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Fellden Mods ([personal profile] felldenmods) wrote in [community profile] fellmemes2020-01-27 12:03 pm
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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!


devilfisted: (pic#13762638)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-03 05:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ His expression opens just slightly with that. Not as saviors? That's definitely preferable. Not that the flower crown looks bad on you, buddy. He'd rather see it on someone else than himself. ]

Neutral territories. Right.

[ Staying neutral will definitely be his preference. The bird gets a look. ]

What's this war about? This doesn't look like the front lines.
summonere: (pic#13558924)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-03 05:53 am (UTC)(link)
It was, recently enough. The Court of Stars breached the walls and attacked the Temple. Perhaps our peers were too thorough in cleaning up the dead for it to show at a glance.

[ He doesn't mean to be morbid, so much as very literal. What the Temple looked like tonight was no reflection of what was happening in the war. ]

You don't care for the politics of war, Nero. [ Did he get distracted and say that by accident? Or was he just continuing to be exceedingly direct. ] But you should ask questions carefully before you make any decisions. None of us really know the true story of this world, and everyone who calls themselves god here is distorting it, intentionally or otherwise.
devilfisted: (pic#13762277)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-03 06:07 am (UTC)(link)
[ He frowns and his lips form a thin line at the image. ]

Hm.

[ No, it's realistic. Life is a bitch sometimes. But he's not choosing sides on this thing--he'd rather not be involved at all and that's how he intends to stay. His interest goes as far as getting out of here.

There's a lot of information there, most of which he agrees with, but it all stops at the sound of his name. Guard immediately back up. His gaze shifts between the bird and its keeper as he squares his shoulders and raises his chin. ]


Funny...I don't remember introducing myself. Do you have my name tag in that bag too or something?
summonere: (pic#13034547)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-03 06:21 am (UTC)(link)
[ He looks at Nero for a long moment and doesn't really try to hide the sad expression on his face. ]

I know you. We went on a hunt after a demon together, to assist Dante.

[ They're back in the same position again. The one where V doesn't feel like it's at all his place to tell Nero the truth about himself. That's going to be Vergil's business. V isn't this boy's father. He lives his own life here in Fellden, and he'll tell you exactly where his new story starts, and the old one breaks off unfinished, ]

You were older. I'm out of sync with Dante as well, he remembers defeating the demon. I remember still struggling to catch up to him, and then being led here to Fellden instead.

[ V folds his hands together. He looks like he's just waiting patiently for the inevitable skeptical questions, but he's also nervous. Nervous that he's going to be made to regret talking around Vergil again, but that he won't be able to say sorry. Again. All over again. He's also nervous that Nero is going to find all these people who know an entirely different version of himself more worthy of resentment than anything else.

It's hard to simply be yourself, when people have all these expectations of you that you don't understand. V understands that every time Dante assumes that he's going to act just like Vergil. ]


It seems the Priestess can take us individually from our lives, at any point she chooses.

Apparently she's in to this guy underaged.

[ Griffon dislikes sappy moments, and he dislikes when V feels nervous. He opens his big stupid bird mouth and says something inappropriate in an attempt to relieve tension. It even works a little, V glowers at him. ]
Edited 2020-02-03 06:24 (UTC)
devilfisted: (pic#13762638)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-04 03:39 am (UTC)(link)
[ Nero's brows raise instantly at that, but his frown returns quickly as he processes this. If he hadn't already had a run-in with Dante, the whole timeline traveling would be...no, it's still weird and he doesn't necessarily like it, but it's not the strangest thing to happen to him at this point.

But, okay--the feathered fiend makes more sense. And having Dante as a common acquaintance can either make his guy someone he should know or someone who's going to cause him some headaches. Very little in-between.

He shifts his weight from side to side, not someone who stands still for long. ]


So you're a demon hunter, huh?

[ That's what he's assuming, at least. That gives them something in common, but doesn't necessarily make him trustworthy. ]

You're the third guy I've run into here that knows too much about me right off and that seems like a hell of a coincidence.

[ He gives a sharp huff through his nose at the demon bird. Two can glower. ]

Not sure what she thinks she's going to get out of a demonic turkey.
summonere: (pic#13558984)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-04 04:07 am (UTC)(link)
Listen, kiddo, I'm a lot nicer looking than a turkey.

[ Griffon puffs up his chest as big as it will go, trying to look real proud and real vicious except that's never going to work on Nero, ever. It's absurd enough that V just ignores him outright. ]

I have hunted demons, but in Fellden I spend most of my time studying magic. [ He hesitates a little to figure out how to explain what he wants to explain next. ] I do know you but we can start over, if you want. You can do something different in Fellden.

Pig farmer.

[ Oh my god Griffon he was being so genuine just then...... ]

You don't have to be the person we think we know.
devilfisted: (pic#13765808)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-04 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
[ Oh yes, absolutely terrifying. If he had allergies all that puffing would really be putting him in his place.

But...huh. Is this extending the proverbial olive branch? Nero, understandably, doesn't like feeling that he's at a disadvantage with this gaps in his memory and experience, and this guy's willing to accommodate. If they worked together at some point--and with Dante--did that make him teammates?

Nero doesn't have many of those. Mostly by choice, but...

There's a pause as he shifts again, eyeing the other man up as if he's trying to physically verify any ulterior motives...--

Pig farmer.

--Yeah that kind of ruins the moment. ]


Can't say I've ever been great living up to expectations.

[ That's supposed to be flippant but is a little more self-deprecating than he means it to be. He puts right hand at his hip and motions at his new acquaintance with his left. ]

Okay, then...square one. What's your name? Since you're not passing out the name tags.
summonere: (pic#13558976)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-06 12:20 am (UTC)(link)
You can call me V.

[ It wasn't the most compelling of names, it was only meant to be serviceable for a little while until he was Vergil again. He's gotten used to using it by now though. ]

I promise, you can be whoever you want to be around us.

Yeah, I don't give a shit! I fucking promise!

[ In Fellden, these little formal promises appear on your skin as tattoos. V has a number of them, gathering into a new kind of pact down his right leg. Griffon's statement is less a promise and more an insult. You're just another hot-headed Sparda nut, kid. Welcome to the club. ]
devilfisted: (pic#13762714)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-06 02:38 am (UTC)(link)
"V"?

[ If only he knew that "Gilver" was a previous attempt at an alias. ]

Alright then, V. How'd you and Dante end up working together? He doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who's into group projects.

[ Except for Gloria--er, the blonde chick. Even so, this is definitely the pot calling the kettle black, but he knows what kind of pot he is.

Griffon gets a squint, then Nero jerks his thumb towards the demonic sidekick. ]


Don't tell me it was going after this one.

[ Notably he is not asking for the bird's name. ]
summonere: (pic#13558998)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-06 04:22 am (UTC)(link)
Fuck no! That loser could never beat me!

[ This is overtly a lie, Dante has defeated this bird not once, but twice. It is obviously a lie and V is being asked another question that he needs to decide which details he wants to talk about. There are people in Fellden he has been quite detailed with, in terms of where he comes from, but there's really only two people that know Vergil is here as well. ]

I was created when a half-demon used a magic artifact to split his human self and his demon self. Obviously I'm the human half, but the demon half was going to destroy the Human Realm. So Griffon and I sought out the-- [ And he says this with exasperation: ] 'Legendary' dark knight.

[ Dante is exasperating. ]

And you. Not that you were any fucking help.

[ He's leaving it up to the deadweight whether or not he wants to put the pieces together about which magic artifact. ]
devilfisted: (pic#13762277)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-06 08:39 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Dante really doesn't need anyone else boosting his ego, but there's no way that Nero believes the bird's boasting for a second. Nero looks about as convinced as one would expect.

He, however, wasn't expecting V's origin story. Who would write this? He's been dealing with demons his entire life, though accepting himself as related to them in any capacity is a more recent development, it's not like he split like an amoeba.

Or, hell, maybe he did. Not like he has any parents to say otherwise.

Well, apparently "V" didn't either. ]


Huh. That's definitely a first.

[ Half-demon... ]

You mean like Dante?

[ He doesn't really know any others. ]

So you were basically hunting down yourself? Your...evil twin?

[ Nero rubs his nose. ]

I've seen some pretty fucked up things but that definitely takes the cake.

[ Said magic artifact isn't nearly as curious as literally splitting into two at the moment. Or as pressing as a demon bird sassing him. Which is why there is suddenly the muzzle of the Blue Rose a few inches away from Griffon's beak. ]

Imagine that, I was just thinking the same thing about you.
summonere: (pic#13558990)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-06 08:47 pm (UTC)(link)
Do it, coward! Aaahaha!

[ The demon pecks at the gun fearlessly, blinking all of its weird golden pupils at Nero in mockery, head tilting. V, for his part, doesn't try to stop their fight at all, although he dose look exasperated with it. ]

Yes, it was a difficult position to be in.

[ But it's so soft in comparison to Griffon's shouting. ]
devilfisted: (pic#13762638)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-06 11:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Sorry, V. Nero's first priority is now shutting up the bird. V's lament goes unheard beneath the sounds of rounds being fired point blank from Nero's pistol as Nero grimaces wordlessly.

So he's a little ready to go at this point in his life. Still a lot to prove mostly to himself, but his patience is arguably still...under improvement. To say the least. And he's definitely not considering that gun shots are probably the last thing that needs to be heard at a "we survived the enemy siege" celebration.

Kyrie isn't around put him on good behavior. ]
summonere: griffon (pic#13664966)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-06 11:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ V winces a little just because it's right next to him and it's loud. It doesn't hurt him though. It's all on Griffon, who eats those rounds point blank. It quickly becomes clear as they tear through him that Griffon is not the solid entity he appears. He's made of a cloud of black particles that ripple and tear, surrounding a bright purple core of energy.

A couple more shots will absolutely put him down, but now the demon just flaps his wings jauntily. ]


Eat shit, kid!

[ Griffon, in turn, spits a few rounds of electricity back. Pew pew pew. ]
devilfisted: (pic#13762277)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-08 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ Well that's inconvenient when he's trying to make a point. Nero grits his teeth and does fire a few more shots before switching to his right arm, reaching out to try and grab Griffon with his Devil Bringer. Demon on demon should be more effective, right? ]

What was that?
summonere: (pic#13558865)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-08 04:41 am (UTC)(link)
[ V fixes his hair and rubs at his ringing ear for a moment, but otherwise he really did just calmly sit it out while Nero shot his familiar to pieces. He sets his hand back down next to the glowing purple orb. Dark particulate that had once represented Griffon now swirls around the orb in formless patterns. ]

Griffon is my familiar. That is his core. He was cut out of our creator at the same time I was. Griffon is the memory of a demon that man met.

[ V coaxes the black particulate to make a palm-sized version of Griffon. Its wings flap slowly and it spins slowly as well, like a museum display of a bird. ]

Griffon is connected to my body, so destroying his is... really a waste of time. I'm the one with the heart beat.
devilfisted: (pic#13762638)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-11 04:06 am (UTC)(link)
[ Okay, he wasn't expecting that. For Griffon to suddenly disappear or for it to be more than just an annoying demonic turkey. Nero's grimace turns to annoyed confusion as he fidgets, before spinning the Blue Rose once, then holstering her. ]

Yeah? Well I can see why he'd want to forget that one.

[ Turning his ire to the little version would be easy, but as much as shooting the demon was minimally satisfying, he doesn't really feel the urge to take out this guy instead. ]

So you're the human part but you still get some of the demons? Doesn't sound like it was a fair split.
summonere: (Default)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-11 05:37 am (UTC)(link)
It wasn't fair. We're the unwanted trash.

[ V says this lightly, but you'd have to be really stupid to not realize it makes him furious. The fire is underneath, in his eyes, behind his faint smirk. ]

The demon took all the strength and power with it. My familiars and I are just cobbled together out of leftover magic. We all would have faded away and died, if we hadn't joined together.
devilfisted: (pic#13762284)

[personal profile] devilfisted 2020-02-11 06:05 am (UTC)(link)
Demons sucking all the fun out of the room? That tracks.

[ Really, Nero does know something of feeling like an Other, being unwanted or unliked by others. You just have to learn not to care about it. Though in reality, he knows that he'd be a different person if it wasn't for Kyrie and Credo. They and their family, at least, wanted him when no one else did. Or were willing to give it a shot. ]

...I dunno, but to me that seems like your evil twin is in for a hell of a surprise when you do track him down. Sounds like he underestimated his humanity.
summonere: (pic#13558998)

[personal profile] summonere 2020-02-11 10:45 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Ah. Well. If only it were that simple. V smiles ruefully. ]

We'll see.