TEST DRIVE MEME #5.

[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 #5 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. You fall flat on your face. It's bright, warm, and humid . . . for now. Weirdly, the weather seems to be entirely in flux. One moment, it is warm and humid, and within the next handful of hours, it is starting to snow. Whatever is going on with Astoria seems to be messing with the atmosphere of the Temple, and as a result, you are having something of a wild entrance to Acatalepsy. It takes a few seconds for you to gain composure and catch your breath. 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. Indeed, it seems as if you have fallen down the rabbit hole. A weird, mysterious, snowing-yet-humid rabbit hole. 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. HAPPY UN-BIRTHDAY. The kitchen has become overtaken with a flurry of activity. Vines have woven their way into the area of the Temple typically reserved for food, and there is a massive tea party! What a splendiferous thing -- surely this can't be all that bad. There is such a massive array of food here that it almost seems impossible to know where to start . . . tea and cookies set out with messages that read “EAT/DRINK ME." Well, if you insist. However . . . certain foods and drinks have certain effects upon your person that are wholly unexpected. Well, drat. If you taste the rosehip tea, you are suddenly infatuated with the first individual you lay eyes on. They are everything to you. You think you may even want to propose, immediately, right now. Weddings, I love weddings! Tasting the ladyfingers will cause you to spill your deepest secrets to whoever is nearby. Have a secret crush? Not anymore! The entire room has to know about it, and you somehow can't seem to shut up about whatever you've been trying to keep quiet. A sip of the chamomile tea will cause you to become ridiculously sleepy. That corner looks like a particularly delightful place to take a nap, doesn't it? Maybe someone else wants to nap too. The Madeline cakes cause a ridiculously high spike in happiness. Nothing can get you down, not even the grumpiest of people. Smile, smile, smile! You need to spread this joy to everyone in your reach. A nibble of the scones will prevent you from lying. . . and, in addition, you will be brutally honest on whatever question you're asked. Maybe now is a bad time to give an opinion on your friend's outfit or new haircut, hm? And, finally, the Earl Grey tea will cause an enhancement of your Astoria given powers. Make sure you have that under control, or you may accidentally blow out a window, depending on what it is. YOU'RE LATE, YOU'RE LATE. The Unseen Servants will be a little, well, mad. Not that anyone will be able to see them, but there will seem to be things moving around the Temple at random, whether they be sheets, clothing, food, furniture, etc. with very little if any logical reason to it. It almost appears like the sheets and the like are moving throughout the air without any rhyme or reason to it . . . someone certainly isn't happy that the Temple is all astray. In addition, the Unseen Servants may also be attempting to steal things off of you. After all, you are also new to their world, and they want to make sure everything is put into their proper place, so beware any silent mischievous Unseen Servants dipping hands into pockets. Also . . . some of the rooms in the Temple are shifting around. Certain entryways could lead you to a select location at random. You may have thought you were entering your room, but it appears you’ve wound up in someone else’s. Or the bathhouse. Or the forest. Either way, you may find yourself lost for a bit...until the Temple decides to stop playing tricks on you. Keep track of your location, or you may wind up in the Forest of the Fey by mistake. OFF WITH YOUR HEAD. Should you approach the fighting ring, you’ll find that isn’t quite what you’d expect — there are no training dummies to be found, the rusted gates are colored a lavish gold, and the dirt ground has been replaced with a red and black checkered flooring. More notably, the ring itself seems to have expanded to make way for seating so that it’s become more of an arena than anything. There is an audience of spectators: many of them are typically known as the bestiary of this Temple. They are a bit more, er, refined and chatty today. When you enter, the gates will shut behind you. They will not budge. You have now entered a makeshift Royal Court. Suddenly, a playing card manifests in your hand. It might be… A Heart: A princess-like figure is displayed on this card. She appears to be singing. A Diamond: A gallant knight-like figure is displayed on this card. He appears to be fighting. A Queen: A refined queen-like figure is displayed on this card. She sits atop a throne, her finger pointed right at you. A King: A triumphant-king like figure is displayed on this card. He stands on a podium for all to see. A Joker: A jester-like figure is displayed on this card. He is dancing, laughing, and making a general fool of himself. On the back reads a message that states “This card withholds your role. You’ll be permitted to leave once we are thoroughly entertained. Best of luck!” No further instruction is given. Those who have entered with you are in the same predicament. How will you interpret your card? Who are you stuck with and how will you satisfy the audience? Or are you a member of the audience instead? Either way, good luck getting out — it’s up to you! 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

[guiltycharge]

[Yeah, no, back the hell up a second. The transformation is so sudden that Ritsu almost misses his window to react. He opens his mouth, but for once in his life, quickly closes it. His knuckles whiten around the spoon he's still holding, although he doesn't notice.

(If he absolutely had to, maybe he could jab it in the eyes... Well, he hopes he won't have to. Just a little better than being out of ideas.)

(Look, there's a whole host of highly specific things he associates with the word "powers", and robots are at best a huge stretch.)]

What, you don't know what just happened? [His voice is admirably steady, considering.]

[spaceforged]

Not exactly. No. I don’t usually change without my consent. [He turns his head slightly and parts his metal jaws. He shuts them and puts a paw to his mouth like someone deep in thought.]

I shrunk. We need to get out of here before whatever this is wears off. I’m too big for the kitchen.

[They should leave anyway. He has to warn others it could trip their magic. He stands up and rises up on his back feet. He places his front paws on the sink edge. He thrusts his head under the still running water and tries to turn the knob to shut off the water. With his teeth.]

Keep watch for me? I want to turn this off before we go.

[guiltycharge]

That looks... inconvenient. [More accurately, "inconvenient" is the politest descriptor coming to Ritsu's mind right now.

Anyway, he's already stepping up to the sink, insofar as the robot leaves any room to step up.]

It's fine, I'll do it. [Not even a suggestion, really. He just reaches past the lion for the faucet, his hand inches from its jaws.] If you need to get outside in a hurry, you should get on with it.

[His spoon clinks against the knob as he turns it off. Nothing to it. Just like a regular muggle.]

[spaceforged]

[He doesn't argue. If he returned to normal size in the kitchen right now the poor guy would be squished. Shiro drops back down onto all fours and walks out into the hallway. It's a good thing he did, there's a crackle of static and he's the size of a large four-wheel truck.

The hallway is big enough to fit him and other people. He shuffles over to make room and shakes himself like a dog.]

Well, at least the shrink doesn't last long. Thank you. [He puts his front paws ahead of him and stretches himself out from toes to tail tip.]

As for convenience. Yeah, it's a little troublesome. But I can do a lot in this form I can't normally do.

[guiltycharge]

Other than "turn back"...

[Honestly, Ritsu could have let the robot go on its merry way. They don't know each other, and he's done nothing special. There's no reason for him to follow Shiro, nor peek out into the hallway as it buzzes with sudden static. Only fools do things for no reason.

Of course, he has always been a fool.]

My bad for looking like I need the explanations. It's been a long day.

[spaceforged]

That it has. Have you gotten any explanation for where you are and what happens here? [Shiro's metal body glows purple and snaps back to Lion form. His yellow eyes flare with light. He opens and closes his jaws.]

...and you're right. I can't turn back right now.

[If the shrink wears off so will locking him in one shape. He tips his head to one side.]

That spoon isn't doing anything odd, is it?

[guiltycharge]

[Ack. What spoon? Oh, this spoon, still stubbornly spoon-shaped in his hand? Imagine that. Ritsu chooses to casually pocket it without answering the question.]

I heard enough to get the gist. And to get the impression that asking why was a waste of time, which you really aren't shaking... But that's okay.

[spaceforged]

[The lack of an answer is an answer to itself, he supposes. Shiro sits down and curls his tail about his feet.]

I don't have an answer for you on why other than what you've already been told. The rest I might have some for you. If you want to know.

Or we could look around the grounds. They changed last time, and they're changing again. Seems like a pattern every time we return.

[guiltycharge]

Changing? [He quirks an eyebrow slightly. It isn't important to him one way or another, but...] The impression I got was that nearly everything in this place was... old.

[He's 13. A lot of things are old compared to him.]

[spaceforged]

It's debatable. It might be old, but us being here...isn't. It's been seven months or so and some change.

[By his internal clock that seems accurate. He shifts his feet and turns one paw over.]

Last time a magical plague hitched a ride through us and tried to kill all organic life in this realm. This time, it's difficult to tell if the erratic behavior of the spirits and plants are a result of Astoria seeming to hallucinate.

[He stands up and glances towards the end of the hallway.]

Let's keep walking.

[guiltycharge]

So those are spirits of some kind that I saw...

[Musing aside, sure, he'll just follow the robot lion for now. He'd barely have room to slip past even if there was anywhere else in particular he wanted to go.

He looks around rather than ahead as they walk, as if to catch the shifting scenery in the act. Yeah, right.]

[spaceforged]

Yes, they're supposedly servants of Astoria. They're not usually like this. We think the...failure...saving the world we were sent to, caused it. Some kind of backlash.

[His mental voice falters and he dips his head once. Shiro turns and walks towards the temple entrance, tail sweeping behind him.]

You can usually talk to the spirits. I haven't tried since we got back but I've seen how they're behaving.

[guiltycharge]

Is that a sensitive topic? Alright. [Not that he sounds very sorry for it coming up. Since his initial surprise at Shiro's sudden robotness died down, he hasn't sounded like much of anything.] Still friendlier than a lot of spirits, though.

[spaceforged]

Less a sensitive topic, more there is some kind of energy backlash going through them from their master, Astoria. She's been hallucinating. We can't even talk to her.

[He checks if he can return to normal and his body collapses into purple light. It reshapes into a person and he pops his shoulder.]

Used to spirits?

[guiltycharge]

[More used to spirits than he is the light show, yes. At least there's no accompanying loud noise or physical contact, so again it only raises Ritsu's hackles for a moment before he exhales.]

... You could say that. Aren't there psychics wherever you come from?

[What a weird universe that would be.]

[spaceforged]

[There are so many ways he could go about this. He chooses the simpliest option. It might sound insane but, he's already been a giant ass robot lion.] ...among the various species of people, yes. But spirits are different where I'm from.

[Having been one once he would damn well know. He keeps that thought to himself as he steps out into the snow beyond the temper exit. Shiro glances at him.]

Magic is also different. Nothing here really follows the laws of the universe I'm used to. It seems to go that way for a lot of us.

[guiltycharge]

[The cold air from the doorway catches Ritsu by surprise, although he tries not to shiver too much. Wasn't it - no, it was warmer a little while ago, he's certain. Well, if nothing else, it makes Shiro's point for him.

...His brother would like the snow. He shoves that thought away, along with the weight in his stomach it reminds him of all of a sudden. The wall closest to him might look a little blurred and discoloured for a moment until he does.]

In that case, you can't exactly call what either of us knows from back home "experience". But sure, I've seen spirits before.

[spaceforged]

[He catches something out of the corner of his eye but it's too distorted to tell what's happening. Shiro turns his head and its gone.] I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss what we know.

[As he said it, it begins to rain and the temper climbs back up. He eyes the sky for a moment.]

The magic here somewhat follows rules. They're just specific to the person. I can only shapeshift for up to 12 hours of the day. It resets the next day. As for the spirits, they seem wholly tied to Astoria not any one place. They don't talk or interact with us beyond cleaning up the temple or requests.

[guiltycharge]

More easygoing than most spirits, then.

[He looks up at Shiro, his expression still impassive.] You give these speeches a lot?

[spaceforged]

[He adjusts his coat and looks back at him with a faint smile on his face. His tone is slightly amused.] Every time we have new people. I've been here since we were first called.

So...little over six months by now.

[guiltycharge]

[His eyes narrow slightly more than before.] Six months, huh? With no way to let my brother know...

[He'd guessed a while, but six months is a long time for a teenager. Especially Shigeo. Well, maybe.]

[spaceforged]

It seems like we're thrust back into our time stream from the point we left it. Sometimes that happens and then you return here.

[Shiro takes a few steps forward and holds out his hand. The rain had been cold and as it hits his palm it's a lot warmer like spring rain.]

That's happened to a few of us. It's not all that comforting, I know. But that's all I have uncovered in my investigation.

[guiltycharge]

Hmm.

[The rain lands on his bangs, but he ignores it. That small, noncommittal noise is the only reaction he feels like betraying right now. Easier when he's not suddenly reminded of his brother, of course.]

That aside, you must be pretty bored of the speech by now. Thanks for giving it again anyway.