test drive # 2

[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 #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! ♥

Comments

steve rogers (captain america) | mcu

[valuedstrength]

arrival.

[He's supposed to be at a party. He's even dressed the part. All he can think is the others will assume he bailed. That would be in character usually except Tony asked nicely. He nevers asks for anything like that. Steve feels a twinge of guilt for letting him down until he remembers he has bigger problems; Dorothy Gale kind of problems. Steve does what any person who is used to strange, sudden turns in his life would do: explore. His eyes never stop moving, but he's remarkably calm otherwise.]

poppies.

[He doesn't even dare to go any further. Steve knows this song. He saw the movie. Going forward would be incredibly stupid.... which is why someone should talk him into it.] Sure hope the good witch is watching.

[Yeah he's just going to turn back the way he came. He's not going to sleep for another 70 years again.]

network.

J.A.R.V.I.S. if you're around now would be a great time to speak up. Could use a little backup here.

If anyone else is getting this? Let me know if you need help with anything. I can't send you home, but I tend to figure out what needs to be done when people ask for something first. Funny how that works. [Yes, he will be passive-aggressive about this. Thank you for asking.]

network }

[hackedhistory]

JARVIS an AI?

[It's hard to believe that that would actually be a person's name, but who knows. Other worlds are weird places.]

I don't think they got brought here with us.

[valuedstrength]

He is. I thought it was worth a shot even if it was a long one. He's a pretty resourceful guy.

[hackedhistory]

Most of them usually are. Unfortunately this place seems pretty low tech. I had to leave my AI behind too.

[valuedstrength]

Yeah. It's a shame. I just started working with him a couple months back. I was enjoying having him around. Kind of seems quiet now.

[hackedhistory]

Well, I'm sure you will find people to fill the silence soon enough.

I'm Zari.

[valuedstrength]

Right. I'm not the only one the cat dragged in.

[Good thing text does a great job of masking his distaste for all of this.] Steve. How are you, Zari?

[hackedhistory]

Other than a little annoyed that I was supposed to be on a beach and I'm stuck in this rainy, foggy mess?

I've been worse.

[She could still be getting stalked by Kuasa.]

[valuedstrength]

You've got me beat. I'm supposed to be at a party with my co-workers. Pretty sure the guy throwing it is going to kill me when this is over.

[hackedhistory]

Well, if we figure out how to get back to our worlds, I've got access to a time machine. It'll be like you never left.

[It's hard to tell if she's kidding over text.

She's not.]

[valuedstrength]

You know with the way things are going I'll just assume you're telling me the truth so I can have something to look forward to, Zari.

Thanks for the offer. I will take it at the first opportunity.

poppies

[foundafamily]

[Here comes an incredibly stupid person right now, walking past Steve to go check out those weird-looking flowers. He pauses when he hears the comment.]

You mean Astoria?

[Is she a good witch? Sure, she's nice enough, but she's a kidnapping witch too.]

Don't really like the thought of her watching us all the time, but it'd make sense...

[He hadn't really thought of it like that, and he doesn't like to. After being stuck with no privacy in Alcatraz, he'd kind of like to have some semblance of it.]

[valuedstrength]

[Steve barely stops himself from going after him. It's dumb to hold back based on a children's movie. He's got nothing else to go on. Fiction always did have a shred of truth in it. His brows furrow at the rest. Is he the one who made a reference no one got this time? Okay. Weird.] No, I'm talking about Glinda. She's a good witch from a story. She saves the travelers from the bad witch's poppies.

[Which is why he's not following... yet. Give him a minute for the compulsive need to save others to kick in.]

[foundafamily]

[Firo leans down to poke at one of the flowers.]

Oh--you mean, the Oz books, don't you?

[Man, there's another similarity to Alcatraz--people referencing children's books at him.]

You really think these things are dangerous?

[valuedstrength]

Yeah, but I actually watched the movie in theaters. Only ever managed to read the first book after that. [Steve explains as he watches Firo. Honestly? Yes. He has nothing to back his opinion up, but an old movie. That's not proof anything is wrong.]

... Maybe. I tend to be cautious when I end up somewhere I don't belong. Could be nothing. Probably is.

[foundafamily]

[Mumbling to himself:] There's a movie..?

[It's a bit after his time.

He shrugs and uncautiously breaks off a golden flower to give it a closer look, then holds it out to Steve.]

Seems fine to me--but I guess it makes sense to be careful when there's a witch around here.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve reluctantly takes it, nodding in response.] We already know she's a kidnapper. The fact she's a witch wouldn't be a mark against her if she didn't go around doing that.

[foundafamily]

It's a pretty big mark, too.

[He sighs and, for lack of anything better to fidget with, keeps poking at the flowers just to see what happens.]

They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so trying to get people to help by grabbing them against their will doesn't sound like a great plan to me.

[But here they are.]

[valuedstrength]

You noticed that too, huh? [His tone couldn't be any drier.] Makes you wonder what's going through her head.

[foundafamily]

I'm not even gonna try to figure that one out.

[He's not smart; he's not made for things like this.]

You'd think if she can get people from all these worlds, she'd be able to find better help somehow.

[Surely a powerful witch can advertise, right?]

[valuedstrength]

[He nods. They're on the same page even if Steve is going to try to figure it out. He's not a genius, but like limitations ever stopped him before.] Or at least get someone to write her a decent pitch. I can think of some people off the top of my head who would volunteer just to see a place like this.

[He feels a stab of pity for Dr. Foster. She'd be over the moon to be here. She'd probably do more than him too.]

network

[needlenosed]

Really hope J.A.R.V.I.S. isn't meant to be a secret group you're in. Your cover might be blown.

So far I'm good though, thanks for asking.

[valuedstrength]

He's a friend of mine. Trust me I'm not cut out for secret groups for that reason. I'd out us in a week tops.

[needlenosed]

Hold it. That's your friend's name? Not just "Jarvis"?

...Please tell me he's a robot.

[valuedstrength]

Close. He's an artificial intelligence. We call him Jarvis in person though to keep things simple.