August & September 2023 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

August & September 2023 TDM

Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.
Welcome to Folkmore's bimonthly 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 and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’

TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.

Playing and interacting with the 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 always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!


🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.

and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.


🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.

Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.

[ Prompt One ★ Prompt Two]

Oh How Quiet . ★

Content Warnings: Difficulty seeing, possibility of drowning, forced relocation

Fog & Footsteps

Some Star Children find themselves on land. The air is foggy and damp, blurring and distorting vision making it difficult to tell where they are, what’s real and what isn’t until–finally–Star Children find themselves on wet sand. Continue marching forward and trees begin to form a skeletal border, dark shadows growing and stretching further into their depths. Star Children who have experienced being exiled before can feel a path through the trees should they choose to venture further. Star Children who haven’t been exiled can feel resentment building around them and have greater difficulty navigating the path ahead.

Anyone who glances back may find footsteps in the sand alongside theirs. The more anyone looks back, the more prints appear. They’re inconsistent like their maker hops or flies part of the time or fades in and out of the physical universe… or something else. They may be human, or animal, or something Star Children can’t quite put a name to.

The Will or the Wisp

The longer Star Children dwell on them, the more tempting they are to follow—familiarity, comfort, curiosity, something. The footsteps eventually lead Star Children down a branching path toward a wall of thick, colorless fog. Inside the fog, there are enchanting wisps of light dancing just out of reach, urging Star Children to keep following. Just a little further, the sweet voices promise.

Continue onward and soon outlines appear in the mist, showing just who (or what) the earlier footsteps belong to–distorted human or animal shapes that exist only where fog is displaced by the will-o’-the-wisps they carry like lanterns. They lure Star Children deeper into Exile, all the while making promises they have no intention of keeping...

Salvation comes in the form of a fellow Star Child guided toward someone in distress by shifting sands. They radiate starlight that pierces through the thick fog around them, allowing people to find the sandy forest path toward The Beach. Once Star Children reach it, they will both find an old, sea-battered treasure chest which offers characters a personal item from home and either a nonfunctional compass or lantern. A will-o-the-wisp will fly directly into the item, which doesn’t seem to make it work. The compass needle points toward somewhere in Exile, not north. The lantern doesn’t light up. However, when the Star Child is truly lost, the compass will point where they need to go and the lantern will light up any darkness. Each Star Child can only receive either the compass or the lantern.

A Magical Day

Whether passing directly through the forest path or guided back to it, Star Children find a shoreline extending in either direction. Some water laps against the beach, but farther out is the long expanse of tenuous reality. Come September, it fades into the distance until it can no longer be seen. The beach itself is in Exile, heavy with the weight of magic. It feels reassuring and encouraging. Star Children can indulge in a sunless day at the beach, playing in the sand, and soaking in the magic. Those wishing for a bit more warmth can explore the shoreline north to the Boat Bonanza at the port where the Encantado reaches the ocean.

Key Points:

🦊 Star Children may pass through a thick fog to reach a wet, sandy path that passes through trees and leads to The Beach in Exile.
🦊 If they keep looking behind them on the path they will find footprints following alongside their own. Those footprints will try luring characters deep into fog using will-o’-the-wisp lanterns, leading them into the swamp so they can drown them.
🦊 A fellow Star Child can act as a light to guide lost characters back to the safety of shore.
🦊 Star Children that are rescued from the lure or who rescue another Star Child will be rewarded with a non-weapon memento from home and either a compass or a lantern (not both).
🦊 Star Children that don’t succumb will simply continue forward to The Beach without issue and will have opportunities to find a non-personal item from their home worlds being sold at the market. See below.

Christening Ceremony . ★

Content Warnings: Possibility of drowning, fetch quests

Boat Bonanza

Whether venturing up the coastline from Exile, floating down the Encantado River, or simply being plopped into the water, Star Children new and old find themselves in water. A strong wave rolls up the beach to drag suspecting and unsuspecting alike. Playful pinkish-red dolphins spray people off boats into the river. Or Star Children find themselves treading water deeper than they are tall with no land in sight. No worries, those who need help getting out of the water will get it. Along the shore, spirits in boats will pick up anyone in need of a ride and bring them back through the fog to the sounds of shouts and cheers and music to a large clear spot in the fog.

Boats come into view. Boats of all shapes and sizes, from single person kayaks to large houseboats, fishing craft and sailboats. They rise and fall with the waves but aren't otherwise moving. Ropes, planks, and bridges tie the boats together. Whether approaching by river or by sea, new boats explore the outskirts of the great conglomeration of boats and attach themselves—increasing the size of the gathered ships. So many boats are gathered that the shore isn't visible from new boats tying up.

Everyone's welcome aboard and to wander from boat to boat. Starfish spirits offer games of chance at low tables on broad open decks under awnings. There are even holes in the bottom of the deck, so players can dip their feet in cool water. A cephalopod band plays upbeat music other spirits and Star Children can dance to in competition with a scavenging of seagull spirits singing sea shanties as loudly as they can two boats over. Far from them, jellyfish spirits offer places to rest in quiet, with curtains drawn and sound dampened. Many spirits offer food and drink—seafood or seafood shaped candy or in the case of mystery flavored taffy, sometimes seafood flavored candy. Those who don't want freshly rolled sushi or take a chance with the candies can always see the Wandering Dog cart on the shore, where the dogs try very hard to be included.

Flotilla Afterparty

Come September, nymphs pop up in the waters and start shooing the boats away until only the houseboats and some submarines remain. Some go off on their lonesome, but more of them form flotillas that float along the coastline continuing their activities and coming to shore to pick up any who wish to join them. A restaurant flotilla, a meditative flotilla, music performance flotillas, and even gambling flotillas. Should people want off and the boats aren't ready to go to shore, sometimes Catbus shows up, able to leap whatever the distance.

Fetchquest

At any time, during the boat festival or smaller flotillas, Star Children may find non-personal items from their home world for sale. It may be a weapon or magical item. These spirits can sense who is from the same world as an item and will only offer them to those Star Children. These aren’t free! After all, these spirits pulled up these items from chests in the water. Star Children will need to do a few favors or barter something else to obtain the item from home. Star Children who help in Vasilisa’s, now mostly staffed by spirits, will find they have an easier time bartering… unless it’s in the Cuttlefish Curiosities shop. If the cuttlefish spirit smells a whiff of the grumpy old octopus spirit who has taken over as chef, that Star Child will have to do twice the work.

Key Points:

🦊 Explore your way to Nereid where the Encantado reaches the shore or get dropped into the water.
🦊 Enjoy an enormous boat festival! All kinds of boats! All kinds of activities!
🦊 In September, the boat festival will split into multiple flotillas floating around the shoreline.
🦊 Do favors or barter goods to receive a non-personal item from home. It may be a weapon or magical item. A magical gun from your world? Yes. Your personal magical gun with your dog’s name engraved in it? No.

Comments

Fog and Footsteps

[hasmuchtolearn]

[It comes without warning. One moment he’s meditating in his apartment and the next he’s sitting on wet sand. The rather unpleasant sensation of water soaking through your trousers startles him and he quickly stands. What? How did he get here? Likely the Fox’s doing of course. Still able to see stars streaking through the sky even with the fog surrounding him.

But then he notices a tiny figure hopping across the sand. A little girl? Then she’s chasing the footsteps and ends up mere feet from her. The young Jedi simply watching until she sees him and asks a question.]

I really don’t know. I suppose anything is possible.

[His voice is calm and gentle yet full of youth. And a little bewildered at why the fox would bring such a young child here.]

[staringly]

[She's looking at him, tilting her head like he's familiar, but for the time being, she's focused on his words and how they are absolutely no help at all. A sigh.]

It must be a bird. That hops. [For emphasis she hops to the next set of footprints, playing around in the sand. She hasn't seen too much of it herself, so it's actually kind of fun even if it gets everywhere.

When she's closer, she is staring at him a little harder. Like she knows him.]

Are you a Jedi, too?

Boats 2, Splashy Boogaloo.

[heypartner]

Cobb's a little wary about water. Memories of almost drowning are still fresh in his mind but it seems the fox has chosen the water for new arrivals this time. He's careful to walk down the center of the dock.

"Here." He offers the drenched newest arrival a hot mug of broth. It smells heavily of ginger and chicken. "This'll take the edge off the chill."

He's older than this new arrival, beard and hair silver grey. Blunt horns rise up from his temple and hidden among the beard are little spikes. Cobb has his own distinct scar going along the side of his head and the hand he holds the mug in is metal.

[onlydoubts]

[ coming across someone, or rather, someone coming across him shouldn't be a surprise. After all, how likely is it that he's all alone? The footprints, as mysterious as they are, have to belong to someone, right?

Bodhi's hands twist and fidget at his sides - so far he hasn't come across anyone.

So, the sudden voice draws him out of his thoughts. Violently. Heart racing, he turns to the sound and sees a young woman. Must be talking to him, nobody else here. Willing his nerves to calm, he slowly trudges in her direction. ]

S-sorry, what?

[hasmuchtolearn]

You think so?

[His tone is amused as he watches her go back to hopping. Obi-Wan can’t very well leave her alone out here, so he sticks close. Perhaps that’s why the fox brought him here. To make sure she made it out safely.

But then she asks that question and he blinks. Not that it isn’t obvious that he’s a Jedi, what with the robes and the lightsaber. But this means she’s from his galaxy!

Bending down, Obi-Wan tries to get a better look at her.]

I am. Are you a Jedi?

[staringly]

[She still watches him, eyes squinting. He sounds familiar, too. But he doesn't look the same. He looks like how a Jedi is supposed to look. Which is why she believes him and doesn't go off running into danger. Right now anyway. That isn't off the table.]

Kids can't be Jedi any more. [She looks down at that, not with what Tala had told them about the Path.] But I am a princess. And I know a Jedi. He saved me.

[hasmuchtolearn]

[If she looks closely she might notice there’s a little bit of a glow around him. He normally tries to keep it toned down but it is still there. Though his eyes turn a little said, muting from blue to more of a grey.]

A princess saved by a Jedi Knight? Now that’s quite a story. One I would like to hear.

[He then looks around at their gloomy surroundings.]

Perhaps you could tell me about it while we try to find a way out?

[staringly]

You mean we shouldn't follow the hopping bird? [She points to the trail that she was following which might not be the best idea, but it's logical to a child. She doesn't dismiss going with him in general though. Not that she can't handle herself of course. She's Liea Organa.]

Weeeell, [She starts very dramatized, tilting her head to the side.]

It was his fault anyway. [But she gives him a smile, because clearly this is a long story.] You look like him. But you look like a Jedi. He doesn't.

➥ boats and babes

[nestingdevil]

Sluggishly, Greed leans forward to run his hand through his hair. A slip of salt and brine clings to his claws and drips across his face, slicking his skin like a cool, second-coat sweat. It's oddly refreshing, in a way. An abrupt and brisk wake up call from an otherwise permanent death, and oh, what a way it is to come back.

Because there's things here: things to see, things to experience, things to have. The Sin's fingers knead into the base of his spine as the boat dips and rocks like a bobber on a calm, open sea. He lets his nails scratch across his skin; the smells of grilling food, rich oils, and thick spices filling his noise. Yes, there's a lot here to have. And in the pit of his chest, that core of his quickly stirs. It jumps and skips, writhes and scratches - the pressure of it thudding, pounding, in a silent, throbbing beat:

"Give it to me. Give me more, give it all, give me everything."

Funny, that the first thing he sees when he catches the horizon again is a giant woman moving across the swim of boats.

The homunculus slowly arches his eyebrow as he watches boat after boat dive lightly into the drink only to bounce back up again in gentle sprays of seafoam and silt. Whoever (or whatever) the woman is, she doesn't look like she's entirely in a rush. Taking her time, examining what she can. Greed's mouth quirks lopsided to one side and as he slowly stands, he casually moves to sag over the railing; his one heel planted and hooked into the flaky, semi-rusted steel.

Of course, he misses the oversized bread entirely and when it hits his face, the Sin's foot skids across the rail, making his body splay out awkwardly on the bow. Shrrrrrrrrrk.

"Oi, oi," Greed slurs. "Might want to watch it with those, huh?"

Boat bonaza

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Hello small, wet child. His gaze slides around, trying to see if anyone is looking out for her. At her age, no one was looking out for him, and he'd rather no kid ever know that feeling.

But he also knows how fiercely he'd have tried to maintain independence, if someone had come on too strong, back then. So, aiming for a casual tone-]

Hey, wanna borrow my cloak while you dry off a little?

[That would be a Jedi made cloak. The robes are Jedi style, too, lightsaber tucked away on his belt.]

[staringly]

[Under normal circumstances Leia would have far too many people looking out for her, of course making her that much more rebellious. That just might be the Skywalker in her though. The Organas were hardly prepared for that level of precociousness.]

I'm okay. [It's her gut reaction, turning in her seat to look back at him. It's only after she's sitting straight and actually looking at him, at the robes.]

Those are Jedi robes, right? [She wears the consideration on her face.] Well it is cold. I was in the water, and I don't even know how I got there. But just til we get to the other boats. Or to land. I want to know where we're going. Do you know why all these boats are here? [And she's back on her knees, looking over the side of the boat on the bench they're sitting on, looking at the other boats.]

[hasmuchtolearn]

As curious as they are, I’m not certain following them would be wise.

[The footprints seemed erratic and unreliable. The more he looked around, the more he saw. It’s then that he stood.]

Is that so? Why didn’t he look like a Jedi?

[Obi-Wan then starts walking, motioning for her to come with him.]

[staringly]

[The loudest huff. You are no fun, Obi.]

I don't think this whole place is wise, but here we are. [So let's do something about it. She's not being hunted, chased, or shot at. Can't she just get up to normal kid mischief?

But she does relent when he stands, but she is clearly not happy about it, her little legs chasing after him in the sand.]

He was old and dirty. The inquisitor people wanted him though. So they kidnapped me, and my dad called him. So that's how he saved me. But they kept coming after us. I don't think they're here though.

[hasmuchtolearn]

[Excuse you.]

I agree with you there.

[Obi-Wan can’t say he likes being here, even if the people have been nice. It’s still not where he wants to be. He would rather be back home.]

I can’t say I’ve ever met any inquisitor people, here or otherwise. But that sounds to me like it was a trap.

[Obi-Wan is alert as they walk and talk, his eyes scanning the bleak landscape. Soon enough he spots the figures of trees up ahead, so that’s where he goes.]

How did you get away?

[ezra_of_lothal]

[Immediately, he sweeps off his cloak, to drop lightly over her shoulders.]

Yeah, they are. [He inclines his head, as if he would bow if they were on firm land.]

Ezra Bridger, Jedi Knight.

And - it's a festival, but I haven't quite figured out what it's supposed to be celebrating. [Confidingly-] I've only been here a couple of months, still trying to figure out lots of stuff.

[staringly]

Do you even know where you're going? [Said in the most judgmental tone. Like why am I following a stranger... again.]

It was. [Clearly. Now that they know.]

Well there were these two inquisitors, and one wasn't listening to the other, but they both wanted. I think one killed the other which meant we could escape. [Leia looks like it was very daring.] But the transport was going to Mapuzo. So it did not end there.

[staringly]

[Another Jedi. She levels him with a look.]

No one's going to come after me because I'm with you, will they? [Look, she did that once and that was enough for her. But then she gives him a nod in return.] Princess Leia Organa.

[And then her mouth just hangs open.]

Moooonths?!

[That is literally forever to a child.]

[nestingdevil]

He isn't expecting what grabs him. A boat, a piece of drift: those he expected. Not the rough of talons that meet the smooth of his 'Shield in distinct contrast. However, he doesn't have enough time to think about it before he's lifted up and out of the ocean; the salt of it, the soak, all but flooding him from tip to toe.

The Sin's boots hit the deck of the boat to the tune of slippery leather and the resounding clnk, clnk of his water-sogged heels. At first, he doesn't quite make sense of anything. Instead, his core spits deafly in his ears - the licks of red-hot electric sizzling, popping, in a desperate attempt to repair any damage. Whatever he's swallowed immediately comes up with a few, brisk coughs and Greed curtly shakes his head, sending a thin spray of ocean breeze out in a tangy, brackish mist.

Drowning, well almost drowning, is a new one he can add to the list.

"Ahhh," the Sin exhales while the last bit of spark dies on his lip. "Thanks lovely. Would have been a bit of a pain in the ass if you hadn't gone and done that." With a purr in his throat, the homunculus cradles his neck to snap his head back in a series of horrible, bone-crunching clicks. Now that he's more aware, more alive, he finally opens one his eyes to see his would-be savior. And in that moment, that brief second, it flutters; red to purple, dull to uncannily sharp. His pupil thins out to a shivering prick - the look of it more similar to a viper catching a signature line of heat.

Because oh, oh, oh, is she everything both strange and familiar.

Greed's mouth hangs open and a rolling groan vibrates up his chest as he drops his hand back to his side in a dead-weight motion. "Pretty bad way to introduce myself, huh?" His mouth squeezes in on itself, letting a glint of his teeth shine at the corner of his lips. "You sure are something. But first thing's first," the Sin starts, his arms slowly slipping out of his vest to flick off as much water as he can.

"The name's Greed - " Drip, drip, goes the fur along the collar of his vest. "-now, what do I get the pleasure of calling you?"

[hasmuchtolearn]

As they neared the trees, Obi-Wan squinted through the fog. “I… think I do, actually.” He sounds a bit mystified, because it’s as if the place is showing him the way. He can just feel it.

The young Jedi is still paying attention to the girl though. Wanting to keep her occupied as they went. “Mapuzo? That’s a beautiful planet from what I’ve heard.” He hasn’t actually been there yet, but he has studied up on many different worlds.

“So they chased you all the way there?”

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He'd been watching her a little more closely, and there's something about that flat look aimed his way that makes his breath catch, that makes him think with a complicated burst of emotion, a second before she says her name - Leia.

Leia Organa, Princess of Alderaan.

Ok. Ok. He can roll with this.

He tries to cover that reaction, quickly, to say sympathetically-]

Yeah, that's just no telling how long you might be here - a few hours, or days, or much longer. Sorry. [It's been over two years since he's been back in the galaxy, and he's also certain this strange extradimensional sort of life is the only sort possible, for him. Then he offers a hopeful smile-]

But! The good news is there's no Empire here. As far as I know, no one who serves the Empire or the Emperor, either. [There's people he'd prefer be nowhere near her, like Maul, but Maul doesn't serve Sidious, not anymore.]

[staringly]

[He's definitely staring at her, but then he stops and goes on, and she makes a very loud--]

Uggggh. [That is forever.]

I just want to go home.

[She's glad to hear about the Empire, and that no one is going to come after her here, but she thought it might be fun to be here for a day or two and then she could go home and tell her dad all about it like it was the best story ever.

But now she doesn't know when she'll see Bail, and she turns around in his oversized robes and sits on the bench, looking back out at the water, holding in any emotions from pouring out, but she's clearly upset.]

[staringly]

[He says it with surprise, but so rationally. She turns her head to look up at him. He's definitely a Jedi.]

It's not any more. After the Empire came in, but he said that, too.

[She moves up to take his hand, acquiescing finally. At least he appears to know what he's doing. Sort of.]

Yup. We also sort of got found out. He posed as my dad even though he's way older than my dad. Bail, anyway. I don't know my real dad.

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He slowly sucks a breath in. Starts rowing more in earnest, before he says, quietly-]

I'm sorry, Leia. If I knew a way to send you home and...if it was safe, or could be made so- [Safe not just for her but the multiverse-] I would do it in a heartbeat.

[staringly]

[Her voice is quiet, stoic despite the sadness in her eyes. It's a lot for her to take in. She's strong though, and she takes a small breath in.]

It's okay. It's not your fault.

[It's not okay, but she can't just storm off to deal with this how she normally would.]

[ezra_of_lothal]

[He makes a soft hmm in acknowledgement. ANd then gently prompts, after a moment-]

You've met a Jedi before? [He has an educated guess, but he waits to see how she responds.]