( 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

yamato hotsuin ☆ devil survivor 2

[meritedly]

A2.

[ a man of very few words, and a man that demands a lot of answers (preferably neatly tallied in a bulleted report), it's not surprise that when he does manage to use the newfangled telepathy, it's a simple and curt question. it's very fitting, to be honest: ]

What is this nonsense?

E

[ yamato is staring at the provisions as if they're things he's never seen before. to be fair, a few of them are a bit out of this league. toothbrush, sure? shrimp? he's seen these in the fancy meals his chefs made for him. clothes aren't befitting of someone like him that he'll discard for now (but probably pick back up later, just in case) and ... weird. is this a ... gaming device? is that what hibiki had called it once? he eyes it with suspicion and holds it up. ]


...Tch. How useless. [ it's said in a murmur, loud enough for anyone nearby to hear, but to no one in particular. ]

H

[ shelter is a necessity. that much he knows about this otherwise befuddling and vexing situation. shelter is something humans need to survive and along with food, that's his top priority. fiddling with his now useless phone and the odd device implanted near his neck will have to wait until he's met all of his basic needs.

the huts aren't labeled correctly. not really, given that coven members seem to come and go quickly here. so apologies if one intimidating looking young man opens the door to your hut, wearing a soaking-wet trench coat. and instead of apologizing for intruding, he just stares at you coldly, unblinking, hand on the door. ]

Occupied. I see. [ it's said without a lick of emotion, eyes unmoving and then - ] Perhaps this is for the best. You can answer a few of my questions. [ it doesn't sound all that friendly.... sorry. ]

h

[rebells]

[There isn't much in this hut: just the cot, stool, and shelf, and a couple of crates, one with a folded set of plainclothes on top. Tacked up on the wall are two pieces of paper. One appears to be a rough draft of an island map, with arrows going from base camp to the forest, nearest water source, and boar grounds, as well as some other areas. The other has the beginnings of a list with things like "Map the island. Sources of food and water, boundaries," and "Patterns in powers, worlds of origin?" written on it.

Its inhabitant is sitting on the ground writing in a notebook. He looks up at the sound of the door opening, and his mouth quirks into a smile.]

Well, certainly. What questions did you have?

[meritedly]

[ to be honest, jay is likely one of the best people for yamato to have run into. still, the young man merely quirks a brow, lips pressing into a thin line. perhaps he looks this side of pensive. it's hard to tell, with the cold stare he's shooting down at the hut's inhabitant. ]

Your leader. [ he reaches into his pocket and retrieves and extremely crumpled letter. ] Where is she? I'd like to have a word.

[ or several. strongly worded words. ]

[rebells]

[ . . . he can't help but let out a short laugh, because as if that isn't the question he's been asking himself, more or less, for the past three months. He cuts it off quickly, at any rate, although the amused smile doesn't disappear from his face.]

So would most of us, I think. I'm told she's in a coma at the moment.

[meritedly]

[ his expression remains unchanged. his fingers tap restlessly against the letter and then fold it back up and tuck it away for later use. ]

And yet you're all here, playing house. [ it's said dryly, meant as a mere observation, but still angled as an insult. sorry. ]

Told by whom?

[rebells]

Yes, we're all terribly complacent.

[He says it cheerfully enough, with an absolutely straight face.]

A woman named Genette. The author of the letter you just put away.

[meritedly]

[ ... interesting. yamato nods, though he ends up lifting his chin back up, angling it high in a subtle attempt to remain in control of the situation. ]

She should spend less time penning letters. [ harsh. either way, he meets jay's gaze full-on again. ]

Where is she?

[rebells]

[His mouth wobbles, as though he's trying not to laugh again.]

Up in the mansion above us. I should warn you, however, that I don't think she knows much more than we do.

[meritedly]

[ don't!! laugh at him!! he's a professional! a government official! ]

What makes you say that? [ it's a bit cutting, to be honest. ]

[rebells]

She claims not to. [He stretches and shrugs.] Which wouldn't mean much by itself, of course, but from talking to her she doesn't seem like the type of person to ask questions, and Qri isn't the type of person who gives answers.

[meritedly]

Convenient. [ which probably translates to he doesn't believe a word of it. ] How far is this mansion?

[rebells]

[The curl of a smile. No, he supposes he wouldn't either, if it were him in this situation.

Instead of saying he gets to his feet, opens the door, and points out in the direction of the mansion. It's visible further up the cliffs.]

What is it you want to know, by the way? Besides how to get home.

[meritedly]

[ good question. he doesn't answer at first, gaze merely drifting up to where he can make out the shape of the mansion. ah, of course. the word "classified" lingers on his lips but it doesn't come through. not at first. instead, he blinks slowly. ]

This. [ his hand drifts to tug at the collar of his coat, revealing the signet. he knows it was briefly mentioned in the letter, but... ] Who performed the surgery?

[rebells]

[Ah. That is a good question; he drops the laughing-at-you vibe for a minute.]

I assume it was magic, not surgery, and Qri.

[meritedly]

Magic capable of this precision?

[ he lifts an unimpressed brow, but still. it's not out of the realm of possibility. his hand drops, letting his collar fall back into place. ]

[rebells]

She was powerful enough to bring us all here, across universes. And I don't remember losing any time, do you?

[meritedly]

[ he has a point, but... ]

It's not possible. [ he sounds firm for some odd reason, his brows wrinkling with discomfort. ]

[rebells]

It may not have been possible in your universe. I don't think it would have been possible in mine, either. But in the situation we're in, do you really think you know what is and isn't possible at all?

[meritedly]

[ he has a point, to which yamato takes pause to mull it over. ]

What intel have you gathered? [ because he seems to be a knowledgable young man. ]

[rebells]

About Qri? Not very much, honestly.

[He's fully in serious mode now, opening a small notebook and flipping through the pages until he finds the one he's looking for.]

She lives in that caravan, and she's either unable or unwilling to leave it--the former, if you assume the coma story is true. She doesn't seem to be able to communicate with us reliably; her previous attempts to do so across the telepathic link were crude and caused backlash. There's nothing like her on my world, or this island, or the one world she's previously taken us to. Her objectives seem to be the same ones laid out in the letter--collect magical power, although who knows for what reason.

You've read the letter, so you know her own account of who she is and what she's doing, and I'm sure you're also aware that it's incomplete. We--her "coven"--talked about holding back a supply of magical energy in order to compel her to answer more of our questions, but we ultimately weren't able to organize well enough to do that. [There's a slight curl of his lip at that; seems someone isn't very happy about that failure.]

A2

[secrowtary]

[ Oh, a new voice in his head. This is exactly what he wanted. Expect no, that's not true. But Hibiki likes this guy's attitude. ]

You need to be more specific.

[ There's a lot of nonsense going on, Yamato. Better get used to it. ]

[meritedly]

[ while there's merit to what the voice in his head is saying, it's still bothersome. ]

Where do I begin?

[ he voice sounds, well, unimpressed and extremely flat. ]

[secrowtary]

You should probably begin with getting used to it, no matter how bothersome it is. And how people tend to abuse it. If you want to remain sane, that is.

[ A+ advice Hibiki, you helped him so much. ]