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

[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! ♆

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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.