lifeaftr | April Intro: Better Get to Digging

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April Intro: Better Get to Digging

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.

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

[Hey, Guzma. He hasn't seen you in a minute, and you look like you're not in the best way. Granted, you could say that about just about everyone here.]

[Tim's careful to keep at his own corner, calling out without looking up, without suggesting that he might be unduly concerned:]

You sick of coconut yet?

[One of the upsides to monster food is its restorative properties. Makes you feel a hell of a lot better once you've had some, even if you're not hurt; smooths away the exhaustion that might be burning you out at both ends.]

[The burnout is indeed real. He's built for work - has the muscle and tenacity for it - but Guzma is still as human as most of the populace here. He comes from a modern world, and the luxuries of that world are sorely missed here and now. It's easy to think of how simple it is to produce and procure food and other necessities when you don't have to cultivate or kill it yourself. It's exhaustion, absolutely, but there's also a bit of homesickness there, funny enough.]

Boy, I been sick'a coconut the first three months in... Now it's fish what I'm tired of shoving down my gullet most nights. Only so many ways t'make it fancy 'nuff to stomach, yeah. [He means he doesn't have the herbs, spices, and culinary knowledge to experiment. That, and a lack of ingredients.]

That being said...what're y'all serving here, anyway?

Nothing really all that special. Muffet's inventive, but we pretty much just make whatever with what's available. Scrambled eggs, if you don't mind them being...you know, green.

[Bluish cariborn milk and yellow eggs makes them look kind of like something molded over, but they taste more or less the same.]

Grilled meat, too. And blackberry whiskey, if that's...what you're after.

...Pretty sure I read that in a book once.

[Green eggs and ham? Certainly, though it doesn't strike him as bizarre in any fashion. Let's be totally honest here - Pokemon are a thing in his world, replacing most game and prey animals. People are indeed consuming them, there's no doubt about it. But Guzma's not here to talk ethics, he's here to eat.

...Though he does raise a brow in interest at the blackberry whiskey.]

I'll take a small shot'a that, to try. Oh, uh...what're y'all taking for payment, anyhow? [Since he, erm, doesn't exactly have much in the way of money. Not that it'd matter here. He can work it off, sure, or trade his own goods, but it seems...silly? Not profitable? Probably both.]

[Green Eggs and Ham. The sentiment is, sadly, a foreign one to Tim, who wasn't blessed with an overabundance of children's literature. Most of his childhood memories entailed...things far less benevolent. Things that don't bear thinking about.]

Nothing, really. I figure we're all here together, so we should help each other out.

[He pours out some whiskey into a wooden cup and slides it Guzma's way.]

You break it, you buy it, but that's pretty much it.

[Oh, the stories they could tell each other, about childhoods lost in a stormy sea of abuse, neglect, and indifference. Of loneliness, fear, anxiety, anger, and bitterness. Untold stories, never to see the light of day.]

Fair 'nuff. [Don't worry, Tim, the so-called Emperor of Destruction isn't going on the rampage anytime soon. He takes the small glass offered to him,swirls the liquid inside, and takes a swig. It's sweet, but with a harsh aftertaste that hits like fire down his throat and deep into his chest. It's nice, and he hums with approval, coupled with a slow nod of his head.] Not bad...dang. Muffy made this? For real?

She makes most stuff around here.

[Tim won't kill anyone with his cooking, but he's no chef.]

Is it any good? [Tim wouldn't actually know; his meds don't mix real well with alcohol, so he's never actually had any. Which...probably would sound worse without the context of knowing why.]

That don't surprise me. [He chuckles a bit, a crooked smile on his face. Muffet knew her way around a kitchen, and she was often his go to girl for ingredients and spices he didn't have for his own recipes, to turn something bland and boring into something a little more exciting.]

Mm? Oh, you wanna try a sip? [Guzma nudges his glass over towards Tim if he's so inclined - he often shares drinks with his of age siblings back in Po Town when they chill together, he'll happily let Tim have a little to try.] It's sweet, but got a real kicker to finish, if'n you're not used to that. Not the worst stuff I had down my gullet, but it'll catch y'all off guard if you're expecting something less feisty.

Can't. Sorry.

[It's paired with a tiny wince, like he's anticipating a potentially derisive reaction to that. Given the kind of reaction his refusals to alcohol would net him in college, it's just something he's come to expect.]

Drinking's off the table for...me.

[One dark brow raises up curiously at the admission, but there's no animosity or pushiness to be found. Guzma knows people have their reasons no to drink or do things that's seen as "normal" for others. Social drinking and all that - it's not always a choice people make, sometimes they truly can't, and their boundaries go unrespected.

Living with so many people in one place, who all come from different backgrounds and different ideals, makes respect a bit easier to give out, once everyone is educated about it.]

Ah, a'ight. Choice, medical, or none'a my dang business? [Again, nothing cynical or prying, he's merely curious and trying to understand better.]

Medical. My meds and alcohol don't really...mix.

[He's more open about this than he used to be, in part out of necessity. People should know, right? They should know there's something wrong with him, something that it takes chemical doses to fix.]

[But then, he's not really the only one anymore.]

Kinda makes me the perfect bartender, if you think about it.

[See? He can even joke about it! It's fine.]

[Guzma nods in understanding. That's fair, and he won't push it - especially not inquiring about what said medical condition is - but he does chuckle softly at the poke Tim makes at himself. He gives a shrug and a scrunched up sort of smile, shaking his head a bit.]

Honestly, y'ain't missing much. Drinks like these are just drinks what'll taste a bit bitter to finish most of the time, or burn on the way down. Apparently there's s'pposed to be health benefits to wine in moderation, but...ehh. [He waves his hand dismissively.] Best thing to do for y'all's health is to give it up.

[Guzma really only drinks very rarely, or when the, uh...'situation' calls for it. With friends, or when he's anxious or upset. Even then, he usually goes straight for his preferred drink - Tapu Cocoa. Speaking of--] Y'all taking suggestions for drinks? Because while it'd be hard t'get a hold of without a few favors from the rabbit, making some Tapu Cocoa or some Komala Coffee would be aces for this sort'a joint.

[Tim leans forward, considering.]

It'd depend on how hard it would be to get ahold of them. Coffee would be pretty ideal, and cocoa...I think kids would like that sorta thing. Hard part would be making sure we could have a consistent amount of it, or some way of growing whatever's needed.

[Has Ren had hot cocoa? If she hasn't, he should probably make it his business to fix that.]

We've got milk and whiskey and sometimes this guy Laurent comes in to make ice for drinks, but that's about it. Still working on expanding our stock, and stuff.

Well, for the coffee, y'all just need to produce the beans. [Which, obviously, means getting their hands on enough seeds and/or saplings to plant and produce them. Cocoa...is a bit trickier.] For a Tapu Cocoa...y'all gonna need the mix, or get your hands on some quality dark chocolate nibs. None'a that store brand Mudsdale crap they sell for three bucks. The good stuff.

No lie, having a cacao tree or two growing on the island sounds super hecking nice. [Has he been longing for a bit of chocolate this past year and a half? Oh, honey, you have no idea. Guzma's taste runs on the sweet side.] Yo, If y'all need ice, my homeboy just got a new move that can make ice no problem. It'll tucker him out if he uses it a lot though, but I don't mind here n'there. So long as I get a fruit smoothie outta it!

[Tim's...not going to ask what a Mudsdale is, because he's pretty sure the context is enough of a clue, but...damn, the cacao tree isn't a bad idea. The Storyteller might be able to boost the growth of that sort of thing too, right? Maybe.]

[It's a good thought. Chara, he thinks, would at least appreciate the gesture.]

That's a good idea. [He manages to sound genuinely appreciative, too.] Can he? That'd be pretty handy. Laurent doesn't have a schedule or anything, but a smoothie's not a bad idea either.

[A cacao tree would absolutely be helpful, and learning to make chocolate for real is a skill Guzma would adore. The best stuff comes straight from the source, after all. He doesn't say it aloud, but he'd gladly pitch in a story or two (if he has any to spare) to get a little grove going.

Actually...]

Yo, don't sweat it, my guy, I don't mind - s'good practice for a new move. Buuut... if'n I can get another hand on a project I'm working on, I'd be appreciative. And I'd throw in a story or two for them cacao trees, to boot.

I can't promise I'll be all that helpful, depending on what it is, but I'm an extra pair of hands.

[He has hands, and he can use them. Prime qualifiers to help with just about anything, provided that whoever's in charge knows how to direct him. He didn't learn much at Sol, but that's one thing he came away with.]

[Learning to put his back into it.]

If y'all managed to make this here place, I doubt what I got planned is any harder. Prob'ly a whole lot less, yeah.

Anyway, I been hoping to make a cellar near my place what I can store some stuff like meats, fish, veggies, and other stuff. [Like said ice his Pokemon can create.] Things that'd go bad baking in the heat for more'n a few hours. The materials I can get my hands on no problem, but making it, all on my own...I don't think I got it in me to do another huge project like that.

[The work he did on the roof of their house (which he still maintains to this day) took him months, and Guzma's not exactly the patient sort.]

Cellar. That's a good idea.

[He's already mentally mapping out what that would require: digging equipment, wood and stone for supports, possibly some kind of ice to keep things chilled. Ice, apparently, Guzma has covered, and Tim knows where they can get some of the building supplies.]

Well, you're in luck on one thing: I've got a whole bunch of carpentry tools that need some breaking in.

[Guzma, too, has a few ideas - he's been thinking about this for a few weeks now, and seems to perk right up when Tim mentions he'll lend a hand. It's really all he needs - an extra pair of hands and someone who's good with the actual construction part of the job.

Guzma's decent with the design, thought up a few concepts he can...hopefully jot down when they hash out the details, but the actual work he can do is mediocre at best. He simple doesn't have the resources or the tools for a job like this.]

Sick, man! Thanks a lot!! And I owe you for it, so lemme know if y'all ever need a favor, yeah? Your boy Guzma's got you covered. [And Guzma will tell Tim his home location because I don't remember and I can't look it up rn. 8|b]

[He's been learning to get better at actually building things. It's the one skill he can say with relative conviction that he has (relative, since he's largely self-taught), and it's proven to be useful in an environment like this one. For once in his life, he's useful.]

[It's a weird thing to be.]

Hey, I'd be willing to trade some work for some ice whenever.

[Both things they can do, right?]

You're living with Lillie, then?

[It's someone Guzma wants to learn as well. He knows his way around a nail and hammer, but the bigger sort of construction and handy work is well above his expertise. He's glad there are people around like Tim, who know even a little bit more than him.

Guzma perks up at the sound of Lillie's name, swirling the liquid in his glass before taking another long gulp.]

Mhm...she's staying with me, yeah. You know the little Princess? [He should, Lillie comes here pretty often, and must have a rapport with the staff by now.] She's a good kid. Keeps me in line, anyway.

I've seen her around.

[She was scared out of her mind in here, once. And he might not consider himself the best at kids (or at anything, really), but he's at least obtained something of a reflex for how best to ensure that a kid's not going to break down in the next hour or so.]

[So he'd like to think, anyway. He'd never be so bold to assume he does.]

Yeah. She's...braver than I think she thinks she is.

GUzma's expression softens a little bit, the rare smile he hide behind the scowl or the snide looks and crass attitude actually ghosting past the veil for a half second. He's become fond of Lillie and Luna, considering the former has had it about as rough as he did when he was a kid. And still managed to turn out way, way better than he did.

Thank god for that, the world doesn't need more people like himself.]

Bro, don't I know it. [He's seen her in action before, and the kid is...well, she's impressive. Being brave or strong doesn't always mean in the physical sense. It takes a lot of guts to tell someone who's hurt you what for.] Wish Lil could see it, though... She's got a lotta potential, but none'a the self-esteem to make good on it, yeah. She'll come around though, I don't doubt that for a second.

[Undoing the damage of a sinister household isn't easy, and nor does it take second to mend. It'll take years to even start mending the wounds dealt by the so-called Mother Beast.]

[He's gotten entirely too used to picking up on the warning signs of kids who've had it rough - kids who weren't really allowed to be kids. Lillie is more along the lines of Frisk, in terms of how she's adapted to it: internalized, restrained, unassertive.]

She hangs out in Denny sometimes. A little while ago, she hid out here.

How long's she been here? Do you know?

April Intro: Better Get to Digging

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