folkooc | August & September 2023 Test Drive Meme

Entry tags:

*tdm

August & September 2023 Test Drive Meme

August & September 2023 TDM

Introduction

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[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.

[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?

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.

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.]

[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.

[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?

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.

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?”

[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.

[So focused on finding his way through the woods as they step into it, he’s a bit surprised when he feels Leia take his hand. Prompting him to look back down at her. He doesn’t protest though and curls his fingers around her tiny ones in reassurance.]

Oh…

[He says that quietly. So she is from the time of the Empire. In his future. What did they do to that poor planet he wonders.]

I’m sorry to hear that. I don’t know my real dad either.

Edited 2023-08-23 01:07 (UTC)

[She's still looking up at him when he says that, like they hold something in common. It's not something they should, but at least she isn't alone in that. Like her cousin tries to make her feel just because she's smarter than him.]

Jedi get taken really young, right? Bail and Breha took me in when I was really young, too.

[She doesn't know why, doesn't know her real parents, still kind of wishes Ben was her real father, too. She sighs a little quietly, looking through the trees.]

That’s right.

[He sounds a little distracted as they move through the trees because it’s starting to feel more and more familiar. Which actually fills him with dread. They must be in Exile.]

I was three years old when I was taken. How old were you?

Edited 2023-08-23 01:26 (UTC)

[She obviously doesn't know where they are. At all. For a moment she feels apprehensive. Whether it's from this place or him, she doesn't know, but she looks around.]

What's wrong with this place? [Because she needs to know.]

I was just a baby. My real mom died, I think. No one talks about it. And the Organas are nice. They're still my family, but... [But she doesn't know a whole lot about her real parents.]

This is Exile. It’s not a good place. Try to think happy thoughts.

[Obi-Wan knows all too well how this place can affect someone. So he tries to shift things to a lighter topic.]

Organas you say? You’re from Alderaan.

[He knew about the royal family, and she did mention Breha. The current crown princess in his time he believes.]

Edited 2023-08-23 01:51 (UTC)

Talking about being seperated from your family as a child isn't really happy thoughts.

[But maybe that's why they were talking about it all. She inhales though, trying to think about the Organas. It feels like it's been forever since she's been home.]

Yeah. My mom is Queen, and my dad's a Senator.

[He can’t argue with her there.]

I see. So tell me some good things about them. What are they like?

[For him it’s not hard to focus. He’s been here before. Focusing on the path wasn’t difficult. Though Leia must be struggling some. He’s now very glad the fox brought him here. Without him to guide her, who knows what might have happened to the girl.]

[She is struggling, but she can focus on him. He's like his own guiding light, familiar in the way that Ben was. She smiles at thought more than anything.]

Boring mostly. They don't let me do anything fun. It's all fancy dinners, stupid cousins, and my mom doesn't like when I go outside to play.

Well that doesn’t sound good at all.

[Come on kid, focus. He’s doing his best to get them out of here quickly but it will take time. Especially with a little person in tow.]

Surely they’re not all bad. They care about you, don’t they?

[A very low:] Yes.

[She knows he's right. Leia gives a small sigh, knowing she does miss them, and talking about this reminds her that she misses home.]

I miss them actually. I haven't seen them since I was kidnapped. They called the Jedi. I think my dad must have known him forever. Or at least since before when there were still Jedi.

Of course you do. I’m certain they miss you too.

[He gives her a glance and a smile as he keeps leading her along.]

Then your dad must trust him. He wouldn’t have sent him otherwise.

[They do. She knows they are probably very worried about her. They get worried when she just goes outside to play.]

He's someone you can trust. [She says this very sure of herself. Leia gives him a nod as she looks up at him, feeling better and not quite as negative.]

Just like you.

[He smiles at that, because it seems like she’s starting to be more positive. That was good. She needed that in a place like this. And he’s glad that she trusts him. ]

My name is Obi-Wan, by the way. What’s yours?

[She squints at him, probably has been the last few minutes, but then he says his name, and she's gasping.]

It's you. I knew it! But you look like how a Jedi is supposed to look. [She doesn't understand.] And you're muuuuuuch younger.

[This is weird.]

[Well that’s unexpected and Obi-Wan has to stop to stare down at her in stunned silence for a moment. He then bent down to her level, his gaze meeting hers.]

You mean… the Jedi that comes to save you… is me?

[He must really get around in his old age because it seems like almost everyone who comes from their galaxy knows him somehow.]

Yes. [The most self assured nod as he gets down on her level.]

My father is Bail Organa, the Senator. I'm Leia. Technically a princess. But my parents aren't really my parents. Something happened. But you knew my mom. [She gets a little quieter, the sadness creeping back in a little before she looks back at him, steadfast in being happy that he's here though.]

I'm glad you're here. It means you'll make sure everything is okay. I know you will. [Because she knows him.]

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