TEST DRIVE 004

[phantasmods]

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?

Comments

[founderinglight]

Everything, hmm? Even love?

[Ravus is Ravus and he's dumb, but he won't change his ways of thinking through blunt force no matter how many times you bash into them. It requires a little finesse, a little bit of throwing out ideas and letting him reach conclusions himself.]

The Ring is an artifact with multiple purposes, but none of them are simply power. It is a last line of defense for the line and those who would protect it, and a link to the Crystal where the power of kings pools, swelling generation by generation by our shortened lives.

And it is the repository of our souls, for those who would await and take up the fight with the Chosen King at the end of the long night. And though I cannot speak for any others, even then, mine is a soul that will always look to the defense of my family first.

[Because of love. Love is, love is, the only reason worth having.]

Power, I care little and nothing for.

[have_hat_will_travel]

[Pidonus considers this. "Teepo" is apparently a creature type. She needs to remember that.]

... A-anyways. He's apparently fine down here, which is good. Though he doesn't look like he's turned mermaid. Which is odd, since that seems to be happening to almost everyone who comes down here. I think.

Re: 1

[have_hat_will_travel]

I... Yeah, you're right.

My world's apparently very weird on that front. Still less crazy than this place, I think, though.

[meowna]

I mean--I think so? The androids who run the station we stay at are nice. They'd probably be happy for the company. Without us here, they'd be all alone, so.....

[So maybe it would be nice to not leave them all alone again when the Fissures were finally figured out and people could go home.....]

Korra | Legend of Korra

[temperedavatar]

1
[It wasn't being underwater that bothered Korra, it was the fact that she had somehow lost Asami in the process and now had a set of gills and webbing between her fingers and toes to deal with. It was...certainly her most bizarre experience in the Spirit World. Although as she floated in the depths of the warm water she was beginning to think that it wasn't so much the Spirit World at all.]

Okay...one problem at a time. [Her eyes widen, but somehow the fact she can talk also doesn't surprise her as much as it should. This place just gets weirder by the second. Korra decides that since breathing doesn't seem to be an issue (or talking for that matter) her real priority should be finding Asami. Why had she thought a trip to the spirit world would be a good idea? She sees movement to her left and turns in the water.]

Asami?! Hey! Where are you?

[She swims in the direction of the movement -- unsure of what she might find: fish or friend or something else?]

2
[Korra sighs, frustrated at the heat and the bugs. Despite her travels, she's used to colder climates. Normally she'd try to keep her cool, but she's tired and she can't find Asami despite the fact they'd entered the spirit portal together. This wasn't the Spirit World, she'd learned that much, but she still hadn't figured out what exactly had happened.

Upon breaking out of the trees and seeing the open ocean, she stops and just grunts before flopping down on the beach.]

That's it. I'm done for today.

[She eyes the water and then glances over her shoulder at the trees. Maybe she was just hungry. She could probably catch some fish and have a meal. That might soothe her nerves at least a bit. Korra takes another minute to just sit on the sand, watching the waves, even with her frustrations she can't help but be soothed at least a little bit by the location.]

I'll take the ocean over the jungle anyway.

[nor_iron_bars]

[Aww, no rising to the bait? Darn, she's hard to tease. Oh, well.]

Welp, who am I to insist on the truth when there's a story that's more fun?

[darkcure]

[Elize... has a pretty good idea of why Teepo stayed the same. But she'd prefer not to give that too much thought.] He's just... special. That's all. I don't wanna become a fish! ...Why is everyone changing?

[skylalc]

[ Lal'C will definitely keep that opinion on skylarks a secret, then. She must. Anyway, turns out that Lal'C doesn't let go either, so basically this is leg day. It's going to make her pretty sore and tuckered out later, but Worth It.

So much for a shore, at any rate. Lal'C just… falsely assumed that they'd be closer, however, this could be exciting. If they're going to have to survive on their own out here then there's no better time to try to salvage something useful.

Birds first, though. Finally Lal'C does relinquish her grip on Nono's hand then swims closer. ]

Looks like an old fashioned ship that… crashed. [ She squints. ] A while ago, probably, so the birds made it their home. See the nests?

[hairpincurves]

Pff-- so you too, huh...

[Something to keep in mind~]

[foolishjustice]

It helps me keep my energy up.

[It sounds like just an excuse, but considering how visible the bottom of his ribcage is with his too-flat stomach...maybe there's a reason he might need quick calories sometimes.]

[nonono7]

[ Good bye, hand. BUT HELLO BIRDS! Nono is definitely taking a keen interest as she follows Lal'C closer. ]

Wow, how old is this? [ Nono. Knocks on wood. The ship's hull, to be precise.

Above, a gull squawks in protest, flapping its wings and flying off of the ship. ] Ah, sorry Mr. Seabird! I didn't mean to disturb your nest! [ At least she didn't split this ship. ]

[nonono7]

I've seen a talking cat before, and that wasn't magic. It was just Tycho.

2

[skylalc]

[ Lal'C would prefer to keep to herself more often than not, but she is supposed to be a hero of the people – and that aside, it's hard for her conscience just to ignore someone who looks like they're having a tough time.

So social graces aren't her strong suit, but she'll give it a shot, especially since she kind of just overhears Korra by accident. Lal'C is looking out at the ocean, too, but tilts her head and turns a bit to address her. ]

Done with what?

[hairpincurves]

[Yeah, she's noting that and making a quiet thoughtful noise to herself.]

I guess I'll have to let you know if I need someone to do quality control on any sweets I've made.

[skylalc]

Who knows.

[ Who would? Lal'C ends up grinning when the cantankerous bird squawks at Nono, then she nudges her softly and puts a finger up to her lips. This is a learning experience now, re: wild animals. Looks as though many of the nests were built towards the far side of the shipwreck, so Lal'C points, motions for Nono too follow her, then she slips back down under water.

She only dives deep enough for stealth purposes. The plan is to surface quietly and up close among the nests, which Lal'C assumes Nono will intuit. ]

[temperedavatar]

[Korra hadn't noticed the person on the beach before. Perhaps too distracted from hunger or heat or both. She remained on the ground, but stretched out a bit.]

Trekking through a hot, bug infested forest for one. I guess being lost is the other thing I'm done with being...it's frustrating.

[It occurs to her that these are both things out of her control. Which doesn't help matters either.]

[skylalc]

[ Lal'C is also seated in the sand with her arms resting on her knees. ]

There's nothing a little complaining can't solve.

[ Er, that's kind of rude. Lal'C quietly clears her throat, then picks up a piece of driftwood and tosses it overhand into the waves. ]

I think it's pretty here.

[temperedavatar]

[Korra ignores the jungle at her back for the moment and turns her attention to the water before her. The waves roll up onto the shore, just like they do everywhere and even the color of the ocean is the same. She could be home...but she's fairly certain she's not. There was just a feeling, supported by the fact that some of the creatures she had seen did not look like anything back home. Not to mention the fact that she was supposed to be in the Spirit World anyway.

The girl she is talking to is decidedly not a spirit.]

The ocean and beach are nice, I'll give you that. I'm just used to colder weather I guess.

[She watches as the driftwood disappears into the waves.]

That was a good throw, but you probably scared some of the fish away with that.

[honededge]

If it's deliberate, somebody's getting shot.

[Talon says this with a completely straight face.]

See that little blip out there, that cliff with the little building looking thing? That's the station. If you head that way, you'll start leaving the fissure zone.

[A pause. What he said about it not being deliberate seems...peculiar. But not unfamiliar. There were others here who thought that, too.]

You're used to waking up in places you aren't supposed to be, aren't you?

[honededge]

S'not permanent, I think. For what that's worth.

[He folds his arms across his chest and considers her carefully.]

There's a station here for people like us who get "displaced". We're out here trying to stabilize the fissure for the androids that work there, before more people get pulled through.

[skylalc]

[ True that Lal'C hasn't suffered the jungle yet. She has no complaints about the beach and water, other than the fact that they might be stranded by the sea for a while. ]

Colder? [ She makes a disapproving face and doesn't say anything else. Hard pass for Lal'C on the cold. ]

There's a lot of fish. I don't see how you could catch them without a rod or bait anyway.

[ Lal'C is not an authority on the sport. Basically she's spent a lot of time in space, so… ]

1/2

[nonono7]

[ Nono still isn't quite used to this. Being underwater - seeing her onee-sama going underwater and. Breathing there. But she's adjusting.

FWOOSH she ducks her own head back down below the water and follows Lal'C across the side of the shipwrecked boat. ]

[nonono7]

[ As they follow Lal'C's plan and come back up among the nests, though, her eyes become wide. A huge smile spreads across Nono's face. She turns to Lal'C just so she can quietly mouth "WOW!!!" before turning back to the nests.

BIRBS.

...Let's see how close they can get. ]

[temperedavatar]

Yeah, we had snow and everything in the south pole.

[She nods. She'd traveled elsewhere, and endured different kinds of weather, but when you grow up in a certain climate it more or less stays with you. Making cold weather easy to bear, and hot weather less so.

She tilts her head.]

Well, with water bending it wouldn't be too difficult. Though it helps if I can at least see the fish I'm trying to catch. [Of course, the person she's taking to might not even be a bender. So Korra adds.] But, even without that, there's plenty of sticks in that forest and fish like bugs...so it's not like we couldn't make a fishing pole and get some bait if we really wanted to.

[She stands up, brushing sand off her pants. Talking about it has got her thinking how hungry she is and at least doing something like fishing would be better than sitting around doing nothing.]

The real problem is that most fish aren't going to swim so close to shore, so this would really work better if we had a dock or a boat.

[nojohnyouare]

A lot from my group. ...Groups. Multiple exercises, related. And four from one that was unrelated. Good people. Even if they don't think so.