April Intro: Better Get to Digging

[lifeaftr_mods]

INTRO LOG: APRIL

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

Waking up to the gentle proddings of what appears to be very curious, sentient trees isn't the worst wake up call LifeAftr has to offer. For our newest arrivals, however, it may be a tad…odd.

Situated in the valley between two mountains, Elower is a scenic village filled with the friendly Roaka, tree-like beings that are rather peaceable and happy to assist those who have just arrived. I'’s a peaceful location for one to start their adventures - though, unfortunately, it doesn't stay peaceful for long.

Cahypdo: You'll Bury Me Low
Those who have explored the new island of Cahypdo in the last month will undoubtedly recall the series of quakes that shook the island throughout March. With the arrival of LifeAftr's newest adventurers comes Cahypdo's largest tremor to date, striking without warning and more than enough force to throw even the steadiest and sturdiest of your number to the ground. With a low rumble, the mountains heaped on either side of the island will start to shed an abundance of slag and debris, pouring down their slopes. Anyone who's scaling those peaks risks being flung bodily off them when the outpouring of shale comes roaring down those mountains, and anyone at the mountain bases risks being crushed beneath.

As one might expect, unsuspecting newcomers aren't all that have been shaken up. Though protected by netting and retaining walls, the cliffs around and above the village of Elower can only take so much pressure before giving way - a threshold that has been crossed entirely. With a sound like thunder, rocks fall.

Everyone dies? Only if you don't act quickly. Roaka housing is sturdy in build, enough to protect a decidedly less sturdy body from all but the heaviest of boulders. Hiding inside any of their village constructs built into the sides of the mountains will certainly save you from taking a new weight onto your shoulders. They will not, however, save you from being buried alive.

For those who become trapped inside any of those abodes, your options appear limited. Work to free yourself, or wait for help to arrive. Though, speaking of help, those outside may think to offer the Roaka a helping hand in getting their trapped people - and yours, at that - a few breaths of fresh air.

Before you suffocate.

Cahypdo: Stay Acting Brave
Such seismic activity will also stir up the local wildlife, of course. Those unfortunate enough to come across them will recognize the restless shark-dragon hybrids, hydrac, now prowling across the shorelines, while the wickedly fanged wabbits will also be far more frequent, traveling in larger numbers in the jungle and at the bases of the mountains. Taking care to avoid them would be wise - though another creature may make that venture much more difficult.

Lorbies have been unlocked in the bestiary! A strange mix between owl and serpent, the recent quake has clearly startled these usually reclusive creatures into the open. Alone, a lorby is a rather skittish animal, prone to hiding from most perceived threats. Useless for food due to the toxicity of their flesh, lorbies do have the potential to be tamed...but this comes with its own risks.

A lorby may be prone to flight rather than fight when encountered solo, but in groups, these feathery critters are far more hostile. A defensive lorby emits a piercing cry alone, but a group is an almost ear-piercing experience, capable of rendering the unfortunate unstable on their feet at best, and unconscious at worst. For the days that follow the severe earthquake that so rocked everyone's foundations, any hope for silence is lost in the infrequent bursts of almighty screeching by colonies of lorbies who have so rudely had their homes overturned and disturbed.

While the lorby is omnivorous, it may not think to take a bite at anything so much larger than them. That doesn't mean that conflict with these fluffy creatures won't attract something much more willing to take advantage of the fact that you may or may not have been reduced to a prone sack of meat. If something else does arrive, you best hope that it's a friendly face.

If you're interested in keeping a lorby for your own, bear LifeAftr's companion limit in mind - two per character, and no more. The lorby is omnivorous and can survive off of most odds and ends: insects, fruits, berries, critters it can dig up in the sand, and more. However, the process of trying to tame a lorby is not always successful. We recommend use of a d10, with the following guidelines:

Rolling a 10: Critical success! This lorby will love and adore you, and may even feel comfortable enough to drape itself along your neck like a beautiful, furry scarf, churring softly all the way.
Rolling 7-9: This lorby will prove high-strung and timid, even if safely befriended, and will take several weeks to warm up to you. But once it does, it's yours!
Rolling 2-6: Failure. The lorby enters a state of distress and starts screaming. Hope you brought earplugs, or you'll be snoozing for several long hours for your efforts.
Rolling a 1: Critical failure. Not only does the lorby start screaming, but its panic attracts a colony of its friends, and they all start screaming too.

Bear in mind that these are only guidelines; you are free to predetermine successes or failures as you'd like, presuming your character can sustain the companion! Our discord channel has a room for dice-rolls, if you prefer.

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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

the knight | ota | there is only one prompt and it is lorby

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight is a distinctive, if diminutive, monochromatic figure. Amid the colour and chaos of the jungle and rockslides, they stand out.

They stand out significantly more than usual, however, because somehow, for some reason known only to themselves, they've managed to tame or befriend or possibly bribe one of the snakelike, fuzzy, shrieking creatures to the point that it's letting them ride on its head.

The lorby slithers along, apparently confident that its new friend will protect it from the usual run of predators. The Knight sits between its ears, atop its head, and only occasionally sees fit to direct its path. Otherwise, they're content to let the lorby go where it feels it wants to go.

The only question that might jump to mind upon seeing such a majestic sight is...

Why. ]

[truthkills]

Oh, geez, no, little guy, no, you don't want anything to do with...that thing.

[Kiriya is not a fan of the lorbies, and he is talking very quietly so as not to startle it because he'd really like to not end up in a screaming swarm of them again, thanks.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The lorby peeps in contentment as the little bug scratches behind an ear, apparently not very inclined to scream wildly and attract more of its own kind, also screaming wildly.

They tilt their head at Kiriya's words, in what they hope is an easily recognisable sign of curiosity, or at least some indication of asking why? ]

[truthkills]

Because these things scream. And they draw more, and more of them scream, and...

[He trails off in a sigh.]

They're not very friendly.

[At least not in his honking motorcycle experience.]

[counterblows]

[He's seen these things...around, sure, though Wash is generally smart enough to steer clear. Generally, because this one is unique. It has something...on top of it. A small, horned something.]

[That's enough to stop him in his tracks. Fully-armored, fully-armed, and he's arrested by the sight of a...horned little bug-thing perched atop this hideous, furry serpent, whatever it is.]

...you, uh...you're...

[What is he supposed to say to this.]

Do you need...help?

[He doesn't even know which one of them he's talking to.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The lorby churrs in contentment, apparently perfectly happy with its lot in life. Any anxiousness it might have had at seeing something strange and new and armored is quickly dispersed by the Knight giving it a little rub behind its soft and fuzzy ears, one of the few non-horrifying parts of the lorby.

They look at Wash, and give him a wave and a thumbs up. Yes, they're fine.

The lorby chooses this moment to slither a bit closer, large and creepy eyes glinting with animal curiosity. Their rider is not stopping this happening at all. ]

[counterblows]

[The lorby is not...any better up close than it is at a distance, but at least it's not making any noises that might take him out. Wash's hand closes around his sidearm out of reflex, even if the thing doesn't seem particularly dangerous. Its general appearance is still unsettling enough to be reason enough for caution.]

How'd you get this thing to listen to you?

[Now he's definitely talking to the Knight, seeing as they're the rider, and therefore seem the most sentient.]

[forwearemany]

(Legion is not put off by the Lorby. Legion, in general, probably doesn't understand the concept of a thing being "disturbing" or "cursed" beyond it being a thing that organics apparently care about. They have no idea that it would apply here.

Thus, though their headflaps lift and flutter slightly, they otherwise don't react much to the sight of their ally riding a Lorby.)

Greetings.

[lightlessfuture]

( The Knight waves enthusiastically at the sight of a friend. The lorby is...less enthusiastic about seeing something so alien to them, but it's coaxed with affection (and a few miscellaneous treats consisting of whatever they have in their pockets) into slithering closer.

Riding on this creature, the Knight is able to look Legion in the eye without having to change themselves, which is nice. They give Legion another happy wave and an inquisitive tilt of their head.

They raise their hands to 'speak'. )

you-are-ok?

not-injured?

[forwearemany]

All systems functional, despite previous occurrences.

(Rockslide? Possibly other previous occurrences? They don't elaborate, so it will be up to the Knight to ask if they want to know.

They headtilt at the Lorby.)

Pet?

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet is, in theory, the sensible one. Muffet is also genuinely convinced that her giant terrifying cupcake beast is sweet and adorable, and saw no problem just lassoing and riding random spindlanks halfwat across the island.]

[She's absolutely delighted by this image.]

[On catching sight of the Knight riding their new steed, she reacts not with confusion or fear, but with the glee of a proud parent seeing their child pass their driver's ed test.]

[She's just really disappointed she doesn't have a working phone to photograph this.]

Would you care to introduce me to your new friend, little one?

[lightlessfuture]

[ Oh, she likes their new friend! If they were capable of speech, they'd have no words for how happy her approval makes them.

They give their new mount a treat and convince it to slither its way up to Muffet. For once, they're tall, and they don't even have to do a thing. It's a refreshing change of pace.

They sign: ]

likes-ear-petting

food

needs-a-name

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She can look them in the eye(sockets) without having to crane her neck in either direction, now, that's fun.]

Well, they clearly have excellent priorities.

[She reaches out carefully, so as not to startle the creature with sudden movements, and gently starts patting its' ears if it doesn't seem too nervous about her.]

Ah, yes, a proper name can be quite important. Did you have something in mind, or are you still trying to think of an idea?

[goat_mom]

[Toriel sees a lorby slither by her and is momentarily startled... but she takes one look at the tiny bug-like creature riding the lorby and starts laughing.]

How adorable the two of you are!

[lightlessfuture]

[ They don't know this new person, but they like that she's calling them cute. They straighten their back a little more and steer the lorby vaguely in her direction.

Once they've come a bit closer, they tilt their head back and forth, clearly inspecting her. After a moment, they decide to do the polite thing, and say hello.

So they wave, enthusiastically. ]

[atailoftwoworlds]

GEEZ WHAT THE HELL?!

[Which is the only thing Zidane sees when he spots the Knight happily sitting on top of the weird lorby's head. Zidane has seen a couple of lorbies but he has yet to see one being tamed.

How did the Knight manage to do that?]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The lorby reacts to loud noises in the way it reacts to everything that startles it - by opening its mouth and starting to build up to a shriek.

The Knight hastily tosses a fruit into the gaping beak before it can do much else, and their new friend snaps its beak shut and swallows, temporarily placated. The little bug spends some time fussing and petting at the creature, before looking up.

They sort of waggle their hand a bit, trying to indicate he should probably be more quiet. ]

[yallstupid]

[Well that's...that's certainly happening.

I mean, it makes sense, probably only to Guzma and a select few, that certain wild creatures can be tamed and trained, but it's still bizarre to see his tiny friend slither by on the head of a...hm. Hm. A-Anyway, he's slowly following their path with a turn of his head and a shifting grimace on his face.

Arceus, there's no way to deny it. These furry whatcha-ma-callits are ugly. It's like a Furret and and a Rowlet tried breeding together and come out with this monstrosity. This is perhaps why egg pairs are a thing in Nurseries. Because the breeding rejects can be classified as their own type of species in and of themselves.

He clears his throat, not exactly wanting to catch the creature's attention, but he can't help but be a bit concerned fr his little buddy there.]

Yo, li'l bro, looks like you're a Trainer in the making, yeah?

[lightlessfuture]

[ They cross their arms and pose proudly, nodding at Guzma. They're not entirely sure what a trainer is, but since Guzma doesn't seem to be entirely disapproving of their new friend, they're going to be proud anyway.

The lorby chirps, totally unaware of Guzma thinking it looks ugly as sin. ]

[heroondecku]

[There haven't been a lot of things Izuku has experienced since he arrived here that have been out-of-the-ordinary enough to phase him. This, however, makes the list.

Admittedly, pretty much anything involving the weird plants and animals around here throws him for a loop. The Knight and their steed get an actual doubletake out of him as they ride on by, though; it takes him a moment to react, because he needs a bit to make sure that yes, this is actually happening.]

Hey, uh...you alright...?

[Does he need to get you down from there, buddy?]

[lightlessfuture]

[ The Knight nods, enthusiastic. They remember Izuku from a month ago! They're glad to see he's still okay, and hasn't been eaten by rootwyrms.

Speaking of...

They point to him, and tilt their head, waving their arms to imitate snapping jaws. Is he okay? ]

[vagabone]

[Why the heck not. That is beyond adorable and it's a pity no one here has a camera. Or a saddle, so they can be stylish on their new mount.]

Hey! Good job, that's awesome! [Two thumbs up for the little dude!]

[lightlessfuture]

[ They give him an enthusiastic two thumbs up back. They are VERY PROUD OF HIS APPROVAL.

So proud, in fact, that they almost tumble off because they were that enthusiastic about responding to his enthusiasm, but it's fine. They're fine. ]

sweet child

[deathfindsaway]

[When Kravitz readies himself for handling an oncoming Lorby, prepared to simply portal it somewhere else (lest he have to portal himself again if one starts hollering), he... does not expect a bug friend to be coming with. He straightens himself to blink at the display, open his mouth, and then close it again.]

Knight, all I ask is some form of reassurance that thing has not kidnapped you.

[He already looks so tired. Save him.]

[lightlessfuture]

[ They shuffle the lorby forward by tugging gently at its ears and poking and prodding it softly. Their mount squeaks and squawks quietly, but it seems to be agreeable enough to the treatment.

When they're close enough to Kravitz, they stand up and...gently pat him on the head, several times.

It's okay. There, there. ]