Test Drive #1

[felldenmods]

Welcome to the August test drive—our first in fellden! 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 are open and will continue to be until 11:59 PM UTC on Tuesday, August 20th; they are not necessary to apply! They're valid for the first four days of the application cycle.
✦ Applications will open at 12:01 AM UTC on the 21st, and remain open until 11:59 PM UTC on the 27th. 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 either arrived on their person or available in the Gods Wood. 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. (Apologies for missing including this on the initial test drive!)

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, 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! Flower crowns will be deposited upon your heads, 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.

THE SETTING STARS. Unlike the Temple, your arrival to the Court of Stars is met with a rather somber greeting, however expressions are relieved, despite any emotional guard that may be up. A gathering of knights, weary from a skirmish along the border they're returning from, pat you on the back and lead you through an open air courtyard. All the gathered people of the Emperor's Court look up from their tasks, giving the passing Otherworlders a knowing nod. There's gratitude in their eyes, but that's all the welcome you'll receive: your presence is appreciated, but growing an attachment is another heartache for those that care so deeply for their faction fellows. The silence is broken when a high-ranking member of the guard gives the proclamation: "Our heroes have arrived! Court defenders, world travelers! Help has come from the far lands to aid us in our battles for our Emperor, for all of Fellden!" From there, the few knights that have not yet departed will lead you through the Court's castle, a brief tour of the most important areas (dining hall, housing wing, guard barracks, and the throne room) is given before they instruct you to rest, because the real excitement begins when the sun falls behind the horizon. Left to drift, you can explore the castle, or venture out to the surrounding city as it prepares for the celebration the Starfolk have in store for the returned soldiers and, now, the new arrivals. You'll be invited to the party that spreads across the entire Court city, drawn into large circle dances, and will find that the locals become more at ease and welcoming the longer you spend with them.

WELCOME TO THE GODS WOOD. Between one blink and the next, your eyesight has seemingly been stolen from you. Or, perhaps it’s more likely that something is covering your eyes? Yes, that’s definitely a blindfold tied around the back of your head, although quite the mystery as to how it came to be there. You vaguely remember a wolf that may or may not have spoken to you, but the blindfold is certainly a new addition to the situation. Once removed, you’ll find yourself in the thick of the woods, with no path or directional indicators in sight. The moon is obscured by the tree line, and the stars above do nothing to light your path; seems like removing the blindfold wasn’t as helpful as you may have thought. As your eyes adjust to the darkness, it’s obvious that you are not alone in this; other people are removing their blindfolds just as you are, staring blearily into the dark of the forest with a similar lack of understanding to how they came to be here. Thankfully, you’ll find some nearby travel packs with self-lighting torches, a few rations, and your faction-provided communicator. The compass, unfortunately, remains broken, which means you’ll have to find your way out of the woods without it. Hopefully your sense of direction is passable! Whether you team up with others, or go your separate way is entirely up to you, but you must find your way out, and the fog rolling in is not going to be of any assistance. This is a Dropping, and the Gods Wood is not kind to loiterers.

DRAWN TO THE COASTLINE. Needing an escape from the hectic energy that greeted you in your faction, an empathetic bystander pointed you in the direction of a nearby transport mirror, which you either stepped into without stating a destination, or didn't give one with enough clarity for the mirror to understand. Spitting you out on the beach just outside Kyst, it doesn't seem keen to let you back the way you came; temperamental teleportation magic. As the largest trade city in all of Fellden, there is no shortage of things to do here! Shopping with what coin was hoisted upon you before your departure, mapping out the city itself to memorize the in's and out's, enjoying a drink on the house at a local tavern where you can get into a mean game of cards with some faction soldiers, or even meeting someone else that seems to have stumbled into this world just as you did. Perhaps you're more keen to the outdoors, rather than the bustle of a large city, wandering away from the city just far enough to find a stretch of pristine beach and inviting crystal clear waters of the ocean; the salty air fills your lungs while the rays of the midday sun are almost blinding against the swath of bright white sand that meets the crashing waves. Regardless of what you decide to do, or where you end up, you're in the closest thing to No Man's Land you can get; enjoy your time fraternizing with the enemy, make some new friends in this neutral land, or stick with those from your own faction to get a lay of the land.

Comments

[unrepentantsoul]

"We have much in common and nothing at all," she said and a grin could be heard in her tone. "Daedra falling from the sky where the Dark Anchors dropped, a mage that wanted to subsume the world, a war on three sides for control of the empire. A council decision to take the fight to the enemy in a world not our home. Magic portals that may or may not work properly."

It was flippant and in good humor.

"The names are not so important, yes? We have been through much together while worlds apart."

[aban_aqun]

Bull likes the humor, finds a strange comfort in it. She's right, after all. The similarities are there, even if the circumstances and the details are different. Bull watches the celebrating crowd, content to be separate from it for now.

He appreciates the feeling of camaraderie.

"We have," he agrees quietly with a small smile. "I like the way you think, Khajit. It makesme feel less alone."

[unrepentantsoul]

She purred, tail twitching behind her and grazing Bull's hip unintentionally as it flipped side to side in a lazy wag of contentment, "This one is used to being alone. Has enjoyed it sometimes. But she admits, she likes the company of the Qunari already. He understands."

[aban_aqun]

"There aren't many of my people on the southern continent. But I've been living there for over ten years," he says with a faint, distant smile. Bull is also used to being alone, even if he has companionship. As well-intentioned as his human, dwarf, and elf companions are, they are not Qunari, and they cannot quite understand the separation he feels.

But it doesn't matter. Not now, not here.

"What do I understand?"

[unrepentantsoul]

"How this one is," she shrugs. "This one did not have to explain that Khajiit is not her name. The Iron Bull knew already. He is the first to understand in this place. He understands what it is to be of the kind but not to... stand out? This one is uncertain how to put the words. Men and mer, they do not understand so much that not all need names at all times. To have a name is not a bad thing, but it is not something this one has right now and she is not sure if she will. Perhaps she will take on for herself when she feels she knows herself enough to have one."

[aban_aqun]

Bull can't help but smile. "The Qunari believe that what you call a thing is important. It should give you insight into its nature. But not everything needs a name like humans give them. Mountains do not need names. Seas and rivers and lakes do not need names. I know it is the sea, and that is enough."

Some of the names given are descriptive, Bull will allow for that. They help to differentiate. But some of the names are given in vanity, or because someone can't leave well enough alone, or to bury another name that belonged to another people.

"People from other cultures don't understand that the Qunari have titles and the titles tell us what we need to know. Maybe we give each other nicknames, but that is for us. It's a way of saying that you know someone. It is intimate."

He looks over at Khajit and smiles. "I chose the Iron Bull for myself when I had to live away from my people. I know to call you Khajit. Maybe someday I will learn something else to call you. But Khajit is enough. Asit tal-eb."

[unrepentantsoul]

"Men and Mer are both prolific in the naming of things in this one's world," she hmmm'd softly, nodding. "Though in the case of some of the names, it is because the mountains or lakes are people, too."

The Brothers of Strife came to mind.

"Perhaps one day this one will choose something else. Perhaps not. She does not see the future or possible futures as the Prophet does. She is unsure she wants to. His words are always optimistic about the changes we will cause, but the path set before us is difficult. Dangerous. Uncertain save that it is us who must tread it."

She settled her helm on her crossed arms, tilting her chin up so she could still observe through the slits without it obstructing her view.

"What does that mean? Asit tal-eb?"

[aban_aqun]

"It's a central tenet of the Qun." Bull considers for a moment how to explain it. Qunlat is difficult to translate at the best of times, but this is not a simple concept, and he isn't a priest or tamassran taught to explain these things.

"The direct translation is, it is to be, or uhm... the way things are meant to be. The Qun tells us that everything and everyone in the world has a nature, and all these things come together to form a proper order. We are all part of a larger whole and it is our duty to serve it."

Bull makes a slight face, if only because he doesn't want to sound like this is an attempted conversion. He isn't interested in converting anyone, but he has to admit to himself that it's nice to talk to someone about it.

"Under the Qun, to know a thing's title or name is to understand it's nature."

[unrepentantsoul]

She let out a soft 'mmm' and nodded slowly, thinking about that, then answered with an equally slow tongue as she sought to put her words in the right order to be sensible, "This one... thinks that may be the case with daedra. They are very rigid and... unable to be... anything but what they are created to be. She is not so sure it is true of people. One might know a Khajiit, but like their lesser cousins, knowing what they are called does not allow one to understand them. Has the Iron Bull ever tried to understand a cat? It cannot be done."

[aban_aqun]

Bull smiles. "One could argue that it is the nature of a cat to not be understood," he quips as he looks over at Khajit. "And that it would be futile to ask a cat to be anything else."

He chuckles and looks back at the swirling crowd. "I don't think the Qunari as so rigid as daedra. There is room for reassignment if someone is unhappy or can no longer do the job they started with. There is room for correction or change."

Not much, maybe, but some room is better than nothing.

[unrepentantsoul]

There's a bit of a purr that echoed from inside the helm along with a soft chuckle as she raised a finger to wag it exaggeratedly, "No getting philosophical with this one on the nature of her kind. She seeks to remain mysterious, yes?"

There is further laughter before she settles, her tail resuming it's lazy twitching, "Khajiit supposes there must be some who would enjoy that. But she does not think herself one of them. She has been told she is many things and none of them fit. She would rather figure it out for herself."

A pause, and then an addendum, "That is not so say she is upset with being shown paths to walk. When one does not know their own path yet, walking one offered by another can help one find their way. Just... it should not be expected that once on it, she cannot leave it, no? Once this one has retrieved what was taken from her, she will walk a new path. Perhaps even one she makes for herself."

[aban_aqun]

"The tamassrans see it more as... uncovering one's purpose, rather than showing it to them. They observe and they learn and only when they are certain do they send a child away for training. My tama was certain I would be a soldier, but by the time I was four or five my behavior and personality had disavowed her of that notion."

He smiles at the memory; he misses the woman that raised him.

"But the Qun isn't right for everyone. I'll be the first person to say it. Whatever Khajit's path is, however many there are, she is on the one that is right for her."

It's a sort of blasphemy, but Bull considers it a compromise. Not everyone is meant to be under the Qun. If they were, they would be.

[unrepentantsoul]

Sent away at such a young age for whatever purpose they had in mind for the rest of one's life? That seemed far to much like a collar around one's neck for her liking. But every people had a different way of things. So she would not judge. What worked for one, does not work for everyone.

"This one hopes so. She is uncertain of much and mostly acting on what the Prophet has given her as a goal. She hopes it will bring back the certainty she lost when she lost her name. It is difficult knowing oneself when a piece of oneself has been taken away."

She pushed herself backwards, stretching with hands on the back of the chair and arms stiff to give her back a good crack, "This one thinks our talk is too heavy. She suggests finding drink to make it lighter. Drink makes everything lighter."