(september catch-all) NOW WITH BIGGER, BETTER WAYS TO DIE

[vestigemods]

SEPTEMBER CATCH-ALL

► THIS SHITHOLE JUST GOT BETTER

The morning of the 10th feels just like any other. It arrives without fanfare, no itch at the back of your mind telling you something is different. If you're a homebody, you might very well go about much of your day without growing any the wiser... At least until you go outside.

The island is the first sign that something's amiss. Stepping out your front door and spotting the brand new tree-covered patch of land smack dab in the middle of your lake may not face some of you, but it's certainly not a thing that has happened before. Those who dealt with the hatch and the tunnel beyond in August might notice that the island very distinctly covers where that very hatch used to be, sealing off that tunnel system once and for all.

Those who live along the northern end of the lake will also hear the distinct sound of rushing water, a sharp contrast to the quiet atmosphere of the still lake you fell asleep to. Sure enough, a river now pours into the lake from the north, a whole ass river coming into existence overnight.

But the island and river aren't the only changes - they're just the most obvious. It may be today, tomorrow, or a week from now, but the next time someone makes their way to the north or east barriers in any shape or form, they'll find that the barrier no longer seems to exist. The trees are marked quite clearly, white spray paint on a trunk one per fifteen or so feet but you find that they're able to walk right through the area it's supposed to be. And walk, and walk, and walk. Is this a mishap with the barrier, or was it on purpose? Have the Technicians... set you free?

Maybe it's time to tell the others.

► LET'S SEE WHAT YOU'VE WON!

Those who make their way across the new and improved containment zone can encounter a fairly wide variety of things. Following the main road like a rational human being puts you on the direct route to town. Should you get curious along the way, you might detour off the asphalt to explore a stretch of farmland, with smooth rolling hills that may once have been idyllic before they fell into disrepair. If you're hungry, a grove of apple trees sit alongside the river, their branches heavy with fruits ripe for the picking. Consider sparing some for the horses fenced in the western field - they're too skittish to let you approach, but if you leave the apples inside their fence, they're certain to grab them as soon as you've backed away.

Conversely, heading due east from your cabin like the impulsive goblin you are will likely lead you smack dab into the swamp. It's dismal. It's disgusting. Use the damn road next time, and you won't be slopping your way through nearly knee-deep muck... And that's before you discover the alligators. (Are discovered by the alligators? Who discovers whom is just a matter of perspective, really.)

Whether you take the smart route or the soggy route, you'll (hopefully) end up in much the same place: the town. It's dirty and run-down and the alleys and back roads host a whole species roulette of strays, and you intermittently feel the distinct sensation of being watched or even followed, but it's not all bad. There's Foodland, which compared to the gas station pickings may as well be a five-star buffet. There's also a rec center with a functional bowling alley, if you know how to play - and across the street from that rec center sits an apartment complex, complete with nine mostly-clean apartments with fully-functional electricity and plumbing. I'm not saying the swamp-waders should hijack an apartment shower, buuuut that's definitely not not an option.

Finally, to the north, there's a bit of a mountain that I'm fairly sure that nobody is going to fuck with just yet, unless they happen to be some sort of overachiever who wants nothing more than to get a bird's-eye view of the landscape below. Mind the mountain goats. They like to shove.

► MOD NOTES

• This log is an introduction to the new expanded containment zone, but it also functions as the September catch-all log for all non-event starters.
  
• Refer to the Locations page for actual information on the various new areas and points of interest - the above flavortext is only meant to supplement the Locations page info.
  
• Also check out the September Infopost (most relevantly, the bottom two drop-downs) for more September-specific info to potentially include in your prompts.
  
• Because this is a catch-all for everywhere + all month, try to remember to label your top-levels with the date and location of each prompt (whether in the subject or in the prompt title within the comment)!
  
• Any questions (on the new setting or anything else) can be directed to this top-level or, for a quicker response, to Trace on discord/plurk. Additionally, if you catch any errors (incorrect links, etc) in the Locations post, please let Trace know!
  

Comments

Re: the barrier;

[snowflicks]

[He picks up on the fact he's not alone quickly, whoever it is moving through the brush and trees not trying to be stealthy at all. Not sensing any malice in the movement coming towards him Song Lan doesn't brandish his blade, but he is still surprised to hear 'Daozhang?'.

Turning to the voice he sees a young Lan disciple and mild confusion furrows his brows. Then he remembers. They hadn't spoken directly, but he had been one of the young men with Wei Wuxian and Lan Wangji. His expression softens once the young Lan comes to stand before him, fussing at the mess of his robes.

He'll wait till he's settled and give a little bow of his head in greeting, then pulls out his sword as he knows the young Lan won't be startled by it. Using his spirit energy he writes his replies in the dirt]

Two weeks three days
Are there more of us here?

[Us being cultivators. He hadn't realized there were others here from home. Then again he'd been keeping to himself mostly. Watching the network when he wasn't in the woods trying to find some way through the barrier or see if there was some weakness in it.

Now it was just. Gone.]

[deferences]

[sizhui keeps a respectable amount of distance between them, waiting patiently, his own expression smoothing into a faint smile once the man recognizes him. they hadn't met in any proper manner, but perhaps they'll have a chance to change that now.

polite as ever, he circles his arms in front of himself and clasps his hands, returns the bow then straightens afterward, watching intently while song lan answers him by writing.]

Two weeks and three days? Daozhang...! [that seems so, so long to spend by himself— and he doesn't know there are more of them here? oh no.]

There's myself, Lan Jingyi, Wei Wuxian, Jiang Cheng, Jiang Yanli, Nie Huaisang, and Wen Ning. Ah— [a beat of silence, he presses his lips tight, brow knitting with incertitude. how exactly does he explain?] Lan Jingyi is a junior like myself, though he isn't from our world? He's different, to put it simply, but he's... he is still Jingyi.

[and sizhui won't ever waver in that decision.]

[snowflicks]

[That may seem like a long time, but for him it had felt like nothing at all. Not after all the years he'd spent trapped in his mind unable to do anything but obey. But that was neither here nor there.

He'll listen to the young junior list off who is here as well and one name sticks out oddly. While he kept out of sect business, it wasn't like Song Lan had been ignorant of going ons. The death of Jiang Yanli had not been unknown to him. Her death not long after the death of her husband who had been the heir to the Jin sect.

And then Sizhui is trying to explain that there's another junior like him that's... Lan Jingyi but not Lan Jingyi... but is Lan Jingyi.]

I recognize many of these names.
But what do I call you?

[So many names, but not the young junior's who's speaking with him now.]

[deferences]

[ah... yes, well, that one would be on sizhui for not remembering, for not considering how difficult that must've been. he can't imagine and, being honest, he's glad he doesn't have to— with no offense to the daozhang, obviously.

and listen, he was just as surprised to learn she was here, too!

sometimes still is, what with her recent disappearance and sudden reappearance some time later. eventually, he'll have a chance to ask her himself, to figure out what exactly happened, though he's also fine not knowing that at the moment, either. there's a whole slew of things he'd rather continue being blind to, it seems? and he'd prefer not wondering what that means about him, so it's good song lan's capturing his attention again.]

Ah! I apologize, Daozhang, how rude of me. [how could he forget to give his own name? silly, he scolds gently, briefly bowing his head then straightening once more, the tiniest smile quirking his lips.] My name is Lan Sizhui.

[snowflicks]

[It's nothing Song Lan would hold against the young Lan. It's his fate and burdening anyone else with it was not what he wanted to do.

Eventually all this timey whimey business would become apparent to them all, but for now it was just one more thing to confuse matters. Song Lan offers a polite if slight smile in return at Suzhui introducing himself.]

It is nice to meet you Lan Sizhui.

So you are here with Master Wei then?

[deferences]

[reassuring as that is, if there's ever a chance song lan changes his mind, he'll find the boy wouldn't hesitate to lend an ear. any sort of smile in return seems like encouragement by the way, taking into account everything this man's gone through; sizhui can't imagine what he's suffered, wouldn't even think about considering had he not been there in yi city, too.]

It's nice to meet you as well, especially in a more proper manner.

And yes, I am. [a brisk nod of the head then he briefly diverts his attention, brow furrowing with thought.] I have wondered if Hanguang-jun might eventually show up, but I'm not sure I want him to. This place isn't... it's not a good one.

[snowflicks]

[Maybe one day he would take up such an offer, but not now. Not yet. As it stands he is still very iffy about the sects and all the suffering and death they caused over the years... but Song Lan owed Wei Wuxian twice now. Him and Lan Wangji. Without both men he'd still be just a puppet, murdering innocents at Xue Yang's whim.]

No. It's not.

[Sorry if he brushes over some things, this whole sword spirit writing stuff is easier when he's not too wordy. Which works for him too.]

This place is full of wickedness. Maybe fitting I can be here to destroy it.

[Along side Xingchen.]

If you are a student of Hanguang-jun then you must be capable, but if you ever need any help please do not hesitate to ask for it.

[They're all here together after all, in this strange place. Watching out for one another is the only way they'll survive.]

[deferences]

[that's a completely fair thing, too. as it stands, some sects are a bit of a mess – or were? perhaps it'll be different with the fall of jin guangyao – and avoiding them altogether seems like the safest approach to things at this point, lan sizhui wouldn't judge the daozhang a single bit whatsoever. and besides, how can song lan save the world if he's tied to one spot? he can't!

again, nothing that needs apologizing, seeing as he can only imagine how tiring it might get after a while.]

It does seem proper that you're here to help! If anyone can fight evil, it's certainly you. [and xiao xingchen, of course, but... he's not exactly here at the moment, is he?]

I am, yes, though I'm sure we could all use whatever help we can get here in this strange new world. [sizhui hums faintly, bows his head with gratitude then straightens once more, outright beaming at the other cultivator before him.] The same goes for you, even though I'm well-aware you're more than capable, too.

[snowflicks]

[Sizhui has far too much respect for the daozhang when there's so many dead bodies in his past. So many have fallen around him because of his failures and by his hand. Song Lan does not excuse himself because of what Xue Yang did to him but we all know he'd excuse Xingchen.

Giving a nod of acknowledgement to what Sizhui says, Song Lan thinks that the young Lan is very earnest and well meaning.]

Thank you. I will remember this.

But what brings you out here, young master?

[deferences]

[gosh, daozhang, give yourself a break sometime, too! (but we all also know that would be a miracle of miracles.)

while still giving song lan most of his attention, sizhui momentarily turns back to where the barrier had been, reaches past one of the trees, surprised his hand keeps right on going despite what he's already been told. so odd, he wonders, what made it decide to just move?]

You're welcome, [comes the soft response, his expression brightening once he's reminded:] Oh, I— [sizhui stops, reaches into the sash around his waist and removes a neatly tied bundle of wildflowers.]

I'm collecting flowers for a friend of mine.

[snowflicks]

[Y-You're not his dad! Don't tell him what to do!

He watches Sizhui test the barrier as well, glad it's not just him. It's truly no longer there. When the young Lan explains why he's out here his brows raise slightly, eyes admiring the bundle of flowers Sizhui has picked so far.]

They are very nice.

[... awkwardly he wonders if he should ask what the occasion is for their friend to need them, but instead he'll decide to change topics. It's still very sweet of Sizhui to do what he's doing.]

The barrier was here yesterday. Either it is gone or perhaps it has moved. I mean to find out.

[deferences]

[but it's only a suggestion, not a demand!

perhaps with an absurd amount of quickness, he tugs his hand back, afraid that the barrier might very well snap back up at any moment and take the limb with it. the other hand holding his flowers moves, tucks the little blooms back into his belt, a small smile brightening his features.]

Thank you! She leaves me flowers often, so it feels right to return the favor. [good thing he won't have to ask then, huh? just friends being friends, giving each other flowers!]

It was, that's why it's odd that it suddenly... isn't. [a moment's hesitation] Would you mind if I accompanied you?

[snowflicks]

One kind deed begets another. It is welcome in a place like this.

[When the young Lan asks to accompany him he has to stop himself from brushing the question aside. Truly it would be better to have company. Two pairs of eyes and all that.

It will be strange having someone to travel with again. So long, even before Xingchen... even before that, he had walked alone.]

I do not mind. As long as it will not interrupt your flower picking.