phantasmods: (Default)
Phantasmal Rift Mods ([personal profile] phantasmods) wrote in [community profile] phantasmemes2018-03-01 07:08 am
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TEST DRIVE 002

Hello, and welcome to the second test drive for Phantasmal Rift!

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 is based in the Fissure nearest to the Station, same as last time! But this time you're coming at the shoreline from a bit of a different angle...

If you really want, though, you can reuse prompts from the first test drive! In particular, there's still landsharks around the new area of beach. Otherwise, here's three new prompts!

OPTION ONE: OCEAN BREEZE

The cavern you find yourself in smells of the sea... And looks like it, too. Large crystal formations, usually in blue or a light yellow-green, glow along the walls and ceiling of the cavern, providing more than enough light to see by. The whole place is damp and a little chilly, and occasional pools of water rise and fall with gentle waves - some outside tide flowing in through underground passages.

More chilling, though, is the wind that flows through the caves, never ever quite going still but varying wildly in intensity. In fact, characters will discover that they have some control over the intensity of the wind - or perhaps some lack of control, depending on their exact response to waking up in an unexpected place. Strong emotions of any sort make the wind stronger in turn; while calm leaves the wind gentle, panic will send it whipping around corners and drive already-distressed characters to take whatever shelter they can, lest they get blown into some cavern wall.

Other than the wind and the crystals, the caverns seem mostly normal for a place that's clearly underwater at least part of the time. The lower reaches of the caverns are full of barnacles, mussels, and other shellfish that await the rising of the tide for their survival, as well as the occasional crab (some of them surprisingly large, up to about the same of a man's head), and bits of seaweed catch on rocky corners.

OPTION TWO: SAY NYA

What's that sound? Is it... a cat?

... No, it's not. It's a meowing seagull, for some reason.

Except for their strange vocalizations (all feline in nature), the seagulls found outside around the cliffs and beaches are all reasonably normal. (Specifically, anyone familiar with the Gulf Coast on Earth will find that they look much like Laughing Gulls in their black-headed plumage.) They're normal-sized and not at all afraid of people...

In fact, they're so unafraid of people, that they'll come right up close to you and nick your stuff! And not just food, mind. Anything they can carry that isn't attached is fair game to be taken and winged up the cliffs to their roosts. Magpies have nothing on these guys.

Good luck chasing them down for whatever it is they've taken, or climbing up the cliffs to get it back. It belongs to the seacats now.

OPTION THREE: ALL THAT GLITTERS

This gravel beach is absolutely splendid in the sunlight, looking like someone shattered a thousand stained glass windows and left the wreckage to sparkle. Protected from the worst of the waves by some rocky outcrops in the distance, the water here is gentle and doesn't disturb the beach much.

Luckily, the glitter does not, in fact, come from glass. Close examination will reveal that the gravel of the beach contains an impressive number of fragments of some kind of hard scale - about a third, if one's going by volume. They vary in size from a large thumb-nail down to nothing, and most transparent in every color imaginable. They're quite hard, and more likely to break into fragments than they are to be ground down by the sand.

But what is it that these scales come from? The answer can be found only at night, when the sun's light disappears. Then, large reptilian-looking creatures - somewhere between snakes and fish - make their way out of the crannies hidden in the rocks around and across from the small beach. In many different colors, they glow beneath the waves, some internal light filtered through their skin and scales to make each appear a different color.

The serpents aren't violent, at least for now, but given that the largest of them is at least twenty feet long... Perhaps it's best not to hassle them.
founderinglight: ([my place plz])

[personal profile] founderinglight 2018-03-08 09:28 am (UTC)(link)
Consider it done!

[There is a far too dramatic flip of the rapier before Izunia throws it - and teleports after the throw in a blue trail of light, appearing suddenly and bringing the gull up short. It's between them, now.

Should be easy enough to corner, right?]
founderinglight: ([sketchyplaceholder])

[personal profile] founderinglight 2018-03-08 09:37 am (UTC)(link)
...Oh, I'm sure you'd manage to find someone else who likes them, then. Something about a thick coat of fur...

[He waves a hand, and then shrugs.]

I'll stick to cats, myself.
thoroff: (002)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 09:37 am (UTC)(link)
[Wren dismounts and accepts the pouch with a smile. She fastens it again — firmly — to her belt, then gives the gull the dirtiest of looks as it flies away. Upon turning back to her brother, she takes a moment to simply meet his eyes.]

So...

[Here we both are.]
matchmakes: (012)

[personal profile] matchmakes 2018-03-08 09:42 am (UTC)(link)
[They lock eyes as he finishes checking his coat to make sure there isn't a mess in it before he puts it back on with a frown.]

Gods damn it all. I was hoping you hadn't been brought here as well.

[In that case, he could at least rely on her to keep things running smoothly, but now that they're both here... wherever "here" is... well, concerning would be the mild way of putting it.]
thoroff: (005)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
[Wren can't help but gasp at Izunia's display. What kind of power does this man have...? She doesn't let her surprise stop her from seizing the moment, though, quickly swooping in to stab the gull. Gungnir shreds the bird's body as easily as a hot knife carves butter... and its ill-gotten goods fall from its grasp as a result.

For a great strategist, she may not have thought this one all the way through.]
founderinglight: ([my place plz])

[personal profile] founderinglight 2018-03-08 10:16 am (UTC)(link)
[Don't worry, that's what team work is for. Wren might have missed the pouch, but Izunia has nothing but reflexes and catches it easily to toss up to her.]

A fine strike and a job well done.
thoroff: (003)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 10:32 am (UTC)(link)
[Wren makes the catch and smiles gratefully. She brings her pegasus in to land before turning to address Izunia properly.]

Only thanks to you.

[She bows her head in gratitude.]
thoroff: (004)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 10:40 am (UTC)(link)
I could say the same of you.

[She goes silent for another moment, over which her frown deepens into a terrible scowl.]

And of all the times!

[Not that there would ever be a good time for something like this to happen, but right as everything was set to come to fruition...]
matchmakes: (011)

[personal profile] matchmakes 2018-03-08 10:46 am (UTC)(link)
Seriously! Could whatever this was really not wait?

[With an annoyed grumble, he kicks a leg out in the direction of a seagull wandering too close. The bird flaps away to avoid the kick, letting out a sound of displeasure that Robin honestly kind of relates to at this point.]

... It's good to see you're not hurt though.
matchmakes: (013)

[personal profile] matchmakes 2018-03-08 10:47 am (UTC)(link)
That does seem like it'd be the easier option. This rivalry must mean a fair bit to you, huh?

[Almost reminds him of some people he knows.]

How big do you think this cave is? It feels like we've been walking for a while now...
thoroff: (0011)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 11:46 am (UTC)(link)
Yeah, at least there's that...

[Nothing and no one has tried to kill them. So far. Really, it'd be a nice break if not for the obvious.]

Honestly, if it wasn't for everything going on, I'd be relieved to see you.
matchmakes: (013)

[personal profile] matchmakes 2018-03-08 12:13 pm (UTC)(link)
That makes the two of us. I can't imagine Catria's too pleased about the situation either.

[He glances over to the pegasus briefly, then back to Wren.]

I wonder if anyone else ended up here or if it was just us...
thoroff: (009)

[personal profile] thoroff 2018-03-08 12:26 pm (UTC)(link)
[As if on cue, the pegasus snorts. Was she actually responding to Robin? Who knows. Either way, Wren strokes her mane fondly.]

That's... a good question.
Edited 2018-03-08 12:29 (UTC)
photoshooter: (TEARY 📷 It's cold and I am shamed)

[personal profile] photoshooter 2018-03-08 06:12 pm (UTC)(link)
[He shies like a horse or a frightened bird, ruffled feathers and sidelong motion, as if to duck behind his own shadow for cover.]

No! Don't come any closer!

[Denial--ten percent reasoned horror, of course, but ninety percent kneejerk panic. For a second, even though the scenery doesn't change, he doesn't flash back to that facility before his eyes or hear the voice of his nightmares, Prompto feels like he did in those labs, with that man. The only reason his gun's still in its holster is because he still isn't used to having to physically draw it.

Instead, his hand's out, too, but in refusal. In no. He inhales short and sharp, holds that breath with his heart in his throat, then squeezes his eyes shut and shakes his head. Back, back. He draws his hand back, shrinks back further, draws backwards in every way.]


No. No, I don't want it. I-I-I appreciate that--that you think it'd be a good thing, but I. No. I c-can't. Sorry.

[After one more moment spent trying to think of something else to say, he blurts out:]

I have to go. S-see you!

[And he bolts.]
photoshooter: (HUH 📷 Wait what?)

That sure is some Galeforce

[personal profile] photoshooter 2018-03-08 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
[Wren and her loyal steed aren't the only ones making their way through the caves. A human gasp is suddenly covered up by a pick-up in the unending wind, though it's less a straight gale than a knot of surprised, curious eddies.

A bit above, where another wind-worn tunnel joins the caverns they're walking through, a young man points at Wren's pegasus, astonished and delighted.]


What--what's that?
riderofcharlemagne: (queen of annoying people)

[personal profile] riderofcharlemagne 2018-03-08 06:24 pm (UTC)(link)
What do you say we share a drink, then?

[Evaporation of Sanity D+: Activated]
shiritai: (vi033)

[personal profile] shiritai 2018-03-08 07:54 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh.

That finally seems to land with a bit of a bump.

Violet's eyelids flutter like he's just skimmed a hand past her face and she opens and closes her mouth. She's sure she should say something in response but she's not sure what she should say.

This must be a mistake, right? ]


Are you quite sure?

[ Her voice hasn't really raised or fallen in volume but there's just the slightest hint of a tremor to it now. ]

If there is some method of bringing us here, there must be some method of allowing us to leave.
shiritai: (vi03024)

[personal profile] shiritai 2018-03-08 07:55 pm (UTC)(link)
... What is a "soul gem"?

[ The answer, evidently, is 'no'.

And she's still nomming on that brooch. ]
shiritai: (vi2034)

[personal profile] shiritai 2018-03-08 08:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[ There's absolutely no recognition in her eyes at the word Seattle -- in fact, all she does her purse her lips just a little tighter and narrow her eyes a touch. It sounds for all the world like he's talking nonsense but maybe there's a clue in all of it somewhere. ]

I'm not sure how anyone would have been able to take myself and Miss Iris directly from the train without great risk. The vehicle was moving and I would not have come quietly.

[ Surely it can't be very hard to throw a kidnapper out of a moving train. ]

Do you have any memory at all to speak of between home and waking up here?
founderinglight: ([hold])

[personal profile] founderinglight 2018-03-08 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Think nothing of it. I've had to chase down a few of those myself.

[He lifts the end of the blue scarf he's wearing, where it dangles down to his chest, and waves it lightly for emphasis. Yeah, seagulls tried to make off with that, too.]

[personal profile] part_time_person 2018-03-08 09:10 pm (UTC)(link)
Cats seem much more willing to listen to reason, yes. Although that may be because my mother and I can meow at cats and get them to meow back, which seems to get us on their good side.

[He shrugs slightly, apparently unconcerned with how weird 'I meow at cats' might make him seem.]

[personal profile] part_time_person 2018-03-08 09:18 pm (UTC)(link)
So someone got into a moving train and kidnapped you, who was also able to get into one of the most crowded dorm buildings on my campus and get to me fourteen floors up. Without either of us remembering how those things happened.

[He'd like to think he had a high threshold for weirdness, but this was beyond anything Julian had encountered in years. He flexes his hands thoughtfully, a nervous habit that he can't help. Straining, he tries to think of what happened between there and here.]

Not really. I think I remember some kind of light, and feeling like I was falling. But that could have just been a dream, right?
have_hat_will_travel: (Tired)

[personal profile] have_hat_will_travel 2018-03-08 09:35 pm (UTC)(link)
... Okay, lemme reword. Why is it so precious to you? Mostly out of curiosity.
foolishjustice: (Crow-Ah...)

[personal profile] foolishjustice 2018-03-08 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
It may be for the best. The sorts of men who father children and leave the responsibility entirely to others are generally poor role models in other areas, as well. I'm fairly sure that's a constant across all species who raise young directly.

Besides, research can be fun if you find an interesting topic.

[personal profile] part_time_person 2018-03-08 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
He tried to come get me. My father didn't want to leave me to the mercy of humans, but my mother didn't want me to be in contact with someone non-human, so she didn't let him. She tried to set him on fire. Repeatedly. He kept trying for five years, but... it just got to be too dangerous to make any more attempts. My mother knew all his peoples' weaknesses and made our yard a death trap for him.

And the confusing thing is, she didn't even want me. When someone same along and offered to adopt me, she was delighted. I don't... I don't understand it. I wish I did.

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