Test Drive Meme #7

[seasonsmods]

Test Drive Meme #7
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Arrival

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Part 1

You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.

The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:

An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.

All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.

Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.

And it looks like you're not alone.


Part 2

After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.

Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa.

The Message [ Click to Expand ]

Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.

Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here.

This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes.

We used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.

That's where you come in.

All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.

These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.

Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.

That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.

The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sizes companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.

In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.

First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.

Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.

Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.

Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.

Part 3

The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.

All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?

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Near, Far, Wherever You War

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Part 1

Nightwake City is now full of posters for a new place that has been opened recently. The Titanic Dome is accessible with a teleport crystal from any of the Guilds. It's specifically made for those who want a safe place to fight with their powers without worrying about harming their surroundings or others. It also has enough room for giant transformations to fit comfortably.

There are two different arenas. One of them is a private one that needs to be reserved beforehand, but the other one is a public one that has audience seats for those who don't mind people watching. It's here where there's an event going on to celebrate the opening of the dome.

Riki's Rewards has provided a free single dose of the Enlarge potions for anyone to use. These potions give the user a temporary boost in height and general body size (including clothes). Abilities will work the same as in "normal" size, but may appear bigger. When the potion is consumed, all the person has to think about is how large they want to become and that will happen. This limited version of the potion has a limit of 60 meters / 196'10 feet and only lasts for one hour at a time.

Using these potions, people are challenged to a giant pillow fight. All the pillows are very soft and fluffy and won't do any actual harm, but if someone is "defeated" by a pillow they will gain a bunch of feathers all over their body and hair for the next five hours as a silly punishment.

Part 2

There's a scenic route you can also take from or to the Titanic Dome. It's a longer hike: the journey takes three days in one direction on foot (less with horses or snowmobile). The whole route is protected by barriers, so even natives sometimes find joy in just taking the longer route in the wilderness. There are even small gazebos for taking a break and dedicated spots where you can set up a tent.

Of course, sometimes natives do get out of the paths and might need rescuing from wayward winter monsters or wild fauna. Usually it's because something looks shiny and they go to investigate because "what could go wrong with a little visit outside the safe route".

Some of the "shiny things" the natives see are various frozen flowers that shine in different colors. The closer someone gets, the more tempted they are to touch the flower. All of the flowers give a different effect. Red flowers boost the feelings of love and will make someone show more affection towards people, platonic or otherwise, purple flowers make someone want to show their feelings through physical means (even negative, so a punch would also be included) within character's boundaries, yellow flowers will make someone (temporary) fall in love with the first person they see and orange flowers will make someone more giggly and more likely to make jokes, with the possibility to make others laugh with them. All the effects last 1-3 hours.

The flowers will melt after they're touched, only to grow back somewhere else later. They will also melt if they're brought to a warmer atmosphere. If one manages to put them in a potion there and then, they work as a highly potent ingredient in long term love potions.

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Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic

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Part 1

All around Nightwake, a special festival is taking place. Even if the seasons are very fixed in all of the districts, they still want to host celebrations according to calendar, like this time: it's a festival to say goodbye to winter and to say hello to spring.

All of the districts have set up bonfires here and there that will be constantly burning. They're not at the centers of the districts, so they're easy to avoid, if someone wishes to. These bonfires are gathering places, where people come to dance and celebrate in costumes that are inspired by both winter and spring. Various masks are sold at the booths, for those who want to get into the mood but don't want to dress up. The masks represent devils, witches, goats, swamp fae, and other joyful and frightening characters.

Otherworlders new and old are also asked to act out the battle between winter and spring. One of them will be dressed up as winter: big sized (additional pillows stuffed in clothes if necessary), wrapped in various furs. The other one will be dressed up a spring: a scrawny person in much lighter looking clothes. The only advice they're given is: make it dramatic and let the spring win in the end!


Part 2

Another important part of the celebrations is the pancakes. All districts have booths where people can either make their own pancakes or buy from others. There are various different toppings and fillings that can be added, as well as warm and cold drinks to enjoy them with.

Some of the districts may have slightly different views on how to make a proper pancake and what can and cannot be added to it. Especially the winter and spring related districts are constantly bickering over whose pancakes are better and will shamelessly promote theirs in the others' district. It seems Coldreach is the only one that falls in between their silly argument, considering it's in between the two seasons (and the alcohol they serve there might also have something to do with the peace).

Inspired by the friendly (?) competitions, a new mini event has appeared! It's called the Pancake Tours! The goal is to visit each and every district to taste each of their pancakes and rank them. This all doesn't need to be done on the same day, at least. Those who complete the tour and bring the results to the Research Center will get a spell that will make anything taste good, even things they would normally hate the taste of and 2000 Moon Coins.


Part 3

Attracted by the smell of pancakes, a new creature has appeared in the city. These relatively small creatures are called jellycats, due to looking like cats that have jelly-like shells protecting them. The shells wiggle everytime they purr and they can retreat back into them whenever they're uncomfortable. Despite their appearance and name, they're not edible.

Jellycats come in a variety of colors and smell different to each person. A yellow jellycat, for example, may smell like lemons to someone, but flowers to another, depending on preferences. The scent becomes stronger the more a jellycat likes and trusts a person.


Befriending these creatures is rather easy: they really like anything and everything sweet, which is why the pancakes attract them so much. It is also likely for a jellycat to follow someone home.

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OOC TIPS

- Ask your questions related to the TDM here.

- The TDM is available only to friends of the mods and their friends. If you want to play in the TDM, please leave a note here to inform us who invited you over. We will get to you as soon as possible.

- Test Drive is open for current characters to make a top level as well. New characters can add TDM on their subject line to indicate they're new!

- Current characters cannot access the starting area again to meet new arrivals. They can, however, be at the Research Center when the newbies are teleported in.

- The TDM is game canon so anything in the TDM can happen for your character(s) in the game as well.

- Smut is not allowed on the TDM. You can play situations leading to it, but if the thread is turning into smut, please move it to a private space such a post in your character's journal, or a locked post in the game's log community if you decide to app!

- Check Locations: City to find more areas to explore inside the city. Every place in the districts are open.

- Similarly, Locations: Segments is useful for outdoors adventures.

- You can find monsters to encounter on Beastiary.

- FAQ has information on characters' smartphones as well as general things about the world that might be handy.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

MK smiled and sat up. He could easily get more pancakes. That was something he could do. Something he wouldn't mess up. The thoughts came off MK easily. Along with some strange darker whispers that Dick wouldn't be able to catch.

"More pancakes, coming up!" He zoomed off at impressive speeds and came back with another full plate. He gave one to Mango first then offered the others to Dick.

"Here you go," He said with a smile.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

Wow that didn't sound good. Poor guy must have been having a real bad day before getting mugged by Jellycats.

Which made Dick wonder why was he here sitting by himself when he could have gone to one of his boyfriends he seemed so happy about. He didn't get much time to think about it because before Dick could even wonder if he should try to help or if it was none of his busness MK was already back.

"Wow, you don't waste any time do you?" Dick picked up one pancake and held it back out for MK to take if he wanted. "You didn't bring any for yourself though."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"I got some!" MK said and pulled one off the stack and started to eat it with his hands.

"I figured we could all share. Besides, if I get too many, we might get mugged again. Heh. Then we'd both be trapped by Jelly Cats."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"You'll be trapped again, I'm claiming immunity from cat law on account of being a cat myself." Dick winked before biting into his pancake.

"Although.... you did seem quite comfortable being trapped. Did you need the break?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"Guess that makes sense," MK said with a nod. Mango purred as it finished eating his pancake. Big cat immune to cat law. Yes. But not immune to friend law.

"I mean, as comfortable as lying on the ground can be? Didn't really bother me. But I'm lucky I didn't have to pee or something like that."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

Friends? What are those?

"Fair enough." He shrugged. "I'm just not used to a Human willing to take a break like this. Usually they're always have someone to see something to do money to make or burn. Ugh."

Well that seemed to come out of nowhere.

"But just chilling like this... it's nice getting a chance to do that."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"The humans you know sound like my dad, Pigsy. He's always finding stuff for me to do or stuff for him to do. Do you just know a lot of business people?" MK asked. It did come out of nowhere. MK noticed and thought that maybe Dick just knew a lot of bossy busy office people or something.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

Dicks ears went flat, and he put his pancake free hand down ov his tail holding it still.

"I wouldn't trust any of the people I'm talking about with a kid." He grumbled looking away from MK. "But I guess you could say they were business people, if you count drug dealing and running pit fights as a business."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"Oh..." MK said softly and watched Dick for a moment. "Yeah...no. I mean, not Pigsy. That sounds really rough. I'm sorry, Dick."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

Dick looked at MK with a suprised expression. "You shouldn't jump to the conclusion that I'm a good guy so quick. I could be involved with the drugs and fighting too you know."

"I mean... just look at me, I'm clearly a thug."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

MK blinked and just looked at Dick for a moment.

"My boyfriend tried to kill me a few times when we first met. Drugs and fighting doesn't seem so bad to like world domination," MK said with a nonchalant shrug.

"I mean, you're not trying to fight me or sell me drugs. So I'm not gonna judge you."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"You're dating someone who tried to kill you?" Dick's ears perked up again in suprise. "But... why?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"Well he tried to kill me. Then we became friends. And then we kinda fell in love. It was a thing," Mk tried to explain and was probably not explaining it well at all.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

Dick pinched his nose, he wasn't sure if he was starting to get a headache because his temporary telepathy had kicked in or because of this human and his nonsense.

"I don't think I could even become with friends with a guy who tried to kill me never mind start dating them, Why would you even give them the time of day after that?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"We saved the world together. And I mean, it wasn't like he got close. If I held that against people, I wouldn't have as many friends as I do. Both him and Macaque did. I forgave them," MK said with a shrug. It wasn't that out there for him. Why hold a grudge?

The Lady Bone Demon didn't really count there though. She'd crossed a line. Well more like all the lines.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"I mean personally I think my life is worth holding a grudge over." Dick grumbled. "But I guess if they helped you save the world I can see why you'd still talk to them at least."

Clearly Dick was far less forgiving than MK.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"I mean, I get it. But it wasn't like they came close. Well, Macaque did but Monkey King stopped him." MK shrugged. Oh the choices one made.

"Anyway. We can be friends without all that stuff in the way. So there's that."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"Well at least I know I'm not likely to piss you off by accident, you must have a fuse 10 miles long"

Dick really wanted to move on from murderous boyfriends so when he saw the chance to chance the subject he took the chance too.

"And did you say Monkey King like the story from china?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"Yes I did! Sun Wukong, the Great Sage Equal to Heaven. I'm his successor and he's my mentor," MK explained. Again, like he was just talking about the weather or last night's episode of some show. This guy's world has to be just as crazy as he was.

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"Huh, the stories back home doesn't say anything about him having a successor." Dick drummed his fingers. "So did he like, adopt you or something?" 

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"Nah. Nothing like that. Sooooo I thought I was just a delivery boy who like got his powers because I could pick up his staff," MK explained in the past tense. That was what he HAD thought.

"Turns out someone made me from his stone. But not him. But I'm his successor. Like those stories are old. And mine hasn't like been written yet. So that makes sense you haven't heard of me in your world."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"Someone carved you out of a stone?" Dick echoed. "So you don't know who it was?"

Dick then looked MK up and down curiously. "If you were carved from a stone does that mean you've always been an adult? Or is it like Wonder Woman where they carved you as a kid and then you grow up?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"No idea who Wonder Woman is but I was a kid I guess. When I got...made? Yeah. My dad Pigsy raised me. So I grew up. Yep," It was so weird to talk about casually still but MK felt like he should. Just talk about it. Not like he could go back to thinking about himself like he used to.

"We got that in common, I guess. Someone kinda made us. For reasons. No idea what the reasons were for me but yeah."

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[luckynumber13]

"I guess they don't have DC comic's in your world. She was a super hero sculpted from Clay." Dick explained. "And I think she was made just so the woman who made her could have a daughter."

Dick cocked his head to the side thinking.

"Maybe it was the same for you? Someone wanted a son but you got separated somehow?"

Re: ~Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic - Part 3~

[noodleboi]

"That or I just don't read them? I don't know," MK shrugged. Did they have Wonder Woman in his Lego verse? Lego did have DC rights. Who knew.

"Maybe? But then why haven't they found me yet? I'm not exactly quiet. I just don't know. I hope I can find them one day. I'd like to ask. Like to know, you know?"