lifeaftr | Returning Island: Nuidan

Entry tags:

Returning Island: Nuidan

RETURNING ISLAND: NUIDAN

Who: Everyone!
What: Nuidan returns to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: Backdated to November 20th, and onward
Where: The harvest island of Nuidan
Warnings: Nothing of note; please mark if anything comes up!

Looking for Clear Water
Welcome back to Nuidan, adventurers.

For many of you, however, this might not be such a familiar experience. You might not have been here before. If you haven't, you'll probably be happy to know that the island of Nuidan is largely a peaceful one. New explorers can read up on the resources, dangers, and ephemera of the island here, but the most important part is that it is an island divided into quarters, each representative of a static and unchanging season. The north relates to spring, with rain-swept, windy hills; the east to fall, with orchards heavy with fruit and fallen leaves carpeting the ground; the south to winter, full of snowy plains and fields of ice; and the west to summer, blanketed with warm sand and ripe with the lazy drone of bees. At the island's heart is its temple, where the local avatar of harvest, known most commonly as Harv, can be found.

The last time you met them, they took the form of a hardworking sheepdog, determined to not let a single moment go to waste. Now, however, you'll find them looking and acting a little...different.

They're considerably calmer, for one, and also a good deal larger. But their disposition has remained more or less friendly, as can be gleaned from the state of the island around them.

Nuidan's lush woods, blustery tundras, sun-warmed sands, and rolling fields are still the same as they ever were, and it seems as if the whole island has been waiting for a triumphant, colorful return. As all of you managed to rack up an impressive number of crystals - around 135 total - the island can be assumed to be in splendid health. An air of anticipation lies mantled across the entire island, and the orchards, fields, and animals you worked so hard to tend, maintain, and corral the first time you were around are ready for harvesting in whatever way you see fit. No longer are fences unmended and decrepit, or orchards choked with weeds.

You're more than welcome to go combing the island to take in the spoils, as long as you don't mind the presence of the occasional, noisy nirnroot that can be found speckling the topography of Nuidan. That's right - you can find them here, too, those pesky things. But your attention might also be eaten up by the wooden stands and display tables set up around Harv's temple, like those you might see at a farmer's market. Because this is a time of harvest, and also a time to share in that harvest.

And after harvest comes celebration.

Playing It All For Gods Yesterday
The avatar who holds sway over this island has been waiting for many hands to make light work. Pitch in a little here and there, and you'll find that when the crops have been taken in, the food all stored, and the animals bedded down, the quite literal fruits of your labor and efforts will be transformed into a feast that beggars belief.

We do recommend that you exercise some caution, however - some food and drink might make you a tad more open-hearted or open-minded than you expect. All kinds of harmless but entertainingly strange effects might happen to those who are brave enough to sample some of the products on display.

[ ♆ ] Caramel Apples: These treats come in all sorts of varieties - sprinkled with peanuts, candied sprinkles, or drizzled with chocolate. They do have some unusual side effects, however. Anyone who eats one or more of these caramel-coated delights will discover that they now have the ability to levitate about a foot or so off the ground. And, by concentrating hard, you'll find you can also go zooming about at high speeds. Careful not to go colliding into any tables of goodies, or any of your fellow party-goers!

[ ♆ ] Deviled Eggs: Sprinkled with chili powder, sage, and chopped shallots, these appetizers can easily be scarfed down by the pound. It's recommended that you take care with how many you eat, however. These deviled eggs will make you incredibly proud of yourself. Eat one or two, and you'll find that your self-esteem has been massively boosted, and you'll feel like you deserve to celebrate your accomplishments! But consuming too many will almost certainly inflate your ego, and quickly make you more prone to bragging or making up outrageous exaggerations of your accomplishments which, while not fundamentally dangerous, might put you at a higher risk of getting decked in the face.

[ ♆ ] Pepper Poppers: Peppers that have been breaded and stuffed with cheeses and spices can make a delightfully spicy treat, though these come at a small cost. Eating just one of them will make you more predisposed to verbal quirks - making bad puns, indulging in copious alliteration, sesquipedalian loquaciousness, and so on. You can wash out this effect by drinking just about anything...but when you're cracking jokes that good, why would you?

[ ♆ ] Maple Bars: A doughnut topped off with a silky maple glaze can make for a delightful treat, though most don't tend to cause the people who eat them to exhibit a soft glow. Nonetheless, you'll find that the more of these desserts you eat, the brighter a glow you'll emit. What's more is that this glow can and will change its color depending on your mood. Don't think you can hide how blue you're feeling when the color itself is streaming right from your skin!

[ ♆ ] Butternut Squash Fritters: These fritters are hot, crispy, sprinkled liberally with salt and sage, and also have the fun side effect of making you far more complimentary than you might be otherwise. Did you mean to insult that guy over there? Too bad! Instead, you're telling him how much you love his hat, or how good he is with his words. The good news, nay, the better news, is that this effect is double-edged; after eating just one of these, you also can't insult yourself. You have no choice but to be wholly complimentary of anyone and everyone, your own good self included!

[ ♆ ] Pumpkin Pie: A staple of any kind of harvest-based celebration, of course, and a perfect example of it. Flaky crust, silky custard, topped off with nutmeg and whipped cream...and prone to making almost everything around you seem unbearably funny. Eat one slice of this, and you'll find that you just cannot seem to stop laughing! It might just end up being the best abdominal workout you get in years.

[ ♆ ] Leafy Crown: For those of you who aren't predisposed to eat anything, don't worry. You can still participate in the fun, if you want! Some tables carry crowns of colorful leaves that you can wear to showcase your festive spirit. It will also increase your festive spirit, and make you far more inclined to break into song and/or dance. What's that? You're not particularly talented in either of those areas? That's a shame! Fortunately, or maybe unfortunately, self-consciousness isn't likely to affect you once you've put one of these things on. No matter how poor a singer or dancer you, in actuality, are.

[ ♆ ] Harvest Candle: A table full of all sorts of beautiful candles invites you to light one as the day grows dark and the sun sinks over the horizon. You're certainly welcome to, but be warned: lighting a candle from this table will vastly increase your confidence, to perhaps a dangerous extent. While you'll feel less inclined to any shyness or second-guessing of yourself that might ordinarily plague you, you'll also be less susceptible to any sort of fear or warning signs that maybe you shouldn't be doing things that might be considered, ah...foolish. Like, for example, deciding you're going to trek out into Nuidan's southern region to ride a popo. Things like that.

Other than these, you'll find that almost everything else that can be consumed and otherwise interacted with will have no additional effects. What a relief!

Looking for Clear Water

Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. You're free to explore any other minor events listed on our Monthly Rundown post. You are also always free to create your own individual logs and posts as needed!

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask them over on our Monthly Rundown post!

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[The wolf huffs faintly, lifting up their heavy, whitish head from where it's been resting over their paws. Their dark eyes track the shape of the angel with a bit more speed and intelligence than your average canine - there is something distinctly not animal in the way they take Aziraphale in.]

I would be, yes.

[ Well, at least he's not making a fool of himself by trying to talk to an actual wolf. Though now that he's actually facing one of the local deities, he's somewhat at loss for words.]

Oh! Oh, well, hum. Hello. [ Falling on politeness, as always. ]

This is... [ A lot. Ahem. ] Would it be possible to have a word with you?

You've had several of them already.

[The wolf's head goes to one side almost lazily.]

But you're certainly welcome to have several more. Most everything that needs doing has already been done, you see. [So they're in no hurry to go anywhere, to do anything, to end this conversation, or anything else besides.]

Right.

[ When Harv turns their head, the angel first glances in that direction, before focusing on them again.]

Well, if I may - what is your name?

I have many names. Some call me Churnpeg, or Oko, or Demetus, or Jarilo. It is rather dependent on the people referring to me, and how they choose to do so.

I suppose that I prefer "Harv," if it makes any difference. But you may refer to me as you like.

Ah. [ Many names, which, for the most part, does make sense. At least it goes along with the whole...deity concept. ]

Harv it is, then.

[ He clears his throat and crosses his arms behind his back, very prim and proper. If he really is addressing a supposed god, he's going to do it right. ]

I am the Principality Aziraphale. Pleasure to meet you.

I would like to make some inquiries about this whole... [ Pause for thought. ] island situation.

You see, perhaps you may already know - or- well, whatever the case may be, my friend and I have found ourselves stranded in these islands, like the many that seem to take residence here. We have attempted to contact one Storyteller, but, unfortunately, it seems like we may have missed them.

[ Many words, not much said, but he's working toward it. ]

Perhaps, if possible, you could tell us a bit more of why exactly we are brought here?

[Harv listens patiently, though their head droops back down to rest over their snowy white paws midway through Aziraphale's diatribe. Still, they remain, for the most part, relatively attentive.]

That...I cannot answer. I am not the one who brought you here. My power extends no further than the limits of this island. The archipelago, the universe, the world at large, the greater scope of things - I am but one small piece in it.

[ Aziraphale deflates slightly. It's almost funny, really - being who he is, what he is, he's already struggling with the concept of any 'gods' beyond the One he knows. Harv's response does little more than confirm that they are not anywhere near the Almighty.

It's a complicated concept. He still wonders if this has something to do with her, as all things should be - or if they've actually, truly been plucked out of Her realm. ]

Oh. [ Sounding somewhat lost now. ] Well, hum. Do you...know who is?

[Alas, but Harv is not the bastion of reliable answers that Aziraphale might have been hoping for.]

That, I cannot say. I have been...alone on this island for some time, separated from the others of the pantheon I would ordinarily share.

[ They are not, but surely they can give him some information, right? He certainly hopes so. ]

Pantheon? [ He mostly repeats, attention peaked. He knows there are others, of course, but the more he can find out, the best. Probably. ]

How many others are there?

Oh, many...very many. They come and they go. Most say there are ten majors, but the minors are more fluid, I've found, as we are forgotten, as we rise and as we fall.

Entropy affects us all, after all. Even the divine.

[ Aziraphale's attention shifts from asking them questions about how he got here, to simply...learning more about these beings. Less of a priority shift, and more just a general curiosity.

It can't be helped; he would have never imagined he'd ever meet non-earthly creatures that he didn't previously know about. Much less an entire caste of them. ]

Ah...I see.

Is there a way to...learn about them? I can't say I've met another one as easily as this.

It shouldn't come as a surprise, but this is not exactly how things--are, where I am from.

So I've been gathering. I'm not...

[There's a flicker of something across their ordinarily placid features, a hazy cloud of uncertainty descending on the clarity of their expression.]

...I'm not responsible for this world's history. All I have are my own memories.

[ Aziraphale catches that subtle emotion, although he can't begin to understand why it happens. ]

Understandable. [ As he doesn't know how else to respond. ]

...Does that mean someone else is?

Yes, of course. That would be one of the major ten, actually.

[They say it with matter-of-fact simplicity, ilke it should be perfectly obvious.]

[ Well, Aziraphale tends to share that same habit. It's weird to find himself on the other side, even if it's not the first time. ]

And who are the major ten?

It has been so long since I've heard their names...

[The wolf closes their eyes. They seem to be concentrating very, very hard.]

My memory is not what it used to be. I recall...Vatro. Qieli. Chac'lan. Gemini. Others...they are so hard to recall now.

[ This does not seem to be an easy conversation. Aziraphale has many, many questions, but seeing how they're somewhat struggling, is...It's strange, in a way. As he's still consolidating the idea of what kind of 'gods' they and their kind are, they're getting farther and farther away from the kind he knows. Which he already did suspect, but still. ]

I see...

[ Unsure whether more questions would upset them, Aziraphale takes that moment to look off towards the fields, noting the split down the middle of the fields.

It's all quite surreal. ]

I gather the feast left outside is your doing?

Oh, no. It's yours.

[This question is more easily and more readily answered. Harv seems plenty happy to breeze past the topic as Aziraphale is. They resume talking as though the difficulty in their memory had never occurred.]

Yours and...well, it was mostly yours.

Oh.

[ Well- hardly his, he thinks, as he didn't...actually help with anything. But deities have a tendency to talk in the more general sense, don't they? ]

Well, still, it's rather generous.

It was your gratitude. Your...the force of your will, combined...

[Again, the words lapse and fade slightly before Harv seems more capable of marshalling their thoughts into something more streamlined and coherent.]

This place could not flourish without those to populate it and work its fields, tend to its animals...and reap its harvest.

Ah, I see.

[ A lot more simple than it seemed, then. Though he can't help to wonder about the actual food stalls. He didn't really see anyone manning those... ]

Thank you. For...answering my inquiries.

[ Not his most graceful conversation. But it's not like it's easy to reach a god...usually. ]

[For what it's worth, this doesn't seem to bother them at all.]

Of course. I cannot answer every question, but this island is my home. I know it better than any other.

Well, you've certainly been easier to reach than your other, ehm, colleague.

[ Although he's heard the Storyteller is not impossible to reach. Might have just been bad timing.]

My colleague?

[The wolf tips their head to one side - not quite openly inquisitive, but vaguely so.]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject