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

[...The guy earlier was... Well, now he's glad nothing came up. Nothing remotely...and the fussy fish didn't seem to realize what he was looking for, so he probably still doesn't know. Let's keep it that way for now.

There is a more pressing matter.]

..."Metaverse"?

[ ... So his fishing (ha) for a reaction worked. This guy doesn't seem fazed by talk of wild cards and the Velvet Room, so that implies he already knows about them. And the only reason he can think of for someone to already know is to already be a wild card.

Still, he's already suspicious of Akira, so he'll stick to answering questions and giving information.

And being confused.

Because... how could he be a Persona user and not know about...

Uh..........

what ]

You've never heard of the Metaverse? Where were you when you got a Persona...?

[So far, very little is matching up. No mention of the Dark Hour, positive or negative. He can't let his guard down. "Where"... That's an interesting question.]

Iwatodai. Where were you? [Other cities would experience it...]

[ He's squinting softly, a slight frown on his face... ]

A version of Shujin Academy that was inside the Metaverse...

[ After some consideration... ]

... in the year two thousand sixteen.

[Where the heck is Shujin Academy, must be another city. Again, something more pressing arises.]

It's 2009.

[ Yep, that settles that. They're not only from different places, but from different years... ]

For you... [ offering a small, reassuring smile ] That's another thing this place does, though. It pulls people from, not only different places, but from different timelines.

[ After a short pause, he gives a soft snort. ]

So... you're apparently from a time when I was only nine years old.

[How a transparent sea slug can be flushed and yet pale at the same time is a mystery for the ages, but that....this just confirms something Akechi said earlier, something that alarmed Minato. Time...time.]

You've been a Persona-user this long? [Nine is...younger than Ken. That's not comforting. And if there are still Persona-users that far in the future, then what happened?]

[ That gets him to blink in surprise, and he shakes his head. ]

Oh... No, I became a Persona-user after accidentally winding up in the Metaverse with my friend. That was just over a year ago, for me.

[ He glances to the side a bit, and maybe it'll be clear he's thinking of something that has him briefly... sad? He looks back to the other (apparently way older) young man before he continues. ]

Before coming here, the only way for us to use our Personas was if we were inside the Metaverse. But you've never even heard of that place, right?

[ Soooooo... ????????? ]

[He's still confused about this "Metaverse", buddy, you haven't exactly explained that. Apparently it's a place but. Where??? Where is that. Where.

I don't need to be anywhere in particular to summon?

[Why...why do other Persona-users need to be, what happened? He is so confused...]

[ They can... use their Personas whenever and wherever, then...???

His first thought is what an awful situation that could have turned into, considering how loose Ryuji's lips alone were... ]

Think of the Metaverse as a layer of reality that's just beneath the reality people normally live in. It's the place where a collection of desires and the deepest thoughts people want to keep hidden away forms. And it kind of takes "power of imagination" to a literal degree.

[ Hopefully that can help clear away some of the confusion. ]

There's way more to it, but I think Goro or Futaba would be better at explaining this kind of thing.

[ They're the nerds (♥). ]

Anyway, we go into the Metaverse to fight people's distorted desires with the help of our Personas, so that we can help them off of a bad path. But, when we're outside of the Metaverse, we're no different from normal human beings, for the most part. I was still able to access the Velvet Room and use my Third Eye ability, but... [ smol shrug ] That's pretty much it.

Sounds complicated. [Layered reality? Imagination? Distorted desires? This is way too much for his fever-clouded mind. But...he does get the impression they're trying to help people. 'Bad path' could be interpreted several ways but he wants to assume the best.

How different can it be from SEES trying to save the Lost? It's nothing so fancy as all of that, but...]

We're not doing anything that dramatic.

[ Now that the guy seems a little less on-edge, he relaxes a little. And realizes he never got this guy's name. ]

By the way, what's your name?

[ And he isn't surprised that the guy isn't following, and he wants to explain, but... ]

What are you guys doing, then?

Minato Arisato.

[And...he pauses. How to put what they're doing... Cleaning up a ten-year-old mess? Fighting a secret crusade? Climbing a tower? He's silent for a few long moments...]

We're trying to put a stop to Apathy Syndrome.

It's nice to meet you.

[ Should heeeee be calling him Senpai? ]

Apathy Syndrome...? [ taking a moment to think that over ] Never heard of it.

[ Which must mean they succeeded? Just going off of the name (which dimly sends his thoughts back to "Mental Shutdown")...... ]

I'm going to go ahead and call that a good sign.

The epidemic's been getting worse and worse for ten years.

[Even if the other has never heard of it....it sounds like they succeed, and they should soon, there are only three left,but just to be sure...]

It's....when perfectly healthy people lose all will to do anything overnight. Just kinda stand around like zombies until someone takes them to the hospital or they die of exposure. Cause unknown to the public.

[ just to make it easier to get back and forth between the two ]

TEST DRIVE 004

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject