The thing about Cerealia is, there really isn't any nature to be found here. Sure, you can go outside the walls of the city and explore the land beyond but who wants to risk a terrible, horrible death just to sniff the flowers? Not you, that's who! CERES understands that, CERES sympathizes, and sometimes CERES decides to take action when such problems arise. As part of the company's current "Healthier and Happier YOU" initiative, they've decided to let everyone get back in touch with nature a little.
Via ViViD.
Of course, this being CERES, the nature they've sent everyone to is more of a swamp. The place is disgusting, a real marvel of ViViD ingenuity and it smells like the dead. There's strange rustling among the leaves from creatures that may or may not want to eat you, and random pits that open up right under your feet with the goal of sending you straight into the marsh. It's not really that fun. There's no welcome sign either, no nothing except for swamplands as far as the eye can see.
Welcome to ViViD!  This is Mosley. One of our programmers forgot to include a welcome greeting for the level this time. How incompetent can you get? He's been fired now, it's fine. Instead, I will greet you today. Lucky you! You've been invited today to participate in CERES's "Healthier and Happier YOU" level where we've combined both physical exercise and relaxing meditation into the ultimate ViViD experience. Isn't that fun? You can... go camping and stuff. Or whatever. I don't... know...
Honestly, I don't even care. Have fun.
|
PHASE I [ 6 00 ] Welcome to your new healthy living training ground! What does a swamp have to do with healthy living, you may ask? Absolutely nothing! To make up for it, CERES has outfitted all players with the proper equipment for their new healthy living lifestyle. They also may or may not have let you keep your shoes based on how benevolent the ViViD gods were being at the time. (Not very.)
Oh, and all newcomers will have something additional on their fancy new yoga shirt. It will be displayed loudly and proudly all over the front and back of it. And if you're one of the few not wearing a shirt, it will be on the back of your pants. As in, your butt. It will be on your butt.
What’s ViViD trying to say, anyway?
Regardless, it probably doesn’t matter as much as finding your way through the swamp. Some sort of dry land would be really nice right now, wouldn't it? You'll have to watch out for the mud that will suck you right down under the marsh, and the creatures with lots of teeth that will never surface from the mud but won't hesitate to snap up an unwary foot or two.
CERES is sure you'll be fine. Totally and completely fine.
PHASE II [ 800 ] Eventually, if you try really, really hard, you’ll make it to a house. Actually, it’s more of a shack, really. If you clamber your way out of the mud and the gunk and the marsh into said shack, you will find it to be empty aside from a table. A table hosting a huge pile of... well, health drinks. See, there's totally a health theme in this level. CERES would never make a ViViD level that wasn't thematically appropriate. Never! Health drinks of all sorts and types and sizes can be found here and there’s even a sign too; it simply says:
Take one.
Well, that seems safe.
Unfortunately, you won’t be able to leave said shack until you do take one. And drink it. The door will lock shut and cover itself in more swamp until you do. Yay. Depending on your luck, the drink may do the following to you: ➟ Cause your ViViD experience to glitch. This may involve phasing through walls, seeing everything in 8-bit, or hearing really annoying old video game music everywhere you go.
➟ Cause status effects. This can include suddenly moving incredibly slowly, being turned to stone for a period of time, suddenly being on fire, suddenly being poisoned, etc etc.
➟ Be healthier. Mmm, kale and hummus smoothie. Taste those veggies. If you try to take more than one, that’s fine too, nobody will stop you, but you probably won’t get lucky more than once.
PHASE III [ 900 ] And back you go, out into the swampy wilderness. Don’t give up! Keep going! Eventually, you’ll find the end of this level. Probably.
Eventually, though, you may stumble across something in the mud and the muck. It’s... a little doll?
In fact, it’s a little doll of one of your most important people (or, alternatively, of someone you absolutely hate). It might be someone in Cerealia currently, or someone who isn’t, but either way, the doll is there and it’s clearly them (covered in mud and all). Be careful, though. If you toss it aside, you’ll suddenly see that important person being tossed aside. If you cut the doll, you'll suddenly see that person bleeding. Even if they aren’t present in Cerealia, whatever happens to that doll, you'll see it happening to them. Is it a hallucination or are they actually there? That's a little more up in the air.
And if they are present in Cerealia, well... doing things to that doll might very well hurt them too -- for real, this time, though.
Be careful! Or don't. You do you, as CERES would say.
PHASE IV [ 1200 ] And then, eventually you reach a quiet, swampy area. Not that the rest of the swamp isn't swampy, this area is just extra swampy.
There’s very little happening here in this swampy place; even the birds are no longer squawking. And for a long moment, everything will remain quiet and peaceful, a place of reprieve... until the swamp begins to bubble. Then suddenly, a new friend will burst out of the swamp, showering mud and gunk everywhere.
Without warning, that creature is going to try to grab for the nearest person (it might be you!) and let out a mighty roar when they have them. Then, they'll hold them up to... read the nutrition facts on their shirt? What?
Of course, it will try to gobble you or whoever else it grabs if it finds, say, the salt content to be acceptable (the monster is watching their carbs). If it's not, then they'll just fling you away and move onto the next snack. For those without a handy nutrition facts label on your shirt, well, it might just take a gamble and try to eat you anyway.
Great. A health-conscious monster. That's just what this level needed.
BONUS [ xxxx ] Finally, you’re free of the game. Without warning, you’re dumped into Cerealia properly and you’re able to scrub the mud and gunk from your clothing (wait why did that come back with you and where are your normal clothes?). You're able to then make your way to your new place of residence (or old) and...
There is a tiny tree there waiting for you. Isn’t it cute? And if you take care of this tiny tree, it will eventually bear fruit! Tiny fruit. Itty bitty fruit.
Depending on which tiny tree you get, it will be one of the following: a tiny dildo tree, a tiny bacon tree, a tiny kazoo tree, a tiny carolina reaper tree, or a (dumb) tiny hats tree.
Everything will, naturally, be tiny. Enjoy your new healthy CERES gift!
[ Remember to apply proper warnings on threads with sensitive or inappropriate material and do let a mod know if your thread careens off into maiming or canoodling so we can lock the log. ] |
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
ota
[ well. she guessed she was here now. it was a lot more pleasant than the trashdump place, but it still certainly was nowhere near Kirkwall. she supposed she'd be here for a while, then.
at least they offered refreshments! seeing as she apparently had to take one out of.. courtesy? she doesn't hesitate to pick one up. this one has a precarious little man on it. he was quite skinny, though. like, bone skinny. so it must be very healthy.
when she downs the beverage, she doesn't seem any different by looking at her, but she feels.. something. something bubbling through her body, coming from all over and centralizing to her fingers. maybe it was because of her innate magic, but it seemed to be messing with the true effects of the beverage. she had set down the can on a windowsill, and motions to pick it up to get a closer look at it.
unfortunately, it explodes in a flurry of blood. well, now she knows what it does. ] Oh my! And after they went to all the effort to get these nice clothes. [ a sad click of her tongue. ] I'm not used to having blood other than my own on my clothes. I wonder if it's any more difficult to get out.
[ well. don't let merrill touch anything, because anything she does will immediately blow up. ]
PHASE IV.
[ and then, with minimal effort, merill was suspended in the air by her feet. less than ideal, certainly. her hands are restricted by another tentacle, so she's unable to cast any sort of magic and is instead left to the strange creature's mercy. ]
Creators! Why is it all of the creatures here are so — so bloodthirsty? [ she attempts to wriggle free, which seems to anger the monster. he stills her completely by holding her with many tentacles, then peers closer to her backside. and closer. and closer. oh, it's upside down.
merrill's flipped so he can look at her pathetic stats. she was just pure sodium and sugar? so poor for his heart health, so poor indeed. within moments, she's being flung into the mud. at least the blood wasn't noticeable now. she does her best to wearily rise from the goop. ]
A fickle thing, aren't you.. [ this is when she sees the creature rapidly approaching another. with a gasp, she jumps to her feet. she doesn't have her staff, but that won't stop her magic. ] Fen'harel ma ghilana! [ and with that, a large, rocky fist goes hurling straight for the creature, exploding when it makes contact into many smaller rocks. hopefully she didn't hit you, somehow. ]
phase iv!
Catch her, Metagross!
[ before she can hit the mud, merril will find that she's being held in the air by some unseen force. turning her head, she'll be able to see a man and a mighty looking creature, its eyes glowing a faint blue. she's set down on her feet gently, and they both approach. ]
That was close. Are you all right?
i'm really feelin it mr krabs
Ma serannas. A pleasant surprise to find something that doesn't mean to hurt me here. [ speaking of.. the marlboro is crawling back rapidly to get a taste of a juicy looking rock fanatic. ] Ah! I believe we'll have to defend ourselves this time!
no subject
We're far and few between, but I'll do my best to keep you safe.
[ a fellow captive is a fellow captive, after all - it was only a short time ago that he was in her very position. but there's no time to hesitate, as that monster looks like it has its attention on him now. ]
If you can fight, I'd appreciate any help. [ he doesn't falter, a hand extending to command the beast in front of him. ] Metagross, Bullet Punch!
[ despite its heavy-set looks, the beast obeys with a deep grunt as it tucks in its legs and rises into the air. its four legs glow with energy as it begins to spin, tackling the monster with a series of punches as fast as bullets. ]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
ii.
Ugh.... gross. He drips, and he sighs softly.]
Please don't touch anything else.
[He just...tries to brush some of that blood from his face.]
no subject
she glances back at the man before her, though. she knows you.. ] Ah, I see you made it out of the rubbish heap! This place is a lot cleaner, don't you think? Um.. [ a pause. ] I'm sorry, I'm not sure what to do now.
no subject
It is... slightly more tolerable, yes. [...] Slightly. Regardless, this should be the last level you have to deal with before making it into Cerealia.
[Hopefully.]
There may be a final boss, or some sort of final task. We just have to find it.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
iv
[Voiced after one of those chunks of rocks heads toward him--he bats it to the side as though batting aside something much softer out of the air. Like a volleyball. Or a pillow.]
Nice moves. Did that do it? [He's asking while he approaches, apparently not particularly perturbed by big creatures bursting out of the muck.]
face tattoo buddies
[ merrill watches as the marlboro appears to scuttle off. it seems that he found these meals to be more trouble than they were worth. ]
I believe we've kept it at bay, for now. It was quite a rude creature, wasn't it? I can't seem to understand what it wanted with me.
aw ye son
Most of 'em seem to want to eat us, but that's the first time I've seen one give up so easily.
[He sounds bemused before shrugging.]
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
ii!
I... think blood is blood, no matter who the source is. Or where. Or what? Maker.
[ just gonna shake some off of herself now. god, it's everywhere and she's not even a mage, this is totally indecent! when she wipes her eyes clean, she blinks over at merrill. hawke's not quite sure yet if she's hallucinating seeing the girl but, y'know, c'est la vie. ]
Hello, Merrill.
no subject
[ oh, that's probably not what hawke's worried about right now. ] What happened to Kirkwall? To the others? Was it really all destroyed? By the creators.. I'm not sure what to believe.
omg their icons match
I can't be sure. Haven't seen a druffalo since I got here but, you know, strangers things have happened.
[ and... right, kirkwall. hawke runs a hand through her hair which is... not the most pleasant sensation because blood and tries to figure out how to answer. she's never actually been honest about what she thinks about ceres before but this is merrill. if anyone deserves an answer, it's her. this is also not the first meeting hawke had planned but she'll roll with it. ]
It wasn't. They say that it was but I don't believe so. It's, ah, a type of magic probably. Nothing we're familiar, based more in what they refer to as the digital. It's like... being in the Fade but not the Fade. Something different but parallel, I think. I can explain more later but for now, it's best to just consider CERES's words with caution. I've never met a people more dishonest, really.
if only i had one to match this
sorry for your lack of cgi trailer, merrill
merrill for da4 protag
+1
(no subject)
IV
Nnng. If I get out of this, I promise I will never disobey my mother again.
[ Unsteady on her feet but sure enough in purpose, Rapunzel wastes no time in gathering the leftover rocks to use as ammo, hurling them ceaselessly at what she hopes are eyes. Hopefully it won't have time to recover. ] Thanks! By the way. For that-- For whatever you did!
no subject
I'm so sorry, da'len! Perhaps I need to work on my aim. [ oh yeah, the marlboro is still there, isn't it? she turns to watch as it scuttles off, seemingly disinterested in meals that struggle so much. ] Stay with me and I'll keep you safe. I'll try not to hit you this time.
no subject
But that would be stupid. And she's trying to learn here. ] We've... really only just met. How do I know you're telling the truth? I mean, I'm grateful, please don't get me wrong, but–
(no subject)
1/2
2/2
(no subject)
IV
While she's certainly thankful for the rescue, this was kinda the last thing she expected. Has she seen any outwardly obvious expressions of magic before? There was Lee with his super speed and strength and ninja bullshit, but that was totally different here.
This was, you know, real magic. Dazed and impressed, Yuri rises from where she'd been covering her head with her arms and wastes no time in heading towards Merrill. Safety! Probably.]
Thank you. [One of the smaller rocks clipped her a little, but whatever she can handle that.] Was that-- Was that magic? Real magic? [She can't help but to ask, a little breathless with awe. Now isn't really the time Yuri--!!]
no subject
despite merrill's preoccupation, yuri's question was probably answered. the marlboro turns to scuttle away, it's appetite apparently lost. she turns to the girl. ]
Are you quite alright? I'm sorry for the — for all the rocks.
no subject
[And then, with a bit more enthusiasm, she blurts:] That was amazing! [And immediately turns red] Ah-- Sorry, I mean... Well, it was amazing, but I... [Shouldn't have shown so much emotion like that?? She's not sure what she's apologizing for herself.]
...Sorry.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
phase ii....
It's not any different, unless your blood's weird. [ He flicks his gaze at Merrill who... doesn't look like anyone he's ever seen so, maybe she has sparkly unicorn blood in her instead. ]
a blood mage and a vampire samurai walk into a bar
[ probably not tainted by a demon's powers. but whatever. ]
My blood certainly looks like this blood, however. Red. And gunky.
he's gone to a bar with hawke so i guess it's time to take merrill there too
And even if it doesn't, you can just throw those clothes out.
[ because merrill was joking earlier when she called them nice right ]
they need to get merrill drunk
ii
So maybe hearing this sort of thing wasn't something he's heard in a while, so.]
I...wouldn't think so? Why would it be any different?
[He's not like the expert at this sort of thing either, but y'know.]
no subject
[ she's definitely not a blood mage, nope, not this girl. she'd typically be more liberal than she perhaps should with that information, but she'd found herself in this precarious situation and decided to err on the side of caution.
at least for now. ]
Are we allowed to leave now? Is the door still enchanted?
no subject