Seasons Mods (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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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.
no subject
"He did," he says. He can't say for sure that they'll live longer than thirteen years -- nobody knows when they might die after all, and it can always be tomorrow -- but they had been alive and well whenever Gabi was from, few years after Levi it seems. He was, too, apparently, even if he still finds it hard to believe sometimes, considering the shape he was in and the visions he was seeing. Guess he was just too stubborn to die.
"Saved all of our asses while at it." Once again, the urge to say he saved the world is there, because he did, just like Mikasa, Reiner, Armin, Jean, Connie, Annie, Gabi, even Pieck -- but he doesn't want to have to explain what the world needed saving from.
After all, a big part of that equation is also here, working towards -- not redemption, that isn't possible, but perhaps towards... something.
no subject
"Sounds like he made a better Jaw than I ever did." Galliard sighs. He always tried to be a good soldier, a good Warrior. It turns out it was all for nothing, a mountain of lies and bullshit jammed down his throat starting from as early as he can remember, but damn if he didn't try his hardest. He's the permanent little brother though: never quite measuring up. It sounds like Falco broke that curse, and good for him. Galliard will ask Gabi later about the details.
"So which one are you?" The question itself might be rude, but the tone is one of genuine curiosity. "I've heard about some of the Survey Corps members but I've never met one before."
If he had to guess, based on the little bit he's heard from Reiner and Zeke and the flashes he's seen from Ymir's memories... maaaaaaybe this one is Erwin? He's got that commanding presence thing down.
no subject
He almost considers evading the question. Which one? Out of who? But this guy died to save a kid, so it's only fair to extend him some courtesy.
He pins Galliard down with a stare that lasts just a few moments too long, probably a bit unsettling if not terrifying, then simply says "Name's Levi," and continues climbing the stairs.
no subject
"Levi Ackerman?" The words come out in a strangled little yelp. There's a moment, fleeting but there, where Galliard seriously considers turning into a titan and running like hell. The Jaw is way faster than he is on his human legs, and the impulse to get the fuck out is strong.
But no, Levi has been polite enough--not exactly friendly, but he'd answered Galliard's questions and not been hostile--and that keeps Galliard rooted where he is. He's trembling, though, half ready to flee if Levi makes the slightest aggressive movement.
"We've met before." Unconsciously, he reaches up and start massaging the connection point of his jaw, where Levi had slashed him once, a long time ago. "You and the other Ackerman were the only ones fast enough to catch me."
That is said with a bit of grudging respect. No one else has ever been able to keep up with the Jaw.
And there's one more tidbit Galliard blurts out, caught in some nervous babbling now that he's realises who he's been talking to.
"You scare the shit out of Zeke."
no subject
Levi stops again, looking vaguely irritated, or maybe it's just his face. He's gone up enough steps that he's definitely looking down at Galliard from a pretty noticeable height now, probably making him more intimidating than he normally would be.
"Sure," he says flatly, as if his own last name is some sort of an annoying nickname he doesn't care for. He's mostly come to terms with it by now, but sometimes he still feels disgusting using something that belonged to fucking Kenny of all people. The one saving grace is that it belonged to his mother, too, and that's the part he chooses to focus on. "Her name is Mikasa. She's here too."
He's not even sure why he feels the need to add that. Mikasa certainly doesn't share his salt about his family name, and the last part perhaps comes off as more of a threat than he intends it to be, but that just seems to be a pattern for him and Warriors at this point. Surely it's better that this fellow knows about her rather than him getting surprised and pulling a Reiner on a busy street or something.
It's not clear whether or not he really parses the compliment, but he does catch onto that hint of respect, even though he's not sure what the hell he is supposed to do with it. So he focuses on the obvious part -- his lips pressing together more tightly at the mention of Zeke. Is this a point of agreement between them?..
"That so? Good. He can eat it like the shitty monkey he is."
no subject
His posture, starting to relax the tiniest fraction, tightens up again when Levi mentions another Ackerman. There's two of them here? Great, just great. Hopefully whatever uneasy alliance they had before still stands here.
And he would absolutely not 'pull a Reiner' if he met Mikasa on the street. He can transform without making a big scene about it, thank you very much, and he'd be out of there before anyone could say 'hey there's a Marleyan titan let's go kill it.'
Regardless! The important part of the conversation here is where they're in agreement, which is that Zeke sucks. Galliard nods fervently when Levi insults him.
"Did you get him, in the end? I hope it hurt when you did." Galliard's eyes are flashing, and unnoticed by him, his hair around his temples is starting to steam the tiniest amount. "That piece of shit traitor."
no subject
He's a little amused and the tiniest bit surprised when Galliard seems to approve of his Zeke diss, though. Well, he supposes that hairy bastard disenchanting his former comrades by betraying them makes sense, and he's certainly not going to complain about it.
"...I got him," he confirms after a slight pause. It had taken far too long and way too many wasted opportunities, but he'd managed to finish his mission in the end. To let his two hundred comrades finally rest in peace. It may have been too quick and a little anticlimactic, but considering how things went to shit when he allowed himself to go ham on the monkey bastard perhaps that was for the best.
"Didn't have much time to spend on it, though." The way he says it, he might have as well tacked on an unfortunately or what a shame at the end there. He got the job done and he's fine with that, but he'd be lying if he said some part of him wasn't enjoying Zeke's howls when he was slicing him up on that cart. At least the bastard had gotten some taste of what he put everyone through.
no subject
Galliard can't bitch too much. His own death was relatively quick, and while Zeke sucks, no one deserves endless torment and torture. Although, reconsidering, Zeke comes pretty damn close.
"Do you want some help carrying your groceries?" Galliard holds up his hands, palms out. "Not that I think you need help or anything, I'm just offering."
Levi took down Zeke; that's worth at least one or two trips up the stairs carrying heavy bags.
no subject
Zeke being dead would be the same, yes. The rest... not so much. His body probably would have been in a lot more pieces had Levi taken his time. And if he had just managed to kill him earlier... well, a lot more of the world would have survived. That's not exactly an insignificant difference.
What's done is done.
For a moment, he looks ready to take offense at the suggestion -- why, do you think because I'm a cripple now I can't carry my own bags? -- but Galliard's clarification comes just in time, so instead Levi just stares him down for a moment longer.
"I'm good," he just says, and starts climbing again, no goodbye or anything.