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]

...

[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.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[His tail wriggles in annoyance like a cat, except he's a fish, in water, so it just kinda...propels him upward a little.]

This is the guy. This is the guy you hate almost as much as your stupid giant dragon sword god! I don't see why he gets a chance.

[burninglight]

I know, Leonard, we've already gotten into a fight and done plenty of screaming at each other, I--I just--

[Ardyn pulled back, pressing his hands to his head.]

...I don't...want this. I just want to leave the whole thing alone and have it die off rather than keep having my life dictated by an ancient grudge. Please. Please, just leave it alone until I ask otherwise.

[motherfucking_ghost]

[It kills him to see Ardyn in any kind of distress, and pulls his husband closer, to his chest. Kisses the top of his head and holds him.]

Okay...okay. Whatever you want me to do. Anything you say.

You taste kinda like saltwater taffy.

[burninglight]

[Ardyn was tense even under the physical contact--the whole subject was one he'd tried not to think about. Recognizing his brother wasn't some kind of near-faceless murderer or jealous monarch still left him with some disconnect he couldn't reconcile if he considered it for more than a second.]

[Part of him knew that yes, fratricide would be the logical option given everything. But also, the situation was too complicated and with too many variables to even try. Better to just...let things unfold and leave each other alone as much as they could.]

...no kidding, what do you think we're swimming in?

[motherfucking_ghost]

I know, but--shut up. Are the tentacles weird? Tell me about being an octo-husband. [For distraction!]

[burninglight]

It's annoying, I hate the ocean, and I want to stabilize this stupid dimensional shit so I can get my legs back.

[motherfucking_ghost]

Okay. How do we stabilize an interdimensional rift? Cuz I like legs, too. I like your legs and I like having legs. Legs are good. Eight legs, maybe not so good.

[burninglight]

It's this whole....process. Thing. Fuck, I can't think straight right now.

[motherfucking_ghost]

You wanna head for some rocks or some sand, get up out of the water? Maybe your brain's all waterlogged. And then you can marvel at me all wet and shiny.

[burninglight]

[Ardyn answered with a small nod, reaching to take Church's hand with his own.]

Yeah. Let's go.