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prismaticrap2019-05-08 05:12 am
prismods) wrote in prismaticrap2019-05-08 05:12 am
▶ TDM .003
▶ Tales from the Crypt
Moon Iris | top
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. Even the few shy moon creatures you find in the wild have strange crystal growths on their hides. This is far from home— perhaps a dream? You pinch your skin and slap your cheeks, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Searching for answers yields nothing but an endless expanse of purple dust as far as the eye can see. You have four options: one, panic; two, soil yourself; three, admire it all then soil yourself; or four, go into survival mode. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.
After a day or two of living off the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. After the strange phenomenon 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? Why did I eat those fifty cent street truck tacos last night? — 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.
While waiting for transport to be prepared, you may freely roam around the government center. Alternatively, you can ask the staff about the moon base. They suggest that you visit one of their excavation sites nearby: an enormous hole known as the Glory. The scientists have been excavating this site carefully for years, searching for a legendary ancient tomb sleeping within. They’re accepting volunteers if anyone is inclined to aid in their efforts. Perhaps the Moonblessed have the knowledge they need to make it a success!
This little adventure might leaving you wondering what or who exactly lies deeper inside, but the Prismals are just as clueless as you are. Cave-ins happen from time to time, but this might have been the strongest one recorded on this site.
Eventually you’re called to the docks and led onto a large transport vessel. Destination: Prismatica.
▶ Those Kicks were Fast as Lightning
Higher Lunatia, Level 1 | 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.
With the end of Harvest Boon, the city is calm once more. The streets of Level 1 and 2 are now sparkling clean as always, but Level 3 is still in the process of cleaning up. There are confetti and deflated balloons strewn all over the streets, but Swiffy bots are on the scene, sweeping up whatever waste they can get their hands on. Sometimes, they might even play tug-of-war with you for it. At one of the train stations, a Prismal doomsayer screams about the apocalypse returning. Passersby shrug at the conspiracy theory and move on.
▶ Meas Trees are the Bee’s Knees
Middle Lunatia, Level 2 | top
The rows of Meas trees planted this Harvest Boon are blossoming beautifully into view, painting the fields in Level 2 with colors of spring. Meas tree saplings each have a small sign next to them, displaying their owners’ written wish if they chose to disclose it. Interestingly, the color and aroma of each flower depends on the owners; fiery personalities might have red or orange flowers, those born in a coastal town might have flowers that smell like the sea near their hometown, and so on. Maybe you’ll encounter a familiar aroma if you’re lucky enough.
The Moonblessed who were most active with moonlacing the past few weeks have the largest trees, nearly rivaling the oldest Meas trees around. The older trees planted by Prismals over time can be seen in the next field, standing majestically with their swaying branches and flying petals.
▶ Questions
If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.
Moon Iris | top
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. Even the few shy moon creatures you find in the wild have strange crystal growths on their hides. This is far from home— perhaps a dream? You pinch your skin and slap your cheeks, yet nothing seems to do the trick. Searching for answers yields nothing but an endless expanse of purple dust as far as the eye can see. You have four options: one, panic; two, soil yourself; three, admire it all then soil yourself; or four, go into survival mode. Eventually, you’ll realize that you’re not alone.
After a day or two of living off the crystal wilderness, a group of people find you worse for wear. They are the gallant Moon Knights from the planet of Prismatica. After the strange phenomenon 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? Why did I eat those fifty cent street truck tacos last night? — 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.
While waiting for transport to be prepared, you may freely roam around the government center. Alternatively, you can ask the staff about the moon base. They suggest that you visit one of their excavation sites nearby: an enormous hole known as the Glory. The scientists have been excavating this site carefully for years, searching for a legendary ancient tomb sleeping within. They’re accepting volunteers if anyone is inclined to aid in their efforts. Perhaps the Moonblessed have the knowledge they need to make it a success!
A ⬤ A chroma-powered lift made of magically fortified crystal is used to access the lower grounds. Be careful not to fall off! On the way down, some translucent caterpillars and crystals light your way. Be quiet and keep an eye out for Queen Bowie beetles: these glowing neon bugs are attracted to music, and a single note will send them flying into your clothes and hair. Putting the beetles under pressure is not advised, as they will explode and send their sticky insides flying throughout the airspace, potentially stinging your eyes. This will make moving around in dark, cramped spaces all the more difficult! Thankfully, they get bored if no one tries to sing for one whole minute.
B ⬤ Scientists, engineers, miners, and archeologists are at the unearthed antechambers, hard at work. They will assign you to different tasks: recording observations and taking down notes, digging with advanced excavation tools, or collecting fragile relics with metal and crystal detectors. The Moonblessed may also assist with solving riddles the ancients left in the tomb’s doors, chests and walls. Solving them may lead to either treasure rooms or trap walls that close in on unsuspecting grave robbers. Others, well...
Golden jellyfish statues line the walls, encrusted with glistening jewels all over, some worse for wear. Tall pillars have numerous ancient runes which the Prismals are struggling to decipher. Soon, an eerie whisper reaches your mind: “Wander no further. A curse awaits all who enter our kingdom. Disturb not those who slumber in the deep.” True enough, the floor from this point onward appears to be blue sand combed in the pattern of ocean waves... Are you brave enough to continue drilling through?
C ⬤ If that is not enough to send you scrambling out with moist underwear, perhaps the seismic jolt to the ground will. A slimy substance begins to ooze out the tomb’s cracks, glowing lilac like the Iris moon... The Prismals are quick to usher everyone out before the shaking gets worse. As the lift may be too dangerous, climbing equipment will be provided. Watch out for falling debris or collapsing rocks while assisting each other out of cramped passages and up the walls to safety. Try not to get stuck in the slime!
This little adventure might leaving you wondering what or who exactly lies deeper inside, but the Prismals are just as clueless as you are. Cave-ins happen from time to time, but this might have been the strongest one recorded on this site.
Eventually you’re called to the docks and led onto a large transport vessel. Destination: Prismatica.
▶ Those Kicks were Fast as Lightning
Higher Lunatia, Level 1 | 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.
With the end of Harvest Boon, the city is calm once more. The streets of Level 1 and 2 are now sparkling clean as always, but Level 3 is still in the process of cleaning up. There are confetti and deflated balloons strewn all over the streets, but Swiffy bots are on the scene, sweeping up whatever waste they can get their hands on. Sometimes, they might even play tug-of-war with you for it. At one of the train stations, a Prismal doomsayer screams about the apocalypse returning. Passersby shrug at the conspiracy theory and move on.
A ⬤ In response to the unexpected rough events during Harvest Boon, the Moon Knights decided to hold free-for-all self-defense seminars at a large park near Lunatia Square. The live demonstrations include proper monster-wrangling procedures and how to efficiently keep a rogue moonheld (read: transformed under the moon) Prismal away. Participants are encouraged to learn and interact with each other to learn various safety practices and techniques. The training visors provided enhance the seminar experience, changing whoever your eyes focus on into a cerberus or other rogue moonheld Prismal on the visor’s display. Don’t use the visors for too long, or you’ll be seeing everyone as a cerberus well after you take the visors off! Fortunately, the effects only last for an hour. Energy drinks and free snacks are available to any worn-out Prismal or Moonblessed.
B ⬤ Virtual lunar conditions are also available via multiplayer VR pods in Lunar Scientia headquarters, simulating the Moonblessed/moonheld experience under full moons. Mental exercises and magic practice sessions are accessible in the virtual spaces, allowing people to test out their magical abilities and transformations. Simulation participants can either train by themselves, with a partner, or through a tutorial of instruction-based movements. However, the program is still in beta. You may experience errors or bugs like lagging, NPCs phasing into things they shouldn’t, weird physics, or body glitches.
▶ Meas Trees are the Bee’s Knees
Middle Lunatia, Level 2 | top
The rows of Meas trees planted this Harvest Boon are blossoming beautifully into view, painting the fields in Level 2 with colors of spring. Meas tree saplings each have a small sign next to them, displaying their owners’ written wish if they chose to disclose it. Interestingly, the color and aroma of each flower depends on the owners; fiery personalities might have red or orange flowers, those born in a coastal town might have flowers that smell like the sea near their hometown, and so on. Maybe you’ll encounter a familiar aroma if you’re lucky enough.
The Moonblessed who were most active with moonlacing the past few weeks have the largest trees, nearly rivaling the oldest Meas trees around. The older trees planted by Prismals over time can be seen in the next field, standing majestically with their swaying branches and flying petals.
A ⬤ Picnic grounds for flower viewings can be found near the fields. There are plenty of stalls selling homemade bruschettas, crostinis, sandwiches, wines, cheeses, and other enjoyable finger food. Notably, some wines may give you an insatiable desire to whisper things in someone’s ear. Sweet nothings, death threats, your secret kinks—no matter the words, you’ll want to kill someone softly with them.
B ⬤ The Swiffy bots that are assigned to the parks and gardens in Level 2 help keep things spick and span, but they’re due for maintenance and may attempt to sweep off any unfortunate picnics with their high-powered vacuums or leaf blowers. As they zoom across the paths, they chirrup about not treading on the grass and take off with picnic blankets, table cloths, and people’s clothes. Any nearby maintenance staff (who are all desperately trying to chase the bots) yell that a conk on the head will immobilize them. Once the malfunctioning bots are stopped, the staff approach to wheel them away while apologising profusely for the mayhem.
▶ Questions
If you have any questions regarding this test drive meme, please ask them in the Questions thread below.
no subject
There are the natives, too. Prismals, they call themselves. It's mainly the Moon Knights who he's dealt with so far, but it's clear that the city's packed with plenty of people who aren't "moonblessed."
Steve takes Angela's hand firmly, shaking as he nods in response to that question. Her explanation is one that he accepts gratefully, all of it given in a calm tone meant to set him at ease. A doctor through and through, then. ]
So the moons don't just affect us, but the Prismals too? I haven't seen any of that in action yet.
[ Given that he's been here for less than half a week, he's still not sure what all the hubbub is about with the moons. ]
no subject
Mm, just a little bit it seems. They can transform when the moons are in the sky, but they don't seem to be able to produce the energy the way we can. They usually have their traits all the time; it's just how they're born. Fur, scales, however it may be. Each of us that has arrived usually fall under the pull of one of the moons here, and when its phase comes about, we take on similar traits and have some side effects of our own. The first one, the red moon Sanguis, provokes aggression. The second one, the blue moon Cordis, seems to spark... indulgence, I suppose? Gluttony? And they put off an attractant.
The third one in purple is Iris— that would be the one I seem to fall under and which everyone's been arriving on. It seems to amplify protectiveness and caring traits, leaving us very... affectionate. To put it kindly.
( She has the decency to look embarrassed. )
Do you know yet which one you may be tied to?
no subject
The idea that all of them will be influenced in the same way, if only for part of the moon cycle, is a strange one. It's not like Steve's body hasn't been transformed before, and he'd learned to adjust, but this is to a different level.
Angela's moon seems to fit her. A doctor being protective and caring makes sense. It makes Steve wonder where he might have ended up. At her question, he quickly shakes his head. ]
No idea. Is there any way to tell?
[ He glances down at himself, as if he might find something on his body, a marking or other indication of what moon he's been tied to. Unfortunately, it's not that easy. ]
no subject
Not that I'm aware of, I'm afraid. Even the moons don't always seem to pick like-minded individuals. When I was on Iris my spots appeared, so I suppose if you had noticed anything at the time, you might be from the same moon. I don't know that that's always the case, however.
( He looks down at himself as if he can see through his clothes, but nothing about him seems to stand out in particular. She takes a moment to look over his back— it wouldn't really tell her anything at this time, of course, but it didn't hurt. )
After what I've described, do you think you'll have a preference? I hope whatever it happens to be, it doesn't give you too much grief, sir.
( He hadn't given her his name, after all. )
no subject
I guess... Iris? Seems like it would be the least disruptive.
[ Being caring and protective doesn't sound terrible, so it's only the overly affectionate part that he might take issue with, but it also sounds like an urge he could attempt to curb. Aggression and gluttony seem like they'd be harder to ignore. ]
Thanks for the info, though. At least this way I'll be a little more prepared. [ A pause, and he adds: ] Oh, and I'm Steve Rogers. Nice to meet you, doctor.
[ He hasn't completely forgotten his manners. ]
no subject
Shall we make a bet, then? If you do happen to be Iris and end up with rabbit ears, I'll treat you to my favorite restaurant.
( She waves it off regardless, half-teasing and not anything he needs to take seriously; if he wishes to play into it, he's welcome to, but it's a free pass to let it slide with the way she crinkles her nose in amusement. )
I'm more than happy to help; with any luck, I'll have a clinic set up soon for a more formal environment others can approach, but until then I suppose it's only word of mouth if anyone cares to try and ask.
And please, just Angela is fine. The pleasure is mine, Steve.
no subject
At the mention of rabbit ears, an eyebrow raises and a laugh escapes out of him as he nods, if slightly delayed. ] Yeah, sure. [ He can't picture himself with rabbit ears, but he can't picture himself with any animal traits, really. It's just all so bizarre.
A clinic sounds like a good idea, given that everyone's going to be going through some strange changes that might require closer attention. ]
I'll keep the clinic in mind, or at least make sure to mention it to other people once it's all set up. Thanks, Angela -- what kind of doctor are you?
[ It would probably help to know her specialty. ]
no subject
He has a good laugh, though. It has her smiling a bit wider to hear, something that comes far easier to her. The game's on then. (She's gonna lose, alas.)
But oh, right. Well, she's no podiatrist, Steve!! )
I'll appreciate it; I'm sure I'll keep it on Level 2 where all the new people arrive, as close to the beach as I can manage. And I trained to be a jack of all trades; a trauma surgeon. Most recently that's been applied as a combat medic in the Middle East. Primarily, I specialize in transplants and restorative surgery, as well as working on prosthetics and cybernetics prep and installation, and the resulting physical therapy. Just don't ask me to fish anything out of anyone's skull.
( Neurosurgery is out, literally everything else is in. )
no subject
The moment that the words "combat medic" come out of Angela's mouth, Steve's posture straightens and he becomes more fixated on what she's saying. He hadn't realized she came from a military background, and it almost instantly changes the mood of the conversation -- as always happens when you realize that you share something in common with another person. ]
You do good work. I've fought on some battlefields myself and I've made visits to wounded soldiers in camps or military hospitals. [ In other words, he's seen what war can do to people firsthand.
He pauses as he becomes aware that his demeanor has shifted into Captain mode, and his attitude relaxes slightly. ] I guess what I'm trying to say is that I appreciate the work you do, and I'm sorry this place has taken you away from it.
no subject
An officer. Forgive the bashful little smile. She takes praise graciously but it was so turnabout it catches her just a bit off-guard. )
Please, sir. It's the least anyone can do to apply their aptitude where it's needed. I'm glad you've made it through, yourself.
( There's no way to tell if he's scarred, what he's been through, but he's mobile and he's still got a fire in him. She can see that much, at least. He's relaxing again and she's visibly glad for it. That raising hand had curled inward, but now she rests it against his arm in a brief transmission of her gratitude in turn, offered up with an easier smile. )
Thank you for the kind words. I know there are many fine doctors poised to fill my shoes, at least, and ruminating on it isn't going to get us much of anywhere. I'll continue to do what I can in this place, as well.
So I hope you'll forgive me if I entice you to another meeting by bringing this one to an end. I should probably get over to the aid demonstration and fill in any gaps that may crop up. I'm sure I'll be seeing you around soon, Steve.
( And one more handshake for the road, where she's sure to brace his hand between both of hers. He'll know where to find her if he ever needs her (or comes across someone who may need her) now. He had his information, and if he had any other questions, she hopes he would be comfortable asking. She hopes, still, that she'll have an answer. )
no subject
There wouldn't be much in the way of scars for Angela to find on him, and all of his limbs are certainly in place. His war wounds aren't the visible kind, and he wouldn't dwell on them when he knows there are others who've lost so much more.
Angela's right that there's not much point in agonizing over their situation when there doesn't seem to be an immediate solution, some quick ticket back home. Apparently Chroma generation is the long game, but he's still wrapping his head around that. She's helped him with it a little, at least.
When she excuses herself, Steve nods his understanding and gives her his hand again. He's not expecting the way she holds onto it, but it seems she wanted to give him a bit of Chroma for the road. Well, he can't exactly protest something like that; he needs every little bit he can get. ]
Thank you, Angela. I appreciate the rundown. Hopefully we run into each other again soon.
[ She's certainly one of the most pleasant people Steve's met so far, and that's not something to brush off. As she leaves, he lifts his hand in a quick wave. Not a salute; there's no need for that level of formality, despite their shared fields. ]