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folkmore mod ([personal profile] folkie) wrote in [community profile] folkmeme2024-12-13 07:16 pm
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December-January 2024-2025 Test Drive Meme

December-January 2024-2025 TDM
Introduction

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This Test Drive meme is open to all.

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.

Current players are always encouraged to tag new people on the TDM!



🦊 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.

[ Prompt OnePrompt Two]

Murder on the Folkmore Express .
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!

  • 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!
The Gift Train .
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!

  • 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.
fogsong: (123)

[personal profile] fogsong 2025-01-16 07:08 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Sharon blinks rapidly, trying to push the tears away, but the heat of them clings to her cheeks. So much has happened since the last time they’d seen each other. ]

Retired? [ Her voice is breathless, her eyes wide as they linger on the sharp cut of Jinx’s hair and the streaks of pink woven through it. From being a symbol to going back to just plain old Jinx. Her mind races. Just how much has happened? How many years? No more than handful, surely. ] You're gonna have to fill me in on fucking everything, you hear me?

[ She leans back slightly, sniffling, still studying her, drinking in every detail. Different, but still Jinx. ] Goddamn. [ And she embraces her again before finally, finally, pulling back. ] It's been almost two years since I saw you.
opheliac: ✖ palpo — powder (pic#17550273)

[personal profile] opheliac 2025-01-16 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[she laughs over sharon's mixture of emotions, her being so happy to see her yet also crying at the same time. but it's perfectly all right, seeing that jinx is basically doing the same thing — hugging one more finally time too when she tugs her in. so two years has passed for her? that... sounds about right. or maybe. nevertheless, the bluenette snorts over her best friend wanting to every single detail and waves a playful dismissive hand.]

Ooooh, come on! You really wanna hear me yammer on about everyone worshiping me, kissing my feet, and then having to go fight the Herald and his godly goons from causing the apocalypse? And THAT's not even the worst part...! — The most boring thing is me becoming a mom.

[she is exaggerating, of course. she loved being a guardian for isha, and she would give anything to turn back time to do it all over again.]
Edited 2025-01-16 23:35 (UTC)
fogsong: (002)

[personal profile] fogsong 2025-01-17 03:19 am (UTC)(link)
a mom? [ She shrieks, blue eyes wide. Yeah, yeah, worshipped, Herald, apocalypse, but a goddamn mom? That catches Sharon by surpise. ] Holy fucking shit, Jinx. Yeah, every detail.

Come on. [ She jerks her head, motioning down the road as they begin to walk. ] There's a tavern up here. We'll get some food, a couple drinks, and you can fill me in.
opheliac: ✖ malagraphic (pic#17526175)

[personal profile] opheliac 2025-01-17 05:02 am (UTC)(link)
Hmm, ya know, I could eat. I haven't had a bite since... this morning. Or is it yesterday morning now?

[it's really hard to say with time being the way it is now, but regardless, the teenager links her arm around sharon's — pacing alongside her.]

So two years, eh? Hope this joint's better than the old bucket. If not, theeeeen I guess I need to get a head start and make some gear.
fogsong: (220)

[personal profile] fogsong 2025-01-18 05:49 pm (UTC)(link)
Don't worry, this place beats Trench by miles—especially now that you've shown your face. [ Warmly and genuine. Folkmore can only improve with the addition of someone she loves.

The tavern comes into view quickly, its warm light spilling out onto the packed snow. It’s bustling inside, lively but perhaps a touch stuffy. The heavy oak doors have been flung open to welcome the chill, allowing a sharp wind to mingle with the hearty scents of roasting meat and fresh-baked bread wafting toward them. ]
Monsters are found only in a few locations, horrors are few and far between unless counting me, and... [ She leads them through the open doors, offering a small nod at a cheerful greeting from someone she doesn’t recognize. She navigates the crowd, still linked with Jinx, weaving past laughing patrons to a quiet booth tucked into a corner. ] ...mushrooms aren't the main source of protein. [ As evidenced by the large variety of food patrons are eating!

She slides into the booth. The clientele is an odd assortment, primarily animals. They chatter and laugh as though this is the most ordinary of places. Neither Sharon nor Jinx draws much attention. ]
We might be here to fulfill some weird fox god's curiosities regarding our potential, but it's pretty cozy. And we're not the only ones here from Trench, either, there's a couple of others here, including Vi. She'll be happier to see you than I was.

[ She wipes the remaining dampness from her cheeks as she looks at Jinx. It's still so hard to believe it's her. ]
opheliac: ✖ malagraphic (pic#17526179)

[personal profile] opheliac 2025-01-19 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
[as the duo walk and enter the tavern, almost everything sharon says thereafter becomes a buzz. it's certainly not on purpose, jinx is trying her best to soak in all the information her best friend is giving her. but she is becoming far too distracted by the brisk, the laughter, the sweet smells, and the smiles the workers and patrons are wearing.

the girl hasn't explored folkmore at all, but just this inn alone appears so heavenly, and she feels just by her presence being here is tarnishing the beauty of their happiness. it's when they both settle in the back that jinx returns to her senses, and she tries harder this time to pay attention about the details of this fox god, the warmth of this world, and how some trenchers made it here, including vi. the smile she gives is weak, and the anxiety begins to bubble behind her rib cage. ... this place is far too lovely for her to stay, it's practically flammable to her curse.]


That's... uh. That's great. I-I mean for Vi! I'm glad she's gotta a place where she's happy. Or I'm just rolling the dice here, eh heh.
fogsong: (037)

[personal profile] fogsong 2025-01-23 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[ Even after all this time, Jinx is still easy to read, her anxiety obvious. Sharon leans forward, expression sobering with concern. ]

It's great for you, too. —or it can be. [ But it's clear Jinx has gone through a lot in their time apart. She leans back again. ] Did something happen?
opheliac: ヽ(✿゚▽゚)ノ (with a little girl's dream)

[personal profile] opheliac 2025-02-04 06:15 am (UTC)(link)
[ the smile continues to be flimsy over her lips, and jinx shakes her head as if she's trying to brush off the subject so they can slide down a slope of another one. ]

Hey, weren't you dying to know about the mother thing? That's way more of an interesting story to hear about, right?
fogsong: (007)

[personal profile] fogsong 2025-02-05 11:11 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Sharon's stare is hard for a moment but then she relents with a shrug and a sigh. It's a topic she'll keep in the forefront of her mind but the mother thing (Jinx? A mother?) does sound pretty interesting. ]

Okay, tell me about your kid then. How'd that happen? What's their name? [ She kicks Jinx gently under the table. ] You don't look like you carried a kid for nine months.
opheliac: ✖ malagraphic (pic#17526138)

[personal profile] opheliac 2025-02-09 06:28 am (UTC)(link)
[ it seems her changing the matter worked (for now), and her beam shows its strength again. and when sharon kicks her softly underneath the table, she jabs right back — even trying to stretch out her leg to reach her knee. ]

Thaaaaat's because I didn't. Her name was Isha, and she fell from the sky. Literally. I was strolling along, and she fell off a ledge then landed right onto me. Some goons were chasing after her, probably to sell her. They do that, ya know. Take kids, sell them on the market for...well, who knows.

— So I shot them. And then she followed me home after that. I didn't want her around at first, tried to ditch her, tell her to scram. But... she wanted to stay with me. Even jumped in a middle of a fight just to protect me. Crazy, right? An eight-year-old having bigger balls than most dudes I've seen.