test drive meme # 4

[acatamods]

I ▫ main IV ▫ premise       XI ▫ applications XIV ▫ activity II ▫ logs V ▫ rules VII ▫ bestiary   IX ▫ canon updates XII ▫ taken XV ▫ drop/hiatus III ▫ ooc VI ▫ faq VIII ▫ setting   X ▫ mods XIII ▫ reserves XVI ▫ players test drive meme #4 It happens in the blink of an eye. One moment, you are home. Perhaps you are with your family, perhaps you are at work. It's a completely normal day . . . and then, suddenly, your stomach drops. You are overcome with a sudden sense of vertigo. You cannot see up, or down, or where you are. All you hear is a voice -- light, bubbly, warm, soothing, in your ear: Don't worry, darling. This won't hurt a bit~ ♥ For those who recognize the voice, it will sound a bit strained. Possibly tired. But the moment happens so quickly it's hard to pin down, and once that moment is over, you fall flat on your face. It's bright, warm, and humid. It takes a few seconds for you to gain composure and catch your breath. You think, for half a moment, that a hand is on your back, rubbing between your shoulder blades in comfort, but when you open your eyes, no one is there. You are surrounded by ancient stone buildings, with carvings you do not recognize etched into the stone. There's a sense of nausea, overwhelming and sudden, when you realize you aren't in Kansas anymore. Even worse, it looks like Astoria has started to feel a bit festive, maybe even a little spooky. THE TEMPLE OF BEGINNINGS. Welcome to the "Home Base" of Astoria's Circle. What the actual name of the base is called is lost to the ages, and there's no sense of where you could find it, unless you started asking around. At any rate, this is a central hub of the Circle, a place of powerful magic and mysterious energy. It is a scattering of ancient stone buildings and for the most part, it looks abandoned . . . except for what seems to be a few items, some rooms taken, items moved or organized, even a small garden planted. These are just the smallest hints that there are people here that have been here before you arrived. Overall, it's fairly beautiful. However, it is definitely not modern. Upon exploration, you find that the buildings are kept up by some kind of magic. Some of the rooms have items, things from other Circle members already settled, and others appear to be unclaimed. Pick your rooms, explore the grounds, see the beauty and wonder all around you in such a magical place. However, be careful -- there is some additional movement around the Temple that seems specific to the time of year. THE GREAT PUMPKIN. Fall has certainly arrived in the Circle . . . rich colors adorn the leaves, a crisp breeze is in the air . . . and in the center of the Temple itself appears to be a massive pumpkin. And, really, the word massive doesn't appear to do the gourd justice. It is nearly twelve feet tall and twelve feet wide, round and bulbous in nature. But what is even more bizarre is that the entire structure seems hollow . . . and the front of it, in a Jack-O'-Lantern facade, has a large grinning face. No one says you have to go inside it, but if you're so inclined to scale through the mouth of the massive Jack-O'-Lantern, you will find a couple of things inside! One, the thing seems to be full of bowls of candy. Some candy might look familiar, but most of it looks a little weird. Two, there are floating candles spread throughout the pumpkin, creating odd shadows that cast about as the sun goes down. Three, the pumpkin changes expressions throughout the day. When you aren't looking, it goes from grimacing to smiling -- and it never seems to happen when you look! Have fun celebrating the holiday, Circle. Astoria is just getting started. SPOOKY SCARY SKELETONS. If the pumpkin wasn't quite enough of a giveaway that Astoria has become spookily inspired to welcome her new guests, then this will have to do. Because right along the outside of the Temple of Beginnings, there seems to be a somewhat constant and fairly thick fog. It's the kind of fog that makes you think there's something there. And with some exploration, you'll find...there is. Right in the distance there is movement, unnatural and sporadic. Any further investigation into the movement will involve you moving further and further into the fog. But be careful, because this fog is thick enough to lose sight of where you've come from. With enough time, you can catch up with the movement, to find that what you've heard and seen just beyond your peripheral, are...skeletons. Animated skeletons. They're humanoid, almost cartoon, and are moving with little to no direction. They just seem to be shambling in whatever direction they can, with no purpose or reason. They are entirely harmless. Except that if you get too curious, and get close enough to touch them, their heads will jerk towards you. They won't do much more, until you try and step away. It seems that by touching the skeletons, you've attracted their attention, and as you try to move away from them they will follow. And as they follow, they will attract the attention of other skeletons, and others, and others. If you're not careful, you'll collect an army. They will not follow you across the boundary around the Temple of Beginnings, but everywhere else you wander, you will have an entourage. Depending on how long you spend with your skeletons friends, you might even find out that they will answer simple commands. Like dance. FALL FEAST. No matter how Astoria's thoughts on holiday cheer, she seems to have at least gotten one fall related item down- because on one of the days, you will wake up and find that in the middle of the Temple of Beginnings, where there is usually some green space and open grass, is now a very large table, extravagantly decorated. It seems to go on forever in each direction, which feels...a little impossible (but what isn't impossible here?) with plenty of chairs. The table has been decorated with fall ornaments (anyone familiar with the American 'Thanksgiving' will find quite a few similarities) with the only difference instead being the wide variety of food available. Astoria is not limited to Turkey and Stuffing on this day - but rather, almost any kind of food or drink (minus any kind of magical abilities it may contain) is here on this table. Food and snacks from every reach of every world and galaxy is on display. Maybe you're going to spend some time searching out your favorite from home, or maybe you're feeling adventurous and want to try a piece of whatever is in front of you - you think it might be some kind of potatoes? If potatoes were slightly bioluminescent? Also, did that side dish move just now? COMMUNICATIONS. Upon arriving, you will notice on whichever is your non-dominant hand, you will have a fairly simply screen. A smart watch, if you will. Upon exploration, you will find that it has a directory of all those here with you at the Temple of Beginnings- names, and access to a direct message to them. The watch also has video, audio, and text capabilities, as well as what looks like a collection of messages sent to everyone who wishes to open them. This is your 'network', and also how Astoria can reach out and communicate with you. There is nothing keeping you from removing and/or losing your watch! But remember that you will not have access to this network without it. OOC: Also feel free to join us and other possible players on our discord server! enjoy! ♥

Comments

[nogoldenmirror]

[If it is a Fereldan or Orlesian custom, she hasn't the faintest idea. Pumpkins, however, she's made into a stew once.]

One would think much of this place is. [Unlike Honerva, she knows full well that magic exists. She is a witch in her own right.] It has seeped into the very stones of this temple, and very likely beyond its walls as well.

[quintessencial]

You can sense it? [It's hard not to feel the pull, like something of Alfor's alchemy but so different. So imprecise.] I don't have much experience with something like magic...

[But she's willing to learn. She's eager to learn, to pick this place apart until she knows everything of "magic" like it's the back of her hand. She might not have made the pilgrimage to Oriande, but she's a scientist in her own right, and no secrets this place has will stop her.]

Is it bad, there being this much magic...? [It's more a question to herself, brows furrowing as she looks at the massive pumpkin. If it's seeping into everything, changing things, then perhaps it's dangerous?]

[nogoldenmirror]

I'm a mage of no small talent. Some would even call me a witch. [It may appear imprecise to others, but one false step or momentary flare up of fear or uncertainty has been known to cause... problems... back in Thedas.] Unfortunately, t'would seem whatever magic Astoria used to bring us here has also deprived me of much of my spellcasting ability.

I do not know the nature of this world and cannot tell you. Though I suspect it is benign.

[quintessencial]

[She lets Morrigan speak, even though she's burning with questions. They'll come in time, though, she's certain of that much.

Not much has ever stopped her from asking questions she shouldn't, before.]

So your magic is different. [A statement, not a question. If there are different kinds of science, or different kinds of alchemy, it stands to reason magic is different as well.] And that difference is hindering you?

Benign, possibly, though Astoria talked of a fight. Something malignant is happening here, or we wouldn't be here. Probably.

[It's hard to say for certain, with any of this.]

[nogoldenmirror]

[That would make two of them. Her irritation has yet to be quelled completely over the lack of familiar magic.] Indeed. However t'would seem that I have at least retained one spell.

[Which one? She'll have to ask.]

Every fight requires a place where its fighters may find respite. Perhaps it is for protection, or mischief, as the skeletons without prove?

[Maybe it's just the season. It is close to when Feastday is celebrated throughout all known Thedas (save perhaps Qunadar; who knows what the followers of the Qun do, and Sten wasn't the sort to have a civilized chat with her kind).]

[quintessencial]

[They're getting along so well, so far, that it's kind of bizarre.]

You did? What would that be?

[She'll take that bait. She wants to know everything, after all.]

So you believe this is a refuge, of sorts? [It makes sense, she supposes. The Paladins of Voltron had their places to rest, to relax. She might...she might be becoming one of those places, though she pushes thoughts of Zarkon to the side.]

It makes sense, though it seems it would make this place a target. What's to say the fight won't be brought here?

[nogoldenmirror]

T'would make sense, would it not? [Rooms with beds and places to bathe, kitchens, solid stone walls in comparison to naught? Even though she would be more than fine with a tent and a campfire.

She tries not to think of who is waiting for her, either. And as for a fight being brought to them,] Tis entirely possible, which I expect is why magic is so freely given here.

[Yet she says it with disdain; she thinks of how and what could happen back home if some entity were to give them powers like this and has to repress a shudder. Instead, she demonstrates the spell:

Morrigan crouches down, and in grey and violet smoke, her human form transfigures into that of a large-for-a-normal-sized crow. She turns her black-feathered head to regard the other with an eye before lifting her wings, cawing as she takes off, only to land atop the peculiarly large gourd.]

[quintessencial]

It makes more sense than being a battlefield.

[The disdain is a curious thing - what is the problem with being gifted a way to defend yourself? Fight fire with fire, even out the playing field.

All that sort of thing.

But before she can say anything, the woman is...different. Honerva has no point of reference for what the proper size of a crow is, but seeing someone go from a woman to a bird is a surprise.

How does such a thing even happen? Where does everything go? She doesn't bother holding back her noise of surprise as Morrigan takes off, or the look of excitement on his face.]

That's fascinating.

[nogoldenmirror]

[Perhaps at some point that she will explain why, but she is a woman who refuses to open up so easily. It is even more difficult to do so. She tilts her head to gaze down upon the elven-like woman before taking to the sky again, eventually landing on the ground within civilized speaking range. Another large puff of smoke, and she is human again.]

You are the second I have spoken to who has not seen it as repulsive. [To say it is a welcome change would be an understatement, if genuine. Yet she has the feeling that this woman is incapable of faking excitement.] I have heard the world as a cat, walked the forests as a wolf. Something others in my world would find abominable simply because it is not the "acceptable" standards or magic schools.

[quintessencial]

[She watches the bird - the woman - carefully, eyes narrowing at the mention of acceptable and magic schools.

It seems foolish, to her, to punish doing something just because it's out of the norm. Shouldn't finding new ways to experience the worlds, new limits to be tested, be something celebrated?

The world needs people to push the boundaries, or else the world will stagnate.]

I see no reason it would be. It's not like you're turning other people into animals. [Is such a thing possible? Now Honerva's curious. This is all so new, so strange and different, that she feels a bit at a loss.

Mostly, though, she's excited.]

[nogoldenmirror]

Oh? You are the second I have spoken to who believes so. [Ever. Save her mother who taught her this magic. (If only she knew she had it solely because of it being her power here as well.) Wheeeeee.]

And funny you should mention that. So many believe that is what my mother can do. Yet she has never done so, at least in my presence.