Seasons Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
seasonsmods) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
seasonsgreetings2024-10-18 10:32 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2024-10-18 10:32 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #11
Test Drive Meme #11
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 (someone near the hologram mumbles that Olwen still hadn't sent them a new message, even if he talked about updating it).
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?
October is once again the start of the nameless festival of honoring the dead, where regular people can join in helping ghosts pass into afterlife. This ritual can only be done at this time of the year, as the air is filled with a mysterious essence that helps with passing on. The scientists have yet to properly determine what the essence truly is, but it seems to concentrate on the park and at least it's not dangerous for the living.
Much like last year, the key is to partner up with someone and hold up a special wreath made of flowers. Once the wreath starts glowing they must release it and let it float upward. During the ascent, the ghost will be visible to everyone, even if just for a moment, before vanishing with the wreath, leaving behind glowing, floating lights in the air.
Another part of the festivities is sending off floating lanterns. These lanterns can be used to pour all thoughts and feelings of someone the person misses and send it to the skies. Legend says that it will eventually reach the person they thought of, alive or dead, eventually on its journey. It's also viewed as a way of lessening one's emotional weight.
Ortherworlders are also encouraged to light special candles. Doing so will grant them a protective spell that will be with them until its spent. All damage they receive will be halved for three hits. This spell can't be stacked, but it can always be redone during the course of the festivities (until late November).
The restaurants in Blossomcrown are also participating in the festivities. They are offering the ghosts a chance to enjoy one final meal before leaving the world. This is only made possible by volunteers.
The food will be provided by the chefs: All the volunteers need to do is let ghosts possess them. They'll be given a magical brooch to hold that will make this happen. Once the ghost has taken over someone's body, they will tell what their favorite food is. It could be just a strawberry cake or something more exotic like haggis.
After they've enjoyed the meal the ghosts usually leave the brooch and the stop possessing the person. However some of them are greedy and will run from the restaurant. It's likely they want to fill their heart's final desire, whatever it may be. It could be singing on a rooftop or even running naked through the marketplace.
During the two months the festivities are happening, the natives will be much more understanding of any weird stunts and crimes the otherworlders do, assuming they're possessed by a peculiar ghost. Unless they see that someone doesn't have a brooch, of course.
Those caught doing dangerous and/or malicious things without being possessed will be put into a pillory for the afternoon, so natives can toss tomatoes at them.
Nightwake has adopted Halloween as an official holiday. The city has been decorated with various spooky things and people dress up in different themed outfits. Even the cat-sized dragons residing in the city have cute accessories like witch hats or devil horns.
The natives are especially proud of the haunted houses they've set up on every district. They fit the theme of the place they're in and some of them even have actual ghosts to set up the mood. Nothing actually dangerous happens in the houses, just some good-willed spooky fun and perfectly cut screams.
Stores are also doing a promotion for boo baskets! Anyone who gathers a basket full of halloween and autumn filled things (clothes, food, decorations, chocolate etc) will get 50% off for their total purchase! The boo baskets themselves are designed as various things, such as pumpkins, bats and different monsters from all around Ellipsa. Anyone is also welcome to design their own basket.
Speaking of baskets, during the festivities everyone will receive a harvest basket on their doorstep. There are those filled with vegetables, some filled with fruit and berries and then a mix of both. Usually all baskets have at least apples, corn, potatoes, pumpkins and squash. The card in the basket says "Please enjoy these, but don't leave them sit in the basket for too long!"
A few days after everyone has received their harvest baskets, something strange starts happening. Vegetables that haven't been eaten or prepared for later somehow start growing at rapid speeds. Most vegetables just grow into the size of middle sized dogs and stop there. Locals suggest carving the pumpkins especially into small houses for Harvest Fairies... or just for decorations. Some pets really, really love pumpkin and might enjoy a small house built for them.
Corn is the worst one to leave in the basket as those grow a full corn maze all around the district they end up growing in (including in the house it started in). It's entirely possible to encounter a corn maze even in the middle of Frostreign. Magical corn doesn't care about the soil it grows in.
It doesn't take long for corn maze turf wars to start happening. Mysterious moving jack o'lantern (creatures with pumpkins as heads on different bodies - including void cats pretending to be jack o'lantern) and very regular seeming scarecrows start fighting over their territory.
The locals try enlisting anyone to stop the fight because jack o'lanterns carry lanterns and try to set the scarecrows on fire - and no one wants the corn maze to go up in flames when some of them connect indoors. The scarecrows in turn use any weapons they might get their hands on - including people and animals.
Of course getting rid of the mazes is also a priority. Fire is a no go, but the farmers are willing to lend their scythes for the occasion.
During October 21st, Nightwake natives are engaging in a weird new tradition. Apparently, while looking at modern holidays, they found a something called a National Throw a Short Person - day. So it's entirely possible to see short people being thrown into different soft mattresses and other surfaces lined up for the occasion.
They're even encouraging people to participate, saying that it seemed like such an important holiday to honor. How they came to that conclusion isn't very clear.
Summary of the prompts [ Click to Expand ]
Arrival• Characters appear in one of the four seasonal spaces, depending on what season they are
• After half an hour they are teleported to the Research Center lobby and given information
• Hologram of Olwen (Winter Guild Leader) plays, explaining the situation
• They're given their smartphone-like device and told about the Starter Apartments next door
• Possibility of finding a roommate!
Hymn for the Missing
Part 1
• Nameless festival of honoring the dead starts and continues until late November
• Flower wreaths are used to help ghosts pass onto afterlife
• Floating lanterns are send to skies with thoughts and emotions of someone missing attached
• Lightning candles will give people a protective spell
Part 2
• Volunteers are asked to let ghosts possess them so they can enjoy one last meal
• This is possible by a magical brooch
• Some ghosts will want to do other things as well and run away
• Those caught doing dangerous and/or malicious things will be caught in the pillory
Pumpkins Scream in the Dead of Nightwake
Part 1
• Halloween is now an official holiday
• Decorations and costumes pop up everywhere
• Every district has a themed haunted house
• People are encouraged to make boo baskets
• Everyone will also receive a harvest basket with an ominous message
Part 2
• Few days after the harvest baskets are received, magic happens
• Vegetables start growing into the sizes of middle sized dogs
• Corn will make full corn mazes everywhere
• Turf Wars start in the corn maze between jack o'lanterns and scarecrows
Part 3
• October 21st is the National Throw a Short Person day
- 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.
no subject
I know! Just... I'm kinda scared. Of having people control me, after the Nightshade did. But I wanna help them, too...
no subject
Honestly, if I were calling the shots here, there'd be winter power holders identifying and vetting every ghost. But I guess that'd be too much bureaucracy! That's why I brought everyone with me.
[His pokémon, that is.]
If any ghosts tries anything funny with my body, Hinobuta's going to grab them and give them a good shake-down.
[Nothing so bad that he'd have to deal with consequences afterwards, but bad enough to make the ghost want to get the hell out of him!]
Maken One and Two are ghost pokémon - halfway, in any case -, so they can see them and will deliver an ass-kicking too. You know what, why don't we go together and have all three of them keep an eye on both of us?
no subject
no subject
[Who'd have thought that the little Sobble would be so brave!]
I'm honestly not sure how Doublades can fight regular ghosts - I doubt they can cut them like a living thing -, but they can see them for sure, so they've got to be able to do something! Right, guys?
[The Doublade doesn't even give him anything that could be interpreted as a nod; its two halves just stare with their singular eye. Undeterred, Hijikata holds the restaurant door open for Rinku.]
I'll do it first, too, if that reassures you.
[Famous last words?]
no subject
[Rinku smiles. She offers treats to Hijikata's Pokémon, takes a deep breath, and walks into the restaurant.]
Okay. I'll make sure nothing happens to you, Hijikata-san!
no subject
Given that they're a family-sized group altogether, they get a whole big table to themselves. Hijikata, stating that it'll be just him hosting a ghost for a start, receives his brooch and pins it to his chest once the server is done explaining the process: Ghosts are allocated to volunteers as they arrive, and once the possession is complete, the ghost will order whatever meal they want and get it custom-made for them.
Of course, he can't help but place a mayonnaise bottle on the table as soon as the man has left them.]
Rinku-chan, do me the favour and encourage the ghost to try it, will you?
no subject
[Rinku puts on her Slender Ring to be able to see vague blobs where the ghosts are. She waves and takes a deep breath.]
Hijikata-san really likes this stuff, so if you possess him, can you try eating the mayo too? I bet he'd have an easier time with it.
no subject
Hijikata wanted to ask if Rinku's ring lets her see ghosts - when they last discussed it, she hadn't yet figured out its special property, and the prospect of being able to see spirits again has him terribly excited! -, but the ghosts, oblivious, possesses him right away.]
...
[His expression turns from wide-eyed at the revalation to calm and happy, and the ghosts lifts his hands in front of his face, getting used to the feeling of having a body again.]
My, it's been a very long time since I was this young and strong! Very kind of him and you both, young miss, to do this for us spirits, truly.
no subject
We wanted to help. It's a little scary, but it's gotta be hard for you too not having anything, right?
[Mecchan turns invisible to hide, but Leon just flicks his tongue and Hina tilts her head.]
no subject
[All these little creatures, but also the large fire pig monster next to her! In fairness, the latter is barely moving and just looking at him intently. (As for the Doublade... he isn't registering it as a living thing. Sorry, Maken I and II.)]
And here, I thought they might be prizes from the mall! I visited it when it first opened, you see, and it is quite remarkable, the amount of prizes.
[Is he forgetting his meal, or what...]
no subject
[Hina flies off Rinku's head to sniff at the ghost's food.]
Hina-chan, that's not yours! He's supposed to eat that!
no subject
[He smiles at Hina, but pulls his place closer to himself.]
This restaurant has incredible service, does it not? You see, there is a winter power holder helping, or someone who can see us spirits, in any case, and I told her - I said, 'Can you make me two sandwiches of gravity goat cheese on black bread, with watercress?', and she asked the ones working in the kitchen, and they made it, and it was ready right when your friend here became available. Fabulous, really, is it not? But now, let me try this...
[He takes the mayonnaise bottle and gingerly squeezes a dollop onto a corner of the sandwich. Seeing "Hijikata" be this sparse with it has to be a bizarre sight!]
no subject
Yeah, that sounds great! They're really putting a lot of work into helping you guys. I think everyone deserves to have fun and be happy. I mean, most people, I guess.
no subject
You have your heart in the right place, young miss, I can tell. Say, though, will you not order some food for yourself as well? It would make this meal so much more companionable!
[Should Rinku protest, he'll wave a server over himself (and they'll be accommodating, given that it's a ghost's request) - unless she has some food on her, that is!]
no subject
[On one hand, she does usually have food on her. On the other, this ghost seems pretty nice, and she might as well ask... so she just picks something and allows the servers to take down the order.]
I guess there's no harm in it. Being nervous makes me hungrier anyway...
no subject
[Sadly, he doesn't seem to be overly impressed with Hijikata's mayonnaise, given that he adds no more of it after the initial bite!]
no subject
I don't think it's that you're dead. Lots of people I know have died. It's just.. something happened once and now I'm kinda scared, even though I know you're all being nice about this. Sorry.
no subject
[After a moment, he adds:]
But know that there is no shame in not participating fully. Keeping this old soul company is already a great charity.
[He even puts a hand over his heart to empathise his emotion!]
no subject
[Rinku gulps and cuddles Hina and what must be a still-invisible Mecchan before setting them back down and petting Leon on her shoulder.]
I was supposed to make sure Hijikata-san was okay, but I guess it's going fine.
no subject
[He waves at another ghost, who likewise floats over, only visible as a vague outline to Rinku. Her voice sounds more like a lady's. "Montgomery, is that you in there? Don't you look dashing! And who would this young lady be?" The ghost possessing Hijikata emits a good-natured chuckle.]
She is also volunteering, Clairice. Why do you not enjoy you favourite cake once more through her?
[If Rinku agrees, she'll also receive a brooch... and who knows if she'll even remember what happens next? Possession, after all, can feel a little different for everybody.
Luckily, at least the RNG for Hijikata's ghost was merciful; he won't try anything shady!]