TEST DRIVE MEME ( 019 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

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.

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( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[jagarico]

[How does he not become alarmed by this? Well, he isn't so much alarmed as he is surprised.]

What does a turtle symbolize? My wariness of change? My defenses to the world?

[At least he isn't freaking out about this.]

[ninjatortle]

I think I would like to symbolize acceptance and resilience! Oh, but defenses are nice too. Everyone loves a good, sturdy shell, right?

[Not freaking out is a definite plus. Eska sits themself down next to this human, positively beaming with delight.]

Let's do you next. What does a human symbolize?

[jagarico]

[That's a good question.]

Hm, I've never considered this before. Many cultures might take into effect the color of hair but humanity in general? This is quite a conundrum. [He frowns and after thinking about it for a while, he speaks.]

I'd like to think I represent the human ability to create art and meaning but would someone from the outside looking in assume this as well? Or would they see me as other humans? The pitfalls of human nature? That's...rather depressing. [It isn't this deep, Yusuke.]

[ninjatortle]

I don't see you as a pitfall at all.

[Thanks, Eska. Big help.]

I think... if you're the one who's about to create, then isn't it up to you what you symbolize? Everyone's got different interpretations, yeah, but you're the one who's giving this clay its shape!

...Um. Metaphorically. The metaphor clay. I don't think there's any actual dirt here at all.

[jagarico]

[Yusuke gasps.]

You're right! It is up to all of us to come up with our own meaning. Truly, if we let only the views of others mold us, wouldn't we lose our original meaning?

You're very wise. Perhaps the reason you are here is that I needed this wisdom...perhaps the meaning of the door is that it isn't a door! I only perceive it as one! [He's laughing now.

And he's gotten really far off track.]

[ninjatortle]

[The door isn't a door...? Does Eska follow this? Not one bit. But hey, if this guy's happy, then they can be happy for him too, right? That's straightforward enough!]

Thank you! I'm always happy to help out, uh...

[A beat. Oh, they kinda skipped over the basics a bit, didn't they?]

Sorry, what's your name? I'm Eska!

[jagarico]

[It's okay. It takes a while to be able to follow his train of thought.]

My name is Yusuke Kitagawa. My apologies for not introducing myself earlier. That was very rude of me.

[ninjatortle]

Oh, no, not at all! You were in the middle of some very heavy thinking. It's super nice to meet you, though! I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced on... uh...

[They look around, taking in the majesty of scenic Absolutely Nowhere.]

...Is this your house?

[jagarico]

No. There is much more space here than my dorm room. I think this is a dream. [It feels like a dream and that's why he's certain this is all some kind of metaphor for something.]

[ninjatortle]

That would make a lot of sense. This seems pretty far from anywhere I recognize.

[Given the utter lack of landmarks, there's not really much to base that on, though.]

I wonder why I'm dreaming about you, then, Yusuke. Not that I mind, of course; you're real pleasant company!

[jagarico]

Are you saying this is a shared dream? [This is a whole new revelation!]

Turtles can dream? I never would have assumed that animals other than humans can dream. [Don't be so close-minded, Yusuke.]

[ninjatortle]

You know, it's weird how many people assume weird stuff like that. I'm on two legs, I'm upright, my thumbs are fully opposable, I'm talking the same language as you... what part of that says "animal" to you, Yusuke?

I got dreams! I got lots of dreams! I got, like... feelings, and stuff.

[jagarico]

Humans are animals as well, though, so I suppose I should be more open-minded. [You are really missing the point here, Yusuke!

Though he can admit he may have been wrong.]

[ninjatortle]

Oh, no, it's okay! You see something new for the first time, it's only natural to compare it to something familiar. It's not like it's every day I share a dream with a human.

...Though, um, I dunno about you, but my dreams are usually a lot less... blank-canvas-y.

[jagarico]

Mine are usually memories...I think I greatly prefer this type of dream. A blank canvas makes me truly feel at home.

[ninjatortle]

It does?

[Eska clearly looks interested - or as interested as a turtle can look, anyway.]

You're full of surprises, Yusuke! Are you into minimalism? Or maybe emptying your dreams is part of seeking serenity and enlightenment! Or is white your favourite color?

[jagarico]

[He can't remember the last time somebody was this interested in him.]

Minimalism is a wonderful way to live by but the struggle is that as an artist it is very difficult to do so. And ah, I buy things too often...

Oh. Is this dream trying to tell me that I should cease my spending?!

[ninjatortle]

I have taken a vow of poverty, so maybe that could be it after all!

[But more importantly!]

You're an artist?!

[jagarico]

Yes, I am. I am an honor student for the arts at my school.

[The last thing Yusuke wants to talk about is poverty. He definitely didn't take a vow of poverty but that's the life he's living.]

[ninjatortle]

Oh, wonderful! I, uh, I've never set foot in a school before, but honor is a really important thing to study.

[They gush, unaware how utterly they're missing the point.]

I would love to see your work sometime, if I ever happen to dream about you again!

[jagarico]

Ah, you misunderstood. It simply means I am recognized for my grades. I truly only study academics and advancing my art at my school but I think everybody learns about honor as we live every day. [That was deep.]

But I would gladly show you my pieces. If only I had a sketchbook here...