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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.
no subject
The worm was reeling and she brought herself out of her thoughts. This person was right, it was time to absolutely go, and she hesitated briefly before taking the offer.
Social anxiety be damned, she'd like to not be worm food.]
Y-yes...! Thank you...!
no subject
Thirteen really did have a terrible sense of humour.
He keeps Sucrose's hand held tightly in his as they race across the dunes, and though the detective is certainly fast the worms are unfortunately faster. One of them bursts up out of the sand directly in front of them and he skids to a stop, holding his arm out in front of Sucrose as if to guard her.]
Damn it--
[Far too hot for this.]
How do you feel about flying, miss?
no subject
Sucrose cried out when, in an explosion of dust, another worm emerged. Forgetting herself for the moment in peril, she'd turned sidelong to keep an eye on the worm in back. She could do what she could to keep things off his back-- wait-
Her head turned quickly. Flying?]
I-I'm okay with flying! Need an updraft?
no subject
[And, just like that, a pair of large wings coloured like those of a bluejay shake free of his shoulders. Yet another thing that he doesn't really have the time to explain right now.]
You're going to have to trust me, I'm not going to drop you.
[And... sorry, Sucrose, but that's going to be followed immediately by an arm wrapping around her waist before Heizou launches them both upwards and out of the reach of the worm closing in on them over the sand.]
Oof-- hold on tight. [Probably goes without saying. He hasn't tried to carry someone before and though he really does not intend to drop her... he's going to try very hard not to.]
no subject
Okay! ...Wh-
[She gives but a small squeak, but forcibly throws that onto the back burner in exchange for giving them some extra lift. It was like reaching out with your will, cupping the air in your hands and giving it a sizeable boost upward. She conjured an updraft to fill those wings and held right on. If only she had just one of her vials, an anemo hypotasis would be helpful right about now...!]
I'm sorry for the trouble...!
[Focus... focus and draw up another draft. If the worms had any survival instinct, then they should give up the chase soon enough. It was too much precious energy wasted trying to build momentum and reach them... right??]
no subject
And, luckily... the worm doesn't seem able to get its bulk off the ground, or at least not high enough to reach them.]
Hah-- You okay?
[He looks at Sucrose with a grin.]
Shikanoin Heizou, at your service.
no subject
There was no running or speaking from inside a bush or behind a tree from her current position. But she could tug down her hat a little and look away.]
I'm- I'm okay...!
[But that was her condition and not her name. It would be impolite not to introduce herself as well. Let's ride the rush of avoiding death, and chalk that up to the reason her heart was racing.]
Sucrose...! My name is Sucrose. Nice to meet you.
no subject
[A creature like this..? He expects most of its senses are more geared towards being under the ground, or at least having its quarry being on the ground. Now they're in the air it seems to have lost track of them.
Carefully (and so carefully, because he doesn't want to drop her) Heizou manages to get his free arm underneath the young woman's legs so he has a more secure hold on her. He casts his attention around quickly until he spots the camp he came from in the distance then leans his weight that way to start moving.]
New here, are you? Thirteen's chosen to be very inhospitable this time around... You didn't get hurt, did you?
[As far as he can tell she seems fine, but that had all happened rather quickly.]
no subject
It wasn't on her bucket list, but maybe it should have been??]N-no, I've been through my fair share of work-related hazards, far worse than this. Mondstadt doesn't get this arid, however.
[Thirteen? The fox had decided to offer that name, she remembered.]
Oh, is... is this not a test of some kind?
no subject
[As if he was going to a) stay down there to fight if he didn't have to or b) just leave Sucrose to battle the worm on her own and see how she came out of it? Neither of those are really how Heizou likes to work.
And really, if the wings weren't to be used, Thirteen shouldn't have let him have them in the first place. He's put in a lot of practice to get as good at flying as he is.]
Look, you can see the camp down there.
no subject
[She adjusted her glasses and took a look. Oh... there was the camp!]
Oh, we're so close already! I... um, I'll find a way to repay you for this!
no subject
[He adjusts his hold on her to keep her secure as he starts descending. It's a little unsteady- he's never tried to land with someone in his arms before - and with the sand tending to give way somewhat under your feet when you land on it the landing is not a graceful one... but he manages to set Sucrose down somewhat securely before he hits the ground and stumbles, almost falling.
That really was more exhausting than he was expecting it to be.]
Phew-- You some kind of researcher? [Give him a second. He looks her up and down, his eyes briefly lingering at her collar.] ... Mondstadt?
no subject
Heavens help her, despite attempts to hide them, an ear still lifted slightly with the mention of home.]
Yes. I'm the Assistant Alchemist to the Knights of Favonius.
[But she spoke distractedly, focused more in slipping off her hat and fanning him. Had she a few ingredients, she could have put together something to perk him up, but the desert had a funny way of being replete with sand and plants full of psychoactive alkaloids than anything that could help.]
L-let me at least get something for you...!
no subject
[It's not doing much more than moving warm air but given he's sweating a little at this point it does feel fairly nice just to have a faint breeze against his face. He manages not to wilt under the combination of heat and physical exhaustion and presses forth a smile that looks mostly genuine.]
They have water in the tents, and we should get out of the sun.
[Before one or both of them ends up burning. Most likely him. He can already feel it tingling at his skin.]
After you, Miss Sucrose.