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seasonsgreetings2024-12-13 10:55 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2024-12-13 10:55 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #12
Test Drive Meme #12
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 staff nearby tells them that the message has finally been properly updated from the original one that can still be found from the records.
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. We wouldn't have resorted to it if we weren't desperate. Our world has lost the majority of power holders who kept the balance in our world and dealt with the dangers of the Segments. Just having one power holder for each Season isn't enough. That's why we have summoned you to become the new Seasonal Power Holders.
This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons: Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn. 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 have recently managed to regain some footing in the segments and made them safer, but there is still a lot of work to be done. The Darkness still plagues our world, but we are constantly finding ways to fight back.
Otherworlders like you have already made great differences to the world. They have managed to find and free the dragons who in turn helped us expand the area we live in. They also managed to find the Fairy Queen and even the Mermaids and Sirens of the Great Ocean Lake are at peace due to the efforts of a few otherworlders. All of these things we couldn't have accomplished with just four power holders.
My sincere wish is that you would join us in working towards saving this world. We promise to send you home afterwards, or enable a way to travel to your world and back, as a compensation for your efforts here. You're even free to stay here, if that suits you better. This world can also be yours.
I know we're asking you a lot and that it might be hard to trust someone who just talks as a hologram, but you are always free to approach us at our guilds to talk in person.
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-sized 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 of joining one.
Second type of stand 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 a stand has various pamphlets about businesses opened by otherworlders.
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 a room of your own. 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 of joining one.
Second type of stand 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 a stand has various pamphlets about businesses opened by otherworlders.
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 a room of your own. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
Among the holidays adopted by Ellipsan natives, Christmas is one of the bigger ones. However, they have opted to calling the celebration the Yuletide season. The streets of Nightwake, no matter what season the districts falls to, are decorated with different kind of holiday ornaments and lights. The Yuletide, for Ellipsan natives, is viewed as the season of love, affection, closeness and new beginnings (which is why the celebrations continue into January).
One of the classic decorations is, of course, mistletoe. They're placed on very strategic places both inside buildings and outside. This year there are also small helpers. The small-sized fairy bunnies (bunnies with fairy wings and cute ribbons) fly all around Nightwake and bring mistletoes over to pairs who seem like couples to them. Sometimes they will also hang around very sad looking people and try to get them a kiss.
These bunnies can be easily bribed to leave someone alone or to pick a specific target by giving them dandelions to snack on. It's also likely that they will stay around after they get tired of carrying around mistletoes (they can't even nibble on them since they're poisonous) and just sleep on someone's lap or shoulder. They may be messengers of love and affection, but they need breaks!
Workshops have been made around the city where people can make evergreen beds for the fairy bunnies to show their appreciation. These beds they can both sleep in and snack on. The same workshop also instructs people on how to make evergreen wreaths to hang on doors that will bring good luck for the next year.
While some of the more modern districts have opted for using electric light displays, some of the more traditional ones like Sunwaning and Dayrise have opted to using natural fire for ambience. The streets are filled with candles of different shapes and sizes. There are even magically floating candles making shapes of christmas decorations in the skies.
Everyone is also provided with free candles to encourage sitting at home in only candlelight. The candles are special and will fill the room with nostalgic aura that will make them feel like they're in the most comfortable place for the people in the room. If their house is already that, there's little to no change. However, the candles will also bring loved ones around as illusions so everyone can spend a night with the people they love.
These illusions can be people that have died or just people who aren't here in Ellipsa. However, illusions can also show someone who is in the world, but just not in the room (or maybe even while the person is in the room, in case someone hasn't confessed their feelings). They will act like the person they know and they can even be physically touched. There can be as many loved ones joining them for the night as they want.
At the end of such an evening with the candles, everyone may find an item from home that has magically appeared for them. Basically, it's a free regain of either magical or normal variety and may or may not be related to the people they saw as illusions. The candles only have one use in them and even if they got new ones, they will only get one item.
A group of students from the Magical Manor wanted to bring snow into every district, including the summer ones, for the Yuletide celebrations. So they combined their magical knowledge and power to make spells that make snow less likely to melt in hot weather, and tasked strong adventurers to bring in snow from Frostreign and the Winter Segment.
They didn't realize that the snow would include small beings called Snow Sprites. They're balls of ice with wings that go around and cause snow storms happen in small areas. Now these sprites have been woken up from their peaceful sleep and are causing a havoc around the whole city, making it snow where it normally shouldn't.
In a way this was great! They're bringing snow everywhere without anyone needing to carry it for several districts. On the other hand they're not stopping anytime soon. Judging by the screams coming from the Solarpeak beach, the bikini season is on hold. Some of the kids love it and some of the shops are taking an advantage of it by selling warm clothes in places they normally couldn't.
The students are asking for people to help with the sprites. The best way to make them calm down is by singing something for them. The more singers in a group the better. Another way is to make it into a dance competition. The Snow Sprites love dancing, so they will even stop the worst snowstorm to join in.
There are several activities inspired by the Yuletide season. All of them promote cleansing the body of the old year and starting anew.
During sunrise hours, each district has a dedicated spot for sunrise Yoga. A moment to relax in the quiet morning hours and doing yoga together with miniature alpacas. The alpacas will act both as if they're doing yoga as well, but also as a distraction by bumping their bodies into people to demand attention. The point is to relax and let negative energies flow out of the body, so there's no shame in just petting an alpaca for the whole yoga session.
The skating rinks are back on every district. Everyone is encouraged to try skating in them to let all their bad feelings out through a dance on ice. This is done with enchanted ice that will promote positive feelings when skated on. Of course, it may not work on everyone, but skating is also fun, so maybe that's enough.
Those who aren't so into sports can participate in one of the artistic workshops, where bad feelings are expelled through different art forms. There are rooms where someone can just paint the walls by throwing water balloons full of paint at them or just quiet spaces to draw, sketch or read. The staff encourages the visitors to write and paint bad feelings on paper, as the paper will help channel them out and leave a more pleasant feeling behind.
The same effect can also be made at the Underground Mall and the Virtual Reality booth, where the games have been selected to promote tranquility. The access is free for games that are feel good. Additionally there's also a very realistic virtual game of power washing that is sure to relax anyone who feels satisfaction of seeing something cleaned with full power.
Evenings in Nightwake are designed for the purposes of new beginnings. Various places offer a chance to think about what people want to set as their goals for the new year. They're also advised to look back into the current year to see what they want to carry with them to the new one.
All things that people wish to forget or leave into the past are written on paper and then set on fire. Meanwhile their new wishes, also written, are stored in a box they can take back home. Whenever a person feels lost they can look back to the box and remember the night.
Those who want to make a bigger display of leaving something in the past can also load their papers into fireworks and blast them off.
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!
NOW KISS
• It's Yuletide season
• All of Nightwake has been decorated festive style
• Mistletoes are back, this time with helpers from fairy bunnies who carry mistletoes to people
• They are easy to bribe
• Candles are offered to everyone
• The candles have a special effect of making the room feel as comfortable as possibly
• It can also create real-feeling hallucinations of loved ones for one night
• Next day those who lit candles will receive a free regain
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow
• Students of the Magical Manor are arranging snow for all the districts
• This in turn wakes up the Snow Sprites who will cause snow storms all around
• To calm them, one must either sing for them or challenge them to a dance battle
• Yuletide activities are happening all around
• Including: miniature alpaca sunrise yoga, ice skating, artistic workshop, virtual reality gaming
• Focus is on letting out negative energies and feeling, letting in positive ones
• At night, things people wish to leave to the past are written on paper and either burned or put onto fireworks
- 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
A bottle of sake, then. Deal. Best pick out your favourite high-end labels already!
[While he absolutely is taking on this challenge out of sheer stubbornness and pride, he likewise hopes that the competition may help his friend regain some foothold in her magic. Little Eva had gotten so good with her offensive wind magic! He'd hate to see her skills lost forever.]
no subject
[Shaking his hand, the deal was set.
And of course, he'd already started smoking... since the awful events on Rokkenjima, that smell of cigarettes she once hated so much had become a comfort to her, hadn't it? If he wanted to smoke in her presence, then, good.]
...Hey, Hijikata. Have you got any business at the Guilds anytime soon?
no subject
[It's a toss-up of whether he practises his magic at the Grand Collosseum or at the guild training grounds, but regardless, he regularly pops into the guild HQs to cash in quest rewards or handle other business.]
Just name the time and day, and I'll be there.
no subject
[It would be good to see how much further she had to get before she could overtake him, with the set-backs she'd endured.
She leant back in her chair, flicking out her fan- emotional vulnerability was difficult, but there was no easy way to dodge around the topic without confusing the matter further. Eva couldn't directly say 'I trust you', but she'd called him her confidant in her Christmas message... that was probably enough.]
But that wasn't what I had in mind. ...To be honest, I have no idea if I'm too fucked up to pull it off anymore or not, I only ever made it work as a kid- but I think it could work if the two of us gave it a try.
Those bond weapons, I mean.
no subject
Of course, Eva-chan. Let's give it a try.
[She doesn't need to explain anything. He understands her feelings.]
Do you want it for the new year, or for Yuletide?
no subject
Why for Yuletide? Not that I've got any immediate plans, but it'd be nice to give it a try before all that New Year chaos starts up.
[Aka, she was avoiding most of the New Year fireworks.]
no subject
[It's not like they need to prepare anything for the trust bond, and chances are that the guild grounds will be quiets right now with everyone enjoying the Yuletide activities.]
no subject
[It seemed their thoughts were aligned!]
no subject
Letting Eva choose one and wiping the snow off it, he grips the cold steel of the hilt together with her.]
Ready, Eva-chan?
[With her affirmation, they pull together. This moment is always a moment of truth, and even though Hijikata's done it a half-dozen times, it never fails to make his heart skip a beat - after all, a failure would be painful on a very personal level.
But the sword does slip from the stone in their hands and dissolve... and as always, he has trouble seeing whom of them the magic enters.]
no subject
But that doubt, it wasn't EVA's voice. Usually she'd expect her witch to be pulling those insecurities out but this time... a calm. As if EVA reached out with her.
Reaching out to say, 'I trust him, too.'
Eva murmured quietly to herself as she secured her grip; ]
You too, huh...
[Then, to Hijikata: ]
Ready!
[And the confidence paid off, the sword slipping out easily and dissolving into light before them! The relief in her voice- a rare vulnerability- was palpable.]
It worked...! Ha... look, it worked- wait, which one of us did it go into??
no subject
[He hopes that it went into her, but politeness demands that he let her check him for Vesselhood first.]
See if my chest lets you in.
[It's weird, yes, but it's not like he'll actually feel her hand inside of him. God knows what kind of hammerspace these weapons are stored in, but it's like a little portal opening up each time.]
no subject
Alright, let's see... ah!
[Eva's hand smoothly slipped into him. Eyes sharpened in focus, but she soon felt something metal beneath her fingers.
She withdrew it carefully- it didn't even appear to be a weapon on first glance. Instead it resembling a larger, more ornate version of the fan she always carried with her, the outer metal rib decorated with patterns of smoke and spiders and butterflies. But once she opened it out, small, sharp blades jutted out each of the metal ribs.]
...A samurai giving me a tessen, huh? That's pretty fitting.
no subject
Well, Eva-chan, if this doesn't suit you, I don't know what does.
[He puts an arm around her, squeezing her shoulder in encouragement.]
I haven't used one before myself, but we'll figure it out? Do you want me to take you along for my training sessions?
[They'll be training with different weapons and magics, but it'll still be good for her to have a partner to go with and hold her accountable - if their bet isn't enough motivation!]