TEST DRIVE MEME ( 008 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #8

Hello, and welcome to LifeAftr! We’re pleased that you’re expressing an interest in the game. Here, you can test the waters, gauge how your character may fare in the world of LifeAftr, and even gain some in-game incentives, if you so choose.

Remember that Reserves open on February 16th, and Applications on February 23rd!

Two important notes:

1. LifeAftr's test drives take place on the island of Mu, which exists apart from the real world and possesses a dream-like quality that characters are innately aware of from the moment they appear on its shores. No need to panic or fret. Dreams are odd things, after all - and anything can happen in them. Why would anyone question where their mind chooses to wander in its sleep?

2. Due to the nature of Mu, threads in our test drive can not only be accepted as thread samples in your application, but can be accepted as game canon as well. In fact, certain choices your character makes in Mu have the potential to bear in-game consequences, largely in the form of test drive reward items.

Bring on the Night
It's dark.

It's overwhelmingly, impossibly dark, the sky both starless and moonless, and as soon as you awake, the chill of a perpetual night begins to set in. The dream has been kind enough to provide you with a torch, thrust into the sand of the beach upon which you've awakened, and that may be for the best, too, for you are not alone here. A deep, terrible growl will start to roll out from the surrounding shadows. It's soon joined by a rumbling chorus. Whatever it is lingering beyond the fringes of your vision, it's clear that it's not the only one. The torchlight may catch the odd prowling shape: the impression of a rough, kelp-like coat, parted jaws, and smoldering eyes. Grimlings are black-furred, quadrupedal beasts with ropy, greasy coats that gives them an almost seaweed-like appearance. The creatures resembles dogs superficially, but the proportions are nightmarishly wrong, as though certain parts of it were swollen and others atrophied beyond all use. No two Grimlings have the same general look, but all tend to travel in gurgling, snarling packs. They tend to surround their targets and swiftly overwhelm them.

However, they have one simple weakness: pack mentality. If one of their number grows too injured or overcome, Grimlings will quickly set upon their weakest member and tear it hungrily to pieces. And as they are creatures of the night, the guttering torchlight will be quite effective in keeping them at bay, as long as you don't grow too tired of swiping at the pack of the curs to keep them back.

Because once they've scented prey, they're loathe to let it go to waste.

An Attention Horse
The soft hush of waves against the sands are a soothing regularity in this pitch-dark dream, though Mu sees fit to allow you an impromptu torch, even if it is rudimentary at best: little more than a chunk of driftwood with one end lit up in guttering orange-red.

And unfortunately, even that light will offer little protection against the soft, musical cry of something standing in the shallows. Those familiar with the stories of water-horses or kelpies may find this creature familiar in some respects, though their function is far more similar to that of a siren. With a tall, powerful stature, Uskal resemble ordinary horses but for their size and the webbed, water-slick quality of their glossy coats.

Those who grow too close may be caught in the strange aura of the Uskal's ululating cry, which invites one to come close enough to touch its silky, beautiful coat. Provided you cannot resist the lure of the Uskal's song, physical contact with its coat will reveal it to be quite adhesive. Those who do not manage to cut, burn, or tear themselves free are dragged into deep waters and drowned for the Uskal's next meal.

Let There Be Light
But eventually, the proverbial sun does rise, just as it did for the islands of LifeAftr themselves. The "sun," in this instance, appears to be quite regular, though the snow raining from the bright blue sky is far from it, especially given that the temperature seems to have climbed a little too much for that sort of nippy weather.. Those grayish white flakes cascading from above? That's not snow at all - it's ash.

And borne on the winds of that ash are creatures small and helpless and wrinkled, little tufts of tawny-orange that squeak and croak rather pitiably as they come streaking to earth in wispy little trails of flame. Instead of one great firebird to light up the sky, Mu has granted you several dozen little phoenix chicks, all freshly hatched and all in all, rather helpless. You could certainly take advantage of that, if you wanted to, but honestly, the benefits of ensuring that none of them die on your watch are far greater, as long as you don't mind the odd first-degree burn, or the chicks' somewhat alarming habit of spontaneously bursting into flames. Not only do they freely provide light and warmth against the bitter winter cold, but you'll find they don't need much of anything in the way of sustenance.

Congratulations on your successful adoption!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

Comments

Ritsu Sakuma | Ensemble Stars

[strayknight]

Bring on the night

[Unfortunately, for the grimlings the night was also the time for vampires. As Ritsu holds the torch out he watches as the creatures try to surround him. That was the main reason why his back is now to the wall. He looks around curious if anyone might be nearby. He could make a run for it but he is sure they could catch up.

One lunges at him he swipes the torch.]


Bring on the night

[Red eyes glare at the water as he sees the creature splashing around in it. Ritsu knows what type of thing this was and he isn't really here for drowning. As he narrows his eyes he looks around.]

Where am I...I miss Maakun already...


Let There Be Light

[A new father wasn't something Ritsu would ever expect to be. Here he is though with a new chick and he has to say he is fawning over it. It's really cute and he wonders what goes into caring for it. At least this wasn't anything as dangerous as the creatures from earlier.]

!!! let there be light

[seafriends]

[ Kanata's feeling more like a mother with the way his own chick is constantly trying to nuzzle into his palms, despite how he's actively trying not to touch it with his bare hands after it decided to set itself on fire the last time he had.

He needs water to soak one of his newfound burns in, but is stopping short at a familiar head of black hair he definitely recognizes as belonging to Rei's younger brother. He blinks once, twice, and still can't believe his eyes as he calls out to them, just to be sure. ]

..Ritsu-- ow, ow..?!

[ yeah there goes his chick bursting into flames again, right in the middle of his hands and interrupting his greeting. ]

[strayknight]

[Ritsu had gotten to the point of letting the chick sit on his jacket, it was already torn from earlier. As the chick chirps he hears a familiar voice and looks up to see Kanata.]

...You're here too?

bring on the night YEEE

[finethanks]

Ritsu-kun!

[Watching him attacked by those creatures that had hunted him on his first days here, Eichi cries out in an attempt to distract them. There's a pack, as limited as they are, and Eichi has been able to learn through watching just how they operate.

He has a knife in hand, gleaming in the moonlight as he calls out to Ritsu. He may not have been able to stop that one from lunging at him, but he can cry for their attention now. Looking as scrawny as he does, not moving, they may take the bait.]

Move away from here! I can take care of this... [He... thinks??]

[strayknight]

[That voice gets his attention quickly and he looks over to the source.]

Ecchan?

[Back to the one lunging Ritsu is quick to burn it with the torch as it lets out a cry. Before the others can focus on the injured one they look to Eichi and start to move towards him. Ritsu bites his lip before he darts from the tree and towards Eichi.]

You'll get hurt!

[finethanks]

Ah... You couldn't just listen well, could you, Ritsu-kun?

[Dang it. Now Ritsu is quick to his side, and these things are stalking closer, too. He grips his knife tighter, and even as dark as it is, it might be possible to notice how Eichi's hand is shaking slightly.]

Now you've made it difficult. I was really looking forward to doing this on my own and managing just fine, you know?

[But, now Ritsu hasn't been able to run away, and it really is a gamble. That's fine, he decides, stepping daringly close to the smallest one of the group and digging his knife sharply into its back. A sacrifice, more thoroughly injured than a burned one, he thinks.]

[strayknight]

No, you will get hurt!

[The look on his face was a clear glare for Eichi, he knew better than to leave Eichi to a bunch of beasts. Besides couldn't they smell sickness? Not to be mean but Eichi is sick.]

You wouldn't, Ecchan.

[Waving the flame he then watches the knife plunge into the creature as it lets out a louder scream. That is when the creatures turn to the injured one teeth bared.]

[finethanks]

[He doesn't have time to argue right now. He pulls his knife back, watching strange, black blood spray out. As the beast snarls and tries to snap at Eichi, another lunges at it instead, and the chaos begins.

Eichi turns, still holding the knife tight in one hand, and reaching for Ritsu's free hand with his other. Silently, he tugs him to run away from these things.

He can't run for long, but if they don't run now, then they'll just be attacked once the monsters are finished.]

Did you only just arrive here? [He's out of breath as he asks, but he keeps pushing forward.]

[strayknight]

[Wow...Ecchan just stabbed something, Anija better watch out in the future...

Letting himself be grabbed he follows after him as he looks behind to watch the creatures tear their friend apart. So much for friendship with these things?

Ritsu sees the heavy breathing but still keeps up pace, he doesn't have good stamina either so hopefully they can get somewhere.]

Yeah...where is here?

[finethanks]

...If this is the real Ritsu-kun and not a figment of my imagination, you'll hear about it awfully soon. With how often you sleep, your dreams will carry you away to meet that strange one they call the Storyteller.

[So, he doesn't have to give exposition, he refuses. He can barely run! But his light running has carried them far enough that he can find a place where the sand rolls and dips enough to form a decent hiding spot. It's just enough out of the way that those creatures may wander past, or grow distracted...

He hopes. He can't do anything about their scent. Still, he steps down, tugging Ritsu with him before he releases his hand with a sigh.]

Sorry for the delay...life kicked me hard

[strayknight]

...I'm real, are you really losing it? So sleeping sends me somewhere else? Can it send me home?

[Following down, Ritsu tries to keep track of things as he moves into the hiding spot. He wasn't sure what all was happening but if this meant that they could be safe.]

:c don't you worry, life is rude

[finethanks]

I've been here for some time now, and I've been unable to leave myself... but it's possible that Ritsu-kun isn't so stuck yet.

[Hm, he doesn't know what he should hope for him. But now, they can hide, and Eichi can hunch over himself, releasing Ritsu so he can focus on getting his own breath back.]

[strayknight]

How? I just saw you today? Ecchan needs to lay down.

[Ritsu took a few moments to breath himself before he moves a hand to Eichi's back.]

Are you okay?

[finethanks]

I'm fine.

[Here, without the danger, it might be easier to make out Eichi's outfit even in the dark. His costume from Starfes, as elaborate as ever, but missing his headset, his prop staff, and looking a little worse for wear. He's still breathing heavy, keeping his hand over his chest to stabilize himself, but he's not passing out, at least.]

As I said, it should be explained to you... Unless this is some sort of hallucination of mine. You're free to think I'm out of my mind, but that should be corrected if you really end up on the islands that I'm on now.

[Not this... dream island...]

KFC - KILLER FIRE CHICKS

[sorewatopsecret]

They have a rather mystifying charm, do they not?

[So says a silver-haired girl who is suddenly knelt on the ground next to Ritsu. How long she's been there is anyone's guess. Unlike the ice shark from the last time Takane was whisked to this particular island, she hoped this little fellow would follow her back when her consciousness returns.]

Not only do they make adorable companions, they cast such a lovely glow, and just being near one feels as if you are basking under gentle sun rays...

[strayknight]

[Looking up from his chick in his school jacket he looks at the woman next to him. She was new to him but he does have to agree with her.]

Mn...it makes you want to nap near it.

[sorewatopsecret]

Indeed. If this plane of existence would so allow me, I would like to entrust this chick to a friend of mine...

[She pats the chick resting on her shoulder gently, and the animal seems to be pleased by the affectionate gesture. Too bad that means expressing it through brief combustion... Even someone as stoic as Takane couldn't help but flinch a bit at that moment, but she manages to pull her hand away in time before she could be burned.

What she doesn't notice is that a small bit of her hair is now on fire.]

[strayknight]

...plane of existence...where is this exactly?

[Watching he notices his own chick peeping for attention, so he pets it softly then moves only to see her hair.]

Um, your hair?

[sorewatopsecret]

Hm? [It takes Takane a while to understand what he meant, but then there was heat, and then that burning smell...] Oh, dear me!

[So she exclaims, albeit with a very severe under-reaction, as if it was something on the same level as dropping some loose change. Silently, she takes her phoenix chick and places it on Ritsu's shoulder...

Then proceeds to engage in the most graceful and dignified stop, drop and roll ever witnessed. Such an achievement was thought to be inconceivable, but she has managed to accomplish it.]

[strayknight]

[Ritsu stares at her curious if she was really okay...on a couple levels. Well he assumes she at least can survive in a place like this.

More than happy for the warmth he takes the chick but then watches something that only brings him more concern. As she rolls around Ritsu stares with a blank expression before he smirks and pets the chick.]

I don't think it's working~

[sorewatopsecret]

[Takane Shijou is always okay. Even when it doesn't seem like it, she is. Okay.

Ritsu's words give her pause, muttering another flat "oh dear"... As composed as she is, she's quite the gullible person sometimes. She sits up solemnly, ignorant to the fact the flame had been successfully snuffed out. Carmine eyes meet Ritsu's red as she regard him with the Great Seriousness(TM).]

Very well. If you don't mind terribly, please dump some water on my head. [yes.]

[strayknight]

[Just okay...

Oh, this might be too easy to the point of not being fun. Yet he wants to continue this now. Smirking still he tilts his head and looks around.]

Mn, then where should I get something to carry water?

[sorewatopsecret]

......

[Takane pauses to think for a moment... and proceeds to make the most dramatically shocked face ever.]

I've never thought of that! Goodness, I hope I wake up soon, before it gets worse...

[strayknight]

Wake up? From what you are awake.

[He says it really bluntly only because if he had to make this realization everyone else has to as well.]

[sorewatopsecret]

Ah... It's quite difficult to explain, but I have been here before.

[So she says while taking absolutely no offense, completely forgetting about the threat of her hair being on fire. Thank goodness it actually wasn't anymore.]

You can only enter this island through your consciousness. Afterward, you may either awaken back in the comforts of your home, or the other island...