prismaticrap | ▶ TDM .016

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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.

▶ How to Train Your Dragon 2: Electric Boogaloo
City of Lunatia and Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

As the weather grows warmer and the skies around Lunatia clear up, the toxic fog that once clogged up the airways is dissipating. This is great news: air travel has now become easier, safer, and more enjoyable. The recent increase of renewed flora and fauna must have led to these new developments.

While a clean atmosphere benefits Prismals and Moonblessed, it invites dangerous predators to lurk closer to the border. Fortunately, friendlier creatures also start to flock to the city, including familiar faces from the Lyestellus Kingdom. Indeed, the baby dragons once raised and nurtured by the Moonblessed have grown into the mighty, noble scaleborn they are.

The dragons’ giant shadows blanket the metropolis as they fly overhead for a friendly visit. One of them carries their sovereign, King Shiryn Lyei Drastellus XIII. In light of the Nothing’s recovery and the Inari Highway’s success, the king says that Lyestellus is inspired to further deepen their relationship with Lunatia. He announces that the kingdom has developed a construction plan for a skyway connecting Lunatia and the mountains of Drasomnis.

The Moonblessed are welcome to join their efforts. Lunatia and Lyestellus will be sponsoring a labor exchange program to ensure that everyone is well-rewarded and kept safe on their way to Lyestellus. The dragons will be flying and protecting Lunatian locals and any volunteering Moonblessed alike. But as there are only so many dragons, everyone is expected to share seats.

Several of the dragons are known to be excitable. As they’re looking forward to inviting the Moonblessed back to the kingdom, some overly eager dragons may snatch even the most reluctant person in their jaws to carry the whole way. And when we say excitable, they might destroy a wall of your humble abode to reach you as they are particularly good at sniffing out anything hidden. But how long can you resist their puppy eyes and wagging tails?

B In Lyestellus, one of the available jobs is to wrangle and care for small chicken-sized dragonlets that seem to be especially attracted to Sanguis Moonblessed. Their parents are away because of the skyway construction plan, so someone has to babysit them. These wily dragonlets love to run around in their coops, leaving rainbow-colored droppings everywhere, pulling at your hair or clothes, and cutely singing to try and coerce the Moonblessed into spoiling them rotten or helping them get away with mischievous behavior.

They are also attracted to Chroma and will be attaching themselves to Moonblessed. If they are too excited, they might bite onto their arms, mouth, neck, legs, nipples, and just about anywhere they can reach to drink their Chroma-infused blood. If you experience excess blood loss, you can recover it easily with moonlacing, but it’s best to avoid getting cornered and overpowered by too many dragonlets.

▶ Rise and Wine, It’s Wine o'Clock
Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

Several job openings are now available at Lyestellus’ wine distilleries. The kingdom is famous for its Dragonfang Wine, a luxurious drink pressed from the fragrant wildflowers and aged in barrels of wood found only on the mountaintops of Drasomnis. The wine itself is a vibrant violet with a rich scent the locals describe as heavenly. It is traditionally served during special occasions. With the skyway construction plan in motion, they will be needing to speed up production in time for upcoming celebrations.

C One of the job openings is for flower pickers. This line of work is not for the fainthearted. As they climb up the Drasomnis mountains to pick flowers, they need to watch out for wild wyvern attacks. Their majestic wings are powerful enough to blow a person off the mountain tops and they are proficient in wind magic. Try to avoid fighting near flower fields, as their gigantic feet may end up crushing the poor flowers.

Another available task is to participate in wine tasting to ensure the quality is consistent in each barrel (spit buckets will be provided to each person) as well as to create a menu benefitting to serve for the celebrations. The goal of the menu is to bring out the best flavors of the Dragonfang Wine. For inspiration, the locals will be providing large platters of cheese and draconic mood music.

Be careful not to drink too much: the violet-shaded wine’s delectable taste could lead to overconsumption. Those who get drunk may display flirtatious “peacocking” behavior towards other Moonblessed. Watch out for the cheesiest of pick-up lines!

▶ Slime Beneath Me, Slime Up Above, Ooh, You Love My Toxic Love
Kingdom of Lyestellus | top

Like their previous visit, the Moonblessed will be allowed to stay in bubble-shaped dwellings surrounding a breathtaking mountain springs known to have mysterious effects during the evenings.

Bathing in the springs during the day provides great relief, especially to any hardworking person. It has restorative properties that accelerate healing and the relaxing experience paired with gorgeous views can reduce stress and anxiety. The Lyestellus locals consider it as one of their treasures and will encourage all their guests to bathe in them at least once.

D Unfortunately, the largest hot spring in the center known as the Eye of Basti has turned disturbingly discolored for reasons unknown to the locals. It was reported that anyone who comes too close to the water will be swallowed inside. For public safety, they’ve closed the center area of the springs but there is a job listing that will grant access to it.

Those who investigate will notice that the discolored red waters have a strange, thick slime-like consistency. Standing too close will cause the waters to rise and form blood-like tendrils that will indiscriminately grab at anyone within the vicinity. They will repeatedly attempt to drag people into their watery depths. If they fail to pull their target into the water, then a curse will be cast on them. Cursed targets will be turned into translucent slimes which will mindlessly crawl onto any potential source of Chroma to suck their Chroma dry. This includes another Moonblessed, local Prismals, the nearest lamp post, or somebody’s car.

Nothing you try seems to affect the bloody tendrils. But fight long enough in the waters, the natural Chroma of the Moonblessed will gradually purity and restore it to its former beauty. Those who were swallowed, including lost locals, will be able to resurface safely and those who turned into slimes will transform back to their original forms.

▶ 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.

DO I HAVE TO PARTICIPATE? ▶ As always, all content is optional. You do not have to be affected by any of the prompts if you wish to opt out.

HOT SPRINGS ▶ As stated, only the Eye of Basti spring is badly affected. All other hot springs are completely safe.

TRANSLUCENT SLIMES ▶ Color, size, and appearance are all up to player discretion. Yes, you may choose to have only certain body parts to be slimed.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Maybe not the best thing to let others know that he's a newcomer to this planet, but Hux can't find it in himself to care right now. Or ever. Maybe it's the wine or maybe it's just his general exhaustion with everything, but he just gives Loki a slight nod, before taking another generous sip of his wine. Look, he might need it.

His table partner doesn't seem too bad, at least. Maybe.]

And you're not. [Hux looks at Loki with a mostly neutral sort of expression.] Are you going to tell me that I'll adjust and things will steadily get better? Don't.

I've been here long enough to know how this realm operates, a least. [He hums at Hux's curt words, looking amused.]

You overestimate my sense of sympathy. [Loki's not that interested in making Hux feel better. He's not terribly good at pep talks, either. He will grin, however, and be honest.] The truth is that "things" will stay significantly as terrible as they are at the moment. You will adapt, or perish.

[He leans back, arching an eyebrow.] Your choice.

[He'll take the honesty over false sympathy. Actually, he'd rather not have any sort of sympathy at all, even if it's genuine. It feels like a pointless sentiment, because he's still stuck here with death awaiting him back home.]

Yes, I've realized that. [Perishing altogether almost seems like the best choice, except death works in an odd manner here. Not to mention, Hux has always done his best to survive, even with everything that's happened.]

I don't plan on dying here, so temper your concern.

That shouldn't be too difficult. [Loki agrees, wryly. His concern was very mild to start with. He tilts his head to the side, considering Hux carefully.]

Are you going to look for a way to go home, then? [If so, Loki is interested. He doesn't have anything left in his home universe, but he's still intent on finding an escape way, in case he needs to leave Prisma.)

[There's no reason to delve into his history with this stranger. Not to mention, Hux highly doubts that he'd care to listen to something that's not even connected with him. Unless by some off chance that he is from his galaxy, well, it probably still wouldn't matter. The First Order is gone.

Hux swallows past that thought, his mouth thinning, before finally responding.]

No. I see no reason to rush back home. [Does that mean this backwater planet is his last stop before nothing? Ugh.]

[Hux is right, Loki wouldn't be interested in listening to the whole story. He is curious to find out more, however, if only to figure out what kind of threat this man will be. Some kind, that much he can already tell.

The way Hux's mouth thins sourly reminds Loki of how he felt when he first got to Prisma, whenever someone asked him if he was eager to return to his home universe. He arches an eyebrow, his eyes sharp.]

Don't you? Most of us do. Unless, of course, there is nothing for you there anymore.

[Great, it seems like his companion here is observant, not much passing his sharp gaze. It puts him in a more sour mood, and the general looks at the cheese and wine with a certain level of irritation. This whole thing would be easier if his table partner just drank wine and ate cheese.]

Yes, that's exactly it. My entire galaxy blew up.

[A completely insincere answer that Hux doesn't even bother to hide. But talking about any of the nonsense that happened back home is not in the cards for him.]

[That draws Loki's attention and he leans back, giving Hux a thin smile.]

Well. And I thought I got here under duress.

[Now he's curious to hear the whole story though, especially since it seems Hux isn't entirely telling the truth. No-one speaks so dismissively of their galaxy blowing up, not unless they didn't particularly care for it in the first place.]

Do go on.

What's more to say?

[Hux doesn't seem to budge more on the topic just yet. Perhaps it'd just be best to leave, but the wine is still in front of him and he can't possibly waste that. So, better to draw attention to his friend instead of letting him ask more questions.]

Why don't you talk about yourself instead? You just mentioned that you left a troubling situation behind.

Quite a lot. [Loki points out, arching his eyebrows. A whole galaxy blowing up? That's quite the story.

But it seems Hux has spoken enough about himself, and is now deciding that he is curious about Loki after all. Or perhaps he's merely trying to change the subject. At any rate, Loki will indulge him. He grins, leaning back in his seat.]

I died. Heroically, too. [He makes a face, like he's disappointed in himself for that.] And then woke up here, quite unexpectedly.

[...Fine, point there, but Hux still remains completely stubborn, keeping silent. Luckily, however, it seems that Loki is going to indulge him slightly, although his actual response almost causes the general to roll his eyes.

Died. Heroically. Right.

He does not seem like a person that would die heroically.]

Really. Died trying to protect someone?

[Loki keeps grinning when Hux seems entirely unconvinced he would be the type to die a hero. He's not offended, really, as it is the truth.]

My brother. I traded my life for his, though that was not my plan at the time.

[To be fair they had been in that situation in the first place because of Loki stealing the Tesseract again, and there was a very good chance he would have died next anyway, but Hux doesn't need to know that.]

[Assuming that he's not lying, Hux doesn't quite understand why someone would trade their life for another, even if they are family. Blood only goes so far, in fact, he'd argue that it's entirely meaningless.]

Why would you do something like that? Unless you truly believe that your brother would be entirely better at accomplishing your goal than you.

[Loki takes a sip from his wine, humming.]

Sentiment.

[He says the word wryly and with undisguised contempt. He can try to spin this into something else, but it was indeed sentiment that had prompted him to save Thor.]

Though I supposed he was. He did end up killing the being that snapped by neck.

[Sentiment, such a worthless thing. Getting killed because of that particular feeling seems like such a waste. The lack of compassion from Hux is definitely evident, even if the general doesn't outright mock him.]

He succeeded in taking revenge for your demise. [Guess it worked out for him.] But you're still implying that you wouldn't have regretted your choice if he failed.

He is my brother [Loki says, carefully. This is getting more personal than he is comfortable with, now.] Despite it all.

[He arches an eyebrow at Hux, inquisitive.] Have you any brothers? It's a very specific type of hell.

[Familial relationships. He's really only known his father and Brendol would no sooner leave him to die on a deserted planet than lift a finger to save him, especially if his own life is at risk. To be fair, Hux would do the same.

As such, his face lacks understanding for any of this.]

No, I was an only child. I could not imagine growing up with a brother by my side. [It was bad enough competing against Cardinal and those other orphans. He can't even imagine how quickly Brendol would've thrown out of an airlock if he had an actual legitimate son.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

▶ TDM .016

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