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!
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Bianca | Pokémon (games)
1. This stick isn't a Pokédex what kind of rpg is this
These are weird - don't they have, like, attacks? Hmmh... Samu, use Hydro Pump!
[Rats and chickens are super easy for a post endgame Pokémon, and when they fall without a real fight, Bianca looks kinda disappointed - especially when they leave the cave to find the village again.]
Eeeh? That's all? I thought there would be more to explore and battle! Maybe I didn't ask the right person... [Time to tap some shoulders.] Excuse me~
2. Well duh of course there is a bag, trash from the ground must be picked after all
Waaah, this is amazing! I wish we could have one like this at home! [Bianca is fascinated by this hammerspace bag, and she'll keep taking things out just to see if it ever ends, besides, she's curious about these items. Her Pokémon seem to like them, too, they can be used as toys.
Watch out, stranger, don't trip over the pile of junk or the running giant dog and samurai-otter! ...yes, that's what Samu is. Shut up.]
3. It's like a little piece of home
[You have two options here, passing traveler. You may find Bianca tying to fish, using both the rods from the game and the one from home, but it seems the fish don't like the kind of bait she's using. Frustration is obvious in her pouting.
Or you may find her finally giving up, jumping on Samurott to surf across the river, and being attacked by the local Water Boss. Don't, worry, she's gonna battle it!
Nothing can wrong with that idea, right?]
4. Don't you know how clumsy she is
[Of course she smashes her face against the invisible wall, what else could happen? She lands on her butt and rubs her nose, staring at the... nothing in front of her with even more frustration than before.]
This isn't fun anymore... don't they have normal journeys around here?
[Define normal, Bianca, you are the one with a dog big enough to ride.]
2
He lands on the pile, crashing into some eggs and bits of salad. ]
Eh? [ WHAT EVEN JUST HAPPENED. ]
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Bianca arrives quickly to their side, too, crouching next to him and talking with a worried tone.]
Waaaah, I'm so, SO sorry! Stout can get a little excited some times... are you alright?
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I'm okay... that's... quite a large dog you have, miss.
[ He's trying to seem cheerful about it, but he's definitely on shaky ground right now. ]
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Eeeeh? You really think so? [She blinks at her Pokémon before turning to him again.] She's a pretty standard size for her kind!
[Yes, that huge mustache belongs to a 'her'.]
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Is... did you find her here? She would be considered big where I come from.
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[ And it's not often that they have a mustache that extravagant. ]
4
Ack! Miss... Are you alright?!
I am afraid the ViViD journeys are far from normal...
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I'm fine, just fine! My nose just needs a bit of ice... Is ViViD, like, the name of this region?
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Ah, you have such nice companions! ViViD... perhaps you could call it a region! But it is the game that we are inside of right now!
Please do not worry!! I will get ice for you, Miss!
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Bianca giggles.] Aah, I don't want to, like, be a bother-- but thank you for the help! The game, right, it feels so real I forget... Oh! But you can call me Bianca. What's your name?
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It would not be a bother... I just want to help in any way that I can!
But it is a pleasure to meet you, Bianca-san. My name is Rock Lee. I am Konoha's Beautiful Green Wild Beast!
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Blink, blink... did she hear that right?] Ah, it's nice to meet you Rock... but what do you mean, you're a beast?
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Ossu! I would be very glad to act as your guide, Bianca-san!!
That is my nickname. It is because in combat, I can be powerful like a beast!
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I am a ninja boy! That is correct! Ah... I am honored that you feel honored by this! [Now he looks like he's getting all emotional about this.]
1
either way, he doesn't have time to dawdle and ponder, he's got really manly stuff to do, like win whatever this thing is-
and then a phantom hand taps him on the shoulder]
FUCK! DO YA MIND?!
[upon realizing its a cute girl: he smooths out his hair with a glove]
Oh, uh....what can I do for you?
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When he suddenly reacts like that, Bianca jumps and steps back, covering her mouth with a hand and regretting her actions. Congrats, dude, great first impression.]
I'm sosososo sorry, I didn't mean to bother you! I'll just-- ask someone else!
[The pink marshmallow on top of her head is letting out some pink smoke, reacting to her Trainer's shyness. Don't worry, it's harmless... mostly...]
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Inhaling, he holds up his hands in surrender and takes a step towards her
(is she smoking? what the hell is she smoking? Is it-- is it good??)
paints on a smile and:]
Hey, I'm really sorry. You just startled me is all. Kinda unnerving to be in a place like this...did you need something?
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[She's still kinda hesitant, but at least she stops stepping back, and the pink smoke calms down to a smaller cloud. If Musharna had her eyes open, they would totally be on Kaneda, yep.]
I'm kinda lost, I only seem to find the way back to the little town... have you got better luck?
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his smile turns bashful]
I'm havin' trouble with that myself, honestly. This'll be the one time a guy admits he sucks at directions. But I think...I think it's this path.
[and he turns to point to the next area]
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Really? Waah, that's fantastic! Thank you so much, mister ah-- I'm Bianca!
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[he's just as relieved and smiley, oh thank god the smoke has stopped? maybe he can ask where she got just...whatever the hell it is she was smoking]