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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ he can't help but laugh a little at that sincere answer, pulling out his own and turning it around to look at it better. it really was just... so useless on its own. no better than a toy lamp and hell even those light up sometimes. ]

You know, that's not a bad idea. We could wrap a piece of cloth at the end of it and light it up. Wham! Instant torch.

[ is it allowed? who knows. but will it work? also who knows. ]

[And a soft, dry, short laugh is pulled out of Fray at that answer, carelessly tapping the lantern against his hand.]

Light up both and place them at the ends of a stick, and I imagine you'll find no better light source around.

I'm sure no one would bother us for our money, either. I can't see any reason why we shouldn't try.

[Look, he's very frustrated, and the idea of setting these stupid lanterns on fire and knocking about some clueless highwaymen sounded like a good way to vent his spleen to him.

Wasn't like he was actually going to be able to utilize these the right way anyway.]

[ his idea was well-received? wow. banri grins from ear to ear, happy that this guy seems willing to try it, if nothing else. but, he shrugs. ]

It sounds fantastic, right? But I'm not sure if they'll make us pay for them if we wreck them or some shit. I'd hate being indebted to the perv aliens.

[Well, they need light, right? Fire gives off plenty of light! More light than a crummy magic lamp that needs affection to work.]

Ah... I'm afraid I've already got a fairly hefty debt owed to them. ... I suppose then it might be a bit uncalled for, to break their things.

Even if they don't work.

[That last word stated with a touch of frustrated venom, tapping the lantern just a little harder to punctuate that.]

What did we need these specific lanterns for? To light up the stars? Seems a bit pointless to me, a gas lamp doesn't require the buddy system and I really don't care very much about their stars.

Do you?

Honestly, I could not care any less about the damn stars. But I'd hate for someone to break into my place when I just got some new digs, so I guess someone's gotta do something about the light, right?

[ someone that isn't them, of course. ]

This is just like recycling. Let's just let someone else do it.

Someone with a mind for city planning and an idea of how to install street lamps.

And what terrible luck: I don't happen to meet either of those requirements. Oh well.

[He's decided. Fuck this lantern.]

I don't suppose you happen to have a match?

[ banri laughs, slapping his arm playfully. ]

You're really gonna go through with it, huh? You're crazy.

[ which he finds very amusing, despite his strange cosplay getup. he tilts his chin towards one of the many dark alleys around. ]

Come on. Let's find you a match.

We need light, and they didn't give us one. What other choice do we have?

[Yes he's being a shithead. He's aware, he's fine with this, he owns his own piss artistry. Honestly, Banri's enthusiasm is, if nothing else, just a little infectious. Another dry laugh, and he rolled his eyes towards the nearest alley.]

Besides, I clearly remember being told only one lamp per person. I'd just hate to break the rules.

[Quest for matches, lets go!]

Right? For all I know, finding alternative ways to find light is the real quest.

[ yeah, he said "quest". this whole thing feels kind of like a videogame, anyway. and he's damn good at those. ]

Hey, if we're lucky we might get attacked by some freaky aliens.

I hope if we do, they look more alarming than the ones that found me. I might even feel a little guilty running a sword through them.

[Might, but it wasn't a guarantee here. ... And it definitely wouldn't stop him from cutting someone right the hell in half. He lingered before the alley, peering into the darkness for a moment.]

It seems clear enough, you are coming, right?

[Spoken even as he began to head right into it, the whine of steel almost impossible to miss, nearly as impossible as the goddamn size of the claymore he just eased off his back.]

[ banri's initial happiness over hearing fray's apparent excitement over finding something to kill is only overshadowed by his immediate awe-struck face at watching him handle a claymore, a real life motherfucking claymore, like it's nothing, and hearing it clank and watching him hold it in a way that is quite telling it is a real weapon and not a prop. ]

Whoa, dude, where'd you get that!? It's freakin' awesome!

[ forget the possibility of finding aliens, this is what he's interested in now. ]

This?

[He tilted the blade, glancing back at Banri.]

My mentor gave it to me, after I proved I could wield it. It's a fine weapon, to be sure.

[And a goddamn big one, it's impressive that he can even hold it that comfortably in one hand. Clipping the lantern to his belt now though, because he will actually need both hands to swing the damn thing.]

But if we find some entertainment tonight, it'll hardly be the most fascinating thing you'll see, yet. I don't suppose you happen to carry anything yourself?

Your "mentor"...

[ wait... so this guy's getup was the real deal, then? it's not cosplay? he takes another look at him, a bit difficult with how dark it is, but he's starting to realize his armor is real, and the weapon looks real, too... which means... ]

Aw, geez. You're from a way cooler place than me. [ clicks his tongue, disappointed. ] No, I have no weapons. But all I need are my fists, anyway!

[ oh, right... ]

I'm Banri, by the way.

'Cool' would be a word for it. [In several aspects!] Pugilist, are you? Good, you'll be faster than me.

[Ah, but that's right, they never exchanged names here, did they? He gestured towards himself.]

Fray. I'm going to take a wild guess here and assume you come from somewhere pretty quiet. Exactly how used to street brawls are you really?

I'll need to know how much of an eye I'll have to keep on you.

[ laughs, shakes his head at that comment. "pugilist". who even says that? ]

Don't worry, Fray. I can hold my own. It's what makes me feel alive! You just worry about looking badass with your sword like some kind of final boss or something.

[ but, since they're here... ]

Is it like, super heavy? I kinda wanna hold it.

Final boss...?

[What a strange term, he can't quite make heads or tails of it. But hey, sure, while they're here, and he's sure not in any rush... His response is to hold the weapon out towards the other man, the hilt angled towards Banri.]

Why don't you see for yourself? Be careful with it, I sharpened it quite recently. If it lands on your foot, you'll probably lose a few toes.

Man... that's such a sweet line. You're like, the real deal, huh? It's fine, you said you had to earn your way into wielding it, so I ain't underestimating it.

[ oh man this is so exciting... he reaches for the weapon, holding it in both hands— ]

Whoa—

[ okay, he was expecting it to be heavy but it really is fucking heavy. banri, who can do everything perfectly on the first try, could potentially lift it up properly if he truly wanted, but it is very sharp, and for all he knows it might be magical or some shit, so he's happy just lifting it a few feet off the ground. ]

Haha! So? Do I look cool or what!?

[He might be a very cold person, a practical ice king here, but he's not totally immune to flattery. Sure it's hidden, but one could still practically hear that smile as he spoke]

Don't lift too much with your back, I'd hate for you to pull something.

[He crosses his arms, eying Banri up and down for a moment in appraisal when he asked if he looked cool]

... I think you could probably learn to wield a claymore of your own, had I the time and the spare weapons to teach you. Feels good to hold it, doesn't it?

Why don't you try giving it a swing or two? Can't hurt, right?

I was hoping you'd say that!

[ so!! he does, gives it a couple swings, better than an average person could when faced with a claymore for the first time, laughing and smiling as he does. ]

Haha! This thing is unreal! Maybe it's time for you to become a mentor huh? I'd love to have this skill in my repertoire, specially in a place where it seems like it'll actually be useful.

I have been giving the idea some thought as of late.

[No reason to go into specifics here, it's not like the circumstances were the same anymore. Truth be told, he is somewhat impressed with what he's seeing. The last stranger to take up his sword showed just about the same amount of innate competence as well.]

Perhaps if I manage to find another sword, I will. I'm certainly going to need that one here, for the time being.

[But, after a second or two of thoughtful observation,]

However, for now, I don't see any reason why you can't hold onto it. You look pretty comfortable handling the weight of it, after all. I will want it back before I return to level two.

[ banri's eyes immediately widen with glee at the suggestion, clutching the hilt of the weapon a little tighter. ]

For real!? Haha! Awesome! This is like a dream come true.

[ he swings it a couple more times to get a better feel to it, mesmerized by the way it slashes through the air and how sharp and elegant it looks for something so big and dangerous. ]

Have you had this for long? [ ... ] Wait, don't tell me you're actually super old or something...

[The laughter is actually warming up just a little now, just a teensy bit. Nowhere near the area of boisterous or anything, but it no longer sounds quite as dry.]

About a decade. I'm twenty five, sorry to disappoint you there. I'm just as mortal as any other man.

Be careful with your grip, by the way. If the weight shifts too much in your hands, you'll only end up injuring yourself.

Oh, shit.

[ he takes his advice, lowering the blade a little again and trying to handle it more carefully. no more random slashes, got it. ]

What, twenty five? I was hoping you'd say like, two hundred. But I guess that makes it even more impressive that you've had this for ten years.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone past their sixties in Eorzea. Anyone who makes it that far has the money to live a very uninteresting life.

Two hundred years is a number I imagine only gods and dragons can reach, and I can assure you: I'm neither.

And you? I can't imagine you're too much older or younger than I am.

[ "eorzea"... even the place sounds magical, he thinks. except it sounds like people live normal lifespans and that's not very isekai, unfortunately. but if people get to dress like this there and not be judged? he's into it. ]

Me? I'm seventeen. But don't be fooled, I'm amazing.

▶ TDM .013

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