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August-September 2024 Test Drive Meme
August-September 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 a canon item from home, 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: Potential Wilderness Survival, Potential Death
New Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy, the largest school in Folkmore. They might arrive in the medical wing, or they could arrive in areas of the school that don't look like a school at all: forests with animals to hunt or gather, including for their medicinal properties; rocky crags with climbing routes; fields full of growing grains; meadows with sheep covered in soft wool; lakes and rivers with unusual denizens. It's like a miniature of Folkmore all in one school.
A fox with a clipped ear and a few scars greets each Star Child upon arrival. She explains that while things can be summoned with Lore, the best survivors learn to scavenge and to find what they need. New Star Children haven't earned much Lore yet, so that surely applies to them double. In fact, as befits a survival school, there are items that will help Star Children survive hidden all around and immediately outside the school. Star Children are directed to make a list on their Relic of everything they think they need to survive. Once made, the list cannot be changed. They will be more likely to find those items than others (though it will not be impossible).
Race, jog, or stroll around the expansive school in search of these items: clothes, bags, first aid kits, tents, survival supplies, etc. They might be harder to find than expected as they will be miniature and in little cubes aka survival squares (a misnomer). These cubes may be tucked away above, below, beside, or inside something. They also may float against a rock face or in the air among tree branches. The most likely locations are those densest in Lore. The longer Star Children explore, the more they will realize that these cubes are best and most easily obtained by working together. In fact, they will try to dodge and avoid the grip of a Star Child more than ten feet away from any other Star Child. Perhaps that's because two Star Children interacting are creating Lore and a Lore dense location? Once two Star Children touch the cube at the same time, the cube will disappear, and the item inside will grow to full size. Congratulations on being one step closer to survival. Remember to share.
Come mid-September, few cubes will remain inside the school. Star Children will have to check the perimeter of the school to find more survival squares. That task grows exponentially harder as the cubes are in the molasses-thick moat of concentrated Lore surrounding the school. Should anyone dip their spoon in the moat, in the Lorasses if you will, they will find that it tastes sweet, a rich spicy sweetness. Amazing! Less amazing? It is impossible to get past the moat of Lorasses. No matter how strong a swimmer or oarsman, it is impossible to make headway through or atop the Lorasses. Anyone attempting to fly across the moat will find themselves slapped by a giant sticky slappy hand rising like a goliath from the depths with perfect aim. Star Children can find themselves slapped anywhere from the shore to the center of the school. Star Children are free to get creative with ways to dig the survival squares out of the Lorasses, but beware! They'll have difficulty freeing themselves on their own from the sticky substance, should they fall in.
Since Star Children are likely to find themselves in sticky situations quite literally, they may be pleased to know that Amrita Academy has showers available for use. Unfortunately, due to one student's experiment, the shampoo is all made of beer. That's right, beer. It's good for one's hair! Or so the study should demonstrate. Be sure to fill out a feedback card outside the locker rooms.
New Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy, the largest school in Folkmore. They might arrive in the medical wing, or they could arrive in areas of the school that don't look like a school at all: forests with animals to hunt or gather, including for their medicinal properties; rocky crags with climbing routes; fields full of growing grains; meadows with sheep covered in soft wool; lakes and rivers with unusual denizens. It's like a miniature of Folkmore all in one school.
A fox with a clipped ear and a few scars greets each Star Child upon arrival. She explains that while things can be summoned with Lore, the best survivors learn to scavenge and to find what they need. New Star Children haven't earned much Lore yet, so that surely applies to them double. In fact, as befits a survival school, there are items that will help Star Children survive hidden all around and immediately outside the school. Star Children are directed to make a list on their Relic of everything they think they need to survive. Once made, the list cannot be changed. They will be more likely to find those items than others (though it will not be impossible).
Race, jog, or stroll around the expansive school in search of these items: clothes, bags, first aid kits, tents, survival supplies, etc. They might be harder to find than expected as they will be miniature and in little cubes aka survival squares (a misnomer). These cubes may be tucked away above, below, beside, or inside something. They also may float against a rock face or in the air among tree branches. The most likely locations are those densest in Lore. The longer Star Children explore, the more they will realize that these cubes are best and most easily obtained by working together. In fact, they will try to dodge and avoid the grip of a Star Child more than ten feet away from any other Star Child. Perhaps that's because two Star Children interacting are creating Lore and a Lore dense location? Once two Star Children touch the cube at the same time, the cube will disappear, and the item inside will grow to full size. Congratulations on being one step closer to survival. Remember to share.
Come mid-September, few cubes will remain inside the school. Star Children will have to check the perimeter of the school to find more survival squares. That task grows exponentially harder as the cubes are in the molasses-thick moat of concentrated Lore surrounding the school. Should anyone dip their spoon in the moat, in the Lorasses if you will, they will find that it tastes sweet, a rich spicy sweetness. Amazing! Less amazing? It is impossible to get past the moat of Lorasses. No matter how strong a swimmer or oarsman, it is impossible to make headway through or atop the Lorasses. Anyone attempting to fly across the moat will find themselves slapped by a giant sticky slappy hand rising like a goliath from the depths with perfect aim. Star Children can find themselves slapped anywhere from the shore to the center of the school. Star Children are free to get creative with ways to dig the survival squares out of the Lorasses, but beware! They'll have difficulty freeing themselves on their own from the sticky substance, should they fall in.
Since Star Children are likely to find themselves in sticky situations quite literally, they may be pleased to know that Amrita Academy has showers available for use. Unfortunately, due to one student's experiment, the shampoo is all made of beer. That's right, beer. It's good for one's hair! Or so the study should demonstrate. Be sure to fill out a feedback card outside the locker rooms.
- All new Star Children arrive in Amrita Academy.
- Star Children are greeted by a fox who prompts them to write a list of what they need to survive. These lists cannot be changed once made.
- Star Children search for tiny cubes with survival supplies, especially ones on their lists.
- Star Children must work together to catch & open the cubes.
- Come mid-September, Amrita Academy is surrounded by a Lore-rich molasses moat—Lorasses. Thou shalt not pass.
- Once the moat arrives, most cubes are in the moat. Shower to get clean afterward with beer for shampoo.
Content Warnings: Forced Close Contact, Coerced Behavior
It can be stressful to arrive in a new place among strangers and strange things. It can be even more stressful, sometimes, to be among people one knows. The fact remains that in Folkmore, no one is an island. The Shattered Spoon Shrine is a testament to that. Interact or perish. Those interactions usually don't even have to be positive. An emotionally charged argument generates Lore same as a touching reunion. However, Amrita's iteration has taken charge of Folkmore this month. She values cooperation and connection.
What does this mean for Star Children? It's time to get along.
When Star Children fight—physically, vocally, emotionally—they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt. This plain white t-shirt has 'This is our get along shirt' written on it on both sides, one in each Star Child's handwriting. (If a Star Child does not have handwriting, Thirteen will invent a handwriting she feels best represents them). The shirt works exactly as written on the tin. Until the two Star Children can get along, they will be stuck together in the shirt. Getting along can look a few different ways. It could be working through the reason they were fighting. It could be cooperating to accomplish something else. It could be helping someone else together. It could be large or small. Somehow, Star Children will have to get along to accomplish something.
The shirt will disappear, leaving them standing next to each other, only to reappear duplicated in each of their hands, perfectly sized to fit each individual. Should they so choose, either can be used for a repeat performance, with both of them trapped inside again. While the same condition will apply—they must get along to get out of the shirt—the shirt will now make it easier for them to work it out. Note: only the two people who originally wore the shirt can put it back on. No one else can wear these shirts.
One time only, a Star Child's cooperative escape will have an additional prize: their souvenir t-shirt will be wrapped around an item from either their home universe or their partner's. That's right, getting along can get a Star Child something from another universe.
It can be stressful to arrive in a new place among strangers and strange things. It can be even more stressful, sometimes, to be among people one knows. The fact remains that in Folkmore, no one is an island. The Shattered Spoon Shrine is a testament to that. Interact or perish. Those interactions usually don't even have to be positive. An emotionally charged argument generates Lore same as a touching reunion. However, Amrita's iteration has taken charge of Folkmore this month. She values cooperation and connection.
What does this mean for Star Children? It's time to get along.
When Star Children fight—physically, vocally, emotionally—they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt. This plain white t-shirt has 'This is our get along shirt' written on it on both sides, one in each Star Child's handwriting. (If a Star Child does not have handwriting, Thirteen will invent a handwriting she feels best represents them). The shirt works exactly as written on the tin. Until the two Star Children can get along, they will be stuck together in the shirt. Getting along can look a few different ways. It could be working through the reason they were fighting. It could be cooperating to accomplish something else. It could be helping someone else together. It could be large or small. Somehow, Star Children will have to get along to accomplish something.
The shirt will disappear, leaving them standing next to each other, only to reappear duplicated in each of their hands, perfectly sized to fit each individual. Should they so choose, either can be used for a repeat performance, with both of them trapped inside again. While the same condition will apply—they must get along to get out of the shirt—the shirt will now make it easier for them to work it out. Note: only the two people who originally wore the shirt can put it back on. No one else can wear these shirts.
One time only, a Star Child's cooperative escape will have an additional prize: their souvenir t-shirt will be wrapped around an item from either their home universe or their partner's. That's right, getting along can get a Star Child something from another universe.
- When Star Children get in a fight of any kind, not just physical, they get stuck together in a magical t-shirt.
- The shirt says “This is our get along shirt” front and back in characters’ own handwriting (or imagined handwriting).
- As written on the tin, Star Children are stuck until they figure out how to get along
- When they separate, both partners will get a copy of the t-shirt that fits them. They can choose to get back into said t-shirt together to figure out how to get along easier in the future.
- One time only, Star Children receive an item from their home universe or their partner’s.
no subject
A bad thing when it comes to being able to watch out for both of them, though, and part of his mind is immediately reworking some things.
It isn't a question that he's going to be looking out for her - for both of them. For all he knows, neither of the Hawkes here are the one from his world, but it doesn't matter. He's not drunk enough to admit to being that sentimental, but he can't imagine a world where they aren't best friends. It just means that somewhere out there, there's a version of him that lied the Seeker's face to protect her, and to the Void if he isn't going to make sure to keep it up where that Varric can't.
Well. He'll figure it out, once he has a better idea of how things work here.
"How long have you been stuck here?"
(CW: threat to animal--fox)
She knew he'd want to watch out for both of them. Which seemed like a tall order, but if anyone could pull it off, it's Varric. She hadn't let herself dwell on how much she'd missed him, but now it all comes rushing back with a surge of affection.
Hawke would have his back as well. She couldn't imagine doing anything else for him. Though, she still worried that her choices in life would upset him. Anders. Falling for Sebastian. Marrying Sebastian. Those confessions wouldn't come easy, she knew that for sure, but she had to start standing up for herself more here. She'd spent too long feeling like she was lesser somehow, that wasn't going to help anyone, least of all here.
"Yeah, that's the bad news...two and a half years. If I ever get a hold of that fox, I'm wringing its fucking neck."
no subject
He doesn't miss that part about protecting him, but honestly, he wouldn't have expected any different. Him and Hawke watching out for each other - it's kind of just what they do, isn't it? As much as he might try to deflect back home, in a place like this, he sure they could both use it.
Two and a half years? It's - hard to think about that, actually. Sure, he hadn't physically seen the Hawke from his world in a while before everything with the Grey Wardens, but they were in as constant communication as possible. As much as he hated Hawke being on the run and wanted to change that, it never felt like he couldn't just go pack up and join if he really wanted to.
He knows there's nothing he could have done about it, but he still doesn't like the idea of it having been so long.
"We're way past fashionably late for me to show up, then, but I guess it's better than never."
no subject
It is what they do. Ever since they met and Hawke wanted to literally jump for joy that Varric was here, here and still her friend, here and she knew eventually she'd have to mention that she was Princess Consort Choir Boy, but she could handle that. "So...lemme guess, I'm not the Hawke you're used to?"
Two and a half years and it all felt like forever. And the last thing she wanted to think about was the incident with the Wardens and the Fade. If she never went back into the Fade ever again, it would still be too soon. And poor Stroud, he'd been such a good sport about staying behind and letting the rest of them escape.
She still didn't want Carver within the Wardens' grasp ever again, though. And her little jaunt to Weisshaupt had sucked.
"Exactly! Besides you're you, you can't help making a big entrance. It's your inherent awesome shining through."
no subject
Conveniently ignoring that Varric himself has also said it, of course. Many times. And yet every time he's right there in the middle of all that weird shit, and he wouldn't have it any other way.
Varric sobers, just a little, when she asks that.
"No," he admits. "But you're Hawke, and that's all I need to know."
He'd like to know more, sure, to find out what's different and what's the same, but - he can't imagine at the core of either of them there'd be so much changed that he wouldn't recognize her.
Sentimental of him, he's aware, but he doesn't want to imagine a world where they aren't best friends.
Varric laughs again at that. "With how many big entrances I've had to make now, I do have it down to something of an art. You haven't done so bad yourself on those."
(CW: imposter syndrome)
She couldn't imagine it any other way, either. Now that he's here, she realized she'd been missing him to the point where part of her felt empty. Maybe that had been part of her reason to adjust so badly at first. All she could do was dwell on home and what she'd done and what she hadn't done. She's getting better at not doing that anymore, but it's always a tempting topic.
"Kinda figured. I'm...as far as I can tell, I'm now the one from furthest in the future. Want any spoilers," she asked with a wicked grin.
Hawke hadn't been able to recognize herself for longer than she cared to think about. For two years, her network username was a denial of her status as Champion of Kirkwall. She needed to start asserting herself again. Within reason.
And she hopes that the Princess Consort Choir Boy wouldn't be too much of a shock. Part of her wanted to blurt it out, rip off the bandage, but she'd learned a thing or two about her sense of humor here and that was that not everyone appreciated it in the wild.
"Yeah, but yours are classy and cool. Mine are more like yanking the nearest person in and yelling at them to pay attention to me. Oldest sibling complex with a large dose of imposter syndrome," she said with a wry smile.
no subject
He's joking again, of course, but part of him can't help but mean it a little. Personal self reflection is not high on his to do list.
"You know, I've never been on this side of the spoiler conversation. Huh." He considers for a moment. "Let me get back to you on the general state of things. What I want to know is what you've been up to."
Everything else - well. It'll either be the same and he'll live through it, or it'll be different and he won't have to. What's most important is Hawke herself.
no subject
"But, uh. Speaking of royally? Guess who's married!" Time to do it. Rip off the bandaid as people here said. Andraste knew she'd gotten enough shit from everyone for dating Choir Boy, but the whole wedding thing? Even Fenris has thought that weird.
But she knew Varric would at least try to understand. She also knew that she'd do a lot to reassure him. For one thing, Starkhaven was changing and she knew she had a big role in that. A little less stuffy and snooty. Which was good!
no subject
That's another thing they have in common, after all.
Before he can figure out how to broach the subject of if she's really doing okay, she brings up being married, and that?
Okay, that he definitely wasn't expecting.
"Who's the lucky person?" Or unlucky, maybe, considering if they're here Varric is definitely going to have to have a talk with them.
no subject
And Hawke absolutely blamed herself for everything. For the things she'd done, the things she hadn't done, the things which seemed like a good idea at the time, and the things done in the heat of the moment she wishes she had tried to think through or mediate. So many things! So having everyone get a potential view of Hawke's Greatest Hits was kind of miserable.
She is as always a master of redirection.
But no distracting from this, right? She takes in and lets out a long breath, then goes for it. "Choir Boy! To, uh...to me?"
And Hawke braces herself.