May 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

MAY 2022 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]

A PLACE IN THIS WORLD

Content Warnings: Possible insanity via cuts by thorns. Temporary nullification of abilities.

DEATH BY A THOUSAND CUTS

The world comes into focus in one sharp, overwhelming rush. You are laying on the ground surrounded by staggering walls of flowers of all types and colors. Their sweet scent fills the air and the sky above is clear, blue, beautiful, and endless. It would be easy to be lulled into a quiet nap in such a peaceful place. You can even hear a soft, disembodied voice singing songs from some unknown place all around you. After some time, this siren song creates an intense yearning that will eventually bring you to your feet and pull you forward. You are filled with the urge to find someone important. You may know who or you might just have some aimless, faceless person at the forefront of your mind.

All you know is that when you finally find them, you'll know. Is it love? Is it a friend you have always needed? The perfect enemy? Only time will tell, but for now, you must find them. The flower maze is dense and for now, it doesn't seem like flying out and above them is an option. If you try, you just wind up vaulted back into the maze. Nope! This trial is about using other means of exploration. Maybe you can destroy the flowers, but you will find that this flower field is apparently endless. If you get cut by thorns along the way, you will become increasingly hectic about finding this mystery person. Some have been thrown into insane desperation just looking for their People among the flowers.

But once you finally find them, you're both filled with relief and the flowers around you blossom wider. You can then treat the flower maze like a solvable puzzle and get your way out of it. However, some people spend a bit more time in the maze since once you do find your person or people, you will be stricken with the urge to talk to them, to "open up" about your yearning to find them...even if you've never met them before!

OUT OF THE WOODS

Just outside of the flower maze is a little festival set up just on the edge of Willow and partway into Epiphany! Little stalls of food and drinks have been set up - and we mean little! The good folk who set up these stalls are magical cats standing upright and wearing clothes like little people! All the stalls are cat-sized and so are the dishes and food - which means most of the people walking through will likely be quite a bit bigger! That's okay, the cat folk seem happy to serve you bigger or multiple helpings of their yummy soups and bread. None of them seem able to really communicate with the new arrivals, but that's okay, their cute meows are fun to listen to anyway.

The music is a bit more pronounced here and a handful of cat couples are dancing around. Don't be surprised if they encourage you to join in the dancing! Maybe you didn't actually find someone in the flower maze - if not, the cat folk will encourage you to dance with another new arrival to get to know them! Because apparently dancing with someone you don't know is a good formal introduction? Ah well. Sometimes it's just the idea that counts.

There will also be some supplies to help patch people up who have gotten a lot of cuts from the flower maze. Some of the bouts of insanity are probably still going a bit hectic, so you might want to lay down in the recovery area until you feel a bit more stable. Talking to people apparently helps with the stability, so maybe strike up a conversation with a fellow newbie?

ENCHANTED

Content Warnings: Optional selective amensia and/or altered sense of self, possible monster/creature violence, temporary enchantments, forced relocations.

LONG STORY SHORT

You're in a very unusual, specific outfit and in a place you might have seen once or twice in a storybook or in the imagination of your childhood. For some, you might pick up on what's happening immediately. For others, you might be so immersed in the role that you don't realize it - but you're featuring in a classic fairy tale. Maybe it's Sleeping Beauty or Little Red Riding Hood or Tale of the White Snake or The Mirror of Matsuyama. Either way, you're the main character or the main antagonist and it looks like you're going to have to play out the story with whoever you're stuck with!

The other person in the trial can either match up to the other side of the story or just arrive as themselves and have to play along. Trying to just abandon the trial is quite literally impossible! You're stuck in the weird woods or high tower and trying to "leave" just results in you going in repeated cycles until you wind up where you started. You have a role to fill and you might as well get used to playing roles in Folkmore! It's time to understand how these trials work. What lesson are you supposed to take away?

If you're grumbling about it or are left confused, don't worry! Thirteen will appear to those struggling and explain the situation: "You need to play out the story! C'mon. Everyone knows this story...Right? Well, whatever, it's obvious! If you play your part, I promise I'll give you something you want." Can you really trust a fox though? Especially the fox who brought you here? She laughs before you can really pester her for more information and vanishes in a burst of red dust. Foxes really are mischievous, aren't they...At least most fairy tales are incredibly short, basic, and straightforward so most people should be able to figure it out!

In theory.

DAYLIGHT

At least the Fox wasn't lying. When you complete the task of the story, the fairy tale world will melt into one of the settings in Folkmore and you will be brought back into the current reality. You will be left in the weird clothes, but fear not! A mystery trunk has appeared in front of you and whoever you completed the trial with. Inside the trunk, you will find some of your canon clothes and a few canon items. Nearby, there will be some weapons sticking out of the ground: basic swords, guns, shields, etc. These items might not be enchanted, but at least you have something to work with!

Better yet, you don't necessarily have to complete the Long Story Short prompt to find these trunks either! They seem to be dotted around Folkmore and you might find them just by virtue of exploration! The trunks seem to mysteriously know who is opening them so you won't find someone else's stuff by accident, but you might have to fight over who gets the sword in the stone...

A word of caution to those who grab the weapons...You will immediately be tested on how good you are with them. As soon as you have pulled them out of the ground, the ground will begin trembling and a serpent-like creature will form out of the ground. If you're in Wintermute, you have a sizeable icy creature to deal with. If you're in Cruel Summer, meet the fire-breathing snakey nightmare that's going to try and roast you alive. Don't think Epiphany or Willow will have gentler creatures! They might be covered in moss or flowers but they will hit just as hard. You have to defeat the angry creature - or try running for your life. They are relatively easy to beat and people without powers can manage if they are highly skilled or...really lucky...Or if someone far more capable finds them! Good luck. As a pro-tip, maybe don't pull weird swords out of the ground in the future.

Comments

[erschlagen]

[Once his lance is free, Rosen twirls the lance within his opposite hand before stabbing it into the ground beside him. He watches as those black shadowy feathers dissipate into nothingness, briefly catching a glimpse of something within them. A terrible chill raced down his spine briefly, enough to make the little hairs on the back of his neck stand. Whatever the hell this elf was about to summon would’ve ended him in one fell swoop.]

Good grief, you really were about to kill me.

[He muses with a hint of amusement.]

I know this fairytale is supposed to be a bit grim but I’m ready to be gutted alive.

[He smiles triumphantly at the compliment knowing full well that he caught Little Red by surprise. However, his smile falters a bit once introductions are had.]

Well met, Vax. I’m Rosenkrantz but don’t feel the need to say that mouthful.

[That trademark smirk of his returns.]

Simply “Rosen” will do.

[foundpurpose]

Alright, 'Rosen'. [He flips his daggers and re-sheathes them under his cloak. He isn't as good at hand to hand but, that's fine. This is going to be a spar. Vax rolls his shoulders]

Yours isn't the longest name I've run into but, always been a fan of a shorter name. [It goes without saying that in a life or death fight he would have brought his magic to bear. It just had to be done.

They're fighting dragons and for the fate of the world back home.] So, how do you want to kick this off again?

[erschlagen]

[While Rosen might have a bit of an advantage in this spar because of his size and weight, he's not particularly good with unarmed combat. He can manage well enough in a scrap but that's about it. Therefore, the two of them might be evenly matched here. Rosen knows better than to underestimate Vax after their earlier tussle.]

Well, I suppose I could let you go first. [He states before getting into some sort of guard stance.] After all, you are the protagonist in this little fairytale.

[But can Little Red Riding Hood slay the Big Bad Wolf on his own? That's the question here.]

[foundpurpose]

Alright. [Horsing around with Grog so much could possibly pay off. Who knows, he doesn’t. Getting into trouble has been his way of coping with life for a rather long time. He cracks his knuckles as he studies Rosen.

Then he’s moving, Vax is fast thanks to being half elf and the long years of practice. He doesn’t go for a head on strike. He aims to flank Rosen and strike before dodging out of the way. It’s hit and run tactics, but they have never let him down.]

[erschlagen]

[Unarmed combat isn’t Rosenkrantz’s cup of tea but he obviously knows a thing or two. He keeps his feet wide, knees bent, and his chin down as he waits for Vax. He can tell the half-elf is the cautious type, the kind of man who thinks too much in the middle of combat. Rosen is frankly the opposite in that regard. While he likes to assess the situation as well, he can’t stand being inactive for too long. Maybe it’s because he’s a little too brash and headstrong for his own good.

Nevertheless, Rosen doesn’t have to wait long for Vax to flank him. He suspected that the elf wouldn’t want to take him head-on. He sees the strike coming and quickly brings up his forearms to block the incoming punch before daring to chase after Vax with a punch of his own. He aims right towards the elf’s ribs with a closed fist.

It’s a classic boxing move, one meant to destabilize and do harm at the same time.]

[foundpurpose]

[In all honesty this is a bit like fighting Grog. Grog would have went for the grapple but, this guy doesn't. Frankly, he appreciates it as he bites back a pained sound. He gets enough of that punch to the ribs to feel it. He dances back as if he will dodge but this is a spar. He surges forward, stepping in and striking more towards the side if he can.

He has to keep his taps - and they are taps in comparison to Rosen's strength - light and his feet lighter. If he's caught he knows he's done.]

While we're doing this. Because I'm curious, how does the story of Little Red Riding Hood actually go?

[erschlagen]

[It would’ve been too easy for him to just grapple Vax. The half-elf left himself wide open with that punch. While Rosen had every opportunity to capitalize on it, he realizes they’re not fighting to the death here. This is just a friendly spar, after all. Although, he can’t help but grin cheekily once the jab connects.]

Come on now! [He heckles as he pivots towards the left to dodge that incoming strike.] At least throw a decent punch.

[Instead of countering Vax with another well-timed punch, he opts to put his feet in the game and tries to sweep Vax with a kick. If he manages to knock the poor bastard down, he might follow in with a punch to the sternum. That’s assuming if the elf doesn’t manage to dodge.]

The story goes that Little Red gets devoured by the wolf but a big strong huntsman manages to save her.

[That’s the gist of it but there are a lot of details Rosen is leaving out.]

However, I’m not keen about eating you and we have no huntsman!

[foundpurpose]

[The elf dodges with a leap up and moves back to the right. He's good at it and why not do what he's good at?] Starting to remember why I got bored with the story.

Why wouldn't she have carried weapons if she knew the road was dangerous? There's some logic that was really missing. [He lashes out with a kick that has some solid power behind it. He's warning up now this isn't a fight for his life.

It's nice to not have to worry about how fast he can put down a foe.] You're getting a decent punch, don't worry about it.

[erschlagen]

Ya know--[He quickly brings up his knee to guard against that incoming kick but what was a bad idea since that bloody hurts! Thankfully, Rosen doesn't seem to mind the pain too much. However, he's slightly favoring his left leg over his right after that.]

That's a damn good question. I figure a hunting rifle would've been too much for Red to handle, so maybe a dagger?

[As they're casually talking about the nonsensical storytelling behind this age-old classic, Rosen darts towards Vax in hopes of snatching him into a mock chokehold. He figures the half-elf is going to find a way out of it but he wants to try nonetheless.]

Think fast, Vax!

[foundpurpose]

[He starts to answer but Rosen closes the distance between them too fast to get more than a word out. He barely dodges the chokehold and hammers a hard fist into Rosen’s middle on his way out.] Anyway, a dagger would make sense or a crossbow.

Something that could be easily concealed. Though what exactly is a hunting rifle?

[erschlagen]

[Just when Rosen thought he had the half-elf, Vax somehow manages to scramble away at the last second. This left him wide open for the punch that came directly to his abdomen. Rosen goes down like a sack of potatoes, sputtering and coughing. It seems that the rogue knows how to throw a decent punch after all.]

Fuck, that hurts!

[He chuckles despite having to take a second to catch his breath.]

A hunting rifle is…well, like a crossbow in a sense. [Rosen mutters while trying his best to explain what a firearm is to someone who has never seen one before. This is going to be a challenge.]

But imagine instead of shooting arrows, it shot these long cylinder bullets instead. It’s a type of firearm that used to be operated using explosive gunpowder.

[foundpurpose]

[He stares, visibly working that out. His mind flashes back to someone he knows rather well aiming and firing a weapon. One he knows is stuffed with black powder. He blinks, eyes widening.] So, other places have fire arms too?

I can’t decide how to feel about that. [If Percy decides to take this offer too. He will be either disturbed or pissed. Or both. He reminds himself to keep moving. He circles Rosen as he lets him recover.]

How common are they?

[erschlagen]

Common enough.

[Rosen answers before a coughing fit gets the better of him. It takes a moment but he eventually finishes that train of thought once he's certain he won't be hacking up a lung.]

They're common enough that most people fear them.

[He gives Vax a half-hearted grin before attempting to bolt forward for a tackle.]

[foundpurpose]

I guess that expl- [This time he isn’t prepared. He had focused on the implications and thought back to just how careful Percy is. It feels like he understands him and his fears a little better.

Rosen gets his tackle. He struggles to get free but isn’t successful. He doesn’t have any of his usual tools. So it’s a bit like trying to hit a wall with a stick to get free.

Not that effective on Vax’s end.]

[erschlagen]

Aha!

[A triumphant cheer escapes Rosen once he manages to pin the half-elf. Finally victory smiles upon him, as it should. He can’t help but look a bit smug since he fought Vax fair and square on their terms.]

The Big Bad Wolf wins after all~ [He sings with such unbridled pride.] Just like the story goes, Little Red succumbs to the dastardly wolf and is eaten whole.

[Rosen playfully bops Vax on the nose with his index finger before hopping off him. Victory or not, he doesn’t wish to embarrass the poor fellow. Not much anyways.]

I’m not certain if we finished the criteria of this cheap enactment but you did well.

[He leans down to offer his hand to Vax.]

[foundpurpose]

[He sighs then accepts the offered hand. He pulls himself up with a grin as he lets the big guy soak up his win.] Thanks, you did great yourself. No idea if that settled what we need- [Behind them the pathway opens up at the far end into a cozy-looking clearing with a squat little house at the center. Wood smoke billows into the sky in a lazy little spiral out of the chimney.

Vax blinks. He snaps a hand down to jerk the dress down when the wind blows through.] Looks like we got it. I think? Fuck, that wind is cold!

[erschlagen]

[A surprised hum escapes Rosen once the magical path suddenly appears. It seems they completed one part of the challenge but it looks like there’s a second part.]

That couldn’t possibly be grandma’s house, now is it?

[He reaches over for his lance and yanks it out of the ground with one hearty pull.] Either that or we have another fairytale unfolding.

[Rosen couldn’t help but chuckle once he heard that comment about the wind. It’s a bit nippy outside, enough to make him wish he worn more clothes. However, Rosen is nice and warm always. The man is like a portable heater thanks to his uncanny affinity to fire.]

C’mon now! Let’s get you out of the cold before you turn as blue as your ears.

[foundpurpose]

...thanks. [The wind feels like its shoving him forward. He sighs and goes with it, walking on while subtly palming a dagger. If they run into trouble they can just say the Big Bad Wolf and Red decided to set differences aside. He grabs the basket from the path along the way.]

I think this is the part about grandma? Or 'congratulations on finishing the challenge'! [As if. It has never been that easy in all of his life. Except for the very start of it.]

If it's another fairytale. Which one could it even be?

[erschlagen]

If this was a "congratulations", I would think our little fox friend would've appeared by now.

[He's talking about the mischievous little fox that started this all, Thirteen. As they approach the house, it's evident that the fox is nowhere to be found. This is a small little cottage. There's not too many places for Thirteen to hide but she's probably watching from somewhere.]

Goldilocks and the Three Bears, maybe? [Rosen answers once he manages to pry the front door open. Hell, he almost took it off the hinges by accident. Sometimes he really doesn't know his own strength.]

Neither of us are fit for either roles, then again I wouldn't be surprised if I was cast as one of the bears.

[He can't help but chuckle as he makes his way towards the quaint little fireplace. With just a snap of his fingers, there's a roaring fire.]

However, I doubt this cabin is meant for three grumpy bears. So maybe this is when the Wolf has to cross dress.

[foundpurpose]

I do t think you’d be able to fit into this dress, big guy. [Vax says as he scans the room for traps or clues. No traps. He sets the basket on a table close by the fire.

The small cottage has a few rooms. A kitchen. A little pantry. His heart does a lurch as he recalls the little house he grew up. He checks the door at the back of a small hall and calls out.] Looks like the same story we were acting out!

[Beyond the door he just opened is a bedroom. He sighs.] At least no one will witness this but us.

[erschlagen]

You have to be kidding me--[A long suffering sigh escapes Rosen as he slaps his hand onto his face.] I guess we're really in it for the long haul, huh?

[Thirteen has an awkward sense of humor, doesn't she? Especially since this is the part when the Big Bad Wolf pretends to be Red's grandmother, satin bonnet and pajamas included. Good God, this is going to be absolute disaster of epic proportions.]

I'm not going to be the only one humiliated here. [He states once he spots something red within a closet nearby.]

It's time for your hair and makeup too.

[foundpurpose]

You do realize one of us is in a dress already, right? [Vax says as he starts to idly braid his hair. If he's going to look the part, might as well. He sighs, there's no way this will look good.

Again, he's glad this will never be seen by anyone else.] First bar we find, we get drunk and never think of this again. That's my price for letting you put that make up on me.

[erschlagen]

Deal!

[Rosen gladly agrees to Vax’s terms, especially since he could use a drink as well. He has his reservation about playing dress-up here but all of that goes out the window once he finds a cosmetic box by the nightstand. It seems that Thirteen has planned this out perfectly once again. He’s starting to think the little rascal has some sort of a fetish at this point.

Rosen honestly wouldn’t put it passed Thirteen. She’s quite the weirdo, after all.

After a quick inspection of the makeup kit, he turns to Vax with a devious grin as he leans down to get a better look at the half-elf. Yeah, this is going to be a tough sell but he honestly thinks Vax might be able to pull it off. The keyword being might.]

Okay, try not to sneeze.

[He mutters as he gathers some powdered concealer onto a brush. Rosen carefully applies some of it to Vax’s cheeks and a little under the eyes before switching to the blush. He adds just a hint of color to those cheeks. Just a little bit of red to liven them up a little. He doesn’t plan on going too crazy with the makeup. That's why for the lips he decides to use nude lip gloss over your classic lipstick. Using anything matte and colorful on Vax would just look plain silly.]

[foundpurpose]

[He draws a dagger and tilts it so he can see his face. What Rosen has done with the make up only makes him look almost like his sister.

He always knew they were hard to tell apart but like this… He stays still but his foot twitches. He always likes to fiddle but right now he can’t. It’s a little bit maddening. He waits until Rosen is done before he gestures to the kit.]

Sit down, Big Guy. I’ll make you look the part.

[erschlagen]

[Vax looks decent with some makeup on, less rugged, murderous, and more approachable, perfect for the role of Little Red Riding Hood. It seems Rosen has learned a lot since messing around with Luna's makeup. The Dream Witch is a powerful woman and all, but she's terrible with hair and makeup. If it wasn't for him, poor Luna probably would've been prancing around the Dreamscape in a tank top and pajamas. Talk about scandalous!]

I take it that's a sign of approval? [He asks once Vax looks himself in the mirrordagger. Honestly, Vax could've just ASKED for a mirror.]

I had to hide that wannabe unibrow you're cultivating with concealer---Wait what?

[Listen, he's all for dressing up and stuff but he doesn't exactly trust Vax with his makeup. He gives the half-elf a hesitant glance before handing over the makeup kit.]

This better not be payback for me kicking your ass.

[He says before flopping down onto a nearby chair.]