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phantasmemes2018-12-07 12:25 am
phantasmods) wrote in phantasmemes2018-12-07 12:25 am
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE - BELLMARE MOUNTAINS
Hello and welcome to Phantasmal Rift's Test Drive Meme!
Test drive threads are assumed to be game canon for accepted characters unless otherwise noted, so don't feel like you'll have to introduce yourself a second time to everyone you meet! As an added bonus, participation in the test drive comes with the chance to earn up to two items of loot for your trouble! Characters who are accepted can earn one item for having a top level, and one for tagging out to someone else's top level! Your SWEET LOOT will be included with your acceptance notice.
Additionally, characters currently in game can earn themselves a piece of bonus loot for the dungeon by tagging people's top-levels on the test drive! Existing characters get their bonus loot along with the rest of their loot at the conclusion of the dungeon.
This test drive takes place in the Bellmare Mountain range, a chilly environment even when it's not locked in the dead of winter. Considering that November is just starting to bite - or is it, with the Fissure's time-displacement effect in place? - that makes for an extremely chilly reception for all of the new arrivals. If you're a person at risk of frostbite, you'd better hunker down in one of the scattered mountain cabins or find someone with extra snow gear, and quick.
Once you're a bit more warmed up, exploration of the area will reveal that it's largely abandoned, but there's still some evidence of past human habitation. Old chair lifts stand guard over untouched ski slopes, the remains of what was once a resort, and a handful of hiking paths twist back and forth through the mountain forests, the snow melting off them due to the magical crystals in the gravel that lines the paths.
LET IT SNOW
Chances are that, upon arriving, you find yourself outside in the snowfall. Hopefully you weren't from somewhere too terribly warm, but chances are that unless you were specifically in a cold environment before, you're going to be feeling the chill now. (Unless, of course, you're not human and don't get bothered by the cold. That happens.)
Fortunately, there are plenty of paths scattered around that are warm enough to keep the snow melted off of them - it shouldn't be that hard to stumble across one. The question then becomes, which way to shelter and civilization? You'll have to take a bit of a gamble, but it's almost certainly better than staying where you are and freezing.
LOCKED IN
How fortunate, then, that you were able to find shelter against the cold - at least for the time being. The wooden cabin is the exact opposite of luxury, but there's a bed and wood to make a fire in the fireplace, so you can't ask for terribly much else. Especially once night falls - or when the snow outside begins to fall in more than flurries - it's far better to be outside than in. Even if you can't figure out how to start the fire, the dimly glowing crystals that serve as fire starter will at least keep your hands warm.
Of course, with only a limited amount of shelter to go around in these mountain trails, it's fairly inevitable that you would have to share with someone... Hope they're friendly, otherwise this place is going to get awkward fast.
FROSTY THE - OH, MAN!
And if you're still running around outside, sooner or later you're almost certain to run into a deep patch of snow that rises up to meet you. These giant snowmen, ten feet tall and aggressive, stand up in response to anything that isn't the local wildlife approaching - and their goal is quite simple. Better watch out, because these guys are your own personal avalanche, seeking to bury you under themselves until either the cold or the weight saps the life out of you.
One's dangerous, but it's not uncommon to find them in groups of 3-5, either, which is where things start getting to be a problem. Luckily, it's possible to melt them down to nothing, or just blast them apart with pure force - the scattered snow won't rise again, at least not any time soon.
Test drive threads are assumed to be game canon for accepted characters unless otherwise noted, so don't feel like you'll have to introduce yourself a second time to everyone you meet! As an added bonus, participation in the test drive comes with the chance to earn up to two items of loot for your trouble! Characters who are accepted can earn one item for having a top level, and one for tagging out to someone else's top level! Your SWEET LOOT will be included with your acceptance notice.
Additionally, characters currently in game can earn themselves a piece of bonus loot for the dungeon by tagging people's top-levels on the test drive! Existing characters get their bonus loot along with the rest of their loot at the conclusion of the dungeon.
This test drive takes place in the Bellmare Mountain range, a chilly environment even when it's not locked in the dead of winter. Considering that November is just starting to bite - or is it, with the Fissure's time-displacement effect in place? - that makes for an extremely chilly reception for all of the new arrivals. If you're a person at risk of frostbite, you'd better hunker down in one of the scattered mountain cabins or find someone with extra snow gear, and quick.
Once you're a bit more warmed up, exploration of the area will reveal that it's largely abandoned, but there's still some evidence of past human habitation. Old chair lifts stand guard over untouched ski slopes, the remains of what was once a resort, and a handful of hiking paths twist back and forth through the mountain forests, the snow melting off them due to the magical crystals in the gravel that lines the paths.
LET IT SNOW
Chances are that, upon arriving, you find yourself outside in the snowfall. Hopefully you weren't from somewhere too terribly warm, but chances are that unless you were specifically in a cold environment before, you're going to be feeling the chill now. (Unless, of course, you're not human and don't get bothered by the cold. That happens.)
Fortunately, there are plenty of paths scattered around that are warm enough to keep the snow melted off of them - it shouldn't be that hard to stumble across one. The question then becomes, which way to shelter and civilization? You'll have to take a bit of a gamble, but it's almost certainly better than staying where you are and freezing.
LOCKED IN
How fortunate, then, that you were able to find shelter against the cold - at least for the time being. The wooden cabin is the exact opposite of luxury, but there's a bed and wood to make a fire in the fireplace, so you can't ask for terribly much else. Especially once night falls - or when the snow outside begins to fall in more than flurries - it's far better to be outside than in. Even if you can't figure out how to start the fire, the dimly glowing crystals that serve as fire starter will at least keep your hands warm.
Of course, with only a limited amount of shelter to go around in these mountain trails, it's fairly inevitable that you would have to share with someone... Hope they're friendly, otherwise this place is going to get awkward fast.
FROSTY THE - OH, MAN!
And if you're still running around outside, sooner or later you're almost certain to run into a deep patch of snow that rises up to meet you. These giant snowmen, ten feet tall and aggressive, stand up in response to anything that isn't the local wildlife approaching - and their goal is quite simple. Better watch out, because these guys are your own personal avalanche, seeking to bury you under themselves until either the cold or the weight saps the life out of you.
One's dangerous, but it's not uncommon to find them in groups of 3-5, either, which is where things start getting to be a problem. Luckily, it's possible to melt them down to nothing, or just blast them apart with pure force - the scattered snow won't rise again, at least not any time soon.
Jake Chambers | The Dark Tower Books
['Each man owes a death. This is Jake. Give him peace.
Goodbye, Jake. I love you, dear.'
The voice of the man he'd come to think of as his father sounded far off and hollow, like a voice coaxing a sleeping man from his coma. He wasn't asleep, though. He was awake.
Wasn't he?
He opened his mouth to try and say just that...but instead of a laugh or a reassurance, out came a miserable sounding gurgle and Jake hurriedly forced himself from his back to his hands and knees so he didn't choke on his sick.
When it was over, he wiped his mouth on the back of his hand and climbed to his feet.]
What...?
[It was snowing. Not only was it snowing, but he'd been buried in it, wet powder clinging to him like a runny dust. It was starting to slid into the space between his legs and his shor'boots and the melting tracks were what finally made his body remember that he was supposed to be shivering.
Not that he could blame it. Last he knew, it had been summer. June 19, 1999 to be exact.
Thinking about it made his guts ache and he was quick to shove that thought away before he could start to really think about why that was. He would freeze if he did that, freeze in the winter he'd suddenly woken up in and what would his father think about that? He could almost picture the tight frown on Roland's face, and it was that more than anything that coaxed him into walking.
It was the paw prints he found just outside of the churned up snow circle he'd made that kept him going.]
Oy?! Oy!
[His voice was swallowed by the snow, but from somewhere not too far away, he thought he heard a gruff response. A grin broke out on his face, bright and gleeful, and the boy broke into a fast trot.]
Frosty's a Bitch, Man
[He'd found Oy, the bumbler a very welcome friend in this sudden new, and they'd both found a path. The going was easier then, their pace quick with Oy's sharp nose in the lead and Jake's feet steadily getting all the more numb in his boots. He was careful to keep his hands tucked deep into the warmth of his armpits, but the rest of him was only as warm as his movement could make his blood.
It was Oy's growling that alerted him to the hulking creatures in the end, and Jake cursed himself as he reached into the heavy sack that rested under his arms, drawing what looked like a plain white dinner plate from it.
He'd never seen anything like this. Never seen magic in this shape, nor monsters that weren't caused by man's own ignorance. But never seeing something didn't mean he didn't recognize something that meant to kill him. And it certainly didn't cause him to pause before he let that plate fly....and cut one of the snow creatures in half neatly at the middle.]
Locked In
[He was carrying Oy by the time he found the cabin, the oversized shirt he was wearing knotted at the waist so that the bumbler could simply ride under it, his head poking neatly out under Jake's chin. It was warmer that way, not for Oy..but for Jake.
The bumbler's fur was a wonderful insulator, and between the two of them they made enough heat to keep Jake going until he finally made it to the little building, teeth chattering and hands dangerously clumsy as he fumbled at the latch until it opened and he was inside.
The lack of wind alone almost made the boy want to cry in relief. He didn't even really look around before he was sinking into a chair, exhausted and shivering. In fact, he probably would have fallen asleep right then, if it wasn't for the exaggerated sigh and gruff voice of the raccoon like creature in his shirt.
"Ake, old!"]
Locked In
It's unsettling to say the least.
Once he's inside though he slumps back against the door for a moment, sighing in relief and letting the fire around his arm slowly extinguish until all that was left was a thin tendril that sparked and swirled around his fingers.]
no subject
He was young, but this was a boy who'd been hardened by battles.]
Move and I'll shoot. Who are you? Where is this place? What the hell is going on with your arm?
[He'd never seen magic before. At least, not like this.]
no subject
My name is Nyx Ulric. I am a member of the Kingsglaive... though we're not in Lucis anymore so I don't know if you know what that is.
[He breathes out slowly, realizes he can't gesture with either hand without seeming threatening so he just jerks his head towards the fireplace.]
It's cold as fuck, mind if a get the fire going so I can let go of this spell? Then I'll tell you what I've figured out so far, which isn't a lot.
no subject
[The word was unfamiliar to him, but the mention of being a member of it combined with the remnants of the uniform-like clothing.... He narrowed his eyes, but the gun lowered to his side.]
Like a Gunslinger, then.
[A gunslinger with magic? He eyed that dancing flame, but the man hadn't thrown it at him yet... Jake relaxed his stance a little.]
Oy, watch him.
["Oy, 'atch!" came the gruff answer, and Jake tucked his gun back into the waistband of his pants before he turned towards the fireplace.]
I'll get the fire going. You sit, you look like shit.
["'It." Oy agreed, laying down to conserve heat, but keeping those bright eyes steady on the man.
Between the glowing 'coals' and Jake's skill with the flint he pulled from the bag of..dinner plates? under his arm, it didn't take long before there was a fine fledgling fire on the grate.]
no subject
[Because that's how all guns work, right?
Honestly he's just fine letting the boy take care of the fire, he's determined and blase enough that he clearly knows what he's doing. Would it have been easier to just toss the fire in his hand into the grate? yeah. But he's also eager to sit the hell down, exhausted and wet and-
Suddenly kind of glad that the prized strip of coeurl pelt had been burned off his arm as the small creature watches him. He's not entirely sure he'd want to piss the little guy off.]
no subject
[Once the fire was alive enough to feed itself without Jake's constant attention, the boy turned to sit himself down on the hearth, gun resting within easy grabbing distance. Just in case.
Oy joined him by the baby warmth, laying next to the boy but keeping those sharp eyes on their company.]
I'm Jake, by the way. Sorry I pulled iron on you, but you kinda deserved it...
no subject
[Sure, not all guns were magitek but if you weren't using magitek then you needed magic or you were going to be outclassed in a heartbeat.]
Nice to meet you, Jake. I'd offer a hand shake but I feel like your friend there might take off a finger or-
[He stops abruptly, eyes snapping shut as guilt washes over him. Regis...]
Yeah... I deserved it. Sorry for scaring you, kid.
no subject
[Okay, that was kind of cool. And weird. And a little unnerving considering that his only knowledge of magic came from Walter and that was...well, that wasn't the best example for this. Less 'fireballs down Main St' and more 'manipulate your brain with my will'.
At the man's sudden change of expression, Jake frowned slightly, carefully keeping his thoughts to himself and not reaching out to the Touch that came so naturally to him. It was rude to go poking around in people's heads.]
It's okay. And Oy is protective, but he's a good boy. Don't try to hurt us and he'll have no reason to bite you. Right, Oy?
[And, possibly to Nyx's surprise, there came a gruff "Oy!" in response.]
ftr Jake is welcome to use the Touch on Nyxie
[And it's bullshit. That's exactly why the Empire is fucking them over so much. Daemons and magitek.]
Not planning on hurtin you. [He sighs heavily but he's not really going to argue that the kid has no reason to believe him. He does, however tilt his head in Oy's direction, curious and wondering, briefly, if shock is setting in hard enough that he's hallucinating now. Audio hallucinations aren't exactly a new thing for him after all.]
Right... it talks. Why not.
no subject
[He didn't like the sound of that, actually. Guns were real, solid objects with mechanics that he knew and understood. Bullets were also something he understood and could even create if he absolutely had to.
He'd never done it, but the knowledge was there...and his hands, while not as sure as Roland's, would no doubt find their way.
Magic was something he didn't understand. Something he wasn't sure if he wanted to understand. Sure, he had the Touch, but even that wasn't magic. It was more of a universe guided gut reaction, so to speak.
Like how he knew without having to really look that Nyx was dying. Slowly. A part of him twisted his guts at the thought of being alone in a room with a man who could end up like...
no.
He rose smoothly to his feet, graceful despite his coltish age.]
I need to stop the bleeding. It's not going to feel good.
no subject
But the fact that the boy seems to be convinced that he's going to do something about the wounds has his brows raising, an edge of hysterical amusement flickering through pale blue eyes.]
Yeah hasn't felt good for awhile, kid. Hollow points are hell.
[Luche's words come back to him and he has to grit his teeth, fingers curling into a tight fist. Crowe... gods fucking damn him. She deserved better than that.]
no subject
Or a priest.]
I can burn them closed. It'll keep you from bleeding to death, but it might throw you into shock. Other than that...that's about it. I deal in lead, not healing.
[It amused him how easily that phrase left his lips, but why wouldn't it? It was true.]
Let it Snow
Eventually, who the other voice was is clear: a... girl? A girl that would be a few years Jake's senior, and was even dressed like she also just left the 90s if not for being a lizard person. Speaking to Oy like he was another person. ]
You know where you're going little dude?
[She hadn't seen Jake yet at least]
no subject
While Jake had, in fact, come from the late 90s, he didn't really look it. Simple, handmade clothing, designed to be rugged and functional in an arid climate. His shirt was about six sizes too big, hanging almost to his knees and he'd had to roll up his sleeves to keep them from flopping too much. As it was, only the barest tips of his fingers were visible when the boy threw his arms around Oy, hugging the bumbler close.]
Oy! Good boy!
no subject
[Seeing a human other than Kris was rare for Susie, but the little monster seemed happy to see him, so she guessed he was okay?]
That your big brother or something?
no subject
Taheen.
He rose, pushing a disgruntled Oy behind him so he had a clear shot...
and then a stray lick of wind cleared the air between them of flurries and he got his first unobstructed view of the person down the path. Not a Taheen. At least, not a type that he'd seen before?
She wasn't attacking, either.
And Oy hadn't been attacking her...
Slowly, he relaxed his posture.]
I..sorry. You startled me.
1/2
no subject
Shit-! Don't scare me like that unless you want your face bit off!
no subject
[He didn't blame her for her defensive posture or bared teeth. Hell, he'd done pretty much the exact same thing.
Also, he really didn't want to have to explain that he'd almost cut her in half because of how she looked. Something told him that Suz would have had his hide.]
I'm Jake. This is Oy. Where is this place?
no subject
Susie.
[Another version of that name. The wheel always comes back to the same place eventually]
And hell if I know. I just woke up here and ran into the kid there.
no subject
The name didn't even make him pause. Not anymore. Not after Nineteen.
Oy stretched his deceptively long neck, shoving his snout into Jake's hand, drawing the boy out of the residual fight or flight that was coursing through his system. Jake smiled, gave the bumbler a good scritch, then took a few careful steps to close the gap between them.
If Oy wasn't worried about her, then he wouldn't be either.]
What do you say we find somewhere with a fire to have our palaver, then? I can't feel my toes anymore.
no subject
[being made of magic had it's downsides, like intent alone being dangerous. But it had it's benifit too. She was way sturdier when it came to extreme conditions.]
I think I saw something big back that way. Might be a building
[She took a few steps... then paused. With a huff she shrugged out of her jacket (more a worn denim shirt than anything) and tossed it back at Jake]
I don't wanna deal with the kid crying if you die.
no subject
And Taheen weren't animal-like for their entire bodies, right? Just from the shoulders up.
As caught up in his thoughts as he was, he almost missed the jacket being tossed, but he nonetheless got his hands up in time to swipe the article of clothing neatly from the air.]
Oh...well, I don't want to take it from you. Aren't you cold? [Weren't reptiles cold-blooded? Was that racist? Speciesist?] And he's not a kid. He's a billy bumbler. Full grown.
["'Rown! Oy!" The bumbler's voice was almost a bark, the little beast stretching his long neck out as far as it would go to show just how grown he was.]
no subject
[She takes a few steps, her boots leaving big holes for the smaller boy to use. But when Jake mentions Oy's age she pauses... then laughs. A rough almost barking sound, like a seal or dog]
Oh, so YOU'RE the little brother then?
(no subject)