folkooc | August 2022 Test Drive Meme

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*tdm

August 2022 Test Drive Meme

AUGUST 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

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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.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

Summer Is Over

Content Warnings: snakes, cultists, optional violence.

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.

Plaid Shirt Days and Nights

Content Warnings: Optional themes of identity and school trauma.

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Taryon listens with rapt attention, urgently wishing he had Doty with him (not for the first or last time) to chronicle such a tale. Dragons and gods and a city fraught with unexpected new danger... it was truly something out of a storybook! Or perhaps a story like those Vox Machina might have experienced firsthand. He's still only been on a few adventures, and his imagination can run wild with new stories, so suffice to say he's very into it.]

And that would be your Honourary Knight, I assume! Swooping in to save the day?

Yes, it was. Him and his floating companion. He rode the winds with a wind glider and fought the corrupted Dvalin.

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.

[Taryon has a momentary doubletake at part of the last comment. Boyfriend? Another man? And he just- came out and said it, like it was okay? Pardon him while he quietly reels at the idea of being in one more place where it's not a big problem. It takes him a moment, and when he speaks up again, he's a little more mellow, still riding that wave of stunned awe.]

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.]

[He patiently waits out the surprise. Whatever the reason for it it clearly has nothing to do with him. Whatever he said to trigger it, well, everyone has their secrets.]

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.

Edited (Sorry last edit ) 2022-10-12 17:27 (UTC)

[Taryon watches the magic on his fingers curiously. He can do magic of his own, of course, so it's nothing spectacular, but he's still inexperienced and self-taught enough that plenty of magic is impressive to him, and it's always a quiet delight to see it.]

Take its form... you mean, turn into a dragon?

I can. I’m not his true size, but I could show you when we get to the top of the hill.

[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.

[WHAT THE WHAT-

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!]

[He laughs and it echoes. He reaches out with one large foot to gently steady Tary.] Of you’re familiar too. Chances are you can become anything living that you remember.

Even a fish!

Oh... yes, I suppose that's true. At least, I heard as much.

[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.]

[Kaeya gently reaches down and scoops Tary up into his palm. He sets him down on the leaves before his form shifts. A dark blue furred cat with a bright blue eye has replaced the dragon. He tucks his tail around his feet.]

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.

[There's something extra terrifying about being picked up by a dragon when you're the size of a toad. It's a miracle he doesn't do much more than a startled little toad yelp.]

Ribbit. [Oh wait, they can talk like this? That's useful.] I. Yes? Yes. I know magic, alchemy. I'm an artificer.

I know if alchemy but not ‘artificiers’. How would you use your magic as an artificer? [He settles himself into a small loaf of cat beside him. So comfortable.]

[He wobbles a little to get all his legs under him, somehow managing to find his balance. This feels... incredibly odd.]

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.

[Kaeya’s eye widens. While it isn’t the same, what an artificer does is exactly like what a vision user does. He puts his paws back down on the ground.

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.

[Taryon leans in to watch him work (wobbling again, oof, stop moving) and nods along. It sounds familiar.]

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.

[Divine magic needs a holy symbol. Something about that bothers him. His brow furrows. The gods are a sore subject with Dainsleif.

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.

I think I may die happy if I manage to never become a slime. No offense.

[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.

[Kaeya laughs, sitting back and offers his hand.] You’re not stuck. Think of your memory of yourself as your tool to pull you back.

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.]

[Hmm... that can't be too difficult, surely. Probably. Just... think of himself, right? Right.

....

Give him a moment to focus.]

You remembered me well, clearly. Well, I can't say I blame you! My face is quite memorable.

You are, you are. It’s my job to keep track of names and faces but it is easy to recall yours.

[He grins like a Cheshire Cat. He isn’t lying. Tary is memorable. Both forms of him.]

[This man is a somewhat difficult read, but Tary has always been one to accept a compliment (or give himself one if one is not offered) so he accepts it with a toady preen. Between that and the illusion of his own face offered for support, with a burst of concentration he's able to shift himself back to how he was before the unfortunate mishap.]

Ah! Thank goodness. [He pats his own face self-consciously.] Thank you for the assist, friend.

Any time! I remember how worrying it was to shift and not be sure I could turn back.

[Kaeya climbs to his feet and offers his hand to him. With the leaves around they should meet the requirement. One of them.]

I bet you’ll get to experience other animal shapes in no time.

Hopefully not all at once. That was a little overwhelming.

[He does accept the hand, after a moment of pause before he remembers- oh right, they're supposed to be doing that.]

So I'm not going to be stuck with the toad, is what you're saying...?

That’s exactly what I’m saying. [He snaps a picture with the relic and lets go. He twists his fingers and the image of a bird in flight is suspended in icy mist.]

It will take study and time, but I can help. And a toad isn’t terrible. Quite useful in fact. Few will pay attention. I’m jealous you look like any other toad. I always stand out no matter what form I take.

Like that blue-furred cat.

[At least, it has stood out a great deal to him, along with the dragon. He's never seen a blue cat before. (Though blue dragons, he knows, definitely exist.)]

August 2022 Test Drive Meme

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