Search Requests

[lifeaftr_mods]

Search Requests

And no one knows how far it goes

As a central element to the game, Search Requests may seem very daunting at first. Never fear! Below is a table of contents for this page that may help answer your questions, giving you the confidence to venture forth into the great unknown.

[ ♆ ] What Are Search Requests?
[ ♆ ] What Impacts a Search Request?
[ ♆ ] How Many Search Requests Can I Make?
[ ♆ ] Why are Searches Limited?
[ ♆ ] Islands Available
[ ♆ ] Search Request Form

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What Are Search Requests?

The contents of many islands that make up the archipelago of LifeAftr require player exploration and participation to uncover and chart, as everything from the potential dangers, obstructions, and resources are randomized. Alongside adding weight to the potential dangers characters may face, it also gives you the potential to influence the game as much as possible.

Upon arrival to a new island, a blank map of the island's general shape will be provided with a grid, parsing the island into square sections for the purposes of exploration. Each of these squares are a base size of one mile by one mile in terms of width and breadth, unless otherwise noted. Each square is also labeled for player convenience. Characters who have access to boats or another means of traversing the ocean waters can perform search requests on surrounding waters.

Search Requests are intended to be used as a prompt for IC interactions. While not all search results will hold something of particular interest, such as finding new seeds or fruit, but in circumstances where enemies or information has been located, we encourage ICly threading out these results, or using them to foster new CR.

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What Impacts a Search Request?
As of July 2018, there are new factors to take into account when submitting a Search Request:

[ ♆ ] GROUP SIZE limits the timeframe in which a search request can be completed. While a single mile may not seem so far to walk, thoroughly investigating a square mile is a different matter altogether. Depending on the size of a group, characters may choose to push on into an additional square at the cost of spending the night in the wilderness, potentially exposing themselves to other dangers - or in groups of four or more, split the group to cover the additional ground. Search Requests are currently limited to two squares maximum at a time, regardless of group size.

[ ♆ ] DIFFICULT TERRAIN such as mountainous regions, thickly wooded areas, or those under the sway of severe weather conditions may severely hamper a group in covering new ground. Due to this, search requests may be limited on occasion to one square per search, regardless of the group size. This restriction will be announced when relevant.

[ ♆ ] POTENTIAL RISKS can and will hinder characters set on searching more than one square. If searching an area thoroughly, it is assumed that your character is both taking their time, and covering as much of the ground in that square as possible. Obstructions, predators and catastrophes should be predominantly unavoidable due to this.

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How Many Search Requests Can I Make?
Each character is limited to submitting one search per week, of up to two squares. When searching in a group of three people or fewer, a second square may only be searched if characters intend to spend the night camping out, which puts them at risk for additional dangers.

Beyond submitting a search, characters may also band together with others for an additional two search requests, but these requests must be submitted by another character.

Additionally, Search Requests may only be forward-dated up to two days ahead of the current date. As LifeAftr may sometimes see events suddenly beginning, forward-dating is limited to avoid the need to retcon.

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Why are Searches Limited?
The introduction of limitations to the number of search requests characters can conduct is to ensure moderation of the game's pacing, in addition to ensuring all players have a chance to affect the plot, regardless of their tagging speed or RL obligations. Previously, search requests have been unlimited due to an agreeably slow pacing as LifeAftr established itself. The beginning of July saw the game expanding and going through a new teething stage that required a few new aspects to our search requests system, in addition to discarding mechanics that simply weren't being used.

In some circumstances, such as when an island is due to disappear - potentially for good! - we may lift these restrictions to allow those who'd like to further explore islands to go wild.

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Maps Available:
The current islands, their descriptions, and how much area has already been unveiled can be found on the Locations Page. A key describing the area, resources, and dangers can also be found.

The following island(s) are currently available for exploration:

ENSŌ
NASTRANDIR
The following island(s) are not currently available, but have individual locations pages for player perusal:

AI'TUOH
CAHYPDO
CHOL
IO
MAATI
MONSUN
NUIDAN
UMUI
ZIZIPHUS

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Search Request Form
To submit a search request, please post the below form in a new comment. Before submitting your request, keep in mind that map updates may lag depending on mod work schedules. Checking the last few posted searches may avoid doubling up accidentally.

<b>Player name:</b> <b>Character name:</b> <b>Character journal:</b> <user name="NAME"> <b>Character(s) accompanying:</b> <b>Area searched:</b> Please specify the island and square number <b>Date of search:</b> The day or days upon which the search took place - if you intend to search two squares with three or less characters, keep in mind that this search will require your characters to camp overnight. <b>Additional notes:</b> Any specific notes regarding how your character searched, what they might have been looking for, or any events of note that occurred during said search go here.

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL, COMISSIONED ART BY RUKA )

Comments

[lightlessfuture]

Player name: Ruka
Character name: The Knight
Character journal: lightlessfuture
Character(s) accompanying: N/A
Area searched: Maati, F5
Date of search: 11/11
Additional notes: Keeping an eye out for anything interesting, taking things slowly.

MAATI - F5 | Ⴄ PREDATORS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Maati is nowhere near as verdant or resource-rich as Nuidan. By glaring contrast, much this land is rocky and bare, more canyon-like than anything else. The cliffy terrain is generally more of an irritant than it is a genuine danger, but it can be frustrating to traverse. Once one steers away from the temple, there's very little in the way of vegetation of growing life to be found here.

Aside from the odd crop of hardy weeds, much of this place is notable only in how very rocky it is. The fired-clay color of the rocks tint them in a red-orange cast, but make no mistake - the spiny, grayish outcroppings of stone can be a frustrating sort of thing to scale.

♆ F5 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Crystalline Dreams
F5 does contain a curious speck of color, however, and bright green, no less! Strange outcroppings of green crystal jut out at odd angles. While they might initially seem to be nothing more than a curious vein of ore, drawing too close to them will reveal their true nature - and it's not quite so pleasant.

Crystal Spiders have been unlocked in the bestiary! Often found half-buried in the ground, these particular beasts will initially resemble clusters of greenish crystal. They tend to travel in packs, swarming their victims. While they deal very little damage, Crystal Spiders have the annoying habit of entrapping their victims in a layer of crystal once said victim is bitten. That particular attack ultimately kills the spider, but allows its fellows to hound the immobilized traveler while they're vulnerable. The sheath of crystal is easily broken through with enough swift action, but it can hamper progress.

Small, fast, and difficult to hit, Crystal Spiders are more irritants than they are genuine dangers, but in large groups, they can be deadly. Perhaps their most irritating trait is the fact that they have no resources of note to offer - once they are killed, they simply shatter into fragments of glasslike crystal.

[antepone]

Player name: Michelle
Character name: Mira
Character journal: antepone
Character(s) accompanying: Pyrrha Nikos, Pidge Gunderson, Nari Reno
Area searched: Maati, D5
Date of search: 11/12
Additional notes: Thorough searching! Nari is looking for medicinal plants. Pidge looking for things that would be useful for the house and keeping everyone fed. Pyrrha is looking for things for her home. Mira is looking for anything edible, or that can be used in medicines. Tools, naturally, will be looked for as well--dishes, maybe, or anything that can be re-purposed into tools.

MAATI - D5 | ⋈ OLD TOOLS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Alas, there are very few plants to be found here, of medicinal worth or otherwise. Much of Maati's landscape is craggy stone and straggling canyon. While it is not often a genuine danger to traverse, it can be an irritation, and one can come away with quite a few bangs and scrapes if they're not careful. Not much besides the occasional spray of particularly hardy weeds has managed to flourish here; too much of this land is little more than sun-baked stone and ragged strips of canyon.

The southwest corner of D5 is has been made completely inaccessible by the rearing up a cliff face that's all but unscalable without the proper tools. Whatever lingers in the squares beyond, it seems, may have to wait...

♆ D5 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Haunted By Your Ancient History

That's not to say there's nothing of any worth to be found here, however. These rocks do bear the traces of a struggle, as evidenced by that which can be uncovered by those that are bold enough to set about unearthing what they can from the cracks and fissures in the rock.

[ ♆ ] x1 short sword, of simple make, rusted beyond repair
[ ♆ ] x1 circlet or headband; while it's clearly meant to have been worn on the head, not much else can be gleaned from it
[ ♆ ] x1 old tome, with most of the pages having deteriorated to the point where nothing is legible...though those who can discern it will be capable of sensing a very faint tingle of magic; evidence that it was once an object of some power, though it's now far from it

How curious!

[youfoundher]

Player name:
Character name: Barry
Character journal: youfoundher
Character(s) accompanying: Lup hellawrath
Area searched: Maati, E4
Date of search: We'll say the 12th?
Additional notes: Nothing says romantic like going for a wander through a barren wasteland, right? Barry and Lup will be going back to their old sciency ways, so they'll be looking for any indications of a society that may have been their prior, on top of indications of how the environment came to be as it is now. No rock shall go unturned!

MAATI - E4 | ⋈ OLD TOOLS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Romantic indeed! The wasteland isn't terribly picturesque, as far as wastelands, and what's more is that the upper boundaries of E4 is all but completely inaccessible. A sheer cliff face stretches at a diagonal curve across a good half of the E4 region, and without access to tools or a more direct means to scaling those steep crags, there's simply no way the pair of them is going to manage to cover that upper ground.

To say there's plenty to explore down below would be an overstatement. But there's not nothing here, either. No rock shall go unturned, and there so happen to be a few bits and bobs waiting to be uncovered.

♆ E4 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

You've Heard of Rock and a Hard Place, Now Get Ready For...

Those science-y ways of the two will pay off when they discover that quite a few old objects have become lodged between the rocks, evidence of...whoever might have once passed through here. While they're in poor condition, battered and weathered and essentially useless, they're a fair indication of something, certainly.

With enough hard work and determination, Lup and Barry will find the following scattered among the E4 region:

[ ♆ ] x1 pouch containing the remnants of pens and sticks of charcoal, mostly crumbled away
[ ♆ ] x3 old necklaces that look as though they might have once been gaudy strands of multicolored beads and jewels, but now thoroughly tarnished

Interesting, isn't it?

[lesbeau]

Player name: Alex
Character name: Beauregard
Character journal: lesbeau
Character(s) accompanying: Nott, Mollymauk, Yasha
Area searched: Maati, E6 and E7
Date of search: 11/11 and 11/12; despite the group size, they won't be splitting the party and will be staying overnight instead.
Additional notes: These guys are pretty experienced adventurers, so they'll be keeping their eyes out and absolutely sleeping with watch shifts overnight. In addition, if there's a completely flat scale of rock, Beau is going to try and climb it. She'll probably fail, but she'll have Yasha throw her as high as possible and try to get the Fuck Up There. She's got a dex of 18 and a +7 to acrobatics if that means anything at all.

MAATI - E6 | § QUARRY -- E7 | ⊗ CATASTROPHE

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
South of Anbaki's temple (and the only spot of vegetation one is liable to find growing naturally here), Maati is a vast expanse of rock, rock, and more rock! E6 is mostly canyon, which makes for some terribly uneven terrain. Thankfully, the hazards in traversing it are more liable to border on the irritant than the genuinely dangerous. For experienced adventurers such as you, you're probably old hats at troubles like stubbed toes or pebbles in boots.

E6 does feature a very tall spire smack in the middle of it; there really isn't much to be gained from climbing it, unless you're that interested in, ah, flexing for present company. The west part of the region is intercut with a lump of cliff that extends well into E7. Both are going to prove exceptionally difficult to climb, even with help, due to the general lack of handholds present on the sheer cliff face.

♆ E6 and E7 have been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Hi-Ho, Hi-Ho!
Aside from the lumpy steeple of cliff jutting out from the uneven canyon ground, there's not much to see here...at first. You'd be forgiven if your eyes started glazing over at the sight of this much solid rock all in one place, as it certainly isn't very easy on the eyes.

But the real win of the region of E6 isn't up, anyhow - it's down. The potential for a quarry is present in this region due to the abundance of sandstone and shale present in a great deal of the rock formations set into the ground underfoot. With the proper tools (or someone gifted in transmutation and the like), you could quite a few building materials from this part of the island.

---

It's Time to be Boulder
The good luck present in E6's find runs out by the time the group hits E7. Whether they choose to spend the night as a group or split the party to cover more ground, whoever heads further south will be in for a rather rude awakening. A good two-thirds of E7 is almost entirely unchartable due to the abundance of cliff that cuts diagonally through the region, extending from the west inward.

What ground can be covered here hosts a section of cliff wall that seems a bit...lumpier than its surroundings. Hang on, is it...detaching from the cliff? Oh, so it is. No need to panic. It's just that an earth golem happens to have taken up residence in the area, and it's none too pleased that you're here.

Formed entirely from an amalgamation of earth, rocks, ore, and valuable gems, the earth golem is surprisingly territorial for a glorified lump of mud. Approximately fifteen feet tall and half as wide, this lumbering creature has only one concern: the eradication of anything that steps into its square. It is sensitive to vibrations in the ground, and is thus very difficult to hide from for those moving on foot; however, it is nearly blind and very stupid, preferring to wallop anything within reach using its massive, boulder-sized fists rather than employ any sort of strategy.

While ores and gems can technically be mined from the creature, we wouldn't necessarily recommend it. You'll probably have to kill it first.

[catpiper]

Player name: Lexy
Character name: Ren
Character journal: catpiper
Character(s) accompanying: Kravitz, Lup
Area searched: Maati, G5
Date of search: 11/15
Additional notes: They're exploring to see what this island's deal is. They're keeping an eye out for food, water, treasure, etc. Ren's also looking for ravens, specifically.

MAATI - G5 | ⋈ OLD TOOLS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Maati does not host a great deal of living things, it seems; most of this landscape is simply varying gradations of stone the color of fired clay, baked red-brown by years without any cover from an unrelenting sun. The terrain here is rough, and not altogether pleasant to chart without some sturdy footwear to escape the perils of bruised toes or sharp rocks. A slender, winding spire of rock protrudes from the ground in the western section of the region, to seemingly no end before tapering into a hooked talon of stone. While it doesn't serve any perceptible purpose, it certainly lends the landscape a very striking look.

To the east, G5 rounds off to a section of cliff that's all but impossible to scale - one would need to return with the proper tools to even begin to try and brave a slope that sheer and purchaseless. Looks like you can't go any further in this direction - at least not on foot.

♆ G5 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Strange Things Did Happen Here

There are no birds to be found here, nor is there anything that can be used for food or even water. No; the most interesting part of G5 is what's going to be found by digging through the cracks in the hard-baked stone. If the travelers are thorough in their search, they'll be able to uncover the following:

[ ♆ ] x1 old pendant that looks like it might have once been a pale shape of some kind, but has now become distorted and discolored; the string or chain it was hung on has either been misplaced or withered away
[ ♆ ] x1 set of knuckledusters, rusted to the point of uselessness, but plainly once made of some sort of hardy metal

It's not immediately clear what these objects are doing here, or who they may have belonged to. Curious!

[solperierat]

Player name: Casey
Character name: Edward Elric
Character journal: solperierat
Character(s) accompanying: Ginko
Area searched: Maati F4 and G4
Date of search: 11/17 - 11/18
Additional notes: On the lookout for supplies and ores, mostly--and of course Ginko's habitual 'plants plz'

MAATI - F4 | ⋈ OLD TOOLS -- G4 | Ⴄ PREDATORS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
If you're on the lookout for plants, you're looking in the wrong place indeed! Maati is as dry and bare as islands come, more similar to Chol's burnt and blackened landscape than the verdant fields of Nuidan, or the lush jungles found on Ensō. The cracked rock makes for difficult terrain to cover, but it's probably easier for a pair of monster men than it is for most.

Craggy cliffs cut off not insignificant portions of the island's landscape; F4's northwestern corner is almost completely sectioned off behind a sheer cliff face, while a good third of G4's east is swallowed by a swell of unscalable walls. A chunk of cliff stretches untidily between both regions, funneling sharply upward in a teardrop-shaped hunk. It doesn't seem to serve much of a purpose aside from getting in the way of visibility. How nice.

♆ F4 and G4 have been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Ancient History

No viable ores are to be found on F4, alas. As far as supplies go...well, it depends on how you define "supplies."

F4 bears evidence of some sort of...struggle, possibly, though most of those remnants have been polished away, eroded by time and the wind that whistles across Maati's canyons. There are no bones, and certainly no bodies. But there are fragments and pieces that can be picked out of the rocks: a splinter of old wood here, a bit of broken, rusted metal there.

Only two objects have survived the wear and tear of the world and made it out relatively intact - or, at least, intact enough to be identified.

[ ♆ ] x1 ancient crossbow, completely ruined and all but useless. It had a relatively advanced construction, involving gears and the like, but most of those pieces have fallen away or rusted entirely. Try as one might, no ammunition seems to have survived the trials of time.
[ ♆ ] x1 cracked token, circular, roughly coin-sized, and made of some kind of stonelike, vaguely metallic material. It looks as though it was once patterned or carved in some significant way, but it has been worn to near smoothness. Whatever it is, it's useless now.

F4 contains nothing else of note.

---

Green Thumb
The speckles of green sighted on G4 aren't plants - sorry, Ginko. Those strange outcroppings of green crystal jut out at odd angles, which perhaps harkens back to the Quartzalcoatl found beneath Ensō. While they might initially seem to be nothing more than a curious vein of ore, drawing too close to them will reveal their true nature - and it's not quite so pleasant, though it is, at least, not the presence of any Quartzalcoatl.

G4 hosts a small colony of Crystal Spiders. Often found half-buried in the ground, these particular beasts will initially resemble clusters of greenish crystal. They tend to travel in packs, swarming their victims. While they deal very little damage, Crystal Spiders have the annoying habit of entrapping their victims in a layer of crystal once said victim is bitten. That particular attack ultimately kills the spider, but allows its fellows to hound the immobilized traveler while they're vulnerable. The sheath of crystal is easily broken through with enough swift action, but it can hamper progress.

Small, fast, and difficult to hit, Crystal Spiders are more irritants than they are genuine dangers, but in large groups, they can be deadly. Perhaps their most irritating trait is the fact that they have no resources of note to offer - once they are killed, they simply shatter into fragments of glasslike crystal.

[lightlessfuture]

Player name: Ruka
Character name: The Knight
Character journal: lightlessfuture
Character(s) accompanying: Chara
Area searched: Maati G3
Date of search: 21/11
Additional notes: Two small, stabby children looking for treasure! Or something to fight! Maybe even both??

MAATI - G3 | Ⴄ PREDATORS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
G3 is a fairly linear corridor of canyon, with cliffs looming up on either side. There's only one way to go, really, given the unilateral direction of the channel formed by the landscape. It goes without saying that the terrain is harsh and uneven, here, with plenty of sharp rocks, cracks and breaks in the stone, and more. Still, it's probably nothing that two small, stabby children can't handle.

G3 continues upward, further north, but the part of the region that is traversable does not terminate in any immediate sense. There's more territory to explore further north, then, but how much there is to uncover remains to be seen.

♆ G3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

* Pet
The children are in luck. While there's not much in the way of treasure, G3 does have something to fight. Several somethings, in fact, prefaced by a symphony of low, lupine growls. Bipedal beasts lurch out from the crags of G3, where they have apparently decided to make their home, and they're not happy about the intrusion.

Beowolves have been unlocked in the bestiary! Large, dark, and shadowy, Beowolves are more than a little reminiscent of a werewolf in size and stature. They are vicious beasts, stout and muscular, and often stand on their hind legs. Individuals will vary, resembling anything from simple, canine silhouettes with red eyes and jaws, to vaguely armored creatures, with bone-like protrusions jutting out like armor from their limbs and faces made up of elongated skulls. The smallest are roughly the size of a fully grown human, while the largest recorded are almost twice as much. Almost all bear vicious claws, tipped in white. Despite their mass and solidity, Beowolves emanate a ghostly, shadowy afterimage, like smoke.

Younger Beowolves will often attack on their own, with little thought towards strategy or survival. Older ones, however, have ample intelligence and experience from battles with humans. They will strategize and even hesitate before striking, to make sure it's possible. All Beowolves are naturally strong close-quarters fighters, with their claws and teeth. But being at long range puts them at a severe disadvantage, as there's nothing they can do besides close the gap.

Unfortunately, there are little to no resources to be gained from slaying these beasts; they disintegrate into black smoke shortly after death, with nothing left behind.

[forwearemany]

Player name: Shiny
Character name: Legion
Character journal: forwearemany
Character(s) accompanying: The Knight, Kravitz
Area searched: Maati D4
Date of search: 11/22
Additional notes: Arum squad reunites. Legion is just happy to do useful tasks with friends, they have no particular goals.

MAATI - D4 | § QUARRY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Nearly half of D4 has been swallowed by a bulging curve of cliff that swells out into the middle of the territory. Most of the cliffs on Maati are all but utterly unscalable, and these are no exception. The sheer size and steepness of these inclines will make it impossible to climb them without proper tools.

While it's not known what exists beyond those cliffs, the part of the island at sea level can be explored freely, even if it is not the most pleasant of trips. The red-baked stone of Maati's canyons make for some uncomfortable travel, if that's the sort of thing that's likely to bother you. Better check your boots for rocks and pebbles, and take care that you don't get anything important wedged in a rocky crevice with a misstep!

♆ D4 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Don't Take It For Granite
Just because the landscape is rather bare does not mean there's nothing of use, however. The edges of the tall cliffs that hedge into D4 in particular jut out over some veins of potentially vital materials, if one can recognize them - D4 is a viable quarry, for the inspired.

The rock formations set into and around the cliffs are very rich in granite and gypsum, both of which can be extremely useful as building materials. Gypsum is a relatively soft and highly common material in mortar and bricks, as well as a finish for roofs and walls in buildings. Granite, conversely, is much tougher and thus has a great deal of uses for setting a building's dimensions or foundations due to its inflexibility and imperviousness.

If you don't mind a little hard work and mining, you could take home some very useful materials.

[savedbyasong]

Player name: Katy
Character name: Shion
Character journal: savedbyasong
Character(s) accompanying: Connor Murphy
Area searched: Maati E3
Date of search: 28th November
Additional notes: Looking for anything but Shion is always interested in plants!

MAATI - E3 | ѱ PREY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
E3 is not the easiest land to traverse, as it happens. Maati was already a bit of a rough trip due to the rocky nature of its landscape, but most of E3 is blocked out by looming cliffs. Only a sliver of the landscape can actually be safely traveled - the rest of the region, unless you happen to have brought climbing equipment, is more or less completely inaccessible.

But one can probably hear the sound of waves, if they listen closely. E3 does come right up against Maati's shore, after all; it's just that there's no conceivable way to scale those cliffs without the proper tools and take a look for yourself.

That's all right. We have the feeling you're going to be plenty distracted anyway.

♆ E3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Crave that Mineral
Atop those cliffs, a small group of creatures that very much resemble goats are having no trouble at all moving along the crags and sheer slopes. It's those hooved feet that lend them a wonderful sense of balance, ideal for the rocky terrain. It's no surprise why they've settled here.

You'd be forgiven for presuming them to be goats from a distance. But they're not...exactly that.

Spanish Plated Goats have been unlocked in the bestiary! The Spanish Plated Goat is a type of chimera originating in Eastern Spain, and their name is highly indicative as to their physical appearance. With three-toed, cloven feet, these creatures are both furred and plated. Scales often run down the lengths of their backs and down their chest. Due to their shaggy coats and hooves, Spanish Plated Goats can last in colder temperatures and high altitudes, just like their less scaly counterparts. In addition, they are also graced with a magnificent lung capacity - which is to say, they breathe fire, both when elated and when feeling aggressed. One of their favorite pastimes, in fact, is to char the ground and darken their coats in the ashes and snowmelt. As they grow, they tend to develop thick manes reminiscent of those of lions, befitting their "chimera" species.

The most notable thing about these little beasts is their capacity to breathe fire if they feel threatened, but their meat is edible, if rather gamey. Additionally, their hides can be tanned into a peculiar but nonetheless robust sort of leather.

[hellawrath]

Player name: Laura
Character name: Lup
Character journal: hellawrath
Character(s) accompanying: the Knight, Erika, Kravitz, Shion, Shepard
Area searched: Maati, G2 and F2
Date of search: Nov 29, they'll split up and with Kravitz' portalling they should be able to make good time
Additional notes: Lup and gang are looking for more hints on what Maati's deal is and how long this dang canyon goes on for!

MAATI - G2 | ѱ PREY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
G2 is little more than a narrow strip of canyon almost entirely enclosed by cliffs. It tapers into a thin crevice overshadowed by the cliffs that swoop upward at a sheer, extreme angle. There's not much ground to cover here, it seems like...though there is something set into the rock.

It's a door. While it must have once been proud and gleaming, the iron and wood has since become so aged that it is almost indistinguishable from the surrounding stone. Almost.

If it weren't for the sigil engraved into it, glowing a deep blue.

It doesn't matter what you do in an attempt to open it, whether strength or magic; the door will not budge.

Due to the cliff faces, F2 is not currently accessible. You may search elsewhere if you like, or attempt to scale the cliffs and explore F2 anyway. Without proper climbing equipment, you will need to roll a 16 or higher on a d20.

♆ G2 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Still Just...Really Craving That Mineral
Atop those cliffs, a group of creatures that very much resemble goats are having no trouble at all moving along the crags and sheer slopes. It's those hooved feet that lend them a wonderful sense of balance, ideal for the rocky terrain. It's no surprise why they've settled here.

You'd be forgiven for presuming them to be goats from a distance. But they're not...exactly that.

It's another group of Spanish Plated Goats - a type of chimera originating in Eastern Spain, and their name is highly indicative as to their physical appearance. With three-toed, cloven feet, these creatures are both furred and plated. Scales often run down the lengths of their backs and down their chest. Due to their shaggy coats and hooves, Spanish Plated Goats can last in colder temperatures and high altitudes, just like their less scaly counterparts. In addition, they are also graced with a magnificent lung capacity - which is to say, they breathe fire, both when elated and when feeling aggressed. One of their favorite pastimes, in fact, is to char the ground and darken their coats in the ashes and snowmelt. As they grow, they tend to develop thick manes reminiscent of those of lions, befitting their "chimera" species.

The most notable thing about these little beasts is their capacity to breathe fire if they feel threatened, but their meat is edible, if rather gamey. Additionally, their hides can be tanned into a peculiar but nonetheless robust sort of leather.

[antepone]

Player name: Michelle
Character name: Mira
Character journal: antepone
Character(s) accompanying: Pyrrha Nikos, Ann Takamaki, Hector
Area searched: MONSUN: D3
Date of search: January 11
Additional notes: Thoroughly searched! Lookin' for foods and stuff.

MONSUN - D3 | ѱ PREY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Away from Monsun's coast, progressing very slightly into the island's heartland in a steady western crawl, it will rapidly become apparent that the disarray of the land at the site of the mana pool is only the beginning. Large swathes of land have become snarled with the thick, sweet-smelling husks of long-dead vines. The rich, deciduous woodland is interspersed with splotches of flowery meadow, and even dark stains of something void-dark and aimless.

In short, the place is a mess. Ziziphus's landscape seems to have interfaced periodically with Monsun's, to a very unsettling effect. The overlap is sloppy and irregular. Trees look as though they've been clipped through, cut cleanly away mid-trunk at seemingly random intervals.

But all the while, the psychological effects of the island have remained horribly intact. The longer you remain here, the more your worst traits will start to manifest. So you had better move quickly.

♆ D3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Deerly Beloved
On the plus side, you're not alone here. A number of you might have been around while Ziziphus was still accessible, though some of these creatures have also spilled onto Ensō. Those of you who have seen them will recognize them as treeclops, a peculiar animal native to Ziziphus. They resemble deer in all the important ways, save for the texture of their hide, which is more akin to wood. It is for this reason that treeclops make for an excellent source of lumber.

Treeclops tend to travel primarily in groups, but nonetheless placid creatures. If the presence of other living creatures offends or frightens them, it doesn't much show. Still, be careful not to startle them, as they are known to stampede when spooked - and those hooves are hardened wood aren't any fun to be hit with.

This herd doesn't seem bothered by the splotched landscape, or the presence of others at all. If you're in need of some extra timber, at least you've got a handy source.

[solperierat]

Player name: Casey
Character name: Edward Elric
Character journal: solperierat
Character(s) accompanying: Faust, GInko
Area searched: Monsun
Date of search: January 11
Additional notes: Edward is keeping an eye out for building resources, and Faust and Ginko are looking for medicinal herbs.

[lifeaftr_mods]

We're going to need a region of Monsun you intend to search before we can respond to this!

[cacoethes_mori]

Player name: Raile
Character name: Foster van Denend
Character journal: cacoethes_mori
Character(s) accompanying: The Knight, Muffet
Area searched: Monsun (New), D4
Date of search: January 11
Additional notes: Two arthropods and a centaur walk into a search request,

MONSUN - D4 | Ɏ VEGETABLES/ROOTS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
A coal-black smear dominates a not insignificant portion of this region, a thick slurry of something dark and void-like in substance and in sensation. Whatever composes this shadowy mass, it's eerily icy to the touch, well below freezing. It's not recommended that anyone remains in its vicinity for longer than is strictly necessary, unless the numbing nothingness is a pleasurable sensation to them. Or if they'd enjoy some mild to severe hypothermia.

Whatever that strange absenceis, that bleeds into Monsun's landscape, it's only the tip of the iceberg. Streaks of meadowgrass crop up in irregular bursts beneath the scatter of trees that look as though they've been spliced into one another. Ziziphus's vine-draped, dead and dying trunks are interspersed with Monsun's deciduous undergrowth without any pattern whatsoever.

To the south of the region, the bend of a river swells out into the landscape, trails of water spidering off into the banks like miniature tributaries. Beyond the river, the western side of the island was easy enough to access. Here, though...it's hard to say. The other side of the island isn't visible from D4.

Which a shame, given how the effects of this side of the island are about to feel more than a little imminent, the longer you stay.

♆ D4 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Semper Papyrus
The ground near the southern part of the region is particularly boggy, drenched with the river-water that has leaked into the grassy banks. As it happens, those swampy river conditions are perfect for the growth of Cyperus papyrus. Papyrus is a hardy plant with edible roots, but it is most known for its versatility. Papyrus has a well-documented use in such crafts as the production of boats, paper, baskets, utensils, and more.

If you don't mind harvesting it to take it back with you, it can also be extremely useful for regulating and cleaning the local ecosystem, as it is a natural biofilter that can keep waters in its vicinity cleaner.

[hurricane_clown]

Player name: Raile
Character name: Karako Pierot
Character journal: huricane_clown
Character(s) accompanying: Dirk Strider
Area searched: Monsun, E2
Date of search: January 11
Additional notes: Karako is super aggro because it's East Monsun so he's out for blood. That probably won't get in the way of the search, though. Dirk's the brains of this outfit, Karako's just the clown.

MONSUN - E2 | ѱ PREY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
North of the island's mana pool, the coast of Monsun is more or less intact and in line with how it was, which makes a good half of E2's surface area ocean. The coastline swings crookedly north in a spread of scrambled woodland. The trees look strange, and cobbled together, as though different deciduous species have been grafted onto one another. Meadowgrass spikes out in odd spurts, interrupting what should be unbroken stretches of bramble. Less surface area means less likelihood of those dark spots that are now being uncovered on Monsun with alarming frequency. Unfortunately, adventurers won't be spared that anomaly here.

The western part of the region plays host to a swirling dark that threatens to swallow anyone who treads into it. It seems harmless, other than the startling appearance of the thing - like this part of the island has simply been scooped away, and left nothing at all in its wake. It radiates an unmistakable icy chill should one venture too close, but it doesn't seem as though it can effect any other lasting damage, aside from maybe the risk of frostbite.

With the coast at your front and that strange and whirling void to your backs, you might want to hurry along. You probably don't want to be stuck between a rock and a hard place when your very worst selves decide to come home to roost.

♆ E2 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Owl Always Wonder
Another remnant of Ziziphus's native population can be found here, nesting in the trees; whatever is affecting the landscape doesn't seem to have concerned them in the slightest. While plenty of arboreali have relocated to Ensō following the destruction of their home, it seems that others ventured here, as well. It's a good thing, too, given that arboreali plumage often boasts a wide array of flowers that are nothing if not useful. Medicinal plants can be groomed from their "feathers" or, if you happen to not care to return, simply plucked with ruthless abandon. They are also edible to an extent, but given that their plumage frequently sheds and regrows, why waste a potentially renewable resource? Given their unique physiology, all they require is water and sunlight to thrive, the same as any flower.

Most arboreali are rather solitary, and don't tend to travel in flocks, but something about this region seems to have attracted a rather large number of them. They do, however, notably steer clear of those pockets of peculiar void; even animals don't seem to want anything to do with them.

[ideismo]

Player name: Dal
Character name: Alexei Dinoia
Character journal: ideismo
Character(s) accompanying: Bucky Barnes, Yeager
Area searched: Monsun, D1
Date of search: January 11
Additional notes: Thoroughly searching, if for no better reason than if you're busy you're not stabbing each other.

MONSUN - D1 | ѱ PREY

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Heading for Monsun's northern region, the spotty woodland continues. Whether you were here when Monsun looked a little more normal or not, there's no mistaking that things are not as they should be. Trees have grown strangely into one another in an unfurling of vines and tangling branches. Splashes of meadow are slapped across what should be dense undergrowth, seemingly at random. It is though two landscapes are struggling for prominence, and neither will give ground to the other. That assessment may not very well be far off, either. The disparity is intense and inescapable, and impossible to ignore.

Unless you're too busy being at each other's throats, anyway.

This dichotomy continues all the way to the coast. The ocean waves are thankfully normal enough, crashing up against a thin strip of coast that ends as soon as the scattered trees begin. But given how quickly your worst traits will start to swell to the surface the longer you remain, it's doubtful that any of you will be in the state of mind to enjoy the view.

♆ D1 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Wool You Kindly
You're not alone in this region, either. The local flora and fauna that once flourished on Ziziphus often overlapped with one another, and flowccus are no exception. What initially might seem like some flowery bushes turn out to be anything but. Their "wool" is comprised of bright flowers, some which might even be useful for medicine and dyes. Their coats can even be sheared to harvest said flowers, and given the placid nature of these prey animals, they probably won't even mind the company in the vicinity. They're also capable of producing a sweet milk akin to nectar, and require very little daily maintenance besides sunlight, water, and some room to graze.

Some of them might be worth preserving, and taking back to Ensō to better sustain the budding herds there.

[bitch4bitch]

Player name: Maggie
Character name: Erika Fisher
Character journal: bitch4bitch
Character(s) accompanying: Foster van Denend, Edward Elric
Area searched: Monsun C3
Date of search: January 13
Additional notes: Nothing in particular!

MONSUN - C3 | ѱ PREY -- Ⴄ | PREDATOR

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The woodland of Monsun's eastern half comes to a tenuous halt as the surrounding trees begin to bleed into slurries of inky dark. The shadowy void-stuff that has irregularly patchworked a not insignificant portion of the land thus far appears to have formed into a wobbling, jellylike...growth that has sprung, de novo, from the surrounding landscape. It swells upwards, bleeding into the ribbon of river that bisects Monsun into its two halves. The land on the other side of it has become a confused mire of sandy-yellow and mud-brown, perpetually troubled by the gummy blackness that has managed to awkwardly fuse Monsun's western half with its eastern. If you don't mind the chill and the unsettling feeling that you'd be walking through nothing at all, this could even make a sufficient bridge to the other side of the island.

Of course, you could always make your way across the river, instead. Its waters can be rough at times, but it can be safely waded or swam across, for the most part. Current conditions are...probably a little less than ideal, considering how much of that dark void has leaked into the surrounding waters, lowering the river's temperature significantly.

On the plus side, there's some good news in the fact that you found the river at all! If you were looking for the side of the island that exposes your best selves, congratulations: you've found it. Best figure out a way to cross before you start going at each other's throats, right?

♆ C3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Burning Bright
On the eastern side of this region, a group of tigerlilies have made their home on the riverbanks - on the places that aren't overtaken by that icy dark, that is. The potentially contaminated water doesn't seem to trouble them any, though anyone who pays close attention will note that they steer very deliberately clear of any of those shadowy patches that spot the landscape and the river itself. They don't seem to want to get near them, or pass through them for an extended period of time if they can help it.

The most useful aspect of tigerlilies is their capability to be tamed, as well as their relatively low-maintenance day-to-day care. But they're just as content to be left to their own devices, if need be.

---

Deeper and Deeper We Go
Assuming your group makes it to the other side of the river, they'll discover that the immense mental pressure on Monsun's eastern side has eased. To the island's west, your best attributes will flourish. Every one of your best qualities will be amplified until, after a few days on this part of the island, you'll be living your very best self. And a good thing, too; Monsun's west is infamously dangerous.

The western part of C3, if you ignore the faintly pulsating dark to your back, appears to be more or less quite normal. There are a few patches of Ziziphus's meadows and grasslands that pop up here and there, scattered among the sands, but for the most part, there's nothing but the harsh and scorching heat of the sun overhead, unbroken by trees.

It's a good thing that there's a well, just ahead. Or...is it?

Well mimics have been unlocked in the bestiary! Well mimics are largely tube-shaped animals, buried deep in the sandy earth. They suction fresh water from deep within the earth and hold it in the lowermost parts of themselves. The simple construct that travelers see - the circular, stone shape with the rope and bucket for hauling water - is, in fact, their mouth, carefully adapted to camouflage itself into something that seems perfectly serviceable. Once travelers attempt to grab hold of the rope or bucket, or even the rim of the well itself, they'll discover that the surfaces have all been slicked with a sticky substance that may very well take off a layer of your skin if you attempt to tear away without taking great care.

Once the well mimic has entrapped its prey, the "well" sprouts teeth around its stone rim, lining its rocky gullet all the way to the bottom, as well as a fat red tongue. Rope-like tentacles whip out to seize whatever poor soul has found themselves ensnared. If you don't manage to get free in time, you'll learn just how it feels to be digested over a period of twenty-four hours while your body is broken down into a squishy, delicious mulch for the mimic's consumption. Yummy!

The best way to kill these creatures is by tricking it into swallowing something lethal - fire, poison, sharp weapons, whatever you have on hand. Well mimics are quite blind and hunt purely by touch, and will seize whatever touches them without any knowledge of what it is. And once it has one victim in hand, it's quite incapable of grabbing hold of another. They can also be a very useful source of fresh water if killed. Additionally, the sac the well mimic uses to contain its water can be converted into a highly durable water canteen.

[piercetheheart]

Player name: Sera
Character name: Gladio
Character journal: piercetheheart
Character(s) accompanying: Ardyn, Prompto, and picking up Faust along the way. 2 Chocobos and a service lily as well.
Area searched: Monsun c4
Date of search: 1/14
Additional notes: Faust is on the hunt for herbs. The XV boys just wanna find somewhere relatively safe to hunker down. Using Gladio's Survival skill for this one!

MONSUN - C4 | Ⴄ PREDATOR -- Ɏ | VEGETABLES/ROOTS

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The river flowers into the desert landscape, converting what should be dry sand into a golden-brown marsh of mud and meadowgrass. The river is wider and soupier than it was the last time anyone ventured onto Monsun, dividing the fragmented island into awkward halves. The black, oily swell that swallows up the land just upstream has bled into the currents as they leak southward, painting the waters from foam-ridged blue-greens to a sickly, poisonous black. It drops the overall temperature of the river significantly.

The desert itself hasn't fared much better. Ziziphus's grasslands crop up in irregular sprouts of grass and flowers, stark against the dry curve of sand dunes. The disparity paints the landscape a dark and muddied brown with alarming inconsistency; even here, it seems that Ziziphus has been sloppily arrayed on top of Monsun, to a very tonally dissonant effect.

But the river is safe to ford or wade through, if you must. Just be careful when progressing from Monsun's east to its west. The mood shift isn't terribly radical, gradual as it is, but it can be startling to those unaccustomed to it. The western side of the island brings out your best traits - but it comes at a cost.

♆ C4 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Every Desert Has Its Thorns
A crop of cacti might initially promise to be an invaluable resource, until they turn out to be anything but. Walking cacti are silent predators who prefer to slowly approach their prey, avoiding being noticed by their targets until it is too late.

Luckily, these creatures do not rely on projectiles to attack- rather, their needle thin spikes can extend up to one foot out of their bodies in a fast, powerful motion- more than enough to puncture flesh and muscle. If you've ever wanted to try death by acupuncture, these are your kind of monster... but if not, a sharp weapon or fire will certainly help whittle down their numbers.

And they're all over the region of C4. Good luck with clearing them out.

---

Don't Be a Prick
Fortunately, Gladio's survival skill will turn up some resources of note, even in this utter wasteland. Notably, he'll discover that not all of the cacti are of the walking, murderous variant. The more stationary types of cacti in the vicinity might be recognizable to him as Opuntia basilaris, known colloquially as the beavertail pricklypear. This particular species' highly visible, bright pink flowers are a dead giveaway.

The pricklypear's buds can be steamed or cooked, and the large seeds can be ground into an edible mush. Just be careful when harvesting it - this particular species of cactus isn't as obviously barbed as most, but its flat, fleshy pads bear hundreds of tiny bristles that can be painful to dig out of the skin.

[ratsinadaze]

Player name: Azazel
Character name: Gobbet
Character journal: ratsinadaze
Character(s) accompanying: The Knight
Area searched: Monsun B3
Date of search: 1/16
Additional notes: Gobbet is looking for resources like food or supplies she might be able to trade, but honestly both of them are curious enough to stick their noses in anything that looks interesting.

MONSUN - B3 | Ⴄ PREDATOR

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The desert looks wrong.

The desert of Monsun, that which should be uniform and hot and inescapably dry, is splotched with rich grasslands, flush with flowers. The break in the buff-colored dunes might be a welcome from the scorching weather, but there's a pervading sense of wrongness in just how much of it is interspersed with Monsun's harsh western landscape. It's Ziziphus, leaking through the sands in bursts of golden-brown grass and the awkward swells of half-hills. With how obviously none of it belongs, it's hard to think of the patchy meadowland as anything but a stain, spreading where it shouldn't.

Maybe you can keep in good spirits about it, however. After all, the west still brings out your best self.

♆ B3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

I See Mushroom for Improvement
Unfortunately, this just means that Ziziphus has brought all its problems with it, which is why the Knight will certainly recognize the creatures that frequent the parts of this region interspersed with Ziziphus's crops of grass. Shrumal ogres are usually better at concealing themselves among the landscape, using their dull coloration and dark green caps to blend in with the undergrowth. A lack of any such undergrowth here makes them obvious targets, but that doesn't seem to put them off any.

These creatures are sometimes found in pairs. Unfortunately for this search party, the open flatness of the land means that they're likely to hone right in on whatever looks like it doesn't belong. Between their predisposition to attack on sight, their capacity to spit bright orange corrosive gunk at whoever gets too close, and their lack of concern as to their own well-being when it comes to simply battering attackers with their wide heads, the shrumal ogre is enough of an irritant on its own.

How unfortunate that there are so many here.

[hellawrath]

Player name: Laura
Character name: Lup
Character journal: hellawrath
Character(s) accompanying: Barry, Kravitz
Area searched: Monsun, C2
Date of search: 1/16
Additional notes: They're looking to get through the bad side pretty quickly and should be able to cross the river easily thanks to Kravitz' teleporting/telekinesis.

MONSUN - C2 | Ⴄ PREDATOR

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
It's unfortunate that C2 is almost overwhelmingly forest, cut through with a dark streak of shadow, like an inkstain blotting the woodland. A wobbling mas of it presses just against the riverbanks. At points, that mass of ice-cold void-stuff curves perilously close to the river that almost streams into the adjacent regions, an awkward curve that cups C2's lower left-hand corner.

Crossing the river may be relatively easy with the help of teleportation, but there's not much to cross to. A tiny strip of sand-dune might barely be visible past the dark flow of shadow-touched river-water, but you'll have to push on if you want to find somewhere safe to stand.

In short - we hope that you have a back-up plan, because your worst qualities won't be quite so easy to shake as you may have hoped.

♆ C2 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

I'm Rubber and You're Glue
Even worse luck: the "resource" found on C2 is actually a rather dangerous predator, even if it is a highly useful one, once killed. The octonettle was native to Ziziphus until the island sank away, and so it seems that small colony of them have set up at the river's mouth, where it opens up into the ocean. Be careful when crossing the river, for that reason if nothing else - these creatures don't take kindly to being seen, and will interpret almost anything as a threat.

While their ink is rich in nutrients - and their bodies capable of being dried and stretched so to be fashioned into very handy nets - the octonettle can be a very unpleasant thing to run into, particularly if you're not expecting it. The octonettle is masterful at camouflage, which means that at times you won't realize that you've treaded into its territory - at least until it's spraying its corrosive ink right into your eyes.

[forwearemany]

Player name:Shiny
Character name:Legion
Character journal: forwearemany
Character(s) accompanying: Castor
Area searched: Monsun, B4
Date of search: Jan 19
Additional notes: They're curious and restless. Legion wants to see if they can find out more about what exactly is going on, and Castor is interested in useful resources.

MONSUN - B4 | Ⴄ PREDATOR

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The southwest coast of Monsun is desert streaked with meadowlands at irregular intervals, points where Ziziphus has begun to poke through the heated cast of what should be a bare and unforgiving wasteland. The swirls of buff-colored grass, green and gold stalks, and cups of brightly colored flowers are an uncertain contrast to the sweep of desert that ought to comprise most of Monsun's western half.

Nothing here, at least, mingles with any lumps of inarticulate shadow. The island merely terminates, eventually, in a jagged line of coast that hosts foam-crested waves as they slap up against the desert sands.

It's plain that the two landscapes have been overlaid atop one another, and it's probably not difficult to figure out why, considering how many of Ziziphus's creatures were preserved here in their flight from their dying island.

♆ B4 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Get Dragone
The downside to so much of Monsun's landscape being lost in a faded recollection of Ziziphus, of course, is just how present non-native creatures are in this landscape. An abundance of rootwyrms have taken up residence in the areas of B4 that have succumbed to the thick grasslands, and they certainly don't seem very happy to be here. Rootwyrms, by nature, prefer thick and verdant woodland - not open meadows and desert sands like these. To call this cluster of rootwyrms "displeased" would be an understatement; they're very eager to get out of this area, and they're all the more willing to lash out as a consequence.

While they can be potentially useful for resources - they leave behind a large, turtle-like shell upon death that might be helpful for building material, and there's possibly edible flesh beneath their thick, scaly hide - they are also an absolute nightmare to contend with. Between their capacity to spit corrosive acid at passersby, thick, barklike skin that's difficult to pierce, and their large and powerful jaws, the rootwyrm makes for a very dangerous opponent indeed.

And these ones happen to be really, really cranky.

[shiritai]

Player name: Claire
Character name: Violet Evergarden
Character journal: shiritai
Character(s) accompanying: The Knight (lightlessfuture)
Area searched: Monsun, B1
Date of search: February 4th
Additional notes: Primarily looking for food and water and other resources, but also a potential vangate point to work out Wherest The Fuck this is. Also, Violet's a soldier so she's got some good experience doing recon and exploration of unfamiliar places. A multitalented knife child!!

MONSUN - B1 | ⊗ CATASTROPHE

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The upper areas of Monsun are wind-torn wastes, but this region at least has the welcome break of a lake, or part of a lake, curving out from the west. The water there is clear and cool, and offers a relief from the scorching desert sun. To the east, the ocean waves crash rhythmically up against the island's northern coast. All in all, it's not the worst place to be, despite the heat and unkind weather. The desert's curious psychological effects will be easily felt the longer one remains in the vicinity, until your best traits are being amplified to their utmost.

From across the ocean waters, a wooded curve of Monsun's eastern half is visible, distantly. But even if one were to cross over to that side of the island, they'd find nothing of note, other than the much calmer weather and a much less pleasant version of yourself.

♆ B1 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

🔥🔥🔥
It's probably best that you've discovered clean water, both in the form of the ocean waters and the nearby lake, because B1 is currently playing host to a phenomenon that doesn't make much sense, given the treelessness of the area - though it might have something to do with so much of Ziziphus's excess, leftover fragments being liberated all at the same time, and with the desert sun and heat swallowing those flammable trees and grasses whole, what other end result would there be, than a firestorm?

What's that, you say? That's not how science works?

Screw you, says Monsun. It's magic.

A firestorm is what happens when a hurricane meets a lot of fire, and the two fail to snuff each other out. Large, gale-strength winds gust fire brands, heat, and assorted embers across air currents and disperse them anywhere they see fit. The high temperatures are likely to set anything on fire if it happens to be remotely flammable.

The good news is that you have a lot of water, if you need it. The bad news is that you should probably make sure that you're not carrying anything that's easily set alight.

[antepone]

Player name: Michelle
Character name: Mira
Character journal: antepone
Character(s) accompanying: Lance (thegoofball)
Area searched: Monsun, A1
Date of search: 2/26
Additional notes: Thorough searching!! Mira is looking for any materials they could possibly use for building or whatnot, or anything that would suggest people having lived here at some point, or worked here, etc.

MONSUN - A1 | ♥ AVATAR ALTAR

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The progression northward probably isn't familiar to either explorer, on this venture...but whether they were aware of it or not, A1 was where the temple of the Avatar of Balance was found, the last time explorers had to uncover Monsun's map.

The region has been distorted by Ziziphus's displacement, and then again warped subtly by the restoration of the land. While Monsun is no longer patchworked with fuzzes of murky dark and inconsistent sprouts of grassy meadowland where there shouldn't be any, the ground is nonetheless different from the way it once was.

The lake at Monsun's northernmost tip, however, remains as it was. Its waters are clear and vast, and swarming with schools of koi fish. And at the center, a circular spit of sandy land supports what should be recognizable, even from a distance, as a temple, comprised of stone.

There's something not quite right about this one. The Avatar of Balance's temple was always smaller than the Storyteller's, less grandiose than most, but the shriveled husks of dead vines that spill out from its corners, that crumble into dust at its edges and contours, certainly aren't normal.

Perhaps this is why Balance was found outside of their temple, instead of residing within as they usually do.

♆ A1 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Hello Again
Should Mira and Lance find a way across the lake and into the Avatar's temple, they'll discover that the psychological effects inherent to Monsun's western region will fade with an abruptness they may all find quite noticeable; it seems that the island's peculiar nature cannot penetrate the temple's confines. No longer are they their best or worst selves - here, they are simply who they are. Crossing the temple threshold will also greet the approacher with a flashing series of images, inexplicable sensations: a set of scales, a pair of koi fish, a monarch butterfly, and a pale flower that some may recognize as pink larkspur.

The temple's interior will smell dank and musty, and faintly sweet, like something here grew and rotted and died. Here and there, the empty, dried-out shucks of dead vines lay scattered across the worn stones, like long-dead snakes.

But the altar at the temple's center remains, even as it has remained presumably untouched. Those who attempt to describe it will find that it somehow defies description: it is both smooth to the touch and roughly hewn, both sun-warmed and as cold as frost. Both extremes exist in seeming simultaneity.

If you wish to contact the Avatar of Balance in person, you may do so here.

[catpiper]

Player name: lexy
Character name: ren
Character journal: catpiper
Character(s) accompanying: shion, hollow knight, the knight, amaterasu, hector
Area searched: cahypdo, e5
Date of search: 3/10
Additional notes: they're looking around and seeing what's up. funky new island means all kinds of new treasures. the knight can turn into a deer if that helps them sniff out anything cool??? they're just looking around. ren, per usual, is specifically looking for trash.

CAHYPDO - E5 | ₪ MANA POOL, Ɏ VEGETABLES

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
The mana pool on Cahypdo is set in the small strip of sandy terrain to the region's west; most everything else in the area is overtaken by a crooked sprawl of rocky cliffs and tide pools. Still, there's plenty to be picked over in said tide pools if that interests you - and if you don't mind the potentially uncomfortable rockiness of the uneven landscape. It can be a difficult area to traverse with either feet or hooves, but your efforts might pay off, depending on what you're looking for.

One can find all manner of curious little sea creatures in tide pools, after all. Hermit crabs, limpids, starfish, colorful sea anemones, mussels, sea palms, even the odd spike of a sea urchin. The odd scuttling crab might not take too kindly to you poking your fingers or hands into their territory, and might offer a hearty pinch in retaliation. And, of course, all sorts of smooth pieces of driftwood, strips of kelp and seaweed, and fragments of colorful shell can be found nestled among the rocks and half-buried in the sands.

These rocks might seem rather bare from a distance, but closer inspection reveals that all of them are teeming with life, as long as you don't mind the frothing caps of foam that signals a rising tide.

♆ E5 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

By the Vine
The mana pool is the most critical find in this area, of course, but it's not the only thing one could potentially uncover in the region, if they search thoroughly enough. A few pale green fronds of something resembling seaweed can be spotted in the shallows, toward the south. It's not technically seaweed at all, however. Rather, it's a species of green algae that bears a striking resemblance to Caulerpa lentillifera - known colloquially as green caviar, or sea grapes. Despite the fact that it very much looks like clusters of underwater grapes, C. lentillifera is generally considered a sea vegetable.

Sea grapes can be washed and eaten raw with vinegar, added to salads, or served in virtually any dish as a substitute for mixed greens. It is unsurprisingly most often paired with fish and other marine animals in terms of meal preparation. Sea grapes are also rumored to have some mild health benefits, such as serving as an anti-diabetic.

Unsurprisingly, it's most often found and cultivated in saltwater environments, but there's plenty to be found here!

[thermalwind]

Player name: Sam
Character name: Keith Kogane
Character journal: focusedroar
Character(s) accompanying: Wash, Church
Area searched: Cahypdo, D5
Date of search: 3/10
Additional notes: Keith is looking to make sure nothing will murder them and what resources they can find. Wash just wants Church around while they scope shit out.

CAHYPDO - D5 | Ɏ VEGETABLES

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
D5, it must be noted, is the location of Cahypdo's southern fishing village. Most of the buildings here are distinct in that they appear to be built of driftwood and debris tossed up from the sea, rather than any sort of naturally growing lumber. The buildings are simplistic but sturdy, and clearly built by people who knew what they were doing. Some of them are on the alarmingly tall side, however - the very tallest almost surpass fifteen feet in height, more akin to towers than houses.

The southern curve of the region houses a section of soft sand. The beach, beat up against by regular ocean waves, is a vast and largely flat expanse that offers an unimpeded view of the coastal horizon.

Three docks jut out into the ocean, each with simple raftlike boats tethered in place. These little vessels probably wouldn't survive in the open sea, but they can certainly be used to scope out the shallows surrounding the island, if one wished. The round lumps of woven baskets are piled at the ends of each dock - likely what the locals use to carry their spoils from fishing trips from boat to beach, and vice versa.

Speaking the locals...they'll be happy to speak with you, if you're interested.

♆ D5 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Eat Your Greens
Besides the sprawl of the fishing village in Cahypdo's southern region, D5's sands gradually segue into a smattering of bluffs. The gentle slopes can be occasionally infuriating to traverse due to the abundance of soft, slippery sand, not to mention the landscape's general instability. It isn't uncommon for entire sections of the bluffs to simply crumble away mid-climb, sending unwary travelers tumbling back down to sea level.

But if one is determined in their efforts, they'll find crops of sea grass at the peaks of the bluffs - along with something that might be promising for any organic members of the party.

Asparagus is an extraordinarily hardy vegetable that can withstand extreme temperatures and worse, and often grows back despite one's best efforts to get rid of it. The wild asparagus in this region has more or less been allowed to flourish, untamed, though it's clear from some of the trimmed stalks here and there that the Roaka have seen fit to sample some of the wild-growing sprouts for their own tables. Despite this, it's clear that they haven't made any real attempt to tame or cultivate the plants. Perhaps they don't feel that they need to, strictly speaking. They probably won't mind if you end up sampling any for your own purposes, as long as you don't kill too many of them in the process. Most asparagus is cut very close to the baes of the spear, without killing the base of the plant.

As long as you leave some for the Roaka, you're free to take as much as you need.

[demonpuppy]

Player name: Casey
Character name: Chip Abaroa
Character journal: demonpuppy
Character(s) accompanying: Tim, Karako
Area searched: Cahypdo D3
Date of search: 3/10
Additional notes: Childs is hyper! Also possibility of staying overnight anyway I guess depending on if Raile gets back on that WHEEZE

CAHYPDO - D3 | ◆ FRUIT

[lifeaftr_mods]

The Search Begins...
Congratulations, adventurers: you've discovered the village of Elower.

...part of it, anyway.

Elower is built into the mountains that hunch at either side of Cahypdo, a crisscross of bridges and stairwells that connect the buildings that have been set into the stone without ever touching the fertile strip of farmland that runs through the valley at the island's heart. D3 houses a not insignificant portion of that farmland, as well as the base of Mount Tharama, Cahypdo's eastern peak.

The Roaka tend to most of their crops in this area. You're welcome to speak with them, if you like.

♆ D3 has been unlocked on the map of the area! ♆

---

Life is But a Stardew
The valley itself hosts a wide variety of foods that might be available for trade...or theft, if you feel like taking advantage of these kind people and their generosity. Or, perhaps, they're simply available for perusal, to be looked over at length. D3 in particular has a number of apple, papaya, orange, banana, fig, mango, pineapple, and persimmon crops. Not all may be recognizable, as the seasons on Cahypdo seem to progress more or less normally, and thus some of these crops are in varying degrees of blooming, fruiting, and sprouting. But the ones that are in season look like they're ripe and fresh, and ready to be harvested.

You could always ask the Roaka if they'd be amenable to you sampling some of these crops. Or you could just take them, but that seems rather rude, doesn't it? Particularly as they probably don't want people trampling that fertile land too much - after all, that village is built into the mountain slopes for a reason!