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[prismods]

SHOOTING SHARK

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"Blue Oyster Cult - Shooting Shark" (Watch on YouTube)

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.

▶ Keep all Hands and Feet inside the Burning Vehicle at all Times
Iris Moon, Government Center (Arrival) and Outer Space | top

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 mix tequila with xanax 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. Eventually you’re called back from exploring, escorted to the docks, and led onto a large transport vessel that makes frequent trips back and forth between the moons and the planet. Faces onboard vary from both old and new Moonblessed as well as Prismal locals. The next destination: Prismatica.

A. After settling into the ship and selecting the current in-flight movie, Back Door Slugs 9, you and those around you may eventually feel a bit of turbulence during the movie’s highly anticipated climax. Did anyone notice it, or is everyone too focused on the hot characters?

At first, it’s a small jitter that’s easy to miss or brush off. But as the transport vessel travels on, the shaking progressively escalates to erratic tremors strong enough to cause severe nausea. A minute later, a voice over the speaker announces the ship will have to make an emergency landing, citing technical difficulties.

Sparks can be seen overhead as more ship parts malfunction. This is a good time to hold your neighbor’s hand, say your last goodbyes, and apologize for that horrible thing you did in the sixth grade. Grip your seat with the might of every god you can think of.

B. Another minute later, a follow-up announcement states that external entities have breached the transport vessel. Everyone is warned to be careful and watch out for each other. Small fires will have to be put out before they worsen with either magic or emergency equipment onboard such as extinguishers. In-flight robotic attendants will be scuttling around to perform immediate repairs.

Eventually, an entire power panel bursts, and prismatic jellyfish unnaturally spill out. The jellyfish will try to latch and suction onto any technological devices close by such as the television screens on the seats or communicators and will show preference to Iris Moonblessed over the rest. Be ready to help and pull numerous jellyfish off both the faces of Moonblessed and Prismals!

▶ Jaws IV: Jaws Harder
Planet Prismatica, Outer Lunatia | top

The emergency landing successfully completes and the transport vessel will safely land on top of a gorgeous lake filled with tiny glaciers floating by. When reached out and touched, you’ll find out that the “glaciers” are surprisingly cool crystals and not ice.

The ship will be left hovering idly on the water surface while passengers are ferried to solid ground using portable emergency boats. However, civilization is still a distance away.

A. You’ve probably heard of flying sharks from a veteran Moonblessed. But how about sea lions? These aquatic lions are born with scaly skin and gills outside of their crystallized manes. Unfortunately, they haven’t tasted fresh meat in quite some time. If there are any injured onboard or near your boat, the chances of the sea lions detecting people will be higher as they are drawn to the scent of blood. Growling hungrily, they will be quick to latch onto the boats, biting the edges, and trying to knock everyone overboard for dinner.

After surviving through so far, the Prismals guide everyone to a nearby encampment run by humanoid rabbits. They are tall, built, and have a habit of mentioning their virility an awkward amount of times. They are also generous and will share their game meat and fresh crops while allowing everyone to rest for the night at the only inn in their village.

B. There is no running water all the way out here, so if anyone wants a bath, they’ll have to do it traditionally. The village protects a natural spring, which is a good place to bathe away the sea water. Around the spring, the rabbit folk’s friends — little scintilla chinchillas — will shock away any predators that dare to approach their sanctuary! Be at ease and feel free to offer your friends shampoo massages.

The next day, the rabbits can be seen hacking away at some of the wilder-looking plants for an easier pathway. If you wake up early enough, you can ask some of them for a tour of the beautiful greenery. They mention that it’s thanks to the Moonblessed that their crops have been doing so well lately — the result of all the chroma influx. The rest of the journey to the city will be smooth sailing.





▶ It’s Free Real-Estate
Level 2, 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. 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.

B. A new high-end boutique, Prissy Polyp, has opened in Level 2. As compensation for what happened, both Moonblessed and Prismals that were affected in yesterday’s flight will receive 50% off their total purchase. Those unaffected will receive 30% discount coupons as a promotional gift. All are encouraged to visit with their friends or special someone, try on some things together, enjoy each other in the fitting rooms, and deal with the loud, ear-blistering background pop music.

Their clothing collections are characterized by bright iridescent designs, some features such as design patterns may glow ethereally in the dark. One of their signature dresses features a one piece (also available on their trench coats) that can amplify the appearance of one’s decolletage, gluteal muscles, and/or bulge with the press of a neon button. Another item among their collection is the maiden sweater: a sleek, backless sweater that shocks those who attempt unwanted touches. Others include skin-tight leggings (also available on their shorts or pants) which produce pleasant and relaxing vibrations on all lower extremities and fashionable polyp-shaped hats for all kinds of people. It’s a huge shop, you never know what else to find in there.

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

▶ IMPORTANT! By request, we've uploaded image samples for the Prissy Polyp clothing collections! Note these are merely samples for a visual guide and we will leave more selections to players.

▶ As a reminder, test drive memes are for new characters only. 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.!
▶ 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.

Comments

[blindforlove]

... I suppose, since he brought you back from death, it's natural that you'd believe that of him. And violence isn't your only inclination, which it would be if either you or the one who summoned your soul were only seeking power.

[Being thrust into a new world is one thing, but the idea of demonic cultivators who are decent people? Now that's another thing that's hard to believe. But all the evidence he has so far points to the man telling the truth.]

Do you act independently of him? He's not here giving you orders?

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning doesn't just believe it, he knows it beyond any doubt. For any mistakes that Young Master Wei had made over the years, he remains of the most truly good people Wen Ning has ever known.

That question though, that's something he's still getting used to. ]

I am... my own self.

[ As much as he understands what that means in his case ]

[blindforlove]

[Not just a fierce corpse that rose from the dead on his own from so much resentment in life, as one like that would only be motivated to fight and kill. Not only that, but he doesn't even answer to a master?

Perhaps the one who did this knew this person. But who is he to pry into anyone's past? Realizing that this is more a person than a mindless fierce corpse almost makes him feel flustered for just how much he has been poking about.]

Ah... then I apologize for all of my questions. It's only because I needed to know, as Shaunghua had been urging me towards you.

[And normally, there's no reason to hold back in killing fierce corpses-- until he heard one talk.]

You helped save the people here.

[He puts his hands together and forms a salute, even if it is strange to consider that this is a fierce corpse he's thanking.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning allows himself to feel just a little pride at the reminder. It's helped by the hope that the daozhang seems like he won't be asking further information about him or how he came to be. ]

I... want to help. When I can.

[blindforlove]

I'm certain that you can help in all kinds of ways that many others cannot.

[Being dead and all.

Guilt creeps up on him, since not only does the fierce corpse have control of his mind, but he seems to be a good person. But he wonders how much he can be blamed-- there's so much happening right now. Not only are they being ferried off somewhere they don't know, but what he thinks he knows about the world is getting challenged again and again. It's a lot to deal with.]

But perhaps you need some help of your own.

[He tentatively holds out a hand towards the fierce corpse.]

That fight must have used up our stores of this... Chroma.

[goodboyplaydead]

[ What a strange think to consider. Wen Ning's never thought about the advantages of being... what he is. But it's true, he can withstand things most cannot. That might be beneficial in certain situations. Beyond just being a shield, as he has often done with Young Master Wei.

He glances at the suddenly offered hand, not yet comprehending its purpose. ]

Daozhang?

[blindforlove]

To create Chroma. If we don't, we may run out of energy.

[If either of them run out of energy, neither will be of much help to anyone.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ You just want to hold zombie hand, XXC.

Ah yes, the people back at the center had mentioned something like this. And he does feel slightly weaker after all the fighting and putting out fires, which is strange to him. Though it may be equally strange to hold hands with a stranger. He can't actually remember the last time he held hands with anyone...

He nods after a moment and takes the hand in his somewhat colder one. His needs aside, he doesn't want to further disadvantage this cultivator. ]

[blindforlove]

[Ssh, handholding is already far too scandalous in the first place.

The moonlacing may somehow benefit from their mutual selflessness-to-a-fault. Neither might want to trouble the other, but both believe that they're helping the other person.

At first, the hand feels cold, yet the warmth of the moonlacing brings it back to almost feeling like the touch of another living human's hand. Energy courses through the hand, warming up the rest of him. Different from the heat of battle, but something more comforting...

Caught up in the feeling of it, he lowers his head, looking a bit flustered as if trying to hide his face.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ It's strange enough to be this close to the person who most likely would strike him down in any other circumstance. But even stranger is the new warmth flowing through him, like stepping into a freshly poured bath back home. The memories the feeling evokes are just as soothing. Which means he doesn't immediately notice the daozhang's reaction, lost in his own thoughts. It also means that the hand-holding is going to continue. ]

[blindforlove]

[Xiao Xingchen wants to pull his hand away, if only out of sheer embarrassment about it, but doing so would also be rude. The trials of raised all in cultivation and being a gentleman has not helped equip him with what to say in situations like feeling warm while holding hands with a fierce corpse.]

Are you feeling your strength return to you?

[That feels like a better way to handle it.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ At least the voice brings him back to himself and he nods softly. ]

It is... amazing. This cultivation.

[ So much like his sister's healing had been back then. She would have been intrigued to study such a thing. Young Master Wei too, no doubt. ]

[blindforlove]

[Such a statement makes him curious, though he wonders about prying too much. But at least this much must not be too much to ask for.]

Were... are you a cultivator?

[Of course, cultivators tend to keep to other cultivators, rather than associate with ordinary people. So it wouldn't be too much a surprise, if the demonic cultivator who brought this man back might've known him.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning instinctively shakes his head before remembering that the daozhang can't see the action. ]

I... was never strong. But my sister. She was very... skilled.

[blindforlove]

[Yet the man is strong enough to fight these creatures off with fists alone... Xiao Xingchen fears what would be the case if a skilled cultivator had his kind of strength in undeath.

He dares not broach the subject of his sister, from the sound of those words.]

... You're very strong now, and if anything like this happens again, many innocent people will need protecting.

[What kind of world have these Prismals pulled them into? If there are monsters attacking like this often, then he would not be surprised if they took in cultivators to help suppress them. It would make more sense than relying on them being affectionate.]

We'll likely meet again under these same circumstances.

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Very smart move, daozhang. ]

I would... like that, daozhang. To protect others.

[ Instead of hurt and kill as he has so often done since being brought back. Of course, much of that has been in the name of protecting his family. But it would be wonderful to do some good with his "life." ]

[blindforlove]

Then if you don't mind, we should stay together for now.

[And well, someone might mistake him for a typical mindless fierce corpse and attack him. Not terribly different from what he almost did, but anyway, moving on from that.

Gonna just smoothly let his hand fall from the the other man's back to his side.]

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning watches that hand fall naturally. As much as it pains him to decline someone of such high status... ]

I am... looking for someone. Family.

[blindforlove]

[Once of high status. He'd only hope that no one truly recognizes him now.]

You believe that they might be here as well?

[goodboyplaydead]

[ He only recognizes his superior skill.

Wen Ning nods again. ]

We... lost each other. At the same... time. I have to... look.

[blindforlove]

[Xiao Xingchen gives a hum of acknowledgement. It's understandable-- though he wonders if anyone he knows would be here.]

Then I hope you find them again and quickly. Perhaps I can help send them your way, should we cross paths.

[goodboyplaydead]

[ Wen Ning offers another polite bow. ]

Thank you, daozhang. I hope you... stay well.