fellmemes | Test Drive #4

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! 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!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[his mind is scientific in nature, he believes that there's a root cause for all things, but he doesn't rule out the possibility of what V says. his rhetoric is pretty straightforward- he came from another world here, who's to say the BOR parasites didn't cross through on a similar circumstance. whether or not that truly is hell, he wouldn't know. it doesn't necessarily change the pattern of events that occurred, and god- he's thinking about this so deeply that he's become quiet and a little awkward.]

Hm...

[it is uncanny that their situations aren't all that different.]

I understand. We fought a similar entity in our world, named Queen. But we created her to begin with. [there's a slight hint of regret in his voice when he mentions Queen.]

Did you succeed in destroying the Qliphoth, or did it manage to regenerate?

Apparently, I wasn't there.

[ Complicated things happen when your canon mates are from a later canon point ;) ]

I was pulled here without seeing the end of my story. But 'Queen', now that's a defiant name ,isn't it.

[ That she was the epitome of the word. V sounds amused, maybe even approving. ]

[Louis, on the other hand, is the king of frowns, as his facial lines just dig a bit deeper down his face. thankfully, he'll never age so frown lines won't be a thing he needs to worry about. the beauty of staying 20 forever.]

She... was a human once.

[he's very much in the camp of "maybe this is a bad thing to talk about" judging by his intonation and demeanor.]

"Queen" was more of an ideological name rather than an appointment of duty or nobility. But I suppose you're right, it does have a certain level of defiance attached to the nomenclature.

[sup, you can call him mr. "I hide my feelings behind extreme rationalizations" Amamiya]

Edited 2020-01-31 16:41 (UTC)

[ The more uncomfortable others become, the easier it is for that smirk to sit on V's face. Arrogance is how he hides most of his own feelings, and it was hard to tell when he was play-acting and when he was being genuine. It's hard even for him to tell, but his sense of self is rocky. He is only 92 days old, and still finding his identity as a separate being to the half-demon who created him. ]

Now you have a Priestess and an Emperor to contend with.

[ And they were embodiments of something. V is researching it, trying to understand exactly what they are to this world. ]

[despite the overabundance of haughty smirks, Louis does take a moment to think about that- and the juxtaposition against what happened back in his home world. he's quiet for a moment. when he thinks about it, he knows he owes the Moon Temple his gratitude for accepting him, providing him with blood to survive, and giving him a general direction to head towards... but his goals aren't really aligned to the faction leader's. or, conversely, with the other faction as well.

but he knows the danger, has read the warning signs on the faces of people, listened into conversations he wasn't explicitly invited into. war is war, is war, is war. it's dangerous to pledge allegiance, and doubly so to abstain from doing it.]

I take it that you have your doubts about them.

[it's a small give, but necessary.]

Oh... you'll find many Otherworlders have their doubts. Our leaders find it quite frustrating.

[ V is more than happy to let other people be the squeaky wheel. It's not getting the response they're looking for. V has better things to do. ]

Insubordination can cost lives on the battlefield.

[he neither agrees nor disagrees that open defiance is wrong, but rather, states the logical application of it in real terms. he's not one to sugar coat much of anything.

but it does put into question why V is looking at it from the angle of an outsider, and nothing short of asking him his political opinions (a faux pas in any dimension), he doesn't really think that he needs to know the answer to that.]

You can't really half-ass a war effort, you know.

Do you want to know how many Otherworlders were jailed for insubordination and treason, after the most recent attack on the Temple? On both sides?

[ It's mostly rhetorical, but also V happens to knows the answer. Word of how upset the Emperor and their Star Court citizens are with their Otherworld saviors hadn't taken long to circulate. V has been in Terebellum studying, a University on the edge of the Stars territory that takes in Moon Temple students so long as they present their registration at the border. Soldiers had escorted V to the University, just in case any disgruntled Star folk hassled the visiting students. ]

Imprisonment is low on the list of my priorities.

[ And with that easy sarcasm, he says nothing about his own opinions on the politics.]

Edited 2020-02-04 02:45 (UTC)

[he doesn't have enough intel on this world, but there's a burning desire to consume as much information as he can. he'd survived as long as he did because he always thought ahead. not one step, but four or five. it's the short-sidedness of emotion that can get you ashed.

it doesn't help that the two competing thoughts, however, in his head are going back and forth between concern for their well being and... weirdly enough, pity that they weren't resourceful enough to not get caught. he keeps both of those things inside himself, though.]

Nobody wants to be held against their own will.

[especially not if they felt justified in what they were doing.]

Curious, though. How many were there? Are the governments being lenient or are they sentencing them to death?

Seven across both factions were jailed, a few more given various lesser punishments. The Emperor has only tortured and banished one so far.

[ V had acquired that piece of information from the guards of the Moon Temple's prison block personally, while visiting one of the traitors. ]

So our leaders are... just vengeful enough, for the time being.

[ That they don't entirely alienate everyone. One had to strike a certain balance as a military leader: both unstoppable and authoritative, while still remaining recognizable enough to follow. ]

Edited 2020-02-04 03:06 (UTC)

There's always one that has to be made an example of.

[there's a slight amount of bitterness in his voice over that- he's still an idealist when it comes down to it, but government doesn't leave a great taste in his mouth. how could it? his own let project QUEEN happen, and then hid away the remnants of that vile transaction while keeping the truth of the matter in secret. the system that was put in place to help people ended up turning them into the Lost at far more alarming rates.

not much anyone can do, though, in the current state of things.]

Needs of the many, and all.

[he looks over to V, ascertaining.]

I think continuing this line of thought will land either of us in trouble, though. You seem decently enough adjusted in this world.

You're right. We can speak a bit more freely in Neutral territory but still, I'd hate to get you in trouble.

[ But he also made his point and was understood perfectly well. What more was there to say. ]

I've been here long enough to understand there are many things bigger than I am in this world.

[ So why not let them crack heads while he scuttled around doing something else in the background. If the Priestess needed him to fight from time to time, to prove again his loyalty, he could do that if it affords him more freedoms the rest of the time. ]

[neutral territory.

Louis makes up his mind then. he needs a shelter of some sort there, if everything goes to hell in a hand basket. war is war, but if the supply of blood gets cut off from him, he needs a place to store blood beads, or else...

no, he doesn't want to think about that right now. he's already starting to rebuild his cathedral in his head. god, it's times like this that he misses Yakumo.]

Thanks for sharing your viewpoints with me. Being new to everything, it's hard to feel one way or the other about much. But information's always valuable.

I... imagine with my background, I'll be sent to fight.

If you don't want to fight, there are other ways to make yourself useful.

[ V doesn't mind violence and, to be quite honest, he enjoys it. But he does feel strongly about not forcing violence onto Otherworlders who aren't so cavalier or experienced. ]

[it's... a means to an end. he was just tired of the sacrifices that had to be made, offered up from people who didn't have anything to give anymore. that was what he had fought for, it's why he endured so much and why his k/d ratio was so off the charts. but maybe an alternative solution existing would provide more opportunities to focus and concentrate his efforts elsewhere.]

I'm... all ears at whatever you might have in mind.

Scouts, couriers, healers, enchanters, cooks, stable-masters.

[ Just a few other things you could do off the top of his head, to elaborate his point. ]

All considered contributions to the war. I have enough skill to fight and scout but, in the rest of my time, I study magic with other researchers. The young woman I live with contributed potions in preparation of the last skirmish.

[ A few examples more. ]

[a cook. can you imagine.

it'd be like taking those aptitude tests back in high school and "baker" comes up despite failing every home ec class Louis was ever voluntold to take.]

Scouts...

[that seems to be a little bit closer to what he was doing back home. searching for bloodsprings. finding the source of bloodbeads. it afforded him a wealth of things to discover, and had put him in an economic position that was rather advantageous. he considers it pretty deeply.]

If I could find a position like that, perhaps we could strike some sort of accord. Bringing you back anything magical of value to contribute to your studies, and the like.

[to be fair, he's not entirely sold on magic, despite the fact that Gifts are practically blood magic spells and ichor is a mana bar, but hey.]

[ It's the right attitude to have in the Moon Temple. They're a driven group; direct and ready to act. V in particular is someone with a sharp sense of where he's going and what he wants. That certainty builds him up where inexperience and uncertainty might otherwise hamstring him. ]

I always need more help.

[ There are some who would accuse V of being too stubborn to ask for help, and yet here he is. The reality is he doesn't want help from anyone he might be beholden to for the effort. There's a difference. V's in charge here, and he's in no hurry to give anyone else a handle on his agency. ]

There's a scouting or information guild within the Temple court. [ A small smile, ] Keep out of the politics and you shouldn't have trouble climbing those ranks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive #4

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me playing codevein every time: goddamnit yakumo heal me shiiiiiiii auuugh.

LMAO you've played it im so happy... my experiences were mostly yakumo healing me and then dying

i have the most beautiful edgy pastel revenant

god please dont make me post my pasty ass pretty boy

sit down at that bar and take a heckin' vampire selfie! it's the point of the game!