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

[Casey laughs.]

I haven't been bitten yet, but I've heard they can be tricksters. I'm living in their region these days, you should come hang out some time and maybe you'll see them for yourself. If you make a flower crown for them, they'll give you something in return.

They ... have a region? Flower crowns?

Well, I don't know if it's actually theirs or anything, but they mostly live in Willow. And flower crowns are just what it says on the tin! I'm still learning how to make them, but I can show you that too.

What do they normally give in return?

Sometimes it's just to trade one crown for another. Flower crowns are really important in Willow, anyone who doesn't have one stands out and looks weird. But if you're lucky, they might give you something weird, like a cool rock or a button they found. Or you could be treated extra nicely while you shop. I'm still learning it all, but... [He shrugs.] I don't know, I think it's neat. Flowers are new for me.

… You don’t have flowers? Not even the non-bitey ones?

[Mentally derailed for a moment at the idea of bitey flowers.]

Nope. At least, not in the area I lived. There wasn't enough water and just about everything was either poisonous or infected. We had a greenhouse with some medicinal plants and food, but that's about it.

[Earth 2044, 0/10 would not recommend.]

[ Yeah uh. The Boiling Isles are inhospitable in their own way, but they aren’t desolate. Not even with the Collectors destroying everything.

Hunter winces. ]

That’s … awful. We at least still have flowers. And vegetation…

It's... [Well. It's not okay. Casey wrestles with it for a moment, not wanting to drag the mood down with reality all over again.] We got by. But I'm glad you've got them, and there's plenty here. So I don't think we have to worry about any flower shortage in this world.

[ Sorry Casey, Hunter’s sure gonna think about it. ]

Well - good! You should take some back with you! Destroy the Krang and plant flowers!!

[That sounds like a super great suggestion that he has zero power to actually fulfill. Unfortunate.]

I'll... add it to my to-do list.

[He really doesn't want to have a conversation about time travel right now, but he makes a mental note to at least think about explaining it later. ...Oh, look! convenient derail ahead.]

Hey, we finally hit the market! Maybe they'll have some rare flowers there or something.

[Or at least something fun. He picks up the pace a little, leading the way over to some display stalls with varying wares for sale.]

[ Probably for the best; Hunter would be full of all sorts of forceful and unhelpful suggestions. Instead …

Oh hey it’s a market. This is familiar at least; Hunter straightens up a bit as his old Guard instincts kick in. He used to patrol the markets in Bonesborough, night and otherwise. ]

You - said you had money, right?

[He can think of them later, when they're not in the middle of a crowded market.]

Yeah, I've got some money. [Plenty of it now, actually. He's become so much more social!] If you see anything you want, just say so. I've cover it and we can work it out later.

[Honestly this conversation alone has probably more than covered whatever they would want to buy here.]

[ Hunter’s expression goes on a brief journey - he hates the idea of owing anyone, even when it’s clearly kindness? Especially when it’s clearly kindness; he’s known so little of that. ]

O-only if I can pay you back. Which I will. As soon as I can.

[ Though he probably has enough for a meal too by this point. He winds up browsing idly through the stalls, not sure of what he wants until he spots - ]

Not-dogs? They have not-dogs here?

[ Sure enough, there’s a stand with some kind of spider-looking critter being served between two buns and with lots of condiment options. Among other interesting foods? Seems this one wants a favor for something from home… ]

Edited 2023-09-30 19:31 (UTC)

[The Not-dog pun would work better on someone who's eaten hotdogs in their life at some point. Though he's definitely heard the word before... regardless, Casey leans in to blink at the curious display. Is... that a spider? Sure looks like a spider. A little creepy, but not the worst thing he's ever put in his mouth. Hmm...]

I guess they won't take my money after all. I'd like to try one, though! So sure, we can do some kind of favour, if we're able. Is that okay?

[He glances over at Hunter for an answer, but as his eyes are drifting, he spots another stall on the corner just beside the Not-Dog stall, and he can't help gasping.]

Whoa, is that a cloaking brooch?

[They have those here??]

Uh -

[ A favor seems equally dangerous to him, but he already owed Casey so that's sort of like a favor anyway? And the vendor seems to only want a SMALL favor, given it's just a not-dog. Squggly spider legs and all. ]

I - guess. Yeah. That's ... weird but.

[ He looks at where Casey is focused now. ]

It looks like a cloaking broach to me. Yeah.

[ They have the same thing in the Boiling Isles. ]

Oh, your world has them too? Cool. One sec-

[He hurries over to the booth, pointing at the item, and then after a very brief exchange he returns to Hunter looking amused.]

You'll never guess what they want.

[Maybe they can do... a few favours...?]

[ He can guess. he's not super thrilled about it. ]

Are favors like this safe...?

I think so? They don't seem like bad people.

[Casey scrutinizes the two booth operators. He doesn't know them, but he hadn't gotten any bad vibes from either. They just seem like they've been working too hard at this festival and could use the help. He recognizes the harried look of someone with too much on their plate, has seen it far too many times in the past (future). Heck, he'd have lent a hand even without the promise of a favour back home.

You know what, he'll take a leap. He has yet to be burned for trusting people in this world.]

How about this- I'll take on the jobs, and you can help out if everything seems okay. We get our favours, and we buy what we want. But if it's dangerous or some kind of trap, you're not stuck in the thick of it, and you can set stuff on fire to get me out!

[Flawless plan!

-Said right in front of the Not-Dog operator who seems slightly concerned about the set-on-fire part.]

[ CLEARLY, flawless,

But Hunter considers that. Yes, he could in fact set them all on fire ... among other options ... ]

I do have a petrification glyph that needs testing. If they cross us, anyway.

That... sounds terrifying and awesome! Hope we don't need to use it. [Secretly he would actually like to see it some time, though.] -Sir, give me two favours for Not-Dogs, please!

[Perfect A++ nothing could possibly go wrong here. It's not at all likely that their open penchant towards violence will affect the favours they're getting asked to do. Or that the Not-Dog vendor will be signalling the brooch vendor to act accordingly while they turn to ask him for a third favour as well.

......Aaaaaand jump cut to Casey Jones Junior dragging a very full and smelly trash bin towards an even larger and smellier dumpster behind the booming beachside restaurant.]

See... we're one-third there already...

[ It's not the WRONG choice to take with two obvious jocks. Hunter spends the first part of this guarding Casey from TRICKERY!! because there's surely a catch if it's just garbage hauling right?

He checks the larger dumpster for traps, then Casey's bin. Nothing. Just smelly. ]

I ... guess it really is just trash. That's weird. We can get the other two together?

[Casey's so lucky. It'll make for a great story one day. "And then Hunter valiantly guarded my life from the dangerous trash bags..."

In all seriousness he's glad it's a pretty reasonable favour. Most people, when given the option to delegate, will hand over work they'd rather not do. At least the garbage is already in the can.]

Not sure what they'd have gotten out of it if they had been trying to trap us, but thanks for checking. [Doesn't hurt. Reaching the dumpster, he hefts the bin up, wrestling with the angle of the rim for a moment before depositing the entire contents inside. Thankfully he's stronger than he looks.] And yeah, it'll go faster if we do it together.

I - I don't know either, but - that's why it's so insidious!

[ At least they're definitely safe from the trash this time. He watches Casey dump it in the bin with a paranoid look on his face. ]

... You're pretty strong for a human.

[If he's unlucky that Not-Dog vendor's going to make them apologize for being so distrustful.

Casey drops the can back down, glancing over as he starts dragging it back to where he'd found it, towards the other cans.]

Thanks... [Does Hunter know how to give a non-backhanded compliment? Oh well, better than an insult.] I bet it's all the grapple training! The rest of my family could get around so much faster, and I didn't want to be dead weight. There's plenty of strong humans, though.

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