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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.
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Alluka nods agreement. She pauses and looks over, not sure if it is a sensitive topic for her new friend. "Do you know what Role you are? Have you experienced any of the stuff related to it?"
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It's not sensitive, she just doesn't have an answer, so she's mostly confused.
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Alluka pulls her hair back enough to reveal that amid the large volume of dark hair are floppy dog ears the same color. "I'm a Familiar."
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She's grateful for the distraction that is Alluka's ears. "Oh!" She leans in, eyes wide. Animal features aren't uncommon on witches or demons on the Boiling Isles, but she'd thought Alluka was human so she's surprised. "I didn't notice at all. So you can... turn into an animal?"
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"They blend right in with my hair," Alluka says. Sometimes she forgets her ears are like this, but then she'll flick her ear. It feels different then. "Yes! Most often a dog. Sometimes a panda. And soooometimes something else, though it's harder to do something else. I've been focused on other studies. Only a little time on turning into an animal."
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She's never seen a panda, but she knows dogs. She goes to school with one. Changing into an animal sounds strange, but there are some spells that would allow it. Other role features... well, she's still learning about all of that.
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"I love being a Familiar. Turning into an animal is amazing. Your senses change, and it gives me a new perspective on the world. Plus you can be cute and cuddly," Alluka says. More seriously, "I like helping people, and that seems to be what being a Familiar is all about."
"Legends often have wings or a halo. Myths often have horns or claws or tails. Familiars can have any of that because those can be animal features. There's probably an animal with a halo. There's other things too, but it might be harder to tell if you're stronger or have faster reflexes. You don't need to worry about it! It'll show itself in time."
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She's just arrived in some strange new world, and that's so much. Not having to deal with extra weirdness is just fine by her.
"I bet you're really cute as a dog or a... panda. Whatever that is."
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Then she gasps. "You've never seen a panda?!"
Alluka has to fix that! She sets her bowl of stew to the side, takes a deep breath in, exhales slowly, and focuses. It happens quickly. Suddenly there's a juvenile panda where Alluka previously was. She waves one fuzzy paw.
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Pandas are adorable, it turns out.
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She grabs her feet and rolls backward in the snow. Alluka rolls a couple times before coming to a stop and returning to where they were sitting on all four. She flops back into a sit and stares at the stew. "I wonder if I can eat that like this."
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"Do you want help with trying? I can hold the bowl for you." She doesn't know why a bear couldn't eat some tasty stew, but she's here for it.
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"Thank you," Alluka says. "Perhaps if you could hand me the bowl? And don't mind if I'm a bit messy." Alluka doesn't mind being messy, but she wants to make a good impression on Amity.
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She's seen Barcus eat in the cafeteria, she gets it. No judgment. Lifting the bowl Alluka had left on the bench, she offers it out, and will support it for her until she seems to have a firm enough grip to not spill it.
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With care, Alluka tilts her paws to accept the bowl. It's definitely easier being handed the bowl than trying to pick it up herself. She adjusts her position once before finding the right way to hold it. She grins when it's all her. "Look at me!" she says happily.
Then she holds the bowl to her mouth and dips her snout right in, careful not to burn her nose on the warm stew. Her tongue is a bit different, but Alluka manages to get much of what she's eating in her mouth. Accomplishment! It might be easier with celery sticks, but delicious food deserves to be eaten.
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Less concerned about the bowl now, Alluka holds it low to the ground before changing back. The mess on her fur becomes a mess on her face. She drops the bowl, oops, but it's a short drop and an empty bowl. Alluka giggles and takes a selfie for later. "That was really fun, especially with someone."
She knows all too well how to entertain herself. She prefers company.
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Well, she thinks it's cool, anyway.
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"Okay. We need our spoons for this. Our special spoons, not our stew spoons," Alluka says. She pulls her spoon out and holds it over the water. She thinks of a really good bottle. A strong bottle, the kind she might take on a hiking trip. She closes her eyes. "I'm thinking of my bottle and how much I want it."
And poof. there is a bottle that plops into the bowl of snow. Alluka opens her eyes with a grin. "Will this work?"
If not, Amity can summon a better bottle.
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She tucks the bottle away and grabs the warm water in the extra bowl, nudging some snow aside on the ground to reveal the cold dirt beneath, onto which she dumps the water. It soaks in quickly, thanks to the heat. With a stick, she pokes it around to mix it into mud, then draws a magenta magic circle with one finger. The mud lifts up from the dirt in a long snake, floating around her, waiting to be directed.
"This is why I needed it. It's not as good as abomination slime, but I can still use it."
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She watches Amity raptly. Any small child can make mud, but Amity does more than make mud. She makes special magenta magic-y mud! That's the way to get mud you can definitely hit your brother with. "Oh that's really good," Alluka says, "I can't imagine how good abomination slime is. That's really cool. Can you make a little golem? Puppet?"
That sounds super cute, and puppet sounds a little more technical to her because that's what Big Brother Il does. He makes people into puppets.
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She gestures with both hands, and the swirl of mud transforms into a small golem who lifts one hand to wave at Alluka. Its face looks just like her spoon.
"This is an abomination golem. It'll do whatever I want until I dismiss it."
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It waves. It's the cutest thing Alluka has seen all week. She waves back to the little golem, absolutely adorable and friendshaped. Amity is amazing to be able to make little friends whenever she wants. Friends she can play with. She imagines tea parties with abomination golems and plushies. A best of both worlds.
"That's really amazing. You're amazing."
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It's actually really nice to do something more fun and whimsical with her goo again. (Well, okay, it's mud. But close enough for now.) There's been so much fighting lately, it's exhausting. But this is so sweet.
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"You're welcome. Fun is important, and Folkmore has loads of time for fun," Alluka says. She gives a little sigh. "It also has school. School's good! It's just... school." She looks over at Amity. "Do you want to go to school here?"
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