phantasmemes | 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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I could manage that too. [But for now, at least, she hands over a full waterskin.]

Drink as much as you need. Doesn't seem to be a spring here, but I can purify the sea as we need it.

[ She raises the skin in a toast motion. ] Your health, [ she says, then takes a long drink. ]

Ah, that's excellent. Are you a priest? Where I am from, most arcanists need to do some research before cleaning water, whereas for those that follow the divine powers it's a simple thing.

No, I'm not a priest. Not anymore. My magic comes from nature, not from worship.

[She's not looking at Juliette, instead looking at a nearby tree trunk.]

But you're a bard. At least, you sound like one.

Aha. Where I am from, we call those druids. Some follow the nature gods, and some follow the Green Faith directly, but few who are not abysmally stupid think that they are not quite powerful.

[ A small smile steals across her face ]

And I do have the honor to claim that as my profession, yes. Bard, scandal, occasional fille de joie, once or twice a duelist. But one does what one must, eh?

Yep, that's me. Never heard of a 'Green Faith', but I guess we're not from the same world.

[She glances over in time to see that small smile.]

Sounds like you've got some stories to tell. I'll split some of my rations with you if you share them with me.

[ The smile widens. ]

Mam'selle, I would consider that an exceptionally good bargain on my part. I do hope that my tales do not bore you! I suppose I could tell you about that song that got a man to want me dead, that's always a pleasing one.

[Freyja tentatively returns that smile.]

I'd like that. I, uh, set up a camp not too far away, if you'd like to join me.

[A bow and a sweeping gesture]

Mademoiselle, I am entirely at your service. Pray, lead on.

[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.

[Juliette sits as well, and when the bag is tossed, she catches it and looks in, then pulls out the hardtack and gives it a small lick.]

Do you have halflings there, where you come from? I used to stop by a halfling hostler who I'd get rations from. Lovely food. Heavier than some trail rations, but such good cooking. [She sniffs the hard-tack again.] This smells good, though.

[She gnaws a bit, getting some in her belly.]

Ah, well, for later, perhaps. So! Did you want a story or a song? I did managed to bring my fiddle through all this.

[Freyja doesn't eat, although she does take a big swig from her own waterskin.]

Yeah, there are. Ilsabeth - she's a halfling - made the tack; said she learned it from her old militia sarge. ...that said, she couldn't make much more. Anything more complicated than porridge and she'd be as like to burn it.

[Another big sip.]

A story first. What was that about the man who wanted you dead over a song?

Ah, yes, that one. I must first give some background, so it makes sense.

My parents were driven from their home by people who blamed them for things that happened earlier in their lives - they were impressed into service for nobles, and then when the Revolution came, blamed for their own servitude - and so they ran and brought me with them. My papa died keeping my mother and I safe; mama left me at a temple and went off on their own, and I have not seen her since I was seven. Both had given me some instruction in their arts, and the temple chose to honor their tutelage. My skills did not lean towards the priestly arts.

Now, the temple I was left at was a temple of Calistria, who was once a goddess of the Elves,but now many other races give her homage. She is the goddess of lust, and trickery, and revenge. So now you understand why, when I was old and interested enough and considered sufficiently mature, I was granted leave to serve the temple as one of their professional lovers, and why they had them.

[She takes a sip.]

So one day, I am handling my duties and a gentleman comes in looking for an hour of time with one of us. As I am idle, I accept this, and he comes to my room, and as I disrobe for him as he had requested, he has the audacity to complain that I do not in fact have any elven blood in me! There were more humans than true elves there, and two half-elven ladies, and one halfing fellow who was particular gifted in a few ways, but I digress.

He had disrobed as well, and I find it hard to expect he'd pleased anyone with what he was bearing, if you get my meaning.

He complained about both my non-elvishness and my following remarks about his lack of endowment, and then he tried to assault me, and all that got him was tripped and he hit his head on the bedside. He was dragged out, his money returned, and he was told to never return. Many would accept that as their due, but no, not him. He took his coin to a tavern, he drank, and he told the story except, of course, he was the cheated person. And he told my name, and made me look like a common slattern.

[She takes another sip.]

The story came to the temple, and while people started telling the truth, there was still snickering. So I wrote a song about his... shortcomings, and paid a bard to play it in his favorite tavern. I have it on good authority that he was tapping his toe and banging his tankard along with it up to the moment it identified him, and then he went whiter than snow.

So, that ruined his reputation, and as he was a merchant, reputation is everything. So he tried to kill me a few times in revenge, but so far I live!

And that is that story.

[Juliette holds the skin up in a toast, and takes another swig.]

TEST DRIVE 004

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(and here we see how she was inspired by Alexandre Dumas, who was paid by the word.)