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April 2023 Test Drive Meme
April 2023 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: hallucinations, poison, giant worm
One minute you were a falling star, but as your body reforms you become aware of one important detail: it's friggin hot.
That's because you've landed in a desert! Yes, you have had the misfortune of landing in Cruel Summer, the hottest and arguably most dangerous part of Folkmore. Lucky you!
The first bit of good news is that you're pretty sure you can see a train station off in the distance, although it's extremely difficult to judge exactly how far off due to the flatness of the terrain. The second bit of good news is that you have awoken with either a canteen of water, or an umbrella to keep the sun off. The third bit of news - good or bad, depending - is that you've awoken near another Star Child. Whoever this is will have the opposite gift than what you received; if you have water, they have an umbrella, and if you have an umbrella they have water. Well, you know what they say: sharing is caring! Undeniably the water is a touch more important, so hopefully whoever has it isn't a colossal dick.
As you trek through the desert towards the distant structure, you will notice periodically the air off to either side of you will shimmer. You may dismiss it as merely the heat playing tricks, but if you choose to investigate you will find mundane weapons like swords, guns, shields, etc.
At some point as you walk, you will feel a tremor beneath your feet. It grows in intensity until suddenly the sand sprays everywhere as something bursts forth from the earth below!
Wavering above you is a blood red worm. It is large - end to end it runs about thirteen feet - and its segmented hide is tough enough that rocks bounce right off of it. You might have more luck with bullets or bladed edges, but it's still going to be a tough fight. It also boasts some impressive offensive tricks; its mouth is ringed with many rows of fangs, and itspits a thick yellow acid that will corrode your skin and your weapons if you're not careful. If that wasn't enough, during your fight you might here a sudden brrrrrrrrrapppp! as the creature farts lightning at you. Hilarious... until it knocks you to the ground.
You would do well to work as a team to take this monster down. You and your partner might have powers or skills that could come in handy, or maybe you're quick on the uptake when it comes to any new abilities afforded you by your new role!
If you defeat the worm in battle, a golden chest will appear. Inside of it are items from your homeworlds - these rewards are especially likely to be any weapons you owned back home.
But hey, maybe you're a lover, not a fighter. There's no judgement here in Folkmore. You can outrun the worm instead if you're both fast and clever - finding any terrain that is more rock than sand will give you a decided advantage.
Once you have either defeated or escaped the worm, you will find that you come upon a small group of tents. Under their shade are first aid supplies, and kiosks manned by fennec foxes offering water, food, and shaved ice. Nice!
One minute you were a falling star, but as your body reforms you become aware of one important detail: it's friggin hot.
That's because you've landed in a desert! Yes, you have had the misfortune of landing in Cruel Summer, the hottest and arguably most dangerous part of Folkmore. Lucky you!
The first bit of good news is that you're pretty sure you can see a train station off in the distance, although it's extremely difficult to judge exactly how far off due to the flatness of the terrain. The second bit of good news is that you have awoken with either a canteen of water, or an umbrella to keep the sun off. The third bit of news - good or bad, depending - is that you've awoken near another Star Child. Whoever this is will have the opposite gift than what you received; if you have water, they have an umbrella, and if you have an umbrella they have water. Well, you know what they say: sharing is caring! Undeniably the water is a touch more important, so hopefully whoever has it isn't a colossal dick.
As you trek through the desert towards the distant structure, you will notice periodically the air off to either side of you will shimmer. You may dismiss it as merely the heat playing tricks, but if you choose to investigate you will find mundane weapons like swords, guns, shields, etc.
At some point as you walk, you will feel a tremor beneath your feet. It grows in intensity until suddenly the sand sprays everywhere as something bursts forth from the earth below!
Wavering above you is a blood red worm. It is large - end to end it runs about thirteen feet - and its segmented hide is tough enough that rocks bounce right off of it. You might have more luck with bullets or bladed edges, but it's still going to be a tough fight. It also boasts some impressive offensive tricks; its mouth is ringed with many rows of fangs, and itspits a thick yellow acid that will corrode your skin and your weapons if you're not careful. If that wasn't enough, during your fight you might here a sudden brrrrrrrrrapppp! as the creature farts lightning at you. Hilarious... until it knocks you to the ground.
You would do well to work as a team to take this monster down. You and your partner might have powers or skills that could come in handy, or maybe you're quick on the uptake when it comes to any new abilities afforded you by your new role!
If you defeat the worm in battle, a golden chest will appear. Inside of it are items from your homeworlds - these rewards are especially likely to be any weapons you owned back home.
But hey, maybe you're a lover, not a fighter. There's no judgement here in Folkmore. You can outrun the worm instead if you're both fast and clever - finding any terrain that is more rock than sand will give you a decided advantage.
Once you have either defeated or escaped the worm, you will find that you come upon a small group of tents. Under their shade are first aid supplies, and kiosks manned by fennec foxes offering water, food, and shaved ice. Nice!
Content Warnings: emotional trauma, impalement
Giant death worms aren't the only danger in the desert, they're just the most obvious.
Even if you avoided the worms entirely, you still have to make it to one of the train stations in Cruel Summer. As you trek across the dunes you will gradually become aware that over the sound of wind and shifting sand you can hear someone singing. You feel an urge to follow the sound to its source.
This song could be anything - one that exists in your world or others, or just a melody spun in the air for the first time. Whatever it is, it is heart rending; tears may spring your eyes as you follow the sound, precious moisture falling to the thirsty desert ground.
The singing is coming from a cactus. It is taller than most humanoid creatures, tinted purple and pink at the tips, with abnormally long spines. Its song reminds you sharply of some deep loss from your past, and at the same time inspires a terrible compulsion to go to the cactus and sink against it.
And what a relief it is, to embrace that melody and feel the spines slide easily through your flesh to pierce your heart. You do not bleed. By some strange alchemy, your heartache drains from your body as liquid, filling the cactus and causing its flowers to bloom and its song to cease.
You could very well stay pinned there, dying a slow death of desiccation, but lucky for you Star Children are all over the place this time of the month and someone is bound to see that you need help.
Trying to pry someone off of the cactus is impossible. The key lies in the flowers - they must be removed. When they are, sweet liquid will spray from the place where it had grown, dousing the rescuing Star Child. With this impromptu shower comes psychic flashes of the painful memory that has trapped the victim.
Once all of the blooming flowers have been removed, the cactus will retract its spines and release its prisoner. There will be no physical wounds left from this encounter.
You will also discover nearby that there is now a golden chest. Inside of it are items from your homeworlds, although none of these items are weapons.
Thankfully, you should be able to reach either Oozlum or Obambo Station without further incident. At either of these you will be able to get some water and supplies, as well as get the hell out of Cruel Summer.
Giant death worms aren't the only danger in the desert, they're just the most obvious.
Even if you avoided the worms entirely, you still have to make it to one of the train stations in Cruel Summer. As you trek across the dunes you will gradually become aware that over the sound of wind and shifting sand you can hear someone singing. You feel an urge to follow the sound to its source.
This song could be anything - one that exists in your world or others, or just a melody spun in the air for the first time. Whatever it is, it is heart rending; tears may spring your eyes as you follow the sound, precious moisture falling to the thirsty desert ground.
The singing is coming from a cactus. It is taller than most humanoid creatures, tinted purple and pink at the tips, with abnormally long spines. Its song reminds you sharply of some deep loss from your past, and at the same time inspires a terrible compulsion to go to the cactus and sink against it.
And what a relief it is, to embrace that melody and feel the spines slide easily through your flesh to pierce your heart. You do not bleed. By some strange alchemy, your heartache drains from your body as liquid, filling the cactus and causing its flowers to bloom and its song to cease.
You could very well stay pinned there, dying a slow death of desiccation, but lucky for you Star Children are all over the place this time of the month and someone is bound to see that you need help.
Trying to pry someone off of the cactus is impossible. The key lies in the flowers - they must be removed. When they are, sweet liquid will spray from the place where it had grown, dousing the rescuing Star Child. With this impromptu shower comes psychic flashes of the painful memory that has trapped the victim.
Once all of the blooming flowers have been removed, the cactus will retract its spines and release its prisoner. There will be no physical wounds left from this encounter.
You will also discover nearby that there is now a golden chest. Inside of it are items from your homeworlds, although none of these items are weapons.
Thankfully, you should be able to reach either Oozlum or Obambo Station without further incident. At either of these you will be able to get some water and supplies, as well as get the hell out of Cruel Summer.
emet-selch | final fantasy xiv | myth
worms.
The fight offers no chance to catch his attention, but she does notice he leaves without his loot, so Pahja sorts through it for something that could belong to him -- only coming across a large greatsword that looks familiar. That should do, she thinks, tucking the weapon she found for herself away.
So she arrives at the tents late, but not late enough to miss him. The wings and halo of Hydaelyn still present, she leans over his form to gently poke at a shoulder. It doesn't occur to her that he might not recognize her, that he might still see her as a stranger. That falls away over the fact that it's Emet-Selch. )
Surely it wasn't that bad of a fight for a sorcerer of eld.
no subject
He shifts, taking a step back to give her space to settle beside him, ignoring the swell of fondness inside of her before he breathes out. Emet-Selch does not necessarily assume the sword is for him, but he reaches to take it all the same - if she has all these odd, new powers then it is likely she does not need the weapon in the way that he might.
She might well be happy enough and content, but he is clearly not quite as at ease as she has found herself. ]
An easy fight does not make for one that I wish to engage in. You should know that well enough.
[ He was supposed to be "retired", wasn't he? ]
no subject
She lets him take the sword without complaint -- it's no mage's staff, but Pahja rather likes the side she saw of him with it. A protector, that much has ever been true, even if it brought them at odds. Her tail curls around her, but her ears flick with joy as she laughs softly. Not at him, but the situation. )
At least this time it's of no fault of mine. ( Just in case he thought to blame her for his reappearance in her life. ) I was content to leave you to your rest for at least a year or two before calling you back.
( Pahja can at least give him that. )
no subject
The sword feels fine enough in his hand, and he accepts it, lowering it as he glances out over at the desert, as if the worms might leap upon them at any moment. At least he looks a little less grumpy now. ]
I have seen nothing to prove that yet.
[ So he could blame her, if he wanted to. ]
So you are not to blame for this summoning?
no subject
Not this time. That would have been our dear Fox, I suppose, if you are looking for anyone to blame. ( A beat and then: ) Full glad am I to see you again. You no doubt think it strange that I should be so, but--
( Her expression softens as she looks at him, the corner of her mouth turned up in a wry smile. )
After all we've been through, well. It feels like we have known each other for ages.
no subject
A Fox. A creature brought me here? [ It seems as though he is going to scoff at her immediately, as if he might blame her entirely, given their history, but -
He shakes his head, glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. ]
We have, though I did not remember it in the entirety. It is good to see a familiar face, Pahja.
no subject
( So perhaps she's more like Zodiark and Hydaelyn than the meager primals the Ascians helped the tribes summon. It isn't something that Pahja's given much thought to, frankly, Thirteen does what Thirteen wants, and none of it is actively harming anyone here at any given time.
Probably.
At her name, a smile breaks over her face again, near blinding in the joy that it radiates. She'd lost him -- again and again -- and it always felt so unfair to be robbed of the chance to know him better, to be friends rather than enemies. Emet isn't the most personable of people, no, but he is charming in his own way. )
Thank the Tweleve it's you. Hythlodaeus is here, too, but he... knows a different Warrior of Light. Same with the Exarch-- ( Which, hang on: ) He doesn't know anything of the future, so I don't think he will find your presence here as refreshing as I do.
no subject
[ And clearly she is succeeded, given how frustrated Emet-Selch seems, waking up in the middle of the desert and looking a touch worse for wear.
Looking down at her, he tries not to be so blinded by her expression that he is unable to respond to her, but it is difficult. She is so painfully happy that it makes his heart ache a little. ]
I doubt he would find my company refreshing either way.
[ He shakes his head, turning back to look forward. ]
Are there so many different Warriors?
(no subject)
Post-wormage
You look rather irritated. Did something happen? [Heavens only know, with Emet it could be anything. Perhaps the sun is too bright, the locals too loud. Perhaps it's more serious than that. She doesn't know when he's from, after all. She's seen... so much. It's nice to see him as himself again.
Regardless, she proffers a barely-touched waterskin, her smile betraying nothing.]
no subject
I should have assumed that they would not bring me here alone. [ The pressing feeling of his odd new fangs is sharp against the shape of his mouth, and he reaches up to touch them, as if he might make them disappear. ] Did you not see the creatures out there?
[ Blasted, irritated thing. He takes the waterskin but doesn't drink, not yet too concerned about feelings of thirst. ]
Venat is post-her-role, for the record.
I did. A most interesting creation, if I do say so myself.
[This brings her back. It's almost like nothing has changed. She privately wishes it hadn't, for him. But that's not the case, is it? It's painful, but it's what she deserves...]
emet is post endwalker!
Not one that I would enjoy seeing the making of, I think.
[ He's sour about having been attacked. ]
These two oldies sitting here pretending to not be old
I expect they breed. Though they do seem a tad nightmarish, now that I think about it.
[She wishes she could help his mood more, honestly, but she's not sure what to say. It's been so long since he was even willing to acknowledge her. Since she betrayed her planet, his god, and all the rest of the people who needed both. Her heart twists, but her smile barely falters.]
sitting on their porch glaring at people
More than a tad. I do not think we would have made something quite so...
[ He waves his hand.
Truly, it is the heat and suddenly being dragged to a new realm once again that has left him frustrated, but her company certainly helps. Turning his head, he motions for her to sit. It's not as if he can blame her for what she did, considering his own actions after. ]
Emet shaking his cane, Venat with a plate full of cookies
[She knows a fox is involved, but let's be honest: It just had to be interesting enough to her for her to follow. She's had years, decades, centuries, millenia for that whimsical kindness and curiosity to pass, but it hasn't fully gone yet!]
he would be the grumpy grandpa
[ Emet-Selch is only marginally interested in finding out what has done this: he is more interested in leaving. ]
He would, but she... would eat all the cookies tbh.
that's fair tbh
(no subject)
post-worms / adds another to the pile
Luckily for Hythlodaeus, he has an umbrella! A light purple, parasol-type affair that he's idly twirling against one shoulder as Emet-Selch makes his way towards the tents.
In this strange and new place he has long since abandoned the dark robes that were so commonplace in Amaurot and beyond. Instead, in this blistering desert, he's wearing pastel-blue leggings and black calf-high boots that are thankfully keeping the sand out, and a loose-fitting white shirt. There was previously another layer to the ensemble... but he simply couldn't keep it on.
He peeks out from underneath the umbrella as the other man approaches, giving a crooked grin to his furious expression.]
Well, now. You look like you're in a good mood.
[Hythlodaeus, please.]
<3
Looking at the outfit, Emet-Selch tries to imagine what had got him to this point, though he can hardly complain. He was most likely to be found in the finery of an emperor, and he can only guess what Hythlodaeus might say if he had arrived wearing those, especially in this kind of heat.
His expression tempers, a little, and he tries not to look quite as sour, gladdened as he is to see his friend once more. ]
Does now truly seem like the time, Hythlodaeus?
no subject
Hythlodaeus chuckles and uncrosses his ankles, swinging his feet down from the chair he had them propped against before he pushes himself up to his feet and plants one hand against his hip.]
If not now, when?
[He closes the distance between them and flicks the umbrella forwards just so to cast shade over them both, arching a brow as he looks over the other man with what some might call a faintly critical air.]
Have you been engaging in scuffles with the local wildlife, Emet-Selch?
no subject
Shaking his head, he looks around with a narrowed gaze, the sun heavy on his face. ]
Not by choice, as I am sure you can imagine. They were not a particularly difficult scuffle, but not one I would engage in if I was given any sort of option.
[ The shade is welcome, and he stops squinting at the sky quite as hard as he has been. ]
no subject
Hythlodaeus' eyes glint with soft mischief for a moment, then he smiles and shakes his head.]
It's good to see you, my friend. It feels as if it's been ages.
[A few months. Next to nothing in their significant span of years... and yet he has missed him. Missed being able to contact him whenever he felt like it.]
Can I get you some water? You must be parched.
[He is clearly still feeling cheeky, but this is his way of being helpful.]
no subject
At least he has been gifted his friends, and he will accept that as some form of compromise. ]
It has not been long at all for me. Have you been in this place for so long?
[ Shaking his head, he waves him off. ]
I could make water if I wished for it.
no subject
[He thinks about it. How long has it been, exactly? Sometimes it's hard to keep track of how the time passes.]
Four moons in the very least, though sometimes it does feel like longer... [As he smiles again, though with the faintest of weary edges to it, a little creature darts around Emet-Selch's feet and climbs up onto Hythlodaeus' shoulder. From the looks of the sand in its fur it has been rolling around on a dune.]
Ah, there you are. [He gives one of the long ears a gentle scratch.] I suppose it hasn't been all that long at all, but it has been terribly quiet without you.
no subject
That long? It does not feel more than hours since we saw each other last.
[ Shifting, he looks down at the strange creature, moving his feet back for a moment before he frowns. Of course his friend would find himself paired with another odd creature that some might describe as adorable, and he shakes his head. ]
Quiet? Are you suggesting that I am somehow loud?
[ He motions. ]
What is that?
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