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

Vash the Stampede | Trigun Stampede | Legend

[huntedtyphoon]

I. Arrival

[ Being a fallen star was a new one. Standing in a desert, however, was not.

Vash sat upright, shaking sand out of his hair as he looked around, blinking slightly. That was weird. He remembered a fox and...huh.

He leaned forward to pick up the gift he’d been left with, a canteen of water, and held it in his prosthetic hand. That was nice of the fox, wasn’t it?

Getting to his feet, Vash shook out his coat a bit and took a step to find eyes on him. He offered a quirky little smile, a light chuckle and a small wave.

It’s too hot to run right now, isn’t it? Vash is hoping they’re friendly. ]

II. So Scarlet It Was

[ Vash hadn’t heard that song in...forever. More than forever and the melody had him perking up, just catching the song on the wind. ]

Nai? [ He asked the air, before heading in that direction.

In this strange place he’d been spirited away to, could his brother be waiting? That could be a good thing, a new start for him, maybe Vash could just get him to listen to...

All he could see was a cactus. ]

Nai? [ He called again. ]

[ The music was louder, coming from the cactus? Or maybe he was behind it?

Vash couldn’t help but begin to approach, drawn in by the music. ]

III. Wildcard

[Choose your own adventure, I'm up for anything. Feel free to hit me up at Ammeschan if you want to!]

I

[devilofaboy]

[Friendly wasn't quite the right word to describe Ronan, but he wasn't a complete asshole, at least. He wasn't going to start throwing punches for no reason, if only because it felt like an especially bad idea in the middle of a desert.]

Ugh. Fuck.

[He brushed sand off himself, grimaced when he felt it going down the back of his t-shirt, and glanced over at the other person. Ronan's shoulders were tense and his body language spoke of a certain prickliness, but that was more because he was in a strange place.

Noticing the canteen, he looked down at his own item; an umbrella.]

Can't imagine shit getting much worse than this.

[He wasn't trying to jinx them, just- stuck in the desert, with a stranger and only one thing of water? Seemed like a bad time.

Opening the umbrella, he rested it on his shoulder, shielding his face from the sun.]

Hope you feel like a team player.

[huntedtyphoon]

[ As long as Ronan wasn't going to hunt him down for his bounty? That was very friendly. ]

What do you mean? [ He asked with a smile. Noman's Land was mostly desert after all, this was just another day for him. ]

I don't mind working together.

[devilofaboy]

[Ronan stared at him for a moment, trying to determine if he was fucking with him or not.]

I mean- the desert. This is like the fucking Sahara or something.

[Except it probably wasn't. It was probably worse, considering what he remembered of his conversation with the fox before ending up here.]

Great. I don't feel like getting cozy enough to fit us both under this umbrella at the same time, but I'm willing to take turns with it.

[huntedtyphoon]

Oh, don't worry about me. I'm fine!

[ Vash answered, waving his hands a little bit. It seemed like a strange statement from a guy who was covered in layers aside from his head and a few of his fingers on his right hand. The rest of him was covered in at least some clothing. ]

You can hang onto the umbrella. I'm used to it.

[devilofaboy]

Suit yourself.

[Ronan certainly wasn't going to argue. And, since he'd never been in a desert before, he wasn't sure how you were actually supposed to dress for it. Maybe layers helped protect your skin or something...but it sure didn't seem like it'd be a cool option.]

Do you end up in deserts a lot?

[huntedtyphoon]

Most of Noman's Land is deserts. It's not very hospitable to life at all actually.

[ So that's a yes. It's hot, he feels the heat, but being without his coat or underclothes just invites a lot of questions. It's much easier to avoid those. He's also had more than enough time to get used to it. ]

That's what plants are for.

[devilofaboy]

[Well, that was a fitting name for that place. He'd say something about how it painted a suitable picture but- there wasn't much to say about sand, sand, and more sand.]

What about plants?

[Plants did the world a lot of good, he knew that, but-]

[huntedtyphoon]

[ Sand, sand and more sand was pretty much the description. It might not sound like much, but it was where humanity made its home. At least, this section of it. ]

You know, the organic generators that pretty much every town has? The ones that people can't live without?

[ Had Ronan never seen one? ]

[devilofaboy]

What?

[He didn't bother trying to hide his confusion, face a little scrunched.]

I thought we were talking about shit like ferns and rose bushes.

[But last time he checked, they weren't referred to as 'organic generators'.]

[huntedtyphoon]

[ He laughs pleasantly but then makes a thoughtful noise. ]

Uhhhhh what? [ They don't really have those. ]

Plants are organic, humanoid in shape when they're open, but they look like bulbs curled up. They create energy and then people use the energy to power just about anything. They work really well together.

arrival

[shikanoinheizou]

[Luckily for Vash the person he gives that small wave to is, indeed, a friend. Heizou waves back to him as he makes his way over to where Vash is shaking himself off, each footstep slightly laboured as he sinks a little into the soft, hot sand under his shoes.

As he gets closer, though, he does something that is perhaps slightly alarming. He lifts one finger to his lips and makes a soft 'ssh'-ing sound. His steps are careful, measured, and once he's close enough he murmurs--]

I know what it looks like, but we're not alone out here. Can you fight if you have to?

[huntedtyphoon]

[ It's the question that has him glancing down at his now empty holster. Where had he lost track of his gun? That seems like a problem, but looking around he doesn't see his bag either. He wonders if the fox ran off with it.

His answer would be the same either way. He let out a bit of a thoughtful 'ummmm' ]

Let's...try and avoid fighting. [ It isn't that he can't, but he doesn't want to hurt anyone. Even worms. ]

[shikanoinheizou]

Mm, I like how you think.

[Heizou would also like to avoid fighting if at all possible, thank you! But then that does beg the question of just how they're getting out of here without disturbing the creatures lurking around underneath the sand.

He cocks his head off in a direction over the dunes.]

There's a camp in that direction. We're going to have to take it slowly and quietly.

[huntedtyphoon]

Sounds like a plan.

[ He offers Heizou a little smile as he starts walking in that direction. It might be a little rude to just leave him behind though, and if that worm shows up it could be trouble.

So, Vash walks slowly enough that it's an invitation to walk with him, if Heizou wants to take it. ]

[shikanoinheizou]

[Oh, he's coming along all right. He's not about to stay around out here with these worms lurking about under the ground and it wouldn't feel right to let this guy walk off into potential danger without him in any case.

That sense of civic responsibility, or something.

He moves quickly but quietly, falling into step beside the taller man.]

So what should I call you? My name is Heizou.

[huntedtyphoon]

[ He and danger may be mildly acquainted. He's not too worried about it. ]

Call me Vash. [ He's not sure if people would know him here or not, so better safer than sorry. ]

[shikanoinheizou]

Vash, huh.

[There's no recognition of the name there, at least, so that should be one less thing for him to worry about. Heizou concentrates on not sinking down into the sand under his feet while he keeps half an eye on his companion.]

Haven't heard a name like that before. Where are you from?

[huntedtyphoon]

I'm not really from anywhere, at least, I couldn't really say I was from somewhere or not...

[ Does any of that make sense? Probably not. ]

I live on Noman's Land though, it's the planet that the people are on now.

[shikanoinheizou]

Huh, and that's the name of it?

[No points for creativity... but then he comes from somewhere called 'Inazuma' so he can't really make that statement with a straight face. That comment about not being from anywhere, though..? That does pull his attention somewhat, though he supposes it doesn't matter... since he has the idea he wouldn't know the name of the place even if there was one to give.

While they walk he keeps his footsteps soft and careful, but he saw evidence of those worms on his way out here. Hopefully they've moved on.]

Ever seen a desert like this before? All new to me.

[huntedtyphoon]

Yeah, that's what they called it because there wasn't much life there. Just worms really. [ Worms, so many worms, of various sizes. ]

The whole planet is pretty much a desert from what I could see and I've been all over the place! [ Yep, he's sure seen a lot of sand in his life. ]

II

[humantwo]

[He has to admit, he's a sucker for some decent piano music. He knows what the cactus does by now, but he follows the tune anyway; at least this is just curiosity, and not the otherworldly pull he felt when the cactus had targeted him. Besides, the person who is being targeted might need help if they get too close to it.

(Typically, he minds his own business more than this, but this is something of a quid pro quo situation. Others have helped him here; it seems expected that he will now lend assistance as well. Besides...curiosity...)

And speak of the devil, there's a man wandering towards the succulent right now. Mewtwo lifts himself off of the sand, levitating a foot or so above it, so that he can get to him easier.]

Wait - it is bewitched. Do not touch it.

[huntedtyphoon]

Bewitched?!

[ Huuuuh?! Vash looks incredibly alarmed at the fact because he was definitely about to touch the cactus and see where the music is coming from. He could swear it was so close that if he just got closer he'd see...

That is some enchantment. ]

What do you mean? [ At least he's stopped moving for the moment, even though he's still tempted to look. ]

[humantwo]

[Oh, good. Mewtwo is aware that speeding towards him through the air might be rather disturbing, so he's glad that Vash has paused, even if it's only temporary. It affords him time to float forward slowly at least, moving at about the pace of someone walking.]

It has some sort of psychic ability. Do you recognize the song? It has...found it in your mind. [(He thinks that's how it's working, anyway...)]

[huntedtyphoon]

[ Not that weird, both he and his brother can do that. It doesn't even surprise him. The cactus is more surprising that Mewtwo. ]

Yeah it's...an old song. Nai and I used to play it together so I thought he'd be here playing it.