▶ TDM .018

[prismods]

You gotta feel it

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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.

▶ I Didn’t Choose the Hug Life, the Hug Life Chose Me
08/09 | Outside Lunatia, Kingdom of Calanthe | top

With the return of Lyestella and Vulpus to the land, the Lyestellans and Amegaharans have pledged to cooperate with the Lunatians in their effort to continue to restore Prismatica to its former glory and recover the planet’s lost history. The Prismals now turn their attention to the decrystallization of the land and the detoxification of the air, both remnants of the great cataclysm of ages past. The planet’s surface has already been changing, revealing new sites of archaeological interest. Aside from Neuhr Ellysti, another one was recently found to the far south of Lunatia in an old city that the Prismals call Calanthe.

The Moonblessed-produced Chroma has dissipated the toxic mist surrounding the city, revealing a sprawling, majestic kingdom encased in crystal as if it was frozen in time. The kingdom is partially submerged in water, requiring some sophisticated techniques to reach its innermost recesses. Lunar Scientia has requested for Chroma to be funneled into the ancient city to allow them to study it further.

As an apology for his antics last month, Vulpus has volunteered to lead the Calanthe decrystallization efforts with the power... of dance! His Azure Passion Blossom dance will help the Moonblessed generate more Chroma by amplifying it considerably.

 B  As Vulpus dances, the Moonblessed are asked to participate in a large-scale hug-a-thon at the Calanthe research camp. The goal is to partner up with one another and try to remain awake for 3 hours, simply standing and hugging, in order to take home the following rewards: a generous amount of groceries, two luxurious dessert cakes (comes in two flavors!), and the choice to take home one of the latest Chromawear releases from Prissy Polyp.

Now that he’s being good, do you think Vulpus’s hips don’t lie? Nope. He is definitely back on his bullshit. For those unwilling to participate, they will find their bodies inexplicably “magnetized” to one another, spontaneously sending you through the air and sticking you to someone else. Escape is nigh impossible for at least an hour when the effects wear off. Better be prepared to make friends fast.

▶ Ride It, My Pony
08/10 | top

The mass amounts of hug-induced Chroma successfully banish the crystal and toxic mist away and open up the kingdom of Calanthe. While many may be eager to venture into the unknown, Lunar Scientia warns everyone of the dangers ahead. Prepare yourselves, and don’t travel alone.

Calanthe is covered in runes and symbols that may be familiar to veteran Moonblessed, including the Mark of the Destroyer which had been present in the Glory. Meanwhile, the shimmering waters surrounding the city are remarkably beautiful, but with no ocean floor in sight — only an endless abyss.

 C  Calanthe’s waters are enchanted to drown all those unwelcome, even those who can breathe underwater. It’s not a good idea to touch or stand close to the water for too long in any way, either. That will summon innumerous kelpie horses that will lunge out and ram against you, your friend, and/or the nearest Prismal researcher, instantly knocking them into the nearest wall. These creatures best described as finned horses made of water; they mysteriously evaporate after each attack, only reappearing to ram any threat to their territory again.

Once provoked, the kelpies will start conjuring bubble cages around its opponents, which will send them floating upwards before quickly sinking into the endless abyss. Damaging the bubble cages from within is completely ineffective, as they can only be broken by those outside of it. Rescuers, hurry and break the bubbles before it’s too late!

Alarmed by these developments, Lunar Scientia will order a temporary retreat as they try to figure out how to deal with all the furious kelpies before any more people are taken into the abyss.





▶ Natural De-Selection
08/10 - 08/24 | top

Day and night, all begin to hear haunted whispers echo throughout Lunatia in the next coming days, among them the voices of those who were recently taken into the abyss, begging for help or mercy.

Ghost sightings of slain jellyfish and Korokiels from past battles flicker into view at random hours of the evening. Some people feel painful, spontaneous electric shocks. Others feel tentacles coil around and strangle them for a few seconds before the sensation disappears completely.

Just what did they unearth in Calanthe? News programs, articles, and social media are filled with rumors and conspiracy theories, but all seem to agree that the research team has awakened an ancient curse.

Those who were not freed in time and kidnapped into Calanthe’s watery abyss will remain in an unusual stasis, floating about in the bubble with those they are trapped with. The longer they stay there, the smaller the bubble gets, making it harder for them to breathe. Their most painful thoughts may end up echoing throughout Lunatia. The captured can stave off death a bit longer by constantly moonlacing until rescue comes for them.

 D  Time is of the essence. As soon as Lunar Scientia quickly announces their findings, everyone dives straight back into the bottomless depths. All rescuers will be given a newly developed Carcharian potion that will allow Moonblessed to temporarily grow shark properties, including the special ability to breathe in Calanthe’s waters, enhanced flexibility and agility in the water, and possession of sharp jagged teeth. These teeth are magically effective against kelpies who seem to fear the shark kind. The potion’s effects will naturally wear off after an hour, so be sure to complete your rescue by then.

With the kidnapped Prismals and Moonblessed back home safely, the Prismals will continue to carefully study how to safely navigate the area and explore Calanthe.


▶ 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.

KELPIES ▶ These horses cannot be tamed or reasoned with. If you kill one, more aggressive kelpies will come for you out of vengeance and start to swarm you and others.

CALANTHE’S WATERS ▶ As stated on the log, these waters are enchanted to drown intruders. Even those who can breathe underwater will NOT be able to. Attempting to bypass this through any means will not work.

BUBBLE CAGES ▶ Each bubble should contain at least two people. A Moonblessed may be trapped with an NPC Prismal if desired. You may freely communicate with other bubbles in the abyss. Attempting to use the network will fail as the signal is jammed.

Comments

Shell Overlord | Blood Bank | Cordis

[steponme]

1 | Home Sweet Home Intruder | OTA
[Waking up on the moon was disorienting enough, but now he's expected to just... find a tiny room to call home?? These little apartments are nothing like he's used to. And it's so strange to see so very many tall buildings. Sure, they had tall buildings back home, but they were generally few and far between. And he's supposed to be satsfied with just a single unit? That's so... cramped!]

[In any case, he needs a place. But being that he's a vampire and all, and it's so very hot outside, he waits until sunset to go looking for a place. Unfortunately, not many others are going to be following suit -- which means at some late hour of the night, you might just hear someone casually walking into your apartment.]

Er, hello? ...looks unoccupied... it's hard to tell well when they're all furnished...


2 | Opposite Attract | OTA
[Shell is still figuring out this "chroma" thing. When he hears about the hugathon, he immediately decides it's-- not his thing!! He's not interested at all!! He's totally not standing around hoping someone asks hm for a hug!! ...not that he looks terribly huggable. Hiding under the shadow of a building, dressed in a full suit despite the heat, and his expression looking a bit sour. But fate has something else in mind, and with a sudden gasp and a good deal of flailing, he's dragged out of the shadows by some unseen force and thrown together with someone else.]

H-Hey! What's going on here!? Let-- go?

[They're... not holding on? What is this??]


3 | Murder, it's what for dinner | OTA
[But by far, the most difficult thing Shell knows he'll have to face is... well, his diet. He was immediately informed about the existence of blood pills -- and now has a pretty good stock to keep himself alive. But there's nothing really satisfying about them. Not to mention the question of whether the blood is ethically collected. And, even if it were, whether he can really be okay with that.]

[Thankfully, the markets have all kinds of things for sale. Not-so-thankfully, he'll have to re-learn which animal blood doesn't taste like ass. But this also means buying a good amount of it to test, which he's carrying in a bag after buying--]

[But then, he bumps into someone. And as he falls forward onto his face-- blood gushes out from underneath him as every single bottle shatters in the bag.]

[Evidently, you've just killed a man. What now?]


[Hit me up at randomsnarfle if you have any questions about Shell!]

2

[bombvault]

Oof- they got me! That didn't take very long.

[ This situation isn't a game but the playful lilt suggests it might be to Mike. It's quite the colorful figure that Shell ends up pressed against. One that blows a blond curl jostled by the impact out of his face before turning his full attention to the new arrival. ]

Hello you. You're a new face! You've just arrived haven't you? I bet I'm right!

[ Whoever this is they're about to get acquainted fast. What with the way the acrobat snakes an arm around the other blonde's waist and smiles oh so warmly. ]

[steponme]

[You know, if not for the fact that vampires always dressed like tacky fuckers, he might be more Shook at what Mike's wearing. As it is, he's just questioning his choice in patterns.]

Is it that obvious? Do things like this happen that often that most people wouldn't be surprised by it?

[Meanwhile, Shell's rocking some mad hoverhand game right now. Should he... hug back? He doesn't even know this guy??]

[bombvault]

[ Mike has a good reason for his multicolored fabric and neck ruffles. It's being a respectable member of the circus thank you very much. ]

Well? Strange things do happen a lot here yeah. But you'll never be able to predict any of it. Heh, so plenty of people are surprised every time!

[ He can't help but giggle at this man's expense. So that's the kind of person he has on his hands right now huh? This menace leans in as if he's sharing a top secret with Shell. ]

It's better to go along with it and have fun I say!

[steponme]

I guess the fact that we're here at all is strange enough that I should have figured...

[Honestly. He feels like he got teleported to some bizarre alternate version of his world where the apocalypse never happened and animal people took over instead of vampires. And yet supposedly this world is ending too?? Despite everything looking so green and alive...]

[He lets out a sigh, trying to keep up appearances. He really... doesn't mind this. The moonlacing feels nice, and the more he lets himself relax into it, the nicer it feels. Enough that he almost -- almost -- forgets that they're still out in the open--]

If we have to be stuck like this, could we at least move out of the sun? It feels like I'm standing in an oven right now.

[bombvault]

[ Mike provides a comforting shoulder pat to Prismatica's newest victim. Yes, just accept it. That's the right attitude! ]

Oh? Okay! But you wouldn't be so hot if you took some of some layers off, you know. Hmm,

[ Looks to be that Mike is shorter. Which is no real feat because he's a short little manlet. But as an acrobat with an overly active imagination he thinks of a dumb solution for their problem quickly. ]

This might be quite the task. We might even have to shuffle. Unless— say, how strong would you say your arms are?

[steponme]

If I'm going to overheat either way, I'd rather not burn on top of it.

[Meanwhile Shell over here with his 6' tall ass--]

Er, fairly strong? ...are you going to ask me to carry you?

[bombvault]

Hehe, yes!

[ Mike smiles wide. A very calculated innocent look. He's totally having more fun than he should here. ]

I'll have you know that I'm an acrobat so I shouldn't be all too heavy! Besides, wouldn't it be much faster? I think it would be.

[steponme]

An acrobat, huh.

[Real talk does his world even have circuses who the fuck knows--]

I guess if it'll get us in the shade faster... [...] Unless this is just a ploy to make me hug you back?

[That said, he's doing it-- but in what's clearly the most demeaning way possible, holding him under his armpits and letting him dangle. C'mere bruh, let him take u to a place.]

[bombvault]

[ IT DOES NOW. ]

You're not allergic to hugs are you? Oop-

[ Wow okay. His arms stick out to the side stiffly and his legs dangle off the ground. Very much like a rag doll. ]

[ ... ]

[ Mike doesn't exactly struggle in the hold. But he'll remember this is how Shell decided to pick him up. Even if he's still smiling like he won't. ]

While you're at it you really ought to tell me your name!

[steponme]

I don't make a habit of hugging humans.

[This bold-faced lie, even he can't keep a straight face telling it--]

[He'll wait until they're in the shade before setting him down, looking immediately relieved. He feels even weaker to the sun than usual right now, with how long it's been since he's drank blood consistently at all.]

My name is Shell Overlord. And you are?

3

[independent]

[ It's unlike her to be so careless, but to be truthful Kyoko has been having a hard time adapting to this place. For all the things that seem to be familiar, there are far more that are incomprehensibly different. The culture shock is becoming something of an issue as well. Even by her world's far more conservative standards, Kyoko is fairly reserved.

As it is, she bumps and stumbles and jerks around to apologize to the poor individual that seems to have fallen flat on her face.

Her mind freezes, and there's a flash of horror at the grizzly scene of sticky, red, coppery smelling fluid before the rational part of her brain takes hold and finds all the contradictions in the scene. That's right, a fall like that would be unlikely to kill someone. Even if it had, the cause would have been far more apparent. It does raise other questions, but it's grounding herself is a good enough place to start. ]

Are you alright? I'm terribly sorry... Please, let me help you.

[ She leans forward to get a better look at him, extending a gloved hand out to him. ]

[steponme]

...ugh... this smell...

[Immediately he realizes this girl has done him a great favor, because the animal blood he's procured so far reeks. No doubt he would have gagged before even bringing it to his lips.]

[...of course, now he's both stinky and a nightmare as he sits up, a perfect outline of the bag he'd been carrying now being the only part of his chest not covered in blood.]

It's... fine. These things happen.

[He reaches out for her hand-- only to recoil when he realizes his own gloves are covered in blood. Thankfully, only his pride is hurt, so he can stand on his own.]

You wouldn't happen to know a place that sells cheap clothing, would you? I have a feeling the authorities here won't appreciate me walking down the street covered in this.

[Emphasis on cheap, much as he's loathe to say it.]

[independent]

[ It's a relief that he at least isn't injured, at least, though her nose wrinkles. She stands up straight and nods. There's a few things she'd like to ask him, but that can wait. ]

Ah... Yes, I passed by one on the way here. I didn't have time to look very long, but the prices seemed affordable for someone on a budget.

[ More bluntly, it was a discount clothing store, but no need to damage his pride more. ]

Would you like me to show you? It's the least I can do.

[steponme]

If you would. I've only just arrived here myself, so I'm not too familiar with the streets yet.

[For now, he can at least take off his jacket and scarf, leaving just the bloody white button-up and corset. He still looks like a murder victim, but not much he can do there. He'll just... let the authorities know about the big ol' splatter latter.]

[But now he's getting a better look at her, and... huh. He's not sure he'll ever get used to seeing humans with such unique features all over the place.]

...for what it's worth, I wasn't doing anything suspicious. I'm a vampire -- I've been told we're not very common here.

[Just getting dinner, he swears he's not a serial killer.]

[independent]

Of course.

[ Kyoko's about to start off when he announces himself as a vampire. The change in expression is brief and subtle, just the slightest lift of an eyebrow and a tug at her lips before she trains it back into a more neutral expression.

Of all the explanations she'd expected, that wasn't one of them. Had she not already run into so many strange things, she might not have believed him.

Still, he doesn't seem like a threat. ]

... A vampire? I see. That would make sense... Although I suppose that means I ruined your dinner, then, didn't I?

[ It feels really weird to say that. She does punctuate her question by gesturing him to follow, though, starting off in her direction. Getting him out of those clothes quickly really is the least she can do. ]

[steponme]

[It's hard to know what to make of her expression without knowing whether her world has vampires or not. But then, surely this place is already strange enough that even someone from a world of humans would believe it?]

[In any case, he follows.]

I feel like it'd be more accurate to say you saved me from my dinner, judging by the smell. I'll have to find a place that sells fresher animal blood in the future.

[independent]

[ She blinks, but it does make some amount of sense. No one would want to eat rotten meat, after all. ]

Was it that bad? You should ask for a refund later, or at least a replacement. If they're not a vampire themselves, they might not understand how blood keeps.

[ That said... ]

How fresh does it need to be?

[steponme]

Hmm... well, the sooner it's stored after it's drawn helps, but it tends to taste pretty terrible if they take it from something after it died. Which was likely the case with some of these, even if it was properly stored.

[Since it's animal blood. That sentence would be pretty grim if it were human.]

3

[depthsofdespair]

Hey, watch where you're--

[Lucy's first instinct when someone bumps into her is to yell at them. She doesn't know who they are, but people often get angry when you knock them to the ground. Best to put on a show of the being the angriest party. Maybe then they'll back off and not yell back at her.

But you don't have to yell at corpses. They can't fight back.

Actually. What do you do when you kill a man?]

--- shit.

[Lucy goes from angry to meek in just a few seconds. Kneeling near the body, she gently shakes his shoulder.] H-Hey! What are you doing! G-get up!

[steponme]

...ugh... it's all over everything...

[THE SMELL]

[IS SO BAD]

[Well, maybe not so much to Lucy, aside from the fact that it smells like blood. But Shell can smell just how poor grade this animal blood is -- no doubt he would have gagged trying to drink it.]

[He pushes himself up, his shirt hideously stained with blood. But at least his face is only a bit scuffed from hitting the street.]

I didn't get any on you, did I?

[No, he doesn't realize that he looks like a crime scene. Clearly buying blood is totally normal. Not a weird grocery item to drop and spill.]

[depthsofdespair]

[In this case, perhaps she should feel relief. He doesn't seem to be dead? Covered in blood, sure, but he's alive enough to complain about it.

She holds up her hands, now aware that she may have left fingerprints on him. Now tied to this crime scene, she really has to make sure that this man doesn't die! It looks like he's lost/is losing a lot of blood, so that is still a very real possibility!]

That's not the problem right now! Are you okay? Where-- How did I make you bleed that much? Are you made of glass?!

[steponme]

What? Oh--

[It takes him a minute.]

[And then he just-- lifts up the soiled grocery bag, which makes a nice broken glass noise as he shakes it. Notably, there's a clean outline on his chest where the bag had been pressed against him.]

Don't worry, this blood isn't mine.





[This statement invites more questions than it answers.]

[depthsofdespair]

[Yeah, so that didn't help much. Lucy calms down, but not for the right reasons. Her eyes narrow and she looks at him with more suspicion than concern. Also, shuffling back just a few inches as a precaution.]

And... just whose blood is it, then? [Is she in danger here?]

[steponme]

Er... no one's? I don't think butchers tend name the animals they sell...

[He remembers then what he was told by a scientist upon arriving -- and quickly thinks to mention--]

Oh-- I'm a vampire. I'm still getting used to the idea of that not being obvious.