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seasonsgreetings2023-10-13 12:35 am
seasonsmods) wrote in seasonsgreetings2023-10-13 12:35 am
Entry tags:
Test Drive Meme #5
Test Drive Meme #5
LOGS | NETWORK | OOC | MEMES | NAVIGATION
You arrive in an unknown space, dressed in white clothes (player choice what kind of clothes, as long as they cover everything). Whatever was happening to you before no longer happens. It's like everything was put on a pause and you were transferred away from the situation without you realizing it happened.
The space that you find yourself in is one of these four options:
An empty landscape filled with snow and ice, almost like a blank canvas.
A field with cherry blossom trees and spring flowers.
A sunny beach near an ocean that seems never ending.
A quiet forest with falling autumn leaves.
All of the spaces seem to continue endlessly. No matter where or how far you walk it almost seems like you're not moving at all. There are no animals here - just those who happened to wake up there at the same time, in the same place. Everyone is wearing the same kind of plain, white clothes.
Despite the possible rollercoaster of emotions you might be feeling, the place somehow feels familiar. Like somehow you belong there.
And it looks like you're not alone.
After half an hour has passed the surroundings change as everyone is teleported into a room with all the other new arrivals, no matter what space they woke up in. It's a large place with plenty of seats to sit in and beverages to enjoy. Medical attention is offered to those who need it and the doctors here are very prepared for any challenging situations.
Here, in this room, everyone gets an answer to where they are and why. A hologram of a man appears at the center of the room, waiting to be heard. He brings a message on behalf of the leaders of Ellipsa.
The Message [ Click to Expand ]
Hello, my name is Olwen. I'm one of the leaders of Ellipsa as it currently is. I'm also one of the four who summoned you here.
Our world is in trouble and we need your help. I apologize for tearing you away from your world and forcing you to come here but I hope you understand. The magic we used doesn't let us ask in advance, nor does it let us choose who we bring here.
This world is composed of four Seasonal Segments. All of them represent one of the seasons. They were the places we used to get our resources from, but now they're dangerous places no one should go into unless they have the power to fight back. All of them have their own sets of powerful monsters and natural catastrophes.
We used to have plenty of people here who could control the powers of the four Seasons. We called them Seasonal Power Holders. Unfortunately, due to a tragedy you can read about later, we lost almost all of them. Now only four of us remain and the world is in chaos. We have done our best to protect the world, but we need more power holders to do that.
That's where you come in.
All of you have been assigned to one of the seasons. Whatever space you were in just now is what season you represent. You will learn different skills based on the season and those skills are going to help you save this world.
These powers don't interfere with your own natural powers. They use a new energy that has formed inside of you. It's harmless to your health, but it's vital to your seasonal powers. Your own powers should still work, even if the dark energy outside the city might interfere with them.
Unfortunately bringing you here wasn't as simple as it sounds. We couldn't do anything about how to keep you anchored to this world other than making a simple spell that helps with it. That is, you need to touch someone else who is not from this world ideally at least once a day. It will help you stay in control of your powers and boost your magical energy. If you don't, the consequences aren't very good. But as long as you hold someone's hand or give someone a handshake, you should be fine.
That's all I have to say about the situation. The staff of the Research Center will give you more information about housing and other necessary things. I will, however, promise that you will be sent home once the situation becomes better. That's the least we can do.
The hologram can be viewed in private in a separate room later, should someone wish to look at it again. For now, the staff of the Research Center hands everyone their new smartphones with their small flower lucky charms (the flower is anything the player decides). They're also told that the building next door is where everyone can find a room assigned to them with some of their belongings there and possibly even any animal companions. Those concerned about their mount-sizes companions are welcomed to the stables downstairs to see if their friends are there. The mounts are allowed to stay there until you find a place more suitable for them.
In the Arrival's hall there are also several stands with information pamphlets.
First type of stand is for the local Guilds and about the benefits or joining one.
Second type of stands is for the Welcome Center that aim to show otherworlders what the world is like and help guide people in the beginning of the journey and helps in getting settled into the new world. They even have people to help if you're unfamiliar with the new phones.
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 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 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?
All throughout the city, a festival is taking place. It's the festival to honor the dead. The areas are decorated with aesthetically appropriate lights and different flowers. Upon a closer look it becomes clear that all the flowers are bundles of flowers, based on the otherworlders' flower charms. Where a characters' flower is depends on their Season, but all of the appear in the Nightwake Center district.
The main part of the festivities is to light candles in various places. There are even floating lanterns, that can be either launched to the skies or put on surfaces of water. Those who have lost (= to death) someone at any point in their life will receive a message from them in their dreams and otherwise pleasant dreams about them if they light up a candle during the festivities.
Those who have died before (back in their world or on Ellipsa) will receive a protective light around them if they light up a candle. This light will also let the natives know to treat them with kindness and respect during the festivities. They will even receive special bonuses at some of the shops and restaurants, like discounts or extra items. The light itself will decrease any damage done to them for the rest of the month. The light will dim "when needed", but even as it's not easily noticeable, it will continue to protect.
Characters may receive both of these effects.
The second part of the festivities involves making small ghosts made out of paper or cloth. These crafts are for the local ghosts to possess so they can be seen by everyone. Once the ghosts have possessed the crafts they will hover around the place, experiencing the festivities better than in their ethereal form. Only ghosts that wish to move on to the afterlife will possess the crafts.
Some of the ghosts gather at the Blossomcrown Park where magical crests have been set on various tables there. These ghosts are those who have been waiting for this moment to pass onto afterlife. Everyone visiting the bonfire will be given a special flower wreath. The goal is to wait for one of the ghosts to move and take hold of the wreath (literally holding onto it with their craft ghost forms) before placing it on the crests together with another person. This will help the ghosts to cross the border into afterlife. The wreath disappears after the ghost has passed on. 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.
The park also has some places to just sit down and enjoy the atmosphere at the park. There are also some food and drink stalls.
The final part of the festivities is the multi-day Costume Party Masquerade happening in the largest airship of the city. The ship circles around the whole city of Nightwake, occasionally stopping at the dock and taking new passengers (or letting old ones out) before continuing on again. The airship is special, as it has a giant ballroom in the middle. There are also cabins, some more private and some more communal for those who just want a quick place to crash rather than a proper room.
Everyone who boards the airship must wear some sort of a mask, but they also have to be in a costume of some sort. Those who don't have either or both will be guided to a dressing room where the magic will pick them whatever they are missing at random (= of player's choosing) and dress them (their current clothes will be waiting for them at the airship station later). No one escapes the rule of a costume and a mask around here!
A magic is also applied to everyone's mask, making it harder for anyone to recognize the person wearing it (possibly even those who know them very well). This is said to add some level of mystery to the evening. Of course the spell will pause whenever someone takes off their mask and that may reveal a secret to someone. No one will just automatically forget if they saw someone take off their mask.
The music encourages people to dance and be brave in asking a stranger to dance with them. Thanks to the atmosphere of the masquerade, touch energy will feel even better than usual, even if you'd be "fully loaded".
Another sort of magic sneaks into the party, as people's costumes start to take over their personalities. Someone dressed up as a king might start acting all regal, while a vampire look-a-like might try to bite someone in their neck. Some might even lose the sight of who they really are and completely take on their new roles for the time they're in the airship and in the costume.
Fairies will start trying to bomb people gone weird with water balloons, as a splash of water on their faces will wake them up from the trance (even if the said person is wearing a mask). They're even teleporting water balloons for others to toss - especially if it looks like someone is acting a bit too dangerously.
Another way is to strip them out of their clothes, but that might be something reserved for the privacy of a cabin, rather than the ballroom.
Even once someone has been freed from the spell they can unfortunately be spellbound again later on - but it's just less likely.
- 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.
Saber | Fate/Samurai Remnant | old player, new character
[Saber was... perturbed, to say the least. Separated from their Master, only to be summoned by someone else (multiple someones?) and forced into complying with the orders of some new situation. Or maybe not forced at all? They were no longer bound by any Command Spells, and try as they may to reach out to him, their connection to Iori was completely absent.
Maybe this was what Musashi had talked about, drifting from world to world? Saber had listened to the explanation, but wasn't sure if it was really the same. Still, they wouldn't get any answers just standing around and thinking about it, anyway, and they were soon distracted by bowls full of candy helpfully left by one of the welcome centre volunteers.
They're snacking on a bar of chocolate, a pile of opened candy wrappers already on the table next to them, when someone else -- new or otherwise -- passes by. They pick the bowl up and hug it to their chest protectively.]
Heh, I found this bowl first. Too bad!
[...Then sticking their tongue out before taking another bite of chocolate. Very mature.]
2. LIGHT A CANDLE FOR YOU
[Holding a paper lantern and standing by the water's edge, Saber seems to be hesitating. A soft light suffuses them too, has done so since they lit the lantern, but they don't seem to have taken any notice, even as they crouch by the water's edge and their hands seem, for a moment, to shake. Dark bangs cover their eyes, hiding Saber's expression from view.
Then, with a painful slowness, they lower the lantern onto the river, and watch the current bear it downstream, speaking barely above a whisper.]
...Goodbye... once more.
[Saber gets to their feet and slowly follows along the bank, watching the lantern, not quite ready to let it out of their sight.]
3. TOUCH-STARVED
[Both because they were used to receiving magical energy from a Master, and because they were far too proud to admit needing someone else's help to be able to survive here (again! just like Edo! rude), Saber had procrastinated on touching or being touched by anyone, even despite being warned of the consequences of not doing so. And now, with the fingertips in their hands turning to stone after nearly a week of stubbornness, staying in this world and not becoming a statue suddenly got a lot more urgent.
So they march toward to the first potentially tough-looking person they can find, clumsily summoning their sheathed blade to hand in a burst of water.]
Hey, you! Over there! I want a fight. If you have any courage at all, you should accept.
4. WILDCARD
[Feel free to pick another prompt or a quest, or come up with your own starter. I'll avoid spoilers for F/SR by default, but feel free to let me know if you're cool with them.]
3
I must warn you, even though I do not like fighting, if I must, I will go out. I cannot let my precious ones think me helpless if they show up.
no subject
[Saber's tone is genuine, not mocking; it's not as if they're picking a fight out of hostility, after all. They gesture to the the square just a little ways ahead of them, and there are few obstacles in the way aside from a few trees, benches, and a fountain.]
This spot should suffice. Come with me.
no subject
Are there any rules to this?
no subject
[SCREW THE RULES... is what Saber would have said not so long ago, but even without Iori here, they've come to appreciate their Master's more moderate perspective. This isn't a serious duel and doesn't need to be. So:]
No killing each other, and keep innocent people out of harm's way. This is just for [not turning to stone] fun, after all.
no subject
[She smiles at Saber.]
I am Iris. It is nice to meet you and I hope what I can do will suffice.
no subject
[Saber doesn't draw their sword, keeping it in its unusual waved sheath as they run towards Iris, aiming a swing for her torso. They aren't using their Servant abilities yet, first wanting to test what Iris is capable of.]
no subject
So close…!
[And she’ll lift up her foot to kick them back.]
3
A fight? Oryou accepts.
no subject
Hmmm... Is your Master hiding nearby? I don't have any quarrel with them, but a two-on-one battle would be fun.
[Saber also indirectly admitted to not having a Master nearby, but! They aren't too worried about being at a disadvantage.]
no subject
[And unlike Saber, Oryou has absolutely no problem with touching people, so she hasn't needed to get a Master yet. She's picky when it comes to letting humans order her around.]
Oryou doesn't need any help to win anyway.
no subject
[What with the floating... Not that it's unique to Casters, but still.
Without waiting for a reply, Saber points to a public park just a little ways ahead.]
Let's fight over there where there's more room. Come on! [Aaand they take off at a run. Someone's eager to get started.]
no subject
[Correcting them as she flies on after them at a more relaxed pace.]
no subject
[It doesn't give them much to go off of. They've fought a Rider that was very strong, and also encountered a Rogue Rider who didn't fight at all except to give indirect support to an ally, so this Rider could be anywhere between the two, particularly without a Master to rely on.
Once they arrive at the park and find a clear patch of grass, they grip their sword in its sheath, giving a relaxed smile.]
Ready when you are.
no subject
[Sabers are often very Fight-y, and she's met a lot of them.
Oryou watches them for a moment before charging forward to try to punch them in the chest. Dragons don't need weapons - she hits more than hard enough on her own if she connects.]
no subject
1
It's fine, you can have it.
[ Even if he didn't want it in the first place (and it's not his regardless), he may as well play along and cede it to them anyway. ]
no subject
I am benevolent in my conquest! [Said through a mouthful of chocolate. Gross.] You can have one piece of candy.
no subject
To his surprise though, he's being offered one, and while he's neutral on sweets, it feels like it'd be a little rude to turn it down out of hand. ]
Oh, thank you.
[ He takes one and starts unwrapping it. ]
no subject
I was mostly only familar with konpeito before coming here, but there are all kinds of interesting candies, aren't there?
2
He notices the individual walking along the bank as they approach and observes out of the corner of his eye, understanding what they must be doing easily enough...]
Are you all right?
no subject
I... [They pause, take a breath. They hadn't expected to be interrupted, and they have to compose themself first.] I'm all right. It's done.
[It's hard to tell with their back turned, but they make a motion that looks suspiciously like wiping their eyes with a sleeve, before turning to Diluc.]
Are you here for someone, too?
no subject
That's right.
[Diluc could leave it there, but he decides to add-]
My father.
2
Caster spared a glance to Saber, then. A ripple of alertness suddenly running up her back as she recognised them for what they were.]
...So, another Servant, hm?
[Was this one of Chaldea's? From Moon Cell? Or somewhere else entirely.]
2
He watches the people sending down their lanterns, sensing there was another Servant present, but not seeing anyone he recognizes who's already there. Was there a new one? He pinpoints the source of the feeling he has.
But seeing they were in the middle of something, Archer doesn't approach. He considers just leaving, but decides to stay for a while longer, to see if the new servant would approach him instead.]