Test Drive #3

[felldenmods]

Welcome to the November test drive! We're so excited to have you with us.

A few things of note:

✦ Test drive threads can be considered game-canon if you choose. They're essentially in a shared dreamscape and take place between your character leaving their world and arriving in the audience hall with their faction leader.
✦ Reserves will open at 12:01 AM UTC on December 1st, and continue to be until 11:59 PM UTC on December 7th. This is to reserve a character, not an application slot.
✦ Applications will open at 12:01 AM UTC on the 8th, and remain open until 11:59 PM UTC on the 15th, or until all application slots have been filled. Once Activity Check ends, we will have an application slot number available on the application page. The IC & OOC intro logs will be posted two days later.
✦ Questions? We have a FAQ that's chock full of good information! If they are test drive specific, we have a top level thread below that allows for OOC questions to be posted.
✦ The network is available to use! No matter where your character is, their compass arrived on their person. Please feel free to include a network post in your top-levels! Once opened, the compass will display instructions on use, such as using voice-commands to activate it. Usernames are your characters first name or their most common nickname.
✦ Below will be a header for OOC questions as well as a request for Fortuna if you risk having your fortune read in Kyst.
✦ Current players who participate in the test drive by tagging new players will be eligible for a secondary blessing in December.

All set? Perfect! Welcome to Fellden.

AS THE MOON RISES.♪ You’ll find yourself just outside the Temple doors, which will be locked if you try to open them. A little rude, keeping you out after bringing you all this way. The thing is, you can hear a lot of commotion in the distance, and smoke rising from the center of a district; you may want to check that out. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire! Except the smoke is not at all something to be concerned over. Instead, people are gathered near a large bonfire in the decorated city square, drinking and carousing, singing songs of celebration; Moon saviors have arrived! War winners! The residents of the city laugh and sing and dance in pairs throughout the square that's dusted with snow, grateful for those who have come to aid them. Their merriment doesn’t dwindle as the sun begins to set on the horizon, twin moons rising in its place. When you (and other new arrivals) are finally noticed by the revelers, do not expect to be left alone! Crowns and laurels of fir and juniper will be deposited upon your heads, seasonal fare of food and drink placed into your hands, while live musicians play loud enough for the dead to hear. You’ll be invited to dance, to drinking games, and offered food and flowers and other items of value. Some may cry when they look into your face, thanking you for becoming their champions during this long and exhaustive war. Hopefully you’re here to enjoy the festivities. Sneaking off is just fine, too, but don’t expect to be let go of quietly; the people of the Moon Temple are so happy to see you! Enjoy the celebration while it lasts long into the night. If you do manage to leave, a helpful citizen of the Temple will inform you of the nearby transport mirrors that will take you anywhere on the map, one of which they will provide to you.

THE SETTING STARS.♪ You'll find upon your arrival that the castle is not accepting visitors as they decorate the interior in preparation of the festive season that quickly approaches. Guards at the door will instead direct you to the center of the city where further preparations are being made. Venturing there, you'll be greeted either by those who are decorating for the evening's party that will enlist you to help, or perhaps you're a late arrival and the celebration has already begun! Festivities are in full swing in the Court of Stars. Starfolk have begun their celebrations of the new arrivals and the ushering in the season of the Winter Festival. Once hesitant, guarded, the Stars citizens now welcome new arrivals with open arms, celebrating their appearance with a deep gratitude. Large circles of dancers will pull you into the fray or pull you to dance one-on-one. Others will place bundles of cedar and juniper in your arms for decorating or perhaps learning to weave your own wreath to wear: some will even take pity, create it for you, and set the laurel upon the top of your head. You'll be invited to dance, drink, eat, and participate in the festivities through a snow dusted square. Even the soldiers will join, knocking shoulders and welcoming you to the Court of Stars. Whether you choose to remain for the festivities or wander off, one thing is certain: you are more than welcome in your new home. If you do manage to leave, a helpful citizen of the Court will inform you of the nearby transport mirrors that will take you anywhere on the map, one of which they will provide to you.

MARKETS OF THE COAST.♪ The coastal city of Kyst is abuzz for the holidays, some calm finally beginning to settle in after the rocky past few months. Newcomers will be welcomed with smiling faces from merchants as they look to try to sell their pricy but beautiful wares. Tavern owners and barkeeps will beckon with the promise of warm food and delightful drinks, a place by the fire, and stories of holidays of old. The air is rife with music and the smell of delicious baked goods. Perhaps you'll hear or smell something you recognize from your home; as Fellden is the beginning of all worlds, it wouldn't be an impossible likelihood! Those looking to help out might be coaxed to assist in decorating homes with laurels, garlands, berries, and other bright green, red, silver, and gold colors. Those who seem very eager to help might be recruited by shopkeepers to stand outside and try to get customers in to see their wares, to have a drink, or to rent a room. Anyone willing to do so even for a day will receive free food and drink for the duration of their assistance. And for the auspicious, some may notice a person who has set up a mild little stall in the back of town, sipping eggnog as she offers fortunes. "Fortunes for the new year, my friend," she tells any who approach her. She offers only a small smile. "A laurel for a card. Only one."

BEYOND THE CITIES.♪ In the distance from Kyst, a large forest looms, the Gods Wood imposing even from this distance. Should you travel there, everyone you encounter will urge you to be respectful while within the forest. There, people can be found visiting intricately decorated shrines, prepared for the upcoming holiday, while people leave seasonal offerings in the bowls and plates within the shrines. You're free to leave the crown you were given at your faction celebration, or perhaps something else that you've been granted since your arrival is better suited for your offering. Be mindful of your actions though; those that show disrespect will be forcibly removed from the Gods Wood by the trees. Best foot forward! If the forest is too intimidating, there appears to be a gathering at the nearby Lake Theta where the Festival of Aeons is taking place. You'll be drawn into the fold readily where people will inform you that it is a celebration of souls, both living and passed beyond the veil. You'll be taught how to make paper lanterns to be set into the sky when twilight falls, with further revelry coming after. Be prepared for a long night of celebration ahead of you as the dancing, music, and festivities last long into the night.

Comments

[summonere]

He has! [ A helpful squawk from overhead. ] Cuz it's right there by the register in the convenience store, the lazy slob.

[ He had been forced to figure out the most convenient of convenience foods while waiting to make the next assault on Urizen... ]

Jerky and cup noodles.

[ Because they are easy and he has absolutely no conception of how to cook anything more complicated. ]

[sealeted]

No shame in that. More often than not, I ate packaged yakisoba bread from the Commissary. You do what have to with what you have.

[Having to worry about real nutrition is bullshit but it’s worth the hassle for fresh, unique food.]

[summonere]

[ This cheers him up, although it's not particularly obvious by looking at him. ]

Food hasn't been my top priority. [ He looks up at the decorations, most of them are ok, here and there something is lopsided or slipping. ] Figuring out a new world I've been tossed into, was taking up my efforts.

Excuses, excuses!

[sealeted]

[Not to hardcore agree with your bird again or anything, but—]

I can understand wanting to hit the ground running, but they do say an army marches on its stomach. You should be your top priority, right now.

[summonere]

Lady, I am always telling him that! But does he listen to me? No! Bastard literally runs himself into the ground, and I depend on this guy! What a selfish, selfish guy.

[ Wow, first he needs to take care of himself more and then he's a selfish jerk? Which is it. V frowns in response on cue. ]

I don't think I've heard that saying before.

[ Didn't apply to demons. ]

[sealeted]

Sometimes you feel like you have to keep going, because... because you just don’t know what will happen if you do, or if you’ll be able to start moving forward again after. But, even if it’s tough, you still have to take time for some self-maintenance. It can either be sooner, on your terms, or later, when your body gives out on you at probably the absolute least helpful time.

[This is the voice of experience talking.]

..it’s a Napoleon quote, by the way. About armies and stomachs I mean. He’s the whole reason people started canning foods to preserve them, if you can believe it.

[This is the voice of nerdery.]

[summonere]

[ He wasn't expecting to have this body for long. Who cared if he broke it. He lifts a hand and looks at it tiredly. ]

I really don't know anything about that.

[ He turns his head to smile at her factoid though, ]

At least canned food is convenient.

[sealeted]

Good. That's one less bad habit to unlearn, then.

[She smiles back, small but warm.]

Some things in life ought to be, at least.

[summonere]

[ He wonders how many of those bad habits he has; all of Vergil's stubbornness, arrogance, and anger... ]

So, what is it like on the moon?

[sealeted]

...

[She purses her lips and takes a moment to think about that.]

Does your Earth have computers, before I get into this?

[summonere]

Yes?

[ They're powered by demonic energy and stuff, but yeah sure. Although V has probably never bothered to use one.... ]

[sealeted]

The moon is essentially an ancient magical alien supercomputer that has been recording and studying the development of the Earth for 4.5 billion years. Give or take a few centuries.

[Yeah.]

It was also an extremely powerful magical relic that could grant any wish, if you won the right to use it.

[summonere]

[ There are people who would balk at this. V is not one of them, because Devil May Cry is plenty absurd for that to make sense. ]

Interesting. I wonder if that's similar...

[ It would not surprise him if the moon was a powerful magical relic, and possibly that Sparda had sealed it or some shit. ]

That's fuckin' whackadoo. Are you gonna tell me you guys all eat moon cheese next?

[ Thx Griff. ]

[sealeted]

No, we ate yakisoba bread, and curry bread, and one week there was mapo tofu for sale, too. Occasionally I'd get lucky and a... friend would make me a lunch, or the Commissary would have premium sliced rollcakes stocked.

[That's just how it is.]

The Moon Cell was a lot more whackadoo than you're probably imagining, though, I promise.

[summonere]

Do other people find it strange?

[ He stares off at nothing for a moment. ]

Are there... many different Earths?

[ Is that why she'd asked that. Not something he would have previously contemplated when he already had the Human World and the many Hells to contemplate on. And making sure that they didn't collide. ]

But only ours matters, am I right?!

[sealeted]

It wasn't something particularly well known, on Earth. The wizards who submitted their souls into it for a chance at the wish either thought it was just some advanced virtual reality game, or were very determined. Or very desperate.

[She thinks it over.]

A good few dozen, at the very least.

[Hakuno shrugs.]

If it matters to you, then that's that. My world's Earth... already went through something like Fellden is, with its magic loss, except it was one big catastrophic loss all at once in the 1970s rather than the gradual weakening here, but I'd still like to see it stopped all the same.

[summonere]

[ She lost him with 'virtual reality' but maybe he can... research it later or something. There's always time for research right? ]

Magic loss... I can't imagine. It's always been everywhere.

[ When you're a half breed demon baby who wields a magic sword and spends most of your life in Hell....... ]

Our world might be safer without it. It might close the hell gates.

[sealeted]

Human development... really suffered, in the wake of the disaster. 60% of the wealth and about a third of what's left of useable land is in the control of one family, and to ensure strong magic circuits are passed on, some children with enough potential are forced to go through... a horrific amount of surgeries. And that's not even factoring in the Moon Cell kicking off the Holy Grail War.

[She grimaces.]

I've never seen a hell gate, so I couldn't really tell you.

[summonere]

I don't know for certain, but they're magic. Perhaps if it was gone, they'd break down.

[ That's just speculation though. She's talking about something real, ]

So they're just all the more desperate for that power....

[ Doesn't power drive people to do the ugliest things. ]

[sealeted]

They were.

[A very simple way to put a lot of very complicated life stories, that little turn of phrase. But he's not wrong, either.]

I took care of it, before we left. Humans will have to keep moving forward on their own, instead of another thousand souls dying needlessly.

[summonere]

That's a big responsibility.

[ That maybe he understands. How many people did Urizen drain to feed his ugly throne. ]

[sealeted]

The Holy Grail War was a system where 999 souls were taken into the Moon Cell. All but 128 were culled in the Preliminaries, and then the rest were pitted in weekly one-on-one matches where there would be one winner who was permitted to survive and move to the next round, and a loser whose soul was erased and their body was left to die back on Earth.

[It feels colder now, Hakuno thinks.]

The final winner—the survivor—got the wish. Mine involved ending the War forever. If I couldn't take responsibility for the price of my own life, then what would even be the point of going so far in the first place?

[summonere]

That's hellish.

[ And he would know, having been tortured in the depths of Hell in a former life. ]

It sounds fuckin' metal is what it sounds like! Blood match to the death and then this babe dismantled that shit forever? Epic!

[ While that is true... trust Griffon to really not match the tone of the moment. ]

[sealeted]

Hellish is a good word for it.

[If Gilgamesh ever meets this birdie will either be heinous or hilarious. She's not sure which option worries her more.]

And it tried to erase me too, after I made my wish. My partner got me out at the last second, so... double the victory, I suppose. It's been... it's been nice, being here instead, for the most part. I actually have time to read and study for pleasure, rather than to keep my head above the water, now.

[summonere]

[ If he were an easier person, he would tell her that he knows he must be erased too. Either he crumbles to pieces or he rejoins with Urizen. One or the other, it's the same result. But it's too uncomfortable for him to say. ]

Yes, I understand that.

[ He pulls out the leather bound book with the big V on it, ]

This is my only book.

[ He'd really like to read something else. ]