May Adventure: I Want to Go Where Everyone Goes

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: IO

Who: Everyone!
What: Io appears!
When: May 10th and onward
Where: Io
Warnings: The possibility of drug use and alcohol may come up. Otherwise, tag as you go!

Things Are Shaping Up to Be Pretty Odd
As of May 10th, the mana pools on Ensō and its islets will now allow for travel to Io. Though you could always opt for sailing, if you wanted. As we mentioned on the island's introductory post, no exploration is necessary! The island is small enough and easily traversed, and with a minimum of dangers, you have plenty of time to visit each of Io's six draws.

The temple is the easiest place to get in touch with the local avatar, though you can contact them just as easily by striking up a conversation with just about any honeybee you see in the vicinity. The lazy drone of them can be heard all over the island, though they're quite complacent, and not at all prone to disturbing adventurers. The temple itself is twined with grapevines and smothered with inlays of rubies, proud and sparkling. Inside, it smells of honey and wine, and seems to exhibit a naturally contented glow. Just outside, numerous fruit trees sprout all about the temple's courtyard, to be sampled at your leisure.

The bathhouses are located just south of the temple, and are prime locations for some rest and relaxation. Bathe, swim, take a spa day! There are innumerable rooms to do exactly that, and more space than be reasonably filled by some sixty-or-seventy people. Or maybe you're interested in getting absolutely sloshed instead. The vineyard is perfect for that, located to Io's northeast on one of its long, tapering peninsulas. Rows upon rows of grapevines lead up to the crown jewel of the region: a proud winery with enough goods to satisfy even the most parched.

For those less keen on mind-altering substances, the tea gardens are a far safer bet. They practically emanate tranquility, with their soft paper lanterns, thickets of tea trees, and a tea room with a seemingly endless supply of every supplement to your drink that you could ask for. And if none of the teabags or tea leaves in there suit your preference, you're free to wander about the gardens yourself and sample whatever you like.

The Honeycomb at the island's heart is much more akin to a play structure or jungle gym than anything else, but its interlocking passageways and erratic, hexagonal architecture aren't for nothing. It's an ideal spot for play or exercise, if you're into that kind of thing - or for getting positively sick on honey sticks.

The campsites ensure that you don't truly have to depart from Io, if you don't want to. Tents full of chairs and cushions and blankets make it a wonderful place to spend the night if you're so inclined, and the lockers full of food and drink are assurances that you won't go hungry. And with all these massive bonfires and firework cannons, why would you ever want to leave?

---

Welcome to the island of Io! Please, enjoy your stay and make full use of this island's many faculties! For further information in regards to the island, or plotting, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC info and introductory post
[ ♆ ] Io on the Locations page

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

avatar of celebration ( "eleu" ) | ota

[thankgods]

[You've probably noticed the abundance of bees drifting all over the place. For the most part, they're placid and good-natured creatures who won't bother you at all. However, if you want to converse with the local deity of Io, all you need to do is strike up a conversation with one of the bees scattered all over the island. Don't be surprised if one of them answer!]

[Though you could also stop by their temple to Io's northwest. With its soft, warm scents of honey and wine, it might be a bit too cloying. But the swarm of honeybees can be addressed inside or outside of it, if you're so inclined.]

[They're content to observe, for the most part, unless someone else talks to them first.]

[yourattention]

[Connor's literally just been sitting around in the temple for three hours sketching before he actually decides maybe he should say something to the avatar. He wants to ask something about Bliss, but also . . . bees. There's bees and Connor needs to make a Bee Movie joke. He's physically incapable of not doing it.

Please let him have this. This is the only time he'll ever be able to use this meme in the context of actual bees.]

. . . Do you like jazz?

[thankgods]

[ At first, there's nothing but the sound of lazy buzzing. Then, a swirl of bees drifts towards Connor with relaxed purpose.

A voice that sounds like the hum of thousands of smaller voices, blended together into one resonant, harmonious whole, makes itself known. ]

I've not heard of it!

What manner of thing might this 'jazz' be?

[yourattention]

[Ok well. He has some regrets right now, but because Zoe is his sister he does, in fact, have jazz music on his ipod. It's just, uh. Incredibly Connor. I do not recommend listening to that in public.

He loads the song and plugs the earbuds in, holding the earbud up for the swarm of bees. Shit's chill. This isn't even the weirdest thing he's had to do.]

I don't have speakers, so you're gonna have to come up to the earbud to listen.

[thankgods]

[ A bee settles on the earbud. They don't move until the song is entirely finished.

They hum, thoughtfully, lifting off the earbud so Connor doesn't have to keep holding it up. By the way the swarm of bees drifts around him, buzzing pleasantly, they sound quite content. ]

So this is jazz! What a wonderful sound. How generous of you to show me!

So yes! I like it, very much so.

[ Question...answered? ]

[yallstupid]

[It's during a nice, hot soak in the huge bath houses that Guzma hears the gentle buzz of teensy wings in the air. This doesn't bother him as much as it would many others, and as his breathes out, lifting up a bit to wipe steam off his face, he notes a few little bees buzzing around.

Lord, he's never going to get over how itty bitty some of the bugs are here, but these things remind him a bit of Cutieflies, which are...bigger, but not by too much. A placid smile appears on his face as he holds out his hand for the little insects. Gosh but they're cute - fuzzy, round, shaped like a friend.]

Sup, lil bro--uh, sis? [Most bees are female (except Combees 8\), so he corrects himself quickly.] Get too close and you're gonna take a right long nap, yo.

[Steam...or smoke, really, and bees don't tend to mix, and Guzma's not about letting this poor little thing drown in the pools.]

[thankgods]

[ The bees drift closer, still heeding Guzma's warning to stay clear of the steam. (Connected to the god of this island though they are, they see no reason not to follow along.)

They alight on Guzma's hand with a soft buzz. ]

Oh, naps are very nice! [ They're comfortable, relaxing - what more could you ask for? ] But your care is commendable.

Are you enjoying your time here?

[yallstupid]

[Oh, that's never going to get easy to deal with - sudden, talking animals. Guzma tenses a half second before he relaxes again when the teensy insect lands in his hands. C-Cute... The slight curl of his lips is unbidden, but Guzma bites his lower lip to try and hide it nonetheless. He never raised a Cutiefly before, but with good stats and better training, the little creatures can become monsters in battle, well before they evolve, too.

He has to wonder how tough this little thing could be, if a threat presented itself. Though...it's attitude is so lackadaisical, he can't help the bias toward a more calm nature.]

Mmmhm... Can y'all believe I didn't wanna come here at first? My friend had to drag my sorry behind - heh, sorry - here 'fore I realized what a good spot it was. [He shifts, so his forearms are leaning outside the pool, safe from the steam and the water.] Guess I owe you li'l guys thanks?

[thankgods]

Oh, but no thanks is necessary! You're relaxing, enjoying yourself...

[ The god's voice is warm and pleasant, a harmonious hum of many sounds combined to make a coherent whole. It's easy to listen to. ]

That is more than enough.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Church finds out the god-avatar-ruler-being of this place is bees and it makes him just want to sit down and reevaluate his entire (horrifyingly short) existence. But. There don't seem to be volcanoes here. Or like...monkey forts? Or mermaids, he hasn't seen them yet but he's heard of them from a couple people now. No giant plant monsters.

So. Bees. Beesus. Beezy Jeezy. The Bees Of Many Names. He watches a couple bees dotting some of the plants and flowers and has to work himself out of feeling really fucking silly before he comes over, takes a seat on the ground, leans in to one of the tiny bitty honeybees.]

So what's the catch here?

[thankgods]

[ Church is subsequently rewarded with the unique feeling of a bee making direct eye contact with him. Whether this will lessen the feeling of being silly is entirely dependent on his reactions. ]

There is no catch, nor cost, nor price. [ Their voice hums and shifts, a thousand sounds blended into one, singing harmoniously. ]

Enjoying yourself here is more than enough.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Less silly, more...inherently creepy in a way?]

See, that's the sort of thing someone would say if there was secretly a catch. [church don't interrogate the bees??] Nothing's going to explode, no angry natives booting us out, just...perpetual spa day, every day, in the land of milk and honey?

[thankgods]

[ The bees hum, entirely placid. They don't seem to mind being interrogated. ]

This is an island for rest, for celebration, for enjoyment. That is how it is, and will always be.

[ To go against their own nature would be unthinkable, after all. They are the avatar of celebration, and their island reflects that. ]

[vagabone]

[He's ambling through the tea gardens at some point, taking his time and feeling fairly relaxed. Can't drink any tea without monstrous assistance, but being surrounded by pleasant smelling living plants is enough. You don't get that in the land of the dead, except for marigolds.

Some bees drift by and he finally decides to speak up, feeling silly trying at all. Oh well, no one's watching.]

Hey, little dudes. This is your island, right?

[thankgods]

It is! It is indeed. So it always has been, and so it always will be.

[ The bees swirl around him in a golden, shimmering cloud, apparently inspecting him from all angles in a casual sort of way. ]

Are you enjoying yourself?

[vagabone]

[All those little eyeballs!]

Suppose I am. Do you need us to do anything?

[Yes, yet another person who thinks there has to be a catch, though he seems less openly suspicious than some might be.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[As is becoming tradition with her, at least on less hostile islands, Muffet begins her visit by stopping at the local deity's temple, with a gift. This time, it's a wooden bottle filled with fresh strawberry juice- from her own garden, naturally.]

[She curtsies politely.]

Hello, I've brought you a gift. Your island is lovely.

[She maintains her impeccable manners, smiling genuinely- she really does mean the compliment, this island seems charming. It's just that in the back of her mind, she's very firmly reminding herself...]

[Don't eat the god bees. Do NOT eat the god bees. These are people bees, they're a deity, they are not food. DO NOT EAT THE GOD BEES.]

[She's hardly unable to deny her instincts, and she's allowing no trace of the firmly-suppressed foolish thoughts to leak through. (...It's like being surrounded by a bunch of buzzy, sapient popcorn, they look so snackable.) She's not going to do it, really. But she's already resigned herself to mentally smacking the thought down every few minutes for the duration of her stay here.]

[thankgods]

[ Blissfully unaware of her bee-popcorn thoughts, they buzz around her in a curious swarm (which probably doesn't help at all). ]

Ah, thank you. For the gift, and for the compliments. [ Their voice is harmonious and warm. So close to their altar, the relaxed and buzzing tone brings to mind golden, lazy days, full of sunshine and warmth. ]

Do you find this island to your liking?

[prettypurpleparlor]

[It's definitely not helping. But she refuses to lose any of her composure.]

You're quite welcome. [Muffet puts the bottle down for them to take, as she's learned to do for these deities' altars.]

Oh, yes- it seems a very cheerful, pleasant sort of place. And I do hope you're enjoying our visit, in turn.

[ideismo]

[Well, if nothing else, Alexei's lorby has certainly noticed the bees; Alexei's lorby also has no sense of how to behave around a deity of any sort, nor does he have any sense of goddamn decorum just in general, but he does seem to understand that he probably shouldn't eat them? Though that's likely less because this is an avatar of anything, and more because at some point he probably tried to eat like an entire beehive once and got to deal with the repercussions.

Even so, Alexei is just outside the temple today; he hasn't brought any sort of offering, because he imagines the sort of things he's capable of bringing won't be appreciated (what the hell would bees want with swords?) but this place is nice to spend time in and the lorby he's brought seems to like it - the snake in question is alternating between putting peaches in his face and, well, trying very hard to interact with the bees, which is somewhat difficult to do without screaming and while having no hands. So he's settling for chirping noises and excitedly rolling around on the ground, because rolling around is how he generally expresses all the joy that cannot be contained in his furry limbless body.]

Just be gentle with them, Garista.

[It's not an admonishment, it's nowhere near a scolding; just kind of a reminder. These bees are nice, let's ensure they stay that way.

...The next statement is addressed to the bees.]

He isn't troubling you, is he? I can calm him if you prefer it.

[thankgods]

Oh! He's enjoying himself! I wouldn't want to interfere with his happiness. He's disturbing nothing.

[ The bees buzz pleasantly around Alexei and his extremely long friend, hovering close enough for Garista to be sufficiently entertained (hopefully). ]

What brings you to my temple on such a fine day? [ A fine day that could be spent elsewhere in relaxation on the island, at any rate. They've had many more visitors here than they have in some time, and it's very nice. ]

[ideismo]

[Garista is a simple creature who very much likes these bees! So yes, he is entertained. Beeeeees.

...Anyway, ]

It's like nothing I've ever seen before. Even the castle at our empire's capital isn't so ornately-constructed - I find it rather beautiful. It seemed only right to appreciate it for a while, to say nothing of greeting our host properly.

My name is Alexei Dinoia, Commandant of the Imperial Knights, from Terca Lumireis. It's a pleasure.

[deathfindsaway]

[He always makes it a practice to go to the temple first. The concept of this place seems fairly straightforward, much unlike most of the other islands visited, but he won't feel like he knows everything properly until he's spoken to them. Old habits die hard, or something.

It takes him a moment upon entry to steady himself to the atmosphere, but he speaks up on arrival.]

Ah-- hello, I'm looking for the deity of this place? I promise not to take too much of your time.

[thankgods]

[ A swarm of bees rises from their perches in the temple and swirl around Kravitz, a shimmering golden fog of tiny bodies. He's being observed - inspected is too harsh a word. ]

Then you've found them, indeed. [ Their voice is a pleasant, harmonious hum. It brings to mind sunshine and warm air, lazy summer days. ]

I can spend as much time as you desire in conversation. Feel free to stay as long as you wish.

[deathfindsaway]

[It's strange to find something so familiar and yet so not in this place. In a sense, this is comfortable- for as much as Kravitz serves the Raven Queen, she frequently sends him or communicates with Istus and Pan, the deities of nature and fate. This reminds him of the warm comfort of Pan's realm in the celestial plane, all calming words and the plod on of nature's crawl.

But at the same time, this is still a god. He needs to have some form of decorum just out of respect. Kravitz swallows, maybe looking more closely at the swarm than it is at him.]

I appreciate it. Thank you for your time. Uh, to start, thank you for the welcome-- I think this sort of relaxation is sorely needed from other places we have visited.

[Which is a good segway into...]

To that end... what do you know of other islands? Do you know how long you've been here by yourself?