aftr_ooc | TEST DRIVE MEME ( 019 )

Test Drive Meme #19

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 January 17th, and Applications on January 24th!

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.

Let's Be Heroes
Back in December on the recent island of Maati, the Trial of the Brave was intended to challenge those who approached life with hesitation; the timid, the uncertain, and those who trend too easily toward inaction. Mu, of course, has a habit of neglecting the finer details. And thus...here you are, whether you need the intended lesson or not.

Armed with nothing more than a torch, a short sword, and the clothes on your back, you're sure to enjoy the scenic view of labyrinthine stone walls, low-hanging ceilings, sharp corners hiding all sorts of secrets, and a thick, foreboding darkness. Your light, and the torches of others making their way through the dark, are the only breaks in the seemingly uniform dark.

Those and the lights of the eyes of the other things down here with you, of course.

Hidden throughout the maze are scattered innumerable creatures, all of them happy to take advantage of those wandering about on their own. Nighthooks are fiendish, shadowy monsters that appear in the shape of a long-fingered hand. While they cannot physically hurt anything, they specialize in slinking out of the darkness to snuff out any light source they can find...like your torch, for example. Also abundand are the grimlings, hulking, dog-like creatures composed of a seaweed-like blackness and glowing coals for eyes. Should you come across one, several more are bound to be nearby, as they travel in packs. And they are always hungry.

For those lucky enough not to stumble across these creatures? Enjoy your stumble through the dark. There's an exit around here somewhere, if you look hard enough. Probably.

The Waiting Game
The second trial Mu has appropriated is the Trial of the Patient. This test was named for those who exhibit the very antithesis of patience, initially intended to draw in the brash, the reckless, those easily incited into action, and so on. Instead of a dark and lengthy maze, Mu has instead concocted a brightly lit room to test your patience, and lack thereof.

So you should have no trouble at all seeing the entirety of the expansive, gaping void that stretches between you and the only way out.

Stranded on a singular ledge, the space in which you wake is white and seemingly infinite. No ceilings or walls are visible, and peering over the edge of the small platform reveals no flooring below to catch you. The only distinct characteristics to this room are the door opposite you, positioned some couple hundred feet away. There's nothing for you to grab or cling to in order to make your way over there faster. In fact, nothing else seems to help, either. Flight, teleportation, gadgets, you name it - each attempt will inevitably fail, and give you just enough time to contemplate all the ways you went wrong as you go plummeting down (or is it up?) into that endless void. What a shame.

Luckily for you, this dream is happy to give you a second chance! And a third, and a fourth...and however many it takes, really. Those who fall will, just as the initial adrenaline shock starts to run out, abruptly find themselves standing right back on the platform where they started. Once again, they'll find themselves staring at that infuriating, impossible-to-reach door. Seems like you may be stuck where you are, for the time being.

We say "for the time being," because the other distinct attribute of this loosely defined room is a second platform, drifting steadily from the doorway to your position. Once it reaches you, you'll be able to climb aboard, and be safely ferried across the room to the exit you so greatly desire. Once it reaches you. Once it...well, it seems to be taking some time. A few minutes. An hour. Something in that ballpark, maybe. Got a good book on you? No? Guess you'll have to find some other way to wile away the time.

You, and whoever else you happen to be stuck with.

Water Rising
The island of Ensō is a relatively flat island, aside from a lone, steep mountain to the north. Mu is less so. It tends to mold itself to whatever shape best suits it, and in this case? It has chosen Ensō. And so that is where you find yourself - positioned at the base of its mountain, no less, only several feet up the beginnings of its slope. Unfortunately, there's not much time to take in the new scenery. Stretched out along the island's coast is a beach of glittering white sand. Further inland, the green sprawl of a jungle blots the horizon. But there's also plenty of ocean. And therein lies the problem.

Creeping through the treelines and rapidly pooling about the mountain's base, said ocean levels are rising quickly. Very quickly. Those who wish to stay and enjoy the view of an island underwater are welcome to it. For everyone else, the only other option is the obvious one: to climb.

To climb very, very quickly.

As luck would have it, the rising waters aren't the only danger present. Those too slow to escape its wrath will surely drown, but the higher up you go, the thinner the air becomes, and the more searing the heat. To the west, a crop of dangerous creatures known as lungblossoms claim the wooded thickets that offer reprieve from the intense and unrelenting rays of dream-sun. A confrontation with these living plants may expose you to hallucinogenic spores fit to fill your senses with horrific, nightmarish visions, so tread lightly...but not slowly.

At the mountain's very peak, an empty temple awaits those who can make it to the end of this terrible and impromptu gauntlet. It will provide shade and a space for the exhausted survivors to congregate. Tend to yourself and others, if you like- or head back out to locate those who haven't had such luck in reaching this haven.

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ she starts to see his figure, and at first, ann questions if he's real. she's been subjected to so many hallucinations of people from her past and her present that it's so, so hard to distinguish between what's real and what isn't. but she reaches out and gently presses a hand to his shoulder.

her eyes widen. akira is real. she feels tears forming at the edges of her eyes as she leans in and hugs him tight. screw the monsters; they can wait. ]

Akira... You're--you're here!

[ ....? He tilts his head in confusion. Akira isn't sure how to react at first. This is a little odd without explanation, but he accepts it and pats Ann on the shoulder. ]

I'm here. You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you okay?

[ Seems like she's been through a lot and he feels sympathy for her. ]

Ugh, it's been months since I last saw you! Just let me have this, okay?!

[ typical ann. she's sniffling though as he pats her shoulder, and she pulls away after a few moments, wiping her eyes. it's hard to see in a place as dim as this, but it definitely looks like she's been through a lot here, what with all the battle scars. it's fine. ]

Sorry, I'm...I'm fine now. Anyway... Are you okay?

... Wait, months? How strange.

[ Akira backs off a bit, trying to be considerate and give her space. It's like he never knows what to say in these kinds of situations. What he does know is that Ann is a tough girl and she'll be able to pull through somehow. His thoughts trail off somewhere when she asks how he's doing. ]

I'm not too badly hurt, if that's what your asking.

[ He thinks he's the same as always, but what does he know?]

Yeah. It's a long story--time basically works different here than back at home, but I can explain to you later. I'm just glad you aren't hurt.

[ something shifts behind them. ann narrows her eyes and grips her sword again, holding her torch out again. ]

Hang on. I think we've got company.

The only thing hurt is my dignity...

[ Akira's just joking around as usual. He can't help it. Ann is a friend and he feels comfortable laughing like this. All the jokes stop when she pulls out a torch. His eyes are stern as he peers into the distance with caution. ]

I'm guessing that they aren't here to shower us with flowers. Okay, let's watch ourselves.

Nope. Preeeetty much the opposite of that!

[ she sees a pair of eyes looming over them before their torches fizzle out. ann lets out a gasp, admittedly frightened, and holds on tightly to her sword.

but the thing doesn't attack. ]

...Huh?

That's one mean looking hand...

[ Akira's jaw drops in surprise and he points at it. He shakes his head and stares at it more. ]

It did nothing.

Nothing except burn out our only light source.

[ she can feel akira's presence next to her. without warning, ann wraps her fingers around his wrist. they need to stay close together if they want to make it out of here alive. ]

But we have to keep moving.

[ ...? Akira tilts his head over slightly and looks down at his hand. This is confusing him. He doesn't think that he's worth leaning onto, but if it makes Ann happy then sure. It's fine. He tries to reassure her somehow and keeps a calm expression.]

We'll be alright. Just stay next to me.

[ He starts walking down the dark hallway without minding where it'll end up. ]

TEST DRIVE MEME ( 019 )

this got cute real fast

aw ann

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