seasonsgreetings | Test Drive Meme #7

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Test Drive Meme #7

Test Drive Meme #7
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Arrival

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?

Near, Far, Wherever You War

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.

Flour, Sugar, Egg, Magic

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.

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

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[Sonia sets about exploring the city on foot over a number of days, always watching out for any sign of her other, speedier brother. She eventually comes to a scenic walk of sorts. It leads out to a place called the Titanic Dome, and from what the natives have told her, it's quite a long hike to get there. After a quick call to Manic--checking in, letting him know she's headed this way for a few hours, that she'll be back by early evening, and to let her know if he hears anything about their Sonic--she's off.

It doesn't look dangerous out here. There are a lot of folks out on the trail--she passes at least twenty people in the first thirty minutes of her journey--and they seem totally at ease. But looks can be deceiving. These barriers must be here for a reason. Don't leave the barrier if you can avoid it, Shadow said, and the reading she's done so far only reinforces this.

So Sonia sticks to the path well traveled, though her eyes can't help but wander outside of it. It's not too long before she comes across a rest stop. Initially, she doesn't think to take a break, but she decides it might be worth it if only so she can keep the sole occupant of the site company. He looks tired, but maybe he wouldn't mind a friendly chat.]

Hello.

[Sonia takes a seat nearby. Folds her arms. Maybe she could have dressed more sensibly for the weather. This paper-thin jacket doesn't really cut it when there's snow around, but she didn't think it would get colder the farther she went. The trials of staying in a city with four different climates. She'll plan better for it next time.]

Are you a native of this world?

[Nine rolls onto his stomach where he's laying in the grass to really look at Sonia. Hedgehog, but not one of the Roses. Huh, that's interesting. Just how many universes are there that are this similar anyway?]

I'm not native no, I was brought here the same as you. Though given what you're wearing, you're either really new or it's just a thing that hedgehogs don't dress for the cold.

[It's not an insult so much as a statement that she's not the first he's met. Nine's not wearing much more than her, just a light coat, but being a fluffy fox easily makes up for it. And the metal tails behind him that are radiating a comfortable amount of warmth. Summer powers are hand.]

[She would have reacted accordingly to the light jab; there's no arguing with it, she didn't dress properly for the weather. She knows she's good, but getting together a wardrobe that will accommodate all four seasons might take her some time.

But she sets her eyes on cold, hard steel instead. It glints in the daylight, as menacing as ever. Sonia gasps, a hand flying to her mouth, and she draws herself back on to her feet without really thinking about it. In her world, this much metal on someone is alarming for a number of reasons. She treats the sight in front of her seriously.]

Your tails. They're...

[But the fox is talking to her, isn't he? Not shouting directives, reminding her that she is, in fact, a "Priority One: Hedgehog." His tails appear to be the only robotic thing about him.]

What about them?

[Nine isn't really used to people having any real reaction to his tails. There had been Sonic, but he just mentioned them being cool...which was weird. Her reaction is something else entirely. Shock and more than a little fear, from the looks of it.

He considers her for a moment, then his tails unfurl and lift him into a sitting position, letting the two natural ones hang loose and he rest his elbows on his knees.]

They're nothing to be afraid of if you're not planning to make yourself a threat. Which I seriously doubt you are.

[These past few days have been a welcome reprieve from the grit of Robotropolis, so much so that to say she wasn't prepared for this is an understatement.

Sonia watches the robotic tails, each and every movement they make, before bringing her attention back to the fox's face, remembering herself enough to close her mouth, straighten her back, and keep her voice as level as possible when she goes on to say:]

But-- you were a Robotnik prisoner. How did you escape?

[She keeps her nerve. The last time she was faced with something like this--partial roboticization, where the subject retains their own mind--was when they discovered Chief Ifyoucan's secret. She didn't feel prepared for that either.]

Oh, that's the disconnect. First thing is, we're not from the same world. The one I came from was ruled by the Choas Council. And these are my own design.

[Honestly, he doesn't even want to think what his life would be like if he'd been born even weirder than he already is.

He lowers himself to his feet, his tails snapping protectively closed around the main two tails like it's second nature. But his eyes never leave her, bright with intelligence and already putting pieces together.]

So, your would-be dictator is called Robotnik? Or does he actually run things?

[This is new. Not the being-from-another-world part, but the particulars of it. The Chaos Council? And why would anyone want these types of metal augments? It would be unthinkable where she's from.

Sonia visibly relaxes when he returns to his feet, making less of a show of his robotic parts. But she still doesn't know what to think of him.]

Oh, he's a dictator alright. [The anger comes out of her in a hot flash, her fists clenching at her sides. Okay, so maybe this encounter has unnerved her more than she's letting on.] Try having parts like that-- [a gesture toward his metal tails] forced on to you.

[Oh, that explains her discomfort specifically.]

I'll admit to being lucky enough that the council wasn't competent enough to manage that. They were a big enough pain despite their incompetence that New Yoke didn't need reasons to be a worse place.

These- [The metal tails unfurl and then fold again.] -are my defense from people. Their usefulness against the Chaos Council and their Eggforcers was an incidental bonus.

[Relax, Sonia. This is a new acquaintance she's dealing with, from another dimension entirely; despite her feelings here, she shouldn't rush to judgment. He seems to be trying to bridge the gap between them, so she should do the same.]

Competence has nothing to do with it. [A little indignant. That's all she has to say on it.]

You're not a freedom fighter?

[Sonia knows she shouldn't be so straightforward about it, but she has to know. Why would he need to defend himself against other people?]

Probably not completely, but if this Robotnik came up with something that could cause that reaction on sight, that already makes him a bigger threat.

[At her question, his eyebrows furrow and he frowns.]

Nope. Especially not now.

[He says it calmly, but there's an underlying resentment and hostility to his tone and the way he goes rigid that should give away his feelings on the matter. Honestly, if he never sees a resistance member again it'll be too soon, and he's sure the feeling's mutual. So it's really a non-issue.]

[Sonia has nothing to say to that. Sorry, but freedom fighters aren't in the habit of complimenting their enemy on a job well done.

But this isn't a freedom fighter she's dealing with.]

Why not? [Attempting to match his calm.] With your skills, you could help them fight that Chaos Council.

[She's not trying to push him to do it, though it may appear that way; she's trying to get him talking about what it is he does, exactly.]

[It's not really a compliment, but just an observation. Nine's never seen anyone who is opposed to the Council react in actual horror to something theyre doing on a wide scale. But he's also got no interest in seeing it first-hand.

He snorts at her statement.]

I could, but why should I? No one in that city ever cared when I needed help. So they can be just as on their own. Besides, they decided I was untrustworthy after one mission and didn't spare a thought for me when I got captured later, saving them.

[Not that it matters anymore, but he's curious if she's one of those selfless hero types like a certain hedgehog he misses.]

[Sonia knows she may not be getting the whole story here, but it's enough to give her pause. Because she's having trouble imagining a scenario that would involve freedom fighters leaving somebody behind. Not caring to help.]

...They don't sound like any freedom fighters I know.

They probably aren't, since different worlds. But my problem isn't with just them, it's with everyone who turned a blind eye all the years I was being bullied for having an extra tail. [He lets that hang in the arm for a moment, studying her reactions. She's like a lot of the others from different versions of their worlds so far. There's a measure of preconception, but she's not pushy about it. Instead, the impression he's gotten is that she seems to be trying to understand, in part through her worldview. It's kind of refreshing, if he's right.] Which was everyone.

I'm willing to admit I'm not at all blameless in things that happened later on, but I was labelled a traitor before things escalated that far. [He thinks on it for a moment, more for the sake of clarity than because he cares all that much.] Probably because I prioritized the objective of getting out with the Council's power source over saving them. Which I'll admit would have fed my confirmation bias if I had been in their position, so fair. [He shrugs nonchalantly.]

Anyway, are you saying that the ones you know are the "No man left behind" kind of movement? Because that is pretty different.

[Her expression softens, and guilt starts to sink in. Bullied? And here she is, making a point of pointing out his tails!

Power source? That gets her thinking, and that's when he asks about the Resistance from her world. She answers instantly, not needing even a second to think it over.]

We'll never leave someone in the hands of Robotnik if we can help it.

[A beat.]

You said you went after the Council's power source. There was a misunderstanding, but you were trying to help, right? By taking out the enemy?

[So the Resistance of her world operated more close-knit then. Interesting. Though he's not sure what to make of the change in her expression. And that might be obvious from his confused expression.]

That would make yours a step up I guess. But yeah, when they turned up to save Sonic after we got captured the first time, I realized that we could shut them down if we took their energy crystal before making our escape. Long story short, Mr. Dr. captured them and Sonic got separated from me, leaving me with the crystal and the Council actively looking for it and me. So I made the choice not to risk it since the Council was just down the hall.

I might have made a different choice if I had any attachment, or if Sonic had still been there. But that's not how it was. It was just me.

[Sonic?

Well, of course he knows a Sonic. He said he was dealing with freedom fighters, didn't he? She doesn't let it distract her from what he's saying, listening intently to everything he tells her, because this must be of the utmost importance to him. Why else would he be trying to set the record straight with a perfect stranger? Want it known that he didn't betray the Resistance in his dimension?]

This all sounds so complicated. But it seems to me that you were just trying to do the right thing.

[She squares her shoulders a little more, trying to make herself look a little bit taller than she feels right now, before stepping closer. Close enough that he can take her extended hand if he chooses.]

Let's start over. I'm Sonia. In my world, Sonic is my brother. If the Sonic you know is anything like him, it means he trusts you. That kind of trust can only be earned.

[Nine doesn't take her hand, his expression confused enough to make it obvious he doesn't know why she offering it. It's not a high five, and not a fist bump. She's not holding anything either. But something compels him to hold his hand out in return so she can show him.]

More or less. But if you're a Sonic's sister, then you're not related to the one I know. He was also from a different world, but he only ever mentioned his friends. [When she starts talking about trust, an small smile crosses his face, something between genuinely fond and exasperated.] That wasn't how it worked with us, but I'd agree about trust needing to be earned.

[Sonia is gentle when she takes his offered hand in hers, giving it a light shake. She can see he's confused by the gesture; why, she's not really sure. A cultural divide? Are handshakes not a custom greeting where he's from?]

Even so, if he's like my bro, and he's okay working with you? That makes you okay in my book too. It's nice to meet you, er...

[Oh shoot. She hasn't asked for his name yet!]

Nine.

[He watches the handshake, dropping his hand when she releases it with some obvious reluctance and tilting his head. He really doesn't understand how she can come from a world so similar-sounding to his and be so open.]

Nice to meet you too, I guess?

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Test Drive Meme #7

Near, Far, Wherever You War - Pt. 2

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