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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).
no subject
For now, you're stuck dealing with me being exhausted on you. [As soon as he's able, he's going to take his arm off to spare himself some of the chafing going on there from being on the go for hours.]
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[Casey shifts a bit, working to get himself more under than against Leonardo's flesh shoulder. Mindful of the usual struggles, he casts a glance towards the prosthetic.]
I can keep watch while you rest. Why don't you take it easy? You really look like you need it.
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I've had longer days than this. [Minus the dying thing, shhh.] But, wouldn't hurt to relax a little.
[He loosens up, slightly. Still wound tight.]
I'll probably need your help getting up whenever we land. [He hates admitting that aloud, but, Casey would call him out if he tried to hide it.]
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[He doesn't even have to ask. The moment the ship sets down, Casey will be right by his side like usual. When he was too young to go on missions, he'd been Leonardo's little shadow, following him throughout the base. He'll be revisiting that old habit, at least for a while with sensei here.]
I've got a place here, you can stay with me. It's safe, and you can rest all you need. On a real bed, even! Oh, and sensei- there's showers, and no water rationing! You can use as much as you want of everything!
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He does laugh a little at that. Amusement clear enough in his smile.] A real shower? Dangerous to tell a turtle that, kiddo. I might just sit there and prune too long. A real bed, a real shower- sounds perfect.
[If this is death, he's very fine with it.]
no subject
[Let a turtle dad become prune-like, as a treat. Casey's growing giddy again, thinking about all of the foods he can get Leonardo to try, after knowing he's endured the same terrible rations and meager diet Casey grew up with for years. He can have pizza again! They can grab a slice- together!]
Looks like you're a Legend, too... no surprise there. [Eyeing where the Hamato halo appeared earlier.]
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A legend-? [The whole role thing leaves him a little at loss.] I feel like I've got a lot to learn already.
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[He'd fight anybody who tried to kick his sensei out of the shower. (Well, he wouldn't like to fight Hunter. But Hunter would be cool about it, so that's fine.)]
Um- yeah, there's a whole... role thing. Do you remember the fox talking to you when she brought you here? There's three types, and we get assigned one... Legend, Myth, Familiar.
[He would absolutely not blame sensei for getting overwhelmed, though, considering everything that happened right before, and all this stuff happening right after. Poor guy's had a very full day.]
no subject
Leonardo needs a second to think back to earlier when Thirteen approached him. He wrinkles his snout briefly before exhaling.]
Okay, that- does sound familiar. [He huffs as he adds.] Pun shockingly, not intended.
[He rubs at his eyes tiredly. He can tell, he is going to crash spectacularly soon. Damn.] It'll come back fully to me after I get my bearings. Legend doesn't feel correct for me, but, hell if I know.
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[His voice takes on a bit of a bossy tone, the sort he uses when Leonardo's being especially stubborn about what's best for him. Leonardo can give orders on the battlefield, and barring some very wild circumstances, Casey obeys all of them. But he's an expert in knowing when sensei's pushing his limits for stupid reasons. Just enjoy the shower!! (When they get there.)]
Of course you're a Legend, don't be crazy. You're a hero. You saved so many people, including me. You helped save the whole world! That's legendary.
no subject
Legend is more your style if you ask me. You're the hero, kiddo. [Deflecting is easy enough.] I suppose I'll take legend for the moment. Not like I can ask our local fox to change it.
no subject
Legends aren't all heroes, anyway. Some of them are just- nice, good people. Not fighters, just loving, supportive, strong in ways other than physical. He's not sure Rue would accept such a title either, but he can't think of a better role for them.]
...Anyway, I like my role! Familiars can turn into animals. I got wings that way instead!
no subject
Casey being a familiar isn't what he expected, but, it works just the same.]
Fair enough. I guess I can't fault that. Do you only turn into birds-?
no subject
[Oh shit that's right he hasn't told sensei about RUE yet-]
no subject
[He is in for an info dump, and utterly unaware.]
no subject
It's real! It's very real! Rue's an owlbear, here in this world! That's my mom!
no subject
no subject
[THAT'S RIGHT he just dove right into it, huh.]
-I said what I said! [Junior, that explains nothing.] Rue's really kind, and fun, and loving, and they adopted me here. I-I know I was already pretty grown, it's not like I needed a mom, and I wasn't trying to replace my mom either! I...
[He fidgets. He hadn't gotten a good read on Master Leonardo's response to Rue in the spoon shrine, and he didn't want sensei to think Casey was replacing him, after that part of the conversation. Still, he's not ashamed of the choice, either. Rue's done so much for him, helped to grow and to heal, and he loves them so much.]
...I'm not sorry!
no subject
His own feelings about the news is mixed? He's not even sure. There is some relief Casey has been taken care of by someone else. Someone else who has clearly helped him considerably.
There is also the uncertainty of where he would fit into things. He would just... get in the way of something Casey is clearly happy with.
His admittance of Casey being his son feels more like an intrusion now, opposed to the joyful moment it had been earlier. Casey was never meant to be his son in the first place, things had just... fallen into place at some point after Casey Sr and her partner passed. Casey had become his little shadow, trying to mimic him and there had been no going back from that.
Even if his own feelings are a jumbled mess, Leonardo keeps his expression carefully controlled into something neutral, but curious. ] You don't have to be sorry, Casey. I'm just trying to catch up. You're fine.
So, Rue is an owlbear. Good to know. [That feels safe enough to start with.] I'm glad you found people who make you feel safe and cared for. I suppose I should thank them later.
no subject
But at face value, while he is going to keep an eye out for future discourse related to this, Casey can accept the response. But if Leonardo's worried about getting in the way, the closeness at which Casey is still huddled against him may do a little to alleviate that immediate feeling.]
They'd thank you too, for raising me. For being my dad. [Because he is! Still! (Always!) And Rue knows it, and accepts it, even embraces it. He hopes that sensei can do the same.] Sorry, I know I'm throwing a lot at you all at once. Try to rest, okay? It looks like we're close to landing… we can talk later. After you get some R&R.
[Shower! Food! Sleep! And then talking SO much. He wants his sensei to be settled and safe, and he can talk those red-ears off.]
no subject
R&R, now that's something I never thought I'd manage. [He can joke about it at least.]
no subject
You'll learn. I bet it'll all come back to you quick- and whatever doesn't, I'll teach you. I'm a pro at it now.
[He sure looks more capable of relaxing than he ever did in their timeline. He's not entirely relaxing now, granted, but that's only because he has to stay vigilant so his sensei can do the relaxing, instead. He's older now, he's grown and stabilized. He wants to prove that he's someone Leonardo can trust even more than before, and he'll prove that by standing guard.]
/gently wraps here