fellmemes | 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

[ Surprise shows on her face for a second, then it closes off into sullenness and sorrow. ]

I don't share my wishes with the gods. You don't know how warped it might become in their voice.

[he understands her-

well, not the gods part. he's pretty sure that if they existed, they've abandoned his world long ago. the Great Collapse that ensued made that entirely evident.]

Giving a wish a form makes it all the more vulnerable.

[at least, in some aspect, he gets it.]

I take it you've had dealing with gods before and it didn't turn out very well. One thing I've discovered since coming here is that nothing operates the same way it did back home. Who knows what this pantheon of beings are capable of.

[he's not paranoid. who said that.]

Who knows.

[ She echoes in a faraway voice. She doesn't want to imagine, there are so many ugly things in the depths of the universe's imagination. ]

Yharnam sat atop an ancient city that knew of the old gods. An explorer found their secrets and brought it up. Those secrets rotted the city from every avenue.

[ That's her nightmare. That's what she imagines is capable. This world is rotting and she has to save it this time. ]

[he understands that sentiment all too well. that's... well, it's how the Great Collapse happened to his home world, too. micro-organisms that should've never been unearthed to begin with. he knows it's protocol to offer some condolences, but as someone who's been through something similar, he knows that he doesn't feel comfortable receiving them very much himself.]

The only thing you can do is take up arms and fight back. If you don't, you give up, and then there's nothing left to fight anymore anyway.

[looking down to the ground, he sighs out, almost by way of apology.]

At least what we have here is a second chance to stop the world from descending into madness before it happens.

[ She feels like she's vibrating with the way his words ring in her head. Isn't it soothing to hear exactly what you'd want to? ]

I can't think about anything else.

[ She means it. The sickness haunts every step she takes. ]

[at that, he raises his head. it's obvious that she's been through something, but the stark reality of it all... is that new beginning or not, holding onto the past and refusing to look forward limits survival ratings.]

I... don't know what you've been through, but I imagine it's a lot.

[if she survived her own sort of horroscape, and if it was like his... then she's probably stronger than she looks.]

But even so, letting it consume you isn't good either. What are your plans, now that you're here?

Fight for the Emperor.

[ Fight in a world that could still change. A world that wasn't always reliving the same terrible night over and over again. ]

They've called me to the Hunt.

We're on opposing sides, then.

[his expression deepens to a darker shade of regret.]

I suppose that, if the time comes, we might actually be trying to take each others' lives.

[ She's already accepted it, just that easily, ]

Will you make a fine enemy, then? Or are you going to snivel.

[ There's insult lacking in her tone. This is just a piece of conversation to her. Whether or not he's going to put up a fight when she comes to kill him. ]

[it'd dishonor her to not give her something worth fighting for. Louis is kind of weird like that. he'd just told her that no matter the circumstance, losing yourself is akin to watching the world burn, and he can't reasonably back down from the commitment. unfortunate, but... dignity is important, too. even for those who are forgotten by the world around them.]

Of course. I won't stand down. I owe that much to you.

[which is, all sorts of depressing, in a way. he holds out his hand, as if he's shaking on a promise.]

And promise if you strike me down that you'll remember me?

[which is, admittedly, an equally goddamn weird thing to ask.]

[ Remembrance. Wasn't that the privilege of comrades? Wasn't that what the fighting was actually all about? She considers him for a moment, like she might actually refuse, but then she reaches out to shake his hand; expression contemplative. ]

You'll have to tell me who you are.

[there's no telling how a revenant gets their memories back in this world, and without them around, who knows if Louis' memories would ever be restored from vestiges. if he can't remember himself, he just hopes someone else can for him.

he shakes her hand cordially, like all things Louis does, with a matter-of-fact business side to his end of the deal... despite him asking what he did because of a very emotional thing. he doesn't tell her that he revives when fatally injured. that the parasite living inside him is resilient and regenerative and is quite allergic to death in all but one, singular way.

and he plans to keep that to himself, for obvious reasons.]

Louis. Louis Amamiya. In my world, I'm known as a revenant.

You?

Anna. I'm a Hunter from the cursed city of Yharnam.

[ She doesn't need to know the details of a revenant, she knows what the word at its base means. It would be completely normal to her to push him for those details now find out what's behind that grim name and what kind of unholy energy pulses just beyond the edge of her insights.

But they've made decisions today already that have changed her perspective already. One of them was going to die when it was finally time to fight. The pact reassures her, even more than her promise to serve the Emperor. Sometimes, it's comforting to know exactly which cliff you're going to hurl yourself off of.

It puts her in no rush to tear him down right now. ]

Now a Hunter for the Court of Stars.

[there was a time in Louis' life where he couldn't have ever made a deal like this. one that cost him everything dear to his heart, and the suffering he's had to endure because he couldn't bring himself to take a life when he needed to. he dares not make that mistake, ever again.]

Well met, Hunter Anna from Yharnam.

[there's a sense of conviction in his voice when he says her name, as if his tone could convey the signing of a contract, or the sealing of a deal.]

You'll have to take care of yourself until we cross paths again. If we're going to bind our fates together like this, I have high expectations that you'll make it through to the end. Where we'll stand as equals.

[ It's been a long time since she was well met. A long time since the other Hunter across from her still remembered the dignity of their station. It was so easy to get lost, to become the hunted rather than the hunter; to lose yourself in beasthood and blood.

She's so easy to manipulate with the right words, the right sentiments. ]

I'll be waiting for you.

[ It would be a sweeter sentiment from another woman, but instead it's this nightmare-riddled fighter looking for any guiding star in the dark. ]

Test Drive #4

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