acatamods: (Default)
acatamods. ([personal profile] acatamods) wrote in [community profile] acatalepsy_ooc2018-06-19 11:13 pm
Entry tags:

test drive # 2







test drive meme #2
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 dim, damp, with the trickling of what feels like rain. It takes a few moments for you to gain composure, to 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.

And, of course, because this is just your luck.

It's raining.



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.

For some, this place is home. For others, this strange land is new and dark, like a haze has settled in the air. The creatures in the forest seem to be stirring, and every now and then the sky will open up, and a storm will pass through, in varying degrees of intensity. Some will be easy spring showers, others will be angry, thunderous storms.

Not exactly the most welcoming place, but it's a start.

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. The rain makes everything feel a bit softer, but also eerie, like there is a secret being kept just on the outside of your vision.

Of course, this means you have free reign. This place seems easy enough to figure out on your own, with enough time to take a walk around! However- members who recognize this place may notice the lack of a certain figure, the grounds feeling a bit more empty, more abandoned, than they did before.



IT'S A FIELD OF . . . POPPIES?
The buildings of the Temple of Beginnings span out across a fair-sized field, intermixed with trees, open grassy planes, outside sitting areas, fire rings, and other oddly ancient but somehow structures. With the mist and the rain, everything feels a bit more ethereal, like there is life to every inch of what you see before you. Or like you've stumbled into some kind of alternate world. Around the temple is a ring of stones that do not seem to move no matter what characters may attempt, and beyond that is the forest.

The forest itself is more than just impressive - it is near-overwhelming. An impossibly ancient stretch of woods that crackle with magical energy. Within, there is all matter of fauna and flora, darting from tree trunk to tree trunk. The canopy is thick enough to shield from the worst of the rain, but still the water gets through, dripping down through the leaves and dampening the ground under your feet. While there is always a sense of wonder - and possible danger - in every stretch of this forest, nothing will come any closer than a brief glimpse out of the corner of your eyes.

No matter how you try, you can't quite seem to catch a full glimpse of what is moving about. Some of the creatures seem small, flittering through the air, while others dart through the trees, larger, more imposing. Everything here seems to be looking for some kind of shelter, so be wary of stumbling across something already taken.

There is a particular clearing not too far into the woods that opens up, a field encircled by trees. In the middle of the field there is an odd glow - luminescent even in the darkened sky. Upon investigation, you will find a bush - about the size of a small car - filled with glowing flowers, white, blue, gold, and purple. They all smell faintly sweet, but it's hard to tell with the scent of earth and rain all around you.

if you decide to pick one of these flowers, there will be no immediate recourse. However, the longer you decide to keep the flower on your person - or if, for whatever reason, you decide to eat said flower - the following will start to set in.
White: For whatever reason, you will have more energy than you know what to do with, and will be filled with the urge to shine. Ever needed a confidence booster? To a point that you need to get up on buildings and belt your favorite song at the top of your lungs? Well, now you do.
Blue: After some time of carrying around this flower, you will start to feel at peace. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, is it? Until that feeling of peace continues to grow, and continues, and continues. Soon you will feel so peaceful, it's almost as if nothing matters at all. I mean...it'll work out in the end, won't it? You're no longer missing home, missing people, worried about what happened and what you might fine. Everything is chill. Beyond chill. The most chill. But maybe out in the middle of the forest isn't the best place for a nap?
Gold: Congrats, you've officially become a hoarder! No, seriously, you will have this uncontrollable urge to grab things and collect them. It doesn't matter what they are, or where they are. You need to have them and you will find a way to make it happen. Hats? Rings? People with green hair? The world is your oyster, and that's the key word here - yours.
Purple: Suddenly, and without warning, you find yourself unable to...well. Go on alone, really. The first person you see, or that you come in contact with, will feel much like the savior of your world, and for the next five hours or so, you will be unable to be far from them. Even if you know the fear is irrational, you can't really help it, following friend or stranger alike, always needing to be just in arms reach.
Regarding further exploration of the wood, it will seem to go on forever. Getting lost seems almost imperative to existence within this forest, going on forever in all directions with no edge in sight. You could walk for days, weeks, possibly even more. However, the second that you find yourself thinking about wanting to return to the buildings from before, you find yourself cresting through the edge of the trees, back to your home.



RUN BY THE RIVER
While inside the buildings and in the main open spaces, the water doesn't seem to be building up all too terribly, un an unfortunate turn of events, it all seems to be rolling down a very slight hill, pulling just on the outside of the ring of stones.

The ground here is unstable, wet and muddy from the amount of moisture falling from the skies. So much that in some areas (the fighting area being one), it will start to collect into a dangerous combination of mud and moving water. It's possible to get stuck in it, possible to get lost in the flooding, but it's also possible to...you know. Have some fun?

Mud slides, mud wrestling, mud...castles? Whatever you want it to be, it's at your disposal! While the arena was originally a place to practice your powers, or any of the various weapons that are usually kept here, now you can do the same with a little added obstacle in your path. That, or it's possible you simply got stuck trying to make it back to your room. Hopefully someone will be by to help you!


CONNECTIONS AND COMMENTARY
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! ♥
spaceforged: (Past the limits)

[Action]

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-06-26 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Yes, we can. [He offers his normal hand. He'd noticed the way he'd spoken about his family and reminds himself keep a watch on that. If Zarkon ever shows up from past or before death...he might need to discuss it with the new Emperor of the Galra. As much he'd like to never consider the possibility...]

And now we can move forward past all the wrongs he committed. To the universe and to the Galra. So, let's start with bringing you up to speed here.

Astoria seems to have brought us here to carry out her mission to balance worlds at a crossroad. Too many are tipping towards the negative. She's supposedly trapped here and she doesn't know why.

Whether this is true or not, that needs looked into.
zinit: (burning innocence the fire)

anyway i actually didn't mean to write you a novel

[personal profile] zinit 2018-06-26 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
[Despair, Qilby would say, isn't the right word. Despair implies something acute, a yawning pit in the soul that has suddenly opened; resignation, on the other hand, is the realization that the yawning pit has always existed. So long as he has this Memory, so it shall be - unless he changes it, and he's more inclined to sleep off the feeling than change it right this moment. He has waited so long that he is simply tired of waiting.]

[But then, he isn't the empath in the situation.]

[If the feeling of a body kneeling next to him doesn't wake him, it does wake him when one of Valerius' fingernails catches the laces on his shirt. He doesn't startle, just looks down at the finger, then up at the face. His glasses are askew; his pupils are having trouble focusing.]


Ah. You're... [Probably bathing in the sin I'm putting off right now, if the look on your face is any indication. Something in Qilby's brain - the purple flower resting on his forehead - yells don't let him go! He struggles against the thought; the only sign of it is the crooked, wry smile on his face.] I'm surprised you managed to find me, with how deep this forest goes.
juniberries: (research)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-26 10:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Really? Perhaps I will ask her... [Her eyes trail down to the device on her wrist, frowning down at it in consideration.

But as Keith mentions Oriande, she looks up and away from the device. Her smile grows a bit fond at the thought, what she experienced there, what she had indeed gained...
]

It...will be good to catch you up on what you missed, though you would not have been able to have gone to Oriande yourself.
paladorable: (070)

[personal profile] paladorable 2018-06-26 10:41 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Arenvald very much lacks the benefit of a formal education as well, so it takes him a moment or two more of confusion to parse just what that means. For good or ill, his familiarity with Garleans lends some small bit of context to all that. ]

Synthetic?

[ The word practically stumbles out of his mouth, for all that he is unused to saying it. ]

You mean to tell me you’re not human? That you were… built?
poisonparadise: Art by Sineral, edit by Seraphim (Beauty Beast)

I kind of started it..

[personal profile] poisonparadise 2018-06-26 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[Valerius nods when Qilby speaks. Flickers of other colors dance with the blue of despair, and he focuses on them momentarily. Something trying to hold the sadness back? Denial perhaps? He can’t put his finger on it, so he just looks back down at Qilby instead]

A perk of the new powers I’ve been granted by the dear witch. While I can’t sense sins anymore, I can trace hints of emotions wafting off others in the form of colored lights. You seemed to have been in a bit of mental turmoil, so I followed the lights that came from that…

[That smile widens, knowing but oddly serene for a creature like himself.] And so, I found you.
lonered: (22)

[personal profile] lonered 2018-06-26 11:14 pm (UTC)(link)
I still don't know how much we can trust her, but she has at least been on the level about the whole magic thing.

[So. Credit where credit is do.]

Yeah. I've had a few things happen recently too. [But.] ...no? Is it some Altean thing?

[Keith has a whole category of weird magic Altean things in his head so he can add Oriande to that.]
flyingsolos: (That cute inscrutability)

[personal profile] flyingsolos 2018-06-26 11:17 pm (UTC)(link)
[ what is with so many people having weird high fantasy names-- ]

My name's Rion! Nice to meet you, future kitchen buddy!
flyingsolos: (We got this!)

[personal profile] flyingsolos 2018-06-26 11:19 pm (UTC)(link)
No, it seems like it's a new project for her. But you should be able to reach her on that watch of yours if she doesn't show herself sooner or alter.
flyingsolos: (It was a GOOD seedy place!)

[personal profile] flyingsolos 2018-06-26 11:20 pm (UTC)(link)
You'll have to take that up with her. She's trying, at least. Probably.

[ Hopefully. ]
juniberries: (cheektouch)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-26 11:27 pm (UTC)(link)
[Well congrats Keith, you get to add a whole entire world to that mental category of yours.]

It is an ancient realm long believed to be of legend, the birthplace of Altean alchemy, and Lotor believed it was where my father learned how to be a powerful alchemist.

[And she falls into the role of expositor quite naturally. She looks down, expression only growing fonder as she speaks of the realm.]

Lotor and I had came upon an artifact in Haggar's former lair which contained a map. The system it's in is protected by a white hole, and originally we had tried to access Oriande as Voltron, but its protector had attacked us. The ream is inaccessible to all, save for any Altean deemed worthy of being Chosen.

Only Lotor and I were able to enter. [A pause, and she clasps her hands together, thoughtful.] He...is half-Altean.
murderp: (Can I help you?)

[personal profile] murderp 2018-06-26 11:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Almost a year.

[ He repeats it patiently. ]

I know it sounds kind of terrible, but I promise we'd been researching a way out the entire time.
spaceforged: (Black lion: charging in)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-06-26 11:43 pm (UTC)(link)
[He jerks back with a wheezing noise. Of all thoughts to have. Even the thought is just too much for him. He's dealt with a lot of weird things in his life. Some things just...no.]

T-That would be too weird!

[He relaxes and sighs, stretching his head back out for her. He doesn't mind being petted like a regular cat. So long as its just petting his head.]

Anyway. Being the Lion is...different. I can't feel temperatures unless they're extreme enough to hurt my body. All my senses feel...distorted as if they're slightly removed. It's hard to describe it.

I had to have help to learn how to fly. I know how to do it now so anyone else that might become their lion can learn from me.
[He waggles his wings once to show he has full control over his whole body.]
lonered: (95)

[personal profile] lonered 2018-06-26 11:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[It makes it easier than trying to puzzle it all through. That's all above his paygrade, so to speak.]

Where he learned the ability that let him build Voltron?

[He does pay attention to the stories though! And he's certainly paying attention now.]

Lotor is half Altean? ...that. Did not expect that.

[But okay.] So the two of you went in alone. How dangerous was this place?
murderp: (No one expects death but me)

[personal profile] murderp 2018-06-26 11:55 pm (UTC)(link)
Of course! I'd rather not leave you alone.
juniberries: (bloosh)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-26 11:57 pm (UTC)(link)
[Look, you're talking to the Princess who shot the Castle's defense systems at the team for the sake of forming Voltron. Of course her initial thoughts would go in that direction! She didn't intend for it to be weird, but him jerking back and making that odd noise has her flushing a bit.]

Well, it would be weird to not form Voltron if we found ourselves in a situation where we would need him!

[She lets out a slight huff, feeling embarrassed. This is, of course, all hypothetical, and she calms as he begins to describe what it's like, hand back against his muzzle. But her petting ceases as he speaks of having distorted senses, and she draws her hand back from him.]

So it is as though you are numb in a way? It is not unpleasant, is it?

[And then, at his mentioning of the flying...]

Would you show me?
juniberries: (memories are like spores)

[personal profile] juniberries 2018-06-27 12:06 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, the very abilities.

[And now knowing that Oriande is a real place, and having felt the embrace of the Ancient help unlock what had been within her all this time...she believes her father had found Oriande all those years ago.

Not that it makes his ability of having been one of the greatest Altean alchemists any less impressive. In fact, it instills a higher sense of honour of what she went through, as though she was retracing her father's footsteps.
]

His mother was Honerva, and he takes great pride in his Altean heritage.

[There's a different sort of fondness to the way she speaks of that, bringing her clasped hands closer to her chest.]

And...the realm itself, to those worthy of entering, was not dangerous. It was, in fact, a beautiful place. Untouched, peaceful.

Only the trials at Oriande's temple posed any threat, but it was all a test to find those worthy.
lumberlady: (もし)

[personal profile] lumberlady 2018-06-27 12:13 am (UTC)(link)
[Despite the rather distinctive looking halves to her body, Konoha moves seamlessly, small motions in human half translating smoothly to equine, anxious ticks of fingers weaving together mirrored in back hocks rubbing against each other, not quite moving to close the distance between them but... maybe following.

It was safer to move in groups, even in familiar territory. She knew that. But that was if you could trust your companion... and as trusting as she was by nature... a place like this...

But she doesn't have any choice, does she?]


I- I guess I could go out again...

[But if it's still raining like that-]

Will you be alright? Won't you catch a cold?

[Humans were far less story than jinba, in any weather, in her experience.]
ghostdrives: (pic#11570430)

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2018-06-27 12:30 am (UTC)(link)
[While Aqua is used to titles, a part of her isn't sure she should be using any for a being that seems to be drawing others in without permission.]

Well, it's good to put a name to a voice. Thank you...

[She trails off. He didn't introduce himself, did he?

She hums a little more. This is an interesting offer but she'd be lying if she said she completely believed him.]
I'm not sure an intimation would help if I'm honest. It's a complex item, but I will keep it in mind. I may need something here.

What exactly does rhyming have to do with it though? [A beat.] Is it part of your power here?

[At least she's curious!]
spaceforged: (I'm not into this)

[personal profile] spaceforged 2018-06-27 12:58 am (UTC)(link)
Astoria is a witch that manipulates energy or magic as she calls it to pull potential members of the Circle through. We know she can see into our realities and can respond to us one on one with more information than she should know.

The network on these watches is made by her. It doesn't operate like a computer network you can't archive anything on it. So anything we've said on there you can't see. Only what is put up since you've arrived. She sees it all, possibly still does even if you tell her you need privacy.

[What else does he know...he told him Astoria is trapped and none of them know why.]

We're tied to her by the powers she gives us. You can ask her what yours is or we could try to figure it out right now. It depends on what you feel up to. It might be better to try it here. She seems a bit worn out right now.

[Wait. Shit. He stabs at the fire.] I'm Shiro, by the way.
ghostdrives: (pic#11570453)

[personal profile] ghostdrives 2018-06-27 01:03 am (UTC)(link)
[You and a lot of others, Minako. Aqua almost blinded herself trying to summon an orb of light after spending ten years in the darkness.

That makes her smile just a bit. Barriers and shields... she was always good at those herself and she knows the value of such a skill.]


That's incredibly useful. I'm sure you'll have no trouble creating them in time.

My name is Aqua and I seem to be able to make light. [She trails off a little at the end. The whole ability makes her feel a little odd, given how she's felt about the state of her heart lately. There's a small sigh as she tries to perk herself up somehow.]

It's very nice to meet you, Minako.
partygeist: (hey cutie)

3

[personal profile] partygeist 2018-06-27 01:08 am (UTC)(link)
[ Polly happens to be exploring, too -- and it's not too hard to bump into her, since she's long since gotten out of the habit of moving out of the way when a solid being walks past her. After all, normally she'd just pass right through!

She stumbles and falls directly on her ass when he bumps her, but when she looks up at him, she doesn't look too upset about the whole thing -- in fact, she grins in delight at his apology. ]


Oh, boo, with a cute face like that I'd forgive you anyday.
zinit: (and i still hear you scream)

[personal profile] zinit 2018-06-27 01:19 am (UTC)(link)
So you did. It seems some of us have gotten gifts suited to us, after all. [He's touched that Valerius found him.]

[He'd try to sound sarcastic saying that, but Goddess, it's not even sarcastic. :|]

[Other things can come later - seeing if that pet ring is still around, for example... But for now, he's happy to engage in light conversation.]
Mine is hardly so useful, but... [he poofs seemingly out of existence, then reappears behind Val's back, snapping his fingers--] It has a charm to it.
poisonparadise: art by Sineral (Pardon?)

[personal profile] poisonparadise 2018-06-27 01:25 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, it’s almost alarming to know that this witch seems to know us so well. [He wonders about her, but that’s not an interesting topic at the moment. The pet ring, and other some reminiscences of Tanagura, can also come later if either of them are inclined to remember that place. The beast wouldn't be completely against it.]

[Valerius raises both eyebrows at Qilby’s display, then tilts his head] I don’t know, it doesn’t seem so different from those portals you used in the memories you shared with me--though less flashy and…[He grins, laying his chin on his now folded hands] Repeatable.
eccitato: © sᴛᴀʀsᴡɪʀʟ (Default)

I am EXTRA SORRY for if they exchange names tbh

[personal profile] eccitato 2018-06-27 01:29 am (UTC)(link)
[ Giving his little bouquet a pat and a jostle, to mix them up and straighten them out at the same time, Leo responds with a... pretty grandiose shrug at first. It ends with a big "mmph!" as his shoulders slump right back down again. What's the point in taking only one, if you like more than one? That's his logic.

A logic that is further enhanced by the gold poppies, probably, but he's clueless as anything.
]

If they match, then they'll compliment, won't they? Then you'll have a much much much brighter day!

[ So he's going to go right ahead and pick a few more blue and white, using the gold to accent more than anything else. Maybe Sena would be proud of his arrangement..? He'll have to find where he went. The question catches his attention, though. ]

These are just the colors of Knights! ♫ But purple, it makes me think of my Mikejimama. So maybe a few wouldn't hurt for another bouquet.
provokings: (003。)

[personal profile] provokings 2018-06-27 01:57 am (UTC)(link)
[ What is this sorcery? His eyes widen for a bit before he settles into feeling embarrassed. This is probably so mundane to this guy, and here he is, trying not to marvel at the weird bracelet. Covering it up quickly, he gives the guy a snappy answer as his face turns away. ]

I don't need it to be friendly. I need it to tell me where I am.

[ And where the others are as well. ]

Does it have a map on it?

[ Because that would be the most useful thing it could do right now if it can't connect him to the rest of the Grandcypher crew. Knowing those guys, they're probably already out looking for him everywhere. Who ever gave them permission to care? ]