lifeaftr | Returning Island: Umui

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Returning Island: Umui

RETURNING ISLAND: UMUI

Who: Everyone!
What: Umui returns to the archipelago of LifeAftr
When: January 20th, and onward
Where: It'd almost be beautiful, if you didn't know it could kill you
Warnings: Please mark if anything comes up!

I Found a Plot of Weeds Instead
Perhaps some of you remember the island of Umui...its mysteries, its dangers, its eerie quiet. Almost everything here was both overgrown and Overgrown - remnants of an old civilization were buried beneath layers of the flowers that eventually killed them. And travelers got to unpack and hunt down whatever clues they could find about just what happened to the people out here, until the answer became all too obvious.

When Umui resurfaces on January 20th, you might be startled to discover that everything has become even more overgrown than before. No, really - almost every landmark and building has been rendered more or less totally unrecognizable. It looks very much as though centuries of growth has now overcome this entire area, as though you've left it like this for a period of millennia and not merely a period of months. The buildings have been utterly buried beneath grasses and flowers, and if there were any of those automatons left lying about, they're probably buried pretty deep under the ground too.

It's not recommended that you go digging too deep. You probably don't want to awaken any old strains of the Overgrowth, right? You already dealt with that earlier in the month! And that's the good news in all this. As long as you don't go digging too deeply into the island, you won't have any fear of encountering the Overgrowth again.

Well, unless you're after something or someone in particular. Some of you might remember robotic entity that several of you worked together to save. They're probably underneath all this stuff somewhere, right? Still deactivated, but...maybe there's something you can do to save them...?

If anyone has questions about what you might find if you poking around Umui's landscape, you're free to ask them here! It's worth noting, however, that except for the flora, this place is almost completely devoid of other life. Nothing sentient lives here...anymore.

Buried Deep Underneath the Tree
That doesn't mean Umui is bereft of any of quirks entirely, however. While you might recognize some of the flowers poking up from the humps of moss and greenery, a certain type of bloom is definitely new...and definitely not one of your standard types of flowers, either. If anyone thinks to ask one of the gods about these flowers, they will receive an assurance that they are not innately dangerous - but they are innately linked to the dream island of Mu. They glow with a strange, vaguely ethereal light, and if you get too close, they'll waft some thick spores of pollen in your direction.

These spores have all sorts of ways of latching their effects into you. Whether they get breezed into your mechanical parts, inhaled, ingested, if they land in your eyes, whatever the case - pretty soon, they're going to start working their magic. And once they do, you'll soon find yourself feeling inexplicably and incredibly tired. Inexorably, you'll find yourself settling down for a nap, regardless of whether you're not one for sleeping, or even if you're one who requires it.

The moment you close your eyes, you'll find yourself entering a dream state on Mu, and one that is linked with all other dreaming entities. This means that it's highly possible that your dreams will be bleeding into other people's, or that you may end up wandering into another's dreams. It's very probable, in fact.

The dream-state you enter may vary in depth. You might end up completely beholden to Mu's wishes, or you might find yourself in a vaguely lucid, almost "sleepwalking" state, where in the following effects are "projections" visible to the waking world. Most likely, you'll all be bumping up against one another's heads within Mu's vast and comfortable shores. Whichever of these it is, once you're caught within Mu's grasp, you'll find that it's a trove of memories that await you - your memories. You may find yourself re-enacting them or simply watching from afar...but the same may be said for others who might stumble upon your mind. Perhaps they find themselves in place of another character, or watching invisibly from the sidelines. Either way, Mu tries to make each instance as close to the real thing as possible. When it has completed, it may either restart itself, or simply fade entirely.

Should you be affected by Umui's pollen, any one or more of the following will occur:

[ ♆ ] True Bliss: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you were truly happy. This may be as simple or as grandiose as you may like, but it had to have really happened.

[ ♆ ] True Judgment: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you felt exceptionally guilty. And no matter what you do, you'll find that it is impossible to change. Try as you might, you can only ever witness the same end result that has stricken you with so much guilt. And the same can be said for whoever might have gotten caught in this instance, and is watching it happen...

[ ♆ ] True Peace: Mu recreates a memory or a time in which you felt the most at peace, whether with some aspect of yourself or the circumstances around you. Perhaps this sense of peace bleeds into your own consciousness as you witness or act it, or perhaps it only serves to unsettle you...or maybe it affects those who go wandering into your dreams.

[ ♆ ] True Balance: Mu selects a memory or a time in your life...and warps it so that it is experienced in the opposite manner that it was initially. For example: that happy memory of you rescuing a bunch of kittens from a burning building? When you experience it this time, it will be in a relentlessly negative light - you absolute monster, traumatizing those kittens by carrying them through the fire like that! You should have been more careful! What if the fire was your fault all along? That horrible memory in which you slaughtered a bunch of innocent people? Well, it was all for the best, wasn't it? It was good that you did this. You have nothing to be sorry for. There's a bright side to everything - even this.

[ ♆ ] True Fate: Mu creates what it understands to be your final destiny, whether it be the place where our story ends, or the circumstances under which you perish. Perhaps this is something that is known to you, or to others. And perhaps it isn't.

You may pay witness to any one or more of these dream-states at a time. Perhaps you visit the island five times and receive the same "effect" each time, or perhaps you visit only once but find yourself looping through all five "effects" in the same space. The memories may vary, as well; for example, you might experience the "True Bliss" effect three times, and experience three separate happy memories each time. The choice of what your character experiences is up to you!

While there are no inherent risks to this dream-state, it should be worth noting that your body will not be immune to entropy should you stay in it too long. Your body may suffer from hunger or thirst, or require recharging at a mana pool. For the most part, however, the only things you have to fear are the, uh, trauma that this might inflict. Or the trauma of other people seeing some of your most private memories.

Where My Friends Plot to Bury Me
Of course, there's a lot going on in the background as well. Characters are not required to go to Umui; 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!

Also remember that if you died this month, to fill out the corresponding form over on our Deaths page!

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

[Okay, so- she's terrified, naturally. That's a giant snake. His goal is 100% accomplished with this tiny bird child who inconveniently ~~failed her stealth check~~ stepped on the wrong twig while trying to sneak past. Helplessly she drops as he turns on her, scrambling backwards, but with very few options she does the best that she can to make herself seem not worth the trouble: she draws her dagger, practically a toothpick in comparison, and she hisses back exactly the way he'd done.

See how you like it...!]

[Crowley is surprised by what he sees, such a small thing in comparison; it's comical that he had such a reaction to it's presence.

His fangs retract and he eyes her with curiosity, his tongue licking out and sniffing at her as he lurks an inch closer, endlessly amused by the hiss she's given in retort. His own voice echoes out in a chorus of whispers as it did before.]

Have you also come to pay tribute?

[Tribute? How does one pay tribute to a snake? For a moment she's too befuddled by the fact that it spoke back to her at all, and she angles her hands - and the dagger - in every direction he slithers, though she doesn't strike out. She's trembling perceptibly, yet her voice is steady as she responds in a woman's accented voice.]

She walks around.

[She's just passing through! Leave her alone!]

[Crowley notes the shaking of the creature, the dagger not a real concern of his. His fangs are no longer visible and the serpent's look is much more curious if anything.]

You wish to passss through?

[His hiss echoes still, head tipping to the side.]

Isss that all you want? The lassst lad wanted a burger.

[...A... burger? Why would someone ask for food from a giant snake? The leap of logic is completely lost on her, and the dagger lowers about an inch as she considers his words, fear and confusion mingling on her expression.

Is any food fair game? Her options are limited, but her curiosity eventually wins, and this time she speaks with the voice of a man with a Southern drawl,]

You’re a fan of pie.

[Crowley is nearly startled by the change in voice, but it's curious... he's certainly heard birds on earth echo their owners. Never a bird quite like this one, however.

The serpent's head nods in its own swaying manner before Crowley responds.]

Bring me tribute for a pie.

[Tri...bute?

She tilts her head to one side, trilling in a quizzical manner, and lifts her shoulders in a shrug. What do you want? She doesn't have much. Maybe... hmm.

Still holding the dagger with one hand, she tugs her backpack halfway off and feels around inside until she draws out a somewhat wilted flower crown, clumsily but lovingly woven.]

Okay?

[Crowley's eyes glow slightly brighter at the sight of the treasure offered to him. He hisses excitedly, lowering his head for her to place the crown upon it. At the same time, by complete miracle, a pie appears beside them. It too looks lovingly home-made, and fresh. Light whisps of steam rise from it with a pleasant aroma.]

[It takes her a moment to feel brave enough to close the distance between them and lower her dagger, so she can set the flowers on his head without accidentally stabbing him at the same time. The scent of pie is an immediate distraction from her fear, however, and as soon as the flowers are in place she squawks in delight and lifts it up, burying her beak into it to messily devour her prize. Good trade? Good trade!! What kind of pie is it? (Not that it matters to her, she's eating it regardless.)]

[The serpent of Eden could be nothing if not cheesy. Crowley of course miracled an apple pie, as if there was any other choice. His hiss once the crown is placed on his head is much more delighted, and somehow cheerful. He turns his attention from her to coil around himself, enjoying his new prize.]

[Apple pie is excellent pie, in her opinion, and she cheerfully scarfs it down for a while, setting her dagger in the grass to fully focus on it. No one taught this child not to take food from strangers, clearly.

Once most of it's been devoured, she recalls her manners and beams at him, offering up her thanks in the voice of a very familiar angel fellow,]

Thank you.

[It is very good pie, not poison, certainly not poison. It of course, due to island magic rule, would have disappeared had Kiri not eaten it in a day's time. Crowley himself was paying no mind to what she did with the pie. It wasn't his concern. He had a very pretty new crown and was well distracted by it. That was, at least, until he heard her speak with Aziraphale's voice.

The serpent's head perked up quickly, eyes darting back to Kiri, his head standing tall. He's been hearing that voice for six thousand years. He could pick it out in any crowd, from a mile away if he had to. It caught him completely off-guard.]

What wasss that?!

[The sudden reaction makes her squeak and drop her leftover pie, tucking her hood over her head and scrabbling for the dagger. Oh no, oh no, she did something wrong...!? Her voice turns shrill.]

Shut up! Shut up, Kiri! Shut up!

[There's a sound like the crackling of a fire, or more accurately: bones being reset within his skin. It's better she's not looking, the transformation isn't very cute, but when it's over a man stands where the serpent stood. His hair is as orange as the serpent's belly, and he's dressed all in black, but what really gives him away is his eyes; yellow with a very serpentine slit in the middle. When he speaks, his voice is much fuller, no longer and echo, and he's lost the lisp.]

Why do you speak in his voice?

[She does not answer his question this time; the shift in voice is enough to get her to pause, tentatively looking up at him and finding a... man. Oh. Hm, that's... different.

She tilts her head to one side and makes the same hissing noise as before, though she looks confused and curious more than threatened this time. Snake? Man? Snake-man? What are you, sir.]

[Crowley's eyes narrow.]

Did he tell you I was here? Ask you to mess with me?

[Who? The library fellow? Why would anyone mess with a snake??

She chirps nervously, scrunching down a little, returning to the same woman's voice she'd started with.]

Mimicking things.

[Maybe she should get out her book?]

[It wasn't a voice Crowley knew, and he studied her for a moment before responding further. It took a moment for it to click, but Crowley was often never as bright as he led on.]

Are you only able to mimic humans?

[Only humans... that's wrong any way you spin it. She only knows a handful of human phrases, the rest being tiefling, and goblin, and half-orc, and so on. And if he means only people-

She shakes her head, then offers up a series of perfect sound effects: a tinkling windchime, a gunshot, the purr of a cat. And then, in Chip's young voice,]

Mimic other stuff?

[Crowley isn't aware of any other sorts of life forms that speak outside of other supernatural entities like himself. But that's besides the point. The sound effects make him chuckle slightly, instantly lightening his mood.]

You could say I'm a mimic, too.

[This isn't his true form, just one he's taken to blend in. And he has others, which he for a moment considers showing her. Most of them are terrible, but some quite beautiful.

He bends to pick up her discarded pie and offers it to her again.]

You'll want to finish this today, otherwise the island will take it from you.

[Another mimic... is that why he can look like a person instead of a snake? A different kind of mimic, but still very cool. Much more useful than just voices.

She accepts the remnants of her pie back with a cautious chirp, picking off bits of dirt before stuffing it in her mouth- though first she offers up,]

I’m Kiri.

Crowley.

[He watches her as she eats, thinking about the angel's voice from her beak.]

What else has he taught you to say? Aziraphale, I mean.

[She thinks a moment, since he'd actually taught her quite a bit at her own request, then lists off in his familiar posh,]

Please. You're welcome. Excuse me. Pardon me. May I help you. I'm hungry.

[And all of that probably sounds a bit odd, so she fishes her journal out of her bag and holds up a page to him with her childish scrawl.]

say words for me?

[Excuse Crowley, he's rolling his eyes at all of those pleasantries that are so very Aziraphale. At least until she says "I'm hungry" in his voice which is somehow even more Aziraphale and Crowley loses it, cackling loudly.]

Oh? Oh yes... but you should definitely say them to Aziraphale. He'd be most impressed.

Edited (typo hell) 2020-02-08 02:28 (UTC)

[Say words to him...? Oh, she can definitely do that. She nods eagerly, sitting up and scooting a bit closer, taking on Ginko's voice.]

Sounds like a good plan.

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