spellgrinders | ( TDM

Entry tags:

!tdm,
npc: brie

( TDM | #1 )

TDMs can be used for anyone interested in the game and/or testing out a new muse.

Test Drive samples are encouraged to be used for your application sample, though they are NOT a requirement.

Feel free to use one prompt, multiple prompts or make up your own!

These threads can be considered game canon upon game opening if you so choose.

Telepathy and magic can be used at any point in time on the TDM, from Prompt A to your wildcard prompt. A specific prompt exists, however, that makes sure all characters have an equal chance to use this mechanic within the TDM. You're encouraged to have characters use telepathy and their magic accidentally or even purposefully on any TDM prompt.

If you aren't set on your character's power yet or want to try out a few, you're still able to use the test drive. Maybe your character is a late bloomer and hasn't fully unlocked their intuitive drive yet. In the case of multiple powers, only prompts that contain the power you choose for your application will count as potential game canon threads.

While only one character can be apped or reserved during a cycle, feel free to post with more than one character if you like! This is for those who are uncertain of their first choice or who would like to try out different characters within the setting.

You blink and that's all it takes. At first the picture doesn't come in clear, like you're waiting for a screen to fully load -- more aptly, it's like you're waiting for a camera to focus so you can find image clarity. Before you happened to rapidly close your eyes and open them, your life was normal...well, normal for you, anyway. Fighting an alien, making a quesadilla, dying. And then that blurry picture suddenly takes over.

Depending on your situation and ability to acclimate, you may not fully understand what's happening. A dream, a hallucination. But when you feel the trunk of the trees surrounding you, it's oddly...real. The smell is real. The moisture on the ground is real. The small grass snake you find slithering close to your feet seems very real as well.

There are a few other sensations that also begin to feel a little more like reality with every passing second. Like the fact that your intuition is trying to tell you something that doesn't seem plausible. One is more obvious -- you now have a new piece of jewelry inserted snuggly between your collarbones.

Maybe that's when you realize it is real. When you realize that there's no delusion here -- you aren't where you once were. But if that's the case...where are you?

here

its own perils.

After an hour or so of trekking through the forest, you finally come upon a break in the tree line that reveals to you an area that appears to be inhabitable. Your first stop is the large mansion that sits in the valley of the opening...if anyone is here or there's a way to get out of here, the house makes the most sense, right?

There are a variety of rooms in this mansion, and you're free to explore them. You also spy a lot of crates sitting in the middle of the floor in one of the main rooms...are you curious enough to open them?

At this point you notice that you aren't alone -- there are other people in the same boat as you! When they're around you, that signet you feel in your chest tingles slightly. The sensation isn't unpleasant, but instead like a warm tingle is spreading from their neck outward. You instinctively attempt to talk to your fellow kidnapping victims, and that works just fine...but what are all these voices you hear in your head now? Are you crazier than you thought you were?

C ▢ Here's where you can play around with the telepathy mechanic. It's likely your character won't be used to it which can lead to accidental broadcasting. If they happen to tap the signet purposefully or try to pull it out, everyone within a radius of 100 feet will feel a throbbing pain in their head. But your character won't know that, will they?

For those more inclined to adventure, there's also another building to investigate. From the outside, it looks very circular and unidentifiable, but upon entering you'll discover that it's a fully-functioning bath house.

D ▢ Despite containing steamy water and luxury bathing accommodations, the bathhouse is currently being overrun with crabs. The not-so-smart members of this species have fallen into the extremely hot water, flash boiling themselves after being unable to get back out. Others are a little more intelligent but equally aggressive. Characters: watch your toes and be cautious if you really want to take a much-needed bath! They may also want to check twice before using the restroom, otherwise the experience might be more painful than they're used to.

Exploring the mansion and the bathhouse was fun and all, but aside from the crates they didn't prove to be very useful. When you came into the clearing, you also saw a row of very colorful buildings down near the beach. It makes sense that this area may be more beneficial to any escape plans you have, and taking a dip in the ocean might be nice!

It's not until you reach the beach huts that you realize that murky blue color you spied wasn't the ocean. It's outter space. There goes any hopes you had of swimming to safety.

Claim your hut, please!

Even though it turns out the ocean was a lie and you're precariously close to falling off the edge of the world, the area around the huts is decidedly beachy. Sitting on the beach is a lobster trap, though about 10 times the size of any you might have seen before. Inside are more felt sacks, though larger. The weirdest part is that peering through the bars, you notice each has a nametag attached. The reason you know this to be true is because you just spied your own name written on one of the labels.

There's also something else underneath it. The descriptor may not mean much to you yet, but it will soon: it's the title of their newfound magic.

In each felt sack is a sort of starter kit: a set of dated and drapey plainclothes, a bag of dried boar jerky, a leather flask filled with water and a small tube of sunblock (the writing is in a bizarre pictograph language, but the giant picture of the sun on the tube should explain the purpose). There's also a rolled up paper tied with a string that reads as follows: "Welcome. Things will be explained in due time. For now, understand that you have been blessed with a gift of magic. Look into your brain and feel the instinct for both. Practice makes perfect."

F ▢ Here's the official prompt for playing with newfound magic (and telepathy if you want more practice). It's likely characters have already accidentally broadcast their thoughts, utilized the C prompt or used their magic inadvertently, but maybe this new information and small explanation has motivated them to try and see what they're truly capable of. Don't worry. If they're lucky enough to stick around, all will be explained.

...What if you're a wildcard, though? Someone who doesn't play by the rules and follows a different path, no matter what direction the world may be guiding you in? This island is large and contains many areas of interest, from crystal streams to hidden locations. Maybe you want to do something different...so break the mold and explore!

G ▢ Wildcard prompt. Go nuts and utilize your own creativity within the setting. This can mean striking out on your own or utilizing a certain location in a different way. The world is your oyster!

GAME NAVIGATION

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

B. [Most of her way through the forest Xion tries to stay out of sight. She wasn't supposed to be here and she definitely wasn't supposed to be seen. There wasn't an RTC point and what happened when she tried to make a corridor... she didn't want to repeat that.

But she isn't finding out anything skulking around like she usually did on recon missions. So... by the time she gets to the house, she decides to try a different tactic. A tactic that involves stepping out of the shadows when she does end up seeing someone.]

Hello. [She pauses, awkwardly.] Do... you know where we are? Or... [She hesitates, wondering if she's reading too much into what she's seen so far.] Are you stuck here too?

F.

[Another big risk, but... it sounds like they're all in the same predicament here. Now that she's found the big landmarks, she has a few thoughts.]

I... I think I want to go looking around this world. Try to see if I can find anything else. Does... [There's the mental equivalent of a stammer here.] Does anybody want to help? Or... has anybody found something?

G.

[That whole "edge of the world" thing might be unnerving for some people. But Xion likes heights, and beaches, along with having a healthy dollop of curiosity on top.

So she's sitting down near the shorline, right up to the edge, in fact, peering off into the space. And experimenting a little, gently taking a rock and tossing it out at the "water." And then a little bit later, taking a handful of sand, holding it over the edge, then letting it trickle out between her fingers. She isn't sure what she's trying to find out, but it seems more productive than just staring. Even if the space was pretty.

She'll also acknowledge anybody else who comes near the edge, though how she does so might depend on what they're intending to do.]

What do you need help with? I can come with you.

[ Offering to help sounds better than admitting he is bored, and also has absolutely no idea what to do in this situation besides wandering aimlessly and getting helplessly lost. ]

If we could find a way up the mountains, that'd be useful.

[ High vantage point and everything. They could scope out a wide area that way. ]

[She asked for help, and yet she's startled when someone replies. She...honestly doesn't know what she was expecting. This is all going to take getting used to...

His suggestion diverts her attention thankfully.]

Oh, yeah! We could see more that way. [She hesitates.] Are um... are you by the colored houses? Down by the beach?

[ It's pretty useful. Minato's only used to the telepathy being one way, voices in his head but him having to speak out loud to get his point across, so it's nice being able to communicate without ever opening his mouth. ]

On the beach. But I can meet you at the houses. I'm... [ He looks down at himself, trying to think of how he could describe himself so she would recognize him when they meet. Bloody clothes. Sword in hand. Hair flopping over one eye. ] ...I'll be in front of the white one at the end.

Okay, I'll... be there soon.

[Xion's spent most of her living memory (which admittedly isn't much) around the same seven or so people. It's all the new faces, and being open with them, that'll take some getting used to.

True to her word though, she'll arrive at the white house, all black coat and short stature and fluster.]

[ A kid? Minato doesn't say anything at first, watching her approach. He gives no initial indication that he's the one who'd talked with her, looking her over a little— would the black coat get hot in climbing mountains...? Is this really her? And then pushes off from where he'd been leaning against the side of the hut.

One way to tell. ]

Hi. I'm Minato.

[ Out loud, his voice is the same as the one in her head. ]

[She does recognize his voice, her eyes widening slightly. She lifts a hand halfway up for a sort of wave.]

Xion. You... were the one I talked to, right?

Yeah. That's me.

[ He nods in lieu of a wave, wonders whether they should find more people before setting out, but decides it'll be fine if they just scout out a distance while keeping the mansion or the huts or other landmarks in sight. So he nods towards the mountains, visible in the distance, before he starts heading towards it. ]

Where were you before coming here? I could hear you from the shoreline.

[ If they knew a maximum distance, it would be useful to keep that in mind in case they need to call for help all the way up the mountains, he thinks. ]

Near the other end of the houses, I think. I was trying to see if I could find anything else around here, but it's just the mansion, the houses, and the beach.

[So, probably not too much of a distance to test, yet. Still pretty close. And she overall isn't sure how big this island even is.]

The forest was pretty big though.

[When they were walking through it, at least.]

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[ He's mildly startled by Xion coming out of no where like that, but it's fine!! He just jumps a little, before turning towards her, and — huh. Seeing her gives him an ... odd feeling, but he'll overlook that for now. She seems to be needing help. ]

Nope, no idea. I'm stuck here, too. [ He puts a hand behind his head in mild embarrassment. ] Sorry.

[ He does feel bad that he can't help her much. But they both seem to be in the same predicament. ]

[Admittedly she's getting quite the strange feeling looking at him, too. A very strong sense of familiarity, which... is kind of new? Though she thinks maybe she got it from Roxas too.

A part of her wants to investigate this now,but she's still got bigger problems, unfortunately. They both do.]

It's okay. I think... a lot of people might be?

[Which is confusing. Did this world have any natives?]

Yeah, that's how it's looking. [ Which is ... weird. This isn't something that seems common to happen to worlds, and on top of it, he can't summon his Keyblade. Or find his friends. So there's more reason to worry, but he's not letting it get to him.

But he'll make up for not being able to answer any of her questions by suggesting: ]

Hey, why don't we work together? Two heads are better than one, right?

[ Exploring with someone else is a lot more fun, too, anyway. ]

[Xion hesitates for a moment - was this really okay, the talking to people, working with them...? - then nods.]

Okay. [Um.] Where do we start?

[There was already the forest, and this house... Should they look elsewhere, probably?]

Huh. Good question. [ Sora didn't think the plan that far through. Hmmm. He brings his hand to his chin as he thinks. ]

Probably somewhere neither of us has been to yet.

[Xion nods. Makes sense.]

So... probably not here then.

[And she half turns to head towards the door, though she pauses to make sure he's following too before she continues.]

[ He smiles, nodding as he follows her. ] Yeah. But there's gotta be something around here that can help us. We couldn't have ended up here by accident. [ Thinking as he walks. ]

We'll find a way out, don't worry!

[ Not that she's said she's worried, but he's gotta make sure she's fine!! He's got this!! ]

[Xion bobs her head in a nod.]

Did you see the boxes downstairs?

[That might be a good place to start too.]

[at some point in between the rock tossing and the handful of sand, another girl stops next to Xion, and she crouches down, staring out into the distance.]

[it's a bit funny, really. Madoka's pretty much a pro at getting lost and wandering through bizarre landscapes at this point in her life, but she always tends to find herself holding out hope on something, whenever it happens:]

... Mmm. I guess it was a bit silly of me to think we could see the way home from here.

Mmm...

[Xion doesn't immediately turn away from the starscape in front of her, mulling over Madoka's words.]

It's still gotta be out there somewhere, right?

[She hasn't heard the KH story about all the lights being different worlds (though she knows multiple worlds exist at least), but if their homes aren't here, they have to be somewhere out there. At least she thinks so.]

I definitely think so ... I mean, I've never heard of a place just disappearing before, anyway.

[Madoka nudges a small handful of sand over the edge with her hand. if she knew what heartless were, or if she remembered what Walpurgisnacht was, then maybe her outlook would be different. but then again, endless optimism has always been Madoka's fatal flaw.]

It's weird, isn't it? I feel like I was on my way to do something really important, but then I got sidetracked and wound up here. Maybe that's what it really is ... we're just taking a break on the way to wherever we're supposed to be going.

Huh... [She'd never really thought about it like that, though it makes a sort of sense.] I guess so.

I hope for whoever's waiting for us, they don't have to too long though.

[Or they don't get too angry. Goodness knows Saix would probably be irritated that she was gone so long on her mission.]

[Madoka's trying not to think about all the homework and magical girl'ing she's missing right now.]

They won't have to wait too long if we work together, right? [she turns to face Xion, a small smile on her face.]

I'm Madoka.

[Xion can't help it - she nods and smiles. She rather likes this optimistic way of looking at it.]

Xion.

[She hesitates briefly, head ducked and voice quiet even as she asks her next question.]

Do you... like the beach too?

I do! I don't get to visit very often, though ... It's usually only on school trips or with my family.

What about you? Do you live near the beach?

[Xion shakes her head, smiling wistfully.]

No, not really. I've started visiting them lately, though, when I can.

[Speaking of which, she reaches into her pocket, the one opposite all the treasures she's been picking up...

And freezes. And starts digging around in it all the more vigorously. When that doesn't yield what she's looking for, she starts pulling things out of her other pocket, where she's been putting all of the things she got from those felt bags and the boxes in the mansion and stuff. And becoming more and more distressed when she isn't finding what she's looking for.]

Xion | Kingdom Hearts

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