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seasonsgreetings2024-04-19 01:03 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2024-04-19 01:03 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #8
Test Drive Meme #8
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
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.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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?
The months of April and May are the time for a strange weather effect that affects all of the districts, except the one in the middle and Frostreign. It's not weird that it rains, but it's what the rain does that has been dubbed as the Rain of Affection. It's raining very often until the end of May at different times in the affected districts.
Anyone who stands in the rain will feel the need to get close to someone. It starts with a need to gently touch someone, but can escalate into needing a hug. The ultimate craving is kissing in the rain, but that's the most it can make happen. It's a very Safe For Work Rain Effect.
After a successful kiss in the rain, the cravings slowly become less urgent, but the effect can start all over again at any given time. Once someone is completely dry, they will be safe from effects restarting again.
Of course, there are individuals who don't get too affected by the rain (at all or not as badly) and it only works if it directly hits someone. So staying in a shelter or being in the unaffected districts is definitely a way to avoid this whole phenomenon. Even purchasing and using an umbrella helps. The shops around every district are very aware of the need for umbrellas, so there's definitely a variety of them being sold. Some of the umbrellas have a variety of harmless magical effects, like changing the color depending on the users' mood.
An unexpected secondary effect has been discovered with this year's rain. Anyone who tries to ignore the urges to be close to someone for too long (two hours) may find that some of their other feelings get amplified. Especially feelings someone might have been suppressing will suddenly feel impossible to ignore.
Hugging someone will make the feelings return to 'normal' easiest, as it's almost instant. Getting out of the rain and changing into dry clothes also helps, but the effects will go away slower.
Most of the shops around the districts have prepared private rooms for anyone who needs a place to calm down, in case they're far away from home. The various invisible shop fairies will also help someone contact their friends if they're unable to do it themselves - as long as they manage to say someone's name.
Just like with the regular effects, some people might be less affected by the amplified feelings. It really depends on the individual (= player's choice) how the rain affects them.
Tents have been built into various places around the city, to give shelter from the rain. These tents are also workshops for crystal and gemstone crafts. A group of crystal miners have decided to share the rest of their gemstones and crystals so that people can make themselves magical weapons, protective armors and accessories or just normal decorations.
Crystal Mine is one of the places that was lost to "The Darkness" and it existed in the Autumn Segment. All crystals and gemstones from the mines have a natural magical aptitude, meaning they can be easily enchanted into various purposes. They were used for armors, weapons, accessories and such to help fight the monsters of the world.
All of the crystals and gemstones are in alphabetical order and the miners happily answer any questions about them, such meanings and symbolisms they might hold. They can also make suggestions for which ones to use in the same craft.
One of the miners is especially keen on telling about Birthstones and suggests using them as an accessory that you carry around everywhere. He's a firm believer that keeping a birthstone on your person will bring someone luck and protection from evil forces.
Crystal and gemstone enchanting is managed by the teachers from the Magical Manor. They will hold lessons where they demonstrate how to get the results you want the most. The key is to be positive. The more positive feelings and words you feed the crystals and gemstones, the stronger the enchantment will be.
The enchantment can be anything from more strength into a weapon to just a nice, warmly glowing flower that helps someone sleep. Imagination is the limit, though even the enchantment can't make someone's armor permanently invincible or make their weapons kill things in one shot.
Enchanting your friend's, family member's or loved one's crystal or gemstone will make the magic twice stronger.
Those who have difficulties in being polite can either get fairy dust sprinkled on them to make them happy or they can ask someone else to help them. Needing to fake happy feelings will lessen the strength of the spells, but it works nonetheless.
If someone does manage to pour negative feelings and words into their enchantments, they may cause the crystals and gemstones to form negative monsters. These monsters are ethereal and usually look like small goblins that eat positive energy from anyone within one-mile radius.
Attacking them with magic and weapons doesn't work, as they have no actual bodies, but trapping one between two people holding hands will make them feel overwhelmed by the sheer energy the handholding provides and disappear. They will do their best to suck as much positive energy into them before they do, though!
Someone who has their positivity stolen will slowly recover it over time (it takes at max. a day), but holding foreheads together with someone will speed to process.
Starting from April 19th onwards, characters may find a peculiar basket on their table. This basket comes with any kind of pokeball (except Master Ball), some Pokémon Food and Treats, and a Pokémon Egg of any species that can have an egg (except the rare mythical/legendary/special ones that are able to). This Pokémon also has a chance to be shiny.
The note attached to the basket says "Sounds can be heard coming from inside! This Egg will hatch soon!" The egg will hatch anywhere between a few minutes to few days.
Anyone asking about how this came to be, the research center staff explains that it was a "metaverse miracle" and they asked the fairies to help them contribute the eggs to otherworlders, seeing as they already had Pokémon experience.
(NOTE: Pokémon Guidelines apply to these new hatching Pokémon as well)
- 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.
Dan Heng | Honkai: Star Rail | Current Character
[Rain is probably one of Dan Heng's preferred forms of weather: the sound of the rain falling, the humidity in the air. it's peaceful and calming, comforting in it's own way.
So at first he doesn't even bother to try and stay out of the rain. He merely pulls his hood up and goes about his day as usual, in an oddly lighthearted mood and unbothered by the rainwater soaking into his clothes.
He doesn't even realize when he starts walking a little too close to people, shoulders or hands brushing. Once he does realize what's happening, it's so much worse.
He's still not used to craving the closeness of another person like an ache, like a need.
He ducks out of the rain and beneath the awning of a cafe, seeking shelter and perhaps a moment to shake off... whatever this is. Maybe he should get a warm drink.
He lets out a sigh, glancing at whoever else might be taking shelter.]
This is the first time I've seen rain carry effects like this.
A kiss in the rain - Part 2
[After finding out exactly what is strange about this rain, Dan Heng is a bit more cautious. He'll buy an umbrella, ignoring how silly it feels to do so.
But he's not particularly careful enough. The urge to be close to someone grows once more, and alongside it so does something else.
Frustration. Unease.
It's the sight of his own face reflected in a window that drags his mood down completely. He's tried his best to distance himself from things, to give himself time...]
...It would be so much easier if I could truly hate you.
[Some might find the words odd, considering he's talking to himself.]
Shine Bright like a Diamond
[The art of enchanting gemstones is a curious one, and Dan Heng of course wants to learn about it and record what he can.
The problem however: He has no idea when his birthday would have been. It wasn't particularly important, one year passing much like the next in his longer than average lifespan. And it wasn't like he had records of the day he hatched...]
Does it have to be your birthstone? Or can it be whichever stone you like?
[He mighht pick out a few, just in case.]
Kiss in the Rain
...she also doesn't seem to be all that affected by whatever it's doing, compared to the boy sharing said awning, but she can't help but wonder how long that's going to last.]
Sometimes the weather has that sort of pull to it, but I don't think they meant it like this...
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I usually enjoy the rain, myself. I should have realized most things in this place will have some sort of strange effect sooner or later. Ah... I'm Dan Heng, by the way. You are...?
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Well, she can think about it later.]
Ah, I'm Raiden Mei -- Mei will suffice. I've only recently arrived here, so I'm still getting used to how things work. At least whatever was causing Ellipsa's current state of affairs didn't wait...
Still, it's nice to meet you.
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It's nice to meet you too, Miss Mei.
[He considers his words for a moment. He's trying very, very hard not to think about his physical state right now, or the odd desire he has to touch. His fingers twitch, and he crosses his arms to occupy them, feeling painfully awkward.] Sometimes a few weeks might go by without incidents such as this, but there always seems to be something strange happening here, or about to.
kiss in the rain 2
Want to talk about it?
[ Don't worry about her, she's perfectly fine in the rain, she can ignore the whole "stuff she's been suppressing" part to focus on a friend. ]
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...Quite a few things have happened, is all.
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[He lets out a sigh.] We should get out of the rain, at least.
[It's not a refusal. It's more that he's not going to let Stelle stand out here getting wet while he tries to vocalize Dan Feng's dirty laundry.]
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A kiss in the rain / shine bright like a diamond, because I can.
She's looking at the set up stalls around though, and pauses when the young man next to her speaks. ]
It seems pleasant... were you going to look at the wares around here, young master?
[ Aside from her unnaturally golden eyes, the rest of her seems normal. But there's a fragrance around her, soft and pleasant, like incense burning, and plum blossoms. It doesn't seem to be a perfume, either. ]
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I was.
[His voice is soft and even, though there's something like surprise in his eyes at the term of address. It's... not what he's used to.
At least it isn't 'lord'. If he never had to hear that again it would be too soon.] You as well, I assume?
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For a moment, her entire sclera seems to go as golden as her irises, but then her eyes are back to normal. ]
I am, yes.
[ She tilts her head curiously, a slight cant further than a normal human would. This feels more like a turn of a head a small animal would do, yet still passable. ]
You've water in you.
[ Not "on"— what a strange thing to say, right? Until she adds- ]
I have not met with a dragon in a while in this place. It is good to see one again.
[ For her politeness, there is some unintentional prying too. But even being around humans for so long can't take away her fairy nature... ]
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kiss in the rain 1
[Hi, Dan Heng. I hope you don't mind Oryou floating right up close to you to try to leech off your body heat.]
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He even leans into her slightly. Not that he's providing much in the way of body heat either.] I was not expecting the cuddling part, personally.
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Do you not like cuddling?
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Re: Dan Heng | Honkai: Star Rail | Current Character
[Bronya shifts through the stones until she finds a striking stone.]
What do you think of this? It appears to be called labradorite. Good for intuition, protection, and guidance.
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[For several reasons, not all of them related. He'd never thought it an issue until now.] I usually count my age by the passing of each new year.
Diamond... somehow seems fitting for you, Miss Bronya.
[Bright and clear but near unbreakable.
The stone she holds up next is fascinating.] I've heard of this before... It's a type of Feldspar with an iridescent quality, isn't it? I didn't realize it had such associations.
[Because he's so damn science brained.]
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[She'll smile, if a touch sadly. It was her mother that was so focused on making sure she knew her science.]
It changes color when it hits the light, like this.
[Bronya holds it up so it will catch the light, watching it shimmer.]
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a kiss in the rain, the first one.
But the rain and the trip both last longer than he had thought he would, so that's why he finds himself ducking into the same awning. It hasn't hit him enough for him to realize what it's done to him - at least not yet.
He blinks, almost innocently. ]
Effects?
[ Give him a few moments. ]
Kiss in the Rain 2
He was content just to look at him from across the shop, but Dan Heng seemed... well— a vidyadhara shouldn't look so depressed by the rain.
The general isn't really trying to startle him, so while Dan Heng looks at his reflection in the window, he steps up behind him. With the light behind him, his silhouette casts over the window.]
Who, me?
[He's trying to lighten the mood.]
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This time, he feels on edge. Uneasy, off balance. It's a familiar feeling, in recent times. He's never been perfectly at ease with his own reflection, but today... today it digs under his skin like a stubborn barb.
Or maybe, just since he stepped outside.
The familiar silhouette that falls over him halts his bristling, something like embarrassment curling in his gut. But Jing Yuan likely knew more than most the issues that plagued him.
Ultimately he lets out a sigh, tension draining from him slightly as he tears his gaze away from the window to look over his shoulder. Rainwater drips from his bangs and the droplets trail down his face, but he does not bother wiping them away.] ...Of course not.
[He knew what Jing Yuan was doing. He appreciated it, though.] ...In truth, I don't know why this is bothering me so much right now.
[He was dealing with it. He had been.] It's just... frustrating, I suppose.
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Still, the general can't help but feel the want to help guide him, and he reaches to wipe Dan Heng's wet hair back from his face for him. The dragon people might like the water, but he can't have him looking like a drowned orphan.]
Your young life has already faced many trials due to the legacy that Dan Feng left for you.
[What Dan Heng endured wasn't something he should have had to bear, but the past isn't something that can be changed. Jing Yuan pats his shoulder gently, then tucks his other arm behind his back as he looks out at the rain.]
It's understandable to feel conflicted.
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A kiss in the rain (the first one)
Strange enough that, in an entirely uncharacteristic move, he takes shelter from the downpour under a café awning. Neuvillette rarely feels a driving need to be around other people and least of all to touch them but he can feel it now as a persistent nagging in the back of his mind as something he ought to do.
When he's joined by someone he recognises, the company is both welcome and faintly troublesome.]
Dan Heng. [It's been a while, but he does remember.] ... I concur... Water often carries emotions, even here, but it rarely affects me like this.
Re: A kiss in the rain (the first one)
His own expression is a little bit wry as he makes a small sound of agreement.] Emotions...? Interesting. The tide carries memories where I am from, but effects like these I have never seen.
[His gaze seems to linger on Neuvillette, watching a drop of water trailing from the man's hair to his cheek.] ...I usually find the rain refreshing, but this...
[It just makes him yearn.]
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I... yes, there is something strange about it.
[A small frown pinches his brow as he looks up at the sky. He can't put his finger on it, but there's something...]
... But I would like to hear more about that. Where you come from. If you would be amenable.
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