TEST DRIVE ; no. 1

[powergamer]

TEST DRIVE MEME

So first of all, welcome to Dyspros' very first test drive meme! We're happy that you're interested in the game, and we hope that you have some fun playing with the setting, regardless of whether you decide to join or not.

As a general reminder, we recommend that you look over the game information before jumping in. In addition, if you decide you're ready to join, you're welcome to put in a reserve, and applications will open on May 4th at 12:01 AM (EST). Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, please send us a message!

So now, without further ado, let's get to playing:

A ; NEW RECRUIT

Well then, welcome to the guild, Initiate! After some thought (or maybe the choice was obvious), you've finally settled on a guild, and you're ready to get started. You're welcome to check out your accommodations and see what kind of people you'll be living with for the foreseeable future. This is your home now, so hopefully you get alone with them. If not, then you can just spend all of your time sharpening your skills!

Whether you're just claiming your bed or you're jumping right into the thick of things to practice or sign up for a mission, a new recruit is unlikely to go unnoticed.

B ; MISSION TIME

It's your first mission, which is pretty exciting, right? You have all these pictures in your head of going off to fight a dragon, to come home with great riches and valor...

Too bad those missions are for the higher ups.

No, it's the middle of the night, and you're out guarding the small fields just outside of town from wild animals. Right now you're standing by the cucumbers, which are considered especially important to guard, for some reason. You have to fight off sleepiness somehow, so maybe an animal will come out for you to scare off, or maybe you'll just end up chatting with whoever is stuck doing this with you.

Or you know, if you're a dick, you'll steal the vegetables for yourself.

C ; STORM THE CASTLE

Okay, the missions for initiates are pretty lame, and you're ready for some real fighting. You can go alone, or you can go with some other people, but it's off to Castle Dyspros! You'll find a variety of creatures to fight, and the power of teamwork will help you make progress through the castle!

Or you'll die. There's that too. Good thing it's fairly inconsequential, if weird!

Either way, have fun fighting to your heart's content!

D ; PICK YOUR OWN

Just like it says, if none of the others appeal to you, feel free to make up your own prompt!

Comments

2/2

[nowiwins]

Surely, you must know something about her! I love stories about spirits and magical-like things!

[assiduous]

[ mako highly suspects that this kid is an overly excitable member of the performer's guild, which is why she's making such a big deal about princesses, and wants to play games and hear stories ]

If I tell you, will you find someone else to hang out with after?

[nowiwins]

[ After?? Nowi can do that. He said nothing about hanging out later that day... ]

Yes. After you are done with your story, I will go try to find someone else. Hopefully just as interesting as you!

[assiduous]

[ oblivious to his impending demise, mako shuts his book and leans back on his hands, trying to figure out how to start and tell the story... too bad he sucks at communicating... ]

Okay, um. Princess Yue is the moon spirit, and... [ uh ] She's got these fish... One fish is the ocean, and one is the moon. They live at the North Pole in pond in a garden that's always spring time.

[nowiwins]

Oh, um. That's it??

[ Nowi sits and thinks really hard for a bit ]

So. This princess lives in the North Pole and controls fish?? But, at least it's always spring time! I guess...

whatever it is, they probably got the order wrong "by accident"

[examinates]

[ Although he's accustomed to violating Yogi's others' personal space from time to time, his own bubble is a sanctuary goddamn it. Or this is just a matter of principle. Akari swats at Hirato's hand. ]

Quit fooling around--! [ As if they could be civil long enough to be friends, let alone anything else. The very thought is enough to, as usual, make him lose his cool. One day, getting a rise out of him won't be so easy. Today is not that day. Tomorrow is not looking good either. ] Neither of us are trained to do anything more than the task at hand. "Bonding"...

[ His irritated muttering trails off as he turns away, refusing to continue the thought. Bonding with someone who dances around the truth, who can throw life away so easily-- They already see far more of each other than Akari would like. Being trapped in this new place together is undoubtedly going to make it worse.

Perhaps he'll build up a tolerance somehow. Can prolonged exposure to a person act as a vaccination...? Doubtful. ]

slowpoke says it's very nice to meet you .///.

[examinates]

[ Being assigned to Yogi is certainly preferable to being paired with Hirato, both in the interest of monitoring his condition and having the upper hand for once, but that much exuberance can take its toll on a man's sanity. This is the fun police. Come out with your hands up. ]

Maybe to the untrained eye. [ Akari moves closer, reaching for one of the little fluffballs, feigning obliviousness to any potential effects of his proximity (or his words, for that matter). ] You weren't sent here to be careless, and I haven't been given access to proper medical supplies.

[ He picks one up off his own shoulder and sets it down. ]

According to the guild's books, they have the ability to feed on one's positive emotions. As we've seen proof of this world's magic, it's unlikely such records are false.

[ ...through their hair?? this sounds like some D&D logic but hey it's 5 am and why did i decide to invent random magical creatures anyway ]

it really truly absolutely is

[examinates]

[ Who's the babysitter? All of these combat-oriented guilds are so concerned with fighting monsters that they'll damage the ecosystem if they aren't careful. These things aren't Valga to be destroyed on sight. They're animals who've been carefully documented in the name of knowledge and protecting any wayward idiots who might blunder into their fluffy little lairs.

He tries in vain to shoo one away but it's just so clingy... ]

You would be adept at identifying a two-faced creature. [ Akari gestures to Hirato's equipment -- he probably has something appropriate on him, even if it's just his glasses. ] Aim that over here and look at its reflection.

[ And the fluffy creature's reflection will reveal something a little more sinister, scaled like a little baby dragon and also probably still adorable. He doesn't completely believe the magical explanation and would prefer to find a scientific one, but facts are facts. It's clearly not what it seems. ]

Despite the illusion, it's quite harmless in the adolescent stage.

opens arms even wider

[examinates]

[ Although he can tell Gareki is obviously their target, it would be wrong to assume fault without any proof. And natives of this world hadn't exactly proven themselves to be overly friendly toward newcomers... ]

There will be time to discuss how many of us have been brought here later. [ In gross scientific detail, naturally.

Akari shifts subtly, moving into the guards' line of sight. With any luck, they'll move right along. Still, he aims for subtlety, keeping his voice low and trying not to look at Gareki. ] For now, why are you being chased?

[ Not that it suits him to turn in a familiar face just to curry favor with these people. He'd just like to learn the truth. ]

[tophat]

They do say everything grand does start out small.

[assiduous]

I think she might actually be one fish. Or she lives in the Spirit World or something? I told you, don't know the story.

[ SORRY NOT SORRY ]

[tokimemo]

[ that... MAKES SENSE TO SENA ]

Just like in The Sacred Blackstar! The trials that Lucas and Cecilia faced only brought them closer together! I'll be the Lucas to Oracle-chan's Cecilia....................................

[ NO SENA STOP THAT'S TOO GROSS ]

[girlmemo]

Disgusting. [ HITS HER WITH A STAFF ] Keep your grubby hands to yourself or I'll report you to authorities.

Anyway, we have to meet them at the castle lobby in half an hour, so let's go.

[ yeah... and she only bothered to tell sena about it now... ]

[feelinghot]

Oh, I'm not hoping to get rich, I just want to get by. Have some big plans for the cash, though, do you?

we're out of control (gyea)

[tophat]

Yes, Iva. I know you have.

[ there's something in the way he says it that's unusually genuine for him. in all honesty, however, she's hitting the nail right on the head here. even if hirato tries harder to hide it, he's every bit as irritated by being treated as some kind of rookie who couldn't kill a fly properly. ]

But for now I think it's best to play along.

[ aww, what a cute caterpillar. hirato thinks bugs are pretty cool tbh.

anyway, he turns considerably more serious after saying that, the usual smile gone as if it had never existed in the first place. this is a problematic situation and the responsibility to solve it definitely rests mainly on his shoulders... too bad he hasn't found a single clue so far. ]

[rebonding]

...Oooh...! So you know how to cook 'em?

[She chances another glance back toward the booth in question, even though they've already passed it a while ago. Korra supposes she shouldn't be surprised. Mako can pretty much cook anything.

Good thing, since she can't.]

[assiduous]

More or less. [ they were mice-frogs... not frog frogs, but... same dif, right? ]

[kindhearted]

[Despite still being terrified at the possibilities beyond that door, Roji's tone becomes more serious when Ezreal suggests going in to investigate.]

Right. Let's go.

[There's no way he can turn a blind eye to people in trouble. It could even be his group!

Chasing after Ezreal, he starts concentrating for spells in advance, because there's no telling how quickly they're going to have to act when they get in there.

And as soon as he catches up, the door is down and they're rushing in to check the damage.

...]

Oh...oh no...

[What they find is not pretty. Several brutally butchered bodies are scattered all over the floor, already fading to eventually respawn in the castle lobby. Despite already being aware of what happens when one dies in the castle, it doesn't make the impact any softer. In fact, Roji feels like he's been hit with a sack of bricks when he sees those bodies. All of the color is drained from his face and he starts trembling badly.

But dealing with seeing death is the least of their worries right now, because immediately after they enter, a snarling sound echoes through the room. Whatever killed those people is still in the room with them, and it's still got room for seconds.]

Ezreal...w-w-what was that?

[He holds his stave close and whirls around to find what they're up against. And that's when he sees it. Hard to miss a giant chimera with blood dripping from its maw, really. If he wasn't horrified already, he definitely is now, because it's right next to them.]

L-L-L... [He can hardly get any words out, he's so terrified.] LÖWINE!!

[They should probably do something or they're chimera food.]

[skillshots]

Only one? [Ezreal suddenly gets another burst of confidence.] Based on the screams, I thought there would be more than this.

[His gun transforms from a revolver to a menacing-looking shotgun.]

Well, time to strike! [He jumps forward and fires off a couple of shots. the pellets dig deep into the chimera's body, but it doesn't seem to be showing any signs of pain at all.] This doesn't look good. I'm going to try to strike from the sides. See if you can distract it- [But Ezreal doesn't get the chance to move before getting knocked to the ground.] Ah, damnit!

i'm laughing so hard imagining akari's orders getting messed up "by accident" everywhere he goes

[tophat]

[ what a little hypocrite akari-san is-- he's only too happy to be overly invasive, especially toward yogi, but the second hirato gives him a taste of his own medicine... that is when sparks fly. and it's so much more amusing because of that.

regardless, he pulls back, but not before giving akari's shoulder a mockingly gentle squeeze. ]

I think someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed today. [ well, it wasn't exactly a genuine attempt to be friendly on his part. nothing of value was lost through that action, but nothing was gained either.

this is going to be a long night, and it's up to hirato to make the best out of it. if akari is planning to act like a toddler whose ice cream cone was just upset, then hirato will just have to face him on his own level of maturity. ] Or are you a little nervous?

[ he's back at akari's side just as quickly as he withdrew, reaching out to take the good doctor's hand. ]

Worry not, for I have no intention of letting the bugs bite you, Akari-sensei.

[tophat]

You have me figured out already.

[ except he doesn't actually have any plans other than Go Home As Soon As Possible. ]

i have a star.... me.... star.... have.... pbbbbttttt....

[tophat]

[ where akari's trying to shoo these little balls of fluff away, hirato's taking this sudden cuddle attack in stride. if only because it seems like getting rid of them is a futile effort. ]

All part of the job. [ he'll ignore that jab for now, thank you very much. ] Very well.

[ welp, he'll just use his sword (he totally polishes it well even if he doesn't really think of it as his okay) for this mirror business... and lo and behold, there's a completely different tiny creature reflected in it. still cute, though-- their fur feels so real and somehow that's the most curious part of this.

Harmless in the adolescent stage. this certainly is no beast worthy of slaying, scales and all that aside. while hirato is still rather skeptical of these magical explanations he seems to keep running into (and he would like to dismiss them as simple fairy tales), he also has to admit that this isn't the world he knows. this is a different place altogether, with different laws regarding what is and isn't possible, and to reject the proof presented to him would be idiotic. ]

It seems you've been studying hard.

[ so does this mean he can't stab these little shits... :( ]

[tokimemo]

[ her head snaps back from the blow but that doesn't wipe the dreamy look from her face... the rest of yozora's words does though ]

What?! Who says you're going with us! I thought it was just going to be me and Oracle-chan!

[girlmemo]

[ She takes the paper with the mission written on it and holds it out of Sena's reach. ]

Haaaah? What's that? I can't hear you over the sound of this paper that qualifies you as an official party member.

[tokimemo]

Recognize when you're getting in the way, you demonic fox woman! If you ruin a thadump thadump moment between Oracle-chan and I, I'll send you to hell!

[ looking a little demonic yourself there, sena ]