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folkmore mod ([personal profile] folkie) wrote in [community profile] folkmeme2024-04-13 09:23 am
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April-May 2024 Test Drive Meme

April-May 2024 TDM
Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.

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.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!



🦊 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.

[ Prompt OnePrompt Two]

Lost & Found .
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 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.
No Dumb Ideas .
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 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.
amurderofcrow: (f034-twitter-user-shenhaihua)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-04-27 08:54 pm (UTC)(link)
If you insist.

[No way that he's turning down that offer.

Just give the teen a few moments to politely step away and undress, before he's sliding into the hot spring, unable to stifle the relieved sigh that slips from his lips as he sinks down deep into the water, until only his head remains above the surface.]


Now this feels like home.
donutsfordinner: (Pleased/Charmed/Bright smile)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-04-27 09:44 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kiriko for her part waits, mostly missing her cell phone for distraction purposes as she fidgets in the cold. The wet spots on her outfit are annoying, but she can cope.

Once she's sure he's settled, Kiriko pops in. She ducks out of sight to change, hanging up her clothing before she grabs a towel. She wraps herself in it easily enough, moving to get into the water across from Akeichi.

The warmth is a immediate rush that makes Kiriko release a sigh. She reclines back. Her dyed hair is loose around her neck, but doesn't touch the water's surface.
]

Did not know how cold I was until now, woof.
amurderofcrow: (pic#17144417)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-04-27 10:02 pm (UTC)(link)
[It isn't until Kiriko settles into the hot springs that the sled dogs who led them there come to sprawl out around them, as if enjoying the warmth of the rising steam.

Akechi may be more than a little unhinged when provoked, but he averts his gaze as the young woman approaches, giving her the space to settle into the water before he seeks out her gaze again.]


I take it that you only just arrived as well, correct? It's nothing like I thought it might be. The fox, the sled dogs, all of this snow - I expected less.
donutsfordinner: (Smug/Pleased/Gaze)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-04-27 11:04 pm (UTC)(link)
Pretty much! I got dropped into a snow bank way out there. Walked my way over. [Sure, she could have waited for a rescue, but it was easier to swift step between rescue teams coming and going.]

You hear of this place before then? So far, no one else I talked to had much in the way of expectations.
amurderofcrow: (220)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-04-27 11:42 pm (UTC)(link)
[The snow has nothing on her. Akechi on the other hand...

The way his dark eyes slide over hers feels like a silent judgement, though the teen's expression is still inviting and warm.]


I had assumed this place to be some form of the afterlife, but I'm beginning to think my initial theory may have been too hasty.
donutsfordinner: (Curious/Peek up/Interest)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-04-28 12:00 am (UTC)(link)
[Kiriko's brow quirks up. Mostly at the assumption he makes, and the odd sense of something going on under the surface. Kiriko doesn't press at it, waiting to see if she misjudged him.]

Yeah, if it's an afterlife, I'm here a little earlier than I thought. If your heart is still beating, you're still here, so- [She shrugs somewhat back.]
amurderofcrow: (pic#17144384)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-04-28 12:47 am (UTC)(link)
[Hm. Akechi's heart is indeed still beating within him, but there is no doubt that he died in that moment, killed by his doppelganger, by his own father's repulsive cognition of himself. Little Goro Akechi, the bastard son he discarded, made useful only by becoming his obedient and disposable puppet.

Revolting doesn't begin to describe it. But what matters now is that he knows he died.]


I suppose we must take that fox at her word for now about this Folkmore. [Until he can seek out real answers within this place.] The power to pull others from all different realities into this singular spot is quite fascinating, don't you agree? And if I was taken from the very brink of death, even more so.
donutsfordinner: (Curious/Interest/peeking at u)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-04-28 07:52 pm (UTC)(link)
[Kiriko pauses at that bit of information, dark brows pinching together.] If it is any comfort, a fox is definitely one of the few animals I believe would trick death.

You're right though, it's fascinating. It just raises a lot more questions. Now you have the time to ask those questions. Maybe shake the fox up a little.
amurderofcrow: (d006)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-04-29 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
You do have a point there. If ever there was a beast, why not be a fox?

[This one is already more cunning and resourceful than the Fox that Akechi knows from home. Sorry, Kitagawa.]

And what about you? Surely you must have questions you long to find the answers for as well.
donutsfordinner: (Wink/Playful/Lets go)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-05-04 08:56 pm (UTC)(link)
People respect and fear the kitsune for a reason. This isn't a fox we know, but she's tricky enough we're all here.

[Kiriko shrugs much as she can given the towel she's clad in. She's trying to keep it from going anywhere.]

A few, but, maybe I'll find a few new ones here as well. [She'll side step her revenge quest for right now. Gotta be chill in a public space.]
amurderofcrow: (pic#17155126)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-05-04 09:19 pm (UTC)(link)
[revenge quest besties????

Her lack of an answer leaves Akechi chuckling softly, but maybe wanting to strangle her a little.]


It certainly seems like it. To unlock our true potential, is what she said. It sounds a touch idealistic, don't you think? How could one world - built up by her own hands or otherwise - be enough for every single person to reach their own personal greatness?
donutsfordinner: (Big Grin/Pleased/Laughing)

[personal profile] donutsfordinner 2024-05-05 09:14 pm (UTC)(link)
[what if we were revenge quest besties in the hot springs :o???]

Idealistic, sure, but, not a bad idea to see if you can reach it. [Kiriko offers easily enough with an amused huff.] Being in a new place rife with possibilities could help reach that potential, or make yourself worse depending on what the fox has in mind.
amurderofcrow: (goro002-pixiv-user-7985547)

[personal profile] amurderofcrow 2024-05-06 12:09 am (UTC)(link)
[come with me to kill my dad challenge (impossible)(clickbait)]

Hm, I suppose that is my greatest concern, the fox herself. The idea of striving for a full potential is all rather subjective. Who is to say that the greatness we strive for ourselves would even line up to her own potential misconceptions of who we are? And what happens if what I need to reach this 'potential' is at odds with what you need to reach yours? Who wins out then? The one with the higher approval rating?