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April-May 2024 Test Drive Meme
April-May 2024 TDM
Introduction
Welcome to Folkmore's monthly Test Drive Meme! Please feel free to test drive any and all characters regardless of your intent to apply or whether you have an invite or not.
All TDMs are game canon and work like "mini-events". For new players and characters, you can choose to have your TDM thread be your introduction thread upon acceptance or start fresh. Current players are also allowed to have in-game characters post to the TDM so long as they mark their top levels ‘Current Character.’
TDM threads can be used for spoon spending at any time by characters accepted into the game.
Playing and interacting with the TDMs will allow characters to immediately obtain canon items from homes especially weapons or other things they may have had on their person when they were pulled from their worlds! There will always be a prompt that provides some sort of "reward" to characters who complete certain tasks.
🦊 New Star Children meet the Fox still in their worlds, and she brings them into the new realm of Folkmore. As you follow her, your body begins to change and new characteristics emerge. These may stay for a while, or perhaps they will hide away after. And during all of this, the Fox explains to you where you will be going: to Folkmore.
and then... you fall like a shooting star, falling to the land in a burst of starlight.
🦊 Experienced Star Children are already familiar with this time of the month. There are shooting stars all across the sky, and some fall to the land, which means the Fox has brought new arrivals. These newly arrived Star Children will face some tests, but Thirteen wants the more seasoned residents to participate as well.
Perhaps you follow the falling stars on your own, or perhaps the Fox simply teleports you there, but it appears you too will be part of this.
Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Forced Sharing, Potential Violence & Harm
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
New Star Children arrive in Wintermute. Not at the hot springs, the school, or anywhere else near civilization. They arrive in the middle of white, snowy nowhere. The good news is that Wintermute is no longer dark twenty-four seven. There is enough light to avoid crevasses, blocked up wells, and other dangerous features of the landscape. Further, no one is expected to figure out how to get out of there on their own.
Usually Thoth finds the lost travelers in the cold expanse of Wintermute. However, she's busy exploring the multiverse for new and interesting ideas for technology. Not to fret! She hasn't abandoned ye who've entered here. There's a new emergency lost and found network:
The Wandering Dog food carts are now open twenty-four seven! The dogs work in shifts, but the food remains as delicious as ever. When a Star Child gets lost in Wintermute, another Star Child will happen to be buying food from a Wandering Dog somewhere in Folkmore. One such lucky unlucky Star Child gets transported to the School of Thoth. Specifically, to where the mechanical sled dogs hang out. They receive a warm winter coat over whatever they were wearing and another one on hand for whoever they are rescuing. Then it's off across the snow! Don't worry, non-mushing experts, the dogs know what they're doing and lead the sled right to the designated lost Star Child.
The rescuee gets to lay in the sled for the ride back, wrapped up warm and cozy in their new winter coat (it may be spring, but it's always cold in Wintermute). The sled dogs bring Star Children back to the hot springs, so that they can warm up even more. Alternatively, Star Children can explore the Cutting Edge, the School of Thoth, or something else in Wintermute. However, the Star Children cannot part ways or leave Wintermute immediately.
The sled dogs, yes the whole team, will stay with the pair to enforce this. They may surround the pair like a pack, cuddle pile on top of them, or lay around the edges of a hot spring. No matter how long it takes to realize the dogs are doing this and that there's a reason for it, Star Children will eventually find instructions in one of the dogs' collars: Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to.
Only once both Star Children have shared something with each other will the dogs let them part ways and see, perhaps, the rest of Folkmore.
On the walk to Akhlut Station, Star Children will see plain weapons sticking out of the snow: swords, guns, knives. These are simple, non-magical practical weapons. Experienced Star Children may know to suspect such free offerings, but nothing immediately happens upon picking one up. However, once on the train, the train will be attacked by frost spirits. These icy spirits must either be hacked to pieces until they can no longer reform or melted with fire. Innocent passengers who didn't pick up a weapon may be forced to get involved, but the frost spirits will be most focused on those who picked up weapons.
- New Star Children arrive in remote areas of Wintermute.
- Star Children buying food from The Wandering Dog get teleported to the School of Thoth to rescue people with a team of sled dogs.
- Star Children get amazing new winter coats!
- Star Children cannot part ways until they share something others have refused to listen to! The dogs enforce this.
- Simple, non-magical weapons stick out of the snow on the way to the train station.
- Anyone who picks up one of those weapons will see their train get attacked by frost spirits.
Content Warnings: Potential Forced Participation, Potential Harm
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
Thoth has been listening to any and all ideas people have had around science in the last few months. Whether they were shower thoughts or a discussion between scientific colleagues or anywhere in between, she's made her list and built every one as an experiment. On a human scale. A human test subject scale. Because every idea has merit. That's right: Thoth believes in you.
Posters saying Thoth Needs You! go up around Folkmore. They offer a reward for participating in an experiment. Simply tear off a piece of paper from the bottom of the poster, and at some point in the future, you're in. Now, there might be a little hiccup here or there. These posters are experimental too! So some Star Children who don't tear off a slip might get pulled into an experiment as well. (Who said Thirteen ought to recruit for her trials? Thoth listened… or she tried.) Oh well, at least it's all in the name of science!
Perhaps Star Children need to sing Baby It's Cold Outside to convince the other to stay (it really will be cold outside). Perhaps they have a choice of spinners, buttons, levers, or other devices to interact with. Perhaps they make their way through a maze. Perhaps they try a new contraption. Perhaps they even recognize their own idea come to life! There's a multitude of new tech to try, and it has not been safety tested.
Nothing will explode. Probably. Maybe. Okay, some experiments are definitely going to have explosions. How about pressing that button anyway and finding out if it's this one?
Once Star Children survive the experiment—and they will, Thoth may be a loose cannon of a scientist, but she's ensured that much—they will emerge from one of the School of Thoth's laboratories. Togo, the grey wolf mascot, waits on the other side with an item for each test subject: an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item.
No one is left to the cold to fend for themselves. One of the nearby classrooms has been set up as a first aid center. Dog spirits of all sizes, from the smallest Maltipoo spirit to the largest Great Dane spirit, staff a healing clinic and will treat any injuries Star Children received in the experiments (or already sported). They offer hot lemonade—lemon juice, molasses, and hot water—to everyone to warm their soul. Injured Star Children can find a corner to rest by themselves or company with which to discuss their experiments.
- Thoth has built experiments to bring Star Children’s ideas to life.
- Pick a paper tab off a Thoth Needs You! poster to participate. Or don’t. A mishap may bring Star Children there regardless.
- Do science! Be a human experiment! Maybe experience explosions!
- Togo, the Thoth mascot, will have an item from home for every Star Child who participates.
- Dog spirits man (dog?) a first aid center in a nearby classroom.
Iii - sometimes you just gotta know the answer
But not as himself. A massive shadowy wolf with ice crystals in his fur shedding a pale blue light that matches his icy claws has been searching Wintermute. Now he’s in sight of the bird he sits down on the snow and changes back, one dark blue wolf ear flicks as he sighs. He pops his shoulder. “There you are. Now, I have a few questions. If, you’re a person. If not, I’ll respectfully leave you alone.”
but are you going to like the questions? ....wait.
The black chocobo doesn't even startle when the wolf changes to a mostly human form. The 'offer', such as it were, is given due consideration. Internally, Vincent gives serious consideration to just pretending to be a chocobo and refusing to admit to personhood given the phrasing.
Well it probably won't be that easy. The feathers are given a shake, shedding snow one last time. Then the bird is replaced by a tall man. Dark clothes, a red cloak with a high wrap collar and worn ends and brass-colored protective gear. Some Familiars new to their role might have problems with clothes. Vincent has the dubious fortune of prior practice.
Vincent's eyes are as red as the chocobo's had been. Is that his natural eye color or a change bestowed by his role? There are other traits; if Kaeya looks closely he'll probably notice that the long black hair both feathers and has feathers. The layers of clothes do a good job of hiding any other traits for now. His statement is simple, curt and to the point.
"Be swift."
Vincent doesn't sit. But as if an afterthought, his feet finally start to sink into the snow.
Who knows, who knows. It’s interesting none the less…
“The sled dogs are well meaning, but I told them that if I find you’re a person to leave you be.” The dogs gossip like folks at a bar. He sighs. “Just what are you looking for out here? Or are you wandering? I’ll trade answers for questions, if you’d like.”
no subject
Vincent also crosses his arms. It's comfortable, isn't it?
"Hrmph. I'm sure they think they meant well." It's... certainly not quite a compliment. In fact, one might catch a wry note underneath the somber words. It's not really unreasonable to want to help the 'stranded animal'. The problem is that it's caused a ripple of interest in the resident Star Children as well.
Kaeya becomes the subject of a look. One that conveys appreciation in the full irony of Vincent's response.
"Solitude."
Normally people aren't going to wander out into a snowfield in a place like Wintermute; half of the region seems intent on proving him wrong. Despite the brevity of his comments, the offer for an exchange of answers will be taken advantage of. Reaching somewhere under his cloak, the man pulls out his relic.
"This is a phone?"
There was a bit of an explanation from Thirteen, sure. But Vincent, even if he has had a couple of years to work on catching up on twenty-something years of tech advancements, has doubts.
no subject
He takes his own out, the case makes it look like his device is covered in frost and ice. “I assume you know how to privacy lock conversations and all?”
no subject
"Hm." It's not as if phones weren't capable of all that in a way. But the question is, does Vincent have any stake in the game of social media expertise? Well it's probably not going to be hard to pick that up, given it's basically a water-downed variation of general security. Still.
Flipping open the case, the device is lightly cradled in the armored hand while the gloved right proceeds to make an effort at finding the feature Kaeya's talking about.
"This?"
It's flipped around. Whether the screen's writing can be read or not, at least the correct boxes seem to be ticked for a private conversation and it is the correct function.
"Is it just video and audio posts?" Not really... a phone. More like a computer accessing a web forum. But at least it can be used similar to one.
no subject
The relic has phone functions. He just is a low tech worlder who learned all of this via trial and error. “The closest equivalent I know was linked to a database instead of a network and had similar features in their ear pieces.”
no subject
"I see." And with that his curiosity seems satisfied on the matter of the relic. If nothing else he's more confident that he can figure the rest out. Vincent returns the relic to whatever pocket he'd stowed it in before.
Then he returns his attention to Kaeya again. Now that the wolf-man had his question answered and Vincent had his turn, it seems fitting to address a more important matter at hand.
"Then are we done here?"
no subject
His voice gains deeper tones but he still speaks as clearly as ever. “I got my answers. As I said, the dogs won’t trouble you anymore. As a bird, anyway. That’s the best I can get out of them.”
no subject
and his loner assisn't going to do anything to encourage Kaeya to stick around and watch him test out whether he too can manage to speak as a chocobo."I'll manage. And I'll keep that in mind."
The conversation really seems to be at an end with that statement. Vincent turns and while he seemed his attitude was somewhat reticent, it looks like he has a small flair for the dramatic. For with a purposeful outward toss of his arm, his cape flutters with more panache than it normally would. But then a breeze of an incoming depth to the snowy weather catches the edge and lifts it in a rippling, higher wave.
And that affords Kaeya a more than adequate glimpse of another human form Familiar trait. Namely a somewhat elegant tailform of feathers similar to what had been on the bird he'd first appeared as.
Seconds later, Vincent could thoroughly deny any allegations if he chose to as he smoothly transitions to the shape of the riding bird once more in what looks like a cloud of feathers - for all that none actually hit the ground afterward.
no subject
The shadowy quality of his fur grows more pronounced and he seemingly disappears in a burst of speed, as if swallowed by the darkness of such a land. And this brief encounter ends in dual dramatics. Maybe they will meet again some time.