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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.
no subject
"Others from our galaxy are here as well as others from many worlds," Maul explained. "It is not so difficult here, though if you wish to gain enough Lore to buy anything, you will need to interact with others on a regular basis." Maul certainly wasn't going to be volunteering himself for that position anytime soon.
It wasn't anything personal with Eli. He just disliked most people naturally when he first met them due to his gruff, angry, and abrasive natural personality.
no subject
"Mhm. I'm Lieutenant Eli Vanto."
Of the Chiss Ascendency, Eli thinks, where hopefully after making it back from this place I can explain that I'm not a deserter.
It might be not personal with Maul Reyes, but it was surely personal with Eli Vanto, whom Darth Maul was already beginning to rub the wrong way, as he answered him tersely.
"Others?"
That was a lead to follow, at least, and-
Wait.
Wait...
Darth?
Why does that sound like something I might've heard somewhere, long ago? Or maybe not.
"Darth? Does that signify anything?" Eli repeated, his mouth suddenly a thin line, not certain what he was fishing for. Maybe it didn't mean anything. Perhaps Eli was just confused. This could NOT mean anything. It was only some ancient mythology, after all, one that Vanto wasn't much familiar with, besides.
no subject
"You've never heard of a Sith Lord before?" He asked in his usual whisper-soft and smooth voice. Well, Eli was about to get a proper education in that case, especially if he did something like accidentally infuriate the Sith.
no subject
He shakes his head, his Wild Space accent suddenly a bit thicker because he's slightly nervous and doesn't know why, and he says...
"Never heard of 'em, in reality, I mean, any Sith I've heard of are from ancient myths only," Eli says, honestly.
no subject
He knew in the future they'd been wiped out for the moment if what Rey and Kylo had told him was the truth. All that was left was Kylo Ren, the failed Jedi, and that band of pretenders that followed him about. Pathetic. The Dark Side deserved better acolytes than that to serve its will.
no subject
If Maul doesn't get the joke, Vanto won't explain it, so he's not saying anything that isn't public knowledge.
"And you're a Sith? Really?"
With no evidence and all. He's sceptical, though only slightly.
no subject
Maul brought up a hand and turned it upwards slowly. As he did so, he used the Dark Side to reach out and choke Eli for a few moments until he was certain the man had to be struggling for breath. Only then did he let him go. "Is that convincing enough for you? Or shall I go on?" He asked with a soft snarl to his voice.
no subject
When he's let go, he looks around, is there anybody around here?! Maybe if there was a commotion, he could just escape, who knows what some crazy old Sith might do to him, after all, who says the Sith won't do anything else. Maybe he can scream for help, and if there is any commotion, he can run-- and if there isn't, he can consider other options--
Eli's looking around for any escape path. He doesn't want to admit it, but suddenly, he's... terrified. He coughs a bit, because maybe after being choked like that, it's just... perhaps any shouting might be a bad idea, after all. Or maybe just. Not this moment. Maybe in a second or two. And the hell what was up with having been choked with no provocation, he surely hasn't stepped on this supposed Sith's toes nor did he offend his mother so to speak!! This was insane! How was Eli supposed to predict that reaction.
Ain't that right. Probably because it's harder to think with less air in lungs. Kriff, I just need to breathe right now Eli thinks quickly, and then run. Because the kriffing guy's insane. 's not like I provoked him or hit him, he just-- krayt spit, he's insane. He's just insane! I don't know what he'll do. I don't even know how to- how to surrender to a wholly insane man.
K'tah, this was insane.
Also, doesn't seem like many people are around. So maybe this was a wrong move. Krayt spit.
Eli's backing away slowly, then. Hands up in surrender. Because he doesn't have any weapon anyway right now, unfortunately, or this could surely go differently, he hopes. But he doesn't.
"Okay, okay, my Lord, 's was an honest mistake from me, I see now, I see, fine! I'm awed by your Force powers. Definitely, you're a Sith, please forgive my impertinence-"
Okay, so how to best escape. He needs to think. Quickly.
If there were more people around, he could shout for help. Right, that could be a way to--
But it might be too risky. And it's not like there are crowds around. No, this might not work.
And Eli Vanto is not suicidal, so, he continues speaking, for now.
"I'm sorry for ever doubting you, my Lord Sith. Please, let me make it up to you. For my impertinence, that is. What should I do to make up for it?"
Without dying, he doesn't say, but he hopes it obvious.
It's just words. While Eli's mind is reeling with searching for ways to just finish this insane confrontation right now. But in the Empire, words of surrender could sometimes be enough, even if they carried no meaning. Perhaps that Sith is like that.
There is fear in Eli Vanto's mind, but there's no surrender. What he's saying right now is just words, just stalling, not any truth. There's only still some fear coupled with a hard resolve to get out of this situation, by fight or flight, without any true surrender.
Eli Vanto is a stubborn bastard. Not suicidal, but stubborn.no subject
Even now, after years of trying to become a better person, Maul was still able to fall into old habits at the flip of a switch. The difference was that before he might have actually killed Eli to prove a point. But in a place where death had no meaning and having been made aware of the consequences time and again, Maul was more willing to show a bit of mercy. After he'd received the proper amount of begging from Eli, he relented and allowed the man to start breathing again.
"See that you remember to show me the proper amount of respect in the future. Or I will not be so merciful a second time," Maul warned with the softest bit of a snarl within his tone. "As for what you can do.....we shall see about that later."
Having someone who owed him a favor, even if it had been acquired because Maul had been threatening their life, was always a handy thing to have around. He knew from bitter experience what it was like having to owe someone an unspecified favor at some point in the future.
struggling to breathe isn't fun.it's... viscerally not fun is a good word. Source:one time. I was 12
However, now Eli couldn't help but imagine - either he himself or Thrawn accidentally crossing Vader (perhaps just in Vader's imagination) in some way, and then, what would happen, if Vader suddenly did this to Eli's fault, and perhaps unlike Maul, didn't let go until Eli was somehow broken, literally or not, to Lord Vader's satisfaction, and--
Lieutenant Eli Vanto takes a deep, shuddering breath. Okay, overactive imagination, just because 'Lord' Maul is wholly insane, does not mean that Lord Vader's gotta be.
Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. Just - try counting something, anything that pops out nearby that 's interesting enough, and calm down, Eli thinks to himself.
Somebody else might try and start praying in thoughts. Eli Vanto does not, however, believe in prayer. But counting things can calm him down when he's so close to panic.
Okay, 's better. See?
The panic is slowly disappearing, at least.
"Duly noted, my Lord. I'll show exactly as much respect as is earned," Eli replies.
Whew.
Inwardly, Eli Vanto's current 'respect' towards the Sith Maul is zero. No, secretly, it's solidly in negatives.
A smart 'lord' would never behave like Maul, that's what Eli knew or believed. Always. A stupid or insane one could, definitely. An insane one could inspire fear. But no respect.
no subject
Within a few minutes, Maul and Eli had reached the hot springs. The snow had begun to lighten up and wasn't falling quite as hard by the time they made their arrival. Maul hopped off the sled, not bothering to help Eli up. Either the man would figure it out himself or he would perish. Then he began walking towards the nearest spring. Maul's grey eyes lit up at the sight of the steam coming off of the warm water.
Without any further ado, he began stripping his clothes off. Fortunately for the modesty of anyone nearby, including Eli, he was entirely metal below the waist. That helped to prevent any awkward moments from occurring.
Maul, Eli Vanto is not into asphyxication. And not into red assholes. Sorry. It's just a pref. Pfftt
To a Sith, one cannot present a vulnerability. A weakness. Any hook. That's what the legends say, at least. In front of a Sith, one should be like a rock. Otherwise, a Sith will break you. But before that, more important things will be broken.
That's what some of the legends about the Sith said.
Though with all the shivering because of the weather on the way right now, Eli Vanto's not sure he'd make a solid rock.
It's too bad he's never discussed the Sith legends with others.
Maybe most of the legends are just bogus.
"Thank you for your help," Eli says, after having followed Maul, when he thinks Maul's settled. "I've learnt a very valuable lesson."
"I'd make for a rather dull company after all the excitement today, so please, let me be on my way now."
no subject
When Eli didn't enter the hot springs, the team of dogs Maul had used for his sled surrounded the human, looking to warm him up with body heat instead. Were they going to allow him to leave? Nope. Not until he and Maul shared something with one another like the instructions on the collar said. As for Maul, he was just going to relax in the hot springs until Eli figured things out.
Btw do you have plurk?
Riiiiight.
Alright, let's go to the hot springs. Eli undresses, too - it's not like he needs to be embarassed or anything, since Maul might as well be a gorilla or a lothwolf to Eli roght now and Eli would undress in front of a wolf if he had to.
Kriffing Siths...
"Ask one question. Just one. Can be about anything. Lord Maul, you ask, I answer in fifteen words, I leave, you do as you please on your own."
There. Things should be clear noe. And hopefully less dangerous
no subject
"You saw what the collar of the beast said. You must share something which others have refused to listen to you about. The fox makes the rules of this game. You and I do not." He knew better by now than to try and wriggle out of such an experience either. It was best just to do as Thirteen asked. And if that meant dealing with another Star Child who was just as uncomfortable about dealing with this as he was, well, that was just a bonus.
aka maybe Vanto's overthinking this
"I bet you're not too pleased with that yourself, either."
Or maybe he's just stalling for time to think of something that nobody would listen to him about but- but make it something wholly inconsquential, unimportant. Is that a pointless effort? Perhaps, but not trying would be even more pointless.
Maybe he can talk about his disagreements with his parents when he was younger? Such things no longer matter after what amounts to, sometimes Eli thinks, practically a lifetime of things that came completely unexpectedly, surprises for worse or for better.
He might talk. For now, he's curious what Maul's got to say.
A part of himself tells him not to poke the beast and he decides not to poke the beast too much. However, logically speaking, if this Lord Sith choked people to death left and right- surely, Sith or not, he wouldn't be able to live for that long like that? People are vindictive. Often. And even if dead - they can have vengenful family or coworkers etcetera.
Now, if only one person has to share, that's just unfair, but Eli Vanto knows better (if there's any grain of truth in any legends) than tell a Lord of the Sith that's unfair.
If Eli Vanto's gotta talk, he'll talk. Still, this is a good time to choose a topic safely. Don't cross boundaries, alone here and all he thinks to himself, and he decides that he's likely not crossing any - yet. This Lord of Sith does seem to have some sanity. It's not as bad as could be according to some legends and fairytales. And that has a slightly calming effect. (just don't get too calm, and everything should be fine.)
"Why don't you tell me something first? Whatever you've got to say is bound to be more interesting. You must lead an interesting life, after all."
Yeah. Why not get Maul to talk. And then Eli Vanto could know, perhaps, what would Maul be willing to hear, without becoming erratic.
Or maybe not. One conversation is not enough to establish that. Still, it's likely better than nothing.
no subject
Instead, he leaned his head back, and thought for a moment. It was as if he hadn't just been tormenting Eli moments before. "No one ever seems to understand when I tell them I simply can't feel empathy for all people. It is hard enough to do so for the people I am actually fond of and sometimes I still feel exhausted caring about what shall happen to tell. But perfect strangers and enemies? I refuse. I have better things to do with my time than to try and care about them!"
That had turned into a mini-rant somewhere along the way but every word of it had been true. Maul was very tired of people trying to convince him everyone was worth feeling compassion for.
no subject
After a very short moment of silence, in this warm water that's failing to wholly calm him right now, Vanto utters,
"Some people would disagree, surprisingly even more people than you'd think, but I'm still going to say this. For the purpose of our forced 'task'."
calm down. I can just speak and get it over with.
"I don't necessarily believe in supernatural higher powers. Yes, people can be influenced, but the supernatural honestly need not be a part of any equasion. In fact, if supernatural ever existed, it'd need to stay quiet and vigilant, or... or the meeting could be somewhat frightening. What if people mutinied against nonexistant gods instead of following them blindly? People could be owed some explanations.
I also don't
believe in destiny.
A kind of destiny present in ancient theatrical plays - it's,
forgive me if I put it blindly to work under some supposedly superior numbers and tactics. Even though their numbers might be slightly lowers than his."
For example...
How many do understand at least a little, with hints, military geniuses such as Thrawn's or Ar'alani's. And there is nothing supernatural about the genius.
There is also nothing explicitly supernatural about the laws of the universe. Vanto does not quite understandwhy so many people think it's either some supernatural fist or disorder and chaos. When a surprising amont of not feeling like a person should in some myths about the siths.Empathy, hm? He ponders that. If..
"If there's indeed, like certain legends say, some vicious cycle of coldblooded murder between the master and the learner... you don't want to feel any empathy then. Empathy could be then forged into a weapon. It sounds unpleasant in such case."
To Eli, cycles of some cyclical fate, that can't be stopped, or simply Fate and/or destiny sound dangerously like a blackmail from some nonexistant gods, as far as he can see. do this because you were born to do that. That'd be absurd and-
"And sounds like utter krayt spit and bogus."
no subject
He assessed the human with his yellow, unblinking eyes as he listened, considering what he had to say. "You're not nearly as stupid as look." He paused for a moment before he added on. "Though still very stupid, I must say."