prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .013

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You awaken amidst the darkness with only a faint light to greet you. Your body is hemmed in by shards of crystals, gently sparkling and possibly pricking your skin. The surrounding landscape is dyed in the pinks and purples of the dusk filled with crystals protruding from the ground, some as large as a skyscraper. After an hour or two of wandering through the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. Because of the strange phenomena during the past months when scientists observed the sudden appearance of rainbow crystals in the sky, the government has been feverishly combing through the moon for more Moonblessed to be rescued. You’ll eventually be brought into Iris’s moon government center.

You all may have your usual inquiries — Where are we? Who are you? What's going on? — and the Prismals are almost too eager to answer. They tell you about their world and about the first appearance of the Moonblessed as the medical staff give you an examination to make sure you’re not carrying any viruses or biological hazards. If you react violently, you may be restrained and nerfed with a specialized neurotransmitting gun that releases a numbing agent through the top of your spine. Once the examinations are over, you’re informed that you will be provided accommodations on their planet during your stay. You will then be escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the Iris moon and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as the local Prismals.

The next destination: Prismatica.

▶ Welcome to the Jungle
Iris Moon, Government Center (Arrival) and Planet Prismatica, City of Lunatia | top

Welcome to Prismatica’s hub, Lunatia, the city of your dreams! A bustling metropolis lush with bright lights, vibrant colors, luxuriant plant life, and all the conveniences of technology absent from your own world… It seems like paradise to all the uninitiated. After a quick tour of the city, new arrivals can find themselves getting cozy in their new homes.

A Settle in your new home at Level 2 to find new roommates and say hello to your neighbors! City officials will give you directions to the designated districts across Level 2 and instruct you to pick out a unit. Each apartment complex has a different aesthetic, some may look cozy, some stylish, and some bizarre. The free accommodations have a basic living space that can only fit two or three people at most in one unit.

Starter Chromaspace furnishings are provided which can be controlled with the touch of a built-in panel. Examples are color-changing curtains, transforming sofa beds, cabinets turning into tables, etc. Customizing your apartment or moving out will have to wait until you earn more chroma. Until then, why don’t you check out your new neighborhood or explore the city levels? Maybe your new roommates or neighbors can give you a “hand” with allowance for dinner.

▶ Let’s Do the Time Warp Now
Lunatia | top

Time is relative, but the days do seem shorter — or longer — than usual. A minute passes like an hour. An hour passes like a minute. Everything appears to be moving along as normal, but the numbers and hands on clocks flicker and spin with an unusual and worrying slowness or quickness. Eventually you notice that the darkness of the night barely lasts long enough for you to fall asleep while the sun seems to glare down upon you for an eternity. The temporal shifts disorient your body, which now grows lethargic from being overworked and underslept. Soon, the temporal abnormalities reach a critical point…

B Due to the temporal distortions, Prismals and Moonblessed new and old feel their bodies sporadically transform in the strangest of ways. Your joints ache like they’ve carried a lifetime’s weight of misfortune and regret. Your voice turns high-pitched like a certain pair has yet to drop. You turn into a confused infant in one moment and the seasoned fighter you always wanted to be in the next. Your memories also shuffle around along with your apparent age, leaving you confused and unsettled. The transformations can occur and last for as long as the 11th, when everything turns back to normal without incident. That time your baby self peed in your pants? Never happened. Until then, moonlacing seems to stabilize the weird abnormalities.

▶ Starlight, Star Bright, First Star I See Tonight
Lunatia | top

The city’s landscape is not spared by the erratic flow of time. Buildings and streets continuously flicker between the beautiful and vibrant paradise it has become to the ruins of glory days long past. Your eyes may struggle to adjust as you try and convince yourself of what is real and what is not. High rise towers one moment will become wreckage the next, filled with technological debris and the echoing cries of the terrified, and the mighty wingspan of an unknown creature continues to hovers in the distance. The illusion will only last but a minute before you’re back in the present, going about your daily business. However, your trip from the future and back is far from over.

Soon, breaking news reports will inform the city about the sudden vanishing of certain celestial bodies in the sky. Though the moons remain where they should, the nights grow longer and darker as the stars in the sky start disappearing one by one until only the sun remains, eclipsed by some mysterious force. Lunar Scientia has already sent capable teams to investigate the abnormalities, so they ask the public to be patient as they wait for the reports. Until then, they have issued safety guidelines and measures to effectively light the city. The Caelus Tower appears to burn brighter than ever.

C For these dark hours, Lunar Scientia releases their latest Chroma-powered technology for Moonblessed use: star lanterns. When a star lantern is held by two Moonblessed, it absorbs newly generated Chroma from them, enabling it to light up the missing stars in the sky as you travel from place to place. The light’s color and intensity will depend on you and your partner’s bond, the spectrum ranging from a violet of hatred to a red full of love. Indifference, however, will not light the lantern at all. It also comes with a float function so that it can be released into the atmosphere without needing to carry it everywhere. Since the technology is limited in stock, Moonblessed may only have one star lantern in their possession.

One of the issued guidelines is to never walk through dark alleys alone even with the lanterns, as the crime rate has increased lately due to those taking advantage of the chaos. This is especially rampant in Level 3, at the mouth of the Lightless.

▶ Oh, They Just Can’t Wait to be King
Outside Lunatia, Port Sylvel | top

On the ides of the third month, an emergency broadcast appears from Captain Natela:

Captain Natela

Greetings, Prismals and Moonblessed.

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that Port Sylvel has been completely crystallized. The Moon Knights are currently recruiting willing explorers and scientists to investigate the cause. Investigations are still pending, but the outlook is grim. The only survivors were among the few we carried out of the city last month. The rest perished from the crystallization.

Our heart goes out to those affected by this plight. There is no cause for panic. There is no sign that the crystallization is spreading beyond Port Sylvel. We Moon Knights stand with the people of Prismatica, as we have done for centuries. We are not mere defenders of a city but protectors of a planet. We endeavor to find the cause of this tragedy and bring peace and justice to the lives it claimed. Until then, we ask for your cooperation. Stay calm and press onward.

Those who volunteer to participate in the expedition will be rewarded for their efforts. They will be assisted by experts from the Lunar Scientia as well as the bear Prismal and Moon Knight Fahrouk, who looks worse for wear after hearing the news.

Officer Fahrouk

Oh, Moonblessed. It's you. Yeah, Hala is doing good. Won the spelling bee! I think she might make the nationals. ... I… I don't think I ever told you. Port Sylvel was our hometown. My wife is buried there. We’d go there every spring. Hala loved picking the flowers there. Did you know that different flowers grow in Port Sylvel compared to Lunatia? Haaaah...

Moonblessed! I know you think I'm not cool enough to hang out with you, and all I do is ask for your help, but please let me go with you! Please… This is something I have to do as a soldier, a husband, and a father.

… What? You always thought I was cool?

Finding strength and resolve after the participants tell him he's supposed to assist them on their mission anyway, Fahrouk distributes LIFE suits to the participants as he briefs them on what they're about to do. He and the participating Moonblessed will then be transported via a large transport vessel.

Port Sylvel is hardly recognizable. What was once an idyllic coastal town is now a site of tragic beauty — crystal formations encase buildings and Prismals like jagged glass coffins, as if preserving life in its final moments. Readings from life detectors tell you that everyone in the crystal has passed on, but you and your fellow Moonblessed think you can still hear their cries of distress carried along by the wind, warning you about the Prideful King.

D Gigantic crystal lions flank the passage of the port city, their wings spread open and blue flames pouring forth from their mouths. You hear rumbling guttural noises, and if you approach them, their roars will escalate to warn you about proceeding any further. Beware: a single bite from these lions can easily tear through the LIFE suit and cause your body to crystallize quickly unless someone rushes in to moonlace with you to halt the effect. These lions are unlike the beasts you’ve fought before: their otherworldly strength is overwhelming, and nothing seems to wear them down. Destroying them seems pointless, as they quickly regenerate the minute they are obliterated.

Eventually, transmissions from the LIFE suits announce an order for escape. Buildings collapse and shatter in your wake, and the ground quakes violently as something awakens in the far distance...

▶ questions

If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.

WHO CAN POST? ▶ Test drive memes are for new characters only. Existing players may not post starter threads in the test drime meme. However, current players are more than welcome to use these prompts for their own posts in the IC communities, personal inboxes, catch-all posts, etc.!

IS THIS CANON? ▶ As our test drive memes are game canon, feel free to keep any threads that happen here as canon for your character should they be accepted.

ANNIVERSARY ▶ Happy first anniversary, Prismatica! Thank you to all of you who have been with us since the beginning. We appreciate it immensely! Remember that we always welcome input and suggestions from players. This event is a little out of the ordinary because of our anniversary celebration.

OPT IN AND OUT ▶ For current players, please do not be alarmed! As always, you do not have to be affected as there are safe areas across Lunatia that remain as is.

AGING UP AND DOWN ▶ You have free reign over how long and how many times your character will be affected. If a character doesn’t have a canon appearance from the past or future, you are welcome to provide one of your own from imagination and use your own PB. You are allowed to speculate on how they’ll look, act, their potential future, and so on. All of these will be temporary to this event. The intensity of the effect is also up to you: whether it will only affect appearance alone and retain their current memories.

IMPORTANT ▶ As a reminder, writing sexual content with characters below 15 years old is a violation of the game's rules and potentially Dreamwidth’s ToS. Players caught doing this will be banned from the game.

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▶ THE HUNTED

[This was not exactly Striga's idea of a 'good time', plucked from her beloved's side as sunlight threatened to breach castle walls, shielding themselves in a shroud of darkness hidden away from the rest of the waking world. Nightfall loomed over this strange fucking place far longer than it should though was met with no complaints from the vampire warrior, seizing the opportunity to explore the city limits, learning all that she could about her would be captors. The city seemed in a state of disarray, forces of the land seemingly stretched thin as crime ran rampant through the streets.

Caring little for the appointed station provided here, doorways so fucking small she nearly bashed her forehead off, Striga took to the streets on this fateful night roaming the expanse of the third level. It was darker and far more dreary than its counterparts, suiting Striga just fine as she scoured the slums gathering information. Doing what she does best, strategizing her next move in this oddity of a world, buildings of grandeur rivaling that of Styria's castle though pale in comparison to its majestic beauty.

Tattered cloak is pulled upward, covering lower half of her face to shield herself from any passerby who just might recognize her for what she is, ever the cautious one out of all the sisters. Turning down a narrow street the tight corridor left little light save a small lantern flickering above someone's doorstep. It is there Striga comes to a halt, a pungent smell wafting in her nostrils, stench of boorish men enclosing from depths of the shadows. Three to be exact, honed senses narrowing on her attackers as one stepped into the light holding what appeared to be a steel dagger. A small grin forms at the tips of Striga's lips, utterly unamused by the situation at large before a soft bout of laughter erupts out.]

I do not have time for this shit...Get on with it.

[As if they needed further provoking, Striga's gaze flickers back and forth to each miscreant as they try best to surround her. A flash of red shines in the darkness, fangs bared with an audible hiss as the warrior strikes forward. In the blink of an eye she is on the first, seizing them by the throat, feet raising from the air with ease before tossing him through a nearby window pane. Two came at once now from each side, one to her rear surging forward with sharpened steel. Quick to dash away, Striga stands behind them now, grin widening in amusement now as she kicks their leg out, shattering bone and rending flesh, assailant falling immediately to the ground crying out in agonizing torment. Vision narrows on the third and final sub doer, trembling in his boots at the sight of his companion broken and bloodied. Dropping his weapon to the ground with a loud thud, would be thief screaming at the top of his lungs and running in fear, leaving his so called 'friends' behind.

Crossing her arms with a satisfied smirk plastered over her features, Striga chuckles modestly to herself as a hand moves to her forehead, shaking head furiously before stepping over the wobbling mortal near her feet. How easy it would be to tear his throat out with one fell bite but dead bodies would draw unsuspecting attention, no doubt others nearby overhearing the bellowing shrieks of this crippled yet otherwise alive vagrant.]

Dishonorable fucks.

▶ STALKING LIVESTOCK

[After the run-in with those foolish miscreants who thought to best her in combat last eve, Striga found herself growing restless, famished from her efforts. True she could survive off the blood of animals but the woman much preferred the hunt, watching and waiting for the opportune moment to strike.

That being said however Striga knew better than to leave piles of corpses in her wake here, a world bound by its own rules and regulations no doubt and wished to keep a low profile despite nefarious affairs the night prior. A lack of better judgement on her part no doubt but she had been royally pissed off already, thieving rats pushing her to the brink. Perched on the rooftop of a two floor building basked in moonlight the vampire's gaze honed on one unsuspecting individual. They were alone, waltzing through the darkness seemingly without cause for worry, little did they know what kinds of creatures lurk in the abyss.

Smirking pridefully, Striga thrust herself from the rooftop, cloak flapping in the gust of wind graciously floating to the ground some distance behind her mark as to not draw attention.]

Little good a lantern will do you in such a state of affairs skulking through the darkness.

[Stepping out from the shadows to be absorbed in moonlight, arms crossed as the vampire approached the negligent being from the rear ever cautiously.]

▶ WILDCARD

[Have something else in mind that you would find interesting? I'm totally game! Feel free to contact me on Plurk if you have any questions over at

Jareman]

Edited 2020-03-08 20:21 (UTC)

[Usually, Alucard is able to pick up on people who are following him. It wasn't until this woman threw herself off of the roof that he had noticed her. She's good, but he's keeping himself on guard.]

The lantern is not for traditional lighting.

[He pauses, looking her over.

Another vampire.]

Looking for something?

[Before Striga got in closer to further inspect her prey of choice the smell of ash mixed with the stench of death, their own kind to be in fact went unnoticed. Vision narrows on her target, fearing a mistake has been made approaching the stranger but could not back down now.

Standing motionless, a stray wind bustled through the narrow streets her cloak revealing face in its entirety. The other wreaks of vampire and yet...something different entirely all in the same breath. A half breed? Such a notion seems laughable at best but not unheard of, Dark Lord himself taking a human pet and having mated with her. An inward shiver rolls down her spine at the very thought, disturbed with the idea of children let alone coupling to a mere mortal. How Lenore could stomach such a thing made her fucking head spin and guts wrench.]

What use is a fucking lantern that cannot light ones path?

[A genuine enough question despite the annoyed tone, Striga standing her ground with arms crossed, cautiously on her guard in turn.]

You are a vampire.

[Blunt and to the point as always, no need to dance around the subject for they both could sense it.]

It is meant to help repair the celestial sky. I'm taking it to someone that can assist in the matter. Besides, I've no need for traditional lighting.

[He doesn't genuinely expect a perfect stranger to assist him, much less a vampire. It requires moonlacing, and it'll be easier to do with Jotaro's help more than anyone else's.

The announcement makes him shrug.] As are you. How fortunate we've made that clear. Were you expecting something else. [It's not a question.]

[Quite frankly Striga has no fucking clue what the celestial sky pertains to but if the long nights are any indication than she would much rather they stay impaired. Far more advantageous for a vampire such as himself no less as well, immediately pressing the question when crossing her mind.]

Why would a fucking vampire wish to rectify this?

[Left hand pointing towards the night's sky, shrouding them in darkness thus allowing them to walk freely almost as humans throughout daylight going about their business without concern. The question issued towards her was more a statement if anything given his tone, hint of a devious smirk flashing over the tip of her lips before waning almost instantaneously.]

Perhaps.

The loss of light can be a large impact on the ecosystem and disrupt the natural order. Aside from being in the dark, which doesn't affect me, it can affect the flora and fauna as well as the wildlife.

Regardless of whatever you feel about humans, light is particularly important for the rest of this world.

[He scoffs.] Do you really think you can hunt freely here and prey upon humanity? I wouldn't recommend it. Though I suppose if you preyed on a degenerate no one would care. Regardless, the hospital offers blood for vampires.

Well, that looks fun.

[ Comes a voice from above -- literally above.

Hanging in the air, Hisoka looks down at the mess of bodies with a pleased smile on his face. A thin line of energy is "stuck" to the bottom of his heel and extends up to wires above. The magician suspends him in the air before time abruptly shifts. It doesn't de-age him, no, but the wires that he had been attached to suddenly rot and snap as the walls of the buildings grow ancient and old. ]

Oops.

[ It is about all that he is able to say before he comes tumbling down out of the air. But hey! He's a performer! Instead of slamming face-first into the alley's floor, he twists and spins in the air -- his heels landing on the body of the screaming would-be thief. He smiles as he looks down at his soft landing. Blood gushes about his heels as he steps off the person.

Of course, none of this stops the individual from screaming. If anything, the injured man screams louder upon having his wounds literally trampled on. ]

My, my. That's a nice sound but -- [ He points his finger at the person and a burst of pink energy rushes out to splatter itself over the injured man's mouth, leaving the two of them in relative silence. At least, the screaming is well and muffled.

Hisoka pivots to smile up at the woman. ]

-- it makes it hard to say anything. [ A beat. ] Hi. [ He wiggles his fingers in greeting. ]

[Still on edge after her battle transpires Striga's senses immediately hone in on the target above her, variable hiss ushered out before the other responds half expecting them to attack on cue. When the stranger does nothing, merely hanging from the sky by whatever freakish magics they are capable of conjuring she eases up though only just.

What she was not expecting next was for the other to come falling to the ground but rather fall on his head swiftly lands upon the crippled assailant meant to rob her. A brow cocks curiously though ever vigilant if he moved to strike, cautiously on her guard despite the others seemingly innocent intentions.]

You are a fucking strange one...Who delights themselves with pain and terror.

[A hand moving to her forward as she chuckles modestly in mild amusement, looking down towards the thief stricken with fear before gaze trains back on the odd human standing before her now.]

Not some ordinary human...

[Why is everyone so overly dramatic when nighttime falls around? He sighs, pulling his coat closer to himself and looks back at her, the yellow eyes looking more annoyed than anything else. Don't mind the weird tattoos around his eyes. He's basically a toothpick compared to her.]

What do you want?

[The smell of his blood is different upon closer inspection, like someone mixed a demon and a human in a blender. The heartbeat appears to be human, at least.]

[Dramatic was not exactly her style leaving the theatrics to Lenore or Morana perhaps when conspiring the schemes of Carmilla grand plans. Standing before the stranger now an odd glow seemed to radiate from his person, brow cocked curiously more cautious now than before upon initial inspection.

Indeed she does smell something a bit...off when she gets a scent, something not of this world though quite familiar all in the same rite to her in passing. A night creature perhaps? No; This one could talk and none of those mindless beasts she had slain prior were capable of such a feet.]

You wreak of something...otherworldly.

Edited 2020-03-12 02:17 (UTC)

[Well she didn't seem like a threat (sorry) just yet, so he simply gives her a shrug. Maybe she had some sense that could tell her this? She didn't quite look human anyway. Could be interesting. He takes off the hood of the coat, making it a little easier to see the tattoos extending to his neck and what almost looked like a shark fin behind him.]

I did get stuck someplace otherworldly. Lucifer turned me into a demon with the heart of a human so I could survive. [Knowing that Lucifer wasn't exactly a known thing everywhere he adds;] He's the leader of demons in my universe, and wanted me to become his champion.

[And he said no. Cause that's the smart decision, turning your back on the Lightbringer himself.]

What about you? You don't look human either. Is that why you were sneaking on me?

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▶ TDM .013

Striga | Castlevania

STALKING LIVESTOCK because that seemed kind of hilarious

I found it rather fitting when it came to mind. xD

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a -- hope this is okay!

It is splendid!

▶ STALKING LIVESTOCK

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