TEST DRIVE MEME ( 018 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #18

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 will open on December 17th! Due to the holiday season, Applications will be opening on December 26th, with an app period shifted to end on January 2nd instead of the usual timeframe!

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.

Upsy Wars: Revenge of the Lift
Over the past sixteen months, adventurers have adjusted to the sight of a wide variety of odd and fantastical creatures, some friendlier than others. Of the more ferocious, it's wise to consider giving them a wide berth - from the indomitable fustercluck to living black holes to the deadly contagious quartzalcoatls. However, only one predator has gained the dubious title of "that weird flying mouth thing."

Invasive to LifeAftr, Upsy the elevator is not satisfied with haunting the memories of those who encountered it during its arrival in July. Now it's here to haunt your dreams, too! While capable of speech and some style of sentience on its home world, it seems LifeAftr has yet to agree with a machine that is equal parts flesh and metal. Driven to silence by whatever forces this world has exposed it to, Upsy is driven by one, basic instinct, and one alone.

To give you a lift, whether you want it or not. Upsy’s attacks are abrupt and immediate. Swooping down from the sky, it will collect as many living things in its mouth as can fit, before closing its doors and soaring away. Want to leave? Don't worry; Upsy has no intentions of keeping you, or digesting you. Release from that fleshy mouth prison is as immediate as the initial attack. We hope you enjoy flying, because Upsy can spit even the heaviest of creatures a good hundred feet away from itself, at any altitude. Do look out below.

The Emoji Movie
Communication on the islands currently consists of Stones of Far Speech, a relatively adaptable system that is open to requests and suggestions for improvement. One such request has been met with a small bout of confusion, however; as adaptable as the Storyteller attempts to be, you kids with your mobile phones and your texting and emojis get a little beyond them, sometimes.

Beyond Mu as well, it seems. When you asked for emojis, this is what you wanted, right? Exclusive to Mu, Emojees come in a variety of shapes and sizes; from knee-high yellow orbs with rows of sharp teeth that simply cannot stop laughing, to horse-sized poop emojees that - well. One can guess. Numbering in the hundreds and intending to convey their meaning by any means possible, it's a good idea to avoid prolonged contact with these happy little abominations.

The taller, more objective emojees will simply try to absorb those attached to them in an effort to become even larger, but the smaller infect their prey with the emotions they portray, influencing them into the perfect emotional state for consumption.

In hindsight, this is probably not what the children actually wanted...

Close enough.

Let It Go Snow
LifeAftr may be primarily tropical, but that doesn't mean some of its creatures don't appreciate a good white Christmas - and a white rest of the year, at that.

Gelfs are one such species. While they may be visually reminiscent of Santa's Little Helpers, these small creatures aren't about to start handing out presents. Having snuck onto Mu's metaphysical shores at the beginning of the month, these little critters have immediately set about doing what they do best - spreading ice and snow across the island, in increasingly hazardous quantities. As the influence of the gelfs settles across Mu, it's quite possible that the abrupt cold snap will lead to severe consequences for any adventurous guests, unless you enjoy the prospect of an avalanche waiting to happen Now may be the best time to hunt these gelfs down, before such disaster can occur.

For those uninterested in massacring a local creature population (again), you may as well enjoy this winter wonderland while it lasts. Ice skating, snowball fights - and for those in the know, the time-honored competition to create the best dabbing ice sculpture. If you're lucky, you might even find a container of piping hot wassail - spiced apple cider - laying around.

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

C!

[flower_of_innocence]

[Oh goodness, already? It feels like she only just came back and here's the heralding of new arrivals...The dreamlike blur of Mu is becoming familiar in a way she feels very unsure about. The islands, and their dreamland mirrors, are becoming more home than home ever was.

So Lillie settles beneath on the upper slope of the beach beneath a section of overhanging branches, a warm jug of wassail in her hands. It had been sitting unattended when she sat down and she knows by now that it's just Mu's whims that put it there. It belongs to nobody. To her right, Nebby wiggles around in the snow, making messy patterns.]

Hm? I'm here... [Ah, an unfamiliar face.] Oh, it's safe to drink, if you're wondering.

[shadowfactorization]

[Makoto spots the girl sitting on the upper slope of the beach, turning when she hears the voice call back to her. Was the girl sitting there a moment ago? Or is this another trick of this dreamworld? Either way, it's rude to stare without saying anything, so she responds quickly:]

Is it? That's good to know. [She hadn't even thought to consider if it was poisoned. Is that really something to worry about in a dream?]

I hope I'm not bothering you, but I found this here... Is it yours?

[flower_of_innocence]

Oh, no - you're not bothering me. It's not mine, no...It sounds strange to say, but if you found it, it probably belongs to you.

[She recognizes that's not very clear, but. She doesn't exactly understand how Mu works. She doesn't think Mu knows how it works. She shares what she's observed, but it's not much to go on:]

This place creates things relevant to the recent events of the real world...Then, it shares them with people in their sleep. I think because it's getting colder here, it created something warm to drink.

[shadowfactorization]

[That does sound strange, but Makoto's not about to argue with the girl's logic. After all, she's presently the only one around, and she seems confident that she knows how this world works. So if it's not hers, then whoever left it here probably doesn't want or need it.]

Well, that's certainly considerate of this world. [She comes a little closer, motioning to the spot next to the girl.] Do you mind if I sit with you?

[flower_of_innocence]

Oh, I don't mind at all.

[This woman seems nice. Lillie kind of hopes she shows up in the real world, too. But that feels selfish, to want to take somebody away from their home like that, so she tries not to think on it too hard. It wouldn't be fair for that idle, passing wish to come true.

Nebby peeks up at Makoto from behind Lillie's leg, curious and eager, like a child. She rests her hand on it's head absently as she sips at her drink.]

My name is Lillie, by the way. And this is Nebby.

[shadowfactorization]

Hello Lillie, and... Nebby. [It's the first that Makoto has really taken notice of the creature at Lillie's side. It's not like anything she's ever seen before, but it seems harmless for now? It's not like she hasn't come across strange creatures in the Metaverse before...]

My name is Makoto Niijima. It's nice to meet you. [And with introductions out of the way, Makoto will take a seat on the other side of Lillie, so as to not disturb her... Pet? Friend?

Now seated, she unscrews the top of the container and takes a sip of the drink. Her next breath comes out as an exclamation] Oh! That tastes so good. I wasn't expecting it to actually taste like anything... [Given that this is a dream and all.]

[flower_of_innocence]

It's nice to meet you, too, miss!

[Lillie doesn't want to alarm Makoto, but she should know the truth, shouldn't she? As to why this dreamlike landscape and its strange gifts are so tangible?]

Yes, this place is...a little different from most dreams you've had. Well, probably. I suppose I don't know much about what your dreams are typically like...