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

A.) Over the river and through the wood--wait.

[Well. This sure is happening. One minute he was in a desert up and floating away, flying off to face someone important and change things. And the next…he’s falling. Stumbling, rather, tripping on himself as his vision comes into focus. His eyes follow the trail tentatively, if only because a forest is definitely something he hasn’t seen in a while.]

Okay…[It’s said to himself and he’s immediately moving to grab for a weapon and finding he doesn’t have to go very far. It’s there. His giant hammer is at his feet and John stares for a moment trying to figure out where the rest of his items are. The sylladex is supposed to help store things, where the hell and how the hell…

…but it’s not a big deal. This is okay, probably. So he’s easily hefting the hammer up over his shoulder and begins to make his way through the forest, hood of his godtier pajamas fluttering behind him. Perhaps at some point he runs into you while he’s busy prying some of the bags open. In his hands he holds what looks like a can of shaving cream which he’ll regard with vague amusement.]

Might be worth holding onto, I guess. [There’s a grin.] Find anything interesting?

A-2.) Hammertime
[By nature, John is a kid who finds himself wandering off to explore and figure things out along the way. Of course, that also means John finds himself with his own share of trouble, such as being cornered by what appears to be two…wild…boars? Oh come on! He gives the animals a flat look, though it quickly shifts when one of them starts to charge.

Maybe running is an option? But no. He’s never been one to flee a fight either and instead he raises his hammer, letting out a yell and flinging himself into action. Will you help? Or are you just going to watch him scare off the boars waving his hammer like a jackass?]

C.) Loud and clear
[It’s when John finds himself among other people that he starts to get a little nervous. It’s not so much that he’s afraid of people or that he’s nervous he’s alone, but the sensation in his chest isn’t helping and it’s finding it to be a little annoying after a while. Even while chatting with others around him his free hand runs over the new implant and softly taps it to try and understand what it’s meant for. Sorry to everyone around, he’s completely clueless to this.

He’s also completely clueless to how this works, and he finds himself wondering:]

How did this even get here?

F.) Magic bullshit? Magic bullshit
[He’s sitting down in the sand on the beach with his new sack in his hand, having foregone claiming a hut just yet until he understands what’s happening. Eyebrow raised, he finds himself mulling over the whole “gift of magic” thing. That’s sort of what their powers already did, isn’t it? Fuck, does he have to learn how to use something else now, too? He doesn’t have time for this!

Instead…he tips the bag upside down and allows its contents to spell in his lap. Picking up the jerky and the flask of water, he holds both items in his hands and stares at them contemplatively. Fusing…like alchemizing? There’s no device for that, but he wonders if it’s possible anyway. He furrows his eyebrows together, concentrating on the items before he finds himself suddenly holding a boar jerky flask. There’s a surprised sort of sound as he looks up to make sure nobody else is around, staring at the flask before unscrewing the cap to take a sip of the water.

He promptly spits it out, wiping at his tongue with his hand.]

Ugh. Jerky water? Gross! [But…that’s not stopping him from sniffing the flask again, sloshing the liquid inside. Please stop him.]

G.) Magic is great, science blows
[Magic’s fun and all, but he has to wonder about his original powers. Standing on the beach, he focuses on his hands and seems to be pushing them forward, trying to summon something. It doesn’t work, naturally, but instead he looks like a doofus waving his hands around and growing more and more frustrated with the lack of the windy thing. The Vrillyhoo sits on the beach next to him as he continues spinning in circles, jumping up and down, anything to try and summon the winds to him. Will you interrupt him? Or will you just…let…him carry on?]

G 2.) Other wildcard
[Also open to any other wildcard scenarios! John’s prone to wandering and exploring so feel free to hit me with anything in the mansion, the huts, or the forest if you’d like!]

Edited 2017-06-18 01:56 (UTC)

[ john what the fuck. a hand snaps out to snatch the flask away from him, and the hand is attached to dave strider, who at least has found shades to wear (or rather made them and had them. refined maybe) and who has his eyebrows raised. ]

Egbert, why the fuck are you tryin' to do somethin' you literally just discovered was a bad idea?

[ it's the stupidest first thing to say to your best friend upon Finally locating him again but COME ON, JOHN, WHAT THE HELL. ]

[ john what the fuck. but also, she was half sure she saw john out of the corner of her eye when she was dying, so why is he dead now too?? john what the fuck. ]

That does not look like something you should drink.

[ also things not to say a friend when locating them. she looks disgusted by the jerky water?? ]

[It's stupid. This is stupid? Those are both literally the stupidest things they could say to each other but it's not like John's doing much better. His eyes flicker back and forth between Dave and Rose, one then the other before he's suddenly up on his feet, scattering the rest of his items on the sand and flinging both of his arms around the pair of them.

Which. Is kind of awkward since they're all different heights and Dave's holding the flask but who cares? Who cares. Who cares because these are his best friends and these are the ones he knew to be dead (had watched die, in Rose's case) and instead of saying anything to defend his stupid choices he simply drags them in closer.]

What the fuck. [It's all he says with a puff of laughter at the end, disbelieving and relieved all at once. There are a lot of questions but he's just going to stop before mumbling something that sounds a little like "holy shit you're alive. He's silent for a second, just focused on the fact that they're all here before something else occurs to him.] --I know that now, but it's not like I meant to change the water, too.

[ OKAY GOD HIS NECK because dave's definitely the tallest person here and he immediately bends down to make it 1) easier and 2) less likely to choke him in particular although there's a disgruntled "hey!" as he does so. despite the complaint he also drops the flask (whatever) so he can steady john with that hand and reach out to steady rose with the other, making sure john doesn't like, overbalance them and topple them as dave widens his stance to. again. keep them standing.

he also makes no move to escape the hug that is in the process of occurring. ]

Enlighten us, then, what were you tryin' to accomplish?

[ rose is definitely the short one here unless john is like five feet nada, why the heck is dave so tall though. she also. did not expect this, so she's more surprised than anything, making a small "oh" sound.

she is slightly smushed here probably but will hug back after a moment. this is fine. ]

An excellent question. Were you aiming for watered-filled jerky instead?

[Nope John is a comfortable height between the Strilondes and thus probably shouldn't be doing this, but here we are. There goes the flask and it's only when he's sure his friends are here and hugging him back he straightens up a bit more to look at them both.]

No, shut up, that is definitely not a thing I want either. Isn't the point of jerky that it is dried meat anyway? [Focus, John. His arms squeeze a little tighter, again, just to ensure they're really here. He's about to say "I thought you were dead" but then he remembers that timelines are definitely a thing. So instead he applies some semblance of tact, carefully asking his next question.] What's the last thing you guys remember? How did we get here?

[ the question gets a grimace from dave. ]

We don't know. About how we got here, anyway. Last thing we remember is, y'know.

[ an assist, lalonde? dave doesn't feel like saying "dying dramatically, fuck our lives". ]

I notice you did not tell us what the last thing you remember is, John. Did no one ever teach you manners?

Then what did you want, if not to rehydrate your meat?

[ this is still clearly important, but, ]

I believe you may have been there when I did? Die, if you don't recall. But Dave is correct, we don't know how we got here either, I'm afraid.

[ there's the assist. she'd be cagey, but. there's no reason to be. either john knows already or doesn't. ]

[There's a light punch to Dave's shoulder because rude? But his expression is serious for once as he listens to the two of them. Okay. So everyone is all caught up. That's great. Probably.]

I wanted to see if I really had new powers. [First and foremost. Apparently he does. But to Rose there's a nod.] I was. With Roxy. [More like he follows after Roxy while she was carrying Rose's body, witnessed something very personal and then Rose died.]

Terezi told me everything. About how everyone was gone by the time I zapped back, I. [Wait. Fuck.] What about Jade? Have either of you seen her yet?

[ well, shit, he's up to bat again? ]

She was with me.

[ ...

don't make him go into detail, people, it's clear by "with me" he means "we were both killed around the same time" even if technically she was smooshed by a house and then he was fighting for her corpse? ]

But I haven't seen her here yet. Why did you decide these powers needed to be tested on beef jerky and water?

Is Roxy okay? [ she seemed okay, but. it seems hard to believe anyone escaped the bloodbath, at this point. ] Actually, did you die as well or is that theory off the table?

[ rose watches dave answer about jade. mhm that. welp. surely if the three of them are here, jade will appear too, right? unless death has nothing to do with anything. ]

Is your power to combine random objects? Hm, sounds familiar.

[His expression falls a little after that because...well, it's Jade. Jade is still his sister and he and Jade spent so long together on their trip, and he had failed to get back in time and stop the destruction in their timeline. Rose and Dave are here and that's great, but he can't help but feel a bit sad and frustrated that Jade isn't.]

Terezi told me. She also stole her shoes. [He makes a face. Goddamn troll girls.] I did not believe her at first but I know what she said was true. Roxy's fine, we are both okay. We both know what's next but I have not seen Roxy here either. [He shakes his head suddenly.] We were both still alive. So I do not know what happened or how all of us are here. [Including Dirk and Jake whom he's also run into but. You know. Details.

He finally pulls back to break their hug but he doesn't move too far, only going so he can stare at his hands.] I think so. The card said that I could fuse two things together but I did not think it would actually work? What about our aspects? None of this makes sense!

Edited 2017-06-18 05:20 (UTC)

john egbert | homestuck

f magic bullshit 1/2

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