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June-July 2024 Test Drive Meme
June-July 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: Ghosts, Potential Violence, Potential Death
Summer has hit. It's hot, and nowhere is it hotter than Cruel Summer. Naturally, new Star Children arrive in Cruel Summer with no indication of which direction to go to escape, unless they're so lucky as to arrive near the Selkie River. The water provides a break, and a selkie skin will protect Star Children from the heat. Though beware the cruelty of leaving a selkie without their skin. Along with the heat, Star Children can hear whispers and the echoes of screams throughout Cruel Summer. There's no obvious source of the noises. Not the normal creatures. Not anything anyone can see.
Whether new or old Star Child, anyone lost, overheated, in need of a rest, or anything else will find a friendly spirit will find them in the sands, rock, or shores of Cruel Summer. They'll guide the way toward the huts found in Cruel Summer. These huts have changed; the huts are bigger and grow together, making them one interconnected twisting winding empty town. No one appears to live there. The wooden town is in disrepair, varying from building to building. Even so, they are cool inside, a welcome break from the summer heat.
No matter how one entered, even through the swinging doors to the saloon, that exit disappears behind Star Children. There's no turning back. The only way out is to explore the way through the buildings. This fact continues to be true building to building as exits continue to vanish. The abandoned town isn't as empty as it first seems. As Star Children explore the branching paths through the wooden structures, they see ghosts of spirits going through the paces of their lives. They're familiar to these spaces and interact with missing objects that sometimes shimmer in spirit energy.
Spirit Children may interrupt these routines to try to talk with the ghosts. Some ghostly spirits are friendly. They may interact with Star Children as though they're someone else, someone the spirits used to know. Others, like the bartender, may treat them like a new customer. Other ghosts are determined to stick to their routines and, should Star Children continue to interrupt, will attack those who disturb them.
These spirits may kill Star Children when they attack. Normal weapons won't hurt them. There are revolvers, shotguns, iron pokers, hunting knives, and other plain weapons around to grab in self-defense. Salt bullets and iron will dispel ghosts. These weapons may be grabbed at any time. However, doing so attracts the creatures in Cruel Summer. A blood red worm spitting yellow acid may break through the floor to eat or spray Star Children. An enormous coyote may leap through the window. Whether attracted by the use of weapons or passing by, any dangerous creature found in Cruel Summer seems agitated when they come near these structures and will attack them and anyone inside. They will focus especially on anyone with a stolen selkie skin.
Should Star Children die, whether to ghosts or creatures, they will not immediately return to life.Do not pass go. Instead they will haunt the ghost town for one week in the room where they were killed. Other Star Children may recognize them and work to snap them out of their routines. Yet nothing will free the Star Children's spirits before the week is through. At the end of the week, they'll come to, alive, in their bodies in the room they died in. Best get through and out of the ghost town before dying again!
A constant through these scenes are the spirits' spoons, visible somewhere in each scene. The ghost spoons are whole. Once free of the ghost town, Star Children may choose to travel to the Shattered Spoon Shrine in Never Fade to search for the broken fragments of any of these spoons. They are in such small pieces, however, that no Star Child may feed them enough Lore alone to bring the spirit back. Two or more Star Children may spend time in the Shrine creating and feeding Lore toward the spoons to heal them. It just may be enough to bring someone back.
Summer has hit. It's hot, and nowhere is it hotter than Cruel Summer. Naturally, new Star Children arrive in Cruel Summer with no indication of which direction to go to escape, unless they're so lucky as to arrive near the Selkie River. The water provides a break, and a selkie skin will protect Star Children from the heat. Though beware the cruelty of leaving a selkie without their skin. Along with the heat, Star Children can hear whispers and the echoes of screams throughout Cruel Summer. There's no obvious source of the noises. Not the normal creatures. Not anything anyone can see.
Whether new or old Star Child, anyone lost, overheated, in need of a rest, or anything else will find a friendly spirit will find them in the sands, rock, or shores of Cruel Summer. They'll guide the way toward the huts found in Cruel Summer. These huts have changed; the huts are bigger and grow together, making them one interconnected twisting winding empty town. No one appears to live there. The wooden town is in disrepair, varying from building to building. Even so, they are cool inside, a welcome break from the summer heat.
No matter how one entered, even through the swinging doors to the saloon, that exit disappears behind Star Children. There's no turning back. The only way out is to explore the way through the buildings. This fact continues to be true building to building as exits continue to vanish. The abandoned town isn't as empty as it first seems. As Star Children explore the branching paths through the wooden structures, they see ghosts of spirits going through the paces of their lives. They're familiar to these spaces and interact with missing objects that sometimes shimmer in spirit energy.
Spirit Children may interrupt these routines to try to talk with the ghosts. Some ghostly spirits are friendly. They may interact with Star Children as though they're someone else, someone the spirits used to know. Others, like the bartender, may treat them like a new customer. Other ghosts are determined to stick to their routines and, should Star Children continue to interrupt, will attack those who disturb them.
These spirits may kill Star Children when they attack. Normal weapons won't hurt them. There are revolvers, shotguns, iron pokers, hunting knives, and other plain weapons around to grab in self-defense. Salt bullets and iron will dispel ghosts. These weapons may be grabbed at any time. However, doing so attracts the creatures in Cruel Summer. A blood red worm spitting yellow acid may break through the floor to eat or spray Star Children. An enormous coyote may leap through the window. Whether attracted by the use of weapons or passing by, any dangerous creature found in Cruel Summer seems agitated when they come near these structures and will attack them and anyone inside. They will focus especially on anyone with a stolen selkie skin.
Should Star Children die, whether to ghosts or creatures, they will not immediately return to life.
A constant through these scenes are the spirits' spoons, visible somewhere in each scene. The ghost spoons are whole. Once free of the ghost town, Star Children may choose to travel to the Shattered Spoon Shrine in Never Fade to search for the broken fragments of any of these spoons. They are in such small pieces, however, that no Star Child may feed them enough Lore alone to bring the spirit back. Two or more Star Children may spend time in the Shrine creating and feeding Lore toward the spoons to heal them. It just may be enough to bring someone back.
- Whispers, echoes of screams, etc become common throughout Cruel Summer
- Huts become bigger, interconnected, growing together. Anyone lost, overheated, in need of something in Cruel Summer gets a friendly spirit redirecting them to these buildings
- Buildings will still be in some state of disrepair, but like a whole twisting winding town
- Insides are a cool respite
supernatural ghost spirit air conditioning - Only way out is through, no turning back, as the exits disappear behind you
- Many are friendly, but some are not. One can attempt to talk to them, but how interactive they are varies
- Occasionally other creatures from Cruel Summer may burst in and attack
- If a Star Child dies, rather than return to life immediately, they stay a ghost for about a week, part of the tour
Content Warnings: Fire, Coerced Confessions
Fire! Fire across the realm! For the second half of June, wildfire burns everywhere. While it doesn’t hurt Star Children, it can reduce everything else to ash: homes, businesses, gardens, spirits. The local spirits will be in a panic and beg Star Children for help from small ice mice in Wintermute to fennec foxes in Cruel Summer. How can Star Children help? Confessions. Anything the person they are with doesn’t know. The more earnest and meaningful the better.
When wildfire erupts and spreads, Star Children may stand in or in front of an area they want to protect and confess something to another Star Child who happens to be nearby. Their neighbor? Their partner? A stranger lost in a new land? These confessions simply need to be something the other person doesn’t know to protect structures and spirits. Memories related to the confession will show in the fire. The fire will fuel these memories until they run out of energy, dying down to embers. At least in that place at that time.
Should something start to burn before someone confesses, multiple confessions are necessary to catch the wildfire’s attention and distract it from the fuel source it is feeding on. Two or more Star Children will need to make confessions whose memories are shared in the flames. Water powers can also help quell the flames, but confessions are necessary in the end.
Once July hits, the wildfires are mostly gone, only sparking up here and there on occasion. In their stead are embers. They spark in the air like fireflies and fly around Folkmore, attracted to Star Children. These embers land on Star Children and make them glow. There’s no pain. In fact, the embers provide sparks of insight into memories, situations, and other emotional dilemmas that Star Children haven’t previously understood. Talking the issue over with another Star Children provides further emotional clarity.
Spirits are welcoming to both embers and Star Children. Confessionshelp Folkmore grow as well. Gardens bloom in beautiful displays. Crops grow healthy and joyful. It’s even possible to hear humming from some of the vegetables and fruits. The land grows with the Star Children. Anyone who lacks a green thumb can work their way around that with confessions! Save that dying plant and grow those tomatoes.
One time that a Star Child confesses, either to wildfire or to embers, they will find a jeweled box shaped like a flame. The peak of the flame comes off to reveal the insides. Within, there is an item from home. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Larger more meaningful confessions are more likely to receive weapons. These items may even be larger than should fit in the box or its entrance. Whether the box should only hold a single ring or fill the palm of one’s hand, these items fit. Star Children also can keep the jeweled box, and this one item from home can be stored within the box. Other items too large to fit the box will not enter it. Only the one from the box.
Fire! Fire across the realm! For the second half of June, wildfire burns everywhere. While it doesn’t hurt Star Children, it can reduce everything else to ash: homes, businesses, gardens, spirits. The local spirits will be in a panic and beg Star Children for help from small ice mice in Wintermute to fennec foxes in Cruel Summer. How can Star Children help? Confessions. Anything the person they are with doesn’t know. The more earnest and meaningful the better.
When wildfire erupts and spreads, Star Children may stand in or in front of an area they want to protect and confess something to another Star Child who happens to be nearby. Their neighbor? Their partner? A stranger lost in a new land? These confessions simply need to be something the other person doesn’t know to protect structures and spirits. Memories related to the confession will show in the fire. The fire will fuel these memories until they run out of energy, dying down to embers. At least in that place at that time.
Should something start to burn before someone confesses, multiple confessions are necessary to catch the wildfire’s attention and distract it from the fuel source it is feeding on. Two or more Star Children will need to make confessions whose memories are shared in the flames. Water powers can also help quell the flames, but confessions are necessary in the end.
Once July hits, the wildfires are mostly gone, only sparking up here and there on occasion. In their stead are embers. They spark in the air like fireflies and fly around Folkmore, attracted to Star Children. These embers land on Star Children and make them glow. There’s no pain. In fact, the embers provide sparks of insight into memories, situations, and other emotional dilemmas that Star Children haven’t previously understood. Talking the issue over with another Star Children provides further emotional clarity.
Spirits are welcoming to both embers and Star Children. Confessions
One time that a Star Child confesses, either to wildfire or to embers, they will find a jeweled box shaped like a flame. The peak of the flame comes off to reveal the insides. Within, there is an item from home. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Larger more meaningful confessions are more likely to receive weapons. These items may even be larger than should fit in the box or its entrance. Whether the box should only hold a single ring or fill the palm of one’s hand, these items fit. Star Children also can keep the jeweled box, and this one item from home can be stored within the box. Other items too large to fit the box will not enter it. Only the one from the box.
- Last two weeks of June, wildfire burns across Folkmore. After that, they are rare.
- Confessions can protect or rescue buildings, land areas, and spirits.
- Come July, embers spark across Folkmore like fireflies. They provide insight for Star Children. Talking helps.
- Confessions help the land grow.
- Confessions reveal a jeweled box containing an item from home.
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Things like "what do you like to buy when you have money?" or "if you could buy any two things without worrying about the cost, what would you buy?"
Paper cheques, and coins made of gold, silver, or bronze.
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Let's see. For your first question, I like to buy books. And if I could buy two things without worry, I would buy my palisman, and... hmm. Maybe an incredibly rare Good Witch Azura collectable!
I've never heard of cheques. We do have snails, which are coins and bills of varying materials.
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What do you like to read?
I've never heard of a palisman or Good Witch Azura. Is the latter a popular media franchise where you're from?
Cheques are rectangular pieces of paper where a set amount of money is written on it, the recipient's name, and the name and signature of the person giving the money to the recipient. The cheque can then be exchanged at a bank for the specified amount.
For large amounts of money it is more practical to use cheques.
'Snails' is an interesting name for a currency. What materials are they made of?
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[Including herself tbh.]
I like to read magic theory, and fantasy stories about great witches and heroes.
A palisman is a witch's familiar and partner. The Good Witch Azura is a book series I like to read! Though I wish there were more of them.
Cheques do sound useful. Most people with that much money have sealed letters they can use to exchange for high cost goods.
Snails can be paper bills, or gold, bronze, and silver coins.
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Have you found any good magical theory books or fantasy novels here? Perhaps any copies of 'The Good Witch Azura'?
You must miss your palisman. I hope you can reunite with it soon, Miss Witch.
'Sealed' in the context of a wax seal, or a magical seal?
The kingdom I live also has golden plaques which gives you two opportunities to purchase anything, regardless of the cost. It doesn't matter if you buy two slices of bread or two mountains, the important thing is that you can only use it twice.
Of course, golden plaques are something only the royal family can give you. But they're still pretty cool, right?
Why 'snails'? It seems an odd name for a currency. Are the coins shaped like snail shells?
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I've found a few books at the libraries around Folkmore. Nothing groundbreaking yet, but I haven't been here for long. I did get the first Azura book, though! For eating potato wedges.
I miss my palisman a lot. I'm hoping to see her again soon. Her name is Ghost.
It's a bit of both. Magic seals aren't uncommon, but wax is more convenient for less expensive purchases.
That sounds both impressive and a little irresponsible. No wonder the royalty control it! Imagine if such things were widespread... but you're right, it's a cool concept 🎉
I don't know why 'snails' were picked, it's been that way for a long time. The coins have a coiled design on the front that resembles a shell.
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[ He tries not to think about those children averaging ten years old, but it's difficult adjusting to living without them.
He makes a note to fill their piggy banks once he gets back. ]
I haven't had a chance to visit the any libraries yet. If I find any good fantasy novels I can pass the titles along to you.
You received the first volume of 'The Good Witch Azura' for eating potato wedges?
'Ghost' is an interesting name. What is she like?
It is indeed very irresponsible. Fortunately the shining star of the kingdom only irresponsibly gives golden plaques to this lowly dongsaeng of his. He was probably thinking "how much can he really spend?" and then I bought a magic tower for 15 billion gallons.
[ And Alver couldn't even get mad at him since he and the kingdom got a great deal out of it. ]
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Thank you. I hope you find good books in the libraries. They seem to be very mixed as far as usefulness overall.
There was a weird trial last month where eating potatoes would give you little reminders of home. They'd appear out of nowhere. I got knitted dolls of my palisman and my family, mostly. But then at random, the first Azura book appeared. It was a strange day.
Ghost is wonderful. She's kind and patient, and can be very feisty when challenged. She loves to hunt and chase things. Sometimes it feels like she knows me better than myself.
What is a 'dongsaeng'? And 15 billion gallons sounds like a lot! Even for a magic tower. Not the biggest I've heard, but not insubstantial by any means.
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— ... *sigh*
— Cale...
— I knew he was dense but I can't believe he's this fucking stupid!?
— HAHAHAHA! I told you!
— Whose children are they if not yours at this point?
...Trash like him isn't suited to be a parent though? He just makes sure they always have what they need to live a good life.
The Ancient Powers all heave sighs (and/or curses) at that, but Cale just ignores them because he knows he's right. ]
Children only need to eat well, play well, learn well, and sleep well. They can do whatever they want for the rest of their lives as long as it makes them happy, even if it's slacking off and doing nothing.
That sounds very strange indeed. Did you have to eat them raw?
What form does Ghost take? The way you describe her behaviour makes me think of a cat. I was never really a cat person, but they can be quite cute and be good companions.
In this context 'donsaeng' would mean something like 'younger brother'. His highness and I grew close enough to become sworn brothers. It keeps other noble factions from annoying me. He's a pretty useful guy like that.
no subject
[Most parents suck, okay.]
No, no, they were cooked. Very well, actually. They were delicious.
Ghost is a cat palisman, yes. She is VERY cute and a perfect partner. She's also very soft.
Oh, I see, a brother! I wish mine was so useful.
no subject
My two oldest are from the Cat beast tribe, so I am obligated to say that they are cuter and more perfect and soft than your Ghost. Even if they can be extremely sassy brats who interrupt my slacking.
To make brothers useful you just need to train them well. It takes some effort but the end results are worth it.
no subject
I'll accept your bias if you accept mine. Ghost is perfect and the best ever.
How do you train a brother?
no subject
You're probably around 13-15 right? That's a tough age. It's about when parents start pressuring kids about their futures. Study this, study that. This extracurricular looks good on a university application. Don't pursue this passion because you'll financially struggle for your whole life.
My advice is it's all bullshit and to just ignore it. First find what you're good at and makes you happy, then find a way to make money from it.
How about a compromise? Your Ghost is the best palisman and my two oldest are the best Cats.
The key is knowing two things: what you want from him, and what he wants that you could provide.
With that information you can start coming up with deals where you get what you want from him and he gets something he wants from you. Learn how to spin things to always be in your favour while still benefiting your brother enough that he can't really complain.
In doing this you become a valued asset to him no matter how much you might annoy him.
no subject
I accept your compromise! It's a good one. Maybe they can meet someday.
Hmm. Not sure if that would be effective against my brother. I can't think of what he'd want from me, and he's the annoying one!
no subject
But fourteen is still a kid, so remember that the most important thing is to keep eating well, playing well, resting well, and growing well.
[ Actually, now that he's thinking about this he can't help but wonder— ]
You're being looked after properly here right?
[ Not that he intends to butt into her business or anything. It's just good to know if this place takes care of the kids it brings in. After all, what if those children averaging-ten-years-old arrive and he isn't around for them? They're all still too young to have to take responsibility for their own lives.
It's just good knowledge to have. ]
You'll figure something out eventually. But if you don't, eh. Whatever. You can find a better sibling for yourself someday instead.
no subject
Looked after? I guess so. I live with my girlfriend and Eda, the Owl Lady.
[She's a... mostly competent adult. Luz was able to stay alive in her care for months, so Amity should be just fine too. They're not so little that they can't look after themselves when needed, anyway.]
I don't want to give the wrong impression! Ed isn't a bad sibling. He's just often a nuisance. The sooner he figures out what to do with himself, the better.
[Though he's half there now, it seems. Eda helped him pick a better study track for himself. (Somehow. She didn't see it, but it happened!)]
no subject
[ This kid reminds him too much of Rosalyn to imagine that she could ever fail. He thinks the two of them would probably get along if they ever met. How different is a witch's power to an archmage's? That's something his friend would be eager to research. ]
And Lady Eda is making sure you both have three meals a day, clean clothes to wear, and a warm bed to sleep in?
[ Cale very pointedly ignores all his Ancient Powers commenting on what a caring person he is, and how bad he is at ignoring kids. ]
That's good to hear. Before I figured out what to do with myself I was notorious for being the trash of my family's territory and was not close with my younger siblings. I barely spoke or interacted with them at all.
I'm still trash, but I'm at least a passably decent older brother now.
no subject
[She will! Keep telling herself that! They totally didn't watch the world fall apart and everyone ending up on the edge of death while they fought an impossible-to-kill monster emperor right before she got here-
-Anyway. Even though he can't see it, she makes a face at the idea of Eda being the respectable three-meals-a-day kind of parent.]
We eat when we're hungry and can get clothes here easily enough. We have our own rooms. Eda's way of caring may be a little unorthodox, but we have everything we need.
I used to not be close to my siblings, but we're getting better. My sister helped me dye my hair recently. And they both helped to try and set our parents' factory on fire.
[Normal teenage witch things!]
no subject
[ 'We eat when we're hungry' gives him an iffy feeling. Which makes him feel iffy about having an iffy feeling.
— Cale, that's called 'concern'.
He ignores the Super Rock's sighed comment. He definitely isn't concerned at all. ]
Just make sure you eat enough vegetables and protein each day. Proper nutrition is especially important while you're still growing.
Siblings that will help you commit arson sound pretty great.
[ He ignores the Fire of Destruction's mildly crazed, enthusiastic agreement. ]
no subject
[She won't turn her nose up at a healthy meal, for sure. But being the perfect daughter meant being in perfect shape. Everything in her life was controlled before, including food. She doesn't want to go back to that. She's understandably wary of such talk.]
They are! Even if it didn't work and we got grounded for it, it's the thought and effort that counts.
cw: reference to experiencing starvation
[ He had spent enough time during his early childhood as Kim Rok Soo on the cusp of starvation, leaving his body pitifully unhealthy for years afterward.
But since this kid is already fourteen and apparently had an overly-controlled diet until recently, Cale figures she has enough of a healthy foundation built up that not eating nutritionally balanced meals going forward isn't a big deal.
As long as nobody is starving it's fine.
— Yeah! As long as it's delicious and fills your belly!
Says the Indestructible Shield; a gluttonous priestess who died of starvation millennia ago.
This time Cale only pretends to ignore her and decides to eat a bigger meal than usual tonight. ]
Did you ever try it again?
no subject
[Even if he's worrying needlessly, it's best to be polite. And grateful for the kindness, of course.]
Sort of yes and no. We went back intending to TALK, but my mother wasn't interested in listening, and things got out of hand. We were more successful that second time, though.
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