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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

[nihongou]

How mischievous of you.

[ He takes a long sip of his beer. ]

I thought your friends told you all about it?

[pushpin]

Your friends.

[ corrected resolutely. sure, maybe he misses one or two... or three... of them, but Nihongou doesn't need to know that. ]

Tell me a story and I'll tell you one. Fair? [ he offers the neck of his beer out, a toast to seal the deal. ]

[nihongou]

My friends?

[ Oof. He sits back, clearly daunted by any thought of what stories his "friends" might have told. God, who was it, was it Hasebe? ... ]

You sure they didn't just complain about the alcohol?

[ Regardless, he tilts his beer out for the toast, giving the bottles a decisive clink. ]

You ever been to the hot spring around here? I've had a lot of interesting encounters there.

[pushpin]

They did that too.

[ yep... his beer foams up just slightly with the clink, clings to his mouth when he swallows it down, and it's starting to go right to his flushed cheeks, liquor soaking in. he almost smiles at the mention of hot springs but hides it behind the bottle — funny, he had an "interesting encounter" with one of the very friends they've mentioned in a hot springs before. ]

Not the ones here. We talkin' "freaky monsters" interesting, or... [ a pointed look down at his own crotch and back up, a lewd gesture that involves a not-so-vague stroking motion. ] —"freaky monsters" interesting.

[ yeah, he's got your number, Prismatica. ]

[nihongou]

Ah, of course.

[ He shakes his head because it's completely expected.

That this lad has been banging his homies though, that might surprise him a little? Maybe?! He takes a long sip of his beer, but there's no mistake that his eyes follow the lewd gesture being made. With an "ahh", he sets the beer down again and nods.

Because yes. ]

Both.

[pushpin]

...At the same time?

[ an eyebrow shoots up, inquiring. did he fuck a big freaky monster. ]

[nihongou]

[ i mean... ]

Ah, well that sort of thing happens here all the time.

[pushpin]

Ha. Yeah.

[ this beer finished quicker, wetting and swallowing that dry laugh, feeding the mischief glinting low in his eyes. draped in the warmth of Nihongou's jacket, an ankle knocking against his under the table as he leans back, he openly sizes the man up. ]

Usually only during the full moons, right? So what's the point'a your story right now.

[ lonely, his slowing mind supplies. ]

[nihongou]

Mm...

[ Nihongou sits back, lifting his beer up to his lips for a slow, thoughtful sip. He's drinking it a lot more slowly than his companion. Not for any specific reason, he's just not in any big hurry. Not to mention it's difficult to tell the difference between drunk Nihongou and the sober one anyway. ]

Can't remember.

[ Okay maybe he's drunk. ]

1/2

[pushpin]

...That right.

[ what is this sudden chill. irritation — disappointment? he really thought this dumbass was building up to something. ]

[pushpin]

[ wait, he can still salvage this. ]

We should go.

[nihongou]

[ Nihongou seems to be amused with himself, although he snaps out of it a moment later, blinking in confusion at the idea of up and leaving. ]

Go? Go where?

[pushpin]

To the hotsprings, idiot, where else. I need a bath anyway.

[ guess who is very drunk and this seems like a brilliant idea at the time. he's planting his hands on the table and standing right up, prepared to march on. ]

[nihongou]

Eh? Did I get you in the mood?

[ wow ok then it's not like he's going to argue. because who needs judgment when you've had too much to drink. he shrugs, downing the rest of his beer in a couple of big gulps, and then stands up as well. ]

[pushpin]

[ .......no, he's just drunk — at least that's what he'll tell himself. ]

The mood fer a bath? No, the beer some trollop dumped on my head did.

[ DRY, because fuck you don't call him out on it. Guanshan barely bothers paying attention as he swipes his bracelet over the check out to pay for the tab he accrued, and after Nihongou does the same, he's grabbing his wrist and dragging him out of the bar behind him. ]

[ with plenty of staggering. he's not exactly a lightweight, but he's no tank either. and although he has absolutely no idea where he's going, he's still leading the way; who knows if he's even going the right direction. ]

[nihongou]

Hm.

[ that's...fair. But he'll still say that he had a part to play in it too. Because he can.

Nihongou swipes his own bracelet and wanders off too. Although he's not as drunk and he does wonder if they're going in the right direction. ]

Is this even the way?

[ Forget the staggering, he's not about to get lost either! ]

Also you never told me your name.

[pushpin]

[ a question he pointedly ignores, but he doesn't let go of Nihongou's wrist either. wherever they're going, whether lost or found, they're going together. ]

Mo Guanshan. [ he has, but that's beside the point. ]

[ hmmm, maybe this dark side street with dim lighting and lots of trash dumpsters is the way to a nice hot bath! ]

[nihongou]

[ Hmm...unsure. ]

Right. I'm Nihongou.

[ did he already say that? he feels like he did. but it's okay to say it again.

as they get to this shady side street with all the dumpsters though... ]

Uh.

Where you going?

[pushpin]

I know a shortcut.

[ no he does not and yes he will get them more lost than before. ]

[nihongou]

... I don't think you do.

[ ok he's not drunk enough to go along with this so easily!! The springs are definitely the other way. ]

Come on, let's turn around.

[pushpin]

No way! I got this.

[ drunk and stubborn, a fantastic combination. he's still pulling on Nihongou's wrist despite the resistance, trying to usher him down the shady back alley. ]

[nihongou]

Oi-

[ Don't make him lift you like a sack of potatoes... ]

You really don't. Where do you think that is going to lead exactly?

[pushpin]

To the other side'a the district so we can loop behind that row'a restaurants.

[ this is... extremely specific and yet also completely vague, but he's not giving up. do your worst, Nihongou. ]

[nihongou]

What does that even mean?

[ bro.
he tries once more to pull them to a stop. but if that doesn't work, yeah, he's hiking Guanshan up over his shoulder. ]

[pushpin]

The fuck d'you mean "what's it mean", ain't we speakin' the same language?

[ honestly he's drunk and so light compared to Nihongou; if he wants them to stop, there's no way Guanshan can fight him on it. but when he does bring them to a halt, he just stands there, annoyed, staring. not giving up, still half-turned towards what he's stubbornly decided is his destination. ]

[ there's all kinds of garbage and detritus lining the alleyway, there's no way it leads to happier civilization. ]