lifeaftr | July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

INTRO LOG: JULY

Who: New arrivals, your lif᷆t̕i͗n᷅ģ f̧̞ͅr̡̦̃ḭ̅ͭe̩᷅̂n̟̣̤d̨̬̏, and you!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr, and everyone makes a new friend!
When: July 5th and onward
Where: All over Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

Like a Bat Out of Hell
At this stage, the appearance of new arrivals to Ensō's shores is hardly a surprise to anyone but the arrivals themselves. Whatever mysterious force is responsible seems to have taken a vaguely nostalgic route this month, depositing the new and unconscious across the shoreline of the beach closest to the tumbled stone bastion of the Storyteller's temple. At first, that seems to be all there is to it. The arrivals stir to the smell of salt and the summer sea air, and the cycle of questions, searching, and settling begins.

For about five minutes. Perhaps ten.

Almost like an afterthought, something else shows up, plummeting straight out of the sky and landing with a veritable explosion of water some hundred feet from the shore. A large, rectangular shape breaches the surface after a few moments, bobbing, cork-like, in the foam-crested waves before ever so slowly beginning to sink into those aquamarine depths. For those familiar with such objects, it makes for a rather odd sight. That most certainly was an elevator, or you can be...fairly sure it was?

Give it another minute, and you'll be certain. The elevator streaks out from the ocean like a creature possessed. Maybe, in those split seconds prior to its approach, you'll be able to note the elevator's distinct features: a disturbingly smiling face on its doors, and a set of teeth framing a very organic mouth.

Meet Upsy, your lifting friend.

In case it wasn't obvious by now, Upsy is far from a conventional elevator by any standards. What's more, Upsy has not taken to LifeAftr as well as some others. Armed with the ability to move in any direction, the rogue contraption takes no prisoners - by which we mean, they take as many prisoners as possible. Upsy proceeds to swoop across the shoreline, combing the beach in the most haphazard and patternless path possible, scooping up anyone slow enough to be caught in their maw. Once you're caught up in their jaws, it comes down to the winds of fortune, in regards to wherever Upsy proceeds to spit out their cargo. While the journey itself will be rough and...sticky, it is not inherently dangerous.

Hopefully, the same can be said for wherever you end up Ensō hosts a great deal of predators, environmental hazards, and worse. Though you could always end up belched into the ocean. Hope you can swim!

When the Metal is Hot and the Engine is Hungry
Upsy’s reign of terror isn't restricted to mere adventurers. Those with livestock or animal companions may be in for a small shock or, perhaps more likely, a very large one, when flying elevator sucks up those cuddly critters with a grin and spirits them off into the great unknown.

Though your phoenix, chocobo, or tigerlily may not be where you saw them last, you can at least be assured that they are still on Ensō. All you need to do is round them up. And if this isn't good enough news, well...at least you don't keep bludrocs.

Whether you're out searching for an animal or not, be careful traversing Ensō for the next three days. If Upsy is empty, they'll most certainly snap you up. And if they aren't? You may find anything from birds to horses spat out at you.

The velocity of these organic projectiles tends to vary. Dramatically. Upsy's reign of terror will end on the evening of July 9th. At that point, the elevator will fly off to greener pastures...and our RNG spreadsheet for potential encounters in future. Sweet dreams.

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, for the love of--this thing just doesn't quit, does it? Guzma's never really been one to scour the shore for newcomers, but those dreams always tend to be a precursor to new arrivals, and when he dreamed about a young girl he knew quite well... Well, he's gotten to beach bumming these past few days. Of course, chasing down this godawful thing or running away from it has also become a past-time, and he's getting sick of running himself ragged daily. Himself and his pokemon.

But, here we are again, coming to the rescue of yet another person. Hopefully, this time, he doesn't get gobsmacked and spat out somewhere else. One time in that monster's mouth is too many for his tastes, and Guzma can't quite shake the sticky feeling, no matter how many dips in the water he takes. Or how much shampoo he puts in his hair (he'll be needing more of that soon...god). Grabbing his two pokeballs from inside a pocket of his dark hoodie, he releases his two pokemon: Ariados and Golisopod. Commanding the two, he calls out to the spider first.]

Ariados, slow it down, darlin'!! Golisopod, you're on offense - hit it hard, homeboy, and keep it off the lady. Y'all know that thing's tough, but we keep it one spot then book, yeah? Go!

[The faster of the two, Ariados, scurries along the sand at deft speeds, shooting webs from both her mouth and abdomen, trying to keep Upsy in place, or at least cocoon the more unfavorable part of it - the mouth. Golispod is making use of its powerful claws and sturdy body, slamming into it from the side to knock it off its trajectory. Heck, if they can get the demented contraption on its side or upsidedown, that'd be enough interference to get them all to safety.]

Oh...! [ The additional monsters are an unpleasant surprise, but the stranger... seems to command them somehow. Zelda blinks, stunned for only a moment before she uses the distraction to run more to the side of the newcomer, eyes lingering on the creatures he'd summoned to their aid. ]

Thank you. [ Zelda offers, out of breath. She clutches at the front of her dress as she watches Ariados and Golisopod attack the spinning box, heart pounding. ] Do you know what that monster is...?

[ Nothing she's ever seen, but if this man is a native, then he may know. He certainly seemed confident in leading the assault against it. ]

[Just don't call them that out loud, Zelda, otherwise Guzma will leave you here for Upsy to snack on. He loves his pokemon dearly, and thinking them monsters isn't going to endear him to you anytime soon. Yes, they may be frightful to look at, but they're among his more friendlier and extremely personable party members. Plus, the term 'monster' has an ugly connotation to go with it, especially since his pokemon companions have been threatened to near death by newcomers a number of times he doesn't want to recount.]

Looks like some kinda possessed elevator. [Upsy doesn't take kindly to being attacked, on opposing sides, and makes an attempt to turn suddenly and knock Golisopod over, but Ariados' webs are doing well to slow it movement. The larger of the two insects cleaves his long, black claws along the side of Upsy's metallic body, but the scratch isn't very deep at all... Even Ariados' poison doesn't do much to it, which makes Guzma curse under his breath.] Tch--! Go figure it'd work like a steel type...

Hey, lady, can y'all fight? [Or are you just a liability?]

Possessed-... [ There are lifts in the shrines within Hyrule, technologies perfected by the Sheikah, but nothing like that. She saves her question for later, though, brows furrowed deeply as she tries to make sense of it for herself. Better to let this man and his... companions focus on the battle at hand rather than to occupy himself with her building confusion. ]

... No. I'm sorry. [ Not a fighter, just a scholar. She swallows, tensing her shoulders. ] If there's anything else that I can do...

[ What would that be, though? Her talents and abilities are so woefully limited, compared with most others. She feels her stomach falling with the usual self-loathing as she thinks this, but it also isn't the time. Not when lives, including her own, are potentially on the line... ]

[Guzma frowns when Zelda says she's not weapons or fighting prowess, but in all honesty? He's not as useful as he would be without his two pokemon with him - Guzma can't exactly punch and kick solid steel, and he's in no mood to go strolling up to that thing to test his mettle with it. No thank you, sir. To top it all off, even his heavy-hitter Golisopod seems to be having issues.

Upsy has broken free of its restraints despite Ariados' best efforts and it rounded on the bigger Golisopod, who's struggling to keep Upsy's mouth open and from swallowing him whole. Guzma sucks in a breath, actually somewhat startled by the sudden turn, reaching for his pokeballs to recall the two pokemon. One last ploy, and it's...really juvenile, but hey--if it works, it works.]

Golisopod, let go and back up! Ariados, the eyes! Venoshock on the eyes!! [Ariados, riding Upsy like a bull, hurries over the surface of it, positioning her abdomen over the face and spraying a misty, purple-red substance over it as Golisopod loosens its hold on the monster's jaws and recoils, sending Upsy clambering to catch itself before it slams into the sand.] You can run, lady, right? Get going now - lose it in the trees!

[There's a horrible screeching noise as the acidic poison bubbles on the eyes of the monster, but it seems more upset over getting that in its mouth than anything else. Everything inside is rather soft and fleshy, after all... It attempts to slam the spider into the sand but Guzma recalls both of the two pokemon to their balls, shoving them into his pockets and grabbing Zelda's wrist to try and drag her into the jungle.

Out on the beach they're sitting ducks. The trees can at least give them cover, and slow that awful monster down.]

[ She can certainly run. Zelda doesn't even have time to marvel over the way that Guzma seems to capture the two creatures into spheres before they're sprinting, making a break for it across the sand and toward the jungle. The tree cover will certainly help, but she can also easily imagine Upsy crashing through any barricades between it and them... ]

Thank you! [ The princess offers, remembering herself, as this stranger tugs her along closer to (potential) safety. The monster seems to be recovering from the attack, unfortunately, and its barreling again toward them with remnants of Ariados's attack still lingering on its "features." Zelda feels a mix of fear and revulsion rise up the longer she looks at it, so she tears her gaze away and tries to focus entirely on the running, silently offering prayers to the Goddess for their safety... ]

Thank me when we're outta here!!

[Thankfully, they have a bit of distance on Upsy already - the two are a lot more agile than the demon elevator, and even Upsy isn't strong or sturdy enough to uproot a large cluster of trees without some serious effort. Guzma keeps them close to the brush that is more tightly packed together for that very reason. It may result in some scratches and the like, but those can be easily mended and cleaned. Who the hell knows what that awful monster could do.

He can still hear it trying to clamber after them, but when the sounds die down - probably due to it thinking the two are a lot more trouble than they're worth - Guzma finally stops and looks back, breathing a bit hard and definitely with a clear sheen of sweat on his brow, which he wipes away with the back of his hand. The humidity of the island isn't lost on him, even if he is used to the same back home in Alola. Plus, exertion always get the blood puping and the sweat dripping. Ugh, he's gonna need to rinse off again today - this'd be the third time.

Oh, uh--...right. The chick.]

You okay, girly?

[ Scratches are nothing compared to what she expects might happen if Upsy catches them, so Zelda manages her way through the brush alongside Guzma. Before long, they're both sweaty and tired out... but alive, and with the sounds of the monster having died down behind them. ]

Y-Yes. Thank you. [ He did say to thank him at this point, after all. ] I've never seen anything quite like that...

[ It could, perhaps, be likened to the Guardians, but she doesn't want to compare their beloved, scientific marvels to that - beast. ]

Are you all right ? [ Zelda asks in turn, brows lifted in concern. ] Are your-... animals safe?

Yeah, me neither. But then again, this place spits out all kinds'a ugly beasties.

[He's tempted to spit in the direction of where they left the damn monster, but remembers he's in the presence of a lady, and something just jolts him as her being the fancy type. He's, uh...not a fan of that sort, by his own experiences and biases, but he can at least pretend not to be a street urchin and a complete thug. For a few minutes. It doesn't stop him from using his undershirt to wipe the sweat off his face, though, sorry.]

Me? Yeah, I'm fine, and my pokemon are just tired - they'll be good to go once they're rested up, yeah. [He looks back, leaning over her shoulder to make sure nothing's about to sneak up on them or anything, then takes this woman in, running a hand through his hair with a bit of a sigh.] You're one'a them newbies, huh? Y'all stick out like a sore thumb.

It does? [ Oh, Goddess. She fidgets a little, frowning more deeply. ] Are they all... similar to that one?

[ There are many monsters in Hyrule, after all, though many are the same species. ]

Your pokemon...? Those were-... [ It's an unfamiliar phrase, and she thinks he's implying that they aren't considered animals at all. Zelda blinks, turning the idea over in her mind. ] ... Well, I hope that you can all rest very soon. You've certainly earned it.

[ Without them, she would be - somewhere worse off, after all. ]

"One" of them? So, there are others? [ She knows she's asking a lot of questions, but they spill out as easily as breath, here. Could someone else from Hyrule have arrived, too? ]

Mmh, not really... That'd be the first I see'a one like that. Most'a the monsters here are like...animals and stuff. Or plants. Or just straight up horror-terrors. [He's heard stories about the fustercluck, and not a single one of them hasn't been absolutely horrifying.] There's also like, y'know, natural stuff what happens y'all gotta be weary of. Heat, rain and thunder, earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes, that sorta stuff. Plus there's diff'rent kinda beasties on the other islands too. Someone ought'a catalog 'em all.

[Guzma mumbles idly, still leading the way through the brush toward where the mana pools were. He's pretty sure that monster elevator won't go near the temple, or it'd be stopped dead in its tracks by the local floppy-eared god with the pompom tail and horns.] They're creatures from my world. My friends and partners - two of 'em, anyway...

[A sore subject still. Guzma misses his other three pokemon, left behind and waiting for his return.] Yeah, I'd expect there'd be way more'a you all. Usually is, anyway. Newbies get pulled from their worlds and end up here, or on one'a the other islands. Y'all is luck you got one'a the, uh...more friendly islands.

[Monsun is perhaps the worst, in Guzma's personal opinion. Not only is it home to one of the only things he's actively afraid of, but the bountiful forest side brings out the absolute worst in a person. Saints could easily become sinners in that place, and could just as quickly cull each other if two people crossed paths. The monsters on that side of the island were the people who entered it.]

[ Zelda nods as he explains, finding it all - very relatable, actually. ]

We have some such beasts in Hyrule, though nothing like - that. [ Nothing will ever be like Upsy, thankfully for everyone. ] But there are some dangerous plants and animals, and even monsters.

[ More and more, lately, with the Calamity gaining strength... ]

You must miss the others very much. [ She offers quietly, studying Guzma's expression. She isn't really one for pets, but she can certainly appreciate the bond between human and animal. More than that, he's described them as his 'friends and partners,' so the love between them is obvious. ] I hope that you can see them again very soon.

[ Hopefully that's more reassuring than it strings. ]

Which of the islands is the safest, and is there a way for us to travel there? [ If there was, though, why would he have come to this one? ]

Well, can't say that thing's better or worse than what we got here, though it's definitely better than some stuff. It can at least be damaged. [Catastrophes like the fustercluck and the center of gravity aren't easily disposed of, or...physical enough to hurt or kill. Guzma hasn't encountered either, but he's heard enough to steer very clear of where they're closest to. Sadly, both are on the island they're currently on now.

He says nothing to her kind words about his pokemon, too sour to even nod in thanks. It's appreciate, under his rough exterior, but a lot of the hope of seeing them again here, on the islands, has long since vanished. The only way he's ever going to reunite with the rest of his team is to stay alive and get back to Alola. Whether it's by means of figuring this place out, or just being sent home...that's the only way. He's not fool enough to hold onto a false hope and tear himself apart. Not anymore.]

None of the islands are totally safe, girly, there's monsters what can kill you real easy on each one, but Enso is fully explored, and we have houses n' stuff built here. Not to mention the Storyteller's temple...shrine thing is here, too. Y'all wanna get acquainted to ol' Cottontail, believe me. Y'all get favors if'n you tell 'em a story, and can cough those up for goodies what y'all need to live.

As for travel, there's pools what can get ya from place to place. Mana pools. [He chuckles darkly.] Unless y'all is willing to swim.

Everything has its weakness. [ Even the Calamity, and what could be worse than that? ] Thankfully, you and your Pokemon were able to keep it at bay long enough to allow for our escape.

[ If Mipha were here, she would offer to heal the man's creatures. Zelda herself has no magical abilities, healing or otherwise, and feels guilty for not being able to offer. ]

Enso? [ She questions, and the mention of homes both comforts and agitates her at the same time. Good to know that there is shelter, but - ] You've built homes in this place? Then...

[ How long are we to be here? ]

... How can we return home?

[Guzma shrugs. He usually is one to boast about his strengths, but he's gotten a bit more...humble? No, not that. He's just very aware of himself and his limits now, especially in a place like this. Back home, he knows so much about battling - the type combinations, item use, all of that - here, it's just luck, chance, and having a good wit about you. Also, strength in numbers. Friends with many skills; a good team.]

Yeah, most people arrive in Enso first - it's the, uh...I guess it's the main island? Seems like it, anyway. S'where most people have settled. [He holds up a hand.] Built and not built. Houses existed here well b'fore we all showed up, but they were a mess, yo. Unlivable unless y'all improvised with what y'got coming here or found through exploration. Over time, we improved 'em. Made 'em actually feel like, y'know...home.

[Guzma chuckles at her last question, but his smile falls almost a second later. Oh, you sweet summer child.] You think most of us would stay here if'n we knew the answer t'that, girly? Whatever power took us here is the only way we get sent back.

I... see. [ It's to be expected, because, as he says, why would they still be in this place if they could leave and return home? ] Well, we can make do in the meantime. As you said that you already have.

[ They've built houses. Homes. Does that mean they've formed pseudo-families here, too? Teams, friends? ]

What has the Storyteller said about it? Has anyone asked? [ She has to assume so... ]

[Teams, friends, families - all things Guzma has started to recreate in this world, yes. He has two little sisters - friends (some closer than others, of course), and honorary members of Team Skull. There are, also, people he dislikes here in this world, but again...nothing new. People have different views and morals, after all. He's never been an overly amiable individual.]

You're gonna have to find a place to stay on your own, sorry. I'll show y'all to the islets, and how to get there. Not sure if all them houses have been filled up or fixed up, but there's also a place in the ol' Monkey Compound what has like...these tree home...pod...things. Pretty sure they livable, too.

N' as far as the rabbit goes, I think they's as confused as all'a us. Don't know what's taking us from our homes to theirs, but they been helping us best they can, yeah? They're...well, they isn't the best, but none'a us 'round here without our flaws. Cryptic as heck, and pretty sure they isn't telling us everything - or can't - but... [He makes a face, then runs the back of his neck as a soft flush appears on his face.]

I-I guess...they're good by me.

Thank you. [ She doesn't expect him to figure it all out for her, of course, and nods with gratitude for all he's already done, and for his offering to take her to the islets. ] You've helped me so much already...

[ And he's answered her questions, too, which has calmed her just as much as sparing her the wrath of the hungry elevator. ]

It's good to know that it means us no harm. [ The opposite, really, or so it sounds. ] I will try and speak with it again when I can, and I'll keep in mind that it is... similarly without answers.

[ Strange that something so powerful could be in the same situation as the rest of them, but she can hear more about that the next time she's able to communicate with the rabbit in question. ]

[Guzma shakes his head, sort of rolling his eyes a little. Didn't he tell this lady not to mention it? Yikes, but she's way too uptight...must come with whatever territory she's from. He's assuming they're worlds apart when it comes to basic manners and being polite. Eh, no skin off his nose - different walks of life exist all places.]

Well, you're in luck, both the Storyteller's temple and the islets jacuzzi are pretty much next door to each other. If'n y'all wanna try and chat with Cottontail, you'll get your chance...if they're around, anyway. We're pretty much on our way there right now - I can drop y'off, yeah? You'll be alright, uh...?

[Did he ever get this chick's name? If so, it's flown way over his head and into the horizon at this point.]

Zelda. [ She supplies, unsure, too, if she'd mentioned it. ] And that would be wonderful.

[ That way she can try and speak with the Storyteller and examine the mana pools at the same time to scratch that research itch. ]

Does the Storyteller usually respond, or is it... more unpredictable?

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July Intro: Upsy-Daisy!

KEESES PIECES

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