fellmemes | Test Drive #4

Entry tags:

! test drive

Test Drive #4

Welcome to the January 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 February 1st, and continue to be until 11:59 PM UTC on February 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.
✦ We have added a Suitability section to the application. Check it out! We will be requiring this going forward as it not only helps players see if their character is a good fit for the game but it lets the mod team gather some ideas about direction for your character!
✦ 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 Death or its Attendants if you risk placing a coin in their offering bowl.
✦ As in December, a secondary blessing will be available in February to those that tag others on the TDM!

All set? Perfect! Welcome to Fellden.

AS THE MOON RISES.
You’ll find yourself just outside the Temple gates, which will be locked if you try to open them. A little rude, keeping you out after bringing you all this way, and the more you try to look up at the Temple structure the more insistent guards become in pushing you down the pathway to somewhere else. 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! Chrysanthemums will be offered as brooches or corsages, food and drink placed into your hands, while live musicians play loud enough for the dead to hear — for this is a celebration dedicated to them. Several were lost in the battle held the previous weeks, and the Priestess has decreed a time of mourning through revelry. Spirits must be kept up, even in these dark times. 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 despite the pall that may hang over the town. 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 prepare the interior for a solemn remembrance of those lost. Guards at the door will instead direct you to the center of the city where most of Starfolk have gathered to say their goodbyes and reminisce of memories past.

Venturing there, you'll be greeted either by those who are serving food and drink from nearby taverns, or those with drawn faces tired from battle. Or perhaps you're a late arrival and the worst of the exhaustion has left the city, now imbued with laughter and happier memories! Those loyal to the Court of Stars greet the newcomers with guarded gratitude in their eyes and wary hesitance. How many more of these Otherworlders will betray them, they wonder out loud. If you try and take a seat with a party or three, chances are the conversation will halt as soon as you grow near, and the longer you stay the more uncomfortable the gathered people become.

Trust is not easily gained in the Court of Stars; broken now as it is, the natives of this world fear the worst for their Emperor. Will you help us, or will you hurt us, they ask, wanting to believe they still have a chance at surviving this exhaustive war.

Whether you choose to remain for the remembrance or wander off, one thing is certain: things must turn around for the Stars soon. If you do manage to sneak off, a hopeful 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 with an extra amount of people who sought refuge here during the attack on the Moon Temple. Some calm had finally started to settle but now the foundation has once more been shaken. Newcomers will be welcomed with smiling faces from merchants as they look to try to sell their wares. Tavern owners and barkeeps will beckon with the promise of warm food and delightful drinks, a place by the fire, and information to help you find your bearings. The air is rife with the scent of the coastline, fishermen bringing in their haul from the day. Perhaps if you pay enough attention, 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 for something more exciting will find closer to the northern border of Kyst a rather curious bi-pedal cat bouncing on its back legs. It flags you down with a wave of its paw, asking excitedly if you'd like to flex your claws into a juicy quest. You're just the hunter for the job! Purr-fect in every way! Out in the wild lands there's a great beast in a deep river, and it's bothering all the people who live in the nearby town! They can't get fresh water or fish for their meals; it's furr-ightening! If you agree to help, the cat will explain that the creature is a Nokken that has been luring many a brave fisher to their untimely death. It must be removed either by force or by convincing it to leave! Help them, Hero-wan Kenobi, you're their meownly hope!

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, and leaving offerings for their passed. If you catch their eye, they will beg of you to pay respects as well, and press a gold coin into your palm. Offer a wish or a happy memory to who you miss and place the coin into Death's offering bowl and there's a chance someone will be there to speak with you. Be mindful of your actions though; those that show disrespect will be forcibly removed from the Gods Wood by the trees.

If the forest is too intimidating, Terebellum is open for semester registration, and the grounds are even more regal with a light dusting of snow all around. Students of all branches of magic can be found exploring the campus and practicing their craft. If you're lucky, perhaps you can find a teacher who will explain what is offered here at the University. But ah, there's a catch! Tuition is extremely expensive, so you must impress your faction leaders if you wish to widen your breadth of knowledge within these walls!

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

prompt #3!

[ She has mixed feelings on finding Kairi - Aqua's glad to have found a familiar face, but to be trapped in this world without access to their full abilities - it's dangerous, to say the least. ]

Both of us? ... Then, you haven't seen the others?

[2B isn't here to make any kinds of offerings to the Gods. She could care less about them and what they want, but neutral territory is the only place where she feels... safe.

Safe from the wandering eyes as people shoot stares at her tally tattoo, knowing that she has, in some way, betrayed the people of the Moon Temple. In places like Kyst, and the Gods Wood, it feels as if less judgement is being passed. She could be completely wrong about that, but she'll go with it anyway.

Except this time, it's all a dream. 2B must have activated sleep mode at some point... likely at the behest of Pod 042, who would repeat the recommendation every thirty minutes. Or maybe it was 9S? A friend in the Moon Temple? Now that she thinks harder on it, she's having a hard time remembering how she got here, or how long it's been. By the time she came to and realized where she was, 2B had already wandered to the shrine without a destination in mind.

And that's when she feels a light bump as someone crashes into her, but she's unmoving from her spot, remaining a steady steel beam, and might accidentally knock the girl backwards as a result of that. 2B manages to catch her by the shoulders so she remains upright.]

I'm fine, but you should watch where you're going.

[Always the polite one, she is.]

Could work.

[A quick scan of the immediate area reveals some hefty sticks and a few palm sized stones. Worth a shot; if this fails, she can just start zapping the river at random. As Lightning stands up, she gives Kairi a quick head to toe glance over. Young, seemingly unarmed...oh boy.]

Do you have a weapon?

[2B is on her way into the Gods Wood when she comes across this unsightly... sight. A girl, being thrown from the trees and skidding across the grass in a beeline towards her, only to stop barely a foot away to fall into a heap on the ground. She remains unmoving from her spot, not bothering to take a step forward to help or back to give some room when Zero lifts herself up.]

Hm. I've never seen anyone get kicked out of the Gods Wood before.

[A frank observation as her head lifts to look into the trees. How relentless. Guess it's true what the humans say: there's a first for everything...]

I didn't.

[ obviously, he didn't. it was total chaos, no one had time to do anything but hold thrawn off. they barely even made it out of there until he royally pissed bendu off into being useful. but now he's getting concerned about ezra. he continues to lead them and as they get further from the central area the crowd thins out. kanan can feel a strong presence from one of the smaller buildings and he guides them both toward it. ]

Oh and if anyone asks, just say you're old enough to be here.

[ he didn't actually check if kids are allowed, but also who's gonna stop them?

1. as the moon rises

[despite the fact that there's no miasma in this world and no sign of other Revenants, Louis errs on the side of safety all throughout his initial foray into the structure around the Temple. he's enamored by its architecture, especially as someone who had taken a cathedral as a home base, and for the first few hours of arrival he tries to understand the layout of the environs.

fanfare, it seems, is the general mood, and he doesn't understand why. wait- not entirely true, he does understand the emotions behind it, but it takes a moment to get caught up to speed. it takes an attendant, carefully offering him a flower to shift his apprehension away from the permanent sense of paranoia that's embedded itself into him since losing his humanity.

he draws off his purifier mask, and for a moment, just stares deeply into its vibrant and beautiful color. flowers, although rare, do exist in the Gaol of the Mist. but never this intricate, never this large. nonetheless, between his visage, the dark red eyes, and his standoffish behavior, he's left alone for a few moments to stare.]

Excuse me... [he chances upon someone else who might appear to have lost their bearings.] These flowers, do you know their name? Are they common?

2. markets of the coast

[yeah, he's signed up to kill that monster that's terrorizing the nearby town, but there's an ulterior motive in the works. Louis keeps his eyes peeled for mistles, objects that can spring forth blood beads for consumption. he's well aware that the Temple will provide, but when it's the only thing keeping him from going into frenzy, he figures it's best to have a backup... or ten, just in case. it's exactly how he got by back in the Gaol of the Mist, and it's going to take some time getting used to the sheer abundance of it all out here.

and before, it was always easier to go it alone, scout ahead and understand the layout before making brash moves, but thanks to a few friends he's picked up along the way, his efforts have become a lot more brazen over time. he's in your adventuring party, and he might take notice to the weird stares that he's receiving- either from you or from anyone else around. might as well clear the air before it gets stagnant. or worse, awkward. Louis is perfectly fine with silence, but awkward ones, not so much.]

We're called revenants. Humans who've died and been brought back to life through BOR parasites.

[that... is very reassuring, of course. admitting to being a host to some disease like creature inside himself. that's exactly how you make friends, right?]

Sorry, there aren't many humans left where I'm from. It's not contagious, if that's what you're worried about.

[uh.]

3. the gods wood

[it's calm here, the serenity piercing the forest like a quiet shroud around its exterior. he has a coin in his hand, and he's ready to make an offering, but is tempting Death something he really wants to do? how many times has Louis died already, only to evaporate into mist and be brought back from the brink of death, one memory less for the cost of his failure?

who does he miss? there aren't a whole pool of people to choose from, and the one he wishes the most to see again would also bring him back to the guilt of not being able to do what he was supposed to do the first time around. he clutches the coin in his hand, thinks of Cruz, and sighs. no, it can't be her. he doesn't deserve that. she doesn't deserve that.

without the thought of someone else in mind, he offers Death a small recompense for all the times he's cheated it.]

If I had more to give, I would. All I ever wanted was peace.

[no use looking back, he stands and sighs. an idyllic dream, coexistence between revenants and humanity, a world where blood thirst didn't claim the lives of people who deserved more out of their lot in life.]

prompt #3!

[How anyone could be celebrating at a time like this, 2B had no idea. The battle had just ended and here the humans were, drinking and laughing the same way they did when she arrived at the Temple's gates, as if nothing had happened at all. War has made her weary, and so celebrating was never at the forefront of her mind. With the Temple fallen and dozens hurt if not dead, what is there to celebrate?

... Humans are so weird.

She's trying to get through when she sees an unfamiliar face near the back of the crowds having what she suspects is the umpteenth flower crown burdened upon him. 2B had been in that very same position before, and appreciated those who bothered to stop it, so with a tired sigh, she strides up to the woman with the flowers from behind.]

You should go back to dancing.

[If the two swords across her back or the tally tattoo glowing on her wrist weren't convincing, 2B's tone has enough firmness to scare her off. She waits for her to disappear before she regards the man and his drink.]

They never know when to stop.

Changed my name. Changed a lot about how I operated. Same for you I bet.

[ can't wield a lightsaber or use the force without the threat of an entire army state coming down on you at a moment's notice. ]

Don't worry, it doesn't seem like anyone even knows about the Empire here. For better or worse, we're far away from their rule.

[You did, he wants to argue back, but Ezra holds back for now. Something isn't right.]

Obviously.

[When have rules ever stopped them? Besides, he's nearly 19 and could use a mind trick if he had to.

Once they're inside, he's reminded of hanging out at Old Jho's before the Empire had gotten to him. He notices a quieter table near the back and guides Kanan there.]

Okay, this is gonna sound weird, but stick with me. What was our last mission?

[lol happy memories.]

A few good books to read.

[which is, of course, not anywhere near what he had originally wished for. of course, should Death actually make its way here, that would be a turning of the tables. he'd have to come up with a much better cover than this week's installment of encyclopedia brittanica.]

What did you ask Death to give you?

[...]

That sounded a lot worse than I intended it to.

You don't have to be.

[2B's voice comes suddenly from behind. She, too, has been enlisted to help with this so-called Nokken. This is what she gets for spending too much time on the piers fishing, isn't it? Two swords at her back and suddenly, she's everyone's saviour. Not that she minds helping out the local humans, but she's built for Machines, not hunting water monsters.

Still, it's hard to say no when it comes to the humans, so here she is.]

Just lure it out of the water and destroy it. How hard can it be?

[... right?]

Don't you think it was a little bit too on the nose?

[Louis notices the frustration ever so apparent on A2's features, and yes, he cares that someone is out here in the wild about to pound fist straight into a pool of water (that doesn't seem helpful), he's often chock full of questions without easy answers.

also, as someone who can sense actual human blood a mile away, this is setting off alarm bells straight in his head. so what do two non-humans have to do while they wait around for a water spirit to slay?]

A cat asked you to go fishing.

[at least that talking cat wasn't a hallucination?]

[his understanding of the universe is extremely, unequivocally limited. he realizes this when he sees Lapis' outstretched, enthusiastic hand, offering to give him a vivid handshake. she looks eager enough to possibly rip it right off of him, something that this particular writer might be worried about. but alas, under lack of better judgment, Louis offers her a handshake, eyebrow cocked and not quite sure about... well, any of this, honestly?]

A strange cat?

[this doesn't track.]

It told you to go fight a monster...

[there has to be a doctor around that he can take Lapis to.]

Are you alright?

[ Humans can be hard to say no to, it's true.

Aspen looks to her warily, and gestures to the weapon strapped to her back. ]

... she says, readily armed with something menacing.

[ He tries to making a whacking motion with his crystal staff. It's weak. ]

I'm not sure what I can do with this. I can, at best, provide support.

[ A beat. ]

Or be bait.

Edited 2020-01-28 04:13 (UTC)

[he gets it. people need to do what they need to do to survive. that doesn't make it morally sound to do, but it's respectable nonetheless. he's reminded of a boy he's helped out in the past, giving them blood beads to subsist on, only for that to eventually go in a completely unfortunate direction.

teach a man to fish, though. is that how the saying goes?]

Thanks, but... keep it, it won't do much for me.

[vampire vibe check, complete. but less brooding and more accolade-ing.]

Besides, you put a lot of hard work into scamming that merchant.

[2B has zero secrets regarding the Gods. While she means no disrespect by being here and she won't say it out loud, she has no reason to ask something of them when she has doubts that they'll deliver, let alone hear her. She could wish on a hundred coins to return home with 9S, but it will never be granted. She's stuck in this war until either they decide they're done with her, or it's brought to an end.

Until then, she'll wander the Gods Wood aimlessly, only stopping when addressed by someone, this time by an unfamiliar boy kneeling in front of a shrine. A brow shoots up.]

Why would it be a secret?

I think you shouldn't try to con a man trying to make a living. [ wise guy over here. ] And where did that blast of wind come from anyway?

[ she doesn't want to make accusations, but seems a little too coincidental. ]

[Of course someone's around to see her looking like such an idiot, of course. At the very least, 2B not offering any kind of help to her is honestly less embarrassing than if she did. Not in the mood to actually get up just yet though, Zero looks up at 2B from where she's sitting.

Nice blindfold. Then again, given the flower in her eye, she probably doesn't have much room to talk (not that that'll stop her).]

Seriously? People are way more serious here than I would've expected then.

Oh yeah, right. There wasn't any wind, so I don't really know what you're talking about?

[Which is the truth. But he did moments earlier comment on the "wind" so.]

I don't see how it's a con either... You sure you don't want one?

Yeah? I'm perfectly fine?

[But, he did take her hand, and she shakes it. Maybe a little too much, before letting go.]

It said there was a Nokken around and was killing people? So I have to find it and fight it. Or convince it to leave, but I'm not too great at the whole convincing thing.

[ The idea of 'angels' is completely foreign to Yona - at least in this appearance, even if the idea of them might be something her own land has similarities to. The wings, though - those are both unusual and incredible even to her. She'd spotted the slim figure from across the shaded clearing, the surrounding forest deep and hushed with a reverent sort of atmosphere that even she was reluctant to break.

Having offered her own prayer already, she'd been about to leave when she spotted him again, right where he had been before, and still looking very uncomfortable and... hmm, nervous? Wondering at that, she pauses a moment before making her way over to him, just in time to hear his softly murmured words.

Feeling a pang of sympathy, she gently reaches out to brush her fingertips lightly against his arm. ]

Can I help?

[His assumption was right, then. A hunter, beasts. Reason enough to carry blood that he still thinks he can scent in his nose, but no worse than the dead nokken. Pulled up from the waterline and lain against the shore, the body already begins to stink in the sun.

He stands, frowning and sheathing his sword. The rest of Anna’s notched blade-cane combination pulls free with a wet sound.]

And are you planning on dumping more blood into the river?

[Because without knowing how many, that sounds like a harrowingly terrible idea.]

[He shrugs. Maybe this guy just hates fruit or something, but he's not getting into it.]

Not sure what you mean. I just helped someone sell a bunch of beat up fruit.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 8 of 53

Test Drive #4

no subject

no subject

C!!

no subject

iii!

no subject

louis amamiya (code vein); moon

no subject

i

no subject

no subject

iii!

2

b

﴾͡๏̯͡๏﴿ markets

no subject

ii

iii

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

3!

no subject

no subject