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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such unique!
He's not Robin Hood, his identity is another. Though, forgive me but it's not my place to reveal that, but his.
[That's all she'll say on that, because they're friends and he's trusted her with a lot in the past, including his own life. She does smile warmly at the notion of Saber having an attractive face, and happily agrees.]
It is a beautiful face, though I didn't learn her identity. She was a friend, though, and a mighty knight. [Her lips twitch a little at the notion of being crude, but then, that's just the truth. Better than lying. And it's the first crack in what she's coming to believe is the woman's logic.
She has no reason to be a foe, and every reason to be an ally.]
I know that servants and masters in tandem vie for the holy grail, hoping to win a wish but it isn't something done where I'm from. Our worlds...the places you and I come from...are not the same. [Her allies already hold the grail, actually.] And as for my being your ally, why would I not wish to be? You are absolutely lovely, and you've offered me shade. That, coupled with your status, obvious capability, and to an extent reminding me of the Saber I once called friend gives me very compelling reasons to come to call you one as well. Add to that all of us being ensnared by the same enemy...
yes! everyone will want to be like her!! it'll be cute
( perhaps she can place them? she isn't so sure but as she raises her gaze at the other's thoughts on another saber, nero can't help but listen. the same face, even a knight. nero isn't far from that in the least. ) I knight they may be, but as for me, I am a blade. Me and that servant.. must have many relations but who are they.
( who are they? for being friends, nero can still see why a name wasn't given to her. ) Most servants are not fools, to give a name is dangerous and also for the person that knows it. Perhaps, she only did it to protect you. Of course, the holy grail.. this place reminds me of another so I had wondered if another had appeared. ( there can be many, from what she learned via her second summoning. )
But that servant, you should be thankful for their attitude!
( a small shrug, she doesn't exactly know, it's something difficult for all servants have their reason. but she isn't opposed to having an ally either, one that'll state praise to her about being lovely? is it looks? nero's personality? hmmm!!! rei really knows how to compliment an emperor, doesn't she! it's enough to take nero's attention as she nods. ) Muu! How vocal you are towards a stranger, you only trust me because of this face! Whoever must have shared my appearance must have left behind great things but oh, I shall leave behind better! ( because in all honesty, she doesn't think she's going to be staying here. she does have a place to go home to! )
Without a doubt! Then you shall become one of my people if you feel so inclined to become a "friend" of mine! But.. same enemy? I have no enemy, no one has provoked me or done me wrong.
Sorry, went to the beach yesterday!
However, her eyes flash with wry amusement at the blonde's statements. Saber had left an impression, yes, several of them...but what really draws her attention is the question about foes.]
Did you see the presentation before you arrived here in this desert, talking about your world being attacked? That's a part of why I say we have a common enemy. Everyone in this place does. It's the people that brought us here, and the people that keep us here against our will. Named CERES, after the Roman goddess of the Harvest, presumably. If you don't know of them or feel they've done you wrong, you will soon enough. They tend to subject us to all manner of indignity.
i hope you had a good time!!!
Is that the controversy at hand, they takr us here because they believe our worlds to be disposable? Ha! A common villainous act but nothing too tedious to make work of.
( she's not going to remain here, she has something better to do with her life but as she looks towards rei. ) They act like a god when they're no more than unwashed savages from taking us from our home. I will handle them myself, cut them of their tongue and ensure their liver is settled on the point of my blade. Where can I find them?
I did! Thank you!
You can't find them yet, unfortunately. They sequester themselves in a place the residents have yet to manage to locate and infiltrate. Once it is, however...you're more than welcome to do whatever you please.
[Believe her, she won't stop you. If anything, you're more one of her people, as a warrior with such a fiery disposition...and such passion for dealing with foes.]