Test Drive Meme #11

[seasonsmods]

Test Drive Meme #11
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION

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 (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?

Hymn for the Missing

Part 1

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).

Part 2

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.

Pumpkins Scream in the Dead of Nightwake

Part 1

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!"

Part 2

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.

Part 3

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.

OOC TIPS

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.

code bases by tricklet

Comments

[spacialeyes]

[He's alarmed by her suggestion. Not for any personal reason, but because he doesn't know what other response is appropriate. That alarm takes the form of a flawless and calm smile.]

I should be the one apologizing. You don't need to have heard anything, Himeko. I'm sorry. It's less trouble if you heard nothing, right?

[dereban]

I can't just simply forget. Besides, if you're not okay and it's my fault, then... isn't it right for me to take responsibility?

[spacialeyes]

It isn't your fault. It's mine. I was the one who failed you.

[dereban]

[ Her grip on his hand tightens and her voice is low as she speaks: ]

...you didn't fail me.

[spacialeyes]

[He can’t answer. His throat is tight with grief and his hand is shaking. Yuuto doesn’t know what to do with negative emotions except to smile.]

… Sorry. I’m sorry.

[He shakes his head slowly.]

You went through too much already. I’m okay.

[dereban]

[ She doesn't believe him for a second. Which is probably why she brings her free hand to the top of his head to pat him. ]

You don't have to be okay for me, Yuuto. If it hurts... then you can share that with me.

[spacialeyes]

[He expects himself to be defensive, but the head pat actually calms him down. Exhaling slowly, Yuuto nods.]

… Let’s go inside? I can’t… Not out here. I can’t be seen like this.

[dereban]

Okay.

[ It's a simple statement spoken without judgement as she continues to walk; pulling him as she goes. There is definitely more hurried steps now but thankfully they aren't too far from her house. ]

Here we are - [ She says, unlocking the door with ease. ] you can go in first; I'll lock the door behind me. You can ake a seat on the couch in the living room and turn on the TV if you want.

[ Something that he might notice if he looks and pays real close attention is that there are definitely more locks on the door now. ]

[spacialeyes]

[He does notice and it makes his heart sink.

Yuuto shakes his head.]

I said I wouldn’t leave you. [Though he will give her space to lock the doors, waiting before entering the house properly.] You’re scared too…

[dereban]

...

[ She lets out a heavy sigh and her shoulders sag slightly. ]

You can't stay here forever, Yuuto.

[spacialeyes]

But I can stay for a little while? At least I don’t have to leave right away..?

[dereban]

You can. I'm not going to kick you out or anything, y'know.

[spacialeyes]

[She might notice his shoulders sink as he relaxes.]

… Can we um. Sit down and talk? I don’t know how to handle this. But I think it’s better if we talk, right?

We are in love, so… [It’s hard to learn to be in a healthy relationship. It would require that he admit his first relationship wasn’t healthy. Yuuto isn’t quite there yet.]

[dereban]

[ She nods and starts taking her shoes off by the entrance so she can lead the way to the living rook couch; if they're going to have a long chat, might as well be comfortble.

There will be pats to the seat next to her once she gets situated. ]

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto follows her awkwardly, visibly worried the entire time. His mind is racing and he doesn’t know how to handle it without a smile. But it doesn’t feel right to fake a smile around Inaba.

Once he’s seated next to her, Yuuto tries again.]

Sorry… I’m not very good at this. I shouldn’t be upset. I know it’s better if I’m smiling.

[dereban]

[ Inaba shakes her head at his assertion. ]

It isn't better if you're smiling but hurting inside. I would be frustrated if you pulled that crap with me, honestly.

You're just worried about me, right?

[spacialeyes]

[Yuuto doesn’t comment aloud, but his expression becomes confused. He’s so used to his negativity being a bad thing that he can’t understand why she would say that.

After the shock wears off, Yuuto nods.]

Mm. I’m worried about you. You’re obviously not okay either.

[dereban]

Haah...

[ She sighs, shoulders sagging. ]

I keep on getting fucked over one way or another in this world. Nothing new. At least I haven't died here yet. I guess the bar is in hell, though.

[spacialeyes]

I’m sorry… [He sighs. Yuuto knows that he can’t prevent everything. He can’t prevent much of anything… That’s the problem. He hasn’t helped her much at all.]

I don’t want for this world to be totally miserable for you. It’s the only place where we’ll get to be together… I wish I could do more to make it a nice place for you to be.

[dereban]

You don't have to apologize.

[ Her answer is also apologetic as she reaches out for his hands. ]

Sure, a lot of the things here are... [ The words don't come easily, and she stares at her lap, uncomfortable. ] They're things I hate. That isn't something that can be changed. But meeting you here is something that means a lot to me. Although it's too miserable to say that it's the only place that we'll be able to be together.

[spacialeyes]

I still… [His voice trails off. Yuuto looks in the direction of her front door, remembering how many locks she has installed now.] There are things that I could- I should have done…

[His sad smile twitches with misery when reminded of his own pessimistic phrasing.]

… Mm. I know. That’s sort of miserable to say. But it’s also sort of true. I’m not normal.

[dereban]

I know. It's-

[ She hesitates for a moment before shaking her head, trying to pull herself together. ]

It's okay. And... as much as I'd like to deny the reality of things, my life isn't normal, either. I can easily find a way to meet you in any world, once we leave this one.

[spacialeyes]

[It’s hard to find comfort in her words. Not because she isn’t making a good point, or because he doesn’t believe her, but because he can’t think about it. Not without feeling like all oxygen is leaving the room.

Yuuto shakes his head. His problems were never the issue anyway. It’s the door that started this.]

That’s a long way off. Right now, I’m more worried about your door. And you.

[dereban]

Ahh, that... I thought that I needed more protection, is all. I can't do much else.

I need to minimize how often I go out, anyway.

[spacialeyes]

That's... [His voice trails off at first. Yuuto is still struggling to assert himself, even with a romantic partner. But after recollecting his composure, he tries again;] That's not good. You shouldn't be that scared. I don't want for you to be living like this... I want to help.