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acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_ooc2019-01-19 05:03 pm
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TEST DRIVE MEME #5.







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! ♥
fairysong: (33)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-27 03:33 am (UTC)(link)
Not yet. I'm just not going to turn down free sweets, especially when they look this good. A girl has needs, you know?

[She plucks another cookie onto her plate.] But I do try to be the daring type. Nobody got anywhere sitting safe at home.
vytal: (tumblr_inline_p0cmugCZOM1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-27 03:38 am (UTC)(link)
...You know what? That's a good point.

[ "nobody got anywhere sitting safe at home." boy, if that ain't the truth. yang finally acknowledges the grumble in her stomach and grabs one of the scones. she doesn't grab a plate. instead, she just pops it into her mouth and munches on it just like that. ]

Hmm.... [ a shrug. ] Not bad! Could probably use a little more sugar, but it's free, so I can't really complain.
fairysong: (95)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-27 03:45 am (UTC)(link)
Of course it was. That's why I made it. [She says with a smile, before she takes a nibble from one of the ladyfingers. So unladylike of you, Yang.]

Honestly, just proper dry food is a breath of fresh air. We're hardly in a position to complain about inadequate pastries.
vytal: (tumblr_inline_p0cmugCZOM1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-27 03:55 am (UTC)(link)
[ being ladylike's never been her forte, not that it's ever bothered her. she puts her hands on her hips and tilts her head slightly at sheryl's comment about dry food. ]

Oh yeah? Did something happen?
fairysong: (97)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-27 04:39 am (UTC)(link)
[Sheryl just looks up at the other girl.]

...you must be new. We just spent... what, two months underwater. Mermaid cuisine tends not to have a lot of baked goods.
vytal: (tumblr_inline_oywr666khn1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-27 06:57 am (UTC)(link)
As a matter of fact, I am.

[ she puts her hands on her hips and nods once. ]

Two months underwater, huh? Sounds fun. What was that like?
fairysong: (96)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-27 07:31 am (UTC)(link)
[And that look becomes a stare for a good few seconds.

She shakes her head, once.]
It wasn't, let me tell you that. Setting aside how terrible being in salt water for two months was for my hair, getting caught up in a mermaid civil war isn't sunshine and rainbows.
vytal: (tumblr_inline_oxup59zko91t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-27 10:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ ah. yang's expression gets more solemn at that. ]

I can imagine. [ well... ] So how exactly did things turn out?
fairysong: (04)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-27 07:40 pm (UTC)(link)
[And it's Sheryl's turn to have her expression turn grim.] Not well. At all.

Catastrophic, you could say.
vytal: (tumblr_inline_p2vbksotyS1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-27 11:30 pm (UTC)(link)
...Oh.

[ whoops. yang feels like she really shouldn't have asked. she looks a little sheepish, mostly apologetic now for bringing it up. ]

I'm sorry. That must've been really rough. On everyone.
fairysong: (65)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-28 12:03 am (UTC)(link)
It wasn't great. [Sheryl says quietly, not quite meeting Yang's gaze.] So if you see people looking a little dour, that's why. [She, too, feels like she should be one of them.

But she's the Songstress of Despair. The one who remains calm in the face of grief and danger. She'll damn well force this.

So she takes a bite of the pastry.]
But what's in the past is in the past. There's no point dwelling on it.

[She's a good enough actor that it sounds like she almost believes it.]
vytal: (tumblr_inline_okvef5euYT1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-01-30 03:17 am (UTC)(link)
...Yeah.

[ she doesn't know what else to say. she wasn't there to see it happen and she can't imagine how everyone else must be feeling right now. all she can do is hope they can find closure--something that she's still chasing after. ]

What I wanna know is what I can do now. Anything I can do to help out around here?
fairysong: (97)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-01-30 03:22 am (UTC)(link)
[Honestly, Sheryl's a little surprised that this other girl moved on from the conversation so easily. Most people, she figured, would be a little more curious about that kind of thing.

She wonders, idly, what this one's been through that she's able to push things behind her.]
That depends. What're you good at?

Good cook? Excellent at chopping wood and building fires? Fantastic playwright? [She asks casually, crossing her arms over her chest and watching the girl's expression more than anything in particular to see how she'll respond.]
vytal: (tumblr_inline_oywr666khn1t6c6km_540)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-02-01 10:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ there's no point in asking the other girl about it anymore while she's still grieving. yang can tell. she'll ask someone else or figure out what happened on her own.

moving forward hasn't always been easy for yang. still isn't. but...her friends and her family gave her the strength she needed to push onward. she'd be lying if she said she was over her trauma. but...she's learning how to handle it, and right now, it's all she can do.
]

My cooking's not too shabby, [ she balls one hand into a fist and cups it with the other, smirking at the other girl. ] but I think I'm more of a fighter than anything.
fairysong: (57)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-02-02 06:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Fighter, huh? [She lifts an eyebrow for just a moment, and then shrugs, turning back to the table.] You'll fit in well here. Plenty of fighters. Last time we went somewhere, there were plenty of things to fight.

Useful skill to have, here.

[There's a hint of bitterness in her voice-- of frustration. She really would have liked to be able to contribute like a fighter could have. Instead of singing.]
vytal: (stG5ppq)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-02-03 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Sounds like the place for me, then.

[ she grins and does a playful little flex with her right arm. but...she feels like something's off with the way the other girl says that, the way she just turns away. yang raises an eyebrow. ]

Is there something wrong?
fairysong: (33)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-02-05 01:26 am (UTC)(link)
[Damn, was she that obvious? Sheryl huffs a breath and then busies herself looking at pastries.] Nothing new.

It's just sometimes frustrating to be an artist in a group of fighters, that's all~
vytal: (qGlgCTe)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-02-06 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ ah. yang frowns a little, folds her arms across her chest. ]

Well... [ she pauses and glances off to the side. with the way her brow furrows, it looks like she's considering something. after a moment, she looks back at sheryl and smiles again. ] If it helps, I'd be happy to train you? I've got plenty of experience under my belt. Can't say I've ever really taught anyone before, but I think it's worth a shot.
fairysong: (97)

[personal profile] fairysong 2019-02-06 02:24 am (UTC)(link)
[She's in the middle of loading some sweets onto her plate when Yang extends the offer, and it's enough to make her pause and glance up at the other girl.

She gives her a thin smile.]
No offense, but I'm not sure how useful it'll be to teach me how to throw a punch. [Not when they're up against swirling magical rifts.

Though, she pauses, idly picking at the pastry on her plate.]
...that said, it might not hurt, either?
vytal: (stG5ppq)

[personal profile] vytal 2019-02-06 02:34 am (UTC)(link)
Hey, knowing at least some self-defense is better than knowing nothing at all. You never know when you might need it.

[ swirling magical rifts...yeah, there's only so much they can do about that. but it doesn't mean they shouldn't at least try. ]

You've got nothing to lose. So...what do you say? Let's try it out sometime?