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December-January 2024-2025 Test Drive Meme
December-January 2024-2025 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: hysical Entrapment, Fictional Crimes, Forced Engagement
Winter has come to Folkmore in full force, and with it, the desire for most to get to their destinations as fast as possible. The cold is bitter, after all, and nips at bare skin in most of the realm's regions. The public transport system becomes a safe haven for all; a perfect way to take a break in comfortable warmth as both spirits and Star Children alike travel along stretches of land. From the Cat Bus to the trains, to the submarines that lead to Tides, to even the hot air balloons which provide a beautiful sightseeing tour before touching down on Never Fade… There are more than enough public vehicles to board.
And this is exactly where newly arrived Star Children will find themselves: aboard one of the bigger public transportation methods. With a flash of light visible to all, their landing in this new realm is made known to all other passengers.
Something funny is going on, that much becomes clear within several seconds. Perhaps a nearby cat spirit will keel over dramatically in the middle of the train's aisle, pretending to have died. Perhaps a frog spirit will let out a loud croaking wail, proclaiming their precious wedding ring has been stolen just now. Or perhaps a timid little mouse will come up to Star Children, prattling on about how worried they are for their missing spouse. They are all acting, as is evident from their lack of skill in that department. They relish the opportunity to spin their little tales, their characterization often broken by mischievous smiles or hasty snickers into the palm of their paws. Once the stage is set and the story is out into the world, the spirits will look towards the nearest Star Children with clasped hands and hopeful gazes. 'Will you solve the mystery?' they seem to ask. Sometimes they'll even voice the question aloud.
One thing is for certain: Star Children have found themselves in their very own locked room whodunnit setup!
The puzzling scenarios have a wide range of possibilities. Perhaps someone vanished, with the questions being whether they've hidden themselves somewhere in the vehicle and why. Or maybe a mysterious spirit suffers from a sudden bout of amnesia. Who are they, and how did they lose their memories in the first place? Was that person lying on the floor poisoned? If so, how? What makes these mysteries extra difficult to crack is the very magic coursing through Folkmore. That heap of ash under a seat may be evidence, burnt to a crisp with fire magic. The 'dead' body may have been moved from the original crime scene through teleportation. Or the missing ring may have been enchanted to return to its original owner, which leads to the shocking reveal that the one reporting the crime was a thief all along. All cases range in difficulty level.
There is a catch. The transport will not stop until the conundrum is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The train will pass by stations, the Cat Bus will keep sprinting, submarines will circle Tides indefinitely… And the doors will remain locked, with even teleportation powers null and void. Star Children cannot disembark until the mystery is solved. Better work together to find those clues!
Winter has come to Folkmore in full force, and with it, the desire for most to get to their destinations as fast as possible. The cold is bitter, after all, and nips at bare skin in most of the realm's regions. The public transport system becomes a safe haven for all; a perfect way to take a break in comfortable warmth as both spirits and Star Children alike travel along stretches of land. From the Cat Bus to the trains, to the submarines that lead to Tides, to even the hot air balloons which provide a beautiful sightseeing tour before touching down on Never Fade… There are more than enough public vehicles to board.
And this is exactly where newly arrived Star Children will find themselves: aboard one of the bigger public transportation methods. With a flash of light visible to all, their landing in this new realm is made known to all other passengers.
Something funny is going on, that much becomes clear within several seconds. Perhaps a nearby cat spirit will keel over dramatically in the middle of the train's aisle, pretending to have died. Perhaps a frog spirit will let out a loud croaking wail, proclaiming their precious wedding ring has been stolen just now. Or perhaps a timid little mouse will come up to Star Children, prattling on about how worried they are for their missing spouse. They are all acting, as is evident from their lack of skill in that department. They relish the opportunity to spin their little tales, their characterization often broken by mischievous smiles or hasty snickers into the palm of their paws. Once the stage is set and the story is out into the world, the spirits will look towards the nearest Star Children with clasped hands and hopeful gazes. 'Will you solve the mystery?' they seem to ask. Sometimes they'll even voice the question aloud.
One thing is for certain: Star Children have found themselves in their very own locked room whodunnit setup!
The puzzling scenarios have a wide range of possibilities. Perhaps someone vanished, with the questions being whether they've hidden themselves somewhere in the vehicle and why. Or maybe a mysterious spirit suffers from a sudden bout of amnesia. Who are they, and how did they lose their memories in the first place? Was that person lying on the floor poisoned? If so, how? What makes these mysteries extra difficult to crack is the very magic coursing through Folkmore. That heap of ash under a seat may be evidence, burnt to a crisp with fire magic. The 'dead' body may have been moved from the original crime scene through teleportation. Or the missing ring may have been enchanted to return to its original owner, which leads to the shocking reveal that the one reporting the crime was a thief all along. All cases range in difficulty level.
There is a catch. The transport will not stop until the conundrum is brought to a satisfactory conclusion. The train will pass by stations, the Cat Bus will keep sprinting, submarines will circle Tides indefinitely… And the doors will remain locked, with even teleportation powers null and void. Star Children cannot disembark until the mystery is solved. Better work together to find those clues!
- New Star Children arrive in one of Folkmore's public transport vehicles.
- Spirits will re-enact locked room mysteries for Star Children to solve.
- Cases range from murder mysteries to missing persons, to simple theft.
- The vehicle will not stop until the mystery is resolved!
Content Warnings: Potential Information Reveal, Item Alteration
A cheerful ding rings out from each Star Child's Relic. It's a modest grab for their attention, a sign that something lies in wait. Checking out the origin, the recipients will find that they've received a message from Jewelia, one of Thirteen's aspects. It reads as follows: "It is a time for giving and a time for sharing. A time for friendship and a time for caring. Seek out this Star Child, and exchange with them a modest gift. Should you succeed and make the trade, then watch it shift."
What follows is not a name, but a list with facts. For example, a certain Star Child's role, which region they currently live in, what color their hair is, who their best friend is… It's all trivial data which, when put together, should point the seeking Star Child towards one particular individual. That's only the first part of the challenge, of course! Should they take the next step, they must give whoever they hunted down a gift. This can range from a batch of homemade cookies to a knitted sweater, to even a neat rock they found! It doesn't matter how big or small the gift is, whether it was bought or made… The present needs to be exchanged for something else.
As soon as the objects pass hands, they will evolve. They become nicer, or bigger, or tastier. The neat rock now shimmers like it's covered in eternal glitter. The knitted sweater now has a knitted hood to pull up over one's head. The cookies may take on a cutesy shape, or become more filling, with even a single bite enough to sate for a whole evening. The plain knife found in Folkmore becomes an engraved sword. This is the true power of sharing, and of paying good will forward.
Once an exchange is complete, each Star Child’s Relic will ding another time. A new list of facts appears, and they can repeat the process again. They have the option to give a new gift to their next match, or they can re-gift the item they were just given. There's no limitations to how much a single gift can upgrade, though objects will never become enchanted. They simply become nicer.
There's one more twist to this assignment: after three successful gift exchanges, the Relic plays an additional, cheerful little chime. A little victory note, almost. When the Star Child returns to their home afterwards, they'll find a small package waiting for them on their pillow (or whatever's close enough to a bed if they don't have one). Inside is a small item from their home world. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Just another reward for rising to the challenge!
A cheerful ding rings out from each Star Child's Relic. It's a modest grab for their attention, a sign that something lies in wait. Checking out the origin, the recipients will find that they've received a message from Jewelia, one of Thirteen's aspects. It reads as follows: "It is a time for giving and a time for sharing. A time for friendship and a time for caring. Seek out this Star Child, and exchange with them a modest gift. Should you succeed and make the trade, then watch it shift."
What follows is not a name, but a list with facts. For example, a certain Star Child's role, which region they currently live in, what color their hair is, who their best friend is… It's all trivial data which, when put together, should point the seeking Star Child towards one particular individual. That's only the first part of the challenge, of course! Should they take the next step, they must give whoever they hunted down a gift. This can range from a batch of homemade cookies to a knitted sweater, to even a neat rock they found! It doesn't matter how big or small the gift is, whether it was bought or made… The present needs to be exchanged for something else.
As soon as the objects pass hands, they will evolve. They become nicer, or bigger, or tastier. The neat rock now shimmers like it's covered in eternal glitter. The knitted sweater now has a knitted hood to pull up over one's head. The cookies may take on a cutesy shape, or become more filling, with even a single bite enough to sate for a whole evening. The plain knife found in Folkmore becomes an engraved sword. This is the true power of sharing, and of paying good will forward.
Once an exchange is complete, each Star Child’s Relic will ding another time. A new list of facts appears, and they can repeat the process again. They have the option to give a new gift to their next match, or they can re-gift the item they were just given. There's no limitations to how much a single gift can upgrade, though objects will never become enchanted. They simply become nicer.
There's one more twist to this assignment: after three successful gift exchanges, the Relic plays an additional, cheerful little chime. A little victory note, almost. When the Star Child returns to their home afterwards, they'll find a small package waiting for them on their pillow (or whatever's close enough to a bed if they don't have one). Inside is a small item from their home world. It may even be a weapon or magical item. Just another reward for rising to the challenge!
- Star Children receive a message on their Relic: a list of facts leading them to another Star Child.
- When they find this Star Child and exchange a small gift with them, the gift will evolve into something nicer.
- If a Star Child succeeds in three successful exchanges, they will find a small item from home waiting for them in their home, atop their pillow.
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Soap operas? Doordash? What is Doordash? [Truly an unfamiliar word to a man who hails from 2016 and hasn't set foot in America since 1995.] We were not home, we were on plane. Unless plane is home to you now?
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[This has officially reached actually worrisome levels of strange.]
Have you been in some sort of accident? Is this some sort of brain damage? Are you drunk? This is not making any sense.
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I... I don't know. I did hit head during prison escape, but I got up after that. We went to see Melina in St. Petersburg, did we not? [Did he dream that up? Is he still in the dream right now? That would explain the mouse people.]
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That is the last thing you remember? St. Petersburg?
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No? Then we went to Red Room, remember? [A beat, then he grins with pride, tilting his head.] And you. You got Dreykov good. Swallowed him up in great big explosion.
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[And that particular memory does make Yelena smile, even while grappling with what she knows that Alexei doesn't. One of the top 3 best moments of her life, easily.]
But that was, what, seven or eight years ago.
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I do not know why I have amnesia, head is fine... And clothes... [He looks down at his old, worn, Red Guardian suit. If that was seven or eight years ago, why would he still be wearing it? He would've at least gotten it washed and touched up.] ... This is what I wore, yes? When we went to the Room?
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That is what you wore, yes. And you still have it, but you have washed it, in the last few years.
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I do not understand. It feels like elaborate trick, but why? [He raises a hand to his right cheek, feeling the area that got scuffed up after Ursa punched him. ... Yep, still sore.] This injury... I get during prison break.
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And it has not gotten better?
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[Which is not to say that it hasn't gotten better, but he's taking the 'blacked out for a few hours, maybe a night' into account. Super soldier physiology is no joke. Still, it's sore, not completely healed, so the damage can't have been done too long ago.]
... You are sure it has been eight years?
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[Which, given her life experience, is definitely not impossible. Frighteningly, she can think of more plausible reasons for someone to do that to her than she can to explain him forgetting. If that does turn out to be the case, though, she is going to have to find the Fox and reject the offer, to go back and handle whoever was responsible.]
But if the plane was the last place we actually were, I do not see why anyone there would do that.
[Well. She hopes. It adds a horrifying tint to the possibility, which was bad enough already.]
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Once he's drawn in a deep, steadying breath, he tries a different approach to the situation.]
Well. It is alright. We are together, and that is most important. [With that said, he steps closer to try and sling an arm around her shoulders, so he pull her into an embrace. His parenting techniques are still awkward, but he's trying. Whether Yelena will allow it is a whole other matter.]
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She'll allow it. She'll lean into it, even, although she does have to make a face as well to balance that out. The difference those years have made.]
That was much better than the pissing on hands story. You still smell, though.
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You know... I can share other stories. Better ones. I can tell you all about growing up in Mother Russia now.
[It was something he couldn't really do when they were still living in Ohio, because a young child offhandedly mentioning that her Very American Father had a past in Russia would raise far too many alarms. The mission always came first. But now? Now he's free to tell her all about who he is and what he lived through. Not to brag, but so that she can get to know the real him.]
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[It's a perfunctory objection, no real weight to it. It would not be the coolest way to die, but it would rank above plenty of other near death experiences Yelena's had.]
If you had better stories, why did you not go with one of those then?
[She is curious, though.] Okay, fine. You can tell me about that, but we will need drinks for that. And right now it seems like the mouse people still want something from us.
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Aah, right. Mouse people. [He turns to glance the little mouse's way. She's been standing by with an impatient look on her face this entire time.] You have answers for us, little one? Or questions?
[The mouse instantly dips into an elaborate, high-pitched story. Most of the squeaking is still too fast for Alexei to understand, but he's pretty sure he hears the word "murder" in there.]
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There has been a murder or there will be a murder? I cannot tell which you said.
[Of course it would be easiest if the mouse was asking them to do a murder, but that would seem even stranger than the fact that such an adorable little creature would talk about murder at all.]
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Well. He should hope that wasn't a normal person before.]
I think... I think there is victim.
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[Oops, that was rude. Yelena winces, gets a little closer to the puddle. Oh, the eyes are still moving. How is this as disturbing as it is to her, given the line of work she's still in?]
...Sorry.
Did it - they - get smooshed? Or... melt?
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Maybe... Hit by high-tech melt beam? Weapons are getting more and more advanced these days, no longer simple gunpowder pistols. Who knows what is out there.
[The mouse spirit blinks, confused, while a few others try to hide snickers behind their paws. Finally, she points towards a mysterious package lying on the floor. It looks to be cloth wrapped tightly around some sort of shiny object. An amulet, perhaps? Cursed, perhaps???]
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But oh well, if such things are not of concern for the spirits, good for them.
She follows the mouse spirit's point with her eyes, and sighs.] Is this what - killed them? [She nudges the package with her foot.]
I am not picking that up. You can.
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Alright.
[He's wearing gloves and he's smart enough to pick the package up by its wrappings, careful not to touch the metal directly, so he's sure this should be fine. He crouches down, reaches out with one hand and hesitates for a split second. Then his fingers touch down on the package and he lifts it up from the floor with a careful hold. Some more of the wrapping falls away to expose the amulet itself. ... It's a skull with crossbones.]
Mm. Discreet.
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Well, why would you touch that? It is the symbol for poison. You should know better.
Alright. Did anyone see anyone with this package, before the blob person had it? Did they take it from someone?
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The other spirits all exchange glances and quick mutters, but nobody seems to stand out. Nobody but a grubby little mole spirit, who starts rubbing its paws together in an antsy manner, squinty eyes hidden behind a pair of shades with small rounded lenses. It starts backing towards the compartment's door. Alexei spots him just in time.]
Little mole man is attempting an escape!
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