seasonsgreetings | Test Drive Meme #5

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Test Drive Meme #5

Test Drive Meme #5
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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.

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?

Light a Candle For You

Part 1

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.

Part 2

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.

We All Become What We Pretend To Be

Part 1

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".

Part 2

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.

OOC TIPS

- 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

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He shrugs back to Wrio, as they come up to the end of the hall. He can see people dancing in the ballroom, getting small glances at all the different kinds of masks and outfits people have been stuck in for the masquerade, his eyes widening at the marvel of it all. There's plenty of food and tables off to a good chunk of the hall, and he believes he sees a silent auction of sorts being held off in another corner of the room.

Music floats in to meet the ears of the two men, and he definitely gets the itch to go out onto the dance floor and show off his skills a little. Though, he doesn't want to leave his companion behind just yet either, and he's not sure if he dances, so...]

It doesn't matter to me how or why you consider them a sibling, family is family and they always come first. But now that you've mentioned it, color me curious- what's so different that you'd phrase it that way?

[He does want to know! Again, you can't just say that and him not follow up on it!]

{ now that they're actually closing in on the actually ballroom and he can see what is going on inside, it's definitely bigger than he'd expected. there are plenty of new experiences he'll get to have in this world, sure, but it's kind of hard to have any idea of what to expect when it isn't exactly something you're familiar with.

not that there's any indication it's a new sight, and they have enough of a conversation going he can at least answer that instead of marvelling at all the decorations and costumes. }

It's someone I work with. { when you have no proper correlation of what familial roles are, is it sibling? or is it something else? all that really matters is she is family, she's someone he wants to protect and keep safe, no matter what role that is. } But she's probably the closest I have to family either way. It isn't really more complicated than that.

Fair enough! It really is surprising who can walk into your life and find a place, isn't it? [he says, getting the feeling that there's probably a lot more to it than what he's letting on, but at the same time it also feels like that's the truth in the most simplistic terms.

Sometimes, the simplest answer is best. He's more than acquainted with that himself.]

Anyway, since we're here, I had another question for you. How are you on the dance floor?

[His eyes flash from behind the mask- he's going to have a ton of fun out there being a menace.]

{ it's a lot more than he's letting on, but it isn't really important to the conversation and he doesn't want to linger on it when he'll likely only miss one of the few constants in his life. }

You don't think life is full of surprises? It's almost expected.

{ though sometimes those surprises are confusing in their own way. even if appreciated or welcomed. }

Terrible. Or likely as terrible anyone could be if they've never been on one before. It's not the way I usually get to know someone.

{ honesty is the best policy when it comes to saying what you think or want in circumstances like this. }

I came here to check it out, but I'd rather get the free food and drinks. So, unless you happen to be great at teaching anyone how to, we might want to save everyone's eyes.

[Childe smiles to himself at the little bit of dry humor his companion has offered, but isn't that the truth. Life really does throw surprises ~~and whales, I guess~~ at you when you least expect it.]

Well, I'm not too shabby of a teacher, but I certainly don't mind starting out with some food. We can't be dancing on an empty stomach, after all, and I wouldn't want to pass up on all the exquisite food they've put out for us. Come, let's go- part of the fun of traveling around is enjoying all the dishes a place has to offer. I hope it doesn't disappoint.

[He will happily lead Wriothesley towards the spread of food and refreshments laid out for the guests, and he sure is going to sample as much as he can.]

{ it can throw many things at you, it's true, including whales... }

I've only heard that to be the case. Most of the time, if I want something I have to order it. Though I only really tend to do that with speciality tea.

{ at least the walk to the table of food and drinks isn't too far, and there are enough clean plates for people to take whatever they want with him. }

So, since you're more of the expert here, anything you recognise?

Hmmm...

[He takes a look around the table, surveying all the food put out for them- lots of hors d'oeuvres, and a bunch of dishes he doesn't recognize at all. There's some pasta to choose from that looks good, but with a sauce that he isn't sure what it is, but he also sees some stuffed peppers that catch his eye almost immediately.]

No, but these sure look good. I'm not really picky about what I eat, so I'm afraid I'm not of much help here.

[Guy is not waiting, grabbing a plate and dishing up some of those peppers with pesto, cheese and rice. And he's definitely grabbing some meatballs slathered in god knows what and some other side dishes.]

All this needs is some Fire-Water to top it all off, and I'll be set. Are you much of a drinker?

Well, not much else to it, is there? { he'll get a plate for himself as well, going for more of a mix of different styles of dishes. he'll get the meatballs too, but childe is likely going to notice he skips any without any meat whatsoever. that isn't to say there aren't any vegetables at all, just, they clearly aren't the centre of any of the dishes. }

Not in the way you mean, I'd much rather have a good cup of tea. Though I haven't exactly had the opportunity to try much else.

{ having alcohol available in prison seems like a bad idea- }

Why don't you allow me to get us both something then? I know my way around a good vodka or two. C'mon. Let's grab a table for ourselves, and I'll be right back. The one over there next to the dance floor looks good to me.

[Tartaglia will happily lead Wriothesley to said table, set his food down and leave to return with a strong drink for himself and something a bit less violent for Wriothesley. He's gone for a little longer than a few minutes, having found the alcoholic drinks here inadequate to what he wanted. When he comes back, he's got a glass for Wrio, and a whole ass bottle of vodka for himself unless his companion wants to share it.]

Sorry for taking so long. They really didn't have what I was looking for, so I just hopped back into the kitchen when no one was looking and made something for us myself. Here, this is something we make back in my homeland of Snezhnaya. I figured since you mentioned you like tea, that you might take a liking to this as well. Tell me what you think.

[He, on the other hand, tips back the strongest vodka he could find, straight, no chaser. It's not Fire-Water, but it'll do.]

Sure, worth a try at least once, right?

{ much like the party here itself. it's handy that he gets to wear a mask for this and have his identity obscured in case it would put him in a spotlight, but at the moment things are chill enough he can just go through the motions and have an experience that seems pretty normal all things considered. }

Well, I guess everything was already free, right? { if it wasn't, he would have been much more likely to scold him for stealing resources. } Oh? Is it like a fruit tea?

{ he only takes a sip of it, yet he does not expect the burn that comes with vodka being included. while his face doesn't change all that much, he does hand to cough to keep it down and his eyes water just a little.

he's doing his best. most people usually start on beer or lager, tartaglia pls- }

It's...a sort of fruit tea, you could say.

[He watches Wrio take a sip, smiling in amusement at the slight reaction. Though the other man didn't really show it, the slightly watery eyes give it away. Tartaglia lets out a quiet, good-natured chuckle, before giving his companion here an apologetic look.]

Haha, sorry if I made it a little strong. I'm not really used to making drinks for those who aren't from my homeland, with one exception. I'll keep this in mind for next time, and I appreciate the fact that you gave it a try. At least the food will help, right?

[But his food is sitting here waiting to get eaten! Unfortunately for him, his mask isn't exactly food-compatible, so he just takes it off and shifts it to the side of his head where he normally wears it so he can take his first bite of food. Sure, it breaks the magic of the mystery of his identity, but he doesn't really care- never has.]

It's-- { he coughs once, clears his throat twice, grimaces but at least he isn't whining about it. } it's just a little sharper than what I'm used to. You know. Actual tea?

{ and he'd been about to turn his place, mouth opening to respond when he realises who he's been chatting to since the start of this thing.

now he is very much glad they didn't try the dancing. }

Well, I can't say I expected to see you here. { and whether childe recognises him or not, he'll do the same. if only because with all the fur and plastic it feels way too hot already. he drops the mask on the table, eyes shifting up to see if that gets a reaction in return.

perhaps if childe hadn't been an outstanding prisoner he'd be more cautious, but most of his diplomatic issues are with arlecchino, not tartaglia. }

[A forkful of food gets shoved into his mouth, still amused with his companion's reaction to the tea, but raises his eyebrows in surprise. If his fox tail and ears were real, they might of twitched a little as the realization that this guy knows him settles in. His first assumption, only because he's met both Navia and Neuvillette already, is that this one is also from Fontaine. So, he quickly swallows that bite, face brightening slightly, though not a single hint of recognition lies in his eyes.]

Oh! Yet another person from my future has been pulled into this world. I must say, it's a pleasure, but you'll have to forgive me for not knowing you quite yet.

[Maybe that'll explain the lack of recognition, at least.]

Let me guess...you're from Fontaine as well, yes?

{ with the mask off, it's much easier to eat and drink as well, so he just keeps it on the table as he sits back slightly. }

Probably. { isn't that a strange answer- } Though as for not knowing me quite yet, that's fine. It isn't like we interacted a lot.

{ less talking, more watching. it's more accurate to say wriothesley has observed tartaglia more than the other way around, really. }

[He's trying to read the situation here, to see what effect he might of had on this guy. But, he doesn't sense any anger or animosity, so he's guessing that he didn't cause problems for this person, either. Seems that it continues to be that someone else caused problems for him for a change, not the other way around. But that's good, though he doesn't mind having enemies, Tartaglia also doesn't mind having friends and acquaintances as well.]

I suppose this is a chance to make up for lost time then, haha. Well, since you already know me, of whom do I owe the pleasure?

{ hey, in this case he's just there to keep things in line, it isn't his fault the oratrice found him guilty. }

Wriothesley. Administrator of the Fortress of Meropide. { he'll take a bite of food, washing it down with the drink and while he doesn't have the same reaction this time, there still is that faint pull on his brow to show discomfort. } It was my job to keep an eye on you, and honestly you kept pretty well to the rules until you disappeared.

[Ah, so this is the person who runs the prison in Fontaine, that's curious, and he's absolutely intrigued. He can see why he might be a little bothered by this, because that reveal there at the end also puzzles the Harbinger.]

I disappeared?

[He says it like he's surprised at his own action for a moment.]

I'm guessing you mean I managed to break out, but normally there would be no reason for me to do so. Snezhnaya would certainly send someone to advocate for my release, due to the nature and height of my position. Did...something happen, something that would have caused me to leave through less-than-diplomatic means?

{ a small shrug follows in response to that. }

You still are missing, so I can't exactly say what happened. I was hoping you might have remembered, but it seems like that mystery is still something to be solved. The Traveller was looking into it since my hands are kinda tied on what I can do.

Even the traveler got involved? Huh...how intriguing...

[Why is it the more he learns, the more questions he has? Guess that's just how things work though, but the fact that he's even questioning himself on this isn't the greatest sign to him. And that even the twins got involved looking into his situation...]

Sorry, I wish I had answers for you. I've been doing a little investigating myself on the matter ever since Monsieur Neuvillette and Mademoiselle Navia arrived and shed some light on the situation to me. As you can imagine, it hasn't gone well. But I suppose I'll owe you an explanation as to how I managed to disappear from your own prison, won't I?

[He can't help but grin at that- isn't the Fortress of Meropide rumored to be underwater and inescapable?]

I only get to hear so much since I don't get out much, but as a third party generally not biased to either side, it made sense for them to get involved. They were sent down with the guise of committing a crime, but it doesn't take much to know they were sent to help out.

{ just because it's not that surprising, really. }

And it's less how... more where to. I at least know the route you took out, but after that it's pretty much a mystery.

I guess that just goes to show that you should never underestimate a Fatui Harbinger.

[Said with friendly undertones and a sense of pride rather than something smug- he's clearly proud of his accomplishments and that's pretty interesting he gets to put this one under his belt too. Wish he knew how he did it too though...]

But, for now there's no need to ponder on the possibilities. I'm sure we'll both find out in time all the answers we seek. Until then, let's enjoy the time we have outside of our duties, what do you say? Believe it or not, I'm really not that bad of a guy.

You say that, but you kept to all the rules while you were inside. That's why it's quite a mystery as to where you went or why you even tried to leave in the first place.

{ he'd fully expected the fatui to pay a visit too, though arlecchino sending kids wasn't quite what he'd expected they'd still dealt with things. }

Your trial was a bit of a weird one, but it's not like I'm a judge in the first place. I just help run the place. Usually the less someone sees of me the better it is for them, but I guess this is a different place now. There's no harm in it.

Excellent!

[That's what he likes to hear. Ellipsa feels like a really nice, long vacation to him, and he's glad that he'll have even more chance to meet new, hopefully strong people.]

Now then, [he says as he takes another drink, satisfied with the strength of it and looking forward to how good he'll be feeling later in the night,] since I have the honor of speaking with the administrator of the Fortress, I imagine you're no pushover. I'm always looking for someone to spar with, and I wouldn't mind working off some of this dinner later if you're interested.

From how often you kept going into the Pankration Ring in the Fortress I'm not exactly surprised. Since I never had the opportunity back home, sure, why not?

{ it isn't like he's going to be slacking off here either when keeping sharp will probably be as important for living or dying in this world too. }

We can meet up later.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Test Drive Meme #5

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crawls back a week late skdjng

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wanna just wrap it up here for new stuff later?

yeah we can wrap it up!