![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Entry tags:
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
[May as well keep the subject change going. Telling another that he had another soul inside of him was one thing, but actually talking about Ryoji was another. Especially with a stranger.]
no subject
This stranger being so knowledgable about personas but not knowing of the Metaverse makes it obvious that there is a possibility of personas to exist outside of the cognitive world.
And that opens up so many fascinating possibilities.]
The Metaverse is a place that most can not access or view, where the collective unconsciousness of humanity allows their various desires to manifest into their own believed realities. Those chosen few with personas are granted access through an app on our phones.
no subject
Either way, it meant one thing.]
You're a Phantom Thief, then.
no subject
No. [Was the emphasis a little extreme on that? Probably.] I have worked alongside of them in the past, yes, but I am not a member of their team. For the most part, I worked solo on excursions into the Metaverse.
How do you know of the Phantom Thieves?
no subject
Dr. Maruki told me.
no subject
Akechi's mouth twists and his eyes burn with immediate, searing fury, as the teen sucks in the sharpest of inhales. He looks genuinely shocked to hear that name again, and maybe somewhere behind all of that burning hatred, there is a glimmer of fear.]
He's here? In this place?
no subject
[He had yet to see him at this point in time since he just arrived himself. But if he is, Maruki would likely be in their shared home.]
I just returned so I haven't had a chance to check.
[He noticed the angry look, but Minato opted not to comment on it. This was the first he had met someone from Maruki's time and, clearly, it was someone from the same point in time as well. He was curious to know the other's thoughts on the man.]
He hasn't used his abilities, if that's what you're concerned about.
no subject
How can you be so certain? And do not tell me it is because he has promised or some bullshit like that.
Have you experienced them yourself? Have you seen the way they rewire memories completely, effortlessly, until no one even knows that their reality has even shifted?
no subject
[The answer may have been mild, but the way Minato said it, with a hard look on his eye as he looked over at Akechi, said much more.
Maruki certainly could have lied and used the abilities he possessed, but if that were the case, they'd all be living their best lives, wouldn't they?
He'd be back with his friends, believing he never actually died and they wouldn't have to go through the tragedy of burying a boy of only 17 years. There was a lot that Maruki could have done for him, for the people of Folkmore, to Thirteen, but he hadn't.
Because Minato asked him not to.]
I know what the world would look like for me if he did.
no subject
Both answers leave Akechi's gaze narrowing in suspicion - especially that first one, which just seems like exactly what he said not to say - but the other teen has a point. If this was that false reality, the chill wouldn't bite quite as sharply and Akechi certainly wouldn't feel his fingertips go so frighteningly numb.
And yet still, relief does not swell in his chest. Instead, it feels like a knife, balanced precariously, waiting for the slightest shift to slice through the air.]
Just because he has not used them yet does not mean he won't. If he has access to his persona, he is a threat to me.
no subject
[Minato stood up to look over the top of the sled.]
We're almost there. There's hot springs to warm you up.
no subject
Surprisingly, the information that he can access his own persona outside of the Metaverse isn't entirely a surprise. Even if Akechi hasn't tried, he can feel Hereward settled in his ribcage, the same way he has always felt Loki and Robin Hood whenever he's slipped into the cognitive world.
It may not make sense, but so little does here, so who is Akechi to bitch when this strangeness directly benefits him.
Because if stealing Maruki's heart did not put an end to his abilities, Akechi has no qualms with killing him if need be. They tried it the Phantom Thief way before, now all bets are off.]
Good. This cold is insufferable.
[Hot Springs will certainly be a reprieve from the freezing temperatures, but Akechi wants out of Wintermute as a whole.]
What's the easiest way to get out of the mountains?
no subject
The train station, I would think. It runs all over Folkmore.
[He sat back down and finished his sandwich. But his eyes never quite left Akechi. He was an interesting fellow and he wondered what else Maruki hadn't told him about his interactions with the Phantom Thieves and... well, whatever Akechi was to them.
Maruki didn't strike him as similar to Ikutski or Strega. Just a man with good intentions but went about it the wrong way. A well-intentioned extremist, as they say on the internet, right?]
What did Maruki do to you to have you so angry? What he did wasn't right, but it certainly felt like he was doing it because he genuinely wanted to help people.
[In many, many ways... Akechi reminded him of Ken. Although, he wasn't entirely sure why yet.]
no subject
The silence, brief as it is, begins to soothe some of the older teen's burning fury, giving him a few moments to just settle into his own skin. It's impossible to ignore the feel of the hot air he's exhaling, the warmth that's just beginning to tingle in his arms, how utterly frostbitten the tip of his nose is. It's...
Wherever this is, whoever has brought him here, Akechi is very much alive. And that realization both comforts and rattles him all at once.
But then this kid has the audacity to ask about why he's angry and that just brings it all back to the surface.]
I don't see how that's any of your business. [You have to unlock social rank level 10 to hear his tragic backstory, minato.] Ask him yourself if you're so concerned. I have no doubt the doctor will paint himself as the savior of everything, but surely anyone with even the simplest of minds can see where his actualization theory goes wrong.
[And he looks sourly off at the scenery rushing along around them, skinny arms curled tightly around himself as he shivers, seemingly finished until Akechi adds one final word on the matter.]
There is no such thing as a perfect world. Not without going against someone's wishes.
no subject
It never will be.
[This guy was clearly far too angry to have any kind of decent conversation with, though. So, he only turned his head away to rest his arms over the top of the sled. It was cold as the dogs moved, but he his new wolf-like attributes seemed to help with the cold a little.]
Anyway, looks like we're here.
[Indeed, the sled began to slow down as they reached the resort like place that had the hot springs and the cute dog vendors. He could use another hot sandwich, actually. He dug into his jacket, mindful of his claws, and pulled out his earphones. He attached them to his ears.
...it took a second because wolf ears are a bit different.]
I'd say to cool off but you've already done that. Hot springs are over there.
[He pointed to where Akechi would need to go.]
no subject
To Akechi, it has been mere hours since he saw Maruki last, but this boy speaks as if he has some long-standing relationship with the doctor, like they've spoken enough that Maruki's had the chance to reflect on his actions. So this place, Folkmore, must be a world out of time, if Maruki has been both here and Tokyo all at once.
Very interesting.
But Akechi has little desire to debate Minato on this - feeling remorseful of his actions changes nothing, Akechi does not make excuses for his own wrongdoings, he's not going to take them from a shitty adult either - so he gives a languid shrug of his skinny shoulders, before following the other teen off of the sled.
He follows Minato's point towards the hot springs and nods.]
Funny. [He doesn't sound like he's even close to laughing.] I won't waste my breath warning you about the doctor further, since you seem to know what you're already in for, but I will say that I appreciate the help. I imagine I would have died if I'd been left to fend for myself out there in the blizzard. So for that, you have my thanks.