TEST DRIVE MEME ( 005 )

[lifeaftr_mods]

Test Drive Meme #5

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 November 17th and that Applications will open on November 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.

All That Glitters
The caves deep beneath the island's surface are not dimly lit; in fact, they practically sparkle with a strange, unearthly greenish light. Blame it on the crystalline growths that protrude plentifully from every nook and cranny, stalactites and stalagmites alike.

Their glow might be soothing to some, and viscerally terrifying to others, but one thing remains absolutely certain: based on the creaking, groaning noises of shifting rock and the high-pitched tinkle of breaking shards of crystal...

You aren't alone down here. The deeper in you venture, the more the thicker clusters of the things begin to move. And eventually, it will become plain to you that it isn't the crystal at all that's moving, but rather the thing inside of it - something vaguely humanoid shaped, bipedal, with arms and legs and the dull, pale glimmers in the region of what might almost pass for a face.

Formed entirely from crystal.

Upon spotting a living creature, each of them will begin to lurch closer and closer, arms outstretched. Every one is slow and cumbersome and even fragile enough to be smashed, if you dare venture close enough. But once they've trapped you, there is no escaping whatever fate they have in store for you.

And rest assured, it is not a pleasant one.

[The above prompt is a version of our Crystal Clear event from October! Feel free to give the event write-up a read for more information.]

It's High Tide
When you initially wake on the beaches of this strange island with its bleeding, dreamlike edges, you might notice that something seems deeply amiss...something like the fact that you're lying in a whole mess of seawater. Assuming you're not thoroughly soaked already, you'd better figure out a way to get to high ground, because the water level is rising very rapidly. Pretty soon, there might not be anywhere safe to go besides the trees, and even those might not be safe the longer this goes on.

Fortunately for you, if you can find them quickly enough, the island of Mu has helpfully provided some assistance for those who don't feel like doggy-paddling for the duration of the dream. Better hurry and hang onto them before you drown! Unless you'd rather doggy-paddle the whole way out, that is. In which case, we're sure the water feels great.

A Crappy Endeavor
In your travels on this strange new land, you might start to notice something following you. Something...oddly shaped, like a lot of dirt and clay that's consolidated into one great awkward moving lump of a creature. What lies beneath is far more like the common beetle...just much, much larger. And unfortunately for everyone involved, they have a very specific appetite:

Your poop.

Mu has produced a very close approximation of the creatures known as f'rshaymes, animals that go beyond merely being useful for disposing of all that nasty waste. Doiing so comes with significant benefits, as the combined process of mud and excrement as it goes through a F'rshayme's digestive system leaves behind pure clay for the...brave.

Often found in small herds of six to eight individuals, f'rshaymes are extremely docile and would be very easy to turn into a herd of your very own. How nice!

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

boy oh!

[bloodyashes]

[Something, definitely, because the sound of his name gets a definite reaction - one of confusion and wariness. He looks between her face and the end of her weapon rapidly. While he's not one to look a gift horse in the mouth...]

How do you know my name?

[...He's never done well when put on the spot and he knows he's never met her in his life. He doesn't know that many dark-haired people in the first place, and none that close to his own age.]

[attheclocktower]

[Relief turns to surprise, and then she's looking him over rapidly, eyes getting slightly wider as she focuses on point to point. He's younger again - not hugely so, but enough that there's some differences. Hair is shorter too, and worn the way it was after months with shaky amounts of hygienic supplies. And so it goes, onward.

Shit. Shit. He was a different universe's Asch. Not the one who was at the Tower. She lowers her Keyblade very suddenly, in tandem with her gaze. A moment later, the former vanishes. But she doesn't meet his eyes again.]

S-sorry. I thought you were someone I knew.

[Someone with your exact face. And name. Clearly this will stand up under scrutiny.]

[bloodyashes]

[Yeah, stand up like a one legged tripod. She gets a frown that's not... quite aggressive, but definitely not taking her at her word, either.

His gaze flicks to where her weapon straight-up vanished before settling back on her.]

You know, if you'd called me Luke, I'd buy that.

[If.]

All that Glitters

[creditless]

Hello there!

[ He's waving from somewhere near the entrance-- or as deep in as he'll go to reach her from a distance. ]

I'm informed this place is deeply infectious... from a very reliable source! As beautiful as it is, might I suggest you step outside?

[attheclocktower]

[That gets a hollow sort of chuckle, and a weak smile. She still isn't looking at him.]

No. I know you're not him.

[She lifts her head, scanning the area quickly. Reno would probably have something to say at how bad her attempts at a subject change are about to be, but... well, it wasn't really ever her specialty.]

We should probably keep moving. Something's not right here.

[attheclocktower]

[Being called does get her to stop, and turn.]

Infectious? What do you mean?

[Stranger things have happened, so she's not inclined to disbelieve. Just clarify.]

[creditless]

Uh... I wasn't given the exact details, but people have lost limbs in here due to a crystal infection. And their lives? Ha ha ha.

The gloomy beach is a bit better than this place, right now.

[bloodyashes]

[He bites back a 'other than you,' but it might well show on his face. He's going to let it go for now, but she's being Watched.]

I've heard people talking about infectious crystal. I'd assume this is the stuff they were talking about.

[A gesture at the wall of green.]

[attheclocktower]

So... it is like an illness.

[She says it more as confirmation to herself, than asking a question. The idea of a crystal illness though, that... well, it sort of figures, in many ways. This whole area is all new territory. What's one compared to another?]

There's a beach?

[gathersnomoss]

... We don't want to do that. Look for a side passage that leads upward. Or at least one without the crystals.

[gathersnomoss]

Zelgadis Graywords. And where I come from, this level of magic... it's not unknown.

[Zelgadis knows he's good at magic, but not exceptionally good.]

Only three people, really?

[creditless]

It's a little damp, but it has its charm! You know, for how high the tide is.

[ He really just wants to encourage her to get out of there. First impressions were everything of a place. ]

Come on, then!

[shineinside]

[Nod.]

Two of them are my friends, who have the same kind of powers I do. The third was... a very bad person.

[attheclocktower]

[She hesitates for a moment, then fully turns to follow, jogging a little until she can catch up properly.]

Lead the way.

[And so she'll follow him, for a few moments before speaking up again.]

Do you know what this place is? Is it... somewhere between universes, or something like that.

[mamaterasu]

[Hey, she feels you, man, wet fur is the worst, and Ammy tries to avoid being soggy as much as she can. Baths are plain terrible for us fluffy folk. If only she had enough stories saved up, Ammy would ask for the water tablet, so she could easily just walk on the waves and not get her fur wet. Or...lend it out to this big guy.

Panting a bit, because the effort was certainly a bit even for her, Ammy shakes her head - no problem, that float is, uh...well, it sure is something. And while the log is better to help him float, he's going to have to do the leg work. Literally. Hopefully Asgore s good at paddling, because Ammy can't drag a big log and a boss monster after her. At the ver least, she points a paw toward where she came from - the Storyteller's temple.

Want an escort, large goat friend?]

[journalname]

...ah, there is something that way?

[He had paddled some already, but you can see where it got him, without any clear idea of where he ought to go. Given direction, Asgore shifts his grip on the log for easier movement, claws biting a little into the wood.]

Very good. Ah, and forgive me - I ought to have introduced myself! I am King Asgore Dreemurr. Though, of course, my kingdom is certainly nowhere near here. [It sounds mildly self-deprecating; he wouldn't have anybody thinking more highly of him because of his title. Not because his people are far away, but because he has not been a very good ruler, in the end.]

[creditless]

Something like that! Between more than just universes... it's almost between thought itself. Isn't that fascinating?

[ Else, how could a video game character like himself become real? What an odd retelling of Pinocchio. ]

And sure, it may be a bunch of islands in the middle of nowhere, but it beats not existing.

[ He has no idea, at all, how applicable that is to her. Not a damn clue-- for him, the game was constantly on and off, on and off. ]

[journalname]

I have spent a very long time living in a cavern system. Not exactly similar to this one, but all the same.

[He'll figure it out, if there's a way that seems a little more up-and-outwardly.]

[attheclocktower]

[Haha, ha. Yeah that comment hits an uncomfortable note with her. But no, no... she was going to change that. She was placing all of her bets on doing so. But first of all, she needed to be somewhere else. Somewhere in particular.]

Maybe but... I should be home. I should be home.

[That was where Zo was sending them all. And yet she'd opened her eyes here in this dream instead. Or was it really a dream? A dream between universes?]

[creditless]

I suppose most people should be, but they aren't.

[ Matter of factly. ]

So we had better make the most of it without lowering our spirits beyond a glum march. Nothing wrong with feeling ripped off at the whole scenario, amiga!

[attheclocktower]

[Wait. Wait.]

Wait, are you saying... there's others too? Lots of others, all from different universes?

[Maybe this is a nightmare after all. The kind of nightmare where you think you've woken up but you're still trapped.]

[rainofterror]

[Sharpedo tilts slightly to size up Golisopod with one big red eye, then sniffs him through the water. Great sense of smell, Sharpedo.

As for the offer, it doesn't take Archie long to make a choice. People sounds good to him, a lot better than it ever has maybe, but there's more important things that would be better done away from crowds. Some folks don't really like when you break out your enormous sludge monster near their homes and/or food and water supply?]

I got a Muk here who could use a stretch. Hoenn Muk, not your kind. [those weird-ass island adaptations. Archie grins.] Bet we could beat ya to the mountain.

[............was he supposed to wait for an agreement or something because Archie touches Sharpedo's side and they are FUCKING OFF]

[attheclocktower]

Infectious, like an illness?

[She doesn't seem entirely surprised at the idea. More grimly resigned. And unnerved, glancing around quickly before hugging herself to make make sure she isn't too close to touching any.]

Do I want to know what it does?

[bloodyashes]

Other than it being fatal, I'm not exactly sure, but I don't want to find out.

[Dying is terrible no good very bad. Let's not do it.]

We should probably try to find a route to the surface.

[attheclocktower]

Sounds like a good idea.

[It's kind of sad, really. The crystal cave in the Tower was actually one of the nicer floors. Whatever this place is though, she's not sure she trusts them to not get lost. Speaking of which...

Ugh, most of her non-essentials had been left in her room when Ruana had discovered the hidden floor and everything had gone to hell.]

I don't have anything to mark our path, do you?