PHASE I [ 9 00 ] 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. ] |
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Snow White || Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs || OTA
[Snow White had had no issues with the chickens and the rats, not having wanted to hurt, well, anyone, such was her nature. While they were programmed as such, Snow had still somehow befriended all the animals she came across. Snow did see the sword, she had tried to talk to other villagers but not much luck.]
Oh dear! [She put her hands out in front of her, talking to the chickens and rats that were following her.] Whatever are we going to do? It seems we can't really go anywhere! Do you know where we can go? [The rats and chickens gave eager nods. Yes, that's right, they understand her.]
Maybe we can find the owner of that nice, pretty sword! Oh I'm sure they must miss it so!
Now then, let's start looking for someone who might want the sword.
[The rats and chickens all made a noise, gesturing this way and that.]
OH! You think it's them? Well, let's go ask! [Picking up her skirt, Snow White made her way over to the other figure nearby and tapped them on the shoulder.]
Excuse me! Excuse me please!
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He knew he shouldn't have touched the cool sword.
When he feels the tap on his shoulder and hears a familiar voice, Terra snaps out of his thoughts. He turns, eyes wide in surprise.]
--Snow White?! [A Princess. This... could be bad.] What are you doing here?
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[There is abundant squeaking and clucking at her feet.]
Oh they think it simply must be yours, and I quite agree. You have such a look about you!
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Well, it's not mine, but I did try to pick it up. It sent me straight back to where I started.
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And you have a point, I guess it's dangerous to leave weapons lying around. How about I stand guard over it until we figure out how to move it?
[He's less concerned about people getting hurt -- this is just a game, after all -- and more concerned about the glitch sending people in circles. But he doubts Snow White would understand how ViViD works right off the bat.]
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[And it suits Terra just fine. This way he can guard her, too.]
I should apologise for when we first met, when you got scared and ran off into the woods. Did you find your way out safely?
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I haven't run into any woods, we've only just met! Do I remind you of someone else, perhaps?
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Ah! ...Yes, Miss? Is something the matter?
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[She giggles, no judgement from this one. The rats and chickens at her feet are now moving between the two of them. Partially because of Lee's new abilities granted by the pumpkin.]
My new little friends here though you might be the owner of that pretty sword we found! We came to ask if that's just so!
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Ah, your friends must be very smart creatures! I do not want to doubt their instincts, but I have never owned a sword before! I have made this far using mostly my own two fists!
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Made it this is far? Have you had very far to go?
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[Then he gives a determined nod.]
Yes! As a ninja who cannot use ninjutsu, I had to work hard to become strong enough to prove myself!
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[So the idea of a young woman speaking to living creatures, even if they were animals, was not so strange.]
...yes?
[She turned fully when addressed directly, not wanting to let on that she had been quietly watching her out of the corner of her eye until that moment. It was rude.]
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Is that true?
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[While Iris did visibly flinch at the mention of the blade--it brought about painful memories still too fresh in her mind to have been forgotten--she still offered a smile of gratitude as she shook her head.]
No, it's not.
Where did you say you located this pretty sword?
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[Not personally. There were blade back at the temple, but after everything, she would just as soon keep them and herself at a safe distance.]
Why didn't you bring it with you? If you were so worried about it being lost, it might have been easier to bring it and show people.
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[She waved a delicate hand in the air, immediately dismissing the notion. Exploration of the mysterious cave--and, perhaps, this sword spoken of--aside, she was in no rush.]
You needn't worry. You haven't disturbed me at all.
In fact...getting to speak to others besides myself...helps, a little.
[She would rather that than be left completely alone in this place.]
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