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

[burninglight]

[While he tried to disentangle overly clingly tentacles, Ardyn held out his right arm without question; there was just the usual scars and phoenix tattoo.]

It's alright. Relatively alright. We are not in imminent danger, the entire Glaive's here with us, there are no power or memory-based problems, and no one is trying to convince us to throttle each other.

...Also, the fish thing should be temporary once this dimensional nonsense is stabilized.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[Looking and sounding like Ardyn would normally be enough, but apparently there are imposters around, and he's having A Day. The tattoo makes him calm almost instantly. Calmer, anyway. He's not struggling or yelling anymore, though he's clearly still keyed up.

Despite the order to let go, the knowledge that this is the Right One means clinging, arms around Ardyn's shoulders. He hums a familiar, calming tune to himself for a few moments.]

...Did that guy seriously just shit ink like a real octopus.

[burninglight]

[Ardyn hugged Church tightly, arms around his shoulders and tentacles only half-tangled for now, patiently running a hand through his hair and waiting for the general disastrous storm to pass. It was fine, everything was as fine as it could be, and the last conspicuously missing piece clicked easily into place.]

He's stupid.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Stupid asshole couldn't explain anything, just grabbed me with his stupid tentacles, just like you're doing with your stupid tentacles only way stupider.

[burninglight]

He's a godsdamned disaster and later we're going to annoy the living hell out of him because it's funny.

But right now, it's okay. We're safe enough, I'm here, nothing's going to hurt any of us again.

[motherfucking_ghost]

We're fucking fish people and you have an annoying clingy doppelganger. I dunno how okay that is.

[He pulls back at last.] Of course we'd all show up together, though, I mean, how fucking cliche is that by now.

[burninglight]

...I don't know if that's the word I'd use. And--...that's kind of the thing, there's some time discrepancy at work here. What you think was likely instantaneous has been a month for the rest of us.

[motherfucking_ghost]

...What?

[burninglight]

I'm saying that we've been here for a month. That's how I'm confident enough in saying no one's trying to get us to kill one another. The androids back at the Station all seemed somewhat baffled at the mere concept, and I don't think they're lying to any of us.

[motherfucking_ghost]

You've been here for a month without me...?

[burninglight]

...

[Yep.]

[motherfucking_ghost]

...Fuck. Jesus, I'm--I'm sorry, I would've come if I had...y'know, any...control over something like that, but--I...are you okay? Are all you guys okay?

[burninglight]

...not your fault. You're here now, just like you promised.

[Ardyn shook his head, hugging Church a little more tightly.]

We're fine. Anybody out here went exploring here willingly, no one's coercing or forcing us into it. No excessive list of rules, no trials, nothing.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I didn't even know to find you cuz you were...there. At home. With me. But I guess I'll find you even across bullshit time-dimensions.

[burninglight]

Always. Even through interdimensional nonsense that makes no fucking sense.

[motherfucking_ghost]

We're breathing and talking underwater. You and your imposter are octopi. I'm an actual honest to god mermaid. Do you guys have mermaid lore in your world?

[burninglight]

A little. It's a pretty cute look on you, actually.

[hm. how to address problem two...]

There's something else we might want to address, on that note. I don't...have an imposter, strictly speaking.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I'm cute no matter how I look. [preen]

...I mean, you do, cuz that guy looked like you. A clone or a...fucked up doppel or something.

[burninglight]

Dearest, I really don't know how else to break this to you so I'm just going to say it.

I have a twin brother, remember?

[motherfucking_ghost]

A dead, ring-bound asshole of a murdering king brother, yeah.

...

That was him? He's here?

In the same space as you?

[burninglight]

The Founder King himself, in all manner of rather pitiful glory.

[motherfucking_ghost]

He's here and he's not in little pieces feeding the other fish?

[burninglight]

Tempting as it is...it's not worth it. I'm not going to be the first to kill someone here and set off that powder keg. On top of that, it's...complicated. He's not as I remembered him, which rather puts a different perspective on things.

For now, we're...just trying to exist in the same general space.

[motherfucking_ghost]

I'll find him and take care of him for you.

[burninglight]

No the fuck you will not.

If anyone kills him, it's going to be me. For now he has one chance to prove he's not the utter bastard I remember, and if he presents himself as a risk I'm going to put a sword through his head.