Unlock! (1)

[trainmasters]

Who: Everyone
When: Day 12, evening into night
Where: the Aurora

[As evening approaches, you hear the jingle associated with an official message from your Chain. It's the same balloons and confetti animation as the last time newbies arrived, and the same message as well:]

WELCOME NEW HEROES

[As anticipated, some newbies are waking up in their rooms, in the usual nondescript undies or team pyjamas.

Just after this, however, something much more startling happens...

Outisde, the bell tone gets all the louder, a beautiful resonating sound that fills the air. Then, suddenly, a flood of strange square-shaped sparkles appear, floating around like magical fireflies, bringing with them a pleasant warmth. They increase in size and volume until the air itself whites out with a bright but pleasant light. While you can't see, you can hear the bell, and the distant rumbling of stone.

Abruptly, the sound stops, and the bright light fades to reveal a sky painted in sunset hues. Where there was once a dark and hostile jungle with cracks in the ground, there's now a colourful rainforest environment and a floor thick with bright moss. The sounds of birds and insects and regular wildlife rise over the previous silence, and the aggressive plantlife is replaced by large flowers and succulent fruits. In one direction, a dirt path winds through the trees, and in the opposite, the brush gives way to a stone formation with a flat top and an opening flanked in carvings of water and plants.

If one were to enter the new cave entrance, they'd find the previous moon crystals replaced by rainbow ones that reflect sparkling light onto the floor, and feel soothingly warm to the touch. Further into the caves, there's a carved stone path that leads to the beach you initially arrived on. There stands the Prism: a large floating cube in the center of gyproscope-like concentric rings. Where it had been glowing black, it's now a royal purple, and the light and energy from it are significantly less malicious than before -- though still far from pure. The beach itself is now covered in fine white sand, and the sea no longer tries to pull you in -- provided you don't go out too far.

Because not all is well on this Star just yet. While the nearby water contains a reef of colourful fish, 100 meters or so out to sea the water turns black again. While under water in the safe area, you can occasionally see the shadows of great and terrible monsters deep in the dark.

Likewise, should you choose to follow the first path, after ~1km you'll find the forest fades back into the previous dense, dark jungle. At the edge of the darkness, there's something new -- the remains of what looks like a modern town. It's all overgrown, cottages twisted into ruins and streets covered in vines and prowled by tiger monsters and a new threat: towering reptilian creatures that climb the crumbling shells of apartment buildings and the empty City Hall, like geckos increased to dinosaur size. They're fast, and if they catch you they'll swallow you whole. On the one side, that makes it easier for someone to save you -- they could cut you out. On the other, those unable to be rescued will find their skin and muscles becoming slowly more transparent and stiff, the colour and feeling leaving them until their minds are trapped in a useless shell. Those found in that condition later must be saved via the healing pods -- but they'll remember their stay in their glass bodies, with their blood running and heart pumping like a living anatomical model of their organs.

On the Aurora, however, you're welcome to enjoy the first sight of the sun in 12 days. As the brilliant sunset moves into a night reigned over by a gentle moon, the Heartbeat Festival remains in full swing. So celebrate your victory with a glass of shimmery alcohol and a kiss, because you've done it -- your love has purified a part of this Star!]

[[OOC NOTES: CONGRATULATIONS on your first Prism purification, guys! There is a toplevel for ICly suggesting train upgrades here, so check it out! Next week we'll post a poll, and the week after the upgrade will be implemented.

The updates to the Setting page to reflect this post will be made soon, so keep an eye out!]]

Comments

[desirestruth]

[Hello rin I am coming for youuuu--

I mean. Here's a pale chick who was similarly exploring. She's paused to stare at him. Actually, specifically at his hair???

Feel free to misinterpret her reasons.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He pauses when he notices her noticing him and flashes a grin. ]

Well, hello to you too.

[desirestruth]

[She does smile, very faintly back. But close-mouthed. Not putting the Chompers on display here.]

...Hello. I take it you are also freshly arrived?

[bad_crowmance]

[ He chuckles. ]

Heh. Am I that obvious?

[desirestruth]

You're walking around, looking at everything. It seems a logical conclusion?

[bad_crowmance]

Well you got me. It's nice to meet you?

[desirestruth]

The pleasure is all mine.

[She bows, formally and precise.]

My name is Naeva.

[bad_crowmance]

Naeva huh?

[ He tastes the name slowly. ]

Wish I could give you one back, but I uh...

[ He shakes his head and shrugs. ]

[desirestruth]

...You don't know yours?

[She actually looks pretty openly shocked, much more visible than her previous attempts at emoting. Naeva did you escape your team before they explained anything? Did you just not listen? Did it not sink in until now?]

[bad_crowmance]

Nope. I woke up with nothing more than a pretty face.

[desirestruth]

I...that sounds awful. I'm sorry.

[bad_crowmance]

It's not great, but I'm just gonna have to deal with it.

[desirestruth]

I...suppose there is no help for it, no.

[She shifts on her feet, a little awkwardly. And then--offering him one of the drinks? She didn't check the color first.]

It seems as though you'd need this.

[It's alcoholic this is what matters.]

[bad_crowmance]

[ He's grinning again. ]

You're a woman after my heart.

[ He takes the drink. ]

[desirestruth]

Flattery will get you nowhere, sir.

[She is also grabbing a drink. She grabbed gold for them both so this might get very dumb very shortly.]

--Oh, it's sweet!

[bad_crowmance]

Like that's any reason to stop.

[ It's going to get so dumb. He takes a swig of the drink. ]

Hey, not bad!

[desirestruth]

[It'll get dumber when they find out her fiancee is on his team. But she's taking her time with the drink for now. Ignoring the weird feeling in her hand? It's fine.]

What would be a reason to top?

[bad_crowmance]

[ That's amazingly dumb.So is the way his hand is inching towards hers, but he genuinely doesn't realize it. ]

Violence, maybe?

[desirestruth]

[Look this doesn't even count as flirting in her culture she's done nothing wrong????]

...That's a deterrent for you?

[uM.]

[bad_crowmance]

Actually, now that you mention it.... Probably not.

[desirestruth]

You're quite the stubborn one, aren't you?

[Draining the rest of her glass. And stepping a little more into range when she sets the empty one down!]

[bad_crowmance]

I like to think it's a charm point.

[ He slips her hand easily into his. ]

[desirestruth]

[Well, one. Now he's hand's stuck. Two, she's staring at him, kind of shocked at that level of boldness and that he's holding her hand. SHE IS ENGAGED. AND WE'RE IN PUBLIC? LEWD!!!!!]

...What are you doing.

[bad_crowmance]

Huh?

[ He glances down at their hands. ]

...Would you believe I didn't do it on purpose?

[desirestruth]

I don't know, would I?

[But, she can't let go either, and she's clearly trying.]