//TESTDRIVE5.0.EXE

[reparator]

//TESTDRIVE5.0.EXE Let it Go, Let it Fucking Go Already Let's keep pretending it's not technically October in the game while Yuletide thoughts continue to spread through CERES. Inspired by recent tragic events, your friendly neighborhood programmer, Elias (serritor) has constructed a wonderful new ice world to be accessed through ViViD, the popular virtual simulator. As expected, this is a world covered in ice all over with a chill that bores into one's bones as players wander through. In the midst of it all lies a beautiful reconstruction of a mall, complete with various stores to suit your online shopping needs. However, before you can indulge in any spending, you're tasked with a mission should you choose to accept. You will have to enter the frost-covered mall which hosts a large, elaborate labyrinth and complete all the objectives as they're given to you and your party. It seems that some horrible foe has arisen from the great beyond to kidnap Santa Bot (no relation to the futurama one). Unable to deliver toys and goods to the poor, needy adults of Cerealia, it's up to YOU to save him from a variety of enemies which include: a.) Nasty, foul-mouthed elves b.) A rabid flock of reindeer c.) An ice queen who will not stop singing d.) And a fucking minotaur. Why? Why not? "Ho ho ho! And seasons greetings, players! I am Julius Vincere, the CEO of CERES, and I must apologize for a few recent temperature modifications as of late. But we were able to fix that small glitch quickly. We were only hoping to cool things down by a few degrees after we received a few complaints about overheating equipment. It seems our robots went a bit overboard with our dome, which is a safety precaution we put in place in the event of an outside threat or invasion. There's no need to fear, and we hope you enjoyed warming up with one another in the meantime. Now, that that's behind us, let's have a little fun, shall we? I think some of you are familiar with the concept back in your home worlds. I observed enough to know that it's a pretty ostentatious holiday. That's why I asked my dear programmer, Elias, to build a simulation so we can experience a little bit of Christmas together. You can say it's a dress rehearsal for the real thing. Anyway, if you all would be so kind as to sample this world and tell me how it goes. I want to see what you all think and get you all in the festive mood. Consider this my deep apology for one mistake too many. We won't allow it to happen again."

//SCENARIOS.EXE PHASE I [ 0000 ] Let the games begin! You're dropped before a giant forest with snow-covered trees, and in your path to reach the mall, there appears your first threat. They look cute and sweet -innocent little elves that smile and blush in your direction. They barely reach up to your chest and look up at you with big, glassy eyes as they promise to help you along your way. Little hands will grab yours, tugging you along. That is, until you're far enough along that you're deep in the midst of the forest where they decide to chip at a lake of frozen ice and chuck you inside. They will then criticize your clothes, call you a piece of reindeer shit, tell you your ass is too fat then call your mother a whore. Because that's just how they roll. Here's your chance to fight back, get vengeance, and force the elves to tell you where Santa is. Those who manage to beat them into submission will be pointed in the right direction to the mall. Those who don't, have fun drowning in icy water! PHASE II [ 0000 ] Once you've escaped the elves, another trial appears. This time, it's in the form of twelve savage reindeer with blood dribbling from their lips. Their eyes are all an eerie shade of red, and they're staring at you deeply as though they can see into your soul. If you hope to get into that mall, you'll have to fight them down and avoid being caught in their antlers. There will be lots of bucking. Copious buckings. Kill the reindeer and remove their antlers for a special gift! (it's a coupon for a free McCERES burger.) PHASE III [ 0000 ] Once you reach the entrance of the mall, you'll be confronted with the icy labyrinth, guarded by a minotaur. He is large and in charge and will probably try to mow you down once he sees you. None of your weapons or magic will work, though. To pacify this beast, you will have to hug him. He requires a hug with feeling. He will tell you as much when you confront him. Give him a good squeeze then let him be. Love can cure many things! PHASE IV [ 0000 ] Are you done running around this maze of a mall? Tired of seeing the same Vidia's Secret store a dozen times? Alas, there is one last trial. It comes in the form of obnoxious carols being crooned in your direction by a beautiful ice queen. She's beckoning you to her with a siren song in the form of merry Christmas music, luring you in little by little and making you walk towards her while she tries to enchant you. She'll lean in close and whisper the rest of the song in your ear, and once you're in her trance, you'll turn on your own friends and party members to try and kill them. To avoid being drawn into her trance, you'll have to be knocked around a few times to regain your bearings. Then, it's either destroy her or be subjected to her ice magic. However, before she dies, she'll look deep into your eyes and beg you to save her and not to forget her. She needs you. Once you defeat her, Santa Bot will appear to dance a merry jig in your honor and shower you with credits. Hooray! BONUS [ whyo'clock ] You can't escape Christmas without a random sprig of mistletoe floating around your head and following you around. For those who try to escape, the mistletoe bot will only move all the quicker. Those caught under its insistent floating will be compelled to kiss a neighbor or two or ten. Or even kiss the minotaur. What we're saying is you should probably run. [ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with trigger-y or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the meme. ]

//RUN.EXE Welcome to CEREALIA's fifth Test Drive Meme. For your convenience, we have compiled a post detailing everyone's arrival experience and a FAQ that should explain everything in more detail. Please read them thoroughly before playing. Thank you!

Comments

mitsuru no.....

[unevoke]

[Shinjiro, unfortunately, hasn't had the same privilege of watching Mitsuru perform un-Mitsuru-like feats of heroics in public, so it's with some surprise that he watches her approach.

It is good to see her, that he can't deny. He just wishes it were under better (and cleaner) circumstances.]

Looks like you didn't get mauled by animals gone crazy.

[But of course she didn't. She's Mitsuru, and the world would probably shatter before she let anything ruin her perfectly poised image.

(There's a faint nagging feeling in the back of his mind to ruin her image by leaning forward to give her a kiss, but it's oh-so-faint right now.)]

[invoker]

No, it's sad to say but I think I'm what they would call an "old hand" at this.

[ She slides her rapier back into its sheathe, having had it out to deal with the monsters. The mistletoe doesn't even register to her as anything more than decoration in the background, one of CERES' "thoughtful" festive touches.

Needless to say, she's not getting any of the kissing vibes. ]

[unevoke]

[If only they could all be so lucky. Shinjiro'd like to not do any more kissing today, thanks very much.

He'd also like to not be bombarded with surprise after surprise but as usual, it seems life has not decided to grant that particular request of his. Or any request, really. His eyebrows furrow at her reply, the most visible sign of his perplexity. She's so calm about it, so casual. There's something he's missing here.]

You really been here that long?

[Hadn't he seen her recently? Everything's a bit fuzzy and he still isn't sure if this is all some enormously elaborate prank or if what he's been told is all actually true. But there's one thing he's sure of: he's definitely developing urges that he absolutely does not want to act on.]

[invoker]

I know it may be hard to understand at the minute, but I've somehow found myself here, after the graduation ceremony at Gekkoukan and well...

[ She looks down at the ground, a little sheepish and perhaps a little ashamed of admitting this. ]

I'm quite enjoying life where I'm just another person.

[unevoke]

[Shinjiro doesn't remember the graduation ceremony but tacks it away to yet another inexplicable, crazy effect of this place. There'll be time to nose around and get answers later. For now, he finds himself fascinated with the ease with which the Kirijo heir's settled into this place and her apparent contentment here.

She gets a smile, his first of the day: a wry upward curve of his lips, barely perceptible but there all the same, and there's warmth in his voice when he speaks.]

'S not so bad, being just another person.

[It's agreement, even if life's been less than stellar for him lately. But there's no one to fault for that except himself. The smile fades, replaced with a look of curiosity.]

How long's it been anyway? You been alone this entire time?