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.
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no subject
You're a ...mage? [ Not that he knew mages could actually disappear like that. The circle would have been in an uproar if that kind of magic was allowed, surely. He can't doubt his vision though, because whatever she's doing isn't normal ]
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She sweeps into an overly polite bow (okay real talk her outfit is like 12 layers of robes how is she not roasted--)] I am called Kaguya, my lord. My capability with magic is not as great as my betters, but they are at your disposal. I will do my best. [She straightens and looks to him expectantly for an introduction.
Calm down, Kaguya, you're not at court tone down the courtly overly polite manners.]
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Where are you from?
[ He isn't sure if she'll name a place in Thedas, but there would be no harm in asking. ]
I hope you won't fault me for being a little wary, but for now if you can help then I will take it.
[ Even if her magic seems utterly unfamiliar. ]
There are others I need to find, I'm sure you must be the same.
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Well-- I suppose it does not hurt to say. [Where she's from, EVERYONE knew, after all] I am from a place beyond the mortal realm. Some call it the 'mystic realm'-- I suppose some may call it 'heaven.' But I have been spending quite some time on Earth, a place called Japan.
[But she nods solemnly, because yes she needs to find the others and she looks around at the vast desert again.] Yes, I do. Though, I do not doubt they have scattered my army far and wide, if whoever did this brought them at all. [She looks to him curiously] Is there anyone you are specifically looking for, my lord?
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The fade? [ In which case she could be a spirit or a demon, but her words don't lend themselves to either. ] Though I don't know the other names you mentioned.
For now, let's concentrate on the task at hand. I need to find anyone from the Inquisition, so I imagine together we should be able to find a few of our friends.
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But her ability to grow giant bamboo stalks and trees and all might if they need shade for a while. Small victories.] I am not sure of this Fade you speak of, but it is possible they are the same. I am sorry I do not know more.
[Kaguya taps her cheek thoughtfully I should look for Lord Taigong Wang before the others, he would be the most helpful here. He is a mystic like I am. [The other Mystics......... Probably not the best to start off with. Even Taigong Wang's arrogance might be A Bit Much here, but Kaguya's confident she could get him tone it back some. Maybe.] But if it's Lady Da Ji...
[There's a long pause and Kaguya looks a little. Pained. Quickly she continues:] Well. Hopefully we will not run into her first.
[Belatedly she adds politely:] Might I know your name, my lord?
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The fade is still a mystery to many of us, so I do not think you need to apologise for that. [ He shifts then, draping his arm over the hilt of his blade that's strapped to his side. ]
Cullen Rutherford, Commander of the Inquisition. [ Because that will mean something to her?? Not. ] What might I call you?
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You may just call me Kaguya, though I suppose I am commander of an army as well. We do not have a name, [But they're s big enough force to be hailed an army for sure.] but I suppose it does not matter much here. My army is hardly an army scattered like this. [Kaguya straightens, looking a little sad and worried about that.] I hope they are all alright. The other commanders will be fine, I am sure, but the common soldiers... [She bites her bottom lip, worried, then shakes her head.]
But my worries are not your worries. Please forgive me. Shall we depart, my lord? If you get overheated please let me know, I may be able to get us some shade, if this place has not taken away all of my power.
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That really isn't necessary. At this time we are working as allies. I know how you feel, there are plenty amongst us that haven't been trained and would be vulnerable on their own. We should go, I can last with a little heat for the time being.
[ Trying to find others trapped here is more of a priority, anyway. ]
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No Kaguya, your manners are just too much even y your time period's standards] Forgive me, my lord, but I do not understand. Is my bowing... offensive, somehow? You do not seem very comfortable with it.Perhaps it is a difference between our cultures... [She trails off, looking a little troubled.] I will attempt to do it less. [World's politest possible fade demon thing??
But she starts walking--there's a lot of ground to cover here, after all, and the little bells on her headdress and robes jingle pleasantly as she walks.] I do not suppose any of this looks familiar to you, does it? I can not say I have ever been here before, myself.
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It's just... unlike what I'm used to. [ He explains, though at least she seems to be understanding on that. It's when the bells start jingling that he truly takes in how odd her clothes are. Originally he'd been more focused on whether she could pose as a threat, now... ]
I haven't seen anything like it. [ Or hasn't had a chance to, anyway. Places like this exist, closer to Tevinter than where Skyhold is back home, but he never ventures out and leads the army from within. It's different. ]
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Nor have I. [She suspects they might be from completely different worlds, and if what the powerpoint thing in the beginning was true, their respective worlds were destroyed, by those alien things, apparently. Kaguya frowns a little-- world hopping and such doesn't phase her, but...]
Does the name 'Orochi' mean anything to you? He was threatening my world with extinction before this mess. I do not want to believe he succeeded, but it is all a little much to take in. [That there was a greater threat than the Orochi out there is terrifying, honestly, and she'd rather hope first that this was just his doing, something she could undo eventually]
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[ Because he doubts they'd wind up in a desert if he succeeded in trying to get to the Black City to become a god... ]
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[Wherever 'here' was.] Then perhaps the...presentation when we arrived was truthful. For now, it might be wise to assume such, since we do not know anything else. [Better to just take it at face value until they learn more and all.
She shields her face a little with the sakaki wand and squints through the sun. She's too pale for this, she's going to be a lobster by the end of the day. Alas. It looks like there's something ahead waiting for them at least--a brightly colored something.
Nice care bare.]
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His face sets into a permanent frown as he takes this with newfound determination, wanting to see if the others were here, wanting to see how much was actually true here. He wasn't in the accidental future that Alexius sent the now-Inquisitor and Dorian to, he doesn't know how it felt, but maybe this could be something like that?
It's more hopeful than his past would normally allow him to be, but if he doesn't cling onto some kind of hope, he might explode here and now. ]
Let's keep moving.
[ His strides strengthen with energy now, stepping ahead of her as he heads towards whatever the brightly coloured object is. When he finally reaches it, mind you, he has ... no idea what to do with it. ]
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Kaguya shakes her head briefly to clear those thoughts away and straightens up a little more. No, nope! She has her duty to fulfill, and she will fulfill it. Even if failure's a possibility, she can't think of it as one.
She has to quicken her steps to catch up with him (his legs are much longer than hers', she realizes) but she's not even breathing hard when they reach the car.]
This is... [Kaguya trails off, tilting her head with a slightly furrowed brow. It's sort of familiar, in the same way most things are to her. Since she has control over literally all time and all, she has a passing familiarity with most technology and future things, and can take nearly all of it with stride. It doesn't mean she actually knows what it is or how to use it, but still.]
A carriage, of some sort? [It's as good a guess as any. She walks around to examine the giant care bear with amusement]
no subject
At least until they reach the not!toy car. ]
It's nothing I've seen before. [ His voice is already starting to sound hoarse from thirst though. ]
It's been abandoned, so it may not be of use to us.
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Hmm, maybe... [Kaguya trails off uncertainly, moving around the car to examine it carefully. The keys are in the ignition and she leans over to poke at them curiously] Oh...! I think it's one of those 'horseless carriages.' I know little of them, but there were some people I met who knew of them. I... am not certain as to how they work, exactly, but it can be of use to us if we can figure it out.
[She leans over to play with the wheel curious and--
BEEEEEEEPPP
goes the horn.
Kaguya leaps away, eyes comically wide, and she stares at Cullen like some kid that got caught with their hand in a cookie jar or something] I-- That is, I-- ....Oops?
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If you're more famili-- [ Well he'd been about to offer her the wheel when she makes it beep. For a moment, there's a worry it might work like a grenade, but nothing else happens. So, he clears his throat. ]
We could keep walking if you're uncertain?