//TESTDRIVE11.EXE

[reparator]

//testdrive11.EXE

The sky is blue, the birds are singing, and it is a beautiful day to be a hero. And CERES sure knows that all of you people like to be heroes! So the new ViViD level is geared towards those who clearly have nothing better to do with their time than save people and take down villainous creatures!! Or, well, that seems to be the intent behind the game, but it's a little... unfinished... Welcome to CERESscape! A world dedicated to the mythical! The magical! And everything in between! You, INSERT USER INFORMATION HERE, are the hero chosen to save our world from a dire threat. Will you take up the task? Or leave us all to perish! Only you can decide our fate. Good luck, hero.

//SCENARIOS.EXE

PHASE I [ 900 ] You open your eyes, and there is a chicken pecking at your face. It's not a very happy chicken, either, but if you can manage to fend it off, then it will be clear that you are in a village. It is... medieval-esque, in that video game sort of way; the details don’t seem too clear, but if you look to your left, there’s a cow! And to your right, a well! Ignore the clear evidence of modern technology in the buildings such as lights, gas, and 21st century plumbing; CERES is dedicated to authenticity. Looks like the new ViViD level has finally been released, and everyone is invited to play, whether they want to or not. The game (because this time, that's surely what it is) will start simple. Everyone begins in the same place and every NPC villager will say the same thing: to get out of here, you have to go through the caves. They’ll shove a stick at you (“take this, it’s dangerous to go alone”) and off you go, into the caves… ! Which are full of tiny rats and more chickens. They will try to fight you, but it’s really not very effective when they’re perfectly small and average (especially when everyone still has their typical powers and abilities -- CERES didn't mess with those at all this time). The caves are winding and circular and maze-like, and to make matters even worse, the only ones around are the other poor saps stuck in this situation. But if you kill enough of the rats, you’ll get to hear the satisfying level up jingle. Congratulations! You are now level 2. It's probably satisfying just for a minute or so until you finally find your way out of those maze like caves and -- You're back in the village again. Great. PHASE II [ 930 ] You’re carrying a bag. No matter what you do, you can’t take it off, either; it’s stuck with you through thick and thin. But it is awfully heavy. Maybe you should actually open it and see what’s inside? The problem is, it’s going to take a while. The bag has clearly tapped into its true hammerspace nature; there are items for days in there, and they’re all very, very strange. You might end up covered in hats of all sorts, buried in logs as you pull out one after another, or look like you have an odd fetish for pickaxes. Maybe there’s 1/3rd of an evil turnip, half a piece of pie and an egg. Geez, what in the world are you supposed to do with all of that? PHASE III [ 1200 ] Eventually, you make it out of the caves the right way despite the harassment of the rats and chickens and the fact you'll keep perpetually getting lost. Hooray! You come out into a large, peaceful, scenic meadow, with a small river bubbling off to one side, and a house. You'll immediately notice that there’s a bridge to cross the river, but there’s someone standing in the way of that bridge. When you approach to go past him, no matter what you try to do, you won't be able to. Asking him why he won't move will only get one thing in response -- “Bring me a fish. Cooked.” Then he’ll shove a fishing rod at you and expect you to get to it. You can’t attack him, you can’t get past him -- looks like the only thing to do is to catch and cook that fish. Time to sit back, relax, and get to work. Or maybe you’ll team up with someone else and be the person in the house making sure that the fish gets cooked properly. For some reason, if you leave it too long it turns right into a pile of ashes. Weirdly though, no matter how good you are at cooking or fishing usually, it’s as if you’re right back at the metaphorical level one. Any sort of seasoning or effort to cook it faster falls flat and in the end you'll only be able to place the fish in the pan and set it on the stove, whole. This may take awhile. And if you try to cross the river itself, well... no, really, don’t try to cross the river. At least if you get eaten, you’ll just respawn back in the village, but do have fun traveling through the caves again! PHASE IV [ 1430 ] You made it through the caves. You made it across the river (with a slightly burnt fish). You’ve made it to the wide open world, and you can finally adventure to your heart’s content. You take a step forward on the road and -- A message pops up, bright red and in your face. [ Restricted Area: Members Only ] No matter what you do, you can’t go past that point. In fact, if you’re not careful and you’re going too fast, you might run face-first into it like it’s an invisible wall (which it is). Then, just like that, you're back in the village. Again. Only this time, there's a nice, blinking message -- Pay a small subscription fee to access member's content. Oh well. No big deal, you can just start again. Except then you see a cool sword and when you try to pick it up, you'll get that same message, and end up transported back to the village yet again. And again, with some shiny new armor. And again, with that attention-grabbing NPC over there. Looks like you're caught in an infinite loop here but no matter how much you inspect the pop up, there's no... actual way to pay the subscription fee (and why would you want to?). But at least you have company, because you can't be the only person who thought that sword was cool. (It was really, really cool.) BONUS [ xxxx ] What’s that on the ground in front of you? It looks like… some bunny ears? Or maybe it’s a chicken head, or a pumpkin head. Either way, the moment you touch it, you have a strong need to put it on your head -- and once it’s on, it’s not coming off. To make matters worse, each hat has an effect associated with it; the bunny ears will, in fact, randomly turn you into a cute fluffy bunny for anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour before you pop right back to yourself, whereas the pumpkin hat will, in a complete reversal, turn you into Cinderella for a bit -- complete with beautiful ball gown and the ability to talk to all of those cute fluffy bunnies. Also the rats will love you, so maybe you should go back to the caves again. Meanwhile, the chicken hat won't transform you into any odd creature, but it will inspire in the people wearing them a very real, persistent desire to build a nest. This will involve picking up twigs, trash, shiny things and whatever else catches your eye to try to build a nest out of it. You'll also try to pick up whatever food you find on the ground to eat, have the weirdest desire to lay an egg, and basically have all sorts of odd chicken-like instincts inflicted upon you. At least you look festive! [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ]

//RUN.EXE

Welcome to CEREALIA's Eleventh Test Drive Meme. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's arrival experience and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Comments

Mikleo | Tales Of Zestiria

[a_meebo]

Phase I: I've never seen a sword of quite that shape or size...

[Probably the weirdest thing that's happened to him all day has been the fact that he's waking up. Mikleo's pretty sure he'd been awake and about to confront Mayvin with the rest of his friends. He stands up, rubbing his head as he looks around warily.]

What in the world...?

[This is definitely not where he should be, and there's nobody around that he recognizes. That's not good. If this is an illusion, then it's a pretty damn powerful one, especially if it actually knocked him out before registering the fact.

After a moment, he decides to ask around and luckily finds that these people can, in fact, perceive him, but all Mikleo gets from them is that the caves are the way out. This is repeated verbatim by every somehow-low-quality person he talks to. They also keep shoving sticks at him for some reason, but he refuses them. It's not like a stick is going to do him much good. The water seraph sighs in exasperation.]

Guess I'm going to the caves....

[Mikleo sounds so overjoyed by the prospect!]

Phase II: Oh I wonder, wonder what's in my Wonder Ball?

[What the fresh hell is going on here. Mikleo's been trying to get this godforsaken bag off of him for a couple of minutes and it just refuses to do so. When he opens it up to see what's inside it, the damn thing's just full of a seemingly infinite supply of pebbles. Pebbles. The annoyed look on Mikleo's face is probably priceless to anyone watching, but he doesn't even care.]

These things can be used as a distraction, maybe, but not much more than that.

[Mikleo mutters darkly under his breath as he closes the bag. When the bag itself is the only thing that has any worth, that's pretty bad in his books.]

Phase III: Sushido!

[Well, Mikleo finally got out of those stupid caves. Yet, this looks even less familiar than the village, and that's saying a lot. Granted, it had been foolish of him to hope that getting through the caves would be it and he'd be home free.

The fisherman is, surprisingly, not helping his mood.]

A cooked fish.

[He sounds like he's about ready to drown the NPC. The only response from the fisherman he gets is the fishing pole shoved at him. Mikleo stares at it for a long moment before sighing and taking it.]

Whatever.

[It just has to be a type of dish he actively struggles with, doesn't it? Still, while water is his element, Mikleo doesn't like the feeling he's getting from the river. He feels it might be in his best interest to just do what the guy says and get this over with.]

This is stupid.

phase i

[dereban]

[ There is one teenage girl on the trek to the caves as well; when she's told that it's dangerous to go alone (thanks, memes) she easily complies, especially since she kind of has nothing else on her, really. Which may be why she attempts to flag him down, raising a hand and calling out. ]

Hey, you! You're not an NPC, right? You don't mind if I join your party, do you? [ She is hoping that she caught someone capable of combat because whole Inaba knows simple self defense, she is not a fighter by any means. ]

[a_meebo]

[He's actually startled to be flagged down by what appears to be a totally normal human girl. Mikleo hesitates for a moment before shrugging. It's not like he can very well leave her here, and she did talk to him.]

I'm not sure what an NPC is, but I'm guessing not.

[The way Mikleo looks at her is on the cautious side.]

And I don't mind if you join up. Do you know how to fight?

[dereban]

I learned basic karate, self defense from my friend. And I know a little bit of wrestling.

[ It's enough to get her by when it comes to close combat fights. Ranged, however, is more of a problem. ]

But I wouldn't think the first area would be too difficult...

ii.

[undaunts]

That is so many rocks.

[Here's a helpful cheerful girl, peering thoughtfully at the bag. And Mikleo (he's so blue, he'd fit right into the RWBY world).]

Do you...really like rocks, or... does ViViD just not like you?

[a_meebo]

[Mikleo is getting suspicious of all these humans being able to see him. What on earth is going on here???]

Probably it doesn't like me. I'm not into rock collecting.

[He crosses his arms, looking wary. In Mikleo's experience, most people who can see him will try to attack him. Sorry, Ruby.]

Not to be rude or anything, but who are you?

[undaunts]

I'm Ruby! [A beat.

Yeah that doesn't explain much, really.]

Um. That's my name, I mean. And... I'm a Huntress! And... I like weapons? [...] I'm actually not sure what you're asking for with that question, sorry.

phase iii;

[earthpulse]

Miracle of miracles, I agree with you.

[That's a lie. She agrees with him more often than she'd like to admit.]

You do your part, and I'll do mine. Three cheers for teamwork. Hip, hip, hurray.

[Said in a completely non-cheerful tone, of course. But she's not exactly wrong to assume that a water seraph should take care of the fishing part.]

[a_meebo]

[The same goes for himself. They can just agree to never admit it to each other and everything will be fine.]

...Well, at least you're the least likely person to burn it.

[He's...too aware of how poorly he does with food that deals with fire. Mikleo brings out his staff and gets closer to the water's edge. For a moment, all he does is watch. Then, he abruptly uses his staff to manipulate a 'bubble' of water, and inside that bubble is a slightly panicky fish. Mikleo floats it over to Edna.]

Do you have a bucket or do you just want to grab it?

[Mikleo sounds innocent, but they both know it's fake.]

[earthpulse]

[She stares at the fish in the bubble, uncaring of its current existential crisis. No, she does not have a bucket, nor does she want to use her hands (gloves) to grab it.

..............Uuuuuuuuuuuuggggghhhhhh.]

Stay here. Both of you.

[As she runs off to grab a bucket from that nearby house. Does it belong to someone else? Probably, but who cares about that? They'll only be using it for a little bit.]

iii!

[unwaverings]

[ Sorey will make his way out of the caves a little after Mikleo has, making his way over to the NPC and getting his weird new mission, but the moment he turns to go fish, uh — is that his best friend over there by the river? He's almost inclined to think this is some mean trick by CERES, but — it can't be, right? That has to be him. Well, he'll know when he talks to him! ]

Mikleo ...? [ Waaaving his hands in the air, one of which now has a fishing pole in it, as he runs over to him with his face lit up with excitement. ] Heeey, Mikleo! Is that really you?!

[ Man, he has been without him here for way too long, okay. ]

oh my god Sorey

[a_meebo]

[Hearing Sorey is more than slightly relieving. Fortune is, for once, smiling on him. Mostly. The fishing pole being waved around like that is actually a cause for some slight alarm. He can't help the first thing that comes out of his mouth.]

Careful with that, Sorey!

[The last thing Mikleo wants is for Sorey to accidentally hurt someone or (more likely) himself with that thing in some way. There are way too many possible ways for him to do that, frankly.]

he's 2excited

[unwaverings]

[ Naaaah, he's fine! He'll put his arms down soon enough now that he's caught Mikleo's attention anyway. And he'll stop running once he's reached him. Aaah.

That scolding definitely sounds like Mikleo! ]

It is you, isn't it! What're you doing here?

phase 2

[shikisha]

[ Where other people seem to have gross, boring plain old brown leather bags... Nonon's not quite the same as everyone else. Somehow she's managed to trade her's in at an NPC for a pink and black leather with little skull and crossbones on it. Leave it up to her to make sure everything she wears whether she wants to or not, follows her unique sort of aesthetic design choices.

Which means to say, she can't help but sit on a table in one of the taverns here, watching the boy she doesn't know empty his bag out onto the floor. ]

Looks like they wanted to make sure you didn't forget to keep yourself grounded.

[ Get it? It's a bad pun. She can only snicker while she watches, catching sight of something slipping out of the bag. It's a piece of paper, and it happens to fly in an almost too perfect arc from Mikleo's bag to Nonon's hand.

Oh guess what it is? Nothing too exciting, just a certain image that has Nonon breaking out in a horribly obnoxious sort of laughter. ]

OH MY GOD jklfdshakj you're a perfect human being and hi isn't that a familiar image XD

[a_meebo]

[Mikleo will never be able to escape puns. Ever. That's the actual worst one he's heard in a while, though.]

Ugh. Or maybe it's for giving the peanut gallery something to think about that isn't terrible jokes.

[He rubs his face. There's something unsettlingly familiar about the fleeting glimpse of that image he got.

Still...he probably won't throw one of the pebbles at her. Probably.]

I had to!!!

[shikisha]

[ Nonon might not be Edna, but she's got the tiny height, and obnoxious personality to give the seraph a run for her money, should she ever meet her. For now though, she has found an easy target, something more fun than going back into the woods and grinding on rats. ]

The only place in a theater that I'd sit in is in front of the orchestra or in the box seats. Though I can't say I wouldn't still chime in from time to time~.

[ She's a rich girl through and through, and the theater is where she belongs after all, she can't help but correct him. ...Assuming he doesn't throw that pebble in which all bets will be off. ]

phase i

[scatteredbones]

[ Have a nudge from your favorite not-nerd as they both enter the cave. The prospect doesn't excite Rose that much either, but there's no use moping about it, is there? ]

What's the matter? Don't you and Sorey normally wet your pants with excitement every time we explore these dark holes?

Oh, I get it, it's 'cause you're not together this time!

[a_meebo]

[As long as it doesn't look haunted or be a home to wild dogs or giant spiders, they should be okay!

But holy crap the way she phrases that. Mikleo sighs and decides it's in his best interest to not comment on her second question's choice of words.]

It's a generic cave with nothing actually in it.

[...He won't say it, but it's true that exploring places full of history is usually more enjoyable with Sorey. Nerds of a feather and all.]

I'm assuming, anyway. I doubt that these caves will have any answers when not even the people we talk to give us anything useful.

[scatteredbones]

You don't know what's in it, though! There could be treasure, right? If we loot it, we can use it to trade for information back in the town - after all, everything's got a price!

[ Spoken like a true merchant. ]

Maybe we'll even find a historic artifact or two for you to geek out over. Or it could be just full of giant spiders...

iii c:

[patrimony]

[ She's already begun to fish, albeit a bit awkwardly so. (she can barely figure out how to use it without any sort of instructions...). It's not exactly anything that she's used to, that's for sure. Though, at the corner of her eyes, she sees someone familiar. ] That's--!

[ She turns completely, eyes going wide before she starts making her way towards Mikleo. ] Lord Mikleo! [ -- The look on his face previously, though... Was he not fond of fishing? ]

She's a precious princess omg.

[a_meebo]

[He starts a little, not expecting the familiar voice to call out to him. Mikleo recovers quickly, though, and waves at her.]

Princess Alisha. [It's kind of a question, kind of a statement. He's surprised she can see him, but he'll count his blessings.] Stuck here, too?

[The seraph glances at her fishing pole briefly, before adding, politely:]

Do you want a little help catching a fish?

mikleo is precious, too!

[patrimony]

--Yes, I'm afraid I'm not well-versed in fishing, so I'd be grateful for the help. But, Lord Mikleo--are you not fond of this sort of thing?

[ Or, perhaps he was in the same boat as her... In that case, it could be a learning experience for the both of them. ]

More importantly, are you faring well here?

phase ii;

[immobileyes]

[ Mary's bag? She still hasn't checked, but with how she's struggling to haul her stupidly heavy bag along, it won't take long.

It's glancing over at Mikleo, a bit nervously, that makes her pause and glance at her bag, now in utter dismay. ]

T-they're really filled with rocks??

[a_meebo]

[On one hand, it's nice that so many can perceive him. On the other, it's still weird after having his existence ignored by humans in general.]

Mine certainly is. I don't know if yours would be. I think I saw someone pulling logs out of theirs.

[Mikleo continues to frown at his.]

And you can't get rid of these bags, either.

[immobileyes]

[ It's okay, buddy, she's not full human anyway. ]

Logs? How do they even fit in there??