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February-March 2024 Test Drive Meme
February-March 2024 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 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.
🦊 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: 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
Spread the Love
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 theirpreynew 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.
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
Remake
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!
no subject
Annoyed still, but Fjord sure as hell couldn't blame him for that. He was pretty ticked off himself, though at who it was hard to say. Definitely a healthy dose of irritation at himself for similar reasons. As if he didn't have enough trouble with mysterious magic beings without adding whatever Thirteen was up to into the mix.]
Same, unfortunately. Dispelled my disguise and everything. And this cave is absolutely stupid with the stuff, so let's assume for the moment that the silver currents are what's blocking our magic... [As he spoke, Fjord watched with an uncertain frown as the shark did a circle around the pair of them, before headbutting against the half-orc's side in an attempt to wedge it's way under his arm like an eager hound.]
Woah, hold on there- [Just gonna be trying to nudge the shark back because excuse you?]
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He watches the creature with just as much tension as his companion, but raises an eyebrow slightly as it decides to simply... headbutt him.]
It's acting like a dog.
[Hasn't he seen Scratch do similar things? Even the owlbear, after a time spent together, when he started picking up the dog's habits. Tav purses his lips slightly then holds out his hand, softening his voice like one might do to tempt a stray animal as he beckons to the shark.]
Hey, come over here.
no subject
The shark was definitely behaving just like a dog who insistently wanted close to a person, wedging itself right in against Fjord's side which just had his brows lifting.]
Don't look at me, you little menace, [And seeing the other reaching out, taking on that coaxing tone, he lifts his arm away, to see what the shark would do.] Never seen a shark act like this before myself. You?
[Watching it all but wiggle in excitement as it swims right over to the half-elf and bumps it's nose right up to the offered hand, clearly hoping for pets.]
no subject
[And bulettes aren't nearly as friendly either, despite what some slightly cracked cleric living in the Underdark might have tried to claim. As he thought, the shark comes swimming on over to him and his offered hand, and he curls his fingers over to gives its nose a tentative scratch.]
This what you wanted all the time, huh? You didn't have to kidnap me for this.
[Tav shakes his head. While still annoyed, it looks like most of the fire has gone out of his irritation. He glances up at the half-orc and shrugs one shoulder.]
I'm Tav.
no subject
[It's weird, but the shark seems to be friendly enough, the half-orc watching thoughtfully as it positively soaked up the offered attention with an excited little wiggle. At the introduction, he glanced up with a nod.]
Fjord.
[A beat as he considered the scene thoughtfully and bombed a perception check while he studied the shark, and thus missed the cracks crisscrossing it entirely.]
Think we can bribe it to open up the way out like this?
no subject
He nods to the name, making a mental note of it, then looks down at the shark again and, sadly, also bombs the perception check. For now, at least.]
Seems to be what it wants, yeah? So... maybe.
[Tav crouches down, putting himself at eye level to the shark like he would often do with Scratch when petting him, and he smooths his hand over the rough skin of the creature's head.]
What do you think, buddy? If we pet you for a while will you let us out? [Tch...] If it wasn't blocking my magic I could speak to the damn thing.
no subject
At least the shark seems excited about the prospect, if that quick swim in a circle was any hint.]
Well, speakin' or no, that looked like an agreement to me. [He hoped. Because otherwise, who knew how long they'd be there?
And with that in mind, he shifts away from the wall to come a bit closer to crouch on the other side of the eager shark, lifting a hand to pet it's side in the hopes that both of them petting might encourage quicker assistance from their attention-mongering captor.]
Just gonna have to hope it gets what we're after here once it's gotten it's fill.
no subject
Well, then. Tav puffs out a sigh and shifts his weight back, sitting down rather than balancing on the balls of his feet. He gives the shark another once over then pauses, his head tilting as his eyes track across it.]
Hey.
[Another frown, curious this time, as he moves onto his knees.]
Look at this. [His fingertips trace over the golden cracks on the animal's skin.] Looks magical. But... hm...
[Not like any magic he's seen...]
no subject
Mainly him, to be fair, but it's good that the shark isn't trying to take a bite out of Tav either. He's just taking a moment to really soak in the weird sensation of petting a shark like an excitable dog in a magic-blocking cave because apparently this is the way his life is going now, when Tav speaks up, drawing his attention.]
Hm? [And now that it's being directly shown, he thankfully sees what the other is talking about, brows furrowing as he notes the weird cracks. It looks like touching them doesn't hurt the animal, it's pushing into Tav's hands without hesitation regardless.] And here we are without a wizard. Doesn't seem to be causin' pain. Think it's just normal for these guys? Like some animals have stripes or somethin' of the sort?
no subject
Hard to say. Don't even know if the wizards I know would be able to answer that.
[He's sure that Gale would try because Gale is simply that kind of person (as most wizards are) but even Elminster might have trouble coming up with an explanation for this one.
Tav's fingertips trace along one of those golden cracks. It doesn't seem to bother the shark at all. Still, he avoids touching them directly for the most part while he pets the creature.]
Not painful, no, whatever it is. Maybe you're right. Never been that much of a nature person myself.
no subject
Definitely seems weird. Don't know if it's weird for wizards too or just for the rest of us...
[Caleb was smart as hell, surely he'd be able to sort it out with enough time. But unfortunately, neither of them had their resident magic nerds tagging along so it was up to Tav and Fjord to puzzle this out.
Gods save them both.]
I know a little about stuff out in the ocean, but that's more about things that directly affect a ship and crew. This is a bit more druid-y than I'd know about.
[Given the shark was enjoying it though, he continues to pet for the moment. Maybe buttering it up with affection will convince it to let them out? Or at least keep it from considering them potential snacks once the shark gets hungrier.]
no subject
Well, his nature knowledge is somewhat lacking. Definitely more of a Druid thing.
As they continue to idly pet the shark Tav mulls things over, then notices something out of the corner of his eye. Some of the cracks slowly beginning to thin and fade at the edges.]
Fjord.
[Immediately, he indicates what he's seeing.]
What do you make of that?
no subject
Fjord's a bit more ready to be out himself, attention drawn when Tav points out the way some of the cracks seem to be narrowing, getting thinner and even starting to disappear in some spots.]
That's... hm, stop pettin' for a second. [For once that intelligence score of his is good for something as he lifts his hands from the shark despite the creature's clear displeasure at the idea, watching the cracks more intently to see what happens without them giving the greedy thing attention.]
no subject
At the instruction he does stop, lifting his hand up from the shark's skin and watching it with his head slightly cocked to one side. The gradual fading and closing of the cracks ceases almost immediately and the shark nudges at him like a disappointed dog searching for more attention.]
Huh.
[Arcane proficiency at work, Tav presses his lips together slightly.]
I see.
no subject
The sight of the cracks slow sealing stopping as their hands leave the shark though is the more important consideration, Fjord letting out a thoughtful hum as he slowly lets a hand settle back against the shark's back to pick up stroking the animal again much to it's obvious delight. And noting the way that the cracks start their slow repair once again.]
This what you dragged us in here for then? [Inquired of the shark who just stared at the pair of them with those wide, soulful eyes, clearly begging for more attention.]
no subject
Tav's train of thought follows much the same track as Fjord's does as he sees the cracks begin slowly closing once again the moment the half-orc's hand touches the shark's skin. This could have definitely been sorted out a lot quicker if he'd been able to cast Speak with Animals, but they got there in the end.]
Maybe didn't think it would get any help approaching people out in the open.
[Kidnapping is a bit much, but... sure. He huffs out a sigh and puts his hand on the creature, patting it gently.]
If I could say this is the weirdest thing I've ever done... It's not. Really close, though.
no subject
[Not that the shark was even remotely dangerous-seeming now, just floating under their attention, soaking up every bit of it that it could in utter fishy bliss.]
Yeah? What's the weirdest thing then? Cause... this is definitely up there.
no subject
[He could have probably come up with something else. Probably. But that's the first thing that pops into his head and then he says it, because licking a dead spider is definitely all hells of a lot weirder than petting a somewhat affectionate shark.
Tav glances up with a crooked half-grin.]
No word of a lie. Granted I didn't know what it was dosed in beforehand. Sure did afterwards, though. Gods.
no subject
[Fjord blinks at that, brows furrowing as he tried to imagine just how that scenario came up. Absolutely failing, but that's not really a surprise because that is... well it sure is weird.]
Here I thought the zombie-makin' giant demon-frog was weird, but I think you win.
no subject
[But licking dosed spiders probably beats that, sure. Tav declines to mention that he actually did it more than once. Twice was, apparently, enough for Gale to put his cat-dad voice on and tell him to stop licking the damned thing.]
I have 'floating malevolent brain infused with ancient Netherese magic bent on taking over the world' to add in, if we're doing that. Though that's less 'weird' and more 'bone-chillingly terrifying'.
no subject
But hold up, back up a sec, because what the actual hell is the last part? I mean not wrong that it's definitely beyond weird but... what?
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Before I start trying to explain, did you understand any part of that?
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[It's one hell of a statement even without deeper context though. Tav, you good bro?]
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It's... it's a really long story. Do you know what mind flayers are?
[Yes, it does just continue to get worse.]
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Mind flayers? [He thinks, rifles his memories of stories and tales picked up in sailing, but comes up blank with a shake of his head.] Not ringin' any bells, but if the name's explanatory, I'm thinkin' that's not a bad thing...
(no subject)