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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.
planet... PAWTNER!?
Mmmh... Race!? Race would be fun!
Sometimes, trap wants to work together. But we can race first!
[ He bounces a bit with his next step, suddenly very enthusiastic.
READY! ]
Yeah, a race of sentient cat people who like being friendly partners. Because nya.
[Mitsuko cackles, sounding a little more maniacal but no less excited. She cracks her knuckles and preps herself.]
Ready... set... Mitsu-GO!
[And she's off. If Mitsuko was a normal human, Mitsuko would be an average runner. However, even if only by virtue of her having long legs, she's quite quick and she powers up the course.]
no subject
[ And Razor's dashing right after her.
Now, he IS a pretty fast runner, even before coming to folkmore. The extra strength and durability of being a legend definitely help. He can keep pace with Mitsuko surprisingly well, and that small form is well suited to dodging the bubbles that come down towards them. Each one a wave, kindof like a puzzle.
Better not get hit! There's traps to trick them into dodging the wrong way too! ]
no subject
Geeze. Why is this so complicated- ack! Damn it!
[Oops. Down she goes. You win, Razor. Probably.]
no subject
Blink. Oh- she got caught in a bubble, floated up and carried down to the beginning of the course. ]
Ah!... Did not make...
[ He debates the best way to get back down before... Hopping into the next bubble to get carried down. ]
no subject
Sorry. That triple trick at the end messed me up. That was harder than I thought.
You didn't have to come back down. You could have waited for me and let me catch up with you. I would have tried to be triple quick to not slow you down.
no subject
[ His shoulders shrug like there's nothing he can do about it. He could try and bust through, but that's probably not the point. ]
So, came to run up, together.
no subject
But thank you.
[But she smiles lightly at the boy and for a second she feels the urge to just... pat his head. She withholds, of course. She isn't that forward and she's not sure if Razor is trained in the Bow wow wow Cluster's dirty tactics.]
Let's try that again. We can make it up three times as fast now we know the course. I won't make that mistake twice, let alone thrice.
no subject
[ Sometimes it's as simple as that. His soft looking hair is terribly pattable, it's temptation is hard to resist. ]
I can help. Too! Ready to run when you are.
[ He shifts himself over to the start of the run, waiting patiently. If he had a tail it would be wagging. ]
no subject
Mitsuko cracks her knuckles once more, rolls her shoulders and takes a deep breath.]
Ready, set, Go!
[Off they go. She'll work with Razor this time and follow his lead!]
no subject
This time Razor tries to stick a bit closer, guiding to the gaps in the bubbles and making the direction clear for her with smiling glances back.
He really is enjoying this dashing puzzle, huh? ]
Trap here- watch for hole!
[ He calls out, diving through a gap in the bubbles that might be a challenge for her. ]
no subject
Damn it. I just have to... squeeze down and go!
[She can't fly above the puzzle but that doesn't stop her from floating. Using her momentum, Mitsuko floats forward and focuses on weaving her large body through the gap in the bubbles.
... Surely just touching one bubble but TECHNICALLY not being caught in it counts for something... right?]
no subject
[ A light graze might just sneak by. Anyone smaller or lighter would probably get sucked in.
Advantages to her size, maybe! Razor's waiting for her on the other side, heading towards the next gap in the bubbles. ]
Mmh! Almost there!
no subject
Ehehehe! Take that!
[She grins triumphantly and quickly hurries after Razor.]
Yes! And then we can be done with this stage of this triply troublesome trial.
no subject
Razor's quick to hurry along, this time taking it a bit slower to make sure he's guiding towards new gaps. Just in time for them to reach the finish line together!
The gate turns green, and a faint click signals the door unlocking. ]
Mmmh! Think we finish!
no subject
Wonderful! Fantastic! Tremendous! High five.
[She offers a three fingered claw to Razor. High-three?]
Maybe fading out in a post or so?
[ He jumps a bit to tap the hand. Nice! ]
We made to end! You run well!
[ He opens the door, letting her step through first before they both can begin to leave. ]
sounds good
[She grabs the frame in one hand to steady herself and bends over so she can fit in the door.]
Now, where's our prize? I was told more than thrice there would be compensation for taking part in these trials.
no subject
[ He points over at the chests placed off to one side. One with the symbol of a wolf on it, one with the number three. Not very inconspicuous at all.
Razor steps over, looking at his chest for a moment and pulling it open without waiting.
And he pulls out a book! It looks old, a picture book telling the tale of a wolf spirit. His face brightens when he sees it. ]
Ah! Special...! Learning from home.
no subject
Ohhh... very nice. For me... I got...
[Mitsuko opens up and blinks. It's... the helmet she's wearing now? She deactivates her suit and picks up the new one, turning it over.] Is this...
[She turns it on and the head lights up. It floats in place, eyes sparkling bright gold as boots op. Mitsuko's eyes widen.]
Oh! It's my actual suit! One I can use outside of trials! I can actually have my Flatwoods Dress in Folkmore!