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)
seasonsgreetings2023-08-18 12:00 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2023-08-18 12:00 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #4
Test Drive Meme #4
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 Welcoming Committee that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
Part 3
The building next door is where everyone can find their new apartments. As you enter, you're told by a friendly native that for the first two months you can live anywhere rent-free and five meals a day are paid for you. After that they get a monthly payment that helps with some of their living expenses, but otherwise they have to have a job to support themselves.
All of the apartments are comfortable, two bedroom apartments with all necessary utilities. They are also completely soundproof. Sometimes the magic system, however, does glitch and you might find yourself rooming with a stranger. This is not the intention and the staff will immediately prepare you your own room if you ask them. But maybe having a roommate isn't all that bad?
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 Welcoming Committee that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
Third type of the stands is for The In Touch Support Group that is led by the Otherwordly Ambassador, Kamisato Ayato. The pamphlets have contact information for businesses looking to help Otherworlders. They also focus more on the lore of the World and what they have discovered so far, as well as a guide on what to think about when preparing to venture out to the Segments.
Once you get your smartphone and necessary information, you're urged to go out and find your apartment. After that whatever you want to do is up to you.
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?
Over the course of one night, fairies have decorated various trees all over the districts with special fairy lights. It's the 200th birth anniversary of the Fairy Queen coming up, so the lights are up for the duration of the celebration. The queen herself may be currently missing, but the fairies have not lost hope in finding her one day, hiding from the Darkness somewhere.
The lights are beautiful and in various different colors. Some even change colors occasionally. They seem very harmless, but some of the lights have been altered with mischievous fairy magic. Touching a tree affected by the magic will make characters act like a dere.
Just a light touch is all it takes. Even a falling leaf from the tree can trigger its effect. Suddenly you're acting just like a (player chosen) dere. Some trees also have an additional effect on making the character like the person who touched the tree at the same time, either in a temporary romantic way or a completely platonic manner, making the 'dere-effect' manifest in its full glory.
The effect usually lasts for an hour or two, but in rare cases the effect has been known to last for the rest of the day. No one really knows why that happens, it just does.
All of the districts now have an aesthetically appropriate party going on, with food and drink for anyone to try. As long as it's normal-sized, it's safe to eat. All of the districts also have small hanging platforms that look like stages or treehouses for the fairies to hang out and dance in. They're mostly visible for the duration of the celebration.
Those who want to help the fairies celebrate are asked to make miniature furniture for the hanging party spots. This also includes making cups and plates from leaves. Those that help the fairies with this will have the chance to receive genuine fairy wings on their back for the rest of the week (or for the rest of the month, if you ask nicely). These wings enable them to be able fly short distances (across a normal sized street, for example).
However those who are mean to fairies in any way will instead get a pig tail and ears, with a possible pig snout for the same amount of time. The effect can be reversed by apologizing to the fairies in earnest.
There are several ways to party and some fairies are more mischievous than others. They have taken upon themselves to do fairy pranks. They're all very harmless and silly and they don't want to actually hurt anyone. Just have a little fun.
Some examples include: hair braided into small braids, a glitter bomb exploding on characters, items teleporting from one person to another and people being tricked into eating fairy food (makes random, small fairy wings appear on random parts of their body that fades in a few hours).
During the dark of the night another magical thing has happened. The fairies claim that it has nothing to do with their magic if asked, but they're sure it's a miracle produced by the celebrations itself.
A large variety of mushrooms and forest berries have grown all over the districts, no matter what climate they have. Scientists (and fairy helpers) have determined that all of them are safe to eat and have decided to challenge anyone to gather these nutritious and tasty treats the earth has offered them.
Most of the mushrooms are quite normal, in both taste and how they look. There's one particular glowing mushroom that causes hallucinations, but no poisonous ones have been detected. Among the berries there are some interesting ones that have magical effects; wild strawberries make people burst into song, wild blueberries make people poetic and lingonberries appear to cause an increase in philosophical thoughts.
Upon later investigation, it seems the berries were, in fact, a fairy prank. But the mushrooms they haven't touched.
During the evening of the third day the mushrooms appeared, some chosen people get a message straight into their minds. Its telling them repeatedly to go to the Mushroom Sanctuary, slowly trying to gain control over the characters' bodies and mind. It seems some of the mushrooms were actually fae mushrooms, a dangerous mind controlling mushroom that is near impossible to detect before it's too late.
Should characters fall victims to the fae mushroom they will start making their way to the Mushroom Sanctuary in the Autumn Segment. They will do whatever it takes to continue making their way there, including fighting anyone who tries to stop them or even hitching someone's vehicle of choice to get there faster. All they have to say is "I need to go. I'm needed."
The only way to stop the mushroom's effect is to find translucent cordyceps, native to Autumn Segment, and make them eat them somehow.
Click on the image or here to make the map bigger.
Uninterrupted, those affected by the fae mushrooms, native or otherworldly, will make their way into their destination. The Mushroom Sanctuary is home to many peculiar mushrooms, big and small. It's light up by the glowing ones, making it look quite beautiful during the night. But no one is here to do sightseeing.
Instead, inside two of the biggest mushrooms, there are two stairways into the underground. After leaving all of their items, except their clothing, inside a third giant mushroom, the affected walk down these stairs and end up in an underground area. Once they get inside, the fae mushroom effect fades into a faint voice at the back of their mind, letting the people take in where they are.
They are surrounded by native mushroom people, who are now identified as Mushroom Fae (mushroom at max height of 1 meter/3'3 feet that have arms, legs and faces, as well as now revealed fairy wings). Everyone here has been brought here to work for the fae in order to build their Underground Kingdom. Food and other necessities like sleeping area have been provided, as well as a bathing area since they know how some humans are particular about their hygiene. Work includes digging tunnels, carrying away dirt, carrying the building material down, putting up support pillars and even building stone walls.
Animosity towards the Mushroom Fae and any attempts to attack them will trigger the Fae Mushroom control again, making the person essentially an obedient doll again. But the Mushroom Fae promise that after a few days (or a week, depending on how fast they work) they'll be released again. They just need a little bit of raw power to help with their project and this was the best way they could come up with.
Rescuing the workers is always an option, but those controlled by the Fae Mushroom will attack people who try to rescue them unless the spell is undo for them.
After the people have been rescued from the Mushroom Sanctuary, the fairies living inside the city will make an announcement that they have nothing to do with the Mushroom Fae. In fact, they had no idea they had survived the Darkness and transformed into regular looking sentient mushrooms.
As an apology for not realizing this sooner they will offer free delivery services for the rest of the year, meaning anyone can call upon a fairy to teleport an item (a non-sentient one) from place A to place B at anytime. The fairies may be invisible but usually always hear a plea even if further away.
- Lore Related: In Ellipsa fairy and fae, while similar creatures, are different species; fairy are generally nice and fun-loving creatures who do harmless pranks while fae are usually very suspicious and may even cause harm to achieve their goals.
- Map Related: The flowers and trees are all fae made things that give light to the underground space. They're otherwise not harmful. There are plenty of places to sit down and tables to eat at (food will be basic vegetable or meat stew with mushrooms, depending on if characters eat meat or not). The bathing area has water orbs that acts as shower heads, but also big public baths that are mixed gender.
- 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.
Foraging for Trouble, Part 2
So it is by pure chance that Reiner happens to be returning from the Autumn Segment, tired but satisfied, another quest complete. He's dressed in familiar clothing: a dark green shirt and sturdy brown trousers, ODM gear strapped on, a knife (once belonging to Connie) at his belt. He pauses as he crosses the bridge into the city, taking a deep breath. Letting the last vestiges of battle-ready alertness fall away, replaced by his usual (still quite alert) state.
And then he sees it. No, then he sees him. A tall, long-limbed figure that Reiner would know anywhere, anytime, in any world.
Reiner's breath catches, gold eyes wide, hope lancing through his chest.
It's him. It's him. ]
Bertholdt…
[ He starts forward. Not at a slow pace that gradually increases, but at a dead sprint, rushing toward his best friend. ]
BERTHOLDT!
no subject
I need to go.
no subject
Never has he imagined something like this.
Reiner skids to a stop just before reaching Bertholdt, the lack of reaction ringing a belated warning bell. And then, Bertholdt just … walks by. Just passes by as if Reiner isn't there. As if he's no more significant than the buildings around them or a stranger on the street. ]
Huh?
[ A quiet, almost helpless noise, utter bewilderment seeming to make the world itself tilt. Then Reiner turns, following his best friend, reaching out to close one hand firmly around Bertholdt's arm. ]
Bertholdt, it's me.
no subject
I need to go. I'm needed.
[Another yank.]
I need to go!
no subject
But has Bertholdt ever tried to yank away from Reiner's hand outside of that?
Reiner reflexively tightens his grip, trying to make sense of what's happening. Refusing to let Bertholdt go. Not now. Not when he's finally here after all these months; not when Reiner finally isn't alone.
It's magic. It must be. Some bullshit magical effect that shouldn't touch people with their powers but somehow still does. ]
Okay. Okay.
[ Not knowing what else to do, Reiner steps closer, standing at Bertholdt's side. Still not releasing his grip. ]
I'll go with you, all right? Where are we going?
no subject
I need to go. I'm needed.
no subject
Not for the first time, Reiner finds himself wishing he was something other than Autumn. Can't Summers identify diseases on sight? Would that work for whatever this is? Sure, he could manipulate the earth beneath their feet and drop Bertholdt into a pit, but—
… Actually, that's not a terrible idea. It would at least work to hold Bertholdt in place. Bertholdt wouldn't have room to transform, and without ODM gear, he'd have a hard time getting out.
But that still leaves the question of fixing whatever is wrong.
Reiner's first thought is to ask Hange. They cured that awful freezing sickness, taking care of both Reiner and Gabi; they could probably solve this. However, he dismisses the idea as soon as it crosses his mind. The Scouts still haven't agreed to a non-aggression pact; for all Reiner knows, they might take this opportunity to attack Bertholdt while he's out of his mind.
No, Reiner has to find another way…
They've crossed into the Autumn Segment now, still walking side-by-side. Reiner glances back at the city, knowing his options are narrowing. What will he do if he can't figure out a solution before they're deep in the Segment?
A memory suddenly surfaces: Jean and himself dressed as something called "pirates," trying to figure out how to sail a ship. Jean had suggested looking up a video tutorial.
So Reiner fishes his phone from his pocket and begins typing one-handed, searching for any news articles matching the symptoms Bertholdt is displaying.
As he does so, he reaches out with his other hand, trying to gently grasp Bertholdt's hand in his. Not to restrain Bertholdt, but just to hold on. Just to assure himself that this is actually real. ]
no subject
[When Reiner takes Bertholdt's hand though, he stops. Some instinct laces their fingers together. It's enough to cause him pause, even in his altered state. He stops, and looks down at their hands.]
[Softly:] I need to go...
no subject
Reiner's throat tightens. He squeezes Bertholdt's hand, looking up into his best friend's face, green eyes that Reiner hasn't seen in what feels like forever. ]
I know you do, Bertl. [ His voice is just as soft. ] I'll go with you, okay? I'll go anywhere with you. We'll figure this out together.
[ They always do. ]
no subject
[He keeps Reiner's hand in his as he turns to face forward again, continuing his walk, deeper into the Autumn Segment. He tugs gently on Reiner's arm as he goes, urging him to follow along.]
We're needed...
no subject
He goes with Bertholdt, easily matching his partner's long stride. Still holding tightly to Bertholdt's hand, letting himself be tugged along. Still using his other hand to search for answers on his phone. ]
Yeah, [ he agrees, emotion swelling within him at the slight change in Bertholdt's words. No longer "I," but "we." ] We're needed. You and I are needed.
[ Thankfully, it doesn't take long before Reiner's search yields results. Apparently, people who endlessly repeat those phrases can only be cured by translucent cordyceps.
Reiner breathes a sigh of relief. Thank goodness he's spent so much time studying plants in the Segments: he knows what that is and where it grows. The trick will be getting Bertholdt to eat it.
Lifting his eyes again, Reiner squeezes Bertholdt's hand and scans their surroundings, searching for what he needs. It doesn't take long before he spots some. The only trouble is that it's not directly in front of them—and "forward" seems to be the only way Bertholdt will go. ]
… You know, I'm kinda annoyed that you won't react the first time I do this. But you're gonna think it's cool later. I promise.
[ With that, Reiner focuses his magic, manipulating the earth, trying to create an earthen wall in front of them that will force them to go around—and bring them right by a patch of translucent cordyceps.
It's funny what sheer determination can do for an Autumn. After months of effort, Reiner finally learned how to manipulate the earth, but he still struggles to create it. This time, it's barely a struggle at all. He dumps magic into the effort, making an earthen wall shoot up, diverting their path. ]
no subject
no subject
Yeah, you'll think that was cool.
[ Then they're walking by the patch of translucent cordyceps. Reiner dips down just long enough to grab a handful—more than they need—then falls back into step. ]
Now for the hard part.
[ He gives Bertholdt's profile a considering look. ]
… Hey, Bertholdt. Hey. [ He tugs his partner's hand, then lifts the cordyceps up near Bertholdt's mouth. ] Do you wanna try some? They taste reeeeeally good…
[ They could taste like dirt, and they'll still count as "good" if they cure Bertholdt. ]
no subject
We need to go. We're needed.
[An impatient tug on Reiner's hand. They have to keep moving...]
no subject
[ Reiner obediently lets himself be tugged along, not wanting to agitate Bertholdt further. Not wanting that "we" to change back into an "I."
As they walk, he resumes talking. ]
But Bertholdt, we should keep our strength up. Do you remember when we were working the fields in Paradis? On the days when we didn't have much to eat, we couldn't do much. We weren't very helpful. And since we're needed, we need to be helpful, right?
[ Reiner has no idea if Bertholdt is even registering his words. Nor does he have any idea what they're "needed" for. But he remembers how Bertholdt brings him back to himself, the word "Warrior" a talisman against false memories. He knows how powerful words can be. So, it's worth a shot. ]
See, Bertholdt?
[ Still walking, he gives Bertholdt's hand a little tug, waiting until those green eyes fall on him again. Then he takes a bite of the cordyceps, making an exaggerated "mmm" noise. ]
See? I'm keeping my strength up. We need to keep our strength up. We're needed.
[ Again, he offers the cordyceps for Bertholdt to take a bite. ]
no subject
[Slowly, as if seeking confirmation:]
We're...[He eyes the cordyceps.]...needed...?
[Then, an anxious glance in the direction they'd been walking.
[He turns back to Reiner, and puts one of the cordyceps in his mouth, chews, swallows...
[Gasps.]
Reiner? Reiner? I-- Wait, what am I doing...?
[A strange taste in his mouth. He wrinkles his nose - more important things to worry about, Bert!]
Reiner, you're here, I had no idea-- I thought I was all alone, but we were headed back home, so-- I mean, just now, I thought we were...?
[A mind jumbled by fairy magic (not to mention that whole "being transported to another world and having to sit through orientation" thing).]
no subject
Anything past those first words—his name, his name—is completely lost to Reiner, heard but not processed. All he sees are those eyes seeing him. All he sees is his best friend. His partner. His fellow Warrior. His childhood companion. His Bertholdt, finally here. After so many months, Bertholdt is finally here.
Reiner's vision blurs with tears. He sucks in a half-gasp, half-sob, then all but throws himself forward, wrapping his arms around Bertholdt in a tight embrace. Burying his face in Bertholdt's shoulder. Breathing in a scent he would know anywhere, feeling a heat that perfectly matches his own. ]
You're here. [ Words pressed into Bertholdt's shirt, muffled but audible. ] You're here.