May 2022 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

MAY 2022 TDM

INTRODUCTION

[ TDM Questions ★ Jump to Comments ★ Full Navigation ]
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

dimitri blaiddyd. fe:3h. ota (post-timeskip, feral rendition)

[blaiddydblood]

a thousand cuts. (cw: gory imagery in metatext)

[ It isn't actually abnormal for Dimitri to feel as though he's driven by a singular purpose. For the last five years or so, all he's thought about is her and how he wants to sever her head from her body with his own hands. He wants to end her reign of terror in as brutal a fashion as fathomable and won't rest until he does.

Despite feeling the compulsion to seek out someone important, the man is unable to differentiate it from his usual intense need for vengeance. ] Where is she? [ he'll ask in a low, gravely grumble as he stalks through the maze. With each wrong turn and twist sending him right back where he came from, he grows increasingly irate.

After a while, he decides the best way out is through and attempts to shoulder tackle one of these floral walls down. When that fails, he's gnashing at the petals that coat him with his teeth and growling like a common animal at the prick of thorns against his skin. ]

Where is she?

out of the woods.

[ Although still having lapses of sanity, it's fine. That's just life. Dimitri doesn't remember the last time he ate so he's just going to

crouch down at one of these little stalls. It's a bit of a comical sight with Dimitri in his black steel armor and hulking frame towering over their tiny set-up. The cat-people seem intimidated, at first, for he doesn't say much. He shoves one of the entire minuscule loaves of bread in his face hole before reaching out a hand in a silent gesture for 'more.' No, please. Manners are for cultured individuals and he's but a hungry, filthy gremlin.

By the end, he's making off with his arm full of tiny loaves of braed that he occasionally pops into his mouth. If someone tries to get him to dance, he will be mid-chew of one said loaf before answering (with his mouth full no less) in the flattest tone possible with: ] No.

daylight.

[ Now this? This is more fucking like it.

After overcoming that ridiculous trial, he's rewarded with weaponry. Although they aren't nearly as comforting to have as Areadbhar in his hands, it's something. He's in Wintermute - of course, he is - and so an icy serpent is what greets him. The blond sports a wicked, near manic grin as it bares its fangs and hisses at him.
He wastes no time in letting out a battle cry and lunging toward the creature.

Despite the bite it does get on him, he just smiles that much wider and there's a wildness to his good eye that can't be denied as he slices back at it despite the wounds he's sustaining. Someone, uh. Someone might want to stop him before he gets himself killed.

Or maybe, in his reckless enjoyment of violence, you're caught in the cross-fire of this unraveling battle. If you expect him to save you, well- Tough luck. Git gud, scrubs, and out of his way. ]

daylight.

[fatefulprince]

[ much like Dimitri, Corrin had also felt a magnitude of relief by the appearance of weaponry. although Corrin truly hated conflict, coming straight from war torn lands to this place made the prince alarmingly anxious about lacking a sword due to the turmoil he was accustomed to. he had barely let his guard down for five minutes before an icy beast lunged towards him and the other man who had taken a weapon. this man who-- was ... getting really into it. oh, by the gods. this man-- what was he doing?? the prince is bewildered and can only stand and watch while Dimitri allows the biting creature to flail around while sinking its teeth into him. alarmed by the sight of his growing wounds, Corrin leaps into action - relying on fast footwork to seize an opportunity to puncture the creature. ]

Get back-!

[ taking aim with both hands on the hilt, Corrin drives his sword down into the creature's tail which makes it flail and scream - he has to leap backwards to avoid those flailing teeth and he stands in front of Dimitri, arm outstretched in an instinctive gesture of defence. of course pinning the creature with his sword disarmed him, so he had to rely on mr. snakey bite man to try and finish this thing off. ]

cw: gore

[blaiddydblood]

[ There's an undeniable spark of friction as Corrin cuts in. Dimitri growls and not at the creature but at him as he takes over the battle. He watches the smaller man leap into action pin the creature by it's tail. All it seems to serve to do is make the serpent flail and snap its teeth more. ]

Enough of this, [ comes the blond's gruff voice. He steps forth once more and practically pushes Corrin out of the way. His defensive gesture is outright ignored in favor of charging forward toward the beast again. Dimitri barely manages to leap to the side as it lunges at him. What he lacks in speed though, he makes up for more than enough in strength.

There's a flash of a symbol above him as he shouts. The sword he wields comes down on the serpent's head as it tries to draw back and there's the sickening crack of skull and squelch of blood. He grips the blade hard enough that it splits at the hilt when he tries to pull it out and leaves the blade remaining wedged in the monster's head. Dimitri tosses the hilt aside and lets out a deep sigh. ]

[fatefulprince]

[ Dimitri's brute strength had caused Corrin to fall tumbling straight to the ground, immediately amazed by the other man's strength. gods. he'd never seen or felt anything like it. after hearing what was probably the most unsavoury crack he had ever heard in his life, Corrin winces while residue of the deceased serpent splatters all up his armour and his face. he gasps in surprise and pulls himself up off the ground, casually walking over to Dimitri, his voice soft and timid. ]

... Sorry that I messed up back there. You ... looked as though you were in pain, I didn't want to hurt you.

[ it wasn't the most heroic display, but Corrin was fresh out of his tower after spending all his years in captivity. mistakes and poor executions were to be expected. without his big brother Xander here, he was already beginning to feel quite useless. ]

[blaiddydblood]

[ The man doesn't care for the carnage that stains Corrin's armor. He hardly regards it as he walks up, speaks soft as a mouse despite the way he'd try to wrestle control of the battle from him. At the mention of being in pain, he raises a hand to one of his bleeding injuries. ]

Tch, [ he tsks in annoyance. ] This is nothing. [ In comparison to some other wounds he's had to take care of himself? It really isn't. Still, he probably shouldn't just let it openly bleed if he can help it.
He'll need to find a cloth, perhaps something in that chest, and dress the wounds how he can. ] If you want to help, stay out of my way.

a thousand cuts

[ordinar]

[The man Wilhelm finds when he turns yet another corner in this stupid fucking maze is honestly the most terrifying person he's ever seen in real life. The eyepatch lends him the appearance of a movie villain, while his wild blond hair and gnashing teeth and livid eyes twist him into something more animal than man. Wilhelm freezes where he is, still a good distance away. He throws his hands up in a disarming gesture, as if he's handling an agitated horse.]

I don't know where she is!

[Or who she is, but...

He's a little rough around the edges too, as the compulsion to find that familiar presence pulls at him, unravels him. And he's had a few shouting matches with the flowers, so...he can understand the man's frustration, at least.]

cw: threats of violence, oops

[blaiddydblood]

[ Dimitri isn't expecting anyone else. This much is clear in the way that he starts with an aggravated growl. He certainly looks more beast than man with his shoulders high in tension and teeth bared. But there's some sort of strange pull that he can't deny- It wasn't him that Dimitri was looking for, no, but perhaps (despite what he claims) Willheim might have answers. ]

Then you'll help me find her. [ It isn't a request, it's an order. ] Or else you're worthless to me and I won't hesitate to dispose of you.

[ Just making that real clear! ]

this is going well

[ordinar]

[Well, that was...uncalled for. Unnerving. A little psychopathic. Although his agitation sharpens his expression, he keeps his hands spread in a sign of nonaggression.]

Hey, there's no need to threaten me. If you'd just waited ten seconds, I was going to offer to help you look anyway.

[Now he's thinking that he'll look for the first opportunity to ditch this guy in the maze and run...]

amazingly!!

[blaiddydblood]

[ All that his body language gets from Dimitri is an irate huff. Fine, he'll play along. He'll do what he needs to in order to find Edelgard and make her answer for what trick she's trying to pull on him. He knows it's her, it has to be her- ]

Then let's go. We're wasting time. [ He turns to leave only to

reach the end of the current pathway and stop. Stare. Growl, at nothing in particular. Yeah, he has no idea where he's going or how to get out of here. ]