![[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:
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
He thrusts the blade forward, stabbing in under the jaw. The blade itself thickens and grows as he shoves his magic in through the blade. The snake writhes between the two attacks. But there is no way for it to get free.
And that’s when a second snake takes the moment to strike. Kaeya lets go of his sword, warned by his hearing and thrusts up his hand. A wall of ice is abruptly there like a shield, blocking the second snake’s strike at the Omen King.
As it withdraws, he drops the magic. He forms two blades in his hands as he moves back. The pinned snake is bleeding out. It isn’t a threat anymore.]
no subject
The spear in the first serpent has surely landed its deathblow, and so he dematerializes the spear of light, instead generating five throwing knives of light and launching all at the new foe with a hop backwards after his ally has defended him. This quickly changes into him turning light into a sword so he might hop in after the knives land to cut at the new beast ]
no subject
He dashes to the left. He opens up space for Morgott to swing as wide as he desires. He sprints up the wall. He doesn’t usually show his vision user speed and strength. It’s one of those things that makes others see him differently. He doubts that right now he will be seen as more than he is. He reaches the upper walk way and runs along it, getting ready. He is positioned for a drop from above, blades sharp like a wolf’s fangs.]
no subject
[ He senses the strategy in the other, and with the snake recoiling from those knives that hit and the light sword in his hands - he can see the other preparing himself both to allow him to strike and to make the finishing blow. So be it - he takes the strike while shouting that, cutting a gash in the speedy creature's side. But he's also trying it's attention.- to allow Kaeya to make a more deadly blow besides as Morgott is cartwheeling out of the way of a counter bite.
Again, far more agile than someone his size should be. Such is a demigod. ]
no subject
He uses the momentum of the fall to slam into the back of the snake's neck, blades biting deep. His partner in this combat trial is far enough away when his magic explodes outward like an icy flower, it doesn't even brush the king. The snake is half frozen, but very dead. His blades break into glowing motes before fading away as he slips off the snake and stands up. He adjusts his gloves, ears shifting to catch stray sounds.] Nothing else for now.
[Faint traces of magic linger on his fingers before it too fades.] But the sounds will attract sand worms. I suggest we keep going.
no subject
I know not where Thirteen would bid me go for this trial. Whilst thou lead me to mine destination?
no subject
[He turns to take in the room. He had come from outside via a skylight to the north. The room itself is vast, large enough to handle Morgott’s size. Kaeya breathes in. The scent of flowers he hasn’t smelled in ages drifts to his nose.
He stills for a moment and turns, to face an open door that hadn’t been there before. Torch light ignites further in. The door is large enough Morgott could easily pass through it. Kaeya considers the situation. That scent means something of his own trials are ahead.] This seems to be the way.
We’re considered a team right now, I think. Something of my own world might be thrown at us soon. That’s how this goes sometimes.
[He shakes his head and waits for Morgott to join him before he walks into the rickety wooden hallway beyond. The torch light turns out to be torches one can carry.]
no subject
[ Just to make sure this guy isn't working on that assumption, despite his own provocation earlier. Still, if this man knows the path and decides that exiting through the window the snake busted in through isn't for the best, then the King shall - for now - follow. Morgott has no equipment to spare, only the clothes over his back. And so with heavy footfalls, he catches up towards the new door and the scent of flowers. ]
But very well, warrior. Let us this Trial conquer.
no subject
[And the Fox loves to remind him about his past and possible future. Wood turns to stone in the hall. The angles of the stone walls seem cut precisely. A red sun hangs in the sky when glimpsed from the window. A ruined city. A field of pale flowers. Then the view is the same as it should be. Desert sand. Creatures roaming and going mad from something. But the black stone hallway hasn’t ended.
It curves to the right to a pair of double doors inlaid with unfamiliar writing and an eclipsed sun accented in gold. Kaeya steps forward and sets his weight against the doors. They creak ever so faintly.] This…is what I mean. It’s not my favorite thing when she decides to dig into memory for a challenge.
no subject
A large hand came up to press upon it himself, ]
What manner of curse or creature lay beyond the threshold?
[ Even as he asks, though, he's like. Pushing on the doors himself? No reason to hesitate in moving forward if it's a trial. ]
no subject
The room beyond is a vast arena with a being at the center. Like the king it is tall, and far larger than Kaeya himself. But the star on his clothes and eye is a four sided version of the eight sided star on the Lector. Kaeya’s face goes blank. Lightning crawls over the book in the Lector’s hands as words break the quiet, echoing unnaturally. Words the king can’t understand. Kaeya sighs.]
He is saying the truth of the world is false. The usual drivel. [He shakes his head and steps into the room. As he does a change comes over him. He walks with an easy grace and a regal air surrounds him. The Abyss Lector turns to face them, raising into the air. The air feels heavier, lightning gathers on the ceiling and floor poised to strike.
Kaeya’s eye narrows.] Make no mistake, being from the same place affords you nothing from me. You helped break the back of the nation. And are trying to break the back of the world.
[Pale blue threads of light spill over him and fill the air around him. An icy cold that is deep as the depths of winter forms a sword in his hand. He stands poised to charge into the fight.]
They drank deep of the Abyss. I don’t know if your light will be a poison to them, but I’m betting on it.
[He considers something then says.] I would prefer this encounter be kept between us. I don’t talk about this part of my history.
no subject
Mine light shall be in thine service for the coming battle then, knight. As you do service to I, so too shall this sinner be returned to whence it came. Further still, none shall hear of this encounter.
[ And to that end- ]
So let us ride ourselves of thy enemy.
[ Morgott has never fought a foe like this, but he suspects this Abyssal creature has never fought the likes of him, either. Better then, to start strong. He summons a blade of light to his hand, and holding it aloft, first a dozen and then a hundred small swords of light form overhead of all in the room. And with a flick down, they all begin to rain from the sky.
Let this sinner take the blows or, should they try to move to the very limited area this large attack will leave, be cornered to his ally's blade. Either way, he intends the first strike to be theirs. ]
no subject
And Kaeya uses his fae granted gift. As a blade of light hits the ground, Kaeya teleports, stepping out of the light it leaves, rushing the Lector. He brings his blade up in a slash that cuts into the Lector’s side. A massive hand grabs his shoulder and the sinner hisses something.
Kaeya sneers. The cold magic around him bursts into shards of ice that circle him and hit his opponent. He is thrown away. But he turns it into a roll to further widen the gap and leave room for his companion to strike.
And as he climbs to his feet, he pulls off his eyepatch. Threads of icy darkness rise from him as he brings his hands up and another lash of lighting is blocked with a thick wall of ice that drops the moment it absorbs the attack. But he snaps,] Oh, don’t focus on him. I’m right here!
[Ice rips across the floor and up the wall, stabbing out like a wave of blades. It drives the Lector further into easy attack range.] And I don’t have to hide today.
no subject
But as the rain continues, the other charges in and seems to - well, use frost sorcery to some great extent. Morgott senses that his role in this is to wait for a better moment to strike, to flurry about. And so, rolling along the floor to one of the breaks in his own (it won't last that much more, just another wave) of light swords, he summons up five more light daggers, throwing them at the Sinner ]
no subject
An unearthly scream seems to echo as the Lector teleports away to get distance from the light. The lightning is formed into balls and sent hurtling into the air. They hang suspended like bombs. Kaeya calculates a new tactic. Dragging this out would tire him and he has no idea what else is ahead. It is better he plays it smart.
His form ripples and a massive towering wolf of night dashes to the right, frost and wind rippling his fur. His form is covered in armor at the joints as he covers the distance at a spirit’s speed. The irony of calling him a shadow when this is what he can do as a familiar is not lost on him. The Lector spins and sends lightning lashing out in all directions.
Kaeya keeps running, soaking up the hit with gritted teeth, growling as his building sized wolf self races towards his target. The Lector gathers more power and sends concentrated lightning at both targets. Kaeya is forced to dodge instead of attack.]
no subject
Reverie can wait, though. Morgott once more contents himself to be damaged by the electricity, to allow
super armorpoisehis cursed body to take the brunt of the damage when the other backs off to leap forward, up, and present a threat which, given how it reacted to a mere dagger, shall surely either do the creature in or force it to move with such fear as to give his ally the opening her needs to deal a serious blow.There's pain running through him, but the Omen King has now formed his Light into an a truly powerful looking hammer he intends to crash down on the enemy ]
no subject
The lector runs, teleporting in a wash of darkness to get away from the range of that hammer. Its focus has been shattered by fear of the light. Kaeya takes advantage of it, continuing on his curve as the Lector sends bolts of lightning at the Omen King. He is terrifying to it with his light and lack of reaction to pain.
It launches a second attack after the first, and Kaeya comes at it from side, his massive jaws open wide. He bites down. Bones crunch. He gets the arm and side. It warps away before he can bite down completely. The Lector’s arm is useless and it lurches to one side. Darkness oozes out instead of blood.]
no subject
One dagger, for the other hand is generating another sword with which the king seeks to close distance.
Oh, he wishes he had his real sword. Not to least of which reason being that he can feel his own blood boiling within him in this fight already. He needs to contain his curse.
Oh well. ]
no subject
He shifts to the side to let Morgott get a hit in as he turns and slashes with his claws. The Lector still reeling from the light will go down under their joint assault. As the Lector fades the room stays stone for now.
Kaeya straightens.] …the fox gives anyone she calls familiar the power to shift. I’ve been here some time and gained in power. There are a number of things I can become.
I’ll cover the angles as we continue. [The markings of his secrets fade away leaving plain stone behind.]
no subject
[ It's a curiosity as Morgott says it, but he ... probably would find some offense in it as well. On the other hand, he might well feel liberated. For through his soul is Grace-Given, or so he believes, his flesh is still Omen flesh, blood tainted and cursed.
The King stands straighter as the battle ends, leaning his hands down below himself in such a way as to imply he would usually have a staff or walking stick or something. He centers himself with a deep breath, and then continues forward as the stone fades into existence around then. Challenges through doors, then. ]
no subject
I would have refused it if I had been given the option. [They’re back in the oppressive desert heat and rickety wooden halls. Some bit of an elegant banister stretches up the length of the upper part of the hall. He keeps speaking.] That’s why I have studied and practiced it. It would be the height of arrogance and foolishness to let it lie there without making sure I know everything I can about it.
That could be a trap, and I might have fallen into it. But I know the cage if that’s the case.
no subject
[ Though in truth, even as he says it, the king doesn't know how dangerous this change to the body is or isn't. In some ways, he's talking through his own feelings on whatever may have been done to him.
Back in the sands, he looks to the rafters, the walls... no beasts here, yet, but all the same, ]
T'would seem the trial continues. Can we not demolish yonder wall to be free of it?
no subject
…I’m not foolish enough to say I’ll never be tempted. But, I agree. Care must be taken. Or one will fall all too easily.
no subject
These walls look rickety, but if it's a trail they'll probably hold up to his attack. Even so, he summons that light hammer again, leaps forward with surprising speed, and makes to slam the heavy thing into the wall.
Normal would should splinter immediately, but hey, this might be metaphysically trapping them in the cold ]
no subject
No breaking the walls then. [The hallway remains the same as before but a fine cold fog hangs in the air. Kaeya walks on, summoning up an ice blade. Just in case.]
I can’t hear anything. But that doesn’t mean much. Sense anything?
(no subject)