lifeaftr | December Intro: Pressure Building

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December Intro: Pressure Building

INTRO LOG: DECEMBER

Who: New arrivals, and you!
What: New souls arrive to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: December 4th and onward
Where: All over Ensō
Warnings: Mark as needed!

It begins on a mild autumn day, one where the breeze is gentle and the sky a deep, cloudless blue. Ensō is quiet as the adventurers that call it (if only temporarily) home begin to awaken and go about their daily business- for those who have been here long enough, this may consist of searching for those new arrivals, undoubtedly lost and likely confused. It is a normal day on Ensō. Then the water starts to rise.

Northern Beachfront: Let Me Get Off the Ground
For newcomers waking on the shoreline and those who have come to greet them, the rapid swelling of the ocean's surface will be immediately noticeable. Just a few, short miles from the shore, the water continues bulging upwards to terrifying heights, obscuring the sun and throwing warped shadows over the majority of Ensō's northern landscape. It towers there, wobbling, inexplicably retaining its shape even as it ripples, flowing, and sends great streams of saltwater streaming over the ocean's surface.

Though the sun is barely capable of piercing the immense mass, those with a keen eye will see...something moving within, coiled far above sea level. Some dark mass, too distorted by the water and the lack of light to solidify into any easily recognizable shape, nonetheless makes its presence felt regardless. All nearby will find themselves stricken with a growing sense of being watched by a gaze that pierces flesh and bone…one that is none too appreciative of what it sees.

Retaliation to this apparent threat is both vicious and immediate. Bursting from the trees and whipping through the air within a tornado of motion, thousands, then tens of thousands of ink-stained pages whip out from Ensō's jungle and across open water like a flock of ferocious birds, striking at the liquid mountain with unceasing fervor.

Now may not be the best time to gawk, adventurers. With this attack, the raised water will begin to collapse - and the giant waves resulting from the sudden upset will bear no mercy for anyone swept off their feet in the churning swells.

Storyteller's Temple and the Rest of Ensō: I See Your Corruption
Those seeking shelter and answers will find them limited in supply, if not entirely absent. For, you see, the mana pools on Ensō have ceased functioning, leaving characters stranded wherever they may be at the time the assault begins.

No safety can be found within the temple walls this day, with more and more black pages erupting from every door and window. Attempts to approach and even push through won't be harmful, or at least not intentionally - rather, the pages will force back anyone who attempts to come between them and their current objective. Those who may not get the message the first time may just find themselves flying quite a ways away.

The above will quickly become the least of anyone’s worries.

Those who remember the rebirth of the sun back in January will not doubt recall the creatures of the night faced during those darkest hours. As the waters around Ensō continue to churn in response to the offshore assault, large waves act as ferries for those precise beasts, clambering onto the shore in droves. Though the sun is obscured in many spaces, these shadowy creatures will always make for the treelines during daylight hours, seemingly sluggish at best under natural lighting.

Unfortunately, the Storyteller will be occupied for quite some time - and once night falls, those deadly beings will be on the hunt.

For the duration of the assault, the islets will remain relatively safe during daylight hours, so long as your character is capable of accessing a boat to travel there. Once night falls, however, they will be as dangerous as the mainland.

Both the shadowy creatures and the risen water will retreat on the morning of December 10th, leaving Ensō silent once more. The hovering pages, however, will continue circling the coastline for some time like great papery seabirds.

The doors to the Storyteller’s temple shall remain closed.

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

[ .... ah. Yeah, he catches that tone, easily. He makes a note to ask Keith more about this Lotor.

Zarkon has a son. Wow. That's deeply disturbing. ]

We defeated Zarkon, but he reclaimed the throne?

[ Excuse the note of incredulity. Honestly, Shiro had been under the impression that the only way that Zarkon would ever be defeated was to. Well.

Take his life. ]

I do not claim to know how, but they evidently found him among the wreckage that remained after the battle.

[There was no mistaking that voice; she knew it well. By that point, they all did.]

We were all in shock when his visage came across all communications. He wore armor that covered his entire body that sustained him with quintessence.

If I had to guess, it was his witch.

[Haggar. Honerva, his wife. As much as Lotor tried to deny it, the pieces all aligned.]

I see.

[ The mention of Zarkon's witch makes him curl his prosthetic hand into a tight fist. More than that, there's a significant hardening of his expression. ]

I'm not surprised she has more tricks up her sleeve. So she remained active, even in Zarkon's absence.

Yes. Though by when I recall, she has been missing for quite some time.

[Which honestly is even more terrifying. What could she be doing?

Though she isn't blind, and leaves it at that. Especially at the look in the man's eyes. She knew that Haggar had done so much to him; would do even more to another who shared his face and personality later. Yet he asked.

Allura reaches across the table, offering her hand. The day has exhausted her, but that does not mean she won't offer Shiro some sign of support. If he wishes for it.] I wish I could offer better news on that front than this, but I cannot.

[ Shiro takes a breath. He needs to calm himself, focus himself. He closes his eyes, and when she speaks again, he opens them. And she's extending her hand.

He takes the offer. Shiro sets his hand in hers, and he gives it a little squeeze. And a thankful smile, too. ]

It's alright. I asked--don't feel bad, alright? [ He knows that's easier said than done, but. He doesn't want her to feel guilty because he asked. There's a brief moment when he seems to consider what to ask next. And then.

His eyes flick up to her forehead. ]

... Your tiara is gone, by the way.

[ Of course she knows. It's more of a gentle nudging than anything. ]

[Easier said than done, indeed. Yet she squeezes his hand back and offers a faint smile.

At least, until Shiro points out the obvious and she blinks back a moment of surprise.]

Oh, right. [Said with all the adolescent charm of someone who woke up, sleepily put on mismatching socks, and it just got pointed out by an older sibling. Her smile turns a bit sheepish, and her tone lighter as she allows herself a small, quiet laugh.] I suppose I never did retrieve it after I dropped it.

[Yes. Casually dropping a symbol of her royal status. How clumsy of her.]

[ Hm.

Hmmm.

Shiro raises his eyebrows. ]

How did you drop it?

[ Never has he seen it off of her, and he's pretty sure it wouldn't just fall off. ]

I removed it in a rush.

[Her smile somehow turns more sincere and mysterious all at the same time.]

Someone required the balmera crystal set within it far more than I did.

[ He watches her for a good long moment. Isn't that just like Allura, though? So willing to do anything to help someone in need. He admires her, for that.

He smiles. ]

It must've been someone pretty important.

[She raises an eyebrow. He has been staring at her for some time, there. It's getting to be a little bit worrying.

But then he speaks, and it's almost as though an invisible weight has been lifted and placed far away from the table.]

Very, I would say.

[Family usually is. ...She gently squeezes the hand in hers again before withdrawing it. Oh, thank the Ancients. For a moment there she was going to wonder if her political mask was going to break.]

[ Not so fast, Allura. Shiro glances off to the side, considering. He thinks about her words, that smile, the way she's being more than a little cagey.

He looks back at her. ]

It can't have been me who needed it. Could it?

[...Yes. Yes it did indeed crack. Quiznack.]

You will, but not for quite some time. [She takes a moment to let that sink in.] As I said, it has been decaphoebs for me since the battle with Zarkon. And over time, parts break down. Your prosthetic was damaged beyond repair recently in my memories, so I built you a new one. It required a power source.

[Thus, no tiara. It'd look silly anyway without it's jewel.]

[ Not for quite some time.

He remembers that Allura has decaphoebs on him. The battle with Zarkon is long part of her past. For Keith, too; he tries not to think about where Keith got that scar, but... he just doesn't know. There are so many things uncertain about his future, he knows.

He isn't sure when--or even if--he'll experience them. He hopes that if he does, he'll come back.

Shiro cracks a wry grin. ]

Pretty handy with prosthetics, huh? [ ... ] Thank you. I'm sure the me of your time is grateful beyond words.

I may have learned how to modify technology through alchemy in the interim.

[Just like her father. There's a sort of pride that shines in her eyes, and perhaps a small amount of wisdom she had to learn after.]

And you could certainly have used one. It floats.

[Imagine, Shiro: being able to reach that itch without having to use a back scratcher, being able to pass something across a table without having to get up... along with everything else hands do!]

It floats.

[ Huh. How about that. ]

I'm impressed. You've all done so many amazing things.

[ So much he hasn't experienced yet... but that he will. Honestly, he's looking forward to it. ]

And so will you, even more so than you have already. Though let us leave that as a surprise, shall we?

[Listen, just because she can tell someone they become an admiral and are in command of their own ship-turned-mech that dwarfs Voltron in comparison? Doesn't mean the princess known for omission will share that. It'll ruin the surprise (and for once, it's a good one. It just takes a while to get there.]

Alright, alright. [ He laughs a little. ] I can be patient, I guess.

You guess? [Yep. Now she's teasing you. GG, Shiro.]

[ Don't tease him, Allura, gosh!! He grins. ]

If I really have to.

[Allura grins back. She will tease family as much as she pleases!! Also, she may later regret this, but...]

Is there anything else you wish to discuss?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

December Intro: Pressure Building

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1/2 I can't believe I'm getting this gif out again

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s7 spoilers

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