Day 1
If you are reading this, then I am dead.
I am vaguely aware that obituaries are...
If you are reading this, then I am dead.
I am vaguely aware that obituaries are...
Forsaken: A Survival Island Quest
- Thread starter Zhade
- Start date
- Original
-
- Tags
- mystery survival exploration
- Created
- Status
- Ongoing
- Watchers
- 62
- Recent readers
- 0
- Threadmarks
- 33
-
Statistics (33 threadmarks, 39k words)
User Total Zhade 33 Threadmarks Reader mode
Awakening
- Location
- Canada
Day 1
If you are reading this, then I am dead.
I am vaguely aware that obituaries are written by the deceased's kin after the fact, but I have decided to be a bit more proactive in that regard. I doubt any of the seagulls above me or the crabs below would deign to write such a thing, the stingy bastards. You think they would be a bit more grateful after they have undoubtedly gouged on my rotting corpse.
At the very least, if you also have had the misfortune to become stranded like me, this journal should provide a detailed list of things you should and shouldn't do here. All I ask is that you give my body a grave, and perhaps pour one out if you ever manage to escape. In the meantime, I will record the events that have happened to me, as well as any knowledge I have accrued and any plans I may make. I highly suggest you do not follow the last plan in this book.
Now that we have been properly introduced, let me tell you my life story. Or rather, what I can remember of it.
~~~~
My first memory was one of claustrophobia. I awoke in the dark, my limbs curled up like a newborns and cold water lapping at my chest. Hard metal surrounded me, prevented me from standing or stretching and panic flared in me like a dying star. I do not know how long I banged away at the inside of the pod, screaming, but my wild flailing managed to eventually hit something and the pod's door opened and I tumbled out onto warm sand.
I spent a few minutes just lying there, luxuriating in the light and the freedom. A few seagulls hopped closer curiously, perhaps hoping for an easy meal and I threw some sand at them in defiance. I do wish I had the presence of mind to at least attempt to grab one for later consumption. But at that moment, I was too distracted by my liberation from the pod.
For now that I could see it, my cage did resemble an escape pod. A yellowed sphere, barely large enough for a single person, it was pock-marked and rusted from what must have been weeks of sea and salt exposure. From what I could tell, there wasn't any blatant markings or brands on it, only what appeared to be some aesthetic lines (although now that I consider it, they may be welding lines).
The lack of any identifiable features on the pod jarred me to the fact that I didn't have any identifiable memories of my own either.
Oh yes, I know facts. I can tell you that the earth is a sphere and the sun feels hot because of photons striking receptors on my skin. I know how to run and eat and speak modern English. I am aware of chemistry and zoology and linguistics, even if I am no expert in them.
And yet I am unable to write my own name.
My heart began to speed up and the panic that had gripped me in the dark pod started to return, but warmth of the sun and the sound of the waves prevented me from spiraling downwards. It took a while for me to calm down, but it was quicker than last time. It helped that I remembered a "last time", the fact keeping me grounded. And then I distracted myself by really looking at my surroundings.
The sky above was a clear baby-blue, with only a few wisps of clouds hanging here and there. The sea lapped at the shore gently, and I could see hints of a dark landmass in the distance. Sand stretched away around me, extending from the beach into a patch of open grassland.I didn't see anything moving there, or if it was, it was too small for me to notice.It stretched far, before giving away to taller trees and foliage. There was darkness there.
The beach stretched northeast and southwest of my current position. It itself was bare, aside from a few coconut trees looming imperiously at the edge. There were some curious marks, wide tracks of sand pressed flat that seemed to attract the crabs. Seagulls wheeled above me, swooping down at times to grab greedily at things hidden in the sand. They never stayed down for long.
It was when one of the seagulls swooped at something near me that I noticed two things laying close to the pod incongruously. One is the journal I'm writing in right now. The other was...
[] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[] A Compass. Small and with instructions, I feel relieved that I need not rely on my nonexistent astronomy skills to navigate.
[] A Waterproof Matches. 20 uses. With this, I have gained control over the first and greatest of mankind's inventions. Cower, savage beasts.
In any case, we now arrive at the present time, with me writing in the journal in the shade of a coconut tree. Writing and organizing my thoughts have calmed me down immensely, and my body feels surprisingly well-rested and full of energy. With the sun approaching it's apex-
I spent a few minutes just lying there, luxuriating in the light and the freedom. A few seagulls hopped closer curiously, perhaps hoping for an easy meal and I threw some sand at them in defiance. I do wish I had the presence of mind to at least attempt to grab one for later consumption. But at that moment, I was too distracted by my liberation from the pod.
For now that I could see it, my cage did resemble an escape pod. A yellowed sphere, barely large enough for a single person, it was pock-marked and rusted from what must have been weeks of sea and salt exposure. From what I could tell, there wasn't any blatant markings or brands on it, only what appeared to be some aesthetic lines (although now that I consider it, they may be welding lines).
The lack of any identifiable features on the pod jarred me to the fact that I didn't have any identifiable memories of my own either.
Oh yes, I know facts. I can tell you that the earth is a sphere and the sun feels hot because of photons striking receptors on my skin. I know how to run and eat and speak modern English. I am aware of chemistry and zoology and linguistics, even if I am no expert in them.
And yet I am unable to write my own name.
My heart began to speed up and the panic that had gripped me in the dark pod started to return, but warmth of the sun and the sound of the waves prevented me from spiraling downwards. It took a while for me to calm down, but it was quicker than last time. It helped that I remembered a "last time", the fact keeping me grounded. And then I distracted myself by really looking at my surroundings.
The sky above was a clear baby-blue, with only a few wisps of clouds hanging here and there. The sea lapped at the shore gently, and I could see hints of a dark landmass in the distance. Sand stretched away around me, extending from the beach into a patch of open grassland.I didn't see anything moving there, or if it was, it was too small for me to notice.It stretched far, before giving away to taller trees and foliage. There was darkness there.
The beach stretched northeast and southwest of my current position. It itself was bare, aside from a few coconut trees looming imperiously at the edge. There were some curious marks, wide tracks of sand pressed flat that seemed to attract the crabs. Seagulls wheeled above me, swooping down at times to grab greedily at things hidden in the sand. They never stayed down for long.
It was when one of the seagulls swooped at something near me that I noticed two things laying close to the pod incongruously. One is the journal I'm writing in right now. The other was...
[] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[] A Compass. Small and with instructions, I feel relieved that I need not rely on my nonexistent astronomy skills to navigate.
[] A Waterproof Matches. 20 uses. With this, I have gained control over the first and greatest of mankind's inventions. Cower, savage beasts.
In any case, we now arrive at the present time, with me writing in the journal in the shade of a coconut tree. Writing and organizing my thoughts have calmed me down immensely, and my body feels surprisingly well-rested and full of energy. With the sun approaching it's apex-
-QM INTERRUPT-
Alright, let's get some quick chargen out of the way before you go gallivanting off.
There are three main stats you need to be aware of. You have 13 points to spend between them, and the stats go upto (barring exceptional circumstances) 10, which is equivalent to Captain America. Allocate them as you wish, but it is wise not leaving any stat at 0.
Ferocity
Celerity
Vitality
Format your vote like this:
[] F:10, C:10, V:10
And for something non-mechanical, choose one of the following.
[] Sanguine: Optimistic, social, active. Forgetful, distracted, lonely.
[] Melancholic: Solitary, thoughtful, meticulous. Pessimistic, cautious, perfectionist.
[] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
One last word of advice: there isn't any mental stat because you're expected to be the brains here. Act accordingly.
There are three main stats you need to be aware of. You have 13 points to spend between them, and the stats go upto (barring exceptional circumstances) 10, which is equivalent to Captain America. Allocate them as you wish, but it is wise not leaving any stat at 0.
Ferocity
Celerity
Vitality
Format your vote like this:
[] F:10, C:10, V:10
And for something non-mechanical, choose one of the following.
[] Sanguine: Optimistic, social, active. Forgetful, distracted, lonely.
[] Melancholic: Solitary, thoughtful, meticulous. Pessimistic, cautious, perfectionist.
[] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
One last word of advice: there isn't any mental stat because you're expected to be the brains here. Act accordingly.
-RESUMING-
I think I'm ready to start...
[] Exploring!
-[] I will head south down the beach in search of food and water...
-[] I will head north up the beach in search of food and water....
-[] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point...
[] Scavenging! The stretch of beach I am on is bound to have some food. Unless it's being very clever, I doubt I will find any freshwater or shelter here.
[] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[] Writein.
[] Exploring!
-[] I will head south down the beach in search of food and water...
-[] I will head north up the beach in search of food and water....
-[] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point...
[] Scavenging! The stretch of beach I am on is bound to have some food. Unless it's being very clever, I doubt I will find any freshwater or shelter here.
[] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[] Writein.
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The Last Few Pages
- Location
- Canada
Physical Health: Moderate Leg Wound (-2 Celerity)
Mental Health: Moderate Nyctophobia (3 Nights remaining)
Food Meter: 10/10
Water Meter: 10/10
Mental Health: Moderate Nyctophobia (3 Nights remaining)
Food Meter: 10/10
Water Meter: 10/10
Ferocity: 5
Celerity: 5
Vitality: 10
Traits
Celerity: 5
Vitality: 10
Traits
- Unquenchable: Your body is not just a furnace, it's a nuclear reactor. Your needs for sleep, food and water are halved. Furthermore, so long as you have access to the above, you can heal from any injury given time (baring ones that the human body cannot heal). Your tolerance for pain and discomfort is also greatly increased, enabling you to just. Keep. Going.
Combat
Unarmed: Unskilled- Slashing: Adept
- Piercing: Novice
Crushing: Unskilled- Accuracy: Novice
- Acrobatics: Adept
- Stealth: Adept
- Traversal: Novice
- Tracking: Novice
Swimming: Unskilled
- Scavenging: Novice
- Trapping: Adept
- Cooking: Adept
Taming: Unskilled
- Stonecutting: Inept
- Woodworking: Inept
- Weaving: Inept
- Medical: Competent
- Perception: Inept
Art: UnskilledSinging: UnskilledDancing: Unskilled
I'll keep a list of my stuff here. The stuff I don't have equipped will be at my base. If you don't find the things that are equipped on or near my body, something probably already took them. Be careful.
Equipped:
Equipped:
- Machete
- Three spears (1 Stone-tipped, 2 fire sharpened)
- Atlatl
- Waterproof bag
- 10m of bark cord, fashioned into harness.
- Tunnel system Lever
- 1 Quick Potion
- Thieves' lantern: Sheds light only for the holder
- A journal and an associated "Pen".
- "Pot", the skull of Tusker, fashioned into a container.
- Two days worth of food
Pod...
I'll write down any creatures and plants I come across, friend. May it help you during your stay.
-
Race: Insect
Edibility: ???
Habitat: Grasslands, ???, ???
Notes: A larger version of their cousins, the fireflies, Wispflies have a light-emitting organ just like them. The difference is that their light is far brighter and larger, and lasts for far longer (sometimes for more than a minute). Nocturnal, they seem to hunt by swarming at night and forming great, pulsating patterns of sickly yellow light. These patterns, while only introducing drowsiness in larger animals like myself, seem to draw in smaller ones, luring them to where the wispflies dance. I do not know what happens then. Suggest not looking at them during nighttime. Just turn away and close your eyes. -
Race: Arthropod
Edibility: Not that desperate. Yet.
Habitat: ???, Forests , ???
Notes: Massive fuckoff spiders. I know little about them and hope it stays that way. -
Race: Crustaceans
Edibility: ???
Habitat: Shoreline, Intertidal Zone
Notes: Giant hermit crabs, basically. I wouldn't recommend trying to eat one, given the size of their shells and the speed of their claws, but every morning they come onto the beach to clean themselves. If you're up for fighting against the seagulls and smaller crabs, you may find something to eat from a Titanshell's trash. -
Race: Mammal
Edibility: Delicious, Nutritious and strangely Spicy
Habitat: Forests, ???
Notes: Large size. The young are the size of regular pigs, but an adult wouldlikelytower over me. Their skin starts off dark brown, but grows whiter with age. Good indicator of relative danger too, as a Tusker stops growing after a certain point. Still seems to increase in strength and ferocity though. Although you shouldn't really be trying to kill any but the young ones. And even then only if you know they're separated from their parents; they're fiercely protective. -
Race: Plant
Edibility: Satisfying, yet tasteless
Habitat: Forests
Notes: Pear-like fruits that explode after being detached. There's a brief delay, so you can use them as organic, natural grenades (IN EXTREME SITUATIONS). They also explode when punctured, which makes me think that they contain some sort of volatile chemical (an organic byproduct of the seed maturing?) inside them that reacts with air to create the explosion. Perhaps it's their way of spreading seeds; the chemical builds up as the fruit matures. All the while, the skin of the fruit is growing thinner and thinner until...BOOM. Wide dispersal of seeds. Most of the meat is gone, but there's still probably some left after the explosion; I suggest not eating them unless necessary; they're very loud. The explosion, not the fruit itself. That's quite tasteless actually. -
Race: Plant
Edibility: Inedible for Humans
Habitat: Thick Forests, Jungles
Notes: Vines that usually hang from the branches of trees or just lay on the ground. They're a lot thicker than you would expect vines to usually appear, and are mostly a dark green color that becomes lighter closer to the roots. Where there would be leaves, instead you find small pores that leak the plant's trademark poison. The plant is almost always covered in it, but in times of stress, poison production vastly increases. It must constantly produce this poison, because of how quick it dries. The vine is motile (probably via hydraulics) and it uses this ability to hunt by moving towards sources of heat and motion. By itself, it isn't that strong, but by wrapping around prey, they are exposed to the Sapper's eponymous poison, which drains them of energy. Once the prey is subdued (note: doesn't have to be deceased), the vines begin digesting it in a manner similar to spiders: spray digestive fluids all over it and drink the corpse. -
Race: Fruit
Edibility: Tasty and filling. Remove seeds.
Habitat: Jungle
Notes: Bright purple.
- The Shadow Walker
Relationship: Hostile?
Abilities: ???
Appearance: A skull-faced (literally) man, he stands almost seven feet tall. Dark, almost ebony skin that is stretched tight over bulging muscles; he looks like he stepped out of an anatomy book. Ritualistic scars and tattoos cover what parts of his body that are visible, the rest being covered by a large leathery cloak. Carries a giant talon as a weapon, it's size making it appear like a greatsword.
Notes: Apparently a woman? According to Shelog at any rate. - Dora the Secretary
Relationship: Neutral?
Abilities: Unnoticeable Aura
Appearance: Dirty, emaciated and with dark yellow eyes. Blonde hair hacked short, absurdly pale skin and has somewhat pretty features. Wears what looks to be the remnants of a business casual outfit. Carries a backpack with a Nazi symbol on it.
Notes: Seems quite mad and rather German. Sometimes lapses into traumatic flashbacks. Can be tempted and maybe bribed with food, but I would be careful given her abilities. Is a Nazi? Not that it matters anymore; I'm distinctly non-Aryan and she didn't seem to have any ideological compunctions against me. The Islandprobablytook care of that. Knows of a tunnel system beneath the island. - Shelog the Witch
Relationship: Neutral (???)
Abilities: Ability to speak Tongues, Animal Mimicry, Heat (?)
Appearance: Opulent, if such a word can be used on the Island. Rich, fur-trimmed white robes with extravagant markings on them and that drape all the way to the forest floor. They clink with the weight of the Charms she holds. Rings adorn both her fingers and her dark locks of hair, but her face is unmarked. It is a beautiful face, but it is haunting. Maybe even a little revolting?
Notes: A Witch. Extremely powerful and intelligent. Proceed with Care. - Faction: The Tiö
Views: Reverence/Intense Dislike
Population: >100
Attributes: Competent, practical woodsmen. Hunting parties are in bands of 10-12 each, and composed mostly of men. The women, children and the incapable tend to stay near the camp, which seem designed to be temporary. Seem to have adapted very well to the Island, even if "adapting" doesn't really mean "thriving".
Culture: Very little religious beliefs, but the few they have is all the more intense for it (see "Lamb"). Seem to have withstood their culture's Cataclysm by focusing on the here-and-now, the "Present".
Notable Members: Shelog the Witch, Mav
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Rules and Fate
- Location
- Canada
Rules:
1. SV rules.
2. Don't be a dick.
3.There will be some dice-rolling, but not a lot. Encounters, scavenging, weather and the like will all use dice, but stuff like combat won't (unless you decide to do a Leeroy Jenkins). See Mechanics below
4. Fate points are gained by making the QM happy. Omakes, fanart, quality discussion, managing to complete a questline optimally/cleverly, etc. all make the QM happy. Fate can be used to buy things from the Fate store.
5.
1. SV rules.
2. Don't be a dick.
3.
4. Fate points are gained by making the QM happy. Omakes, fanart, quality discussion, managing to complete a questline optimally/cleverly, etc. all make the QM happy. Fate can be used to buy things from the Fate store.
5.
Stats
You have three stats: Ferocity, Celerity and Vitality. Each stat represents a different aspect of your physical body. In the most general terms, Ferocity deals with Strength and Endurance, Celerity with Speed and Agility and Vitality with Stamina and Constitution.
Each stat goes from 1-10, with 1 being almost debilitating and 10 being peak human. Your stats will raise to 5 automatically just from being on the Island, but higher ranks require dedicated training. Starting at 1, you gain one d20 dice for every two ranks in a stat, gaining a max of five dice at rank 9. At rank 10, you will gain a special trait related to that stat.
Whenever you are doing something related to a stat, the number of dice you have for it will be rolled and any relevant modifiers will be applied. In most cases, only one dice needs to pass the DC for it to be counted as a success, with more increasing the magnitude. In a few cases, the sum will be considered for the purposes of the DC, such as for some combat rolls.
Skills
Skills represent the accrued knowledge and abilities you have learned while on the Island. Similar to stats, a skill may be raised to Novice purely through the natural course of the quest. Generally speaking, Inept can be reached by doing a task once, Novice by doing it twice (on separate occasions). All levels after require dedicated training time, at an increasing rate. Levels above Competent require better and specialized equipment in addition to training, while levels above Expert require great deeds (again, in addition to previous requirements).
Skill ranks grant modifiers to dice rolls:
Food and Water
You have two meters for your Food and Water, two of the most important resources on this island. Things like Sleep and Shelter are consolidated into Physical and Mental Health. Both meters range from 1-10, with 10 being considered "full" or "hydrated".
An average human males needs around 2000 calories of food and 2 liters of water per day to survive. That's assuming ideal situations, and not including hot/cold temperatures, wounds, stress, etc. In this quest, food and water will be abstracted to a unit of days (eg. a day's worth of meat, two days worth of boiled water). Different conditions will add multiplication modifiers to your stocks on a case-by-case basis (eg healing from being severely wounded cuts the number of days by half, being sessile in a good shelter doubles it).
Every day, both of the meters will decrease unless offset by your supplies. Depending on the circumstances, they will decrease at varying rates, but you will lose some amount of points in food and more points in water every day (assuming an average day on the Island; a hunger strike would ironically last you much longer). So long as Food and Water are above or at 5, then there is no effects (aside from your character's increasing complaints). At below 5, your stats start to become affected. Every point below 5 will reduce the dice pool from your highest stat. Once that stat hits zero dice, you fall unconscious and began losing stat points from all your stats, at the rate of 4 per day. Unless treated, you will die once you hit zero in all your stats. However, if you are treated and both of your meters hit 10 again, the process will reverse, with you gaining two ranks in each stat until it reaches the previous level. Lost dice are recovered during this process as well.
Physical and Mental Health
Unlike your Food and Water, your Physical and Mental health do not have a meter. Rather, they have a status bar, which will list any wounds above Light. During your time on the Island, you will inevitably suffer wounds (physical and mental). Wounds range in severity, from simple bruises and irritability all the way to severed limbs. Negligible and Light wounds may be mentioned in-story, but will not recorded on the status bar.
You have three stats: Ferocity, Celerity and Vitality. Each stat represents a different aspect of your physical body. In the most general terms, Ferocity deals with Strength and Endurance, Celerity with Speed and Agility and Vitality with Stamina and Constitution.
Each stat goes from 1-10, with 1 being almost debilitating and 10 being peak human. Your stats will raise to 5 automatically just from being on the Island, but higher ranks require dedicated training. Starting at 1, you gain one d20 dice for every two ranks in a stat, gaining a max of five dice at rank 9. At rank 10, you will gain a special trait related to that stat.
Whenever you are doing something related to a stat, the number of dice you have for it will be rolled and any relevant modifiers will be applied. In most cases, only one dice needs to pass the DC for it to be counted as a success, with more increasing the magnitude. In a few cases, the sum will be considered for the purposes of the DC, such as for some combat rolls.
Skills
Skills represent the accrued knowledge and abilities you have learned while on the Island. Similar to stats, a skill may be raised to Novice purely through the natural course of the quest. Generally speaking, Inept can be reached by doing a task once, Novice by doing it twice (on separate occasions). All levels after require dedicated training time, at an increasing rate. Levels above Competent require better and specialized equipment in addition to training, while levels above Expert require great deeds (again, in addition to previous requirements).
Skill ranks grant modifiers to dice rolls:
- Unskilled: -5
- Inept: -3
- Novice: -2
- Adept: -1
- Competent: 0
- Skilled: +1
- Expert: +2
- Master: +3
- Legendary: +5
Food and Water
You have two meters for your Food and Water, two of the most important resources on this island. Things like Sleep and Shelter are consolidated into Physical and Mental Health. Both meters range from 1-10, with 10 being considered "full" or "hydrated".
An average human males needs around 2000 calories of food and 2 liters of water per day to survive. That's assuming ideal situations, and not including hot/cold temperatures, wounds, stress, etc. In this quest, food and water will be abstracted to a unit of days (eg. a day's worth of meat, two days worth of boiled water). Different conditions will add multiplication modifiers to your stocks on a case-by-case basis (eg healing from being severely wounded cuts the number of days by half, being sessile in a good shelter doubles it).
Every day, both of the meters will decrease unless offset by your supplies. Depending on the circumstances, they will decrease at varying rates, but you will lose some amount of points in food and more points in water every day (assuming an average day on the Island; a hunger strike would ironically last you much longer). So long as Food and Water are above or at 5, then there is no effects (aside from your character's increasing complaints). At below 5, your stats start to become affected. Every point below 5 will reduce the dice pool from your highest stat. Once that stat hits zero dice, you fall unconscious and began losing stat points from all your stats, at the rate of 4 per day. Unless treated, you will die once you hit zero in all your stats. However, if you are treated and both of your meters hit 10 again, the process will reverse, with you gaining two ranks in each stat until it reaches the previous level. Lost dice are recovered during this process as well.
Physical and Mental Health
Unlike your Food and Water, your Physical and Mental health do not have a meter. Rather, they have a status bar, which will list any wounds above Light. During your time on the Island, you will inevitably suffer wounds (physical and mental). Wounds range in severity, from simple bruises and irritability all the way to severed limbs. Negligible and Light wounds may be mentioned in-story, but will not recorded on the status bar.
- Negligible wounds (rashes, errant thoughts) don't really need any attention, but may be representative of deeper problems.
- Light wounds (scrapes, moodiness) require the bare minimum of attention, but are generally gone within a day or two.
- Minor wounds (cuts, extreme emotions) require more attention, but are still automatically dealt with by your character and will be gone within a week (although they may leave a cool scar without good equipment).
- Moderate wounds (large cuts, loss) start requiring dedicated attention from the playerbase. You now have to spend time treating them, needing a few weeks to recover. As long as you have them, you will be subject to a negative modifier on dice rolls, but it will go away once you're healed.
- Severe wounds (broken bones, mental breakdowns) are much more serious. These pose a very real risk of killing you outright if untreated, and can last for months. They do not give negative modifiers, but they will decrease your stats until you are healed. Decreased stats won't affect traits, but will affect dice pools.
- Critical wounds (severed limb, insanity) appear rarely and are usually the signs of a game over. There is no way you can recover from these without extensive care, and even then only if treated immediately. And even if you do survive past the "critical" first few days, your stats are going to have a reduced cap, meaning they will be permanently decreased. Even magic won't be of any help, save for a few legendary, lost artifacts.
Fate Points: 0
The Sandman's Favor: Your dreams are usually chaotic and full of nonsense, but sometimes you can extract meaning from the babble. Experience a prophetic/meaningful dream. The dream and it's subject matter will be decided by the QM, but will always be of immense use to you. Grows more expensive each time you buy. 3 Fate
No, No, No, That's Not How it Happened: A few strikethroughs and a ripped page. A small cost to alter time itself. Erases the last update, and can be bought upto three times at once. Grows more expensive each time you buy, and the QM will occasionally veto this option during climactic moments. 5 Fate
Unusual Circumstances: It is a hard and grueling process to increase your stats normally. This lets you undergo a difficult trial that lets your stats increase immediately afterwards. The higher the stats you wish to increase, the more dangerous the trial. (2*Stat) Fate for each level
You Know Kung-Fu: Sometimes, your broken memory coalesces for a moment and you regain a skill you had forgotten. This lets you choose a skill for you to "remember" and can even be used to increase an existing skill. Don't even think about trying to learn "Survival" as a skill. Cannot raise a skill above "Competent" with this method. Price upon request.
Iconic: Advance more into the quest to unlock this option.
The Other Side: Advance more into the quest to unlock this option.
The Black Moon: Advance more into the quest to unlock this option. You don't want to buy this.
Writein: Fate is a very flexible system. Reward yourself as you see fit. Be reasonable.
The World Tilts on it's Axis
The Sandman's Favor: Your dreams are usually chaotic and full of nonsense, but sometimes you can extract meaning from the babble. Experience a prophetic/meaningful dream. The dream and it's subject matter will be decided by the QM, but will always be of immense use to you. Grows more expensive each time you buy. 3 Fate
No, No, No, That's Not How it Happened: A few strikethroughs and a ripped page. A small cost to alter time itself. Erases the last update, and can be bought upto three times at once. Grows more expensive each time you buy, and the QM will occasionally veto this option during climactic moments. 5 Fate
Unusual Circumstances: It is a hard and grueling process to increase your stats normally. This lets you undergo a difficult trial that lets your stats increase immediately afterwards. The higher the stats you wish to increase, the more dangerous the trial. (2*Stat) Fate for each level
You Know Kung-Fu: Sometimes, your broken memory coalesces for a moment and you regain a skill you had forgotten. This lets you choose a skill for you to "remember" and can even be used to increase an existing skill. Don't even think about trying to learn "Survival" as a skill. Cannot raise a skill above "Competent" with this method. Price upon request.
Writein: Fate is a very flexible system. Reward yourself as you see fit. Be reasonable.
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- Location
- U.S.
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
- Location
- St. Petersburg
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:7, C:2, V:4
[X] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[X] Exploring!
-[X] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point...
It would be nice to find a fresh water source.
[X] F:7, C:2, V:4
[X] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[X] Exploring!
-[X] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point...
It would be nice to find a fresh water source.
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
- Location
- United States
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] F:1, C:2, V:10
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
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RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
A Machete is not only good for self-defense, but also allows us to get food (and coconut juice). However, we still need some semblance of Ferocity (Strength) in order to apply enough force to cut things with it. A tool is no good if we can't use it effectively.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
A Machete is not only good for self-defense, but also allows us to get food (and coconut juice). However, we still need some semblance of Ferocity (Strength) in order to apply enough force to cut things with it. A tool is no good if we can't use it effectively.
- Location
- muskogee,ok
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:4, C:4, V:5
[X] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[X] Exploring!
-[X] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point
[X] F:4, C:4, V:5
[X] Choleric: Ambitious, organized, proud. Confrontational, aggressive, ambitious.
[X] Exploring!
-[X] I will head deeper inlands, exploring the grasslands and perhaps the forest beyond in search of, well, you get the point
- Location
- BaWü
[X] A Machete. Sharp and straight, it's weight is reassuring whenever I look at the distant trees. And whenever I look at a coconut.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
[X] F:3, C:2, V:8
[X] Phlegmatic: Calm, empathetic, industrious. Submissive, passive, anxious.
[X] Examining! I have few items with me, but they are curious items the same. I should take some time to see if they're hiding any mysteries first.
Taking Stock
- Location
- Canada
Fail to prepare and prepare to fail. That saying would be a lot more meaningful if I could remember where I heard it from. Most of my memories are similar, intact and complete but loose in a way. There is no root to them, no history behind them. I knew how to tie knots but nothing of a father that taught me it. How scrambled eggs tasted, but no memories of watching a mother cooking them for me. How to make small talk but no instances of small talk with friends. How to make love but no lovers-
As an aside, I believe I should take this time to talk about my recall ability. It is with some relief that I noted that I hadn't forgotten anything else since I had awoken. Only time would tell if anymore memories would vanish. The worst case scenario would be a loss of memories every time I fell asleep, but there isn't anything I can do to prevent that, aside from writing in this journal that is. Best to avoid the line of thought.
...I know I said that it's best to prepare but there really isn't much here. I mean, I'm not even wearing any clothes.
Yes. It is true. Maybe the pod could only be operated if it's occupant was stark naked. Perhaps pod joysticks are more expensive than I thought, although that raises the question with regards to female occupants.
In any case, I decided to take some time examining my body, making sure there weren't any markings or tattoos that would give me hints to my past and current predicament. Unfortunately, there was nothing so convenient, as my body was completely unmarked. My tanned skin is fairly unwrinkled and healthy, although I feel like that would change as my time here passes.
On a less disappointing note, I examined the journal I'm writing in. It's a small, compact book that can fit in a palm (which you probably already know if you're reading this). The cover is pitch black and almost as unmarked as my skin. Almost. There is a word recessed into the front cover, the same color as the rest of the book. Explains why I didn't notice it right away. The word itself is rather straightforward: SURVIVE.
Encouraging. What would be even more encouraging would be a company logo or maybe even a How-To Guide on surviving when stranded on an island. No luck there.
There is nothing else on the journal, the spine and the back cover appearing similarly unmarked. The pages appear to be waterproof, which I am thankful for. There appears to be quite a number of pages, although I haven't counted, so I don't think I need to worry about running out for the near future. The writing instrument I mentioned previously is similarly interesting. Slim and made of a dull silver metal, it is also unmarked. Whenever I push it to paper, it colors it. I tried pushing it to the sand, water, and the back of a curious crab but nothing happened. Testing it on my skin and the surface of the pod also failed, suggesting that the stylus is perhaps paired with the book. I'll withhold breaking it open because I don't have anything else to write with, but I'll make a note to continue experimenting with it when I have some more free time. In the meantime, there is a small pouch on the spine which I can keep it in.
The machete that came with the journal is, again, unmarked. It's almost as long as my wrist to my shoulder and is made of a dull, black metal. The grip appears to be made of black leather, and the blade itself is sharp enough to cut easily through skin when I tested it on my finger. Probably not my brightest idea, but the seagulls were too fast for me and the crabs too hard. I did check it on a coconut. It took a few minutes to crack it, but at least it worked. I'm going to need to blind a sling or a hold for it, but for now I'll carry it in hand.
As for the pod, my initial impression was largely correct. Aside from a few welding lines and the door, there was nothing interesting on the outside. The sea had washed away any identifying features and the sand and salt likely did the rest. The pod itself seemed to be made of steel, although most of it was rusted now and on the verge of falling apart. I wonder how long I had been floating in it for such a state to occur? I'm rather glad I escaped before it did collapse.
The inside...
I'm not going to lie, it took a long time for me to gather the courage to head back in. Even if I could tell how the door worked (a small push panel on the inside unlocked it), my first memory is myself panicking inside it after all. I took some time calming myself, jogging back and forth on my stretch of the beach to get my blood flowing.
It was almost anticlimactic once I mustered enough courage to venture inside. The inside was smoother than the outside, if that were possible, and made of a black, shock-absorbant material that was in similar states of disrepair as the rest of the pod. The only other item of note was the red liquid that had pooled at the bottom. I first thought it was blood and almost scrambled out before I regained my senses. Blood smelled differently and probably wouldn't have remained a liquid this long in the heat.
At the very least, if I had stayed in the pod for however many weeks, then the liquid wasn't likely to hurt me. And if it was what caused me to lose my memories, well, I had so little to lose that the journal would be good substitute. So, I carefully dipped my finger in it and brought it to my lips. It...didn't really taste like anything. Like water, but more boring. Of course, that's when I noticed that the cut on my finger had healed.
A few more tests confirmed it. The red liquid was some sort of regeneration serum. Probably would have kept me nourished as well, given that I don't feel any tired or hungry from so long asleep. And given that the liquid level was relatively low, I seemed to be running out. If I had a bit more or was a bit more wasteful, I could probably run some tests to figure out how long I had been in pod, assuming the pod was completely filled with liquid when I first entered it.
By the time I was done, my shadow was growing long. The sun was close to setting, it's bottom touching the distant trees. I would need to find shelter soon. I was good on food and water so far, having eaten and drunk some coconuts I had tested the machete on before, but I would need to find a place to sleep for the night.
[] Go search for Shelter: I decided to leave my beach and head into the darkening island in search for a tree or ditch to sleep in. Might not be wise, but it's vastly preferable to sleeping in the pod or out in the open.
[] Sleep on the Beach: The coconut trees were very comfortable. Spending the night leaning against the trunk of one sounds pleasant. Although it would leave me very exposed and out in the open, in case something decides to come down the beach. Or out of the water.
[] Sleep in the Pod: I don't like this. The pod discomforts me. Creeps me out. I lost my memory in there. But it's near, the inside is comfortable and the door opens from the inside. Just need to avoid touching the red liquid.
As an aside, I believe I should take this time to talk about my recall ability. It is with some relief that I noted that I hadn't forgotten anything else since I had awoken. Only time would tell if anymore memories would vanish. The worst case scenario would be a loss of memories every time I fell asleep, but there isn't anything I can do to prevent that, aside from writing in this journal that is. Best to avoid the line of thought.
...I know I said that it's best to prepare but there really isn't much here. I mean, I'm not even wearing any clothes.
Yes. It is true. Maybe the pod could only be operated if it's occupant was stark naked. Perhaps pod joysticks are more expensive than I thought, although that raises the question with regards to female occupants.
In any case, I decided to take some time examining my body, making sure there weren't any markings or tattoos that would give me hints to my past and current predicament. Unfortunately, there was nothing so convenient, as my body was completely unmarked. My tanned skin is fairly unwrinkled and healthy, although I feel like that would change as my time here passes.
On a less disappointing note, I examined the journal I'm writing in. It's a small, compact book that can fit in a palm (which you probably already know if you're reading this). The cover is pitch black and almost as unmarked as my skin. Almost. There is a word recessed into the front cover, the same color as the rest of the book. Explains why I didn't notice it right away. The word itself is rather straightforward: SURVIVE.
Encouraging. What would be even more encouraging would be a company logo or maybe even a How-To Guide on surviving when stranded on an island. No luck there.
There is nothing else on the journal, the spine and the back cover appearing similarly unmarked. The pages appear to be waterproof, which I am thankful for. There appears to be quite a number of pages, although I haven't counted, so I don't think I need to worry about running out for the near future. The writing instrument I mentioned previously is similarly interesting. Slim and made of a dull silver metal, it is also unmarked. Whenever I push it to paper, it colors it. I tried pushing it to the sand, water, and the back of a curious crab but nothing happened. Testing it on my skin and the surface of the pod also failed, suggesting that the stylus is perhaps paired with the book. I'll withhold breaking it open because I don't have anything else to write with, but I'll make a note to continue experimenting with it when I have some more free time. In the meantime, there is a small pouch on the spine which I can keep it in.
The machete that came with the journal is, again, unmarked. It's almost as long as my wrist to my shoulder and is made of a dull, black metal. The grip appears to be made of black leather, and the blade itself is sharp enough to cut easily through skin when I tested it on my finger. Probably not my brightest idea, but the seagulls were too fast for me and the crabs too hard. I did check it on a coconut. It took a few minutes to crack it, but at least it worked. I'm going to need to blind a sling or a hold for it, but for now I'll carry it in hand.
As for the pod, my initial impression was largely correct. Aside from a few welding lines and the door, there was nothing interesting on the outside. The sea had washed away any identifying features and the sand and salt likely did the rest. The pod itself seemed to be made of steel, although most of it was rusted now and on the verge of falling apart. I wonder how long I had been floating in it for such a state to occur? I'm rather glad I escaped before it did collapse.
The inside...
I'm not going to lie, it took a long time for me to gather the courage to head back in. Even if I could tell how the door worked (a small push panel on the inside unlocked it), my first memory is myself panicking inside it after all. I took some time calming myself, jogging back and forth on my stretch of the beach to get my blood flowing.
It was almost anticlimactic once I mustered enough courage to venture inside. The inside was smoother than the outside, if that were possible, and made of a black, shock-absorbant material that was in similar states of disrepair as the rest of the pod. The only other item of note was the red liquid that had pooled at the bottom. I first thought it was blood and almost scrambled out before I regained my senses. Blood smelled differently and probably wouldn't have remained a liquid this long in the heat.
At the very least, if I had stayed in the pod for however many weeks, then the liquid wasn't likely to hurt me. And if it was what caused me to lose my memories, well, I had so little to lose that the journal would be good substitute. So, I carefully dipped my finger in it and brought it to my lips. It...didn't really taste like anything. Like water, but more boring. Of course, that's when I noticed that the cut on my finger had healed.
A few more tests confirmed it. The red liquid was some sort of regeneration serum. Probably would have kept me nourished as well, given that I don't feel any tired or hungry from so long asleep. And given that the liquid level was relatively low, I seemed to be running out. If I had a bit more or was a bit more wasteful, I could probably run some tests to figure out how long I had been in pod, assuming the pod was completely filled with liquid when I first entered it.
By the time I was done, my shadow was growing long. The sun was close to setting, it's bottom touching the distant trees. I would need to find shelter soon. I was good on food and water so far, having eaten and drunk some coconuts I had tested the machete on before, but I would need to find a place to sleep for the night.
[] Go search for Shelter: I decided to leave my beach and head into the darkening island in search for a tree or ditch to sleep in. Might not be wise, but it's vastly preferable to sleeping in the pod or out in the open.
[] Sleep on the Beach: The coconut trees were very comfortable. Spending the night leaning against the trunk of one sounds pleasant. Although it would leave me very exposed and out in the open, in case something decides to come down the beach. Or out of the water.
[] Sleep in the Pod: I don't like this. The pod discomforts me. Creeps me out. I lost my memory in there. But it's near, the inside is comfortable and the door opens from the inside. Just need to avoid touching the red liquid.
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- Location
- Canada
On a side note, 10 Vitality gave you a new trait! Getting anyone of your stats to 10 will give you a trait (clarifying your abilities and augmenting them slightly) and getting all of them there will give you something special.
While there were more optimal stat allocations, this one isn't too bad. Vitality is a lot harder than Celerity or Ferocity to increase. You should also be glad to know that (unless you spend most of your updates lounging in your pod), Ferocity and Celerity will increase to 5 naturally, just by exploring and surviving. Low stats are much easier than high ones to increase. Getting them up 5 will require specific, concentrated efforts however.
While there were more optimal stat allocations, this one isn't too bad. Vitality is a lot harder than Celerity or Ferocity to increase. You should also be glad to know that (unless you spend most of your updates lounging in your pod), Ferocity and Celerity will increase to 5 naturally, just by exploring and surviving. Low stats are much easier than high ones to increase. Getting them up 5 will require specific, concentrated efforts however.
RhapsodyOfLife
Marshmallow Fluff
- Location
- Easter Basket
[X] Go search for Shelter
Going with this one, since Sleeping on the Beach seems a bit careless to me (we have absolutely no idea what else could be on the island), and Sleeping in the Pod, while safe, would probably have an averse effect on our mental state. While normally I would think the safety is more important than the discomfort, our character has a Machete, and is not completely helpless. Also, since we are alone, and may continue to be for a long period of time, considering how this island could be deserted, I don't want to take a hit to our morale this early in the quest.
That being said, Sleeping in a ditch is also somewhat bad (it's dirty, we may get stepped on by someone/some animal and most dangerous wildlife can reach us on the floor), so I'd prefer to go with sleeping in a tree, if we have enough ferocity (strength) to climb it. Sleeping in a tree gives us better options as we can better survey the area from a high up place, and less things can reach us, although it may be less comfortable and we risk falling down.
Going with this one, since Sleeping on the Beach seems a bit careless to me (we have absolutely no idea what else could be on the island), and Sleeping in the Pod, while safe, would probably have an averse effect on our mental state. While normally I would think the safety is more important than the discomfort, our character has a Machete, and is not completely helpless. Also, since we are alone, and may continue to be for a long period of time, considering how this island could be deserted, I don't want to take a hit to our morale this early in the quest.
That being said, Sleeping in a ditch is also somewhat bad (it's dirty, we may get stepped on by someone/some animal and most dangerous wildlife can reach us on the floor), so I'd prefer to go with sleeping in a tree, if we have enough ferocity (strength) to climb it. Sleeping in a tree gives us better options as we can better survey the area from a high up place, and less things can reach us, although it may be less comfortable and we risk falling down.
The Challenge of the Tree
- Location
- Canada
I decided to leave my beach and head into the darkening island in search for a tree or ditch to sleep in. Might not be wise, but it's vastly preferable to sleeping in the pod or out in the open. Gripping my machete firmly in one hand and the journal in the other, I began a trek in search for shelter.
I skirted the patch of open grass infront of me. While it was likely I would find a comfortable ditch there, it was too open for my liking. Best to head to the trees, quickly while I still had light.
The sun was...larger. Way too large actually, now that I think about it. Almost twice as large as when I saw it midday. But it didn't seem to be affecting anything (the temperature was dropping in fact), so I shrugged it off and continued into to look for shelter.
It was slow going. My feet were unprotected and the terrain was rough, filled with sharp stones and broken twigs. The wind was picking up as well, it's eerie moan only made worse by the way it bit into me. I shivered. It looked to be a chilly night. With how quickly the sun was going down, I wouldn't have time to make a fire either. Not that I knew how to make one, aside from vague generalities.
The sun was almost gone by the time my feet left the scraggly grass and unto softer soil. At this point, the shrubs and small trees around me had began to give way to taller ones, thick and with canopies that shadowed the ground. The sound of the waves, almost a constant ever since I woke up, had vanished almost completely, replaced by a suffocating silence. The air was heavier here, more stagnant. A prickling in the back of my neck told me I was being watched, but no matter how deeply I peered through the undergrowth, I could find nothing. My grip grew tight around my machete and I started to need to hack a path clear through the more dense areas.
In the end, I decided heading deeper and deeper in the search for the perfect tree or hollow wasn't going to get me anywhere. The light was quickly fading, so I backtracked a bit and compromised on a sturdy looking tree. I had initially bypassed it because of the rough bark and it's nearness to the grasslands, but beggars can't be choosers.
I rubbed my hands with dirt, anything for that extra grip, then carefully tossed my journal so it landed on a branch. Then with my machete in my mouth, I carefully, tortuously, made my way up. My muscles, so long unused, screamed in protest as I tried to lift my entire body up. Acids coursed through my body as I finally pulled my body off the ground and started to maneuver it onto the branch. Every part of my body was focused on getting to the point where the tree and not my arms were holding up the majority of my weight. Every time I managed that, I would lay on it for a few minutes, gasping, feeling the strength return to my limbs. Then I would do it all again. Twice, my body would quit and I fell back to the ground. I would there lie, wheezing, before I regained the will and the strength to get back up.
I didn't have a watch, but I think it took half of an hour for me to reach a high enough elevation. There was a brief moment where my journal fell off and it looked like I have to go back down to retrieve it, but thankfully it landed on another branch close enough for me to reach. By the time I had snuggled down into a comfortable position, it was pitch black. The bark was uncomfortable against my bare skin, but I was damned if I was going to get down and find another tree now. This was good enough.
I would have feel asleep now and started writing again in the morning light, but it seemed nightfall awoke something.
Fireflies.
First one light, then two, three, a dozen, a hundred, a thousand! A great swarm of them, wheeling and dancing away in the grassland. The conflagration (I assume that's what you call a group of them) wasn't close, but it was bright enough to give me light to write. I have very little knowledge regarding the insect, but these seem brighter than normal, the light they gave off reminiscent of a incandescent bulb. They're beautiful, moving in patterns and shapes my mind still can't comprehend.
The quiet of the forest seems to vanished. Twilight must to be a shift change, I hear a great number of rustle and chirp every. Curiously, I no fear at the noises.
i note bugs going towards the lgihts
rats too
so many rats
ratz ratz ratz
(Illegible)
Day 2
The good news is, I awoke in the morning unharmed and with most of my memory intact.
The bad news is, I did so by falling out of my tree. I'm very lucky I fell on my journal and not my machete.
It took awhile for me to gather myself. My memories of last night were...hazy. I remember climbing the tree and watching the fireflies. And I remember something about things moving towards the grass, but nothing else. Just dreams full of light and dripping water.
I ventured cautiously out into the grassland, keeping my eyes unfocused. Judging by how the only non-hazy things I could remember were the fireflies (which I will hereby name Wispflies), it stood to reason they were the ones responsible for last night.
Well, whatever happened, I could find no trace of the Wispflies where I searched. I did find something that looked like a rat's bone, but it was too dry and old and was probably just an unusually looking twig.
Well, whatever. Lesson learned. No harm done and I got a good night's sleep. An overall plus I would say.
That is, until I came back to the beach.
The first thing I noticed was the number of crabs and seagulls. There were a lot more of them than when I woke up yesterday. Although it was far earlier as well. They swarmed the edges of the beach, curiously ignoring the center and the outer edges. Wasn't hard to see why; there were these...piles of crap there. Detritus and the remnants of what looked like dead fish. Washed up by the morning tide probably.
The second thing I noticed was that the pod door was closed.
I skirted the patch of open grass infront of me. While it was likely I would find a comfortable ditch there, it was too open for my liking. Best to head to the trees, quickly while I still had light.
The sun was...larger. Way too large actually, now that I think about it. Almost twice as large as when I saw it midday. But it didn't seem to be affecting anything (the temperature was dropping in fact), so I shrugged it off and continued into to look for shelter.
It was slow going. My feet were unprotected and the terrain was rough, filled with sharp stones and broken twigs. The wind was picking up as well, it's eerie moan only made worse by the way it bit into me. I shivered. It looked to be a chilly night. With how quickly the sun was going down, I wouldn't have time to make a fire either. Not that I knew how to make one, aside from vague generalities.
The sun was almost gone by the time my feet left the scraggly grass and unto softer soil. At this point, the shrubs and small trees around me had began to give way to taller ones, thick and with canopies that shadowed the ground. The sound of the waves, almost a constant ever since I woke up, had vanished almost completely, replaced by a suffocating silence. The air was heavier here, more stagnant. A prickling in the back of my neck told me I was being watched, but no matter how deeply I peered through the undergrowth, I could find nothing. My grip grew tight around my machete and I started to need to hack a path clear through the more dense areas.
In the end, I decided heading deeper and deeper in the search for the perfect tree or hollow wasn't going to get me anywhere. The light was quickly fading, so I backtracked a bit and compromised on a sturdy looking tree. I had initially bypassed it because of the rough bark and it's nearness to the grasslands, but beggars can't be choosers.
I rubbed my hands with dirt, anything for that extra grip, then carefully tossed my journal so it landed on a branch. Then with my machete in my mouth, I carefully, tortuously, made my way up. My muscles, so long unused, screamed in protest as I tried to lift my entire body up. Acids coursed through my body as I finally pulled my body off the ground and started to maneuver it onto the branch. Every part of my body was focused on getting to the point where the tree and not my arms were holding up the majority of my weight. Every time I managed that, I would lay on it for a few minutes, gasping, feeling the strength return to my limbs. Then I would do it all again. Twice, my body would quit and I fell back to the ground. I would there lie, wheezing, before I regained the will and the strength to get back up.
I didn't have a watch, but I think it took half of an hour for me to reach a high enough elevation. There was a brief moment where my journal fell off and it looked like I have to go back down to retrieve it, but thankfully it landed on another branch close enough for me to reach. By the time I had snuggled down into a comfortable position, it was pitch black. The bark was uncomfortable against my bare skin, but I was damned if I was going to get down and find another tree now. This was good enough.
I would have feel asleep now and started writing again in the morning light, but it seemed nightfall awoke something.
Fireflies.
First one light, then two, three, a dozen, a hundred, a thousand! A great swarm of them, wheeling and dancing away in the grassland. The conflagration (I assume that's what you call a group of them) wasn't close, but it was bright enough to give me light to write. I have very little knowledge regarding the insect, but these seem brighter than normal, the light they gave off reminiscent of a incandescent bulb. They're beautiful, moving in patterns and shapes my mind still can't comprehend.
The quiet of the forest seems to vanished. Twilight must to be a shift change, I hear a great number of rustle and chirp every. Curiously, I no fear at the noises.
i note bugs going towards the lgihts
rats too
so many rats
ratz ratz ratz
(Illegible)
Day 2
The good news is, I awoke in the morning unharmed and with most of my memory intact.
The bad news is, I did so by falling out of my tree. I'm very lucky I fell on my journal and not my machete.
It took awhile for me to gather myself. My memories of last night were...hazy. I remember climbing the tree and watching the fireflies. And I remember something about things moving towards the grass, but nothing else. Just dreams full of light and dripping water.
I ventured cautiously out into the grassland, keeping my eyes unfocused. Judging by how the only non-hazy things I could remember were the fireflies (which I will hereby name Wispflies), it stood to reason they were the ones responsible for last night.
Well, whatever happened, I could find no trace of the Wispflies where I searched. I did find something that looked like a rat's bone, but it was too dry and old and was probably just an unusually looking twig.
Well, whatever. Lesson learned. No harm done and I got a good night's sleep. An overall plus I would say.
That is, until I came back to the beach.
The first thing I noticed was the number of crabs and seagulls. There were a lot more of them than when I woke up yesterday. Although it was far earlier as well. They swarmed the edges of the beach, curiously ignoring the center and the outer edges. Wasn't hard to see why; there were these...piles of crap there. Detritus and the remnants of what looked like dead fish. Washed up by the morning tide probably.
The second thing I noticed was that the pod door was closed.
~~~
I took me a while to figure out what had happened. It seemed the waves had pushed the pod over, slamming the door shut and jamming it in the sand. Thankfully, there shouldn't have been any spillage from the liquid inside, but trying to right the pod is beyond my capabilities right now. And then I would have to pry it open. Although I doubt I need the liquid right now, it's a valuable tool for emergencies but-
Wait.
If I couldn't push the pod back up, how could the waves have pushed it down? I have no illusions about my strength, but still...
I pressed my ear up against the pod door. Nothing. But the beach still looked ominous. Now that I think about it, the waves couldn't have reached all the way the the end of the beach to deposit those junk piles.
I still my heart. Focus. I need to start planning what I'm going to be doing today. Deep breaths.
[] Explore: I decided to go searching for food, water, shelter, and maybe something to help with the pod.
-[] Which direction? North up the beach, West down it, or further inland?
[] Writein
Wait.
If I couldn't push the pod back up, how could the waves have pushed it down? I have no illusions about my strength, but still...
I pressed my ear up against the pod door. Nothing. But the beach still looked ominous. Now that I think about it, the waves couldn't have reached all the way the the end of the beach to deposit those junk piles.
I still my heart. Focus. I need to start planning what I'm going to be doing today. Deep breaths.
[] Explore: I decided to go searching for food, water, shelter, and maybe something to help with the pod.
-[] Which direction? North up the beach, West down it, or further inland?
[] Writein
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