( 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

[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.

[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]

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!

[splinten]

[His entire experience of that affair is a bit messed up by the whole dream ghost thing and everything kind of coming to him belatedly and other issues but that sort of breaks down a pretty reasonable conclusion, combined with details from others.

Jade is super dead.]

I don't think he was able to fully appreciate it in that state either. He'll be really excited to see you.

[witchhooded]

[ jade is super dead, and has no idea about this. dirk doesn't give her any reason to think that she is super dead, either. ]

Hmm, yeah probably. I think he should be pretty proud of himself, though. It was sooooo cool. [ the hand that hand been previously gesturing to illustrate the weirdness of all the weird plot shenanigans, however, comes up. jade raises a finger and grins a little. ] Jake and I were both very excited to see each other!

[ FINALLY. WHILE NOT MINDCONTROLLED OR OTHERWISE COMPROMISED. ] He looked like he was doing pretty well!

[splinten]

From what I understand, it was more of a thing shoved onto him than something he accessed on his own.

[So he feels like Jake will not??? be proud of it??? since like. Aranea did weird stuff to his brain to make it happen or what the fuck ever went down there.]

He's basically in his natural habitat on this hub.

[not answering if jake is doing well ok]

[witchhooded]

[ jade doesn't answer immediately, mulling over that response. something he didn't access on his own... right. there were certain aspects of her own powers she didn't use until condy plugged her fuschia talons into her brain. ]

I think it is still something he is capable of, so he has many things to be proud of. [ or maybe jade's just too nice to think otherwise. in theory, she could still teleport someone's innards out of their body, but would she? it's maybe the same for jake. ]

Hehehe, yes, it is kind of reminiscent of "Hellmurder Island" [ complete with quotation finger gestures ] but there are a lot more people here. It's nice! How long has it been for you guys?

[splinten]

There's less by way of monstrous lusii to contend with here, at least. [Just boards and snakes.

So they both grew up on a Hellmurder Island. Likely the same one, given the other information he has.]

Just about three months at this point, but we've only spent three weeks on the island here itself.

[witchhooded]

[ oh! ] There were not any strange troll parents on my island, that is pretty weird. [ really makes you think..... ]

That's not very long at all, you will hardly learn any survival skills like that! Good thing you've got Jake to show you around!!

[splinten]

Likely due to the Condesce moving on to our universe before she introduced them to yours. My understanding is that the lusii present were products of her experiments to revive the troll race.

[AND THEN. JADE TALKS MORE. AND DIRK.... FLUSTERS? FOR SOME REASON??? He gets all awkward and stiff and maybe slightly red???]

I know, uh, some survival skills on my own, for the ocean. [He is Not a useless suitor to her grandson. Wait, fuck, he's not Jake's suitor. FUCK. Strider, be fucking cool, dammit.] It's true that Jake has superior skills when we're on the land. I haven't had the opportunity to ask him to teach me much but we're sharing a hut so that helps— [FUCK FUCK FUCK FUCK DON'T SAY YOU'VE MOVED IN WITH HER GRANDSON SHE'LL THINK YOU'RE BEING INAPPROPRIATE] Uh, you could join us. If you wanted. It's not like it's not like we need the privacy or anything. I mean that it isn't just an us-thing. Or it is, but it's because we're not used to people.

[FUCK!]

Two teachers would be cool and I know he misses you so you'd be welcome.

Yeah.

[Nice Save.]

[witchhooded]

[ so... what went down that put them on her island to begin with? jade wonders, and thinks to ask, but dirk...

... well, he's dirk. #gaypanic surges through his body and jade watches wordlessly, smiling, as he cycles through what looks like maybe a modicum of what he's actually thinking. once he finishes, she shrugs.

see, the gag is dirk thinks that jade thinks they're being inappropriate, but jade could legitimately not care less, because jade was raised by a dog in a jungle, and this does not involve her.

what i'm saying is the #gaypanic was unnecessary and dirk tormented himself. ]

I don't think Dave or Rose or John lived near the ocean, jeeeeez. It sounds like you guys got really rough conditions... Sorry about that! As for the hut thing, I don't mind either way but I think you should talk to Jake about that first? I do not really know what I could teach you, but I am also a lot more capable than I look, so you don't need to open your home up to me or anything like that, you know!

[splinten]

[fucking harleybert smiles]

Houston sunk, along with the rest of the planet.

[YEAH. CLARIFYING THAT. AWESOME. They're cool. He's cool.]

You grew up on an island of your own. Do you have any survival skills relative to that?

[he doesn't want to talk about his panic. please let him go home to gay baby jail]

[witchhooded]

Lots of stuff! I had to learn how to repair things on my own and Grandpa left his blueprints lying around [ this is one of those times she talks like he is Not Dead, because dirk may not be aware that grandpa was gone by the time jade could like, actually register an account on a forum. ] so I learned how to build loads of gadgets, too! And I am pretty spiffy with a rifle, in my opinion. Plus, I know how to grow things really well!! I only ate things I grew.

[ ... ]

Although I do like eating meat these days!!!

[ the dog ears twitch.

jade is a slave to her own doggie desires ]

[splinten]

[A pause.]

We can try to make you boar jerky.

[witchhooded]

[ !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

SO THAT'S WHY JAKE LIKES HIM!!! ]

That's great, thanks!

[ okay, that's dealt with. ] Soooo, the world basically ended before your session then? Or, um, did people learn how to live in the water...

[ ...is dirk a mermaid. jade pushes her glasses up, holding them in place. he did say jake has more experience with land survival than him... ]

[splinten]

[Yes. Jake only likes him for his boar jerky.]

It's a little more complicated than that. Jake and Jane's meteors were sent to the same year in Earth's history as the meteors of players from your sessions. Me and Roxy's meteors, however, were arrived four hundred years after that. Our kernelsprites never prototyped, so the stalemate never broke and Skaia remained in its stagnant form. As a result, there was no Reckoning, and the eight meteors for us and our guardians were the only ones sent.

Unfortunately, the Condesce had made the switch from your universe to ours before then and had already begun to sow the seeds for her takeover of humanity. A series of simultaneously absurd and horrific events, orchestrated by her battery fork, led to the collapse of human civilization. She then took over and wiped out humanity through cullings, genetic experimentation, and her flooding of the planet in an effort to recreate Alternia. It was that post-apocalyptic waterworld that Roxy and I arrived in, with not a human or even Kevin Costner in sight.

[witchhooded]

[ wow, that's... a lot. it's pretty alarming, too. jade's expression softens, slowly falling into a frown. that's a lot, and it gets worse as it goes. they were supposed to restart and hop over to a fresh session, one that had a chance of winning, but it almost sounds like the game is trying to stack everything against all of them yet again. at the same time, she's following and digesting, taking in his explanation. she can see how this would all go down, and now that she looks back at their session - it's almost hard to see how it would be winnable. something in her thinks it's possible though; there had to be a way to go against it and win. not just for themselves, but cullings, and genetic mutation... she went as far as flooding the planet, destroying humanity...

and dirk and roxy survived, somehow, even if it was years after the fact. jade always thought that dave and rose were the coolest ones out of them; always there when you need them. they pull through no matter what. maybe that was the best place for them to be; who knows what happened to jake by the time dirk was able to talk to him?

she's assuming time shenanigans were involved there, because they always are. ]

Got it! One question.

Who is Kevin Costner?

[splinten]

[Seriously]

Someone Jake will force you to experience at first opportunity.