September Adventure: Rain Comes

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: NUIDAN

Who: Everyone!
What: Nuidan appears, and a new adventure begins
When: September 10th and onward
Where: Nuidan
Warnings: Tag as you go!

Reseed the Meadow So the Cows Don't Starve
As of September 10th, the mana pools on Ensō and its islets will now allow for travel to the new island of Nuidan.

Travelers will arrive on a mana pool situated on the E5 square. The temple is situated in an oasis-like backdrop of amber-colored sands circled with overhanging palm trees. From the island's center, the four corners of the island and its fixed seasonal shifts are more than obvious: to the north, the rainfall-soaked meadows of spring; to the east, the thick clusters of the trees of autumn; to the south, the snow-capped mountains of winter; and to the west, the warm summer sands and pleasant heat.

And inside the temple? The avatar of the island Nuidan is waiting.

---

Welcome to the new island of Nuidan! As the island is now accessible, feel free to begin preparations and explorations in this log, create new logs of your own, or use this post as a catch-all for Task completion! For further information in regards to the island, or plotting, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC info and introductory post
[ ♆ ] Active and Passive Task list
[ ♆ ] Nuidan on the Locations page
[ ♆ ] Search Requests page

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[liveasmyself]

[For a knight of few words, they sure have an answer for everything!

Ray processes this with her mouth hanging open, only remembering to close it when she returns the Knight's wave and starts climbing up behind them.]

Did you make those?

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight seems...proud? Pleased? At Ray's response. They climb for a little while, hauling themselves up with the ease of long practice, jerky but efficient motions, until Ray asks her question.

They shake their head. They wouldn't know the first thing about making these; they found them. Well, ''borrowed'' them, actually. They're sure the mantises wouldn't mind.

Once they reach the top of the silo, they stop and sit on the edge of its roof, turning to look out at the island from this new vantage point.

While they're not bothered by dizzying heights, it's quite a view, and they pause to take in the explosion of colour that the trees have produced, the distant landscape where they can see changes in the season far away.

There's nothing urgent about this task. They have time to pause, to breathe. They intend to savour such moments of peace. ]

[liveasmyself]

[Ray hums in acknowledgment, wanting to ask how the Knight got them but knowing that any sort of answer might be tough in their current position.

She pauses on the top rung to look out as well, unconsciously tightening her grip when she truly realizes how high up they are--best not to think too hard about it and just enjoy the view. Because it is lovely, enough so that she thinks she'd be happy if they stayed in this place for a good long while.

She swings herself up onto the top, murmuring:]

The place with all the flowers was beautiful at first too.

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight looks at her and wants to reply but it still is, because the presence and reminder of death has never detracted from finding something beautiful (because if they didn't find fragments of beauty among the dead, then part of them would have not survived otherwise) but without voice, the thought remains locked away.

They simply nod, instead. They note that body language, and think it best that they don't dwell on heights too long; they turn back to the task at hand. What they assume is some kind of door to get inside isn't far from the ladder, thankfully.

They feel around the edges and attempt a few cautious tugs, attempting to puzzle out how to get it open, but with their height and the door's lower angle it's proving...more than a little difficult to do so.

Ray will probably have to take the lead on this one. ]

[liveasmyself]

[Ray steps forward, eager to be useful and away from her own thoughts. She pulls on the handle to test the door's weight and give.]

I can get this. Once I have it open, be careful you don't fall in. Even if it's full, the fall could be dangerous.

[She gives the door one more yank; it opens with a rusty groan to reveal--

Nothing.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight simply nods, and then totally disregards this warning about being careful not to fall in as they very uncarefully go to peer inside.

...No, they can't see anything. They tilt their head, looking this way and that, peering into the darkness; it's a good thing they're so lightweight, or gravity would probably have taken over and given them a tumble into the silo by now.

Eventually, they sit back a little, and look at her with a shrug, indicating the ladder. There doesn't seem to be much in here, and she doesn't seem to like heights; maybe it's best if they go down now. ]

[liveasmyself]

[Thanks for nearly stopping her heart there, little buddy.

When the Knight peeks into the silo so readily, Ray gasps and raises her hand to be ready to grab them--but the precaution isn't needed. When they don't topple in, she relaxes with a cautious, shaky smile. And a silent hope that they don't encounter any more silos for the Knight to poke their head into.

She's relieved to see her friend head for the ladder; she follows, pausing only to take one last look out over the land for any other points of interest. There are none that she can see; after their little hike, trees don't exactly count as interesting anymore. But on the wind, the faint smell of... manure? Is there a pasture nearby, with animals? Whatever it is, it's enough to make her wrinkle her nose and turn away.]

I can't see much of note from up here, just more trees. But do you smell that?

[lightlessfuture]

[ They do apologetically pat her hand once they've decided to head down, somewhat aware that their blatant disregard for safety is, perhaps, concerning to other people who are more fragile.

They tilt their head at her comment, and then wander to the ladder to look more closely at the scenery that spreads out beneath them. They can't smell, but they can feel the direction of the wind to see where such a thing might attract Ray's attention from.

They give her a little shrug, but they do gesture further inland with a nod. There's clearly something more of interest here, so they should go look for it. ]

[liveasmyself]

[In return for the pat, Ray flashes a grateful smile. They both came out fine, so she shouldn't worry, right? At least, that's what she tells herself.

They don't have to go too far before the land around them starts turning to bog. Ray jumps when she sees something seem to scuttle around the leaves. Or was it the leaves themselves moving from a breeze? With how matted down from dampness things are here, she thinks that latter option is unlikely.

She holds her searching stick out in front of her like a(n admittedly feeble) weapon, and it's not until she turns to talk to the Knight that she realizes she's instinctively holding her breath. It was the only way to "hide" from the lingered back home; old, life-saving habits die hard.]

Did you see that too?