( TDM | #4 )

[spellbindmods]

IMPORTANT: The weekly update post will go up later than usual tonight to give time for any other barrier quest responses to come in. Nothing major will be affecting how old players respond to newbies on this post, so tag away! Threads here do count for September bonus AC for old players.

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.

IMPORTANT: This world is low-frequency. No canon powers or abilities are allowed! Also check out the setting information for more info about what the hub island looks like and what can be found there.

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. There's a lot to take in here -- you feel weird, your surroundings are weird. Everything is just weird. For starters, there's that new piece of jewelry inserted in the space above your chest. That certainly wasn't there before you opened your eyes. A ▢ Your character's first experience here will be waking up in a forest. Specifically, located here. It's up to them to traverse and try to figure out where they are, whether they make it to the beach or the main house area. If this new little signet catches their interest, fiddling with it will result in a bit of a neural vibration in everyone else with telepathy. Nothing painful; it's actually quite pleasant. But if they do decide to play with this new jewelry, they're likely to find some seasoned telepaths (aka old coven members) in their brain space, wondering that's up. A2 ▢ Alternatively, new coven members are notorious for being bad at telepathy from the jump. Their panicked reation to this journey or confused mental state may send out some network messages that maybe they didn't realize they were sending out. Or, maybe what's pushing them over the edge are all the other voices already doing exactly that in their brain. B ▢ Unlike the previous coven members who found themselves on the hub, new recruits won't find as many supplies randomly in the forest they're suddenly in. However, like old coven members, they will come across some wild boars that aren't too happy to see the humans have returned to their stomping ground. Your character may also come across a boar with babies in tow, which means that they're even more likely to be aggressive. If your character has useful magic within them somewhere, now may be a good time to discover how to use it...? C ▢ Whether you've braved a boar encounter or avoided one entirely, there's a lot to do and see in the forest, as well as other areas of the hub! Well, "do" is debatable. But! Coven members before them have discovered some pretty nifty locations that can be stumbled upon, from a phallic fertility shrine to tree homes and passageways.

If you eventually make it out of the forest and aren't devoured by a boar, you'll eventually come upon your new base camp. Someone (Genette) will be there with your introductory letter and a brief description of magic you now have. If you didn't discover it earlier...surprise! One thing of comfort might be that you aren't alone in this journey. There are other coven members here, fresh back from a journey to another world. If your character wants to get the lay of the land or understand what's going on a little better, they may want to hit up some of these folk for information. There's a large, gold, floating caravan hanging around next to a bonfire, and there's a back gate open that reveals something of a space pocket containing lots of different things. Luckily for new characters, the Palai from the previous world didn't want them to go hungry...which also means they'll be inundated with shrimp to eat. Hopefully they like shellfish! D ▢ Many of the old bloods in the coven can be found hanging around this area. Of course, a few of them have gone off on their own to do whatever it is they do, but since they just got back this is a good place to hang out if a new character wants to see a familiar face, ask questions or steal someone's belongings. You never know! E ▢ This will also be the place where they're given their first provisions. In a woven knapsack, they'll find a bag of cooked shrimp, a set of clothes (you pick the style) that may not fit, a toothbrush, and three other random objects -- dealer's choice! It's very likely that your character got something useful in there, but it's also likely you got something that your character would never use in a million years, or that doesn't fit. Time to start trading! F ▢ Finally, there's always the chance for your character to explore the big mansion next to the beach area. Actually, they may be asked to lend a hand. Everyone is tasked with unloading supplies from the caravan to the front foyer of the mansion, and there are quite a few trips to be mad. Or, alternatively, your character can slack off and play in the game room that they have. How good is your character at pool?

If you're much more of a loner and don't want to follow the flow of things, there are of course other locations that you should probably check out. Travel to your heart's content and find something new...but there are two other points of interest you may want to discover. G ▢ There's that bathhouse that's nearby, for starters. Your character won't encounter any snapping crabs, like last time, though the water for some reason isn't as hot as it once was. Whatever was previously heating the bathhouse seems to have died out, so there aren't any steamy, comfortable pools to take a dip in. There are, however, acrid waters with pond scum floating on the surface. The showers also spew out a greenish liquid, so any hope your character had at having a relaxing bath is gone. However, the lack of heat and many closed off rooms can make for some nice alone time. H ▢ Your character may want to claim a beach house while they're at it. Some characters have disappeared from the coven over time, and some of these few may have left their belongings before departing. This makes it hard to tell what huts are free and which need to be cleared out. Might as well play roulette and see if you picked one that doesn't have an owner or not. (For the sake of the prompt, you might want to choose the former, just saying). I ▢ 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

Comments

[potentite]

[Oh, a bass! He's always been fond of bass. Sometimes he thought about trying to play one, which was hampered by the fact that he'd have to build one if he wanted one. But singing had always been easier to do since it required nothing but his own voice. Though he's trying to work out where this person is. Maybe singing out loud will help? Though it makes it harder when he's technically singing twice over but he's trying his best!]

[apatheia]

I don't know if you could call them a welcoming committee, but the two original members of the Coven have come to meet with us physically before.

[Although that probably doesn't make much sense without context... Honestly, even with context, it doesn't make a whole ton of sense to her.]

You should read the letter. It's informative, if nothing else.

[finagles]

[ It is surreal, he would agree. Dreamlike.

Dreamlike, except that the cool air is crisp in his lungs, the tree-laden landscape has an absurd amount of detail, and he can still taste that animal's blood in his mouth. It must be real, unable to recall dreams with as much clarity.

Even stranger than these sudden new abilities in an unfamiliar world -- when he lifts his eyes to focus forward, the display of Gaelio's back, unprotected, greets him. They're close enough that he can see the shift of his shoulder-blades with each stride. He can pinpoint muscular definition underneath the fitted material of a long jacket. It's difficult to wrap his mind around following this man now, but he would rather follow than be followed at the current juncture.

Gaelio is still more trusting than he ought to be. He never turns to look, to check even once or twice on the dangerous man trailing behind him. There is tension in him, surely. It can be read in him from this distance, but tension wouldn't be enough to save him, if at any point McGillis decided on a whim that working with him on these specific answers is more trouble than it's worth.

A fool, as he readily accepts. A friend, McGillis accepts with more ease than he suspects the other would be able to predict.

Only, it surprises him to hear that there had been doubt, any amount of it, any amount that might've survived past that violent act, in regards to McGillis's own nature.

He struggles to understand that part.

Unable to see the expression while receiving the response that surprises, but in a way, it's fitting. Gaelio will demand to be seen, but will never see. Instead, McGillis watches the shuffle of leaves scattering around the other man's footsteps as he listens to him speak. He can allow his features to lapse into pensive unhappiness, with no need to guard against it. ]

We cannot understand each other; that's the sum of it.

[ A mournful note, in an otherwise ruthless conclusion. ]

I won't allow you to succeed, but if you did, if I failed in that, you would not achieve that sort of satisfaction. Not through words or through any other means. You would be wise to devote your understanding only to that end, to keep your revenge simple.

[reckoner]

[ The return volley of her question revives his smile with an exhale that's too faint, if only just, to be a chuckle. ]

Legally, or morally?

[ Or neither. Either way, he thinks no. The absence of one intention does not necessarily imply the presence of another, though it's easier to be sure with clear opposites. Good faith; bad faith. There were more elusive sentiments and motivations -- love, revenge, trust, hatred, rage -- with counterpoints more difficult to define.

Either way, she is an interesting, strange girl. He does not look to study directly, to notice the subtle easing in her body language. Some of it discernable by the the difference in her eyes. By the tone with which she thanks him, to which he lifts one shoulder, a half-shrug of acknowledgment.

It may say something, and if so, the statement further piques. ]

A little. The more you say, the less I'm satisfied. You're young to be so...

[ Raising now his hand, he gestures in the air, vague in it. ]

...but I shouldn't mistake you for what you aren't.

ok i resisted making this joke again too long: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cOy6hqzfsAs 1/2

[reckoner]

[ Cannot. McGillis proclaims it impossible, and as his summation rings through Gaelio's ears, rebounding from the gong in his skull, Gaelio stops. So abrupt as to be jerking in the seizing of his long, brusque strides.

The words ring, briefly deafening, and so uproot him, that he cannot make sense of their inflection. The sound of them at jarring odds with the content. Gaelio opens his mouth, cracked open, his jaw aching, moving, but before he can choke out a protest, McGillis proceeds. The next less shocking, less destabilizing, only unsurprising aggravation in the certainty and implicit denial within them. McGillis would believe he could forbid it, would advise him even now.

No, that shudders through him, as well. This instruction as to how he ought to conduct his revenge. ]

Shut up. I will understand you, I'll --

[ Snapped, and he whirls with such force on his heel, he staggers. His face tight and low before the turn, voice tearing with it, but --

Raising his eyes, they glower, burning and narrowed in the contortion of his face, but -- ]

[reckoner]

make -- you --

[ but, what is that expression? The weight coloring and sanding the cold angles of McGillis's face. So soft as to resemble sorrow. But McGillis had spoken it and Gaelio remembered it well, such soft-hearted emotions unfortunately will not reach me, for I've lived my life in anger, and Gaelio understands, doesn't he, mustn't he, had Bael not confirmed it, brute force all that McGillis comprehended, and so through power, through brutality, Gaelio would force it upon him.

Then, his instinct should be to launch forward, swinging, to gauge whether fists could be enough, to abandon his caution and temperance and see it done now.

Instead, he recoils.

Turning as quickly, he surges away, as though any quicker, he would be running from it. Swallowing hard, then continuously, unable to free himself of the lump. The trees look more sparse ahead, and he thrusts himself toward that light, breaking out and into a field. Gaelio squints against the brightness, measuring his breath as he slows.

Plush grass unattended and little eaten, reaching for knees. A thick coating of yellow and pink flowers, stretching toward the sun in breezy waves. Lovely, really. Batting back memories, recent and wretched, older and doubted, he looks up to the sky.

Above the trees, at a farther distance still, winding in a small tendril: smoke. ]

[thatdamnknight]

[ah, there it is, that voice and not in his head this time. flynn lowers his sword as he smiles warmly at yuri. what a sight for sore eyes. seeing his best friend never fails to brighten his mood. ...usually. those couple times the last few months back home were uncomfortable at best and ended up straining their bond like nothing else. flynn hated it. meeting up with yuri and not having an oppressive atmosphere hanging over them is so so nice.]

A friend gave it to me after I mentioned not having a sword myself. I'm still surprised he gave it to me without asking for anything in return.

[only flynn is allowed to be altruistic to that degree! he managed to repay that individual with some delicious beef brownies but it still doesn't feel enough. however, sharing all those details with yuri can wait until discussing a more important topic, namely their present situation.]

It looks as though you got here without any trouble. Did the map help?

[he mentions the map to further help convince yuri of the whole telepathic communication deal. that really did happen and yuri isn't going crazy, well, crazier.]

[shandow]

[ This begets another obvious question: ]

What's a troll?

[finagles]

[ Another surprise: that the truth of their situation has not quite settled for Gaelio, a man who spent his two years in hiding reconstructing Ein into an even more gruesome tool than the one of McGillis's making.

He would've thought, in the wake of that evidence presented in Bael's hangar, that Gaelio's explanation of respectable feelings provided the fluff for his revenge. It must be the most important goal to him now. It would follow that it was the most important goal to him now. Understanding McGillis would prove a useless and unimportant distraction to that end, even as he continued to declare that it would be achieved one day. From the man who, even as a friend, had never seemed the type to question beyond the surface level of his reality, the anger does startle McGillis, such that he cannot properly prepare for his sudden stop.

Such that he is challenged with wiping away the melancholy brought on by the confusion of Gaelio's It seems it was hard for me to shake --

And is not able to do so, not cleanly, before Gaelio has whipped around to look at him. He does furrow eyebrows defensively, compensating with that, but the remnants of softer sadness remain while he attempts to drain the life out of his countenance.

That won't do them well. It will confuse Gaelio further, the evidence of that shown in his declarations clipped to nothing, in his quick turn away. The effect of attempting to understand each other will spiral and create more confusion for them both. Having his own goals to focus on, that won't do. This tenuous sort of situation, this lack of control -- it's precisely what he has avoided throughout his entire life. For every moment he was given a reprieve in control, hoarding it away in small spaces. With whatever he was able to build on, with whatever he was allowed.

The threat of Gaelio tears at that, even now -- with his quick, recoiling turn, away from McGillis, once he has slipped and shown a small amount of his true self.

Of course he would hasten away from that. That alone does not confuse McGillis, who has always suspected, always known, that Gaelio would have no use or want for the truth inside McGillis. What he doesn't understand are Gaelio's efforts towards what he has no use or want for, even in the moment, the contradiction of his aggressive assertion and his quickly retreating back. He doesn't understand why he makes it difficult for himself when it could be so simple.

Something inscrutable and impossible to hold rose during their brief interaction of honesty, but this cuts the bottom out from it. He walks on again, wordlessly, secure in the knowledge of being right.

Gaelio steps out into the beginning of a new clearance, where the sunlight pools ahead. His body disappears into that light. Briefly, McGillis considers turning around and retreating into the darkness of the forest.

Seconds later, he joins his side in the field. A good amount of distance is spaced between them still.

McGillis blankly observes their surroundings. The grass is thick, covering the bottoms of their legs, and the flowers are quite beautiful, but it's the smoke that catches his attention quicker than anything else. He turns his head, only to observe if Gaelio has seen it.

He has, from the trajectory of his gaze. ]

What should our terms be, if the situation turns perilous?

[ If they do continue to proceed together, that is. ]

A temporary truce would provide better odds.

[witchhooded]

[ ... that's not a voice she recognizes, jade realizes. or maybe she does, and it's hampered by other things - she's not sure. it's like a distant memory that she can't place, familiar but forgotten. or maybe it's familiar only in her head, like the sound of a beloved family member telling her she should be safe out in the jungle.

hm. ]

Hi, I'm Jade!!! I want to meet you but I do not know where you are?? Also how do you know the Squiddles???

[ the latter is the most important thing here - she hopes he hears her, and not the entire planet, but she's not that good. practice makes perfect, and this is day one. ]

[witchhooded]

[ a wince and a nod. ]

...Sorry about the punch. Are you, um. Dave's bro??

[splinten]

[His turn for a wince, although he tries not to actually let it express itself.]

I'm Dirk. Strider. [Yeah. Obvious part. What an idiot.] You looked a little different when you hit me full on with a teleporting suckerpunch, so I'm going to assume either some plot shenanigans or that you get really irritable off when you put on bodypaint.

[witchhooded]

[ they could talk about how she was mind controlled, but jade's mostly of the opinion that no one needs to know the nitty gritty of her brain getting scrambled to suit a dictator's needs. so: ]

Leeeeeeeet's go with plot shenanigans! [ palms skyward and a shrug. ] It was not really the best introduction... so... Hi, I'm Jade and I am definitely not going to teleport you to the Incipisphere or punch you now or ever again.

[mysterybone]

Yes, yes! I believe in you, Master!

[ He doesn't like thinking of death either. Thankfully, Eva-sama is immortal so there's no problem there. ]

I hope Sammy is alright. But then, maybe these familiars are also his way of telling you that he is?

[ They're awfully cute, at least. So Mio approves. But if Eva is sad about Sammy, he is too. ]

[mysterybone]

That's right. I am Death Chronos, practitioner of the black arts!

[ He even poses. But poor Noctis, he doesn't realize he's just met a chuunibyou instead of an actual black mage.... At least it distracts from all the dicks everywhere. ]

I use magic circles, and a cauldron! My rank? I don't know, my art is not perfected yet, but my powers are still strong! Someday I'll be at rank 100 like my master!

[splinten]

Either it's a dick on the Internet or a weird alien with horns and an overwhelming propensity to come up with extreme idiolects.

[splinten]

I appreciate that, and not just because it'd be an even longer flight back. Like I said, I'm Dirk.

[Current proud holder of this atrocious furry suit.]

[witchhooded]

That is a much better introduction for both of us, I think! So...

[ .......... :\

look, she's gonna ask because it segues into her next question ]

Do you make the puppets too?

[splinten]

[a pause]

Smuppets. Yes.

[witchhooded]

[ so


like ]

...So you can make fursuits like that?

[ rudely pointing to the abomination. IS THIS YOUR FURSUIT? ]

[splinten]

I can, theoretically. I haven't ever. I'm not really into actually dressing up as an animal.

[He just shamelessly owned up to making smuppets, so this is probably true.]

[witchhooded]

[ in theory, jade has never made a fursuit, so they have this in common! ]

Oh! Well, I thought because you were so interested in the whole, um... classification...

[ it was a really furry argument okay ] That is not really an important conversation! It's nice to meet you and all, but I have no idea what I'm doing here, why we are here and why the Condesce is not here? Well actually the last part is not so bad, really...

[splinten]

That thing at your throat [he points but does not touch] lets you broadcast telepathically. Protip: don't fuckin' touch it unless you want to make everyone in a mile radius wince in pain. I'd really not appreciate that.

[splinten]

I don't make fursuits. That doesn't make me any less of a scholar and a gentleman.

[Was that ironic or sincere?

Yes.]

What's the last thing you remember?

[witchhooded]

[ that... was a meme, wasn't it. did he just meme at her, he totally did ]

Jake did his whole... hope-splosion thingie. [ finger wiggle. this really illustrates the gravity of that situation. ] I think he knocked me out! That is pretty impressive if you ask me, I wish I had been not like that the time!! I would have appreciate it a lot more!