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Entry tags:
October 2022 Test Drive Meme
OCTOBER 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: Possible insanity via freezing. Temporary nullification of abilities.
COLD AS YOU
KEEP YOUR BRITTLE HEART WARM
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.
Content Warnings: Monster sighting, optional violence.
GLITCH
BAD OMEN
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!
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while clicking the safety back on:] That was the first time anything out-and-out attacked me. I don't know how common it is, but...trials? [his eyes wince.] That's kind of the theme here. So I guess expect the unexpected...and a fight.
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Did you see any runes anywhere? Written, perhaps carved, in the house or elsewhere around here. [ He can't do magic on his own, but runes are something Jayce knows well. He studied all of the ones that were available to him in his world and can recall them from memory and draw them all by hand. But the magic in Runeterra might be different than the ones here. ]
That...sucks. [ He was going to use a much more crude word and only caught himself at the last moment. ] Since we're both armed now and it's getting darker, maybe it will be better if we get out of here. Find somewhere safe and preferably with more light.
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I take it you haven't found a place to stay yet?
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[ He will have to investigate and learn how the new magic here works. Honestly, the thought makes Jayce more enthusiastic than upset. He puts the hammer back into the trunk so as not to go around scaring people with it, and then hefts the whole thing up. ]
No, not really. I have some money on me, but I'm not sure if it will be accepted as currency in his world, so even if I find some sort of inn or hotel, they might not let me in.
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he gets to his feet, dusting off his pants.] Yeah, about that... The money thing here is...weird.
You didn't happen to get a spoon when you got here, did you?
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And of course, the money is also weird. Why did I expect anything else? [ He chuckles, however, not all that mad. ]
I do, yes. [ Jayce shifts the trunk, so he's holding it with only his left arm -yes, sorry, more unaware showing off- , and with his right hand, he pulls a carved spoon out of the pocket of his vest. ] This one. It was with me when I arrived.
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...Er, what shows up in the spoon is the money. It's weird.
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Okay, sure, why not. [ He says that very slowly, his mind trying to make sense of things and not being very successful. ] Do I just trade this spoon in exchange for lodging? It's made of wood, it doesn't seem that valuable.
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No, it--It's really weird. You just...show it? To the person? And... [he exhales, rubbing the back of his head.] It's hard to explain. It's easier to show you what I mean, so...so let's get out of here. I need to eat something. [it's been a long day of being stuck on a cliffside; gives a man an appetite.] I can show you what I mean that way.
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Okay, yes, that would make it clearer. Thank you, Manabu. [ Looking around, however, the place is as foreign to Jayce now as it did before when he first came to help the other man. ] Do we pick any direction, or do you know where you wanted to go before being stuck on the cliff?
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Mnh, well...let's just find us some train tracks first. Did you pass any on your way here?
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Yes, I did. They were to the east. I was trying to reach you as fast as I could, so I wasn't paying much attention to the ground and almost tripped on them.
[ Jayce is about to say something else, when he spots something big AND fast running up toward them. It's bright too, as if two beacons are strapped to its front, and that makes it hard to see, so Jayce can't tell if it is some sort of vehicle. He instinctively moves in front of Manabu but before they can get anywhere, the thing stops right in front of them. ]
What...is that!?
[ It looks like a cat. A very big cat. But it's the size of a mall building, has far too many legs, and has windows and seats in its body. Almost like some sort of bus. It turns his head to smile at them and Jayce realizes that the beacons he's seen are the cat's eyes, acting as headlights. It would be cute if it were also kind of terrifying.
The Catbus stills, still smiling. They were lost and waiting, so he came for them. ]
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It's! The stupid bus! The weird...animal...buh--uh--HKCHOO!!
...Animal...bus...
[when the dust finally clears, Manabu's voice comes from way lower than before.
because he is a dog now. a sparkly, little brown dog.]
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Everything is Super Normal. ]
I'm starting to think I'm hallucinating. [ He says it out loud and mostly to himself, but the Catbus lets out a soft yowl. On the side of its body—and that is such a weird thing to see— a door appears and opens, to let them inside. ] Oh yes, definitely a hallucination.
[ What has his life become? Maybe he fell off the cliff trying to help Manabu and this is just a surreal dream caused by his dying mind. So far is the explanation that makes the most sense. Jayce looks at the dog. ]
You are a very cute, though. Very shinny. [ He reaches down to pat the dog on the head lightly, because at least he gets to see a doggie pet before dying. ]
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[he slinks under the hand and approaches the hairy cat-steps.]
We need to get to the nearest train station! [the bus mrrs and just grins ahead of them, blinking its big, illuminated eyes while Manabu struggles to hop up the steps.]
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Wait, it's really you? Manabu? [ Jayce sounds incredulous for a moment because, dude, warn a guy before shapeshifting. However, Manabu had dog ears even when he appeared human, so Jayce is inclined to...perhaps believe it is him.He is also still inclined to believe he's still losing his mind. ]
Okay. [ He says, softly, watching the dog move past him. And then, more quickly, to himself. ] Okay, okay, okay...yeah.
[ He's still standing outside, unsure about stepping further down into this spiral of nonsense. But the giant Catbus then turns to stare directly at him and flicks an ear before opening its mouth to yawn, showing very large and pointy fangs.
Jayce quickly gets into the bus. Or tries...Manabu's dog legs were not designed to help him walk up the stairs, and he is in the way. ]
Please don't bite me. [ It's all Jayce says before bending down and wrapping his arms around the dog, holding him up gently but firmly, bridal style. Then he steps inside the Catbus in one long stride. ]
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[Manabu squirms, little legs bicycling as he's conveyed throughout the ask to not get bit. he stops flailing after the steppies are done, but he's not happy about this. in fact, Jayce may find the dog is strangely warm...and running an electric current?
congrats on the suddenly-frizzy hair, Jayce.
oh, and all the glitter. that...he can't really control that. it's new.
unhappily:] You could've asked permission first... Just because I look like a dog doesn't mean you stop treating me like a person!
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The electric current is new and somewhat concerning. Luckily, Jayce has spent a lot of time working with magical gemstones that happen to be great electric conductors, and he's only mildly surprised this time. Also, there's a reason why he keeps his hair gelled back, and electricity is part of it. The gel helps marginally. ]
You are really not helping your case in the 'this is not a dream' argument. [ There's so much glitter everywhere now, and half of it is on Jayce. His coat, his black shirt, his skin, the electrified hair... It's going to be a pain in the ass to clean. ] I would have helped you get up the steps if you were a person too. But..you are right, sorr--AH!
[ Apparently, since they are both now inside, the Catbus sees no reason to stay still anymore. It has closed the door and started running forward. Very, very, very fast. Sometimes even up trees, rocks, utility poles, and whatever else crosses its path as he moves to the next destination.
The sudden jolt has caused Jayce to fall back on his ass, but he, fortunately, lands on one of the available seats, with Manabu still on his lap. Someone stop this hallucination, he wants to get down. ]
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flecks of glitter sprinkle with each jostle and bump; if this trip goes on too long, Jayce is gonna have a very disco-ready set of trousers. but only on the front side.
there's no real chance for carrying on conversation in this chaos, but thankfully the ride is brief...ish. ten minutes, maybe? and it comes with a violent halt as the bus skids down from its out-and-out gallop to stop in front of the Willow train station. outside, the terrain has changed from something arid to the idyllic greens of Willow.
the moment the world stops jittering:] G-get us out of here...before new passengers get on...
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By the time the ten minutes of hell are over, Jayce is rumpled. His hair is a mess, and the front of his clothing looks like a unicorn puked all over him. There is so much glitter. So much. ]
I think my organs have rearranged themselves. [ It would explain why he has the sensation that his heart is on his throat and his intestines are wrapped around his kidneys.At Manabu's suggestion, he nods numbly and stands up on shaky legs. Jayce is holding Manabu with an arm around the dog's waist, pressing him against his chest like he's some sort of oversized teddy bear, while he uses his other hand to carry the items they found.
After stepping out of the Catbus, he mutters a broken 'Thank you.' and the Catbus grins in return before running off again. They are at the train station now, success!
...more or less. ]
no subject
he blinks hard a few times, turning his head so his good eye can get a sense of where they're at, take a few careful sniffs as to not overload his senses with new, stomach-jarring smells.]
...Okay. Well. At, at least it took us to the right spot...this is the train station I requested...
no subject
Are you okay? [ Jayce decides to sit on the ground as well after a moment, one hand placed on Manabu's back, rubbing small circles. He doesn't do it in the way one would pet a dog, but rather in the way he would comfort a sick human. ]
That is something. Can I ask why you're a dog? The fox mentioned familiars, but briefly and in a way that wasn't very clear. You can't change back?
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I, I'm a dog because...whenever I sneeze...I keep changing between them. I still haven't figured out how to change on command. [because magic is STUPID. it's absolutely not a mindset problem, it's a SYSTEM problem!!!!!!]
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That's really inconvenient. Maybe we could get you to sneeze again, so you can turn back into a human.
[ Right, the system. Of course, of course...Jayce would agree that the fox should have explained to them their roles and how the new power works a bit better. ]
I assume that willing really hard didn't work?
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...his foot will involuntarily thump now and then for want to scratch, however, and he just has to accept that as a thing that's happening, just fueling his indignation.]
If it did, I'd be a person again right now. You can stop touching me, I'm fine. I gotta show you the spoon-thing, remember? [he gets to his feet and scoots under the hand, shaking himself off. glitter everywhere.]
There should be a place nearby. Sign with a horse on it. Let's go there.
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and it's a wrap ♥