lifeaftr | May Adventure: I Want to Go Where Everyone Goes

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

That's a wonderful idea! If you need help harvesting or identifying any of the plants, let me know.

[She recognizes most of the plants here for what they are: flowers and herbs for infusions, or variations of the Camellia sinensis plant, mostly distinguishable by leaf color. Despite the need for different types of soil, weather, or special seed selections, she's seen a lot of variety in the garden. Presumably it's some sort of god-island magic. Lillie doesn't really need to think too deeply about it, she figures.]

Did you know all tea actually comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis? It's how you prepare the leaves that determines what kind of tea is produced.

[Her ability to recite entire passages of books she's read is about to be on display if nobody stops her here...]

[Asgore perks up. He is not going to stop her at all a little.]

Why, yes! I have two in my garden already - one of the sinesis variety, and one assamica. But this seems like a good opportunity to get more without bothering the Storyteller.

I did not know anyone else here was quite that interested in tea.

Oh, that's wonderful!

[Lillie shakes her head shyly, seemingly embarrassed by her sudden excitement. It's true that she's always been interested in tea, but it was something she sort of fell into knowing a lot about rather than a lifelong passion. Still, she has tons of tea trivia saved up because of it.]

I used to read a lot, especially about far away places and plants, usually the ones used as natural medicine. Tea is a big part of culture in so many places, as well as a powerful medicinal tool, so I found myself reading about the subject quite often.

What made you interested in tea, out of curiosity?

Well, when I was young, it was common to have formal meetings of various kinds over tea. I spent a lot of time in the kitchens, and it was something I could do to help, and to practice my magic.

[It doesn't take a lot of fire magic to heat a kettle. The recollection is a little odd...he doesn't think about those days much anymore, but the recent incident has brought some things back.]

But really, I find it very calming. The preparation, the drink itself...it is a nice ritual to have, is it not?

I think it is, yes. Rituals are an important part of life.

[She smiles down into her tea, unfamiliar with the content expression reflected in the cup, but certainly not displeased by it. Life used to be little more than a collection of small rituals for her. Some good, some unhealthy - all part of what shaped her, but all important in their own ways.

It's no good dwelling on those thoughts too long, though. This kind of relaxation and peace lets her mind wander too much.]

I've always wondered...is magic very difficult?

[Oh? The subject change is a little surprising, but he rolls with it.]

Not especially, for my kind. We can all use it to some degree. But then, we are made of it.

[Don't worry, it's less of a direct subject change and more of a segue into more questions! She knows a good deal about tea, but very little about magic, and so she is naturally curious as to how that works.]

Made of it? That sounds...well, incredible, really.

[What must it feel like to be made of nebulous, mystical energy? Everything she knows about magic comes from reading old legends and fairy tales, admittedly, so maybe there's more to it than that.]

I guess in all my reading, I've always seen magic as a form of combat? Like in fantasy stories, there are wizards that use it to fight evil. But you said you used it to make tea - so, for you it's more of a utility, then?

Ah - well, it can be used for combat too.

[That doesn't seem to be his favorite topic, his eyes dart uneasily for a second before settling back on the tea.]

Sparring is a common form of communication for monsters, as we can sense the intent and emotions behind magic attacks. But that is not really the same as a FIGHT. [He doesn't raise his voice or change his tone at all, it just...sort of sounds capitalized? Who knows.] And it would only harm a human...

I see... [Lillie looks contemplative for a moment before nodding, as if to confirm something to herself.] It's good that you have a unique way of communicating with each other! I'm finding that a lot of worlds have ways to share bonds and information that are different than what I'm used to.

[She reasons that it must hurt humans because they aren't made of the stuff, which sounds plausible enough and doesn't involve pushing this nice fuzzy man to talk about something that he seems uncomfortable with.]

It's surprising how much of it comes back to combat or sparring, though. But it's kind of nice, isn't it? That these dangerous things can also be used to make peoples' lives better?

It is nice.

[Asgore smiles, still a little worn, but happy to be maybe moving past that topic.]

I have been interested to hear about humans with magic, since leaving my world. That was very rare in mine.

May Adventure: I Want to Go Where Everyone Goes

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