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

[meowna]

I'm Morgana! Nice to meet you!

[It's a little far for a shake, so Morgana just waves a little, instead.]

Yeah, you got it! It's kind of a separate world, but kind of not. See, it's a cognitive world--one that's made up of all the hearts and minds of all the people in the world. And their thoughts and feelings, and their beliefs, and the way they see the world--those shape reality in the Metaverse! So when things change in one world, it's reflected in the other. Most people can't go into it, and never even know it's there.

[coagmentatio]

[ He gives a very brief wave in return before his hand goes still, mid-wave. Because, what the hell? He was right? ]

So... essentially, a lot of it is as real as people's minds allow?

[ That...

... sounds awesome. He's very careful to keep his expression calm. ]

How come you're able to go into that world?

[meowna]

Mmhmm! It all depends on the people that make it up and what they think. The main part of the Metaverse is collective, but people can develop their own parts of it, too--that's what happens if their thoughts and worldview get so distorted that they start to be distanced from reality as it truly is.

[He's happy to be the Exposition Fairy lecture about something he's an expert on, but visibly more reluctant to talk about his personal connection to it. After all.....]

I..... have no idea. Whatever happened in the Metaverse to force me into a cat-like form, it also took away my memories. I know a lot about the Metaverse, and I can even go into and out of it without help like my friends need, but I don't remember how I learned about it or what I was doing in there to start with.

[coagmentatio]

[ He's calm... until he hears that bit about the missing memories. There's the slightest jolt - it's hardly anything that could be noticed, but it does happen. ]

Your memories, too...

[ He falls quiet for a moment. For a couple of seconds, something softens, but it isn't sympathy. It's understanding... ]

... I imagine that must be hell.

[meowna]

[His memories 'too'? As in Aiden also lost his memories, or as in his memories and his form? He's not really sure what Aiden means, but..... well, it's too early to be suspicious. He won't discount the possibility right away, though.]

It's..... not great. But ever since I met my friends, they've promised to help me figure out how to undo it all. It doesn't matter what happened--with their help, I'm sure I'll be able to regain my humanity and remember who I am. There's no doubt about it!

[coagmentatio]

[ Well what he was intending to refer to was the fact that Morgana lost his memories on top of his form! ...But... ]

I'm sure you'll figure it out soon, in that case.

[ Something unpleasant and dark twists in the pit of his stomach. His expression gains a hint of something... forced; he is practically clinging to that steady calm. ]

It's great you have something to motivate you to push forward.

[meowna]

.....Yeah.....

[There's..... an odd look about Aiden right now, something off to his expression; he can feel a simmering tension in the air. Morgana's ears splay to the sides, uncertain and unhappy; he's not sure what's wrong, not when he's only barely met the guy..... but he's positive that something is. So while he does agree, he looks up at Aiden, eyes knowing and expectant. Do you have something you'd like to share with the class, Aiden?]

[coagmentatio]

[ That's not the first time he's seen that look. It reminds him a bit of the look Akira gave, and especially the one Terra wore. He likes it as much this time, as he did the last time.

Read: not at all.

...

... ]

... I can't imagine the Metaverse is a safe place, given how it's fueled by the minds of people.

[meowna]

[.....Ah. So that's how they're going to play it, then? Just..... refusing to acknowledge anything is wrong? Morgana's expression is clearly skeptical, but he doesn't push--they're basically strangers still, after all. It's..... really not his place to go prying into secrets. (Not yet, at least.)

So after a long moment of hesitation, he just accepts the blunt deflection for exactly what it is, and obligingly returns to the safer topic. Fine, fine.....]

It can get really dangerous. Especially the Palaces--um, that's what I call the parts that people develop themselves. There are monsters called Shadows basically everywhere in the Metaverse, and they're usually pretty aggressive. You have to hold them off before you can even try to talk to most of them.

[coagmentatio]

Shadows?

[ "Palace" is... a strange word, in general, but okay. It reminds him of when he heard the word "volcano" for the first time, back in Hell Academy.

In any case, a hint of eagerness enters his tone. ]

Are they called that due to the nature of the place? As in... the shadows of a person's heart, maybe?

[meowna]

Yeah, that's right! .....Or at least, that's why I call them that. You're a quick study.

[Not many people know about the world to name things in it to begin with, so..... honestly, the names he invented three years ago while he was alone are kind of the de facto "official" ones. Have an approving grin, Aiden.]

If you had a Palace, I'd call the "you" I encountered in there Shadow Aiden to tell you two apart; that you would be a reflection of the you in the real world, see? How you were feeling would dictate how he acted, and doing things to him could influence you in the real world, too.

But the monsters in general are called Shadows, too. I think they're always so aggressive because they're affected by the distortions in the Metaverse..... Kind of like how I must have been, except it's more their minds than their bodies.

[coagmentatio]

[ That is definitely a blush over those initial words, and he hates it... ]

How do you even know when someone has a Palace? Is this something you simply stumble across, thanks to being able to travel between the worlds, more easily?

[ He glances to the side for a brief moment. ]

Can the person in the real world die if their Shadow is killed?

[ YES HE IS ASKING IF YOU CAN USE THIS SHIT FOR MURDER........ ]

... Also, I'd imagine that, if the more basic ones represent the darker parts of a person's emotions, that would include the emotions that can lead to a person lashing out.

[meowna]

[Awwww, how cute! You're such a good student, Aiden~ ♥]

Well..... when I was alone, I mostly stumbled on them randomly. I didn't go looking for anyone's in particular. But once it turned into a group effort--everyone else got some kind of weird navigation app on their cell phones? You can just enter people's names into that to check. If they turned up as a hit, then if you could figure out enough about what the Palace might be like, the app would do all the work and bring you straight there.

[Have a slightly uncertain look; you may be a little too quick on the uptake, Aiden, if you're already homing in on the sort of crimes Akechi committed.]

I mean, I guess that's possible..... but lesser Shadows are still beings with thoughts and personalities of their own, too. But..... yeah, if your Shadow dies, then you die in the real world, too. And if you go into the Metaverse yourself, you can die just as easily there as in the real world, especially with all the Shadows that want to fight--it's a pretty dangerous place.

[coagmentatio]

[ Listen, some part of that was him wondering if "dream logic" works there - if you die in your dream, you die in real life, etc? ]

A... phone app? [ ... seriously? ] That's... unexpected.

[ For some reason, it would seem he doesn't have anymore questions regarding Palaces. ]

So, how do you fight these things, anyway? Is it a case of fighting fire with fire - cognitive thought with cognitive thought?

[meowna]

Nobody knows where the app comes from, or why it works. It just..... shows up on people's phones and can't be deleted. Pretty spooky, huh?

[Akira hasn't even told him yet, let alone anyone else.]

That's pretty much what you have to rely on; any normal person flailing their fists around wouldn't stand a chance. Magic or psychic powers is what does the trick.

[coagmentatio]

That sounds-... Weird.

[ DOES HE SEEM... UNCOMFORTABLE? Hmmmmmmm... ]

Magic? [ glancing at his hand for a split second, buuuut ] ... And what kind of psychic powers?

[meowna]

[Why would he be uncomfortable over a spooky cell phone app? Morgana isn't sure about that, but he does catch the glance at his hand. That, in and of itself, seems more easily understood; maybe Aiden has some sort of magic or psychic abilities himself?]

It's..... kind of complicated. But basically, sometimes in the Metaverse, people can awaken psychic powers within themselves through the strength of their will. Stuff like throwing around ice, or electricity, or healing people.

[coagmentatio]

[ Ah...? ]

So... psychic powers that lead to magic?

[meowna]

It's like magic, but not quite. It only works in the Metaverse--the strength of your heart is able to physically manifest there. And because your mind makes it real in a place like that, it takes a form you would personally recognize as power or strength--so it can look like a magic spell, or just like making you strong enough to actually be able to hurt Shadows with weapons--or sometimes even your bare hands! Get it?

[A beat, before he adds, a little sheepishly:]

.....Well, I guess it does work here, too. But that's because of how unstable reality is in this world.

[coagmentatio]

[ Ahhhh... ]

Heh... taking the power of imagination to a possibly terrifying... and literal level.

[ Oh shit, is that an actual smile? He doesn't seem to notice it, either. Still, it fades before he continues. ]

Ah... here, too? [ DOES HE SEEM. A TINY BIT SHY......? m-maybe ] ... Any chance you'd show me?

[meowna]

[Morgana's grin only widens at the sight of the smile; just how long one took to surface at all makes it feel special, like a prize he's earned. How can he say no to a shy request like that? He almost instinctively wants to encourage it and help draw Aiden out more.

He can't exactly strike a pose while in the water like this, but Morgana does raise a paw dramatically. Good enough, right? Do tiny pink toe beans make him look less badass?]

Zorro, show your might!

[Zorro appears looming over him in a blaze of light, drawing a Z in the air with dramatic flourishes of his rapier. He sweeps the blade in a graceful arc, and suddenly, the wind roars around them, blowing Aiden's hair and clothes around, stirring the sand at his feet..... and whipping the surface of the water into a brief but majestic whirlwind of towering waves and flying foam.

It's not a focused attack or anything of the sort, but Aiden will probably get sprayed by all the water splashing around. Still, it's one hell of a show, isn't it?]

[coagmentatio]

[ That sure is one hell of a show! Aiden's eyes actually widen a bit, and he finds himself openly staring the entire time. He does lift a hand to shield his face, on instinct. He remains still, beyond that, even staring for a moment after the show is over. ]

Holy shit...

[ He is. Staring at Morgana in wonder, for now? ]

[meowna]

[The winds die down soon enough, and Zorro vanishes in a soft glow of light; Morgana grins triumphantly. Aiden's clearly stunned speechless by how macho, cool, and badass he is! Hah!]

That's my Persona. They're the manifestation of the rebellious spirit in your heart--a reflection of the other self that sleeps within. When you awaken to who you truly are, and have the indomitable spirit you need to fight back against the world, that's how you develop and channel your psychic powers in the Metaverse.

[coagmentatio]

[ Oh... That's a Persona?

There's a small frown as he goes quiet for a moment, but then he decides to follow his gut. ]

... Do you know anyone named Akira Kurusu?

[meowna]

I..... well, yeah. He's my best friend. Why?

[How does he know Akira? And more importantly how does he know Akira and still think coffee is some weird, novel thing?]