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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.
no subject
It sits uncomfortably on his shoulders.
"It's called a krayt dragon. It's what the horns are from." He taps his knuckles against one. "I killed one back home a few years ago. Not sure I appreciate being associated with a creature like that. They do nothin' good."
He would've liked to be something good if he had to be anything.
no subject
He doesn't say it harshly, just matter of factly. Honestly, something powerful and able to survive the harshness of its reality suits Cobb rather well.
"I do understand the discomfort of her... "gift". The fact it happened without warning is disquieting."
He also hates that his body transforms, but it is what it is. He's had a year to grow used to it.
no subject
There are also better creatures on Tatooine. Cobb can admire massiffs and anooba even though they can be just as deadly. Powerful the krayt might be, Cobb still thinks of it as his enemy. Not a part of him.
"Yeah, well, like everything else I can't change it now." This is something he can do now. "I can choose not to use it though."
Cobb won't rely on becoming the dragon to protect himself. He'll still shoot first.
"But we're out of that place, at least." He nods his head towards the collection of buildings.
no subject
But he doesn't comment much more on it, the fact that Cobb doesn't comment on what he says means the subject is as good as over. Which Fenris respects.
"You can, I rarely if ever use my own," Fenris shrugs, because it's true, he doesn't really use his if he doesn't have to. He likes it better that way, even if sometimes high emotions or dangerous situations take over and force the issue.
"We are, now to rely on you and your expertise in the desert."
no subject
"You don't need teeth to bite," he says with amusement. "That sword does it for you."
Cobb's always been impressed by Fenris' fighting skills. He doesn't need to be a wolf to take people down. He does just fine on his own. He barely needs Cobb for backup.
This, though, this is Cobb's element. He's wandered the desert all over. He knows how to get them home. "Not that hard to get us back. Question is, we risk pickin' up weapons again?"
It might mean they get attacked again.
no subject
"Indeed, and I am hesitant to risk weapons, though being without my sword now means I may very well have to depend on my wolf form if we get attacked again." It was a huge wolf, he would be willing to fight as that to spare Cobb having to fight in a form that makes him so uncomfortable.
Fenris might now like it, but he's had nearly a year to get used to it.
"Mostly because I do not wish to risk entering the building again, her magics are such that the walls may very well close up behind us again if we do."
no subject
He nods in agreement. Yeah, they might get trapped again and he's really not in the mood for that.
"Here's hopin' one of those spirits doesn't follow us home," he says as he sets off in the right direction. He knows the general direction of the winds out where and how the sand flows. He can get them to the river and from the river back home safe.
"Your skin burn under the sun?" he asks. "Or those markings keep you safe?"
no subject
Even if Cobb seems to enjoy being out here.
Maybe he can put up with intentional visits with the man. With his sword.
"I do not know if it is my markings that protect me, but I do not typically burn, no. Not to say being under the blazing sun will not test those limits."
no subject
He does enjoy being in the desert. Cobb's at home and comfortable. There are times he considers moving back to his little trailer in Puca Park but doesn't seem likely with Chenini and how close it is to Fenris.
"Well, ain't you lucky." Cobb had been a little worried about how much of Fenris' skin was subjected to the sun. He's covered up but he always does even in the heat. Fenris is also barefoot which Cobb cannot imagine is comfortable.
"If you do get roasted I know a good salve for it." He winks. "I'll get those hard to reach places for ya."
no subject
Boy survived Kirkwall with barefeet, he can survive anything.
Fenris is lucky enough to wearing a shirt with a hood, so he pulls that up and over his head, at least protecting his scalp from the worst of the sun.
"Will you?" Fenris offers his own smirk. "Then I shall not lament my misfortune if I happen to burn horribly. My lover will care for me."
no subject
"These old hands might as well be good for somethin'." He shrugs smiling a little bit.
He'll have to come back to the desert on his own and see if he can travel like an actual krayt under the sands. It could be useful if people get stranded again.
Cobb leads them to the river with ease, pointing out notable landmarks along the way in case Fenris needs to navigate on his own. He figures passing on his survival skills is a good idea.
"Now you just follow the river along its flow and you'll get to civilization."
no subject
"Your hands are good for a great many things, I assure you, I've felt their uses first hand," Fenris smirks.
But he pays attention keenly to the way he explains how to navigate the desert, something that Fenris realizes is something he very much needs to stay aware of. He's a good student, asking some questions here and there.
"I see... will you be coming with me or are we parting ways here?"
no subject
He sighs heavily. "Unless you want to go back into the desert and rescue the stranded with me, yeah."
It'd be nice to be a touch selfish and wander off with Fenris but Cobb knows he can't. He really can't.
"I'm one of the few people who can get 'em out easily." Like he needs to explain his reasoning to Fenris.
no subject
So instead he steps up to Cobb and steals a kiss.
"Go, I'll only be in the way as it is."
He pauses and then nods.
"Would I be remiss to wait for you at your home? Or would you rather be alone tonight?"
no subject
"Wouldn't mind comin' home to you," he says softly with a gentle smile. He reaches out and brushes his knuckles against Fenris' cheek. "You tell me where you settle down and I'll come find you when I'm done. I'll head back when the sun starts to set."
He wasn't dressed for staying in the desert at night anyway and he doesn't have too much water handy. Not that Cobb needs that much to begin with given his lifetime growing up without plentiful water.
"Don't wait around for me if you've got things you want to do."
no subject
"Do not worry, I won't wallow uselessly for your return."
With that, he grabs Cobb's hand from his cheek and kisses those knuckles like he's some kind of knight or something. He was a bit old fashioned in the ways he likes to show his affection.
"I shall see you tonight then."
And unless Cobb stops him, he drops the man's hand and sets out to walk down river.