lifeaftr | August Intro: These Days Are Feeling Dark

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August Intro: These Days Are Feeling Dark

INTRO LOG: AUGUST

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

Our lucky new adventurers join the archipelago on a new chapter of our journey, with the new island of Nastrandir playing host to their arrival. With the events of last month leaving many questions in those more settled in LifeAftr, all will find they soon have…other things to think about.

New arrivals may awake at either of the locations listed below. Or they may wander!

A4: Show Me Distraction
In comparison to the warm welcome characters experienced on Io, the land of Nastrindir is not at all promising. The strip of coast hosting the mana pool is a scoop of rock and cliff, and rather unforgiving. To the east, however, it looks as though nearby wetlands leave the horizon lost in a foggy haze. The mana pool is generally a comforting, reliable constant on any island...generally. There looks to be something wrong with this one. The rocks surrounding it are blackened, various spots across their surface almost glass-like under the summer sun. After a brief inspection, most will probably gather that the pool has been set on fire in times past.

More annoying still is the tampering that's occured within the pool. The pool is partially obstructed, due to a blockage of tumbled rocks and boulders that seem to have fallen from the surrounding rocky landscape and toppled into the raised plinth. The choking of the mana water will make return trips to Ensō…inconvenient, to say the least. The rocks are an annoyance that will need to be removed before anyone will be travelling anywhere.

Also of note are the old statues that stand at opposing sides of the mana pool. In their prime, they may have towered a good fifteen or twenty feet tall. Now, however, one has been tipped onto its side, and there are large, crumbled chunks taken out of the other. Both look blackened, much like the mana pool, as though they were also set on fire at some point in their history. Whatever they may have meant to depict has been lost to time...but the parts of them that have survived look to represent smooth, rounded coils of something or another.

It might feel, to the particularly wary or those prone to paranoia, like these statues are watching you. Like they're representative of something else that might have its eye on you, even now.

Or they might not! It could be all in your head. What's way more important is the local flora in the vicinity. The parts of the land that have soil are currently host to some delightful plants that are known, colloquially, as candyplants. And, yes - they're exactly what they sound like.

Candyplants are odd plants that are not unlike a melon vine, except that their fruits take the form of giant candies. The candyfruit is quite edible, though much higher in sugar content than your more bog standard varieties of fruits and vegetables. The variation in the shapes and sizes and flavors is tremendous - some are shaped like fruit, and will have a very similar taste to the fruit they represent. The only exceptions are the ones that look rather like overgrown candy corn, which taste like...marshmallows, for some reason. But they still taste sweet, and they're still full of some of the nutrients you'd expect to find in ordinary fruit!

While candyplants are somewhat less sugary than their real candy equivalents, it's still not recommended that you gorge on them overmuch. They're probably pretty bad for your teeth, if you have any. Candyplants do keep for quite some time, though - particularly if dried, packed in jars, or otherwise preserved.

Candyplants grow in temperate areas near quantities of fresh water - which Nastrandir has in abundance. Most of them grow in shaded, open areas along the ground, like melons; plants that bear smaller candyfruits may instead behave like grapes and other climbing vines, especially when they would be otherwise crowded out by other ground plants. The plants and fruits are quite harmless, though the sweet, sugary smell that tends to linger around areas of rampant growth during hot weather can cause one hell of migraine.

B4: Snakes Are Biting at My Heels
Those who arrive a little ways away from the mana pool or find themselves daring enough to start exploring will end up on the B4 square, which is closer to the swampy environment more characteristic of Nastrandir's inland. The further east one progresses, the wetter and softer the ground underfoot will get, until you're slogging thigh-deep in freshwater algae and muck. It's pretty dirty work, but it's probably more advisable that you go roaming into the wetlands rather than sticking around in the rockier regions. - especially because those regions happen to be occupied.

That feeling of paranoia that may or may not have settled on the back of your neck on A4 will turn out to be justified. Flickers of motion in the corner of your eye, the sensation of something watching you, the clattering of pebbles and rocks sliding down the sloping inclines on Nastrandir's craggy landscape - all signs indicative that something else frequents this region.

And something does. Something large, scaly, and very hungry.

Rocobra have now been unlocked in the bestiary!

The spiny protrusions on this creature's long, sinuous body will make it quite difficult to distinguish from its surroundings; these beasts tend to disguise themselves as the surrounding mountain rock where they live. Mild chameleonic properties allow this predator to blend almost seamlessly in with a rocky environment of almost any texture and color. And, given the size of them, it's very possible you won't realize that you're stuck in one's coils until it's too late.

With thick, scaly hides, large jaws, and venomous teeth, the rocobra is deadly fast despite its significant bulk. Even at their smallest, the rocobra is often as thick as a tree trunk in girth, and can range from thirty to sixty feet in length. Rocobra specialize in draping themselves in a circle, concealing themselves among their surroundings, and waiting for unsuspecting prey to wander somewhere in their coils before drawing tight around them to constrict them into a slow and painful death, so they might be devoured.

The good news is that rocobra only ever hunt and live in solitude; it is highly unlikely you'll find more than one in any one area. Most cannot spit venom, but can deal a paralyzing strike with massive fangs that are just as likely to impale you as they are to poison you. The good news is that they do have a weakness, and that weakness is numbers - when there is more than one target for the rocobra to focus on, it can get hopelessly confused over who it should be striking first, and can be easily distracted and led along by a well-coordinated team or pair. It's advised that you strike it at the mouth, if possible, as those scales can be awfully hard to penetrate.

While the danger rocobra present is very real, that doesn't mean they're completely useless. Rocobra can potentially be harvested for venom, meat, or their tough, scaly hides.

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 )

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No, it's — I— w— [That thing happens, where he tries to make words out of unconnected syllables and he ends up stumbling over all of them, just a little string of sounds before he manages to pull himself together.

Mostly because he decides he's not even going to try to explain.] Look, if we find some kind of habitable structure, we can stick together. You're right, it's safer that way.

[Aziraphale has to fight the genuine smile that pulls at his mouth. He manages, somehow. Successfully.]

Good.

[Good, then. It's settled.]

It may also be wise to find weapons, at some point. Sooner rather than later.

[Good. Yes. It's settled. Let's never talk about shacking up together again.]

Shouldn't have given that bloody sword back.

[Probably shouldn't have given it away in the first place, although Crowley is reminded just how kind that gesture was, now that he has to consider things like heat sources again.]

I dunno that a weapon'll do me much good. I'm not, you know — [He vaguely gestures in Aziraphale's direction, as if to indicate The Principality.] Never was much for fighting.

I can find another sword.

[It just won't be on fire, probably.

Although maybe he can fix that.

He feels Crowley gesturing and glances sideways again.]

— it'd be for protection. It's not as though we're inviting people to spar.

[Crowley's not sure where Aziraphale is planning to find a sword, but he decides there's no real point in mentioning that. Either he'll find one or he won't. Maybe if they make friends with this Storyteller, they could ask for one.

For now, Crowley just shrugs.]

I'd hope not, haven't done that kind of thing since Greece.

["Sparring" is probably not the right word.]

[The glance becomes a wide-eyed stare.

Does he mean — ?

Does he mean...?

Why is that relevant? What does that have to do with anything?

Why is Crowley like this.

Demonic nature aside.]

...noted. Thank you for sharing.

[This is what the kids call "revenge". For that little smirk of a smile that Azirapahle was wearing earlier.

It's obvious, too, in the way Crowley chuckles to himself, practically radiating an aura of smug satisfaction.]

Maybe one of the soldiers running around will lend me a gun.

[This is unlikely. He's well aware.]

Maybe if you ask nicely. Or —

[Aziraphale sniffs.]

Could pretend we're in Greece.

[biiiiiiiiiiiitch]

[Crowley's eyebrows go up and he laughs again; he could get offended here, but he thinks it's more amusing how prissy Aziraphale is being about a little euphemism. Crowley's seen some of the books in the shop, he remembers being told about the club at Portland Place, Aziraphale is hardly a blushing maiden.]

Might have to rethink the living situation if that's your suggestion.

[Like, yes, this was all Aziraphale's idea.]

[Prissy isn't the word for it, but it's easy enough for any emotion resembling frustration to pass through Aziraphale's angelic body and be mistaken for prissiness.

Is the way he swaps at Crowley's arm prissy?

Probably.]

Oh, stop it.

[It's reassuring how normal this is, despite the fact they're in some other universe, despite the tension of their earlier conversation. He'll even allow that little hit, since it just adds to his amusement.]

Really, angel, I had no idea you were such a prude.

[Oh, okay. Okay. All right. Aziraphale arches his eyebrow sharply, tilts his head just a fraction, as if considering Crowley and all of his — whatever.

Then, casually:] On second thought, better not. If you're that out of practice I doubt anyone'd feel compelled to give you anything. [He stuffs his hands in his pockets, continues ahead.

Says, over his shoulder:] Might leave that one to me.

[Wait.

What.

What.

No, actually, when he thinks about it that does kind of track, Aziraphale's a bloody hedonist, of course he's indulged in that sort of pleasure as well. Probably with Oscar bloody Wilde, knowing him.

A dozen other messy little thoughts claw up, trying to make themselves known, but Crowley's well practiced in the art of ignoring those.

Best to stick with "offended", that's much better than "jealous".]

The cheek of you. Are you forgetting I'm a demon? Comes with the territory, doesn't it.

[Aziraphale keeps on walking, half-ignoring Crowley just because he can.]

And yet.

[Crowley doesn't jog to catch up, he's not facing that indignity, he just has long legs and the ability to slightly bend space around himself. That's how he ends up in step with Aziraphale again.]

You know, I never said anything about ancient Greece.

Edited 2019-08-09 17:11 (UTC)

Mm.

[Aziraphale hardly puts any effort into making any sound at all, but the noise that leaves him still manages to contain all the amused, smug skepticism in the entire world.

He has a feeling they're playing a very stupid, potentially messy game, here, but it's fine? It's fine.]

[They're playing a very stupid game and Crowley is aware that he's skirting dangerously close to asking too much, or saying too much.

Also, Will had it right. If he puts up too much of a fuss, it'll just make it seem more like he's full of shit.]

I think it'd be best if we avoided making things messy with the handful of mortals we have to live with, hm?

[So sex should probably be off the table in general.]

Probably.

[Easy enough to agree to that without needing to point out the fact that not everyone here is mortal. Crowley knows, and Aziraphale is satisfied with the pokes he's landed for now.

So he goes back to surveying the land.

Once he's gone quiet, Aziraphale hears a trickle of water, the gentle lapping of small waves.

A lake.]

[The only non-mortal he's aware of is Michael.

So.

That's not happening.]

We can't have hit the ocean again yet, right?

[Only one way to find out; Crowley picks up the pace a little, assuming Aziraphale will keep up, moving until a lake is visible through the trees.]

Huh. Think that's safe to swim in?

[Aziraphale keeps up, though he doesn't look very pleased by the fact that they have to move through so much grass to get there. It's worth it, though — there's something innately calming about lakes.

Except for the deadly ones.]

I'm sure someone knows. We could ask?

[If he weren't well aware of the fragility of this corporeal form, he'd be tempted to hop right in, but he has no idea what could be living in there.]

I'll add it to the list.

[He's been mentally starting one, of questions he'd like the answer to.]

This place could almost be alright if it had some fucking modern amenities.

[Hopefully:] Maybe it does!

[He says that knowing full well the odds of that are astronomically low.]

Or, maybe — well, we've watched humans come up with some awfully clever inventions, haven't we? Who's not to say this lot can't do the same with a little nudging?

[Not the worst idea; Crowley sort of tips his head as if considering it, but:]

Have a feeling it's more a question of resources in a place like this. Suppose it can't hurt to see what we can do about it.

[If it means he gets to have a warm bath at some point in the future, Crowley will drag this place out of the dark ages with his bare hands.

He draws in a deep breath, lets it out slowly. The reality of this has settled into him fully, now. The fact they're stuck here for fuck knows how long, without so many of the comforts they're used to, never mind the way their power has been stripped back.

At least they're together, though. Crowley doesn't think he could've handled it without Aziraphale.]

Let's keep going, angel, this is still a bit damp to set up camp for the night.

[Aziraphale hasn't yet had a decent chance at figuring out what, exactly, is different about him here; everything he'd tested earlier was done under duress, out of panic and self-defense. He feels spent in a way he never has before — magically speaking.

The lake is lovely. He'd stay here if Crowley were willing, but it looks like they have more ground to cover before darkness falls.

Feeling a little brave, or maybe a little scared, he takes a step closer and links their arms together. They've done this before. It's no big deal.]

Lead the way.

Edited 2019-08-09 23:35 (UTC)

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August Intro: These Days Are Feeling Dark

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