June-July 2025 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

June-July 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 One ★ Prompt Two]

Pirates of the Loreibbean . ★

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?

• 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.

So Said the Lighthouse Keeper. ★

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.

• 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).

Comments

[apuckalypse]

Ah- Uncle Tello! [Hastily Casey circles around to help Donatello stabilize himself.] Maybe you should sit down. We can still talk from the floor, and you'll need your strength when the pirates start fighting.

[He figures that part is inevitable, much as he'd like it to not be.]

[notapancake]

[Urgh he hates this, he hates still feeling weak. He's pretty sure he's not sick anymore, honestly something he will need to check once he's somewhere safer of course, but the Fox didn't seem kind enough to make him not feel like crap.

He lets out a short annoyed chuff at Casey's suggestion.]

I have the feeling if I sit down I won't be able to get back up, Junior.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey meanwhile is scared shitless that he is still sick somehow, and they need to either be very careful or keep him alive long enough for Thirteen's cure or something. Either way, he's going to do his best to keep his uncle as safe as possible.]

If you can't get up, I'll carry you! I can be bigger and stronger than I've ever been here! Just- please, let me help you this time!

[He can do a lot more than just hold Donatello upright as he ninpo-blasts a whole Krang army, now.]

[notapancake]

How about we avoid that?

[He was already a burden, he felt, near the end, he doesn't want to be one here and now.]

Maybe I can just... Lean against something that's not a cannon.

[apuckalypse]

[He's the only one who'd think of himself as a burden. But since Casey's not a mindreader, and the suggestion is an... okay compromise (for now) he extends his chainstick and shoves it into Donatello's hand.]

Here! Hold this for now. There's weapons below deck, I'll find you a staff.

[Much as he is antsy about 1) not carrying his weapon and 2) letting Uncle Tello even briefly out of his sight, this is a necessity. He'll be running off to the stairs before Donatello can really protest.]

[notapancake]

[That is Casey's chainstick in his hands, and Casey taking off before he can say anything about anything. So he just sighs and laughs a little before using the chainstick as support to stay upright.]

[apuckalypse]

[Casey's gone for a couple of minutes, digging through piles of weaponry of all sorts. Ordinarily he might just grab a basic stick and run back, but he's been through this sort of thing before- he knows that real treasures can be acquired if you're willing to work or really search for it. Finally, his efforts are rewarded.

Casey returns soon enough, a bit winded from running around, but looking triumphant as he offers out a familiar staff.]

Found it!

[notapancake]

[In the time that Casey is gone, Donnie allows himself to relax. Or at least let his tiredness finally take hold, so he is a little bit slumped using the chainstick a bit more than he should by the time Casey comes back.

So he will do his best to not make it look like he's more worn out, and smiles at the sight of Casey and a familiar staff.]

Good job, Junior.

[apuckalypse]

[He did his best, but ever since Uncle Tello's illness became a known thing, Casey'd been more keyed in on any sign of weakness or struggle. He knows his uncle hates it, so he tries to be subtle when he can. Sometimes it just can't be helped.]

This should be better for balance. [He'll take that chainstick back, thank you. And sort of... silently nudge Donatello closer to the rail so he'll have two sides of support.] I think that ball hit something, but there's nothing coming through the storm. Maybe the cannons can force them back?

[notapancake]

[This is the kind of thing that is going to lead to him snapping at the younger Leo later, Casey. But he is nudged as he gets himself situated with his staff.]

I mean, that makes the most sense. You tend to use ranged weaponry to keep your opponent from getting too close.

[apuckalypse]

[That's just the price younger Leo will have to pay (not that Casey knows it). What's most important is he stays safe and alive! Casey isn't losing him again.]

Yeah... so we need more cannonballs. [Uncle Tello's going to love this.] How much did sensei tell you about what happened, after? Or I can just- stick to Folkmore stuff...

[He knows they have to make emotional connections to create an effective cannonball, but he doesn't want to make Uncle Tello too uncomfortable either. It'll be tricky to thread that needle.]

[notapancake]

[hrn, hrm.]

How are things here, I heard you have a boyfriend now?

[Let's not talk about how everything went to shit after he died, let's gos about Casey's love life.]

[apuckalypse]

[Oh thank god. It's going to come out eventually, but he's happy to put off the misery as long as possible.

The mention of his boyfriend gets him immediately flustered, but he's smiling anyway.]

Sensei said that? He doesn't waste time at all... he already gave the shovel talk, too. [Is he gonna get another one or will Uncle Tello just laugh about it? He can't tell which is better (or worse).] Um- I do, though! His name is Hunter. He's a witch, don't hold that against him. He's not from Witchtown. [He's heard some stories.] He's actually from another world. He's nice, tall, pointy ears, blond. And- really handsome!

[Sorry, Uncle Tello. It's been like a year and a half now, he's quite smitten.]

His world got invaded by monsters from space, too, so we have a lot in common.

[notapancake]

[HONESTLY SPEAKING? Donnie doesn't care too much about other's love lives, up until it becomes his problem. So better hope Hunter never becomes a problem, Casey.]

Ah yes, Nardo told me about you doing magic with him too. [You got ratted on, young man. And the mention of monsters from space gets a look from him.]

That's an unfortunate similiarity to have.

[apuckalypse]

[He will definitely never be a problem ha ha ha (at least not as far as Casey ever thinks. It's totally fine).]

Ah- you can't get mad about the magic stuff. You all have ninpo! I didn't even know I could learn magic.

[Maybe a little defensive. He didn't think anyone else would be bothered by it, but Uncle Tello, famed magic-hater? Yeah.]

It does suck, yeah... he might not be able to go home, either. Or there might not be anything there for him. I... wanna find a way to bring him to New York with us.

[notapancake]

That is mystic energy, totally different things.

[And yet he was encouraging his Leo to get back into magic earlier, shhh.]

Mm, yeah I can see why you'd want to do that for him.

[apuckalypse]

[Casey sticks his tongue out, resting his chainstick against his shoulder and pulling a paper glyph out of his pocket. He taps it, and the paper crumbles and transforms into a ball of light, which he sends floating off away from the ship, where it hovers, a gleam in the clouded storm. (After a bit, a cannonball from the enemy ship comes blasting towards them, but it sails harmlessly through the light instead, off-target.)]

I think he deserves a fresh start somewhere safe. And sensei said it's fine if he makes me happy, which he does, so. [That's that.

He does briefly consider mentioning that he somehow unlocked borrowed ninpo here, but this feels like neither the time nor place. Anyway, he's only been able to use it with Raph, so it's sort of useless to bring up at the moment.]

[notapancake]

[Disapproving look at this magic shenanigans. But he says nothing about that, because of Casey saying that Hunter makes him happy.]

As long as he does that, that's all that matters, really. [Like, he's not going to say Casey isn't allowed to be happy. That would go against everything he and his brothers sacrificed for.]

Just as long as he doesn't become a problem, we're good.

[apuckalypse]

[Uncle Tello not commenting on magic feels like a small victory he will wisely not comment on himself. He'll take it and put it in his pocket.]

What kind of problem are you thinking of?

[Now he can't help feeling a little nervous. Poor Hunter.]

[notapancake]

What kind of problem, hmmmm...

[He's thinking about it, because he can think of a lot of ways a person can be a problem so just going to say this;]

How about a Leo-type problem?

[apuckalypse]

[Casey pauses.]

You... might have to be more specific.

[Sensei can cause so many different kinds of problems in the eyes of Uncle Tello.]

Unless you mean all of them.

[notapancake]

I might mean all of them.

[He's not serious, honest. But he will judge Hunter until he meets the young man.]

[apuckalypse]

[ lol, lmao. He's so preemptively sorry, Hunter. His family is weird and menacing as heck.]

I'm not gonna tell you to not mess with him, [that would be asking the impossible] just please don't scare him off.

[notapancake]

[MAYBE not tell your Magic hating Uncle that your boyfriend is a magic user.]

I make no promises, Junior.

[apuckalypse]

[Lying would be worse, mostly because Hunter is likely to blurt all sorts of things out because he panics. Better to hear it from Casey...]

I wouldn't expect you to. He's... really easy to mess with. Just try?

[Hunter, be strong... for your boyfriend...]