![[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}
Entry tags:
August 2022 Test Drive Meme
AUGUST 2022 TDM
INTRODUCTION
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.
All TDMs are game canon. You can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Each TDM will provide a scenario for how characters arrive in-game that particular month.
Playing TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.
Current players are allowed to have in-game characters react to TDMs via the Network or make a log with the prompts. Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Content Warnings: snakes, cultists, optional violence.
FALLING DOWN LIKE PIECES INTO PLACE
FALLING DOWN LIKE PIECES INTO PLACE
A breeze with the crisp smell of dying leaves caresses you awake. You sit up to find yourself in the middle of an apple orchard, rows spreading out in all directions. Mouth watering apples hang from the branches, and nobody will stop you from taking one. You can wander the orchard as long as you like, but eventually you will find yourself emerging into the front yard of a little farm. There’s a red barn with perfect white trim set far back, and to one side of the yard is a kiosk modeled to match the barn. This is staffed by a woman who sure looks a lot like the fox that brought you here.
On the side of the kiosk are advertised a few different items: pumpkin spice lattes, hot apple cider, cold alcoholic apple cider, and hot chocolate. The cider, you will be informed, is made on site. (But you have to be of legal age to be given that hard cider!)
There are two other things advertised: APPLE PICKING and a SCAVENGER HUNT.
“You need a buddy for those, though,” the woman running the kiosk will tell you. “Lucky for you there’s plenty of people you can pair up with.”
If you elect to try the scavenger hunt, you and your partner will be handed a piece of paper. On it reads the following:
TAKE A PICTURE OF THE FOLLOWING ON YOUR RELIC! :)
- YOU HOLDING HANDS WHILE YOU GO DOWN A PATH
- FEET WITH AUTUMN LEAVES
- SOMETHING YOU THINK IS TRULY BEAUTIFUL
- A GENUINE SMILE
“When you’re done, bring it back here and show me,” the woman instructs you. “You’ll get a prize if you do.”
It’s an easy enough list, right? Although you have to follow the instructions - you really DO have to find something you genuinely think is beautiful, and that smile can’t be forced! Those might require opening up to your partner a little bit!
If you succeed in the scavenger hunt, you will be gifted with an item from home.
Now, what if you decided to go apple picking?
You will be given a bucket. “Be careful to only pick apples from the trees in the rows,” the kiosk woman tells you with a secret smile. “You don’t want to bother the old trees off the path.”
Yeah. That sure sounds like a challenge, doesn’t it?
If you do stick to the orchard proper, you will be able to pick your fill of apples. All of them are crisp and sweet and delicious. But at some point you will see the other trees.
They’re both huge and old, standing on two sloping hills just past the orchard rows. One of them has apples red as blood, and the other apples gold as the sun. In the shade of these trees are weapons sticking half out of the earth, as if they were carelessly buried many years ago.
If you pick one of the red apples, you will find that you are suddenly besieged with huge snakes. They are as big as anacondas and an inky black that absorbs the light, with eyes the same red as the apples. They aren’t poisonous, but they bite and they crush, so you’ll have to fight them off at least long enough to run like hell!
If you pick the golden apples, a crowd of people will silently begin appearing from the orchard. They are all wearing animal masks… and they are all holding hand scythes. Uh oh. You’ll have to fight them off in order to escape! If you don’t manage that, well, in some places it’s traditional to have a big ol’ sacrificial bonfire…
All the weapons below the trees are non-enchanted items, but you may keep them.
Content Warnings: Optional themes of identity and school trauma.
IMAKEOVER MAKEOVER
SAVED BY THE BELL
IMAKEOVER MAKEOVER
Thirteen believes passionately in education. There are, after all, five academies in Folkmore all catering to different types of learning. While these academies are open year round, it becomes apparent if you walk through any of the districts housing shops that back to school is definitely a thing.
A new school year represents a chance to learn more about the world, and about yourself.
Also? It’s a great time for a makeover!
Yes, step into any of the shops selling clothing and accessories anywhere in Folkmore and you will find yourself passionately invested in helping another person discover who it is they want to look like! Do they want to look cool and aloof? Warm and approachable? Are they an e-boy or a cottagcore witch? Punk or prep? You two can figure it out together!
As you shop together you will find it easier and easier to open up to one another, sharing who it is you want to be.
You’ll also be able to score a sweet outfit. Nice.
SAVED BY THE BELL
Wander into any school in Folkmore and you will find a handmade poster instructing all new students and faculty to report to the auditorium. Normal enough, one supposes… but the moment you enter the room you will find reality swims all around you and all of a sudden you’re stuck in a school nightmare!
You know the kind. You’re late for class, no matter how fast you run. You’re in gym class, trying to climb that goddamn rope. You’re getting your books dumped. You’re naked and giving a book report.
These could be memories, but it’s just as likely that they aren’t - you and another person are just trapped in this cliche together. Whichever one of you is in the audience role could maybe help the other one out? Get them some pants or something? Yeah.
no subject
I am indeed! I imagine you can tell just by looking at me. I happen to be a full-fledged member of the world-famous adventuring band, Vox Machina!
no subject
But I’ve heard of Vox Machina, here. I will warn you that so many of us here are from very different worlds with rules you’ll be unfamiliar with. Exciting, isn’t it? [He grins again, eye bright with amusement and mischief.]
And over some drinks I can tell you all about the world I come from and it’s interesting sights. Or now. Walks are good for stories. Don’t you agree?
no subject
[As expected from someone who strives to be a storyteller by trade.]
That is to say, if you've a tale to tell of your own adventures, I'm glad to listen. Hearing about whole different worlds is very exciting for me.
no subject
[He laughs but there’s a glint in his eye.] The story of our Honorary Knight on the other hand, that’s a tale. Tell me, what do you know of dragons?
no subject
I know plenty of dragons! While I have yet to have the pleasure of doing battle with one, it's practically a specialty for Vox Machina, so no doubt my time will come for that as well. They are fearsome, mighty beasts with dangerous elemental breaths and unexpected intellect!
no subject
[He walks slowly. All the better to appreciate the world around them and give time for his tale. He gestures to the side as the leaves fall down around them. Spots of color that make it easier to keep talking.]
Legend has it that the god of the winds befriended one. Legends that feel true. Dvalin, dragon of the east that he once was can talk like any other person. He was once one of the four great beings the god Barbatos asked to protect us before he disappeared a thousand years ago.
They were worshiped…
[He catches a brown decaying leaf from the air.] That changed when the cataclysm happened. No kingdom in Teyvat was untouched. The Dendro Archon, god of growing things died during this time. Every land bears the scars when monsters and darkness poured forth from the depths of the earth.
Mondstadt’s praying and worship of the four declined until they were forgotten. Even feared in the case of Dvalin. [He lets the leaf fall as he looks to Tary.] Mondstadt is mostly peaceful. We’ve seen some terrible events in our time but since the Cataclysm we haven’t dealt with war.
At the opening of this tale, it was only a few years after a Wyvern was thwarted. The late Lord Ragnvindr of one of the oldest families fell and his heir only recently returned. I had only just gotten comfortable in my post as Calvary Captain. And we had only a skeleton crew of knights in the city. The rest had went looking for old truths. It was at this time that Dvalin woke. Unknown to us dark powers were being used to twist his mind.
He hit the city with a terrible storm and cries of betrayal. Buildings were ripped up. Walls were battered. [He sighs.] He struck again and again, and that was when a young man with hair like the sun came to Mondstadt.
no subject
And that would be your Honourary Knight, I assume! Swooping in to save the day?
no subject
He drove him off and our outrider and myself met him. I was curious and he was humble about his routing the problem. But never judge a new face by their first words.
[The path is starting to curve upwards. He leads on as his voice continues to weave the tale.] We discussed the problem of Dvalin in the acting grand master’s office. And learned our new friend could purify what dropped from the dragon.
What our honorary knight didn’t know is we had been investigating strange activity in the hills. Together with their evidence we could surmise that the two were related. Thus we went to the old temples of the four. Every one of them had been tainted. We cleared them out. We needed to to take on Dvalin directly.
We hoped it would calm him. But it didn’t. I was not privy to the next part. You would have to ask my boyfriend since he witnessed it directly. If you meet a Diluc Ragnvindr, ask him how he met the Honorary knight. Tell him I told you the first part of the tale of StormTerror.
Now, when I rejoined them, they had found out Dvalin was going to old ruins and were planning to face him to free his mind.
no subject
How does one soothe the mind of a dark dragon?
[It sounds rather complicated. It's impressive that they tried, really. Most adventurers would just opt to slay the beast, and the people would likely celebrate them more for it.]
no subject
We had to fight Dvalin. But only enough that Aether could get to the wounds covered in the corrupted blood. It’s hard to be a swordsman and fight a being that takes flight. Diluc and I had to get creative with our respective elemental magics.
[He raises his hand and an icy mist curls around his fingers. It takes the shape of feathered wings and an arrow-shaped headed dragon. The mist shaped as a dragon flaps upward and opens its mouth to roar.]
I don’t know how he purged the corrupted blood. Or how he has that gift but I am grateful for what he did for Dvalin. Since he was freed, sometimes I see Dvalin flying high above. Something I’m a little more appreciative of here.
There was a rain that boosted powers. I can take a smaller copy of Dvalin’s form.
no subject
Take its form... you mean, turn into a dragon?
no subject
[They reach the top of the hill. It gives them a lovely view of the orchard. Fall leaves fall from trees at the top of the hill and are carried away by the wind.
Kaeya closes his eyes and smiles, a genuine smile. As the leaves twist in the air, in a blink a building sized version of Dvalin grips the top of the hill. His tail swishes back and forth, he spreads his wings and they flutter. His voice is resonant as he speaks,] Fall is a special time in Mondstadt. A shame we’re going to miss it.
no subject
Taryon can't help it- he stumbles backwards a few steps, eyes wide, flailing a little in his haste.]
Ah- you weren't kidding!
[That... sure is a dragon!]
no subject
Even a fish!
no subject
[He doesn't especially want to be a fish, or any animal at all, but... it might be fun to try. His brows furrow, focusing inward. How does one turn into an animal? And what would he want to be? Hmm... okay, time to be an animal! He can do this! He's Taryon Darrington. He's going to turn into something! He's going to-
-become a toad. Oh dear. Did he get caught between fish and land creature!? How does this work!? He slumps where he sits, limbs all askew, and flails ineffectively in the leaves. Everything is shaped so weird now.]
no subject
You’ve learned how to shift faster than most do. Used to magic? [He washes a paw then his face. Acting like a cat is very easy.] I’ve found it easier to control shifting if I treated it like I do my own magic.
no subject
Ribbit. [Oh wait, they can talk like this? That's useful.] I. Yes? Yes. I know magic, alchemy. I'm an artificer.
no subject
no subject
Artificing means infusing a created object with magic. To use tools and fine crafting to better channel the arcane energy! Casting spells from your own hands can be powerful, of course, but there is potent strength that is hard to define when one uses an item to boost that power.
no subject
His surprise lasts a moment longer. Then he shuts it away as he says,] …it never fails to surprise me how similar and different magic works in different worlds. Your magic and how you use it is similar to how we Vision users do.
Our tool is given to us by our gods. But the active use of magic is similar. We channel the power within through the Vision. A lens to refine and pull that power through.
[He draws a round circle in the dirt with a snowflake at the center. A setting like a jeweler’s frames it. Small wings at the bottom.] I can look inside myself and feel the magic there. Can you do the same? There should be something strange and new there if you can.
no subject
Most magic has some form of channeling object, sure. Even the divine magic needs a holy symbol. I suppose that's what your "Vision" would count as.
[Being divinely granted, and all. He thinks for a moment, feeling inwardly, and most of what he feels is just "weird toad body", but he can get a sense of something else that is notably different, after some digging.]
I think I can tell what you mean, though. The magic of this world feels a little different.
no subject
Maybe…
He puts a paw to his head then sighs.] It feels like the wild personified. When I first woke up here it was all tied up in the threads of my natural magic.
It made shifting weird. [He shakes his head once. Then he turns back, sitting with his legs folded under him. The vision rests on his belt a star of power. He hums.]
A bit of what helped me get used to other forms was observing them. Well, most of them. Slimes are easy.
no subject
[In case he likes slimes, or whatever. Taryon doesn't know what a slime is, but he knows he doesn't like it. The logic tracks, though: learn how to be a thing by watching said thing out and about. It doesn't sound so hard.]
...I'm not, er, stuck like this, am I? Because if I can only be a toad I don't want to change at all, actually.
no subject
I think you can become other things. But you have to experience them first.
[He taps his fingers then icy mist rises to take the shape of Tary as a human. Despite having only one eye visible, he has a good memory for faces.]
no subject
....
Give him a moment to focus.]
You remembered me well, clearly. Well, I can't say I blame you! My face is quite memorable.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)