![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
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.
no subject
He taps his cane against the side of it so she knows where it is too. "I think we're supposed to do something with it but if there are instructions around they're not in braille so... I'm shrugging right now."
Narration of movements is always helpful.
no subject
It sounds like there's a story there, but it can wait until later. Toph lets out a slightly frustrated sigh and turns to the machine without seemingly ever touching it to know where it is, the soft thud of bare feet over floor.
"Only one way to find out right?" Her hand twists in the air, and the machine seems to tremble before one of the levers moves, then another. She's totally just guessing here. Maybe it'll be more obvious once things start moving. The water tank is a mystery!
no subject
"I guess?" He doesn't know how she makes the levers move without touching them. His radar sense picks up the movements of her hand and then the levers move. The machine responds but he's not sure the water does anything.
"Hang on a second." Matt walks over to the tank of water and presses his hand against it. More vibrations like bubbles against the glass but the temperature hasn't changed so not heated. "Well, I think you make sparkling water?"
no subject
"Is it special, somehow? That sounds kindof underwhelming." She steps back, hands resting on her hips with a slightly curious tone. The tech around here's nothing like the stuff back home, even if she can feel it.
"Or valuable, at least?" She has no money here, that she knows of.
no subject
Matt's met a few people from different worlds now but they've all been Earth adjacent. Similar technology. Similar histories in some cases. Matt's yet to meet someone from a drastically different world.
"We could try another button or lever on this thing." He moves his hand over the console. "Just to see."
no subject
"Don't think so. Probably some weird world difference. You get used to it after a while."
She's not quite moving to follow him, instead shes... taking a seat? On the metal flooring, just propping her chin into her hands because this is just as good as standing.
"Go for it. I don't know why we're here but... seems like they want us to figure something out."
no subject
He doesn't mind if she sits there. They're both equally useless in this situation. Useless is probably a strong word but if they're supposed to observe the experiment and report the results well they can both talk about how it sounded and felt.
He presses a button just because it's there and he has to for whatever this test it.
"Were you born blind or did something happen?" he asks out of sympathetic curiosity.
no subject
And then somewhere to one side, steam ejects from a spout to the side, thankfully contained within it's own area away from hands.
"Huh... More water." She chimes in in case it wasn't obvious, a kindof childlike passive boredom now that they're settled in.
"Nah, I was born like this. I don't really mind, I figured out how to do things my own way." She shrugs out of habit, but his question does bring up some curiosity that she can't help but ask. "Do you miss it? Seeing."
no subject
How he will always live. There's no cure for what happened to his eyes. His other senses have compensated and he lives a very good life but his eyes can never be fixed.
"And there are other ways to see the world, you know?" He trusts she would understand better than anyone what he means.
He presses his fingers against the console to better sense what's going on with the machine. "Although... it'd be nice to just have one sighted person to do these observations for us. We could sit back and relax."
no subject
"Guess it stings a bit more, losing something you had, then never having it, right? I don't really know what I'm missing." Mature for a like... 13 year old, right?
The observations are, honestly, mostly forgotten for her. It's the first time in a LONG time she's gotten to speak with someone who can kindof understand her like this. The next question probably comes a bit out of nowhere.
"Yeah... You're not a bender. I'm pretty sure of that. So what's your deal?" She's mostly just curious, the implication behind her question is hopefully clear enough. She wants to know if and how he can tell where she is.
no subject
Matt can guess that much by how confidently she's moved and that word - bender - implies something.
"My other senses compensate for my lack of sight," he settles on after a moment of thought. "Sort of how a bat sees with sound. I can make a picture in my head of the space around me. I had a little training in it from another blind person."
That's not the whole story. He wonders how much of his reluctance to talk about it she'll pick up on. Can she hear heartbeats like he can?
"It makes it easier to navigate the world but it's not the same as sight."
no subject
Not that she'll say it out loud. Instead, she opts to test him. Almost silently her hand slips to the floor, bunching into a fist before her flinger shoots out in a flicking motion. Except instead of simply knocking something his way, a small piece of tile shoots out, aimed to just tickle his hair as it flies past. She wants to feel his reaction! Did he know it was coming?
"I wouldn't be able to tell you much about pictures. And I'm not a bat. But I can usually feel it." Faintly amused, somewhat genuine, she's fairly relaxed by now. "I actually learned from a bunch of big badgermoles. They're blind too!"
no subject
Matt steps to the side, pivots, and grabs the tile as it shoots past him. Right out of the air. Maybe he shouldn't test a blind young woman but she's clearly not just a young woman. She's got something similar to his own senses.
So, he throws it back towards her aiming to hit her right shoulder. Let's see how she does with a little test of her own.
"We don't have badgermoles in my world," he says with a small smile. "I was taught by a blind ninja with an attitude problem."
no subject
"They sound like someone I'd like!"
There's a momentary pause, like she's pretty satisfied with just that. Though there's a few things they should probably cover now that she's decided he's cool enough.
"I'm Toph, by the way."
no subject
Matt shakes his head and smiles. "Matt," he says. "Just pretend I'm offering you a hand to shake like a normal person would."
He rocks back on his heels for a second. "So, since we can't really do science... do you want to find a way to break out of here instead?"
no subject
She stretches out, sitting up after a moment before coming to her feet once more. Her head tips to one side, then the next, with a satisfying cracking sound.
"Yeah, I was starting to get bored. Lets try... that wall!"
She's already walking over, so he has a moment to speak up and suggest an alternative before she gets to busting!
no subject
Matt could probably pick it with the right tools but there doesn't seem to be anything in this room he can use for that.
A little girl with 'bending' powers should do the trick.
"Besides, there's no exit on that side of the wall. Just another room with people in it. I can hear their heartbeats." Which is not a weird thing for Matt to say at all.
no subject
"Ugggh... fine. I'll try the door."
Her walk has a little less pep to it, but she does give the door a good kick instead.
CRUNCH-
The door twists into itself in a way that probably feels as wrong as it would have looked, before launching off it's hinges into the next room.
"Happy?"
no subject
"I'm glad to be free," he says as he walks through the door and then listens for a moment, head slightly cocked.
"We can leave the building to our left and up a flight of stairs. I can hear a crowd of people and maybe medical equipment. Some sort of infirmary I'd guess." He turns and starts walking in the correct direction trusting she can follow him through her own special senses.
"And then we should be able to take a train or bus back to wherever we were grabbed from."
no subject
"You can hear pretty far. This building's kindof... thick, makes it hard to feel too far." She notes, almost like a passive casual chat even as she follows.
That part gives her a moment of pause, a confused look that neither of them can appreciate.
"Take a what?! Like an earth tram?"
no subject
Matt wonders how much of his secrets to reveal. Young girls aren't known for being good secret keepers. Still, it's nice to talk to someone who understands and isn't an asshole like Stick. She doesn't have the exact same level of sensory input but she navigates the world the same way as him.
"All of my senses are heightened. You're using touch and vibrations to see around you. I can do the same but mostly use sound. Can't really walk around in bare feet where I live." He knows she is by the sounds of her steps.
no subject
"Why not? Too cold or something?" For someone from a place where that kind of dangerous ground litter isn't really a problem, it doesn't make too much sense.
no subject
Considering just what he can smell in Hell's Kitchen at any given moment he definitely doesn't want that on his feet.
"I suppose thin enough soles could allow for the same effect but that depends on how sensitive you are to vibrations."
no subject
"Shoes make everything a little.. blurry? The thicker they are the fuzzier everything is. I'm not sure how I'd describe it. Like a worn out stone? All the details are kindof gone."
As they step into the next room, she's less familiar with where to go, this place is kindof sprawling. Accessibility is a nightmare.
no subject
"Here." He makes his way over to her and offers her his cane. "Have you tried anything like this before? I like the sound it generates but it can pick up vibrations too. Instead of just reading through your feet, use your hands too."
Matt uses his hands to sense through walls all the time. It's a good trick to have.
"It might make it easier in a big building like this," he says.
(no subject)
(no subject)