February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme

[folkie]

February-March 2024 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 canon items from homes 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.

[ Soon You'll Get Better ★ Netfox & Chill]

Soon You'll Get Better . ★

Content Warnings: Power Nullification, Potential Kidnapping, Potential Animal Spirit Harm

The island of Never Fade can no longer be seen in the sky from elsewhere in Folkmore, enclosed within a large purple tinted cloud. Within that cloud, the island is under water—a dreamy purple underwater that all Star Children can breath in if they breath and function in if they function on electricity, so on and so forth. It causes no more difficulties than reduced visibility and greater effort to walk. It's even possible to swim underneath the island, so long as Star Children make sure to make landfall before they get too exhausted and… well… fall.


Friendnapped

The purple water has streaks of silver shot throughout it. Beware, these silver streaks neutralize powers, canon and role abilities alike, for at least an hour. A neutralized Legend won't be able to sense others in danger. A neutralized Myth won't sense danger coming. A neutralized Familiar won't be able to shapeshift to help others. That may set of a danger alarm but not any spidey-sense. These silver streaks are harbingers of spirits recently returned to Folkmore thanks to donations at the Shattered Spoon Shrine: lonely sharks.

The source of the silver streaks in the water, these silver gray sharks swim up and gently bite people. These bites make people go instantly limp but otherwise don't do any damage. They won't even break the skin. Once limp, the lonely sharks take their prey new best friends down to a cave or grotto off the underside of Never Fade. These caves are full of silver water, saturated by the magic of lonely sharks, and the entrances are covered by a thin silver barrier that prevents Star Children from leaving. That means should a Star Child track down where someone is being kept, should they enter its home, they too will be trapped there.

Being held by the lonely sharks isn't the worst experience. These spirits will try to please their new friends, giving them their favorite foods and perhaps even an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic of these items will be neutralized in the shark's cave. It is possible to fight a lonely shark, even to kill one, but that will only be a temporary measure. Star Children will remain trapped and have to wait for the lonely shark to revive—with even more golden cracks than before. In the end, the only way to escape are hugs, cuddles, and other measures of friendship. Once all the golden cracks have thinned and disappeared, Star Children can leave.

Spread the Love

By the time mid-March comes around, most of the lonely sharks have been fully healed and no longer kidnap Star Children. Instead they swim the None of the Above tunnels below the island's surface, where they provide guidance to Star Children who ask them how to get somewhere. If Star Children have nowhere particular in mind, the lonely sharks encourage Star Children to make their way toward the Shattered Spoon Shrine.

The lonely sharks still create silver streaks in the water that neutralize powers, but they will accompany Star Children and warn them of some of the dangers. When voices call their names, the sharks will snuggle up against Star Children to provide comfort. They're devoted to helping Star Children reach the shrine. Once there, they will encourage the Star Children to donate Lore to one of the broken spoons there, each spoon representing spirits who have left, spirits who became shells of themselves from lack of lore, or ghosts.

Star Children who donate Lore will find their companion lonely shark presenting them with an item from home. This may even be a weapon or magical item. Mind, the magic will be neutralized until the Star Child has spent at least an hour away from the silvery water lonely sharks create. Lonely sharks will happily spend as much time with Star Children as they're willing but will show the way back to the surface either via LIM (Lavender Institute of the Mind) or the None of the Above tunnels.

• Never Fade is underwater within a cloud.
  
• Silver streaks in the water neutralize powers, both canon and Role based.
  
• Lonely sharks kidnap Star Children and take them to caves on the underside of Never Fade.
  
• Star Children who find those caves are trapped too.
  
• Escape by hugs, cuddles, and being friends.
  
• By the second month, most lonely sharks are healed and found in the tunnels.
  
• Lonely sharks guide Star Children to the Shattered Spoon Shrine to donate Lore to help others.
  
• Either when captive or once donating Lore, lonely sharks will give Star Children an item from home.

Netfox & Chill . ★

Content Warnings: Forced Relocation, Potential Secret Revelation, Potential Coerced Physical Intimacy

With the wide range of Star Children from many different worlds, sharing similarities, it's no surprise when moments of deja vu happen. That sense of the familiar with the new, the sense of something that happened before without quite being able to place it… or perhaps it being impossible. Regardless, when that connective moment happens, the Star Children involved are transported to a windmill home from the Cloud Colonies. They land together on a couch before a large television with all the makings of a movie night. There could be wine and cheese. There could be soda and popcorn. There could be tea or other hot beverages. There's a cozy blanket (only one). The movie has already been selected, and it starts playing.

Headliner

The movie is roughly based off one of the Star Children's lives, specifically for the Star Child that experience deja vu and triggered this experience. Regardless of the moment of deja vu, the plot of the movie is based off of some real or potential relationship—romantic or queer platonic—in their life. That Star Child can recognize some similarities immediately. If they had any doubts, they get a text message on their relic as the movie starts:

You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!

It's possible to ignore the message, at least for a while. The longer the movie plays, the more apparent it becomes that it's based off that Star Child. The starring character's clothes will change to resemble theirs. The cadence of their voice will shift to imitate theirs. Their facial features will shift. These changes will become more and more heavy handed as the movie goes on until even the most clueless companion will have real trouble not picking up on it. It may get harder and harder to distract them from talking about it! There's no pause button, and the only way to mute the movie is to *ahem* distract themselves from it until it becomes an indistinct background murmur.

Remake

If any Star Children thought this experience might have been a Valentine's Day prank, they'll be poorly mistaken come mid-March when it continues with a twist. The movie less closely resembles any one Star Child's life (whew?)… because it blends the lives of all those present together into a new story. One character is based off each Star Child, and it fits the other Star Child into the role of someone who was or could have been emotionally and/or physically intimate with them. If they had any doubts, each Star child gets a text message on their relic as the movie starts:

You need to get closer with your companion(s). You can either talk about what happened (or didn't) or not talk wink wink about it with them. The choice is yours (and theirs)! Have fun!

Not only does each Star Child have to decide what approach they want to take, but the other Star Child may pick up on what they're putting down! One Star Child may want to talk it out, but the other one desperately doesn't. Oh noes, how shall it be resolved? Well, the longer it takes, the more clearly the film demonstrates one way they could resolve it—a fictionalized ending, happy or sad or bittersweet or anything else, between the characters as they more closely resemble those watching them on the sofa. No one's free until they have a heart to heart or a something to something else. Any physical intimacy can do.

• Experience a moment of deja vu and get transported to a cozy living room in a Cloud Colony windmill.
  
• For the first month, the 'host' Star Child gets a text letting them know to get intimate—emotionally or physically.
  
• For the second month, all Star Children get that text.
  
• For the first month, the movie is based on the 'host' Star Child's experiences, what did or could have happened. As the movie progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that's the case.
  
• For the second month, the movie is a story blending Star Children's experiences together. That too will become more obvious over time.
  
• Some form of intimacy is the only way out!

Comments

[mayberaven]

[The screen itself was strange, and the imagery shown was... well, just as strange. The hallways, the windows showing such a strange vast view of what had to be the sky right? But he noticed also the way his new companion turned attention away, and instead focused on what he was saying.

Unable to help but grimace at the idea of the text because how absolutely vague was that?]

Honestly, that'd be the most useful thing I've heard all day if you're willing.

[shackledwithin]

I wouldn’t offer if I wasn’t willing.

[He sits up a little and pockets his relic.] First, what do you remember about coming here? Not this room. This realm.

[mayberaven]

I'm assuming aside from the whole 'falling' thing.

[Because that was Not Fun even if he was fine in the end.]

I remember followin' the Fox. Got kinda... weird and hazy after that like I get the idea stuff was explained, vaguely remember askin' some questions but I don't recall any real forthright answers for 'em.

[shackledwithin]

[All of that tracks so far.] They mentioned potential, I assume. That’s what these trials are supposedly helping us achieve. People disagree on what they are for but, every trial is about facing things within ourselves. Or some outward challenge. This is a smaller trial. The one before this, we chose something holding us back. Those who offered to assist, were transported into an escape room within the mind of the person taking the trial.

It was also the first trial we were allowed to refuse to take.

[mayberaven]

Potential... yeah.

[Not the first being he'd heard that from, but the fox at least spoke in complete sentences. And the lack of drowning was a definite plus. Fjord wasn't sure how to feel about the attention just yet, but he'd figure that out later.]

Sounds like they can get pretty esoteric. [And uncomfortable. The half-orc wasn't especially thrilled with the concept of having to do that sort of soul searching, definitely if an audience or 'helper' was involved, could his companion tell?]

[shackledwithin]

They can. And sometimes more personal than any of us would like.

[He glances at the tv and wishes he hadn’t. A massive beast made of interconnecting pieces looms over the people below on the edge of a space station. His eyes narrow and flare with blue light. Water appears in a twisting spiral that covers the screen. It hangs there, not dripping or making anything wet by its presence.

He shakes his head and looks back at his companion.] To my knowledge and recorded accounts from everyone I’ve talked to, the transition from home reality to here always feels dream like. The full weight and truth of what we deal with is told to us by others who have been here for some time.

[mayberaven]

[Fjord hadn't been looking at the screen, so didn't register what had distressed the other. He sure as hell noticed the glow of blue though, and the sudden swirl of water blocking view of the screen. Yellow eyes widening slightly as he let out a low whistle in response.]

One hell of a trick you've got there.

[shackledwithin]

It’s cloudhy- [The water is sucked into the screen. He blinks. The screen shows water twisting and turning then it parts.

White sand. Pale stone ruins that seem well maintained and a boat cutting across the water. The one person in the boat is a dead ringer for himself. He looks at Fjord.] …I get what we are supposed to talk about. Whatever is playing on the screen.

Anyway, it’s cloudhymn magic. I’ve always had it. Most people like me have a bit of it. However strongly our ancestor’s power runs in our veins.

[mayberaven]

[Oops, so much for the water blockade. It was a good try though. He can't help the way his brows furrow at the assessment though. From the other's reactions, it was clear that he knew the scenes being shown, and with this newest scene showing the dark-haired man himself...]

Some sort of memory sharin' or somethin' else? [He really wasn't sure which he liked the idea of least. Plenty of things he didn't mind sharing, his time as a sailor was markedly unremarkable, but so much else...

Needless to say he jumped onto the distraction of the magic gladly.]

Cloudhymn? Never heard of anything like that before... seems pretty impressive though.

[shackledwithin]

I’ve only begun to properly learn it. I just used it as a guise before. [What one sees is not what he really looks like. And on the screen the man steps off the boat and climbs a staircase. To be confronted by a tall man with dark hair and a long dark blade that is covered in golden cracks.

Dan Heng looks at the screen as a younger man imposes himself between the two, and engages the man in a battle.]

…not that long ago it was made clear that the past was catching up. This was quite recent. And even if the fox is showing this without my permission. As always. It feels unfair not to explain it when you’re stuck watching it.

[mayberaven]

It works as disguise magic too? That's pretty impressive.

[The scene on the screen was unfamiliar- clearly a confrontation, but the commentary from his companion drew his attention from it with a faint frown.]

So this all, [a vague gesture towards the screen] Is somehow showin' some bit of your past?

[Thank fuck it wasn't anything from his. But he could also imagine how uncomfortable this shit was for the other guy.] Nothin' says we have to watch it, yeah? I mean if you'd rather not share or talk about it, seems kinda shitty to force it on you like that.

[shackledwithin]

[He looks at the screen. The pair fighting moves like great forces of nature coming together and breaking apart. He looks away from the screen.] You're right. I don't like talking about it. I've spent countless avoiding it. This isn't the first time a trial has thrust up pieces of the past. I dislike the pattern.

So, why don't we talk about magic? I'll share with you what I know of whatever you would like to ask. I'm Dan Heng, the Archivist of the Astral Express.

[mayberaven]

[At the confirmation? Fjord just shifts how he's sitting to better put the screen out of his view. Both out of empathy for the admission made, and the idea that if the roles were reversed? He'd definitely rather they ignore it too, and that was a much easier ask if he extended the same consideration first.

The idea of learning about the other's magic was a much more interesting proposition either way.]

I'm Fjord, good to meet you. [A faint, considering noise.] Can't say I've ever heard of the Astral Express. Could start there if you want?

[shackledwithin]

Are you familiar with traveling between worlds? [Compared to before, Dan Heng relaxes. He doesn’t have to deal with the past. Just talking about the present.]

That’s what the express does. It was a vessel made by the Aeon Akivili for himself and those who follow his path to explore the cosmos. Before my time, he died and the express was wrecked. Himeko rebuilt it and started the journey again.

I was worked as a guard at one of their stops. They asked me to stay onboard. I’ve been with them ever since.

[mayberaven]

Only as stories. It's possible, but you either need magic to do it or it's accidental far as I'm aware. [And interplanar travel was super dangerous even if you knew what you were doing according to all the tales he'd heard, so what Dan Heng was describing was definitely a monumental sort of undertaking to Fjord.]

That sounds... pretty impressive actually. I'm sure it's more than a little dangerous, but seems like one hell of an adventure at the same time.

[shackledwithin]

It is. And it isn’t surprising it takes a lot of power to create paths between planets and stars. Akivii was the god of the unknown and exploration.

[He looks at the screen in time to see himself wrapped in water and rises upwards. He looks away back to Fjord.]

It is dangerous. But necessary. Restoring the paths will help others. But they will also help us understand who killed him. …what journey are you taking?

[mayberaven]

Oh. Well... suppose it makes sense a god'd be able to do somethin' like that then.

[Especially with that sort of provenance behind them. The idea of whatever could've killed him though... Fjord had heard stories back home about things like that, but it always seemed impossible. He wasn't sure how to feel about it.

Dan Heng's gaze moving gets Fjord's drifting slightly in automatic response but he stops himself from actually looking, reminding himself of his companion's wish to avoid the whole thing.]

Me? Well... [He considers his options on what to say, rubbing thoughtfully at his jaw momentarily before responding.] Not entirely sure yet. Suppose it's a career change at least, was a sailor before and now I'm not. Beyond that, I suppose it remains to be seen.

[shackledwithin]

[He nods, he takes a second to glance around and spots a small bar of drinks. Water and the like. Well when they want to that is there. He looks back at him.]

That’s a journey of exploration in and of itself. This realm sometimes helps with that. Sometimes it doesn’t. Once the supposedly requirements are satisfied here, we’ll likely be able to walk out into one of the settlements. Likely not the one I arrived to.

[mayberaven]

[Fjord doesn't entirely trust this place and it's offerings, but at the same time would feel a bit better for things being available. Who knew how long this whole thing would take?]

So what do they usually expect of things like this? I mean, to get us out and everything.

[shackledwithin]

It usually takes talking about it or waiting it out. The later takes a while and then you end up back here anyway. [He says.]

So far, it has been very specific what it wants me to talk about. Decisions I’ve made. Things in the past that are connected to me but, only because only I can bear the weight of those before. What is to be talked about is always personal in one way or another.

[He sighs and finally gets up. He walks over to the bar and fixes himself a coffee.] I hoped discussing a mutual curiosity of the universe might work. I should have known better.

[mayberaven]

[Fjord let out a faint, considering hum at that, brows furrowing at the implications. Talking or waiting. But it sounded like it wasn't much of a choice if waiting it out just ended up with you dumped back in here regardless.

And he didn't seem overly thrilled about the expected topic, which the half-orc couldn't blame him for.]

Doesn't sound like an actual choice really, if you're forced back into the situation. Somehow not surprised that skirtin' the rules isn't bein' allowed in that case.

[shackledwithin]

It sticks to the supposedly theme of them all. [Dan Heng says as he sits back down with his coffee in hand. He sips it, nods to himself once. Not bad.]

I won’t forget your kindness in avoiding the screen and letting me not talk about things. Thank you for that.

…I’ve spent decades avoiding it all.

[mayberaven]

[Fjord just huffed a faint sound, shaking his head.]

Honestly if the roles were reversed, I can't say I'd be all that keen on watchin' some bit of my life with a total stranger, let alone talkin' about it.

[Stranger, acquaintance, friend, anyone really. This half-orc is one cagey sonuvabitch about some stuff.]

Suppose if we've got to, we can start with the basic idea and only go into it more if it doesn't seem to do the trick?

[shackledwithin]

…that sounds reasonable. [He looks at the screen. It is playing the moment over again. The boat rocks on the shore of white sand as he steps off of it.

He considers what to say.] I’m an exile from where I was born. Not for any crime I’ve done. My people reincarnate. My predecessor made choices that didn’t work out for him or anyone else.

[mayberaven]

[It made sense to Fjord. They could offer this trial exactly what it demanded and not a scrap more if they were mindful of what was said and done. The idea of things being forced to the surface like this wasn't making him feel especially generous, and he doubted that Dan Heng was feeling much different, especially with it being his past brought into focus.]

That's... that's kinda fucked up. [No, really. Fjord is a little offended on your behalf, buddy.] Like, it sucks that he made those choices sure, but blamin' you for 'em too?