lifeaftr | February Intro: Chasing Kairos

INTRO LOG: FEBRUARY

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

Monsun, for the uninitiated, is an island divided in two, separated by a ribbon of flowing river. To the east, a rich deciduous woodland and perfect temperature heralds a plethora of resources at your disposal, at one singular, significant cost: your very worst traits will manifest the longer you remain in the area, until, by the twenty-four hour mark, you're living your absolute worst self.

By contrast, the island's western region is a harsh wasteland, a swathe of desert with hardly any shelter from the unrelenting sun and arid heat. Most everything here wants, in some way, to kill you, from the landscape to the fauna. Ugly storms and predators run wild, but the benefit is probably exactly what you think it is: namely, that your best traits manifest more and more strongly the longer you remain on Monsun's western half.

You, you lucky band of newcomers, are going to be arriving on one of two sides of the island. Whichever one in which your character wakes is up to you - though they're certainly welcome to head either direction, once they get their bearings.

Monsun, B2: Desert Air Won't Drown You Out
A craggy stretch of desert borders Monsun's northwest coast. Parts of the sand here, the further north you head, seem to have gone suspiciously slushy or boggy...though that might be the beginnings of an oasis that looks like it might be present on the region further up. Or, possibly, something else entirely.

It'll probably be hard to tell when you've got a mess of your own to contend with. Namely, the presence of a predator that's going to be making life quite...difficult for you, the longer you remain.

Nova Scorpions have been unlocked in the bestiary!

Nova Scorpions are about one meter in length and have a large stinger to match, with a golden carapace that makes them near-chameleonic when it comes to blending in with the sands they so favor. They are nocturnal by nature and tend to burrow into the sand and form lairs with others of their kind. Occasionally, one might encounter a scorpion carrying its young on its back.

By far the most dangerous thing about them is their venom, potent enough to floor even the most powerful and even those of the nonhuman persuasion. They can be, potentially, milked for said venom if you're in need of a powerful toxin to lace your weapons, but it's recommended that you make sure the scorpion is very thoroughly dead or well on its way before doing any harvesting of its resources. You know. Just to be on the safe side.

The good news, of course, is that your better traits will be amplified the longer you stay on this side of the island. If you don't mind the danger, you're far more likely to earn yourself some help here than you are on the other side of the island.

Speaking of which.

Monsun, C1: So Scared of Overgrowing Youth
By utter contrast, the rich woodlands of Monsun's east give all the appearances of being the best sort of welcome one could ask for. With the island's coast lining the region of C1 to its north and a deep, beautiful green swathe of lush deciduous undergrowth swarming throughout the entirety of the area, one could almost call it idyllic.

One thing is certain: it is very, very beautiful. The presence of so many growing things make it a glorious contrast to the island's western half. And in C1 in particular, there's no shortage of resources. The odd berry bush, the abundance of trees that can be harvested for lumber, if necessary...and the presence of some very odd, but nonetheless potentially adorable little creatures known as mosslings.

What may initially appear to be a tuft of particularly springy moss will, on closer inspection, prove to be something a little bit more. Mosslings are practically indistinguishable from the surrounding landscape unless one is keen-eyed enough to pick out the twin yellow points of glowing eyes nestled among the leafy orbs of their bodies - or unless one happens to spook one by accident, prompting it to scurry hastily away. They are extremely peaceable, extremely docile creatures, though they can make traversing the landscape startling on occasion, for the faint of heart. Aside from potentially edible, leafy flesh, they don't have much use in the way of resources, but they are quite harmless!

You, on the other hand, probably aren't so harmless. At least, not the longer you stay here. If you don't start forging your way west, or weaving your way to the island's single mana pool - located on E3 - to get off of it entirely, your very worst self is going to be manifesting, along with all your worst and least desirable qualities. Prone to violence, cowardice, jealousy, or paranoia? Better hope no one else is around to aggravate those traits, because they're not immune to Monsun's psychological effects either.

The only danger here comes from within. But the worst things usually do.

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

[That is...certainly an interesting choice of weapon.

Asgore considers summoning his trident for a second, but the range provided by his magic is probably more useful. He moves to flank the turtle monster(?), flicking a few more fireballs into the ground in front of the scorpion, but mostly preparing to provide cover fire as necessary.]

This island is known for some unusual qualities. The desert is filled with monsters, but it brings out the best in people. Its other side is a jungle - very fruitful, but it encourages the worst in you.

[It's a well-known documented fact that giant scorpions hate fire. Probably. This particular scorpion, at least, definitely doesn't seem wild about it. With a very precious cargo of babies crowding on its back, it seems exceptionally loathe to get near the fire, eerie green hue or no. It skitters back even further, pincers clacking in the air.

(It doesn't seem to give much of a fig about the weird stripy stick being waved at it, but to be fair, festive candy imagery doesn't exactly scream "dire threat.")

Eska, nonetheless, keeps jabbing at the air.]

Huh, really? That's... kind of a bummer, actually. I'm glad to see I ended up on the good side of this place, but I don't know how I feel about a place that buries half of who you are.

[The creature, meanwhile, seems to finally have had enough. It starts scuttling backwards, clearly intending to retreat the HECK outta there.]

[Asgore lowers his hands as the scorpion starts to retreat, though he doesn't take his eyes off it to look properly at Eska until it's well away.]

I agree; I do not like to come here often. I had hoped to find some new plants for my garden today, but the jungle was...disconcerting.

Oh, but forgive my manners. My name is Asgore Dreemurr, it is nice to meet you. [Handshake?]

[Handshake! Eska may not be especially tall, but they've got some very tortoise proportions; it's a rare treat to meet someone whose hand their big, clawed mitt doesn't completely dwarf.]

Eska! The pleasure's all mine, honestly. I'd be in a real tough pinch if you hadn't come along. If you need a hand with plant-finding, or - honestly, or anything at all? Then I'd love to return the favour!

Oh, it was no problem at all! Do not worry about it.

[On Asgore's end, their hands are actually approaching the size of his! How fun!]

Are you newly arrived? I suppose it is getting to that time again...

Um, yes, probably! I definitely wasn't on this gigantic beach yesterday. Sounds like this is... something that happens pretty regularly, maybe?

Oh, yes. There are several islands here. They are known collectively as LifeAftr. Every month, more people are brought here from their worlds. We do not yet have a way to return home, but they do say that no time will pass while we are gone.

[Asgore doesn't sound exactly delighted by this state of affairs, but he's pretty calm given that he's talking about mass kidnapping and all.]

It's comforting, at least, that the people who need us back home aren't being hurt by this. Better to focus on what good we can do here, right?

...Does that sound too Pollyanna? The way things have often gone, I've... kind of come to accept that there are times in their life where I'll be held in place.

Oh - no, I quite agree.

[It is a little surprising, though. Normally people are more upset. Even he was more upset, though he never did see the point in getting angry about it.]

There is really nothing to be done about it. And this is not such a terrible place...though it has its...occasional difficulties.

[Maybe it's the lifetime of monk training instilling an inner tranquility, maybe it's the magical desert bringing out their most patient and adaptable self. Maybe they're born with it. Maybe it's Maybelline.

Whatever the case, they're quick to start smiling again. They can't help it; that's kind of just how their beak is shaped.]

Can't have a garden without a little rain, right? No life goes by without adversity, but it sounds like there's a strong community here. That makes things much easier to bear, I imagine. If you think the people on these other islands won't mind me, I think I might like being here a lot!

I am sure they will not! It is mostly humans, but they have not minded me.

[Though of course, not everybody who isn't human has a cultural history of conflict with humans...]

If I may ask, what sort of person are you? You rather resemble some of my own kind, but I am sure we would have met if you were a monster.

February Intro: Chasing Kairos

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