[MU] - JANUARY STORYTELLING / VOTING

[lifeaftr_mods]

In the solemn silence, it seems that the Storyteller has no commentary or insight to offer as to the latest developments. Perhaps they're concerned with the well-being of their fellow avatar, on Monsun. Perhaps they're absorbed in developing their security system further than it currently has.

Whatever the case, that does not mean that there is nothing to this Storytelling than the usual fare. Not so, this time.

Those of you who were with us for October's Storytelling may find this scene familiar - only, instead for four glistening pyres, it's only Three that rear out from the shadows, each glowing a different color. The strange material that domes them almost resembles worked steel, forming different patterns against their multicolored backdrops.

[ ♆ ] The first glows a deep crimson, kicking scarlet embers into the dream-night air. Its pit sphere portrays a crowd of people in silhouette, heads bowed in genuflection - paying homage to some looping, many-coiled shape in the sky above.

[ ♆ ] The second glows a deep orange. Its pit sphere is worked into the shape of a looming mountain, with what might be some sort of village or ruin sprawled at its base.

[ ♆ ] The third's flames are a rich green. Its designs are most abstract; the starburst patterns that swirl across the metallic composition of its fire pit sphere could be explosions, maybe...or something else entirely.

Beside each pyre is heaped a pile of sticks, colored to correspond to their respective flames. Hopefully it is clear that you must add your stick to whichever pyre you intend to vote for; though if you're confused, hopefully your fellow adventurers will be able to explain it to you.

This will, of course, decide your next island destination, and those abstracted renditions are all you have to go off of.

Once you have cast your votes, what happens next is purely routine.



It is time, once more, for you to tell a story. The setting will be familiar for oldcomers, and newcomers will recognize it from the introduction they received in their dreams. This too is a dream, and the ink-black dark is illuminated only by the bonfire surrounded by log seats. And seated around the fire are your fellow islanders, many of whom doubtless know the drill by now.

One by one, you will each have the opportunity to share your stories, as stories possess a certain undeniable power. Newcomers can tell whatever tale they wish, but for those who have been in LifeAftr for at least one Storytelling, only stories of their time in LifeAftr will count down the road. The story need not be long, or conventional, or even verbal; as long as the Storyteller knows it has been told, it will qualify. Those of the nonverbal persuasion have, as of a request issued by Ren (catpiper), an alternative means of telling their stories if they so choose, in the form of the Chamber of Glyphs.

If you prefer to keep your mouth shut, that's always an option, though you're more liable to benefit if you do. Perhaps you'd rather not relive any of your history, varied and variegated as it must be. Or maybe you're something of a compulsive un-truther, prone to embellishments and long, fanciful tangents. As long as the core of the story is true to its spirit, you are free to spin your tale however you like.

So choose well.

Comments

OOC || VOTING

[lifeaftr_mods]

OPTION 1

[lifeaftr_mods]

This island is represented by red flames, a crowd of people engaged in some sort of worship, and a massive, coiled shape above their heads.

OPTION 2

[lifeaftr_mods]

This island is represented by orange flames, a towering mountain, and a village or ruin beside it.

OPTION 3

[lifeaftr_mods]

This island is represented by green flames and strange starburst patterns reminiscent of explosions.

OPTION FUCK YOU

[solperierat]

It's been a lot for everyone. Quite frankly its never STOPPED being a lot, and Ed kind of doubts it'll ever stop. Three years of this dimensional bullshit and he's become pretty damned resigned.

But looking at these pyres and the sticks in their hands, knowing that whatever "choice" is made will just be more of the same?

Nah. Nah, fam.

Ed walks off to the side and kneels in the sand before an electric crackle of energy reforms a chunk of sand into a stone bowl with a simple cut out mural sticking up from the back in the shape of a middle finger. Then he breaks the stick over his knee, chucks it into the bowl, and walks off.

The statement there is fairly clear, he thinks.

OOC || FORM

[lifeaftr_mods]

Reply to this comment, having filled out the corresponding form, if you wish to participate in the Storytelling for non-compulsory AC. Non-compulsory AC allows for IC rewards such as Item Requests, but is not mandatory - though it will ICly benefit your character to try and participate, even if they're not the storytelling type.

Remember that those who have already undergone one Storytelling cycle must tell a story of their time in LifeAftr in order for it to count. Newcomers may tell whatever stories they like!

<b>Player Name:</b> <b>Character Name:</b> <b>Character Journal:</b> <user name="NAME"> <b>Number of Offerings:</b> List character's number of offerings here. A maximum of THREE STORIES can be told each Storytelling. <b>Offering(s):</b> Describe the story related here. A link to a past game or a wiki will suffice if you'd rather not write it all out, but it is helpful to note if your character was an engaging or enthusiastic storyteller, plainly unwilling and undetailed, or anything else of note! <b>Public/Private:</b> Is this story told for all to hear, or to the Storyteller (or their altar) privately? Please let us know!

[journalname]

Player Name: Lu
Character Name: Asgore Dreemurr
Character Journal: journalname
Number of Offerings: 2
Offering(s):
- Asgore's first story is actually several small stories, each about one of the people who helped him out during the time he spent blinded. Wash, Lillie, Pyrrha, and Legion are included. He doesn't precisely recount the conversations he had with them or anything, but he's very warm and grateful about people offering like...basic decency while he was incapacitated.

- He'll also talk about his new tea trees, which he's only recently been able to actually see. He is clearly excited to harvest the first leaves and share the product with people.
Public/Private: Public

[catpiper]

Player Name: Lexy
Character Name: Ren
Character Journal: catpiper
Number of Offerings: 3 (1 for lupnet)

Offering(s):
Story 1: Shit boi they had an adventure. The ink spewing papers are the greatest thing to ever happen. She talks about getting flown around, how the storyteller came with her for Adventure, how some of papers have pointy teeth now, but not all of them-she's working on it. The point is she had the best time playing with the Storyteller.

Story 2: all she says is 'yeet magic' because what is that? It has to do with explosions, she's sure. Are there yeet wands? Anyway, she calls Chara a yeet wizard and that's probably a compliment. They ran a lot and played hide and seek with the security system.

Story 3: is essentially a dramatic retelling of marco polo. It's ambiguous whether or not they met up to trade dirt, but Ren seems delighted by the fun afternoon.

Public/Private: Public

[wanderingdoctorfaust]

Player Name: James
Character Name: Faust
Character Journal: wanderingdoctorfaust
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s):

Story 1: (No source avaliable, sorry. :s) Where better to begin than a prologue? The good doctor starts off by telling a classic story of a young, aspiring medical student in China and his various misadventures throughout his study years. Though of course the focus is on his friends, his foes, and the shenanigans that resulted: Action! Adventure! Romance! It's clear he's slightly exaggerating the parts that would otherwise be uninteresting and dull, and he makes no attempt at hiding who the nameless medical student really is.

Story 2: The actual beginning itself. Faust speaks of his arrival upon Ensō's shores, and the strange people he met not long after! His tone is excited and fond throughout, almost giddy with joy. He's barely arrived and already he's absolutely smitten with this place.

Story 3: The arrival at the clinic! The way the good doctor talks about the clinic, it becomes clear that he looks at its emptiness and sees only potential. And the people he happened across! This man is convinced everyone on this island is amazing and he cannot be convinced otherwise, so it seems.

Public/Private: Public

Re: OOC || FORM

[want_to_belong]

Player Name: Eisah
Character Name: Prompto
Character Journal: want_to_belong
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s): 1. Prompto will enthusiastically share that he's training Coco as a mount now.
2. He'll talk about how his buddy Iggy had his sight back and how awesome it was.
3. He'll talk about the new metalworking equipment they've gotten and how he's going to make the best stuff ever.

Public/Private: Public

[devilstongue]

Player Name: Draiol
Character Name: Mollymauk Tealeaf
Character Journal: devilstongue
Number of Offerings: 1
Offering(s): Molly will tell the story of the Trial of the Humble, complete with a lot of swearing. It's not like his previous, over-the-top and entertaining stories at all. He's still angry, even if it's not for himself as much as it is for his friends and innocent people. He might have learned a thing or two about being humble in that trial, but it's all drowned out by the 'moral' of his story - enough is enough.
Public/Private: Public

[sideswitch]

Player Name: Coco
Character Name: Acxa
Character Journal: sideswitch
Number of Offerings: 1
Offering(s): 1. Acxa's first story is about her contributions to Lotor's conquest, and how she feels guilty for the role she played in it. She does mention, however, that she can't change the past and the only thing she can do is try to make amends to make up for everything she's done. Still, the guilt lingers. It's apparent in her expression.

Public/Private: Private

[savedbyasong]

Player Name: Katy
Character Name: Shion
Character Journal: savedbyasong
Number of Offerings: Two- one goes to the upkeep of Lup Net
Offering(s): 1~ Doctor Ren! Shion tells how helpful Ren was in the flooding and how much he appreciated the help.
2~ This one is a little vaguer but he speaks about the Trial of the Mindful.
Public/Private: Public

[ideismo]

Player Name: Dal
Character Name: Alexei Dinoia
Character Journal: ideismo
Number of Offerings: 1
Offering(s): He'll talk a bit about meeting Asgore, with an explanation that civilized monsters with the ability to speak to humans are generally...not very well-received back where he came from. However, he found parts of the conversation to be strangely cathartic and he appreciated them for what they were, and he finds Asgore to be...acceptable? Acceptable is the word he'll eventually land on.

...He's not unwilling, but he's also nowhere near good at doing this in an engaging manner; he tends to be very formal in demeanor to the point of being awkward in casual conversation, and it...really shows here given that storytelling is not something he's confident in.
Public/Private: Private

[postictal]

Player Name: Zero
Character Name: Tim Wright
Character Journal: postictal
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s): As usual, he tells these all privately, relatively calmly, and without going into a lot of detail. Also mentioning himself in these narratives as...little as possible, whenever he can.

1) The Great Defense of Denny. He had a lot of help keeping Denny safe, including the expected - Muffet's cool head, Ed's transmutation, Chara's proclivity for self-sacrifice - and the unexpected - a little...clown kid, who likes knives and shoots guns. But Denny's safe, so there's that.

2) He got a gift from someone last month. It was a bigger deal than it really, by all rights, should have been, but...he couldn't really handle it at first. It was unexpected and nice, and a gesture he can't help but appreciate.

3) The Trial of the Mindful. He tries to iron out all mention of his profound anxieties and innate terror regarding this whole deal, but it wasn't fun. And, oh yeah, he's fucking terrified of what might come of it down the line. Probably nothing. That doesn't mean he's not still scared shitless. He notably only mentions the part that had to do with Lance's abilities, and does not so much as touch on Tim's own trial.

Public/Private: All private, per usual.

[hyperlit]

Player Name: Zero
Character Name: The Drifter
Character Journal: hyperlit
Number of Offerings: 2
Offering(s): As is typical for them, they tell their stories nonverbally, with a mixture of text and drawings on the Chamber of Glyphs. This makes for some relatively clipped, impersonal telling, but they do their best.

1) Trial of the Patient. A lengthy and careful retelling of the long and arduous sequence of this particular Trial. It was terrible. Every time one of them died, the entire group would get set back. They were without abilities and weapons, and before long, the wear of it was starting to drive them all out of their collective minds. But they passed, and they all got some pretty neat cloaks out of it.

2) Barley field, get! A story of how they harvested a barley field, which doubles as an announcement that we all now have a barley field on the farming islet. Oh yes, now there are options in regards to what kind of things you want to ferment for alcohol!

Public/Private: Both public, if nonverbally

[counterblows]

Player Name: Zero
Character Name: Agent Washington
Character Journal: counterblows
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s): As always, Wash's tone for these "stories" is less of a story and more of a post-mission report. He's clipped, formal, brusque, and probably not terribly interesting to listen to.

1) Helping the blind. This is more a confirmation of "wow, death penalties are a thing," as well as the belated realization that the Trials didn't have infinite tries and he was actually kind of lucky to succeed.

2) Tigerlily taming. Even if Monsun's eastern half is not a fun place to be, it wasn't all bad. And they were able to get something nice out of it. Hopefully Legion didn't mind the lesson.

3) Less of a story and more of public service announcement that CT has, in fact, gone home. He doesn't actually know if she's gone back to her universe or to Thedas. His tone is very...vague and impersonal, and he's only there to confirm it publicly that she's gone. He has some of her belongings as well as her tigerlily, and...yeah. He misses her. He really, uh. Well. Hopefully people can stop wondering what's happened to her.

Public/Private: The first two are private; the third is, for once, public

[forwearemany]

Player Name: Shiny
Character Name: Legion
Character Journal: forwearemany
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s):
1)That did not go well. Though they refer to Arum as being shutdown rather than destroyed, it's probably clear that they do not, in fact, expect them to ever be reactivated again. They are more than a little sad about this fact.

2)Teamwork! They like teamwork. If you haven't already noticed how much they like teamwork, this story should help make it more obvious to you.

3)In this story, they talk about the trial of the brave. They sound ... angry, about the Geth presence there, at being made hopeful that their people still existed only to have it be a part of the trial.
Public/Private: Public

[tokenflavortownie]

Player Name: Drizz
Character Name: Pyrrha Nikos
Character Journal: tokenflavortownie
Number of Offerings: 1
Offering(s):
- Pyrrha talks about her first encounter with doctor Faust in the clinic. It's a bit rambling, and eventually segues into musing aloud about what happened to Nari, and if she'll see her again. She just seems more and more distracted as it goes on.
Public/Private: Public.

[crosslaced]

Player Name: Star
Character Name: Laurent
Character Journal: crosslaced
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s):

> Mollymauk’s rage has given him an idea or two- he’ll recount the outburst that happened over the stones, quite neutrally, though he’ll suggest whether anyone is interested in building another boat to see what’s out on the horizon.
> They’re playing some kind of roleplaying game, apparently?
> Hey, Storyteller. What the fuck kind of cryptid did you recruit. (Sorry Faust.... he's still not over this.)

Public/Private: Two public, last one is private.

[piercetheheart]

Player Name: Sera
Character Name: Gladio
Character Journal: piercetheheart
Number of Offerings: 2
Offering(s):
New Year's gift: Giving Iggy his glasses and watching his boyfriend be stupidly cute and giddy about getting to see things for a little while.
Monsun: Bonding with Ardyn once they find desert side.
Public/Private: Public

[shatteredlenses]

Player Name: Neko Sandy
Character Name: Ignis Scientia
Character Journal: shatteredlenses
Number of Offerings: 3 (2 to be used to recharge his sight-restoring glasses for Feb, please!)
Offering(s):

Story 1: The Trials from Maati reopened some old wounds for Ardyn, and unsurprisingly he lashed out at Ignis, leaving the latter feeling--for the first time--rather ambivalent about Monsun's return. He does eventually go over and the two have a much needed talk once the 'good' side of the island has been discovered again. Oddly enough, it seems this talk with Ardyn's better half is a foreshadowing of things to come. Ignis doesn't spend much time on this particular story as if he is either still unsettled by how much Ardyn's words hurt him or he doesn't think it as important as the rest.

Story 2: Ignis initially seeks out Shion to see if his young friend has any idea what happened to their mutual friend, Aster, but instead finds him confronting his own Shadow. Knowing just how much Shion struggles accepting the darker parts of himself, Ignis doesn't hesitate to step into the battle, willing to do whatever needs to be done to support his friend.

Story 3: It's with a strange sense of deja vu that Ignis runs into Ardyn's light side on the islets only a few days later. Along with that feeling of deja vu is a strong feeling of joy as, once again, he gets undeniable proof that there is still light in Ardyn no matter how much the redhead denies it. Of course, the battle to bring balance to them, and hopefully to calm the confusion and pain Ardyn's suffered for so long, is going to be no easy task considering how much Ardyn fears his light side's very presence. Perhaps that is why Ignis is not surprised to find himself drawn to Ardyn's very own rejection room not long after. He is determined, though, to find a way to help bring Ardyn to balance, no matter what the cost. He spends the most time on this story as it is obviously something very important to him. A chance to find healing for Ardyn that they have both been looking for, for a long time. (No matter how much Ardyn may wish to deny it.)

Public/Private: Private (If for no other reason than he wishes to give the Storyteller a private 'thank you' for granting Gladio's request for the glasses.)

[hellawrath]

Player Name: Laura
Character Name: Lup
Character Journal: hellawrath
Number of Offerings: 3
Offering(s): Sup guys, bet you're not yet sick of hearing about those shitty trials and how right Lup was to be suspicious as fuck of those doors! This one's about the Trial of the Patient, which sucked exactly as much ass as you can imagine. She describes the painfully slow progress through each ridiculous challenge with somehow even more resentment than you might expect from Lup. It's almost as if she's absolutely furious at having been put through this, when she's already lived through a way more agonizing Patience Trial. Patience machine broke, okay. She does mention how hard it was on everyone in her group, and how they did manage to get each other through it in the end. She seems proud of that, at least.

While she's venting, she might as well complain about how dumb Monsun is. Who the fuck designed that, honestly. She went over there to have a quick explore sesh with Barry and Krav and they ended up just?? fighting each other??? And they almost didn't even find the goddamn river. By the time they did get to it, they were so busy kicking each other in the shins they didn't even cross it to the good side. It was terrible, the end.

Lup also uses this opportunity to remind everyone of the kickass wedding she and Taako organized a few months back. Remember that huge party with the baller fireworks, dope music and amazing matrimonial challenges? Hell yeah you do. You might ask yourself, have the elves added wedding planning to their ever expanding commercial repertoire? The answer is, of course, yes.

Public/Private: public

[deathfindsaway]

Player Name: Alex
Character Name: Kravitz
Character Journal: deathfindsaway
Number of Offerings: 3

Offering(s):

#1 is vaguely putting the Storyteller on blast for not taking care of themselves and possibly not resting enough. He paints it as an advice for everyone to take some relaxation time, and that it's better if they do. While looking at the Storyteller the entire time. Watching you, bunnybutt.

#2 is a warning about Monsun and the dangers of it's lush side. It's also a warning that the river goes upwards and is thicker at the top, and the octonettles that live there. It's really only 20% of a story and 80% of a rant- he is not a fan of that island in particular.

Finally, in contrast to the rest, #3 is... a bit of a winding tale. It's a story about a young princess determined to protect her kingdom against a great darkness, who ventures into the world to protect her subjects and her friends despite an illness that makes it hard for her to breathe. Along the way, she triumphs and wins countless fights alongside her friends, sometimes by encouraging their strength and sometimes by even fighting herself. And in the end, they defeat the darkness and she can find happiness alongside the people she's come to call her family.

It's a gentle tribute, just a something, for a different story he was told a few weeks back.

Public/Private: Public

IC || STORYTELLING

[lifeaftr_mods]

If you wish to thread out the relaying of your story so that other characters may react to it, you may do so here!

Shion OTA

[savedbyasong]

[Shion had lost track of time a little whilst in the strange labyrinth and the trials within it but he knew it had been close enough to Story Telling for it to be no surprise that he found himself here. He was relieved to be back in his own body, what exactly that swap had said about how... physically here they were was something he would have to go over and think about when he was not at a campfire full of people.]

Doctor Ren

I don't really need to set up the scene, everyone knows that at the beginning of this month everything began to flood. I ended up in Denny with many of you and did my best to help. I had hit my head in the initial floor and Ren was concerned. I had set up a medical area in one of the corners and because Ren had been so caring and concerned I asked if she wanted to help me.

Even though she must have been frightened herself she was a very good student and a very able assistant so thank you Ren. [He finds her in the crowd and gives her a smile.]

Trial of the Mindful.

I guess that there was more than just our group that ended up in a strange labyrinth? [He had figured it was something to do with the marks on their hands and there were a few different ones. Also such things were usually widespread.] Our group ended up all in each others bodies... We didn't have their memories or personality but knowledge and skills seemed passed on. Each part of the labyrinth was a different task... Each seemed suited to one of us but the person in our body had to complete it. [It's a testimony to how long he's been away from his world that he is mostly making this sound reasonable and not complete nonsense.]

We completed each of the tasks and I guess we succeeded because here we are and we are back in our own bodies. Did other people have similar experiences?

General

[A few things become apparent during the course of the Story Telling. There are people he has not seen before, which is not that unusual but seems a few too many for just being those that did not find their way to Denny during the flooding. The islanders had been pretty good about trying to make sure the newcomers were not lost in the chaos. The second was a few stories seemed to talk about things he didn't know about, things he was pretty sure he should have noticed.

Around half way through the story telling he looked around for anyone he could quietly go up to. He doesn't interrupt the stories but during a pause he smiles, a little wearily.] It is December, right?

[He's been here long enough to know that he shouldn't assume that anything makes sense in the way he wants it to make sense.]