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June-July 2025 Test Drive Meme
June-July 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:
Old wood creaks and groans, barely audible over a howl of wind. Wet droplets of rain hit faces and soak into clothing. Clouds overhead are a murky gray, blocking out the sun. Though summer weather is often somewhat temperamental, a true storm has now hit. Both newly arrived Star Children and veterans may find themselves in the midst of this situation quite abruptly, standing on the unsteady deck of an old, grand ship. Those who run to the nearest rail and peer overboard may be shocked to discover a stark absence of water below. Instead, the view just goes down… and down… The land of Folkmore lies far below, as this ship is flying through the storm, its sails struggling to hold under the force of whipping winds. There is no captain, there is no helmsman- there is no crew at all to be found, only fellow Star Children. And yet… the ship is still moving full speed ahead through the storm, as if it has a destination in mind.
A resounding boom echoes, and those with a keen gaze may just spot something whizzing past, missing the ship by a hair. Was that… a cannonball?
Just like that, a second vessel weaves its way out of a deck of gray clouds, pulling up side by side to the ship the Star Children are on. Lightning flashes, illuminating a whole bunch of sneers across the way, along with some eye patches, bandanas and goggles. Sky pirates are attacking! It's clear from their animalistic features that they're local spirits, but they're hardly as benevolent as those typically seen in Folkmore.
Ready yourselves, Star Children!
Those who wish to return fire will find several cannons lined along the ship's deck, ready to be used. These don't work just like any old artillery, though. In place of those unwieldy metal balls, one must load magic into these cannons. Lore, to be precise! It even says so on a small metal plaque, attached near the firing mechanism: "Connection is one's true ammunition." Find a fellow Star Child and start chatting! The more meaningful the conversation, the grander the magic ball one may blast at the pirates with the cannons.
Unfortunately, the cannons alone are not enough to fight off the pirates, as several of them swing their way aboard with ropes. (Or just fly, if they're bird spirits.) Star Children can head down into the armory below deck to grab a weapon. Yes, even weapons from home (or items that can be improvised weapons) are available, and may be kept after the fight is over. Star Children capable of flight may even be daring enough to make their way to the enemy's ship and deal some real damage over there.
The ship continues to shake and creak and bob in the storm, which may complicate the fight, but not all is lost. There, in the distance, up ahead… A beacon of light flickers, struggling to be seen through the thick clouds. What is that?
Old wood creaks and groans, barely audible over a howl of wind. Wet droplets of rain hit faces and soak into clothing. Clouds overhead are a murky gray, blocking out the sun. Though summer weather is often somewhat temperamental, a true storm has now hit. Both newly arrived Star Children and veterans may find themselves in the midst of this situation quite abruptly, standing on the unsteady deck of an old, grand ship. Those who run to the nearest rail and peer overboard may be shocked to discover a stark absence of water below. Instead, the view just goes down… and down… The land of Folkmore lies far below, as this ship is flying through the storm, its sails struggling to hold under the force of whipping winds. There is no captain, there is no helmsman- there is no crew at all to be found, only fellow Star Children. And yet… the ship is still moving full speed ahead through the storm, as if it has a destination in mind.
A resounding boom echoes, and those with a keen gaze may just spot something whizzing past, missing the ship by a hair. Was that… a cannonball?
Just like that, a second vessel weaves its way out of a deck of gray clouds, pulling up side by side to the ship the Star Children are on. Lightning flashes, illuminating a whole bunch of sneers across the way, along with some eye patches, bandanas and goggles. Sky pirates are attacking! It's clear from their animalistic features that they're local spirits, but they're hardly as benevolent as those typically seen in Folkmore.
Ready yourselves, Star Children!
Those who wish to return fire will find several cannons lined along the ship's deck, ready to be used. These don't work just like any old artillery, though. In place of those unwieldy metal balls, one must load magic into these cannons. Lore, to be precise! It even says so on a small metal plaque, attached near the firing mechanism: "Connection is one's true ammunition." Find a fellow Star Child and start chatting! The more meaningful the conversation, the grander the magic ball one may blast at the pirates with the cannons.
Unfortunately, the cannons alone are not enough to fight off the pirates, as several of them swing their way aboard with ropes. (Or just fly, if they're bird spirits.) Star Children can head down into the armory below deck to grab a weapon. Yes, even weapons from home (or items that can be improvised weapons) are available, and may be kept after the fight is over. Star Children capable of flight may even be daring enough to make their way to the enemy's ship and deal some real damage over there.
The ship continues to shake and creak and bob in the storm, which may complicate the fight, but not all is lost. There, in the distance, up ahead… A beacon of light flickers, struggling to be seen through the thick clouds. What is that?
- Star Children (new and old) find themselves aboard a grand wooden ship, flying through a storm. Yes, literally flying!
- Sky pirates attack! They're just the local spirits, but a rowdy bunch nonetheless.
- Use conversation to load up a cannon with Lore energy, then blast it at the pirate ship.
- Alternatively, grab a weapon (possibly from home) from your ship's armory and start swashbuckling.
- Star Children can keep one (1) weapon/item from home and other basic weapons.
Content Warnings:
Other Star Children, both new and old, may find themselves drawn to the floating island of Never Fade. Up here, in the clouds, the storm rages just as fierce, and the native spirits all share the same worry: the lighthouse is broken. Indeed, up on the highest hill of Never Fade stands a towering white spire, its beacon dimmed. 'A ship is coming in at any moment', the spirits all whisper. 'And there's reports of pirates in the area, too. What will we do?'
The goats which are quite common in Never Fade join forces to guide Star Children up the hill towards the lighthouse. And if not guiding, then dragging, chompers clenched around the fabric of sleeves or pant legs as they pull. The rain does not slow, but the wind thankfully blows uphill. Best to just go along with it, so you can go take shelter from the storm inside the enormous spire building, because the goats won't leave you alone otherwise.
Just outside the lighthouse stands a very curious cat. It's so large, it's almost the size of a pony, and its fur is black. No, white. … No, it's black, isn't it? (It really depends on what mood it's in.) Karma the cat peers up at any approaching Star Children with knowing eyes. It dashes inside the lighthouse for a second, then reappears with an envelope in its mouth, holding it out for the newcomer to take. Careful- the paper might get wet in the rain! Come stand under the awning or inside the house as you read:
"The lighthouse keeper is on vacation. Please help! The beacon needs to be charged. We need positive energy to power the light, and negative energy to rotate the lens. Be nice or be mean, both are good! :)"
Are you up for the task, Star Children? Then stay in the lighthouse's near vicinity, or go right on up to the beacon, and do as Karma asked: Either compliment your fellows, or insult them. Share fond memories with one another, or commiserate on how terrible this situation is. Both pleasant conversation and nasty confrontation will do the job. Before long, the light springs to life and the great glass lens begins to rotate around it, a majestic beam of light revolving outward from the spire, piercing the dark clouds.
Those who wait around will see it: that great big wooden ship which comes flying towards Never Fade's docks to make port there. … Is that a hole in its side? And a cutlass sticking out of the mast? Confusion may make way for relief, as all the Star Children aboard disembark, surely bursting with a great tale to tell. Elated spirits bring out the hot soup, bread and all other hearty comfort foods to celebrate the successful arrival. Time to celebrate! Or raid the armory for a free weapon from home, if you haven't gotten one yet- with an emphasis on one, because Karma the cat will attack anyone who got greedy, be it now or during the earlier voyage.
Other Star Children, both new and old, may find themselves drawn to the floating island of Never Fade. Up here, in the clouds, the storm rages just as fierce, and the native spirits all share the same worry: the lighthouse is broken. Indeed, up on the highest hill of Never Fade stands a towering white spire, its beacon dimmed. 'A ship is coming in at any moment', the spirits all whisper. 'And there's reports of pirates in the area, too. What will we do?'
The goats which are quite common in Never Fade join forces to guide Star Children up the hill towards the lighthouse. And if not guiding, then dragging, chompers clenched around the fabric of sleeves or pant legs as they pull. The rain does not slow, but the wind thankfully blows uphill. Best to just go along with it, so you can go take shelter from the storm inside the enormous spire building, because the goats won't leave you alone otherwise.
Just outside the lighthouse stands a very curious cat. It's so large, it's almost the size of a pony, and its fur is black. No, white. … No, it's black, isn't it? (It really depends on what mood it's in.) Karma the cat peers up at any approaching Star Children with knowing eyes. It dashes inside the lighthouse for a second, then reappears with an envelope in its mouth, holding it out for the newcomer to take. Careful- the paper might get wet in the rain! Come stand under the awning or inside the house as you read:
"The lighthouse keeper is on vacation. Please help! The beacon needs to be charged. We need positive energy to power the light, and negative energy to rotate the lens. Be nice or be mean, both are good! :)"
Are you up for the task, Star Children? Then stay in the lighthouse's near vicinity, or go right on up to the beacon, and do as Karma asked: Either compliment your fellows, or insult them. Share fond memories with one another, or commiserate on how terrible this situation is. Both pleasant conversation and nasty confrontation will do the job. Before long, the light springs to life and the great glass lens begins to rotate around it, a majestic beam of light revolving outward from the spire, piercing the dark clouds.
Those who wait around will see it: that great big wooden ship which comes flying towards Never Fade's docks to make port there. … Is that a hole in its side? And a cutlass sticking out of the mast? Confusion may make way for relief, as all the Star Children aboard disembark, surely bursting with a great tale to tell. Elated spirits bring out the hot soup, bread and all other hearty comfort foods to celebrate the successful arrival. Time to celebrate! Or raid the armory for a free weapon from home, if you haven't gotten one yet- with an emphasis on one, because Karma the cat will attack anyone who got greedy, be it now or during the earlier voyage.
- Star Children who weren't taken to the ship may instead have been drawn to Never Fade, where the storm rages just as fiercely.
- Goats guide Star Children towards the lighthouse, which is broken. Karma the cat awaits them there.
- In order to get the lighthouse beacon working again, it must be charged with both positive and negative energy. Engage in either pleasant or hostile conversation with a fellow Star Child to help out!
- Once the lighthouse is up and running, the ship from the first prompt will dock at Never Fade, uniting all the Star Children for a great celebration.
- The ship's armory is still available for a free weapon (possibly from home), but anyone who got greedy and tried to take more than one will be confronted by Karma. Literally. (And lose the additional items).
b-ish for 'baby teetle give him trauma'
Were we always so small flits through his mind before its gone. A sentiment that keeps coming back to him unbidden. This isn't the first of his brother's he's run into during this, but it is jarring given who he and what he and Mikey grew into. The confidence and dry humor of age was gone, replaced with what Leonardo distantly remembered of their childhood.
The fact Mikey is about to be attacked is enough to propel Leonardo forward, more out of muscle memory than fully formed plans. He's moved between Mikey and the pirate, taking the brunt of the blow. It collides with his shell. The clatter of blade against carapace isn't any louder than the rest of the fighting around them. It's just something Leonardo knows he has to take care of later.
He manages a grin, trying for something encouraging.]
Gotta keep moving, Mikey. [He switches his katana between his hands, batting the pirate behind him with a practiced swing. Its clumsier than he'd like, but he's worn down after so much fighting.] These bozos haven't seen your razzmatazz yet.
dad says it's his turn to internalize all the wrong lessons
[In all the chaos it's hard to tell if Leo's slowing down because he's seriously injured, exhausted, or both, so step one is to get his (much) older brother some breathing room. He flings out the chains of his weapons, lassoing up the pirates closest to Leo and binding them together. The pirates have about a second to look confused before Mikey's flinging them into the air, cracking the chain like a whip and sending them crashing back into their own ship like makeshift cannonballs.]
You okay? [He moves back into position at Leo's side, sparing him a quick glance before refocusing on the remaining enemies.] The locals are usually nicer but they're not playin' around today.
you can fit so much trauma into these turtles
Watching Mikey fight like this feels nostalgic in a way he can't pin down. Leonardo hadn't realized how much had changed. Time rolling by means its all distant until... well, it isn't.
The breathing room is a relief, but he doesn't want Mikey to wear himself out. He takes another blow, be it to his metal arm now. Metal on metal is a grating screech, but the bladed weapon breaks on his arm first. He uses the surprise the pirate has to back hand them hard with the metal arm.] They're keeping us on our toes apparently.
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[The confidence isn't quite earned; the close quarters combat isn't doing Mikey a lot of favors, especially when he keeps getting distracted trying to keep an eye on Leo. He's used to fighting side by side with his own brothers, but this older version is enough of an anomaly he can't quite fall in sync. Case in point: the strictly old school, portal free swashbuckling.
Well. He'll figure out what he thinks about that once there are fewer cutlasses swinging for his head. For now he gestures to the edge of the ship where enemy grappling hooks have taken purchase. They're never going to make headway if they don't start cutting off the reinforcements.]
What do you say we stop more of their friends from hitching a ride?
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He won't hold Mikey back.]
You take the lead, I'm not as quick as you are. [It is an easy enough command on his part. He still starts in the direction Mikey pointed towards.] I can bat them off, you make sure they stay down.
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[He ducks low, dodging through the throng of pirates to get to the other side of the deck. He lashes out with his chain, alight with mystic fire undeterred by the rain, slashing the row of ropes connecting the ships and cutting off anymore would-be boarders. He whirls back around, the remaining pirates now conveniently stuck between him and Leo to regret their life choices. The look he shoots Leo is clear: ready to finish this?]
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He steps up to cover for Mikey, making sure any pirates that could try to hinder the teenager's progress don't get particularly far. Leonardo isn't as quick on his feet as he used to be, but he's still steady and strong. Fast enough to counter blows and keep things at bay.
The grin Mikey gets back is decidedly Leo. Devil may care kind of grin that makes him look less world weary just for a moment.
There are no portals, no displays of family ninpo showing off. It is all sharpened skill. He darts forward, plowing his way through pirates. Parry, strike, parry strike, disarmed. A few bowled over entirely. Only once or twice a blow is clumsier than intended, or shaky, but he recovers.
He is a well honed weapon, doing what he does best.]
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Casey said you were the greatest ninja the world has ever seen. [Watching Leo now Mikey can believe that, but more importantly, he needs to backtrack and make sure his original assumption was correct.] That's you, right? From- [No, it wouldn't be Leo's future.] From when the krang took over?
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Age and trauma have apparently taught him humility. He doesn't chase the title, nor seem comfortable with it.] I- don't know about the greatest ninja the world has ever seen. [He can only guess what his younger self must have felt hearing that.] I am from that future.
I'm glad Casey found all of you. [There is relief there.]
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So you know your plan worked.
[It's strange; saying that doesn't feel as celebratory as Mikey had imagined. Maybe it's similar to the way you gave up your world to save ours will always underpin his interactions with Casey, no matter how much either of them move on.
Looking at Leo now, he might finally understand what that victory really cost.]
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All I wanted was to be sure all of you were safe. That things would turn out the way they're supposed to.
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Well, technically Mikey has to first stop and elbow a pirate who can't read the room and back off in the throat, but then it's definitely time for hugs.]
They did. I'm really glad you get to be here, even if it's not New York.
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Leonardo bats back another pirate, swinging his arm to give them some breathing room. The crowd is thinning out at least.]
Here is still pretty good so far. Even if I gotta catch up with what everything is.
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Casey likes it. [And said the adjustment was easier than being dropped in the thick of things back in the city, so hopefully that will ring true for Leo too.]
Thirteen has a thing for bringing people in during really stupid situations, [a weary look at the pirates] but most of the time Folkmore's pretty chill.
got the icon for this, sorta, lmao
Leonardo awkwardly stalls for a second, trying to compute hug, but does return it with one arm, using the other to bat at pirates. Mikey is unreasonably small. It feels like he has a baby kola on him.]
I'll try to keep that in mind? This is a lot more... whimsical than I'm used to.
when will peepaw ever smile like that
This is way too much. It'll feel more real once we're back on the ground with the whole family together. [He puts a hand on Leo's arm.] There's so much I wanna ask you, but that can wait too. Are you hurt? Do you need anything?
ONE DAY, MAYHAPS
I'm- good. [Not the best lie he's ever told in his life. He at least covers it with some truth.] Tired primarily. I'll be fine enough.
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No one is expecting me to rush, but, I have to adjust and get on my own two feet.