trainmasters: (Default)
Aurora Express Mods ([personal profile] trainmasters) wrote in [community profile] auroraexpress2019-02-15 09:27 pm

Unlock! (1)

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!]]
crimeson: (well these days i'm fine)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[laughs and leans into the petting like an oversized dog.]

It would be if I hadn't pretty much figured that already.
spectacularluck: (pic#12886181)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:16 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Oh. He doesn't actually need to continue now that he's convinced Randy to let him and did it - but he keeps with the petting anyway and pulls back only a little while later ]

I'm going with Finn for my name, by the way. The little girl proposed it — she's going to be Coral.
crimeson: (believe me)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:18 pm (UTC)(link)
[he is perfectly happy to let pettings happen until Finn is done]

--Aidios, we really managed to drop the ball on naming her, huh?

Those're both good names, though.
spectacularluck: (pic#12635941)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:20 pm (UTC)(link)
What have you been calling her all this time? You guys are terrible parents.
crimeson: (for the both of us)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:23 pm (UTC)(link)
Gonna be real, I've been the only remotely parental person on this team up until now, and she's got her shit together enough I kind of assumed she'd just tell me when she picked something. Whiiich is definitely my bad. Fuck!
spectacularluck: (pic#12886197)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:24 pm (UTC)(link)
She does have her shit together.

Wait.

What do you mean up until now. Are you counting me as Dad #2 now?
crimeson: (i'll take the west train)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:26 pm (UTC)(link)
Super together. I wouldn't be surprised if she's the smartest person here.

And nah, I'm just not discounting any potential dadness out of hand.
spectacularluck: (pic#12627431)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:29 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He feels like he's gotta defend himself on that statement but actually? He doesn't know how smart he is. He doesn't know if he even is. HE ONLY KNOWS SANTA'S REINDEERS. ]

Well. I named the child so I'm definitely already the better dad.

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)
[buddy it was not an attack on your intelligence, pls]

I'd argue with you taking my role but that's absolutely a fair point, to be honest.
spectacularluck: (pic#12886183)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:33 pm (UTC)(link)
[ He's just very competitive okay ]

So where are the rest of our children?
crimeson: (for the both of us)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
[makes. a face.]

Well the rest definitely aren't my children, but you're free to try that one on your own. They'll be around.
spectacularluck: (pic#12663883)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm taking they don't have their shit together as much as Coral.

Or are just not as pleasant.

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:39 pm (UTC)(link)
Little of column A, little of column B, little of they're definitely adults and kissing has happened and I'm not that kind of guy.
spectacularluck: (pic#12886198)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Okay.

I'm abandoning that whole dad thing already.
crimeson: (but i won't wait much longer)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:41 pm (UTC)(link)
Not a bad plan.
spectacularluck: (pic#12663878)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:43 pm (UTC)(link)
And to think I was almost having fun.

Well. I think I'm going to read things up and see if I can make any sense of this. Maybe try to convince two other people to do things, just so I can get one memory.
crimeson: (i wouldn't have it any other way)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Sorry to buzzkill, Finn.

Good luck. Lemme know if I can help with anything.
spectacularluck: (pic#12635944)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:46 pm (UTC)(link)
You're forgiven, but only because you're cute.

Do you want to convince me to do anything before I go?
crimeson: (you know i'm gonna)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm relieved that my cuteness gets me out of trouble.

And... nah. Just, good luck getting situated, and try not to take 80H personally.
spectacularluck: (pic#12886203)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-18 02:50 pm (UTC)(link)
Yeah, well. That is one thing I might need to get convinced to do.
crimeson: (for the both of us)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-18 02:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[reaches out and pats his shoulder]

Wish I had advice or anything but... I really don't.
spectacularluck: (pic#12886183)

[personal profile] spectacularluck 2019-02-19 05:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Oh, it's more a "you're telling me to do something and I immediately feel like not doing it" kind of situation.
crimeson: (for the both of us)

[personal profile] crimeson 2019-02-20 06:09 am (UTC)(link)
[laughs, then WHINES DRAMATICALLY, clearly overplaying it intentionally.]

Oh, sure. Here I am tryin' to give you advice and you've gotta be all sassy about it! Well, it's your prerogative, man. Do what you want.