lifeaftr | 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

It does. [ He answers, furrowing his brow as he takes another look around them. ]

It feels like there's something very...wrong, here.

I do suppose it makes sense, but...[ Mumbling that last part mostly to himself. ]

Wrong? As if any other island isn't wrong, as well.

[He rolls his eyes, then leans casually against a tree, ignoring the part where the angel mutters to himself.]

I've found out I can still miracle food. [He gives Aziraphale a coy smile.] Don't suppose you'd fancy a treat?

[ Well, that's certainly a way to get his mind off of spooky mysteries. Predictability, Crowley gets the angel's attention. ]

You can? [ Now most of his confusion is reserved as to why they hadn't tried that before. ]

Name something. Anything. Whatever your little heart desires.

[Crowley pushes off of the tree and moves closer to Aziraphale.]

[ Oh, he knows that tone. He knows that tone and those words and that look. He gives the demon a slightly suspicious look of his own. ]

Anything?

And you've just discovered this now?

[Crowley shrugged, not really knowing the best way to admit to being a total idiot.]

It's not... easy. I get quite tired after. And there are limitations, it seems. It can only be one thing, for example. Say... a French crepe?

[ Oh that is simply a dirty trick. And one that definitely works, as the angel sure perks up with renewed interest.]

Well...that would be wonderful.

But— are you sure it’s alright? Limitations and all.

[ He really wants one, though, now that he's thinking about it. Too much of an easy temptation. There’s a lot that he misses, most of it food and drink, but he doesn’t want to put any significant strain on the demon.]

[Aziraphale truly underestimates the lengths Crowley would go to please him, and to prove a point, Crowley snaps his fingers, a neatly-folded crepe wrapped in parchment appearing in his hand. He raises his eyebrows in a very I-told-you-so manner, then offers it to the angel.]

I'm sure.

[ Oh, the angel's face positively lights up at the sight of the sweet treat, in a way it probably hasn't in several months. Surely since they got here. He's going to take that crepe, thank you. ]

Oh, Crowley, it looks absolutely delectable. [ Perhaps a bit dramatic, but he's been desperate for something that wasn't barely seasoned or mind altering.

Look at that smile. ]

Thank you, dear boy. This is wonderful.

[ He's gonna go right ahead and start on that crepe. ]

Edited 2020-02-03 23:26 (UTC)

[Crowley's smile is fond itself, in fact, he looks very proud of himself.]

You're welcome, angel.

[ He should be proud. Certainly made the angel very happy. In fact, he quite forgets all the spookiness and dreariness around them for a bit there. He much rather have a nearly religious experience with a magically manifested crepe. ]

My word. [ Pardon his manners, he really shouldn’t speak while he’s eating. He delicately wipes the corner of his mouth with his thumb.] Absolutely scrumptious.

[ He looks over at the demon.]

Well, this is certainly better outcome than expected. How did you find out how still retained that power? I’m quite sure I can’t really summon anything into existence.

[Crowley's having his own set of experiences watching the angel enjoy himself. It's so good to see him like this after nearly losing him.]

Bit of practice. Testing limits.

[ They did come out on the other side of that whole little foray into magic-based infections relatively better than expected, if a little worse for wear in the psychological side. But no one died - or zombified, as turned out was the actual conclusion to the whole thing for the poor souls that didn’t make it -, no one’s sick anymore, and scars are no longer visible, so he’s more than happy to put all that nasty business behind them.

Aziraphale inspects the crepe to find the best bites to take, as he’s fully intend to enjoy this experience to the fullest. Facing mortality does that to you.]

It might be a good idea to do that more actively. Who knows what we might be abke to use in a pinch.

It's alright, angel, you can admit you just want more crepes.

[He smiles fondly, Aziraphale's enjoyment of food is a true gift. But there's no way in hell Crowley isn't going to tease him at every given moment.]

Or brioche. Or anything you'd like. Any time.

[ For a second there, it looks like he’s going to protest such accusations, but a glance at the delightfully delicious crepe in his hands does serve to assuage his fussiness.]

Well, I certainly wouldn’t complain. [ He does admit.] But we really should be careful in using our powers in unnecessary manners. These islands have a real knack in throwing new things at us at any second.

Perhaps. But It would be wasteful to not use them.

[Just a little temptation in his voice, certainly not backed by anything supernatural outside of his own charm.]

[ He does have a lot of that. But, also, Aziraphale is easy to convince.]

Well...I do suppose you have a point. [ He says, like he’s actually given it that much thought.]

Of course I do. [He taps Aziraphale on the arm as he walks past him.]

Why don't we head home?

[ The angel follows along, going for another bite of his much beloved crepe. But not before offering: ]

Are you quite done snaking around already?

No fun if you're blowing my cover. [Cue eye roll.]

I do prefer legs, really.

Far from me to thwart your little games, my dear boy.

[He adds, in a mumble, continuing to eat.]

Quite finished with that, nowadays.

Returning Island: Umui

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