(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

[soups]

❰ yanli watches the movements and form with fascination. when the ball makes impact with the pins, she jumps in surprise; she's taken aback by the sudden sound, even if she saw the ball rolling and knew the action was coming. after seeing the results, she stands and claps at such an accomplishment. is this an amazing score? she has no idea, but it's certainly better than yanli has ever done -- she's never done it before in the first place! ❱

Lan-gongzi, that was so impressive. What an elegant way to play--

❰ she's cut off again, jumping for a second time, as the ball rolls back towards them through the return mechanism. for a split second yanli assumes it's a magic, but of course it's just some form of technology new and advanced in this world. ❱ You can go again?

[deferences]

[a proper reaction, given how loud the sound is, but it's probably good sizhui doesn't realize it's startled her initially. when she claps, however, he turns to glance over his shoulder, smiling sheepishly at the delighted praise. whether it is good or not, he's happy that yanli seems impressed by the game. if she likes it enough, it means she might be willing to try it out herself sometime and isn't that what matters here?

he's readying an answer of his own, hesitates once the ball comes up the return chute, his own shoulders stiffening somewhat. eventually, at some point, he'll get used to the sound himself.]

Oh, yes! [as he goes to recollect his ball, it gets rolled back and forth on the stand a few times before he scoops it up into both arms then heads back toward her.] I haven't figured out what makes it come back, but you can keep going for as long as you like. The...totems?...just get set up again and the ball keeps returning.

[soups]

❰ the whole mechanics of how this work...they actually fascinate yanli, and there's a sense of excitement about the outcome of the action involved. it would indeed thrill her to hold the ball in her hands, just to see how it feels, and just how weighty it is. ❱

Go on, then. See if you can best the rest of them. ❰ she's also very excited to see her nephew master the spot in question, and whether or not he can achieve what seems like such a difficult task. ❱

[deferences]

[almost like he's read her mind, sizhui comments,] If you like, you can pick a ball from the rack over there, [a beat so he can gesture,] and see which one feels right. All of them weigh differently, so you can choose whatever one you think might suit you best! [then the lan boy turns back toward the alley with only a few pins here and there still standing.

he hums thoughtfully, tilts his head, positions himself a little differently before rolling the bowl again. it needs to curve a certain way and while it isn't quite right, he does manage knocking all of them except one down.] Ah, so close...!