April 2023 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

April 2023 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]

worms. ★

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!

so scarlet it was. ★

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.

Comments

[counterstep]

( when approached, there's definitely no recognition on bucky's part, had he known the man before. in fact, it's with a respectful nod one might give a stranger that marc is greeted with. )

No, not. Not especially. I'm just. Trying to get my bearings here.

( the guy seems familiar with the place though. maybe he can ask something simple without accosting him entirely? )

Is this station mostly here cause of the Academy? Or is there other stuff around?

[fistofvengeance]

[Alright, that confirms it. Bucky doesn't remember. It also confirms to Marc, once again, that this whole 'full potential' thing is horseshit. If people can reach that, go home and then come back here with no memory of what they've accomplished, what even is the point?

Now that he has his answer, he might as well help Bucky out.]

There's other stuff, but it's all stores and bars. Couple of gamblin' dens, if you know where to look for 'em. But the academy really is the highlight of this area.

[counterstep]

( bucky, on the other hand, already finds himself quite disillusioned. this is supposed to be some sort of reprieve from reality, is it not? a way to truly measure one's worth without all the bullshit?

then why the hell did he just get dumped in a dessert and have to fight a goddamn sand worm? it seems less like an opportunity, like it had been framed, and much more like a trial to endure already, and the winter soldier can't say he's a particular fan. if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it just might be bullshit. )

Bars. They got anything strong?

( he could clarify why, but explaining a super soldier to a stranger is probably gonna seem rather unbelievable to someone unfamiliar. or believable and extremely violent of his world to have any need for. there's probably no in between. )

[fistofvengeance]

Yeah, they've got some stronger stuff around here. Whiskey and the like. If you go into other areas in this realm, you're more likely to come across bars servin' mead and beer, so you might wanna come back here to stock up.

[A freebie tip from Marc, because while he'll tolerate the mead in the local bars, he knows what a pain it is to have to ask for something stronger and be let down. Now he's got a stash of the good stuff in his apartment.]

[counterstep]

( oh. perfect. great advice. well, except that it's probably still regular levels of alcoholic content, but bucky can live with savoring the taste of whiskey and pretending he can still get drunk. if you want to call that living. )

Good intel. I'll have to keep that in mind, thanks.

That what you're here for? ( the whiskey. it's still a little early for that, probably, assuming this place has some regular sort of day cycle like earth does, but with what bucky just had to deal with, day drinking doesn't actually sound half bad, right now.

how's that for potential, fox? )

[fistofvengeance]

Nah, not really. [Though now that he thinks about it, maybe he can pick up a new bottle. He opened one a while back, so might as well replace that.]

I was gonna check out some of the shops around here. Never hurts to have some extra survival supplies. [...Or weapons. Ahem.]

[counterstep]

What kinda shops they got? I. Managed to find a few supplies earlier. ( guns. knives. stuff he'd had on him before. ) But they could use a bit of maintenance, after the. Well, just. All the sand.

( it's a desert. shocker. but how to ask if there's a gun shop without sounding like a total maniac? hm. )

It's not all souvenirs and shit, I'm guessing, right? It's a combat school, isn't it? The one that's here?

( the academy. is that a good enough hint? combat usually means weapons, and people need things to maintain those weapons. )

[fistofvengeance]

[Marc can kinda sense the underlying question Bucky's trying to raise here, part because the Winter Soldier has a reputation and part because... Well. Great minds think alike. He bought a very nice gun for himself just last month.

A mild smile comes to life on his face.]

It's not souvenirs. You can find just about anythin' from canteens to survival knives- with holsters, [important note in his opinion. Nobody wants to carry a loose knife around in their pocket.] to... stuff with some firepower. The academy itself has even more in its armory, but that's their property. The shops have a more discreet selection for sale. Better than nothin', though.

[counterstep]

( it's a little strange how the guy mentions knives directly. or maybe convenient? but he's wearing a leather jacket, after all, so. he does seem rather like a knife kinda guy. still, something to keep in mind, as bucky nods, the corner of his mouth drawing out slightly into something of a not-smile. )

Holster would be very helpful, yeah. I don't intend on borrowing from the academy, unless it's required of me. I think it's better to be maintaining your own gear, but. I understand for some people, the academy is probably a good option.

( at his age and with his experience, he's more likely to teach than attend, though. )

I'm James, by the way. ( he steps forward, offers his right hand for a shake. )

[fistofvengeance]

[On the one hand, knives can be viewed as weapons. Still, there's a reason Marc mentioned survival knives specifically. There's a whole desert out there, never know when you might need to slice up a cactus fruit or use the knife in a first aid type situation. In a place like this, everyone should be a knife kinda guy, in Marc's opinion.

His gaze drifts down towards the extended hand, and after a second's delay, he goes in for the shake with his own. He didn't really get to talk to Barnes much last time, which really just makes the introduction extra awkward to him.]

Marc. Nice to meet you, James. [And with that, he withdraws his hand again.] You just get here?

sry dealing with some post-sick brain fog; hopefully back to my usual speed soon

[counterstep]

( knives are definitely the true survivalist's best friend.

at the question, bucky nods and instinctively tucks his hands into his jacket pockets, a slightly defensive gesture. ) Yeah, something like that. Got dumped in the desert with a bunch of other people, so that was fun.

( his dry tone indicates it wasn't fun. )

How long you been around? I hear some people have been stuck here a while now.

No worries!

[fistofvengeance]

[When Marc first arrived, he got dumped in some kind of ice castle in his pajamas, bare feet included. Still, the stories about being dumped in the desert sound worse to him. He absolutely would've freaked out without any context about what this place is.

His arms cross over his chest and his expression is about as sympathetic as it can get for him.]

It's been three months for me. But yeah, I think some others are gettin' closer to a year by now. Not ideal. You're not gonna hear too many complaints about it, though. Amazing how many people are OK with what's basically a kind of kidnappin' situation.

[counterstep]

( bucky hums. ) Yeah, my friend's been here a year already. Not even from the same time I was from, so that's. A little extra jarring that he's kinda. In my past. But also in this future?

—anyway, I was thinking that a bit, actually. People are really. Calm? About this whole thing. I feel a little cheated, since I think maybe I felt compelled to come because of. Whatever they did to my head to make me think it, to make me walk away?

I'm not even sure how that makes sense. That I did that. It couldn't have been in my right mind.

[fistofvengeance]

[Marc thinks he can wager a guess who that friend might be, and yeah. It's real jarring to talk to Captain America and realize halfway into the conversation he doesn't even know about the Snap. Or talk to Tony Stark when he's supposed to be dead.

And he understands what Bucky means. He understands it very well.]

Yeah... Yeah, I get it. First thing I wanted to do when I got here was turn right back around and go home. It was like wakin' up from some kinda dream, and nobody really knows what they're doin' in a dream, right? No real thoughts. The Fox coulda told me just about anythin' and I would've bought it.