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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
"I was working on more than one thing at once so with multiple jobs in the air, didn't give me enough time to sit and grab a meal. I live on coffee though."
He doesn't sleep much.
no subject
"One of those workaholic types," she sighs, "I hope you're better at eating regularly here. Yes, there's so much to do! More than we could ever manage in a lifetime, but this chicken, am I right?"
no subject
"This chicken is pretty amazing." He can't help but agree, crunching on some of the fried batter. "Hopefully, I'm also planning on taking a nap."
no subject
"Oh you can take a nap. I could show you the windmill housing here on Never Fade after lunch. With wings it's a short flight away instead of a metric ton of stairs." Usually, she parkours.
no subject
"Colour me intrigued." Windmills tended to be tall structures, and like any other bird, he loved perching in high places.
no subject
Gideon imagines it'd add some security against caprine intruders if there aren't stairs. Maybe they'd find a way regardless, but she'd like to see it.
no subject
"I can't see myself using stairs anyway." Hawks tended not to walk when he could help it.
no subject
Gideon considers all the stairs she's taken in her life. She may have skipped leg day, but doing all those stairs kept them in shape. Flying would have been so much faster but no wings back then. "Yeah, let the wingless disabled suckers take the stairs."
no subject
An amused smile out of him and a tilt of his head as he answers, "Ha, wingless as a disability. Very amusing. I think I'm the weird one though."
no subject
"Compared to wings and flight, it really is, isn't it?" Gideon asks. "On a pure ability level. Wings may be one on the social level, but so much opened up once I could fly. All those 'this many miles as the crow flies. that many more for you, you sucker' situations and more."
no subject
He grins. "Never met anyone who saw it that way, people think it's more unusual to have wings. It's not common, even among heteromorphs."
no subject
She grins back. "There's been at least three or four different ways to gain wings from trials in the time I've been here, not even counting the Legends and Familiars with wings," Gideon says, "I don't know if that gets us to over fifty percent winged here, but it's pretty common, and it'd definitely a step up from not having wings. As someone who's lived in the winged and wingless categories, it'd feel like I really lost something if I lost mine."
They might even have saved her mother's life. Gideon's not sure that'd be better for the universe writ large, and her mother never loved her... but she saved Gideon from Mercymorn. That's something.
no subject
"I really don't think I could imagine losing mine. I mean, I have for short periods of time, but they get back to 50% within three days so it's not too bad." At least for Hawks, it's not just the fact he can't fly, there's a lot more that goes along with it, including his sense of balance, and his other senses.
no subject
"Short and sweet recovery period," Gideon whistles and compliments. She sighs. "Not that I spend too much time thinking about going home, just a slightly less than probably wise amount, but I didn't have wings back there. The idea of losing everything from Folkmore..." She shrugs. "Doesn't sit right."
Nor becoming a corpse, but that's a little much for a first meal.
no subject
"Because I use my feathers for everything, they have to regenerate quickly. Feathers get damaged pretty easily, actually." Even his, although he does his best not to ruin them. It isn't pleasant for him.
"I haven't given any thought to anything like that yet." Hawks doesn't know Folkmore, or what he thinks of it. He's going to have to do some investigating.
no subject
"I never actually saw a bird or a feather before I came here," Gideon admits. "My wings don't even have feathers, but it makes sense what you say. Our skin scabs over and heals. Feathers gotta heal too or few birds would fly."
As for time in Folkmore and losing things from it? Give it time, Gideon thinks. So many people care about it, about losing their memories or losing the connections with people they don't have back home. For all Folkmore is about building potential, it also builds a ton of shit that it sucks to lose. Maybe it's only meant to be temporary. Everything in life is, but it's a sweet sweet spot it'll suck to lose. "Stick around longer this time and see."
no subject
"Broken feathers have to be discarded, but they grow back. Even if I didn't sling my feathers around, they'd break in flight eventually. It's just how feathers are." Hawks says helplessly.
"Sure, sure." He smirks a little bit playfully. He gets the impression he's been there before, but he doesn't remember. "I'll do my best, but uh, it'd be easier if I could go back and forth. I don't want to miss any important meetings."
no subject
She nods and accepts the lesson about feathers. Because you know who didn't know? This lady.
"It may be hard to believe, but you aren't missing any important meetings. You can think of it one of two ways. One, the whole world, your whole life over there, is on pause while you're here. You leave, and you slip right back where you were. No harm no foul. Two, you never left. There's a you going to every meeting there, doing your whole life's song and dance. I know, it might be cooler if you could update yourself across universes, but it's not how that works. Generally.
"You can always ask Thirteen to go back, but you may not get to forth."
no subject
He tilts his head a little slightly, cocking his head to the side not unlike a bird would, and he was quick to shift and rest his chin on his hand instead. A bit less natural, but more 'normal' pose.
"My life is on pause? That would be incredible, in the sense that it's hard to believe." Hawks muses thoughtfully. "Hm." He taps a free finger on the table, thinking. He doesn't know what to do about that.
"I can still protect people here though."