![[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
It is strange to know that Captain America, paragon of good, moral character, can pick locks.
"Like most superheroes, you're more than your image," he says and can't help but smile when he hears the lock click as it unlocks. "Any other secrets you want to share?"
He wonders if Captain America will share more. He's been very open so far. Matt hasn't heard a single lie out of him so far and people tend to lie in small ways almost daily.
no subject
He shakes his head. To be fair, as a blind man who lives in New York City, he doesn't think that being pro-public transportation and having pedestrian-friendly streets would be so controversial to hear for Matt. But Steve would never post that sort of thing on his twitter back home.
no subject
The door swings open and Matt takes Steve's arm again to be led out and into wherever they are. He can hear other heartbeats around them and other machines as well.
"Is this... a school?" he asks, tilting his head slightly to one side as he listens.
no subject
Then he says: "Stay here, I'm getting your stick."
Then he runs over to the tank again, to grab the stick out of it. It doesn't take very long, and it's wet. But it's unharmed.
no subject
"It's freezing out," he calls, "You'll need to dry off before you go outside. We need to find you towels."
Matt's not sure what this place has but if it's a school there's probably some sort of gym, right? A gym will have towels.
"Uh, here, you can have my jacket." His suit jacket he means. He starts taking it off. "At least to dry yourself a little bit. Don't worry, it's not expensive. You won't ruin it."
A good deed deserves a good deed in return.
no subject
And he doesn't think Matt would appreciate the tiny bowls, which are nice to look at but frustrating to eat through because they contain about two bites each.
Steve definitely left hungry and having nearly dented every piece of silverware.
"There's also a cafeteria down here if you're hungry. Hopefully they give you bigger plates." He is very salty about these plates.
no subject
"A sauna will have towels," Matt says with a small nod. "We can get you something to properly dry off with there."
And now that he has his cane Matt can guide himself. He doesn't need to take Steve's arm to get around. "You said downstairs?"
He listens for a moment to map out the building even more in his senses, letting his hearing really get a sense of the place. He finds the stairs and starts heading in that direction. "Let me know if I'm heading the wrong way..."
But Matt knows he's not.
no subject
"Should just be around the corner, I'll let you know when we get close to the stairs." He wouldn't want Matt to fall over them. And to be fair, that's what the stick's for. That's why he went back for it. Otherwise, they could also find an elevator.
"Stop right there. Here, take my hand." He's just trying to help and make sure Matt doesn't break his neck.
no subject
He is simply being a good man.
"Thanks but I've had a lot of practice at this." Matt could race down these stairs in about three big leaps. Two if he uses the wall at the turn correctly. He resists the urge to show off and takes his time going down them with his cane leading the way.
"You've never really spent time with a blind person before, have you?" Matt can kind of tell but he's curious to see what Steve will say.
no subject
Maybe it's his nerves. Maybe they're palpable. After all, he doesn't know what sort of things Matt can do, and only knows what he couldn't do if he couldn't see. It makes for a few awkward assumptions, all of which Steve is aware is creating a big gap in understanding.
He turns away from watching Matt make it down the steps, as if he could feel being watched.
no subject
"Ah, well, a couple of basics you did pretty well. You kept your arm steady but don't walk at my side, walk about half a step ahead of me," he says as he makes his way down the steps. "You've got a long stride and it's easy for you to pull without meaning to. While you're guiding you're not trying to tug me along."
Matt waits at the bottom of the stairs so he can take Steve's arm again. Even though he has his cane it's good to practice these things. He's certain Steve will offer again. He does miss Foggy who's been guiding him since college for a moment.
"Your narration is okay. Around the corner is a good description but what side is that corner on? Left, right? And the stairs, are they deep? Narrow? Do they go up or down?" Matt's tone is friendly and his smile is too. "Think about it like writing a novel. Your reader can only see words to make a picture in their mind. The more words, the better. And you're getting the most important thing right. You're not insisting on helping when I tell you I don't need it."
no subject
Which seems like a horrible design for a school, but hey, he didn't design it.
He'd also never thought about having to describe all of this before, but, hopefully all of it's useful information for Matt. "My guess is about twenty five or thirty steps to the next landing. It's double-height."
That, definitely, he feels like is important information.
no subject
"No handrail," he muses. "Might be against ADA. I'll have to look into that."
Because a handrail would be a big help to any visually impaired person. Even more so to someone with mobility issues. Matt's definitely got some questions for the people who built this school.
no subject
"You could spearhead that. Design that accommodates everybody." Because right now it's mostly just good for human-sized individuals who breathe air and walk upright.
And then, he asks: "Have you met any spirits yet? They're not pulled in by Thirteen the way we are. Some of them speak, but most of them just... chirp or make other animal noises."
no subject
He nods as he steps down the final step and gets a sense for the floor they're on now. "I've met some. The ones that talk are basically people to me."
He knows in his senses they are not. They are dogs and cats and birds and other creatures but he has no visual cues. He can't really see them like that. At least they're solid enough in his senses that he can pick them up.
no subject
"Steam's coming from your left," he says. "It's gonna get pretty warm and humid - you can just stay here if you want." He doesn't think he'll lose Matt or anything.
no subject
"I can wait outside," he offers. "I promise to be on my best behavior and not go with any strangers."
His smile is a little teasing. He wraps both hands around the top of his cane and holds it close to his chest, how he usually waits for people.
no subject
He's back quickly, with the towels. He'll return them later. Also, he did cast prestidigitation which is doing a good job of removing the water. He doesn't want Matt to know he's magical though, not yet. That's a lot for people who know of him to handle.
"Right where you said you'd be."
no subject
Huh.
"I was enjoying the silence." There's never any silence in Matt's world. He listened to everything going on around them, getting a better sense of the building and the people in it. It's almost meditative for him to paint that clearer picture in his mind.
"Were you able to dry off?"
no subject
"It's a long walk out of here," he says. "So we'll need to catch the train or the bus, unless you wanna ride on my motorcycle. Don't worry, I've got a sidecar."
In case Matt was worried about that.
no subject
Almost.
"Motorcycle sounds fun." He smiles.
Without a windshield Matt should be able to sense where they're going and the landscape they're driving through without any trouble. Enclosed spaces like cars make it a lot harder for his radar sense.
It will be loud as hell riding sidecar and he probably won't enjoy the engine exhaust but that's a small price to pay for the thrill of riding a motor cycle.
no subject
It's that or Steve picks him up in a suit, which is probably less weird than Steve being a dragon. He's already had to do this recently with Natasha, breadcrumbing information not to overwhelm her. He doesn't want to have a repeat.
"Great. I'm parked just outside. I think you'll like Epiphany - how are you with cobblestones?" Lots of the streets are cobblestone. Steve likes the feature, but now he's thinking about ground materials and what sort of clacking noises they make.
no subject
And given that he's never gone very far out of his little neighborhood Matt has no idea how he'll navigate them.
"I guess we're going to find out." If he was on his own walking would be fine. Not fun exactly but fine. Matt will probably have to stumble a little on the cobblestones if he walks them later.
no subject
"Besides, I'm feeling like Thai food, and the best restaurants are in Epiphany. What do you say? It's on me." Matt is new and likely doesn't have a whole lot of lore to spend.
no subject
"Oh, you don't have to do that," Matt says in surprise. "You've done more than enough for me."
There's a voice in the back of his head that sounds like Foggy cracking a joke about getting asked out by Captain America.
(no subject)