a moment, solemnly, though she knows he cannot see it.]

It's easy to fight back against an obvious danger, but much harder to struggle against something that makes people feel... happy. Especially when you know how much they deserve that happiness.

[Her expression firms.]

But they deserve it made real, even if reality is imperfect. Not merely some cheap copy. You did the right thing, painful as it was.

[shatteredlenses]

I agree and I told them that, but Ardyn...

[Ignis shakes his head, hands curling into fists against his legs for a moment before he forces them flat again.]

...he didn't care if staying meant he was going to die. He didn't care that it was fake. He wanted it so much. It hurt, honestly, that he had more faith in that fake dream than he did that I--or anyone else for that matter--would keep the promises we made to him to make things better.

[His voice softens then, expression becoming uncertain.]

Sometimes I wonder of all we are trying to do for him hurts him more than it helps.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet closes her eyes for a moment, unsurprised to hear about it but still saddened at the suffering Ardyn must have been going through.]

I can't be certain, but... between what I saw in his memories, that night, and what I've seen of him here? I don't think he ever isn't in pain, whether we interfere or not. If he'll suffer with or without our meddling, we might as well at least try to change things if we can.

[She puts one of her hands gently on one of Ignis', a gesture meant to comfort, and adds:]

Sometimes people don't have enough left for faith, so you've got to have it for them.

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis appreciates the comforting touch. It grounds him and helps keep him from getting to caught up in his own mind. It seems like it's far too easy for him to do that whenever the topic of conversation is Ardyn.]

I'm pretty sure I've told him something like that myself.

[A sad laugh slips from his mouth.]

I just never realized how difficult carrying that weight would be.

[prettypurpleparlor]

It is heavy.

[Her tone is gentle, understanding but not sounding overwhelmed by the difficult nature of the topic.]

But a burden shared is a burden lessened. Ardyn seems to have spent lifetimes carrying this all alone- but between all of us, we may have better luck at bearing up under the weight.

Please know that you are not alone.

[shatteredlenses]

Thank you. I do need to be reminded of that from time to time.

[A small smile replaces the sad expression on his face even as he shakes his head.]

We've talked about that, he and I. I'm too much like him in some respects. Far too willing to throw away myself and far too eager to carry the burden alone. Of course, I've got less than 20 years of habit to break and he has somewhere around 2000.

[prettypurpleparlor]

I hear the first step is admitting that you have a problem.

[Her tone is dry, but fond.]

Hopefully you can learn enough about that to set an example for him.

[shatteredlenses]

Getting him to pay attention to such an example is the hard part. He's wonderfully pigheaded about that kind of thing. What applies to others doesn't apply to him because he says so.

[It's frustrating, but this isn't the first time Ignis has dealt with a stubborn individual and it won't be the last.]

I feel fortunate that Gladio is here now, even if his presence complicates things. He and I have a tendency to check each others more reckless behaviors...

[Ignis laughs suddenly.]

...and he's big enough to throw me over his shoulder if I persist in being too self-sacrificing.

[prettypurpleparlor]

The man's his own worst enemy in more than one sense of the phrase.

[She laughs along with him, light and cheerful.]

He seems like a great help, then. I don't suppose he'd be able to carry Ardyn, too? Or perhaps you carry your dear stubborn man, and then your strong and sensible friend carries you in turn...

[shatteredlenses]

Truer words were never spoken.

[Ignis follows that phrase up with another laugh and a shake of his head.]

I suspect Ardyn is far too tall for me to carry, though, he is quite thin. If properly motivated, I have a feeling Gladio could probably sling one of us over each shoulder and go for a while.

[prettypurpleparlor]

Well, possibly I could weave you some sort of Ardyn-carrying sling. He seems as though he ought to fold up nicely- he rather... gangles, is the only word I can think of, really.

[shatteredlenses]

'Gangles?' Is that a technical term?

[He's sorry, but for some reason that word, along with the mental image of folding Ardyn up in a sling like some kind of large daemonic child, is funnier than it should be. Or, perhaps, Ignis is just more tired than he thinks he is.

Tired or not, the word 'weave' catches Ignis' attention once his mirth settles some. It makes him remember all those times people have joked about Muffet being a spider and he can't help but sigh.]

Weaving, just like a spider would, right?

[prettypurpleparlor]

Well, yes. We are rather known for it.

[The possibility that Ignis doesn't actually realize she's not human occurs to Muffet again, with slightly more urgency, and she pauses as she realizes this conversation might be about to get much more awkward.]

[She really had meant to bring it up at some point, they've just all been so busy...]

[shatteredlenses]

[Ignis is silent for several moments as he tries to process this. When others mentioned it before, it was easy to brush it off as a joke. After all, he's blind and has no way of knowing any different. Muffet, he knows, wouldn't lie about such a thing.

He raises his head, tilting it slightly as if he is studying her even though he can't see her.]

You really are a spider?