October 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

OCTOBER 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]

SHINING

Content Warnings: Possible insanity via freezing. Temporary nullification of abilities.

COLD AS YOU

You were falling...

The world snaps into place all at once; you are laying on the ground, surrounded on all sides by towering bushes that stretch up towards a beautiful sunset sky. The bushes were clearly flowered at one point, but now the flowers have died and all that remains are browning leaves that are beginning to fall. On the chill air you can sometimes hear the sound of music, too faint to completely determine.

As you stand, you are filled with an intense desire to find someone. You might have an idea of who, but chances are you do not - you just know that somewhere ahead of you is someone that you need to reach. Whether they are friend or lover or enemy remains to be seen.

You wander the maze. If you're the impatient type and you have the ability, you might try to fly out but you will simply be vaulted right back down if you do. Something clearly expects you to play by rules which were never actually explained. As you move through the twisting passages of nature, you will notice that there is a frost creeping along the branches on either side of you. This frost brings a deep chill with it, and it encourages you to move faster, to find that nameless person now now now! If you take a very long time to wander the maze you may very well be on the verge of freezing and half mad with the desire to find someone. If you try to force your way through the bushes, the frost will crawl over your limbs and inspire both the freezing and near madness at once.

When you find your Person, the cold evaporates. The air suddenly feels merely crisp, and the leaves on the bushes seem more vibrant. The two of you now can focus on finding the way out - so much easier now - but any sense of urgency will have passed and you may just walk for hours, talking and sharing things about yourselves.

It is possible to solve the maze alone, but it is much easier (and more pleasant!) with someone else.

KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM

When you exit the hedge maze you will find a stunning display of lights: hundreds of candles and lanterns decorate the ground and hang from trees, illuminating a clear path over a gently sloping hill. When you crest the hill you can look down and see a beautiful hot spring sprawled out below. It too is lit up by hundreds of lights, all of them glowing under the late autumn sky as it darkens towards night. There are changing rooms where you can stash your clothes (yes, there are bathing suits for the very shy) and bathing stations to ensure that you are clean before entering.

The water of the springs soothes madness and heals physical injuries or any frostbite that may have been sustained in the maze. It also relaxes you, making you perhaps more likely to open up to anybody else present.

The hot spring is staffed by many mice. They don't speak, but they squeak to one another in such a way that it sounds like they are singing - high lilting chants that seem to promise that everything will be okay. They are happy enough to band together to bring you towels or hot tea. The spring is open 24/7, always with lights to fight the cold and darkness of winter.

HIGH STRANGENESS

Content Warnings: Monster sighting, optional violence.

GLITCH

Folkmore has trains and of course the cat bus, but it also has roads, mostly utilized by horses and bicycles. Maybe you're looking for the convivence store, or maybe you just like walking. However it happens, you find yourself on a lonely road at dusk. It is unusually quiet, almost as if the world is holding its breath.

Suddenly you hear the sound of wings. A man-sized creature soars above you, something with huge red glowing eyes. It drops something at your feet: a walkie-talkie. The creature lands some distance away, staring at you, and a thought arises unbidden in your mind:

Help them.

The walkie crackles and you can hear someone speaking, asking if anyone is there. It is another Star Child, brought into this trial as well. They are in danger somewhere nearby; maybe stuck on the edge of a cliff, or trapped on a rope bridge - whatever it is, they need someone else to help them get to safety. If they have any powers, they have been temporarily nullified, but if the rescuer has powers they remain intact. That's where you come in! Using the walkie you must communicate with one another so that the rescuer can reach the person in trouble in time!

But what if you don't make it in time? Or decide that you're not the hero type? Well. The rescue-ee will suffer a terrible fate... for a few seconds. Then the entire world fuzzes and resets, but this time the roles have been reversed. Both parties will remember what has already happened, so if you just ran off into the woods with no intent of helping the first time you miiiight get your just desserts! This process will repeat over and over, people switching sides every time, until someone is finally rescued or the sun rises. Whichever comes first!

If you do succeed at a rescue, you will hear the rustle of huge wings once more. This time you don't see the mysterious creature, but you will find a mystery trunk. Inside you will each find some of your canon clothes and a canon item. Looks like teamwork is rewarded! Nearby, there will also be some unenchanted weapons sticking out of the ground: basic swords, guns, shields, etc.

BAD OMEN

You don't necessarily have to have completed the rescue trial to get some goodies, though! Those aforementioned weapons are scattered all over Folkmore. But if you just go to grab any of them you'd better be prepared to fight; after all, nothing comes for free!

As soon as you have pulled a weapon out of the ground, a tall, man in a black suit and hat will appear from seemingly nowhere and attack you. He has no weapons but he is extremely strong. He's also just really creepy - his face looks like it might be fake, somehow. The only way he can be killed is with a wound to the heart - any other supposedly mortal injury will result in another man in black appearing. It is possible for someone with no combat training to beat these creatures, but they really might appreciate a little help from someone with more experience!

The good news is that they won't mess up your clothes any, as none of these creatures bleed. Because that is totally normal.

Good luck!

Comments

Taryyyyyyyyy

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian is all set to rush in and save this poor unfortunate person...except he has no idea where he is. And the creature that delivered the talking box doesn't seem like it's going to move and show him the way either.

With an impatient huff, he clicks his boots to rise into the air, looking around for any sign of someone in distress. ]

It looks like I need to find you first. Are there any landmarks or anything nearby that'd be noticeable from the air?

[keepcalmtaryon]

Er… trees?

[Very unhelpful, Tary.]

I could try swinging, give one a kick. Maybe you'll see something shaking. …And if the rope breaks, just follow the heroic screaming.

[He starts rocking back and forth, trying to build momentum towards the nearest neighbouring tree. Surely this will work exactly as planned and not backfire at all!]

[makingmyway]

[ That honestly sounds like a terrible idea, and Dorian flies faster through the skies looking for anything, if only to stop this man from accidentally killing himself. ]

There are trees everywhere. [ This is absolutely going nowhere, especially because a sudden breeze means all the trees are all moving to a degree. ] I'm going to try something, keep a lookout for it.

[ Swooping down a bit lower, Dorian then creates an illusion of as large a fish as he could manage with the spell, colored hot pink of all things just to stand out against the blue sky. ]

Do you see anything?

[keepcalmtaryon]

[Give him a second, he's now swaying back and forth and spinning around, so it's hard to see much of anything.]

Uh...

[Nothing, nothing, nothing- oh. That's a fish? In the air? That sure is a fish in the air.]

You're not a fish, are you? I'm not sure a fish can rescue me from this one.

[makingmyway]

[ Well he sees it, so that's a good sign. That must mean he's close somewhere, so Dorian starts scanning the ground below him. ]

It's just an illusion. Can you tell what direction it's in?

[keepcalmtaryon]

Let's see... I'm usually good at this.

[Well, alright, he's decent at this. But it's hard from upside down, and he's not sure of the time of day, so he waits for a moment and looks around to see if anything gives him a reasonable hint.]

The wind's blowing from the direction of the fish. Can you follow that and make another one? I'll tell you if it's closer.

[makingmyway]

From the fish? [ So to his left? He heads in that direction for a bit before trying again. ] How about now?

[keepcalmtaryon]

Ah- yes, yes! It came closer! You're on the right track.

[He's trying not to get too excited - the situation is still precarious! - but it's a relief to be closer to a rescue.]

[makingmyway]

[ All right, so he's on the right track. So he continues flying in that direction until he catches sight of...at least something hanging from a tree. ]

I think I see you!

[ But it also looks like the branch is getting dangerously close to snapping. Hopefully he can make it there in time.... ]

[keepcalmtaryon]

Wonderful! Hello! Please save me, quickly?

[Taryon is also hopeful for that, but the rope isn't boding well, based on the unsteady way things have been shaking. He's looking around, urgently looking for the promised help, but between his swinging and being upside down, it's hard to see much of anything. The fish did get closer, but... is it close enough?

In a desperate bid to at least land safely, he pushes against the tree again and swings harder away, hoping that at least if the rope snaps, he'll fall far but not in the spikes. It's not a moment too soon, as he feels the last threads give way and set him loose, dropping down at an angle. He's not in the center of the pit anymore, but it's awfully close. Maybe too close!?]

Ah- oh no-!

[makingmyway]

[ He sees the snap of the branch, and his breath catches when the figure begins to fall. He's still a bit too far away to really catch him, so instead he tries to cast Levitate and hope that he's close enough for the it take effect. ]

[keepcalmtaryon]

[Taryon closes his eyes, seeing the spikes come closer, closer- and then he is stopped abruptly in mid-air. He pauses for a few moments longer, waiting for death, but when it never comes he cracks an eye open. ...Ah, thank goodness. Oh, thank heavens. He's floating.

He tries to swim towards the edge, but he has nothing to push himself against, so he flounders and reaches out a hand as Dorian comes closer.]

That was well done! Very heroic! Please get me down.

[makingmyway]

[ Breathing out in relief, Dorian crosses the remaining distance to reach Tary, and once he's close enough he grabs his hand. ]

I've got you.

[ He pulls the other man away from the opening of the spike pit until they're a safe distance away, before slowly lowering him down until Tary is close enough to the ground that he's comfortable removing the spell. Once he lands as well, he starts helping to untie the remaining rope around him. ]

Are you all right?

[keepcalmtaryon]

[OH THANK GOD. Taryon's shoulders slump, trying not to be annoyingly wriggly while Dorian works to untie him, though the temptation is there. He really wants to be out of these ropes.]

I am most certainly not alright! I was enjoying a lovely sleep when I was rudely awoken by the fog, and the cold night air, and my own abduction! And then I nearly died! Whoever's responsible for this ought to expect at least a strongly worded letter.

[A pause, and then-]

Oh, thank you.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian frowns a little as he finishes undoing the ropes around Tary. Orym had warned him that strange things can happen in this world, but hearing something like that is a bit worrying.

He can't blame Tary for being a bit frazzled, though, so the short thanks is met with a nod. ]

I'm just glad I was able to get here in time.

[ As he tosses the ropes aside, a familiar flutter of wings catch his attention. He expects to see the figure that had brought him the communication device in the first place, but when he turns all he sees is a wooden chest. ]

...That hadn't been there a moment ago, right? Is that just me?

[keepcalmtaryon]

[Taryon follows his gaze, blinking at the unexpected trunk resting nearby. He'd been sure the clearing was empty, aside from himself and the spikes. He hadn't heard anything falling, either.]

Er... I don't believe so, no. Do we open it? Is it safe?

[You're supposed to get treasure on an adventure, surely...]

[makingmyway]

[ Hesitating for a moment, he then takes a breath and releases it slowly. ]

Well...only one way to find out.

[ Inching closer to the trunk, Dorian then carefully works it open before easing the lid open to take a peek inside, slowly at first just in case whatever was inside would spring out at them. When nothing happens, he pushes it open more to get a better look inside. ]

...Oh hey!

[ Letting the chest lid fall back, he reaches inside and retrieves a handaxe with an interesting looking wooden handle. ] I didn't think anything of mine had come with me here.

[keepcalmtaryon]

Hmm? Let me see.

[Taryon edges over, first glancing at the handaxe, then inside the trunk. At once he gasps and lunges for the contents, grabbing a sturdy leather sachel with shoulder strap, dyed a fetching blue. He pulls it up and gives it a sniff. Yep, it smells like his potpourri sachet. It's definitely his! (Somewhere the initials T.D. are absolutely sewn.)]

Oh, wonderful! This is indeed a grand treasure.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian scoots over a bit to give Tary more room to access the trunk, and while him smelling the satchel gets a bit of a curious look, he doesn't ask about it. Instead he looks inside again, and reaches in to pull out some kind of sheer, chiffon-like material.

Holding it in his hands for a moment, Dorian frowns before his face brightens with recognition. ]

Oh...Hadn't expected to ever see this again.

[keepcalmtaryon]

[He peers inside the bag and reaches around for a bit, then withdraws as it appears to be empty. Disappointing... still, a very good thing to have anyway! He feels more equipped now than before. Almost worth the near-death experience.

He leans over towards Dorian next, curious (nosy) about the comment.]

Something from home?

[makingmyway]

Oh - [ Engrossed as he was with his find, he had almost the other man was still here. ] Ah, yes, I suppose that's true. Although I had left it behind somewhere before having to leave in a hurry, so I hadn't expected to ever get it back.

[ He unfolds the rather gossamer material a little, which starts to look a bit like an outfit. ]

[keepcalmtaryon]

Oh my, that looks like quite a dashing outfit! You must be pleased.

[At the very least the fabric looks on point. Even he, clueless as he can be, knows when someone is happy to see something.]

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian chuckles a little. ] Honestly? I really am. It is one of my favorites.

[ Even if things had gotten complicated and he'd tossed it aside, he's glad to have it back here at least.

Checking once more inside the trunk and making sure it's empty, he closes the trunk and turns to Tary. ]

How about you? You had received something as well, right?

[keepcalmtaryon]

Indeed! They've seen fit to give me my trusty Bag of Holding.

[He holds it up to show it off, visibly pleased.]

It appears to be empty, but that can be solved easily enough.

[makingmyway]

[ Dorian can't help a surprised look. ] Oh! A Bag of Holding?

[ That's certainly an item he recognizes, and while it might be a bit of a stretch to assume they might be from the same place based on that alone, it's really all he has at this point. ]

You wouldn't also happen to be from Exandria, would you?