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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
My condolences. That can't be an easy thing to bear. If I can answer any questions for you, I'll do my best.
no subject
I carved out that path myself and I regret nothing. Your pity is unnecessary.
[better to be dead than to live as another's puppet, even if this puppeteer would have been far kinder than the last]
I would like information on this place. As it stands, I only know of the name itself and of what that fox spoke of. But the rest - Well, I was dropped in a snow bank and brought here. Anything else of importance you could share would be appreciated.
no subject
Certainly. As you know, this is Folkmore. Whether it's another world or a pocket dimension of the fox's creation, none have been able to determine that for sure, so we can only take her word for it. Our purpose is to reach our "true potential", which is about as vague a goal as you can get, and we live day to day by collecting a currency called lore in the spoons we were given upon arrival, just by talking to each other. You can regain items stolen from you on arrival using lore as well. And on a more-or-less monthly basis, our benevolent host sends trials our way to test our capacity for growth and endurance. Or occasionally just our tolerance for loud, outlandish dance parties.
Isn't all of that just lovely?
[Thanks he hates it!]
no subject
How exhausting.
But the rest of what the stranger says is infinitely more important. Even without prompting, he corroborates that fox's spiel about reaching their 'full potential' and how vague a goal that truly is. It makes the possibility of this place not being related to the afterlife just a little too close for comfort, because Akechi isn't quite ready to face that truth and all that comes with it yet.
And the trials, ongoing public testing to see just who is actively participating in this bullshit exercise in mandatory personal growth. The fox isn't exactly Maruki, but just how far does their free will go here if they are so readily expected to change?
He'll need to follow this up. Question other locals, others who have been around much longer.]
Lovely isn't exactly the word I'd use, but I have a feeling we're on the same page.
[A quiet pause, the teen reaching up to push his hair behind his ear, as he settles back against the stone wall.]
Thank you. The information you've provided is more helpful than half of what the fox said to me. Do you see many reach this so called 'full potential' and leave?
no subject
At least he seems to be taking all of this in stride. Caduceus wonders what sort of strangeness he's used to- or perhaps he has a very practiced poker face. Maybe both. There's all sorts of people in this world.]
You know, I haven't seen any kind of announcement of someone leaving because they'd reached their potential. People do come and go quite a bit, but I don't know if the reason for their absence has really gotten confirmed.
no subject
Exactly as I figured.
[spoken like an eighteen year old who has completely figured out this mystery]
If this fox likens herself to a ruler of this realm, then it goes without saying that she can control her subjects best if they believe they are all striving together towards the same goal. Enlightenment. Full Potential. A way home. Those sheep will believe anything they're fed, which keeps them loyal and stupid, never questioning why it is that no one before them has ever reached this so-called potential of hers.
[It's just the same as before. Politicians, teachers, the police - Akechi has watched every adult he's ever known scramble for power so they can crush someone else beneath their heel.]
I imagine there is no true milestone to be met. It is a lie to keep us subservient. Do you disagree?
no subject
He speaks with such confidence considering he's been here for like five minutes.]
I don't disagree, but I can't agree you're correct, either. It's a little early to be drawing such conclusions, isn't it?
[Certainly not with the way he talks about people. Sheep, huh... well, it's often the nature of young people to believe they know everything. He could very well be right. Or he could be talking to the wrong person if he's looking for deep, critical analysis of Thirteen's intentions.]
no subject
I suppose it is only a hypothesis. But one I intend to get to the bottom of.
[how? look, he'll figure it out]
What about you? Have you felt a pull in some direction towards 'full potential'?
no subject
[Sorry fox, maybe you're doing your best, but you can't replace the best Mom. And he has some important stuff he needs to be doing but isn't. Even if he's just some spiritual copy, what's the use of potential if it's not aimed towards a greater purpose?]
no subject
[Now that he isn't full defensive and raging, Akechi can't help but lean into his natural curious nature.]
I'm not familiar with that title. I assume you come from another world than my own.
no subject
[Unless he hailed from an incredibly obscure region in Exandria, maybe. She's far from an uncommon goddess.]
I'm a cleric of Melora, goddess of the wilderness and sea. Normally I'm able to communicate with Her more directly, but I can't hear Her voice in this world.
no subject
[The fox must be deliberately cutting this strange being off from reaching out to his goddess. But why, unless it's to drag him under her own control.]
You've given me much to consider.
no subject
no subject
But this being appears so oddly relaxed, it's impossible to not consider what a life past death might mean. If he is not all-consumed with a decade-long revenge plot and not desperately fighting for his autonomy, what pieces of Goro Akechi remain?]
May I ask your name? And perhaps your opinion on how best to get out of all of this snow? As atmospheric as it might be out here, I'm afraid I've lost my taste for the cold.
no subject
Caduceus Clay, pleasure to meet you. As for leaving this place, I'd recommend the train station. It'll take you to much warmer regions. I can guide you there, if you like.
[He doesn't mind interrupting this nice soak to help a guy out.]
no subject
Goro Akechi. And yes, thank you. I only need sight of the path and I can take it from there.
[but best you believe he is going to come back and memorize this whole fucking landscape so he never has to rely on help out here again :| ]
no subject
[He moves to stand and grab the robe he'd come in with (gotta dry off all this fur before he gets dressed), but as he reaches for it, one of the dogs surrounding the bath snags it and darts away, while several others close in and block his path.]
...Oh? Perhaps not.
no subject
Welp, there goes Akechi's only winter jacket too, along with one of his gloves... Typical.]
What is this? [The dogs aren't at all aggressive, but they are expertly blocking the way out of the spring, acting as a furry blockade to keep the pair in the water.
Akechi's gaze jerks back over to Caduceus.] Is this some kind of trap?
no subject
Caduceus lifts his hands in a placating manner. Someone's showing his teeth a little.]
What, made by me? With me stuck here with you? Feels ill-advised. I'd guess they need something from us.
no subject
Alright. You know what. That's fair. Akechi can hardly blame the man when they are both trapped in here. If anything, maybe this is Thirteen's response to his public prying.]
But what could they possibly want? [The dogs are quite literally running away with their only possessions. Make it make sense, Thirteen.
But Akechi isn't going to let himself boil in here forever, so without waiting for an answer, he lifts a hand from the springs, gives it a little shake, before he's tentatively reaching out to rest his palm against the nearest dog's neck. It doesn't immediately snarl or whip around to bite him, so the teen pets the beast gently behind the ears.]
Hm. Friendly enough, so why -
[Aha! The paper rolled barely peeking up beneath the thick collar catches his attention, so with one more scratch Akechi plucks it free and unrolls it, scanning over the text there.]
Share something that other people have refused to listen to you about. Everyone ought to be listened to. [...] Is this some kind of terribly unfunny joke?
no subject
No, that sounds like something Thirteen would ask of us. Sorry, friend. We're likely stuck here until we bare our souls a little. Though with it being not so specific, you might be able to get away with something simple.
[This might not require detention-level confession, here. Lots of people were stressed about that one.]
no subject
Do you mean to say this happens frequently enough? That Thirteen traps individuals in order to force their hand into revealing sensitive information about themselves? What is the penalty if you decline?
no subject
no subject
I assume this is part of her convoluted plan to have us reach our full potential. Emotional manipulation in service of reaching your true greatness.
[It clearly won't work, but Akechi has spent enough time around emotionally immature teenagers to know how they fold when feelings come into play.]
If you were to answer this, what would you say?
no subject
[A difficult question to answer. He has a pretty good track record of people listening to him, actually, and when people don't listen he tends to let it slide. Which means he tries to forget about it. Although, with things having been set back to zero with a certain half-orc...
He glances back at Akechi, sizing him up. He looks young, but not that young. It's probably fine.]
I would say, don't go to bed with evil pirate women. It's a bad idea.
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every time. every time i roll insight. akechi is so screwed