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]

Nothing so dire I can't help with this, young lady.

[She watches this pretty impassively.]

Is it shame, that makes you so resistant? You needn't be so.

[nihilmancy]

[Takes another sip. The effects of the drinks have muted her irritation, filling her with a sentimentality that she doesn't entirely trust or feel comfortable with.]

I can take care of myself, and I'm not a child. I had a hard couple of days. That's all.

[desirestruth]

Now, who said anything about you being a child? I am mostly certain you are younger than this old woman.

[She shrugs a little. She is having precisely none of your shit.]

Why are you justifying yourself? Where is it written adults cannot get help from others? Is that offensive, where you're from?

[nihilmancy]

[I'm too drunk for this right now, lets change the subject.]

Are you some sort of immortal then? Or some being with an increased life-span.

[desirestruth]

Oh, I die just as well as anything else. But the nightkin are longer-lived than humans, and my family especially so.

[A beat.]

...One hundred, if you are about to ask.

[nihilmancy]

[Takes another sip.]

That's interesting. Well, aboard this vehicle, even the worst injuries aren't a problem. In fact, the Store on your Chain mentions revival, so it looks like they can overcome death too. Hopefully there's something for my hangover.

[desirestruth]

As a counter-argument, water and bedrest are free.

[nihilmancy]

They are. But I don't necessarily need another person to make use of them.

Also that was a joke, to punctuate my explanations. Levity is... it's good. Humor is good. Can't you see what a funny, happy go lucky sort of person I am?

[desirestruth]

...



[Honey, no.]

[nihilmancy]

[Finishes the first glass of water, and turns onto her back on the sofa. Stop pitying and/or judging her!]

What? I'll drink the rest too, like a good girl.

[desirestruth]

You are very concerning.

[nihilmancy]

[Groans in exasperation.]

I do appreciate your concern, but I'll be alright.

[desirestruth]

...You should really get better at lying about that, if you dislike this so much.

Just a thought.

[nihilmancy]

...I do appreciate it though, even if I'm only saying that because of what those concoctions are doing. Nn, don't get used to me being forthcoming about that.

[desirestruth]

I'd have to know anything about who you are to get used to something in the first place.

[nihilmancy]

That can happen, or not, on its own timeline.

[desirestruth]

...What team are you on?

[SHE'S FINDING SOMEONE TO TAKE YOU HOME AND PUT YOU TO BED.]

[nihilmancy]

I'm not that drunk, leave me alone.

[desirestruth]

Can you stand under your own power?

[nihilmancy]

Of course I can. I choose not to.

[desirestruth]

...

[Stepping back to look her outfit up and town.]

Purple team. Got it.

[nihilmancy]

[hisssss

she stands up, but too quickly, and wobbles, looking a bit queasy as she has to brace herself against the couch.]

I told you!

[desirestruth]

[Turning and just. Pressing on Hlasoh's forehead with a hand until she sits back down.]

Stop that before you throw up, or I will make this more embarrassing for you.

[You hear that tone of voice? Strict and clearly unimpressed, without raising in volume?

That's the Doctor Voice.

You hecked up.]

[nihilmancy]

[She's small and drunk, so she goes down easily.

She does groan again though.]

You're not my mom, my mom is dead!

[desirestruth]

No, but I am a healer, so stop fighting my on this and stay put.

[DO NOT MAKE HER BUST OUT GRANDMA VOICE.]