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!

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[unpurify]

Destroy the cave.

[And if that fails...

There's only one solution, one that Zacharie knows the Batter will take. If everything became sick then it was time to let it pass.]

[creditless]

...

Or we could go to a new island.

[ Sounding thoroughly unimpressed. ]

[unpurify]

And if it spreads?

[Someone's clearly not an optimist.]

[creditless]

... well, I suppose you wouldn't know how oceans work.

[creditless]

Besides! If the storyteller is so invested in our survival, they won't do a party wipe.

[unpurify]

[They're the one that chucked everyone down there. Although they probably didn't know what would happen.]

We'll see.

[If not...well, he's still here.]

[creditless]

You sound so determined for a cause to keep doing what you do that you almost want the infection to grow.

[unpurify]

There is no point in my existence otherwise.

[You know, besides his Puppeteer having a laugh.]

[creditless]

[ He lays back against his backpack. On the ground. ]

Correction, there wasn't before. You were hard programmed to do what you had to no matter if the puppeteer found disgust in your actions or saw them to the end.

You're free now. You're basically an infant.

And one of the first things they teach a child is that you don't hope for cruelty for others for your own gain.

[unpurify]

It is not for my own gain.

[It never was. The Batter didn't embark on this mission because he thought himself better then others. He did it because there was no choice. It was the last option left.

If you love something dearly, it's better to let them go rather then watch them suffer. It always was and always will be.]

And it is not a cruelty.

[creditless]

Two lessons from me, for free: both of those are lies.

You were the only one who wanted it, aside from your puppeteer, who downloaded and booted up the game because they wanted to see your story, not just guide you on genocide.

Death is the worst cruelty. And you should know, my dear Batter, because you tasted it before you came here.

... am I right?

[unpurify]

My death is inconsequential.

[If you wanted to pick a death that had an impact on him Zacharie, you should pick more wisely. The Batter always knew he was going to die. When it came to that moment he would, either by the Judge's paw or by his own hands when he flicked the switch OFF, it didn't matter.

One way or another, the Batter would be the last person to die.]

[creditless]

What you find inconsequential is abnormal. It was built into you, defectively.

Not by your god. By your creator. They are not the same.

You, my dear Batter, are broken yourself. You do not have the substance of a man either sane or not, though you are fully equipped to utilize them. Your strings are cut. You are out of the script your creator made.

You are free.

And you can fix yourself to be... ah, what was the word? Pure.

[unpurify]

[Hugo.

Talk about something he didn't want to talk about.]

I am fine.

[He's fine. There's nothing more to find within the Batter, no secrets beyond those he didn't want to dig up. There's nothing wrong with his heart.

He's fine.]

[creditless]

Do not lie to yourself, Batter. 𝕚'𝕞 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕠𝕟𝕝𝕪 𝕠𝕟𝕖 𝕨𝕙𝕠 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕚𝕟𝕤 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕠𝕦𝕥𝕤 𝕕𝕖𝕤𝕡𝕚𝕥𝕖 𝕓𝕖𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕒 𝕡𝕒𝕣𝕥𝕚𝕔𝕚𝕡𝕒𝕟𝕥.

𝕨𝕙𝕪 𝕕𝕠 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕜 𝕚 𝕒𝕝𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤 𝕜𝕟𝕖𝕨 𝕨𝕙𝕖𝕣𝕖 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕟𝕖𝕖𝕕𝕖𝕕 𝕥𝕠 𝕘𝕠 𝕠𝕣 𝕨𝕠𝕦𝕝𝕕 𝕨𝕚𝕟𝕕 𝕦𝕡?

You were fine. In the context of your programming, for the purpose of the game. But you are no longer a program asset. You are a living man trying to make the world into a game, yourself as its player. Stop it.

You're free.

[unpurify]

Zacharie.

[The Batter's voice is sharp, although still just as emotionless as always. Staring down at the merchant he shakes his head.]

I am fine. Whatever you are looking for, it is not within me.

[Without giving him a chance to respond, the Batter moves towards the door. Apparently the conversation was over.]

Stay here or follow. It's your choice.

[creditless]

Well, the thread will end if I don't follow, and we have several weeks to go...

Ha ha ha, I'm putting too much pressure on you, as always. [ He liked the sharpness in his voice, though. ] It's a lot to take in at once, but from my perspective, it's somewhat of an immediate conversation to have.

Has that crystal infection spread any further?