TEST DRIVE MEME ( 021 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #21

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.

In conjunction with our monthly Test Drive Meme, Reserves are now open! Applications will open on March 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.

Come to Ink Of It
Mu is a strange land, and one that seems to take a conscious interest in the activities conducted upon the waking world. This month, its fixation takes an almost childish delight in emulating the ink-spattered wars and hazing that have occured on Ensō's shores - which is to say, Mu would absolutely enjoy a charming little game of Splatoon.

When you wake, it's in a labyrinth of soft, stonelike material that manages to be the rough consistency of foam. If you take the time to inspect it, you'll discover that it's as good at cushioning blows as it is serving as adequate cover...and it appears to have been shaped into plenty of buildings and barricades, threaded throughout the cavernous room in which you've found yourself. In fact, the whole place looks very much like a battlefield of some kind. In case you didn't get the picture, the paint gun in your hands should give you an inkling. Colors may be up to personal preference, but the rules are simple - solo, in a team, or as a double agent, your goal is to paint the town red, or blue, or purple, until victory is tasted in the form of aesthetic domination.

Do keep in mind, however, that battle cries may be a double-edged sword in this scenario. Unless you wanted green teeth.

I AM THE SHADOW, THE TRUE

-looks at smudged writing on hand-

...SHELF

What's more trouble than the true manifestation of all your darkest fears, desires, and secrets? The manifestation of all of the above that's just - not very well-made. In order for a shadow, a true self, to appear, one really should know themself somewhat consciously. Of course, this also applies true to the world in which they're standing; an effort Mu is willing to make, but not quite hitting the mark.

And by "not quite hitting the mark," we mean egregiously. "Shadows" are an off-brand simulation of what one might expect during a typical shadow event, though their attempts at acting like the character they should be are closer to emulating the opposite. Whether based upon a looser definition of canon, a fanon-style iteration of what your character might have been in worse hands, or simply going in a direction that veers into the territory of edgy Harry Potter OCs, your "Shadow" is here, and ready to be a nuisance.

Unlike ordinary Shadows, a "Shadow" cannot be accepted and dissipate as one would hope. Respite from these garish versions of who you really are will come only upon waking. So until then, enjoy attempting to explain just what, precisely, is dogging your every step, and probably refusing to shut up all the while. Though granted, if they share any of your powers - grossly magnified or otherwise - you might be grappling with them in far more ways than one.

A Bug's Eye View
The lush, verdant shores and the peaceful population of newly-arrived island of Cahypdo have been noticeably present on the minds of the islanders lately. Mu has shifted to reflect those thoughts, but as with many things Mu reflects, things have become a little...skewed. For, you see, the native inhabitants of Cahypdo are the Roaka, and as tree-people, they tower over much of the current inhabitants. They range from six to twelve feet in height, generally, but it seems that their heights have left a....very marked impression. The Roaka certainly tower over you now, even more than before - but so does everything else. Wherever you find yourself in the verdant, fertile valley that houses much of Cahypdo's plantlife - whether it's rich jungles or well-tended farmland - you'll be met with the same undeniable height difference.

Trees are dizzying heights to be scaled the same way a mountain might. Blades of grass and colourful flowers you might once have trodden on without a second thought are like a forest unto themselves. And the fields of crops you might have known from the waking world, like sweetcorn, peas, and tomatoes? Even a single ear of corn or a solitary tomato is now a much, much larger obstacle.

Just pray you don't run into any of the native creatures here, as even ordinary beasts can become potential dangers when they're all the size of giants relative to you, and can stamp you to jelly without so much as a second glance. Snaplings might regard you as a tasty little snack, tigerlilies might think you make for a fun little toy, and worst of all, the native Cahypdo entities known as hydrac, warped hybrids of sharks and dragons, might very well decide that you'd be a fine addition to their hoards.

There's a lot to look out for, when you're this small and the world is this big.

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

Zelda | Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild

[royalresearch]

Come to Ink of It
[Not being much of a combatant, or at least with this strange weapon, Zelda has been trying to keep out of the way of getting hit. She's been ducking behind walls when she can to avoid the ink and honestly finds this kind of fun. It's nothing like back home in Hyrule, and the ink seems to be harmless, if a bit messy.

If anyone gets close enough, she'll stand and point her gun at them.]

Halt! I am not afraid to defend myself! [And splatter her opponent in blue ink.]

A Bug's Eye View
[Having been in places with tall plants, or at least very tall trees, does not prepare this princess for everything being much too big. No matter. She walks around and looks at all the vegetation nearby to see if there's differences between what she can find at home versus what might be unique here. The tomatoes are regarded with awe, as are the peas. The corn is looked at with some confusion. What is it?

Whether she's casually exploring when you come upon her, or being stalked by one of the creatures, Zelda will be glad for company or a warning.]

Wildcard
[Hit me with anything!]

come to ink of it

[counterblows]

[A space marine in full armor usually makes for a pretty formidable opponent. This go around, it seems Wash isn't in full armor. For whatever reason, all he's got is his ordinary clothes and an ink gun.]

[At least he knows what this dream is supposed to mean. Gun in hand, colors being sprayed all around him - it's a mild shock when he gets a faceful of blue ink, but he opens fire with a stream of bright yellow in response, though half a second later he stops when he realizes he recognizes who fired on him, blinking.]

Wait - Zelda?

[royalresearch]

[Hearing her name from a complete stranger, especially one that looks human, puts Zelda on guard. She takes a few steps back and really wishes Link would do his thing where he'd come out of nowhere to save her.]

I apologize... but I do not believe we are acquainted.

[Should she run? Since the ink is harmless?]

[counterblows]

You don't remember me.

[A flicker of something across his features - he forgets, sometimes, that without his helmet, the wash of emotion across his face is easily interpretable. It's brief and it quickly closes away into nothing, into careful neutrality.]

At all?

[royalresearch]

[There is a pang of guilt seeing those emotions. It passes quickly as she shakes her head.]

I cannot say I have ever met a human in my life. They are not too common in Hyrule.

[counterblows]

[It's not a shock. It's not. He's heard of this happening, but it's just that he didn't...it hasn't happened to him yet. Cuts deeper than he'd expect, but he only studies the flash of regret for half a moment before carefully packaging it down and sealing it away somewhere he never intends to take it out.]

You were here once before. I guess you don't remember.

[royalresearch]

[Hearing that she was once here before is confusing. From the books she's read, that people could be reborn, it might make sense that someone who was like her had been here before. The legends did say that the Hero of Hyrule would always be reborn to save them. Why wouldn't it be possible for someone like her? It still doesn't set her at ease knowing this, and she feels for the man.]

I do not. I myself have never been outside of the realms of my world. This does not look like any I have been to, even in a dream.

[counterblows]

Weird stuff happens all the time in dreams.

[Play it off, pretend it's not important. Pretend it doesn't stick in the corners of his mind. File it away with all the other people who remember but forget him, the people who don't know him, the people who he's forgotten and who have forgotten the context of his existence.]

[royalresearch]

I agree. Many times they are nothing more than silly or scary things, though there are times where they are prophetic.

[Is this one of those times? Is she going to end up in a place like this or meet this man outside of a dream?]

[counterblows]

Don't worry about it. Right now, it's just a dream.

[They'll only know if it's anything more than that if he wakes up and, in the coming days, he sees her there. Again.]

[royalresearch]

It is a very strange dream. Is there something we should be doing?

[She doesn't feel the need to do something in particular, but... she's had wandering dreams. This might be one of those?]

[counterblows]

You could keep shooting people, if you want.

[It's said more than a tad sheepishly, or as sheepish as it's possible for a trained military asset to get.]

It's not like anyone has to worry about washing it out after.

bug's eye view

[goat_mom]

[Toriel is also exploring this strange, giant space when she comes across a young human woman walking the opposite direction.

A young, human woman currently being stalked by some kind of enormous, grassy snake, slithering its way out of the sea of grass.

Immediately, Toriel breaks into a run, rushing past the young woman and putting herself between her and the Grasstail. Fire forms in her paws and the giant snake raises itself, looking momentarily startled.

Toriel does not turn to look at the young woman as she speaks.]

Do not be afraid, young child! I shall protect you!

[royalresearch]

[This is why Zelda needs her knight. She has no idea something is stalking her until someone runs past her to defend her. The princess spins on her heel and gasps, taking a step back.]

What is that monster?

[Where is Link when she needs him?]

[goat_mom]

I do not know!

[Toriel casts fire magic on the area between the young woman and the Grasstail, making a wall of flames. The Grasstail looks confused by the roaring fire, hissing - its back has a grass-like coating, so it doesn't want to get anywhere near the flame, even to try and slither around it.

That's good enough for Toriel, but she knows the snake's hesitation won't last for long.]

Run, child!

[royalresearch]

[The wall of fire is impressive. Zelda doesn't know anything but sorcerers and monsters who could do something like this...

She'll heed the warning and nod, doing her best to run away from the Grasstail.]

Should we hide?

[goat_mom]

[Toriel starts to run too, putting distance between herself and the grasstail. When she catches up to the young woman, she stops and attempts to grab her hand in her paw, her grip gentle enough to hopefully not frighten her.]

There is a field of pumpkins nearby, little one. If we can hide ourselves among them, we will be safe.

come to ink of it

[aimoaimo]

[Woah, woah, woah-she wasn't trained in this. Her hair actually stands on end, fluffing and raising like it has a mind of its own at the surprise assailant. She's covered in many colors of ink and it seems like her gun has barely seen any action.]

H-Hey! Let's form a treaty.

[She wasn't READY]

[royalresearch]

[That... is not how hair should move, but what does Zelda know. This young lady seems to be in a predicament.]

A treaty?

what do you ink you're doing

[in4apounding]

[Penny instinctively points her own paintgun at Zelda for just a second, before immediately yanking the barrel up and away, towards the ceiling. She raises a hand in a slightly panicked peace gesture.]

[It takes a second before she can actually speak.]

...Does yours shoot something besides paint?

[royalresearch]

[That's a strange question.]

Should it shoot something other than ink?

[She knows nothing about guns.]

[in4apounding]

Usually a bullet or Dust charge, or both.

[That's perfect, Penny knows a slightly disturbing amount about guns.]

Were you trying to fend off attackers with ink?

[royalresearch]

[Bullet? Dust? Those don't sound familiar at all...]

An attacker? No, not at all. I was told this was for a game.

[in4apounding]

Oh! I'm sorry. You just- seemed to be taking it very seriously.

[...She'd probably get along really well with Seto, if that's the case.]