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

[overnightoaks]

Oh, do you not have bullywugs where you come from? They're like... frog people?

[ Though, come to think of it, Henry isn't sure if bullywugs are actually a naturally occurring species in Faerûn or not... The only point of reference he has is Walter, who was cursed to be a bullywug. And then of course the Bull-E-Wugs restaurant chain. ]

You know, I'm not really sure? When we traveled back and forth between Earth and the Forgotten Realms, it was through a portal that was opened by a warlock... Though, I also managed it through the use of a magic mirror that one time.

[foundpurpose]

[Vax considers it as they get closer to a thicker growth of trees lining either side of the path.] Huh. It could be we've just never encountered Earth's plane. And no, never heard of Bullywugs. Then again we haven't gone to see the Water Ashari yet, so they could there.

[Could be. He's starting to feel like they might not be. The path looks well worn with marker signs. He points to one. Paw prints and scratches mark the sign in a purposeful manner.] Look familiar?

[overnightoaks]

Oh, what's the Water Ashari? I've never heard of that before.

[ It seems that while some things are common between Faerûn and whatever world or plane Vax comes from, there are things that are unique.

As they come across a signpost marking the path, Henry leans in close to inspect it. While yes, he is a druid, he's more of a geologist than a zoologist. ]

Hm... If I didn't know better, I'd say those were rabbit prints? [ Which would make sense, seeing as the sign is pointing the way to a place called "Lapine." ] Then again, there were cat people back at that village. So maybe there's rabbit people up ahead?

[foundpurpose]

Maybe, could just be more cat people. I dunno anything about this world and tracking isn't my strong suit. Not in forests, anyway. [It isn't surprising to have someone not know the Ashari. They're very reclusive as a society. Keyleth has complained about it a few times when they were alone together.]

And the Ashari are elemental druids. They kind of keep to themselves mostly. They guard the gateways to the elemental planes. Really cool, helpful people.

[overnightoaks]

A, uh. A community of druids, huh?

[ Henry's only experience with a whole community made up of druids is Oakvale, the commune where he grew up. His father's cult. His demeanor grows noticeably colder, though it's an irrational fear, really. He's sure that these Ashari people Vax is talking about aren't anything like the Oakvalians. What are the chances that there are multiple archdruids in multiple planes of existence creating cults full of homunculi clones?

Okay, Henry. Now's not the time for your trauma. ]

Um. I'm no survivalist myself, but I'm sure if we just... keep following the path... then we'll see for ourselves soon enough.

[foundpurpose]

[But Henry's shift in tone doesn't go unnoticed. Vax'ildan has seen that look on his sister's face and felt it on his own when they are treated subtly terribly by full blooded elves.]

Technically, they're not all druids. There are a lot of them in each tribe, but I know there's people like me with only a little magic. And clerics, and other sorts. They're united in making sure nothing terrible bleeds into the material plane.

[He pauses then says,] If you see a tall, really friendly red-headed gorgeous half elf lady with a helm of antlers...first, she would think you're incredible. And second, you can ask her all you want to know about the Ashari. Whenever you want to. I can answer too but, it's up to you. I just know less than her.

[overnightoaks]

[ Henry nods, launching into his old fallback breathing routine to calm himself down, stop himself from having a full on freak out. He can tell that his reaction hasn't gone unnoticed by Vax, and oh boy, isn't that embarrassing! But he can't focus on that right now, not when all his thoughts are still swirling around the topic of Oakvale and his father. Bea'ry Oak, and the town he built to worship him, then abandoned when they were no longer convenient to his plans. How many Oakvalians died in the final fight against the Omega Daddies?

No. He needs to stop going down this train of thought. He counts his breath, and forces himself to listen to what Vax is telling him. ]

Is she a friend of yours? This red-headed half elf?

[ Probably more than just a friend, given how he described her as "gorgeous," but Henry doesn't want to presume. ]

[foundpurpose]

[He keeps facing forward while they walk but his pace is a little slower. He's staying at the same distance but there's a sense he is paying closer attention.] Yes, more than a friend but, other than the leaders of each tribe, no one knows more about how Ashari behave.

Listen, [His tone is the same as before. As if they're talking normally. He doesn't want to make Henry feel uncomfortable.] I don't know what is the problem but you helped me. I'll do what I can to help you too. If telling you of my experiences helps, I'll do it.

[overnightoaks]

[ Henry scrubs a hand over his face, pushing his glasses to sit on top of his head as he continues counting his breaths. He can feel Vax's eyes on him, but it's not the same feeling as having his father's judgemental gaze on him. That helps. As does Vax's offer.

He sighs, finally righting his glasses to perch on his nose again. ]

No, it's alright. I, ah... I grew up in a community of druids, that... wasn't the healthiest environment. I guess I have some lasting trauma from that, that I should work out... Another time.

[ It's not fair of him to lay it all out on someone he's only just met.

He tries to offer Vax a reassuring smile, to wordlessly let him know that he appreciates the concern, but he'll be alright. ]

I would like to hear more about where you're from, though. Aside from Earth and Faerûn, and I guess hell, I wasn't really aware of any other planes.

[foundpurpose]

[He's no stranger to waiting. There's so many times he has to sit still so keeping one foot in front of the other is easy. Vax nods back at him, smiling just a bit back. Working out trauma seems the past time of every adventurer ever.]

Hell? I have to go there to deal with someone who keeps coming back to kill me. Tell me about it and I'll trade you. I was in Emon, the capital city in Tal'dorei. It has been better than it is right now.

And it will be better again once we clear out the ancient dragon that took it over.

[overnightoaks]

I've never actually been to hell, myself. But I know a couple guys who live there. Well... I guess they're demons, now.

[ Jodie apparently was a demon the whole time, but Glenn seems to have adopted to the demon lifestyle well, after being killed. ]

I was at home, on Earth. I suppose it's been better than it is now, too. Things were sort of in the process of going downhill very quickly, right before I was pulled away.

[ A part of him— a large part of him— worries over the state of things back home. Another part feels guilty knowing that it was his own son who caused the apparent calamity. ]

[foundpurpose]

I know how that feels. Things are not great in Tal’dorei right now. I thought if the offer on the table was to find my full potential…it couldn’t hurt to do it.

[He shrugs his shoulders as if it isn’t a big deal. But there is a seriousness in his eyes.]

If we survive all of these things. I look forward to a time when we have nothing to do.

[overnightoaks]

[ Henry huffs a laugh, but there's very little mirth behind it. ]

The problem with that is, as soon as you settle into the comfort of having nothing to do, something new comes up.

[ He'd thought he'd gotten that. Back on Earth, reunited with Mercedes, back to their normal lives. But things never seem to go that way for long. ]

[foundpurpose]

Yeah, I figured that was the case. But, having even a little downtime would be nice. I haven't had that in far too long. [Since he met the crew of assholes he runs with back in Stillben. He isn't complaining but, a little rest. Time to process being a champion of a goddess of death.

And a little time to just live now he finds he really wants that.]

...and with the goddess I serve I don't expect to have peace for that long.