phantasmods: (Default)
Phantasmal Rift Mods ([personal profile] phantasmods) wrote in [community profile] phantasmemes2018-05-24 10:10 pm
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TEST DRIVE 004

Hello and welcome to the fourth 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 Keystone Reef, a water-influenced Fissure to the northeast of the station. It is home to numerous fish and coral species, as well as a very interesting magical effect...

OPTION ONE: FINNY FUN

Under the water is where you woke up, and under the water is where you might be stuck for a while. The magic is lodged in you and has changed your form -- maybe a little, maybe a lot. Perhaps you only have gills, but you may also have a full set of changes, fins and no feet to speak of. Don't panic, you'll surely be fine if you just keep swimming...

Aside from the strange changes, it's a pretty cool place to be. If you've ever dreamed about scuba diving on a coral reef, the place that you've found yourself is perfect for that (minus the needing to scuba part). Curious fish swim up and then dart away into rock crevices, coral growths, and even down to bury themselves in the layer of sand at the bottom. The water is also fairly shallow, allowing you to surface if you so desire.

Even the sharks are friendly and just want to have as much a look at you as you want to look at them. Don't harass the glowing eels tucked into cracks between the rocks, though, they bite and don't particularly let go.

OPTION TWO: WORLD'S SMALLEST JUNGLE

This must certainly be an oceanside jungle - in spite of the humidity, the smell of salt on the air is strong. Brilliant greens and the occasional bright flowers, accompanied by island birdsong... It could be a nice place to spend an afternoon. There's not even that many bugs that want to drink your blood (though bugs in general are, well, quite plentiful).

Eventually, though, however far you go, you'll reach the beach and be met with the expanse of the ocean - blue, uncaring, and real big. While one side of the little island thankfully has land visible in the distance, the outer side just overlooks a near-endless expanse of blue. If you're a very good swimmer, you could probably make your way to land past the rocks of the reef itself... Otherwise, though, you might be just a bit stuck on your jungle island paradise.

At least until someone brings a boat.

OPTION THREE: SHIPWRECK

Both above and below the waterline are the remains of ships crashed upon the rocks, just waiting to be explored. Even though it has clearly been an incredibly long time, the chunks of wood and metal are still in fairly good condition, and the chance of finding something nice tucked in with them among the rocks is surely tempting to anyone with an adventurous spirit.

The wrecks beneath the waves also grow coral and seaweed, and provide havens for larger fish, dragon eels, and sharks. Those along the rocks above the waterline, on the other hand, provide a home for seabirds of all varieties. Most notable is the hulking shell of a shipping craft in the distance, looking very much modern if ruined by some centuries of exposure...

For right now, though, you'd best contend with the flotsam a bit closer to you, and the wildlife that might not take too kindly to your exploring. Below the waterline, the dragon eels found in a few places don't take kindly to being disturbed; above, you might run afoul of some overprotective seabirds protecting their nests. Maybe even an invisible seagull (normal sized) - how ridiculous would that be?
foolishjustice: (May I help you?)

[personal profile] foolishjustice 2018-05-30 12:19 pm (UTC)(link)
It always astounds me, how kind every version of you I run into is...then again, that is part of why I wanted to be friends with my version in the first place.
hairpincurves: ('cuz for every broken promise)

[personal profile] hairpincurves 2018-05-30 12:25 pm (UTC)(link)
[... She smiles almost shyly at that.]

You're sweet.
makejapangreat: (neutral)

[personal profile] makejapangreat 2018-05-30 02:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm hardly deserving of your gratitude, but you're welcome.

[It really is a relief to see that his arm is fine, especially after having seen... Akechi snap it back into place. He holds a blink for a moment, before releasing a tense breath.]

So, what are your questions?
plentyfriendly: (phi$ dilemma)

[personal profile] plentyfriendly 2018-05-30 03:03 pm (UTC)(link)
Hopefully, yes. I've already met or heard of too many omnicidal maniacs for one lifetime.

[Or at least, that's her understanding of what everyone's favorite awful priest was trying to do.]
karappo: <user name=winterbolt> (now there's a facebook group)

[personal profile] karappo 2018-05-30 05:01 pm (UTC)(link)
My thoughts exactly.

[Karamatsu's expression softens a bit.]

A lot of what has happened to me over the past few years has been unstable at best. The fact that I've woken up in yet another unfamiliar place has become the new norm at this point.
fistsofchange: (Talkin')

[personal profile] fistsofchange 2018-05-30 05:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[Mission successful!]

There are some nasty eels hiding out down there, but other than that it's mainly just regular fish. Also the seagulls can be annoying if you get too close to their nests.
nor_iron_bars: Enjoy such liberty (Default)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2018-05-30 07:35 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh yeah, at this point I've got fuckall for solid evidence. I'm just too damn curious not to start guessing.

[At least she admits it...?]
nor_iron_bars: Enjoy such liberty (Default)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2018-05-30 07:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, there's an underserved market- waterproof money. Gonna have to try laminating dollar bills if I wanna use 'em down here.

[Jail continues to be entirely unashamed of her toplessness, even after noticing the slight blush, although she's at least not actively teasing the poor girl- Akira looks too young for her to be interested, anyway.]

So, take it you just got here, too?
nor_iron_bars: And in my soul am free (No that ain't your style)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2018-05-30 07:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Nope, but lemme know if you find out. Mine didn't go missing until I got in the water, I know that much, but hauling my suddenly scaly ass back up onto dry land did jack shit to bring 'em back, so that's not real helpful.

[Her long sea snake tail wasn't too bad at maneuvering on land compared to some of the more fish-like forms, but she still preferred walking to slithering.]
nor_iron_bars: Alone that soar above (Keep doing what you're doing)

[personal profile] nor_iron_bars 2018-05-30 07:59 pm (UTC)(link)
[She sure does, yep. She doesn't look at all ashamed by it, either- you'd think she was from a culture like Tali's, with different modesty standards, but no. She's just ridiculous like this.]

Same here. It's a fucking shame, honestly- what kinda shipwreck doesn't have lost treasure? Cheesy pirate dramas have been lying to me, and I'm super pissed.

[Despite her words, she doesn't seem particularly upset, more amused by the situation than anything. She's not thrilled about all this, but if it's happening anyway then she might as well have some fun with it, right?]
honededge: (Shark)

[personal profile] honededge 2018-05-30 08:02 pm (UTC)(link)
Nah, I don't think anyone specifically causes the fissures. The way I understand it is that they're kinda like rips in reality, little pockets where the world doesn't function the way it's supposed to. Things get warped in these areas until we can stabilize them.

[Talon gestures at his distinctly not human body.]

Therefor, fish.
honededge: (Shark)

[personal profile] honededge 2018-05-30 08:09 pm (UTC)(link)
Easy, chummer. Neither of us are happy about this, trust me.

[Talon sways nervously in the water. He feels a bit naked - both because as a shark, he technically is (his clothes had sort of just fused into the transformation with him) and because he's without a gun.]

A fissure is sort of like a rip in the fabric of reality. Things warp and work differently in these places until we can stabilize them. People from other worlds, like you, get pulled into this world from time to time.

As for legs, you're basically shit out of luck until the fissure is stabilized or we get you out of it's reach, is my guess. Can't really be sure, though.
have_hat_will_travel: (Au)

Re: 1

[personal profile] have_hat_will_travel 2018-05-30 08:42 pm (UTC)(link)
...

[Juliette can almost see the succubus deflate.]

It almost, for one sweet second, felt like I was about to meet someone else from a world of similar rules-awareness and rules as my own.

Someday, the 20-sided die will mean as much to someone as it does to me.
nojohnyouare: Hands clasped like in prayer. (we are one and the same)

[personal profile] nojohnyouare 2018-05-30 09:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry.

[Mai shakes her head.]

Ours was public knowledge. So we're used to people asking. That was why the titles.
dubiouslychthonic: (The Office camera stare)

[personal profile] dubiouslychthonic 2018-05-30 10:56 pm (UTC)(link)
Like I said, reality's unstable. Something to do with the ambient magic going haywire. Usually it's fairly consistent within a particular fissure, but if you're at all sensitive to magic I'm not surprised it's bothering you. I can only sense the overt effects, the world I came from has very little if any magic.

[She sighs, looks briefly off to the west.] This one we've been calling Keystone Reef - we're... probably a couple of miles offshore here? Distance can be a little hard to determine inside fissures. The shoreline and cliffs were the first area we stabilized.
foolishjustice: (It's a pleasure to meet you.)

[personal profile] foolishjustice 2018-05-30 11:01 pm (UTC)(link)
Maybe it's all the sugar I eat.
freedomofmovement: (doing me concern)

[personal profile] freedomofmovement 2018-05-30 11:06 pm (UTC)(link)
No - it's just... [Freyja pulls her knees up to her chest and rests her chin on them.]

I thought I was done with adventuring. For a while, anyway.
foolishjustice: (May I help you?)

[personal profile] foolishjustice 2018-05-30 11:10 pm (UTC)(link)
[Done giving medical attention, he swims back through the air to settle in the water. With his Persona dismissed, the air is already heating up again, and it's way too hot for him.]

All of my abilities right now are psychic in nature, yes. As far as I know, actual magic doesn't exist in my world...though I do have plans to test if my psychic energy can power magical spells.
freedomofmovement: (doing me concern)

[personal profile] freedomofmovement 2018-05-30 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
My... connection to magic comes from nature. [quietly thinking through this]

The way you're describing it - it sounds like the Elemental Chaos, or maybe the Astral Sea. [Those are definitely capital letters.] If you can stabilise things by being there... Where's Tarquin when you need them, they know more about this than me.
freedomofmovement: (yes and)

[personal profile] freedomofmovement 2018-05-30 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[And off we go! Freyja's camp is little more than a canvas between two trees and a firepit, but it's certainly something. She flops down onto the sand like it's a chaise longue, and in short order produces a small parcel, which she tosses at Juliette.]

It might be a bit chewy, but it'll keep you going. [Inside is an assortment of nuts and dried berries, a few pieces of spicy jerky, and a chunk of honey-sweet hardtack.] Let me know if you need more water.
trailingstars: (got to take a leap of faith)

wildcard

[personal profile] trailingstars 2018-05-31 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
Hey! Excuse me, sir!

[There's a girl who looks on the younger end of the age scale approaching the shore. She's perched on the back of some pleiosaur-looking thing with this thing that appears to have objectively too many sharp points on it seated in front of her. The big blue creature paddles closer as the girl waves Aiden down.]

Excuse me! You wouldn't happen to know what Route this is, would you?
beguiledcard: (when he talks i hear his ghosts)

wildcard to round it off so far? :>

[personal profile] beguiledcard 2018-05-31 12:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ Sometime while he's combing through the wreckage... and eyeing that curiously constructed craft, he can find this topless merman doing the exact same thing. He's a lot of reds and blacks - with his tail mostly the former, and the rest of him mostly the latter.

It's obvious that he's not shying away, though... In fact, he has his arms folded over his chest, eyes narrowed at the thing as though it's blatantly challenging him. ]


It doesn't look that far...

[ Akira... plz... ]
dubiouslychthonic: (Smile)

[personal profile] dubiouslychthonic 2018-05-31 12:36 am (UTC)(link)
We've got... devices that stabilize the area around them, once we place them. The trick is mostly getting them spread out enough to cover the whole area.

[She makes a small gesture with one hand, and an array of semiphysical blue-bordered cards manifests in the air at her fingers. It fades as she makes a grasping motion though one of the cards, and one of the stabilizers falls into her hand - a couple of feet long, and shaped more or less like one of those bacteriophage viruses, with the cluster of feet on one end and the diamond-shaped core at the other.]

I don't really understand how they work - magitech isn't my field at all - but they cancel out the worst of the uncontrolled magic and keep things from coming through the fissure.
trailingstars: (and now it's your turn)

[personal profile] trailingstars 2018-05-31 12:49 am (UTC)(link)
Huh, that's odd... I wonder where this is, then... Though, I do suppose there are a lot of regions between Kanto and Kalos...

[She'd know, she's from one of them!]
trailingstars: (nothing can get in your way)

[personal profile] trailingstars 2018-05-31 12:55 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, are they?

[She paddles away slightly, to give the dragon eels more distance.]

They really are beautiful--I haven't seen anything quite like them anywhere in Kalos.