The desert. It's hot. It's sandy. It's filled with creepy monsters and things. But mostly it's hot and sandy and there's a whole lot of nothing. You appear and wonder "why am I here? What is there to do here? Is that a cow skull? Do cows live out here in this desert? How can cows live in the desert? Maybe it's a horse?" These are all very complicated questions with equally complicated answers but there's no one to provide them no matter where you look. Instead, you're given the option of walking. Forwards, backwards, to your right, to your left, any direction is yours to take. Try not to die from dehydration or something, that would be a sad ViViD death and the cow-horse skull might start laughing at you. I mean, you'll just start over from the beginning anyway but still.
Welcome to ViViD's new line of Vacation Spotlights: Desert Edition.
Moo-Neigh.
 One wish, that's all you get.
Make it snappy, I don't have all day.
Actually, I have eternity but I just don't want to spend it with you.
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PHASE I [ 6 00 ] So.
There's sand.
In fact, there's so much sand that there's probably already sand in your shoes and your shorts and all sorts of other places that aren't fun to have sand in. It stretches for miles and miles, in large dunes and deep dips, and above it all there are three suns that beat down upon everyone's backs. Why three? Because why not, that's why. Enjoy the sunshine and try not to get sunburnt.
You've got a long ways to travel before you find anything but sand, but thankfully you're not alone -- there are a bunch of unfortunate stragglers who are out with you, so it's time to make some friends as you travel. You've got pleeeeenty of time. No water though. Or food. Or... anything but human interaction.
Thankfully, it's only a matter of time before you stumble across your hot new ride. Thankfully, it seats two, so you and your new friend can enjoy a cramped road trip. You, this relative stranger, and the great... sandy... unknown! Good luck!
PHASE II [ 645 ] If you prefer to not take your ride, you're going to wish that you did soon enough. Every desert level has to have desert monsters, after all. You're walking through the sand, trying to make it to somewhere that isn't sand, and then suddenly, the sand worms appear.
Or.
Well.
They try.
Unfortunately, they're little more than 5 or 6 inches tall apiece, and they'll mostly try to eat your shoes and socks. How scary.
Alternatively, if you have actually taken that sweet ride of yours on an adventure through the desert, you're going to hit something at one point. It makes a rather pitiful scream and there's a small bump underneath your tire before your car comes to a stop. You just ran over a sand worm.
Anyone who is intrepid enough to kill a sand worm though will find one interesting thing about them. They're filled with water, and you are very, very thirsty. Ew.
PHASE III [ 1000 ] It sure is hot.
And unless you've devoured one of those poor, sad, screaming sand worms, there's no water to be found. It feels as though you've been wandering in circles for ages, so perhaps it's really no surprise that the heat starts to get to you. First come the headaches, and the thirst. Then the dizziness and vertigo.
And finally, the mirages.
What you see is a waterfall cascading into a crystal pool, beautiful and pristine and painfully cool. It's just begging for you to come enjoy it, and -- wait, there's one more thing. Standing in front of that pool is either someone you care about immensely or someone you hate immensely.
And either way, the things they say or do will be the same. First they reach for you, beckoning, and they they start to detail all of the things they'd like to do to you. NSFW, SFW, loving or cruel or so many things in between, all that's honestly consistent is that it's pretty shocking.
Oh, and awkwardly, it seems as though anyone with you can see and hear that hallucination too. That's embarrassing.
PHASE IV [ 1215 ] Eventually, though, you'll find your destination. Or... at least, it seems like it should be the destination. The tiny temple is at least a change from the endless sand, and in the middle of it, there's a lamp. That sure looks familiar.
If you rub the lamp, of course, you'll release the genie, and he'll glance at you, and inspect his fingernails as though you're hardly worth his time, and offer you one, single wish.
As soon as you make it, well... You'll get the opposite of what you wish for with a sudden apology note in your hand. The card will read "Sorry, this level isn't entirely finished yet - Mosley" before immediately disappearing. Your wish will only apply in ViViD, of course, but hopefully you didn't wish for anything too crazy, or you might have made the level Much Harder for everyone around you.
BONUS [ why o'clock ] One second you're walking along the desert sand, enjoying the eternally same view, and the next there's a sudden pinch on your ankle, and a scorpion monster scuttles away quickly. Whoops, looks like you've been stung.
But it's not poison, it would seem. Aside from feeling a little odd and having a mild fever, you're fine.
More importantly, you've now found yourself in possession of some... new powers (a la Spider-man), and they're...
Well, they're useless.
Maybe you can summon water now, but... only sulfur water. Perhaps you can now make pretty light shows and that's about all. You can see the future but only the next three seconds. The possibilities are endless, but what's for certain is that they're all completely and utterly useless to you.
What the fuck, ViViD.
[ 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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Malfurion Stormrage | Warcraft
[Malfurion held his hand over his eyes to shield his vision from the harsh sun. Daylight gave him a hard time as it was, nevermind in such an intensity. He watched inquisitively as a fellow straggler starts trying to work the odd vehicle, slowly circling it to investigate it closer. He eyes it suspiciously, sniffs at it a few times and then makes a face. Smelt like some horrid goblin-built abomination.]
Is that truly the best thing to do? Surely there are better ways to go about travelling through here that are not quite so... [How does one say vile and obnoxious without being rude?] noisy and dangerous.
Phase III
[While the respite from the harsh desert was welcome, he was greatly suspicious of the oasis. He was used to tapping into the natural environment, but there was something different about this place, he just could not quite put his finger on what.
He holds his staff out, momentarily blocking those behind him from passing.]
Hold, friend- we should tread carefully, I sense something is amiss.
Wildcard
[Pick your own scenario!]
iii
It proves fruitful when Malfurion stops them during their walk, telling him that something isn't quite right with the area. ]
What can you sense?
[ He draws his sword, but if it's anything magical he won't be able to disable it like he used to. While he might still lead the army of the Inquisition now, along with the templars stationed there, he hasn't been taking lyrium for a long time now.
All he has is his blade. ]
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[He withdrew his staff for the human to stand next to him, he was familiar with humans, and he was certainly grateful to have one of their knights to stand alongside him in such an unknown land.]
I fear if the force that is responsible for such corruption still lingers within the oasis may turn hostile, or attempt to spread its madness to us. [He paused for a moment to eye the landscape one more time, then let out a sigh.] I may be fretting over nothing, but I think we should tread carefully at the very least.
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Though he can't say he isn't surprised by that either. ]
It wouldn't be the first time. Be on your guard, we do not know what lies ahead.
[ It's a confirmation that he understands, at least, and that he's ready for anything that may appear ahead of them. ]
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What does alarm him is the woman standing by the water's edge. He all but drops his guard and stares in disbelief for a moment, before smiling. Completely oblivious as to how much more difficult his little mirage was going to make this level for everyone around him.]
Tyrande?
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This, for all he knows, can be as such. Though he'd rather not jump to conclusions either. First, he asks: ] This is someone you know?
GASP | Phase I
"Oh no no. I do not intend to use this...cart to cross these sands. It would be an insult to the Skywrath, and my myself, to use it."
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"While I cannot say I am familiar with 'Skywrath', I understand the sentiment." And with that he transforms into a large bird before addressing the stranger again, "Perhaps we should be on our way then?"
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"Oh, that is a fine form you have chosen!" He stood and stretched, lifting himself into the air. "I do not know the way but it would be a pleasure to fly alongside you. What is your name?"
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"Malfurion Stormrage, and the pleasure is mine, friend."
III
There's quite a bit amiss, yes.
[Her voice is a little clipped, stern, but not angry or unkind. Yet.]
You are Malfurion Stormrage, yes?
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Regardless, he regarded the young woman warmly as he would anyone else. He did not think much on the slight edge of her tone, Tyrande had desensitized him to it ages ago.]
I am indeed. Though I do not believe we have met.
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We have not. The masters of this place...have drawn upon the memories of others to craft ways to unsettle us. I've seen you in such illusions, while traveling with your brother.
[She'll...just let that statement hang there for now, wondering what his reaction might be.]
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Illidan?! But that's... [The shock quickly faded, and logic and reasoning set in. He looked down and shook his head, with a sad smile.] I'm sorry, you must be mistaken, my brother perished several years ago.
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I'm not mistaken. He's not dead, and even if he were, this place distorts time. Your brother is here. Unless there's another Illidan Stormrage, about your height, with horns and batlike wings.
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I... he is here. [That revelation left Malfurion rather conflicted, and very confused. Especially how this young woman seemed to know so much of him.] So, you are a... friend of his?
[Not that Illidan had ever really made many attempts to making friends in the past...]
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Yes, a friend. He's definitely that.
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[If had indeed made a friend, he could not have descended into the madness that had overtaken him in his later years, but that did not mean he would not act on his addiction to magic. There were simply so many things he wished to ask- but then he once again remembered their rather harsh predicament.]
Ah, goodness, look at me, bombarding you with questions, in such an inhospitable place. I am sorry.
[He raised a feathered arm over her head to shield her from the light. To be a friend of Illidan's she either had to be an incredibly kind soul, or he fed her a great many lies, or perhaps a bit of both. Either way, he did not want any harm to befall her. Even after all he had done, he did not want his brother to continue to lose himself to his own isolation.]
Come, we should get you out of here, little one. I cannot believe such a harsh sun can be good for even those who are accustomed to staying out in the day.
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[Rei gives the enormous feathered arm an odd look, a little bit unsure of why it had feathers. Was he part bird? And why was he doing this? She was sure Illidan hadn't told her the whole truth about his brother, but this surprised her, and she definitely seems surprised. It makes her more curious than anything, wanting to hear the other side of the tale. Tyrande was too harsh, and her opinion as biased as Illidan's own...]
I'm quite alright, and your questions are perfectly normal. I've born worse, but I have noticed a building in the distance. If you'd prefer to talk in the shade, it's to the west.
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[Perhaps there was more hope for his brother than he thought. Perhaps she could succeed where he and Tyrande had failed, and talk his brother from his destructive path.
But first thing's first. He glanced to the west and nodded, and in a moment transformed himself into a large bird and shifted so that she could climb onto his back.]
Here, get on, I shall take us there. I am sure Illidan would not be pleased should something befall you because I was negligent.
[Elune knows Illidan did not need any more fodder to feed his longstanding grudge.]
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Thank you then, Malfurion.
[She'll accept it, even if she's not in danger.]
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Whups! Sorry about that, I suppose I must be a bit pigeon toed!
[Get it? Because he's a bird? Oh he thinks he's so clever for that one. There's notice to break the ice like dad jokes and puns, right? Tread carefully, Rei, he's got more of those in his arsenal.]
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That was...groan-worthy.
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Really? I thought it was humorous. You know, I could always get Illidan to laugh with my jokes when we were children. [He pauses to think for a moment.] I can't recall when that changed.
[Not that Malfurion ever stopped, much to the displeasure of everyone around him over the age of eight.]
Though I suppose sometimes my bird humor just goes over people's heads.
[And he's laughing again.]
I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shall stop.
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It's alright. Really. [She looks up at Malfurion with slightly sad eyes.]
I don't think I've heard him laugh yet. It's hard to think he's capable of it sometimes, because he's hurting.
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