test drive meme # 3

[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 #3 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 the tinier inhabitants of the Forest of the Fey are acting a little cheeky. 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 -- the sprites that reside within the Forest of the Fey seem to be exceptionally active, today, and tricks abound wherever you look. KINGS AND QUEENS. Typically, the sprites of the Forest of the Fey remain within the protective canopy of the surroundings. However, there seems to be something different in the air, and these little bastards are flitting about and giving out flower crowns to everyone. They are beautifully made, intricate and gloriously decorative, and most people would be happy to adorn one! There's just one problem, though -- they don't come off. No matter how hard you try, those damn flower crowns are stuck on your head, and you cannot remove them no matter how hard you try. Hope you enjoy being a fairy princess for a day. And, if you are alighted with a flower crown, your skin turns the same color as whatever flowers now sit upon your head. A wreath of blue roses? Congratulations, Violet Beauregard -- you're now as blue as a blueberry. The effect wears off in about an hour, and you can remove the flower crown then -- but have fun being every shade of the rainbow as the sprites take their time to torment the new arrivals. BALLOONS FOR EVERYONE. Normally, there are some animals that wander within the ancient stone buildings of the Temple. Tiny little white bats, sheep that grow on the vine . . . that sort of thing. However, the sprites have elected to add a little bit more flair the Temple, and balloon animals have invaded the living space. Where the sprites got the idea for balloon animals, no one can really be sure -- Astoria seems to think the sprites are waltzing through the spirit realm and seem to have garnered an idea there, whatever that's supposed to mean. So, no matter where you go, there are balloon animals. Little dogs, brightly colored fish, dinosaurs, giraffes . . . except they seem to move, and make noise, and act like their real counterparts. Tiny balloon dogs nip at your heels, balloon fish flicker about in the waters that sprinkle themselves throughout the Forest, and balloon birds float through the skies. Bonus? If you pop them, they explode into (biodegradable) glitter. DECAYED DECADENCE. Despite the shenanigans from the sprites, however, there seems to be something happening within the Temple that may be cause of concern. Flower crowns and balloon animals aside, there seem to be odd spots of the Temple that suddenly wilt . . . flowers that bend over and wither at a moment's notice, saplings that seem to creak as if suddenly dried from the inside out . . . and it seems, oddly enough, that it happens whenever you, an Arrival, get closer to the wild life. Astoria seems to think that something is wrong . . . perhaps something the Circle members brought back from their last trip. An illness, or something more? Care to poke about and see how far you're willing to take it? Or does your magical gift enable the protection of plant growth? Try out your green thumb and see if you can help. 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

[killful]

[ Assassin's face pulls into a frown. ]

Sounds like any other rayshift to me. Master should still be in Chaldea, right? We don't have any way to reach 'em, though... Damn.

[ This is bad. It seems like a sudden, unauthorized rayshift will be the least of their problems, too. ]

If it ain't us, then it's gotta be something in this place. [ He perks up. ] Hehe. Whaddaya say we go do some investigating?

[airgetlarm]

Well...

[There's a pause, but after a quick deliberation, Bedivere nods.]

That is a wise course of action. Perhaps we will find other Servants and along the way, we can determine if this is a singularity or not.

[He's so serious...! But he can't help it and it's warranted in this situation.]

[killful]

Wow, someone's all fired up! Haha. See what I did there? [ WHY WON'T YOU LAUGH AT HIS JOKES!!! But Assassin does some arm stretches. If Bedivere's going to be like this, he probably shouldn't slack off. ]

Alright, time to get serious. You'll be the good cop; I'll be the bad cop. Bad cop gets all the donuts, right?

[airgetlarm]

[He gets it... He gets it that's why he won't laugh!!]

If need be, I will not be the soft one. So far though, there hasn't been anyone or anything that poses an actual danger.

... Assassin? Have you been able to use your Noble Phantasm?

[killful]

[ He answers that with a complete transformation. Silver arm, flaxen hair—it's the knight's spitting image. ]

It ain't my Noble Phantasm, but this is all I can do. It ain't as bad as before either. I just gotta work on my acting skills! ... Damn, I actually gotta work. What a shitty downgrade...

[ He is saying all this with Bedivere's face and voice. ]

[airgetlarm]

[Frown!!]

I see. That is enough.

So what you're saying is that you have an ability that is similar to what you had before...

It's the same with my arm. There is no holy light, but rather it is simply a burning warmth like a common fire.

[god just say it just burns stuff]

[killful]

[ He laughs and it immediately becomes clear that their sense of humor is just worlds apart. ]

Oh, sorry. Yeah, that sucks. Maybe they got a limiter on us or something? Mm... or not. If the Grail's keeping us here, you'd think we'd know a little more about this place. [ Where's the free stock knowledge, Grail-kun? Hey? ] It's gotta be something else.

[ He is still disguised as Bedivere. ]

[airgetlarm]

Did you have a voice echo in your head upon awakening?

... Also, you do not need my face anymore. Please desist.

[killful]

Why? I like to think I'm the hotter twin.

[He walks around Bedivere with a swagger in his step.]

And yeah, I heard it! But it's nothing new, you know? Same old shit.

[HE'S STILL BEDI]

Then I ended up here!

[airgetlarm]

[What is this feeling... So sudden and new...]

I understand that your easygoing demeanor does not impede your impeccable combat abilities, but I implore you to use a face other than my own.

[killful]

[love :) pls no

But if Bedivere insists, then he'll change. He can change for him! His hair is purple and everything!

Uh, wait.]

Understood, senpai. Uh, I mean, Sir Bedivere. I don't know how I'll find the answers to our questions, but I'll do my best!

[airgetlarm]

[He only loves his King and Master and fellow knights and in that exact order!!

Also why this]

... I can't tell if you're trying to cheer me up or frustrate me.

1/2

[killful]

[He changes back for real.]

Why would I ever frustrate you, Bedivere? What would I get out of that, huh?

[killful]

...

Well, I'm just an outlaw, so you don't have to force yourself to get along with me. I'm just forcing myself to go along with you.

[airgetlarm]

...

[And shockingly enough? Bedivere bows his head low at Assassin.]

I must apologize. I am letting my inherent discontent and concerns cloud my better judgment. Leaning on my preconceptions does not better our situation.

[killful]

[ He nearly does a double take. A knight, bowing before him? That's new. ]

Haha! It's cool. Wow, never thought I'd see the day. Well, it's not like I wasn't being an ass either. I better get serious too.

[ He stretches, getting ready to transform into someone else but... there's no need if Bedivere's like that, is there? An exemplary knight, pure and just—

Besides, right now... there's no doppelganger to tell him what he should and shouldn't be. ]

[airgetlarm]

You may be an outlaw Assassin, but it does not make you less capable.

[It just makes him deadly, an asset in itself.]

I am worried about our Master. That's contributed to my manner towards you.

[killful]

[ He smiles. Well, he was never worried about being incompetent... ]

Me too, but I'm sure they'll be just fine without us. We'll work on getting back. All they gotta focus on is restoring the human order. Right?

[airgetlarm]

[but he's worried about their wallet and impulse summonings]

True...

[Bedivere trails off and his eyes are contemplative, serious, still clearly concerned. But he'll let it go for now.]

Whoever has brought us here... Maybe they could also help restore the human order in return.

[killful]

[ JUST WAIT FOR PAID GACHA, MASTEEEEER

He seriously doubts they will, but he's a negative person on principle. Still, it'd be a little too cruel to dampen Bedivere's hopes when he's already worried for their master, so Assassin masks his thoughts with one of his usual grins. ]

Eh, we'll see. Now let's get investigating! The sooner we get our info, the sooner we can get back to more important stuff. Like Master! And donuts!