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phantasmemes2018-04-12 11:09 pm
phantasmods) wrote in phantasmemes2018-04-12 11:09 pm
Entry tags:
TEST DRIVE 003
Hello, and welcome to the third 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 takes place in the Fissure known as Amesta Forest - a forest filled with silver mist and shrouded in eternal twilight, where your dreams become real! For a certain limited definition of real. This is significantly less awesome than it sounds. On the bright side, anyone within the mists will find themselves with no need to sleep, as though trapped in the same spring evening as the rest of the forest.
OPTION ONE: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
This first option might happen to you just about anywhere. From the swirls of silver mist comes a shape - or perhaps more than one shape? Who knows, it's your dream -
Well, probably. It could also be someone else's.
Those who stay too long in any one part of the mist will find their subconscious minds influencing it into shapes - the exact sort of things that appear in their dreams. As with their real dreams, the details are sometimes strange - too much detail, or not enough, depending on where your focus is. The character who 'created' the dream specter will instantly understand what it's supposed to be, but other viewers might have some difficulty with it.
Fortunately for those of you prone to violent nightmares, these dream figures are incapable of doing harm - any blows struck by them simply leave behind the dampness of walking through thick mist. A hard enough blow will similarly disperse them - or, in most cases, you can simply move quickly and leave them behind.
OPTION TWO: THE MOVEMENTS OF THE TREES
A forest filled with mist is honestly a kind of spooky place, isn't it?
Well, it's about to get spookier, when you notice that there's a tree... somewhere there wasn't a tree, before. Or maybe it's that you were looking around and realized that a tree wasn't there here there was one before, instead leaving behind only a round, torn-up patch of earth from where the roots were buried.
Either way, there's only one conclusion to be drawn - the trees are moving.
Those who pay close attention will soon realize that it's only one kind of tree that moves - an absolutely unfamiliar kind, with mist-silver bark and thin, almost translucent leaves in large handlike shapes. They aren't very tall, and their branches split low to the ground, the structure something like a less crooked Japanese maple. The Wanderwoods seem prone to following specific people, usually only moving when out of sight, though you might catch them shuffling along if you have quick reflexes for looking over your shoulder.
What do they want? Well, nothing, really. They're just attracted to sapient beings and, especially, the way the mist forms into their dreams. So while they won't do anything in particular to the characters themselves, anyone with a dream-form hanging around them might find that manifestation suddenly papered in thin, grabbing leaves... and swallowed up.
OPTION THREE: WHAT NOW IS FOUND?
Not all of the forest is trapped in eternal spring. One part of it is held in exactly the opposite - a brilliantly colored autumn morning, just before dawn, with the trees overhead colored in brilliant reds and oranges. Leaves drift down in a slow breeze, and pile up in random places among the trees (which never seem to run out of leaves to drop), and silver pools of water gather at the bases of the trees and in any other depressions, their surfaces perfectly still mirrors.
The mist is quite a bit thinner here, too, which allows you to see... What is that familiar shape in the distance, between the trees?
While dream manifestations are uncommon in the region of Fall's Heart, it's not only dreams that manifest here. Instead, characters will see the figures of those they've lost - instantly recognizable, but unreachable and nearly impossible to catch, running through the trees heedless of how you call after them. It's impossible to catch up to them by mundane means, and those who use supernatural means to do so -
- will find that, at their touch, the vision crumbles into silvery mist-water, forming another of those perfect, reflective pools at their feet.
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 Fissure known as Amesta Forest - a forest filled with silver mist and shrouded in eternal twilight, where your dreams become real! For a certain limited definition of real. This is significantly less awesome than it sounds. On the bright side, anyone within the mists will find themselves with no need to sleep, as though trapped in the same spring evening as the rest of the forest.
OPTION ONE: DREAM A LITTLE DREAM
This first option might happen to you just about anywhere. From the swirls of silver mist comes a shape - or perhaps more than one shape? Who knows, it's your dream -
Well, probably. It could also be someone else's.
Those who stay too long in any one part of the mist will find their subconscious minds influencing it into shapes - the exact sort of things that appear in their dreams. As with their real dreams, the details are sometimes strange - too much detail, or not enough, depending on where your focus is. The character who 'created' the dream specter will instantly understand what it's supposed to be, but other viewers might have some difficulty with it.
Fortunately for those of you prone to violent nightmares, these dream figures are incapable of doing harm - any blows struck by them simply leave behind the dampness of walking through thick mist. A hard enough blow will similarly disperse them - or, in most cases, you can simply move quickly and leave them behind.
OPTION TWO: THE MOVEMENTS OF THE TREES
A forest filled with mist is honestly a kind of spooky place, isn't it?
Well, it's about to get spookier, when you notice that there's a tree... somewhere there wasn't a tree, before. Or maybe it's that you were looking around and realized that a tree wasn't there here there was one before, instead leaving behind only a round, torn-up patch of earth from where the roots were buried.
Either way, there's only one conclusion to be drawn - the trees are moving.
Those who pay close attention will soon realize that it's only one kind of tree that moves - an absolutely unfamiliar kind, with mist-silver bark and thin, almost translucent leaves in large handlike shapes. They aren't very tall, and their branches split low to the ground, the structure something like a less crooked Japanese maple. The Wanderwoods seem prone to following specific people, usually only moving when out of sight, though you might catch them shuffling along if you have quick reflexes for looking over your shoulder.
What do they want? Well, nothing, really. They're just attracted to sapient beings and, especially, the way the mist forms into their dreams. So while they won't do anything in particular to the characters themselves, anyone with a dream-form hanging around them might find that manifestation suddenly papered in thin, grabbing leaves... and swallowed up.
OPTION THREE: WHAT NOW IS FOUND?
Not all of the forest is trapped in eternal spring. One part of it is held in exactly the opposite - a brilliantly colored autumn morning, just before dawn, with the trees overhead colored in brilliant reds and oranges. Leaves drift down in a slow breeze, and pile up in random places among the trees (which never seem to run out of leaves to drop), and silver pools of water gather at the bases of the trees and in any other depressions, their surfaces perfectly still mirrors.
The mist is quite a bit thinner here, too, which allows you to see... What is that familiar shape in the distance, between the trees?
While dream manifestations are uncommon in the region of Fall's Heart, it's not only dreams that manifest here. Instead, characters will see the figures of those they've lost - instantly recognizable, but unreachable and nearly impossible to catch, running through the trees heedless of how you call after them. It's impossible to catch up to them by mundane means, and those who use supernatural means to do so -
- will find that, at their touch, the vision crumbles into silvery mist-water, forming another of those perfect, reflective pools at their feet.
no subject
...And once he finds it, he's not sure what to make of the scene.
He never did see what Ardyn looked like, affected so by the scourge. Not really. Seeing it now, like this... He's seen a great deal of monstrous things in his time, but that can't really compare to seeing a friend like that, black ichor leaking out, back to that when that's supposed to be over, he should be human now--
Then there's the other figure, but that no longer matches up to the Ardyn he knows now, it's all off. They both are, even ignoring the obvious problems.
But the demonic looking one... That cannot be real, can it?]
...Ardyn?
[He has to confirm. He can't bring himself to act until he confirms something.]
no subject
Whatever Scourgedyn says is weirdly indistinct, in the manner of dreams - something about the name, the name you stole, the name you erased from history, so much tied up in the name. But it starts to turn away, towards Heart instead, and that's enough, apparently.
In a flash of blue - Noctis blue, or near enough - there's a dagger in the air next to Heart, and then a tall man, pulling on his shoulder.]
Come on, we need to run, I won't let anyone else get hurt by this -
[Also, Heart now has a clear view of the shirt that says NOT ARDYN, WE'RE TWINS in metallic blue letters.]
no subject
It's gradual, almost, the way Heart's expression shifts from confused and concerned to very cold. Calmly, but definitely not gently, he pulls Izunia's hand away from his shoulder.]
...I see. [He turns to look at the nightmarish Ardyn. So if this is like what he himself encountered earlier, then...] No, I think this is quite enough of that.
[If he's right and this is just a false version of his friend, just another mockery created by this mist, then there's no problem. And if he's wrong... Well. He knows his friend - the real thing - wouldn't hold this against him.
A solid enough punch at Scourgedyn, especially from someone with strength well beyond a human, should do the trick.]
no subject
Yeah, that'll get rid of the mist visions for you, Heart. Nice job, 10/10.
And of course, you now have the other one extremely confused to deal with.]
Astrals fucking the moon, do you even have a concept of fear?
no subject
[He turns to face Izunia again, expression still grim. Which could, perhaps, be attributed just to what happened with that fake Ardyn just now. Perhaps. But he walks back up to Izunia now.
You better think fast, my dude, because this robot is going to grab you by the collar of that stupid-ass shirt and slam you into the closest tree, this is your one chance to get out of that.
Because what the fuck is a chill.]
no subject
Evidently not! Crystals, this is the third time today...
no subject
Really, now? It can't have been that bad. You're still walking.
[Heart is not at all in the mood to fuck around right now and boy, it shows. It's the sort of seriousness that not many people get to see. Izunia is one of the few. Isn't he lucky?]
So. Izunia Lucis Caelum, yes?
[It's not much of a question, because he already knows. But Heart wants him to know he's already aware.]
no subject
[In shorter words, yes. The next words are in the tongue Heart might have heard Ardyn use once or twice - not the ancient tongue of Lucis but something far older.]
Hell of a Glaive you managed to get there, brother mine.
no subject
Ah. You met Yuuri.
[There might be a little pride in his tone there. And then he shrugs a little.]
Trust me, I hardly need you to give me a free hit. If I were really going after you, that warping trick of yours wouldn't help you. [Confidence, arrogance, or just a desire to fuck with Izunia? Who can say.] I assume you know very well, then, what our issue with you is.
no subject
[whichever it is, Izunia doesn't doubt the words. He knows Ignis and what he would do for love of Noctis, after all.]
Offer stands. One free shot, under the watchful eyes of medical personnel to ensure that there's something left of me afterwards.
...And thank you. I'm sure you'll find it as disingenuous as all the rest, but knowing that there are people in this or any world - people who know him and love him besides myself - it means more than I can possibly express.
no subject
So I will certainly take that.
[The only reason he isn't destroying Izunia completely right now is that the situation here is... too much of an unknown. He doesn't know where the hell this is, after all. And he isn't the one with the most right to wreck him anyway.]
Besides yourself. Really. Is that supposed to be a joke? Because it is in extremely poor taste.
Keep your gratitude to yourself, because I want none of it.
no subject
What you think of me is beyond doubt deserved. But I love my brother more than mine or any heart could bear, and I am grateful to any who stands at his side. Whether you desire it or not.
no subject
...Perhaps that says something about the failing of your own heart more than anything else. I assure you, some of them are more than strong enough to bear everything.
And strong enough to stand at his side always, no matter what.
no subject
[There is wariness and a sort of fear as Heart approaches, but Izunia doesn't flinch back, meeting him eye-to-eye. As such, it's obvious that his are a crystalline blue, the same as Noctis'.
He is tired, every bit as tired as Ardyn. But every time he thinks himself destroyed, there is something, some reason, to pick himself up and keep going.]
The feelings I bear in my heart may as well have transcended time and the need for flesh, but I pray that you will never have to bear them the way I do. Please remain beside him always, in darkness and in light.
[There's a.. ceremonialness to the words that is fitting of a king, however it is that Izunia got the throne.]
no subject
[He's calling it an excuse, if not in so many words. And this close, Izunia will notice Heart's eyes as well. They're a perfectly ordinary light brown, yet...
For a moment, they turn a glowing red.]
Someone has to. [Multiple someones, in their case.] ...And if you're hoping someone would be impressed by those feelings of yours, I'd think again. They may be long lasting, certainly, ancient as you may be.
But it seems that's all they have going for them.
[...Just like that, his eyes are normal again and Heart steps away.]
Watch yourself. Your very existence here is bad enough, but... if you hurt him, there will be consequences.
[He's not intending to stick around now. Right now there would be no point to a fight. There can be time for that later, should it be necessary. Not here, not now. So... he walks past Izunia. There are surely people far more worth talking to elsewhere in this forest.]
no subject
He lets Heart walk past without issue, and nearly without saying anything. But - ]
If I could live without ever hurting him again, that would surely be a miracle.
[And should Heart glance back, he'll find nothing but a trail of blue light, warping off in the opposite direction.
If Ardyn is here, truly here in this forest, then there is nothing that could force Izunia to rest before finding him, need to sleep magically removed or no.]